Fic: NH2Cl, G
Title: NH2Cl
Character: Jim Moriarty
Genre: Gen
Author: eriksselest
Fandom: BBC Sherlock
Word count: 910
Rating: G
Prompt: Meme #2 for a_muse_meme “What’s that smell?” (Author’s Choice)
Disclaimer: I don’t own Sherlock or any of its characters.
Notes: Hope you enjoy - comments are love! <3
Jim could smell the chlorine on the swim team as they took their seats in the darkened classroom. They laughed with each other boisterously, completely ignoring the fact that Jim was in the room at his desk reading through his textbook. Jim already knew the content of the day’s lecture backwards and forwards, but that didn’t matter - it was just easier to avoid the group altogether. Soon after, the rest of Jim’s classmates filtered in - it was customary, he found, for everyone to arrive no earlier than five minutes before class were to begin.
The next period was set aside for phys. ed. - Jim wasn’t bad at any of the mindless activities, but he was scrawny for his age. He could typically outrun many of his classmates, but he lacked the power to fight them off if they captured him. On this day, it was a free-period where the students could do any activity that they chose - as long as it was within the class guidelines.
The locker-room was noisy, but most were moving onto their desired areas of the campus - a fair few remained close to the swimming pool adjacent to the lockers. Swimming was the primary school’s most popular sport. Jim planned on going to the track and running a few laps because when he ran, he could think without all of the noise and without all of the needless distractions. Today; however, as he tied up his shoes, he felt the familiar shadows of about five of his classmates descend upon him.
“Hey, Moriarty . . . care to take a dive today?” One of the boys, Carl, taunted. It was always how it started. Carl was the tallest student and the most prominent swimmer in their class. He was a champion. No one ever pointed out his faults because he was the school’s golden boy.
Jim could usually brush them off with indifference, but today would prove to be different. They continued, jostling and grabbing hold of him, right off the bench. “Come on, it will be fun!”
“No. I’m going for a run.” Jim, tried to break free, but Carl’s grip on his wouldn’t loosen. He looked down at Carl’s eczema-ridden hand on his sleeve with disgust. “Let me go, Powers!”
“Come on, Moriarty . . .” They dragged him out to the side of the pool, Jim slipping on the way out on a small puddle of water. Carl and the others straightened him up and took him to the edge of the pool. “I’m sure you’ll just love it in there. You’re always the one helping out the science and mathematics professors in your spare time.” Carl gave him a shake, as Jim’s heart began to race because he nearly fell head-first into the water. “You can get better acquainted with the chlorine!” Carl and the boys just smiled tauntingly.
“No! No! Please, I can’t! I can’t! Please, think about this! I can’t swim! I can’t swim!” Jim yelled out, struggling again, more panicked this time.
“Please! Even babies can swim if you put them in water.” Carl looked at him, confused. Swimming was completely natural to him - as natural as breathing, how could Moriarty not know? The rest of the boys backed off though. It was only Carl left pressing him further.
“I can’t swim, please!” Jim looked up at him pleading and turning pale, “I can’t swim . . .”
“Learn to,” Carl whispered.
In a blink of a moment, the cold water was surrounding Jim as he crashed through the water. The pressure pounded against his chest, eyes, nose, and ears. The utter silence of everything but his own racing heartbeat overwhelmed him. He panicked, realizing where he was after a moment. He could see the dim specks of the lights above, but it felt like an entire ocean was above him. He kicked, trying to get some momentum, but the harder he kicked, the less he moved. Jim didn’t know how much longer he could keep at it - how much longer he could hold his breath. His nose, throat, and lungs burned and he practically prayed to be turned into a frog at that moment - just so that he could easily swim and breach the surface. It didn’t even register that Carl was tauntingly swimming laps around him - all that mattered was survival.
After what seemed like hours, but was in reality only seconds, Jim’s hand touched one of the metal railings that led to steps out of the pool. He clung to the brushed silver surface and pulled himself out, coughing. He nearly thought he was going to throw up from it all as he lay shaking on his side with the smell of chlorine filling his nostrils and mouth. His drenched clothes and skin sent a chill over his entire body. He looked wearily over and saw Carl laughing hysterically at him - his voice ringing hollowly in Jim’s head. The other students around the pool looked on, scared. Jim seethed with anger and embarrassment. He would stop him from laughing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The darkened pool area was so very familiar. He could remember the feel of the water and the smell of the chlorine as if it was yesterday. Sherlock looked so terrified and betrayed to think that his precious John was behind it all. But that terror morphed into admiration and wariness as the truth was revealed. Yes, this game would be the most fun.
“Jim Moriarty. Hi.”
Cheers!
~Sel^.+