Chapter Text
Boredom and uneasiness. These two feelings were the only ones Ryunosuke could feel as of late. With Susato gone back to Japan, he was left alone living with Mr. Sholmes and Iris. Not that they weren't great company and accommodating but he still felt somewhat out of place. Mostly due to the fact that Ryunosuke had realized he was definitely in love with Sholmes.
He doesn't know when it started. It seemed as though one day, without cause, he saw Sholmes with a warm lens. Logically, it didn't make any sense. Sholmes was eccentric, forgetful, spontaneous, handsome . None of these characteristics fit with his usual tastes. How could that be the man Ryunosuke fell for?
Since recognizing these feelings, Ryunosuke had been very adamant in keeping his distance from Sholmes. He figured that if he simply stayed away from Sholmes, that eventually the feelings would subside and everything could go back to the way they were. Now, this was rendered much more difficult due to Ryunosuke living with Sholmes. Unfortunately for him, his attempts to hide his feelings only piqued the interest of a certain eccentric, handsome detective.
One evening whilst Iris was out running an errand, Sholmes decided to corner Ryunosuke to question him as to why he had been avoiding him. Now, being the great detective he was, Sholmes had already figured out why. Nonetheless, he wanted to question Ryunosuke to solidify his findings.
Just as Ryunosuke was leaving to retire to his bedroom, Sholmes quickly grabbed him, spun him around, pressured him against a wall and entrapped him with his arms leaving him with no escape.
“Now, Mr. Naruhodo, might I ask as to why you have unmistakably been avoiding me the last few weeks?” Sholmes questioned with a quirked brow.
Flustered and shocked by the preceding events, Ryunosuke was at a loss for words.
“Perhaps you're right, Mr Naruhodo,” Sholmes continued without a response, “I already know the answer so why go to the trouble of interrogating you?”
Oh Lord, have I been that obvious?! Ryunosuke thought, How could I have thought I could keep a secret from a detective? Even if he is wrong half the time, there is still the remaining half where he’s right.
“See it all began one of the following nights since Mrs. Susato’s departure for Japan. You and Iris were in the sitting room as I was returning from a case. As soon as I entered through the door, your gaze was completely fixated on Iris, not even acknowledging my presence. And once I came and sat down next to you, your complexion turned to a complete crimson! Now, this alone wasn’t what grew my speculation. On another occasion, whilst having tea, I came up from behind you to grab the sugar. Once again, your eyes averted mine and your visage turned to a deep shade of red. Even now, your features are glowing with heat!”.
Oh God, kill me now. Ryunosuke pleaded internally.
“So!” Sholmes continued, “From these such events, I’ve been able to make a few deductions. Now, Mr. Naruhodo, prepare yourself for my patented Logic and Reasoning Spectacular!”.
“Before you start,” Ryunosuke interjected, “Might I ask you a question?”.
“Go right on ahead,” Sholmes said with a smile.
“If you already know why I’m avoiding you, why are you asking me?” Ryunosuke questioned, hoping this would end this embarrassing conversation.
For a moment, Sholmes had nothing to say. Ryunosuke, feeling relieved, believed that he had finally shut Sholmes up. But then, that signature smirk came upon his face and he began to laugh.
“Mr. Naruhodo,” he chuckled, “The reason you’re avoiding me is something we must discuss! It would be careless of me to not ask you about it,”.
Ryunosuke’s face grew even redder.
Why did the man I fall for have to be so insistent?! He cried.
“Sholmes, can’t you save me the embarrassment?” Ryunosuke protested, “I’d really rather not talk about it,”.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of Mr. Naruhodo,” Sholmes quirked his brow, “It’s not something you can control. I have the same issue in the springtime,”.
Ryunosuke froze. He looked up at Sholmes and was met with a content expression. Could it be that Sholmes didn’t know why he had been avoiding him? Or at least, he thought he knew why he was avoiding him. But from his last comment, Ryunosuke was certain he didn’t.
“Actually Sholmes,” Ryunosuke responded hesitantly, “I do want you to tell me why I’ve been avoiding you,”.
“Oh perfect,” Sholmes exclaimed, “Now, let the Logic and Reasoning Spectacular begin! My primary deduction was that of your sudden changes in temperature and complexion. Now, from my observations, this only occurs when you are in close proximity to me and me alone. Mr. Naruhodo, what is a drastic change in temperature typically a symptom of?”.
“Umm… I’m not really sure—”.
“Precisely,” Sholmes interrupted, “Skin that is hot to the touch or extremely rosy can indicate the beginning of a severe allergic reaction known as: anaphylactic shock. Therefore, by reviewing all the information I have gathered and thoroughly examined, there is only once possible conclusion: you, Mr. Naruhodo, are allergic to me,”.
Ryunosuke was at a loss for words. He couldn’t even comprehend how this was the conclusion Sholmes had reached. Was it even possible to be allergic to a person? But maybe this was for the best. If Sholmes thought Ryunosuke was allergic to him, then he wouldn’t have to admit the real reason he turned red at the sight of him.
“Alright Sholmes,” Ryunosuke sighed, “You’re right. I’m allergic to you,”.
“By jove, Mr. Naruhodo! Why hadn’t you told me sooner? We could’ve started treatment much sooner,”. Sholmes exclaimed.
“Well, I didn’t think… Wait, treatment?” Ryunosuke questioned.
“Mr. Naruhodo, if you don’t get treatment for your ailment, living with me and Iris will prove much more difficult,”
“Sholmes,” Ryunosuke said apprehensively, “Allergies can’t be cured. I’m fairly certain those are quite permanent,”.
“On the contrary, Mr. Naruhodo,” Sholmes smiled, “There has been a recent breakthrough in the treatment of allergies. It’s called exposure therapy and lucky for you, I am more than willing to give it to you,”.
“Expose therapy…?”.
“Well, to put it in layman's terms, simply exposing yourself to your allergy more frequently can aid in your tolerance,” Sholmes explained, “Therefore, let the treatment begin!”.
Suddenly, Sholmes’ coat was gone from his abdomen and he was quickly unbuttoning his shirt. Ryunosuke had to fight his eyes from looking down to Sholmes’ chest.
Oh no. Oh no, no, no. This might be infinitely worse than him knowing I love him.
“S-Sholmes, I’m not sure we need to do this right now! What if Iris comes home and sees us like this?” Ryunosuke argued.
“Oh, you needn’t worry Mr. Naruhodo. We will simply take this to my bedroom,”.
Ok, this is definitely worse.
Before Ryunosuke could say anything, Sholmes grabbed his hand, pulled him up the stairs into his bedroom and tossed him on the bed. Sholmes continued to remove his clothing as Ryunosuke layed on the bed, frozen in shock.
Should I simply tell him the truth? Is it too late to tell him the truth?
Before Ryunosuke had any more bright ideas, he realized that Sholmes was stripped right down to his undergarments with a content look on his face. Ryunosuke instinctively covered his eyes, wondering if his heart could take any more embarrassment today. Despite him voluntarily covering his eyes, Ryunosuke did feel the bubbling desire to peek, to look at Sholmes and all his bare skin. He then felt the bed sink a little to his left, assuming Sholmes had sat next to him.
“Why on earth are you covering your eyes, Ryunosuke?” Sholmes asked, as he pulled Ryunosuke’s hands from his face.
“I…Uh… I wanted to maintain some of your modesty…?” Ryunosuke weakly replied.
Sholmes burst out in laughter at his comment. Once it subsided, he gestured down at Ryunosuke’s clothing with a confused glance.
“Why are you still clothed?” Sholmes questioned.
Ryunosuke had no reply to this. This single, innocent, comment had completely knocked all the wind out of his lungs, rendering him speechless.
“We’ll be able to get you accustomed to me much quicker if it’s direct contact with the allergen,” Sholmes explained.
“Are you certain that’s how it works?” Ryunosuke questioned, as a last ditch effort to stop any further undressing.
Suddenly, Sholmes stood up and walked over to his desk grabbing both a needle and a book. He returned to Ryunosuke’s side, flipping through the pages till finally stopping at one. There was a long bookmark resting in the crevice between the two pages and there were multiple sentences highlighted and underlined. Clearly Sholmes had spent many hours studying this specific page.
“From all my recent research, everything suggests that this ,” he referred to his body and Ryunosuke’s, “is the best way to treat any modern allergy,”.
Sholmes then lifted the needle in his hand.
“And this is what I’ll use if you go into an extreme anaphylactic shock,” he smiled, “I can’t have my best lodger dying, now can I?”.
That was all Ryunosuke needed to hear. With that, his clothes nearly disappeared before Sholmes’ eyes and now they both sat on the bed; naked.
“So… now what?”.