Fic: 221B - Ghost of the past

[anarion]

Title: Ghost of the past
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. Day 214.




Previous 221b: Shaken, not stirred


Today's prompt: ghost

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Ghost of the past


Sherlock is watching John. John doesn’t notice. He is reading the paper and paying much more attention to that than to Sherlock, who is stretched out on the sofa in nothing more than his dressing gown after all.

John suddenly makes a startled sound and turns to Sherlock, showing him an ad in the paper.

“Look. It’s an old... buddy of mine. Seems to be a model now.”

You used to date him. You broke it off. Are you regretting that now?

John goes back to reading and Sherlock tries to chase those thoughts away by updating his blog. An hour passes.

***

“Come to bed with me?”

John is a warm presence against his back. His breath ghosts over Sherlock’s neck. He hasn’t asked with that undertone in a while.

“I... will you be thinking about him?”

The warm presence is gone so fast it seems as if someone yanked John away.

“What?”

“You saw an old lover of yours, a very attractive one and now you’re asking me to bed. What am I supposed to think?”

“I also saw you, stretched out in your dressing gown, tactically showing a lot of skin. Don’t you know by now that you’re the only one I see?”

“Sometimes I doubt.”

“Don’t.”

Sherlock exhales and leans forward until his head rests against John’s belly.





Next 221b: I worry about him constantly


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AN:
The prompt was 'ghost'.

I could not let the opportunity pass to add the part where John's breath ghosts over Sherlock’s neck. ;)
I remember reading an article on Sherlock fanfics somewhere and the author was complaining about the fact that people use words in the wrong way. That someone said 'ghost' is not a verb.
In my opinion, language evolves constantly. People shape it by using words in new contexts. And I really like the image of fingers or breath ghosting over skin. So hell yeah, it's a verb!










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Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Well, when a silent reader commented once he isn't a silent reader anymore, right? I told you back then that I read all your stuff and here I am again, to tell you I'm still here and that this one is pure perfection...

Kat

[kestrel337.livejournal.com]

Personally, I love the word 'ghost' as a verb. I've seen it in a variety of contexts, both fan-fic and otherwise. I tend to agree with you about language and its evolution and enrichment (although if the word 'munch' evolved itself out of the common usage, I wouldn't miss it at all).

[kizzia.livejournal.com]

Lovely, both the use of "ghosts" and this 221B as a whole. I don't think we see enough of Sherlock doubting himself.

[verityburns.livejournal.com]

Um, question... how many favourites can I have?

I love this one - you brilliantly display Sherlock's vulnerability without taking him at all out of character. Not an easy thing to do!

xxx

[atlinmerrick.livejournal.com]

What I really like about this—other than all of it—is that Sherlock says it *bam* straight out. As he would. No dicking around, no allusion. I don't believe in telling the truth no matter who it hurts, but this sort of straight-forward communication? Oh hell yes. Sherlock'd be very good at it.

Aaaaanyway, the person who said not to use 'ghost' as a verb was wrong, wrong, wrong, and for the reason you give. *Fist bump*

[chocolamousse.livejournal.com]

He is reading the paper and paying much more attention to that than to Sherlock, who is stretched out on the sofa in nothing more than his dressing gown after all.
I can assure you that if I was next to Sherlock stretched out on the sofa in nothing more than his dressing gown I'd pay attention to him. A lot of attention. Oh yes.

It’s an old... buddy of mine.
Argh, this tiny pause between old and buddy.

The warm presence is gone so fast it seems as if someone yanked John away.
Mycroft? Again?

Sherlock exhales and leans forward until his head rests against John’s belly.
Aww. I love this ending. It's not a happy ending, it's quite bittersweet. You can't break your insecurities just like that. I really love your vulnerable!Sherlock.

[rox712.livejournal.com]

Perfect use of ghosting in this perfect story aside, it was John's belly that killed me.

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Killed by a belly. That has to be a new one. ;)

I'm happy to hear that you liked it!

[tialangela.livejournal.com]

Can't quote the whole thing, really. But if I could... :D

I'm with you. Keep using "ghost" as a verb, it gives the mind the perfect feeling of it. My mother tongue isn't English and yet I can relate perfectly to what you want to convey using it as a verb.

you know, John's breath can ghost over my neck aaaaaany time. Teehee.