Work Text:
-
It was a normal Thursday evening, Sebastian had just come back from a job Jim had assigned him. Having just spent the last 4 hours tracking a particularly difficult client who was trying to ditch his deadline for the debt he owed Jim, Sebastian was about done for the day and just wanted to call it a night. Though upon walking up to the door of his apartment, he notices a brown package sitting outside of it. He was cautious as he approaches it, but Sebastian had been in this business too long to not question if the thing would explode on him if he got too close.
Glancing over his shoulder, he didn't see anyone about that could be lurking or who placed it. He's puzzled on who the owner of it would be, god knows he had more emeries than friends. He spots his name written on the tag of the package, letting his curiosity get the better of him as he picks the thing up, a little hesitantly mind you, to bring it inside with him.
It was heavier than he thought and the good news? It didn't blow up on him.
He kicks off his shoes on the way in, making his way promptly into the kitchen to grab his box knife to open the thing up. Though the possibilities were endless of what would be inside waiting for him. When he finally got the package open and peaked in, what was actually inside it was the last thing he expected to be inside. It was a vintage bottle of his favourite whiskey in a decretive box, so he knew how much this would have set the anonymous sender back.
But why? And from whom? The gesture is a sweet but a puzzling one. It wasn't his birthday, no holidays were close by. Sebastian was stumped. He hunted inside for a note of any kind, but just as he suspected there wasn't one. With what little contact he had with his family, he didn't think they'd have anything to do with it. And he could count the number of friends he had on one hand.
The blond eyes the bottle up for several long moments, before huffing a little in frustration. Suppose he shouldn't let the gift go to waste now, should he?
Pouring himself a glass, Sebastian sits with the opened bottle in front of him of his small couch. He'd enjoy it for now, if anymore gifts came, then he'd look more into it. For now, Sebastian would enjoy the drink as he lets the days events wash through him while unwinding for the night.
The following day goes as it always does; his phone waking him up rudely at 8am. Sebastian would hit snooze three times before even attempting to get out of bed and get ready to head to Jim's office to receive his job(s) for the day. The blond arrives fairly promptly by 9am, with the addition of a coffee three sugars too sweet for his liking that he'd place on Jim's desk, sinking down in the seat opposite to sit and wait till he were to arrive.
"Ah, morning. That is just what I need right now." Jim hums as he enters his office, going straight for the coffee Sebastian had gotten him, as he sits at his desk taking a sip. Sebastian looks up from his phone at his boss' arrival, noting he was in a lighter mood than usual. Some kind of deal must have gone right he assumes.
With an overdramatic sigh, Jim leans back comfortably in his seat, almost waiting for Sebastian to question. And he does, Jim knows him too well.
"Good start to the day already?"
"Mhm, a very eventful morning with the menace you were tracking yesterday.." Jim pausing to sip on his coffee. "You should have seen him, he tried to beg for an extension for the money he owed me. Can you believe some people? So anyway, I cut off his fingers."
Sebastian snorts with a shake of his head, because he knows the man wasn't lying. "Just his fingers?"
The two men share a look, a look that unsurprisingly, spoke a thousand words.
"I have a meeting at 1 and then I'm to meet with Rivers at 3:15. I need you done with your job by then to accompany me."
"Yes sir."
The day went on as normal, nothing out the ordinary as Sebastian got on with his jobs for the day, taking his targets out promptly in time to accompany his boss for his afternoon meeting. Just pleased more than anything that he'd actually be finished for the day earlier than usual.
So it doesn't surprise the sniper when on their journey back to the office, that Jim inquires about his evening plans. Knowing it wasn't often that an early finish comes his way.
"A last minute job come up you need me to take care of?" He'd questioned.
"No."
"Oh."
Jim didn't elaborate any further and dismissed Sebastian as soon as they arrived back. Weird but the sniper had dealt with Jim for long enough to know that weird with Jim was to be considered the closest to normal he'd ever get out of the man. He was predictably unpredictable.
Arriving back to his own apartment gave Sebastian the freaky feeling of Deja vu from the previous day. Waling up the path to his apartment, Sebastian spotted another package waiting for him on his doorstep. The man was curious above all else as he picked the small package up, noting that it was significantly lighter than the previous one, as he trails inside with even more questions than he had answers.
For that filthy habit of yours.
Well, at least there was a note this time. Typed out though, of course.
Sebastian could only pinpoint this mysterious sender was closer than he realised, knowing of his favourite brand of Whiskey and now? The sniper had opened the package to reveal a personalised lighter engraved with a simple "M" on it, with 3 cigars to accompany it.
Huh, Sebastian only letting out a small chuckle in amusement, because nothing about this made sense. Yet now, Sebastian couldn't help but to look forward to what his next gift from this mysterious sender would be as he twirls the lighter aimless around his finger in thought.
-
The funny thing with getting used to something, was that slight disappointment when it doesn't happen as you expect. It was another late night for Sebastian, his last target having caused quite a struggle. He'd been armed and Sebastian was impatient, getting a little too trigger happy when he wouldn't just go down, that ended in quite a bloody end as the snipers shirt was now painted red and clinging to him under his jacket. Thank god he had a jacket though, or he may have encountered a few too many questioning looks on his way back home about the blood that wasn't his own that stained his clothes.
Home.
There was no new package waiting.
Not that it should have been something Sebastian was expecting to be waiting for him, though it couldn't be denied that he had only simply hoped there might have been after the two previous days. Sebastian was just getting greedy at the thought of something good waiting for him after the day he'd had. Silly him.
It was fine, he'll live.
Trailing inside empty handed, he went straight into the shower to wash himself clean, throwing the red stained clothes in for a hot wash before settling himself on the couch to test out one of the gifted cigars he'd previously gotten.
Not bad.
It was 9:08am when Sebastian arrived with Jim's morning coffee, his boss greeting him with a glare as he enters into his office.
"What time do you call this?"
"Too early in the fucking morning for your bullshit is what I call it." Sebastian bites back, placing the drink down before taking his regular seat opposite the man as he awaits his jobs for the day. Sebastien would have been on time, would have normally played along with Jim's teasing comments if it weren't for the very reason for the hold up in the first place.
People. A particular customer who had been in front of him in the queue giving one of the staff hassle over a messed up order they'd received. Sebastian had always been hot headed and decided to make it his business too, that was his first mistake.
"My, someone is grouchy this morning."
"Yeah yeah, just give me the list of jobs I can take it out on."
Jim only smirks in amusement, Sebastian's quick temper was to be desired for, but for Jim? He adored it. So much fire, so much heat.
"Please do, tiger."
-
Perhaps it was fair to say, the frustrations from the start of the day wasn't the only thing Sebastian was letting out on his targets today. He was ruthless, precise and not missing a beat with the poor unfortunate souls on the list today. Each hit fuelling him more and more with satisfaction as each job was ticked off. Suppose this job was a good way to let out steam and Sebastian was thankful for that, as you definitely wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of Sebastian when he was in one of his moods. He was like a ticking time bomb. One wrong move or word and he'd explode.
There it was, another days work done and Sebastian was definitely feeling far greater by the end of it than how it started. After reporting back to Jim he was done as he always did, the sniper makes his way home and ready to finish the rest of his whiskey he had waiting for him back home. It did sound like a pleasant plan.
Catching him slightly off guard, the high of a good days work wasn't done yet. His eyes instantly noticing the package waiting for him as he made that same walk up the path to his apartment. Sebastian did his best to hide the delighted smile he had now, though he was failing miserably.
A new toy for you.
Whatever plans he had to do for when he got in were soon forgotten, the new package sat on his kitchen counter while both his hands were pressed palms down on either side of the thing, just staring at it.
A knife. His new toy was a knife.
Sebastian could almost taste the excitement on his tongue as he couldn't take his eyes off the new shiny weaponry he had in front of him. Whoever this was had upped their sentiments, knowing Sebastian treats his choice in weapon as if they were his own children.
The sender knew him well, too well.
Sebastian could hardly wait to test his new baby out, he prays for his next victim who gets the first slide of this piece,
-
After yesterdays events, Sebastian makes sure he is not only on time today but early too. Having already been sat waiting in Jim's office a slow 10 minutes before the man even arrived.
"It's a little cold."
Sebastian rolls his eyes, but he wasn't going to let that comment about the coffee get to him. He had other things on his mind.
"I have something that might amuse you." Sebastian dares to comment while pocketing his phone, giving the man his upmost attention. This was the third gift he had received now, the sniper was intrigued to hear what his boss would make of it all.
"Mm? Go on then, amuse me."
The floor was his.
Wordlessly, Sebastian reaches into his duffle bag to retrieve the gifted knife from last night, placing it upon the desk for his boss to see. "I received a gift last night and it isn't the first one." Sebastian begins, his eyes studying his boss carefully. "A new toy, as it said. The first one was a bottle of my favourite Whiskey, the next a very nice engraved lighter to go with some fancy brand of cigars."
Jim remains silent the whole time Sebastian speaks, he was otherwise busy inspecting the thing as he turns the weapon in his hand, nothing but a hint of a smirk on his lips.
"It seems I have some sort of very generous secret admirer, who seems to know my tastes very well."
That comments earns a snort from Jim, though he still doesn't say a word. His thumb running gently across the blade of the knife.
"My only problem is figuring out who they're from. Very big mystery and it's quite a shame."
"Why is it a shame? Just enjoy the free stuff."
Sebastian's lips curve into a wide grin. "Why, so I know who to thank for such generosity of course."
The pair lock eyes for a long few moments, seemingly Sebastian has already come to his conclusions of his mysterious sender. Right now, he was only seeking confirmation if his suspicions were correct. When Jim doesn't utter another word, Sebastian plays along more instead.
"Must be one of your men, you pair me with Mickey often. Could be him."
A little nudge. It works.
"I doubt Mickey would have the mind to put that much thought-" Jim stops mid sentence, rather abruptly too Sebastian would add. Interesting. The knife is placed back down on the desk and Jim is up on his feet, muttering something to himself that Sebastian doesn't quite catch while fetching his jobs for the day.
But Sebastian wasn't going to just leave it there, oh no.
"If not Mickey, then what about Doug? He's always greeting me with a friendly smile."
It doesn't go unnoticed how Jim's brows furrow, it only adds to Sebastian's amusement on the matter.
"Here. I'm sure there are one or two in there that your new toy will come in handy for." Jim's eyes don't meet Sebastian's as he hands him his jobs, before he finds his way back to his seat and sets his sights of getting straight on his laptop to not spare the sniper another glance.
"Or maybe it could even b-"
"Sebastian!" It was a warning, one Sebastian heard loud and clear when to leave well enough alone. Nodding, the sniper retuned the knife back into his duffle bag and got on his way. Well, it was worth a shot.
-
Unsurprisingly, the gifts stopped coming for the next few days after that and Sebastian never brought it up to his boss again. He'd rattled the cage, pushed a little too much and then not at all in hindsight. But this was Jim Moriarty, a man void of all emotions that he suspected of doing something that was filled with nothing but emotion.
Perhaps he was wrong, that it was just a mere coincidence that the gifts stopped as soon as he mentioned them to Jim. Maybe the man wasn't even the culprit and he'd warned the real one off of the silly games of sentiments getting in the way of work. Yeah. That seemed more likely.
A month passes and not a single gift ever came again, by now Sebastian had put the incident to the back of his mind and had long given up that he'd ever get another again and he was alright with that. The few gifts were good while they lasted, whoever they were from.
It was the eve of the snipers birthday, on good merit Jim had allowed him to have his birthday off. Shockingly so that the man had actually agreed to it. It was the one time Sebastian had requested time off, a day to himself that didn't involve him trapsing around London on some killing spree. He wasn't going to do anything big or fancy, he'd see his ma during the day and settle the night with a few pints at home. Sebastian loved his job, he did. He craved the adrenaline and rush he got from it like a person drowning gasping for air, but he also needed the slow days too. That was the normal side of Sebastian that Jim had often said was his downfall, his only flaw of overwise being the mans equal. It's a thought that makes the sniper scuff as he finishes the rest of his glass as the clock strikes midnight.
He was another year older, but birthdays didn't mean shit to Sebastian.
A few messages came rolling in, a few of his old army mates, his ma, his brother. He smiles at each one but doesn't respond, instead haves himself a quick shot before bed. He holds out hope for the following day, though for what? He does not know.
-
The late afternoon lunch with his ma was pleasant. With only getting to see the woman a handful of times a year, Sebastian treasures the moments he gets to have with her. Lets her fuss over him and pay for their meals, answers her questions of catch up the most honest he can in passing when asked. He was her first born, he was always going to be her baby after all.
The day had slipped away from them, it was a little later than he thought when they finally parted ways. The sun just beginning to set nicely as Sebastian began his walk back to his apartment. If there was one thing the sniper could appreciate, it was a good sunset. Not that he got to enjoy the scene too much, his eyes would otherwise have to be fixed on his targets instead. A nice change, even for just a day.
By the time his street was coming into view the sun was almost down, a slight chill in the air as the street lights lit up his way. It wasn't until he was turning onto his street, did Sebastian see the hooded figure seemingly coming from his apartment. It was then that Sebastian got quick on his feet, with a moment of hopefulness.
A hand grasped the hooded shoulder when they were finally in reach and turned the figure around. Oh.
"Seb-"
"Mickey.."
"It was you?"
Before the other even answered, he was gone and Sebastian let him go. The sniper had his answer, it just wasn't the one he was hoping for.
Sebastian was back to his slow pace once he'd finally got his feet moving again, turning back to the direction of his apartment. There it was; another package sitting and waiting outside his door.
Picking the thing up and carrying it inside, Sebastian let out a heavy sigh as the events were still processing inside his mind. Sebastian left the package on his kitchen counter while he went for a beer first. One, two, three large gulps later and the sniper dares to open the package up and see what was inside this time after a month of nothing.
Happy Birthday, tiger.
Do your best damage.
Peering inside, a very wide grin made its way across Sebastian's face. Staring down in complete awe, Sebastian picked the handgun up to feel the weight of it in his hands before adjusting the aim with that same goofy grin still on his face.
"Idiot." Sebastian mumbles to himself, taking the handgun and his beer with him down to his basement, where he gave his new princess a little practise run on his own homemade target shots he'd set up down there when he'd first moved in and started working for Jim.
Shot like a treat.
It's where the man remained for the rest of the night.
-
Despite arriving on time with the usual coffee in hand, Jim was already in his office and typing away on his laptop when Sebastian entered. The man barely acknowledging Sebastian's presence, even when the sniper placed his coffee down beside him. It took him clearing his throat for Jim to glance his way, he looks up over his glasses to the sniper with a quizzical look.
"Your jobs are there." Jim nods over to the list on the end of his desk, clearly very busy while instantly going back to typing on his laptop. But Sebastian doesn't move, though nor does he say a word either. Just merely watches the man with the same wide grin he had on his face last night.
Sensing eyes were still on him, Jim looks back up to Sebastian with narrowed eyes. "Work, Sebastian. Get to it. Goodness, you have one day off and you lose all capabilities."
No movement.
Huffing, Jim pushes himself from his desk to take matters into his own hands. Snatching the list of jobs and shoving them into Sebastian's hands when it seems his patience was running thin.
"Move!" A tone most men would be terrified of if Jim were to snap like that at them, but not Sebastian. He only smiles as his boss; with all his might, pushes Sebastian towards the door of his office to get on with his work. A weak actions, though Sebastian's body gives in and allows himself to be pushed.
With them both now stood in the doorway like some silly stand off, Jim attempts to slam the door in the snipers face to show his annoyance. But the slam of the door never came, Sebastian's foot was stopping the door from closing all the way.
"Fuck. What is it, Sebastian? Why are you standing around like that not doing anything? I've given you your jobs, damn well get to th-"
"Thank you."
Confusion spreads over Jim's face at the words at first. "What?"
"Happy birthday tiger? Knew it was you." Sebastian pauses, a more than smug smirk dancing over his lips while he watches the way Jim's mind seems to struggle of a way to bite back.
The sniper moves an inch closer in the doorway, really getting into Jim's space as he dares to lift a hand to tilt the mans chin up to look at him. "You slipped up with the pet name, Mickey would nev-"
The sinister laugh that erupts from Jim has the sniper narrowing his eyes. "Oh heavens Sebastian, that is quite an imagination you have there." Not missing a beat to slap the snipers hand away from him.
So Jim was going to try and keep his mask on? Suppose Sebastian should have expected that his boss wasn't going to oh so willingly admit to it the first time when prompted, the man was incredibly stubborn. Though truthfully, Sebastian may even be more stubborn than him. Shockingly.
"Can't be all my imagination if there's some truth to it." His body now completely blocking the door as Sebastian leans against the doors frame with a posture that lets Jim know that he was far from giving up.
"You're ridiculous."
"Oh extremely, but I already knew I was doomed from the moment we met." And that was the truth of the matter, because as much as Jim had saved Sebastian when he'd found him when he did, it was also the blondes end too. It was just for a very different reason. He had been and still was infatuated with the man, unhealthy so the closer the pair had become over the years. But as it had always been, no boundaries had ever been crossed between them, Sebastian had learnt to push down and keep his wants and feelings at bay because he was aware of the consequences if even the topic were to be mentioned. He'd buckled down and gotten on with his job at hand and became the perfect yes man for his boss. But that was before, before Jim had seemingly opened a door that Sebastian had long ago thought was otherwise locked.
A spare key had been found.
"You don't have to say anything, nor do I expect anything either." Sebastian decided to take a different approach. "Knowing you were behind the gifts is enough for me."
Sentiment.
The silence that follows is the sign that Sebastian takes as his time to leave, straightening up on his feet before a mock salute comes into play. The sniper trails away with his usual confident stance, though each step felt heavier somehow.
There was an opening at least, a small one. Microscopic, but it was there.
Foolish, foolish man.
-
Home; something Sebastian was glad to see the sight of as he makes his way up the path to his apartment. This mornings events had been on his mind the entire day, perhaps more than he should have allowed them to be. That's what happens when the thing you try to bury is suddenly unexpectedly brought to the surface.
"Sebastian."
Oh.
Sebastian had been so much inside his own head that he had completely missed the figure that had been waiting outside his door. The very figure that had been the cause of it all. There is confusion, but he's hopeful? The man was here, surely Sebastian couldn't be wrong that this would have a bad outcome.
"Are you delivering the gifts to me in person now?"
Strike one.
"Or is this my final marching order for disclosing a weakness?"
Strike two.
"I'd be careful, Sebastian. You know how much I love a punishment."
Flirtatious banter was always Jim's forte, it was both a blessing and curse trying to decipher where the act began and ended. If there was ever an act at all where Sebastian was concerned.
"Then punish me."
Strike three.
Jim keeps his hands firmly tucked in his pockets, he doesn't make his move till the sniper is right in front of him, smirking down at him with that same handsomely crooked smug grin that he can't help but to mirror back.
"How disappointed did you feel when you thought it was Mickey?"
Such an ass.
Was it already mentioned how stubborn both men were?
"I don't know, I wouldn't say I was disappointed. He's quite sweet." Sebastian does nothing but keep the smug smirk up as he fishes for his keys in his pocket, easily sliding passing his boss to get to his front door to unlock it.
"You mean boring." Jim doesn't wait to be invited in, simply taking it upon himself as soon as Sebastian had his door open to wander inside as if he owned the place. Which, considering he gave the sniper this apartment, he technically did.
"Sweet doesn't always mean boring."
It had been some time since Jim had been inside Sebastian's, so the man makes a point of looking around everywhere and taking everything in as Sebastian had already wandered past him into the kitchen ahead. Jim could only assume the blonde was getting them both a drink when he hears the sound of glasses moments later, well Jim wasn't going to say no. Now situating himself in the living room as he waits for the sniper to reappear.
When Sebastian does reappear, he spots Jim stood browsing his very large vinyl collection in the corner of the room. He chuckles to himself as he places the two drinks down, wandering over behind his boss with a daring hand that finds the mans waist all too well.
"Sorry, no 80s dance to accommodate your tastes."
To Sebastian's surprise, Jim doesn't pull away from his touch. If anything, Sebastian would even dare to say his boss was leaning into it.
"Mm, not to worry. You can't have it all." Jim turns on his feet, now facing the sniper with an all too playful grin. A smile Sebastian was all too familiar with, though it was never in this kind of setting. Nor is he mad about it though, of course not.
"Well, aren't you going to pull me over to the couch and onto your lap?" It makes Sebastian's stomach flip, because it was such a complete 180 from this morning. He had half the mind to think this was some kind of mind game Jim was playing on him, because what?
The confusion must have been written all over Sebastian's face as Jim erupts into a marvellous sound of laughter. It seems his words definitely had their desired affect.
"Adorable. You're usually always so confident and cocky. Here." Without another thought, it was Jim who was the one leading them both over to the couch. His hand clutching onto the blondes arm, pushing him down with little to no effort while hovering above the man. It was quite the picture.
"This is what you wanted wasn't it? To have me. We can have all the fun we want, without any of the irrational and silly attachments that come with it. Doesn't that sound wonderful?" If Sebastian was in his right mind he would have easily disagreed and said no, that it didn't sound as great as Jim was hyping it up to be. attachments were already there for the sniper, those irrational and silly attachments as Jim had called them, were called feelings and he already had plenty. And hopping into bed with the man was only going to deepen them.
But Sebastian wasn't in his right mind and the only thing he could think about was that he'd have Jim, in some way. He'd have him.
"Bas?"
Well, Sebastian had already sold his soul to the devil. He might as well sell his heart along with it to him as well.
"Just fun?"
"Mhmm. Just a little fun." With his own deductions and the feel of Sebastian's hands finding his waist once more, Jim takes that as an answer enough as he makes himself much too comfortable on the snipers lap. His own arms snaking around the snipers neck.
"You've always been my favourite, now I want you to show me why."
Even if every fibre of his being has been screaming at him to stop, Sebastian wouldn't have listened to any of them. Not with Jim's hands on him, not with Jim's lips barely ghosting against his neck and definitely not with Jim sat slowly rocking in his lap.
He was already long gone.
Jim Moriarty was nothing but sin and Sebastian was in hell.
-