Patience. It wasn't something he had been known to have. Ever. Mycroft could certainly attest to that. Which was why it was surprising that it took as long as it did for his patience to snap. When it did however ...
Sherlock fixed his unforgiving gaze on the conventionally attractive blonde that had been flirting with his John for the past ten minutes. "If you're quite finished," he hissed, and, though John was frowning at him warningly from the other side of the table, he went on to add, "I believe your cats are waiting for you at home. Oh, and you may want to give your boyfriend a call. Three out of town conferences in the past month? And, you believed that? Really?"
The waitress drew herself up to full height, an enraged blush spreading across her cheeks, but she never had a chance to respond to Sherlock's deductions - As if he cared what she'd say to try and deny it - Because in the next second, Sherlock had snatched up John's hand and was tugging him out of the restaurant, completely ignoring the shorter man's confused protests.
As he pulled John along, Sherlock glared at anyone who so much as looked their way. This was a feeling he was becoming all too accustomed to, and that was quite possibly only making his reaction worse. The fact that he was becoming used to feeling anything at all was irritating in itself. He had always understood that jealousy was a powerful motivator - One of the top three causes behind murders, in fact - But he had never fully understood it until recently. It was typical that he would come to understand it through John.
"Sherlock?" John asked in a clearly bewildered tone as he struggled to keep up with Sherlock's frenzied pace, but Sherlock paid it no mind. He simply tightened his already firm grip on John's hand and continued to sweep his way through the streets of London.
He didn't release John's hand until they were safely ensconced in their apartment, and even then it was only so that he could jerk his scarf off from around his neck. Why. Why did the world insist on flirting with what was oh-so-obviously his? The media had all but jumped on them the first time they were caught in public holding hands- An oversight on Sherlock's behalf. He'd underestimated the media's desperation. Hadn't even questioned the way that John slid his hand into Sherlock's, the feel of John's calloused hand within his own had barely even made a ripple in his thoughts because it had become natural for them to do so whenever they were hidden away from prying eyes . Yet, vapid, infuriating, boring, women still insisted on flirting with his John Watson. What did Sherlock have to do to make them back the fuck off?
Sherlock's gaze flicked over to John. The other man was pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers, but his mouth is pulled up at the corners, and Sherlock's eyes narrowed at the sight. John was amused. Unacceptable.
His body moving before his mind could fully examine all possible outcomes, Sherlock stalked forward, a barely-repressed growl vibrating against the back of his throat as he disregarded John's now uncertain "Sherlock?" and trapped the smaller man against the wall, his arms forming a cage on either side of him.
John barely even reacted to a clearly incensed Sherlock broaching his personal space. He simply returned Sherlock's steady gaze, just ... Waiting. He didn't even press himself back into the wall, and that quiet strength was just one of the little quirks of John that Sherlock had come to adore, and, with time, love.
For a few seconds, Sherlock just continued to stare, drinking in every subtle movement of John's eyes, his cheeks, discerning his thoughts before John had even fully formed them. He watched with fascination as the artery in John's neck pulsed with his increased heart rate - The sole indication that John was affected by his proximity at all.
But then John's tongue darted out to lick at his lips, and Sherlock chased it, pressing his mouth to John's almost desperately, seeking out that elusive tongue with his own. Bewildering, the effect that being in close contact with your sexual partner could do for ones libido.
