Just an Ordinary Man
Just an Ordinary Man
“Holmes, what on earth are you doing?” Watson asked with a raised eyebrow. He had been enjoying his novel quietly in his chair when Holmes stormed in and began rifling through the mountains of paper that resided on his desk. He sighed in exasperation as Holmes declined to answer and continued to rummage through the papers. Standing slowly, Watson saved his place in his novel and moved to his desk. “Since you seem content in making this room even more of a mess Holmes, I am going to go out and see Mary.” he said as he turned towards the door. “What was that, Holmes?” he stopped with his hand on the knob. “Hmm? Oh nothing Watson, nothing at all.” Holmes replied as he turned away to face the fire. “I just don’t understand your need to go out, or your need to see her.” Watson removed his hand from the door and turned to face his friend. He grimaced at the flush of heat in his face that came from the venom in his friend’s words. He had long tried to deny his feelings for his friend thinking that it was a dead end. He could never feel the same, Holmes had no feelings whatsoever. The venom with which he spoke of Mary however raised Watson’s hopes. He cleared his throat and attempted to answer his friend’s question.
“Well after all, Holmes, I'm an ordinary man, who desires nothing more than an ordinary chance, to live exactly as he likes, and do precisely what he wants. An average man am I, of no eccentric whim, who likes to live his life, free of strife, doing whatever he thinks is best, for him. Well... just an ordinary man...” he smirked as he crossed his arms.
Holmes scoffed and turned to face him, replying with a touch of venom, “BUT, let a woman in your life and your serenity is through! She'll redecorate your home, from the cellar to the dome,
and then go on to the enthralling fun of overhauling you! Let a woman in your life, and you're up against a wall, make a plan and you will find, that she has something else in mind, and so rather than do either you do something else that neither likes at all! You want to talk of Keats and Milton, she only wants to talk of love, you go to see a play or ballet, and spend it searching for her glove! Let a woman in your life
and you invite eternal strife, let them buy their wedding bands for those anxious little hands,
I'd be equally as willing for a dentist to be drilling than to ever let a woman in my life!”
Watson let out a chuckle. “Of course you wouldn’t Holmes. The difference here is that I'm a very gentle man, even tempered and good natured who you never hear complain, who has the milk of human kindness by the quart in every vein, a patient man am I, down to my fingertips, the sort who never could, ever would, let an insulting remark escape his lips. Yes a very gentle man.”
“Indeed my dear Watson, that may be true, but, let a woman in your life, and patience hasn't got a chance! She will beg you for advice, your reply will be concise, and she will listen very nicely, and then go out and do exactly what she wants!!! You are a man of grace and polish, who never spoke above a hush, all at once you're using language that would make a sailor blush! Let a woman in your life, and you're plunging in a knife! Let the others of my sex, tie the knot around their necks, I prefer a new edition of the Spanish Inquisition than to ever let a woman in my life!” Holmes announced with a flourish, his thin arms flailing about causing his dressing gown to fall from his shoulders. Watson unconsciously took a step forward. “I'm a quiet living man, who prefers to spend the evening in the silence of his room, who likes an atmosphere as restful as an undiscovered tomb. A pensive man am I, of philosophical joys, who likes to meditate, contemplate, far from humanities mad inhuman noise. Just a quiet living man.” he replied with a shrug reaching forward and replacing Holmes’ dressing gown on his shoulders, letting his fingers trace the well worn material before dropping back to his side. He met Holmes questioning glance and his heart stuttered in his chest. Holmes smirked and replied “But, let a woman in your life, and your sabbatical is through, in a line that never ends comes an army of her friends, come to jabber and to chatter and to tell her what the matter is with YOU! She'll have a booming boisterous family, who will descend on you en mass, she'll have a large Wagnarian mother,
with a voice that shatters glass! I shall never let a woman in my life!” Watson smiled and let out another laugh. “Mary doesn’t have a large family Holmes. Also you cannot say that you would never let a woman in your life, you already have.”
“My dearest Watson, I have no idea who you are referring to.” Holmes replied with a grin. “Also you are not being totally truthful, you do not prefer the quiet of a tomb. You my dear friend, enjoy adventure as much as I do.” he smiled as he reached up and brushed away some dust that had settled on his friend’s shoulder.
“I do enjoy our adventures Holmes, but some days I find I need quiet for my piece of mind.” Watson replied with a grin. “Of course, I may be persuaded to stay in tonight if you let me know what you were looking for.” Watson was quite surprised when Holmes turned away and sighed. “Holmes, what is it?”
Holmes sighed again and placed his hands on the fireplace mantle. Looking into the flames he replied quietly, “I am not certain I can explain. I am not sure of what you will think.”
“Holmes, please, just tell me.” Watson said as he moved to stand beside Holmes.
“I was making a mess because I knew you would stop reading if I disturbed you.” he answered in a rush, his shoulders slumping forward.
“My dear man, if you wished to talk to me you could have just said something!” Watson said with a laugh. “I thought you were trying to drive me out!”
“No, Watson, never!” Holmes exclaimed as he reached out with a wiry hand and gripped Watson’s arm. Watson stared at Holmes, shocked at the force of his outburst. His heart began racing in his chest, he was certain Holmes could hear it. “I am sorry my friend, I do not know what has come over me as of late.” Holmes said as he began to remove his hand. Watson was quicker though and held his hand in place. “Holmes, if you wish for me to stay, I will.” Watson replied as he absent-mindedly allowed his thumb to make lazy circles on Holmes’ hand and wrist. He looked up at Holmes and met his eyes. Those gray eyes that were always so full of life, so full of knowledge were looking at him with a gentle softness he had never seen before. His heart thudded in his chest with a ferocity that made him feel slightly faint. “Holmes?” he murmured as he fought to keep his heart rate and breathing under control.
“Of course I wish for you to stay. I do not like it when you aren’t here.” Holmes breathed quietly, almost under his breath. Watson head began to spin. Could it be that Holmes was jealous of Mary? It hadn’t seemed possible mere minutes ago, but here in front of the fireplace, as they stood looking into each other’s eyes it seemed more fact than fiction. Slowly Watson withdrew his hand from Holmes and slid it up to cup his cheek. “Oh Holmes..” he breathed as he leaned forward to press his lips to Holmes’ cheek. His mind screamed at his last minute decision , but he couldn’t bear the thought of Holmes’ rejecting him. He was surprised at how soft the skin beside his mouth was and his heart leapt with joy as he felt Holmes lean forward. In a move practiced and almost perfected over the years, he pulled Holmes close and kissed his lips. They remained there for what could have been hours until the heat from the fire became too much. Watson broke the embrace and moved back slightly to look at Holmes once more. His lips were rosy and swollen from the kiss, his gray eyes glimmered in the light from the fire. His expression was one of dazed satisfaction and Watson smiled. “My dear, dear Holmes.” he said with a smile, “I believe it is safe to say that neither of us will ever have a woman in our lives.”
“Elementary my dear Watson, elementary.” Holmes replied with a smile.
Downstairs Mrs. Hudson smiled as the sound of her tenants gleeful laughter flowed down the stairs.
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