221b_recs | Fic Rec: Saving Sherlock Holmes (Reply)

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.

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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.”