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Sunlight seeped through the thin curtain, the air still as time passed by slowly. Golden light hits blond hair, who buries his face deeper into the crook of the other man’s neck, exhaling softly. It was too early in the morning and the only important plans to be made were to stay in bed.
He feels a hand caress his hair, with a low rumble in his chest. “Liam?”
The blond tightens his hold on the man’s torso, bringing him closer. He hears a soft chuckle and he’s almost tempted to breathe in the lazy morning. William was unable to contain the growing smile when he feels Sherlock gently trail his hand to his cheek, tracing the way his lips curve.
A red eye slowly blinks at the man. “Hi.”
There were moments like this, as quiet and still. When the only thing that matters is them, and the space meant for the two. When whispering and longing turned to secrets that the world will never know.
“Hi,” Sherlock easily replied. His fingers went back to playing with the strands of his hair, a fond expression in his eyes reflected in his smile reserved only for him. William shied away from his gaze, feeling drowsier by the second.
“Do you have plans this morning, or am I allowed to go back to sleep?” He feels the man shift closer ‘til they were nose to nose. He was sure he still had that look in his eyes, and he was grateful his hair was messy that morning to hide the rosy dust coating his cheeks.
Sherlock hummed. “Dunno yet. I just know I wanna spend it with you. Even if it takes you 5 hours to wake up.”
William let a snort spill. “How do you put up with me?”
“I just know you.” The blond mirrored his grin, eyes crinkling from laughing. “I know you’ve been sleeping rather late, recently.”
“I just didn’t want to miss out on our conversations.”
“And what did I say to that?”
“...that we’d have them tomorrow.” William closes his eyes when he feels his hand brush his cheek again, almost as if he wanted to keep touching him, every part of him. He liked it. He always liked it.
“I promised, didn’t I?” The blond opens his eyes, meeting a tender expression with an emotion that could be described as love. Sherlock had propped himself on his elbow, the other hand brushing away golden strands.
Blue eyes widened when William brought his hand up to meet the one resting on his cheek. His warmth encompassed his own as he shifted his head and placed a light kiss inside the palm.
He was sure he stopped breathing when their gazes locked in on each other, the ghost of his smile ever present on his features. Fully awake and heart beating out of his chest, he barely missed William’s reply. “Of course.”
I swear, he thought as his eyes trailed to their linked hands, you’re going to be the death of me.
“Seriously…” Sherlock held his gaze, no matter how badly he wanted to turn away. Red eyes stared intensely, but also with such reverence that made him so glad to have met such a person like William.
By God, he was one lucky bastard.
“How did I get reduced to this…? I swear…” Sherlock found himself mumbling, albeit not as quietly as he hoped when he heard melodic laughter ringing in the morning haze.
“Yes, I dare say I couldn’t have predicted this. Us.” He almost sounded breathless at the last word, as if he couldn’t believe it himself. Deft fingers grazed his neck, fingertips alight at the sporadic pulse betraying his steady breath. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at how easy it was to untangle William. “It would’ve been different, wouldn’t it? If we never met, I mean. If I never…”
“…had loved with someone like me.” Red eyes tore away from their linked hands to his face, wearing an expression of curiosity and surprise. Sherlock’s remained the same, with adoration and endearment that felt too soft to hold. “Yeah, I… I didn’t think I could love this much, and be loved all the same. By someone like… you.”
His tone turned shy towards the end as if he was hiding his growing emotions, something fiercer and wilder in the unperturbed air that settled in. As if he could easily break what peace they have in their bed.
“Someone like me?”
“You, then. Just you.” The man’s eyes softened, and Sherlock found himself falling all over again.
“Would that be such a bad thing?”
“You are nonsensical if you found it bad.” William shifted his body so that he was on his elbows, listening intently as the grin on Sherlock’s face widened. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, remember?”
This time, he couldn’t hide his expression. It was clear as day, the way his eyes glistened and the blush burning dark. His momentary shock was plain to see, and he couldn’t help but bury his face into the pillows with a shy grin widening the more he thought about it. “You’re insufferable.”
“I’ve been told that it’s my redeeming quality. Besides, you like it.”
“And if I do?”
He was silent for a while, not expecting that kind of answer. Just as his heartbeat grew quick, so too did his expression morph into one of pure adoration. “Well, I think I like you too.”
“Good to know we established the foundation of our relationship so clearly, then.”
Yes, it was clear. It was clear that Sherlock Holmes had fallen. Hard. That William James Moriarty, once out of reach is finally in his arms. That right now, as the clock softly ticks in the back, fading into the noise of the world, is meant for them.
That much was evident.
As blue eyes raked over his form, eyes staring back with awe and wonder, a smile present in every word that passes through his lips, hands forever intertwined, he understood the finality of his love.
How he, doubtless and unafraid of the love and risk in William, can love and be loved so naturally and easily. He made it easy, and wow, did it scare him so.
“Hey, Liam.”
The blond hummed, playing with their interlocked fingers. “Sh—“
Gently, Sherlock coaxed him to move his head and slotted his lips against his. It didn’t take long for William to regain himself, and he soon found his free arm reaching up to his cheek while the other kept his body upright.
His eyes closed, and he allowed himself to get lost in the sensation. Everything coursed through his veins, setting every nerve on fire as he deepened the kiss.
His fingers dug into his hair while Sherlock’s kept roaming around. From his jaw to his forearms to the back of his head, he wasn’t thinking properly, and it seemed that neither minded that.
Slowly and earnestly had they began to mold into each other, with Sherlock pushing more and more into him, William tilting his head back and keeping a tight grip on his clothes until he fell on top of him.
It didn’t stop the assault on their mouths. With every fevered kiss that made them feel more and more alive, they’d whisper sweet nothings against each other, contrasting the burning sensation in their blood.
His lips were soft and gentle, kissing him as if he could break at any time. He was desperate, demanding, as if this is the only thing that makes sense. Like he could give him clarity. He loved the rush. He loved the feeling. He loved him.
“I love you.”
“Mnn.”
“God, I love you.”
“You talk too much, Sherly.”
“Liam.”
“I love you too. I love… I love you.”
“Marry me.”
It seemed that both of them paused at that. Sherlock, in a drunken haze of Liam, Liam, Liam, hadn’t expected it to fall as easily as it did. William stared up at him, mind in heavy overdrive.
He blinked once. Twice.
“That is…” Sherlock was the first to break the silence. “Are you willing to… with me… be married…?”
William’s expression was unreadable, save for his eyes growing with every word. He was no doubt endeared at the sight of Sherlock a stuttering and blushing mess.
“T-This is… You’re basically…” There was a tremble in his voice, but whether it was due to fear or something else, neither could pin down what it was.
“I… I’ve been thinking about it. For a few months now.” Sherlock, previously hovering on top of William, moved back and sat down in front of the man. “I mean…! Not the thought of marriage, just… just the thought of… this…? Us…?”
He hadn’t planned this out, and he clearly didn’t know how to! It was William. His William who deserved nothing but the best, and a choppy improv confession was anything but that.
“Shit, I mean… Of course, I had been thinking about this for a long time! I-It’s just…”
“W-Wait, Sherlock.” Immediately, he shut his mouth. “For months…? You’ve been thinking about this for such a long time?”
He swallowed down his nerves, but his eyes remained determined and fixated on crimson ones.
“You’re basically p… pr…”
“Yes.” Sherlock doesn’t know where the confidence came from. All he knew was that William’s heart is pounding madly. “I would… marry you…”
The blond sat up, staring down at the blankets, the mattress, anywhere but his eyes. Sherlock followed suit, waiting for his reaction.
William knew he’d joke around, his playful attitude never waning whenever it was with him, but he also knew him to be sincere when it came to this. Hiding his face as best he can, he couldn’t shake that raw feeling.
He could barely say the word! It scared him so, but not as much as it scared him how wide his grin is turning.
“Oh, Sherlock.” Using both hands to cup his face, he watched as the man’s expression turn from concern to disbelief. “What am I going to do with you?”
William had always been an enigma to the world’s greatest detective, but even he knows that look all too well. It’s the type where he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he chose him. He chose Sherlock.
“You have ruined me, you know that?” He’s smiling. William is smiling and Sherlock is sitting there, afraid to move at this point. “My clever detective, surely you must know what you do to me.”
“Liam…”
“I want to marry you.” This time, butterflies and a wave of euphoria washes over them. He can feel the other smile into the kiss, and he understands how to let go of his fears. “For as long as you’ll have me.”
He swears he falls in love all over again.