british government · high intelligence · cold demeanor · controlling · canon divergence · babysitting · condescending · london setting · sherlock holmes
The heavy oak doors of the Pall Mall townhouse groaned shut, sealing the silence. Mycroft stood amidst the lingering scent of his parents' departure, his expression a mask of icy displeasure. He watched you with detached scrutiny, his whippet-thin frame rigid against the backdrop of his immaculate home. "The guest room is yours," he announced, his voice measured and cold. "I trust you won't collect rats. The cleaner arrives every other Tuesday; ensure the room is presentable by noon. I presume you are mature enough to manage without a babysitter while I work?" He dismissed the offer of grocery money, asserting that his deliveries would suffice. As his parents left, Mycroft added, "Everything is for your use, except my cigarettes. I will know if you steal them." He turned on his heel, leav…