Work Text:
He arrives at the train station 20 minutes before the agreed time.
The platform is moderately full, the number of people changing according to how many get on or off the train. Knowing that he will have to wait a little longer, William approaches a boy no more than 14 years old selling newspapers, with the little French he has learned he buys one and sits on a bench, ready to keep his mind occupied in another thing while waiting for Sherlock.
They arrived at the French capital just a few days ago for work matters, work they should be focusing on at the moment to be precise, but Shelrock insisted on taking a few days to themselves. He proclaimed that lately they were doing nothing but work and that even geniuses like the two of them needed a break from time to time, adding that he knew several places that William would find interesting.
Although he protested a bit at first, he had to admit that the idea of touring Paris and thus learning more about the city first-hand was tempting, so much so that in the end he ended up giving in to Sherlock's proposal.
Sherlock. Although they are staying at the same hotel, his partner asked him to go by himself to the station since he had some business to attend to, "just make sure to be there at 12" is all he asked. He has been acting strange, more than usual, lately. Although William would be lying if he said that he didn't do so too, since they work side by side everything is different.
He and Sherlock are ... something. None of them have yet dared to name it but he is sure that the former detective has realized, like him, that their relationship is not what would commonly be defined as friendship. Even Billy tends to tease them about it, particularly he seems to enjoy teasing Sherlock, asking him things like "are you going on a date?" "when is the wedding?" and other similar comments concerning their relationship. Sherlock quickly dismisses them but William can see the slight blush settling on his cheeks and the way Sherlock looks away so he doesn't notice. But he does.
He himself cannot avoid being affected by those jokes, he is simply more skilled at hiding it, one of the few good parts of having hidden his emotions for so many years although Sherlock would scold him if he found out that he ever thought of it as something positive.
Inadvertently he has spent more than a quarter of a half hour thinking about Sherlock instead of focusing on trying to read the newspaper that he acquired, well, what could he do about it.
He's too nervous to think of anything else, which is frustrating because he shouldn't be nervous. He's been trying to convince himself that it won't be anything special since Sherlock asked him to go out together today. Because they have done it a lot of times before, a friends outing, they will go for a walk, they will eat something and they will talk, Sherlock will smile with that stupid smile that seems to be etched on his face every time they spend time together ...
Strands of long black hair catch his eye as their owner rushes to the station. He rests his hands on his knees as he catches his breath and lifts his head in search of something, someone. His blue eyes meet his own scarlet one and William swears he sees them light up when Sherlock finds him sitting a few feet from him. The final touch he needs to forget for a moment whatever he was thinking before is that smile.
- Liam! - Sherlock trots to meet him like a puppy would to his owner. The view is the most charming.
-Sherlock - William checks the time on his watch, 11:58. - That was close, I was beginning to think that you had gotten yourself lost.
Sherlock lets out a laugh. - Please, I know this city like the back of my hand... I hope I haven't kept you waiting for a long time. -His smile does not wane but his eyes show a certain guilt.
- Not at all, I arrived recently. -William hopes he's convincing enough that Sherlock doesn't notice his little lie. It seems to work because Sherlock doesn't question him about it.
As they go to their booth William takes note that Sherlock is carrying a basket but waits for them to be seated to ask him about it.
- Ah, it's just a little thing for later, I'll show you when we get there.
- Hmm and can I know exactly where you plan to take me? This morning when I asked you, you were very secretive.- He says it with a raised eyebrow and a half smile on his face.
- No, if I tell you it's not fun, besides, don't you find it intriguing? Being escorted to a mysterious place by an equally mysterious, and attractive dare I say, gentleman? -He puts his hand on his chest and with the other he ruffles his hair, smiles at him sideways. William tries not to let that make him feel anything, tries and fails.
- The "attractive" part is debatable.- It isn't, but he's not going to say that because as much as he likes to see Sherlock go speechless, he enjoys playing hard to get even more.
- Ouch, how cruel. -
They spend the short trip like this, teasing each other in a light and friendly way, or what they both consider it in their minds, flirting.
When there is little time left until they arrive at the station, Sherlock makes a questionable request.
- You take very seriously for this to be a surprise.- He looks closely at the strip of cloth Sherlock pulled from his pocket. The man in front of him looks at him pleadingly.
- I swear it will be worth it.
- Do you want to restrict what little vision I have left?- He doesn't ask it annoyed, more like a joke if that, but Sherlock still lowers his head and looks away as if he's sorry for even suggesting the idea.
- If you really don't want to then-
- I don't mind. -He clarifies quickly. He settles in to make Sherlock's job easier. - I trust you ... and I'm curious to see where this is all going.- He smiles a little to let him know that it's really okay. Sherlock hesitates a bit but ends up positioning himself behind him and securing the bandage over his eye and his patch.
Getting off the train is not as complicated as he thought, it also helps the fact that Sherlock is there to guide and hold him from time to time, something that he did not take into account could happen if he agreed to walk blinded but it is not as if it bothers him.
He listens as his friend asks for a carriage in perfect French and as soon as one stops in front of them he helps him get on it.
He is grateful that wherever Sherlock is taking him is not very far because he doesn't think he can take any more moving blindfolded. Once they get out of the carriage Sherlock puts his hands on his shoulders and tells him, too close to his ear, that he just needs to take a few more steps.
Before nodding William tries to focus on what his other senses pick up to guess where he is, he hears voices, mostly of children, also what he distinguishes as the sound of water.
- Ready?
- Of course.
He is more aware of them than he feels Sherlock's hands behind his head and soon the soft fabric loosens around his head. Once his eye is uncovered it takes a few seconds for it to adapt to the light, but when it does he needs more than that to assimilate what is around him.
Green grass that expands wherever one looks only interrupted by various trails and paths. Trees, lots of them, and some he thought he'd never see outside of books, three-spined acacias, byzantine hazelnuts, two ginkgo bilobas, a Siberian elm, and even a Lebanese cedar. Not so far from there he can see a lake and a rocky island looming in the middle of it. Different types of birds seem to coexist in the territory, apart from crows, pigeons and gulls, he can distinguish magpies, chickadees, blue tits, finches and nuthatches. He is surprised to realize that several of the birds inhabiting this place he had never seen before, not even in photos or drawings. He is so fascinated with all the unknown around him that it takes him some time to realize that there are also people here, walking, playing, drinking tea. All together in this place that seems to have been taken from a fairy tale.
- Liam
William seems to come out of his stupor, Sherlock is now in front of him, when he moved there he wonders.
- So what do you think? -William's face must have betrayed him and reveal how overwhelmed and fascinated he felt by everything because Sherlock looks at him as if he had won in a secret game that he was not aware of.
He tries to compose himself and doesn't answer the question right away, asking another question instead.
- Where ... where are we? - Sherlock's smile widens and he makes a gesture with his hand to indicate their surrondings.
- We are my very dear Liam at the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, one of the largest parks in Paris. - He lets William record the information before continuing. - I know that museums, cathedrals and those things are more of your style but we couldn't leave Paris without you visiting this place, I bet you weren't expecting this right?-- He says it sure of himself and William decides to grant him this small victory, he has earned it.
- It's ... beautiful indeed. - Beautiful falls short but if he had to name everything he finds worthy of praise he would be talking all day. His short reply seems to be enough for Sherlock to smile even more than William thought possible.
They spend most of the day touring the park with Sherlock acting as a guide. He lets him know that when he was in college he used to sneak around here when the lectures got too repetitive or boring.
- I see, so your comment about being a rebellious student was not a joke after all.
- What else could I do? I think I left that place having taught more than I learned, you can relate to that feeling too, right?
- Of course, but unlike you, I was an exemplary student.
- I didn't doubt that.
The park is huge and they soon feel exhausted so Sherlock suggests for them to take a break near the lake next to which stands a sophora tree whose branches rest on the water.
- Are you hungry? -He says so as he points to the basket he's been carrying. - How about a picnic?
The "business" Sherlock had to take care of that morning was putting together a perfect picnic basket, he made sandwiches, bought fruit, and even a few slices of cake. They eat and talk sitting on a picnic blanket, eventually there comes a time when both decide to keep quiet in order to better appreciate the landscape that surrounds them. Sherlock accommodates himself where he is sitting and William notices that for a few seconds he kept his hand on top of his, a touch that could be accidental but William knows better than that.
After a while Sherlock gets up and stretches like he's at his own house. He looks at something in the distance and William doesn't have time to figure out what because Sherlock turns to him and offers his hand.
- Will you accompany me? - William doesn't even need to answer. He takes the hand that has been offered to him and stands up. They leave their things on the grass and as they walk he wonders if Sherlock realizes that he hadn't let go of his hand.
Sherlock rents a boat, or he was going to do it before William insisted on doing it himself, it's the least he can do after all.
They row in unison with Sherlock giving him some directions, at first they go around the lake for a bit going under a bridge in the process and also getting to see some mallards swimming across the greenish surface of the water. They dock the boat on the rocky island, up close William can see that it's about 50 meters high, there is a ladder dug into the rock that takes them to the top.
The sky is no longer completely blue as it was a few hours ago, orange has been implemented and it plans to take over the sky soon. As they climb the long steps, Willaim takes note of the lack of noise, it seems that they are the only ones here, it's what he thinks when they reach the top and he verifies that there is indeed no trace of another person apart from the two of them.
On the hill's top, overlooking the rest of the park, there is a small round viewpoint, this William has read about, the Temple de la Sybille, based on the Roman Temple of Vesta in Italy. They enter the structure and from the temple they come across a devastating view of Montmartre and the white domes of the Sacre-Coeur.
If William had been astonished when he got to the park this had just taken his breath away. He moves closer to the edge of the viewpoint and rests his hand on one of the pillars.
- Sherlock this is ...
- I know. -The blonde turns to see his companion not delighting himself in the spectacular view but looking at him, as if he only needed to see William to feel happy and complete. He steps forward to lean against another pillar, casting a fleeting glance at the landscape but quickly turning it back to him. -If I'm being honest this is the real reason why I brought you here. -He points to the temple and runs one of his hands through his hair, messing it up a bit in the process.
He is nervous.
William reviews in his head the information he has about the temple, his mind goes blank when he remembers a certain legend about how kissing your partner in the middle of it would reinforce your love.
It is at this moment that William has a revelation.
This is a date.
Sherlock has taken him on a date.
How had he not noticed until now? Sure, it's not like he could have suspected it, going out together was normal for them, they did it constantly but this, this is not a friends' outing. Both the place he chose and the way he has been behaving, closer, more “touchy” than usual. Were those his attempts to take the first step?
-Look Liam I ...- he opens and closes his mouth, the confidence he presented all day flirting with him vanishes when it comes to having to open up and talk sincerely. - Agh!
He runs his hand through his hair again, this time more roughly than he should. - Why is this so difficult?! - William decides to take the initiative and approaches him. With one of his hands he forces him to loosen his grip on the strands of hair in order to prevent him from hurting himself. - Sherly, it's okay, take your time.
Sherlock looks directly at him and gives a little sigh, when William is sure that he is ready to continue he removes his hand from Sherlock's but does not move away from him.
- It's just that ... there are so many things I'd like to tell you but I have no idea how to start, I don't have much experience with feelings.
- That makes two of us. - He smiles at him and Sherlock does too.
- Ha, Liam ... you are the most important person in my life. - He stretches his arm and take his hand in his, massaging the back with his thumb. - Every day by your side is more than I could ever ask for and that's why I thought I'd be satisfied with us continuing to be the same way as long as I could just be with you ... but I want more, I'm selfish and I want to keep you by my side forever, not like a coworker or a friend ...- He hasn't stopped looking at him while he talks and that is why William can clearly see how his eyes crystallize slightly. The blond barely dares to breathe, he wouldn't dare interrupt Sherlock. Finally, after what seems like minutes instead of seconds, Sherlock confesses what he already knew he would say, but that doesn't make his words have less weight for him.
- I love you Liam, more than you can imagine.
William had rehearsed what to say in this situation more times than he cares to admit, and yet now he himself can't think of a single thing he could say to Sherlock. So he decides to be daring and raises his hands to take Sherlock's face between them. Before he can open his mouth to speak he stamps his lips against those of his beloved, Sherlock is quick to reciprocate.
It is as if the world had stopped, there is neither time nor space, only this small viewpoint on top of an island and the two people in the middle of it, kissing slowly and sweetly, without rushing because they know that nobody here will bother them as they explore every corner of each other's mouths for the first time.
When unfortunately they have to separate for air, it is Sherlock who takes the initiative and kisses him again. They repeat it several times but soon William finds it necessary to stop for a moment to give him a proper answer.
- Me too. - Another kiss. - I love you too and I want us to be together, for as long as possible because I swear here and now Sherlock that I have loved you, I love you and I will love you until the end of time.
He ends the sentence with one last peck and Sherlock smiles against his lips.
- Perfect because I don't plan on letting you go after I finally managed to catch you.
William smiles the same way. Because he would never run away.