ironmonger | (no subject)

"What kind of challenge are we talking about?" he asks.

"How difficult to subdue would you like me to be?"

"Enough that it takes both of us to get you where we want you," he says. "That should give Tony a little taste of revenge and make him want more."

"Hmm. You would have to work on him for quite a while to achieve such an alliance," Sherlock points out. "Not that I imagine you would find that a trial. But it might be simpler to get me under control first and bring him around afterward."

"Would I, now."

Obadiah thinks Sherlock is underestimating the power of betrayal on even someone like Tony, but he'd rather concentrate a little more on the idea of working on Tony to bring him around.

"Oh, yes. He will need to be broken enough to be willing to help you, but not too broken to sustain anger. A delicate balance. I can help by being a vicious bastard to him, of course, but that only goes so far."

"Maybe I'll have been letting you take center stage," he muses. "Make myself the lesser of two evils this time around. And I can always offer him a little bribe to calm him down. A small act of kindness can go a long way at the right moment."

"Particularly with Tony," he agrees. "That sounds workable."

"Good, good."

He takes a slow, leisurely sip of whiskey.

Sherlock watches him do it.

Things are very different between them now, aren't they.

And he still doesn't know about the gun.

Very different, indeed.

"So what do I need to know about you?" he asks. "Tony will keep me in check, I'm sure, but it would be more fun if he didn't have to."

"You know my limits already. No permanent damage and don't make me pass out."

He raises his eyebrows a little.

"That's it?"

Sherlock smiles.

"Yes. Leave as many bruises as you like."

"Oh, believe me, I will."

Sherlock knows very well how much Obadiah likes leaving bruises.

"But I can do that without inflicting all that much pain. Or there can be plenty, depending on your preferences."

"You might find inflicting pain on me rather boring," he says with a slight shrug. "I am not troubled by it."

"Really."

It's an odd, interesting piece of information.

"I like it well enough. I seem to recall you've found out that Tony does, too. You've also found out that he stops liking it past a certain amount. I don't."

He can't quite decide whether he finds that difficult to believe or not. On the one hand, it sounds like a careless boast he can easily imagine someone like Sherlock making.

On the other hand, it would just be another item on the list of things that keep Sherlock from being a normal human being.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"You're quite welcome to test it," he adds.

"Don't tempt me," he says, slightly dry.

"Why not?"

"I'd rather wait to leave my mark."

Leaving bruises on fresh, unmarked skin is much more exciting.

"Suit yourself."

Obadiah smiles at him.

"Oh, I will."