[Johnlock/Mystrade] Tears in rain

Chapter 3

March 2026   London   6th year of the end of the Great Purge

Mycroft had been so busy lately with the election, the change of parliament, and international affairs that he finally had a lunch break and decided to meet Sherlock for lunch.

Not wanting to be accosted and befriended by numerous people even for a meal, the brothers had chosen a club and given notice to clear the room.

Looking at the obvious shadow under Mycroft's eyes, Sherlock frowned, "Your assistant changed again?"

"Hm, I'd like to see how many more idiots Secretariat can recommend setting a new record this year." Impatiently, Mycroft pressed his temples and felt a vague headache at the thought of these unteachable dumbass.

"If you can't even organize a sequence of business, no wonder you look sleep-deprived." Sherlock agreed.

"Enough of that, it's already hard enough to get together for lunch. There's a Countess called Irene Adler coming over to Europe next week and she wants to see you, will you come?"

"That infamous playgirl from the Adler family? Why does she want to see me?"

"Maybe to add to her list of hunks."

Raising an eyebrow, Sherlock replied, "Why not, I'm not doing anything anyway."

"Next Tuesday night, 6pm, Andre's Palace. Do you want me to pick you up?"

"No, I'll come myself. I'll see you there."

"Fine."

Spring in London always comes late, the weather was still cold in March. Flu broke out on the east side. John was busy with his clinic that he didn't have a chance to catch his breath. When he returned to the center at night, the director handed him an invitation to an international conference on cardiac surgery. The topic was interesting so John decided to go since he was free that day.

But now John really didn't wish that he had taken the invitation. The conference was so damn far away. He changed several trains and walk 20 minutes to get there on his injured legs.

Maybe he should have considered Sally's suggestion and buy a car or something. 

After the meeting, John came out of the conference center with a pile of materials in his arms, grunting, and thinking that he had a 20-minute walk to the station, which was, well,  frustrating.

After a long walk to the station, John sat down on the bench, gasping for breath, realizing that the bus was not due for another 25 minutes and that he would have to wait.

John had never expected a honeymoon, such things had probably long since erased from the man's extraordinary brain. So when the detective dragged him onto the plane heading for Paris, John still thought he was dreaming.

But this man, even when he was trying to be romantic, is still an annoying bastard. Starting with the flight attendant, to the poor man seating beside them, he just wouldn't shut up without deducing them. John did everything he could--he even threatened that he himself would fly right back to London if he wouldn't shut up before they were both arrested by the airport police.

But once they saw the majestic Eiffel Tower, the little resentment they had on the plane vanished into thin air. The two of them were excited, chasing each other like children.

The detective then suggested that they should live the ordinary life of ordinary couples for a day, much to John's surprise. The two rode their bicycles through the streets of Paris, buying roadside snacks, and sat in a café and sip on their coffee.