john and sherlock answering the question: if you could have any superpower in the world what would it be?
john protests immediately that this is an unfair question because sherlock already has a superpower in deduction
at which sherlock protests that using one’s own brain is not a superpower, and also he wants to be invisible. much easier for crime investigations.
john makes an unsavory joke about other things an invisible person could do, for instance, in the soldiers’ barracks of the queen’s guard
sherlock huffs and insists that it not at all what he meant and anyway john it’s your turn
john shrugs and says that if he could choose anything he’d choose the ability to know where sherlock is at all times and possibly also his heart rate
sherlock starts to make a joke about john wanting to spy on him wanking in the shower but john doesn’t laugh
so I’d know where to find you, john says, really seriously. so I’d know if you were in trouble. so I’d know if—if—if your heart stopped beating.
sherlock stares at him, and stares at him, and this isn’t a fun question anymore, not when john looks like that, and he stands helplessly with empty hands and says I’m sorry. I didn’t know I’m so sorry.
don’t apologise, I’m sorry that’s not what I meant, john says softly, and he takes sherlock’s hands in his because he can see that sherlock needs something to hold onto. I’m not trying to make you feel guilty. I just want you to know for sure now. that I care. that I love you. that I would have you with me always if it were possible and I would carry your heartbeat safe next to mine, just in case. just in case.
and sherlock kisses him, and lets john take his pulse, fingers to wrist, steady steady steady, and says I would give it to you to carry if I could, and says I know I know and I will never forget again, and says I love you too john watson
and john kisses him back and smiles and says now that’s your real superpower, you know. loving me the way you love me.
and sherlock kisses him once more and answers that’s not a superpower. that’s just what happened when you loved me first.