Fic Rec: Saving Sherlock Holmes

[ningen-demonai.livejournal.com]

Title: Saving Sherlock Holmes
Author: earlgreytea68 on AO3
Pairing: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade
Length: 139,494
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Underage sex
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: Sherlock Holmes, schoolboy. Yeah, that basically sums it up.

Reccer's comments: When I first started reading this, I fell head over heels in love with its interpretation of teenage Sherlock and John becoming roommates and then best friends/boyfriends. That love continued throughout the whole fic and I can honestly say that this was one of the few fics (that I actively stalk) that I greeted with a shriek of joy when I saw the notification in my mail.

First off, I'd like you to know that I am very much a fan of pining Sherlock, where he's so obviously and utterly smitten with John that he almost can't imagine being without his stalwart companion. And boy does this fic deliver that in spades. I focus more on Sherlock and John in these comments but this fic really does do a good job at building up and maintaining canon characters' personalities, as well as creating original characters who helped to further things along. Regarding the warning, the sex is between consenting minors, although technically the age of consent is 16 in the UK. So it's up to the reader to see if that bit's a deal breaker. Another thing to note is a section that contains some child abuse, which can be upsetting but is stopped before it escalates too far.

Plot-wise, it reads like a slice-of-life fiction with the boys and cameos from other characters. It also has an interesting way of working canon into it, with certain situations and quotes being thrown in that mesh well and make a person go "I understood that reference!" The fic has two parts, the first with Sherlock at a young age after his mother died and the second with John arriving at Eton to be a certain eccentric student's roommate. It ends a tiny bit abruptly, leaving some questions unanswered, but still a very enjoyable fic altogether.

---

John smiled and followed. “Where are we going?” he asked.

“To the river, where it is secluded and quiet and we won’t be disturbed.”

“What are we doing at the river?”

Sherlock stopped walking again and peered down at him. “Are you frightened?”

The question surprised John. He looked around the empty field warily. “Should I be?”

“You’ve just met me. I’ve just told you that I’m taking you someplace secluded. And you should know that I know innumerable ways to kill a person. I’ve been revising intensely.”

John cocked an eyebrow at him. “No offense, mate, but I grew up on a council estate, and you’re the poshest thing I’ve ever seen, so I think probably I could take you.”

Comments

[raisel.livejournal.com]

Usually in long fics I start near the first quarter of the story. I've just started reading chapter 6, I had to stop and stare kind of awkwardly somewhere else that is not my laptop screen. Why? Because Sherlock is doing research on the Somerton Man...

The Somerton Man's gravesite is less than 100 metres away from my place. I'm so confused right now. I can walk outside right now, sit in front of his grave, and read this fic. Genius.

[ningen-demonai.livejournal.com]

Pfft, unexpected hits close to home, eh? XD Fair warning, it's not a large part of the fic, but it's still fun to read about what Sherlock thinks happened.

[raisel.livejournal.com]

xD well its not the first fic I've read where the author has written too close to home (Another had an OC with the name of my best friend once, I got so freaked out I stopped reading) But I will keep reading. I like hearing other peoples theories about him.

[extraordinary.livejournal.com]

Haha! I started reading this a day or two ago & had had a slightly different reaction to the Taman Shud case - I kept thinking, "This sounds so familiar, but how is that possible... I've never read this fanfic before! HAVE I???" before I realised it sounded familiar because it wasn't a made up case at all. Just one I'd read about a few years ago when I worked my way through all the unsolved murders I could find. (I read a lot of crime blogs when I can't sleep. They're interesting!)

[extraordinary.livejournal.com]

P.S. when I'm not reading crime blogs... I read about different kinds of whales/dolphins & their feeding habits. Anything to help me fall asleep, haha. I'm not as into crime as Sherlock is. I'm just an insomniac. ;)

[raisel.livejournal.com]

I was stupid enough when I was younger to read paranormal blogs before sleeping.... Then I'd be too scared to sleep.

[the-hobbet.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid my eagerness to read this story came to a screeching halt when I saw the Lestrade/Mycroft tag. Popular as this pairing is, though completely unsupported by canon, I have yet to read a story where the author kept them in character and gave any convincing reason why these two should be attracted to each other and compatible. It just seems to be a symptom of the "must slash everyone" syndrome, regardless of the likelihood of the pairing. It annoys me. But I like young Sherlock and John stories, so I am tempted.

[jesse_the_k]

I was there at the screeching halt with you. But somehow the age difference (Lestrade is older than Mycroft, who has not yet become the British Gov't.) and the power similarity (Mycroft is essentially in loco parentis Sherlock, while Lestrade is nominally his tutor) make the relationship work for me here.

[swissmarg]

I don't usually read Mystrade either, but it's relatively minor and the rest of the fic is definitely worth it. Plus it's funny to see them all (not) ignoring each other's sex lives.

[the-hobbet.livejournal.com]

OK, OK, I'll give it a try :-)

Though I have to say sometimes it annoys me even more when an author adds a side reference to Lestrade/Mycroft, just to pander to the meme, when it has virtually nothing to do with the story.

Sorry, my back hurts and I'm feeling grumpy today.

[ningen-demonai.livejournal.com]

Ah, I don't think everyone who ships them is pandering to the meme. I think it's partially the potential that could be their relationship that intrigues many. And sometimes, having someone close to a character you love gives him/her a different spin that makes things interesting again, even if it doesn't add on to the story as much. Feel free to ignore me though, I read fics for the characters first and the story second. |D;

[ningen-demonai.livejournal.com]

To each their own! I'm not a fan of Mystrade, but I will say that their parts are not seen as often and it's rather easy to bury yourself in Sherlock and John feels with this fic. :x

[swissmarg]

Loved this fic so much, it has so much going for it!