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“Tell me it’s not my fault.” Sherlock looking to John and raised a knowing brow, as Mycroft entered the flat unannounced as always.
“It’s not your fault.” Mycroft responded glibly, before John could.
“He lies.” John pointed at the elder Holmes.
“Of course I lie.” Mycroft rolled his eyes as he took a seat on the couch and looked at his brother.
John raised his own brow at Mycroft’s serious expression. “Should I leave?”
“No, you’ll find out anyway.” Sherlock and Mycroft spoke nearly in unison.
The brothers gave similar sniffs of chagrin at the proof of one of the ways they are alike as John grinned in amusement.
“The isolated man who does not mind being different; who does not know that he is lonely.” Mycroft smiled ironically.
John remained silent understanding there a story he did not know behind it, as Sherlock gave a slight nod in acknowledgement of words spoken long ago as Mycroft continued.
“In the end, I really was obvious, wasn’t I? I was textbook: the hidden pain of isolation, the slow joy of realizing there someone who understood; the unexpected craving of friendship and then... more…” He smiled again, but sweetly this time “... and you slowly pushed and watched as I even more slowly fell. Oh, it is absolutely your fault, Brother Mine, and I thank you.”
“Oh, I admit, I drove him into your path.” Sherlock conceded, “Because you were too stupid to take the wheel on your own.” Sherlock gave Mycroft a look that dared him to gainsay his words, knowing he could not.
“Ah…” John smiled as it all came to him. “You’re not asking for his blessing – you know you have it. May we see it…?”
“Et tu…?” Mycroft grumbled. “Can nothing be secret with you?”
“Yes, his fault also.” Sherlock gestured to John, “Without him I never would have realized I could push.”
“Definitely your fault, Sherlock.” John took the jeweler’s box Mycroft held out. John whistled at the ring inside: rugged, understated and yet lovely to the eye – much like its imminent recipient. “I did not imagine this.”
He handed the box to Sherlock who made an impressed sound before he handed it back to his brother.
“Realizing I was falling for him was a miracle, realizing he was falling for me was a blessing. I know what you did, but why Sherlock?”
“Honestly, all I hoped for you was a solid friendship, Mycroft. Someone else you could implicitly trust. Who wouldn’t have it out for you or want anything from you but mutual respect. Because as John, by some fortuitous miracle, learned with me…” Sherlock winked at his husband, “Greg learned to see past the ice façade and see you. In turn, you saw that he is a strong man, a patient man – he’d have to be to deal with either of us, let alone both – Greg is an intelligent man who knows his worth, he is a good man and he sees that you are one as well. Still, I am not Eros, Anteros, or heaven forbid Himeros – the subsequent falling was all yours.”
“I know of Eros and Anteros, but Himeros? Which god is that?” John asked.
“God of sexual desire, the twin brother of Eros, and for my brother…” Sherlock smirked when Mycroft quickly hid the jeweler’s box and stood, “… the one coming up the stairs…”
John grinned as a familiar trod was heard before an even more familiar face was seen. “Hey, Greg.”
“Hey, John, Sherlock.” Greg appeared at the door. “Evenin’ luv, I heard ‘…the one coming up the stairs...’ do I want to know?”
“Not really.” Mycroft gave John and Sherlock dirty looks.
“Sorry mates, hate to come and go, but I took a taxi and traffic’s a beast. If you have reservations somewhere for six or seven, Mycroft we should hop to now…” Greg gestured to the steps.
Mycroft looked at his pocket watch and headed towards Greg, “Let us quickly depart then.”
“So smooth, Brother Mine – what’s the rush?” Sherlock teased.
“Yes,” John chimed in, “wasn’t there a question you wanted to ask him…?”
“Oh no, I know that tone of voice. I don’t know what’s going on, but on THAT note we’re out.” a knowing Greg took Mycroft’s arm and quickly ushered him out. “Later mates.”
“Right, mates…” John chuckled as the two left.
“I know…” Sherlock waited until he heard the downstairs door close. “…wait until Greg learns we’re soon about in-laws and not just mates anymore."