Fic: 221B - Like a moth to the flame

[anarion]

Title: Like a moth to the flame
Words: a 221B has 221 words and ends with a b-word
Rating: PG-13
Pairings : Sherlock/John
Warnings: none
Disclaimer: Not mine.

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






Previous 221b: Sherlock gets his feet wet


Today's prompt: fire/ flames

________________________________________________

Like a moth to the flame


He is standing at the window, next to the music stand, gazing out, deep in thought. He has a mug in his hand and his fingers are absently drumming a rhythm on it.

I can smell the coffee, he must have been really tired to make himself one.

Watching his fingers makes me yearn for his touch and I shiver suddenly realising their absence. He hasn’t touched me in a while. In fact he hasn’t even been here the last couple nights. The few times I even bothered to try and sleep I was alone in a bed too big and cold without him.

I know he is working but it still makes me wonder. If he doesn’t want me anymore, if I’m already boring and unimaginative in comparison to all the others he has been with.

He turns around and catches me watching. A slow smile spreads over his face and makes his eyes shine.

He puts down his mug and steps over to where I’m sitting and settles himself on my lap, compensating for our height difference.

He runs a trembling finger over my lips before gently brushing his mouth over mine. Then he kisses me and it’s heat and strength and need. It’s perfect.

We smile at each other, breathing hard. The fire is still there, still burning.



Next 221b: Die laughing


------------------
AN:
Today's prompt was 'fire/ flames'.

Someone on AO3 said that she didn't like some of my stories because of the 'bait and switch'. That's too bad, because THAT'S WHAT I DO! :D
So, when did you figure out who's talking here?








.

Comments

[bradspyjamas.livejournal.com]

I'm presuming it was Sherlock talking and John's doing night shifts or something as a locum.
I loved it, completely and totally, even if I've got the person wrong.
And don't stop doing the bait and switch, it's one of the things that makes your writing so wonderful.

[anarion.livejournal.com]

You are right, of course. :)

And don't stop doing the bait and switch, it's one of the things that makes your writing so wonderful.
Thank you! And don't worry, I'm not going to stop. :D

[teejod.livejournal.com]

Since John normally makes tea, he must have been really tired to make himself one (coffee, that is) had me wondering if this isn't Sherlock speaking. And having read your other 221B's... well.

So nice to see the vulnerability and insecurity.

Well, and wondering why people feel the need to tell one, why they don't like your stories, instead of just stop reading them?!

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Ha, damn. I was hoping people would put the emphasis on the fact that Sherlock usually does not make anything for himself. ;)
You are right of course.

Thank you!

[verityburns.livejournal.com]

Sherlock, from: 'if I’m already boring and unimaginative in comparison to all the others he has been with.'

This is beautiful. My new favourite!

'Then he kisses me and it’s heat and strength and need.

It’s perfect.'

My sentiments exactly :D

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's Sherlock. :)

I'm so glad to hear that it's perfect and one of your favourites! Thank you, sweetie! :D

[rox712.livejournal.com]

I am totally unsure, but I thought too that the "all the others" could be a hint to Sherlock talking about John. In that case, Sherlock being unsure about being "already boring" is genious! Either way it's precious and the Sex-on-the-horizon tag leaves only tender feelings this time.

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Hee, I'm ingenious! Thanks! <3

And yes, it's Sherlock speaking of course. :D

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

I guessed Sherlock from this:
The few times I even bothered to try and sleep...
Clever but oh so insecure bébe!

[anarion.livejournal.com]

You guessed right! :)

Thank you!

[atlinmerrick.livejournal.com]

For the same reasons others gave, I think it's Sherlock...and I think that because it's you writing. You're always giving us some viewpoint we hadn't considered but once considered we're left with, "Oh, of course. Yes. Why didn't anyone else ever think of that?"

And your reader who felt the need to complain? Why on earth is she reading if she doesn't like surprise endings? It's what you do over and over and sooooo well!

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's Sherlock.

I think that because it's you writing. You're always giving us some viewpoint we hadn't considered but once considered we're left with, "Oh, of course. Yes. Why didn't anyone else ever think of that?"
Best reason. Thank you, darling! <3

[chocolamousse.livejournal.com]

The moment I found out who was speaking?

Official answer: Well, from the first line of course. It was obvious. Why do you ask?

True answer:
he must have been really tired to make himself one.
Ah, he is Sherlock. The lazy bum.

In fact he hasn’t even been here the last couple nights.
Yes, Sherlock on a case.

The few times I even bothered to try and sleep
Yes, because John helps Sherlock with the case, that's why he doesn't sleep a lot. Er, isnt' it?

I know he is working
Yeah, yeah, married to his work. Sherlock, then.

if I’m already boring and unimaginative
Oh, poor John, you're not indeed. *thinks* Wait. Yes, Sherlock finds so many things "boring", it's his trademark. It's obvious. But Anarion DOESN'T do obvious. Hmm. *begins to doubt*

in comparison to all the others he has been with.
Er... all the others? Well, in this universe Sherlock had other partners before John after all. Still...

compensating for our height difference
Er, what?
*re-reads the line*
OH MY GOD IT'S SHERLOCK WHO SPEAKS!!!
*re-reads the whole thing*

he must have been really tired to make himself one.
Because he drinks mainly tea.

In fact he hasn’t even been here the last couple nights.
Because he was on night shifts!

The few times I even bothered to try and sleep
Because he never sleeps a lot!

I know he is working
At the clinic, you moron! (I'm talking to myself.)

if I’m already boring and unimaginative in comparison to all the others he has been with.
John "Three Continents" Watson! And of course Sherlock has less experience than him...

Anarion, you're a genius! I KNOW how you write and still you've completely fooled me. Brilliant! Feel free to bait and switch as much as you want. ;-)

This apart, I love the voice in this story; it's Sherlock's but it could be John's or anybody's in love who is afraid of losing the person they love; the voice is both quiet and scared, you make us fell Sherlock's vulnerability so well and it's beautiful. I especially love I was alone in a bed too big and cold without him.

And the end is so heart-warming and lovely. It's so cosy that for some seconds I nearly thought you talked about a real fire in the fireplace. :D What a great use of the prompt. To my mind both Sherlock and John are the flame and the moth to each other and I hope the fire will burn forever. Look at me, you made me all mushy! :D

In short, I love this fic, for me it's one of your best 221Bs. As Sherlock says, "It's perfect." :-) (And my comment is longer than your fic. Sorry!)

[anarion.livejournal.com]

This is exactly what I wanted people to think. I had a lot of fun reading it in your words though! :D

Thank you for all the lovely thinks you said in the end! <3
I feel all mushy too, whenever I read it!

[kestrel337.livejournal.com]

The coffee was my first clue. Then, the 'bothered to try and sleep', 'all the others', 'height difference' were confirmation. Plus, if it's Sherlock standing at the window drinking coffee because he's on a case...I don't think he'd have gone over and started 'sex on the horizon'.

But all of that being said, it's because of how you write that I tend to come to your fics with a bit more care. This isn't 'back of the cereal box' writing, and shouldn't be read that way.

I don't see you writing 'bait and switch'. You are looking deeper into the characters, pointing out the common insecurities and fears to both of the these beautiful and broken men. I'd even say "all" of these men, because your Lestrade is wonderful as well. If I read your words and walked away feeling stupid and abused then maybe bait and switch would be justified, but saying so in the comments? Not so much. If you can't say something nice, etcetera etcetera.

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Thank you for all your wonderful words! <3
I especially loved: it's because of how you write that I tend to come to your fics with a bit more care.!

And yes, you're of course right. It's Sherlock. :)

[tracionn.livejournal.com]

My heart just wrenched and it keeps doing so. It's so sad/moving/wonderful and I understand John's thoughts so very much.
As I'm so glad Sherlock still needs and wants him (of course he does!).

Can I just ask something? The "all the others he has been with" - is that so? Has Sherlock been with so many others in your story line or do you mean something else here? Sorry!! Just want to understand :)

And you're doing so great with the switches!

[anarion.livejournal.com]

And you're doing so great with the switches!
I do. Especially since it is actually Sherlock speaking here! :D
Fooled ya! *does a happy dance*

No, that is exactly what I wanted people to think. I threw in a few hints, though. John is sitting on Sherlock's lap to make up for the height difference for example.

But yes, I think Sherlock (being Sherlock) has been with other people in a sexual way, I think he would be someone to try everything at least once. He has never been with anyone in a relationship though. That's how I see him. :)

How do you see him? Tell me!

[tamzette.livejournal.com]

I loved this!

I wasn't 100% certain it was Sherlock speaking until the height difference bit at the end, but I was 99% certain from the drinking coffee instead of tea. That and the fact that he had to have been tired to do it. Sherlock wouldn't need coffee to keep himself awake and he certainly wouldn't have taken the time an effort to make it for himself.... Hehe!

[anarion.livejournal.com]

I am glad to hear that you enjoyed reading!

You are right, of course, it's Sherlock. :D

[purrculier1.livejournal.com]

Honestly thought it was Sherlock's point of view to start.

Got suspicious at "The few times I even bothered to try to sleep I was alone in a bed too big and cold without him."

Then shrieked and happy danced at('cause tricksy, twisty, sneaky Anarion <3 <3)"...If I'm already boring and unimaginitive in comparison to all the others he's been with."

"It's perfect."(yup, yup, yup. Oh look,you even wrote you're own review.{snerk})

p.s. crazy lady on AOL is crazy lady, and I know crazy.(entitled to her opinion but,*wrong*.) Sends *squish* 'cause tricksy Anarion "YAY!".

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Honestly thought it was Sherlock's point of view to start.

What? But... But... I wanted to fool you. *sobs*

No. Clever you! Well done. :D
And thank you! <3

[purrculier1.livejournal.com]

Not so clever really, I cheat, read your tags first.
*Surprise* tag + first sentence = She didn't = *Glee*(loves Tricksy Woman Anarion!)
Then was to busy being lost in beautiful thing you wrote to pat myself on back.( was/is so, so, beautiful.)

[arianedevere.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'm lazy, or maybe I'm getting the hang of the bait and switch (or maybe I just love doing the same thing), but when I started reading I knew not to take anything for granted; but instead of trying to analyse every line to work out (a) who it looked like it was and (b) who it probably was, I just relaxed and let the story flow over me, knowing that you'd let me know by the end. And that's not really like me at all, cos I usually like to prove to myself that I'm clever and that I can work it out before I get to the end.

But, hell, if stories were always predictable they'd be pretty boring, and I love suspecting from the first sentence that there's going to be something clever by the end. And you, sweetie, so often surprise me and never bore me. If people prefer predictable stories, it's their loss.

[anarion.livejournal.com]

And you, sweetie, so often surprise me and never bore me.
*does a happy dance*

I'm able to surprise the clever girl! *yay*
Also, thank you! <3