Voice of a Stranger (Johnlock)

The Case

His bed was empty when he awoke, and John sighed. Of course. Sherlock was in the middle of a case, and John was lucky to have had his attention for even a few hours.

He had to face facts. This was how Sherlock was. How he lived. Could John fit into this and be happy?

Truthfully, it was mostly frustrating. They had been so, so incredibly intimate, spending so much time in bed together, holding nothing back. It felt jarring to go from that to not touching each other even in passing.

John thought of sitting Sherlock down, and talking about their relationship. It would have to be between cases, when he could have his undivided attention. Would he, could he understand what John wanted? Would he be willing? Did he want it as well, or would he do it just to please John? Wouldn't it seem awkward to have Sherlock being cuddly if he didn't mean it genuinely? John wanted more cuddling, but not if it went against Sherlock's nature.

What if he asked for it, and Sherlock refused? Just said he wasn't a touchy-feely kind of man. Could John continue things as they were and be satisfied?

Maybe Sherlock just wanted a flatmates with benefits occasionally situation. The sex was fantastic, but John knew it couldn't work. He needed more and the idea of dating other people while living at the flat would just be strange.

Everything was just too up in the air, and it was stressing John out. He wanted Sherlock, had feelings for him...but what did Sherlock want? Would it totally scare him away to bring all this up?

---

Going to the kitchen, John was surprised to find Sherlock there, peering through his microscope.

Giving into a natural impulse, John stepped up behind the tall man, running a hand lightly down his back. Sherlock jumped slightly, but didn't seem to pull away from the touch. Taking it as a positive sign, John leaned along Sherlock's back, and pressed a light kiss to the back of his neck. "Good morning."

"John...I'm working." Sherlock grumbled, a bit of a chuckle in his complaining tone.

Rolling his eyes, John stepped back and started the kettle. "Oh, forgive me for wanting to say Good Morning to the man who slept in my bed last night." The same man whose hands and mouth had John groaning in pleasure, again and again. Just thinking about it now made John want to shove his hands into Sherlock's curls to drag his head back and kiss him good morning properly.

Light green eyes flicked up to meet John's, amusement and impatience warring there. "Fine, we'll be polite then. Good morning, John. Did you sleep well?"

John arched his back, feeling the stretch. "Mmmm yes. I always sleep soundly after a good shag."

"Just good?" The green eyes were definitely amused now, and it was hard to resist straddling Sherlock's lap to kiss him senseless.

John scoffed as he buttered his toast. "It was fantastic and you know it. Stop fishing for compliments." He sat down at the table near Sherlock, taking a long sip of his tea. "Can I help you with the case today?"

Sherlock shook his head. "No, I think we have all the evidence we can get for now. I just need to go into my Mind Palace, shuffle everything around, and see what comes together."

John had seen Sherlock like this a few times since he'd been back at work. Lying on the sofa for hours, quiet, almost unreachable. His concentration fully focused internally.

Sighing, John finished his breakfast. He put his hand on Sherlock's arm, leaving it there until he got his attention. "Sherlock, when we are done this case, I'd like some time for a long talk, just the two of us. Before you get busy with the next case. Would you do that for me?" His tone was serious, his eyes steady. This was too important to be glib about.