Fic Rec: Not English But Angels

[discordantwords]

Title: Not English But Angels
Author: Sideris
Pairing: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson; Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade
Length: 203,251 words
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Dubious consent, show-typical violence
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: A sort-of canon, sort-of AU fic in which I twist and supplement canon to weave it into a new story in which Sherlock and John come from different worlds and nothing is quite what it seems.

There were times I didn't even think you were human. - John

I may be on the side of the angels, but don’t think for one second that I am one of them. - Sherlock

 

Reccer's comments:

Where to even begin with this one?

This fandom is rich in stories where Sherlock makes his slow transition from Great Man to Good One, and this is one of my favorites. Somehow it never seemed to quite find its audience—it's currently sitting at fewer than 175 kudos on AO3.

The author takes what might seem an outlandish premise—Sherlock and Mycroft are Angels, sent down to Earth on an investigative mission from Heaven—and manage to make it work perfectly within the bounds of existing canon material. The story here happens between the lines, filling in gaps, taking events that we've seen on screen (and read about on John's blog) and shifting our perspective on them.

The Sherlock we meet at the start of this story is cold, detached, manipulative, self-serving and so utterly far from human it's difficult to imagine he'll ever get there. He's not exactly popular with Management, something that Mycroft (ever-ambitious and yet fiercely protective) anxiously seeks to smooth over. Sherlock wants a human specimen he can study up close, and John, his new flatmate, seems to suit those purposes perfectly. From there, as he and John grow closer, we witness Sherlock's defenses crumble and fall away as he finds himself entirely blindsided by unexpected affection and moved to act in increasingly irrational ways to ensure that John remains safe. The slow progression of their relationship is poignant and touching and frustrating and incredibly satisfying all at once.

There's a case which cleverly incorporates elements from BBC canon—Sherlock finds himself caught up in Moriarty's web while investigating the deaths of several Nephilim, while Mycroft begins to realize he's being used as a pawn in a conspiracy of biblical proportions. This all comes to a head with a twist that made my jaw drop (and which sent me rushing back to the beginning to pay attention to all of the clues that I'd missed the first time through.)

As with any fic that adheres to a canon timeline, it can be hard to avoid the sense that you know what's coming next (because… we've already seen it.) But the author manages to put a fresh spin on even dialogue we already know by heart, a feat which feels remarkable.

Note: there is a moment of extremely dubious consent in this story involving John's missing Wednesday. The fic itself is not tagged as such, but the chapter in question (Chapter 11) is clearly marked at the beginning. Highlight for details if you'd like to know the gist of what happens before deciding whether or not to read: Sherlock, fearing he may have revealed his secret, drugs John in order to question him. The drugged conversation takes a turn, and John masturbates while Sherlock watches. Sherlock does not touch John. John does not remember the incident in question and is not told what happened.

This fic is Sherlock's journey from Superior Being to Human Being, and it's a wild, weird and wonderful ride.

“John. I’m not human. I’m an Angel.”

The words are finally out. Eyes still closed, Sherlock pictures them hanging in the air, glinting like blades in the afternoon light, every one pointing at John. (The world as John’s known it has just been turned on its head.) (There will be shouting, anger. Things will break.) Sherlock braces himself for the inevitability of John grabbing him by the throat and demanding to know why he’s lied to him for so long.

Instead, there’s only silence. A silence that goes on and on. Sherlock feels the sweat from their oh-so-recent exertions cooling on his skin; feels the pulse beating in his throat, at his wrists, in his ears.

He’s scared - actually scared - of what John’s going to say next.

But John’s not saying anything. (Didn’t he understand? Didn’t he hear? Has he fallen asleep?). Sherlock opens his eyes and finds John frowning, lips pursed, brows drawn together. It’s the face he pulls when confronted with a particularly complex crime scene (or the Saturday Guardian crossword).

“Soooo-”

“Yes,” Sherlock says quickly, firmly (bravely), but the furrows on John’s forehead only deepen.

“So, you’re saying-”

“Yes.” Sherlock’s jaw tightens and he sits up. He can’t bear this tension. He needs to know now, immediately, what John’s going to do with his revelation.

“… you’re saying that you’re not human?”

“Yes!” Sherlock shouts. If this goes on much longer, he’ll explode.

But John … John is completely calm. He tips his head to one side and looks at Sherlock thoughtfully. “You’re an angel?”

“Oh, God, John - how many more times? Yes, I’m an Angel. An Angel. A superior being. I’m-”

John’s calm suddenly shatters. He gives a hoot of laughter and falls back against the bed, giggling so hard, it makes the mattress shake.

“John-”

“No!” John pleads, holding up both hands as he gasps for breath. “No more. Don’t … I mean, I always knew …Christ, Sherlock, you’re hilarious.”

This is not what Sherlock expected. In all the times he’s imagined confessing, he’s never once thought that John might laugh.

He tries again. “John, I’m being serious.”

John snorts again and throws his head back against the pillows. “Of course you are. Of course you are. You’re Sherlock Holmes. Brain the size of a planet. Ego the size of a solar system.”

Comments

[pipmer1]

I started reading this when it was still a WIP, but stopped until it was finished. I did not know it was finished! But from what I had read before, I am surprised at the low amount of kudos.