The Exception // SHERLOCK x READER //

Chapter 2

1st Person POV

The noise had quieted down across the hall, leaving me to hope all was well.

'What did Ms. Hudson mean though?' I thought, 'Are the neighbors really that troublesome?' I shook the thought out from my head and placed the gift basket onto the small coffee table. 'I'll have a look through it later; right now I have to dry my hair and throw off this soaked coat.'

The rain outside only showered harder, pounding against the window panes with thunder looming in the background. I hoped that wasn't a bad omen. Though, with everything that had happened that day and hearing Ms. Hudson's words, everything felt so ominous.

'He's going to find you,' my mind warned. 'You can leave town, but he'll catch up eventually.' Thunder erupted and a flare of light cascaded into the room for a split-second. 'Running and hiding can only get you so far. You're not just a nobody. You're his little nobody.'

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK

"Aaah!" I yelped with a hand over my beating heart. I caught my breath and blinked several times over to regain my composure.

"Is everything alright?" asked the voice behind the door.

'Oh, good, it's not him. It's not his voice,' I thought. "Coming, just a second!" I rushed over to the door, forgetting about the wet stray hairs that stuck to my face. I opened the door only to see a man with dusty blonde hair that was neatly swept aside. He was dressed in an average button up shirt and wore a welcoming smile.

"Hey, just thought I'd stop by and introduce myself," said the man. He held out his hand for me to shake saying, "I'm John Watson, one of the tenants down the hall at 221B."

I gingerly shook his hand and smiled in return. "Nice to meet you, I'm (Y/n). So, you said you're one of the tenants?"

John clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Yeah, I did say that. You see, Sherlock Holmes isn't exactly a social butterfly."

"Ah, okay, got you," I nodded. "Well, you can tell Sherlock I said 'hello', I guess?"

He laughed, "yeah, I'll do that. But, hey, maybe we can all sit down and have dinner together sometime?"

"Oh! Uh, yeah, that sounds great actually," I agreed. "That's something that we should definitely plan sometime."

He smiled and clasped his hands together. "Great, I'll get back to you on that then! See you around," he said before waving goodbye and heading back down the hall.

"Alright, see ya!" I shut the door and grimaced. 'I mean, he seemed nice? Maybe I can trust them to be good neighbors, or even friends?' I decided to sleep on it and rest up. The day hadn't gone completely as planned, but it was all in the past. What mattered was what I did now and from now moving forward. I threw off my wet clothes and switched them out for a baggy shirt and sleeping shorts before crashing on the couch.

'This is a new start,' I remind myself. 'Keep to yourself, don't stand out too much, and you'll be better off.' I then began to drift off to sleep. The last thing I remember seeing before drifting away was the bruises on my legs and arm, the way the purple splotches faded to yellow around their edges.

'I just want to finally be happy...'

* * * 

3rd Person POV

"You what?" asked Sherlock.

John shrugged as he continued to wash the dishes that piled the sink. "I invited her for dinner, just the three of us for one evening."