+24: Made Of Stone - Evanescence

Request from @Mangaloversara

-

Sherlock and Jim weren't exactly popular children and the same could be said for their teen years. Neither minded. They had each other and, really, everyone else was an idiot anyway. Since the age of seven, Sherlock and Jim had been the best of friends and had never once drifted.

They had plenty of arguements and conflicting opinions but they'd always remained the best of friends.

That began to change when they were nineteen years old and Jim got his first boyfriend.

*

"I don't like him"

"You've told me, many times" Jim sighs as Sherlock once again speaks his mind on the subject of Jim's new boyfriend

Sherlock had always been the type to speak his mind and give his opinions on subjects. They often had arguements because of this - neither of them were the type to easily back down when convinced they were correct. This time, however, Jim wasn't interested in arguing back. He was just disappointed that his friend wasn't happy for him, as he thought he would be.

Sherlock doesn't reply to Jim and they cotinue walking, soon turning on to the street they both lived on. Sherlock's house was the closest and their destination this afternoon. Their class had just finished and they had no more for the day so, like every Wednesday, they were on their way to Sherlock's for lunch.

Usually, Jim would stay at Sherlock's into the evening and would sometimes stay over the night. Today, however, he would be leaving at six to go on a date - as he'd just informed Sherlock, which was the reason Sherlock decided to once again tell Jim that he dislikes the boy Jim was dating.

When they enter the empty house, they both automatically head towards the kitchen. Beyond asking Jim what kind of noodles he wants, Sherlock was silent as he prepared the food.

Huffing, Jim seats himself at one of the stools that stood by the island. "Are you really going to sulk and give me the silent treatment?"

"Yes" Sherlock replies, eyes fixed on the humming microwave.

"I don't get why you're being like this. I'm just going on a date. You're acting like I'm replac-- Oh..." Jim trails off. "Is that what's wrong? Do you think I'll stop spending time with you now?"

Sherlock rolls his eyes, pulling the microwave open to stir the noddles inside before he closes it again. "I think I am capable of spending a few hours less with you per week."

Jim grits his teeth. "Then what's the issue?"

"I told you already, I just don't like him"

"Well, I do! So just bloody deal with it and stop being a child!" Jim had't meant to raise his voice and he didn't realise that he'd shouted until he'd finished.

Sherlock doesn't reply and calmly takes the noodles out when the microwaves beeps. He stirs them and pours in the flavour sachet, stirring again before he hands the bowl to Jim and sets to work on his own. Jim  stays quiet too, and eats his noodles as the guilt eats away at him. Sherlock wasn't the type to just dislike someone so strongly without reason so maybe Jim had acted too harshly. Still, he was going on the date with his boyfriend.

When six o'clock arrived,Sherlock only grunted as Jim said goodbye. Sighing, Jim left the house to go to his own to dress himself for the date. It wasn't their first date but it was their first date as a couple so it was sort of special and Jim wanted to look nice. He wasn't going to let Sherlock's sour mood infect him and ruin the evening.

After Jim left, Sherlock slumped further into the sofa and somehow became even more miserable.

*

 Two months pass. It's been three weeks since Jim spoke to Sherlock. 

It was just too much to deal with. Sherlock would go on and on about how he didn't like Jim's boyfriend and never once did he give a bloody reason. Just said that he didn't lile him and that was reason enough for Jim to break up with him. Jim's rage flared and he'd replied he had had enough. If Sherlock wasn't going to accept the fact that Jim really liked this boy then Jim wasn't going to sit around and listen to Sherlock verbally abuse his boyfriend. 

For the first two weeks, Sherlock didn't even try to talk to Jim. He just sulked and ignored the Irish boy right back, not willing to admit that he was the one in the wrong. 

During the thrid week, this week, he'd said hi to Jim in the scgool corridors a few times and texted Jim to ask if he wanted to go see the new Woman In Black film. Jim ignored him, not giving in without an apology. 

He just didn't get it. What was so wrong about Jim having a boyfriend? 

He wasn't going to spend less time with Sherlock for it (the current situation didn't count) and he wasn't replacing Sherlock in his life at all. Sherlock was his best friend, his one and only friend, and that was never going to change. Sherlock surely knew that. Was that not good enough? Did Sherlock really have to be so selfish and not allow Jim a relationship?

Jim knows that Sherlock has never had any romantic feelings for anyone before and so maybe he doesn't quite understand why Jim is enjoying the dates and such so much. Still, Jim thinks, it's not excuse to be such a dick. 

Sighing, Jim hitches his backpack further up his shoulder and walks out of his classroom. He winces when he realises that it's Wednesday. Jim looks ahead of him, expecting to see Sherlock walking along with his head down like he's done for the past two weeks. 

To Jim's surprise Sherlock is walking besides a girl, laughing and smiling at her as he flicks through some book and shows him the contents. 

Jim frowns, speeding up so he was close enough to hear them but not close enough to make it obvious he was eavesdropping. Jim reocgnises her now he's closer. Molly Hooper. Loves science and cute kittens and has a very big crush on Sherlock. She's sending him heart eyes now even.

"Would you like to come round for lunch? We can continue reading this at my house" Sherlock says, taking the book as he smiles at the girl. 

"Oh, gosh. I'll have to ask my mum but I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm glad you're liking it, she's one of my favourite authors" 

Jim has to bite back a gasp when it clicks in his mind that Sherlock just invited her round for lunch. 

Lunch on a wednesday was their thing! 

Did he just get replaced? 

Jim slows down, no longer wanting to hear their conversation. He looks down at the floor and frowns, totally missing the way Sherlock glanced back at him. 

*

In the end, it's Jim that caves.

He watches from his bedroom window as Sherlock lets Molly out and kisses her cheek before she practically wobbles to the waiting car just outside Sherlock's house. Sherlock had smiled and waved and laughed like he did when Jim leaves each time. He even did the thing he does where he steps inside the door but glances back just to wave once more like he did every single time that Jim left. 

Anger boils within Jim and before he knows what exactly he's doing, he's thumping on his ex-bestfriend's door, knowing that Sherlock's parents were out and if Sherlock's brother in (unlikely) he wouldn't give a shit. 

Sherlock opens the door with a bright smile but it drops when he sees Jim. 

"Oh. Hello"

"Why the fuck, Sherlock?!" Jim practically screams. 

Sherlock frowns, his face a picture of innocent confusion. "What the fuck what?"

Jim grits his teeth and throws his hands up in the air. Sherlock huffs a laugh and Jim glares at him, stepping forward and poking him hard in the chest. "You- You fucking.. You fucking mop!" Jim growls.

Sherlock laughs again. "Not your best insult ever"

"No, you shut the hell up right bloody now. What was all that with Molly, hm? You.. You were the one worried about me replacing you and then you go and bloody invite Molly to lunch and even give her your stupid lingering goodbye! Are you trying to get back at me or something? Just because I want to date someone!" 

As he's shouting, Jim pokes Sherlock in the chest and shoves him further into the house, leaving the door to close with a soft click. 

"Have you been spying on me?" Sherlock asks, trying to look angry but just appearing smug. 

Jim cries in frustration and shoves Sherlock again, making his back hit the wall this time. "You bloody planned this, didn't you? You purposely did all that, knowing I'd come over here and be the one to start a conversation. You sneaky little shit"

Sherlock was actually looking a bit scared now. Jim had a murderous glint in his eye and he had Sherlock pinned against the wall in the corner of the room with minimal chance of escape.

Jim blinks, taking in his friends expression. His breathing was still laboured from his outburst but he was relaxing. When he speaks again, he sounds broken. "Why.. Why do you always have to plan games, Sherlock? Why can't you just... be happy for me. You're my best friends.. You're supposed to be happy for me!" He shouts the last bit, fist slamming into the wall beside Sherlock's head. 

Then, suddenly, before Jim can look up at Sherlock, there's a pair of soft lips on his and two warm hands on his hips. He's pulled forward and kissed with enthusiasm that he's never experienced before. Jim loses himself to it, melts into the raw emotion coming from Sherlock. 

It's messy and sloppy. It's Sherlock first kiss and Jim has never snogged anyone like this before. Their noses bump against each other and Sherlock accidentally bites on Jim's lower lip a bit too roughly, making Jim yelp in pain before they revert to a slower, gentler kiss without dulling the fire that seems to just grow between them. 

They briefly switch to small pecks to regain their breath, then Jim slide his tongue into Sherlock's mouth again and allows the taller boy to pull him closer by his belt hoops. He hums and flicks his tongue, earning a delicious moan from Sherlock. 

The kisses grow rougher again but when they start to get even misser, they slow down. They just exchange pecks, smiling softly. 

Sherlock's a much better kisser than his boyfriend even if it is sloppy. 

At that thought, Jim's eyes fly open. He has a boyfriend. 

He struggles without hesitation and pushes Sherlock off, staring at him with wide eyes. Sherlock swallows thickly, staring back and looking like a deer catch in the headlights as he pants. 

"Fuck" Jim hisses, quickly wiping his lips on the back of his sleeve (feeling a bit bad when a flash of hurt goes through Sherlock's eyes).

 Jim continues to stare at Sherlock, unsure.

Oh, God.. What the hell does he do now? 

He's quick to collect his thoughts. "So.. all this time, it was jealous fuelling your hatred?"

Sherlock is silent for a moment. Then he nods, seemingly unable to find his voice. 

Jim sighs and runs a hand through his hair, nodding. "Okay.. Just gimme a second, yeah"

Sherlock nods again, not moving when Jim turns his back to him and stares down at the floor. 

He has a boyfriend, Jim tells himself. A lovely, beautiful, kind boyfriend that gives him cute kisses on the cheek and holds his hand when they walk down the street. Sherlock is his mouthy, rude best friend who has always been there for him and means the world to him.

That kiss was easily the best kiss of his life. There was no chance of him convincing himself otherwise. It had everything. An emotional connection and spark being two of the main qualities. Sherlock was a better kisser, by far, because of that spark which was so much bigger than the spark between Jim and his boyfriend. 

When it comes down to it, Jim is never going to choose a romantic interest over his best friend. So, even if that spark wasn't there, he'd have to break up with his boyfriend just to be fair to Sherlock because Jim is a big softie when it comes to Sherlock and would do everything he could for him. 

Jim striaghtens and pivots so he's facing Sherlock again. He walks closer to the still frightened looking boy.

"Fuck it" he mutters before diving in for another kiss with his best friend.