Recs: SGA Previously Straight fic {For 14 Valentines}
I freely admit that I'm a sucker for fics where John or Rodney were straight (or felt they couldn't admit to having "those kind" of feelings) before falling in love/lust with the other. And when coming up with a list of 35 fics took no time at all...well, clearly some of the best authors in this fandom love the trope as much as I do. Lucky, lucky me. :)
I've put the fics into three categories: Straight!John, Straight!Rodney and Straight!John & Straight!Rodney. Also, by definition all of these are first-time fics, if you also like that sort of thing. :)
Recs compiled for 14valentines's Day 5: Sexuality. After all, what better way to celebrate all of the different forms sexuality can take than by watching John and Rodney reexamine and redefine their own sexuality?
Note: All fics are McKay/Sheppard unless otherwise stated.
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Straight!John
Title: Cleave
Author: amireal
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~15,000 words
Genre: Angst
Summary: Rodney bit his lip and shrugged. "Welcome to my world Colonel. Want your EpiPen engraved?"
A fascinating concept, where people become allergic to Rodney. This leads to John and Rodney realizing how much they miss each other when they're not spending every second of every day together, and things progress from there. The slow build-up in their intimacy is nearly as hot for the reader as it is for the characters, definitely worth reading.
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Title: Close Encounters
Author: amireal
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~4,500 words
Summary: "It's just a goddamned crush!"
A nice look at how a straight man could react to finding out that a male friend is attracted to him, without them falling into bed immediately. I really liked how they both reacted to the situation over the course of the story, it was in-character and also seemed like reasonable ways to respond.
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Title: Fashion Victim
Author: lamardeuse
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~16,700 words
Genre: Humor, mild angst
Summary: "Oh, God," Rodney breathed, fingering the material. "This is totally the wrong color. Eggplant! I said eggplant, dammit!"
Hee! It's Rodney as a fashion designer (and not an AU!), and must be read to be believed. This author has the ability to make even the oddest-sounding premise completely believable, and that really comes through in this fic. I enjoyed seeing John's rationalizations for his behavior and how they changed as the story progressed, it was well-done and seemed very in-character.
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Title: Hindsight
Author: rageprufrock
Rating: R
Length: ~23,600 words
Genre: AU
Summary: "How's your head?" John asks diplomatically. Rodney glares. "It hurts, Agent--" he pauses and looks at John meaningfully. "Sheppard," John supplies easily. "Agent John Sheppard."
Definitely a classic in the fandom, and fun to see Rodney trying to win over John. Plus, John as an FBI agent? Totally hot. (Yes, I am completely shallow sometimes, I'm aware of this.)
There are also two sequels and a DVD commentary:
More Than, R, ~4,100 words - "John Sheppard, you utter moron! You're the only person in the world who could get caught in a hostage situation trying to deposit a check!"
Personal Item, R, ~4,500 words - I PROMISE NOT TO GET SHOT AGAIN <3 <3 <3
DVD Commentary for Hindsight
zoetrope also created a teaser vid for this, which is well-done and definitely worth checking out. It's also recced here.
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Title: Intersections
Author: kaneko
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~25,000 words
Summary: Rodney's Antarctica is a lot like Siberia in that it's full of scientists who work 16-hour days and bathe once a week (twice when they're feeling social).
I'm stretching the theme a bit with this fic, because as the story progresses we learn that John had feelings for men before he met Rodney, but considering he'd been successfully repressing the feelings for several decades, I'm going to go with it. Plus, it's a lovely fic with intriguing and detailed backstories for both John and Rodney, and a lot of interesting details about McMurdo.
Podfic: Here, read by dodificus. It's very nicely done and I find her voice just perfect for the story.
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Title: Misperception
Author: janne_d
Rating: PG-13
Length: ~4,000 words
Genre: Angst
Summary: In which Rodney gets things wrong. A lot. Sheppard pines.
This is relatively unusual in that it's a straight!John fic told from Rodney's POV (as is Cleave, by Amireal), but all the more interesting for that. It's a touch heartbreaking to see Rodney so desperately trying to convince John that he's not interested in him, trying to do what he thinks is right. But, it makes the end that much better, so it's definitely worth it.
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Title: Not a Love Song
Author: thegrrrl2002
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~4,900 words
Genre: Humor
Summary: "I'm not gay, all right?" John announced, dropping his tray on the table with a thud.
Written for the McShep Match Romance Team 2007, with the prompt "Famous Last Words." John goes around trying to convince people he's not gay, and shockingly no one believes him. The way that everyone reacts to his repeated assertions is hysterical. Funny and delightful.
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Title: Oblivious
Author: astolat
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~8,200 words
Genre: Mild angst
Summary: In which Rodney and John fail to pay attention.
This is an interesting fic, because they have sex right at the beginning of the story, but it isn't until later than John starts to figure out that he's actually attracted to men. However, the build-up is completely worth it, for both John and the reader.
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Title: On Life & Living
Author: wesleysgirl
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~32,000 words
Genre: Earth AU, some angst/sadness
Also recced in: Epics
Summary: They sit there for a few minutes, John taking a couple of furtive licks of Rodney's ice cream when it starts running over the edge of the cone, until Rodney comes back and plunks a beach hat -- a pink beach hat with the zoo's logo on it -- down onto John's head. "I was right," Rodney says, bouncing on his heels a little bit and looking disgustingly smug. "That's a good color for you."
This is a lovely beginning of a marvelous series. John is a widower with an eight year-old daughter, and they meet Rodney at the Science Museum. John has always thought of himself as straight, but he rethinks that over a very slow courtship period. The author did an amazing job of showing us not only John's thoughts as he realized he was attracted to Rodney, but his grief and guilt about his wife, which was realistic and heartbreaking. Even if you don't usually like kid!fic, this is definitely worth reading.
The rest of the series thus far:
The Way to Comfort, R, ~6,000 words - Rodney's mother dies on a Tuesday.
Gone, Too Far, NC-17, angst, ~9,000 words - "You yelled at Rodney?" Kayla looks horrified. "Daddy. That was mean."
Lack of Symmetry, PG-13, 800 words - "But why does the soccer team have to have a bake sale?" Rodney asks plaintively, not for the first time that day.
Nine Days Off, NC-17, ~21,000 words - "What, I'm not allowed to be excited?" Kayla asks. "Nine days off!"
Halloween night snippet, G, ~300 words - Kayla goes trick-or-treating with friends
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Title: Only Grumpier and With Darker Hair
Author: scribblinlenore
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~10,300 words
Genre: Girl!Rodney
Also recced in: Genderswitch
Summary: Who knows what you'll find on the path to personal discovery?
I liked how methodical Rodney was about what he needed to do in order to "complete his journey" as a female, I could absolutely believe that he'd make a list from easiest to most difficult and just work his way down. The transitions from being friends to having sex to caring about each other were very smooth and believable. And seriously, John is the only person in the world who could accidentally get someone lingerie. All in all, very nicely done and true to character. Also, the sex was incredibly hot. I mean, incredibly.
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Title: Seeing Heightmeyer
Author: isiscolo
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~4,700 words
Genre: Humor
Summary: McKay's seeing Heightmeyer.
This is actually a remix of a story that's no longer available on-line, but stands perfectly well on its own. The action in the plot all stems from a miscommunication, and seeing John and Rodney talk past each other because of the miscommunication is really quite funny.
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Title: Stand-In
Author: lamardeuse
Pairings: McKay/Sheppard, Sheppard/OFC
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~7,700 words
Genre: Girl!Rodney, angst, episode tag (takes place during "The Return, I & II")
Also recced in: Genderswitch
Summary: He wasn't an expert on the symptoms of mental illness, but he was fairly sure these were the first signs that there was a screw loose somewhere.
I absolutely adore this fic. The beginning really captures the isolation and abandonment that I think all of the Atlantis people felt on Earth during "The Return," without feeling overdone. John's thoughts about Daphne, and how they change over the course of the fic, are also very well done. The angst always punches me in the chest a bit, but the story is completely worth it.
Podfic: The author has recorded an audio version of this story, which I highly recommend. There are both mp3 and audiobook versions (compiled by cybel) on the site.
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Title: Tango
Author: astolat
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~7,100 words
Genre: Angst
Summary: "All right, if you put it that way, it might make a certain depraved kind of logical sense," Rodney said, grumpily.
This fic hurts a bit, especially seeing John in pain when he doesn't understand why (pining for Rodney!). His "solution" to the problem is...well, nice for us as readers, but for him it's problematic at best.
Podfic: Here, read by windbringer1. There's also an audiobook version, compiled by cybel.
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Title: True Colors
Author: yinfic
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~2,100 words
Genre: Earth AU, humor
Also recced in: Short humor
Summary: John's been working at the salon for about two months when the new guy gets hired.
Part of Yin's "Crack AUs" series, and very cute. The Rodney here is very sure of himself, both professionally and personally, which is nice to see. Plus, just the idea of them as hairdressers is pretty darn funny.
"You are so fucking hot," Rodney says, his wine sitting untouched on the table.
"I'm straight," John says.
"I can fix that," Rodney replies.
Sequel: True Confessions, G, ~300 words - "It's a big step," Rodney says. "I don't want you to feel pressured."
Podfic: Yin has recorded all of her "Crack AU" series (as well as a number of other stories), and I highly recommend them, both for the overall quality of the stories and her marvelous reading voice.
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Title: Wide Open Ocean
Author: setissma
Rating: R
Length: ~10,500 words
Genre: Earth AU, sadness/angst
Summary: He went home with two slices of leftover pizza and the strange impression that McKay could almost have been a nice guy, if he hadn't been an asshole.
It's clear in this fic that the author loves aquariums and sea life just as much as this John Sheppard does, and that love and knowledge about them just shines through. My heart aches for John and all that he goes through, in a way that makes me want to bring him home and take care of him. Luckily, Rodney manages to do just that.
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Straight!Rodney
Title: Boys Gone Wild
Author: tex
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~7,000 words
Genre: College AU, mild angst
Also recced in: High school/college AU
Summary: The beach is wide, the water is warm and the beer is ice cold. Women are everywhere, hot women with incredible bodies. John has never been more miserable in his life.
I'm a big fan of pining!John (as you'll see with the rest of the recs), and the author did a really nice job of convincing me just how smitten with Rodney he was. Plus - very hot sex! It was also really interesting to see Mitch having an active role throughout the story, as I'm used to just hearing about him as backstory (when he's used at all).
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Title: Every Day in Every Way
Author: velocitygrass
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard, with minor McKay/OC and Sheppard/OC
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~58,500 words
Genre: Angst
Also recced in: Every Day in Every Way, epics
Summary: "I'm here to propose an arrangement...since we've established that you're attracted to me, I think it would be mutually beneficial for us to have sex."
This fic was written for the Big Bang challenge, and is one of my absolute favorite SGA stories. It opens with John being in love with a straight Rodney, who finds out about John's feelings and then has the brilliant idea that they should have no-strings-attached sex and everyone will be happy. Of course, nothing is ever that simple, as John knows immediately and Rodney slowly figures out. I really liked the characterizations of both John and Rodney, and I thought their relationship unfolded in a very natural way. Also, the sex scenes were incredibly hot. Since the changes in their behavior during sex were pretty essential to the plot, each sex scene needed to be distinct, which they were, but there also needed to be enough of them for us to see the gradual nature of those changes. The fact that each scene was unique and hot without feeling rote really impressed me.
Art: Intimate, by crysothemis. It's an absolutely beautiful pencil drawing of one of the scenes in the story, and really highlights the intimacy between the characters. Rated R.
Vid: Independent Love Song, by mamoru22. It's a great song choice, and I loved how there is text from the story overlaid onto the video scenes. We also get visual hints of the sexual nature of their relationship with clips from other sources, which I've found to be unusual in vids, but fit very nicely here. This is also listed separately on my vid recs page.
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Title: Finally Found Out
Author: velocitygrass
Pairings: McKay/Sheppard, with minor McKay/Carter, McKay/Brown, Sheppard/OMC
Rating: PG
Length: ~3,000 words
Genre: High school/college AU, mild angst
Also recced in: High school/college AU
Summary: Through the years, Rodney keeps losing things, some of which are found, some of which can be replaced, some of which don't matter and some of which do.
Written for the McShep Match Romance Team 2007, with the prompt "Lost." I really enjoy stories where we see John and Rodney grow up and change over time, and this was a nice one. I felt so sorry for John (pining!John), but how Rodney slowly realized what his feelings for John were seemed very natural and real.
He monopolized John's life, and if John had the chance between anything or anyone and Rodney, he'd always choose Rodney. And Rodney had liked that. But John was his best friend and sometimes being best friends meant that you had to say things that needed to be said, even if your best friend didn't want to hear them and you didn't want to say them.
Murrrr....
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Title: How to Have a Relationship Without Even Trying
Author: ladycat777
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~7,700 words
Genre: College AU
Also recced in: High school/college AU
Summary: Sleep-fuzzed and disoriented, Rodney struggles onto his back and actually gets a hand onto his belly before he realizes that there's no more comforting clack and click of keys. Oh. Oh.
Rodney is just so very Rodney in this story, generally self-absorbed and only interested in his work, with occasional periods of intensely focusing on others. The various "freak outs" that he has over the course of the story are perfectly in-character without the mocking undertones that occurs in some canon situations, which made me very happy. I particularly like the part where Rodney is watching two women have sex, as it's hysterical and pretty hot. After all, how often do you see active femslash in a McShep fic? Of course, the slash sex is also pretty hot, so we as readers win all-around.
On that bench are two girls, taking advantage of mother nature's schizophrenia and welcoming the suddenly warm weather by taking off their clothes and touching each other inappropriately..."Oh," Rodney says, swallowing wetly as one girl lifts her leg straight up in the air, holding it while the other girl laughs and takes advantage. "Oh, oh, this is better than porn."
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Title: Loves Me Not
Author: astolat
Pairings: McKay/Sheppard, McKay/Brown
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~4,800 words
Genre: Angst
Summary: It was just such an obvious train wreck in the making.
Ah, more pining!John. Here, Rodney is actually dating Katie, while John is pining and being bitter at just how straight Rodney is. The author nails their voices and mannarisms very nicely, and really makes you feel for John.
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Title: Scenes from an Accidental Courtship
Author: torakowalski
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~6,300 words
Genre: Angst
Summary: And yeah, the first kiss had been accidental, but the second certainly hadn't. It had been good, which John really wished it hadn't. And - and this was where John's brain shorted out - Rodney had kissed him back.
This is very well-done pining!John. I liked that Rodney handled finding out that John was interested in him pretty well, and dealt with it in a very logical manner, first trying to find a cute male physicist for him, and then...taking matters into his own hands.
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Title: Strangers on a Six Train
Author: eye_queue
Rating: PG
Length: ~15,000 words
Genre: Earth AU, mild angst
Summary: John and Rodney meet on the subway.
This is a sweet and fun story, and I liked the premise that their relationship developed over the time they spent together on the subway. The author did oblivious!Rodney very well, I kept shaking my head at just how clueless he was. Personally, I find the formatting on the page difficult to read, but it's a good enough read that it's worth either using "?style=mine" or copying it into a word processing program.
Rodney continued to have mysterious, inconvenient reactions whenever he was around Sheppard; tingly, warm, fluttery reactions that Rodney might have identified as a crush, had John been a little less..male.....He dealt with the feelings the same way he dealt with Professor Kavanagh or students looking for office hours: he ignored them and waited for them to go away.
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Title: The Trouble with Endothermia
Author: crysothemis
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~12,000 words
Summary: Sleeping bag fic without the sleeping bag.
Very cute and sweet. I really enjoyed clueless!Rodney and the different ways that John tries to seduce him. (I also wouldn't mind some of the chocolate that's described - very tempting!)
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Title: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot
Author: out-there
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~22,000 words
Genre: Earth AU
Summary: When Christine had told Rodney that he had no sense of rhythm, his response was a withering: "Duh."
Heh. John as a dance instructor. In black t-shirts and tight jeans. Mmmm. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, very fun story with Rodney getting jealous of John's behavior towards his girlfriend and not having a clue why. I love the scenes with Rodney and John dancing together, and how over the course of the story they show both Rodney's improving dance skills and the evolution of his feelings towards John.
Podfic: Read by hack_benjamin22, posted here. general_jinjur's podfic hosting website also has an audiobook version compiled by cybel, here
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Straight!John & Straight!Rodney
Title: Abstain
Author: resonant8
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~5,900 words
Genre: Humor
Summary: Aliens force John and Rodney not to have sex.
This is both delightfully funny and delightfully sexy. The basic idea is "don't think of a white elephant sex" for a trade agreement, so what do John and Rodney do? Of course they do.
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Title: Accidentally in Love
Author: shetiger
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~17,000 words
Summary: John still doesn't quite understand how one crazy assumption completely turned his life upside down. But that's okay. He's pretty happy, all the same.
Very charming fic of John and Rodney falling in love and learning what they mean to each other, while they're both realizing that they're not as straight as they thought. This is a great example of the sweet side of this genre.
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Title: Always Should Be Someone You Really Love
Author: thingswithwings
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~16,500 words
Genre: Girl!John, girl!Rodney
Also recced in: Genderswitch
Summary: John thinks for a minute, then tilts his head and asks, "Do you think we're lesbians now?"
Okay, first - John and Rodney both as women and having sex with each other? HOT. I liked that they didn't just fall into bed immediately, and when they did have sex, their attraction to each other and how they thought about each other evolved over time. Though the basic plot could have easily been done as a PWP, there are some very interesting observations about how everyone else reacts to them and the politics behind why they were changed, along with the really hot sex. Very nicely done.
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Title: A Beautiful Lifetime Event
Author: astolat
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~29,600 words
Genre: Mild angst
Also recced in: Epics
Summary: Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.
This was one of the early classics in SGA fandom, and for very good reason. Because of an accident with Ancient technology, John and Rodney have a child together (shockingly, one that's brilliant with a reckless streak). The twist is that they aren't in an intimate relationship, so how do they develop a life together as parents? Because of when it was written it's essentially AU past the first season, so it's also interesting to see a perspective on how life on Atlantis could have developed, given canon at that point.
resonant8 wrote an AU missing scene for the fic that takes place in the middle of the story. It's cleverly written and very hot. It really only makes sense if you've read A Beautiful Lifetime Event, but definitely take a look afterwards. NC-17, ~2,100 words. "Look," Rodney said tightly, "I'm not saying you're my fantasy, because generally I like my lovers more busty and less hairy, not to mention, you know, female -- but it would really contribute to family stability and mental health if I could have sex with my daughter's other parent instead of with people who aren't members of the family."
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Title: Catch-19
Author: chellefic
Rating: R
Length: ~9,600 words
Genre: Humor
Summary: The IOA wants to replace John, but never fear, Rodney has a plan.
Written for the McShep Match Romance Team 2007, with the prompt "Catch-22." Of course, everyone should be concerned when Rodney has a plan, particularly when it involves John's personal life. Adorable and delightful - they're so cute to watch as they move into their relationship, and the dialogue is marvelous.
Podfic: torra recorded this nicely, and it's posted here. general_jinjur's podfic hosting website also has an audiobook version compiled by cybel, here
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Title: Double Occupancy
Author: isiscolo
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~18,000 words
Genre: Angst
Summary: Being on the same planet with John Sheppard was aggravating enough, sometimes; being in the same body was an order of magnitude worse.
This is an interesting fic, as the basic premise is the same as "Duet," except that it's John stuck in Rodney's body instead of Cadman. It's actually a case of canon following fanon, as this story was written before "Duet" aired. In any case, it's a very well-done story and the process that John and Rodney go through from straight men to wanting to be with each other is done very well and flows perfectly.
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Title: Fix
Author: crysothemis
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~25,000-58,000 words, depending on how you read it
Summary: John has a problem. Rodney really doesn't want to help.
A really interesting take on the "Aliens Made Us Do It" trope, with a unique set-up. The story itself is relatively unusual, in that An Ancient Devices Makes Them Do It, but neither of them want to. Seriously, I think this is one of the only previously-straight fics I've read where they don't realize halfway through the first sex scene (or even before) that Really, They've Wanted Each Other All Along. Mind you, I adore that sort of realization, but this was an intriguing change of pace.
As for the set-up, the story was actually written twice - once from Rodney's POV and once from John's POV. The author's comments about this are: If you like a bit of mystery, choose Rodney's Point of View, and if you like dramatic irony, choose John's Point of View. I ended up reading Rodney's POV all the way through and then John's, and for me that worked out perfectly. I think the reason is that the majority of the plot movement comes from John's actions and motivations, so in Rodney's POV we don't see the reasons a lot of things happened, which does make the later reading of John's POV that much more interesting. There is also a version that switches back and forth between the POVs, but I had a difficult time following that one and much preferred reading them both separately. Anyway, that's just how it worked for me, your mileage may vary.
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Title: In Which Rodney Dates, John is Curious, and Cadman Helps
Author: chellefic
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard, with minor McKay/Brown
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~9,300 words
Genre: Humor
Summary: John's hair turns Rodney gay.
This is a delightfully cute and sweet story. Rodney first kisses John in the mess hall, because John keeps asking what it was like to kiss Carson, and from that point on they have trouble keeping their lips to themselves. I loved watching them steel themselves for an Important Conversation on Not Kissing Anymore, and five minutes later see them making out (again).
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Title: Sex, Movies, and Misconceptions
Author: chellefic and thegrrrl2002
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~11,600 words
Genre: Humor, mild angst
Summary: A little slip-up with computer files leads to...well, all sorts of things.
This fic cracks me up. I adore these authors and they do marvelous things when they're together (and apart). John's thought processes as he finds Rodney's porn and throughout the fic are pretty damn funny.
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Title: Ten Ways to Get Lucky (In love)
Author: scribblinlenore
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~18,000 words
Genre: Earth AU, humor
Summary: Rodney hires John as his relationship coach.
This was written for a Harlequin challenge and is just hysterical. First, John as a relationship coach?!? Seriously, do you need any other reason to read this? Well, there's also John's daughter, "Sheppard Junior", who is just delightful in and of herself. She's a teenager and the story doesn't really revolve around her, so it's still worth checking out even if you're not a fan of kid!fic.
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Title: Under the Sea
Author: astolat
Rating: R
Length: ~4,600 words
Genre: College AU
Also recced in: High school/college AU
Summary: Rodney MmmKay's mother always told him smart boys never get the hot guys. Can he pretend to be dumb so hunky pilot John Shep Hard will ask him to the Atlantis: Under the Sea prom?
Okay, so this story was written for a bad-fic summary challenge, which is why the summary made you cringe so badly. BUT. The fic itself is marvelous and not cracked-out at all. Here's an alternate summary: Rodney goes to a frat party and tutors John, Ford and Lorne in physics. I love this story to pieces, and seeing Rodney McKay as a Physics 101 tutor is hysterical.
Podfic: Here, read by general_jinjur, who does a very nice job of reading it. There's also an audiobook version, compiled by cybel.
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And now for something completely different:
A rec post of fics where John or Rodney used to be straight wouldn't be complete without the intriguing fic that is the opposite - John is gay and one day wakes up straight. A well-written story in and of itself, it's also very intriguing for what it says about sex/sexuality vs. love, and how we act when the two don't line up the way we expect.
Title: Straight as a Circle
Author: toomuchplor
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard, Sheppard/Heightmeyer, Sheppard/OFC
Length: ~20,500 words
Summary: John Sheppard wakes up straight. No, really, that's pretty much it. One day, about two months ago, I thought, "John Sheppard is *so gay* that he couldn't be in a 'woke up gay' story. He'd have to wake up straight instead." And that is what happened here.
I've put the fics into three categories: Straight!John, Straight!Rodney and Straight!John & Straight!Rodney. Also, by definition all of these are first-time fics, if you also like that sort of thing. :)
Recs compiled for 14valentines's Day 5: Sexuality. After all, what better way to celebrate all of the different forms sexuality can take than by watching John and Rodney reexamine and redefine their own sexuality?
Note: All fics are McKay/Sheppard unless otherwise stated.
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Straight!John
Title: Cleave
Author: amireal
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~15,000 words
Genre: Angst
Summary: Rodney bit his lip and shrugged. "Welcome to my world Colonel. Want your EpiPen engraved?"
A fascinating concept, where people become allergic to Rodney. This leads to John and Rodney realizing how much they miss each other when they're not spending every second of every day together, and things progress from there. The slow build-up in their intimacy is nearly as hot for the reader as it is for the characters, definitely worth reading.
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Title: Close Encounters
Author: amireal
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~4,500 words
Summary: "It's just a goddamned crush!"
A nice look at how a straight man could react to finding out that a male friend is attracted to him, without them falling into bed immediately. I really liked how they both reacted to the situation over the course of the story, it was in-character and also seemed like reasonable ways to respond.
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Title: Fashion Victim
Author: lamardeuse
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~16,700 words
Genre: Humor, mild angst
Summary: "Oh, God," Rodney breathed, fingering the material. "This is totally the wrong color. Eggplant! I said eggplant, dammit!"
Hee! It's Rodney as a fashion designer (and not an AU!), and must be read to be believed. This author has the ability to make even the oddest-sounding premise completely believable, and that really comes through in this fic. I enjoyed seeing John's rationalizations for his behavior and how they changed as the story progressed, it was well-done and seemed very in-character.
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Title: Hindsight
Author: rageprufrock
Rating: R
Length: ~23,600 words
Genre: AU
Summary: "How's your head?" John asks diplomatically. Rodney glares. "It hurts, Agent--" he pauses and looks at John meaningfully. "Sheppard," John supplies easily. "Agent John Sheppard."
Definitely a classic in the fandom, and fun to see Rodney trying to win over John. Plus, John as an FBI agent? Totally hot. (Yes, I am completely shallow sometimes, I'm aware of this.)
There are also two sequels and a DVD commentary:
More Than, R, ~4,100 words - "John Sheppard, you utter moron! You're the only person in the world who could get caught in a hostage situation trying to deposit a check!"
Personal Item, R, ~4,500 words - I PROMISE NOT TO GET SHOT AGAIN <3 <3 <3
DVD Commentary for Hindsight
zoetrope also created a teaser vid for this, which is well-done and definitely worth checking out. It's also recced here.
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Title: Intersections
Author: kaneko
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~25,000 words
Summary: Rodney's Antarctica is a lot like Siberia in that it's full of scientists who work 16-hour days and bathe once a week (twice when they're feeling social).
I'm stretching the theme a bit with this fic, because as the story progresses we learn that John had feelings for men before he met Rodney, but considering he'd been successfully repressing the feelings for several decades, I'm going to go with it. Plus, it's a lovely fic with intriguing and detailed backstories for both John and Rodney, and a lot of interesting details about McMurdo.
Podfic: Here, read by dodificus. It's very nicely done and I find her voice just perfect for the story.
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Title: Misperception
Author: janne_d
Rating: PG-13
Length: ~4,000 words
Genre: Angst
Summary: In which Rodney gets things wrong. A lot. Sheppard pines.
This is relatively unusual in that it's a straight!John fic told from Rodney's POV (as is Cleave, by Amireal), but all the more interesting for that. It's a touch heartbreaking to see Rodney so desperately trying to convince John that he's not interested in him, trying to do what he thinks is right. But, it makes the end that much better, so it's definitely worth it.
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Title: Not a Love Song
Author: thegrrrl2002
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~4,900 words
Genre: Humor
Summary: "I'm not gay, all right?" John announced, dropping his tray on the table with a thud.
Written for the McShep Match Romance Team 2007, with the prompt "Famous Last Words." John goes around trying to convince people he's not gay, and shockingly no one believes him. The way that everyone reacts to his repeated assertions is hysterical. Funny and delightful.
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Title: Oblivious
Author: astolat
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~8,200 words
Genre: Mild angst
Summary: In which Rodney and John fail to pay attention.
This is an interesting fic, because they have sex right at the beginning of the story, but it isn't until later than John starts to figure out that he's actually attracted to men. However, the build-up is completely worth it, for both John and the reader.
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Title: On Life & Living
Author: wesleysgirl
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~32,000 words
Genre: Earth AU, some angst/sadness
Also recced in: Epics
Summary: They sit there for a few minutes, John taking a couple of furtive licks of Rodney's ice cream when it starts running over the edge of the cone, until Rodney comes back and plunks a beach hat -- a pink beach hat with the zoo's logo on it -- down onto John's head. "I was right," Rodney says, bouncing on his heels a little bit and looking disgustingly smug. "That's a good color for you."
This is a lovely beginning of a marvelous series. John is a widower with an eight year-old daughter, and they meet Rodney at the Science Museum. John has always thought of himself as straight, but he rethinks that over a very slow courtship period. The author did an amazing job of showing us not only John's thoughts as he realized he was attracted to Rodney, but his grief and guilt about his wife, which was realistic and heartbreaking. Even if you don't usually like kid!fic, this is definitely worth reading.
The rest of the series thus far:
The Way to Comfort, R, ~6,000 words - Rodney's mother dies on a Tuesday.
Gone, Too Far, NC-17, angst, ~9,000 words - "You yelled at Rodney?" Kayla looks horrified. "Daddy. That was mean."
Lack of Symmetry, PG-13, 800 words - "But why does the soccer team have to have a bake sale?" Rodney asks plaintively, not for the first time that day.
Nine Days Off, NC-17, ~21,000 words - "What, I'm not allowed to be excited?" Kayla asks. "Nine days off!"
Halloween night snippet, G, ~300 words - Kayla goes trick-or-treating with friends
~~~~~
Title: Only Grumpier and With Darker Hair
Author: scribblinlenore
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~10,300 words
Genre: Girl!Rodney
Also recced in: Genderswitch
Summary: Who knows what you'll find on the path to personal discovery?
I liked how methodical Rodney was about what he needed to do in order to "complete his journey" as a female, I could absolutely believe that he'd make a list from easiest to most difficult and just work his way down. The transitions from being friends to having sex to caring about each other were very smooth and believable. And seriously, John is the only person in the world who could accidentally get someone lingerie. All in all, very nicely done and true to character. Also, the sex was incredibly hot. I mean, incredibly.
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Title: Seeing Heightmeyer
Author: isiscolo
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~4,700 words
Genre: Humor
Summary: McKay's seeing Heightmeyer.
This is actually a remix of a story that's no longer available on-line, but stands perfectly well on its own. The action in the plot all stems from a miscommunication, and seeing John and Rodney talk past each other because of the miscommunication is really quite funny.
~~~~~
Title: Stand-In
Author: lamardeuse
Pairings: McKay/Sheppard, Sheppard/OFC
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~7,700 words
Genre: Girl!Rodney, angst, episode tag (takes place during "The Return, I & II")
Also recced in: Genderswitch
Summary: He wasn't an expert on the symptoms of mental illness, but he was fairly sure these were the first signs that there was a screw loose somewhere.
I absolutely adore this fic. The beginning really captures the isolation and abandonment that I think all of the Atlantis people felt on Earth during "The Return," without feeling overdone. John's thoughts about Daphne, and how they change over the course of the fic, are also very well done. The angst always punches me in the chest a bit, but the story is completely worth it.
Podfic: The author has recorded an audio version of this story, which I highly recommend. There are both mp3 and audiobook versions (compiled by cybel) on the site.
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Title: Tango
Author: astolat
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~7,100 words
Genre: Angst
Summary: "All right, if you put it that way, it might make a certain depraved kind of logical sense," Rodney said, grumpily.
This fic hurts a bit, especially seeing John in pain when he doesn't understand why (pining for Rodney!). His "solution" to the problem is...well, nice for us as readers, but for him it's problematic at best.
Podfic: Here, read by windbringer1. There's also an audiobook version, compiled by cybel.
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Title: True Colors
Author: yinfic
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~2,100 words
Genre: Earth AU, humor
Also recced in: Short humor
Summary: John's been working at the salon for about two months when the new guy gets hired.
Part of Yin's "Crack AUs" series, and very cute. The Rodney here is very sure of himself, both professionally and personally, which is nice to see. Plus, just the idea of them as hairdressers is pretty darn funny.
"You are so fucking hot," Rodney says, his wine sitting untouched on the table.
"I'm straight," John says.
"I can fix that," Rodney replies.
Sequel: True Confessions, G, ~300 words - "It's a big step," Rodney says. "I don't want you to feel pressured."
Podfic: Yin has recorded all of her "Crack AU" series (as well as a number of other stories), and I highly recommend them, both for the overall quality of the stories and her marvelous reading voice.
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Title: Wide Open Ocean
Author: setissma
Rating: R
Length: ~10,500 words
Genre: Earth AU, sadness/angst
Summary: He went home with two slices of leftover pizza and the strange impression that McKay could almost have been a nice guy, if he hadn't been an asshole.
It's clear in this fic that the author loves aquariums and sea life just as much as this John Sheppard does, and that love and knowledge about them just shines through. My heart aches for John and all that he goes through, in a way that makes me want to bring him home and take care of him. Luckily, Rodney manages to do just that.
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Straight!Rodney
Title: Boys Gone Wild
Author: tex
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~7,000 words
Genre: College AU, mild angst
Also recced in: High school/college AU
Summary: The beach is wide, the water is warm and the beer is ice cold. Women are everywhere, hot women with incredible bodies. John has never been more miserable in his life.
I'm a big fan of pining!John (as you'll see with the rest of the recs), and the author did a really nice job of convincing me just how smitten with Rodney he was. Plus - very hot sex! It was also really interesting to see Mitch having an active role throughout the story, as I'm used to just hearing about him as backstory (when he's used at all).
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Title: Every Day in Every Way
Author: velocitygrass
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard, with minor McKay/OC and Sheppard/OC
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~58,500 words
Genre: Angst
Also recced in: Every Day in Every Way, epics
Summary: "I'm here to propose an arrangement...since we've established that you're attracted to me, I think it would be mutually beneficial for us to have sex."
This fic was written for the Big Bang challenge, and is one of my absolute favorite SGA stories. It opens with John being in love with a straight Rodney, who finds out about John's feelings and then has the brilliant idea that they should have no-strings-attached sex and everyone will be happy. Of course, nothing is ever that simple, as John knows immediately and Rodney slowly figures out. I really liked the characterizations of both John and Rodney, and I thought their relationship unfolded in a very natural way. Also, the sex scenes were incredibly hot. Since the changes in their behavior during sex were pretty essential to the plot, each sex scene needed to be distinct, which they were, but there also needed to be enough of them for us to see the gradual nature of those changes. The fact that each scene was unique and hot without feeling rote really impressed me.
Art: Intimate, by crysothemis. It's an absolutely beautiful pencil drawing of one of the scenes in the story, and really highlights the intimacy between the characters. Rated R.
Vid: Independent Love Song, by mamoru22. It's a great song choice, and I loved how there is text from the story overlaid onto the video scenes. We also get visual hints of the sexual nature of their relationship with clips from other sources, which I've found to be unusual in vids, but fit very nicely here. This is also listed separately on my vid recs page.
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Title: Finally Found Out
Author: velocitygrass
Pairings: McKay/Sheppard, with minor McKay/Carter, McKay/Brown, Sheppard/OMC
Rating: PG
Length: ~3,000 words
Genre: High school/college AU, mild angst
Also recced in: High school/college AU
Summary: Through the years, Rodney keeps losing things, some of which are found, some of which can be replaced, some of which don't matter and some of which do.
Written for the McShep Match Romance Team 2007, with the prompt "Lost." I really enjoy stories where we see John and Rodney grow up and change over time, and this was a nice one. I felt so sorry for John (pining!John), but how Rodney slowly realized what his feelings for John were seemed very natural and real.
He monopolized John's life, and if John had the chance between anything or anyone and Rodney, he'd always choose Rodney. And Rodney had liked that. But John was his best friend and sometimes being best friends meant that you had to say things that needed to be said, even if your best friend didn't want to hear them and you didn't want to say them.
Murrrr....
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Title: How to Have a Relationship Without Even Trying
Author: ladycat777
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~7,700 words
Genre: College AU
Also recced in: High school/college AU
Summary: Sleep-fuzzed and disoriented, Rodney struggles onto his back and actually gets a hand onto his belly before he realizes that there's no more comforting clack and click of keys. Oh. Oh.
Rodney is just so very Rodney in this story, generally self-absorbed and only interested in his work, with occasional periods of intensely focusing on others. The various "freak outs" that he has over the course of the story are perfectly in-character without the mocking undertones that occurs in some canon situations, which made me very happy. I particularly like the part where Rodney is watching two women have sex, as it's hysterical and pretty hot. After all, how often do you see active femslash in a McShep fic? Of course, the slash sex is also pretty hot, so we as readers win all-around.
On that bench are two girls, taking advantage of mother nature's schizophrenia and welcoming the suddenly warm weather by taking off their clothes and touching each other inappropriately..."Oh," Rodney says, swallowing wetly as one girl lifts her leg straight up in the air, holding it while the other girl laughs and takes advantage. "Oh, oh, this is better than porn."
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Title: Loves Me Not
Author: astolat
Pairings: McKay/Sheppard, McKay/Brown
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~4,800 words
Genre: Angst
Summary: It was just such an obvious train wreck in the making.
Ah, more pining!John. Here, Rodney is actually dating Katie, while John is pining and being bitter at just how straight Rodney is. The author nails their voices and mannarisms very nicely, and really makes you feel for John.
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Title: Scenes from an Accidental Courtship
Author: torakowalski
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~6,300 words
Genre: Angst
Summary: And yeah, the first kiss had been accidental, but the second certainly hadn't. It had been good, which John really wished it hadn't. And - and this was where John's brain shorted out - Rodney had kissed him back.
This is very well-done pining!John. I liked that Rodney handled finding out that John was interested in him pretty well, and dealt with it in a very logical manner, first trying to find a cute male physicist for him, and then...taking matters into his own hands.
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Title: Strangers on a Six Train
Author: eye_queue
Rating: PG
Length: ~15,000 words
Genre: Earth AU, mild angst
Summary: John and Rodney meet on the subway.
This is a sweet and fun story, and I liked the premise that their relationship developed over the time they spent together on the subway. The author did oblivious!Rodney very well, I kept shaking my head at just how clueless he was. Personally, I find the formatting on the page difficult to read, but it's a good enough read that it's worth either using "?style=mine" or copying it into a word processing program.
Rodney continued to have mysterious, inconvenient reactions whenever he was around Sheppard; tingly, warm, fluttery reactions that Rodney might have identified as a crush, had John been a little less..male.....He dealt with the feelings the same way he dealt with Professor Kavanagh or students looking for office hours: he ignored them and waited for them to go away.
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Title: The Trouble with Endothermia
Author: crysothemis
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~12,000 words
Summary: Sleeping bag fic without the sleeping bag.
Very cute and sweet. I really enjoyed clueless!Rodney and the different ways that John tries to seduce him. (I also wouldn't mind some of the chocolate that's described - very tempting!)
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Title: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot
Author: out-there
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~22,000 words
Genre: Earth AU
Summary: When Christine had told Rodney that he had no sense of rhythm, his response was a withering: "Duh."
Heh. John as a dance instructor. In black t-shirts and tight jeans. Mmmm. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, very fun story with Rodney getting jealous of John's behavior towards his girlfriend and not having a clue why. I love the scenes with Rodney and John dancing together, and how over the course of the story they show both Rodney's improving dance skills and the evolution of his feelings towards John.
Podfic: Read by hack_benjamin22, posted here. general_jinjur's podfic hosting website also has an audiobook version compiled by cybel, here
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Straight!John & Straight!Rodney
Title: Abstain
Author: resonant8
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~5,900 words
Genre: Humor
Summary: Aliens force John and Rodney not to have sex.
This is both delightfully funny and delightfully sexy. The basic idea is "don't think of a white elephant sex" for a trade agreement, so what do John and Rodney do? Of course they do.
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Title: Accidentally in Love
Author: shetiger
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~17,000 words
Summary: John still doesn't quite understand how one crazy assumption completely turned his life upside down. But that's okay. He's pretty happy, all the same.
Very charming fic of John and Rodney falling in love and learning what they mean to each other, while they're both realizing that they're not as straight as they thought. This is a great example of the sweet side of this genre.
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Title: Always Should Be Someone You Really Love
Author: thingswithwings
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~16,500 words
Genre: Girl!John, girl!Rodney
Also recced in: Genderswitch
Summary: John thinks for a minute, then tilts his head and asks, "Do you think we're lesbians now?"
Okay, first - John and Rodney both as women and having sex with each other? HOT. I liked that they didn't just fall into bed immediately, and when they did have sex, their attraction to each other and how they thought about each other evolved over time. Though the basic plot could have easily been done as a PWP, there are some very interesting observations about how everyone else reacts to them and the politics behind why they were changed, along with the really hot sex. Very nicely done.
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Title: A Beautiful Lifetime Event
Author: astolat
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~29,600 words
Genre: Mild angst
Also recced in: Epics
Summary: Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.
This was one of the early classics in SGA fandom, and for very good reason. Because of an accident with Ancient technology, John and Rodney have a child together (shockingly, one that's brilliant with a reckless streak). The twist is that they aren't in an intimate relationship, so how do they develop a life together as parents? Because of when it was written it's essentially AU past the first season, so it's also interesting to see a perspective on how life on Atlantis could have developed, given canon at that point.
resonant8 wrote an AU missing scene for the fic that takes place in the middle of the story. It's cleverly written and very hot. It really only makes sense if you've read A Beautiful Lifetime Event, but definitely take a look afterwards. NC-17, ~2,100 words. "Look," Rodney said tightly, "I'm not saying you're my fantasy, because generally I like my lovers more busty and less hairy, not to mention, you know, female -- but it would really contribute to family stability and mental health if I could have sex with my daughter's other parent instead of with people who aren't members of the family."
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Title: Catch-19
Author: chellefic
Rating: R
Length: ~9,600 words
Genre: Humor
Summary: The IOA wants to replace John, but never fear, Rodney has a plan.
Written for the McShep Match Romance Team 2007, with the prompt "Catch-22." Of course, everyone should be concerned when Rodney has a plan, particularly when it involves John's personal life. Adorable and delightful - they're so cute to watch as they move into their relationship, and the dialogue is marvelous.
Podfic: torra recorded this nicely, and it's posted here. general_jinjur's podfic hosting website also has an audiobook version compiled by cybel, here
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Title: Double Occupancy
Author: isiscolo
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~18,000 words
Genre: Angst
Summary: Being on the same planet with John Sheppard was aggravating enough, sometimes; being in the same body was an order of magnitude worse.
This is an interesting fic, as the basic premise is the same as "Duet," except that it's John stuck in Rodney's body instead of Cadman. It's actually a case of canon following fanon, as this story was written before "Duet" aired. In any case, it's a very well-done story and the process that John and Rodney go through from straight men to wanting to be with each other is done very well and flows perfectly.
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Title: Fix
Author: crysothemis
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~25,000-58,000 words, depending on how you read it
Summary: John has a problem. Rodney really doesn't want to help.
A really interesting take on the "Aliens Made Us Do It" trope, with a unique set-up. The story itself is relatively unusual, in that An Ancient Devices Makes Them Do It, but neither of them want to. Seriously, I think this is one of the only previously-straight fics I've read where they don't realize halfway through the first sex scene (or even before) that Really, They've Wanted Each Other All Along. Mind you, I adore that sort of realization, but this was an intriguing change of pace.
As for the set-up, the story was actually written twice - once from Rodney's POV and once from John's POV. The author's comments about this are: If you like a bit of mystery, choose Rodney's Point of View, and if you like dramatic irony, choose John's Point of View. I ended up reading Rodney's POV all the way through and then John's, and for me that worked out perfectly. I think the reason is that the majority of the plot movement comes from John's actions and motivations, so in Rodney's POV we don't see the reasons a lot of things happened, which does make the later reading of John's POV that much more interesting. There is also a version that switches back and forth between the POVs, but I had a difficult time following that one and much preferred reading them both separately. Anyway, that's just how it worked for me, your mileage may vary.
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Title: In Which Rodney Dates, John is Curious, and Cadman Helps
Author: chellefic
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard, with minor McKay/Brown
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~9,300 words
Genre: Humor
Summary: John's hair turns Rodney gay.
This is a delightfully cute and sweet story. Rodney first kisses John in the mess hall, because John keeps asking what it was like to kiss Carson, and from that point on they have trouble keeping their lips to themselves. I loved watching them steel themselves for an Important Conversation on Not Kissing Anymore, and five minutes later see them making out (again).
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Title: Sex, Movies, and Misconceptions
Author: chellefic and thegrrrl2002
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~11,600 words
Genre: Humor, mild angst
Summary: A little slip-up with computer files leads to...well, all sorts of things.
This fic cracks me up. I adore these authors and they do marvelous things when they're together (and apart). John's thought processes as he finds Rodney's porn and throughout the fic are pretty damn funny.
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Title: Ten Ways to Get Lucky (In love)
Author: scribblinlenore
Rating: NC-17
Length: ~18,000 words
Genre: Earth AU, humor
Summary: Rodney hires John as his relationship coach.
This was written for a Harlequin challenge and is just hysterical. First, John as a relationship coach?!? Seriously, do you need any other reason to read this? Well, there's also John's daughter, "Sheppard Junior", who is just delightful in and of herself. She's a teenager and the story doesn't really revolve around her, so it's still worth checking out even if you're not a fan of kid!fic.
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Title: Under the Sea
Author: astolat
Rating: R
Length: ~4,600 words
Genre: College AU
Also recced in: High school/college AU
Summary: Rodney MmmKay's mother always told him smart boys never get the hot guys. Can he pretend to be dumb so hunky pilot John Shep Hard will ask him to the Atlantis: Under the Sea prom?
Okay, so this story was written for a bad-fic summary challenge, which is why the summary made you cringe so badly. BUT. The fic itself is marvelous and not cracked-out at all. Here's an alternate summary: Rodney goes to a frat party and tutors John, Ford and Lorne in physics. I love this story to pieces, and seeing Rodney McKay as a Physics 101 tutor is hysterical.
Podfic: Here, read by general_jinjur, who does a very nice job of reading it. There's also an audiobook version, compiled by cybel.
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And now for something completely different:
A rec post of fics where John or Rodney used to be straight wouldn't be complete without the intriguing fic that is the opposite - John is gay and one day wakes up straight. A well-written story in and of itself, it's also very intriguing for what it says about sex/sexuality vs. love, and how we act when the two don't line up the way we expect.
Title: Straight as a Circle
Author: toomuchplor
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard, Sheppard/Heightmeyer, Sheppard/OFC
Length: ~20,500 words
Summary: John Sheppard wakes up straight. No, really, that's pretty much it. One day, about two months ago, I thought, "John Sheppard is *so gay* that he couldn't be in a 'woke up gay' story. He'd have to wake up straight instead." And that is what happened here.