Fic: 221B - Brothers in arms

[anarion]

Title: Brothers in arms
Words: a 221B has 221 words and ends with a b-word
Rating: PG-13
Pairings : Sherlock/John
Warnings: eating disorders
Disclaimer: Not mine.

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






Previous 221b: Close encounters of the third kind


Today's prompt: weight

________________________________________________

Brothers in arms


No one else would ever understand. Not even John. But that’s fine, because no one else needs to understand. Not even John. Not this.

***
When Mycroft was a teenager, he was overweight. Since he was already mocked for being precocious and too intelligent, it was an easy step for his peers to pick on him for his looks as well.

Sherlock responded to these experiences, albeit second-hand, by refusing to eat. It did not help because it just made him look like a stork.

On his sixteenth birthday Luisa, the girl Mycroft had fancied for months, told him very publicly that he was not only boring and a swot but also fat. It was the only time Sherlock ever witnessed his brother cry. That night the two boys sat in the attic (their usual hiding place from the world) and made a pact.

Since they’d always and inevitably stand out because of their intellect, they would at least adapt by looking ‘normal’. One brother started to eat, the other controlled what he ate. It is a war they will be fighting for the rest of their lives.

***

So when Sherlock says, “Putting on weight again?” and Mycroft responds, “Losing it, actually”, it’s not two siblings bickering, it’s the very Holmesian way of caring. It means ‘Remember and be careful, brother.’




Next 221b: Easy Rider


------------------
AN:
Today's prompt was 'weight'.










.

Comments

[arianedevere.livejournal.com]

Oh, darling, this is beautiful. Love those Holmes boys!

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

I can just see those brothers Holmes hanging out in their attic, a safe refuge from the cruel world, steadfastly insisting that Mycroft's tears are just a tiny leak in the roof as the rain pours down.

And that is a very... Holmes way of communicating.

[bradspyjamas.livejournal.com]

Yes, I can see that completely. It just fits. You've given me more head cannon, my dear and I couldn't be more grateful.

[auntiesuze.livejournal.com]

This makes complete sense to me. Poor Mycroft. They really do care about each other in their strange Holmesian way. And sadly, I can totally relate to this. I was the Mycroft in the equation and my little brother was the Sherlock (scrawny bastard! LOL). Thankfully, we communicate in a slightly more "normal" fashion. ;)

[atlinmerrick.livejournal.com]

Oh honey this is beautiful. Painful and sweet and beautiful. I love how you see them, I love what you do with these prompts. It could feel 'tricky' when you take obvious words and use them in unobvious ways, but it never does. It feels right.

Did I say this is beautiful? Because it so very much is.

[atlinmerrick.livejournal.com]

I have to add that though you think your crap at titles, you very, very much are not. So often they're absolutely perfect.

[rox712.livejournal.com]

Oh, this makes me very sad and gives their relationship a whole new angle. Beautiful.

[chocolamousse.livejournal.com]

No one else would ever understand. Not even John. But that’s fine, because no one else needs to understand. Not even John. Not this.
Not even John? Oh, it's going to be something terrible. And I like the repetition of Not even John.

It did not help because it just made him look like a stork.
Are you trying to start a new meme? After the otter, the stork? :D

It is a war they will be fighting for the rest of their lives.
That's powerful. And sad.

It means ‘Remember and be careful, brother.’
That's strong too. And beautiful.

As Atlin says, it's painful and sweet and beautiful, and also original and believable. I very much like these glimpses of their relationship, they give profundity to your verse.

[kestrel337.livejournal.com]

Lovely, and very believable. In families where feelings are not acceptable, they get expressed in other ways.

And I can so totally relate...

[(Anonymous)]

Give me a minute *sorts through mental desk drawer*

Ink-pen/mental notebook/personal canon/done.

That was painful in the best possible way, beautifully written, and felt true, Oh so true.

'That night the two boys sat in the attic(their usual hiding place from the world) and made a pact.'
That made me cry a little, that those two brilliant, unique children needed a *usual* bolt hole away from everything. That they hid from the world with each other made me smile.

'It's not two siblings bickering, it's the very Holmsian way of caring. It means "Remember and be careful, brother."

And suddenly, I'll never hear the line "I worry, constantly" in the same context again. Good Lord, this one gave me a lot to think about.
A truly lovely study in their relationship. Thank You.

[purrculier1.livejournal.com]

I did it again, forgot to sign in this time, got distract by story, *waves*, "Hi, it's me.", ad nauseum.*hangs head in shame.*

[tamzette.livejournal.com]

That was beautiful.

That is all.

[tracionn.livejournal.com]

This was wonderful and it went straight to my head canon where it was accepted and warmly welcomed. With cake. Fruit cake, and just a tiny slice of it.
Their brotherly realationship really is special and I like that they have it outside the rest of the world.
So well done!!

[fenm.livejournal.com]

Awww, that was very sad but sweet.