It’s John Watson!

audio from bbc sherlock s2ep2 for a lipsync assignment

[He was fidgeting. Leaning. Shifting. Because he got away with that around John in the flat. Where no one else was looking or Sigar’s influence on his social learnings was weak.

Hand on his head and the voice made him stop after a last shift. No moving. Stop. Breath in. Hold. Breath out. Still.

But Sherlock had soft brown curls, not blond, that felt like silk under his fingers. He had broader shoulders that moved with measured, unnecessary breaths. He didn’t need to breathe but he did anyway because he was trusting John, he was staying perfectly still because John had told him to, and a thought occurred to him that even if this wasn’t exciting in that way....

It was still bloody exhilarating.

He kept that hand on Sherlock’s head for a few minutes longer. Just a few minutes of the stove clock ticking, of faint sounds of passersby from outside the flat window, of the smell of tea and ruddy blood and the rest of the familiar kitchen ambiance. It was exhilarating but John also found a bit of rest himself in those moments. Because Sherlock was still for a moment. And he was pretty sure (or at least he hoped) that it would help. And that had been his entire aim in the first place.

When it was over he took the hand away and bent down to press lips to Sherlock’s temple. That word “good” in the same tone but without actual words. Then the tea was set in front of him and John folded himself into the seat beside him. Shoulders relaxed, gentle smile.]

[He glanced over and saw the minute little twitches, taking a moment to consider if they counted. Decided that they did and reached out to set a hand on the top of Sherlock’s head. Lowered his voice again.]

Stop.

7:22–]

Seven twenty-two in the evening yesterday.

Don’t move.

He made himself toke in some air sharply. Pointless in the form of air- he didn’t need oxygen anymore. Lips twitched into a hard frown about that. Made himself exhale and even out his expression. 

John was a very grounding force and the hands felt like paperweights. Kept him from blowing away again.

It took time. More than one breathing exercise to get there.

But he got calm. Remembered what meditation was and how to use it. And how much it was beneficial to thinking.

Jim and Lupin and John had an effect of giving him a more emotional tint to his life and behavior, but sometimes it wasn’t good for his process.

He needed to remember how to break off from his heart and focus with his mind again. Separate entities. Separate functions. He was neglecting his own maintenance and discipline.

Hands were on Sherlock’s shoulders as weights but also served to feel out his gradual relaxation pretty well too. His own shoulders relaxing unconsciously with them. Unbelievably pleased that his own personal experiment worked, and incredibly proud of Sherlock for working with him on it. After a few long minutes of unnecessary exhales and muscle deep fidgets, John finally moved himself. Only to glide firm thumbs up along the back of Sherlock’s neck. Back down again. Comfort and praise.]

When’s the last time you ate?

Atsushi Koyama