Chapter Text
You’ve seen this sight more than you like. Surrounded in darkness. A pool of red forms beneath your feet, hands grasping at your ankles, nails biting into your skin, leaving marks. Red started dripping from the top, painting you red. Breathing was hard, it was suffocating but you do not scramble for air. This was your punishment. A face of anguish was forming in front of you but -
Beep beep.
“Hah hah haaaah,” you sat up while grasping at your chest with your jaw tightening. It wasn’t the most pleasant rest you had but it was sleep nonetheless. Moving to a new place probably had a part to play or maybe the nerves of working at a new location or both. Granted it had already been a week since you moved, and it wasn’t the best place nor was it the worst either. The only complaint you had was the random bangs coming from the block beside. The dream you had ruined your stomach for any breakfast you had planned therefore settling on a fresh brew of earl grey in your Thermo flask to get through the day. Not only that but your alarm clock wasn’t alarming enough as you had awoken 30 minutes late. Donning an olive green pantsuit with a black turtleneck underneath and a pair of black boots, you grabbed whatever was necessary and stuffed it into your bag before locking the door behind you and sprinting to hail the nearest cab.
As you were walking up to the building with numerous translucent windows, “a very good morning to you, y/n.”
“Good morning, you’re early for once.”
“Well, I can’t be leaving a bad first impression.”
“Mm,” you smirked at Alan, a co-worker of yours who, along with a few others, chose to move with you.
Your new position was at Scotland Yard as the new Detective Inspector. Due to the shortage of workforce, you were able to get the position here quickly as well as bring along co-workers of yours who were, for some reason, extremely loyal to the team. Usually, this would not have been possible but since your team had an outstanding track record, coupled with the manpower issue, it was allowed.
The first week here was relatively mundane, just paperwork as well as getting to know your colleagues. The cases here were not much different from where you were just more in quantity. You were grateful though that your team could get along quite well with DI Lestrade’s team, as yours had quite the character. By the end of the month, you’ve gotten close enough with them that you were all on a first-name basis. You would like to attribute it to good synergy but truthfully, a few nights and alcohol can never go wrong.
“Hey, we have 2 cases. Which one does your team want?”
You took the stack of papers and gave it a brief look, “I’ll take the murdered couple.”
“Oh? I would’ve thought you wanted the other one.”
“It is interesting but I would not want a man I don’t know interfering. He sounds like a handful.”
Greg gave a resigned nod while you gave small smile before both teams took off.
“Good afternoon ma’am.”
“Afternoon.”
The flat you arrived in was dark and humid. A foul smell was spread throughout the area and you had to wonder how it went so long before it was reported. Beyond the yellow tape in the unit was a middle-aged woman who was shot in the head on her single sofa while the slightly older man was lying face down with a blood pool near his neck, caused most likely by a clean slit.
Your team got to collect information in the apartment while you observed the surroundings more closely. While standing beside the entrance your eyes were closed while you tried to visualise how the murderer would’ve gone about this act. With the limited information you had, the character was someone who had free reign to the unit, likely a relative, someone who had a vendetta yet could not bear to see a woman suffer, thus a fast kill. So most likely-
“I wouldn’t have thought the new addition was so relaxed to sleep on the job. A good thing I came here really. You should be honoured.”
You were interrupted by a low voice and couldn’t help but crack your eyes open to see a lanky male with dark curly locks beside you, eyes scrutinizing you from up to down.
“A simple case to solve but what about you? Coloured contact lens, some make-up, and fairly fashionable but slightly loose-fitting, you’re put together, like to impress and slightly confident. The single golden bangle on your wrist, while the other accessories are silver, suggests that you’re in a committed relationship yet not official. Closed eyes and standing off to the side, trying to think about what has happened but probably to no avail, also-”
Amused, “you must be Sherlock Holmes, nice to finally meet you. If I knew you were going to be involved, either way, I would’ve taken the other case.”
“Sherlock! You can’t just say that to someone you just met. I apologise for his behaviour. John Watson.”
“You’re not surprised. Hmm.”
“Ah, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr Watson. Well, Sherlock, there isn’t a reason to be. I appreciate your deduction of me although you are only partially correct. On another note, I do not need your help on this case as you’ve said, it is a simple one.”
Sherlock’s eyebrow furrowed, “which part was wrong?”
“It wouldn’t be any fun answering now would it,” you said with a grin.
Not wanting to lose, “well, you would still need my expertise if you intend to close it now.”
“Not really, I’m sure we’ve got it under control. Would you like to bet if we got the same answer? If my answer were different, I’d tell you which part was wrong and play along with your deductions. However, if we have the same answer, I’d like to take interesting cases without your help, though I wouldn’t deprive you of the adrenaline, I’ll let you tag along.”
Intrigued, he played along.
“Great, Alan, could I have the list of information. Take the rest of the team to go collect testimonies and evidence; I’m sure you know what to do. Ah send a pair to the café down the street and look for a woman who is dishevelled yet unfazed.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Looking through the papers, you were able to back up the conclusion you have drawn yourself. You looked up to Sherlock and tilted your head to signal him to follow you. Once the two of you reached the centre of the murder, “An upward slit to the throat suggests someone with a smaller build. The woman was killed first, gunshot wound entry from the back of the head suggests trust on the woman's part while unwilling to see death upon her face so a familial relationship. The older man that did not put up a fight meant that he either felt he could calm the other party or reason with them. The upfront confrontation is due to a personal vendetta and a detachment of sorts towards him. Wild guess but I would say the murderer is the younger sister of the woman. What do you think?”
“Reason?”
“A revenge kill, not an affair with her but someone else. Right?”
“This is boring. It's too easy,” as he left in a huff.
After that initial meeting, Sherlock, taking an interest in you, drops in at random times to try his hand at you and be a part of your cases. You also found out who was the block mate who has caused the multiple bangs throughout the week.
With new friends, your off days were no longer as boring and mundane as before. In addition to the café readings, you would occasionally bake to de-stress and bring them over to your new acquaintances in the adjacent block. Sometimes even lounging about in their flat to pass time. Watching Sherlock go in and out of boredom was quite entertaining if you do say so yourself. Often you found yourself messing with his experiments as well and he was more than welcoming to impart knowledge to you.