Her Style

Every morning, Mycroft would hear her heels strike the floor, knowing it was time for his morning tea, theirs, to be exact. He had gotten his schedule already, but he never takes a look at it, Anthea would remind him every time. He abhors human contact, every time he hears a knock on the door of Anthea's office, he would count his blessings. She rarely spoke too, but she had the patience to deal with her tasks, both assisting him and heading her team. He would be preoccupied with work so much, that Anthea would force him to have his tea. No, she wouldn't stop, she would pursue him to The Diogenes Club to make sure he did. Her method of bribing him always amused him, she would not speak, and Mycroft would be dying to get the information he had asked her to look at. He would eventually have something, or she would start the game of wills against him, starving herself.

His calming sound was classical music and the sound of her typing away on her phone. She was there around always, to warn him of Sherlock's rather abrupt entry into the office, or to order him some wine. She strictly never consumed alcohol too much, only when she was around people whom she trusted, did she take wine. Mycroft finds some things she does rather peculiar, like having cat food in her bag, a dagger in her thigh strap, and introducing herself with a name that usually men are christened, to strangers. Her humour would earn her a smile from an amused Mycroft. He never questioned her, she gets things done in her way.

Sherlock was always welcoming to her presence; he thinks that when she's around, he can bear with Mycroft for some time. He loves her tea and also bothering her to get his information. Sherlock even asked her why she stays with Mycroft and still chooses to, but she always avoided the question, courtesy, Mycroft's professional ethics that she admires so much.

John Watson, she didn't intend to be rude at him, she did what she usually does, playing hard to catch. After about 7 years of working together, Mycroft decided to tell her about Eurus Holmes. He even allowed her a look, Anthea was instantly drawn to her. She loved a particular piece that Eurus played on her violin, but she never told that to Mycroft, that's why she is his PA, she keeps things strictly professional. She also noticed that Sherlock would ruffle his hair whenever she was around as if to assert dominance. She has no idea why he would compete with her for better-looking hair.

Her friend asked her about the poems she wrote. Who do you write them for, Anthea, were the words? She smiled and replied, for someone special, who was yet to come. It was easy to disregard her, and she has used it many times to her advantage. People usually assumed Mycroft kept her around for her beauty, but it was not. In places where she was required to make the final decision, she thoroughly examined the cause, the deal and the consequences. In such times, she sprang upon the slightest vulnerability, not to shame the person, but to get something better for everyone. 

If one were to ask Sebastian Moran, about his days with Anthea, he would probably refuse to talk about it. He's always known her to be resilient, graceful like a swan, as lethal as a King Cobra. They shared one thing common about their work, they never cared for whom they worked for in their early stages. He was a tiger, lurking, and his sniper rifle sprang. Anthea was almost similar to him, except, she sprang like the dreaded snake. Sherlock definitely looked into her kills, but he didn't stop to investigate. Mycroft did, and his strong resolution to win her confidence was a big turn in her life. That was how she met him, when she was sent to kill Mycroft Holmes, she became his personal assistant and bodyguard instead.

With total protection for herself, Mycroft took on missions with her. She was a loner, but it was a change that he forced her to take on to learn to trust. She didn't lose her expertise, she took the target head-on. One swift movement with her dagger and life was gone. Mycroft never had blood on his hand when she was around, he let her clean up, occasionally a shiver would run in his spine; he could have ended up like this. He had the front row to her killings, analysing her methods, and pointing out her mistakes. They grew a lot from missions. She showed no mercy at all, a flirty dame one minute, to the woman who decided when she would let life part from the body the very next moment. Being independent all the while, she was under Mycroft's constant surveillance. She had been called "Mycroft's bitch" by some; others kept their opinions to themselves. It bothered her the least, she knew that her boss was planning their downfall. 

Guilty as charged, she was a workaholic too. It wasn't easy for a woman to be in a higher position in the British Government. Even if she were Mycroft's assistant. If not health-wise, there was a constant flow of criticism and pressure from the other departments. Since she handled Mycroft's files, it was kind of being in the eye of the hurricane, where it all converges and starts. Her work involved security and Sherlock. Being involved with The Holmes', she had their trust. There were days she would be shocked, some days would find her running after Sherlock to keep him away from trouble. She was there when Mycroft was drunk and sad, unable to speak his worries. She'd coax him to let it out, even covered for his absence in his low days. 

The fall was a difficult time for the both of them, she was kept out of the initial planning, so she thought Sherlock was dead. After three days, Sherlock crashed into her house, along with Mycroft. So many emotions ran through her, she was in shock, in the joy that he was not dead. She yelled at them both, shutting them out of her room. When Mycroft threatened to come inside, breaking the door, she relented, becoming a part of the team that was going to take down Moriarty's web. 

Two women fascinated her, Irene Adler and Molly Hooper. Irene was bold, Molly was calm, yet, they had the power to cause alarm in the world if they were missing. There were many times she wanted to strike up a conversation with Molly, but she refrained, she knew she wouldn't be interested in her. Though Irene fancied her, Anthea took Mycroft's side, he hadn't involved her in Irene's case much, she assumed it was for a reason, and stayed true to that. Quite like Sherlock, she was attracted to Irene Adler, but she'd rather not be beaten like Sherlock. It was a mix of admiration and fear for Irene she had, never had she seen anyone take down The Holmes' head-on. 

The mention of Mycroft's assistant got her respect, that's what she worked for, but there is something she couldn't have; love. She was feared, revered, looked up at, not loved. That's how an independent woman is, fierce and tame, an enigma. Maybe, she was born for this, there was nothing she lacked. She had the protection of her boss, the admiration from people, what else could she want when she is not the one to seek for things? That's her, that's Anthea, that's her style.