[ He's a little distracted by the quality of the tone and the way Sherlock is leaning closer, as if he's never been granted a modicum of affection in his life. Being close enough to feel the tension and the awkwardness rolling off of the other, it's hard to remember that he's a perfect bastard, and by choice for the majority. John finds himself wrapping his hand around the back of the man's neck and issuing another tender gesture, just a light squeeze at the muscle.
But when Sherlock draws down so close to his ear, he's not going to be able to stop the delicate tremor that comes of it. That's a sensitive area, at least for him. The man's words could just as readily be an apology as well as a joke because oh, god.
His head turns away from that attention, off of reflex and knowing this is not where Sherlock wants to go. This is out of bounds for them. He tries to gentle it by speaking against the hollow of the man's cheek, lips still curled in a hint of a grin. ]
And yet, if I've managed it...
[ He offers a joke in return, though it might be in desperation to say anything at all. ]
no subject
But when Sherlock draws down so close to his ear, he's not going to be able to stop the delicate tremor that comes of it. That's a sensitive area, at least for him. The man's words could just as readily be an apology as well as a joke because oh, god.
His head turns away from that attention, off of reflex and knowing this is not where Sherlock wants to go. This is out of bounds for them. He tries to gentle it by speaking against the hollow of the man's cheek, lips still curled in a hint of a grin. ]
And yet, if I've managed it...
[ He offers a joke in return, though it might be in desperation to say anything at all. ]