The Professor NEW CHAPTER!!!

A Tiny Chat

John went to sleep happy, but very, very confused. He'd said the first day "I'm married to my work." John had mulled over. And it was in his stupid teacher voice. Why did he kiss me? Why the hell was he crying? He wouldn't be crying over me leaving for a bit, that's too childish. John slipped into a deep sleep, forgetting, for now, everything that had happened.

Sherlock was cleaning up and getting ready for bed when he decided to finally acknowledge John's reaction. It was an experiment, to see what John would do. It was successful. In the shower, he studied his every move and twitch and blink figuring it out. Blushed deeply, likes me. Didn't pull away, likes me. Kissed back, likes me. Wait...does this mean we're...? "Oh god...oh god...Ahhuhh" Sherlock searched for the shampoo so he could get out of the shower and fix this.

He washed his hair, rinsing and finishing up his shower. He dried off, his hair puffy and very...wild. He didn't care, he had something to deal with: John. He raced upstairs after putting on his pajama bottoms and pants-no shirt or dressing gown was needed to break up with someone...was that what he was doing? So many questions.

"John! I uh...I'm sorry but...I don't like you, it was just an experiment and I'm sorry." He spoke quickly, failing to notice that John was asleep. "I know that you like me, I saw it...and...uh…I don't like you back, however, and I am sorry for leading you on...I just....sorry." Lies, Professor Holmes, lies. He saw the sleeping man-he looked so young. So beautiful. No, stop it! he thought. No, he's not. Your married to your work, you are in control. You don't like guys, or girls, or anything other than work! 

While he didn't believe he needed to remind himself, he continued to, standing in the doorway of John's room for ages. It was starting to get cold, but he pushed that's side. He went back to his room after a while, trying to at least sleep.

~

“John.” came the voice that was to break a heart. It was early morning, around eight on a Saturday. They’d never said or done anything after that one night-again, deleted. John couldn’t delete things, but he could forget. It was close enough. He wasn’t sure if Sherlock-being a sociopath weirdo-would actually have wanted to kiss him, so he let it go. It meant nothing to him. John had moved on, accepting the fact that Sherlock would never like him.

“I know, and it’s fine. It’s behind us.”

“I know, I’m just, I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing, it doesn’t matter.”

“Yes it does.”

“Why? Why does it matter? You’ve already explained: experiment. It’s fine. You do that-experiment.”

“That…okay. Tea?”

“Yes, please.” Sherlock started to put the kettle on, getting a red mug and a navy blue mug.

“Which one?”

“Guess.”

“Red?”

“Blue.”

“You are just saying that-”

“No, I’m not. Blue is my favorite color.”

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t, you hate that you’re wrong.”

"Ugh, don’t ever say that again.”

“What? That your Wro-”

“No-”

“Wrong-”

“NoNoNoNoNo!”

“Wrong! Sherlock Holmes is wrong!” Sherlock walked over to John, staring him down. They were very, uncomfortably close. Sherlock smiled and it was like his whole face lit up. His eyes shined with a brightness that was almost blinding and he looked beautiful. No, John. You’ve moved on! But John could not pull his gaze away from him. Heat crept up Sherlock’s neck, and they looked away, both blushing deeply.

The kettle boiled and Sherlock attended to it, fixing them each up a cuppa. They sat across from each other at the table, sipping tea in silence. John finished his tea and went to his room to get his phone. Sherlock wanted to speak, but something was stopping him. Doubt? No, no, no. Sherlock Holmes doesn’t doubt himself.

“I’m going to my friend Sarah’s. I’ll be back later.”

"Who’s Sarah?”

“She’s in your class, with me.”

“Is she?”

“Yeah…”

“Oh. Didn’t notice.”

“Well, I’ll be off. Thanks for the tea, and don’t…burn down the flat, please.”

“Bye.”

John left quickly-going on a date. What was he thinking? He didn’t really like Sarah, did he? thought Sherlock, eyes frantic under his closed eyelids. Yes, he did. Of course he did, who else would he like? Sherlock? Sherlock… No! John doesn’t like Sherlock…no. That’s absurd. How could you think that!? Let’s just see how this goes.