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Sherlock Holmes was certainly an eccentric man. It didn’t take more than a conversation to realise that, thus obviously, John Watson, his companion, was well-aware of that.
His flatmate has asked for some curious things in the past when it came to his investigations, therefore he was accustomed to the absurdities. John didn’t mind, as long as it was safe. Or unless Sherlock asked enough, since Watson seemed to be unable to ignore his requests. Having a soft spot was an understatement– John would do anything for Sherlock. Something he sometimes wished wasn't true.
Nevertheless, it still came to him as a surprise when Sherlock asked for John’s aid in a ‘kissing experiment’.
It was an usual day like no other in 221B Baker Street. John had arrived from attending some of his patients only to find Sherlock pacing from one side of the living room to another in rapid steps.
“What seems to be the problem?” John asked, removing his hat and leaving it by the door.
“Ah, Watson! You’re finally here,” Sherlock stopped his moving and instead focused his attention on him, yet he still seemed nervous . “I need your help with a case.”
“Of course. How can I help?”
Sherlock stuttered slightly, “I seem to have reached an impediment in my deductions. I need to prove a theory but I require an accurate recreation of the situation to validate my hypothesis.”
There was nothing new there, so far.
“Alright,” John said pensively, afraid of what was to come this time. “What do you need from me?”
“I need you to kiss me.”
If it wasn’t for the creeping blush in Sherlock’s cheeks, John would have thought he had misheard the man.
“Uh, Holmes. I don’t follow.”
“It’s simple. I need to properly trace all the actions and possibilities in the crime, and since the perpetrator was kissing the victim right before the murder I need to know how it is to have access to the information in my mind palace.”
The answer was hurried and Sherlock was pacing around again before coming to a stop in front of Watson, feigning confidence.
It's not that John never thought of kissing Sherlock before. However, he never thought Sherlock would ask that of him out of the blue. In the back of his head, John wondered if it was truly just for the experiment but quickly brushed it off his mind as to not gain false hopes. Sherlock was difficult and unpredictable. Perhaps it wasn't too out of this world to think that he indeed simply wanted to prove a theory. Nevertheless, he hoped that Sherlock only felt comfortable with him to make such request.
“Alright, then” John felt his dry throat struggle to say those two words.
Sherlock momentarily widened his eyes, as if he wasn't expecting John to accept the request so easily.
“So, I'm gathering you never kissed before?” John asked carefully but curiously.
“Of course not,” Sherlock immediately answered, as if offended that he would have done such a dreadful thing before. “I have no interest in engaging in these senseless activities with women, and the men who have tried were… creepy.”
Watson didn't need to be a genius or a master of deduction like Sherlock to know that the last part referred to Cordona and that Vogel fellow from what he had gathered through time. The stories Sherlock told him were certainly… curious.
He nodded in response, assessing the situation for a moment and the newly found information before stepping closer to Sherlock.
“...Are you sure about this, Holmes?”
John didn't want Sherlock to feel creeped out or have a bad experience if he felt uncomfortable with such things. Especially after Vogel.
Sherlock nodded, looking away, “yes, Watson”.
John took a deep breath through his nose and gently reached his hand to Sherlock's face, starting to break the remnant of space left between them. He could feel Sherlock's breath hitch and his body slightly tremble under his touch. John softly approached his lips and caressed them with his own, feeling the warmth and exploding sensations that went through his chest as he kissed his best friend.
Sherlock seemed slightly dazed when John parted away from the kiss. He didn't want to fall into an awkward silence so he asked,
“Was that what you were looking for?”
“U-uh, not–not really. I-I will need more.”
John was surprised for a moment but he quickly gave in to the idea. Sherlock wanted a proper kiss then.
He noticed Sherlock’s fidgeting and couldn’t help but notice how his own heart was pounding in his chest.
This time, John took a good moment to observe Sherlock’s beautiful face before sinking to his lips. Sherlock was inexperienced but it didn’t matter because their mouths found each other perfectly, as if they were matching pieces of a puzzle. John was gentle at first, asking permission with his tongue to part Sherlock’s lips and guide them into a dance.
He could feel the faint gasp of surprise when John held him tighter, pulling the rest of his body closer to his own. Even though Sherlock was slightly taller, it was crystal clear how John had the upper hand.
When John broke the kiss, Sherlock was breathing heavily with his face flushed. The doctor couldn't help but smile.
“Is this enough?”
Sherlock took a moment to process the question, and it only made John’s grin grow wider.
“U-uhm yes. Thank you, Watson. That'll be all for now.”
For now.
John watched Sherlock go back to his lab desk to fiddle with something and couldn't deny the warmth that took over his body. For a genius, Sherlock was quite clueless when it came to romance.
Oh, how much he loved that stupid man.