Leave a comment

Reprompt: Captured!Sherlock Watches Captured!Lestrade Tortured anonymous January 21 2011, 17:51:06 UTC
I've read some brilliant stories in which John and Sherlock are both captured, and John is tortured while Sherlock is forced to watch, unable to help him. (Here's just one great example: http://sherlockbbc-fic.livejournal.com/2262.html?thread=2546134#t2546134) I can't seem to get enough of these.

I really, really, really need another: except this time, I'd like it to be Lestrade who's tortured instead of John.

(Bonus points if, after all the exquisite pain and suffering is through, it's BAMF!John and/or BAMF!Sally to the rescue for both Lestrade and Sherlock.)

Reply

Fill 1a/? anonymous March 11 2011, 04:42:42 UTC
Voices.

There is a hand in his hair, caressing his aching scalp; Sherlock leans into the touch, momentarily uncaring of what John will think of his sentimentality. WRONG, screams his mind, throbbing in time with the pulse in his ears. That is not John's voice. It is blue like shadows on the snow, a hard-edged tenor, cold and sharp.

Another voice breaks in, gruff and patchy as a day-old growth of beard. "Leave him be." It sounds familiar.

"Don't be jealous, Inspector. Dear Sherlock is not the one you ought to be worrying about."

"What did you give him?"

The voices fade in and out like the thrum of an engine underwater. Sherlock is floating, or possibly sinking. It matters very much which is correct, but he cannot fathom why.

Reply

Fill 1b/? anonymous March 11 2011, 04:44:28 UTC
Voices.

Sherlock's eyes snap open.

His head is pounding and his tongue is shriveled and dry in his mouth, coated with the taste of something bitter. He blinks impatiently, swallows. Some type of sedative. How -- of course, the warehouse, the scuffed footprint, they're still here and off he had sprinted, Lestrade hot on his heels hissing Sherlock and then a sharp jab to the side of his neck ( ... )

Reply

OP squeeee! anonymous March 11 2011, 12:27:15 UTC
OMG, I'm so excited! Thank you so, so much for running with this. It's off to a really terrific start. It's so touching that Lestrade's worried about and defensive of Sherlock before Sherlock's even properly conscious. It's spot on that Sherlock would think he would be the better subject for torture, because he assumes he's above emotion (I suspect he's going to learn better very, very quickly here!). And, of course, it's absolutely in character (beautifully so!) that Lestrade chooses himself instead without hesitation, and then stares down Moriatry like a BAMF! Guh, I can't wait to see what happens next. The interaction of these three personalities is going to be amazing, especially since Lestrade's already in protective and defiant mode. You rule like a mighty ruling thing! :D :D :D :D

Reply

Re: OP squeeee! anonymous March 11 2011, 13:23:00 UTC
PS. I love, love, love the "rough and patchy as a day-old growth of beard" description. That's gorgeous!

Reply

Re: Fill 1b/? anonymous March 11 2011, 15:38:02 UTC
GAH! It's very effective, Sherlock thinking of how he insults/mistreats Lestrade the very moment before Lestrade chooses to be the one tortured. I can't wait for more!!! F5F5F5!

Reply

Re: Fill 1b/? anonymous March 13 2011, 18:58:07 UTC
Oh, Sherlock. Only you would respond to the man trying to take a metaphorical bullet for you by calling him an idiot.

Awesome start.

Reply

Fill 2/? anonymous March 13 2011, 21:05:13 UTC
Moriarty takes his time approaching Lestrade, allowing his soft footfalls to echo around the room. Sherlock shuts him out. Slowly, he flexes the muscles in his calf, tries to wriggle his ankles, but the rope tying him down stops almost all movement. His cuffed wrists, too, are nearly immobilized. His arms are stretched so tautly above his head that his shoulder joints are already aching. Right. Other means of escape. He shifts, trying to feel the mobile in his pocket, but someone has removed it ( ... )

Reply

OP here anonymous March 13 2011, 22:25:00 UTC
I am on the EDGE OF MY SEAT here! OMG! Moriarty is so evil. He's like a cat playing with a mouse. The little things he's doing - spreading out the blood over Lestrade's chest, blowing the smoke in his face - are just for his amusement, his play, and that makes him all the more creepy!

I love Lestrade here, trying to be quiet, looking away from Sherlock, stoic and holding it together. These are really great descriptions. I can just see the gooseflesh on his arms.

The cigarette? EVIL!!!! The minute Moriarty fixated on the patch, I was thinking "Oh no..."

I feel so much for Sherlock. His options are so limited, and even though he knows he should shut out what's happening and think, he's really emotionally invested in what's happening to Lestrade, and he can't help but watch. AUGH. Just wonderful. I can't wait for more! *bounces*

Reply

Re: Fill 2/? anonymous March 14 2011, 00:14:09 UTC
Holy shit, this is amazing.

Reply

Fill 3/? anonymous March 16 2011, 02:07:15 UTC
Lestrade's panting breaths start to climb in pitch, rising dangerously close to a whine. Teeth gritted, he turns and buries his face in one shoulder, muffling the noise against his own sweat-slick skin.

Moriarty takes the opportunity to create another neat, round burn on the side of his neck. Lestrade groans.

"Are you certain about this, Inspector?" Moriarty asks cheerfully. "I'll give you a second chance. Ask me to stop, and I'll switch to Sherlock. I'll even buy you a new shirt."

"Fuck you," Lestrade says. Moriarty throws back his head and laughs.

Sherlock ignores Moriarty completely. "For once in your entire life, Lestrade," he snarls viciously, "think about what you are saying. I'm the clear logical choice, you're a fool if you don't see that. I recognize that it's difficult for you, but try to be intelligent about this--

Lestrade's chest is heaving, his eyes shut. "Sherlock, for God's sake shut up."

Moriarty is still laughing. "How many times have you wanted to say that, I wonder ( ... )

Reply

Re: Fill 3/? anonymous March 16 2011, 02:11:56 UTC
Gaaah, all you had to do WAS ask. WAS ask. I fail at editing.

Reply

Love from the OP! anonymous March 16 2011, 12:20:09 UTC
Augh, this is so, so, so amazing!

Poor, brave Lestrade, still choosing to take the pain, and backtalking wonderfully to Moriarty. It hurts me to think he's ashamed at his natural reactions to the torture in front of Sherlock, when he's clearly being very courageous about the whole thing. That kick at the end, and the description of the sound he made, broke my heart - but what got me even more was Lestrade's obvious confusion and worry when Moriarty started walking away, proving he was more afraid of Sherlock being hurt than he was of more torture. GAH, I LOVE your Lestrade!!!

And Moriarty? Totally evil. He's brilliant. I love your descriptions of his body language; I can see him perfectly.

Oh, Sherlock. You're doing a marvelous job of showing that, in a way that's quite far out of his experience, he's caring, genuinely upset at Lestrade's torment, and what's more, his distress is throwing him off his intellectual game. I loved how the only way he knew to express this was to insult Lestrade. That's Sherlock exactly. It's so clear, ( ... )

Reply

Author here anonymous March 16 2011, 18:56:30 UTC
I just have to tell you: I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS. I've never had anyone leave such long, detailed feedback before. I'm so glad that you are enjoying the story, and it is great to know that some of the things I am trying to get across are coming through. I find the relationship between Sherlock and Lestrade really interesting, so thanks for the good prompt that I can use to explore that.

And ugh, yes, poor Lestrade; I'm going to have to write something where he takes a vacation to the Caribbean or something after I finish this. Sherlock too, for that matter, because I honestly think the emotional torture of watching is worse.

Reply

OP here anonymous March 16 2011, 19:18:43 UTC
Well, I tend to babble when I'm happy, and this story is making me very, very happy! :) Like you, I love (and I'm fascinated by) the dynamic between Sherlock and Lestrade. You can see in the series Lestrade being very paternal with him (grinning indulgently, putting up with his childishness, "disciplining" him when he's out of line - drugs bust! - and worrying about him become a good man), and I think it's amazing, then, that Lestrade can also set aside his own ego and go to Sherlock and admit he needs his help, even endure his insults, for the greater good. In my head!canon, Lestrade was the one who got Sherlock off the drugs to begin with, by promising him access to the scenes only if he stayed clean. But it's clear he has a protective impulse toward Sherlock, and a desire not to embarrass himself in front of Sherlock, both of which make the way you're describing him here fit seamlessly with what we already know. Absolutely lovely characterization.

Nutshell: Lestrade just suffers so well. *sigh ( ... )

Reply

Re: OP here anonymous March 16 2011, 20:22:07 UTC
Yes, but you babble so well for all the rest of us. Now we don't have to take up comment space :D

Reply


Leave a comment

Up