A/N: I don't own the pic used. Credits to the owner/s.
Again, I'll be using the masculine pronouns in addressing Bond in respect to his wishes to be treated as a man. Just a little reminder in case there are some who gets confused.
Happy Reading!!
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While Elise was tending the garden, she came across Louis and Bond as the former is giving him a brief tour around the house.
Now that "Irene Adler" is dead, he had taken a new life as man and named his self as "James Bond", a combination of the given name that Albert has given him and the last name he chose to symbolize his new life with them.
His overall appearance is impeccable as a man, even with his posture, voice and the air he carries.
"Good morning, Louis-nii-sama." Elise smiled in greeting to the two. "Good morning to you as well, Mr. Bond. Are you giving him a tour around the house, nii-sama?"
"Good morning, Elise." Louis smiled back in reply. "Yes. Is it all right to show him around here?"
"Of course. The garden is welcome to everyone."
Bond stepped inside the rose observatory and smiled at the variety of roses in the garden. "This is a beautiful garden house. Are all of these tended by Lady Elise herself? Ah, good morning to you as well, Lady Elise."
Elise laughed softly. "No, Fred and Louis-nii-sama are also tending this garden but recently, Fred's doing all the hard work in taking care of the roses. Should I show you around for a moment, Mr. Bond?"
"Lead the way, milady. Please drop the formalities since you are older than me."
She explained to him briefly the various roses in the observatory and the area around it for Bond to be familiar with. When they were done, Elise came along with them until they are finished the house tour for their new comrade.
"To the east of the second floor is Albert-nii-san's bedroom and study." Louis gestures at the end of the hallway. "To the west are William's room and study. The room in the middle belongs to Elise."
"Hmm... this is a nice estate." Bond says as a compliment. "I can see that every nook and cranny of it has been taken care of with much love from the both of you."
"Yes, though..." Louis emanated a dark aura as he glared at his side disapprovingly. "Elise, William-nii-san and I often spend half of a week in Durham, so we never have the time to clean this place up properly..."
"I am sorry about that." Elise apologized while sweat dropping at Louis who is grumbling about a certain hitman and his terrible habits. "Moran-san is usually the one staying here and he has the habit of smoking here so..."
Bond smiled in amusement. "Moran-kun, you say? I couldn't quite believe him coming from a prestigious family myself."
"Even though I have warned him multiple times not to do it for the smoke is dangerous for Elise...!" He grumbled even more before sighing in exasperation. "But still, at least he has the decency to use one room as a smoking area."
"Dangerous?" He asked.
Elise placed a finger on her lips in a small smile as she explained. "This is a secret between my family and to everyone in this estate. I have an unknown respiratory illness and I suffer attacks a few times but they are bearable thanks to William's medicine. Nobody knows this fact outside the family and I prefer to keep it this way."
Bond's electric blue eyes widened from the revelation. He did not expect that the woman he respected is actually silently suffering and fighting. Looking at her then and now, Elise just looked so flawless and perfect and so healthy that it's hard to believe she's sick all these years.
"Don't make such face, Bond." Elise smiles at him kindly. "It's not that bad and although my movements are limited for a bit, I can still do what other people can do. I do not wish to be treated differently or as if I'm made of glass. As long as I'm being careful, I will be fine so please treat me like usual. And also, you can drop the formalities."
The way she would smile as if was nothing... she didn't dare bring up that it has gotten worse so Bond wouldn't worry even more.
The younger blinked and composed his self in front of the noblewoman by clearing his throat. "You really are an admirable and a strong woman. Of course, my treatment of you will never change. I hope you are soon cured... Elli-chan."
"Elli-chan...?" The two Moriarty siblings sweat dropped at the nickname. He is quite quick to get all casual and fit in, they noticed.
Nevertheless, Elise smiled in appreciation. "Thank you, Bond."
Louis could see that despite the change that happened to Bond, her admiration and respect to Elise never fades away. Bond might say that Irene Adler is no more but, everyone can tell that a small part of Irene still exist within him.
The trio reached the upper floor of the house led by the Moriarty siblings, with Bond following them closely.
"The third floor is for the servants." Louis gestured to the closed room at the end of the hallway. "The room in the middle is used by Moran and Fred as training room."
Bond noticed the room with a barely open door. "What about that room there?"
"That is our changing room. For us men, at least." He explained. "Elise has her own separate room since she's the only woman in the family. You can use our changing room too, Mr. Bond, but if you'd rather have your own..."
He only smiled in reply. "Not at all. But thanks for your concern."
Bond opened the room unannounced and there in the room were Fred who is changing clothes while Moran is sitting on a chair naked with a towel covering his front.
Elise looked away and closed her eyes in respect to their privacy. She did not expect the younger male to enter without warning. Meanwhile, Bond was unfazed by the sight of another man's skin and greeted his new comrades casually.
"Greetings. I will be working together with you from now on."
It took a few seconds for the raven haired man to react after realizing that it was Bond.
"DWAAH!!" Moran suddenly stood up in surprise and hastily covered his front. "You bloody woman!! Don't just barge in here!! At least knock first!! Where's your common decency?! Why bring Elise here as well?!"
The horrified and shocked look on his face amused the younger blonde that he can't help but tease him even more.
"Why are you acting so embarrassed, Moran-kun? Do you feel insecure about your body?" Bond asked.
"What?! 'Course not!! My body is a work of art!!" As if to give emphasis to his claims, he showed off his muscled torso and threw the towel over his shoulder. "It's as sculpted as Michelangelo's David!!"
Elise was still looking away but she cannot help but stifle her giggles from the man's words.
"Are you making fun of me, Elise?!" Moran points an accusing finger to her when he saw her shaking while covering her mouth.
"No, no, not at all, Moran-san...pfft..." The more she tries to hold it, the more she wanted to giggle even more.
Moran seems to realize they have gotten off-topic and focuses on Bond. "Wait, who cares about that?! You're a woman!! You can't just barge in while us men are changing!!"
Bond deadpanned at him. "Such a fussy man..."
Elise whispers to the now fully clothed lad. "We apologize for barging in, Fred."
"Ah, no. It's fine, Elise-sama."
"Come on, Louis! Say something!" Moran (who is still half-naked) faced the scarred blonde for support.
Louis seemed to ponder for a moment before replying seriously. "You have a point, Moran-san... but it would be quite discriminatory to build another female changing room just for Mr. Bond who is also a man and sharing a changing room with Elise is also..."
The raven haired man could not believe what the other just said. "What?! Are you mad?! I can still clearly see the racks on that bird!! Besides, think of poor Fred!! How do you expect him to contain himself before those things?!"
Fred stared at him blankly.
Elise could not help but let out a small chuckle. "Moran-san, is this really troubling you?"
Compared to him, she had grown accustomed referring Bond as a man and she has no problems in how he wants to refer his self. She respected his decision and follows through it. Only Moran still hasn't accepted the notion that he is a man now, even though two weeks has already passed since they've taken him in.
"Of course! Why is it that you guys feel like this is all normal?!"
"I think there is some confusion here, so allow me to make one thing clear... I am a man. I wished to be treated as a man." Bond placed a hand on his chest and smiled to Moran. "With that said, you can stop worrying and just go about your business as usual, all right?"
"It may be all well and good for you, but I don't approve it!" The man scoffed at him. "For argument's sake, let's assume you are man on the inside... There would still be other problems."
"You don't need to worry, Moran-kun." He smiled confidently as he tucked his other hand in his pocket. "As you can see, I am very much a man. From my voice to the way I walk, even to the slightest gesture... everything about me is that of a man."
Moran sat back on the chair and sighed. "It's not just about appearances, lady. You still can't match the strength of a real man."
Bond's eyebrow twitched.
"What if something were to happen during a-"
A high-heeled shoe was suddenly slammed on the wall next to Moran's head, making him stop his statement.
"Bond most likely hates to be doubted of his skills..." Elise thinks after seeing him silence the man by landing a kick on the wall. "Or perhaps he was annoyed of Moran-san's reasons..."
The younger blonde stared down at the man with a dark look on his face. "Persistent, aren't you? Do I need to keep repeating myself? If you truly wish to see if my strength can match yours..."
He lowered his self to Moran's level and spoke to his ear in a low voice. "Then why not try and see for yourself, Moran-kun?"
Chills ran down Moran's spine at the implication and he quickly rushed to hide behind Louis with a comical terrified look on his face after hearing those words.
"Jesus Christ!! That woman scares me!! What does she mean by that?! Try?! Try what?!"
Louis sweat dropped at him while Elise could not help but be amused by their antics.
"What's the matter, Moran?" William entered the room after hearing the commotion but the moment he saw Elise, his lips instinctively formed a fond smile to her. "It sounds lively here, Elise. Care to tell me what happened?"
Bond took notice of the expression playing on his features and the way the young woman responded to him with the same gentle look.
"William!!" Moran snapped at him to catch his attention and pointed at Bond indignantly. "Oi! Stop flirting for a moment and listen to this! She-"
The younger merely shrugged as if it's not a big deal. "We were just discussing whether or not I can use this changing room. What do you think, Will-kun?"
"The changing room? Bond?" William looked at them for a moment while Moran was anticipating his verdict. Finally, the blonde faced the raven haired man with a look of confusion.
"Do you have something against another man using the changing room, Moran?"
The shock on Moran's face was indescribable as he comically glared at the blonde. "W-William, you little...!!"
"That's settled, then." Bond sounded a little chirpy now that the issue is solved. "We'll do as you say, Will-kun."
Moran sweat dropped. "Damn that woman... she knows how to get William on her side!"
"Bond, once your tour is finished, please come to the living room. The rest of us will wait for you there." William then faced the brunette and lightly brushed the stray strand of hair off her cheek. "Elise, there is something I need to speak with you for a moment. Can you come with me?"
"Of course." She went to his side and exited the room with him.
He was about to exit as well when he stopped and glanced at the older man after noticing his current state. "Oh, and Moran, please put your clothes on already."
"Tsk. Was about to."
As soon as they left, Bond also left the room with Louis to resume their tour. Along the way, he asked a question to the scarred blonde.
"Will-kun is quite fond of Elli-chan, huh?" He asked after noticing the look of adoration on the older blonde's face when talking to the noblewoman. "I do hear that the Moriarty siblings are affectionate with each other, and the second son is especially overprotective of the only daughter...."
"Ah, that is because nii-san and Elise are lovers."
Bond stopped his movement at the sudden information. "Eh?"
"They are lovers." Louis repeated his answer. "Ah, that's right. You don't know this, Mr. Bond, but William-nii-san and I aren't really born as a Moriarty. Albert-nii-san adopted us and we were given the Moriarty name afterwards, that's why Elise is not really our blood sister. Nii-san harbored feelings for her and so did she."
"Eh~... Can you tell me more about this?" He asked with great interest and curiosity. Louis sighed and summarized the whole story as they continued walking around the house.
***
Meanwhile, inside the study room, William handed her a cup of warm tea, to which Elise gratefully accepted. When she drank the liquid, she felt her insides warming up and she felt her breathing relaxing.
"Is there something you want to talk about, William?" She asked after drinking.
He made a small smile as he sat next to her. "It's not a long conversation but, I'm here to tell you that I've changed your medicine suppressants a bit and strengthened the dosage."
Emerald green eyes widened in realization as she looked back at the empty cup on her palm. "Then this drink is..."
"Yes. It's the new one. How do you feel?"
"Hmm... It's making me feel warm. My breathing also felt relaxing and soothing." She stared at her empty cup before raising her head to face him. "It felt better than the usual. Thank you, William."
He cracked a relieved smile. "I'm relieved. Tell me if there are any problems."
"I will. But..." She placed the cup on the coffee table before scooting closer to his side and cupped his cheeks. Her face contorted to a small frown when she saw the tired look in his eyes as she softly tells him. "Aren't you pushing yourself lately?"
It always worries her that he tends to think too much to the point of exhausting his self.
William could not help but snicker lightly but her worry undoubtedly touched his heart. "I really cannot hide everything from you, can I? Forgive me for making you worry, Elise."
He leaned to her touch and smiled at the warmth her hands emit. "Can I count on you again to help me rest for a few hours?"
She softly smiled at him before leaning up to kiss his forehead. "As many times as you want, William."
"Mhmm. Thank you, my dearest. There is also something I have to tell you as well."
The two then went to the living room afterwards where Moran and the others were waiting. William scanned the room for a moment and saw that everyone is present.
"I see that everyone is here."
"Bloody hell, man... don't go around doing trivial things just before a meeting!" Moran was annoyed he arrived later than them.
"Now, don't be like that, Moran." The blonde calmly says. "After all, all of you here will be working for today's job."
Elise took a seat on the couch as Moran looked so surprised that the job requires all of them.
"Wait...! All of us... including Bond?!"
"Naturally." He replied as if it's already obvious. "Though Bond is now one of us, he is still inexperienced in the way we operate. It's your job to guide and support him as his senior."
"But what if we don't work well?"
"We will do as Albert-nii-san said, and make the best out of Bond." He placed a folded piece of paper on the table. "This letter contains all you need to know about this job."
Moran sighed in defeat. "If you say so, William."
William took a seat next to Elise as his eyes drooped a little. "I'm... going to take a little rest... I'll leave the rest to you..."
"William..." Elise worriedly held his shoulder but he flashed a small tired smile to her.
He was slowly dozing off to the side while mumbling. "And Moran... get out of those clothes... Put on something... proper..."
As soon as he said those words, he rested his head on Elise's lap and was soon fast asleep. She couldn't help but smile at how endearing he looked right now and ran her fingers on his blonde hair. But also, she cannot help but worry after he exhausted his self.
"You've pushed yourself again, William..."
Louis sighed and covered his older brother with a blanket. "Nii-san, you will catch a cold if you sleep like this. I'm sorry if nii-san put you in a tight spot, Elise."
She shook her head and smiled at her lover's sleeping features. "No, it is fine. William does this sometimes, and he told me he likes to take a nap on either my lap or shoulder, saying it helps him relax."
She gently caressed his hair and she could feel him let out a satisfied sigh.
"Oh, taking a nap, eh, Will-kun?" Bond chuckled when he was sleeping soundly on the brunette's lap.
"Not exactly. William often get exhausted like that from thinking too much." Moran explains. "When he falls asleep like that, nothing can wake him up. Elise had been his personal pillow every time this happens to take care of him."
"Oh, I see..." He felt a little bad for making light of his sleeping habits. "I didn't know. Forgive me if my comment was inappropriate."
"It's all right. Bond. You weren't aware so it's understandable. Besides, William looked adorable when sleeping, isn't he?" She let out a small giggle before admiring his sleeping face.
"I doubt calling a man adorable will make him happy but if it's Elli-chan, I'm sure Will-kun will be delighted to hear that." He smiled at the warm and kind aura the noblewoman emits.
No wonder this man, the brains behind the operations, fell for this kind woman. He understood everything after hearing the whole story from Louis.
Moran picked up the letter William for them and felt something a little heavy inside. "Huh... there's something inside here besides the directive letter..."
It was a key with the tag that says "197".
"Then, I'll leave this to all of you. Please do take care and be careful." Elise tells them with an encouraging smile. "Bond, best of luck to you."
He nodded in appreciation and left with the Louis, Fred and Moran.
"We'll leave nii-san to you, Elise." Louis nods before leaving last.
Their errand was relatively simple: they were asked to fetch a few things from a safe deposit box from a bank. At first, she was confused why this errand requires four people but after William showed him the letter he received from a certain someone, she understood.
William planned everything to achieve two things at the same time.
Once the four "servants" left (after Moran was forced to change to a more formal clothes), Elise was left alone in the room with a sleeping William. She could never get tired watching him sleep like this and she cannot deny she likes to caress his blonde hair.
And she very much knows that he likes it as well.
Time passed by and she has a feeling that the four were almost done with their errands. To pass time, she started humming a little tune while stroking his hair. Looking down at the still sleeping blonde, she could not feel any discomfort after sitting for a long time as his lap pillow. It's probably because she was used to sitting for a long time when she was a young child or maybe because she got used to being his pillow.
Elise heard a knock from the main door, followed by the sound of the door opening then closing. Of course, she asked Louis before he left not to lock the door since it will be difficult for her to open it because of her current state.
As if there is anyone who would dare enter their estate quite boldly. Even without Moran or Louis, she can handle any intruder in the house herself.
A familiar old man wearing a butler uniform had entered the room. His long white hair was tied neatly in a low ponytail and the way he carried his self was of a man with dignity and years of experience. When he saw two young adults, he cracked a smile in greeting.
"My, my. To think that after all these years, I was greeted by such another precious sight." He said amusingly but in a warm-hearted tone.
Elise smiled after seeing their old instructor again for a long time. "Hello, sensei. It's been a while."
"Hello, little Elli." Jack Renfield smiled warmly to the young woman before glancing at the blonde on her lap. "It seems that little Will is still asleep."
He pinched his cheeks and chuckled lightly after seeing no reaction. "As usual, he didn't change. He still cannot wake up no matter what I do."
"I suppose that is what endearing about William." She admits with a soft smile.
The old man cannot help but smile when he saw the look on her face. He really did miss out a lot all these years when an idea entered his mind.
"Then can I draw on his face?"
She sweat dropped at his suggestion. "He'll surely be angry if he wakes up and discovers his face is covered in doodles..."
"As long as we wipe it off before he wakes up, there wouldn't be a problem, all right? It's been a while since I see him like this."
Elise has no choice but to comply after seeing the mischievous grin on his old face. She'll apologize afterwards once William wakes up.
"Ah, that's right. Where are the others?" He asked while in the middle of doodling.
"They were sent by William in an errand to get your knives. Albert-nii-sama is in his paper company doing his work."
"Is that so? I don't think it's necessary to send a lot of people just to get my knives." He mused. "Well then, did you still keep the pair I gave you?"
"I still kept it and maintained its condition. After all, they are from your prized collections. I use it to train from time to time."
"I'm glad to hear that. Thank you for cherishing them well, little Elli."
Jack smiled and patted her head like an affectionate parent. "And you have grown even more beautiful as ever. It seems I can no longer call you little Elli now that you are a grown woman now, eh?"
"Of course you can keep calling me that, sensei." She tells him. "Rather than the formalities, I prefer if you keep calling me little Elli like you always do."
It made him smile and recall the younger Elise when they first met.
"You never change. You are the same kind and sincere child from back then." He looked at the blonde on her lap then back to her. "I heard from Moran that you two are secretly lovers. My, is this true? I do recall that he harbored feelings for you when you were still children but I never expected you also felt the same way."
"Yes..." She smiled a little bashfully after admitting it to him. "We are lovers but for the public eye, we are nothing more than Moriarty siblings. We cannot just simply be intimate like that in public."
"That is true, I suppose." He agrees a little sadly, knowing their situation as adopted siblings. "Speaking of which, how is your health, Elli?"
She looked down and continued caressing the blonde's hair. "The cure is still in the making, but... it escalated to the point I coughed up blood."
His eyes widened in alarm as he bombarded her with questions in worry and concern. It's been since he saw her, after all, and he couldn't help but slightly panic. "Since when? How are you feeling now? Are you forcing yourself? What did little Will say?"
Elise gently patted the elderly man's arm to calm him down. "It was about two weeks ago. Although it may have escalated to this, it's not that different compared to before. I am still careful in what I do and William told me that he strengthened the dosage of the suppressant to ease the pain. It will be fine."
Worry still flickered in his eyes as he sighed in relief. Jack had been like a father figure to them, as well as mentor and caretaker after the old Moriarty estate was burned.
"All right. I know that you won't lie to us about this." He says with a small smile but the worry in his voice was clear to her ears. "Little Will swore, after all, that he'll make sure you are cured. Well, I suppose I had my fun now. Better clean his face before he wakes up."
He went to the kitchen to find a clean towel and drenched it a little to wipe the ink off the blonde's face.
"Ahahaha. He still wouldn't wake up even after everything I did." He chuckled in amusement after seeing that he didn't even stir awake.
Few minutes later, both of them heard multiple footsteps from the hallway and the sound of Moran's pissed off voice.
"Ah!! Bond, you bastard!!"
"Ara, it seems that everyone is back." Elise thinks after hearing that. Their instructor mustered a smirk when he heard that they have arrived.
"Just one sip, I told you!! Now there is barely anything left!!" Moran was walking angrily while carrying his nearly empty bottle of liquor.
"Weren't you just telling me to think for myself, Moran-kun?" Bond says innocently.
"Yes, but not when it comes to my booze!!"
When they entered the living room, Moran's face contorted to surprise and disbelief when he saw the old butler.
"Welcome back." Elise greeted them first before the older man could react.
"GARGH!! The old man!!" He exclaimed quite loudly before rephrasing his statement. "I-I mean... Instructor!!"
"Instructor?" Bond inquired. "Yours, Moran-kun...?"
"Hell..." He scratched his head after everything started to slowly make sense. "So that's why William called you..."
"It seems so." Louis sets the box on the table and opened it, revealing a collection of various knives inside. "The package we picked up from the vault indeed belongs to him."
"Knives...?" Bond said out loud after seeing the variety of it.
"How I miss these..." The old man says in nostalgia as he picked up one knife and unsheathes it, his eyes on the reflection of the blade. "I had never thought to never see them again."
"As always, sensei's knife collection is truly beautiful." Elise tells him as she admired the knives in the box.
"Why thank you, little Elli. Only you appreciated the beauty of my knife collection." He chuckled before lifting a few knives and inspecting them.
"The old man's name is Jack Renfield." Moran says to Bond. "After the old Moriarty estate burned down, it was him who took care of William and his siblings as a butler at Lord Rockwell's estate."
Jack wore the belt and knife straps and started attaching the knives to it as Moran continued. "He'd served in the British army during the first Afghan war and was given the moniker "The British Jack Knife" by the enemy. During his time in the army, he also served as a close quarters combat instructor. Although now, he's just an old butler who has been forgotten by history, only those who still remember the war would recognize him."
"He's also the one who taught Elise his knife skills... though I haven't seen her in action yet..."
"Why would Will-kun summon such a man here...?" The younger blonde asked.
"A killer is currently on a rampage across London." Elise explains with a grim face. "What's worse, the psychopath is using the same name as our sensei here."
"The infamous killer who was on paper..." Bond thought for a moment. "I remember his name was..." He exclaimed in realization. "Jack...!"
"Yeah." The raven haired man nodded before looking at the old man in front of them. "But this is the real Jack..."
The instructor was done with attaching his knives before smiling a little smugly.
"Jack the Ripper."
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A/N: I might use "Shishou" instead of instructor or master when Moran and Fred call Jack. I don't know but I like the sound of shishou instead of master hehehe.
Love you guys and stay safe <3