stargateficrec | Two Sides of the Coin by dith (NC-17)

This month I'll do a series of "Holy Hannah! I can't believe this hasn't been recced in the Jack/Daniel category before!" recs. This first one is especially a surprise as it's on nearly everyone's "classics" list.

Show: Stargate SG-1

Rec Category: Jack O'Neill/Daniel Jackson
Characters: Daniel Jackson, Jack O'Neill, OCs
Pairing: Jack O'Neill/Daniel Jackson, Jack O'Neill/OC UST
Het/Slash/Gen: slash
Warning: dubcon situations, violence, language
Author on LJ:

raqs
Author's Website: dith fic
Link: on author site, on Area 52

Why This Must Be Read: Jack and Daniel are undercover on a planet with an Ancient Roman society, Jack posing as Daniel's bodyguard slave. In the midst of political turmoil, they wind up across the ocean in a society based on feudal Japan. All they want is to find a way back to Earth. Daniel is additionally dealing with the psychological fallout from Shifu's dream which lends him a useful strength to do what needs to be done, but also worries him.

Both the worldbuilding and the original characters are deeply developed and satisfying, and the Jack/Daniel friendship, mutual reliance, and banter lead to a smart, mature, unique take on a Jack/Daniel relationship.

Excerpt:
"I am not going to listen to you any more."

Daniel ignored Jack, which had absolutely no effect on Jack's complaining.

"I've listened to you before, and what does it get me? Captured, usually. Often wounded. And now, dressed like this."

"Quit whining, Jack. It's a toga, not a tutu. Your manhood is intact."

"Actually, it's a tunic. See, I was paying attention during briefing. YOU are wearing a toga, because YOU are supposed to be the rich guy. I'm the slave. I've got just the tunic."

"What a relief for you. Please shut up and go somewhere else. I'm working."

"I thought you were going to the library."

"This is a library." Daniel waved around to the cubbyholes and round boxes. "This is what books used to look like, when they were called scrolls. This place is packed with them. The history of a thousand years, indexed and filed! I wonder if Alexandria was like this before it burned."

Jack looked around. He wanted to get excited, he did, but all he saw was -- actually, he hadn't even really noticed the scrolls.

"I thought I should spend at least a part of the day hanging around wherever you are, since I'm your slave and all."

"Bodyguard, Jack. And you can, if you want. But... is that boredom actually dripping out of your ears?"