@indiciummentis continued from [x]
The scoff that leaves Sherlock’s lips is more dramatic than anything, and it is particularly marked upon the sight of his elder brother sitting in his chair. Must he really choose that one, every single bloody time? Of course he must. At the mention of a new case, Sherlock’s eyes sparkle for the briefest moment. He’s quick to turn and mask his momentary excitement though – it’s a reflex that he can’t quite get rid of, no matter how hard he tries around Mycroft.
Sherlock turns on his heel, facing the window. His hands are clasped behind his back, and there’s a focused expression lingering upon his features as he gazes outside. It would be clear to anyone who even remotely knows him that he’s occupied with unraveling some kind of doubt clouding his thoughts. His face relaxes completely after a moment or two, when he’s come to a conclusion. “You’re worried,” he simply states then, not even bothering to turn around and meet his brother’s eyes. There are usually two reasons why Mycroft asks for his help. The first one is when he actually needs help, though in that specific case he never pays him a visit first. The second one, much more dreaded by the younger Holmes, involves a courtesy visit at 221B in the attempt not to wind Sherlock up over his “subtle” offer.
“Once again brother dear, I am very touched by your concern, but should I remind you that I am no longer a child who needs tending to? In fact, I manage perfectly on my own.”
The way his brother reacted to something as simple as a puzzle was in endearing, though only to a limited degree. In some ways, he was like an excitable puppy that had spotted somebody throwing a stick in the local park. It was childlike, but was that really surprising. To Mycroft, at least, Sherlock had never really grown up. One just had to look at the way he lived his life to see that.
He waited without work for the other man to respond, allowing him a moment to mull over the offer of a case. Obviously Sherlock would have to ask himself why. He knew full well that Mycroft did not make offers if they did not benefit him in some way. Here, that benefit was not providing a distraction so that his brother (hopefully) stayed out of trouble, but also any answers from the case would be rather useful within his own work.
“If you could manage on your own, then I would have no need to be worried,” Mycroft pointed out in return. The unspoken addition to what he was saying was that if it weren’t logical to worry, then he wouldn’t - ergo, Sherlock had nothing to blame but his own behaviour if he did not want his brother to feel the need to keep an eye on him.
“You can, of course, turn down the case if you find it more important to be childish than busy with something interesting. Knowing you, I have planned for that possibility.”
