Christmas Socks

"Oh, why didn't you make a fire? It's cold in here!" John exclaimed, crossing the room and, grabbing a blanket off the back of the couch, crouched in front of the fire.

"Couldn't be bothered," Sherlock replied tonelessly, changing the magnification on his microscope.

"You aren't cold," John stated. "Of course you aren't," he muttered.

Sherlock shrugged absently.

"There," John said, straightening after a moment. "It'll get warm in here shortly. I need a cup of tea," he added after a short pause of thought. "Do you want one?"

When he didn't respond, John paused next to him, staring at the curly-haired head so intent on whatever he was looking at. "Sherlock."

Sherlock glanced up, doing a double take to find John now standing next to him. "What?"

"I said- oh, nevermind." John passed by Sherlock's self, putting the kettle on as he grabbed a mug from the cabinet. "What are you working on?"

"Experiment," Sherlock said shortly, changing slides.

"For?"

Sherlock didn't respond. John sighed.

His cuppa had just finished and he was just adding the last of the milk to it (that would teach Sherlock for ignoring him, and John was not going to go buy any!) when Sherlock finally spoke again.

"John, what are you wearing?"

John took a sip of his tea, glancing back at Sherlock. "What?" He still had the blanket around his shoulders, but he highly doubted that was what Sherlock was referencing to. "What's wrong?"

"Your socks-"

"Oh." John glanced down at the particularly warm pair of socks he'd swiped from his dresser drawer. "Christmas socks."

"They have... toes."

"I have toes, Sherlock," John replied dryly.

"Why do you have socks with toes in them?"

"Because they're toe socks?" Sherlock gave him a look. "I don't know, Sherlock, they're warm. Harry gave them to me." He paused. "Although I think she was drunk."

"That makes much more sense, seeing as how they're heinously obnoxious. The more pertinent question is why are you wearing them?"

John looked down at his own feet. "They're not obnoxious," he said instinctively. But... the red toes, the red and green stripes... "Huh. Maybe they are."

"Not maybe. Can't you see? They're hideous!"

"They're warm!" John replied, pulling the blanket further over his shoulders. "Now leave me and my... Christmas toe socks alone!" he said, taking another drink of his tea as he walked back into the sitting room.

"You look ridiculous, John," Sherlock finished, looking back to his microscope. "I can't fathom why any sane person would wear those."

"Are you sure you don't want a pair?" John asked cheerfully, sinking into his chair. He took another sip of his tea, watching Sherlock with an amused look. "It could be an experiment. See how warm they keep your feet in winter or something."

Sherlock paused with his hand on another slide.

John could see his mind working.

"Sherlock?"

"... No," he finished, placing the slide on the microscope. "Obviously," he muttered, returning his gaze to the experiment at hand.

John just laughed to himself, sipping at his tea.

I broke out the toe socks. I had to write a toe sock story. What's wrong with a toe sock story? Everybody needs a good toe sock story. xD I'm going to stop saying toe sock now, even though it definitely makes me smile. xD

I wonder if Benedict wears toe socks. I think that would be remarkably adorable.

Reviews are lovely! Happy Holiday season! :D