John limped quickly up to his flat and opened the door with a shy grin as he laid eyes on the lanky detective pouring two cups of tea. John felt his heart skip a beat as he noticed that Sherlock was wearing his t-shirt and a pair of his shorts.

"I…uh…" Sherlock flushed. "I thought you might like some."

"Yeah." John said hanging up his jacket and walking into the kitchen. "Thanks."

"I hope you don't mind." Sherlock gestured to his outfit. "I took a shower and wanted fresh clothing."

"It's fine." John said clearing his throat.

They both leaned against the countertop cradling their mugs and subtly not glancing at each other every few seconds.

"I'm sorry, John." Sherlock said quietly.

"I'm sorry, too." John said drinking the last of his tea and setting the mug down behind him.

"So what now?" Sherlock asked turning to face the doctor.

"I don't know." John sighed. He reached over and grabbed Sherlock's wrist lightly. "But I'm glad you're home."

John let Sherlock pull him close so that there was only a few inches separated them. John could smell his shampoo and body wash all over the genius and could barely contain his hormones. It was like having Sherlock all wrapped up in him and it was hot as fuck. He was practically vibrating with his arousal. This was all he wanted, everything he'd been dreaming since he'd met this crazy bastard all those years ago.

"Sherlock…" John said brokenly. "Don't…"

"Please." Sherlock said resting his lips along the shell of John's ear. "You have to know how I feel. You can't not know, John."

"This isn't…" John said fighting against the delicious electricity flooding his entire system. "a game."

"No," Sherlock said firmly. "It isn't."

Sherlock closed the gap and the kiss seemed to snap something within John. He pulled the taller man so close he could feel his heart beat through his clothing as he licked into his mouth and nibbled at his bottom lip. He felt a desperate thrum of arousal as Sherlock moaned into his mouth and slipped his hands under the back of John's shirt to grasp at his skin. John let Sherlock wrestle his jacket and button-down off as the shorter man backed them up to his bed. John nipped and licked down Sherlock's throat before stripping off his shirt to lick at one of his nipples. Sherlock's moan caused him to shudder and suck harder. He wrapped his arms around the skinny man and gripped his plush arse firmly before sliding his hands under the band to stroke that soft skin. Sherlock pivoted sharply before shoving John down onto the bed with a predatory gleam. He felt his breath hitch as the taller man crawled over him and started sucking on his earlobe. His entire body was tense with arousal and he couldn't stifle the keening breaths that escaped him. He gripped Sherlock's waist and slotted their hips together causing both of them to groan deeply. Letting Sherlock strip off his undershirt, he felt the first pulse of insecurity as the genius's gaze fell on his scar. He huffed humiliated and covered it self-consciously with his right hand.

"I know…" John whispered. "It's not…"

He felt his heart stutter as Sherlock forced his hand down and away so that he could kiss the knotted flesh softly. The detective traced the scar tissue lightly with his lips almost reverently and John felt something lodge firmly in his throat as he tried to swallow.

"This, John." Sherlock whispered against his skin. "All of this, all of you. It's gorgeous."

John huffed nervously and smiled, "You're not so bad yourself, you posh git."

Sherlock's matching smiled realigned his world and the kiss they shared was heated and needy. He felt himself drowning in pleasure as Sherlock began kissing down his throat lower and lower until he licked gently on the skin directly above John's trousers causing John to pant wantonly. He made quick work of the buttons and zip, stripping John feverishly before stripping off his own pants. He nestled between John's thighs before throwing a wicked grin up at the doctor and leaving a wet strip of saliva up John's cock as he licked from base to tip. John moaned as Sherlock took in the head of his cock and teased the flushed skin with that agile tongue. John gasped and panted as the taller man sucked him off with a sinful amount of talent. Just as John felt himself being dragged closer and closer to that sweet edge, he pulled Sherlock off with a delicious pop and hauled him up to kiss him breathless.

"I want to see your face…" John whispered between kisses and bucked his hips as Sherlock wrapped a hand around his erection and began stroking it quickly. John clung to him and exchanged sloppy kisses before arching against the taller man and finally allowing himself to fall into an overwhelming feeling of pleasure and heat and completion. He burrowed his face into Sherlock neck as he shuddered through each wave and he held on as the shudders turned to shivers which turned to shaking which finally turned to trembling. Sherlock wrapped his long arms around the doctor and held him close running his clean hand through his soldier's hair and brushing his lips repeatedly against his temple. When John finally felt confident enough to pull away a bit, his lips were stolen in a fierce, possessive kiss that left him almost dizzy.

John reached down to stroke Sherlock's neglected erection and felt heat fill his cheeks at the debauched moans issuing forth from his genius. A dozen strong pulls and Sherlock tensed and covered his hand with cum before collapsing against him and breathing heavily. They lay there wrapped up in each other for several minutes trying to catch their breath before Sherlock had the strength to draw himself up on wobbly elbows and pierce John's heart with his intense stare.

"I love you." Sherlock said firmly.

"Is that the endorphins talking?" John giggled nervously.

"No." Sherlock said sternly. "I love you. I need you to hear it and believe it because it's a fact."

"Sherlock…" John whispered brushing away an errant curl.

"I'm not good at this, John." Sherlock interrupted. "It doesn't come naturally and there is so much that I don't understand, but never ever doubt that I truly love you, alright? And I don't ever want to lose you. I want to be with you."

John felt his insides melt in a haze of hopeless affection. "I love you too, Sherlock."

Sherlock's eyes seemed to glow with warmth as he kissed John firmly on the mouth.

"Come back to Baker Street." Sherlock whispered. "Come home."

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"Hell no." Lestrade said into his receiver with a smirk. "You got yourself into this mess, you can move your own self back to Baker Street. I have six days of freedom with Mycroft and I'm not going to waste them lugging boxes."

His eyebrows rose at the inventive swears of one military doctor before he laughed and hung up. He turned over and curled around Mycroft's body in their bed and kissed his bare shoulder grinning at Mycroft's content sigh.

"Did he honestly think you'd get up at quarter to eight on a day off to help him move?" Mycroft asked aghast.

"Knowing your brother, he probably talked the poor bloke into it." Lestrade said cuddling closer relishing the feel of his partner's warm skin against his own.

"Do you not think he made the right choice?" Mycroft asked curious. "Forgiving Sherlock?"

"Of course he made the right choice." Lestrade answered. "But the tosser put him through hell first."

"Yes." Mycroft said quietly. "My brother and I do seem to suffer from the same personality disorder. I am sorry, Geoffrey."

"Sorry for what?" Lestrade asked.

"For how I treated you." Mycroft said. "You're a very good man and you deserved better."

Lestrade fought the lump in his throat before kissing Mycroft's shoulder again and sighing, "I do think I have better. I could never do better than you…but I am glad that you gave up the manipulative bastard routine."

"Yes, it was rather droll." Mycroft said turning to face his partner and kiss him lightly on the mouth. They kissed lazily as the light from the sun broke through the slats of the curtains and moved slowly across the floor.

"What would you like to do today?" Mycroft asked.

"I'm thinking we finally should make that trip to Ikea." Lestrade grinned.

"Best three out of five." Mycroft grumbled.

"You really detest Ikea that much?" Lestrade laughed.

"Now it's a matter of pride." Mycroft sniffed.

"Face it, My." Lestrade smirked. "You'll never win. I'm the undisputed championing of making you shatter under my ministrations."

"I do have skills of my own." Mycroft said silkily. "Would you like a demonstration?"

"What'd you have in mind?" Lestrade asked feeling his pulse jump.

"You've been rather tense lately." Mycroft purred. "Why don't you let me work out some of that stress?"

"Yes. Please." Lestrade sighed, rolling onto his stomach and settling comfortably into the feeling of Mycroft straddling his hips.

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Sherlock strode through the clinic excitedly bypassing the flustered desk attendant and letting himself into the back to find John. He was a few feet from his doctor's door when someone grabbed his shoulder lightly.

"Excuse me." The man said. "You can't be back here."

"I'm looking for Dr. Watson." Sherlock said.

"John?" The man said warmly.

Sherlock turned and eyed the man who was grinning happily.

"He's seeing a patient right now." The man said. "Can I help you?"

Sherlock felt his entire body tense with realization. He made a quick assessment of the man in front of him to double check is conclusion and felt a mix of loathing and smugness.

"You're Mark." Sherlock smirked.

"Ah, yes." The man said nonplussed. "Do we know each other?"

"No." Sherlock said firmly. "But Lestrade mentioned you."

"Lestrade?" The man frowned. "You work for the Yard then?"

"I work with the Yard." Sherlock said smugly.

He saw the confusion on Mark face before a door opened up behind them and John walked out. The grin on John's face made Sherlock's heart lurch painfully and he kissed John roughly on the mouth.

"Sherlock." John huffed pushing him away. "I'm working…oh…Mark…hi."

"John." Mark said looking uncomfortable and a little angry. "Who's this then?'

"Sherlock Holmes." Sherlock said smugly still clutching at John's hips with one hand and reaching around him to offer his hand for a shake.

"Sherlock?" Mark asked stunned. "The dead guy?"

"Right." John sighed. "Umm…he didn't actually die."

"I was involved in a complicated sting operation involving a carefully constructed criminal syndicate. It was essential for people to assume I'd died." Sherlock huffed.

"He just got back." John said drowning in embarrassment. "So…yeah."

"Right." Mark said looking completely lost. "Does your mad brother know about this?"

"Of course." Sherlock answered. "He is the British Government, you know."

"Excuse me?" Mark asked.

"He's also living with Lestrade who was my contact during the operation." Sherlock said.

"Okay." Mark said.

"Yeah, sorry." John said. "This is probably really confusing."

"You're all completely ridiculous." Mark said before backing away down the hall and disappearing from sight.

"Did you do that on purpose?" John asked the genius. "He thinks I'm a total nutter now."

"Of course not." Sherlock said with a devious grin. "Happy accident."

"Whatever." John said rolling his eyes. "Did you need something or did you just come here to make sure that I wasn't fornicating with any coworkers during working hours?"

"We have a case, John!" Sherlock smiled brightly. "Suspected arson with no detectable accelerant. Are you coming?"

"Oh god yes." John sighed happily.

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Lestrade rolled out of bed in the early morning hours moving quietly to avoid waking his tall partner. He'd been back at the Yard for three weeks and this was his first morning off since. A string of robberies and assaulted garbage workers had them chasing down leads for days on end. He was still completely knackered but couldn't seem to fall asleep. He made himself a cup of tea and curled up on the sofa to watch the London skyline brighten to the east. He fazed out and let his mind simply take in the world around him. The sky had turned a pale, rosy red when he heard Mycroft shuffle into the living area.

"You really should try and sleep." Mycroft whispered sitting across from him on the sofa and rubbing their bare feet together.

"I know." Lestrade answered. "But I don't think I want to."

"And why's that?" Mycroft asked curious. "This is your only day off this week."

"Because I'm happy." Lestrade said honestly. "I'm with you. And I find myself reluctant to sleep when you're around."

He watched with a grin as Mycroft's ears flushed pink and the corners of his mouth quirked up.

"Come here." Mycroft said quietly. Lestrade crawled over and turned around to tuck himself up between Mycroft's splayed thighs so that his back was cuddled against Mycroft's front. He sighed happily as Mycroft's fingers carded through his hair and his other hand rested low on his stomach.

"You make me happy, My." Lestrade breathed.

"I'm lucky then." Mycroft voice broke softly.

"Lucky?" Lestrade asked quietly.

"Yes." Mycroft said gently. "It means that I have you for a bit longer."

"Always." Lestrade said earnestly. "If you'll have me."

"Always." Mycroft answered kissing his hair lightly.

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Alright everyone! That's the end of Despite Adversity! I would like to thank everyone for reading and/or reviewing! You're all brilliant!

~Couchbarnacle.