Work Text:
A detective and a maths professor were walking around the busy, filled out streets of Durham. The young blond professor looked composed wearing a red tie along with a brown coloured suit ensemble. While his dark haired companion looked more of the opposite. He was simply donning a white button up, coupled with a black jacket and pants; along with an unexpected skull ring on his right index finger while wild dark coloured curls swayed side to side from his ponytail.
They looked like complete opposites to the fellow commoners, but little did they know; that these two men fit together like a puzzle. “Oi, Liam.” The dark haired man stopped walking and asked abruptly.
“Don’t you need to go home soon?” Sherlock asked because he knew how protective his companion’s younger brother was. It gave Sherlock chills just thinking about him. The blond professor stopped walking too and dug into his pocket to pull out his pocket watch. When William checked the time he replied, “Hm, quite soon. But we still have some time. Do you want to wander around a little further?”
“Sure Liam.” The other said with a smile so bright that the blond couldn’t keep a smile off his face either. They both then blindly strolled along further in the streets of Durham, while excitedly exchanging riddles and questions with each other. Both content and happy in each other’s presence.
Sherlock and William passed by a bookstore, which the blond didn’t pay any mind to. But the dark haired man took a little scan at some of the books that were on display. Many types of books were at the display window, mystery novels, romance novels, biographies and children’s books. One book that he saw made his contagious smile instantly disappear and his feet freeze on the spot. Sherlock’s feet seemed to automatically move closer to the display window.
The detective’s head and eyes were now completely turned and focused on the book that was behind a barrier of glass. The blond professor quickly noticed the lack of warmth next to him. William confusedly and quickly turned his head behind him just to see his dear detective at the bookstore, looking through the glass so intensely as if his eyes were going to break the display window into shreds. As William turned around and walked closer to Sherlock, his crimson eyes looked down at his companion’s hands and saw his left hand fidgeting with the skull ring on his right index finger. William then followed Sherlock’s eyes to see the book that the dark haired man was so enamoured by.
A children’s book.
It seemed like a very old book, the corners of the pages were worn out and the overall quality seemed to have dulled over time. The book’s title was in a big silly beige font. It was titled, ‘The Pirate and The Red Bird’.
The book had a cover page of an incredibly detailed illustration of a captain pirate, big hat with a tangled beard and all. The pirate captain was striking a confident pose, raising his hook hand up high as a red bird; preferably a Red Cardinal, rested upon it. The bird and the man both were alone on the big wooden ship with the detailed lines of the waves behind them. But they both looked content.
‘A children’s book?…’ William did not expect his companion to be charmed by a children’s book of all things. He assumed that Sherlock didn’t read any book at all, regardless if it was about something the man was interested in or not; Sherlock would probably think that it was a waste of his time when he could be doing experiments or solving a case instead. As William’s mind cogs were turning on why Sherlock would be focused on a book such as this one, the blond then turned his head to try and dissect his partner’s expression.
But he was completely taken aback.
The once lively and puppy-like Sherlock was replaced by a man with empty eyes that were glazed over, his once beautiful blue eyes now a dark abyss. Sherlock’s trademark cocky smirk was completely wiped out, there was instead a sad and melancholic smile. A type of smile that should never be on Sherlock’s face. It was as if the Sherlock he knew was completely gone, replaced by an empty vessel. He did not know this man. It wasn’t Sherlock. It wasn’t his Sherlock.
“Mr. Holmes?…” William’s hand came up to lightly touch Sherlock’s shoulder. And immediately like a spell was broken, Sherlock became startled and instinctively turned to face what’d touched him. When he turned his head just to see Liam’s concern filled eyes directed at him, he felt guilty. He must have caused Liam to worry. He immediately put a cheery smile onto his face, although it did not reach his eyes.
“Ah, sorry Liam. Did you say something?”
William’s hand hovered above Sherlock’s shoulder while his voice seemed to fail him, unsure of what to do or say next. “Liam, shouldn’t you really be getting back home now?” Sherlock’s fake cheery voice cut through the silence between them. William broke out of his trance, and quickly remembered what he had waiting back at Durham for him. “Oh, yes. Yes, I do. I’ll quickly call a carriage, don’t want Louis getting too worried now.” 'He’s probably sending an entire search squad right about now…’ William sweatdropped.
Sherlock smirked, it seemed genuine. That relieved William. “Yeah, don’t want ya gettin’ into trouble now huh, Liam?”
William glared at him and Sherlock put his hands up in a surrender position. But no tension was between them. They both were just playing with each other anyway.
“Well, it seems that this is where we go our separate ways. Farewell, Mr Holmes.”
“It should be, ‘See you soon’ Liam!” William lightly laughed as he walked the opposite way of his dark haired companion.
‘Not for long though, Mr. Holmes.’
‘Not for long…’
William and Sherlock survived the fall into the Thames. Sherlock became the villain’s saviour when he was supposed to be the hero. William’s mask crumbled and the Lord of Crime was no more. There was no more Consulting Detective or Lord of Crime anymore. Not to the public nor to each other. Billy helped them both settle into their new lives in America, which they are both extremely grateful for. They both were the ultimate duo for the detective agency with their advanced mindsets. They now share an apartment together. Even though their lives are now more stable than the last. There will always be things that will weigh on their minds.
Nightmares continue to haunt William’s mind, about the lives he had taken away, the blood on his hands. Extreme guilt and self-loathing gnawed on his mind and heart.
But William knew that Sherly would make it better. He always does.
He always hugs him when William cries his heart out onto the other’s shirt, making wet with tears. He always cuddles him afterwards and successfully keeps the nightmares away. He always reassures that it’s going to be okay, that he’s going to be okay. When William cries, Sherlock is always there to wipe the tears away, gently whisper reassurances into his ear. One time, when William’s face was again wet with tears, he ever so softly took his hands and cradled William’s face. Gently swiping the tear marks away from his cheeks, and when he finally lifted his ruby coloured eyes to face the other man in front of him. Sherly looked back at him with soft navy blue eyes along with his equally soft smile, as if he was looking at something worth more than gold.
But maybe…in Sherly’s eyes, he is worth more than gold.
That thought made him choke on a sob again and bury his head into the other man’s white shirt. The dark haired man just wrapped his arms around William and placed a tiny soft peck onto William’s blond hair. For the first time in years, William’s mind finally felt at peace.
Yes, Sherlock is always there when William needs him.
When William thinks himself as trash and unworthy of having this peaceful life in America with the person so close to his heart. Sherlock holds William as the former professor unleashes all of his burdens and his demons.
“Why did you save me?”
“I don’t deserve this.”
“I keep on seeing them Sherlock, the people who I have killed.”
“You shouldn’t have saved me.”
“I never meant to drag you down with me…”
Sherlock saw that William was going to say another degrading comment about himself without even letting Sherlock speak. And oh, Sherlock has had it.
“I-”
“Nope.”
William looked up at Sherlock from where his head was buried into Sherlock’s embrace.
“Huh?”
“Nope. Liam, I’m not letting you put yourself down further. Please, stop putting yourself down. I know that you can’t help it; hell, even I can’t help degrading myself too. But please, just know that you are so much more. When I found out your identity I also found out how good of a person you are. How thoughtful, kind, and self-sacrificing you are.”
William’s eye was still clouded with doubt and self hatred, it is unfortunately a sight that Sherlock had seen many times. Sherlock hated seeing that look in his eyes.
“But-”
“Don’t interrupt me!”
William immediately closed his mouth after hearing Sherlock’s outburst. Sherlock took a few breaths to calm himself before he spoke again.
“Listen, you killed because you are kind and you did it because you were forced to, you had to. Meanwhile, even when I also acknowledged the unfairness in society’s status and disagreed with it, I never took any action! You treat everyone kindly and treat them like people, while I treated them like a damn puzzle, an object even! And I am leaving your intelligence out of this because I want you to know…that you are more than just a genius. More than just a genius for someone to admire.”
God Sherlock is tearing up now with how emotional he is becoming, he did not want to cry today damn it!
‘I just want to tell you what he had told me.’
“And when I realised that…I could not bear to leave you alone. Alone to die. When I knew what you were thinking about yourself. I wanted-and still want us to live because I want you to find yourself, find your purpose in life, and hopefully…just hopefully, will one day realise that you are worth living for…”
Sherlock ended his sentence with a gentle and hopeful smile directed at William as he wiped away some of the tears that slid from William’s eyes. The blond didn’t even notice that he was crying.
After a beat of silence, William gave a little chuckle.
“I didn’t expect you to be so good at emotional speeches, Sherly.”
“Oh you-“
The room was then filled with smiles, jokes and laughter. Contrary to the depressing mood that the room had before. William smiled and he looked on in fondness as Sherlock laughed, loud and cheerful as always. Yes, to him Sherly is his angel. No matter what anyone says.
It had taken a single question from William for him to take the first step of knowing more about Sherlock. It had been a regular day until that moment, William was reading a book while Sherlock was invested in his experiments. But then William’s smooth voice sliced through the comfortable silence.
“Why do you always wear that ring?” Sherlock’s head suddenly jolted up from it’s position where it was buried in his notebook.
“Huh?”
“Why do you always wear that ring?” Sherlock’s pupils dilated for a little bit as he was scrambling on how to answer his dear companion on the sudden question. Sherlock didn’t know if he was ready at the moment to share such a big part of his life yet, but Liam deserved to know...
William saw that the question made Sherlock flustered as the dark-haired man tried to not keep him waiting for an answer.
“I won’t pressure you if you don’t want to tell me.”
“No, no, I do! But just not right now. Sorry Liam.” William’s smile softened. He patted his hand down on the couch on the surface next to him as an invitation for Sherlock to sit next to him. Sherlock’s face lit up and he scrambled to sit by William’s side.
“Don’t be sorry, Sherlock. As you said, we are in this together aren’t we?”
If even possible, William then practically saw a pair of puppy ears on Sherlock as the man brightened up even more.
“Why of course we are Liam!”
It was about 3 weeks after the topic of the skull ring was talked about, and it was very abrupt when it was brought up again.
“The skull ring represents someone from my childhood.”
William’s eye blinked as he processed the information, not expecting the topic to come up again so quickly and unexpectedly. It was a bright and sunny afternoon. They were both sitting at the bench on the roof, the spot where they began to slowly but surely start their new life together. Sherlock took William’s continued silence as permission to continue.
“I was bullied when I was younger, because I was just simply smarter than the rest of the kids. The adults were salty about it too, were jealous because their own kids weren’t as smart compared to me and Mycroft. The adults acted nice but that was just to not come off as an asshole; me and Mycroft knew they hated us.”
“I wasn’t as social back then compared to now, was more blunt and irritating than anything I guess. Mycroft did defend me against them some times of course, but one day he wasn’t there and the kids were being more shitty than usual.”
<1866>
A 6 year old Sherlock was being silent and unresponsive as his bullies shoved him into a large wooden chest that miraculously fit his body almost perfectly.
‘Thank you whatever high spiritual being out there for that.’ Thought Sherlock as he ignored the sudden pain on his back from slamming onto the bottom of the hard wooden chest.
“Have fun in there freak!” Benjamin sniggered as he flipped Sherlock off.
“Wait! Lemme give the freak some water in case he gets thirsty!” Oliver shouted, having a mock-concerned tone. Sherlock barely had any time to even blink or take a breath before he and the chest were splashed with water.
As Sherlock was trying to get the water out of his eyes and nose, he instantly saw darkness as the 2 boys suddenly closed the chest. Muffled giggles and laughs were heard by Sherlock outside of the chest.
Those were from Oliver’s younger brother, Thomas, and some other random boy that Sherlock can’t care enough to know the name of. What he did do though, was deduce that Benjamin’s dad and mum had more than one affair and will be getting a soon-to-be divorce. Which had gotten Sherlock to where he is now. And no matter how hard he tried to fight back with pushing, scratching and pathetic attempts to recreate what he had done in his karate lessons succeeded in getting out of this situation. Sherlock rubbed his bruised wrist, glad that bruising was the only extent of the damage.
He knows that must not show any pain or sadness in front of them, or else his bullies would never let that down, would probably call him names that would take a huge blow to his pride. He then heard the wood on top of him creak a little and also heard some little thumps that indicated that Oliver and Benjamin were now sitting on top of the chest to not let him out. Why? Because the dumbasses forgot that the chest didn’t provide a damn lock.
“I actually don’t mind staying here!” Sherlock shouted up at the lid of the chest, trying to sound unfazed and confident. He knows that he’ll not stay here for long, it is almost the end of tea time and the adults will be rounding up the kids. And the four boys were too scared to stay on top of him and endure their parent’s wrath. And plus, it actually isn’t that horrible staying in a big chest. Well, that compared to enduring the boys’ taunts and attempts at intimidation, it really isn’t that bad. He has a lot more peace of mind here and they can’t touch him now too, so there are honestly a lot more pros than cons.
“Huh? Who the hell would be happy to be forced inside a box?!”
“Such a weirdo…”
“Listen to your pathetic self! Trying to act tough when we all know that you just wanna cry like a wittle baby!” Oliver’s voice took a mocking and whining tone at the end as he then basically chanted baby’s crying noises. And apparently the others somehow found it to be top tier entertainment, because the rest of them giggled and followed along while laughing as if Oliver was a professional comedian.
‘Oliver would probably cry if I told him what I found out.’ Sherlock thought of while thinking if he should tell the truth to one of his bullies. He had found out that Oliver’s favourite pocket watch from his uncle was replaced, it had a slightly lighter and newer golden tint and the watch’s hands ticked approximately 9 milliseconds later that the original. Sherlock has a more advanced mind than them and therefore notices these little things and is not that afraid to say them out loud, and everyone hates him for it; regardless of status and gender. He hasn’t told good ol’ Oliver about the pocket watch, he’ll save it up for later. It will make a good comeback one day.
“We should go soon, the adults are probably going to holler at us if we are late.” He hears Benjamin say.
“Well yeah, but we can’t just leave him here. He’ll escape won’t he?” Grumbled Oliver.
“So what? His older brother is busy learning about damn politics to even care about him,” Ouch, that admittedly hit too close for comfort.
“And his parents will probably not believe him if he says that we shoved him into a chest and poured him with cold arse water; like c’mon, they love us! We’ll tell them that he accidentally fell into the pond nearby. They will pretty much think that we are innocent kids who will do no harm! We will go home scot-free!” Cheerfully says Benjamin as he tries to comfort Oliver.
Sherlock rolls his eyes after listening to Benjamin’s theory (salty knowing that it would work) as the 2 boys finally remove themselves from sitting on top of the chest. Sherlock takes a deep breath of fresh air as he pushes up the lid of the chest and sits up.
“Don’t you dare tell Mum and Dad about what happened today, got it you freak?” Oliver glares as he points his chubby little finger at him trying to appear threatening, when Sherlock is right now feeling the most unimpressed he has ever been feeling in his whole 6 years of living.
“Or else you’ll be so sorry that you will regret ever being born with that warped mind! We’ll beat you up so hard that you’ll become a blunderbuss!” Ridiculed Benjamin. While Thomas and the other random boy stayed smirking and giggling behind them. Sherlock does know that they are all trying to act manly and tough, but to him this just isn’t it. It’s just sad.
‘God this is so badly planned…’ Then all of the 5 boys heard a loud high pitched call from Oliver’s mum.
“Oliver, Benjamin?! Boys, where are you?” Then finally, all four of the bullies ran out of the room as if the devil himself was in there, and Sherlock was then left all alone. Seemed like his hypothesis from earlier was correct.
Now what?
A soaked Sherlock slowly stood up and stepped out from the equally soaked chest, he reluctantly trudged out of the door, while he heard himself leave damp footprints while he moved to where the adults were all rounding up the kids.
Sherlock then shrugged after he told William of the memories of his bullies.
“As I said, I didn’t really care what they did to me. Not now at least, I was an asshole and still am; I get that. So it is kind of justifiable in a way.”
“I had gotten a therapist when I was like 5 because the adults insisted that something was wrong with me, that I was psychotic. But that lasted for about 2 months since the therapist just clarified that I had a more advanced mind than other people. The school had gotten news about it and the kids started up rumours, and the fact that I didn’t have any friends helped.”
William could only stare in shock, he had never even come to the conclusion that the bright, cheerful, wonderful man in front of him right now was bullied and tormented simply for being smarter than the rest. William then realised that in his childhood, he only had people be dazzled and charmed by his genius, never disgusted. The children at the orphanage loved him and were dazzled by his brilliance and the adults praised him for his mind. His crew back at Durham were fully accepting of his genius and remained loyal and faithful. His brothers never stopped praising William for it too.
While Sherlock was shunned for it. For having the same mind as him.
How could they be so similar yet so different, that they were even raised with different people?
“Well anyways,” Sherlock’s sudden voice shook him out of his thoughts, and he remained quiet as he continued to listen.
“This is where a major character, if you will; comes into the story. He was a young boy named Victor Trevor. I met him after that whole water chest thing happened after school the next day…”
The 6 year old Sherlock was stepping through twigs and leaves as he climbed the small mound of grass that sprouted the biggest tree in the school yard. Kids were running towards their parents while rambling on about what exciting things happened in school that day. But Sherlock could just watch on with reluctant sorrow as he knew that it would never happen to him. His parents were always not home so his older brother Mycroft was supposed to pick him up and walk him home, but apparently that’s not going to happen. Sherlock berated himself for having the slightest hope that his brother wasn’t going to be swamped with work. For having hope that they could spend some time together.
‘Fuck Mycroft and his obsession with the government.’ Sherly’s back then slid down the thick trunk of the tree as he plopped down into a sitting position on the grass. Sherlock didn’t have any plans. He didn’t know what to do and knew that he would get bored, but he also didn’t want to go home. So he just sat there while looking at the moving figures of the fellow commoners nearby. He sat there for a few minutes before he heard some muffled footsteps behind the tree trunk, the footsteps were slow and calculated. The footsteps sounded more light like his own, so it’s not an adult. Glad to know that he won’t be kidnapped. The shaded figure slowly made its way around the tree trunk, thinking that Sherlock can’t sense him and then- “Boo!”
Sherlock turned to face the other child, unfazed by the jump scare. The young boy had short ginger hair and a large cheerful smile. He also had a toy eyepatch on his left eye along with a toy sword and a captain hat that had a skull on it.
“Did I scare you?” The boy said, looking down at Sherlock from where he was standing.
“No, I already heard you.”
“Really? How’d you know I wasn’t a weird guy trying to kidnap you?”
Sherlock answered without thinking, “Your footsteps were light like mine, while a man’s would have been heavier. Your moves were also quicker and it seemed like you were excited to try and scare me, while a kidnapper would be more precise and careful with the movements.”
Sherlock then immediately tensed up and his hands turned into little fists as he closed his eyes. He didn’t mean to suddenly blurt out his deductions. Sherlock was waiting for a hit, a punch, degrading words, anything. But it never came. Sherlock slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the other boy in front of him. There was unexpectedly no resentment or disgust on the boy’s face, instead there was amazement and awe.
“Wow…” The ginger haired boy whispered in amazement.
Sherlock’s eyes widened as he took the whispered compliment in. Not expecting this reaction from anyone, no less a boy his own age.
‘He doesn’t hate me?’ Sherlock suddenly startled as the boy suddenly sat down next to him, the boy’s uncovered brown eye sparkling in wonder.
“That’s so cool! My name’s Victor, last name Trevor! How about you?”
Sherlock’s eyes comically widened even further at the sudden intrusiveness, internally struggling to take this all in before finally answering after a few seconds of silence.
“...My name’s Holmes, Sherlock Holmes.”
“Victor was the first friend I ever had. He loved to play pirates and he also loved skulls. Because every time he saw one anywhere it would remind him of a captain pirate's hat. He was the first ever person to not resent me for having an advanced mind.” “We would always meet up at that tree and we would always play pirates together. He would be the captain and I would be a crew mate. Every time I played with him and had a chat with him, I was having fun. And as a child, it was the first time that I ever had fun with a friend so I hold those memories dearly. And what really baffled me was that he didn’t push me away, regardless of me acting like a prick.”
“He also taught me that I am more than just a genius. More than just a mastermind, more than just someone with high intellect.”
A young Sherlock was once again marching up to the big tree where his friend was waiting. Victor turned his head and spotted him, immediately gaining a big cheerful grin.
“Sherlock!” Victor ran over to him while waving like a madman, still wearing that eyepatch and that damn captain hat. Sherlock just responded with a nod, still bummed out from the bullies from school earlier, but he can’t let Victor know. Or else Victor will become sad. But unfortunately for Sherlock, Victor became too good at reading him. Victor suddenly frowned and grabbed Sherlock’s wrist, dragging him up the rest of the hill and immediately forcing the dark haired boy to sit down. Sherlock followed all of this with wide eyes, Victor will never stop catching him off guard it seems. Speaking of Victor, the ginger haired boy stared at him like he was a criminal in the middle of an interrogation.
“What’s wrong?” Sherlock sighed, knowing that pretending that there was nothing on his mind won’t work on Victor anyways.
“The bullies said some degrading things, just the usual. But the words they threw at me this time actually worked it seems.” Victor frowned even more at that.
“You know that whatever they said isn’t true right?”
“Of course, I’m not stupid. But that doesn’t mean that it still doesn’t affect me at least a little bit.” Sherlock brought his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. After a moment of silence, Victor took off his eyepatch and hat, getting rid of the pirate role play for now (‘Thank whatever lord is out there for that,’ thought Sherlock) and sat next to his friend.
“Look, I don’t know what crap they have said about you but please just know that they don’t know you.” Sherlock gained a confused look and turned around to face his best friend.
“Wha-”
“It’s true! Who spent so many days playing pirates with you? Me! I know what kind of person you are. You are not grumpy or cranky and anything like that!” Victor looked into the blue eyes of his best friend and blushed a little at the amount of attention and bewilderment on Sherlock’s face.
“I-I have seen you smile and laugh when we play together! So when I hear you say that your bullies tell you that you’re heartless and freaky...it really makes me mad…”
“And I want you to know that I don’t see you like that at all, well you obviously already know that but-” Victor bashfully rubbed the back of his neck with his palm.
“Well, yes-I think that your mind is really cool! But I want you to realise that all this time, I didn’t play with you for your mind, I didn’t care about that at all what we played together! You are my best friend and I have seen that you are actually quite funny, you are playful and you are just...a good person.”
As Victor finished up his little speech, Sherlock apparently became mute from the shock.
What does he say in return? Thank you? No, that doesn’t feel right. Those two words are way too little in return for Victor’s speech, what Victor said-it’s, it’s- It’s what he needed to hear for the longest time…
Since Sherlock’s parents are practically non-existent in his life, he’s only ever had his brother. But ever since Mycroft was learning more and more about his future position in the government, the older Holmes has become obsessed.
Oh they still cared for each other, he knew that Mycroft still cared about him. But that is all it ever feels like. He doesn’t know if Mycroft loves him. Mycroft expresses his affection in other ways, he doesn’t just neglect Sherlock. Mycroft challenges him to mind games (which Mycroft always wins, the fucker), he tests Sherlock and watches what he does, and Sherlock knows that Mycroft is always watching over him.
But he still felt empty.
Sherlock doesn’t know whether to classify those actions as love, and that's purely because he is crap at comprehending emotions. It’s not like he wants to force his older brother out of his comfort zone by making his older brother say that he loves him, of course not! It would be extremely awkward for the both of them anyways. And for the longest time, Sherlock didn’t know what he needed or wanted. But those words… Those words made Sherlock’s gut feel...tingly...and fluffy. What is this feeling?
“Victor taught me that I should lift up my self-esteem, and that my existence has meaning. And at the time, his existence became my reason to live and he became the person I looked forward to seeing everyday. He became a very dear person to me, like you Liam. Perhaps what I was feeling at the time after Victor said those words was love, but I was too young and inexperienced to know; and besides, it’s from the past now.”
“Everything was smooth after that, the bullies went away when they saw that I wasn’t alone anymore. They knew that Mycroft was involved in politics, but they weren’t aware of how important his position was; so when they found out they were terrified-like holy shit!” Sherlock lightly chuckled at the misery of his past bullies. But he suddenly became solemn again, not continuing the story. Sherlock’s galaxy-like eyes became glazed over as he gazed at his skull ring, lightly caressing it with his thumb. William didn’t say anything, the blond scooted over to Sherlock’s side; their sides touching. Sherlock questioningly looked over at his companion, but William continued to stay silent as he brought his pale hand over to gently cup the back of Sherlock’s head and tenderly brought it down so Sherlock’s head was resting on William’s shoulder.
“It’s ok.” Sherlock’s tense posture instantly relaxed at those words as he eased his body against William’s. And if William noticed his eyes watering, he didn’t mention it. Sherlock’s heart fluttered as William pressed a light feather-like kiss on his forehead as his pale fingers delicately played with the strands of his dark blue hair. Neither of them said anything as they both watched the sunset, the sky filled with warm colours. Sherlock eventually fell asleep on William’s shoulder, snuggling close to the warmth next to him.
‘Cute.’ William fondly thought as he looked down with tender eyes at the sleeping man. William’s wine red eyes traced over the other male’s features; his silky long hair, his plump lips, his long dark eyelashes, his rosy cheeks… William looked in adoration at the man beneath him and wondered...how such a perfect man could be hated so much in his past. William’s eyes then sparked with a rare blazing rage as he repeated his dear Sherlock’s words.
“Have fun in there freak!” Benjamin sniggered as he flipped Sherlock off."
Wait! Lemme give the freak some water in case he gets thirsty!” Oliver shouted, having a mock-concerned tone. “So what? His older brother is busy learning about damn politics to even care about him.”
“And his parents will probably not believe him if he says that we shoved him into a chest and poured him with cold arse water; like c’mon, they love us! We’ll tell them that he accidentally fell into the pond nearby. They will pretty much think that we are innocent kids who will do no harm! We will go home scot-free!”
“Don’t you dare tell Mum and Dad about what happened today, got it you freak?” “Or else you’ll be so sorry that you will regret ever being born with that warped mind! We’ll beat you up so hard that you’ll become a blunderbuss!” Ridiculed Benjamin. While Thomas and the other random boy stayed smirking and giggling behind them.
“--because the adults insisted that something was wrong with me, that I was psychotic.”
“The bullies said some degrading things, just the usual. But the words they threw at me this time actually worked it seems.”
William’s face had gotten darker and darker with outrage as each insult at his dear Sherly played over and over in his head.
'How dare they.’ William’s arms subconsciously tightened around Sherlock, as if William is protecting him from the world. How the tables have turned.
This time, Sherlock is the one to be vulnerable. The one to be comforted and supported. William took deep, slow breaths to calm himself down. ‘Now is not the time to be angry.’ His rage dawdled away as he continued to look and cuddle with Sherlock. As William cuddled more with Sherlock until the beginning of night time came. William made a promise to himself that he will protect Sherlock no matter the cost, like Sherlock had protected him. No matter what.
William lightly shook Sherlock’s shoulder. “Sherlock, wake up. We should sleep in bed.” the blond lightly whispered in a soft voice. The dark blue haired man childishly whined in protest.
“Nooo…” Sherlock complained as he dug his face further into William's shoulder that was acting as a pillow for him. William huffed and knew that Sherlock wasn’t going to budge, and William himself was getting pretty tired too. “Alright, we will sleep here just this once.”
The story of Victor didn’t continue on for a while, neither of them brought it up. William noticed that Sherlock was quite disheartened after sharing his childhood memories, so the blond decided to give Sherlock time to open up again. While Sherlock was still gathering up the courage to tell Liam the rest of the story, William was comforting Sherlock by giving the man some cuddles and randomly holding his hand at times.
About over a week passed before Sherlock spoke of Victor again. They had come back to their shared apartment after finishing another mission. William was getting himself out of his jacket when Sherlock sat on the couch, looking nervous and tense.
“Is anything the matter, Sherlock?”
“...I want to continue the story about Victor.” William’s eyes widened for a second before he nodded and sat next to Sherlock. Not caring about anything else anymore, his attention is all on Sherlock now.
“Ok-uhm, so-as I said before; Victor taught me that I should love myself. Even if he didn’t know it. We didn’t just play, we shared a lot of things about each other. His favorite book was called, ‘The Pirate and The Red Bird.’”
“I remember his excited face and how fast he talked about his book when he showed it to me for the first time. He would always make references to that book too...everything was great between the two of us.”
“Everything was okay, everything was fine but...” Sherlock’s tone was full of regret and longing. He gritted his teeth and clenched his hands into fists as the memory of that day played over and over in his head. William looked over at his companion in increasing concern, he put his hand over Sherlock’s clenched fist. Sherlock instantly relaxed his posture and maneuvered his hand so his hand would be holding William’s.
“I’d love to play with you more Sherlock, but I have to go earlier than usual. My parents are probably waiting for me.” Victor said with a little sad smile on his face as he once again said goodbye to his best friend.
“No worries Victor. See you tomorrow.”
“See ya!” Victor shouted back at him as he ran down the little hill, still adorning his captain’s hat along with an eyepatch over his left eye.
Sherlock watched with a fond smile as his best friend slowly became a little speck in the distance. The sky was still blue with the clouds still up high. He should probably go home as well, even if it was a little earlier than usual. Mycroft would probably be waiting for him back at home. His older brother was so happy when he found out that his little brother had finally made his first friend, he didn’t cheer. But the little rare smile on Mycroft’s face said enough for the both of them. The two brothers had gotten closer after Sherlock had made friends with Victor, Sherlock had been slowly coming out of his shell thanks to him.
The young Sherlock Holmes walked down the hill all the way back to the familiar streets of London, the young boy was wondering about how stupid his chemistry teacher was when he suddenly heard a big crash along with loud scream from a woman.
“Help! Someone! Anyone! Get help!” Sherlock looked towards the noise from where he was safe at the sidewalk, many people looked at the road; horrified with what they saw. A big crowd was forming a circle in the middle of the road. Shouts and screams pervaded through the air. Adults were begging for a doctor, a healer, anyone. The young Sherlock moved closer to the scene. Naively curious about what happened. He pushed his way through the crowd, drawing closer and closer to the scene that will haunt him for years to come.
“He was chasing his hat! He didn’t see the carriage coming from the eyepatch!”
Sherlock’s eyes widened and pupils dilated. What he saw made his blood run cold, it was like a bolt out of the blue. He was now at the front of the crowd that was slowly gaining more and more people as it attracted more attention. Loud noises were coming from left and right, noises were everywhere around him. But he didn’t hear anything at all as he was still staring at the unmoving little body in front of him.
Blood...there was so much blood.
Sherlock looked on in horror as he recognized the captain hat by Victor’s side, now ruined and stained with blood. Victor’s face was unmoving...and his eye...oh god, his eye. Sherlock thanked the stars that the other eye was covered with the eyepatch because he didn’t think that he could stand two lifeless eyes looking back at him. Eyes that used to be so full of life, eyes that held so much sincerity when he spoke the words that saved his life-
Eyes that were now so empty.
Sherlock turned to his side, clutched his stomach and threw up.
“I don’t remember much after that, everything was kind of a blur. Mycroft said that he caught me just in time after I threw up because I apparently fainted. I really don’t remember much after that...I just felt numb to everything. Mycroft said that I had to see a therapist again. Which I only remember snippets of. I remember being numb, then being sad, then being angry. Angry and sad at the carriage for not being careful enough, at Victor for not being more cautious while on the road, at everyone who witnessed the scene not stopping him fast enough and at myself for not doing anything sooner.”
“The bullies didn’t torment me anymore when they found out about Victor's accident, so they’re not complete arseholes. I was alone again and as I told you before, Victor became my reason to live at the time. But then he was gone. It was like my world had no fun anymore.” “As I grew up, I kept on looking for a distraction from the pain and the grief from Victor’s death. That’s when I resorted to drugs. I was 13 when I took my first smoke and I was 14 when I took my first drug. The first time was very uncomfortable. But it provided me with a sense of peace and quiet that I have longed for ever since Victor passed away.”
“The first time I overdosed was a few months after I took drugs for the first time. It was after I visited Victor’s grave. It was my first time there. I didn’t go to the funeral because I was still in therapy and my mental state was still going haywire at the time. Mycroft found me in my room after I overdosed. I remember waking up in the hospital bed with him by my side. I’ve never seen him look more worried.”
“One day, I was in a really bad mental state. I craved drugs so bad that I even threatened Mycroft to give me some or else I would hurt him and myself, he snapped me out of it before I could do anymore harm though. Over the years, I became more closed off. More rude and indifferent. Especially when I went to a university that wasn’t for me, I had a rough time there. “I will turn crime fighting into a science” I said, and all I heard was laughter. And from that, I became the laughing stock of the school. But my cocky and off putting attitude drove them away.”
“As for how I got the skull ring, I bought it at an antique shop. I bought it because it reminded me of Victor and his love for pirates...I didn’t want to buy it at first. I was conflicted. I didn’t want to be constantly reminded of Victor, but there was this kind of pull to the ring that I couldn’t ignore. I did regret purchasing it the few weeks I first had it, but then I realised that I can’t just run away from my problems and my grief forever. And that there will always be a place in my heart that misses him regardless of what I do...so I kept it.”
“My personality became cocky, arrogant, and self-centered. It stayed like that for a long time too. I was always kinda alone. But then I met John.”
“He became my best friend after Victor. We became like two peas in a pod. He didn't push me away because I was freaky or had a more advanced mind. Ever since he came and started solving cases with me, its been more fun than ever. I was glad that I had someone who can share the joy of solving cases with me. It’s not like I was begging him to stay at 221B forever because I would grow bored without him. It was because of my dependence on him. So...I must admit that I did become a tiny, just a tiny bit jealous after he announced that he was engaged to Mary. I even unconsciously tried to intimidate her, trying to figure her out. Because I wanted John to be happy, that is what I hoped for. I apparently didn’t realise it at the time but I was afraid of Mary taking him away from me. Which is stupid-I don’t know why I thought that.”
“So, uh...yeah…”
Sherlock awkwardly trailed off since he didn’t know what to even say after he practically and unintentionally spilled his guts out in an emotional spur. He meant to take it nice and slow, but he unintentionally just put more pressure on Liam and said way too much before the blond could even digest the information. Sherlock only then noticed that there were wet droplets on his and William’s clasped hands. He looked over to his blond companion and was taken aback to see the blond...crying. William’s face was streaked with silent tears and the blond’s hand was holding his own like a lifeline.
“Uh...Liam?” William said nothing in reply, just gave out a choked sob and leaned his head on Sherly’s shoulder. Sherlock pressed a concerned kiss on William’s forehead.
“Liam?” Why are you crying?
“...You’re so strong, Sherly.” I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry that happened to you.
Sherlock’s eyes softened with a melancholy glow. The ravenette leaned his head down to lightly place it on top of William’s.
“You are strong as well, Liam.” I am too…
William knew that he would never meet Victor. But Victor saved his Sherly, just like Sherlock saved him; and he will be forever grateful. As the days passed on from Sherlock sharing his backstory. The ravenette has noticed William has become a little more...protective? And touchy? The blond would sometimes randomly cup Sherlock’s face in his hands and just stare at him while caressing his cheeks with his fingers and kiss his forehead. (Which would never fail to make Sherlock blush every time but he would never admit that.) William would give him more cuddles as well. And everytime Sherlock is feeling even just a little bit down, William would always demand what’s wrong and what’s bothering him, even when he was jokingly mad at Billy as a part of a lighthearted jest; William glared at Billy like Milverton came back from the dead.
Billy had a hard time looking at William in the eye after that.
Sherlock really appreciated all of what William is doing, really he does. He is curious as to why though. But he thinks that he might already know the answer.
“Hey Liam.”
William turned to him from where the blond was looking at documents from his desk. When he made eye contact with Sherlock, the blond man was struck by how breathtaking his dear companion’s beautiful sea-like eyes were, and William doesn’t think that there will ever be a day where those blue eyes cease to amaze him. Sherlock had really matured from when he first met the detective on the Noahtic. Back then, Sherlock’s hair was up in a messy ponytail along with casual messy clothing along with a cocky smirk and a strange but charming liveliness to him. Now though, Sherlock has truly matured. His clothes are now neat and tidy, his gorgeous long hair now looks clean and tamed and as he learned more about Sherlock; he learned that this wonderful, magnificent man in front of him is kind, patient, funny, caring, affectionate...god he’s perfect.
“Hello? Liam?” William snapped out of his simping trance and looked at Sherlock again.
“I do apologize there Sherlock, it seemed that something was on my mind. Would you mind repeating that again please?”
“Ok, well. I’ve noticed that you have been acting differently lately. Care to explain?” Sherlock answered, blunt as ever.
William blinked in astonishment but then caught on not long after. “Ah, I apologize. I did not realise that I was being so obvious.”
'Really Liam? You literally held my face in your hands.’
Sherlock waved the apology off. “No, no--it’s fine. Just tell me why.”
“...do I need a reason to be protective of you, Sherlock?” William blurted out in a curious manner.
Sherlock’s cheeks coloured a faint pink, “Wha-”
“Do I need a reason to think that you are strong and kind?”
“Well-” William stood and walked from his chair towards the blushing Sherlock. It’s quite an endearing sight. Then William asked another question.
“Does Louis need a reason to love me and Albert?” Sherlock’s expression became contemplative as he thought that question over.
“No, he doesn’t.”
William nodded in approval. “Then…”
The blond’s eyes became sultry and captivating just like when they had first met on the Noahtic and when they had flirted with each other on the train. He comes even closer to Sherlock, their faces practically within a hair’s breadth of each other.
“Do I need a reason to love you, Mr. Holmes?” Sherlock’s heart practically exploded right then and there. His face had never felt this red, his heart felt as if it had turned to goo but his voice had no restrictions as he replied-
“Kiss me.”
William blinked in surprise while Sherlock slapped his hands over his mouth, mortified with what he had blurted out. Sherlock looked horrified but William gave an amused laugh. William suddenly tapped Sherlock’s forehead with his finger, breaking Sherlock out of his embarrassment. William smiled and leaned in forward, kissing Sherlock on the lips. Sherlock eagerly kissed back. Their movements were slow and sweet. The kiss was perfect, their mouths fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. When they both pulled away from the kiss, they were looking at each other with soft and tender eyes. Both happy and content.
After a second of silence, Sherlock said “Well, that’s not how I planned our confession to go.”
William laughed, and Sherlock soon followed after. Both stayed in each other’s embrace as their laughter filled the room.
And they aren’t letting go.
Sherlock continued to sit in silence as he watched Liam’s beautiful, damaged body. He watched the little rise and fall of Liam’s chest as he continued breathing as a constant reminder that he was alive. Because on some days, Sherlock would doubt that what he was seeing is real. So he would graze Liam’s warm fingertips, put his ear over Liam’s nose or mouth just to hear the inhale and exhale of his slow breaths or put his fingers over Liam’s throat and wrist to feel his pulse. To remind himself that he really did it.
He saved Liam.
They are both alive.
Sherlock didn’t even realise for a few seconds, but tears welled up in his eyes and slid down his cheeks. His fingers went up and tried to wipe the tears away from his face, but more kept on coming; and eventually, he was sobbing. Sherlock hid his face in his hands as chest heaved with sobs and his body unconsciously doubled over.
He was so scared…
When he saw Liam at the edge of that bridge…
When he saw him fall…
He was so scared that he was going to lose another person he loved.
But he couldn’t let that happen again. He just couldn’t. And besides, he had gotten a promise to keep.
So he jumped.
And he wrapped Liam’s body around his own.
Sherlock continued to cry until he felt a cold sting on his cheek. No one else was there; so he looked down, it was just his ring. ‘The metal of the ring must have touched my face.’ Sherlock smiled through his tears.
“Ah, Victor. Telling me not to cry, are ya?”
He held his right hand up in front of his face, looking at the skull ring. Looking at the ring that holds so many precious memories, the ring that once only brought him sadness and regret. And of course he will still be sad at times. But now instead of sadness, this ring brings him a bittersweet happiness. It makes him realise how far he has come, even if he had made big and small mistakes along the way.
Even though Victor is not here anymore, Sherlock can always meet him in the beautiful memories.
He might grow old and forget one day, but he accepts that. Because he knows that all of the times that he spent with Victor were not a lie, they were real. And this skull ring of his will continue to remind him of that.
“Victor…do you think that I will be able to tell Liam what you have told me one day?”