Prompt: 32 ("I'm not blind... I can see the way you look at them.")
Characters: Moran and Moriarty
Requested by: @Imightbeaddicted
A/N: Thought I'd try to change things up a bit, so tell me if you like it; if not, I'll be posting the original version of this story! ..I'll probably post it anyways, just in case...

First, all he heard was giggling. Then came the hurried steps, pounding against his floors like rain on the pavement. He smiled faintly as he turned, swinging the first little girl up into the air before throwing her over his shoulder. Suddenly aware of the so-called danger, her sister attempted to scamper away, only to be caught by her waist and lifted into the air.
"You two are supposed to be sleeping." Jim grinned as the girls' giggled flooded the sitting room.
"We can't sleep, now!" Adalia whined, kicking her legs and attempting futilely to pry the man's arm from around her waist.
"And why's that?"
"Daddy always tells us a story before bed! We can't sleep without a story, Papa!" Siobhan reasoned from over his shoulder. He hummed faintly, heading upstairs with the girls still in his grip.
"We can't have that now, can we?" He plopped each girl in her respective bed, smiling fondly as they scattered to get under the covers. Tapping his lips with his finger in thought, he sat in Sebastian's seat, trying to come up with a proper story. Hansel and Gretel was always a good bet—perhaps Cinderella? The original Grimm's tale, though. After all, the girls needed to grow up aware of the world around them.
"Can you tell us a story about Mummy?" Adalia asked, blue eyes shining shyly as he stared at her. Her little sister piped up, pleading with him to say yes.
"...does your Daddy tell you stories about her before bed?" He knew the answer, he was still too broken up about what happened to her. Too upset about her death to tell a story about her.
"Um...yes?" Adalia lied as if Jim wouldn't notice.
"No, but that's why you're cooler." Siobhan beamed at him as he chuckled, considering what he should do.
"Once upon a time," the little girls leaned in excitedly, "there was a King." And back to laying down, disappointed. Still, they listened intently, pouting lips only showing their disappointment in the story's content, neither daring to interrupt.
"And one day he went to his garden, where he always watched the blackbirds dance. But, one day, he was stopped by a particular blackbird's dance. So awe-stricken was he, that he ended up watching her dance until sundown,"

He observed the room, not many catching his eye. Perhaps the h/c at the bar, eyes dazzling as she looked into her glass. No doubt the most beautiful woman in the room, plus there was something odd about her situation. She wasn't smiling or dancing like everyone else, she was on her own. Easy prey.
He sauntered up confidently, taking a seat beside you, letting his eyes flick around to the source of your evident discomfort, "Seems like you could use a bit of company, mind if I offer mine?" Your eyes flicked up to meet his, not seeming shocked by the offer. He wasn't the first man to come onto you that night, but he certainly was the most handsome.
"And why would it seem that?" You baited, arching a brow with a playful smirk.
"Your ex is here, probably followed you, but he's with someone else, isn't he?" You only blinked, not seeming impressed, nor surprised.
"Am I off the mark?" He questioned, head tilting in confusion. No, the man kept looking over here, evidently angry that Jim was speaking to you, despite the girl on his arm. A brother, maybe? But that wouldn't explain your fear—no. It had to be right.
"No, you're correct, but what's it matter?" You giggled as he second guessed himself. He felt a sudden pang, stopping cold for a moment as he realized what happened.
"I see. It matters because you're the most beautiful woman in the room and yet he's playing such a weak card, so why not play it right back?"
"Ah, I see, flirt with someone less attractive, should I?" You teased as his jaw fell in surprise, but soon he was laughing with you.
"If it gets you to dance with me, Certainly." Weren't you unique?

"After the first time he saw her, he came back to her spot day after day, hoping to see her dance. Then, one day after she'd been gone for weeks, he asked her to come live in the castle, so he could see her dance as often as he pleased. To his delight, she agreed."

Sebastian's eyes burned into the back of Jim's head as he watched the Telly with you carefully folded in his arms. What did his new little toy have that he didn't? To get such special treatment, to get Jim to all but forget he existed?
It took weeks for him to realize it. Night after night, he refused to sit at the same table with you for dinner, until Jim had had enough of his bull and forced him. That's when he saw it. It wasn't your smile, lighting up the entire room, or your laugh like fairy bells. No, it was the way you made Jim smile. Your charming wit that left him with sore sides and teared eyes. He knew exactly what Jim saw in you... maybe you weren't as bad as he'd first thought.

"But as the king watched the bird's dance, day after day, chatting with her all throughout the night, he realized he'd begun to grow attached to the little bird..."

He slid out of bed, not daring to cast a glance back at you. He'd lose his nerve, if he did. He quietly slid the gun from his drawer, being careful to be absolutely silent as he loaded it. Gun in hand, he turned the safety off and cocked it, hands softly trembling as he did.
"You're getting weak, Jim." He whispered to himself, attempting to build up his resolve. Turning, keeping the weapon steady as possible as he aimed straight between your eyes. A quick, easy kill. You wouldn't feel a tinge of pain. It'd be over in a second.

"He killed it!?" Adalia shot up, "He can't kill the little bird!" Jim smiled fondly as the little girl complained, shushing Siobhan as she began giggling.
"No, he didn't. As he held the little blackbird's life in his hands, her eyes fluttered open, and she gazed at him. And that's when he realized...he couldn't do it. He could never hurt her. So he told her to sleep and watched her rest." She sighed in relief as he continued.
"But the King's problem was far from over. Even though he let the blackbird live, he still felt he was too attached. That, if he didn't become unattached soon, he would get hurt. So, he sent her away, to a far off kingdom where she met a brave warrior king. This king adored her so much, that just like the first, he invited her to stay with him."

Two years. It had taken him two years to realize that this feeling wasn't going to fade, that it wasn't lust or adoration or a simple attachment—Romantic or otherwise. No, he loved her, with everything in him and he couldn't bear to spend another moment away from her.
His hands trembled as he knocked on the door, and through the familiar wood he could hear some show on the Telly being paused as she went to answer it. But it wasn't just her, a pair of footsteps followed down the stairs that lead to the entrance.
"Thought you said you two wouldn't make i-" You froze as you caught sight of him. Jim Moriarty, in the flesh—living and breathing after he'd been laid to rest. You could feel your jaw lock, eyes staring blankly at him, not caring to register the way he lit up at the sight of you.
It was in only minutes he was sprawled against the pavement, lip split open from a direct hit. Sebastian growled, straddling him as he punched the man, again and again until his vision blurred so much with rage-induced tears that he couldn't be sure the man he was pounding was even Jim.
Jim didn't feel him let up, one moment he was making him a spot on the pavement, the next he was off him, the storm subsiding for the time being.
"Nice to see you again, too, Tiger." He purred fondly. After all, he had missed Sebastian Moran, but not only him...

"Wait! But what about the King!" Adalia cried, both girls having leaned in to listen to the story. Siobhan was beginning to pick up on the story's undertones, the way her papa's eyes saddened during certain parts of the story, while lighting up in others.
"The King..." He hesitated, "The King asked the Warrior King to allow him to watch the little bird with him, but never took her back as his..."

He straightened his tie, staring into his reflection. It had been awhile since he'd been in a full tux. Last time he was, it had been his father's third marriage. He vividly could remember crossing his fingers behind his back, praying that marriage would last. It didn't, of course, but he had hoped.
He sighed, pulling the jacket on with a soft shake of  his head to push the memory away. Today was the day, the day everything fell apart. Sebastian knocked on the door before pushing it open.
"You alright, boss?" He said, being sure to keep his distance. Jim nodded faintly, and walked out, not even looking at the taller man. He knew it was a lie, but he wouldn't dare push it. Not now, not today.
Sebastian sighed, grabbing his arm to stop him, "I'm not blind... I can see the way you look at her," Jim froze, staring straight ahead as his sniper spoke, "I know you still love her...but—"
"But she's made her choice. It isn't me she needs, it's you. Now, are we going to get all touchy-feely or are we going to get you hitched?" He put on as light of a tone as he possibly could, forcing a lighthearted smirk. Sebastian's lips pursed, but he didn't dare push it.
"Alright..."
"Good luck, Tiger."

"The blackbird chose the Warrior-King—even after all the first King had done for her?" Adalia yawned through her horror, causing Jim to chuckle faintly.
"No, the blackbird chose to follow her heart. And The King wanted nothing more than that, so even though it wasn't him alone she danced for, or at all (at times), he was content." He looked over to Siobhan, her big blue eyes sparkling with a gleam that meant she knew something others didn't. He swore she got it from her mum.
"I think that's enough for one night," He declared, standing from his seat and turning out the lamp. He jumped when he heard a startled whimper, quickly turning it on again.
"Apologies, A Leanbh, it slipped my mind..." He murmured, hurrying to turn on the little night-light before turning the light back off. He carefully pressed a kiss to Adalia's temple as she sighed in relief, then moved over to Siobhan's side of the room, who hooked her arms around his neck.
"Thank you for telling us that story!" She whispered in his ear, giggling softly. He knew what she really meant...

"Thanks for telling us about mum."