HI MATT

[wearsthecoats]

Sherlock has:

• an armchair by the fire
• an expression of unreasonable cheer
• a mug of cold-pressed coffee
• a truly impressive collection of hickeys, accented by a well-bitten lip that only recently stopped bleeding.

Comments

[semicharmed]

His lips quirk.

"I recognized him. I think."

(He feels now only pleasantly warm, though still a little feverish.)

[wearsthecoats]

"...Really. From where?"

[semicharmed]

"Here."

Still amused.

"Guy's name was Jim, and he looked a lot like ... a less cold version of the guy I saw with you."

[wearsthecoats]

"Odds are it's the same Jim, then. But I suppose you never know."

[semicharmed]

"On the one hand," Matt concurs, "you never do. On the other hand, this place is an extremely small world."

He supposes it's not like you actually come out and say, 'hello I am a villain.' (Conventional wisdom dictates that you smile and smile.)

Matt's fingers stroke absently over Sherlock's stomach.

"Anyway. I think I must have mis-timed the spell that keeps all that under wraps."

[wearsthecoats]

"Potentially inconvenient, but I don't really mind," he says. "It's fascinating, actually. Temperature feels so different to you."

[semicharmed]

"Yeah," Matt admits thoughtfully.

"I know it can be ... invasive. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't appreciate the different perspective." A pause. "I can fix it, though. So it doesn't happen without warning like that."

[wearsthecoats]

"Probably better that way. With warning, though..." He smiles.

[semicharmed]

Matt laughs.

"The other Sherlock Holmes I know likes it too."

[wearsthecoats]

"It's informative."

So of course they do.

[semicharmed]

"There is that," he says dryly.

His fingers skate over Sherlock's skin.

"I think he also enjoys putting thoughts in my head."

[wearsthecoats]

—He laughs.

"I hadn't thought of that application, to be honest."

[semicharmed]

"He is much, much better at it than I am."

[wearsthecoats]

"I'm not sure I'd know what to put."

[semicharmed]

Matt stretches to nuzzle into his neck.

"Well. I can vouch for you right now, you're a natural at sex. And I'm ... suggestible, so."

He kisses his throat regretfully.

"I think I have to move soon."

[wearsthecoats]

He laughs softly. "Running out of warm?"

[semicharmed]

"Mmhm," Matt concurs.

His teeth close over an old bruise.

"Besides, I think there's some chalk and ash I ought to clean up."

[wearsthecoats]

"Mm," he says, tipping his head to one side. "That too, yes."

[semicharmed]

He presses another sucking kiss to Sherlock's neck, drawing it out.

Then, with effort, he sits up.

"Okay," he says.

"Cleaning up. Then, if you're feeling like it, I am personally not opposed to working out some of the kinks in this spell."

[wearsthecoats]

"I would love to," he says, unequivocally.

"And if you're going to clean up the floor I probably ought to clean up the bed."

[semicharmed]

Matt grins, tugging his boxers back into place.

"Sounds like a plan."

He slides off the bed and stretches. He looks towards the chalk circle and his bowl of burnt herbs ... but turns to glance back at Sherlock.

"I'll, uh. Try to replicate that thing with my tattoo."

[wearsthecoats]

"Much obliged."

[semicharmed]

Some minutes later, Matt is on his hands and knees squinting at the carpet.

"I think it's gone.

Of course, if I'm casting this spell again, I'll only have to re-clean it later."

[wearsthecoats]

"I can still see it," Sherlock volunteers, glancing over from the bathroom where he has been de-icing the sheets. "But that's hardly a surprise. I think it's all right."

[semicharmed]

Matt sighs, turning his way.

"Well, great. I'll just draw the new circle in the same place, then."

He goes through his bag for fresh ingredients.

"Out of curiosity," he calls, "was there anything you wanted to try without the warmth spell?"