Eight

Despite all that, Sherlock still treated me like a stranger.

It begun to get on my nerves but I learned to let it go. If that's how he was going to play, then I'll just have to build our relationship back up from square one.

Then maybe, in this second chance, we could actually be something more.

"Ah, William! How's it going?" For some reason, Mycroft has been acting weirdly friendly and almost overly nice to me these past few months. Ever since the day I formally "met" his brother.

"Good. How's the case?" 

"Oh, it's going well. Anyways, do you wanna grab a bite to eat later? Together? Preferably alone?" He asked with a very suspicious smile on.

I see what it is now... ah, what an awkward situation.

"Ah um... I don't-"

"It's a yes! Alright, tonight, 7 pm, at the cafeteria, how about? Anyways, be there! I have something to tell you, or more like ask you!" And with that he was gone.

Now I felt nervous. He was going to confess to me, right? How the hell was I supposed to tell him that I've actually been crushing on his brother for years now? And plus, he was my boss! This was just wrong in so many ways... but he'll be expecting me, so I have to go.

Well, might as well clear up some misunderstandings, right?

But... what if he tries something? What if he... I don't know how to deal with that kind of stuff... Wait no, I'm overthinking it right? He works in the court! That kind of stuff can get you arrested and charged! Plus, he has to be a reasonable guy right? I'm sure he'll understand...

...right?

I walked cautiously and slowly towards the cafeteria. I peeked around the corner and surely saw Mycroft there. But he wasn't wearing any fancy getup... maybe that was a positive sign?

I slowly made my way over to him. I suddenly didn't feel safe sitting next to him.

"William! You made it~" He smirked and I felt very uncomfortable.

I shifted in my seat slightly and took a deep breath. I decided I wasn't going to stay longer than I needed to. "Um... I would just like to clarify that I have no interest in you and will now be taking my leave-"

"Woah woah woah! Hold on a minute! What?" Mycroft put his hands up. "I'm not confessing my feelings for you! I don't have any! I swear!"

I stopped. I read the situation wrong?

"I mean... yes, I do like somebody right now, but that somebody is not you! (It may or may not be one of your brother's though)" He looked away after whispering that last part.

"Woah, I heard that." I let out a sigh of relief. "Which one? It's Albert isn't it?" I smirked as I watched his eyes dart around the room.

Honestly, it had been too obvious. Not only because he said it was one of my brothers and the only one he worked with was Albert, but also simply because of how he acted around him versus around everyone else. Mycroft? He practically had hearts in his eyes when he was with Albert. Although, I really couldn't tell if it was reciprocated, unfortunately.

"Anyways... I have a question for you, William." I sat back down again, and nodded for him to continue. "Would you take Sherlock's hand in marriage, if I asked you to?"

...

What? ...

My face turned bright red. I struggled to make words. It was Mycroft's turn to be entertained.

"Oh? It's not that hard of a question is it? Seeing the questions you've been able to solve, detective Moriarty~" He smirked.

"I-" I bit my lip. "What the hell do you mean 'not that hard of a question'?! As far as I remember, these are not the types of questions I normally solve right?!" He laughed at my sudden outburst. I felt humiliated.

"Jokes aside..." He breathed a sigh of relief. "...I was practically gambling on whether you had a little something for my brother, so I'm glad I'm right."

"..." To say I was not expecting this to be what it was about would be an understatement. It's been a while since I've been this caught off guard.

"But... would you?" I looked back up confused. "You didn't actually answer my ques-"

"MYCROFT HOLMES. YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO SET ME UP WITH SOMEONE ARE YO- Oh... h-hi Liam~"

I felt my heart rate speed up at the sound of my best friend's voice. I waved at him awkwardly, praying my face had calmed down now.

He ran over and wrapped his arms around me and I felt my heart beat even faster.

"W-wait... Mycroft..." His tone sounded annoyed and threatening, like a mother about to scold her children.

"Don't worry Sherly~ I'm not hurting him!" He smiled very widely.

"Oh my god! Liam, please don't listen to him. Ever since I told him I haven't had any romance in my life since Irene, he said he'd get me a fiance and I just couldn't stop him... I-I'm not..interested in..y-you..." He begun to sound very skeptical at the end.

My heart dropped when I heard him say those last few words, even though he sounded very hesitant saying them.

"Anyways~ we're gonna leave Mycroft and his little delusions alone now-"

"I would gladly be your fiance."

Everybody froze upon hearing this; Sherlock, Mycroft, even me.

"I-I mean..." I struggled to take it back. So fuck it, here we go. "I've liked you for a long time now Sherlock. Actually, it was because of these feelings that I introduced you to Irene all those years ago... I actually hated seeing you two together... I-I..." Any courage that I might've had before was gone now. But I said what I needed to. Even if I didn't include all the details, the main point had been said...

And now, we wait for him to end it all.

...

...

I ran away.

I was laying in bed, unable to fall asleep. My gaze was stuck on the ceiling as if I tried to move it, my thoughts would come back and eat me alive.

Finally giving up, I got out of bed and went outside to the empty halls to take a walk.

"Will. Can't sleep?"

I looked up from the ground to Albert at the end of the corridor. He was sitting in the window sill. (the residency hallways are basically like a hotel just fyi cuz im too lazy to make it unique) 

"Yeah, you?"

He simply nodded. I walked over to him as he moved his feet from propping them up on the window sill to dangling them just above the ground. I took a seat next to him.

"What's up with you?" I joked. He didn't laugh. Instead, he just sighed.

"I don't know. That's what's up." He sighed again, looking away. "I think... I think Mycroft likes me... and I don't know what to do with this information." He looked back up to me with a look I've never seen before on his face; helpless. "You know, not the platonic like, like the like like..." (woahh so many likes :P)

So he did notice, huh. I knew Albert wasn't as oblivious as all authors seem to believe people in love are, so I don't know why I wasn't expecting him to figure it out.

"Ah... that is an awkward situation..." I laughed nervously, looking up to the ceiling, again. "Do.. do you like him?" I gave him a slight smile in hopes to reassure him.

He sighed again, looking back down. "I don't know. I've never thought about it.."

I sighed, turning up again to the ceiling that has kept me company for these past few hours. A smile made its way onto my lips. "I think... I think you should give him a chance. Mycroft's a good guy, I'm sure he would understand if you decide it's not for you later." I gave him a close-eyed smile.

"Me and Mycroft huh?" He let out a small chuckle. I opened my eyes to see him looking down again, but this time with a smile. "It sounds...nice." It was the first time I've seen Albert so relaxed before.. Come to think of it, Albert seems much more comfortable and relaxed when he's with Mycroft.

"I would rather it be him than some random girl anyway."