sherliam oneshots

Pursuing Poison [NSFW]

Almost nothing is more pretentiously boring and dreadful than wealthy parties, if you ask Sherlock.

More often than not, they're dull gatherings disguised as an established party for higher classes. Perhaps it's because he hadn't grown up with that sort of environment, but they're bloody awful to stand around. And if he's not shoved into some circle of noblemen yapping their mouths, then he's tugged into an unconsenting dance with a noblewoman he wouldn't even consider willingly pass a glance at. When it's neither of those, he's being chastised for being slightly poorer than most of the other guests.

He despises it to its very core. However, he couldn't help but bring himself here tonight. Another ball, that of which he was invited to by Mycroft, of all people. And that's impressive to say for Sherlock; he normally wouldn't accept offers from his brother even if he had a gun to his head. So that would bring the question, why exactly did he snatch that offer so easily?

The reason comes down to how Mycroft also told him that the Moriarty brothers would be at the party as well that night. It was a brief, off-handed mention, but Sherlock could tell that his brother was deliberately outlining that fact to encourage him to go. And it worked, admittedly. As it always would.

And so, he's there now, scrounging around the large ballrooms for the second Moriarty brother; the sole purpose for why he bothered to show himself tonight. Unfortunately, there's no stopping the typical irritating garbage that he deals with at these events, but he convinces himself that it should all be worth it in the end.

After all, he did come for Liam.

If it weren't for that certain Durham University professor, Holmes would have spent his night in his stuffy flat and hopelessly bored; with William James Moriarty, boredom itself as a concept dissipates. He's beyond sure that the two could spend hours upon hours solving puzzles with each other or light-heartedly competing, and in no near future would they get worn from it. Naught a beat of excitement can be missed with that man, and that man only.

Sherlock will absolutely admit with himself that his thoughts and feelings about Liam are exceedingly affectionate. And he has no doubt in his mind that the professor's own are strikingly similar.

It's an unspoken topic between them — though not awkward, neither particularly talk about the undeniable potential they have. Although they will have to confront it eventually, that 'eventually' is not a 'now'. What forms and grows in between Sherlock and William is perfectly acceptable as it is without the need for a discussion. It's not as if either of their eyes are focused on anyone else anyway.

The detective searches through the chunks of crowds, getting past plenty and dodging as much as he can. His mind paces, hoping to configure just where Liam would go. Where would he go, in a place like this?

He chuckles, as the first thing that comes to his mind is "staircase". Realistically, it isn't all that likely, but the thought in itself is enough to give a smile to Sherlock's lips.

His eyes snap around every corner they can reach, coming to a stop when he recognizes both his own older brother and Liam's older brother in the crowd. The two sit closely across from each other, contently sipping on wine and chatting about who knows what. Hoping to find sight of William somewhere near his brother, he passes by that area a tad closer.

He finds him standing in a slightly close spot, lightly hidden in the shadows of a pillar that reaches up to the next floor. He also has some wine captured in his palm, taking careful and small sips every fifteen seconds or so.

Sherlock can easily determine that he's not having a good time either. Yet.

Within mere moments of the ravenet noticing him, the other man quickly does as well. It's hard to miss the alluring scarlet eyes that flicker towards him rather than anything else. Holmes allows their gazes to meet one another, a further grin crossing his features rapidly. He brushes his hair back, quick to begin approaching the maths professor that seems to recognize him almost instantly. But that goes both ways; Sherlock would be able to recognize him within any crowd he's in just as well and just as rapidly.