Book!verse Coming Out Fic

[ketchup-fights.livejournal.com]

This was an older fic, written a few years ago. Watson first-person POV.

It begins with a young woman coming to Holmes with a case, but Holmes deduces that she's just making the case up to get close to him and start a romance, and he sends her away in tears. Watson asks why he had to be such an asshole to her, and a discussion about sexuality ensues in which Holmes comes out to Watson. Watson is all "Illegal! Victorian morals!" but Holmes points out that Watson is cool enough with breaking the law when it's for a case, and Holmes isn't hurting anyone, and Watson is all "...."

It ends with Holmes asking if they're still friends, and Watson saying of course they are. And there's shades of UST, but it's all very subtle and Victorian?

(And maybe if you know any other good fics that feature Holmes and/or Watson coming out to the other/having a discussion about sexuality, in any Victorian verse, you could rec it my way?)

Comments

[ketchup-fights.livejournal.com]

I'm actually making my way through Winter in London right now! I agree, the sexuality discussion, like everything else, was beautifully handled. (I think that scene might be what jogged my memory to look for this older fic?)

I definitely second the rec to anyone who hasn't read it yet. It's heartbreaking, but lovely.

[lydia-petze.livejournal.com]

Oh god yes, it's a wonderful story. I think I might have to go and re-read it now!