AU! No summary so far. It's about music, show business and a new life after a disaster. John+Sherlock. Slowburn.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14237516/1/Soft-silk-is-hard-to-tearhttps://archiveofourown.org/works/47086126Ajax, thanks for the preliminary reading.
Mr. John Watson is a very strange man. Nancy Walker was firmly convinced of this. He noticed treasures that others didn't see. But he didn't want to use them!
Bass solo? Own vocals? Nancy knew it happens sometimes but never thought she could do it herself. She was not so good and rousing as to be a front-one. However, a couple of soft, almost imperceptible prompts from John Watson, and Nancy received star quality. But Doc said he did nothing. Then Nancy herself opened the door of the room in which she had locked herself and stepped out into the light.
And John Watson helped her not go crazy and not commit suicide after Tim's death. He believed Tim wanted to quit drugs and therefore would not have violated substitution therapy. And Doc promised he would find Tim's killer. And Nancy knew he could be trusted.
If John Watson became the manager of their group, they would conquer the world. And if he himself performed... Musicians spend years trying to develop the abilities that Watson is given from birth. Nancy did not understand why he did not want to use such a precious gift.
And as soon as Nancy began to think that she could not be more surprised and perplexed, Doc brought Sherlock Holmes himself to write a song for "Still Waters". Prior to this, Sherlock consulted with them about why John Watson doesn't like his song if the entire world is delighted with it, as it should be. Conceited bastard! Nancy then excellently gloated when she heard that not everyone falls at the feet of Sherlock Holmes. But Doc is Doc. Even the blind will see how special he is. However, forcing Sherlock to give a song to an obscure group... It was beyond reality. And it was cosmic luck!
Oh yes, Sherlock Holmes is an absolute asshole. The most unbearable person in the world. People accused him of terrible things. But Sherlock's songs are brilliant. And for that matter, John Lennon was also a complete scoundrel. However, everyone still loves his songs.
And a band that is at the ass of the ratings can even afford to be connected with Sherlock Holmes.
Nancy was a little annoyed that Dean was trying to flirt with Sherlock all the time today instead of playing and showing his skills. They were incredibly lucky: at first, the shelter allocated a room for rehearsals and gave them a part-time job with an overnight stay. Now the best songwriter in the United Kingdom has shown interest in working with them. Sherlock, of course, is a sod and a boor, but he is right when he says that he is not interested in a jar for sperm, but in the style and type of musician who will perform his song.
And yet Dean can be understood. You don't see a guy like Doc every day. Therefore, trying to show him that Sherlock is unreliable is quite natural. In addition, there are fewer gays than heterosexuals. The breadth of the search also matters. And if John Watson made a marriage proposal to his nurse, then when you lose to a pretty woman, you can console yourself with the thought that the bisexual Watson turned out to have a larger hetero side. This is biology; no one argues with it. But when the guy of your dreams is taken away by another guy... And John Watson is unconditionally in love with Sherlock Holmes, even if he doesn't want to admit it himself... Oh. Poor Dean.
However, there will be many more loves, but there is only one good song. Even if 'Still Waters' won't get any good things anymore, if they don't make stars of the songs left by Tim, then being the band of one stellar single is better than being nothing.
And Nancy spat about her decent upbringing and yelled at the guys in the language that they understood. Bingo! The band started work.
Their singing and music made Sherlock wince squeamishly, but when the band started playing Tim's new song from the secret album, the one that was supposed to be released for free as an advertisement, Sherlock started to look at them with interest and listen carefully. And said they were good material. They will have a song where everyone will get a verse and a group chorus.
Nancy politely thanked Sherlock and hung around Doc's neck with a squeal of delight. So what? Let the genius not think that the main prize is already his. Doc deserves to be courted and seduced.
Judging by how angry Sherlock looked when Doc hugged Nancy back, she did the right thing.
The rehearsal was over, and the band began to gather for a performance in a village pub. Suddenly, there were a lot of tourists in the area, and the owner of the pub decided to hire musicians. And since the morning part-time work at the orphanage provided housing and food, the group did not leave after Tim's funeral. Everyone stayed for this sudden tourist season and started to look for a drummer through social networks. Although it's possible that the guy Mr. Sholto found will stay with the band. His army career is not going well, but he is a capable drummer.
...The band buried Tim in the village cemetery. His parents don't care about their son, and Nancy isn't even sure they understand what happened at all. And in the cemetery near the old church, there are many yews and ash trees, which still remember the times of Queen Betsy — the first one. Strictly speaking, this cemetery was already closed to burials, but the priest really liked 'Still Waters' and got permission to bury Tim here.
Nancy always went to the cemetery before the performance and told Tim how the day went. And that she has one more new plan for the future. Doc and Ms. Eurus were right: it helped to live. And will help to move on when the time comes for the group to leave. And even the thought that there would be a new love in Nancy's life ceased to cause disgust. There was only a dull, aching pain. But Nancy knew that it would pass and that life would go on. Tim, through death, became her brother. It happens. And Nancy needs to be happy for both. Someday it will be. Not now. No. But someday it will be for sure. After all, Tim wanted Nancy to have everything she needed and wanted. And she wanted happiness for him. So everything will work out.
...Sherlock was waiting for Nancy near Tim's grave. And he asked before she could be surprised:
"Ms. Walker, do you want to participate in the capture of the killer of your beloved? But John Watson should know nothing about it. He is too knightly and will be against your participation in a risky business."
"Yes!" Nancy looked at Sherlock with adoration. Scoundrel? Oh, no… He is the best man in the world!
***
Mrs. Hudson was charming. And a chatterbox. But it suited her. Loquacity is usually only irritating, but Mrs. Hudson made it enjoyable.
John, sitting in a quiet corner of the pub, carefully studied the contract. It seems to be nothing dangerous. And London, which is monstrously expensive for his wallet, will not be a problem. John only has to come for three hours to record a song. The entire video, entirely and completely, will be coordinated with John Watson. It will be posted on Sherlock's page and Watson's blog; everyone else will be able to repost it. If the video has donations and advertising revenue, they are divided equally between Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Both have nothing to do with the income from each other's web pages. John signed the contract. And he asked Mrs. Hudson where in London it was cheaper to rent an evening suit.
"Oh dear," said Mrs. Hudson. "Sherlock invited you to dinner?"
"What?!" John wondered. "No. I'm going with a pal to Covent Garden."
"Sherlock is surprisingly goofy when it comes to himself. He will continue to devour you with his eyes. Invite him yourself."
"Mrs. Hudson, with all due respect, I have never heard a wilder fantasy. I have a girlfriend and..."
"That's not very fair to her," said Mrs. Hudson. "You both look at each other like that."
"No!" John was outraged.
"Men are amazingly stupid," sighed Mrs. Hudson. "Sherlock could never do even for a single day without London. And you made him sit in the village for almost three weeks. And he has never been so happy." She smiled. "And you? How much time do you spend with him and how much with your girlfriend?"
"It's rehearsals," John said. "It's work. When we record the song, it's all over."
"Judging by the number of rehearsals, you are planning "Nessun dorma". (12)
John smiled.
"Of course not. But 'Still Waters' is too inexperienced for real rock music. They are talented, very talented, but it takes a lot of training for these people to play at their real level."
Mrs. Hudson shook her head.
"Sherlock doesn't mess around with newbies. He doesn't teach anyone. He never waits. And if he would only call, hundreds of bands would run to accompany you. Sherlock could have chosen any band. Never and nowhere has Sherlock worked as a keyboardist. He plays well and writes excellent parts for keyboard instruments, but he doesn't sit down at the synthesiser. Sherlock is a violinist or vocalist. And now, with you, Sherlock has become a keyboard player."
"That song means a lot to him," John replied. "And there is no other keyboardist. Besides, it's not very smart of him, but Sherlock thinks this song will help him with his upcoming lawsuits. Or at least offset their effects."
"He is unconcerned about the court and his possible ruin. Sherlock will quickly gather a band for himself and start to conquer the world again, not even noticing a change in comfort. Oddly enough, his household goofiness will not allow him to realise the difference in living conditions and in food. Of course, the band will very soon leave Sherlock because of his disgusting character, but a new team will take their place immediately. Everyone wants to ascend, and two or three months of communication with Sherlock are not a high price for this. He creates really brilliant songs that always conquer the top of the charts. And Sherlock perfectly understands the situation, so he never holds on to anyone. But you are an exception, John. You are really dear to him and very important. And you seem to be the only one who doesn't notice."
**********
(12) "Nessun dorma" (English: "Let no one sleep") is an aria for tenor from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot (text by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni) and one of the most difficult in all operatic art.
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