John pushed open the door, and was just finishing placing down the many shopping bags on the kitchen table when he became aware of the small sniffling sound from the living room.
Confused, he walked back into it, his eyes scanning the room until he spotted the source of the sound.
Curled up on the couch, knees hugged tight to his chest and tears slowly sliding across his cheeks, was Sherlock. His eyes were raw and bloodshot and his expression was numb, as though he'd gone past the point of frowning.
John let out a quiet gasp at the state of the other man, before carefully sitting down next to him.
"Sherlock?"
The detective started, suddenly becoming aware of John's presence. He straightened up, his face slipping back into his emotionless mask and he rubbed furiously at his eyes.
"It's nothing. I'm fine." he declared quickly, avoiding John's concerned gaze.
The other sighed, shaking his head before pulling an arm around Sherlocks shoulders and into a tight embrace.
At this, Sherlock felt his reserve crack, as he collapsed into the blogger's shoulder, the tears bursting out of him as he sobbed erratically. John simply pulled him in tighter, a frown upon his face at the sight of his best friend so distraught.
They sat there like that for several minutes, before John heard a small voice through the tears.
"What was that?" He asked gently, looking down at the face buried in his shoulder.
"I said please don't leave."
John, shocked, placed his hands on the others shoulders, pulling him up into a sitting position.
"Why the hell do you think I'm going to leave?" he queried, confused at where this idea had come from.
"When I tell you you won't want to stay. You'll pack up and leave. " Sherlock said simply, looking up at John, eyes full of sorrow.
"Once you tell me what?"
"That's the point, I can't tell you !!" Sherlock cried out. He took a deep breath before continuing in a quieter, shaky voice. "I can't do it without you John. I just, I just can't. "
"You can tell me anything Sherlock. I'm not going to leave. I would never. I promise , ok. "John comforted , rubbing a reassuring hand over Sherlock shoulder and looked at him with pleading eyes, encouraging him to get it out.
Sherlock sighed, before nervously meeting John's eyes.
"You've known me a considerable amount of time so I'm sure by this point you are aware of my, indifference, towards the act of being, emotionally attached. But with you, for some reason, I didn't care. I began to whole heartedly depend on you, yearn for you even. In the times when you were not here, I found I became agitated, moody , much more than usual, if that's even possible. I didn't understand the things that you had done to me. You opened doors in my mind I didn't even know existed. I needed you. And then I realised what it was. I had fallen in love with you. " Sherlock finished, hanging his head as the tears silently began to fall down his face. He couldn't bear to look up and see John's reaction.
All of a sudden, he heard a low chuckle come from the man in front of him. He was thoroughly confused to raise his head and see John laughing.
He sighed, quitting his laugh before sighing and looking up at the detective with a grin.
"You bloody idiot. "
And then John's lips were on his and he melted, the confusion dissipating as he smiled into the kiss, beginning to chuckle himself.
The two spent the rest of the evening curled up on the couch , both wrapped in the other and neither wanting that to ever change.
