ironmonger | (no subject)

"No, that's what I would do if I didn't particularly care what he thought," he agrees.

"Unless," he says thoughtfully, "you have Tony pick the car."

He considers this.

"True," he concedes. "I could arrange for a private show of models that aren't on the market yet."

"Have my Tony pick the car," Sherlock clarifies, "and surprise him with it. Which will have the added benefit of making Sherlock fret about where you are hiding your extra Tony all over again."

He laughs.

"You know," he says, "I'm starting to like the way you think."

Sherlock grins up at him. "I believe I will choose to take that as a compliment."

"I believe you should," he says.

The ensuing giggle causes Sherlock to gently slide down until he is lying on the couch with his head in Obadiah's lap.

He does not appear to mind.

(In truth it is more complicated than that; in truth, he thinks of the smell of apple brandy, and there is a moment when he wishes to be anywhere else. But it passes too quickly to leave any outward sign.)

Idly, out of reflex more than anything else, Obadiah runs his fingers through Sherlock's hair. There are some situational responses that are universal to everyone.

"I'm sure Tony would enjoy taking a little trip out to do that," he muses.

"He'd love to," Sherlock agrees, closing his eyes and smiling contentedly. It seems both Starks have kittenish tendencies.

That's desirable enough a reaction that Obadiah keeps going.

"I'll ask him," he says, thinking about the other things they could get up to back in his world. Maybe he could leave a little something for Sherlock to notice later, to frustrate him with the knowledge that the extra Tony had been within his grasp.

"Yes," he says, as though Obadiah had suggested it aloud, "I am sure Tony would also love to fuck you in whatever suitably discreet location you come up with."

"That goes without saying," he agrees.

Maybe they could fuck in the new car . . . ? No, that's the kind of scenario best kept in his imagination. Making it a reality would be a little sleazy even for him.

Still without opening his eyes, he chuckles.

"I can very nearly hear you thinking naughty thoughts," he says cheerfully. "You may as well tell me the good ones; I'll hear it all from Tony eventually."

"Oh, I can't get too risky," he says. "The last thing I need is someone conveniently placed to put two and two together."

He has to keep his reputation in mind, after all. Being someone who, say, has sex in his office is one thing; being someone who has sex in his office with the just-barely-eighteen boy he raised after his parents' tragic deaths is another thing altogether.

"In that case I foresee an extended argument about doing it in your office."

"'Doing it'?" he repeats. "I know you're about six years old, Sherlock, but that doesn't mean you have to act like it."

...He laughs. Heartily.

Amused, Obadiah waits for him to settle down.

"You know what I meant," he says, closing his eyes again and curling up comfortably with his head still snuggled into Obadiah's lap. "And I am one hundred and fifty-four, thanks very much."

"Of course," Obadiah says. (His hand is still in Sherlock's hair, stroking and teasing at the strands.) "We had the public domain discussion. Available to all comers."

Drowsily: "On the contrary, there are only three of you."

That is a very specific number.

"Three of us," he repeats, not quite a question.

"You, Tony, a hopeless failed romance," he says, lifting one hand in a gesture of dismissal as though the third item in that list is of no consequence in comparison to the first two. "The sum total of the people I would willingly fuck."

(It is not quite a lie. He curses himself for letting down his guard like this, but his acting is flawless as always; he creates, for the moment, a Sherlock who really doesn't care. Because that is the only way to keep Obadiah from looking any further.)

"Watson didn't work out?" he asks idly. "Shame."

Interesting, the differences one change can make. He doesn't recall ever seeing anyone other than Tony (and now himself) have a prolonged positive interaction with his Sherlock.