Lazy
"I still don't get why he lets you call him 'Sher'."
"Mm?"
"Well I got an earful when I tried it. About how it's lazy and all that, you know. I know your tiny brain can only handle so much but surely a syllable wouldn't overwhelm."
"Huh. Maybe he respects your work too much to stand laziness like that."
"He does not respect me more than he respects you."
"Ha...No. You're right."
"Hm."
...
John clears his throat. "Just whatever you do, definitely don't call Mycroft 'Mike'."
"He doesn't seem to mind it."
"...You talk to him enough to feel comfortable calling him 'Mike'?"
"Well, he keeps in touch when he's concerned about Sherlock."
"Well, sure, but..."
...
"Greg."
"Mm?"
"I actually do know why Sherlock lets me call him 'Sher'."
"Mm?...Oh! No, nope, Christ, no, it's not like that at all."
"Oohhohoho Sherlock's gonna love this."
"Don't you tell him, John."
"I'm gonna tell him and he's gonna absolutely retch."
"I swear to God if you tell him I'll have you arrested."
"For what?"
"I don't know, but a suspicious amount of people get shot when you're around. Maybe could do with an investigation."
"Ahem...Well."
"And your government contact might just side with the police on this one."
"Yes fine alright. But he's going to know, Greg."
"...Hasn't figured it out yet."
"Hm."
"...So you two are a thing then?"
"Some sort of thing."
"Hm?"
"Haven't cared to define it, you know."
"Hm."
...
"...How'd it happen, then?"
"God's sake, John."
"No I'm just curious, that's all."
"...He invited me out for a drink, after my wife left. Sort of a...celebratory thing I suppose. He wasn't hard to hang out with, so I invited him out again a while later."
"So what, just pub dates?"
"Christ they're not dates."
"Aren't they?"
"Hfh...Well they weren't. Just mates having a pint together. Just like you and I do sometimes. I -...Well. I don't know when it changed exactly, you know? Just. Sort of did."
"Hm...Well. You know, congratulations. Still having a hard time imagining it though, you know. He says sentiment is dangerous or whatever."
"Yeah well. Sherlock agrees, doesn't he."
"Mm. S'pose you're right."
"Mm."