Holmes is, first off, immensely glad that he hasn't overstepped in this, but this collection of scars suggests so much pain that it's hard to resist the urge to fix that, not that kisses are able to do that, but nonetheless. He traces the lines with his lips, lightly stroking his fingers up Watson's side, but he doesn't want to linger here for too long, doesn't want to force Watson to think of his pain too much.

Once he's spent enough time there, he kisses Watson's lips fiercely and begins to unbutton his own shirt, more than ready to be rid of it. Holmes has a number scars of himself, though significantly smaller, and the story of their acquisition is much less painful. Boxing, tree climbing, falling off a stage once, fighting -- Holmes has had a colorful past, one not without its missteps.