+18: The Carnival - Amanda Jenson

Requested by @CountVonSquash

Happy (extrmely belated) Halloween!

I struggled with this one...

-

Fingers curled around his own, squeezing tight as little frightened puffs of air leave the boy by Sherlock's side. Glancing to he side, Sherlock watches Jim close his eyes tightly and try to get his breathing under control.

"It's okay..." Sherlock speaks softly, trying to calm him down.

Jim shakes his head. "How is this okay? Why did we think this was a good idea?"

Sherlock's arm wraps around Jim's shoulder and he pulls the boy into him, planting a kiss on his forehead. "It's abandoned"

"We're so stupid. Let's just leave..."

Sherlock frowns "We're meant to find John"

Jim pulls back and looks Sherlock in the eye. "I really don't care, Sherlock. I don't even like John. Please, let's just go"

A sigh leaves Sherlock's lips and he trails his hand down the side of Jim's face, one arm around his middle as they looked at each other. Jim looked absolutely terrified and Sherlock could understand that.

They stood at the gate of an old rundown carnival. It was void of people and the place looked like it was falling apart. Abandoned stalls remained set up and occasionally a light from a ride would flicker on - but only for a second. It looked like all the people that worked here had got bored and just left.

According to John, the story of this place involves a crown who went crazy. Murdered everyone and buried the bodies over the site in places that 'made sense'. For example, he supposedly buried the manger of the grounds somewhere in the gold mine ghost train because he loved money. It was all a bit sadistic.

Being the whimp he is, Jim had believed every word and automatically latched onto his boyfriend for dear life. He hadn't let go since and, honestly, Sherlock was liking it a bit - the way he was protecting Jim and looking after him.

"I know you're not John's biggest fan but it's not nice of us to leave him here. C'mon, I'm going to be here with you the whole time" Sherlock presses a kiss to his lips. "Not need to be scared"

Jim huffs "I am not scared..." He pauses, glancing at the gate before he presses into Sherlock's embrace again. "I'm bloody terrified"

Sherlock laughs and Jim glares up at him. Smiling, Sherlock takes hold of Jim's hand and starts walking down the path into the carnival. "Look at it this way, the sooner we find John, the sooner we can go back to mine and have a warm cup of tea and fall asleep watching whatever stupid romcom you choose this time"

"We could go do that now if we leave John" Jim mumbles, not intending for Sherlock to hear.

Choosing not to comment of that, Sherlock continues to walk and hold Jim close.

*

"Sherlock! Sherlock!! This isn't funny anymore. Just fucking call him or text him or whatever. I want to leave this place... Fuck, it's creepy"

Jim grips on to Sherlock's arm, panting heavily as he tries with all his might to drag Sherlock away from the entrance to the Gold Mine Ghost Train. Jim was in no hurry to go in there and search for someone he didn't even bloody like.

"It makes sense that John would hide in here. It was the main setting in the story he told us" Sherlock speaks as though Jim wasn't pleading for them to leave

"Are you listening to me?!" Jim asks, kicking Sherlock's ankle in a moment of anger.

Sherlock hisses in pain and glares at Jim. "What the hell was that for?"

Jim snorts. "So you weren't listening, great. Perfect." Jim shakes his head at Sherlock's clueless expression. "Right. You can go find John but I'm leaving"

Sherlock stays still, blinking at Jim before he nods and sighs. "Okay. I'll meet you by the entrance"

Jim's mouth almost fell open. "What? You're actually choosing to carry on this stupid game instead of calling John to let him know we're leaving"

"You just said that you were leaving"

"I know I said that!" Jim shouts. "But you are meant to realise what I'm saying and give up this game. Or do you think it's okay to scare the shit out of your boyfriend for the sake of playing this fucking immature game of hide-and-seek?"

Sherlock turns so he's fully facing Jim and reaches out to take Jim's hands in his. He pulls him closer and plants a soft kiss on Jim's lips, before he wraps his arms around his middle. "It's just a game, Jim. You're frightened, I get that but there's no need to get so worked up, okay?"

Jim sighs and nods, leaning his head against Sherlock's chest. "I'm not happy with you" He mumbles.

Sherlock nods and presses a kiss to Jim's forehead. They stand like that for a moment before Sherlock pulls back and looks down at Jim, tilting his head towards the entrance to the Gold Mine. Jim looks at the entrance and bites his lips before looking back to Sherlock. He nods and looks down, away from Sherlock's eyes.

He didn't like John or the fact he was doing this but he didn't want to argue with Sherlock anymore and it was clear Sherlock was continuing this game with or without him.

After taking a deep breath, Jim turns to face the entrance. He holds on to Sherlocks hand tightly before Sherlock begins to lead them forward.

Jim's heart pounds, fearing spreading through his veins and over taking him.

The step instead and on thing becames clear to Jim... Not a single light works in the ride. They've been submerged in darkness and there's a strangle chill to the air - like air conditioning but eerier..

Jim, from somewhere, finds the strength to hold on to Sherlock even tighter than before.

After a few minutes of silent wondering and feeling like he was bing followed, Jim speaks up.

"Just so you're aware I'm killing J-" He's cut off as he feels the distinctive grazing pain of a nail being dragged down his arm.

Without needing to think, Jim wails and kicks out in the general direction. Sherlock frantically asks him what's wrong but Jim didn't register anything beyond his foot coming into contact with the soft stomach of his attacker.

There's a cough from the darkness and then the trademark cursing of a Watson.

John.

"Fuck..." Jim mutters, trying to control his breathing. He kicks out again, now knowing it was John. "What the fuck? Why would you do that, you prick?!"

Sherlock was trying to hush Jim, stroking his arms. Jim ignored him. He can see how it feels to be blanked by his boyfriend.

"I didn't think you'd freak out. Jesus. What are you? A scared five year old?" John replies, unseen but Jim could feel his presence close by as well as hear him struggle for breathe where he was winded by the kick.

"Idiot!" Jim hisses the word, crossing his arms and leaning into Sherlock.

Sherlock continues to stroke Jim's arms and hugs him around the waist as he asks John "You all right?"

"Yeah, yeah, fine. Next time, try and control your girlfriend" John laughs.

Before Sherlock could speak, Jim does "If I could see you, I'd slap you across the face"

John snorts, messing around with something with a zip. A moment later, light blinded Jim from a torch John had apparently removed from his bag. Jim is handed the torch with a sickly sweet smile.

"There, princess, I'll let you hold the torch"

Jim kicks him in the shin again before turning away from both of them and heading for the exit, not caring if he ruined their stupid game. He'd asked Sherlock to spend time with him this Halloween, not to run off on a hunt for John through some abandoned theme park or carnival or whatever.

*

Jim's face is being covered with tiny kisses as the TV flickers and the microwave pops popcorn. Sherlock is leaning into to him, murmuring something but Jim is being stubborn and refusing to accept the apologies.

"C'mon.. Jim. Please. Let's not let this ruin the rest of the night. I'm sorry, okay. I shouldn't have let John draw me into the game - I should have told him that we planned to watch movies, just us"

"Coulda, woulda, shoulda" Jim shrugs.

"Jim..." Sherlock whines, kissing the corner of Jim's mouth.

The microwave beeps then and Jim sighs, not really wanting to waste their time together. Nodding, Jim turns his had to kiss Sherlock on the lips. It's a slow kiss. Chaste, but it still held passion behind it.

"Go fetch the popcorn so we can watch this movie" Jim murmurs, refusing to directly say Sherlock was forgiven.

Sherlock smiles and seems unable to stop himself from taking another kiss. "Thank you. I love you"

He then hops up and goes into the kitchen to get the popcorn. Jim is frozen on the sofa.

I love you.

Did Sherlock really just say that?

God. He did!

Jim breathes in and out deeply, making the decision to smother Sherlock in kisses when he returned.