Prompting Part XXXV

[sherlockbbc_fic]

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Comments

Threesome fail reveals lack of trust

[(Anonymous)]

John and Mary invite Sherlock to join them in a threesome. Sherlock isn't very comfortable with the idea, but he agrees because John wants it and he knows that it's his only chance to be with John. The problem is that sex does alarm Sherlock, and he's only able to be intimate with people he trusts 100%. John qualifies, of course, but Mary, the person who shot him in cold blood? Sherlock had stifled all feelings of distrust towards her for John's sake, but once they're all naked in bed and Sherlock's terrified, it all comes pouring out. Sherlock has a bad panic attack and John has to try to calm him down.

Re: Threesome fail reveals lack of trust

[(Anonymous)]

Oooooh. This. Yes. I will do this.
Thank you OP.

Re: Threesome fail reveals lack of trust

[(Anonymous)]

Hey OP? Rather than an outward panic attack, would you be OK with an inward mindpalace retreat...more of a catatonic state, that John picks up on and has to bring him out of? Could do either one though, if you have a preference.

Re: Threesome fail reveals lack of trust

[(Anonymous)]

OP -
I am so excited you are filling this! Thank you!
A mindpalace retreat would be absolutely fine, as long as John picks up on it.

Re: Threesome fail reveals lack of trust

[(Anonymous)]

Great! Oh, he definitely will.
And, I'm not sure how to ask this part delicately, so I'll be blunt. I am not a big Mary fan. I mean, I like her fine as a character, but I do see her in a villainish light. I can write her either way, though, with Sherlock trusting her, but not 100% like he needs to in order be this vulnerable... or as Sherlock *never* trusting her, but seeing this as his one chance to get this close to John who he knows loves her, and thinking he can just deal with Mary being there (because he never really gave thought to just how vulnerable he would be in this situation due to his more limited sexual experience). What is closer to what you would like (or maybe you would like something else entirely ?) Mary is a tricky one...so many strong feelings about her in fandom.

Re: Threesome fail reveals lack of trust

[(Anonymous)]

Authoranon continues:
How you see her will have a lot to do with how she will react when Sherlock has his panic attack/mind palace retreat. I just want you to like it! Good Guy Mary is gonna be way different than Bad Guy Mary...though the sexytimes will probably be pretty similar.

Re: Threesome fail reveals lack of trust

[(Anonymous)]

OP - I honestly don't know about Mary. I don't like it when she's completely villanised, but I also don't think her actions are excusable. I think Sherlock trusts her not to hurt John, and I don't want him to be wrong about that. I don't think Mary is completely heartless and in my headcanon she really wants to be the person she presents herself as in TEH and TSoT, but she's not able to do it. She loves John in her way, so Sherlock trusts her as far as John is concerned, but not really in any other respect. I don't think he would encourage John to stay with her if he thought there was the tiniest possibility she could hurt him.

Did that make any sense? In any case, you don't have to stick to it. Write what works for you, I'll be happy for any kind of fill!

Re: Threesome fail reveals lack of trust

[(Anonymous)]

OP again - Maybe I should add that I'd prefer if it didn't end with the three of them working out the issues and actually going through with the threesome. I'd love a Johnlock ending, but them agreeing that threesomes are a bad idea and John staying with Mary or something along those lines would be okay too.

Re: Threesome fail reveals lack of trust

[(Anonymous)]

NA can't wait to read this, whichever way you choose to write it! Vigorously pressing the F5 key.

Re: Threesome fail reveals lack of trust

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks! I will be writing something for sure!

FILL 1/? Three (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

"What?"

"No, hear me out, John. He's terribly lonely. Wouldn't you do this for him?"

"Believe me, Mary, it's not his area."

"I don't know about that. Everyone has needs, John. He is just so terribly repressed, probably could just use a little confidence, be drawn out a bit. Janine used to tell me how he was always rather hesitant. As if he wanted to, but just couldn't."

"Janine, talked to you about this?"

"Girls actually talk about their feelings, John. If only the boys would too, instead of running around London chasing bad guys with their masks on, like emotionally constipated superheroes..."

"All right, all right, enough of that..." He gave her a quick, soft kiss.

"Maybe it's a medical issue, do you think? Maybe he's embarrassed and just won't talk about it and you could help. Maybe he would be comfortable just kind of... observing a bit." She giggled."That might be his thing. I bet he could tell exactly what someone would like."

John left the bed to brush his teeth, while Mary continued.

"I've seen the way he watches you, you know. And besides, aren't you the least bit... curious about him? He seems so shy, but at the same time he seems like he'd have no inhibitions."

John spat into the sink. "You're really interested in this."

"Well, I wouldn't mind having two attractive men sharing my bed, no. Why don't you sleep on it?"

"He's going to look you up and down like a dodgy piece of fish, and then he's going to say no, and throw every insult in the rather huge book at you. You want to ask him? Go ahead. I'm positive he's not going to do it."

FILL 1/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

"What?"

"No, hear me out, John. He's terribly lonely. Wouldn't you do this for him?"

"Believe me, Mary, it's not his area."

"I don't know about that. Everyone has needs, John. He is just so terribly repressed, probably could just use a little confidence, be drawn out a bit. Janine used to tell me how he was always rather hesitant. As if he wanted to, but just couldn't."

"Janine, talked to you about this?"

"Girls actually talk about their feelings, John. If only the boys would too, instead of running around London chasing bad guys with their masks on, like emotionally constipated superheroes..."

"All right, all right, enough of that..." He gave her a soft kiss.

"Maybe it's a medical issue, do you think? Maybe he's embarrassed and just won't talk about it and you could help. Maybe he would be comfortable just kind of... observing a bit." She giggled."That might be his thing. I bet he could tell exactly what someone would like."

John left the bed to brush his teeth, while Mary continued.

"I've seen the way he watches you, you know. And besides, aren't you the least bit... curious about him? He seems so shy, but at the same time he seems like he'd have no inhibitions."

John spat into the sink. "You're really interested in this."

"Well, I wouldn't mind having two attractive men sharing my bed, no. Why don't you sleep on it?"

"He's going to look you up and down like a dodgy piece of fish, and then he's going to say no, and throw every insult in the rather huge book at you. You want to ask him? Go ahead. I'm positive he's not going to do it."

FILL 2/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

"Mary. How can I help you?"

Sherlock braced himself. Mary at 221B without John. This did not bode well for anyone. For him especially. Any time he and Mary have been alone, it was in the context of intimidation. Not that he expected her to do that anymore, of course. Magnussen had been, dealt with. The threat removed. Mary should be safe as houses. But still, something in his gut clenched seeing her like this, alone.

"Sherlock, at our wedding, on the dance floor... well, there are limits to what we can do in public, but there are no limits to what we can do in private. I know you are interested. Care to join us? Tonight?"

"You've already spoken to John?... of course you have. And he wouldn't ask me himself."

"He's afraid you'd say no. I said I'd ask for us. And your answer?"

****

Sherlock paced the room, furious at himself. So fucking selfish.

He'd sorted through half-a-dozen scenarios before answering, from this as Mary's preemptive strike against John's probable bisexuality to Mary being sexually attracted to him and trying to arrange a way that wouldn't qualify as 'cheating', and none of them seemed to fit. A reconciliation gift? I'm sorry I killed you, let's have make up sex?

The thing was, it didn't even matter. Barely three seconds and you'd said yes, Sherlock. Have you no shame? Have you no pride?

It couldn't have been John's idea, could it? No, John would never think he was interested, yet, Mary knew he would be. Mary knew about his feelings for John. Well, if there was any possible way she didn't know, she knew now.

Re: FILL 2/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

*OP flails*

Great start! I can't wait to see how it goes.

Re: FILL 2/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

Hey OP! Authoranon here! So glad you like it so far. Should have more Sherlock POV establishing his feelings about John up later today/tonight.

FILL 3/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

John was loyal to a fault. He would never consider sleeping with him while married to Mary. There had been a brief bit of drunken flirtation before the wedding, but that was a disaster. Sherlock hadn't held his liquor worth a damn and ended up hurling on the carpet at a crime scene. No, he would be relegated to the role of best friend, which was more than he deserved, and he wasn't entirely sure he could handle even that. John didn't come on cases much anymore. More hours at the clinic to provide for his wife and daughter. Wife. And daughter. What on earth was he thinking? Of course she would win. Of course. Even if he was a serious candidate for John's affection, she would win. He had been given a chance. John had wanted him once. Had thought about it, at least. And he had gone and fucked it up beyond repair. His time had passed, and the only thing left to do was take a back seat and whatever scraps Mary Watson was willing to let fall his way. What was truly pathetic was he still wanted them. Even if that meant dealing with Mary.

She wasn't unpleasant, really. She was intelligent, and certainly wasn't boring, which was pretty much all he would ever see of value in any woman. John made a good choice. Even when you factor in that she tried to kill me. Well, I say tried. Sherlock's personal jury was still out on whether she had done a bad job at killing him, or a good job (given an exceptional amount of luck) at not killing him. Likely, she didn't care either way, so long as he wasn't talking...intimidation or being six feet under worked equally well. Yes, she could have shot him in the head straightaway, but that would have just sent John running off into the night after the mystery assailant. Or maybe he would have just kneeled by his dead body, head blown to pieces, and grieved... again. Sherlock collapsed onto the sofa. But he had talked, hadn't he? In a manner of speaking. He didn't tell John, he had merely led John to a place where he could hear Mary explain it herself. The beauty of semantics. Keeps you honest.

FILL 4/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

{trying to cover a lot of his feelings about the shooting and why he doesn't trust her without being to 'meta-y', or unnecessarily negative towards Mary (since you don't like her portrayed as a villain), but I still want him to have good reasons not to trust her. Good enough for John to leave later when he understands. Apologies if I get some of this wrong. Working with Mary is, difficult. Going for not super evil, but super selfish, I guess? Assassin-cold but can't really help it? I dunno. I will redo it if it's not how you want. LMK please. }


He hadn't scrutinized her before. How could he? John would dismiss it as petty jealously over the occupation of his time, or just his typical rudeness. He had tried to spare Molly unwanted pain once, by telling her the truth about Jim (oh God, Jim, was he ever short-sighted and dismissive of him!) and John had told him, plain and simple... some people prefer to live with a lie.

Truth was all Sherlock had. It was his sole purpose, to serve truth in all forms, no matter how rude, how blunt, how damning to those around him. And John was waiting. Waiting for Sherlock to dish out the truth and make his world crumble. But how could he claim to expose lies when he had lived one for two years? His actions had always been dictated by the most logical course. The best possible outcome. But the best of intentions, backed up by the most impeccable logic, didn't make John's pain disappear... and he was at a complete loss on how to repair the damage. Even if John had know several Slavic languages instead of just weak Pashto (even Sherlock had struggled in Ü-Tsang with only limited Mandarin), he couldn't have gone with him. And he knew John wasn't a skilled liar. His attempt to convince him Irene was in the witness protection program was laughable. It's one of the things I love about him the most. He's not like me.

So the next big lie was a bit easier...that she tried to save him by calling an ambulance. The caller was really Magnussen's security guard, who saw Janine on the floor and called seconds before getting knocked out himself. It hurt, to watch John believe him. But just like Mary, when she pulled the trigger, Sherlock needed to buy some time. He needed things to stay as they were until he could figure out what the root of the problem was, and how to eliminate it.

All this time, he thought the gamble was in staying alive until he could get back home. He never once thought about losing John to a woman. Because he never thought about things like that before. Women. Men. Anyone really. It wasn't even difficult, shutting them out. They had no intrinsic appeal. But somehow John Watson did. Why? How? It didn't matter. What mattered is he knew the only person he ever truly loved belonged to someone else.

Everyone's life was a lie. All lies were disguised pain. From Redbeard "running away" when he'd really gotten hit by a lorry to him telling himself he'd be fine without John Watson. And now, he was being given the chance to have him, in whatever limited capacity. If he were a stronger man, he would have said no.

Re: FILL 4/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

Authoranon
BTW, this is the kinda bad... not good and not horribly bad... version of Mary, my middle ground, so to speak. Bad Mary I'll probably stick on my AO3 ( where neither Sherlock nor John trust her and they want her out of the picture). Then Good Mary ( where she just panicked and did call the ambulance and so on...).

Re: FILL 4/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

OP- I realise now I probably wasn't very clear before: I don't mind when she's portrayed as a villain, I just don't like when everything she's ever done ever is given a villainous motive and her characterisation is basically reduced to "evil". I think she's more complex than that. In any case, "super selfish but not super evil" works pretty well for me, and I'm enjoying this.

(Also please please please don't worry about writing something I don't like. I just made a prompt and it's up to you where you take it. Plus, I'm pretty sure I will like it :) <3)

Re: FILL 4/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

Loving this; can't wait for more!

Re: FILL 4/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

Authoranon:
Yay! I hope to get into John's head today or tomorrow.

FILL 5/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

John couldn't believe it. Sherlock had actually said yes. Irene, Molly, and apparently Janine had practically thrown themselves at him and he had refused. Not that I blame them, who wouldn't want to at least try? And there it was again. He was finding himself thinking about Sherlock more and more. When he was dead, he had buried all those feelings along with him, but now that he was alive again, the feelings seemed to go through a similar resurrection. Married, with an infant daughter, and finding himself helplessly attracted to his ex-flatmate. Wonderful. And now, his wife was playing around with it.

He had tried to do the right thing, tried to suppress whatever feelings he might have allowed to develop, before things got out of hand, but... why this? Why now? Was this some sort of test? Or was it more like an open acknowledgment? When Mary was reading the blog entries he had written and rewritten, and rewritten again, in an attempt to remove any traces in his writing about Sherlock's eyes, or his hands, or his wiry strength, or the thousand other hints someone might pick up on, it had made him cringe. It had made her grin. He recently reread his original entry...the one about the "charming madman". Thousands of people had read that blog, and now he knew it for what it was...a record of his instant infatuation with a man who he would later deem an asexual sociopath. By the time he realized that Sherlock wasn't either of those things, he was dead. And then he wasn't. ( And then he wondered if he was mistaken, and he was, in fact, both of those things after all.)

He had grieved, so very much. He had grieved not just for Sherlock, but again for every man in the battlefield he couldn't save, and the ones who made it home only to find it a cold, lonely and empty place and took themselves out of this world. If not for the anger he constantly felt at the people who called Sherlock a fraud and him the fool who still believed in him, he likely would have taken himself out, too. Anger was the only emotion he felt, and it was strong enough to sustain him. But then came Mary. Mary, who had brought him out of the worst depression since he had returned from the war. She was vivacious, daring, and it made him feel alive. I moved on. I made my choice. I chose Mary.

FILL 6/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

Sherlock 'Married To My Work' Holmes wasn't supposed to want this sort of thing. There must be a hidden agenda. With Sherlock, there's always one. Hadn't he had enough of that yet? You let your guard down, give, and wait for them to give back... to return one bit of emotion, and it doesn't happen. It wasn't new to him, loving someone who wasn't capable of loving back. It wasn't new to Harry either. His family was full of people who you could pour your soul out to while they were busy waiting to pour themselves a glass of something, and you were left with someone who was only able to give you tattered remnants of their self. He didn't want pieces of Harry anymore, just like he didn't want pieces of his father. He let them go. No, this wasn't any romantic gesture, not by a long shot. Sherlock is doing this for some covert analysis. What better time to study someone with their guard down then when they are naked in bed. He wasn't sure if Sherlock was about to analyse Mary, him or both of them.

It certainly wasn't the first time Sherlock had feigned a relationship for information. He'd complement Molly to get body parts and, revolting as that was on several levels, it wasn't the end of it. He'd dated Janine just to get access to Magnussen's office. He'd proposed. He had no idea he hadn't actually gone very far with her. Maybe Janine was lying to Mary because she..I don't know...the articles in the rag don't sound like Sherlock, but who is Sherlock anyway? Bloody mysterious with his turned up collar and cheekbones and damn it all, why do I have to fall for bloody psychopaths? Maybe Molly and I should start a club.

Once, he had actually thought that it was all an act with Sherlock. Some sort of self-protective shell. That the man was a goddamned sea urchin with ridiculously pointy spikes all over him and a tender, gooey middle. But then he went and jumped off a bloody roof and nothing for two years only to show up like it was the biggest joke in the world. He even had a fake mustache on, a joke disguise for Christ's sake. Then the train, and of course he would immediately forgive the bloody bastard and he hated himself for it. And every time, every single time he thought there was something real there...well. Janine had been the latest. At first he was shocked that Sherlock would have gotten himself a girlfriend without even mentioning her... that he was so far out of the loop... but then, well wasn't that typical. It was fake. All his feelings are fake, aren't they? There's a difference between not showing them and not having them.

Re: FILL 2/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

God, this is already amazing.

Re: FILL 2/? "Three" (Threesome fail)

[(Anonymous)]

Oh Nonnie, thank you so very much!