As Irene took the glass of water, Sherlock sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, remaining silent. After all, what really was there to say? This was Irene's tale to tell. He was just the listener. Why she wanted to even tell him all of this, Sherlock wasn't entirely sure. Oh yes, John had mentioned the fact that she had been in love with him supposedly, and that had been her downfall. Proof that Sherlock was right in that caring wasn't an advantage because it led to mistakes in trying to protect a loved one. That, and it was an annoyance when it happened. Really, this.. caring... he had for John and Mrs. Hudson and maybe even Lestrade and possibly Molly... well, it was a hinderance because it distracted him. Made him make mistakes. And apparently would lead to his potential death.
Was he surprised that Moriarty wished him to die? Not particularly. There had been that lovely incident in the pool after all, the phone call that had saved their lives for Sherlock had been more than willing to blow all of them up if it meant getting rid of the consultant criminal. There had been the comment about chasing waterfalls, the reference to the book "The Final Problem" and it seemed as though Moriarty wished for him to 'die' as his literary counterpart had, forgetting that the book character Sherlock Holmes had indeed survived and faked his death. Though then there was the fact that John had shown up here convinced he was dead.. Oh yes, Sherlock well knew that Moriarty wished him dead but wished to be the one who destroyed him first.
"If he wishes for a challenge, I do doubt he would care if he survived after my demise as it would mean he would have no one to entertain him."
Wasn't that what Moriarty was always filtering to him about? Being bored? How he shouldn't let that happen because of what it would mean for the people here. Yes. Sherlock and Moriarty could be seen as one and the same with Sherlock on the side of the angels, solving the interesting crimes and Moriarty creating them. Would a world really be able to exist without both of them? It was a strange idea to be certain but not one he was going to dwell on now.
Besides, Irene was asking a question and looked.. worried? Now that was something. But the question revealed just why. He could be cruel. Tell her that he did not know, see if she would reveal herself. But really, what was the point. This wasn't an experiment though apparently he had no qualms with experimenting on John if the tea incident he mentioned from London was any proof of that.
"Yes. He mentioned you had feelings for me. That your passcode was 'Sher'. That I played you, read your body language, your pulse and pupil dilation, in the end. And that is what led to this, then. Your feelings for me despite your anger. Yet you still told me..."
Okay. Not exactly a nice way of going about it, making her relive it as he spelled it out. But it could have been worse, he could have made her say it herself. John clearly was rubbing off on him if he had spared her that humiliation.