Brother Dearest (Sherlock X Reader)
Your brother isn’t the easiest person to be around, so when he’s in town and wants to go to dinner and catch up, your not too keen on going. Luckily a clever detective knows a way to make your night worth-while.
Warnings: Insults towards reader,
You read the text over again, wondering just how you should respond. Sharon would be there, so that was a plus, but at the same time, he was going to be there and you didn’t want to deal with him.
Your brother was the worst. Growing up, he would push you into puddles, get angry with you and call you names for no reason at all. It wasn’t ‘sibling love’, it was genuine anger and hatred, and he could easily get away with it. Being the first born, he was always given a little special treatment, even if he couldn’t see it.
So when he got older, he realized that wouldn’t fly in the real world, and getting to go out with you was the only way he could freely insult someone and everyone would just wave it off with a laugh and sigh, ‘siblings!’, turning the other way.
Nights when he was in town on business were nights that he needed a verbal punching bag and you were the perfect target.
Sherlock stomped in rather loudly, obviously annoyed himself about the current case, but when he turned and saw your indecisive state, he stopped and walked over.
“Everything alright?” he wondered. You locked your phone quickly, standing and shoving it in your pocket.
“You didn’t seem fine. Do you want to talk about it?”
He always asked that. John had swatted his hands several times for just walking away, shrugging his shoulders and saying, ‘Okay’ when you said you were fine. John, knowing a bit more about dating, or relationships in general, for that matter, made sure to let Sherlock know, several times, that fine doesn’t always mean fine and he sometimes has to open the window for conversation.
“It’s nothing, just my brother.” You began. “He wants to meet for dinner.”
He nodded slowly, humming in understanding. “Older?”
He hummed again. “Older brothers are a pain. How will you answer?”
You shrugged. “If I want to avoids my mother’s wrath, I guess I’ll go.”
“Well, let me go with you then. Perhaps it won’t be as awful with someone else there.”
You smiled at his offer. Your brother’s wife, Sharon, was going to be there, but it would be nice for Sherlock to come as well, maybe he would be a wall between you and verbal punches.
They were already seated at the table when you both arrived. Sharon lifted her head from her menu the moment you arrived, standing to hug you, smiling ear to ear. You brother stood as well, but you could tell from the bored look on his face that he was doing so because it was a formality, not because he was overly excited to see you.
You were pulling into a hug by Sharon, who squeezed you so tightly you swore you almost burst, however, you loved the warmth and love that was behind the forceful gesture. Sharon was always your advocate, speaking up for you when you were far too bashful to.
Your brother only smiled at you before his eyes shifted to Sherlock, who stood behind you.
“Who’s this?” he asked with a smile.
“Oh, this is Sherlock, my boyfriend. Sherlock this is my brother, Wade, and his wife, Sharon.”
Sherlock gave them a small smile as Sharon and Wade shook his hand.
You all sat at the table and Sharon got your attention.
“He’s cute!” She mouthed. You only smiled, feeling a slight blush creep over your cheeks.
You all sat at the table, glasses of water already in front of you. You assumed Sharon went ahead and ordered them for you, just in case.
“So, how have you been?” You asked, making conversation. You could hear Sherlock groan quietly sue to the small talk that was about to ensue, but you kicked his ankle lightly as Sharon answered.
She went into detail, telling you how they were in the process of fixing up a new house, painting the walls different colors and buying furniture.
She began telling you about some shelves she ordered to go on the walls when Wade stopped her.
“Really, Shar, if she cared she would call.”
Sharon’s smile faltered and she closed her mouth, sinking back into her seat.
“She might care.” She argued.
“She doesn’t.” He assured her.
“I do.” You nodded, leaning forward, hoping Sharon would ignore him and tell you more.
“Do you?” He asked. You nodded.
“I think she’s made it very clear that she does.” Sherlock answered. “But, even if she was lying, which I highly unlikely, I am interested, so please, Sharon, continue.”
Sharon sent him a thankful smile, leaning forward once again. She had been mainly talking to you, not out of rudeness, Sharon was one of the kindest people you knew, she just didn’t think Sherlock would be very interested in her journey of interior decorating. But now, you could tell, she was including him into more of the conversation, asking him what he thought, showing him the pictures he missed, and talking about paint colors.
You and Wade, however, were left to your own devices. You had ordered several minutes ago and you looked around the restaurant, wondering where your food was. You were praying it would get here soon, that way you could leave before the night got bad.
“Really, Y/N, it hasn’t been that long. No wonder you look so different.” He muttered.
“What do you mean?” You asked, taking your eyes from the other patrons and turning to him.
“I mean you’ve gained weight. You’re getting fat.” He said simply and slowly, as if you wouldn’t understand otherwise. You noticed Sharon and Sherlock’s conversation got quieter, but didn’t stop.
“I’ve only gained a few pounds, nothing out of the ordinary.”
“I think that’s an understatement. It shows.”
”Wade!” Sharon warned, stopping her conversation. “She looks great. So what if she gained some weight, she’s just filling out. She looks wonderful, don’t you agree?” She turned to Sherlock, who quickly nodded.
Sharon nodded, turning back to Wade. “’Stunning’.”
“He’s obligated to say that, unless he wants to sleep on the couch.”
“Really, Wade, I’m not that shallow.” You shook your head, staring at the table.
You opened your mouth to answer when the waiter arrived, setting your food down in front of you.
You ate in silence, taking small bites so Wade wouldn’t make anymore weight jabs at you.
“So, how many does this make?” He asked between large bites of his pasta.
“What do you mean?” You almost didn’t ask. You wanted to avoid his questions and remarks all-togehter, but you knew that wasn’t going to happen. This momma’s boy was a direct pipeline to your mother and you knew any rudeness on your end would result in a lengthy, over-the-phone lecture about family.
“Well, this isn’t really a date, but…” he trailed off with a shrug, as if you were supposed to know what he was talking about.
When you, Sherlock, and Sharon returned his comment with blank stares, he sighed and elaborated.
“I mean, since you’ve been in London, how many first dates?” He turned his attention to Sherlock, who was really only listening to find a way to punch his perfect teeth.
“In highschool and college, she was the queen of first dates.”
“Wade, really?” You whispered, wishing your menu was back so you could hide your face.
“So, when she moved here I wondered if it was any different”
You turned to him to elaborate. “I went on a lot of first dates, but I never really found anyone I clicked with.”
“Which is probably another excuse as to why her friend group is almost nonexistence.”
“Do you? Is that why you’re at home all the time?”
“How do you know I’m at home all the time?”
He scoffed. “Mom has no secrets.”
You sighed. You knew you couldn’t trust her. “We have a lot of nights in, is that so wrong So what, I have only a few close friends compared to your frat-house full of douchbags.”
You saw Sharon purse her lips together as she ate her salad quietly, obviously amused.
“You would know if they were. You probably went on a date with half of them.”
You heard Sherlock’s annoyed sigh as he shifted in his seat. You knew what was coming, he had been ready to explode the moment he saw Wade.
“Maybe she has gone on several dates. At least she’s not a serial cheat and using business trips as an excuse to see her lovers.”
Wade stopped chewing, looking up from his plate of food. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, sometimes I mumble and I don’t realize it. Awful habit.” he took a deep breath, speaking a little louder. “I said-”
“No, no,” Wade put his fork down, raising a hand to stop him. “I know what you said. What I want to understand is what you’re implying.”
“Oh, I wasn’t implying anything. Why? Guilty conscious?”
You looked over to Sharon, who was quiet and shocked. You watched as she reached into Wade’s lap slowly as Wade argued with Sherlock, slowly moving her hand under the table, then looking into her lap.
She sighed, annoyed and Sherlock ceased his conversation, stopping Wade mid-sentence, to say something.
She looked back down in her lap, working quickly while Wade’s nostrils flared.
“I’m Sherlock Holmes.” He answered as Sharon’s hand flew to her mouth.
“He wasn’t kidding.” She whispered.
Wade stood quickly, chair flying back.
“Do you know what you’ve just done?” He said through his teeth.
Sherlock stood as well, slowly and politely, completely opposite of your brother.
“Do you know what you’ve been doing?” Sherlock asked, glancing at you. Wade’s eyes shifted towards you, knowing what Sherlock was implying.
You looked towards Sharon, who had put the phone on the table and looked as if she was about to puke.
“A lot.” Sherlock responded. “Did you really think the weight comments, the date comments, the negative comments on her social life were nice? Even I know it’s really not that polite.”
“She’s my sister, what does manners have to do with it?”
Sherlock shrugged. “She’s human. And so is your wife.”
Sherlock moved around the table, grabbing Sharon’s coat and helping her from her chair, wrapping the coat around her shoulders.
You took this as your cue, standing and grabbing your coat as well, the three of you leaving the restaurant while Wade muttered behind you. You took one last glance and saw a waiter timidly hand Wade the check. You chuckled as you walking outside, knowing that Sherlock knew just when to leave so that he would get stuck with the huge bill.
The taxi ride was almost silent. You let Sharon lean her head on your shoulder as she let out quiet, repressed sobs every so often while Sherlock held her hand, merely to comfort her. It went against his while cool and cold demeanor, but you knew he had a soft spot for women in general, especially wronged women and wanted to do everything possible to comfort her, even if it meant stepping out of his comfort zone and holding an almost-stranger’s hand.
You both took her back to 221B, letting her have the extra room upstairs. She took it without argument, not wanting to spend the money on a hotel room and not wanting to see Wade again that night.
She sad goodnight and went straight to bed, not bothering to join you and Sherlock for tea and a small snack in place of dinner.
You and Sherlock ate quietly, both enjoying the silence after the rollar coaster that night had been.
“Thank you.” You said finally, finishing your tea.
“Everything you did. For standing up to him for me and for Sharon. It was really nice.”
You smile back, standing to take your much to the kitchen. “Finished?” You asked, pointing to his. He nodded and you took it to the sink as well.
“Will she see him again before they’re supposed to go home?” Sherlock asked.
‘I don’t know.” You answered, walking back into the living room. “She said something about going home early, packing up her things and moving in with her mom for the time being.”
”Will you two keep in touch?”
You didn’t really know what else to say. You wanted to thank him again, but you didn’t want to keep repeating yourself.
“No, I don’t think so.” You said. “There’ll be some times I won’t be able to avoid him, but I’ll try to as much as I can.”
Sherlock nodded. “I’m sorry.” He said. “It wasn’t true, anything he said. You know that, don’t you?”
You nodded. “I do know, yeah. Used to believe him all the time, though. It was rough.”
He only nodded again in understanding.
“Well, still, if it’s any consolation, I really do think you’re stunning.”
You laughed a little. “Thanks.”
“And I’m glad that you stayed after the first date.”
You would have smiled, but instead you raised an eyebrow.
“We didn’t have a first date, Sherl.”
He nodded. “Yes, we did.”
“No, love, we got kidnapped and you spent an hour trying to get us out.”
He gasped. “Oh, yeah. You’re not counting that as a first date, though?”
“No, I’m not. The door was unlocked, it was awful.”
“You laugh about it now, though.” He argued.
“Maybe now, but not then. I had to use the bathroom so bad.”
“How could I forget. It’s all you talked about for thirty minutes.”
”It’s all I could think about for thirty minutes.”
”You’re seriously not going to count that as our first date? We’ve never gone on a first date?”
You laughed and shook your head. “No, we haven’t.”
“Well, Friday night, that’ll change.”
“You’re not afriad we won’t click and I’ll run?”
He gave you a look and you laughed. “No, I’m not.”
“I don’t mind, though. That we haven’t really gone on a date.”
You sat back down beside him on the couch.
“So you wouldn’t mind if Friday we just stayed in?”
You laughed and shook your head.
“We could got and sit in a puddle in the street.”
He scrunched his nose. “Why would we do that?”
You laughed a little more, leaning your head on his shoulder.
“Thank you again.” You muttered.
You felt him smile, cheek pressed against your head.
Requests are going to be open again soon. I’m almost to the bottom of the list, so I’ll be taking some more soon.
Also, I’ll have another oneshot tomorrow for Valentine’s Day. It was a request but I’ve been kind of saving it back for this.
I hope you guys enjoyed this one.
