Chapter Text
Sherlock shouted as he disappeared into the bathroom. “And stay out of my bedroom.”
John thought about that statement for moment before wandering towards the door to Sherlock’s bedroom. As he got close, the door opened and a half-naked man strolled out.
John backed up, speechless. The tall brown haired man walked towards him wearing nothing but a pair of fitted boxer briefs. Before John looked away, he saw the monogram WSSH on the hip. He recognized those pants, he’d been forced to wash them & others similar often enough back when he lived with Sherlock. This stranger was wearing Sherlock’s underpants! What on earth was going on?!
“Um, hi, I’m guessing you’re John? Sherlock mentioned you used to be his flatmate. Nice to meet you, I’m Victor.” The strange man, apparently Victor, said. He didn’t seem to mind walking around in just his (Sherlock’s!) pants, completely unselfconscious, so John determined to act natural.
“Right, John. Is me. Yes. Um.” John backed into the kitchen did his best not to stare at the other man. Acting natural. Right.
Victor ran an absent-minded hand down his chest, scratching lightly. “Has everybody gone? I heard shouting.”
“Yes, they’re gone.” John wondered if he was still asleep. This was one of the stranger days he’d ever experienced.
Victor went to the kitchen counter and picked up the carafe for coffee. He said over his shoulder to John, “Sounded like an argument. Was it Mike?”
“Mike?” John parroted, bemused.
Victor turned to look at John. “Mike, yeah. His brother, Mike. They’re always fighting. Always have done.”
“Mycroft.” John said, as understanding dawned on his face.
Victor laughed, “Do people actually call him that?!”
John shook his head, then nodded. “Yeah.”
“Huh,” Victor glanced at the clock. “Oh, could you make coffee? I’m running late.”
John walked over to the cupboard. “Sure, right, yeah.”
Victor headed back towards the hallway. “Thanks.” He stopped and whirled around. “Sherlock said you recently tied the knot? How’s married life treating you?”
“It’s fine. We’re both fine, yeah.” John was back to being baffled, Sherlock told this man about him, about his life? Who was he?! John reached for a cupboard when Victor spoke up, pointing at a different cabinet.
“Oh, it’s over there now.” He looked around. “Where’s Sherl?”
John repeated the name in a near whisper, “Sherl!” He was definitely still sleeping. He grinned and cleared his throat, turning back to Victor.
“He’s just having a bath. I’m sure he’ll be out in a minute.”
Victor snorted. “Oh, like he ever is!"
John huffed a “Yeah!” in response, frowning and wandering over towards the cabinet Victor had indicated.
Victor went down the hallway and knocked on the bathroom door. He immediately opened it and went inside, shutting the door behind him. “Morning!” John heard him say. “Room for one more?!"
John heard Sherlock laugh and Victor chuckle before the sound of splashing water drowned out any further conversation.
John started whistling to keep from overhearing anything further and quickly started the coffee before bolting for the sitting room.