Chapter Text
More or less 30 years ago a retired military doctor happened to met a charming detective in a morgue. More or less 30 years ago they started renting an apartment together. For more or less 30 years now Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are known to be the inseparable detective duo from London.
For more or less 3 years John sometimes finds it hard to get to his room upstairs. His body is not what it used to be and his leg started hurting especially when he tried to navigate narrow steps leading to his room.
It happened that on one of such days when the aching in his leg was especially annoying John slipped while climbing the stairs, which thankfully ended only in a few bruises and a hurting back.
Ever since then Sherlock insists when he sees John is not up for the task of climbing the stairs, that his dear doctor should stay in his bed. At first Sherlock offered that he can sleep on the couch but John felt bad about taking his bed from him. - oh, bloody hell Watson it’s nothing of great importance, my bed is big enough for three people, we will menage- said Sherlock, annoyed after they bickered about it for 3 hours. Sherlock went upstairs to fetch John’s night gown and they fall asleep together. Well at least they tried because for some reason two middle aged man leaving together for more than half of their lives couldn’t seem to calm their minds when you put them in the same bed. John feared the morning, he feared that it would be queer for them to wake up next to each other, weird even, but in the morning when they started talking, still half asleep, it seemed like they always slept in the same bed. It was natural. ‘There is nothing natural about this’ Watson thought, but yet it still felt that way.
But that was more or less 3 years ago.
John tried to take Sherlock up on the offer as rarely as he could. But…
More or less 3 months ago the arrangement seemed to become permanent. Some of John’s clothes were permanently folded next to Sherlock’s, his books and journals occupied the space on one of the night-tables, and their household language slowly shifted from “Sherlock’s bed” to “our bed”. It happened naturally but even if John always noticed, he noticed when his heart beat quickened when Sherlock first said “our bed”. He was scared but also happy.
John woke up and looked at his best friend. He noticed the greying hair the wrinkles and the delicately parted lips. It’s an amazing gift to be with somebody long enough to see how time affects them. John would not have it any other way. He felt warm and safe like a fire in the fireplace, he felt at home.
Sherlock opened his eyes- Good morning dear - he murmured. - Good morning - John answered with a smile. - Do we have any plans for today? - he asked. - No, almost every client we got this week was boring, so I took the liberty of declining all of them.- detective answered. - you are aware that we need to eat right? Keeping the the house and other boring things like that? But I know that the great Sherlock Holme is above such foolish things like survival. - John teased with a smile still on his face. - Mr. Watson I am happy to inform you that our futures are secure, as we have been doing this job for long enough we could retire for the countryside end become old eccentrics. You will not go without food on my watch. - they laughed. - I think we are already considered old eccentrics Sher, well at list you are, I am eccentric but still young and beautiful. - Sherlock made a sad face- I am scared that your mind is slowly giving up doctor, if it wasn’t you would remember we are exactly the same age, dementia is truly a terrible thing.-
Their conversation went on in that manner
When they heard a knock, on the door. -Mr. Holmes, dear I have a letter for you! It’s from the Scotland Yard. - as she said that Mrs. Hudson opened the door. - oh, I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.- she smiled knowingly. - Not at all, thank you Mrs. Hudson. - said Sherlock, who smiled and reached above John (who was to occupied by dying inside to notice) to take the envelope from Mrs. Hudson.
-bye boys. -she said, she stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her.
When they first heard nocking John sat down in bed like he wanted to escape. He didn’t move and was barely breathing until the door closed after mrs. Hudson. -Dear Doctor are you alright- said Sherlock while putting two fingers on his friends wrist to take his pulse. - you look like you just saw death, your completely white on the face - John stood up from bed without a word and went to the bathroom to get dressed.
Sherlock read the letter. It was about a new case that Lestrade had some questions about.
-Dear Watson at last we have a plan for today!- Sherlock shouted throughout the house.
They spent the day with their inspector friend and three dead bodies on the crime scene on one of the main streets in London. How could someone commit a crime among all this people without anybody noticing and not even one murder but three.
Sherlock was fascinated. John was still terrified and tried to deliberately distance himself from Holmes.
-trouble in paradise? - Lestrade asked John, quietly. - Don’t worry my good fellow, you will patch thing up in no time, I swear you and him are inseparable. Whatever troubles you two have you just need to talk it through. - John was a little bit confused by that statement and wanted to ask for clarification but the inspector was already going to talk to one of his colleagues… It was probably nothing.
When they came home it was already the middle of the night. John’s leg hurt and he felt nauseous. Sherlock was still exited about the case but he looked tired too.
They started getting ready for bed john in the bathroom, Sherlock in their room.
John knocked before he entered. When he came in Sherlock saw his expression it was serious and maybe embarrassed, or maybe it was just sadness. -John are you feeling alright, did something happen ? - he asked. They were both in their night gowns standing with the bed between them. - I am well Holmes, is just. I was thinking… maybe it would be for the best if I slept in MY bed tonight.- he tried to avoid Sherlock’s gaze. - Why? was it something I did? I am so sorry Watson, if I said or did something wrong. Are you feeling sick, if that is the case I can take the couch tonight, our room is warmer then the one upstairs. - John become irritated. Why is his genius detective so stupid sometimes, why can’t he deduce all the implication himself instead of making John say what should never be said. - No, Holmes you didn’t do anything. I feel fine but truly you must be aware why the two of us can not share a bed, especially now that someone saw us. - Realisation showed up on Sherlock’s face, he stared at John shocked for a moment, then he started laughing. - Oh my dear doctor you really shouldn’t worry about Mrs. Hudson, I really thought you knew. - that only made John more irritated. - Really Holmes ? I shouldn’t? Because I am. I am worried, because we could end up in jail. People might talk, this is why I really should go.- Sherlock felt a pain in his chest.
- John… Let me present you with some facts. We are two bachelors living together for 30 years. People already talk, nobody is doing anything about it because they don’t know us well enough to care and for their accusations to be anything more the presumptions.
We are also a good topic for discussion , thanks to your publications, and they don’t want to get read of the entertainment we provide.
We also have ties to the police so any letter written about us would be disregarded as somebody trying to frame us.
The only people who know as well enough for they accusations to matter are Mrs. Hudson and our good inspector. Both of whom thought we are more for each other for years and did absolutely nothing about it.
Especially Mrs. Hudson do you really think she talks about her desist lady friend whenever you and I have a fight just because they were good friends.
I spear myself mentioning our friends from the theatre!
So if you still insist on doing foolish things for foolish reasons go ahead but I will help you up the stairs. I am not risking that you fall again. -
John didn’t know how to react to that, his landlady thought they were more then just friends, Lestrade to… he started remembering all the small comments from those two about him and his friend and yes, Sherlock was right, as he always was. - And you did nothing about it? Didn’t correct them or tried to distance yourself from me.-
-I thought you knew. I also thought that trying to correct them would only solidify their presumptions. - Sherlock said. John looked at his best friend in the faint light of a candle, in his night gown, with his grey hair and nervous smile. - Oh, to hell with it.- he said and laid down on the bed. - You are right Sherlock I am frankly to old to care and we are not breaking any laws just sleeping in the same bed. Good night. - Sherlock joined him. - Good night Watson.-