Sophia Holmes and the Inexplicable Matchbox (Sherlock/Marvel Fanfic) *Completed*

Chapter Six

Agent May flies us out to Bangkok, but we leave the worm with Coulson for him to store it securely in The Fridge. Not for the first time, I leave the hands of S.H.I.E.L.D with a small feeling of regret for not staying a bit longer. Maybe Mycroft was right to have suggested I join their ranks. I would have fitted in well with this team. 

We get dropped off a few miles out from where the Tiboldt's Circus is pitching up for tonight's performance and walk the rest of the way in, the plan being that dad and I go undercover as Circus performers to try and find out the workings of the smuggling gang. John, meanwhile, will act as our agent and will be on hold to pull us out if things don't go according to plan - which, let's be honest, they probably won't. 

If Tiboldt recognises us as we are shown into his tent, it doesn't reach his face. He gestures to a couple of chairs in front of the desk.

"I'm afraid zer are not enough seats for all of you," the ringleader says in a strong German accent as he takes his seat on the other side of the desk. 

"That's alright," John replies, standing behind us as dad and I sit down. "I prefer to stand."

"What have you brought for me?" he asks, eyeing me hungrily. "The girl - she looks nimble - quick, yes? Strong as well, I don't doubt." His lips turn in a malicious sneer as he turns to dad. "This one, I'm not so sure."

"The ... er ... male is intelligent," John starts off slowly. "A skilled fighter and showman. His daughter is unassuming. The pair have ranked up quite the number of kills over the years, as you can imagine."

Tiboldt's eyes narrow. "And why would you be telling me zis?"

"Because," John says in a low voice, leaning over us, "your reputation precedes you, Mr Tiboldt. These two will make the perfect additions to your special band of circus freaks."

Tiboldt pauses for a moment, and I hold my breath. Will he call us out?

"Very well," Tiboldt says at last, standing and reaching his hand across the table. "I will take zem on for tonight on a ... trial period ... and from zer we will agree a price."

John takes his hand and shakes it. "We have a deal." He takes his hand back and extends up in a salute. "Hail HYDRA!"

"Hail HYDRA!" Tiboldt replies, copying the salute. 

I mask my surprise as dad and I stand, following John back out of the tent. 

"Nice touch," I say in a low voice once we get outside.

"Did you like that?" John asks, smiling. 

I laugh. "That was scarily convincing."

Dad nods, in agreement. "Good work, John." 

"But how did you know that would work?" John asks. "The whole routine where I sell you off?"

"Circuses are always looking for work, John," dad says. "The question is why did he let us in so easily."

"How d'you mean?"

"These people are smugglers working with the greatest care," dad replies. "They don't just let people walk in without some kind of background check."

"But he'll think we're working for HYDRA, won't he? Just another business arrangement?"

"Anyone can copy a salute," I point out. 

We walk into the ring where everyone is practising their acts, and my eyes widen in amazement. At one side of the ring is a firebreather blowing fire from his mouth without any kind of torch or anything else the fire could have come from. Above us, a trapeze artist in a billowing white blouse swings from one platform to the other, letting go and soaring much further than the average human could jump. It's as she leaps down from her perch into the ring that I realise her white blouse is actually a pair of wings. They're Inhumans.

"It's a trap," I say quietly as a woman with a snake wrapped around her neck makes her way over.

"Welcome to Tiboldt Circus," she says, smiling widely and looks at me and dad. "You must be our new double act." She looks back at John. "I'm afraid you must go now - no one is allowed to see the acts before showtime."

John hesitates, but dad nods to him. "Alright. I'll see you tonight," John says, and the snake charmer waits until he has left before continuing.

"I'm sorry, we can never be too careful. My name is Princess Python. Now allow me to show you to your dressing room so you may practice for the show."

She walks on and we follow behind. "That's Zelda DuBoit," dad tells me in a low voice. "Daughter of a prominent American official."

"Quite a different life," I reply, and he nods as Zelda leads us through to the dressing room.

"These are your costumes," she says, indicating to a rack in the corner with bright outfits hanging up and I try not to grimace. "I'll come back and visit you once you're dressed."

She closes the door and I walk over to one of the hangers. "These are actually awful," I say, looking down at the clown costumes. The outfit is the typical bright yellow jumpsuit with red bowtie, complete with red nose and wig.

"With much luck we'll be out of here before the show," dad replies, taking his own. "For now though, we must grin and bare it."

I change behind the screen into the outfit, then come around to see dad. As soon as I see him, I burst out laughing.

"Shut up," he says, sulkily. He's put the wig and nose on already, and he looks utterly ridiculous. "You don't look much better."

"Well if this is a trap, they're going to full-out to make us look ridiculous. At least it might make them a little more likely to tell us what's going on." Dad looks at me sceptically as the door opens.

"I see you're ready for your rehearsal," Zelda says. I narrow my eyes as I look over her. There's now a crease in her outfit by her pocket, the shape of a phone. Something tells me that if we leave this room, it won't be to go to rehearsals.

Dad notices the same. "We haven't been completely honest with you, Miss DuBoit." The snake charmer smiles, unsurprised. "A friend of ours bought something from you - a divider. My daughter wants one, but how else was I to get in touch with the elusive Princess Python?"

"I only sell to the highest bidder," she replies, a deadly smile on her lips. "And HYDRA pay a very high price."

She begins to chant something, and I feel my eyelids getting heavier. She's hypnotising us! I drop to the floor as I lose the sensation in my legs, and as the lights go out I feel weightless.