Kairi skidded to a stop in front of Baker Street. Her chest was heaving from the cold London air that burned her lungs. She stared up at the building, the one she thought of as home, and she felt dead on the inside. She watched the windows of 221B, hoping to see Sherlock, playing his violin or pacing in front of the glass in fury. She just wanted a glimpse of him to know what she should expect, but there was nothing.
She hissed out frightful curses, running fingers through her hair and gripping the roots as panic welled within her chest. She was trying to breathe, to focus, to rein in every dark thought that was strangling her, but it was almost impossible. It wasn't until she glanced at her own windows and saw the light on that her lungs finally leaped to life and absorbed the oxygen she was sucking in. She stumbled forward, tripping up the steps as she pushed the against the door and ran towards her home, tearing off her jacket and tossing the sweat riddled item to the side.
The entrance to her flat was wide open and she halted herself at the entryway, her eyes searching around to find Sherlock standing alone in her kitchen. She almost breathed a sigh of relief until she noticed what he was doing.
He was fully clothed, coat and all, standing in her kitchen like a looming shadow, all black and gloom, his face taught with frigid detachment. She took a step forward and wanted to say something, anything, but her voice was frozen in her throat. He was holding a simple wine glass, holding it up to the halogen lights on her ceiling, staring at it intently as if it were the most interesting specimen he had ever come across.
"Sherlock…" She finally got out through her panting breaths.
"Large amounts of calcium and magnesium deposits left on the glassware." He stated quickly, refusing to look at her as he turned the glass in his fingertips, inspecting in the light.
Kairi frowned, opening her mouth to question him, but he continued.
"Water spots — to the dull," He grunted, "most commonly caused by hot water being left to evaporate from the surface of the glass when exposed to high temperatures." He muttered and then squinted his eyes, taking in the glass further, "This glass wasn't put in the dishwasher though, where hard water is usually the culprit for such imprints. This glass was hand washed, in hot enough water, but not fully hand dried. It was left out in the cold air." He looked at it curiously, thinking for a moment, "Although, if there were a fire going, the heat contained in the room could have been force enough to help the residue form." He placed the glass on the counter and crouched, giving it a level stare as he planted his hands on either side of it to observe further.
"Wha-,"
"Judging by the size, amount, and consistency, I'd say these spots were merely forty-eight hours old. Recently used, recently washed, recently left out to dry." He stood sharply and reached back into the cabinet and pulled out a smaller glass, Kairi staring after him with confusion written across her features. "Comparing it to this glass, which looks horribly unused, not for days and days it seems, but that one," He pointed to the mottled glass on the counter, "is in frequent use. Can we deduce why that is?"
"I don't understand." Kairi whispered watching him walk her through her own home as if it were a crime scene.
"That was rhetorical. Please don't speak while I'm making deductions, your idiocy is particularly degrading to my mental process." He snarled without looking at her. "We can deduce that this glass, with its wide bowl and slight taper near the top is intended for chilled white wine. Its said that the wide bowl and the taper, in junction with the long stem, are intended to keep the wine cooler for longer periods of time — necessary for a white wine as red wine is not meant to be chilled. Except, of course, to an inferior pallet which may prefer it. The wide bowl," He said gently whirling the glass in his fingertips, as if there was a perfectly delectable liquid within, "is intended for the drinker to appreciate the signature aroma of a white wine, specifically Chardonnay for this type of glass, since it's rather shallow."
