Chapter Text
Jim Moriarty: the spider at the heart of an empire. Sherlock had been dancing around him for months, and finally here was his chance to meet the man face-to-face. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves and pushed open the door to the swimming pool. He held up the tiny USB stick, not the actual plans of course - those were safe with his brother.
"I brought you a little getting-to-know-you present. This is what you've been after isn't it?" It had to be. Why else would Moriarty have set up all those puzzles for him, if not to distract him from the stolen missile defence system plans?
There was a movement in the shadows. Sherlock's pulse sped up in anticipation, and then almost stopped as the jumper-clad figure of John Watson emerged. John was Moriarty?
"Evening." John said, flatly. No, this was impossible. He knew John, had lived with him the best part of a year and a half.
"This is a turn-up, isn't it Sherlock? Bet you never saw this coming." John's voice was strained, and there was something odd about his voice pattern. Almost as if...
"Oh of course. Ear-piece, stupid." As hard as he tried, he couldn't stop a hint of relief creeping into his voice. All of a sudden there was a low growl, and a tiger, as menacing as it was beautiful, staked out of the shadows, prowling around John, who stood stock-still. It was only his army training which was allowing John to keep his head.
"What ... would you like me ... to make him say ... next?" Moriarty said through John's mouth, as John's eyes moved from Sherlock to follow the black and orange beast that was pacing barely two feet from him.
"I would rather meet you myself. Call off your shifter and let's talk like civilised people." Anything it took to get that cat away from his friend.
"Oh, very clever. Well if that's what you really want." And then a new voice called out. "Sebastian, it looks like playtime's over for now." The voice was soft, with an Irish lilt, but all the more menacing for it. The tiger padded away from John, towards the voice, shifting as he walked into a tall, well-built man with a livid scar down one side of his face. Clearly ex-army like John, but dishonourable discharge rather than injury had brought him back from the front lines. He stopped just inside the doorway, standing in parade rest.
Finally, Sherlock caught a glimpse of the man calling himself Moriarty. He was small and impeccably dressed in a tailored suit.
"Jim Moriarty. Hi." He slowly walked away from his bodyguard, a grin stretching his face, betraying just a hint of the madness underneath. The way he moved reminded Sherlock of a snake, but he could see the faint hint of white and green streaks in Moriarty's dark hair, betraying what he really was.
"So our spider is actually a magpie. Well, here." He held out the memory stick. "Take it."
"Oh, that." Jim took it from Sherlock. "The missile plans. I could have got them anywhere." And with that he threw them into the pool.
"No, my dear. You see, what I've really been after, is you. Imagine; my own pet dragon." To Sherlock's surprise, John snorted. Moriarty turned slowly to face him.
"Is something funny, Johnny boy?" John shook his head.
"No. It's just that if you think that you can make this bastard do anything that he doesn't want to then you're even crazier than I though." Jim smiled and turned back to Sherlock.
"Oh, but that's where you're wrong. You see, I have my own spies in Baskerville. The serum you've been dancing around, it's one of my own ideas. You've even felt one of the prototypes yourself. It erases all human instinct and intellect, causing the shifter in animal form to truly become their creature body and mind. At first we had a few snags, mainly that it wore off very quickly, and once the person had shifted back they were completely themselves. Now, it lasts a lot longer, and I've added a little something extra. Obviously I don't want to have to deal with a wild dragon. No, instead it will switch your allegiance completely to me. I tried it out on dear Sebastian, and after a few doses we didn't even need it anymore. If it doesn't work out I would love a pair or dragon-skin - ". He cut off abruptly as John, seeing his chance, had launched himself at the man, tackling him to the ground.
In a blur of orange, the tiger was back, pinning John on his back, canines a mere inch from John's right carotid artery. Sherlock, who up until now had remained composed, let out a shout, his eyes turning to their reptilian gold as he instinctively went to protect his friend. And then the tiger was gone as a single red sniper-sight made its way to Sherlock's forehead.
"Ah ah ah" Jim chided. "Although it would pain me to do so, if my snipers see so much as a scale pop up on you they'll blow that rather impressive brain of yours out of its skull." Slowly, Sherlock's eyes regained their usual colour, but still maintained his half-crouched position.
"Well seeing as it's obvious that I have no intention of cooperating with any plans that you have, I assure you that this whole venture seems fairly pointless, don't you think?" Unbelievably, Sherlock sounded almost bored!
"Well, I can promise that I have my methods." That sly, almost reptilian grin was back on Moriarty's face again.
"Oh, let me guess: I get killed. How very predictable."
"Kill you? Now why would I want to do that? No no no! Well, maybe eventually I will, I'll get bored of you and find a new toy. No Sherlock. I'll burn you." He looked Sherlock up and down. "I'll burn the heart right out of you."
Sherlock straightened up, looking down to stare Moriarty in the eye. "I have been reliably informed that I don't have one. And besides," He clicked his fingers, one of his miniature suns appearing in the palm of his hand. "How on earth do you expect to burn a dragon?"
This was obviously meant to try and intimidate the shorter man, but instead he just smiled. Stepping ever closer to Sherlock he whispered in Sherlock's ear.
"But we both know that's not quite true. I mean, just look at how you care about John Watson." Sherlock let out a snarl of his own, his dragon side making itself known.
All of a sudden, Jim pulled back.
"Well, I suppose that you'll want to think over my little proposition. Either you join me; or Johnny boy's cat food, and I mean that quite literally. Ciao, Sherlock Holmes." Sherlock turned to watch as Moriarty virtually bounced out of the door.
"Catch you later."
"No you won't." Moriarty sang back, followed by the sound of rustling feathers. Sherlock watched as the magpie fluttered up to the open window and disappeared from sight.
As soon as the coast was clear, John collapsed to the ground in relief, and Sherlock ran to catch him, his wings appearing and wrapping around them both in a protective cocoon. John was breathing heavily, temporarily speechless.
"What the hell," John panted when he could speak again, "Was that about? And what did he say to you?" Sherlock shrugged.
"No idea. And he didn't tell me anything that you should worry about. Right now, we need to get you home, you look like you're about to go into shock."
Reluctantly, John let Sherlock sling his arm around his shoulders, and they headed off to find a cab.