Their first kiss takes place at the bottom of the stairs, where their first laugh was. And, thatâs where it starts, the âdouble-tapâ, Sherlock calls it.
As John slowly separates their lips, he tugs Sherlockâs forehead down to his own and brings their temples gently together twice. Though Sherlock notices it happening, he has no urge at all to question it. Not when his mind is already spiraling after the first touch of Johnâs lips against his own. Foreheads be damned.Â
But, Sherlock notices the double-tap again. This time at night, in their bed. Johnâs holding Sherlock from behind, arms secured around the detectiveâs waist. Sherlock is drifting off into the milky feeling of sleep, when he feels a small âbump-bumpâ against the bare skin along his spine â followed by a small puff of warm air as John sighs contently.
What was it? Why does John do that?
Sherlock applies some rather embarrassing internet searches to the topic of forehead-bumping your partners...but comes up with nothing but juvenile sites for teens venturing off into the âExciting World of Relationshipsâ, as well as sites that gives tips on executing a successful headbutt that will knock out an attacker in one go.
Neither of those help. So, Sherlock assumes itâs just a John-thing. Which is fine, because that means itâs going to be easier to figure out. Sherlock just needs to focus on it better.
Two and a half weeks into the Bump Study, and Sherlockâs not really gotten anywhere.
What originally Sherlock thought was an action done after kissing, turns out to be an action done before falling asleep, after saying hello, before saying goodbye, after an argument, after tea, in the middle of watching a film, etc.
One day, Sherlock gets fed up with not knowing. He hates not knowing.
âWhat is that?â Sherlock asks, and in confusion, John looks down at the only thing he has currently.
John waves a hand toward his plate. âToast with peach jamâŚ?â
âDamn the jam, John.â Sherlock rubs the heels of his palms against his eyes. âThe head thing, what is it?â
âOh, John. I envy you.â
John rolls his eyes. âYes, yes. I know.â He says. âLucky John gets to be an idiot, while I, the Sherlock have to lug the weight of my big brain around.â
Sherlock peeks up from between his fingers. âYou take that back.â
âYou probably only have curls to hide the massiveness of your head that your brain causes.â
âI just. Want to know. Why you bump me with your forehead.â Sherlock canât believe the conversation theyâre having.
âOh,â Johnâs frozen for a moment, then heâs shifting about. âItâs justâŚâ
Sherlock is quite literally on the edge of his seat. âYes??â
John is blushing. âI do it for a lot of reasons.â
Sherlockâs mouth falls open, then snaps shut. "Goodness, John. Your ability to specify leaves our country forever indebted.â
âPrick,â John dry-laughs. âAnyway, itâs words, Sherlock.â
âEach tap is usually a word, and sometimes itâs a single word with two syllables.â
âTell me. Which words?â
"Okay,â John says. âWarning though, this is very sappy.â
âThe words are: âthank youâ,â John gets out of his chair. ââNeed youâ, âwant youâ, âlove youâ, âhate youââŚâ He stops in front of Sherlock, leans down until heâs close enough to softly bring their foreheads together twice. ââSher-Lockâ.â
John breaks the name into its two separate sounds to show how it fits into the double-tap.
Sherlock doesnât know why he feels so near tears.