Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Mulder/Krycek
Author on LJ: Not to my knowledge.
Author Webpage: Phyre's stories at TER/MA
Why this must be read:

Mulder/Krycek is at heart a dark fandom, and Words Left Unspoken is one of the darkest, most disturbing fics it has produced, as well as one of the most beautiful. In a twisted, volatile love scene, Phyre paints an overwhelming image of a Mulder and Krycek addicted to one another, physically and emotionally, yet unable to bring each other anything but destruction. By juxtaposing the coldness and emptiness of what is spoken out loud with ongoing inner monologues expressing the characters' true feelings, she gives us a gradually more and more horrifying insight into a relationship that is both impossible and unavoidable, a passionate failure of communication rapidly spinning out of control.

( An excerpt: )

The kink in this story is on the extreme side, every action at least bordering on non-con (in a delicious fashion), and the ending is likely to tear your heart out. I promise you, though - it's worth it.

Words Left Unspoken

Fandom: ANGEL THE SERIES
Pairing: Angel/Illyria
Author on LJ: flurblewig
Author Website: Flurblefic
Why this must be read: Because it is so wrong. And yet so hot. Trust me on this.

Comparative Data

Fandom: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Pairing: Tara/Buffy
Author on LJ: Am unaware.
Author Website: Am apparently ignorant here as well.
Why this must be read:

There is, I feel--and certainly I'm biased in this opinion, but that's why they pay me the big crack_van bucks--a lot of promise for Buffy/Tara fics set in the sixth season. Buffy, yanked back from Heaven, is in pain and confused; Tara, at first worried about Willow's magic use and finally separated from her, is empathic and in need of rebound sex. No moment in the season is more fraught with this potential than the fade-to-black at the end of "Dead Things". Buffy has just confessed to Tara that her relations with Spike are hurtful to both of them, and Tara is placed in the position of being both consoler and absolver.

I've read several 'and then what happened was' scenes placed at this juncture, but no story is done so artfully as FaithC's "Compassion" trilogy. Nothing, for me, makes sex hotter than a meaningful emotional component. That depth of feeling is most emphatically present here. Both Buffy and Tara are fragile and vulnerable, yet willing to reach out for whatever comfort the other can offer them. They are, to a great extent, broken by their previous relationships. Buffy is certain that sex cannot come without a great psychological price. Tara is still in love with Willow, despite her terror and hatred of Willow's growing black magic addiction. It is nothing less than desperation that drives them into each other's arms for what is supposed to be "one night"--one forgettable, forgivable event.

It is, of course, nothing of the sort.

( An excerpt. )


Compassion
Contrition
Communion

Fandom: Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: nil
Author on LJ: st_crispins
Author Website: St. Crispin's Day Society
Why this must be read:

Illya encounters Ellie, a young American woman abroad, while acting as courier for U.N.C.L.E. His initial suspicion that she may be Thrush is allayed by a background check. As Thrush closes in, he uses her luggage to hide microfilm while offering his services as tour guide. Ellie is charmed by his gentlemanly manners and hospitality, but everything unravels when Thrush catch up to her and reveal the truth.

This is a fast-paced Illya-centric story that does an excellent job of exploring the conflict between professional responsibilities and personal ethics. Although he worries about dealing with innocents in Napoleon's absence, Illya proves himself more than capable under the circumstances. Ultimately, we find him to be a chameleon - suspicious one moment, chivalrous the next - and capable of a startling ruthlessness that would put any Thrush villain to shame.

Seat Partner

What's going to happen next? Go there: desperate intent

Fandom: QUEER AS FOLK US
Pairing: Ben/Michael, Brian/Michael
Author on LJ: -
Author Website: -
Why this must be read:

This is an angsty, well-written take on the Ben Taking Steroids storyline during Season Three, focusing in particular on the confrontation between Ben and Brian, which forces all three characters to come to certain realizations about their relationships. The author deviates somewhat from canon events, but manages to make the characters ring true by examining their interactions and providing a first person insight into each individual's psyche. The journey imagery employed to describe each pairing's relationship is poignantly played out, and Kinneycutie's interpretation of Brian, in particular, is given a certain emotional depth that I find is often-times lacking on the show. Hope you guys enjoy this story as much as I did.

( I want to hear you say it. Tell me I'm not good enough for him )

Final Destination

Fandom: STARSKY AND HUTCH
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: maquisleader
Author Website: http://maquisleader.com/
Why this must be read: Growing up in the seventies and eighties, everything was about the Vietnam War - and I'm not even American. This story has a Starsky that remembers Vietnam, but doesn't talk about it, and a Hutch who keenly feels the fact that he wasn't there. What made this story really work for me is the interaction between the two characters. There's not a lot of action, but the relationship rings true, the dialogue is funny and in character, and the interaction sometimes makes you feel like you're watching the show - what better praise is there than that?

( Excerpt from A Time to Heal )

A Time to Heal