A Life on Repeat, Ch.2
Jun. 3rd, 2012 12:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jdmcoolTitle: A Life On Repeat, Ch. 2
Pairing: Jim/Moran, Moriarty/Moran
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,232
Summary: Jim tries to balance out the memories of his former life with the reality he's in.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, unfortunately. Written for this prompt at the SHKinkMeme.
Sitting in the park, Jim looked over his emails with a smile. He just loved the ‘Dear Jim’ bits. It made him feel special and rather amused that so many people felt that was the proper way to start off a conversation him. As though he was some sort of columnist or blogger. Someone who could help with every little issue in their lives and make it better. Which, in a way, he figured he was, if one over looked the whole murder thing that tended to come from it, but really, why would anyone do that?
“Oi. Look up,” a gruff tone directed him.
Looking up to yell at the other man, he stopped when he noticed the files and coffee in his associate’s hand. Taking it, he decided not to verbally abuse Sebastian for talking to him in such a manner. Instead, he merely sipped at his drink as he looked over the papers he’d been handed.
To be honest, it was rather surprising how useful Sebastian had turned out to be. If nothing else, his dreams were right about how much better having the other around made things. Or rather, that’swhat he was assuming.
It wasn’t often that he used Moran for anything that the other might consider useful. Just a bit of reconnaissance from time to time, getting him things. Though, Sebastian only had himself to blame for that since Jim probably would’ve stopped if he hadn’t been such an overachiever, often feeling the need to bring Jim food and drink along with his information since the man didn’t think he took care of himself.
Smiling behind the cup, he had to admit, it was a bit nice to be worried after too. Not that he intended to let it go on for too long. Last thing he needed was Sebastian thinking that he could just play mother hen whenever he damn well felt like it. Not when he was doing to just try to figure out what Jim was plotting most of the time.
“So, working in the park?” Sebastian asked as he relaxed into the park bench.
Tucking the papers underneath his laptop, Jim nodded. “It’s always good to get fresh air.”
“Course. Might as well enjoy the day when fielding important messages like what button do I press to turn on my computer.”
Glaring, Jim focused on answering one of the messages sent to him from a group. A nice little terrorist cell looking to accomplish something that was less boring than most of the others who’d contacted him so far.
“It’s the button with the dot and IT is a necessary evil,” Jim muttered as he worked.
Sebastian snorted as he shook his head. “No it’s not. No evil is really necessary. Just fun. And you’re not on the fun end of those IT calls.”
“Right. It’s better to be the idiot calling about some useless problem.”
“No. I’ve seen your face when you handle those calls. It’s much better to watch it all play out,” Sebastian remarked with a wry smirk.
Glaring at him, Jim said, “Your presence isn’t actually necessary here, you know that, right?”
Sebastian nodded before grabbing Jim’s coffee. Taking a sip, he began looking around the park with that critical eye of his. “I know. But… You sure about this cabby?”
“He’s my opening move. A Queen’s Gambit.”
“Hate chess, Jim.”
Rolling his eyes, Jim went back to his work. He was officially not having this conversation. He knew what he was doing with the cab driver, even if Sebastian didn’t believe so.
“And your gambit is going to get declined.”
Looking up at that, Jim frowned.
Moran merely sat there, cleaning his gun calmly, as though they weren’t having a discussion on his latest plans. Something Moran felt was nothing but trouble in the making for some unnamable reason since Moriarty didn’t consider the man’s distrust of Blackwood to be a good reason.
“Moran, tell me what you know about a man named Reordan?”
“The ginger midget you have me watching?” Moran asked with a bit of disgust. Putting his gun on the table, hand resting over it in was most would consider a threat, he shook his head. “Nothing too much. Bit of a recluse in an attention starved way.”
“So Miss Adler will be perfect for meeting him then,” Moriarty decided before going back to his papers, almost pleased with the progress his class seemed to be making.
“Why do you need him anyways?”
Looking up at the man, Moriarty debated the benefit of telling Moran. Not that he didn’t trust the man after the small amount they had been through so far, but the man was too much of a hunter. Every action was a step toward understanding and catching his prey, a sort of focus that Moriarty didn’t like have directed at him.
That and it was always worrisome when someone questioned him about his plans. After all, he couldn’t have someone ruining them or turning against him. Not that he feared as much from Moran as of yet, but he knew far too well what it was like to have to get rid of someone who he happened to value because they didn’t abide by his rules. Glancing at the gun Moran’s hand seemed content to rest upon, Moriarty chose not to answer him.
“And have you heard anything about Blackwood?”
“He’s got another girl. Yard’s got some detective helping them out,” Moran explained with a shrug.
And that was simply wonderful since Moran didn’t have to know exactly what was happening for Moriarty to enjoy it. Finishing with the papers, he smiled at the man, relishing the look of confusion on Moran’s face.
“Thank you for telling me.”
“If you want, I could easily get rid of him. After all, they don’t seem to care for him much.”
Smirking, Moriarty shook his head. It was always amusing to see Moran get anxious to kill. Like a puppy that wanted to go outside and runabout. And while he normally would let that happen, Moriarty was quietly intrigued by the consulting detective that had taken to ruining his plan.
“I don’t think that will be necessary, Moran,” he said as he slowly rose to his feet. Dusting himself off, he gathered up his things and nodded his thanks toward the other man before saying, “I’ll have Miss Adler look into this particular change if you don’t mind.”
“And what am I to do?” Moran questioned, sounding more than a tad annoyed.
Jim buried his face in the sofa as he did his best to hold in a yawn. Working two jobs was hardly thrilling and while he had only recently started up with his IT work, he couldn’t say that he was enjoying it. Not like he was enjoying the rising body count. Always interesting to learn what a man would do for the sake of his children. Well, until the woman in pink came into play.
Now, with London’s finest trying on the case, Jim found himself hoping that Sherlock really was as clever as his blog would lead one to believe and figure it out. He didn’t care much either way about that driver Jeff Hope. Live or die, the man was nearly useless now.
Hearing his phone ring, Jim looked around for it before Sebastian entered the room, phone pressed to his shoulder. The man didn’t seem too pleased, but Jim couldn’t say he cared when he was almost certain that the phone call was for him. Holding out his hand, he waited for it to be handed over to him.
“Yeah, why are you in my flat taking a kip?”
“Phone,” Jim said, already having a good idea who it could be.
But Sebastian made no immediate move to budge. Instead, he glared at him as though he was going to bother to say something else. It was a look that Jim topped, his patience wearing thin enough without Sebastian getting into a fuss over a minor invasion of privacy.
Handing over the phone, Sebastian stood next to the couch as Jim dealt with his conversation. If he wanted to wait for the chat to end, he could Jim decided as he sat there. He wasn’t going to let the other man interfere with his business or intimidate him. Not to mention, with the way he stood there at rest, quietly watching, Jim found it more than a bit easy to forget his presence all together.
“Yes. There should be no problem with this. Good day,” he said with a small smile. Hanging up his phone, he looked up at Sebastian, a bit surprised to find himself staring down the barrel of a gun. Lifting his eyes from the weapon in his face to the calm look on Sebastian’s face, he sighed. “What is it you want now?”
“Bit of a chat,” Sebastian said in the same tone he might ask someone’s opinion on a match. “You know, if you wanted to find me, could’ve called.”
“I didn’t want you though. Just your couch.”
“Right. Break into my flat for the chance to sleep on my couch. Sounds logical.”
“I knew you’d see the brilliance in my idea,” Jim said as he got up. But as he stood, he found the gun wasn’t just aimed at him, but pressed solidly against his chest. “Not done?”
“I work for you and nothing more. If you don’t have work for me, I don’t want you around.”
“And here I thought we were friends,” Jim teased.
Sebastian cocked his gun as he arched a brow, challenging Jim to keep up with his behavior.
Holding up his hands in defeat, Jim nodded. “Fine. Boundaries found. I’ll leave.”
“Oh, so soon? Pity,” he said, gesturing toward the door with his gun.
Making a show of gathering his things, Jim made his way out the door. From there he hailed a taxi, smirking to himself as he got in and gave his destination. Somehow, the man he found himself working with was even more interesting than the one in his dreams. Sebastian wasn’t some proper Victorian man who was careful to mind his place. No, his was willing to kill to keep his privacy to himself while ready to follow an order without question. His was more soldier than anything else.
Watching the man out of the corner of his eye, Moriarty couldn’t help but be tempted to question what it was, exactly, that had brought him to his office. After all, Moriarty found it was much easier to rely on Miss Adler with the new problem that was Sherlock Holmes and his associate, Dr. John Watson. And that meant that Moran’s purposes had been severely reduced for the time being. Smiling politely when the student he’d been talking to finally left, Moriarty turned his attention toward Moran.
Without so much as a peep, the man pushed himself away from the wall, nodding at the young man before making his way over to Moriarty’s desk. Standing in front of it, just hand positioning from standing at rest, he nodded toward the paper on the edge of the desk.
“So, this detective caught Blackwood?”
Looking at it as though he hadn’t even noticed its presence, Moriarty nodded. “It would appear so. Blackwood is going to hang for his crimes.”
“Which leaves your dealings with him where?”
“Perfectly intact,” he said with an amused smile. How could he not be amused when Moran was so obviously lost?
Not that Moran would ever confess to such a thing. He simply stood there, brow a hair’s breath away from being furrowed. Curious and yet so unwilling to question. Likely because he knew that an answer would be less than forthcoming.
Pulling out his red book, Moriarty looked it over, going through his funds to ensure that he could take his next step, as Blackwood’s purpose would be coming to a close one way or another and Moriarty prided himself on being five steps ahead of everyone else.
“I’ll be requiring you to make a trip for me,” he stated casually. A simple statement that never failed to get the sort of reaction he enjoyed most.
Narrowing his eyes, Moran looked over the desk for any sort of clues as to what the favor might be before coming to rest on the red book in Moriarty’s hand. Straightening slightly, he allowed himself to frown.
“A trip?”
“Asia. There’s a man I’m looking to associate with, but first I need to make sure this… detective doesn’t ruin my plans with Blackwood.”
“So you’re sending me to Asia?”
“China to be more specific. You can do this for me, can you not?”
Moran nodded without hesitation. “Course. Should be more interesting than a ginger midget.”
“I knew you would see it that way.”
Waving his hand, he watched as the man nodded and put his hat back on as he exited the office. It was too easy getting Moran to agree to the trip, but he knew better than to question minor idiosyncrasies of the Colonel. Instead, he would just have someone watch over the man to ensure that whatever his reasoning for agreeing so easily, Moriarty would know before they might become dangerous since Sherlock Holmes was hardly the only person worth keeping an eye out for in his little spider web.
Pairing: Jim/Moran, Moriarty/Moran
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,232
Summary: Jim tries to balance out the memories of his former life with the reality he's in.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, unfortunately. Written for this prompt at the SHKinkMeme.
Sitting in the park, Jim looked over his emails with a smile. He just loved the ‘Dear Jim’ bits. It made him feel special and rather amused that so many people felt that was the proper way to start off a conversation him. As though he was some sort of columnist or blogger. Someone who could help with every little issue in their lives and make it better. Which, in a way, he figured he was, if one over looked the whole murder thing that tended to come from it, but really, why would anyone do that?
“Oi. Look up,” a gruff tone directed him.
Looking up to yell at the other man, he stopped when he noticed the files and coffee in his associate’s hand. Taking it, he decided not to verbally abuse Sebastian for talking to him in such a manner. Instead, he merely sipped at his drink as he looked over the papers he’d been handed.
To be honest, it was rather surprising how useful Sebastian had turned out to be. If nothing else, his dreams were right about how much better having the other around made things. Or rather, that’swhat he was assuming.
It wasn’t often that he used Moran for anything that the other might consider useful. Just a bit of reconnaissance from time to time, getting him things. Though, Sebastian only had himself to blame for that since Jim probably would’ve stopped if he hadn’t been such an overachiever, often feeling the need to bring Jim food and drink along with his information since the man didn’t think he took care of himself.
Smiling behind the cup, he had to admit, it was a bit nice to be worried after too. Not that he intended to let it go on for too long. Last thing he needed was Sebastian thinking that he could just play mother hen whenever he damn well felt like it. Not when he was doing to just try to figure out what Jim was plotting most of the time.
“So, working in the park?” Sebastian asked as he relaxed into the park bench.
Tucking the papers underneath his laptop, Jim nodded. “It’s always good to get fresh air.”
“Course. Might as well enjoy the day when fielding important messages like what button do I press to turn on my computer.”
Glaring, Jim focused on answering one of the messages sent to him from a group. A nice little terrorist cell looking to accomplish something that was less boring than most of the others who’d contacted him so far.
“It’s the button with the dot and IT is a necessary evil,” Jim muttered as he worked.
Sebastian snorted as he shook his head. “No it’s not. No evil is really necessary. Just fun. And you’re not on the fun end of those IT calls.”
“Right. It’s better to be the idiot calling about some useless problem.”
“No. I’ve seen your face when you handle those calls. It’s much better to watch it all play out,” Sebastian remarked with a wry smirk.
Glaring at him, Jim said, “Your presence isn’t actually necessary here, you know that, right?”
Sebastian nodded before grabbing Jim’s coffee. Taking a sip, he began looking around the park with that critical eye of his. “I know. But… You sure about this cabby?”
“He’s my opening move. A Queen’s Gambit.”
“Hate chess, Jim.”
Rolling his eyes, Jim went back to his work. He was officially not having this conversation. He knew what he was doing with the cab driver, even if Sebastian didn’t believe so.
“And your gambit is going to get declined.”
Looking up at that, Jim frowned.
Moran merely sat there, cleaning his gun calmly, as though they weren’t having a discussion on his latest plans. Something Moran felt was nothing but trouble in the making for some unnamable reason since Moriarty didn’t consider the man’s distrust of Blackwood to be a good reason.
“Moran, tell me what you know about a man named Reordan?”
“The ginger midget you have me watching?” Moran asked with a bit of disgust. Putting his gun on the table, hand resting over it in was most would consider a threat, he shook his head. “Nothing too much. Bit of a recluse in an attention starved way.”
“So Miss Adler will be perfect for meeting him then,” Moriarty decided before going back to his papers, almost pleased with the progress his class seemed to be making.
“Why do you need him anyways?”
Looking up at the man, Moriarty debated the benefit of telling Moran. Not that he didn’t trust the man after the small amount they had been through so far, but the man was too much of a hunter. Every action was a step toward understanding and catching his prey, a sort of focus that Moriarty didn’t like have directed at him.
That and it was always worrisome when someone questioned him about his plans. After all, he couldn’t have someone ruining them or turning against him. Not that he feared as much from Moran as of yet, but he knew far too well what it was like to have to get rid of someone who he happened to value because they didn’t abide by his rules. Glancing at the gun Moran’s hand seemed content to rest upon, Moriarty chose not to answer him.
“And have you heard anything about Blackwood?”
“He’s got another girl. Yard’s got some detective helping them out,” Moran explained with a shrug.
And that was simply wonderful since Moran didn’t have to know exactly what was happening for Moriarty to enjoy it. Finishing with the papers, he smiled at the man, relishing the look of confusion on Moran’s face.
“Thank you for telling me.”
“If you want, I could easily get rid of him. After all, they don’t seem to care for him much.”
Smirking, Moriarty shook his head. It was always amusing to see Moran get anxious to kill. Like a puppy that wanted to go outside and runabout. And while he normally would let that happen, Moriarty was quietly intrigued by the consulting detective that had taken to ruining his plan.
“I don’t think that will be necessary, Moran,” he said as he slowly rose to his feet. Dusting himself off, he gathered up his things and nodded his thanks toward the other man before saying, “I’ll have Miss Adler look into this particular change if you don’t mind.”
“And what am I to do?” Moran questioned, sounding more than a tad annoyed.
Jim buried his face in the sofa as he did his best to hold in a yawn. Working two jobs was hardly thrilling and while he had only recently started up with his IT work, he couldn’t say that he was enjoying it. Not like he was enjoying the rising body count. Always interesting to learn what a man would do for the sake of his children. Well, until the woman in pink came into play.
Now, with London’s finest trying on the case, Jim found himself hoping that Sherlock really was as clever as his blog would lead one to believe and figure it out. He didn’t care much either way about that driver Jeff Hope. Live or die, the man was nearly useless now.
Hearing his phone ring, Jim looked around for it before Sebastian entered the room, phone pressed to his shoulder. The man didn’t seem too pleased, but Jim couldn’t say he cared when he was almost certain that the phone call was for him. Holding out his hand, he waited for it to be handed over to him.
“Yeah, why are you in my flat taking a kip?”
“Phone,” Jim said, already having a good idea who it could be.
But Sebastian made no immediate move to budge. Instead, he glared at him as though he was going to bother to say something else. It was a look that Jim topped, his patience wearing thin enough without Sebastian getting into a fuss over a minor invasion of privacy.
Handing over the phone, Sebastian stood next to the couch as Jim dealt with his conversation. If he wanted to wait for the chat to end, he could Jim decided as he sat there. He wasn’t going to let the other man interfere with his business or intimidate him. Not to mention, with the way he stood there at rest, quietly watching, Jim found it more than a bit easy to forget his presence all together.
“Yes. There should be no problem with this. Good day,” he said with a small smile. Hanging up his phone, he looked up at Sebastian, a bit surprised to find himself staring down the barrel of a gun. Lifting his eyes from the weapon in his face to the calm look on Sebastian’s face, he sighed. “What is it you want now?”
“Bit of a chat,” Sebastian said in the same tone he might ask someone’s opinion on a match. “You know, if you wanted to find me, could’ve called.”
“I didn’t want you though. Just your couch.”
“Right. Break into my flat for the chance to sleep on my couch. Sounds logical.”
“I knew you’d see the brilliance in my idea,” Jim said as he got up. But as he stood, he found the gun wasn’t just aimed at him, but pressed solidly against his chest. “Not done?”
“I work for you and nothing more. If you don’t have work for me, I don’t want you around.”
“And here I thought we were friends,” Jim teased.
Sebastian cocked his gun as he arched a brow, challenging Jim to keep up with his behavior.
Holding up his hands in defeat, Jim nodded. “Fine. Boundaries found. I’ll leave.”
“Oh, so soon? Pity,” he said, gesturing toward the door with his gun.
Making a show of gathering his things, Jim made his way out the door. From there he hailed a taxi, smirking to himself as he got in and gave his destination. Somehow, the man he found himself working with was even more interesting than the one in his dreams. Sebastian wasn’t some proper Victorian man who was careful to mind his place. No, his was willing to kill to keep his privacy to himself while ready to follow an order without question. His was more soldier than anything else.
Watching the man out of the corner of his eye, Moriarty couldn’t help but be tempted to question what it was, exactly, that had brought him to his office. After all, Moriarty found it was much easier to rely on Miss Adler with the new problem that was Sherlock Holmes and his associate, Dr. John Watson. And that meant that Moran’s purposes had been severely reduced for the time being. Smiling politely when the student he’d been talking to finally left, Moriarty turned his attention toward Moran.
Without so much as a peep, the man pushed himself away from the wall, nodding at the young man before making his way over to Moriarty’s desk. Standing in front of it, just hand positioning from standing at rest, he nodded toward the paper on the edge of the desk.
“So, this detective caught Blackwood?”
Looking at it as though he hadn’t even noticed its presence, Moriarty nodded. “It would appear so. Blackwood is going to hang for his crimes.”
“Which leaves your dealings with him where?”
“Perfectly intact,” he said with an amused smile. How could he not be amused when Moran was so obviously lost?
Not that Moran would ever confess to such a thing. He simply stood there, brow a hair’s breath away from being furrowed. Curious and yet so unwilling to question. Likely because he knew that an answer would be less than forthcoming.
Pulling out his red book, Moriarty looked it over, going through his funds to ensure that he could take his next step, as Blackwood’s purpose would be coming to a close one way or another and Moriarty prided himself on being five steps ahead of everyone else.
“I’ll be requiring you to make a trip for me,” he stated casually. A simple statement that never failed to get the sort of reaction he enjoyed most.
Narrowing his eyes, Moran looked over the desk for any sort of clues as to what the favor might be before coming to rest on the red book in Moriarty’s hand. Straightening slightly, he allowed himself to frown.
“A trip?”
“Asia. There’s a man I’m looking to associate with, but first I need to make sure this… detective doesn’t ruin my plans with Blackwood.”
“So you’re sending me to Asia?”
“China to be more specific. You can do this for me, can you not?”
Moran nodded without hesitation. “Course. Should be more interesting than a ginger midget.”
“I knew you would see it that way.”
Waving his hand, he watched as the man nodded and put his hat back on as he exited the office. It was too easy getting Moran to agree to the trip, but he knew better than to question minor idiosyncrasies of the Colonel. Instead, he would just have someone watch over the man to ensure that whatever his reasoning for agreeing so easily, Moriarty would know before they might become dangerous since Sherlock Holmes was hardly the only person worth keeping an eye out for in his little spider web.
