Fic: 221B - As I lay me down to sleep

[anarion]

So there we were in London. And I told atlinmerrick that my muse had left me. And what did she say? " Just write anything. Write something about Sherlock's shoes. A 221B." I thought she was crazy. That would never work.
Two minutes later we were fishing for b-words to go with it and suddenly it hit me, the perfect b-word for a shoe story.
That night, while I was trying to go to sleep, my muse came back. And she had this neat little thing in her pocket.

So this is for Atlin, who is wonderful and brilliant and deserves all the hugs I can give!


Title: As I lay me down to sleep
Words: 221
Rating: PG
Warnings:
Pairings : Sherlock/John
Disclaimer: Sadly the characters are not mine and no money is made (that would be sooo cool!).

Summary: John has never given Sherlock’s shoes much thought. Until that night.



221B - As I lay me down to sleep


John has never given Sherlock’s shoes much thought.

Sure, they were elegant, shiny and probably pretty expensive, like the rest of his outfit. But apart from that? There were only two times when John really noticed the shoes.

Once when he fell over them in the dark of their living room (nearly smashing his head on the table) and the other time when Sherlock slipped on a chase because of the smooth soles (only his amazing sense of balance saved him from falling).

But since that night he spent handcuffed to a radiator in a basement, a bloody blue scarf in his lap, watching the man walk around in Sherlock’s shoes, since then he hates them. Hates them with a passion he never thought himself capable of.

Because now the sound of these shoes on the floor, the smell of their leather (yes, the man made him kiss the shoes), just their sight makes him think of that terrible night, his helplessness and despair and his fear that Sherlock was gone.

This sound though is one he loves: The soft padding of Sherlock walking through the dark towards their bed, where John is lying, almost asleep, but never really sleeping until Sherlock has wrapped himself around him. The soft rustling of Sherlock’s trousers. Stepping softly as to not wake John. Barefoot.


--------------------------
AN: So, yes, my muse is back! *yay* Thanks to everyone who offered cookies to get her back. :)
I have one urgent thing on my mind, something porny my muse dragged in with her when she came back (and which was probably inevitable, since I had met Atlin that day *tee-hee*) but then I will get back to finish all the prompts I started. I promise!





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Comments

[baka-yu.livejournal.com]

I really like that! And barefoot Sherlock is always a great Sherlock. Toes! ;)

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Haha, good morning! :D

Eww, toes... ;)

[baka-yu.livejournal.com]

Morning! ;) How are you dear? *hugs*

Ah yes, you were the one that didn't like them. Pity. ;)

[days-of-storm.livejournal.com]

the other time when Sherlock slipped on a chase because of the smooth soles (only his amazing sense of balance saved him from falling).

THIS IS ALSO CANON! :D

this is lovely. and yes, I see you're warming up to the feet. next stop: toes ;)

[ledasdaughter.livejournal.com]

whoops, logged in with the wrong account :p yeah, since I'm about to post a prompt fic for verityburns :p don't mind me and my split personality.

also, baka_yu, I will start working right after posting ;)

[arianedevere.livejournal.com]

Yay, you wrote it! *glomps you* And it's lovely!

[anarion.livejournal.com]

I'm good. How are you? *hugs back*

Yes, I was the one with the toe-phobia. ;)

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I nearly died laughing when I read your last chapter and he slipped. But with his shoes, it is inevitable, isn't it?

Re the toes: see icon! :P

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Haha, you're turning into the personal fic delivery for Verity! But go you, somebody has to keep up the level of daily Verity-accusation.

And in this and the next one there is nothing I can blame her for. Oh wait. Yes, I can. ;D

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Aaw, thank you! *glomps back*

How is your NT-bunny doing?

Edit: your icon! *lol*

[ledasdaughter.livejournal.com]

I don't even know how...our brains must all be connected somehow!

haha, I wrote a 221b about the toes :p will start posting those when I've finished the big one...that's only two more chapters now :/

ahh, it was very hard to only use so few words for such glorious things that are his toes! so there will probably be more on the toe front *g*

I REGRET NOTHING!

[days-of-storm.livejournal.com]

lol, well she did post two promts and who am I to say no to her ;)

there are still 3 promts up for grabs, just so you know ;)

[anarion.livejournal.com]

promts up for grabs

??? Do I now what's going on?

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am so curious! Ahm, not about the toe thingy, but to read your 221Bs. I love that everybody has his own 221B style. :)

@toes and the notion that there will be more on that font:

[baka-yu.livejournal.com]

I can't complain! :D Back from London?

Note to self: No toes for anarion!

[baka-yu.livejournal.com]

Very good! :P

[days-of-storm.livejournal.com]

this is what's going on:

lookie lookie

[days-of-storm.livejournal.com]

*gigglesnort* you're gonna love the toe one! yes yes you are!

and yeah, it was really interesting to start writing them and to see what would happen...I promised thatautumn I'd pick up the “You know that you just showed me about twenty seven different ways in which I could drive you absolutely insane?” thing and write 27 221Bs about exactly that :p

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Yes, sadly I had to leave London already... *mopes*

[baka-yu.livejournal.com]

Couldn't find the rich husband that pays for our living in London then? That's not fair. *hugs*

[baka-yu.livejournal.com]

I love the idea, but first things first: WORK!!!

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Still working on that I mean. ;)

[baka-yu.livejournal.com]

Haha, you can do iiit! ;)

[rox712.livejournal.com]

This is such a nice story to bring back home, specially if you have been missed a lot :-)

Barefoot is a brilliant b-word. And yes, I love toes, and feet.

[mirith.livejournal.com]

Lovely. I love how you take a simple prompt ("shoes") and, in a few sentences, construct a whole world out of it. No wonder John hates this article of clothing.

There's so much tenderness in the last paragraph. Sherlock typically has all the subtlety of a china-shop bull, so for him to be tiptoeing around for John is sweet and affectionate. Plus, I get the idea that he's barefoot partly because he knows John is still PTSD-ing over his shoes.

Congratulations on the return of your muse! If Helen is the face that launched a thousand ships, atlinmerrick is the mouth that launched a thousand fanfics.