John Watson: Not Gay

ivyblossom:

Sherlock tends to have multiple readings built into it, which is part of the reason why I like it so much, and why I can keep writing about it months (or years) after a series of it has aired. And the question of John’s sexuality fits into that paradigm. We can discuss it for years, because you can read it so many different ways.

John’s refrain of “not gay” makes the question of his sexual orientation open and shut to many people. To me, those scenes, in conjunction with his actions and decisions in the rest of the show, only serve to highlight the fact that John’s attractions are a difficult subject for him, and he feels like he has something to prove (or disprove). It seems to me that it represents an argument he has in his head, and people making assumptions about him and Sherlock fall into his internal debate. 

John flirts with women; he dates women, and practically forgets their names while doing so; he sleeps with women; he marries a woman. Sounds pretty straight.

However.

John Watson develops crushingly intense emotional relationships with men that are so close to being romantic it’s impossible to distinguish with the naked eye. Once might be a fluke, an “exception,” if you will; but we see two of them. For all the women we’ve seen John date, it’s these two men he doesn’t want to shake. He never gets over Sherlock, and his admiration for Sholto is so obvious that it makes Sherlock jealous. 

If it stopped there, we could say that John lives at least on the border of homoromanticism while considering himself a straight man. But it doesn’t stop there.

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beautifullyheeled asked me for some help on a fic, and somehow I became the co-author…

Once Upon a Dream – 

Somewhere between a beloved dream and an arranged marriage, two souls find one another…

Passing through the woods on his way to fulfill his duty, Prince John Watson meets someone extraordinary. Meanwhile, William Holmes has been raised ignorant of his true past.

teaser below the cut

Soft light filtered through the ancient trees that slowly swayed in the gentle breeze. He had been called home to fulfill his duty to marry. His father’s kingdom, finally at peace. A pact between the two kings that their first borns would wed had been sealed and with it, his fate. War was never pretty, especially on the front lines of their battles, but the thrill down his spine as sharpened implements of destruction raged against battle-tested armour, the sweat and blood, his fellow brothers-in-arms, he’d miss those things.

Then there was the gleam of chain and plate that stopped death, until it didn’t. He’d worked hours in his men’s surgical tents. It was important to see, both on and off the battlefield, the reality of what war meant. It had been good work to save who he could, patching up those that needed little but a small mend, whispering prayers of healing until only a faint silvered line remained of the wound. Thankful the day he himself needed mending, that he had become adept at the sacred words. Far into the fray, the prince knew the moment he saw the strike that it would be true; fortunately his opponent hadn’t realized his importance and moved on as he fell. He lay forgotten in the tumult of the hew and cries unseen in the brambles. The thicket reminded him of home and endless summers and hope. His stuttered prayers had come from broken lungs, but he had survived. Many of his men considered it a miracle from the Goddess herself, though they knew better than to spread rumors; on the battlefield, one saw many strange things.

John shook his head lightly, clearing the memory, his hand coming to smooth over the silvered line he bore under his tunic; It was cool to the touch, as if drenched in his Goddess’ tears. A reminder; the one scar that would never fade. As he came back to his surroundings, he found his stallion stopped, ears pricked high and forward. A soft nudge and low words had the beast moving once again, though cautious. Not even in battle had the creature turned skittish. Then, his own ears picked up the lilting tune carried by the wind. He followed it, his stallion’s footing steady, but slow.

The forest seemed too still, as if its creatures were in waiting for the first crisp breaths of spring to ignite them into motion. This could not be true though, as even the soft meadow not far from his position had begun to flower. The rich hues and their heady perfume added to the filtered glen turning it ethereal. A willow-thin figure wheeled, arms spread wide as they danced among the sea of barely open petals. A song of meeting… of soft visions of a betrothed. Virginal dreams brought to the light of day.

continue on AO3

Nightswimming (863 words) by janto321
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sherlock (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson
Characters: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson
Additional Tags: Developing Relationship, Pining, Love Confessions, One Night Stands, Songfic, Friends to Lovers
Summary:

John met someone at seventeen and never thought he’d find them again.

Inspired by a post from pocketsizepeople

Out of the Trenches (1346 words) by janto321
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sherlock (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson
Characters: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe – World War I, World War I, Military Kink, Injury, Blow Jobs, Outdoor Sex, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot
Summary:

After John is injured, he’s sent to a converted manor home to recover.

For au exchangelock and ishipanarmada