Turn Back Time (Potterlock)

Without you, my friend

I told Sherlock and John, once we were up in Sherlock's dorm. Sherlock took it surprisingly well, considering.

"Henry, can I speak to you?" John asked.

"Yeah, of course. You're doing it now, aren't you?"

John moved his head, indicating to the door. 'outside?' He mouthed. I nodded, glanced at Sherlock, and left behind John.

"What am I going to do?" John asked me. "Henry, he's never seen me. He never will, and if we're going to die.."

"We're not going to die." I interupted. "I won't let that man kill either of you two, I'll stop him, even if it means dieing."

John didn't know what to say to that. He nodded.

There was a pause.

"He doesn't act like he's blind, does he?" John said suddenly.

"No." I sighed. "Sometimes I wish he did."

"Why?" John asked.

"Because I forget sometimes, expect him to be able to see."

John nodded. "I keep thinking he can see me, and then I realise he can't, and there's always this unspoken barrier between us. I want to ask him, sometimes, y'know?"

I don't know what it's like wanting to ask him. "Ask him what?"

"How he became blind, how long ago was it, what's it like, what I can do, and what he thinks I look like."

"I can answer one of those questions. What you can do. You can not mention it to him. And if you love him, you won't. Not in front of him."

John nodded. We walked back into the dorm. Sherlock was laying on his bed, fingers steepled under his chin.

I nudged him. "Sherlock?"

"Yes, Hetty?" he almost growled. He jumped to his feet. "John's got questions. About my being blind. Well, John, just this once. You're not going to get answers. Come on, Redbeard."
Sherlock left, Redbeard sticking close to his legs.
I raised my eyebrows at John, and nodded.
"Sherlock!" John ran after his  boyfriend and the dog.

I followed them.

"Sherlock, I don't care that you're blind!" John said.

"Well, you obviously do." Sherlock said, turning to face John. "Like everyone else. It's the only thing people remember about me. The blind boy. I'm fucking sick of it!"

"Those people aren't me!" John said.

"Oh? The entire train journey here, first day of term, you practically ignored me, acted as if I wasn't there. Just because I can't see you." Sherlock said through his teeth.

"And, still, despite all your accusations, you became my friend." John said.

"Oh?" Sherlock said angrily. " 'Let's make friends with the blind boy.' Your good deed for the year?!"

"I fell in love with you." John said simply. "not your eyes."
Sherlock didn't move.
"I love you for who you are, not who you could have been. I fell in love with the way you coped, your fierce independence. So please. I won't ask if you don't want me to, but please, don't run away. And don't categorise me with everyone else. To me, you're perfect. Who knows, perhaps, if you could see, you'd be an absolute arse."