Keep Calm and Carry On

Fanfiction: 100 Prompts, #85: Courage

Moran raised his champagne glass.

“To the new century.”  

Moriarty drank to that.

The unusually large windows of their flat were a perfect place to watch Big Ben and the fireworks that were to be set off in the distance above them.  The grandfather clock in the corner near Moriarty’s desk, impeccably synchronous with Big Ben, (Moriarty allowing nothing less), ticked slowly to midnight, until eventually there was only

5…

4…

3…

2…

1…

Midnight.  Muffled cheers could be faintly heard over London’s rooftops, and Moriarty and Moran each partook of a slight smile.  They both looked over at each other at the same time, and then pretended that they hadn’t caught one another’s gaze.  It was awkward, for a moment.  They were each thinking of a certain tradition that had yet to be carried out.  But while they were thinking, the clock stopped chiming, the fireworks died down, and the cheers dissipated.  It was too late to kiss in the New Year, for it was already upon them.

Perhaps they would have more courage next year.