BBC Sherlock ficlet.
The world trembles into stillness, waiting in that eternal moment between one breath and the next to start spinning again.
In one universe a soldier cowers back from it afraid of the consequences and what peace the two men had managed to find is irreversably shattered.
In another two souls come together in a violent meeting of flesh and relief.
In a third the detective's kiss presses to the cheek instead of the lips and there is never another less than chaste touch shared but the love is felt all the more strongly for remaining unconsumatted.
In yet another a man is mortally wounded when he shouldn't have been and the moment passes unremarked except for the shortened lonely life of the second man.
In this universe a tall man with a godlike intellect waits with the world for his blogger's answer.
Sherlock never before believed a person's life could be so irrevocably wrapped up in another's words, but as the moments pass he feels his heart begin to crack and tears start to gather.
"Don't be an idiot." John says with an affectionate smile.
He runs a hand through Sherlock's hair until he can cup the back of Sherlock's head and pull him down into a sweet, soul-searing kiss.
"So..." Sherlock says as he pulls away. "Chinese then?"
"Let me get my coat." John says with a laugh.
They walk down the street hand in hand.
As the world begins to spin one more it's almost like nothing has changed at all.
In one universe a soldier cowers back from it afraid of the consequences and what peace the two men had managed to find is irreversably shattered.
In another two souls come together in a violent meeting of flesh and relief.
In a third the detective's kiss presses to the cheek instead of the lips and there is never another less than chaste touch shared but the love is felt all the more strongly for remaining unconsumatted.
In yet another a man is mortally wounded when he shouldn't have been and the moment passes unremarked except for the shortened lonely life of the second man.
In this universe a tall man with a godlike intellect waits with the world for his blogger's answer.
Sherlock never before believed a person's life could be so irrevocably wrapped up in another's words, but as the moments pass he feels his heart begin to crack and tears start to gather.
"Don't be an idiot." John says with an affectionate smile.
He runs a hand through Sherlock's hair until he can cup the back of Sherlock's head and pull him down into a sweet, soul-searing kiss.
"So..." Sherlock says as he pulls away. "Chinese then?"
"Let me get my coat." John says with a laugh.
They walk down the street hand in hand.
As the world begins to spin one more it's almost like nothing has changed at all.