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Dear Sherly,
I just came back home, my job in New York is done. I can join you and Billy soon. The agency will send a carriage for me tomorrow morning, so I will meet you at the appointed place soon. I hope that you and Billy are safe and the mission is going smoothly. I wish I were already there with you two, though. I hate when they split us like that, especially during difficult missions, I always get worried about your safety, but you know that already. Anyway, I should be packing now, it’s getting late. Please, take care, Sherly.
W
Sherlock puts the letter down and reaches for another cigarette. He’s been looking at William’s letter for a while now. He knows it’s pathetic, but he can’t help thinking that rereading it will somehow hasten his friend’s arrival.
They’ve been assigned to this job a week ago. Billy came with orders and an apologetic smile, describing the details of their future mission.
They want Billy and Sherlock to arrive in a small town four hours away from New York without delay. There is a guy who threatens the future of the Pinkertons, and needs to be handed over to their boss in no time. Once they arrive in the town, they have to gain his trust, and when he least expects it, immobilize him until one of their people comes to pick him up.
William’s job is to collect as much information as possible about his family and friends in New York, and when that is done, he can join Sherlock and Billy, to help them handling the man since from what Billy knows, he’s really dangerous.
“I know you’d rather do this as a duo, but they need at least one of your brilliant minds in New York for a while,” Billy said back then, and they both knew there was no point in arguing.
“At least we’ll finish this job together”, Sherlock thinks.
William should be here soon, and Sherlock tries with all his being to stay calm.
They haven’t seen each other for almost a week, and it once again reminds him how much they got used to each other’s company.
Eating together, working together, doing shopping together, just living together.
Billy once joked that they were like an old married couple and Sherlock has to admit that he was right. They spend most of their time in each other’s spaces, and when they need to part for a while, Sherlock’s heart hurts. He needs Liam almost as much as he needs air, and it both frightens and excites him.
He started to feel something for William when they were still in London, but ever since he woke up on the ship heading to America, his feelings for him have become stronger, and now, Sherlock knows that he loves Liam more than anything.
If he only knew how to confess these feelings…
He takes the last drag of the cigarette and puts it out.
Beside the letter, there is also a slightly crumpled photograph at the desk. Sherlock can’t help but take it into his hand.
“If Liam knew I had this, he’d probably think I’m ridiculous,” Sherlock thinks to himself as he runs his thumb across the photo.
It’s a picture of Sherlock and William sitting together on a small sofa, laughing at something Sherlock just said. William’s left hand is placed on Sherlock’s forearm, and the right one is covering his mouth slightly. Sherlock is looking at him with a look that says he’s satisfied to have made his companion laugh.
The photo was taken a month ago when Billy invited them to visit his old friend. It was a man called Tommy who turned out to be a photographer, or rather an art enthusiast. He was really passionate about photography and believed that there was beauty in almost everything.
As they were talking, Tommy announced that he would refill their coffee cups. He disappeared for a while, and when he came back, they suddenly heard the sound of a camera shutter.
“Beautiful, exactly how I imagined,” he commented, standing behind the camera with a kettle in hand.
Soon, the man showed them the photo. He couldn’t get over how it turned out.
“You look so naturally here. I simply couldn’t resist when I saw you in that light,” be kept saying, and Sherlock had to agree.
He really liked that photo, so when Liam wasn’t looking, he approached Tommy and asked if he could keep it.
William has no idea that Sherlock has this photo, and the detective doesn’t have enough courage to admit it at this point.
What would Sherlock say if Liam asked, anyway? That he can’t stop looking at Liam’s beautiful smile in that picture? That it gives Sherlock strength when he’s away and misses him? Or that he likes that photo because they look as if they were a couple in it?
Sherlock sighs, caressing the photography, close to William’s face.
“See what you’re doing to me, Liam?”
He murmurs under his breath.
His eyes run from the photo to the letter, and Sherlock can’t help noticing that he’s acting like some schoolboy, or even worse. It’s so ridiculous, yet he can’t stop staring at these objects before his eyes. The only physical items reminding Sherlock about the man who he wants to see already.
Just when he is about to reach for another cigarette, some movement in the street catches his attention; a carriage just stops at the door of their hotel. In the next moment, a familiar figure makes their way out.
Sherlock smiles despite himself as he notices William outside of the hotel. A moment later, he is already on his way out of his room.
When Sherlock approaches the entrance of the building, Billy is already there, talking with William happily.
The blond seems a little tired, but he still smiles politely at his friend.
“Liam!”
Sherlock starts as he walks towards them.
William’s eyes land on him, and Sherlock notices that his friend’s shoulders relax ever so slightly.
“Sherly,” his voice is calm, yet relieved. Almost as if he refused to believe that Sherlock is safe and sound until he sees him with his own eyes.
The detective passes by Billy, ignoring his complaints about Sherlock being rude, and pushing him off the pavement onto the lawn.
William can’t help but chuckle.
“How was your journey?”
Sherlock asks, grabbing William’s shoulders.
At first, William seems a little surprised at the gesture, but quickly collects himself.
“It was good,” he replies.
“You must be exhausted. Those carriages are too uncomfortable to ride in for more than an hour,” Sherlock comments.
“I have to agree with Mr Ponytail,” Billy adds.
A quiet laugh escapes William.
“Well, maybe a little bit.”
“Don’t worry, William. We’ll let you rest for a while until we start our job this night,” Billy reassures.
“Right, but let’s start with dinner. We haven’t had it yet, and I bet you’re also hungry, Liam?”
The blond gives Sherlock a knowing look. The man almost immediately recognizes it. Liam often looks at him like that when Sherlock starts to worry about William’s health and wellbeing a little to much. “It’s been a year since I recovered, you don’t have to worry about me like that anymore, Sherly.” His face says.
Yet how can Sherlock not? William is so dear to him, and he always wants to make sure that his friend feels well. Even though he knows that William is fully capable of taking care of himself, Sherlock still wants to be the one William can rely on.
So, instead of letting William win, Sherlock gives him a look that the blond knows really well at this point (they played that little game a few times already).
“I know, but I can still care for you, so just let me.” Sherlock’s expression says.
Seeing that, William rolls his eyes, yet Sherlock still notices a light smile on his lips.
“I think dinner is a good idea,” he finally replies.
“Great, let’s go to the hotel restaurant, then,” Sherlock grins, moving to William’s side, wrapping his arm around his friend’s shoulder.
“Hey!”
Billy exclaims as the detective pushes him onto the lawn once again.
Sherlock can’t bring himself to care, though.
Liam’s warmth surrounds him as Sherlock’s hand rests on his shoulder.
He knows that he probably acts too bold today, but when William’s amused smile appears so close to Sherlock’s face, he doesn’t regret a thing. And when he feels that William moves slightly closer to Sherlock’s body, he almost forgets about the whole world.
He wishes they could stay like this longer, but as they make their way inside, Sherlock knows that he has to let go of his companion at some point. Not only because people might give them looks, but also since he isn’t Liam’s romantic partner, and staying this close for so long could be suspicious. So a few moments later, Sherlock gives William’s arm a brief squeeze and lets go.
He only hopes that Liam doesn’t notice regret on his face when he puts some distance between them as they approach the hotel restaurant.
After dinner, the three of them head to their rooms to rest before the mission. Sherlock has to admit that he would rather spend more time with Liam than sit in his room without purpose. He knows that William would appreciate a quick nap after his journey, though. So, he stays in his bed with some old book in one hand and the cigarette in another.
After about an hour, he hears a sound of knocking on the door.
“Come in,” Sherlock says, as he throws the book on the other side of the bed and gets up.
“Am I interrupting?” William asks, standing in the entrance.
“Never,” Sherlock wants to say, but he collects himself.
“Nah, I was bored anyway,” he says, putting the cigarette in the ashtray.
William nods and walks inside.
“Did you manage to rest a little?” Sherlock watches as William moves towards the window and leans against the windowsill.
“Yes, I napped for a while and I’ve gained some strength.”
“That’s good,” Sherlock approaches Liam and leans against the windowsill as well.
He crosses his arms on his chest and glances at his friend.
The blond on the other hand stares at the bed before them.
“What were you reading?” He asks casually.
Only then Sherlock recalls that he abandoned the book on the bed a few moments earlier.
“Ah, just some travel novel I found in this room. I couldn’t really get into it, though,” the detective admits.
William smiles sympathetically.
“You’d rather start our mission, right?”
“Maybe, but I’d appreciate your company just as much,” Sherlock can’t help but say.
“In that case I feel honored,” William chuckles quietly.
Sherlock doesn’t know if it’s just his imagination, but as William replies, Sherlock notices a faint flush on his cheeks.
“What were you doing the past few days? Except from collecting information for the agency, of course,” he asks, trying to distract himself from thinking of William’s blushed cheeks.
William seems to relax as he hears the question.
“Mostly chores. I didn’t have a lot of time for pleasure. I read some interesting articles about trigonometry before bed, oh, and I helped our neighbor’s son with preparing for his math exam,” he replies.
Sherlock smiles despite himself. Liam is such a math freak, the detective wonders what’s so exciting about the subject to his friend. Yet, ever since he met William, he has started to like that field more, simply because it reminds him of William and the way it always makes him so happy.
“What?” William clearly notices that his partner drifts off after his words.
Sherlock quickly contains himself.
He shakes his head, but the smile is still on his lips.
“Nothing, I’m listening,” he reassures.
William hums, giving him a searching look. It causes Sherlock to feel shiver running through his body.
After a few seconds, William turns towards him, and mimics his posture, crossing his arms against his chest.
“That was literally all I’ve been doing during that time. Nothing special, really,” the blond finally replies.
“At least you weren’t bored,” Sherlock admits.
The man wants to respond, but whatever reply he comes up with, gets stuck in his throat as his eye wanders to something behind Sherlock’s back.
The detective wonders what caught William’s attention when it suddenly hits him.
Right behind him stands a desk, the same desk Sherlock was sitting at just before William arrived. When he noticed the carriage through the window, he immediately left everything how it was and made his way outside.
He completely forgot to put the latter and the photo back to his bag, and now Liam is looking at them. Sherlock doesn’t even have to turn around to know that.
How could he forget?
“You idiot, you won’t undo it now,” Sherlock curses himself in his head.
He feels like he’s about to pass out from the embarrassment.
He needs to do something, but what?
Liam has already seen that photo.
Should he confess? Or come up with some poor lie?
“Sherly?” William starts. His expression is a mix of curiosity and confusion.
“Shit, he’s about to ask about the photo,” Sherlock’s mind starts to race.
“Um… y-yeah?” He smiles nervously.
As he waits for the inevitable question, a sudden noise fills the room.
“Hey! Mr Ponytail! Is William with you? I brought coffee for us,” Billy exclaims from behind the door as he knocks.
Sherlock wants to cry from relief. Billy literally saved his ass right now.
“Yeah! He’s here, just come in,” he replies and a moment later, Billy walks inside with a tray filled with cups.
William quickly moves towards the man to help him.
“Let me help you.”
“Thanks, William! That’s so kind!”
Sherlock hears their voices as he quickly approaches the desk, grabs both the letter and the photo and throws them into his travel bag.
Only when he’s sure that they are well hidden in the bag, he allows himself to breathe.
“That was close, I only wish Liam didn’t have enough time to have a proper look. There’s still a chance he only saw the letter, the photo was a little bit further on the desk,” Sherlock tries to convince himself.
As he observes Liam when they are drinking coffee a moment later, the man seems unbothered. Maybe he really didn’t notice?
Sherlock wants to believe that, because he doesn’t know what he would say if Liam asked about the picture.
~~~
The mission has been successfully completed.
Even though it took some time, they eventually managed to hand the man over to one of Pinkerton’s agents. When everything was done, it was pretty late, but it didn’t stop them from visiting a nearby pub and having some drinks to celebrate another successful mission.
Sherlock has to admit that even though at first he felt anxious about that whole photo incident, the success of their job made him forget about that situation. And as the alcohol filled his veins some time ago, he finally feels at ease.
“Shush, other guests are already asleep,” William whispers close to Sherlock’s ear as they are making their way through the hotel corridor.
It’s already past one in the morning when they finally return to the hotel. Billy just closed the door of his room, so there are only the two of them in the corridor. Liam mentioned earlier that he had left the keys to his room at Sherlock’s when he arrived that evening, so they are both heading to the detective’s room now.
“Alright, sorry,” Sherlock says as he looks for his keys and opens the door.
A few moments later, they are finally inside.
Sherlock closes the door and turns on one of the small lamps on the cabinet.
A soft light illuminates the room, making it feel really cozy.
Sherlock watches as William approaches his bed and takes a seat. It doesn’t take long for the detective to find himself next to him.
“It was a successful night,” William comments.
“Yeah, I’m sure it wouldn’t go that easy without your help,” Sherlock glances at the man.
William rolls his eyes, nudging Sherlock lightly.
“Stop idolizing me, you and Billy did great,” his voice a mix of irritation and amusement.
Sherlock can’t help a chuckle escaping his lips.
“Right, I forgot you hate praises.”
“Not true. I just don’t like when you give me all the credit,” William replies, his voice calmer than a moment ago. Sherlock realizes that he still stays close. His shoulder resting against Sherlock’s.
The brunet decides to test the waters and rest his weight against William as well.
“Sorry, it’s just… I want you to know how much I admire your skills,” Sherlock admits with a weak smile.
It seems that it touches his partner since he returns a smile and moves slightly closer.
“You know I admire your mind as well, right?” He asks, and when Sherlock thinks Liam won’t go any further, the blond surprises him once more.
He reaches for Sherlock’s hand that rests on his thigh and grabs it gently. The detective’s heart starts to race as he looks at at their touching hands. A moment later, he turns his head to meet one of the loveliest smiles he has ever seen.
William looks at him with affection and it’s impossible for Sherlock not to return the smile.
“I do, really,” he manages to say.
“That’s good,” William nods.
After that, they stay in a comfortable silence for a while. William still rests his hand on Sherlock’s and it makes the brunet feel as if he is dreaming.
He doesn’t know if Liam is acting so affectionate because of the alcohol, but he tries not to think about it.
“Sherly, can I ask you a question?” William asks calmly several moments later.
“Yes, what is it?” Sherlock replies, his eyes still focused on their intertwined hands.
It takes William a moment, but eventually he opens his mouth again.
“Did… did you take that photo of us from Tommy?” He starts slowly.
Sherlock almost immediately freezes.
“I noticed it on your desk earlier today,” the blond adds, seeing his partner’s reaction.
Sherlock on the other hand wants to hide somewhere.
There it is, Liam finally confronts him with that photo, and this time, Billy won’t save him, in fact, no one is going to save him.
“L-Liam, I can explain,” he frees himself from William’s touch. He can’t stay this close while making a fool of himself.
He stands up, leaving William alone on the bed. The blond follows him with his eye, he seems surprised by Sherlock’s nervousness.
“I know it looks bad… or weird, but-”
“Sherly, it’s alright. You don’t have to be so nervous…”
“How can I not be nervous? What I did was bloody weird, everyone would think that. And now, I embarrassed myself in front of you. It’s so stupid, I am stupid,” Sherlock starts pacing back and forth as he speaks.
“You’re not stupid,” William gets up and approaches the detective.
“And I am not like everyone else, I’m not judging you. I am just curious,” he adds as he puts his hands on Sherlock’s shoulders.
William’s touch helps him to calm down a little bit. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
“Sorry, there too many thoughts in my head right now. I don’t know what I’m saying.”
William caresses his shoulders with his thumbs.
“It’s alright, it’s just me. You don’t have to overthink anything when I’m around,” the blond gives him a reassuring smile.
Sherlock nods, hearing the words. Liam has no idea how much they mean to him.
“Yes, I kept that photo,” the detective finally admits.
William looks at him with curiosity. Sherlock knows that he won’t judge him, though.
He just waits patiently for Sherlock’s next words.
“I asked Tommy if I could take it with me and he agreed. It’s just… I really liked it and I wanted to have it with me. I didn’t have courage to tell you cause… it’s pathetic…”
William’s left hand leaves Sherlock’s shoulder and captures his own. He holds it firmly, almost like he needs Sherlock to understand something.
“Don’t say that… please,” he asks, his voice filled with emotion.
Sherlock looks at his friend’s face with shocked expression. Then, his eyes run to his hand in William’s. The second time this night he did that, he realizes.
After a moment, he nods weakly. William’s touch somehow gives him strength.
“So, I took it because I like your smile in it. I like to look at it, and I like the way we look together, it just… I don’t know, it feels right. And every time I’m away I want to have it with me because I know I’m gonna miss you,” Sherlock confesses.
“Sherly,” William’s eye is wide open and his cheeks turn red.
Sherlock can’t help, but squeeze his hand ever so slightly.
“You know, Liam… I-you have no idea how hard it is to keep you out of my mind,” Sherlock doesn’t know how, but he finds some courage to admit what he feels to that man.
William on the other hand, moves a little closer with every word that escapes Sherlock’s mouth.
“Every time we’re separated, I can’t help coming back to you in my mind. The image of your face alone gives me strength,” the detective keeps saying.
William is so close right now, that their chests are touching, and their connected hands rest between them. William’s face is filled with a lot of emotions.
Sherlock feels that his cheeks starts to burn at the realization of what he’s about to say next.
“You mean so much to me, Liam. I can’t imagine my world without you in it… you are my world. That’s why I kept that photo,” he finally says.
When he looks William in the face, he notices that his eye is watering.
The blond reaches his free hand to Sherlock’s cheek. He stays like this for a moment before he opens his mouth.
“I love you,” he whispers close to Sherlock’s face.
These words make Sherlock unable to breathe. He stares at his partner with a mix of astonishment and affection.
“Liam,” he says his name almost like a prayer.
“I love you, Sherly,” William says once again, this time with more confidence.
His words finally start to reach Sherlock’s mind. And just in case they weren’t enough, William leans slightly and places a soft kiss on Sherlock cheek, close to his lips.
When Sherlock feels his companion’s soft lips against his skin, he realizes it.
Liam, his Liam feels the same. This man, standing in front of Sherlock loves him.
The detective finally breaks free from his daze.
He takes William’s cheek in his hand and caresses it delicately.
William leans to the touch.
“I love you too, Liam,” Sherlock finally says.
“You’re my light, my world, my everything,” he can’t help but add.
William smiles so beautifully that Sherlock barely stands still.
“Kiss me, Sherly,” William asks, making the other man feel dizzy.
It was already too perfect, and now?
He doesn’t know who eventually leans first, maybe it’s the two of them, but as their lips finally meet, they don’t part for a long time.
They stayed apart for too long anyways.
Their hands are trying to grab every part of the other person as their lips brush against each other.
At first they struggle a little since they’ve never done this before, but soon, they find their perfect rhythm.
Sherlock tries to stay quiet, but when William decides to bite his lower lip and tease his tongue with his own, Sherlock can’t help himself.
They hold onto each other tight as they suddenly bump into the bed. The next moment Sherlock guides William to lie down as he positions himself above him, they never break the kiss, though.
William wraps his arms around his partner’s shoulders and puts his tongue into Sherlock’s mouth. The brunet lets him as he moves closer, trapping them in an embrace.
Sherlock doesn’t know how much time has passed, but when he suddenly feels dizzy from lack of air, he knows that they have to part.
He breaks the kiss and rests his forehead against William’s. They stay like this for a while, breathing deeply.
“Hey, Liam,” Sherlock suddenly starts.
“Mm?” William murmurs as he runs his fingers through his companion’s hair.
“You never forgot those keys, did ya?”
William’s lips almost immediately turn upwards. He reaches to his pocket and takes out a set of keys.
“Sharp as always, my dear,” he smirks, waving the keys in front of his face.
Sherlock can’t help an honest laugh escaping his throat. He can’t believe that Liam really planned this.
William quickly covers his lips with his palm.
“Quiet, it’s the middle of the night,” he says even though the smile is still visible on his face.
Sherlock kisses the palm on his lips. He doesn’t care if he wakes someone up. All that he cares about is this amazing man in front of him.
“Anyway,” William starts as he takes his hand away.
“Now that you’ve mentioned it, I should be heading back to my room.”
At these words, Sherlock instinctively holds him tighter.
“You can stay here,” the detective tries to sound relaxed, but he knows that his voice is filled with desperation.
William probably senses it as well, since he gives him an amused look.
“Don’t you think it would look extremely inappropriate?” He teases, yet his hand once again finds its way to Sherlock’s hair.
“I couldn’t care less,” the brunet admits even though he knows Liam is just joking.
That confession makes William stop with teasing right away. He kisses Sherlock’s lips tenderly.
“Stay,” the detective repeats when William withdraws a moment later.
“I will,” William finally agrees, bringing a bright smile to Sherlock’s face.
“Can I see it?” The blond adds out of blue.
“See what?”
“The photo.”
There’s a pause, then a smile.
“In the morning,” Sherlock replies.
William gives him slightly surprised look that soon, turns into a smirk.
He doesn’t say anything anymore, he just grabs Sherlock by the waist and switches their positions on the bed.
Sherlock doesn’t have time to react, since William’s lips are already on his own. And the way Liam is kissing makes him forget about the whole world.
~~~
The next day is the day of their return to New York City.
When Billy walks into Sherlock’s room around eight o’clock, he is surprised to see both Sherlock and William already dressed up and ready for the day, drinking coffee at a small table.
Ever since he lays his eyes on the two men, he knows that something between them has changed, he just doesn’t know what.
As they eat breakfast and pack their bags, everything seems normal. At this point Billy starts to wonder if he’s just being delusional.
Some time later, the gunslinger has to leave the room to grab a coat he left in his own. It doesn’t take long, just a few moments, yet when he returns to his friends, he notices something new.
William and Sherlock standing close to the window, Sherlock’s arm is wrapped around his companion’s shoulder. William smiles affectionately and leans into Sherlock’s space to leave a kiss on his lips.
The whole scene last only a few seconds, yet it’s enough for Billy to finally understand what is going on.
He can’t help but smile.
“Took you long enough,” he thinks to himself.
He walks into the room, putting the coat on.
“Alright, love birds, time to come back home,” he announces.