Chapter Text
Jim Moriarty burst into his twin brother's bedroom.
"Is he alright?" he asked the medics.
Everyone were still hustling around Richard so Jim lost patience
"I said, is he alright?" he barked at them louder this time
Silence. The senior doctor stepped out and started explaining in a soothing voice about Richard's condition.
"It was a flesh wound, only one internal organ was damaged but we managed to save it." he said
Jim closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. "You take good care of him, you hear me?" he demanded
"Of course!" the doctor reassured him.
"... or else..."
There was no need to finish the sentence really. Everyone in the room knew it would go something along the lines of "I will burn the hearts out of you". Which in this case was even funnier because they were all doctors, and there was even one heart surgeon among them, a fact that would particularly amuse Jim had he not been pissed by whoever decided to shoot or stab his brother!
Jim came closer to Richard's bed, looking at him. He was sleeping peacefully. Weak. Gentle. Definitely kinder than Jim. Wouldn't hurt a fly. A dreamer... and a fool! That was his brother! Jim loved him in his own strange way. And he had to protect him. The little fool isn't capable of protecting himself so someone had to take care of it.
Jim stormed out of the room the same way he had stormed in.
===
"Would that be all, boss?" Moran, his loyal sniper asked
"Yes." Jim replied, leaning back on his armchair. "Oh, no, actually. There's one more thing"
Moran stopped at the door. "What's that, boss?"
"I need a bodyguard."
Sebastian froze. "Am I fired or am I dead, boss?"
Jim chuckled "Neither, I hope." he explained "I didn't mean a bodyguard for me, silly! You're doing a great job. I meant for my brother."
"Oh, could've f*cking said so before giving me a heart attack"
Jim let that remark slide.
"He's constantly in danger despite the fact that he hasn't done anything" Moriarty said
"Probably that has something to do with the fact that he's wearing your face" Seb suggested
Jim glared at him. "You think?" he snapped "Look, Moran, you either find me a proper bodyguard or you just-- f*ck the f*ck off!"
Yes, that was the only language Moran would understand, Jim was positive.
Long pause. Sebastian moved closer and Jim involuntarily flinched.
"I have a guy in mind." Moran finally said.
"Good. That's better. Who?"
===
"And there he is!" Sebastian grinned, pointing at the man who was approaching them
"You've got to be kidding me!" Jim exclaimed
"Nope. That's really the guy" Sebastian said.
The "guy" was actually Sebastian Moran. Except, it wasn't Sebastian Moran. Let me explain. It was Sebastian's twin brother. Same face, same conduct, same everything as if Jim was seeing double.
"This is ridiculous!" Jim finally spoke "I can't have this sort of thing going on here!"
"Why not? He's really good" Sebastian insisted
"Because if they walk London together every single one of my enemies would think it's me and you!" he spat every word "The point was to keep Richie safe not turn him into a bl%dy practice target!"
"It's a good idea though, admit it, boss." Seb whispered "Confusing all your enemies, like having doppelgangers. They'd never know who's who, who's the real one. It's brilliant! No one would ever get to you--"
"Shut up, Moran!" Jim interrupted him "No one gets to me anyway. I don't want them getting to Richard."
Sebastian shrugged "Fine. I'll tell my brother to go away then."
Jim looked at the two Morans talking. Sebastian was clearly excited about this, Jim wondered why. It was a dangerous job and Seb just wanted to throw his brother at it? Strange... It was beyond Jim to understand what Seb's motives could possibly be! If he wanted a job for his brother, there were clearly less deadly placements they could find.
For some reason Moriarty did not want to disappoint Sebastian on this one. But risking Richard's life even more...? No. Definitely not. Then the brilliance of the scheme began to kick in... Two Jim Moriartys, two Sebastian Morans, on two different places at the same time... Keeping everyone on edge. Shocking everyone. How he managed to do it. Perfect alibis, not to mention the fun! Richard was endangered by their resemblance anyway, why not taking it all the way then?
"Sebastian!" he called his sniper
Sebastian approached. He was sulking a little and trying to hide it but Jim felt it.
"Yes, boss?"
"If he can shoot half as good as you, he's hired." Jim said
He was hired.