Rec: Honest and Altogether by JaneTurenne (Canon, R)
Title: Honest and Altogether (link goes to AO3.)
Author: janeturenne
Pairing: Watson/Lestrade, with unrequited(?) Watson/Holmes and mentions of past Watson/Mary
Rating: R
Verse: canon!
Summary: An affair begun during the hiatus faces unexpected challenges in April of '94.
Hooray, canon fic! Seriously, why is there not more of this? I really love Victorian Lestrade. Jane's fic is always lovely, and while she usually writes H/W, she has a few Lestrade fics as well. Here, Lestrade is quietly in love with Watson and the whole thing is a hot mess of heartbreaking sorrow (it gets less heartbreaking, if you're not into that sort of thing. It walks the line marvelously). This is so many things I like-- Lestrade, Reichenbach/hiatus, 'The Empty House', the list goes on! I'm not quite sure how to describe the Holmes/Watson relationship, because I'm not exactly sure what Holmes is actually feeling here. Also, Lestrade gets to be named Gabriel. It's a small thing, but it's a name I like, and I like seeing what people think that G is for :)
The flood of bitterness that courses through him is biblical in its proportions. At that moment Lestrade wants more than anything to break that beak of a nose, if only to prove to them both that there is something he could do which would shock the Great Detective.
"Tell me one thing. Only one, and I'll never bother you about it again." Lestrade doesn't have Holmes' presence, but he's learned a look in his years with the force, one which has kept him alive more times than he can count. He has held it back for near two decades, knowing it will only catch Holmes once, and uses it now. "Do you not understand how much you hurt him, or do you simply not care?"
Holmes cocks his head slightly, and his eyes flicker, widen, dart left, widen a bit more, meet Lestrade's. And then, God damn the man, he smiles. "Lestrade," Holmes draws out the syllables, as though simultaneously impressed and amused, "you've gone and fallen in love with my Watson."
The possessive almost breaks Lestrade, and he finds himself shaking with the effort of keeping his rage in check. "The latter, then. Thank you for the answer." He turns and heads for the door, knowing that he cannot tolerate much more provocation.
"Lestrade," Holmes begins again, but this time adamant-hard, deadly. Lestrade looks back as Holmes continues, "You know what his choice will be."
"Yes," Lestrade grinds out. "I'd have to be even dimmer than you think I am, not to. I only wish," and Lestrade's anger is replaced wholesale, in an instant, by sadness, "that I had some way to save him from himself." And then Lestrade is gone, before he has a chance to see that he has managed to provoke a reaction after all.
There is the beginnings of a sequel to this (search for 'Altogether Mysterious') that looked really interesting. There was a mystery, and it seemed like the three of them were puzzling out how they fit into each others' lives, which I always love. UNFORTUNATELY, Jane only ever wrote one chapter. Unless it was continued elsewhere! I've checked AO3 and her livejournal, but found no mention of it. If I'm wrong, though, feel free to point it out!
Author: janeturenne
Pairing: Watson/Lestrade, with unrequited(?) Watson/Holmes and mentions of past Watson/Mary
Rating: R
Verse: canon!
Summary: An affair begun during the hiatus faces unexpected challenges in April of '94.
Hooray, canon fic! Seriously, why is there not more of this? I really love Victorian Lestrade. Jane's fic is always lovely, and while she usually writes H/W, she has a few Lestrade fics as well. Here, Lestrade is quietly in love with Watson and the whole thing is a hot mess of heartbreaking sorrow (it gets less heartbreaking, if you're not into that sort of thing. It walks the line marvelously). This is so many things I like-- Lestrade, Reichenbach/hiatus, 'The Empty House', the list goes on! I'm not quite sure how to describe the Holmes/Watson relationship, because I'm not exactly sure what Holmes is actually feeling here. Also, Lestrade gets to be named Gabriel. It's a small thing, but it's a name I like, and I like seeing what people think that G is for :)
The flood of bitterness that courses through him is biblical in its proportions. At that moment Lestrade wants more than anything to break that beak of a nose, if only to prove to them both that there is something he could do which would shock the Great Detective.
"Tell me one thing. Only one, and I'll never bother you about it again." Lestrade doesn't have Holmes' presence, but he's learned a look in his years with the force, one which has kept him alive more times than he can count. He has held it back for near two decades, knowing it will only catch Holmes once, and uses it now. "Do you not understand how much you hurt him, or do you simply not care?"
Holmes cocks his head slightly, and his eyes flicker, widen, dart left, widen a bit more, meet Lestrade's. And then, God damn the man, he smiles. "Lestrade," Holmes draws out the syllables, as though simultaneously impressed and amused, "you've gone and fallen in love with my Watson."
The possessive almost breaks Lestrade, and he finds himself shaking with the effort of keeping his rage in check. "The latter, then. Thank you for the answer." He turns and heads for the door, knowing that he cannot tolerate much more provocation.
"Lestrade," Holmes begins again, but this time adamant-hard, deadly. Lestrade looks back as Holmes continues, "You know what his choice will be."
"Yes," Lestrade grinds out. "I'd have to be even dimmer than you think I am, not to. I only wish," and Lestrade's anger is replaced wholesale, in an instant, by sadness, "that I had some way to save him from himself." And then Lestrade is gone, before he has a chance to see that he has managed to provoke a reaction after all.
There is the beginnings of a sequel to this (search for 'Altogether Mysterious') that looked really interesting. There was a mystery, and it seemed like the three of them were puzzling out how they fit into each others' lives, which I always love. UNFORTUNATELY, Jane only ever wrote one chapter. Unless it was continued elsewhere! I've checked AO3 and her livejournal, but found no mention of it. If I'm wrong, though, feel free to point it out!