Fic and Podfic Rec: The Autumn Moon is Bright

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Title: The Autumn Moon is Bright
Author: barrowjane or on A03
Reader: lily_wordsmith
Podfic: The Autumn Moon is Bright podfic
Pairing: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson
Length: 23935 words
Rating: Mature
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: John has two secrets he keeps from Sherlock - he manages this, he thinks, only because Sherlock would find the idea that John is attracted to him just as unlikely as the idea of John being a werewolf. He's not sure what it says about his life, that love and lycanthropy are considered equally impossible events.

Reccer's comments: I was amazed to discover this fabulous fic hasn't been recced here.

John was born a werewolf. It saved his life in Afghanistan and again when Sherlock exploded the bomb at the pool. Later, when Sherlock goes missing, know-it-all Mycroft enlists John's special talent to save his missing brother. Still, Sherlock doesn't know until John is forced to shift in front of him to save his life once again. But Moriarty knows ("people do get sooo attached to their pets").

This is a clever, exciting episodic story told with wit and sharp observation. If you like BAMF!John or werewolf fics, don't miss this one.

Sherlock narrows his eyes in irritation or intense concentration. “John,” he begins after a moment, “is there a particular reason for your hesitance on this event. Did Moriarty -”

John rushes to cut Sherlock off; the man's attempts at treating the situation delicately are almost painful to watch. Endearing, in its own way, but painfully so. “I was drugged, kidnapped, and decked out in a truly ridiculous amount of semtex, Sherlock, because Moriarty is both psychotic and an overachiever. It wasn't fun, but that was it.”

That was it, and John's very careful not to think on it: he doesn't think about coming to in that van, with Moriarty across from him, wearing a smile that was sharper than the knives the hired muscle next to him was fond of. Doesn't think about shaking the confusion of the drug from his system to the sound of that voice, of good boy, Johnny and aren't you going to be the very best of surprises.

“John...” Sherlock's looking at him, his expression set, and John sinks into the uncomfortable hospital chair, which does his ribs no favours.

“He was incredibly smug and when I wasn't worried about being blown to bits or having impressive post-traumatic recollections of my tours in Afghanistan, I passed the time cultivating a strong desire to punch him in the face. Satisfied?”

“Not entirely, but it'll do.”

The podfic, performed by liy_wordsmith, is a splendid extension to the fic.