Royalty

Chapter 10: You Talk Big ...

John's POV:

The taxi ride back to Baker Street. Sherlock wasn't able to grasp the fact that he hurt Astra, and I can't think of a way to put it simpler.

"Sherlock, you half-screamed at her, and she was trying to help."

"Well, yes, but if she had told me the answer, the bomber might have blown the boy up anyway, if I wasn't the one to solve it --"

"Sherlock, you didn't have to yell at her --"

"I was under stress!"

"So was she!"

"But she --"

"Fine. Let's try it this way. Imagine that you're on a case with someone just as clever as you."

"Who?"

"I ... Let's say Mycroft."

"I would never go on a case with Mycroft," he muttered.

"No, let's just say you were," I said firmly, before he could trail off on something else. "Now say Mycroft was out ... investigating, but he'd gone out without you."

"Mycroft doesn't do field work."

"Well, he does now. So, he's already left you behind to go actually work on the case, and you're stuck on your own, not much to go on at all. So already, you're shut out of part of the case."

"Astra never asked to come."

"Sherlock, she had a meltdown and left so -- nevermind. Let me finish." I took a deep breath. "So you've already been left behind for the important bits, but, it turns out, you were clever enough to solve it anyways, but Mycroft isn't answering his phone."

"Of course not, he always talks in person."

"Would you let me finish?" I waited a moment. Sherlock huffed and fell silent. "Then, you rush to where Mycroft is to tell him the solution, but instead of listening, he yells at you, tells you to shut up, and won't even let you talk."

" ... the scenario is too improbable. It would never happen."

"Oh, for --! Fine, I'll put it simply. You solve a case that could save dozens of lives, but you can't reach anyone in charge, and when you finally do, the people in charge basically tell you that you don't know anything and won't listen to a word you're saying. Like if Lestrade wouldn't let you talk while you're trying to explain the deductions bit. And then called you stupid."

"That's my favorite bit," he said, frowning.

"Well, there you go. You took that away from her, yelled at her, and then didn't believe her when she tried to explain. Personally, you might deserve those bruised knuckles."

He looks at me as if scandalized. "What?"

"I mean, come on, how would you feel if Mycroft called you stupid and told you to shut up?"

"That's essentially what he does anyways, and he doesn't apologize either."

"Well, then prove you're better than him. She deserves an apology, Sherlock, and a sincere one at that."

He sighs and turns to look out the cab window, which is how I know he got the point, and is just bitter that he's wrong.

" ... Do I really have to -- ?"

"Yes."

"But I was trying --"

"No."

"But I didn't --"

"No."

"But I just --"

"Nope."

"But she --"