Nicotine (Sheriarty)

37

Moriarty

Irene's house was smaller than Jim remembered. Not that he remembered much, of course.

Jim took a sip of his water and sunk into the sofa. Irene took off her shoes and flopped down next to him.

"You've downgraded." Jim pointed out.

"I was supposed to get beheaded, of course I downgraded," the woman pointed out, "Now, what happened?"

Jim raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Last I heard you were off with that pretty boy and now you're getting drunk at the side of the street."

"It's nothing..."

"That's not the Jim I know."

"I'm not the Jim you know." Moriarty snapped.

"What do you mean?"

Jim sighed, "I... I lost my memory. I don't really want to talk about it."

Irene nodded, "Is that why you got drunk?"

"No..."

"Then why?"

Jim could tell Irene was getting impatient. He took another sip of his water whilst contemplating what to tell her.

He settled on the truth.

"He's in hospital."

"Oh my god... What happened?" Irene sounded genuinely concerned.

"Fireworks. Case. Not a good mix."

"Oh."

"Sherl will be okay though. He's a fighte-"

Irene cut him off suddenly, "Wait... Sherl? Don't you mean Seb?"

Jim shifted uncomfortably, "No... I'm with Sherlock..."

"Sherlock Holmes?"

"How many other Sherlock's do you know?"

"No, wait. You're with Sherlock Holmes?"

"Yes... Wasn't that obvious?"

Irene turned so she was facing him. Her eyes looked like they had doubled in size but she didn't look remotely happy.

"But you hate him."

"But I love him."

The pair stared at each other for a while.

"So... Let me get this straight."

"Bad choice of words," Jim mumbled, "we're not exactly straight."

The woman ignored him and continued, "A consulting detective is dating a consulting criminal."

"A consulting detective is married to a consulting criminal." Moriarty corrected.

The seconds that passed felt like decades. Jim fiddled with the ring on his finger whilst Irene tried to understand the information she'd just been given.

"Let me guess..." The woman whispered slowly, "you're helping him with cases now."

"Just one or two..."

"You're helping Scotland Yard."

"I'm helping Sherlock."

Irene stood up suddenly, "I don't think I know who you are anymore."

Jim furrowed his eyebrows slightly, "Of course you do. I'm Jim!"

"No you're not. Not anymore."

"Irene?"

Adler walked over to the door and opened it, indicating for Jim to leave.

"Get out." Her voice was strong and firm but her face didn't show any hint of anger.

"What are you- You don't- I don't-" The man stuttered.

Irene didn't reply.

Jim stood up and slowly made his way towards the door.

"You're one of them now. You're on the side of the angels." She sounded disgusted. Disgusted with Jim? Disgusted with herself? Jim couldn't tell.

Moriarty sighed and made his way out of the building.

"You know what Jim?" Irene shouted angrily, "I wish you actually shot yourself up on that rooftop."

As Jim walked away, he heard something hit the floor behind him followed by the door slamming. When he turned to look, he saw a small, silver necklace.

By this time, a storm had begun. The rain soaked Jim as he picked up the necklace to investigate it further.

Moriarty recognised the jewellery. It was the necklace he had given Irene when they were kids.

They had been friends since they were 8 or 9. Jim couldn't remember exactly. He did, however, remember hiding inside the classrooms with her at lunchtimes. They had both been bullied for being different. Little did the bully's know that Jim had already killed off one of the boys who laughed at him. Simple murder really. Textbook.

As Jim stared down at the piece of metal in his hand, the memories began flooding back to him. The necklace had one half of the heart. Jim's had the other. The idea was that they would fit together and it would be a sign of their friendship. Jim thought it was incredibly cheesy but thought that Irene would like it. Girls like that kind of stuff.

Jim clutched the necklace in his hand. She'd kept hold of it all these years.

As Moriarty began to walk home, he desperately tried to understand what he had done wrong. Everything in his life seemed to be going downhill. Sherlock was in hospital. Irene hated him.

What would be next?

A/N

Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed that chapter.

What do you guys want to happen next? Any ideas?

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-A