Fic: 221B - Bad days

[anarion]

Title: Bad Days
Words: 221
Rating: PG-13
Pairings : Sherlock/John
Warnings: dark moods?
Disclaimer: Not mine.

Summary: ‘365 days of 221Bs’ challenge: a prompt a day, given by atlinmerrick.



Previous 221b: Green Thumb

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Bad Days



There are a lot of things Sherlock Holmes is not. A lot of words you would not apply to him.

Polite. Diplomatic. Conform. Delicate.

John will agree to all but the last one. But that’s just because he has seen sides of Sherlock no one else ever has.

You’ve definitely never seen him come home and just stop in the door frame because he feels something is up with John. He will stay there and watch John until he has deduced his mood and what it is that John needs right now.

Because John has bad days, dark days, where he loses himself.

Sometimes John wants to be left alone, then Sherlock quietly goes into the kitchen and works on one of his experiments. Sometimes he doesn’t want to be alone but doesn’t want to talk either. Then Sherlock plays the violin for him.

And sometimes, when John is captured by the darkness, Sherlock walks over to him and pulls him into his arms, just holding him silently until the fierce pressure of John’s embrace eases and he leans into Sherlock.

Sherlock still won’t speak, instead he will weave his hand into John’s hair and press his lips to his forehead, his whole body whispering ‘I am here for you.’

They will stay like this until John finds his way back.




Next 221b: Appreciation of Efforts


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AN: Late post is late. I blame the weekend... ;)

Today's prompt was 'delicate'.







.

Comments

[chocolamousse.livejournal.com]

Aww, it's very lovely. You got me because at first I thought the story was about Sherlock's bad days, like so often in Sherlock fanfic. It's nice to have the other way round and to see Sherlock's caring side. And I very much like how you extend your "where he loses himself" metaphor with the last sentence, it's very moving. It's a silent scene but it says so much. Can I join Sherlock and John in their hug? :-)

I think you mean "he will weave his hand". ;-)

[ledasdaughter.livejournal.com]

<3 this fits nicely in my "The Blessings of Living with Sherlock" category :)

also: not even two weeks until Jay and Londonnnnnnnnn!!!!

[atlinmerrick.livejournal.com]

I just said, very hushed, "Oooooh, that was so good." As usual I love the last line. And I love love love that Sherlock plays his violin for John. That was perfect and so sweet.

What a fine thing you did with this prompt. I adore how much you always surprise me.

[tsuki-no-hana.livejournal.com]

Beautiful. I love that you focused on John's black moods - so many fics write about Sherlock's, but a lot of people seem to just skim over the trauma John lived through, and what it may have done to him.

Bless Sherlock for knowing exactly what he needs.

[rox712.livejournal.com]

I love how you're able to surprise me again and again. This one was sweet and beautiful.

[arianedevere.livejournal.com]

Oh, honey, this is so lovely. I especially adore the quiet voice you narrate it in. Gorgeous.

[verityburns.livejournal.com]

Oh, beautiful! Might have to hug you extra hard for this one - consider yourself warned :D

[tracionn.livejournal.com]

God, that's beautiful! One of your best for sure and it touched me deeply.

[anarion.livejournal.com]

This is something I learned from Atlin. Take an idea and then do the opposite. :)
Glad it worked!

Can we just make it official? You are my typo ninja! :) Thank you!

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Jay and London and you and meet-up and and and... *grabs paper bag*

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there are a lot of stories about Sherlock having bad days and being depressed. I think there is a lot of darkness in John too and I wanted to show that.

I am so happy that it worked. Thank you!

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Aaww, thank you! Surprising people is great! :)

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you so much! Hearing that I was able to touch people with my writing is an amazing compliment. <3

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Yay, hugs! Hugs that will happen tomorrow! *bounces*

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! <3

I struggled with this prompt a lot before this idea jumped in and practically wrote itself, so I'm especially glad that people like it that much!

[anarion.livejournal.com]

What a fine thing you did with this prompt.

I really struggled with this prompt. I had the beginning immediately, but then I got stuck. I think I wrote four different scenes before this one. Then I had a mental image of Sherlock standing in the doorway looking at a sad John and everything fell in place. :)

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Um, and THANK YOU of course! :)
*facepalm*

[antesqueluz.livejournal.com]

Loving these.

[mirith.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous. I can see this. Watson doesn't talk about his own black moods in ACD, but then, he wouldn't, would he? He'd be much more preoccupied with Sherlock's. A lovely little slice of domestic life that only the two of them know about.

[siousxiesue.livejournal.com]

I'm amazed that so few words could be so moving, love that Sherlock can be there for John and not just the other way round, this is one I will be coming back to. Thank you