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"Please refrain from saying that again in the future, thank you." Was apparently the wrong thing to say when someone told you they were in love with you.
John drew back from Mycroft as if he had been physically struck. Which was a feat, considering they were both lying tangled together in Mycroft's very luxurious bed.
John's face was a mottled red suddenly, and his eyes were flashing dangerously. He opened his mouth to speak, but Mycroft quickly beat him to talking. "Anything else would be fine. It's just those words, specificly."
John sat up in the bed, sheets spilling down to his hips. "But I'm your partner!" Then, appearing to catch something of the concern welling within Mycroft, he narrowed his eyes. " So why?"
Mycroft swallowed before speaking slowly and deliberately. "It just doesn't feel right." He hurried on, seeing both John's shoulders and hackles raise more. "The phrase is repugnant. I would show you affection, without the use of a string of words that have been tainted so many times over by smaller minds."
As Mycroft spoke John's shoulders had slowly lowered, until they were now somewhat slumped. "So... anything else is fine?" John finally said, lying back down and turning onto his side to face Mycroft. "I could say 'You make me happy' or 'You make me feel absolutely out of my mind'?"
Mycroft's heart warmed at the tender look that had returned to John's eyes. "Those are most agreeable, yes."
"And," John said slyly, his hand coming to cup Mycoft's face. "If I said 'I want to kiss you more than anything'?"
Mycroft chuckled, which set John off into a round of it himself. "I'd say that sounds absolutely like what I want to hear."
Mycroft leaned up and passionately caught John's lips with his own.