Sherlock Remix: Armistice
My pinch-hit for the wonderful mr_x_indeed . I wish I'd been able to give it as much attention as it deserved...
Original Author: mr_x_indeed
Original Story Title: Peace Offering
Original Story Link: Peace Offering
Original Story Pairings, if any: Gen
Original Story Rating: G
Original Story Warnings, if any: None
Remix Story Pairings, if any: Gen
Remix Story Rating: PG
Remix Story Warnings, if any: Brief, in passing mention of drug use.
Remix Story Beta: humantales
Remix Story Britpicker, if any: grassle
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Sherlock hadn’t touched the Stradivarius for almost four years. Not since the day Mycroft had tried to kidnap him and force him into rehab. He hadn’t spoken to Mycroft in almost as long - Christmas had been very upsetting to Mummy as a result. He fell off the grid, used more than ever, put himself in stupid and reckless situations just because he could.
He eventually got himself cleaned up, without his brother’s interference, but the damage was done. Sherlock and Mycroft were at war.
Sherlock had been prepared to forego the use of the best instrument he had ever had the privilege to hold indefinitely in order to spite his brother.
Until Mycroft had John kidnapped, and instead of driving the man off, he encouraged him to stay. In a way that was understandable only to Sherlock, Mycroft had tried to ensure the first man who had ever found Sherlock more than tolerable stayed with him.
Even more extraordinary, following the incident with the cabbie, Mycroft had come in person. Outside forced family interaction, it was the first time Sherlock had seen his brother face-to-face for almost two years. Mycroft spoke first - he always did. Sherlock was planning on ignoring him, as he always did, though he did plan on making eye contact. That was before he saw the umbrella hanging from his brother’s elbow. Not just any umbrella, but the one that Sherlock had put the most time and effort into procuring.
Two days later, Sherlock bribed his way onto Mycroft’s estate again. It was the best way to deliver the peace offering and had the added benefit of forcing Mycroft to change his staff again. It was only a matter of time before someone with more sinister motivations bribed Mycroft’s cook to give him something less innocent than an embroidered silk tie.
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To Sherlock’s disappointment, the explosion across the street wasn't anything of interest. Still, Sherlock didn't doubt Mycroft would be sticking his abnormally large nose into his life at some point in the near future as a result.
When the unmarked black car pulled up at the kerb, Sherlock knew at once who it was. When Mycroft exited the vehicle, Sherlock studied the unexpected image with mild surprise. Mycroft's tie and handkerchief always matched. Today, the fabric protruding from his pocket was clearly red, while his tie was grey.
Sherlock didn't need to be able to see it to know what it was. A white flag - a call for negotiation.
Mycroft would understand. Mycroft always understood - it was one of the things Sherlock had missed. The tie had been the first overture towards peace. Sherlock's retrieval of the Stradivarius was something else entirely.
John might have thought that Sherlock's tuning was designed to irritate Mycroft, to show him how little of his attention he held. John would have been wrong, as he so typically was.
The conflict was far from over. This was not a surrender. Merely an agreement to temporarily cease hostilities - an armistice.
John might have been correct in his assumption that Sherlock's discordant, unmelodious bowing was to drive his brother from the room. Sherlock was a younger brother, after all.
Original Author: mr_x_indeed
Original Story Title: Peace Offering
Original Story Link: Peace Offering
Original Story Pairings, if any: Gen
Original Story Rating: G
Original Story Warnings, if any: None
Remix Story Pairings, if any: Gen
Remix Story Rating: PG
Remix Story Warnings, if any: Brief, in passing mention of drug use.
Remix Story Beta: humantales
Remix Story Britpicker, if any: grassle
--------------------------------------------------------------
Sherlock hadn’t touched the Stradivarius for almost four years. Not since the day Mycroft had tried to kidnap him and force him into rehab. He hadn’t spoken to Mycroft in almost as long - Christmas had been very upsetting to Mummy as a result. He fell off the grid, used more than ever, put himself in stupid and reckless situations just because he could.
He eventually got himself cleaned up, without his brother’s interference, but the damage was done. Sherlock and Mycroft were at war.
Sherlock had been prepared to forego the use of the best instrument he had ever had the privilege to hold indefinitely in order to spite his brother.
Until Mycroft had John kidnapped, and instead of driving the man off, he encouraged him to stay. In a way that was understandable only to Sherlock, Mycroft had tried to ensure the first man who had ever found Sherlock more than tolerable stayed with him.
Even more extraordinary, following the incident with the cabbie, Mycroft had come in person. Outside forced family interaction, it was the first time Sherlock had seen his brother face-to-face for almost two years. Mycroft spoke first - he always did. Sherlock was planning on ignoring him, as he always did, though he did plan on making eye contact. That was before he saw the umbrella hanging from his brother’s elbow. Not just any umbrella, but the one that Sherlock had put the most time and effort into procuring.
Two days later, Sherlock bribed his way onto Mycroft’s estate again. It was the best way to deliver the peace offering and had the added benefit of forcing Mycroft to change his staff again. It was only a matter of time before someone with more sinister motivations bribed Mycroft’s cook to give him something less innocent than an embroidered silk tie.
-----------------------------
To Sherlock’s disappointment, the explosion across the street wasn't anything of interest. Still, Sherlock didn't doubt Mycroft would be sticking his abnormally large nose into his life at some point in the near future as a result.
When the unmarked black car pulled up at the kerb, Sherlock knew at once who it was. When Mycroft exited the vehicle, Sherlock studied the unexpected image with mild surprise. Mycroft's tie and handkerchief always matched. Today, the fabric protruding from his pocket was clearly red, while his tie was grey.
Sherlock didn't need to be able to see it to know what it was. A white flag - a call for negotiation.
Mycroft would understand. Mycroft always understood - it was one of the things Sherlock had missed. The tie had been the first overture towards peace. Sherlock's retrieval of the Stradivarius was something else entirely.
John might have thought that Sherlock's tuning was designed to irritate Mycroft, to show him how little of his attention he held. John would have been wrong, as he so typically was.
The conflict was far from over. This was not a surrender. Merely an agreement to temporarily cease hostilities - an armistice.
John might have been correct in his assumption that Sherlock's discordant, unmelodious bowing was to drive his brother from the room. Sherlock was a younger brother, after all.