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After returning to London, their lives were never really settled again. Sherlock and William's names had been etched too deeply into the minds of the English public. One as a hero, the other as the devil who was rumored to have died. William's identity, already "ended" in the eyes of the public, forced him into disguises whenever he wanted a breath of fresh air. Sherlock, though still living under a legitimate name, couldn't escape people's stares either. Their fame had turned the streets into something less like open space and more like a stage where countless eyes followed their every move.
So the only way to live anything close to a normal life was to sneak out without anyone knowing. William's family was protective and never let him walk alone. More often than not, he had to come up with small excuses just to meet in secret. Sherlock was more than happy to join in that clandestine game. Eventually, though, everyone figured out that William slipped away far more often than they pretended not to notice.
Billy, who'd been with them for three years now, started getting curious. In his eyes, a secret relationship carried out that often was bound to give off a certain impression. So, without thinking twice, he finally voiced the question that had been weighing on his mind.
"Suppose William got married one day. Wouldn't his meetings with Ponytail-senpai count as cheating?"
The room went silent in an instant. William, Moran, Louis, and Billy were all present. Of them, Moran was the first to react.
"Hah? Who's William supposed to be marrying?"
"You didn't hear me say suppose, Colonel."
"Oh, so you mean what if William did get married?"
Moran nodded several times, pretending to get it, but it was obvious he was only half-taking the question seriously. Even so, Billy's innocent words somehow stuck, and everyone in the room found themselves considering the same thing. What if it really happened?
"If I were William's spouse, I wouldn't care. Cheating wouldn't mean a damn thing as long as William belonged to me."
Louis clicked his tongue in irritation while Billy's eyes went wide at how far off-track Moran's answer had gone. William, however, stayed quiet, one brow arched. Instead of laughing it off, he looked at Moran for a moment and then asked softly,
"Moran, would you rather be my spouse or my right hand?"
"Your right hand."
The answer came without a second of hesitation, fast as instinct.
"I'd rather be William's right hand, because that way I'd be useful, and I'd get to stay with you until I die."
The words weren’t excessive, but they were heavy with loyalty. Moran looked at William the way a soldier might look at his commander but more than that, there was an unspoken sense of worth there. Enough that William finally smiled, satisfied without needing to say anything more.
Louis, sitting next to Moran, had no intention of letting the atmosphere get too sweet between his brother and Moran. He raised a brow and fired back with sharp sarcasm.
"You're pretty sure you won't get thrown away, Colonel."
"Oi!"
"Louis, I wouldn't throw Moran away."
William turned to his brother, his voice gentle but firm.
"Brother..."
"Ahaha! Hear that, Louis."
Louis only clicked his tongue again, pretending to be bored, though his sharp eyes stayed on Moran. He might have acted indifferent, but he was clearly listening.
"I didn't think William-kun and Moran-kun had that kind of relationship," Billy chimed in again.
Moran nearly choked, but William turned calmly toward him with a small smile on his lips.
"I don't know what you mean by 'that kind,' but what we have is just 'this kind.'"
"And what's 'this kind'?"
"Just that. You'll figure it out yourself, Louis."
Billy nodded like he understood. He'd noticed how William and Moran could communicate with just a look, as if there was some secret knot binding the two of them that no one else could untie. Then he turned innocently toward Louis.
"So that makes Louis the mother-in-law, right?"
Louis shot him a flat stare. "Of course, not. I'm William's brother."
The words were short and final, as if he refused to let such a misunderstanding linger.
"Hey, just imagine it. If William fell in love someday and said he wanted to get married, what would you do?"
That question made William smile faintly, an expression caught somewhere between bitter, amused, and weary. He tried to brush the thought aside as gently as possible, before it could take root.
"Billy, I don't intend to marry anyone."
"William, it's just hypothetical. So, Louis, what then?"
"...That would be William's decision. He has every right to marry. But for the partner, they'd need to be screened first."
"See?"
"I just want to know who my future in-law would be."
"Yeah, I get it. But what if that person turned out to be a threat to William's life, what then?"
The warmth of the room evaporated. Louis lifted his face, his eyes as sharp and cold as a blade. The air itself seemed to harden around him.
The atmosphere turned so heavy it felt like invisible blades were piercing the air. Billy froze, the pressure crawling down to his bones. Even Moran, who usually always had something to say, fell silent for a few beats before his lips curled into a thin grin, his expression darkening at the idea of someone endangering William.
"We'd eliminate them."
The words weren't just an answer. They were a sentence. The air grew suffocating, Louis's voice cutting like a knife ready to strike at anyone foolish enough to lay hands on his brother.
"If it really happened, I'd help too. Make sure you call me."
"...Understood, Colonel."
Silence fell again. Billy shivered as he realized his casual joke had twisted into an unspoken pact of murder. What he felt wrapped around William wasn't just family devotion. It was loyalty and love, yes but love edged with blood and shadows of death. William watching them, could only soften his gaze, equal parts moved and pained. He knew too well, their devotion to him ran far deeper than family. It was a bond strong enough to reach past the line between life and death.
The parlor door creaked open then. Albert stepped in with Sherlock at his side, the two of them just back from a day of work. Albert's face looked a little tired but still calm as always, while Sherlock, visibly drained, went straight to William and wrapped him from behind, clinging as if to recharge.
"I'm home."
Albert spoke while pulling off his gloves. But when his eyes swept the room and caught everyone staring at him, he froze, his brows knitting slightly.
"...Hm? What is this? Why are you all looking at me like that?"
A brief silence followed. Billy stifled a grin, Louis rubbed his temple, and Moran—unfortunately—was suddenly struck by an absurd thought. The image of Albert, with all his refined aristocratic grace, standing as William's spouse. It made sense. They'd be a dignified, harmonious pair. He couldn't even deny the logic of it.
And then, realizing what he'd just imagined, Moran shook his head violently. Shit, what the hell was I just thinking?!
"Don't tell me you're serious."
"No, He's our brother, Moran. Stop having weird thoughts."
"You're thinking it fits too, aren't you? Don't just pin this all on me."
Louis scoffed but didn't bother to answer. William watching the two of them bicker, sighed softly and let the faintest of smiles curve his lips. His eyes drifted briefly to Albert, still standing at the door with that bewildered look, then back to his brother and Moran. Sherlock, still draped against him, glanced up in curiosity but made no move to let go. It had become a habit since New York, whenever Sherlock was frustrated or worn out, he'd suddenly hug William. By now, everyone was used to how clingy he could be.
"Whatever you're thinking, don't drag our brother into this conversation."
"And what conversation is that, exactly?"
Albert finally asked, brow raised, clearly done with being the center of attention without context.
"William's marriage."
Moran said it casually, like it was the most ordinary subject in the world.
"Hah?" Albert turned sharply to William, his eyes widening. "You... what?"
"Who are you going to marry, Liam?"
William hesitated, unsure how to even start explaining something he'd never once thought about. But before he could open his mouth, Billy jumped in eagerly.
"It's about William's partner, Ponytail-senpai. If he got married, wouldn't all this closeness with you count as an affair?"
"I see. But why are you so sure William's partner would be someone other than me?"
The room froze.
Every head turned toward Sherlock. Instead of looking surprised, he simply crossed his arms and smirked, smug as ever. Moran nearly dropped his glass, glaring at him with open dislike. Louis's eyes narrowed, sharp enough to kill, though he restrained himself from throwing a knife straight into Sherlock's head. Albert, on the other hand, smiled faintly but the dark aura radiating behind him spoke volumes.
Billy, of course, just looked impressed. This family really was far more dramatic than he'd ever heard.
"Not a chance in hell."
"For once, I agree with you, Louis."
"Yeah, I don't think I could ever give my blessing to that."
Moran cut in harshly, Albert added with calm venom, and together they shot Sherlock down without hesitation.
"You all rejected him that fast. Poor Ponytail-senpai."
"You lot..."
As always, Billy was the only one on Sherlock's side. But after a few more exchanges, everyone seemed to silently agree to drop the subject altogether. The matter of William's marriage was left behind, replaced by another familiar topic about Sherlock, who'd been clinging to William far too long.