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Louis James Moriarty checked the box that contained the gift that he bought to his boyfriend for Valentine's Day. It was an expensive tie pin, Louis spent most of his money on the item. It was worth it. His boyfriend, Sherlock Holmes never wore a tie and his appearance was always messy. It bothered Louis on an extreme level, especially that Sherlock also often smelled from smoke and occasionally, even from weed. Louis told him several times that he would have more clients who would approach him with the request to handle their problems - this was Sherlock's favourite pastime activity - if he was more ordered. Furthermore, Louis wouldn't need to be ashamed of him for having such a messy partner, but Sherlock always just laughed on his complaints. Louis couldn't convince him to act more of a human being and less of a monkey - but as Valentine Day was near, he got an idea how to make it impossible for Sherlock to refuse his wish.
A mischievous light sparkled up in his eyes which quickly softened as he watched the tie pin. It formed a violin - Sherlock liked playing on the mentioned instrument and he was quite good at it - so Louis was sure that he would wear it, even if he needed a tie for that at first. It was a smart and nice gift at the same time. It will make Sherlock happy - and Louis as well. I will finally make you learn to behave, Louis thought and hid the gift again before his boyfriend came back to their room to bother him.
He had no idea at that time that he would need to fight for the tie pin. He also didn't notice that someone was peeking at him through one of the windows of the opposite building with the help of binoculars.
The person who stalked Louis James Moriarty was a first-year student called Ruskin who was taking Secretarial Studies, but this was not what put him out of the ordinary. Rather, that he was the voluntary secretary and sole supporter of the editor-in-chief of the college's newspaper, Charles Augustus Milverton. Milverton was despised for his sneaky nature and that he got his hands on every dirty secret he could find and used them for his own purposes as blackmail material - but sometimes, just for simple fun. It entertained Milverton if he could ruin someone and the only reason he was not dismissed for his behaviour was because he blackmailed the headmaster of the college as well. He was hated by the entire college, except for Ruskin who was obsessively stalking him until Milverton gave a chance to serve him and made him his lover. Ruskin loved his Charles, no matter how evil he was and his happiness made Ruskin happy. Milverton had a special beef with the criminology student, Sherlock Holmes, that's why Ruskin kept spying on him and his boyfriend. He wanted to get some unique gift for Milverton for Valentine's Day aside of what he already bought for him. A chance to cause harm to the other couple.
Ruskin didn't take his eyes off Louis while he was dealing with the little box. Ruskin suspected what could be inside - the gift he planned to give to Sherlock. He paid attention where Louis put the box away before he left the room, while an idea was born in his mind. If he steals whatever is in the box, then Louis can't give anything to Sherlock for Valentine's Day and both of them will be disappointed - which would surely make his Charles happy.
A smile appeared on Ruskin's face. Louis will probably not come back to his room for a while, not until he gathers Sherlock who still had classes. He had time to break into their room and set his plan to action. And he knew exactly how to do it.
*****
What Ruskin didn't count on was that Louis changed his mind while he was waiting for his boyfriend and he came back for the gift box. It will be a bigger surprise if he just drags Sherlock away himself as soon as his class is over. He was sure that the other man had no idea that Louis prepared a Valentine’s Day celebration for them, and Louis didn't want to let him deduce it in advance from the box if he saw it. So he returned to the room and picked up the gift. He was unaware that Ruskin already managed to go through with his planned robbery and the tie pin was now in his possession.
He only realized it five minutes before Sherlock's lecture ended. He peeked into the box to check the tie pin for the last time - and he immediately saw that it was gone. Louis felt that he froze. His mind only echoed one question - where could the tie pin go? Who could take it away? Who wanted to ruin their Valentine's Day like that? Only one name came to him as an answer.
That damn Milverton.
Yes, it was sure that snake who wanted to ruin their Valentine's Day. For him, this would be heavily amusing if Louis would be unable to give anything to Sherlock. Louis clenched his fist as the anger filled him. Well, he is not going to let Milverton have his fun. He will get the tie pin back even if he only had five minutes for it. With heated steps, he began to walk to Milverton's college room.
When he knocked on the door - not furiously, to make sure that Milverton will not get suspicious and not escape through the window, as it was said to happen once - Ruskin, who excitedly waited for his Charles to come back so he can show him his present, opened it in front of him. As he saw the angry Louis, his eyes widened. This momentary surprise was enough for Louis to step in. He shut the door behind himself and immediately lashed out.
"Where is your despicable roommate?"
Ruskin was ready to get defensive.
"You will never get it out of me." He hissed.
Then Louis noticed the violin-shaped tie pin on the desk and he finally understood everything. It was probably not Milverton who stole the gift, it was Ruskin himself to cause some pleasure to his sadistic master or boyfriend... or whatever the two's relationship was.
"You were the one who took it away!" He yelled and he jumped there to get it back, but Ruskin grabbed his arm and didn't let him move closer.
"No. That is my gift to him - your disappointment. And I will not let you take it away from my beloved Charles." He stated and he kicked Louis' leg. It was an unexpected attack and Louis needed a few seconds to get over the striking pain, but after that, his eyes pierced into Ruskin's gaze.
"Then I will fight for it."
It only took a few moments for Louis and Ruskin to be in the middle of kicking, hitting, biting and strangling each other. Ruskin didn't let him close to the desk, not even after Louis' nails scarred his cheek and made it bleed. Louis was determined to get back the gift, whatever it takes and the racket the two of them made managed to lure a few people in front of the door. Among them were Sherlock and Milverton - the latter especially wanted to know what was taking place in his room.
"Louis!"
"Ruskin!"
Milverton and Sherlock's cry sounded almost at the same time.
"Your boyfriend should leave my secretary alone." Milverton grunted at Sherlock, who didn't pay attention to him, just grabbed Louis' shoulder.
"Yo, what is this all about?"
"I will tell you what." Louis stopped hitting Ruskin. "He stole your Valentine's Day gift from me."
"You prepared a gift for me?" Sherlock looked so surprised that the rest of the sentence didn't get to his mind. Louis, who didn't want Sherlock to get to know it this way, started blushing.
"Yes. And I will take it back from him now." He said, turning back to the fight with Ruskin.
"I’ll help you with that." Sherlock grinned and together, they were able to bring down the young first-year student to the floor. Milverton, who was famous for his cowardly nature, didn't join the fight physically, just kept threatening the two men for hurting his secretary.
"I got it!" Louis cried out when he finally reached the accessory on the desk. Ruskin tried to stop him but he was unable to do that anymore. Louis gave the tie pin to Sherlock and discreetly kissed his mouth, making sure that Milverton and Ruskin boiled in fury. "Happy Valentine’s Day, Sherlock."
Sherlock, as soon as he could, let out a chuckle.
"So this is how you want to force me to wear a tie." He noted, but his gaze softened when he looked back at Louis. "I admit this doesn't look bad."
"Get out of my room!" Milverton was angrily hissing in the background for the sight of the couple's happiness. Sherlock showed his middle finger to him and taking Louis' hand, they finally walked out of the room.
"I am sorry, Charles." Ruskin veiled on the floor with sorrow. "I stole it to ruin their Valentine's Day... for you. This would have been my gift."
Milverton stepped to Ruskin and helped him up from the ground.
"I think that you partly indeed ruined the Valentine's Day for Louis. It was a good sight." He smiled at Ruskin. "You can compensate me with a strawberry cake in the nearest confectionery. I got quite hungry during classes." His eyes playfully shone up when he saw that Ruskin started intensively nodding. "But first, we should get your face treated. It is bloody." He pointed out and he just shrugged his shoulders when Ruskin thanked his care.
However, the Valentine's Day troubles didn't reach the end yet. The two couples managed to go to the same confectionary to celebrate which resulted in another heavy argument.
But that would be another tale to tell.