Elementary, John

Chapter 3: Mycroft

Something was decidedly different about Sherlock. That was apparent from the moment Mycroft laid eyes on him one day after school as their mother was driving them home. The boy was practically glowing, and he was doing a pretty bad job of hiding it. The young Holmes was swinging his feet as he stared out the window of the car.

"Well?" Mycroft asked him.

Sherlock started. "Well what?"

"Well what happened at school today that has you bursting with joy?" he asked.

Sherlock flushed in a mix of anger and embarrassment, stuttering, "N-no! Not joy—"

Mycroft suddenly raised his eyebrows. "Oh no, baby brother! Don't tell me you have a... crush?"

Sherlock flushed deeper now. "Stop teasing me! And no, we both know that that's silly stuff."

"And we both know that you are a very silly boy."

Mrs. Holmes chuckled to herself as the car pulled to a stop in their driveway, and Sherlock made several squealing and grunting noises as he got out of the car, slammed the door, and retreated to his room.

Mycroft chuckled to himself as he texted Athena to get information on what happened today with his brother. Not an hour later, and he had the full story.

The next day at recess, John had hardly stepped foot outside when two older kids approached him.

"He wants to see you," said one of them, a girl. John looked up at her, confusion written upon his face.

"Who?"

There was no answer, but his curiosity made him follow them nonetheless. Once they reached one of the three play castles, they pointed under it to reveal a boy who looked to be in the fifth grade. Needless to say, John was intimidated. He was, after all, several years younger, and very small compared to this stranger.

The boy, who had dark hair and calm, cool, calculated eyes, patted the seat in front of him. "Sit, John."

"How do you know my name?"

Again, no answer. "I know what you did yesterday."

John groaned, hoping it wasn't Philip's brother who sat before him.

"Why did you stand up for my brother like that? It's making him act funny."

So, this was the famed Mycroft.

"Well," John answered, "he isn't as bad as they think. I think he's cool. And no one should bully someone else for being different!"

Mycroft put up his hand to calm John down. "Very good. You'd do well to be my brother's friend. He tries to be like me, but in the end, he is more... fragile. Whether he admits it or not, unlike me, he actually might need someone."

John was a bit surprised and pleased at how this conversation was turning out. "Yeah, of course! I was probably gonna end up his friend anyways after yesterday, so..."

But Mycroft wasn't finished. "However," he said, "if you hurt him, do anything to break his heart, I will unleash my wrath upon you. Got it?"

John shrunk back at the intensity of the older boy's gaze and nodded a tiny nod. Mycroft, seemingly satisfied, waved his hand in dismissal. John trotted off to find Sherlock.

Mycroft's little brother was quietly sitting on the swing set when he saw John approach. He brightened a little.

"Sorry about that," he said, "your brother had a talk with me."

Sherlock rolled his eyes. "Of course he did," he said. Did Mycroft have to monitor everything about his life? Sherlock looked around him, trying to spot the annoying—

"So, what do you want to do?" John asked suddenly, making Sherlock jump. "I mean, we're friends now— I think. Right?"

Sherlock blinked, then nodded slowly. "Right," he said dizzily.

"Ok, so what do you want to play?"

Sherlock felt like he would have a heart attack. No one in the history of ever had asked him that before, not even Mycroft(with Mycroft, Sherlock always initiated it, usually attacking him with sticks or his food). He was vaguely aware of John's presence as he called his name.

"Sherlock? Sherlock!"

Sherlock jumped up, his attention finally recalled.

"Uh, sorry John. It's just..." he trailed off, not sure if he should say.

He didn't have to worry though, because John caught on. "Oh ok, do you want me to choose?" Sherlock nodded a great full nod. John hummed, evidently thinking for a moment. "How about this: you're a pirate, and I am the Navy trying to catch you!"

The dark haired boy's eyes glinted, and he immediately ran off to claim one of the play castles as his ship.

From the shadows, Mycroft smiled slightly at the two little boys as they squealed and chased each other.