wewillstartwiththeridingcrop:
Sherlock rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t offering you my crown nor the opportunity to enter my abode, the place that is my sanctum and physical mind palace, without good cause. I think you are promising but just how far your talents go I wish to see for myself. We have established that the media is not an ideal source of information so I am hardly going to take their word on your abilities. Still, you appear to have tackled a very large number of cases and retain a good track record, you can hardly blame me for being at least a little intrigued. The people I surround myself with such as John, Lestrade and Molly Hooper are nowhere near being on my level intellectually. I am rather fond of them but they do not understand me. My brother is the only one in my circle of associates who can match me. Imagine my surprise when the very same youth that I singled out becuase I thought I could easily force information out of in a quick and concise manner turns out to be someone who notices the same level of detail a I do in the world around me. It was like Christmas. I only hope you turn out to be quite the present for me and not simply something that looks flashy but is bland and useless underneath the fancy exterior.”
Abruptly turning his head in Jame’s direction, the consulting detective’s expression appeared confused and a little incredulous. “What on Earth makes you think I am eager for company? I thought you knew all about me. I don’t need anyone else. My problem with the world is the people in it so I have no reason to encourage any more of them into my world than it absolutely necessary for my job. Most of my clients are boring individuals with boring cases such as lost spouses, the woes of their partner having an affair or paranoid morons thinking they are being followed. It is all rather dull. I am eager for intelligent company which I suppose rules you out too junior.” Sherlock stated with a teasing smirk. “Have you learned how to adequately use punctuation in a sentence yet or hasn’t your Japanese/English education got that far yet? I would hate to think you are skiving school to tag along with me. I’d prefer to not be coerced into being your guardian.”
”Oh I know you are as obnoxious as I alluded to. You seem to travel from place to place in order to reaffirm to yourself that you are worthy of something, be it as a public detective figure or simply as a person. You enjoy being in the spotlight and receiving praise for your work because deep down I get the feeling you are insecure and need to be reminded that at least someone out there admires you and your skills. Your name is very interesting, Mr Hakuba. It possesses definitive references to both England and Japan. Perhaps you feel like you are not quite a part of either and simply linger in between?” Sherlock came to a halt and met the young detective’s gaze. “I understand you and why you would want to be so successful.”
Hakuba listened to the older, so much older detective prattle on about this and that, enjoying every syllable; every morsel of wit and deduction, sarcasm and irritation, playful reiteration and snatch of theme. It was incredible. And when Sherlock stopped, so did Hakuba, blinking at him almost helplessly for a moment when all was said and done.
“Why, Mr. Holmes…” the blond said at first, giving himself a moment to finish collecting his thoughts. “I’m astonished. Only-” Hakuba glanced down at his wrist watch, then quickly fished out the silver pocket watch to verify the time before looking back to the man. “-nineteen minutes, thirty-seven seconds together, and you’re flirting with me.”
He laughed, and the light-hearted air of it, coupled with the bitten-lipped smile that came with it, meant nothing more than the most amused and harmless of teases.
“Surely, my charms can’t be that effective. No, no; I believe that you’re right: I have a great need to prove myself and I will. You needn’t worry about your abrasive attitude, Mr. Holmes… I see right through your clever ruse and understand that in insulting me within the same breath as your compliments, you’re only attempting to keep me humble, which I appreciate. This tactic may work on those with less conviction, but I will not be so easily discouraged from my goals.”
“But mark my words, Mr. Holmes… I may be half-Japanese by blood, but England is my home, and I belong in London if anywhere at all in this god-forsaken world. I shall be your present if given fair opportunity. We’ll find your man on the security footage, I’ll accompany you on a merry chase, and then you’ll simply have to have me drop by Baker Street for tea, if for no other reason than to have me explain who it is that I’m after, as I’m certain some part of you is curious, now that you know precisely who I am.”
