Nicotine

Assured Assurances

Lestrade's case was closed, it had taken Sherlock a total of six hours and twenty-seven seconds to solve it. Easy. 

Both men now sat relaxing in 221b, mugs of tea in hand. John tapped his fingers against his mug anxiously.

"Sherlock."

"Mmhmm?"

"Can I just check, you know...this morning. When I uh- kissed you. What- are you still okay with...this. Us." John asked carefully.

"You're more experienced in human relationships than I, John, you tell me."

"I don't know." John said uneasily.

"We're fine. I'm fine." Sherlock said simply, smiling hesitantly at John.

John relaxed.

"That's...good." John grinned. "Can I ask you something, Sherlock?"

"Go ahead." Sherlock said, a smile in his voice. He knew what was coming.

"Are you, well, have you always been...homosexual?" John asked.

"I have no preferences." Sherlock said slowly.

"That's what I tho- okay. I'm...yeah. I think I'm...that, too." John said, staring into the depths of his mug.

"Good."  Sherlock replied softly.

John shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

Sherlock sighed.

"You've got more questions." He said to John.

"Em, yeah. Are you...uh..." He crossed his legs. Uncrossed them. Adjusted his sleeves.

The corner of Sherlock's mouth twitched at John's obvious discomfort.

"I'm not a virgin, John." Sherlock said.

"Right."

*

"Hungry?" John asked Sherlock, placing a hand on his shoulder. Sherlock tensed, hesitantly relaxing into John's touch. That was...good. Sherlock closed his eyes briefly, committing John's touch to memory.

"Mmm." Sherlock said, not looking up from the microscope.

"Okay, well I'm getting a Chinese." John said, grabbing the keys from the table.

"Mmmm." Sherlock hummed distractedly.

"I'm going now." John pressed.

Sherlock made an acknowledging sound in the back of his throat.

"Twenty minutes." John said, turning to leave.

"Wait." Sherlock said, reaching out and grabbing John's hand as it slipped from his shoulder. John's eyes widened a little. Sherlock's heart began to race. "Chow mein." He murmured.

"Anything else?" John asked carefully, smiling at him.

"No."

Sherlock let go of his hand, their fingers brushing. "Thank you." He said.

John chuckled quietly as he left. Sherlock blushed down the microscope.

Much later in the evening Sherlock rose from his laptop and stretched. John watched with one eyebrow raised as Sherlock yawned. He turned and caught John staring.

"Anything bothering you, John?" Sherlock said smoothly, knowing perfectly well what was going on.

It was John's turn to blush. "Nothing. I'm going to bed actually, I think. Bloody exhausted."

"Me too," Sherlock replied. "I'll finish this before we go to Scotland Yard tomorrow. Goodnight, John."

"No you don't." John said as Sherlock made to leave. "No chance. Not without..."

John stepped forwards and kissed him quickly and gently, eyes fluttering shut. He leaned in again and deepened the kiss, Sherlock kissing back this time. Lips pressed together they stumbled backwards, until Sherlock's legs shoved hard against the desk. His hands found John's neck and his arms wrapped around him, John's hands gripping his shirt and his back. John tilted his head back and opened his mouth, his tongue finding Sherlock's. Sherlock made a surprised appreciative noise and John laughed at Sherlock's evident pleasure. Sherlock pulled John even closer and took control, lips so alive and tongues dancing. Slowly, John's pulled away, releasing his bite on Sherlock's lower lip, leaving a highly dissatisfied detective. Opening their eyes, they stared at each other breathlessly.

"You." John panted. "Are an amazing kisser."

Sherlock smirked. "I hadn't finished. However, that is a compliment I can easily return."

John stared at Sherlock's perfect lips, dark pink and slightly puffy from kissing him. "Goodnight."