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Since returning to London and announcing their engagement, Sherlock and William have barely been able to see each other. The absence of his loved one was like torture, after all, they spent three years living side by side, taking care of each other, cooking for each other, sleeping with each other. The cause was not any MI6 mission, or intense work, quite the opposite. Everything was too calm. The problem was that, simply, every day Louis invented a different activity together with his brothers. And the worst problem: both William and Sherlock realized the youngest Moriarty's intentions. He had matured, without a doubt, but the jealousy he had for his older brother remained firm and strong.
William, in turn, could not deny any request involving his family; after all, he comprehended how much they had missed him and needed his presence to comfort them. Not that the activities proposed to him were tedious. He spent hours playing chess and cards with Moran, or tasting wine with Albert. He had countless conversations of Bonde, who told several stories about important artists he worked with when worked on stage. He monitored and cared for several rose bushes with Fred, as well he helped Jack polish all the new silverware, which, despite being much more humble than what they had in his mansion, was of very good quality. Moneypenny told him about numerous missions that MI6 had during the period he was away and William commented very excitedly about having read about several cases in the New York newspapers, always wondering if his friends were involved and now he confirmed that they were. Louis spent the day cooking countless dishes for William, claiming that he needed to regain the weight he lost during the years apart.
At the end of the day, William was exhausted, especially after eating so much and being practically sucked in by his entire family who demanded his presence. He couldn't deny that it made him feel happy and loved, but he missed Sherlock immensely. How he wanted to talk to him at that moment! If he could disguise himself again and sneak to 221B... However, why didn't Sherlock come and visit him? It had been a week since he had even appeared at Universal Exports, nor had he sent a telegram.
Laying down on his bed, William turned to his side and sighed. Bad thoughts invaded him. Had everything between them cooled down with their return to the UK? He felt his chest tighten as he thought about the hypothesis, however, it could have happened. The detective would not like to continue having a relationship with someone who everyone believed had died, but worse, someone who had been called the greatest enemy of that entire country, a demon. William squinted his eyes, anguished. Two knocks on the door preceded it opening. Whoever entered knew well that they didn't need any formalities to enter William's rooms.
The blonde turned towards the entrance and found his older brother. Albert, who had a bottle of wine in his hands, was worried when he saw him there, lying down with his head down. It was after seven in the evening.
- Is there a problem, Will? Not feeling well?
- No, I'm great, nii-san. – he smiled, sitting down. - Do you need something?
- I wanted to call you so we could talk, have a drink. In my room, like old times.
A genuine smile crossed the lips of the one who, despite not having the same blood, loved Albert like the dear brother he was.
- Let's go!
Albert's quarters were next to William's. They entered the room and went to a small table with two chairs covered in velvet and which were close to the window, next to the bed. The older man pulled out the two chairs, offering one to the blonde, who soon sat down. The click of the cork coming off that bottle echoed through the place and Albert served them both in those two long glasses.
- A toast to the return of my dear little brother! – the brunette proposed.
- Nii-san.
They both raised their glasses before bringing them to their lips. The sweet taste of the wine instantly brought back memories of Sherlock. One night they had gone out to dinner and the detective ended up drinking too much and kissing him in front of everyone in the restaurant. A nostalgic smile hovered across his face.
- Will. – Albert's hand covered his, which was on the table. – I know you are bothered about something. Don't you want to tell me about it?
William blushed, looking away, now looking at the dark liquid in the cup.
- Nii-san... I'm just... trying to get used to everything.
- Aren't you happy living again with us? – his face showed sadness when he asked, fearing a positive response.
- Of course I am! – William stated confidently. - It's just...
- Holmes?
The question was like a direct shot in the chest of William, who responded nothing, but the tears that accumulated in the corners of his eyes did.
- What happened?
- I don't know, nii-san. He hasn't shown up in days and... I think something happened and he's avoiding me.
- Avoiding you?
- So it is. As busy as we are together, Sherly – he let the nickname slip out naturally. – could very well come here and visit me. He knows I cannot go out without being undercover and...
Three knocks on the window interrupted William's statement, who was surprised to see the pigeon that was in front of the closed window. The bird pecked at the glass once again and Albert quickly got up to open it.
- Charlie!
Albert exclaimed and affectionately received the animal that had a small metal bag attached to its body. He stroked the top of its feathers before opening that tiny compartment and taking out a piece of paper.
- What does your father want with me at this late?
William let out a chuckle when he saw Albert talking in such a cute way to the pigeon that, he knew, his brother used to exchange messages with Mycroft . It was no news that the two had been in a romantic relationship for many years. That was when, suddenly, William had an idea, while Albert was reading the message.
- Nii-san , does Charlie know Sherly's address ?
The brunette blinked, he wasn't sure.
- Well, he belongs to Mycroft, so I don't doubt he knows.
The pigeon, which was now inside the room, on that small round table, chirped when it heard the name of the ex-Earl Moriarty's boyfriend's brother.
- Can you deliver a message to Sherly, Charlie? – William asked and the pigeon chirped once again.
- Why don't you try sending him a message, Will? – Albert proposed.
- I'll do it!
- Use my desk! – Albert indicated while stroking the bird in his arms.
It didn't take long for William to write a short note that he was sure would be enough for Sherlock to show up – even if he no longer wanted to continue their relationship. The professor trusted him a lot. He wrote in his beautiful handwriting: “It’s an emergency, Sherly! Come to Universal Exports immediately! PS: Enter through the balcony of my bedroom. WJM.”
- Here, Charlie. – the blonde placed the message inside that small compartment that was at the level of the pigeon's chest. – Take this message to Sherly in 221B.
Chirping, Charlie jumped off Albert's lap and flapped his wings, leaving through the same window he had entered.
- Let's see if he answers. – William sighed.
- Well, let's finish our wine because Mycroft wants to meet me later tonight. – Albert blushed softly; William didn't know if it was due to the alcohol or talking about the intimacy he had with his boyfriend.
- Thank you, nii-san. I'll wait for the answer then.
Telling Louis that he would not have dinner that night, as he was feeling unwell, the mathematics teacher lay on his bed, already wearing a comfortable robe and under the light of the lamp that helped him to read the book he had in his hands. That tome, which deepened the study of elliptic functions, was nothing less than the first publication of Bill Hunting, who had just graduated from Durham University. He did read each page with immense pride in knowing that he had participated in changing the life of that young man with no perspective.
He was startled when he heard a noise coming from the balcony of his rooms. Closing the book and placing it on the bed, William stood up, adjusting the sash around his waist to better close his robe, walking to the double glass doors, opening them to find his beloved detective outside. His heart accelerated when he saw Sherlock with a very apprehensive expression, but surprised to find him.
William quickly pulled one of the sheets that covered the bed and, tying it to the walls of the balcony, threw the fabric so that his beloved could climb up.
Sherlock, with some difficulty, reached William who, as soon as he had his detective in front of him, hugged him tightly. How good it was to feel that warm once again! It was as if all his anxieties had dissipated. The brunette did the same, feeling his beloved Liam's body wrapped around his own.
- I missed you, Sherly! – William declared, moving his face away to look at him.
- Me too, Liam! I had no idea you was here! I was worried when I received your message especially because it came from my brother's pigeon. – he spoke as if he found very bizarre the fact that Mycroft had a pigeon as a pet. – And you said it was an emergency!
- What do you mean you had no idea I was here? – William asked, confused.
- Hey, I received a telegram from Louis saying that you went to the Durham mansion because they wanted to rest and spend time with you there.
William's red eyes – at that time of night, as he was in his quarters ready to sleep, he was no longer wearing the eye patch. – grew up listening to Sherlock’s story. However, he did not feel angry with his brother. Deep down, he understood all that overprotection and the fact that Louis wanted to monopolize him.
- Oh, I can't believe it! – the blonde put a hand to his forehead, massaging it.
- Weren't you there? – Sherlock asked.
- No, Sherly! The Durham state was vandalized by people angry with... err ... the Lord of Crime. – he quickly looked away, but looked back at him. – I don't know, sometimes, what to do with Louis and these attitudes.
- It's going to take time for him to accept us, Liam... – Sherlock tried to be mature and deal with it in the best way possible. – But since I'm here… – he smirked.
- Will you spend the night with me? – William asked, holding on to the sides of the black suit that the detective was wearing. It seemed more like a plea than a mere request.
- Of course!
The two entered, closing the balcony after collecting the sheet that Sherlock used to climb there. William turned around and, from behind, removed the detective's jacket, who was already unbuttoning his shirt and getting rid of his shoes. The blonde led him to his bed and they both lay down, side by side. They exchanged caresses in the dim light, blues and reds feverish with passion reflecting each other. After a long time of cuddling each other through kisses and affection, William showed Bill's book and they commented with pride on the boy's progress. Then the blonde told him about how his last days had been. They were lying down, facing each other. William's finger played with Sherlock's long hair, wrapping his index finger with a strand of navy blue. Sherlock, in turn, caressed that soft and delicate face that he loved so much, sinking his fingers into the back of his neck and reaching his lover's golden strands.
- I thought... you didn't want anything to do with me anymore. – declared William, a little shy, but sincere.
- What? I was very irritated by the fact that you traveled without me! Although I needed to understand, after all, your family missed you and nothing was more fair than for you to take a vacation with them.
- But I didn't go to Durham with them, I didn't travel with my family! – William scolded. – It was all a lie by Louis! I don't know how I'm going to approach this with him, but I need to talk!
- Liam... Don't complain to him. – the detective shook his head awkwardly. - What we have to do is... look for our own space. Only then will Louis understand that you will live with me now and will continue to love and have contact with them. He can't stop us from being together.
- You're right. It's just that it hurts me, he's always so worried about me and...
- But you were suffering when we were apart, weren't you?
William just nodded.
- When I sent that note, I thought that even if you didn't want to get along with me anymore as... your fiancé, you were going to come because I said it was an emergency. I'm sorry for lying and worrying you .
- But you didn't lie! – Sherlock laughed. – In fact, it was an emergency. We needed each other urgently. I was also going crazy without you around. I even thought about going to Durham, but I didn't have an address or anything about where your house was there.
- I'm glad you didn't go because you would have found a house falling apart. – William laughed. – And you would think that the city’s residents finally get rid of the Lord of Crime.
- The Lord of Crime died, Liam... – he fixed his eyes on the blonde. – there’s only Liam now. My Liam. – he was emphatic. – And from now on we won’t get separate anymore. Never!
- Never! – confirmed the teacher.
After sealing that promise, they kissed passionately. William felt, once again, safe in the arms of his beloved detective, who had only been far due to gossip provoked by Louis. From that moment on, a new decision was made for both of their lives: they would never be far from each other or allow anyone to separate them. The need to be together forever was more than urgent.