Sherlock maybe should have been paying more attention to John's body language, but as it is he doesn't catch on that John's winding up for a punch until just before it comes.
"Good," he says, and he's just opening his mouth to ask if John feels that starting in the morning is fair enough, given that John's not slept well in the past few days from the recent case, to give him tonight without concern, when the blow comes suddenly. There was warning if he had been really paying attention to it, and as it comes, Sherlock could have dodged away from it, but for whatever reason he doesn't.
It hits hard and he goes down from the force of it. John certainly doesn't pull his punches. He never has with him, ever, always coming at him with the full force of his strength and ability. That's something Sherlock respects, even as he's pushing himself up off the floor, a hand cupping against his cheek and jaw as he watches John retreat to the bedroom.
The following morning finds Sherlock having gotten a few hours of sleep and a shower before John wakes up. He's dressed and ready and waiting in the flat by the time John comes out to fix himself coffee. His bedroom door is closed to give the impression that he's still asleep - not uncommon, when he's catching up on sleep he frequently sleeps past eleven - and he's somewhere hiding, barefoot so he makes no noise as he moves over the hardwood floors, listening for John.
no subject
Sherlock maybe should have been paying more attention to John's body language, but as it is he doesn't catch on that John's winding up for a punch until just before it comes.
"Good," he says, and he's just opening his mouth to ask if John feels that starting in the morning is fair enough, given that John's not slept well in the past few days from the recent case, to give him tonight without concern, when the blow comes suddenly. There was warning if he had been really paying attention to it, and as it comes, Sherlock could have dodged away from it, but for whatever reason he doesn't.
It hits hard and he goes down from the force of it. John certainly doesn't pull his punches. He never has with him, ever, always coming at him with the full force of his strength and ability. That's something Sherlock respects, even as he's pushing himself up off the floor, a hand cupping against his cheek and jaw as he watches John retreat to the bedroom.
The following morning finds Sherlock having gotten a few hours of sleep and a shower before John wakes up. He's dressed and ready and waiting in the flat by the time John comes out to fix himself coffee. His bedroom door is closed to give the impression that he's still asleep - not uncommon, when he's catching up on sleep he frequently sleeps past eleven - and he's somewhere hiding, barefoot so he makes no noise as he moves over the hardwood floors, listening for John.
Because John has it coming to him now.