MicroFics-Stories Under 75 Words
Five Things John Taught Sherlock How To Do
1. Feel Guilt
He has no idea what he’s said to make the Yarders look at him with such sudden disgust. He turns to the doctor, whose expression holds only mild surprise and a biting disappointment. The disappointment makes something small twist in his stomach. “Not good?” he asks with a slight flinch.
“Bit not good, yeah,” John said, more than a little confused.
2. Apologize
“I just want to say…I wanted you to know that I…what I said was inexcusable…” He cleared his throat a few times and gazed mournfully at his reflection in the mirror. “This is impossible…”
“The least painful way is a nice, sincere ‘I’m sorry,” John said from behind him, making him jump a mile in the air. The doctor grinned. “And you’re forgiven, by the way.”
3. Clean House
“You missed a spot.”
Sherlock looked up from the floor and shot John his second best death glare. John beamed in return and jerked his head in the direction of the chemical spill under the table, gloved hands full of glass shards. “It’s easier if you hold the mop with both hands instead of trying to text at the same time. And scrub, for goodness’ sake. Only ten minutes until Mrs. Hudson gets back.”
4. Compromise
“…John, don’t, don’t do this to me…John, focus. Listen! How about a deal? I promise I’ll learn the location, orbital speed, moon names, surface temperature, mass, makeup, and size of every stupid planet in the galaxy if you’ll please just keep breathing…”
5. Cry
The doctor came to with a pained gasp. He squinted at the hospital ceiling like it had personally wronged him, then saw Sherlock beside the bed, staring at him with swollen red eyes. John smiled. “It’s all right, Sherlock,” he whispered. “I won’t tell.”
The detective blinked once and tears flowed as though a dam had burst.