milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

They say that ignorance is bliss. They're probably right. In spite of this fact, April O'Neil had wandered in and up to the bar, wrapped in copious layers of coat and sweater and scarf and hat, only her blue eyes and rather pink nose and cheeks visible until she began the tedious task of unwrapping herself.

"Large coffee, please, with- Oh, thank you. Perfect," she murmured to Bar, pulling off her gloves to clutch the warm mug that had appeared before her.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Hm," Holmes snorted, arching one brow and taking a seat beside her, fingers still tangling into the curls of her hair. He considered himself clever enough to avoid the most trying moments of the holiday season in general...of which endless shopping might well be the worst.

"I hope you are well enough, despite the chill."

"Of course," April answered, her smile contented. He could continue doing that to her hair as long as he liked, she thought. "Although you have no idea how difficult it is to shop for the boys. They don't have a 'Turtle' section at Macy's."

He gave her a look as if he hardly knew what the devil she was talking about--and indeed he did not--but his eyes remained fond. He slid an arm around her waist, faintly but rather unabashedly proprietary.

"I should mention that I am made message boy for you," he said after an appreciative minute, taking a folded letter from inside his waistcoat with a flick of his wrist.

She slid easily into his embrace, happy enough to allow him to stake his claim. "Who is this from?" April inquired, plucking the letter from his hand and unfolding it.

"Watson, of course," said Holmes, casting an eye at the familiar hand when she unfolded the single page. "Scotch. Yes, thank you," he added when it appeared promptly enough.

"He and Mary see fit to invite us back for Christmas Day this year," he drawled after taking a sip from his glass, voice wry. "I told him I rather thought we might decline, as the last Christmas we spent--visiting or otherwise--must seem quite recent to you, thanks to the whims of this blasted place."

"Oh no, we'll be going," April immediately replied, scanning the letter. "Just let me know when, so it doesn't conflict with anything else." Her tone made it quite clear was no room for argument.

Both eyebrows arched. "You have a number of events planned?" He gave her half a smile. "Your family, of course."

"It's Christmas." She stared back at him in disbelief.

Duh.

He returned the look with one of bittersweet amusement, lips quirking at one edge. "You needn't look so aghast," he said after a moment, then sipped from his glass again. "After all, you did inform me in no uncertain terms that I had never had a family, though perhaps my brother might disagree."

No doubt he would. They were no one's traditional idea of family, but they worked it out together quite well enough for their purposes.

"I did n-" April's voice halted, and she wrinkled her nose. "Shit, I did say that, didn't I? I'm pretty sure I didn't mean it as bad as you make it out, though."

"It was not entirely flattering," said Holmes, but merely tightened the grip of his fingers against her hip. "I suppose I must confess to agree that my idea of family may never quite compare favorably to yours, and that our experiences shall likely never match in full."

"My family maims guys for looking at me funny," April chuckled, leaning in to bump her nose gently against his, watching him through lowered lashed. "I think we're even."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only