Sherliam

"Catch me if you can, Mr. Holmes"

- William's words to Sherlock in chapter 15, foreshadowing future events

Sherliam is the slash ship between Sherlock Holmes and William James Moriarty from the Moriarty the Patriot fandom.

The "Noahtic" Act
William and Sherlock's paths cross for the first time in chapters 5-6, on the board of a ship called Noahtic that also serves as the stage for one of William's plans. They meet when Sherlock, who's been entertaining other guests by guessing people's professions by only looking at them, is asked to try and guess William's profession.

He correctly deduces that William is a mathematician and then proceeds to explain how he arrived at this conclusion by analyzing the other's actions. It appears to have piqued William's interest, who then decides to analyze Sherlock in a similar way. He lists off multiple accurate guesses about Sherlock based on observations and the latter's scent. It seems to take Sherlock by surprise and he asks the question "How'd you know?" to which William replies with "It's obvious", which possibly marks the moment Sherlock realized he met someone similar to him and equal on an intellectual level.

It is later revealed that this meeting was in fact a turning point in both their lives. In that moment, they both felt like they had met the one person who truly understood them.

The next time the two get to talk is after the cruise is over. Sherlock approaches William, wanting to discuss the events that occurred on the ship - Count Blitz Enders murdering a commoner on stage, which Sherlock believes was all orchestrated by a third party, a genius mastermind who left no trace of evidence.

William, who happens to be said mastermind, listens to Sherlock's explanation and indulges him in the conversation, even praising his knowledge and asking questions about his deductions. He points out that Sherlock seems to be having fun despite the events being quite horrible, to which Sherlock expresses that he's excited to be faced with such a puzzle.

He assumes William should also find it interesting, as solving a mathematic formula is what makes mathematics fun. That causes William to smirk, to himself this time it seems, as he perhaps realizes then that they in fact think a lot alike. They part ways soon after that, although not without William asking Sherlock for his name and Sherlock introducing himself.

A Study in "S"
During the Study in S chapters, the two might not interact, but the case Sherlock is solving is a mystery set up for him by William who wants to test him to see if he's fit to play a role in his plan. Sherlock quickly realizes that it's another crime with a third party involved, a mastermind working from behind the shadows, and this time he actually gets a confirmation when he's faced with the choice of either arresting Jefferson Hope, the culprit, or shooting him and getting to find out his benefactor's identity. Sherlock deciding to not to kill Hope proves him worthy in William's eyes. The case is also the official beginning of the detective's chase after the criminal soon to be known by the public as the Lord of Crime.

The Two Detectives
The next time William and Sherlock get to see each other face-to-face is in chapters 15-16 when they happen to be travelling on the same train. Sherlock is visibly thrilled to see William and even blushes before hurrying over to his and Louis's table. William looks startled to see him but allows Sherlock to sit with them. Sherlock then tells him about the Jefferson Hope's case and its probable relation to Ender's death on the during the cruise of the Noahtic. He also talks about the mastermind behind those cases and then accuses William of being the person behind everything. It almost ends the story right there and then as Louis is ready to murder Sherlock with a dull knife, but fortunately William speaks up in time. He neither confirms nor denies the accusation, instead answering in a somewhat evasive and rather flirtatious manner. Sherlock laughs amusedly at the response and says that he was only joking. Then he proceeds to wink at William and tell him that he'd like him to be that "sharp criminal". William looks surprised, but after a brief moment he smirks and speaks the words that became one of the most popular Sherliam quotes and serve as a foreshadowing for the future events in the manga: Catch me if you can, Mr. Holmes. Sherlock blushes and William asks if he'd be satisfied if he said that and calls him "Mr. Detective". Sherlock laughs loudly once again and says that William really is the best and that he feels they could really get along. Further flirting is interrupted by Lestrade and soon after by a scream coming from a different part of the train. It turns out that a murder occurred on the train. Sherlock suggests a competition to see which one of them can solve the case quicker, to which William agrees. In that moment Sherlock also calls William by the shortened version of his name, "Liam", for the first time. As they investigate the crime scene together, it's evident that they understand each other's thoughts well with no need for words. Later on, Sherlock is also the only one who catches on to William's bluff. William pretends not to know what Sherlock is talking about, but he does wink at him as he's leaving, in response to which Sherlock calls after him saying that they should get a meal together someday. After William leaves, Lestrade who witnessed everything thinks about how similar the two are and wonders if them meeting is destiny. In the meantime, William is talking to Louis and mentions that Sherlock believing too much in people is something that he likes about him.

The Adventure of One Student
In chapter 31, Sherlock visits William at work at the Durham University. He sneaks into his lecture and takes an exam alongside the students, only showing himself after the lecture hall empties out. He greets William as "Professor" and asks him teasingly to score his exam. Originally William acts unimpressed and a little confused as to why Sherlock is in Durham. After Sherlock reminds him about the dinner he asked him to, he teases Sherlock that he doesn't remember agreeing to it.

Still, he offers that they can talk together during his lunch break as he grades exams, to which Sherlock happily agrees. He asks if he can sit in William's next lecture as well, which William doesn't mind. During the lecture, Sherlock pays close attention to William's voice to determine if he's the Lord of Crime or not, whose voice Sherlock had the opportunity to hear earlier. After the lecture they sit down to talk together and he shares his thoughts about the Lord of Crime with William. He declares that no matter what the Lord of Crime's reasons for killing people might be, murder is still wrong and Sherlock intends to catch and condemn him.

William agrees and Sherlock reveals that he was feeling a little lost and that he's glad he got to talk to him. He adds that he doesn't mind giving up his life to catch the Lord of Crime, to which William says that if Sherlock's prepared to go that far, there's no doubt he'll do just fine. Before they leave, William shows Sherlock that he scored zero points in the exam. He also tells him about an exam with a perfect score that isn't signed. He asks Sherlock if he could find the person while William goes back to work, to which he agrees.

Sherlock manages to find the owner of the exam, Bill from Durham Printing, and Sherlock and William decide to convince the dean together to let Bill study at the university. They're successful at doing so, which Sherlock later comments was thanks to William's "weapons-grade smile of yours that doesn't let a man refuse" as William walks him to the train station.

As Sherlock's boarding the train, William refers to their conversation earlier and says that he should make sure to return alive from catching the Lord of Crime. He also calls him "Sherlock", which is the first time he calls Sherlock by his first name instead of "Mr. Holmes". Sherlock blushes and drops his cigarette, but when he asks, William quickly denies it and calls him "Mr. Holmes" again. Sherlock says they'll see each other in London and William responds he'd love to meet again, calling him "Sherlock" once more when the train is already in the distance.

The Two Criminals
They meet again when they both confront Charles Augustus Milverton, William with the intention to kill him and Sherlock to get rid of the evidence the man has of Mary Morstan's past that could ruin her and John's marriage. Milverton is unaware of the fact that the two know each other and is proud to have successfully lured them in, as he believes that Sherlock will now have no choice but to let Milverton go and arrest William as there's no reason for him to let a mass murderer slip through his fingers when he's right in front of him.

However, Sherlock's reaction to getting a confirmation that William is the Lord of Crime is laughing in delight. He even says he hoped it would be William and taht he needed it to be him. Interestingly enough, instead of leaving William to handle the situation, Sherlock shoots Milverton himself after making sure William's fine with the information about him being the Lord of Crime becoming public.

Sherlock then declares that this is where the game gets serious and that he'll be the one to reveal everything about William and will catch him in his own way, to which William's response is "My reply to those words is the same as before. Catch me if you can, 'Sherlock'". However, when he escapes together with his companions, he is shown to be rather distraught, saying it's his fault that Sherlock committed murder. William is now sure that Sherlock will be coming to kill him as well.

The Final Problem
In chapter 52 Sherlock decides to talk to John about William. He explains William's actions to John. When John is torn between not wanting to condone murder under any circumstances and understanding the Lord of Crime's reasoning, Sherlock admits he would feel the same if he was in John's position, however there is a decisive difference between them, which is that William is a dear friend of him and he wants to save him. In the same chapter, he meets with Louis and Fred who come to ask him to save William from his own plan, which Sherlock realizes by now William doesn't intend to survive. Once again, he declares he's going to save William as his friend even though he doesn't know if the other sees him the same way. At the very end of the chapter, William visits Sherlock in his flat on Baker Street 221B. He asks Sherlock if he can finish the story of William James Moriarty.

The conversation continues in chapter 53. Sherlock asks William why he wants to die so badly, William's reply being that he must erase all the devils on Earth and he's the only one left now and he wants to leave the decision how to finish it to Sherlock. Sherlock asks William why he chose him, pointing out that there was no good reason for him to do so. As he asks the question, William is shown recalling the times when Sherlock winked and laughed at him. Instead of answering he turns the question around and asks why Sherlock wanted him to be the Lord of Crime. Sherlock simply replies that he had his mind set on befriending a person like that and repeats his own question. Instead of answering, William hands him two letters one in a white and the other in a black envelope and explains that inside the envelope there's a time and place of their final showdown written. When asked about the black envelope, he says that Sherlock can throw it away for all he cares, then leaves. Sherlock opens the black envelope, inside which there's another address. When he goes there, he finds a place with all of William's criminal plans stored, as well as William's and Louis's birth records and a letter left to Sherlock by William. In the letter, William first talks about his plan and about how he wants to entrust this world to Sherlock, and next he answers the question Sherlock asked him earlier in the chapter. He confesses that meeting Sherlock was more fun that he could have ever anticipated and how for a moment he could forget about the weight his sins carry. He admits he felt as if he met the only one who could ever understand him and that he wanted to continue talking to Sherlock and even throw everything away to keep solving puzzles with him. He says that it was strange to have such feelings for a detective and that from the very first time they met Sherlock felt like an old friend of his. Lastly, he says that he wants Sherlock to be by his side in his final moments, him and no other, and that he has no doubts that if they could be reborn into another world, this time they'd be able to take one another's hand as true friends do. After he finishes reading the letter, Sherlock sits in shock for a moment as the realization dawns on him that they felt the same way the whole time. He then abruptly runs out of the building, shouting he can still make it in time so they don't have to be reborn into another world yet.

Sherlock spends chapter 54 running to where William is waiting for him on top of a bridge. As he arrives there, he shouts how it's not too late yet and that there's nothing unforgivable in this world. However, as Sherlock reaches out, William refuses to take his hand "You are tempting me" he said, and instead draws his sword and initiates a fight.

In chapter 55, when William decides they can stop fighting, he declares it's time for him to close the curtains. Sherlock asks angrily if death is really his idea of atonement, shouts at him not to use death as some cheap escape route and accuses him of trying to escape the pain this way and says that if he really wants to repent for his sins then he should stop running away when things get hard and choose the thorniest path for him. He points out that he's now a murderer too, just like William, since he put an end to Milverton's life, and suggests they can both atone together from now on. William, however, says that this is farewell and proceeds to throw himself off the bridge, but Sherlock catches his hand in time before he can fall. William asks why Sherlock would go this far for him. Sherlock replies that it's because William is his friend and that's more than enough of a reason. He also says he read William's letter, and William's eyes widen as he hears that. As Sherlock explains that just as William never saw him as a mere chess piece needed for his plan Sherlock never saw William as just a puzzle to solve either and that they felt the same way from the beginning so they must be able to witness the same future, light seems to come back to William's eyes. Sherlock asks him to live on and says that he'll protect this world so William should too. To that, William replies with the words "So you came here not as a 'detective'... but rather as a 'friend', huh... it's my loss. Sherly." He says that the scaffold can't possibly support this much weight and he says that the only one he wishes to have return home alive is Sherlock. Then, he lets go of Sherlock's hand and smiles fondly at him as he falls. Sherlock looks at him, stunned, for a brief moment, before yelling that he won't let him die alone like that and jumping after William. He smiles as he catches William and embraces him tightly as they fall together, asking him to survive so they can both live on. Right after that both of them fall into the River of Thames.

The Adventure of the Empty Hearts
It's eventually revealed that both Sherlock and William survived the fall.

They were saved by "Billy the Kid", who was sent by the US government and who takes them to New York City after rescuing them. Sherlock is the first to wake up as the less injured one, even though it's revealed that he protected William during the fall. He immediately calls for Liam upon waking up, notably relieved when seeing Liam sleeping in the same room.

Sherlock initially ignores Billy who tries to talk to him to check if William is okay. Only upon noticing William's bloody and bandaged eye does he question Billy about William's condition. Shortly after, Billy asks Sherlock to work for the United States for a while. He agrees, but on the condition that Billy looks after William when he's gone.

A few months later, when Sherlock comes back to the place they're staying at, he sees William's empty bed. He panics and runs around looking for him until Sherlock finds him sitting on a bench on the rooftop He looks at William with a fond and relieved expression before sitting with him.

It's also revealed that after William got better they worked together for a few years. Later, Sherlock travelled alone and stayed a while in Montpellier, until he got a letter from William asking him to contact MI6 for him which resulted in Sherlock eventually returning to London. He was also entrusted with a message that he brings to Moran in Liam's stead.

During the dinner between Sherlock's companions and the Moriartys, Sherlock lights up when William arrives. Later, when Billy sees Sherlock carrying fruits, he presumes that 90% of it is for William. While Sherlock tells him not to assume such a thing, Billy teases him that it's true after all.

Musical Adaptation
In the musical adaptation of Moriarty the Patriot, Sherlock and William additionally appear together during the scene where Jefferson Hope asks Sherlock to kill him. A vision of William appears then and starts singing, trying to convince the detective into shooting Hope, using phrases like "I hold you in the highest of regards", "you want to know all about me, do you not?" and "I will give you my everything". In the second musical, the two also sing a duet together. In the third musical, William use a metaphor to quantify Sherlock. He is the "gentle and warm breeze/wind" that enter his lonely heart and brushes against his hair and caresses his cheeks.

I hope/I will
I hope/I will is a song from the second Moriarty the Patriot musical. It's the ending song which takes place after Sherlock realizes that the Lord of Crime protected James as promised and so he burns the letter with the Lord of Crime's name.

Ryo Hirano (Sherlock musical actor) said that the song has the same expression as a love song. Below is an English translation of the lyrics, made by @megane_tantei on Twitter:

Sherlock's part:


 * That was Irene Adler the Woman
 * The authorities announced she was dead
 * but you made up such a clever story
 * isn't that right, Lord of Crime? That woman is alive
 * That day's client was also you, wasn't it Irene
 * Now everything has connected
 * To you who made it happen
 * Lord of Crime you saved that woman perfectly
 * That's why I will protect this oath between us

William's part:


 * Holmes, you didn't come to me
 * You realized the truth that was erased and did not see the true name (of the Lord of Crime)
 * I believed YOU ALONE could perceive the truth
 * If you protect the promise you made with me

Both of them (Sherlock on the left, William on the right):


 * Your name/Holmes you are
 * Disappeared into dust/The light that shines in the darkness
 * That's okay because I will definitely catch you/No matter what valleys of death I walk through
 * Lord of Crime, you/To the end with you
 * I will expose you/Catch me if you can
 * I will capture you/Catch me, you can do
 * You who is like/Catch me if you can
 * A phantom/Catch me, you can do

William:
 * I hope (you catch me)

Sherlock:
 * I will (catch you)

Both:
 * Beyond this deep mystery's fog,
 * Beyond this mystery

Twisted Hearts
Twisted Hearts is the second opening from the anime adaptation. The singer and the official anime account confirmed that this song is about the feelings between Sherlock and William.

English translation of the lyrics below (original translation post here )


 * Stumbling over twisted words
 * I can’t fall asleep at night
 * Trapped in your gaze
 * I feel your sickness inside
 * I’m hurt, and breaking down
 * This never-ending punishment
 * I feel your sins all the time
 * I can’t escape — take me away
 * I don’t feel your love
 * But I can give you love
 * Show me a hope (dream) that will wake me up
 * I don’t feel your love
 * But I can give you love
 * Every time I wake up, this illusion (you) crumbles
 * Someday, I’ll free your soul
 * I’ll find you, and free your mind
 * I’ll steal your heart, and free your soul
 * I’ll free your mind, forever
 * I will scream aloud
 * Voices from the darkness crowd around me
 * I can’t find the reason why
 * I was drawn to this bond between us
 * I feel the strength of our ties
 * I can’t put it into words
 * This unsolvable mystery
 * We share this fate, even now
 * It can’t be denied — don’t push me away
 * Don’t restrain your voice
 * Now I’ll give you the choice
 * Let’s make a future where you can spread your wings
 * Don’t restrain your voice
 * Now I’ll give you the choice
 * and I gaze at you, as you try to soar
 * Hear me now
 * Hear my thoughts, as I am
 * Hear me now, and acknowledge this
 * Hear my mind, as I can’t be saved
 * Even if tomorrow never comes, I’ll live on
 * and show that this isn’t the end
 * No one can take these feelings away from me
 * I’ll keep on shouting out loud
 * There’s nothing to fear, and I want to walk on
 * I’ll hide away this loneliness
 * and if it hurts, then I’ll overcome it
 * I don’t feel your love
 * But I can give you love
 * Show me a hope (dream) that will wake me up
 * I don’t feel your love
 * But I can give you love
 * Every time I wake up, this illusion (you) crumbles
 * Someday, I’ll free your soul
 * I’ll find you, and free your mind
 * I’ll steal your heart, and free your soul
 * I’ll free your mind, forever
 * and save our twisted hearts

Omega
Omega is the second ending song from the anime adaptation. It strongly remind William's letter for Sherlock. As a bonus for buying the CD, you get a second CD with the lyrics read by Sherlock and William’s voice actors (Furukawa Makoto and Saito Soma)

English translation of the lyrics below (the original translation post here):


 * A destiny that will soon change into chains of sorrow
 * leaves behind the light of rebirth
 * for the world that lies ahead
 * Assaulted by a vexation I’d never felt before
 * I feel lost, I feel lost
 * All I remember is the letter I hastily scrawled out
 * It’s all true, it’s all true
 * Please don’t begrudge the future I’ve forsaken
 * and watch me till my very end
 * As recompense for dancing in the palm of my hand,
 * I shall give you back your free will
 * A scarlet thread fluttering in the wind at five in the morning
 * On my final day, let us take back our memories
 * Hold me down till the end
 * If you desire beauty, then don’t hesitate
 * and end it all, so my sins can be wiped away
 * I fervently wished that I could keep on talking with you like this
 * For the first time, without a doubt,
 * I’d found someone with whom I shared an equal understanding
 * “What if our situations were different” —
 * In the irreplaceable future I’d aimed for,
 * that naive* dream can never be fulfilled

(T/N: the actual word used was 青い, which literally means blue — possibly a reference to Sherlock)


 * If atonement is possible, then don’t shy away from the painful choice
 * In hopes of regaining a clear conscience, I shall offer up this soul of mine
 * Intoxicated by these prickling sensations,
 * I stare at my dirtied hands — this, too, is fate
 * Wipe me out from this pain
 * The present we are in, which changes with every blink —
 * I want to burn it all into my eyes, until the very end
 * Even if everything becomes a thing of the past,
 * someday, I’ll remember
 * the world in which you remained
 * and lived from here on
 * A scarlet thread fluttering in the wind at five in the morning
 * On my final day, let us take back our memories
 * Hold me down till the end
 * If you desire beauty, then don’t hesitate
 * and end it all, so my sins can be wiped away

I Hope I Will part 2
I Hope I Will part 2 is Sherlock and William's duet from Moriarty the Patriot Op3. They try to catch each-others hand without success.

Translation by @charles-aux-fraises on Tumblr.

William:
 * I will walk my fated path
 * This path leading to death
 * For a beautiful world, I hope

Sherlock:
 * I will, Lord of Crime
 * I decided I will catch you
 * Ah, Liam, you are the Lord of Crime, I hope

Both:
 * Ah, this is the beginning of the end

William:
 * This promised path to death

Sherlock:
 * This sorrowful resolve

Both:
 * But in this heart　You reside

William:
 * In this lonely heart

Sherlock:
 * In this burning world

Both:
 * The breeze blows  Because you are here

William
 * Throughout this sorrowful day

Sherlock:
 * Insanely

Both:
 * You are living
 * Iʼm embracing your red cheeks
 * Swaying beyond myself
 * Now the fateful night falls
 * the fateful night falls
 * Beyond the mysteries of yesterday
 * The dawn will surely break
 * Now the fateful night falls
 * The fateful night falls

Embracing each-others heart
Embracing each-others heart is a song from Moriarty the Patriot Op3. It's the Moriarty group as well as Sherlock and William's song. Moriarty members are referring to William while Sherlock and William are referring to each-other.

Translation by @charles-aux-fraises on Tumblr.

William:
 * That day is silently approaching
 * Embracing this quietly cold heart
 * Iʼm once again alone
 * The breeze is murmuring
 * The breeze is blowing

Albert:
 * I was the one who led this fate
 * Everything is for your sake 

Louis:
 * I wonder what is this noisy anxiety
 * Brother, I will be with you forever

Moran:
 * I will protect your ideals
 * I will not hesitate to give up my life

Fred:
 * I decided to walk this path
 * I will give you everything

William:
 * Youʼre all so important to me
 * Thatʼs why Iʼm alone
 * Once again, Iʼm alone

Everyone beside William:
 * The fateful day is approaching
 * Silently overflowing
 * Everything is for an ideal world
 * Silently overflowing
 * Iʼm embracing this heart
 * Thinking of him
 * Iʼm embracing his heart

William:
 * The breeze is murmuring
 * The breeze is blowing

Sherlock:
 * Should I catch you? Should I let you go? Which one will you choose, Sherlock?

Sherlock and William:
 * Silently overflowing
 * Iʼm embracing this heart
 * Thinking of you
 * Iʼm embracing your heart

Rondo of Hearts
Rondo of Hearts is Sherlock and William's duet from Moriarty the Patriot Op3. They are dancing together but stages apart.

Translation by @charles-aux-fraises on Tumblr.

Sherlock:
 * This is a dance where I canʼt see my partner
 * Lord of Crime, Iʼm at your mercy
 * I’m merely being led by your steps
 * Whirling around the hall''
 * You're the one who chose all the melodies
 * We can't save the suspect if I mess up
 * I don't have a choice
 * Everything is on the Rondo

William:
 * ''I wonder If you now understand
 * The swaying feelings in my heart

''Sherlock:
 * I want to catch you
 * This beautiful mystery
 * I want to unravel it

William:
 * Holmes
 * You make the breeze blow in my heart

Sherlock:
 * ''No matter how hard I chase it
 * ''Your figure
 * It will gloomily vanish

(×2)

Sherlock:
 * Whirling

William:
 * I think of you

Both:
 * ''In the whirling Rondo of Hearts
 * Lapsing into chaos
 * We're dancing

Sherlock:
 * Whirling

William:
 * I think of you

Both:
 * ''In the whirling Rondo of Hearts
 * I'm dancing

Sherlock:
 * Your figure

William:
 * My last moment

Sherlock:
 * Until I catch your figure

William:
 * Until the day I meet my last moment

Both:
 * Resound, Rondo of Hearts

The Room of my Heart
The Room of my Heart or The Breeze is William's solo in Moriarty the Patriot Op3.

His brother, Albert, confounded him that he seems to favor Sherlock a lot. " Will, what I'm worried about is that, as you become more emotionally involved with him, isn't it just going to make things more painful for you when the time comes?" But William always cut his speech (twice), as if he didn't wanted to talk about his personnel feelings for Sherlock. Once Albert was gone, William started to sing this song about "The Wind" (a metaphor for Sherlock). He was lying on his couch while crying and stroking his own cheeks.

In a report about Op3, this song was qualified as a Love Song.

Translation by @CrimsonLotus5 on Twitter.


 * That day when I solemnly swore to give my life away
 * Time came to a standstill, in the room of my heart
 * I've blocked out all the sounds,
 * I'm in my way to my destined demise
 * I've made up my mind, my fate is now sealed
 * In this icy room, my heart lay frozen cold
 * Then it entered my sight, some untold time ago
 * A gentle breeze came along, brushing through the tendrils of my hair
 * My room lay shut in its solitude ohh
 * Until one day, a gust of wind decided to show
 * It was warm and soothing as it caressed along my cheeks
 * My heart played but lonesome tunes ohh
 * Until one day, a gust of wind decided to show
 * Lord, would you grant me this one moment, to be grazed by its touch ?
 * Where could this breeze have come from, I wonder?
 * But in my heart I knew
 * Oh, how I knew all along...
 * My room lay shut in its solitude ohh
 * Until one day, a gust of wind decided to show
 * It was warm and soothing as it caressed along my cheeks
 * My heart played but lonesome tunes Ahh
 * Until one day, a gust of wind decided to show
 * Lord, would you grant me this one moment, to be grazed by its touch ?
 * Lord, would you allow these feelings to blossom..?

Quotes
"I would've liked you to be that sharp criminal."

- Sherlock to William in chapter 15

"Catch me if you can, Mr. Holmes."

- William to Sherlock in chapter 15

"You should make sure to return alive after arresting the Lord of Crime, Sherlock."

- William to Sherlock in chapter 31

"Right, Liam!! Isn't that right!? I'm glad it was you!! Ha - I'm so glad... truly... to be honest, I didn't want it to be anyone else. I wanted it to be you, and I needed it to be you, so I'm really happy that you're here now."

- Sherlock's reaction to learning that William is the Lord of Crime in chapter 47

"I want you to be the one by my side in those finals moment. You and no other. If, if we could be reborn into another world, I have no doubts that this time we would be able to take one another's hand... As true friends do."

- The ending of William's letter to Sherlock, chapter 53

"With these hands, I put an end to Milverton's life... I'm a criminal now, just like you... So why don't we atone together from now on?"

- Sherlock to William in chapter 55

"You never once saw me as a mere chess piece needed for your plan... and it's the same for me! I never once saw you as simply a puzzle I wanna solve, either!! It was never like that to begin with!!"

- Sherlock to William in chapter 55

"So you came here not as a 'detective'... but rather as a 'friend', huh... it's my loss. Sherly."

- William to Sherlock in chapter 55

"Finally, I've caught you now. Liam... let's both survive. Live on, both you and I..."

- Sherlock after catching William during their fall, chapter 55

Fanon
The ship is very popular in the fandom and by many readers, it's interpreted to be pretty much canon, due to how many scenes seem to be intentionally written with clear romantic undertones, similarly how in multiple panels Sherlock and William are seen looking at each other with extremely fond looks and Sherlock often blushes at William. William's letter is also often considered to be a love letter, the lack of an explicit love confession in it making sense considering the circumstances such as the time period the story takes place in, William not being certain what Sherlock's feelings towards him are and the letter also serving as what is technically a suicide note. Some argue that Sherliam is only supposed to be a close strong friendship and that the author might not be aware that it comes off as romantic, however it's doubtful that the author is unaware that gay people exist. It's also worth mentioning that the way William and Sherlock are written is vastly different from how the author wrote Sherlock and John, who are an example of a very close and affectionate platonic friendship.

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Trivia

 * In Sherlock's profile, it states that he likes "mysteries" and that his life's greatest mystery is William. In his worries it also explains that he's "worried (or hoping?) that William is planning something big again".
 * In this interview Saito Soma (William's VA) said : This is just my prediction but, I think that Sherlock exists to save William somehow. William too, and Sherlock, both of them think that things will go according to how they have planned it, but slowly start doing things they did not expect, and tread into unexpected territories, but will eventually be saved. I think that Sherlock might be the one who will bring about William, as a person, not as William James Moriarty, being saved. But no one wants to tell us how the story ends (laughs), when this report is out, I hope to be able to confirm this with everyone.
 * In one of Saito Soma radio episode, he was talking about William's "Sherly", he was very stressed for this since this word is extremely important. He didn't wanted to mess it up but, at the recording "before I could think about it, William's feelings actually came out in words.. so, it's not logic, but sensitivity, that's how I felt"
 * In this interview In the anime 1st episode Live Broadcast, the anime director, Nomura Kazuya, said that Sherlock is a character that will be gradually completed by interacting with William. Saito Soma added "They are mutually drawn to each other. It’s a complex relationship where both parties are intricately intertwined!”
 * In this interview Hatanaka Tasuku (the singer of the two openings) confirmed that the 2nd opening "Twisted Hearts" is talking about the feelings between Sherlock and William. Later, Anime official account also confirmed it.
 * In the same interview, Mr. Hatanaka was asked about the title and how it portray Sherlock and William's involvement in the 2nd part of the anime, he answered " It’s a pretty straightforward title, isn't it? If you listen to after seeing the main story (manga), you can feel that this is a song of these two."
 * At the Jump Festa 2021 Live Stream, Hirano Ryo (Sherlock musical actor) said that Sherlock and William's duet "I Hope | I Will" has the same expression as a Love Song.
 * In this interview, Yoshihiko Aramaki (William stage play actor) said " Also, if you've read the manga up to the last issue, you'll know that the scene on the train is probably when William fell in love with Sherlock"
 * On her Twitter, Miyoshi Hikaru (the artist) said that she choose the colour Blue for Sherlock to match with William's Red.
 * In COMIC RECOMMANDE Vol.6 "Moriarty the Patriot" Sherlock and William's relationship was described as " A Special Rival, as close to Love as possible"
 * At the Jump Festa 2021 Live Stream, Miyoshi-Sensei affirmed that she created Sherlock and William to be the perfect opposites (as the Yin/Yang).
 * Mainly their personalities and chosen colors, but also more subtle details like the speech, the way of dressing, walking and even way of standing.
 * They are the same height and age, both are 185cm and 24 years old ( 27 after time skip).
 * Pre-time skip, they were also the same weight. Both were 67kg, but Sherlock has gained weight and William has lost weight post-time skip.
 * They are often portrayed with a Red Thread of Fate, a symbol of Marriage and Soulmates.
 * In one of his Live Streams, Takeuchi-Sensei said that the sentence from Chapter 52 cover "The Mystery makes me crazy, it's YOU, Lord of Crime" was like a Confession from Sherlock to William. Sherlock canonically LOVES mysteries and lives only for them.
 * The English Version of William's " Catch me, don't leave me alone" on chapter 55 cover is an ask for Sherlock, he answered "I finally caught you, I won't leave you alone"
 * The Japanese version means "Catch me, don't let me go". It's a direct answer to Sherlock's " Your hand is now in my grasp and I will never let it go" from the previous Chapter 54.
 * In chapter 18, Sherlock said that he is not interested by women.
 * In Volume 3 omake, John asked Miss Hudson what was Sherlock's weakness, she answered that he is a women hater.
 * Sherlock calls William basically always as "Liam" since their second meeting on the train. He has a hard time calling him by others name even when talking to other people who don't really know who "Liam" is.
 * He called him "William" only twice. One time when William visited him at 221B "Welcome to 221B, professor William James Moriarty", the second on the bridge "Live on, William!".
 * William calls Sherlock by many names through the series:
 * Holmes, Mr. Holmes, Mr. Detective to Sherlock to eventually 'Sherly' which he uses currently.
 * In the Drama CD "The one student" (chapter 31), we learn that William knew since the beginning that Bill was the mysterious student.
 * Their relationship has been censored a lot in the anime adaptation.
 * Some of Sherlock's blushes were cut, the chapter 31 as well as their discussion in 221B and on the bridge. Some lines from Liam's letter were also cut ("I want to entrust this world to you", "It even crossed my mind that I would leave everything behind to engross myself in the delight of solving mysteries with you forever" and " I would be able to take your hand")
 * Sherlock's "I finally caught you now" when they fall from the bridge was also removed.
 * In the anime, Sherlock is represented as a white dove in William's eyes. White doves are symbols of Love, Peace and Hope.
 * In the 3rd Musical, William used a metaphor to qualify Sherlock. He is the "gentle and warm breeze/wind" that enter his lonely heart and brushes against his hair and caresses his cheeks.
 * In chapter 59, Billy think of giving them two swan-shaped apples. A Swan is a symbol of grace, devotion, love, fidelity, purity, peace, protection and transformation.
 * In the Abema Live from the 7th December 2020 Furukawa Makoto (Sherlock's VA) had presented a relationship chart.
 * Sherlock and William was " Special Interest "
 * In chapter 60, Sherlock asked Von Herder if he had to measure him in that place in details for what Von Herder answered that he has to measure everyone to create equipment and that only William never allowed him to measure near that area. Sherlock thought to himself while sweating " Well, that sounds like him alright..."
 * Crunchyroll has listed the anime under both "Enemies to lovers" and "Falling in love on the job".