Break His Fingers, He Won't Play the Piano No More (3/?)tawabidsMay 28 2011, 13:00:12 UTC
He throws himself into his work with a vigour that surprises his subordinates. He wants to be distracted, but it is not enough. His mind continues to dwell on that dank basement, on the harsh light of a bare bulb, on the sound his palm made as it connected with John’s cheek
( ... )
Break His Fingers, He Won't Play the Piano No More (9/?)tawabidsJune 2 2011, 04:23:46 UTC
Haha, so, full disclosure time: I actually meant Part 8 to be the last in this fic, but I left in such a hurry that I forgot to mention that, and since everybody has asked for more I have put together a new ending as best I can. It may be a bit disjointed from the rest, however, but thank you for reading this far anyway! I appreciate all the comments.That winter, John gets off the crutches and returns to work at the local hospital. Mycroft keeps track of his movements with as much subtlety as he can manage, though frankly, it isn’t like John is stupid enough to think he won’t be watching. Mycroft is there when John’s sleeping patterns finally return to a healthy rhythm. Mycroft is there when John starts dating that nice Sarah woman again. Mycroft is there when John calls an ambulance because Mrs Hudson has had a fall (she fractures the bad hip, but is out of hospital in a few days). Mycroft is there when John makes friends with the two middle-aged women who live next door and who absolutely dote on him from then on
( ... )
Break His Fingers, He Won't Play the Piano No More (10/11)tawabidsJune 2 2011, 04:26:11 UTC
Mycroft heads to Cyprus quietly (private jets are for celebrities) and finds John in a blue-sheeted hospital bed in a humid room with coral-coloured, plaster walls. He was fished out of the ocean by a local tour guide, who drove his boat close to the pier to give his customers the best show in their whole vacation
( ... )
Break His Fingers, He Won't Play the Piano No More (11/11)tawabidsJune 2 2011, 04:29:10 UTC
John brings his knees up and rests his forearms on them. He is looking into Mycroft, and for the first time Mycroft isn’t sure what he’s thinking. He knows that John must have spent much of his life wearing identities as interchangeable as paper masks, but some part of him had assumed that the mask he wore for Sherlock was a match for his true face, since it was Sherlock who gained his true loyalty. Now he is not so sure.
“Well?” Mycroft asks. “What do you say?”
“Can you really trust me?” John asks, bumping his chin against his folded arms. “I mean, really? Or do you just really want to trust me?”
Mycroft isn’t sure of that either. But he remembers the sensation of slapping John’s face in the basement of the Baking House. He was so angry then, and it had been so necessary. Now when he thinks of it, he feels the slap against his own face. Maybe it is possible to hold a grudge even when you know your enemy was only acting rationally. Maybe, conversely, it is possible for love to cloud your judgement, even when you are Mycroft Holmes
( ... )
Re: Break His Fingers, He Won't Play the Piano No More (11/11)tawabidsJune 2 2011, 11:47:50 UTC
Really wonderful fic :D
(Though I'm so conflicted about whether I want to slash this Mycroft and John in my head or not. On one hand, they had amazing chemistry in this last chapter, on the other hand Mycroft took things way too far previously. I'm so confused)
Re: Break His Fingers, He Won't Play the Piano No More (11/11)tawabidsJune 2 2011, 12:06:43 UTC
Then my job here is done :D but seriously, I actually really like this pairing after doing this fill. There was just no way it was ever going to be roses and kittens after how they started out.
Re: Break His Fingers, He Won't Play the Piano No More (11/11)tawabidsJune 3 2011, 23:35:55 UTC
Thank you very much! Yes, if I'd had all the time in the world I would have done a lot more with Anthea, I'm glad that made such an impression :)
When I started this thing I was like "How the hell am I EVER going to turn this into love?", it was such a fun challenge to puzzle out. Good to know you think it worked!
Re: Break His Fingers, He Won't Play the Piano No More (11/11)tawabidsJune 10 2011, 06:59:13 UTC
Wow. That's one of the most interesting things I've read lately. Strange and fascinating. I think your Mycroft is brilliant, and just the kind of half-scary, half-awkward character that's in my head.
Re: Break His Fingers, He Won't Play the Piano No More (11/11)mamishkaJune 28 2011, 05:30:56 UTC
Personally, if I were John, I would still be planning on how to kill/hurt/maim Mycroft just as much as humanly possible. The only reason he can't be on the front lines is because of Mycroft, after all.
This is very intense and gripping, but I can't say that I don't hope for John to make Mycroft love him beyond life itself and then abandon him utterly and completely or somehow otherwise destroy him. But then I'm a bitch who holds grudges for FAR less than what My put John through. Grrrrrr-rrrr! ;)
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“Well?” Mycroft asks. “What do you say?”
“Can you really trust me?” John asks, bumping his chin against his folded arms. “I mean, really? Or do you just really want to trust me?”
Mycroft isn’t sure of that either. But he remembers the sensation of slapping John’s face in the basement of the Baking House. He was so angry then, and it had been so necessary. Now when he thinks of it, he feels the slap against his own face. Maybe it is possible to hold a grudge even when you know your enemy was only acting rationally. Maybe, conversely, it is possible for love to cloud your judgement, even when you are Mycroft Holmes ( ... )
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(Though I'm so conflicted about whether I want to slash this Mycroft and John in my head or not. On one hand, they had amazing chemistry in this last chapter, on the other hand Mycroft took things way too far previously. I'm so confused)
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You know what really gets to me (aside from the main story line)? How Mycroft misses Anthea. No one else can really do what she does.
Of course, Mycroft is in love with John. How could he not be? A strange case of Stockholm syndrome in reverse.
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When I started this thing I was like "How the hell am I EVER going to turn this into love?", it was such a fun challenge to puzzle out. Good to know you think it worked!
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This is very intense and gripping, but I can't say that I don't hope for John to make Mycroft love him beyond life itself and then abandon him utterly and completely or somehow otherwise destroy him. But then I'm a bitch who holds grudges for FAR less than what My put John through. Grrrrrr-rrrr! ;)
Still reading though, so congrats! ;)
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