Timing [Mycroft/Lestrade]
Title: Timing
Author: aislingdoheanta
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters/Pairing: Mystrade
Summary: It only took Mycroft 20 minutes to realize he was in love with Gregory Lestrade. It was 4 years and 3 weeks before he actually told him.
Rating: T
Word Count: 1684
Notes: Written as a response for This Prompt over at sherlockbbc_fic. First part in Sherlock's POV.
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: Obviously Not Mine
Mycroft Holmes knew he was in love with Gregory Lestrade very quickly. He had first seen him after arriving at a crime scene Sherlock had been working at. It had involved another minor government official and Mycroft had been forced to go and make sure certain information remained unknown to the general public.
He first saw the silver fox, as he later dubbed him in his mind, as soon as he stepped out of the car he had been driven there in. The Detective had been standing with one had on his hip staring at Sherlock as Sherlock talked at him. He walked away shaking his head and spotted Mycroft. He walked over, his features shooled back into place. "Closed set."
Mycroft tilted his head. "I believe I am allowed." He passed over his credientials, part of them anyway.
"Holmes?"
"Yes. It is a small world, isn't it?"
The Detective laughed. "I guess so." He turned to face where Sherlock was gesturing wildly to one of the other officer.
Mycroft turned his attention to where the Detective was looking. He sighed when he saw his brother.
"He's either going to give himself a coronary or get a punch in his face." The Detective laughed again, looking back at Mycroft.
Mycroft was surprised that this man was including him in a joke. Not just including him, but sharing one with im. No one ever did that. Mycroft cracked a small smile. "My money is on the latter."
The Detective laughed again. "Mine too." He held out his hand. "Gregory Lestrade."
"Mycroft Holmes," Mycroft responded and shook Gregory's hand.
Gregory smiled at him and Mycroft felt that strange flutter in his chest. Gregory reached into his pocket and pulled out a card and handed it to him. "If you ever fancy a drink."
"Well, I-I--" Mycroft sputtered out.
Gregory smiled gently at him. "There's no pressure. Just...if you're interested, give me a ring, yeah?"
Mycroft nodded with his brows furrowed.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and look after your brother. I hope I hear from you." Gregory nodded to him and walked away.
Mycroft stood for a moment before he realized he had a somewhat silly grin on his face. He wiped his face clean and slid the card into his pocket. He watched Gregory scold his brother.
Gregory made him feel...strange. It was a feeling he wasn't used to--and he had just met the man! He couldn't be feeling like this.
Mycroft continued to watch the scene unfold until Gregory looked back at him and winked. It was at that moment, with his face heating up that Mycroft knew that he was in love with Gregory Lestrade.
Mycroft had only truly known him for about twenty minutes, but he couldn't help the way he had been felt. Gregory had treated him in a way that no one else did. He had let him in on a joke, not just spoken around him and assumed that he wouldn't appreciate it. It was refreshing. Not to mention Gregory had seemed interested in him.
That had been four years and three weeks ago.
And Mycroft had yet to tell Gregory he loved him.
It had taken Mycroft almost two years to gather the courage to ask Gregory out. He had understood that it was his turn to "make a move" as they say, but he hadn't been entirely comfortable with it. So he tried to keep his appearances at crime scenes at a minimal.
However, the desire to see the attractive Detective, who had become a Detective Inspector not long after their first meeting, did occasionally arrive. Mycroft would arrive and stand off in the wings, but Gregory would always make a point to come over and chat with him. He always left Mycroft with a wink and a reminder that the invitation for dinner or drinks was still open.
Mycroft would smile politely, but not say anything. He could barely utter a competent word around the handsome Detective Inspector.
After one particularly trying week, Mycroft found himself standing outside the Yard, apparently waiting for Gregory. He fiddled with his umbrella, anxiously awaiting the DI.
Gregory had, of course, appeared shortly after and smiled at him in that puzzled way of his. He had asked Mycroft was he was doing there. Mycroft nervously asked him if he still fancied a dinner.
Their first date had been surprisingly wonderful. Mycroft had never had fantastic luck in the romance department because of his quiet personality. He didn't like to speak unless he had something meaningful to say. Most people found it unnerving, but Gregory didn't. However, there were not many moments that Mycroft found himself shying away from conversation, especially since Gregory wanted to know more about him.
He hadn't been pushy, though. He hadn't pried and had this strange ability to know when he was about to test Mycroft's limits. It was quite a lovely date.
So lovely, they ended up doing it again a few days later. Their sporadic dates kept happening as did the almost daily texting. After a few months, Gregory insisted on having Mycroft keep in semi-contact with him while away on business. He knew that Mycroft was not able to share any details, but he made Mycroft let him know that he arrived and returned home from his travels safely.
It was strangely comforting to know that he had someone around who actually cared about his well being and wanted to know what he was doing. Gregory always phoned him--after finding out Mycroft's preference, they rarely texted except for quick updates--at random times throughout the week to make sure he was still doing alright and taking care of himself.
Now, here they were. Four years and three weeks after Mycroft fell in love with one Gregory Lestrade. It had been 37 dates, 21 canceled plans, 12 football matches, 3 holidays, and a year and a half of officially seeing each other exclusively.
And Mycroft couldn't bring himself to say those three, tiny little words. It wasn't that he didn't want to, of course he did. He knew how he felt.
It was how Gregory felt that was causing all the anxiety.
Gregory did care a lot about him, that much was obvious. They spent quite a bit of time together and Mycroft was currently considering the idea of cohabitating. The idea of sharing everything with another person often caused him to shudder. However, with Gregory, the idea seemed strangely comforting. To know that there was always someone to return home to, someone who actually wanted to see him. It was quite lovely.
However, Mycroft knew that in order to take their relationship further, he would have to come clean about his feelings. And face rejection. It was terrifying.
He knew that, even if Gregory didn't feel the same way, he respected him enough to not cause him any more discomfort than that. He wouldn't laugh at him or anything of that sort. But he might not feel the same.
And that was the most terrifying thing of all.
Now that Mycroft had Gregory, he didn't want to risk losing him.
"What's on your mind?"
Mycroft blinked and realized he had missed at least half of the film they had decided to watch. He felt Gregory's hand rubbing gently at his neck and saw his concerned gaze out of the corner of his eye. He tried to shrug, but it came off as a strange jerk. "Work."
Gregory chuckled. "Liar."
Mycroft reddened and cleared his throat.
Gregory cut him off. "Don't tell me I'm wrong. I know you, Mycroft. I can see something's bothering you. It's not work because you have a different stressful expression for that." Gregory shifted a tiny bit closer and rested his hand on Mycroft's leg. "If you can't, or won't tell me, at least tell me that you're alright."
Mycroft stared down at Gregory's hand on his leg. He could do this. He was an Official within the British Government. He handled numerous negotiations and peace discussions.
He could tell the man he loved he loved him.
Mycroft gently covered Gregory's hand with his own and looked away. "I," he cleared his throat. "I love you," he whispered.
Gregory pulled his hand out from under Mycroft's and Mycroft closed his eyes preparing for the "I really care about you, but I just don't feel that way about you" speech. He had heard it a few times and was curious as to how Gregory would word it.
Gregory placed his hand on Mycroft's face, gently turning in toward him. Mycroft opened his eyes and saw Gregory's brilliant smile. "I have waited quite a while to hear you say that, Mycroft." He leaned in and quickly kissed Mycroft. "I love you, too."
Mycroft smiled and felt his face heat up. "If you did, why did you wait until I spoke first?"
Gregory laughed. "Because I knew how difficult it was for you and I didn't want to pressure you into saying it if you were not ready."
"I have been ready since we met," he said under his breath.
Naturally, Gregory heard him. "It took you that long to say something? I mean, wasn't it obvious that I felt the same way?"
Mycroft shook his head. "No. You simply enjoyed my company and wanted to talk with me. Oh, and you also made sure that I was taking care of myself. You also want me to keep you updated on what's happening with me while I am abroad."
"That's what you do when you love someone. At least, that's what I do."
"Oh. Of course," Mycroft said, clearing his throat again. He suspected that, even after ten years, this man would still cause him to feel nervous on occasion. "I apologize for not seeing it sooner."
Gregory smiled at him. "Then I suppose I will just have to show you." He pulled Mycroft close, kissing him again and keeping good on his word of showing Mycroft just how much he loved him in return.