Chapter Text
John stood awkwardly in the doorway for a moment, unsure of what to say to break the silence. Sherlock got there first.
“Make yourself comfortable, I was making tea.” He said, avoiding the other man’s eyes as he motioned to the armchairs before heading back through to the kitchen.
John made his way further into the room and noticed that his armchair still rested where it used to even after all this time. The first time he’d moved out Sherlock had taken the opportunity to get rid of it, which made much more sense to him now. He settled into it with a soft sigh, remembering the first time. Back when he’d had a limp, one of the many ways Sherlock had improved his life.
He thought of offering help but figured maybe the detective wanted a moment alone so stayed silent.
He realised he felt nervous, an odd feeling to attribute to a conversation with the detective, years ago it would have seemed laughable. They had been best friends back then though, solving crimes, getting takeaways and arguing over the state of the kitchen. Things had seemed so much simpler, damn Moriarty for ruining their dynamic.
Still, he supposed it was possible they could return to that. Then again that likely wouldn’t be enough for the detective, honestly John didn’t know if it would even be enough for him. Maybe a relationship was the best way to move on form the past but how would they even go about it?
John was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice the detective until he placed a tea tray down close to him.
He waited for Sherlock to settle on his chair before speaking.
“So…” God this was awkward. “About last night?”
Sherlock looked up from his teacup and met John’s eyes although the doctor could see that he’d spent their time apart building up his emotional walls and he could read nothing from the blank facial expression.
“Yes.” The voice was as smooth as ever “Well about that I feel I should apologise-”
“No.”
“-I should never have-” Sherlock blinked and stopped talking “I’m sorry?” he said slowly.
John took a deep breath and let it out. He took his time with his response, choosing his words with care. “I’m not entirely sure you have much to be sorry about.”
For a second he thought he saw something in Sherlock’s eyes that could have been hope but it was covered quickly as the detective blinked. He made a ‘carry on’ motion with his hand but stayed quiet and sipped at his tea, not wanting to jump to a conclusion about anything.
John kept talking, determinedly keeping eye contact with the other man. “While it was a little shocking to have you show up out of the blue after so long, it could be for the best. After all I admit that before everything that happened with-” Here John found himself faltering a little, that was still one of the darkest parts of his life, even with Afghanistan. He glanced away from Sherlock as he spoke “With Moriarty.” He cleared his throat and moved on “Before that, there was something growing between us, despite my insistence that I wasn’t gay.”
Sherlock let out a short huff of a laugh and John looked up at him with a wry smile.
“Yeah, sorry about all that. It was just something new for me and a little frightening if I’m honest. You know how much I care about what others think.”
Sherlock pressed his palms together under his chin and studied John intensely “So, what are you saying?”
John considered and decided to go for it “That if there was something there before it’s possible that there could be something again.”
Sherlock blinked rapidly a couple of times and for a second John was worried he’d made his brain freeze up again, then his face broke out into one of his rare genuine smiles.
“Well I have to say that once again John Watson you have managed to surprise me.”
John gave a sigh of relief and laughed. “So it’s a good day then.”
They laughed together and for a moment it was as if they’d never been apart, like it was when they’d been falling in love without any complications.
But things were different now, they’d have to build a new foundation with a different relationship.
“So,” John started, causing Sherlock to stop laughing and look at him with something that could almost be wonder. “Sherlock Holmes I propose that we start dating.”
Sherlock smiled again “I accept your proposal, it seems logical after all, what with our time away from one another, we need to get to know each other again.”
John returned the smile “Excellent, so Angelo’s at eight?”
Sherlock nodded, “I’ll tell Lestrade I am unavailable for consultation tonight.”
“Great, I’d best go home and change then.” John stood and Sherlock mimicked him “but first,” he stepped around the table the tea rested on “there’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a long,” he stepped closer to Sherlock “long time,”
He reached up slowly so as not to startle the detective and gripped the lapels of Sherlock’s black suit jacket. He pulled him down softly until their faces were mere inches apart.
“Do you mind?” John murmured
Sherlock suddenly found himself breathless looking into the eyes he’d admired for so long, he managed to force the words “Not at all.” from his lips before John’s pressed against them.
It was everything he’d wanted it to be and nothing like it at all, his brain jumped into overdrive and he started copying the small pressure and movements John was making to reciprocate the first kiss he’d enjoyed in a very long time.
They both pulled away a little after a while but not so far as to give Sherlock’s heart reason to stop racing. He wanted to kiss John again but realised that if he did he’d find himself unwilling to stop and he was faintly aware that society dictated a minimum of three dates before that sort of behaviour was acceptable.
Eventually John cleared his throat and stepped back, releasing the Sherlock’s suit jacket and allowing him to drop his own hands, though he couldn’t remember wrapping them around the other man.
John grinned “So eight?”
Sherlock returned it “I’ll see you there.”