Sentiment || Sherlock Holmes

The Blind Banker

"Right, click the picture of the gear." Evelyn directed as her mother peered at her phone. "Okay, now scroll down...there. Click on text and display."

Mrs. Hudson sighed, pushing the device into her daughter's hand. "Oh, I don't even remember why I bought this silly thing."

Less than a minute later, the text size on Mrs. Hudson's phone was at its largest setting. Mrs. Hudson grinned and pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead.

"My little muffin is a technological genius!"

A scoff drew both women's attention. "Hardly. She's proficient at chemistry, I suppose. Saying that she's a 'technological genius' is just a lie, Mrs. Hudson."

"Well hello to you too, Sherlock." Evelyn greeted.

"Upstairs. Now." Sherlock replied, turning on his heel and walking to the stairs.

Curiosity won over her annoyance at his demands. Eve made sure her mother's phone was all set before following the tall detective into 221B.

He was in the kitchen, stirring an alarmingly orange mixture in a souvenir mug. The table was covered in beakers, petri dishes, a microscope, and multiple books. It looked like a STEM program exploded all over the room. Evelyn crossed her arms and observed from the doorway.

"Hold this." Sherlock shoved the mug into her hands.

"May I ask why you're mixing orange soda, baby powder, and," Eve grimaced into the cup. "some kind of meat together?"

"It's an experiment." He replied simply.

"I'm never one to turn down an experiment. What, pray tell, are we testing?" Evelyn asked.

Sherlock studied her for a moment. He walked over to her and stood close, tracing her face with his gaze.

"The effect of possible corrosive elements on mammal flesh." He explained, taking the cup back from her.

"Diverting. Have you read an article about this very topic by my former professor, Oliver Keets? It was published a few years ago in Forensics Monthly." Eve said, wandering farther into the makeshift lab and inspecting Sherlock's samples.

"I am modifying a few of his designs, yes." Sherlock acted unfazed by the display of knowledge.

"Lovely. Are we both going to stand here and continue to pretend you actually needed me to act as a human cup holder or are you going to admit you want to know more about me?" Eve asked point blank.

Sherlock returned her stare before a smile broke out across his features. "The curiosity must be mutual then, Evelyn. Who else would willingly follow a psychopath without explanation?"

"Highly functioning sociopath. I would have thought you read up on your definitions, Mr. Holmes." She teased.

They stood there for a moment in silence, challenging one another with just their gazes. The stand-off was broken when Dr. Watson's footsteps sounded on the staircase. John gave a start at seeing Evelyn.

"Eve...what are you-?"

"Experiment." Sherlock waved off.

"Concluded experiment." Evelyn corrected.

She walked over and gave John a hug. "How have you been?"

"Alright." He replied. "Yourself?"

"A bit busy, I'll admit. Anderson," They heard Sherlock scoff at the name. "Has me back on little cases. There are quite a lot of those I'm afraid."

"Surely Lestrade can pull some strings." John suggested.

"There haven't been any particularly difficult cases, so there's no point in pissing Philip off, really. Hopefully I'll have another chance to show my expertise on the next big case."