crimson writings ➝ sherlock

chapter three

if he read each and every letter in the box as fast as possible, they would all be gone, in a way, much quicker. it would feel yet again that he had nothing left of her, as he had been feeling ever since she died. he wasn't about to waste this last opportunity to feel like she was with him again.

so, swallowing hard, he picked up the second letter, and deliberately took as long as possible to read it.

✦✦✦

"why are you really doing this?"

sherlock glanced up at the woman he could now identify as valeria bishop, who had her arms braced on the table and her fingers laced together. uncertainty riddled her face. she looked as if she was interrogating him - not exactly the right mood for a supposedly friendly outing.

rolling his eyes, he set down his mug of tea. "look, i've bought you lunch, can't you just accept it without questioning like all the rest?"

"no."

"good." sherlock said cheerfully. "but please - relax." he said through gritted teeth.

"just answer my question, please." valeria said, her voice low. sherlock drew a deep breath, as if he was considering it. but then, he picked up his mug and took a long sip of the piping hot tea, indicating the matter was done with.

pressing her lips together, she let a puff of air out from her nose, and leaned back in her chair for the first time since entering the cafe. 

sherlock had brought her to a small cafe a couple of blocks down from st. barts, and at her request, had bought her an espresso and a chicken wrap. he had bought a small cup of tea for himself, passing on food as he always did. now, they sat across from each other at a too-small table, valeria's guitar propped against her seat. the pair seemed to be pretending that they weren't constantly glancing up at one another, sizing each other up - until sherlock grew tired of it.

his eyes flickered up to her without lifting his head, keeping it angled towards the table. even though valeria had appeared to have backed off, that probing look in those dark brown eyes hadn't faded for a moment. sherlock sighed, rolling his eyes yet again.

"you're not going to relax, are you?"

"no." valeria said again, but this time the corner of her mouth twitched up.

she's persistent, i'll give her that, sherlock thought begrudgingly. giving in, he set his mug down on the table and steepled his hands, this tips of his index fingers resting lightly on his bottom lip.

"very well, but i need you to tell me something first." he said, his voice low.

"al...right." she replied warily. she felt as if each of them were looking at each other in the same way - deductively. scrutinizingly. neither of them wanted to trust the other.

"would you say i'm a good man?"

the woman's nose scrunched. "i barely know you."

"based on your impression of me so far, then." sherlock said, his face void of all emotion.

valeria drew a deep breath through her nose. she picked up her wrap, took a wary bite, and took her time to chew. it was almost as if she was stalling. or deliberating, perhaps?