[Nightlight]

[seeagreatergood]

So things got awkward and Auggie moved his stuff back out of the Stark household into Milliways.

And he's been totally fine with it. Honestly. It's been kind of a relief not to have to keep such a close eye on himself the last three or four days. Milliways is kind of anxiety-inducing, but less anxiety inducing than living in a house with those two young men.

Of course, he misses the easy camaraderie. But it's not like this is the first time he valued safety over friendship.

Comments

[if_inconvenient]

He stands up and offers Auggie his arm, touching his fingertips to the back of Auggie's hand as a convenient way to locate him.

So there's that.

[seeagreatergood]

Auggie picks up his cane from the table and unfolds it, then pick up his book, leaving him exactly no hands free to take Sherlock's arm.

"I'm good."

[if_inconvenient]

"All right."

Making no comment on the circumstances, he leads Auggie to the stairs. And he is leading; he's making the amount of noise a normal human makes. Sherlock only ever does that on purpose.

[seeagreatergood]

Yep.

Auggie knows that that, if anything, is a sign of Sherry caring about him.

Maybe that's why this whole thing scares him.

[if_inconvenient]

It's not far to his room, but there are a lot of turns once they reach the third floor.

When he opens the door, the space on the other side is small. Even smaller than Sherlock's room at home, and that is already the smallest bedroom in the house.

[seeagreatergood]

". . . Huh," Auggie says from the doorway, listening to the acoustics. "Is there even room in here for both of us?"

[if_inconvenient]

"Oh, yes," Sherlock affirms. "Come on in. You can take the armchair—straight ahead."

[seeagreatergood]

Auggie is rather proud of himself for not making any Chris Hansen jokes as he finds the chair and sits down.

[if_inconvenient]

Sherlock takes a seat on the bed, tucking his feet up under him and leaning back against the headboard.

"You are sexually interested in us," he says evenly.

[seeagreatergood]

Okay, well, it's out there now.

Flat: "I haven't been as discreet about it as I'd've liked."

[if_inconvenient]

"No amount of discretion could have prevented my noticing."

[seeagreatergood]

"Yeah."

[if_inconvenient]

"But I don't intend to bother you about it."

[seeagreatergood]

--Auggie lets out a laugh, incredulous and not very humorous.

"I really don't know what to do with that."

He puts down the cane and book and runs his hands through his hair.

"How do you feel about me being sexually interested in you?"

[if_inconvenient]

"Lest any doubt remain in your mind, I assure you I return it."

[seeagreatergood]

He breathes in.

When he breathes out, his shoulders slump visibly as the tension goes out of him. He leans forward, elbows on his knees, resting his head on his hands.

"I didn't want to assume." He lifts his head, looking toward Sherlock. "I would never assume."

[if_inconvenient]

"Well. Thank you," he murmurs. "I did think I was being quite obvious, but that is a kind thought and a good principle to follow. It remains, I suppose, to ask whether we are going to do anything about it."

[seeagreatergood]

"We shouldn't," immediately. "You're more than ten years younger than me, Sherlock, and don't give me any crap about actually being a hundred and fifty. It would be extremely inappropriate."

[if_inconvenient]

"Auggie, I'm more than ten years younger than Tony. It does not stop us. The man who just gave me this lovely beating is forty-five. These things do not trouble me the way they trouble you."

[seeagreatergood]

The man who--

Dammit, no, he is not getting distracted.

"Yeah, well, I'm still troubled."

[if_inconvenient]

"You have every right to be." He shrugs. "I cannot change your mind for you."

[seeagreatergood]

"Yeah, and if you tried, I might have to kick your ass."

It doesn't quite reach his usual level of sarcasm, but it's a step in the right direction (i.e. away from the pants-shitting fear that Sherlock would be accusing him of abusing their trust).

"Does Tony know, too?"

[if_inconvenient]

"He took you at your word when you said you were not interested and has not reevaluated the matter since."

[seeagreatergood]

He snorts.

"That kid."

That's the kind of trust that makes him worry about Tony.

[if_inconvenient]

"And he loves you," Sherlock says quietly. "We both do."