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[Sherlock is just a hair's breadth away from throwing himself onto the sofa, but he really isn't at that point in his relationship with Khan yet, so he turns around and falls butt-first into his seat.]

I assume it's got something to do with your blatant distaste for our union. Couple that with his history of therapy, and here we are.

[He'd been grumpy while talking to John and he hasn't had enough time to cool off from it yet.]

[ John sighs at Sherlock's response, jaw tightening for a moment but not looking over at the other man. But they are right. Get on with it. ]

I wanted you both to be here in the same room so there is no misunderstanding with what I'm going to say.

I know you don't approve of my relationship with Sherlock. I've known it for months and... while I don't agree with your view of it,

[ He turns his head slightly in Sherlock's direction as he continues, so his lover knows this was not simply for Khan's benefit this was being said. ]

I do not hold it against you and I will not force you to support it.

[ Not when Khan was the one to make him realize he loved Sherlock. For that, he will get far more leniency from John than his "wife" has since finding out about her and what she has done.

He licks his lips, looking down again before looking back up. ]

So, while I know you said you will come, I want you to know you don't have to if you would rather not. And I will understand.

I didn't realize that part of being John's friend was to approve of his relationships unequivocally. I'm no expert, but I'm fairly certain that's not how it works.

[His attention returns to John, as he honestly doesn't want to deal with Sherlock or his mini tantrum. He doesn't understand why his answer over the phone wasn't enough.]

What I said before wasn't a lie. I wouldn't agree to it if I didn't want to. My dislike of things doesn't change the fact that you both have enemies who would take this as a chance to hurt you. So I will come to make sure that doesn't happen.

[Sherlock's well aware of the fact that approving of relationships isn't a requirement for being John's friend. There have been so many of John's relationships that he hadn't approved of in the past. Which is why he hadn't kicked Khan out of the wedding entirely, but having him over like this is what's getting under his skin and making him more pissed off.

That and he's the one in a relationship with John this time and that makes him invested.]

Sure. As long as you don't interfere, you're more than welcome to play bouncer.

[The only thing that's placating him at this point is that the focus of the conversation is on Khan and not on himself.]

That was a lovely chat.

[And now he's standing back up.]

If you'll excuse me.

[ He looks down at the floor again, feeling something inside grow more strained. It's when Sherlock stands, about to exit in that childish way he knows he does that he snaps.

Turning to look at Sherlock and then back at Khan and then between both of them, ]

Honestly?

Is the only time you two get along when I'm dead? Because that's starting to seem like the case here.

Why would I interfere with your wedding, Holmes? I'm not some jealous lover spurned--

[He starts in on the detective because he made it into this. Khan is however cut off when John has a little outburst at the both of them. The Augment looks to the doctor, his friend, brow furrowed, stance still much as it always is. A man ready to move, to leap into action and yet on guard at the same time. Never really relaxed.]

Is that what this is, John? You asked me here to have us overcome our differences and be friends?

[Because if that's the case he's leaving right now. He could find better ways to waste his time.]

I accepted the offer of security at your wedding because of you. Which wouldn't be needed as the threats I'm to protect you from are because of your fiancé.

Edited 2014-09-04 19:27 (UTC)

[Sherlock's anger starts to bubble up when Khan turns to argue with him directly, but John cuts both of them short. Much like Khan, he stops in his tracks, frowning plainly at them both. He's not ready to attack or defend in any physical way because that's not how this fight is playing out. A battle of wits is a much better playing field for him.

He'd interject with a comment towards John, but Khan's already doing it for him.]

Oh, don't you go and make this my fault!

[Sorry, John, but there's no way he and Khan are going to come out of this as best friends. He takes a few pointed steps towards the Augment.]

I did everything I could to minimise the damage with that woman and Moriarty's been a liability since the day we met.

[The day him and John met, specifically.]

[ John looks to Khan, ready to open his mouth to reply when Sherlock steps in with two of his own. And by that point John explodes, back away from both of them. ]

It's my own bloody fault! For expecting either of you to be civil while in the same room!

[ He looks to Khan, first. ]

I don't expect you to be friends. I don't ever expect that from either of you but you could at least not launch into blaming each other for this or that when the real enemy is the one beneath our feet.

[ He then turns to Sherlock. ]

I brought him here so you could hear and see it: I don't expect him to support us, Sherlock. But he is still my friend and I still care for him even if you disapprove of that. He is not our enemy.

[ He then looks between both of them, backing away and heading to exit out of the backdoor in the kitchen. ]

And I'll leave. So you two can continue fighting like two cats in a back alley.

[ And with that, he's turning on his heel to leave because he can't stand the sight of either of them anymore. Not at this time. ]

[For a minute Sherlock has his attention, anger flaring in his eyes as he looks at the other man, but yet again John deters him from that. By trying to up and leave after the mess he'd made, while unintentional no doubt, what else had he expected?

Khan won't have it. He moves, grabbing John by the shoulder to stop him.]

What you're trying to do is force us to act a certain way when we're perfectly amicable without any trifling on your part. Pushing us into a situation like this is brought this on.

[He won't argue that they don't get along, they don't. They never fully would, but him and Sherlock can and have been just fine before in the same room with each other. A bit of back and forth, but never to this extent. Surely John can see that in trying to make more than that happen he's just making things 100% worse.

Khan then shifts, moving them so it's him closer to the door, John now more in the room with Sherlock. Where he belongs.]

I will be there, John. I'll protect you and Holmes and I'll be civil as expected. [A little squeeze to the doctor's shoulder, before he lets go, standing back.]

Because I care for you.

[Because John was his friend and... well, those words could be taken however John wanted. The Augment turns towards the door to leave, on good terms, not to storm out angrily like some child not getting their way.]

Perhaps a phone call would be better next time.

[Because clearly this little surprise on Sherlock had not been a good idea. At all.]

[Sherlock just frowns at John as soon as his friend turns his anger toward him. He hasn't said anything about disapproving of John and Khan being friends since the day John's clone had killed him, but he has thought about it a few times. Most recently during his text conversation with Khan.

He's of the mind to let John go off to cool his head, though. It's what works best during arguments between the two of them.

But the moment Khan grabs for John is the turning point. He practically snarls at the larger man, taking another few steps towards the threat and not away from it. Even as the gesture is very apparently not going to end with Khan breaking John's bones, he still doesn't like it.]

Don't touch him again.

[He warns darkly as soon as Khan removes his hand, wedging himself closer with an attempt to put himself between Khan and John. He'd be focusing on the word choice and continuing the argument if things hadn't gotten physical.]

[ John stops at the touch on his shoulder, but doesn't look at Khan, still fuming. At first, because he had had good intentions and he's grown impatient with the back and forth (and Sherlock's behavior towards people he considers important -- which he still needed to talk to him about Maka). But then he's mad because Khan is right.

But realizing that is what causes some of that anger to ebb. As does Khan moving them, keeping the contact. John looks at him and his expression softens. Knowing what he does of Khan, of his personality, he knows saying such a thing isn't not something Khan does lightly. But that can be said of anything Khan does.

He leans forward, taking a step to follow Khan some, mouth opening, hesitating for a moment, ]

Khan. I--

[ But then Sherlock is there, putting himself between Khan and him and John is stunned into silence, his apology forgotten. The tone Sherlock uses especially takes him aback. ]

[Things are simmering down thankfully. John still seems upset, but slightly less so. At the moment Khan just wanted to leave with things on minimally decent terms. Not necessarily with Sherlock, but not have John fuming. At least that.

When he hears his name he stops, looking at the doctor... well, for a second, because then Sherlock is there shoving his way between them. A tall skeleton thin wall that isn't much of a threat at all, but he's certainly coming off like he intends to be one.

As much as he had been trying to be the bigger of the two men, Khan can't help the little smirk that lifts the corner of his mouth.]

Don't embarrass yourself, Holmes. This is over.

[Sherlock's eyes narrow when Khan speaks, but he's not going to just back down. He's not scared of Khan or what Khan could do to him. With the rules of this place, he'd just come back again and it would do nothing more than put an unquestionable chasm between Khan and John. He could risk a bit of pain for that.]

You're right. It's over.

[He steps forward, not backwards though.]

You're not to touch him again. Understand?

[ John is moving forward to grab Sherlock's arm, trying to pull him back and away from Khan. ]

Sherlock. Stop it.

Khan wouldn't hurt me.

[ He says that with conviction because he believes it. ]

[Oh this is rich. Absolutely rich. As much as he'd enjoy punching Sherlock square in the face at this very moment, he won't give into temptation. Another more fitting opportunity may yet rear it's head at a later time.

For now, he just stands where he is, letting Sherlock continue his macho display for John.]

This isn't about me hurting you, John.

[He speaks, but his eyes are all on Sherlock, looking some what smug even. How can he not? It's clear what this is about.]

You have him, Holmes, yet you're worried. Afraid. How very telling.

[Sherlock waits until John starts to tug on him before he pulls his arm free, never letting his eyes leave Khan's for a second.

What he says next makes him grimace. It's only for a very short time, maybe less than a second. It hurts, because it's true. He struts around with his head held high and putting on airs of confidence, but when it's all stripped down to the bone, he's left insecure and he's done a hell of a lot of work to keep John in the dark about that.]

Just... get out of my house.

[And stop talking. Now. Please.]

[ John frowns at Khan's words before looking at Sherlock, hearing something in his voice that brings out the protective urge in him. He looks back at the Augment. ]

Khan. Please.

[ His voice is quiet, almost pleading for him to leave. He doesn't want to get in the other man's face but he doesn't want this to continue, either. ]

[And the Augment just shakes his head, a soft huff of a laugh leaving him. Pathetic. Sherlock Holmes didn't deserve John Watson, he'd said it before, he'd say it again.

Just not right now. Instead he just turns and leaves, the door closes a bit hard but he doesn't slam it.

Maybe twenty minutes later John will get a text.]

House 28. Holmes isn't welcome.

[If John ever wanted to talk in person that is. Without his insecure man child around.]

[Sherlock waits until Khan's walked away from the front door before breathing out an irritable huff and turning around. He glances at John, slightly guarded, before he goes to the kitchen to get himself a glass of water.

He'll still allow Khan to come to the wedding as security detail, but he doesn't really care for him outside of that at the moment.

Khan should expect the photographs in a few days.]

[ John will make sure to respond to Khan later. Even go visit by himself. But in the present, his attention is solely on Sherlock. He lets the other man walk away, watching him. He doesn't know what to say, really.

He especially feels he's made a right mess of things the longer he thinks about it.

Which leads him to saying, after a few moments, standing in the doorway of the kitchen. ]

I'm sorry. I should've--I shouldn't have invited him over without telling you.

[Sherlock doesn't look over at John right away, though he definitely hears him approaching. He's too busy stewing over what Khan had said. In front of John, no less. It's not something he wants anyone, especially not John, to know about nor worry over.

But as soon as John starts to speak, he shakes his head.]

No, you shouldn't have.

[But he's not going to play the blame game here. They're all equally guilty, though he won't admit to it.]

It's fine. It's done.

[ John goes silent again, not sure what to say or do after what had just happened.

He hesitates before finally moving over to Sherlock, closing the distance between them. He reaches up a hand to place on the other man's back, slowly rub through the fabric of his shirt. ]

[Sherlock's not sure how to take being comforted like this. The affection on its own is nice, but the reason behind it is confusing. He lowers his water glass and sets it down on the counter next to the sink before finally turning his head to look at John.

Half of him wants John to tell him that he's got nothing to worry about. Or as Khan put it, nothing to be afraid of. But the other half wants to drop the subject and never pick it up again.]

Thank you.

[ John gently nudges Sherlock to turn towards him, slipping an arm around the other man's waist and leaning up to press his face into that long, pale neck.

He kisses the skin, his way of silently saying to Sherlock that he had nothing to be afraid of. John had chosen him and would be with him as long as he wanted him to. ]

[Sherlock turns towards John, not needing to be 'told' twice to do it. He even tilts his head up a bit to make room for John's face. With a quiet sigh, he curls one arm around John's waist and cups the back John's head with the other hand. He tilts his face downward to plant a kiss on the side of his friend's head.

He doesn't need to thank him again. That's what the kiss is for.

But it looks to him like there's a few details they'll eventually need to iron out for one another. Fidelity details, mostly. Sherlock trusts John and in a way, he trusts Khan not to do anything romantically forceful. But seeing how effortless it was for Khan to grab John and move him around made him uncomfortable and aggressive.

Should he apologise for that?

Another kiss on the head should do.]

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