in a heap of people

[she_sells_seashells]

They go home after a couple of days, without incident. The colors in Bell's hair are fading, albeit incompletely.

A bit later, when there is not the question of whether Sherlock can accompany her unnoticed, Tony finds a door and in they go.

Other Sherlock - whether this is their other Sherlock or some other other Sherlock, Bell cannot be immediately sure - is in the main bar area. Bell waves!

Comments

[she_sells_seashells]

Bell closes her eyes and looks.

[sicaria]

Sherlock's mind is—still, but not silent. She perceives. She notes every movement in her field of vision, catalogues the pressure of Bell's fingers on her shoulder, maintains a constant awareness of nearby sounds and passing scents. She is motionlessly alert.

Most of her affect-greys are neutral middle tones. Every fragment of thought or sensation connected to Bell is white.

[she_sells_seashells]

Bell is instantly seized with a need to hug her. She makes no effort to deny this need.

"I love you," she sighs into Sherlock's ear.

[sicaria]

"I love you too," she says, grinning and hugging back.

This is what she meant when she called Bell a continual epiphany: this feeling like the satisfaction when you set the last piece of a puzzle in its place, multiplied and extended and carrying on into eternity.

[she_sells_seashells]

Bell pokes at that.

She doesn't stop hugging Sherlock for a while.

[self_composed]

Stella slips off into the unoccupied bedroom; it's backwards, but they seem like they might not want supervision.