whatofthewarts | (no subject)

(no subject)

Irene Adler had many homes, and many more hiding places, but months after her death Sherlock was certain he'd found at least half those in the country. She had her many stolen jewels tucked away all over the apartment, and it took him the better part of the afternoon to dig them all out of their hidey holes. When he had them in his pockets, he went searching for someone else entirely.

Although they had their obvious differences, given their different environments, Sherlock found it was remarkably easy to track himself down.

"Making headway, I presume?"

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Holmes looks at him, and rubs his palms together slowly.

"When I said that, it was not because I thought you would leave it at failure. I know that I would not. Neither of us could afford to, not with Moriarty."

"You never would have slipped that far."

He informs him, quietly.

"Our circumstances are very different, and I know it- but not why I failed where you didn't."

"There is the fact that I am several years older, with several years' more experience."

It seems such a plain explanation, though. Too simple.

"It is likely a factor, at the least."

"And Mycroft."

Biting the inside of his cheek.

"Our Mycrofts are similar. Yours seems less...uninhibited than mine."

He is curiously fond of both, though. His Mycroft is among the only people in the world who can make him relax enough to giggle like a schoolboy.

"What did he have to do with you and Moriarty?"

Testing, cautiously.

"I haven't uncovered all the ways. But he is deeply involved in the international world; and he assisted me in keeping Watson's new wife safe, and in setting the stage for confronting Moriarty face to face."

He looks at him with a small frown.

"What did yours do?"

"He traded me for information. Details about me for details about Moriarty's machinations. It's how he managed to convince everyone I was a fraud. A childhood anecdote here, a thing only a brother could know there-"

There is a chance that Mycroft was working with Moriarty here, in order to double cross him. A slim chance but one Holmes can't ignore.

"An understandable bargain, but certainly not one I would forgive a brother for."

"An error, maybe."

Shrugging.

"From Mycroft?"

Doubtful.

"Or he doesn't care."

Shrugging.

He can't say whether Mycroft does or not, of course. He knows that his own brother does, but Sherlock's had been...more careful. And Sherlock is not an easy person to attach to, he's sure.

"What matters, then, is if you care what he did."

"No."

Yes, so plainly.

He doesn't pity Sherlock. He can't pity himself, in any incarnation. But he does feel anger at Mycroft, that has nothing to do with vicarious betrayal.

"Well. We shall endeavor to turn it into an advantage."

"If my theories work, I'll be able to travel back and forth. And so would you be."

By the way.

Oh. While he'd wondered if that was a possible outcome, he hadn't realized that Sherlock was actually working out such an open-ended doorway.

"Then you shall have much to show me."

"All right."

Agreeing, breathlessly.

"Is there ice?"

"I believe I can find some shortly. Wait here."

He scrambles up--as fast as he can while limping, anyway--and goes to get dressed. He returns a half hour later wearing a disguise and carrying an ice block in a burlap sack.

Sherlock has drifted off to sleep under his blankets, down like the dead, apparently, since his return doesn't shake him.

He smashes up the ice block, quiet as he can, and leaves it in an insulated container by the bed for him. Then he goes off to find Watson, to 'borrow' supplies and indulge in conversation for a while.

He'll eventually make it back up, but still limping. Waiting for him to come back.

When he does, he has instruments galore. Archaic by Sherlock's standards, yes, but perfectly serviceable all the same.

"I didn't expect to see you up so soon."

"...I didn't expect to see you back."

And with help. His breath catches.

"Why ever not. I have many talents, but observing dimensional travel from afar is not one of them. Much more fascinating up close."

He picks up the ice bag and sets it on Sherlock's chest.

"As you requested."