Fic: Five times John was annoyed at being small and one time he wasn’t

[anarion]

Title: Five times John was annoyed at being small and one time he wasn’t
Words: 1097
Rating: PG-13
Pairings : Sherlock/John
Warnings: none
Beta: chocolamousse
Disclaimer: Not mine.

Summary: For The Johnlock Challenge and smercurial on tumblr. The prompt was: “Sherlock is inordinately fond of how.. “petit” John is compared to him (he has to go on tiptoes to properly kiss him, how john’s head can perfectly rest on sherlock’s shoulder, etc). Cute, sexy, i don’t care, just something height related. Any rating.”




Five times John was annoyed at being small and one time he wasn’t


1.
John slowly shuffled into the kitchen, stumbled over a car jack, didn’t even wonder why they had one in the first place and switched the kettle on.

While he waited for the water to boil he went to hunt down the tea (somehow it migrated from day to day, probably one of Sherlock’s experiments on John’s out of the box thinking or something like that), found it stuffed behind the black rice that some client had sent them as a thank you from Thailand and turned towards the cupboard that held the mugs.

He closed his eyes in annoyance like he did every morning when he had forced Sherlock to clean the kitchen the evening before. Sherlock always retaliated by putting the mugs up on the highest shelf.

He raised himself on his toes, reached one of the mugs with his fingertips and pulled it down before dropping the teabag into it and pouring water over the bag.


2.
John has always been small, even as a child. Most of the time he didn’t mind that much, that was just how things were.

On his tenth birthday his parents took him and a couple of his friends to a funfair. They were each allowed to eat a hot dog and some candy floss and John could choose all the rides they would go on. He loved the bumper car ride and the ghost train and everywhere they went he glanced at the huge rollercoaster, the ride he had been looking forward to the most and was therefore saving for last.

When they finally had only one ride left John pointed at the rollercoaster with a big grin. He really wanted to go there and was a little scared at the same time, but even as a child John was not one to back down from a challenge. In fact he thrived on them.

He wanted to go in last and waited until all his friends had passed the attendant, then stepped onto the wooden planks. Suddenly there was a hairy and muscular arm in his field of vision.

“You can’t go. You’re too short. Sorry, little man.”

John did not cry. He watched his friends on the ride scream with joy, his face straight, and the pain in his heart was like a grain of sand in the eye.


3.
“Sherlock. Dammit! Slow down.”

He watched Sherlock run around the corner and tried to speed up, but Sherlock’s long legs really were an advantage here.

He saw Sherlock jump, reach the fire escape ladder with his fingertips and pull it down, then he climbed it up without glancing back to John.

“John, hurry up, we are losing him!”

The ladder swung back up and went out of reach the moment John arrived at the spot. No amount of jumping and stretching made up for the missing inches. His curse was heartfelt and loud.

There was a crashing noise from above and he cursed again, before he spotted the small rear door. It was locked and he slammed it open with his shoulder (the good one), then ran upstairs, taking two steps at a time.

On the second floor a door was suddenly yanked open and the suspect ran right into him. Lying on the ground, wrestling with the man, everything in his body hurting, he heard Sherlock say, “Well done, John.”


4.
When he joined the army it was a running joke to ask him if he met the minimum height requirement. John was usually a good sport but that was one of the things he could not really laugh about.

Another curse he had been carrying since he was a teenager was that people did not take him seriously because of his height. No one trusted him to be brave enough, strong enough, fast enough, tough enough, good enough. He proved them all wrong and excelled at everything.

He was a good leader, always kept a clear head and his cool, was an excellent medic and never left anyone behind. The people that followed him did so with fierce determination.

When they left for Afghanistan, everyone wanted John in his troop.


5.
Women either are shorter than him and think it’s cute that he is small (John is not small. John is short. He is anything but small. He isn’t cute either for that matter) or don’t date him because they are taller than him and don’t feel comfortable wearing heels.

Jeanette used to bring that up whenever they had a rough patch. That is all of the time.

Men usually just don’t care. They either fall for him because they see him for what he is or because they like his looks, including his height. Much easier in that regard.





+1

John slowly shuffles into the kitchen, stumbles over a lance, doesn’t even wonder why they have one in the first place and switches the kettle on.

While he waits for the water to boil he goes to hunt down the tea (that still migrates from day to day, John still has no idea what Sherlock is trying to find out), finds it stuffed behind the eggs in the fridge (what?) and turns towards the cupboard that holds the mugs.

He closes his eyes in annoyance like he does every morning when he has forced Sherlock to clean the kitchen the evening before. Sherlock always retaliates by putting the mugs up on the highest shelf.

Before he can raise himself on his toes a warm body presses against his and Sherlock reaches past him, getting the mugs down for him. He gently places a kiss on John’s neck in the process then wanders off towards the bathroom.

John smiles and starts preparing two teas. While he waits for them to steep, he closes his eyes and ponders about the fact that with Sherlock he never minds his height.

Sherlock loves it, loves that he can stand behind John and rest his chin on top of his head (though Sherlock has to stretch for that, clearly John is not that much shorter than him), loves curling around the shorter body in bed, loves how John’s forehead is on the perfect level so that he can kiss it without having to bend down.

He loves that John has to stand on his toes to kiss him properly, loves that their lips are exactly on the same level when John straddles his lap, loves that their bodies seem to be made for each other, fitting in everything (though especially in bed), like two pieces of a puzzle.



Previous: The Curious Case of the Red Pants (NC-17)
___________________________________________________


AN: This is my monthly longer story that I have to post according to the rules for the '365 days of 221Bs challenge'!
Clearly I though: Yeah, because I need more stress in my life, why only do a daily challenge when you can add another one on top?

Thanks to smercurial and her prompt!

And a million kisses to chocolamousse for her lightning-fast beta work (again)! <3






.

Comments

[auntiesuze.livejournal.com]

I firmly believe that the people who designed grocery stores had a beef against short people. I mean, I have to climb the freakin shelves to reach the items on the top!

*ahem*

Not that I would know anything about the issues of being short. Um...no...not at all... JOHN, I FEEL YOUR PAIN.

The last part is really sweet and gives me lots of warm fuzzies. :)

[jennelldhalrbj.livejournal.com]

I got caught climbing up the lower shelves in a Supermarket. A very nice member of staff told me to call out for help and anyone would get anything for me.

[rox712.livejournal.com]

Ok, I was counting with a little bit of sad, but this "and the pain in his heart was like a grain of sand in the eye."? Do you want to make me cry before I go to classes? What are you thinking, you cruel person?

Yes, then you made it better, but this sentence will stay with me for a very long time.

[tracionn.livejournal.com]

So much love for this one!! And as I just wanna cuddle and comfort John, I'm very very glad Sherlock is there to do it.
Fuzzy warm feelings here too!

[fanbot.livejournal.com]

wonderful!

[noirrosaleen.livejournal.com]

This was a wonderful balm after insomnia and nightmares conspired to give me maybe two hours of troubled sleep. You may have saved the financial aid dept of my school. Brava.

[amles80.livejournal.com]

Oh, so sweet! :) I really liked this. And oh #2 was so sad, poor little John.

[swissmarg]

This was really well done. I like the mix of good and bad and just plain stuff that happens.

[arianedevere.livejournal.com]

Celebrating my return to LJ during office hours by commenting on this.

Such a lovely story - haven't seen a 5+1 in ages, and this is adorable.

I particularly love the reprise between #1 and #+1 and how John doesn't question odd items in the kitchen!

[chocolamousse.livejournal.com]

John slowly shuffled into the kitchen, stumbled over a car jack, didn’t even wonder why they had one in the first place and switched the kettle on.
This is John's life with Sherlock in a nutshell: seeing inexplicable things, never being surprised and making tea. :D

turned towards the cupboard that held the mugs
A CUPBOARD! THERE'S GOING TO BE SEX!

John did not cry. He watched his friends on the ride scream with joy, his face straight, and the pain in his heart was like a grain of sand in the eye.
Ouch. That's powerful. And painful.

he cursed again, before he spotted the small rear door.
The small rear door? HERE IS THE SEX!

He isn’t cute either for that matter
Come on John. You're cute and adorable and the perfect Hobbit and Sherlock himself said he'd like a pocket Martin. Resign to your fate.

Before he can raise himself on his toes a warm body presses against his
THE SEX AT LAST!!!

and Sherlock reaches past him, getting the mugs down for him.
Drop the mugs Sherlock, you have better to do!

He gently places a kiss on John’s neck in the process
Aww. Who cares about the sex. This kiss is... Aww.

then wanders off towards the bathroom.
The bathroom? THE SHOWER! JOHN, FOLLOW SHERLOCK IN THE BATHROOM RIGHT NOW!!!
*lives an emotional roller coaster*

John’s forehead is on the perfect level so that he can kiss it without having to bend down.
And this is a scientific fact.

fitting in everything (though especially in bed), like two pieces of a puzzle.
Sherlock loves puzzles, and I'm sure this one is his favourite one.*is aware she sounds mushy*

I love this fic, especially the ending, so sweet and heartwarming. And like Ariane I like the reprise between #1 and #+1 very much, the story comes full circle but with a contrast between the beginning and the end. Also, as a, er, not especially tall person, I strongly approve this praise to smallness. As we say in France, "the smaller, the prettier". *nods*

P.S. Do you know you used the t-word three times? Who are you and what have you done with Anarion?

[tamzette.livejournal.com]

I loved this!
I always dated short men without wanting to because I like wearing heels. I ended up marrying a guy who is only about 5cm taller than me, and before the wedding, I promptly sprained my ankle so badly that even though I'd love to, I can't wear heels anymore!

So I kinda feel for John on the short thing (in a weird kinda way)...

[verityburns.livejournal.com]

This is really clever, as well as being completely charming.

As others have said, the '1' to '+1' reprise is brilliant , a real stroke of genius there and I've not seen it done before in this format, although you may well have started a trend!

Also, I'm with Rox and choco, I have to pick out the 'the pain in his heart was like a grain of sand in the eye.', which really reminds me of Sherlock talking about emotion in 'Hounds', calling it 'The grit on the lens, the fly in the ointment.'

Very, very well done - really great work!

[chocolamousse.livejournal.com]

Oh, since you're here, I take the opportunity of declaring that my fixation on cupboards and showers is entirely your fault. This is what happens when you read The Road Less Traveled too many times. I hope you're ashamed. :D

[verityburns.livejournal.com]

Shame is not the primary emotion which comes to mind, no. In fact, I don't think it even makes the list. You are a treasure :P

[just-briana.livejournal.com]

I love how you tied the end of the piece into the begining so thoroughly. It shows a good grasp of the craft.

Honestly, my favorite part was that the tea was in the fridge. Not going to lie. That made me far too happy.

[kiharukitty.livejournal.com]

I'm a short person who has been through alot of the same things John has (why are shelves made that high?), plus I have the curse of always falling for guys much, much taller than me. Here's to finding my Sherlock, and to your lovely, wonderful fic!

[jennelldhalrbj.livejournal.com]

I know all about being short as I'm 4 foot 10 . However, my Husband is the same height as Martin Freeman and to me that seems quite tall. Enjoyed this. Am now picturing John sanding on a stool to reach Sherlock!

[atlinmerrick.livejournal.com]

Like everyone, I really like so much how you revisit the scene in 1 and +1. I am also with Chocolamousse: FOLLOW THAT DETECTIVE JOHN!

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

Lovely, well done :)

[purrculier1.livejournal.com]

'1. John slowly shuffled into the kitchen, stumbled over a car jack, didn’t even wonder why they had one in the first place and switched the kettle on.'
'+1 John slowly shuffles into the kitchen, stumbles over a lance, doesn’t even wonder why they have one in the first place and switches the kettle on.'
Joining the choir of "This is Brilliant" for the full circle loop of this, and laughing at John's blase' acceptance of this is life with Sherlock.

'John did not cry.'
Can I do it for him? I think I need to.
'and the pain in his heart was like a grain of sand in the eye.'
*sob* yeah, so have to.

His curse was heartfelt and loud.
Roar little lion man{sorry}
'he slammed it open with his shoulder (the good one), then ran upstairs, taking two steps at a time.'
Know what, not sorry, Bamfy Little Lion (might be small,still all kinds of dangerous. *purrs* at thought.

'When he joined the army it was a running joke to ask him if he met the minimum height requirement. John was usually a good sport but that was one of the things he could not really laugh about.'
I don't like those kinds of jokes either, though the ones I get are of the "How's the weather up there?","Guess you don't need a ladder in your house Huh?" variety.

'He isn’t cute either for that matter)'
*Gasps* Blasphamy,you take that back!
and those woman are dumb, good thing he's got another option(Tall, observant, smart, occasionaly really annoying option *cough*)

'While he waits for the water to boil he goes to hunt down the tea (that still migrates from day to day, John still has no idea what Sherlock is trying to find out)'
That tickles me, That "Oh well, he likes to experiment, might as well be on me" attitude.(crap, I just reread that and blushed)

'Before he can raise himself on his toes a warm body presses against his and Sherlock reaches past him, getting the mugs down for him. He gently places a kiss on John’s neck in the process then wanders off towards the bathroom.'
That is so sweet and domestic it gave me warm fuzzie thoughts.
But then, bathroom, shower, different thoughts and *Blush*(pricklebushes focus here.)

'He loves that John has to stand on his toes to kiss him properly, loves that their lips are exactly on the same level when John straddles his lap, loves that their bodies seem to be made for each other, fitting in everything (though especially in bed), like two pieces of a puzzle.'
'kay that didn't help my focus but that last line is a beautiful and sweet image.
This is perfect and wonderful and I said perfect right? Thank you for this perspective,I really liked this look in John's head.

Reads ANClearly I thought: Yeah, because I need more stress in my life, why only do a daily challenge when you can add another one on top?

Add yet you manage to do it and it always exceeds any expectations.
Anarion is *AM*A*Z*I*N*G*(hey can you have headcannon about Authors 'cause I have that scribbled in my mental notebook somewhere.) :D