Title: The Devil You Know
Author: telesilla
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Pairing: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay
Word Count: 111,148 words
Genre: AU, Angst, Dark, BDSM
Rating: NC71
Warning: BDSM, age difference, underage
Summary: In a dark mirror universe of our own, sixteen year old Rodney McKay is brought to Atlantis by the Chief Science Officer, his older sister Jeannie, after their parents die. While Jeannie has no real use for Rodney, Colonel Sheppard does. Now Rodney has to come to terms with the fact that not only is he Sheppard’s boy toy, but also that Sheppard is a moody, paranoid sadist.
For his part, John isn’t quite sure what to make of Rodney, who is an almost too perfect match for him. Just as he and Rodney carefully start to settle into a complicated relationship, a conspiracy begins to surface, forcing Rodney to take a stand.
Why You Should Read This: This is a fascinating look into an alternate universe with a Fascist America. Rodney is sixteen years old when his parents die and his custody is given to his sister Jeannie, who’s on Atlantis. As a way to punish Rodney for the death of Caleb, she gifts Rodney to John Sheppard. This John is fierce and edgy and very, very dangerous. In fact, everyone in this ‘verse is dangerous, from Elizabeth to Radek to Rodney himself. This series features dom!John/sub!Rodney, which is a dynamic that’s difficult to find long fic for – Xanthe and Keira’s works notwithstanding. It’s hot, it’s not too dark to put me off entirely, and the world building is very interesting.