Drabble-tastic delights!
Happy (late) Birthday redconverse!
Title: Cuttlefish and Anchors
Rating: PG
Synopsis: Holmes and Watson spend some time by the sea.
Dedication: For redconverse's birthday and for atticus_frog.
"How would you like to spend a few days by the sea?"
"That sounds interesting, what's the case?"
"Holiday."
I put down my newspaper and looked again to make sure that it was in fact Sherlock Holmes standing before me.
"Holiday, as in 'let's-go-relax-and-have-a-picnic' type?"
"Unless they've dramatically changed the definition of the word and I failed to notice such a piece of news, yes."
"Why?"
"Does one need a reason to relax?"
I considered this for a moment before replying, "the words 'relax' and 'Sherlock Holmes' are not ones I would normally put together. You might say they are something of an oxymoron." He looked at me blankly for a moment, clearing my throat slightly, "an oxymoron is a rhetoric figure of speech in which contradictory terms are..."
"Yes, yes, yes." He said with a slightly embarrassed wave of his hand. "I don't need English lessons, I simply would like to know if you would care to join me on holiday."
"Of course I would."
"Good. We leave tomorrow at five."
"In the evening?" I asked hopefully.
"No."
"Thought not."
And so it was. At five o'clock the next morning, bleary eyed and half asleep I joined Sherlock Holmes in a cab ready to whisk us off to Charing Cross to catch whatever train it was we were to catch to go wherever we were going. All I knew was that this was a holiday, and it was by the sea. Little did I realise that we were headed for the South Coast of Wales.
The train journey itself was uneventful, I slept most of the journey whilst Holmes absorbed himself in a several newspapers. We arrived at early afternoon and after availing myself of the facilities Holmes rather courteously took me for a lunch at a delightful sea-side cafe. During our lunch Holmes talked at great length about the great legends surrounding the beautiful bay we were situated. After having my fill of sandwiches, tea, cake and dragons we set off on a gentle walk up the hill. Holmes had arranged for our luggage to be delivered to the cottage he had rented and so we were free to enjoy the sea air.
Feeling somewhat warm I copied Holmes and removed my jacket, I managed to resist the urge to slip my hand into his but he had clearly been on a similar line of thought for he slipped his arm around mine and we continued the rest of the way arm in arm, jackets over our shoulders and smiling into the sun.
The rented cottage was a beautiful little white bricked building sitting a top of a cliff, a large garden to the front and back full of flowers in colourful bloom. It was simply wonderful. Nearing the cottage though, a certain dread began to swell inside my chest. In the garden was a large anchor. There is something gravely sinister about an anchor, ever since I was a boy my nightmares had been filled with such terrifying objects. Always I ended my dream screaming as I was tied to the anchor and plunged beneath the sea-swell. Something in my manner must have given Holmes cause for concern for he paused and turned to me.
"Watson are you all right?"
Quickly gathering my thoughts I forced a smile and replied "of course. Touch of indigestion." I added with a small apology.
"Then we should waste no time in relaxing!" He declared striding past the anchor without a care, taking a key from his pocket he unlocked the door and flung it open. Our luggage had been deposited just inside the door and he strode in, beckoning me to follow and mind my head. Taking a deep breath and cursing my fears I hurried past the anchor and joined Holmes inside the delightful little sitting room.
As I walked through the door, he caught my arm and pulled me into a gentle embrace and we danced slightly to the tune he was humming. I have to say that my first instinct was to start checking him for needle marks, but the growing pressure in my trousers soon changed that. I shifted my position within his arms and kissed him passionately. He returned my kisses and soon we found ourselves in a tangle of clothing and legs on the stone floor. After propping myself up against Holmes's chest and I gazed up into his face, wondering what was going through his mind.
"Oh look, we have company." He said, suddenly moving to stand and causing me to scrabble for my clothing. He strode naked across the room to the large bay window that looked out on the bath and leaned over a plant, presenting me with a very pleasing and arousing image. "Look!" He turned to face me with a big smile upon his face, his finger held out.
On his finger was a large hairy caterpillar, it resembled somewhat the moustache Holmes had once tried to grow save that this creature was a midnight black and Holmes's 'tache attempts had been a brilliant shade of red. As he approached in his almost childlike glee with the creature, I felt my heart begin to pound and the blood roared in my ears. It was a great effort to remain impassive and not show signs of my fear.
"It's lovely." I managed a strained reply.
"Caterpillar's are amazing creatures." He replied, letting it run across his finger. "Here." He held the creature out to me.
"No thank you." I replied a little too quickly.
"You're not afraid are you, Watson?"
"No..."
Holmes smiled, "I'm sorry, I will put him outside."
"Thank you." I said quietly.
He said no more about my weakness, and as it was still early afternoon suggested we go for a stroll along the beach. This cheered me up immensely and we hurried off down the narrow path that led to the secluded bay that we had seen from our windows. The day was marvellous, the sea glinted invitingly and the sun beat down upon the sand giving the whole place that 'just painted' look. Feeling refreshed and mischievous, I began to remove my clothing. Holmes had become interested in something on the sand and only looked up when I ran past him, baring all.
"Watson!" He called out in shock.
"Come on Holmes!" I shouted, diving into the water. "The water is lovely!"
"But...but...." I enjoyed embarrassing my friend, he turns a delightful shade of crimson.
"No one will see us, come on, you don't know what you're missing until you've been swimming naked. It's liberating!"
Glancing about Holmes began to remove his clothing too. After leaving his clothes in an untidy pile and after a moments hesitation, he joined me in the water.
"It's quite cold." He remarked.
"Just give it a shake before you get out." I grinned, splashing him.
He stuck out his tongue, dived under the water and swam under me. He surfaced closed behind me, wrapping one hand around my waist and pulling him towards me, his other hand stroking me. "Like this?" He whispered in my ear.
"...yes... just like that." I answered breathlessly. Laughing Holmes let me go and swam a few paces away. "Holmes!" I called after him, feeling a little annoyed. I watched him swim over to some rocks, he hauled himself out of the water and lay back in all his glory. I thought about reminding him to be careful in case he catches the sun, but after what he'd done... as I tread water something bumped against my bottom.
I tried not to panic, and ducked under the water to investigate. Through the water I could just make out the shape of a cuttlefish... which was swimming at me for a second time. Moving out of the way, I was perturbed to find that the creatures seemed to be following me! I made a rather pathetic swatting attempt, but still the cuttlefish drove at me. Suddenly realising that I was in possession of something that could easily be mistaken as a large, fat, juicy worm by a hungry fish I quickly swam towards Holmes, constantly aware that the cuttlefish was following me.
"What's wrong?" Holmes asked me sitting up.
"Damn cuttlefish."
"Please don't tell me that as well as anchors and caterpillars you're scared of *cuttlefish*?"
Put out that he knew about the anchor, I glared at him feeling the heat rising behind my ears. "No. There's one after me."
"Ah. Perhaps we should use you as bait, I quite fancy cuttlefish for supper."
"Ha.ha."
Holmes kissed me lightly on the lips, and then lay back his hands behind his head and with his eyes shut. The sun was making me sleepy too, so moving a little more into the shade offered by the rocks I dozed for for a few hours. We both awoke some time in the early evening, when the was going down and the temperature dropping. I slipped into the water, and splashed Holmes. He was looking a little red and I feared that perhaps he might have caught the sun, but my primary concern was getting back before it got dark.
"Watson, what are you doing?"
"Nothing!"
"I dare say a few sea creatures will be a bit put out." He dived over me and started a swift front crawl back to land.
Blushing, I followed him.
As we pulled on a few clothes to make ourselves decent should we encounter anybody on the way back to our cottage, Holmes winced in pain.
"Are you all right?" I asked concerned.
"My...er.... you know, is.... quite sore."
"Let me have a look."
"Watson!"
"Holmes...." I cautioned, sighing he dropped his trousers again. I didn't need to inspect him closely, he was very red around the groin he had very clearly caught the sun in and incredibly painful way. "Oh dear." He groaned and pulled up his trousers as gently as he could. "I'll run you a cold bath. This is going to be quite painful."
Turning to walk ahead of him lest he see my attempts to conceal my amusement, I hurried up the path to the cottage. Needless to say I spent the majority of the holiday caring for Holmes tender areas, he soon made up for this once we were back at Baker Street but Mrs Hudson was a bit irritated with her lack of sleep.