221B Recs

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.