A simple tune: Sherlock x Fem!reader

Chapter 23 - Morning after

The night brought day and soon rays reach your line of sight. His light breath, positions swapped so he held you in his arms like you were a teddy bear, small curls tickling just the surface of your skin. Just like it used to be. Just like you both used to be.

So comfortable. So comforting. Before his words. Before his mistake.

With your hands leaving the tight intertwining of his, just for a moment, slipping up to cup his cheek, your eyes were washed over with a desperation for old times.

"I wish you really did love me." His words from the night before were all that fogged your mind. "I really wish those weren't lies last night," your voice lingers in the air.

You knew when he was awake, when he was about to at least, but he was nowhere near. Thankfully he wouldn't ever take into account these current moments ever happened. You actually hoped he did but... why bother hoping?

Slipping from his hold, you could see Sherlock stir, so you hurry to the bathroom. Messed hair, your body marked up and down, along your collar, shoulder and neck.

You looked like a wreck but smile nonetheless.

In moments hot water rushes down your back and over your face. Every muscle relaxes under the heat, your thoughts running free only to freeze when you feel two arms wrap around you. "Sherlock," your head leans on his chest. "What are you doing?"

"Saving hot water," he murmurs. "At this rate I won't have any during my turn," the detective doesn't hear a reply but instead feels your turn to face him.

"What are you really doing?"

Did he know? His head was clearer than ever, whatever was clouding his thoughts suddenly was rid last night. "Thanking you for last night,"

"Why?"

"Why are you asking so many questions?" He tilts his head down, your fingers brushing back his wet curls before rubbing a thumb over a hickey.

"Why are you being sweet?"

"Who said it was sweet? I just don't want to shower in freezing water," he counters, leaning his head against yours.

"I thought it was thanking me for last night?" you shoot back making him smile. Leaning up for a kiss, you try to savor the moment, his hands sliding against your skin and the small chuckle he let out.

"Maybe it's both, darling," he mutters as your pour shampoo in his hair, suds building up against dark brown curls.

"You always had such nice hair, and I still don't know what you use,"

"It's a secret," his hold was still tight on your waist, just admiring your light focus on his hair.

You turn his hair up into points, "demon," then ears, "cat," finally one horn, "unicorn,"

"You're adorable," he runs his finger through it, flattening it back.

"I know," shrugging lightly, you feel a small kiss place on your forehead as you lean into him, peppering his neck softly as he sighs in amusement.

~~~

Staring out the window as people pass on the street just below. Bikes, cars, motorcycles, or just by foot. Just in a hoodie, sleeves being fiddled while the heater allowed you to keep warm with shorts on. It was a slow morning, breakfast and then off back to London.

"What are you thinking about?" Sherlock suddenly appears to place his head on your shoulder, tilting to kiss your neck.

Closing your eyes and holding onto his wrapped around arms, he could feel that something was off, and you knew he could tell. "Last night..."

"Was a mistake," he completes your thought.

"Sherlock," you hold tight onto his hand which starting to lose grip. "Don't shut off your emotions just because of this,"

"Why do you regret it?" he asks, ignoring your plead.

"Who said I regret it?"

"I can tell," he sighs out, "if you didn't want to you should have said so, Y/n, you know I don't want you to do things you don't want to. Consent is very-"

"Important, I know, Sherl," talking in a calmer tone, you lead him to the bed and settle down beside him. "I don't regret it, I wanted to do it, and I think it was good to let off some steam... stop this tension between us but-"

"That should be the end of it," he was starting to understand.

"I can tell you feel like I led you on... Used you," you admit with worry. "But I didn't mean to, Sherlock," placing a more so comforting hand on his, you see him move away. "Getting back with someone after this long... after all this... almost fanfiction-like heartbreak and trouble, it's just not healthy,"

"Maybe it's for the best," he stands up before you could lend any more comfort. "Will you be staying in the flat then?"

"I actually talked to my band yesterday... Jim found a flat for me and they moved my things there," you cough, awkwardly standing up. "So, no more need to see me or anything,"

"Right," God this felt like a ton of bricks just crashed down on him, crushing his heart, mind and soul along with any stable part of his body left. Sherlock stood tall, though, fixing on his blazer to distract himself. "I'll see you at breakfast,"

"Sher-" but the door slams shut before you could mutter another syllable.

~~~

"Well, well, here comes sleeping beauty," John hands a mug of tea/coffee over for you.

"We heard Sherlock dragged you back here last night,"  Greg leans in, looking to Sherlock who was brewing his own tea. "Please tell me you both kept civil,"

"Define 'civil'," you mutter behind the mug. Now they might not be gifted with deduction but when you turn to the telly hung on the wall behind, a small glimpse of purple along your neck made them gape.

Gobsmacked and unable to talk, John was of course the one to break the ice after you gave a glance to Sherlock who sat down. "You both... fucked?!"

Sherlock chokes on his tea while you drop your cutlery. "John!" You both yell making a few turn to the table from around the dining room.

"Don't avoid the... question. You're not pulling our legs are you?" Lestrade looks between you two, sitting up and spotting hickeys below Sherlock's collar. "Oh my god,"

"You're both acting like high school teens," you sigh out, wiping your lips and standing up to get new cutlery.

John and Greg watch as Sherlock's eyes follows your figure. "So..."

"No," the detective snaps his gaze to the men. "Drop it, it never happened," he says sternly.

~~~

:''')

- Anna ❤️