Fandom: DC COMICS
Pairing: Ted Kord/Barbara Gordon, Shift/Indigo
Author on LJ: siviusx
Author Website: none that I know of, but many of her fics can be found in her lj's memories.

Why this must be read: I have to say I hesitated to put this story on my rec list, because I figured doing so would be a wee bit sadistic. And then I remembered that I am a wee bit sadistic and gleefully added it. You remember when I was telling you I love the gen in this fandom? Well, this is a shining example of what I meant: it's really sweet without crossing the line into corny and shows several of the DCU's heroes at their most human.

Ted and Barbara both retired from the field for health reasons. He has a heart problem and she is paralyzed below the waist due to being shot in the spine. Being geeks, he became an inventor creating gizmos for other heroes, she became the most formidable hacker in the DCU under the alias Oracle. Indigo is an android from the future, Shift is the progeny/clone of superhero Metamorpho, and their pure love for each other dropped diabetics dead all over the place.

Now why is reccing this fic sadistic will some of you ask (while those who already know wail in anguish)? Well, let's just say, bad things have happened to that bunch since this fic was written. Bad BAD things.

But for now, let's not think about it.

Making Friends

Fandom: STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE
Pairing: Trip/T'Pol, T'Pol/Archer
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read: There's a lot of stories out there dealing with the premise of T'Pol and pon farr and this, in my opinion, is quite possibly one of the best. It's short, intense and -- to quote the title -- makes a damn mess of the two pairings listed above. nikitee's writing is sharp and she delivers a hell of a sucker punch.

A Damn Mess

Again, I meant to post a different rec today, but in lieu of the events in London today, I’m changing my order round a bit to give you this story. It's about the city of London just as much as it is about the characters, a fact that made me love it so much in the first place.

Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Draco/Harry, Draco/Blaise
Author on LJ: hackthis
Author website: Dysfunctional
Why this must be read:

( Read more... )

So, without further ado I present to you Trade - go, read about London, and appreciate it!

And here's the link to the first chapter, in case the memory function is disabled for longer: Trade, Chapter 1

Don't forget to give feedback, I'm sure hackthis would appreciate it!

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Author on LJ: wickedwords
Author's Website: Rachel Sabotini's House O'Fanfic
Why this must be read:

Breathing Sorrows is one of my all time favorite hurt/comfort/Duncan torture fics. Written by the fabulous Rachel Sabotini (also part of The Krell, the author group responsible for the intensely yummy "Seduction of the Desert Prince" which I would be rec'ing here if not for its WIP status *hinthint*), this story has all the tense moments and worried anticipation that leaves me wanting more and loathing to stop when those bothersome things in life interfere; like work or class or sleep.

With Duncan at the mercy of his captors and Methos fighting his instinct to run at the first sign of danger, Rachel writes a twisting and wrenching story that I fall in love with all over again every time I read it.

I hope many more people enjoy this story as well.

Breathing Sorrows

Just an aside, I would like to offer my thoughts and prayers to our friends and loved ones in London this evening. Senseless tragedy.

Fandom: SMALLVILLE
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Authors on LJ: seperis and rageprufrock
Authors Websites: Indulgence and glitterati

Why this must be read:
I'm going to start of my month of recs with a couple of stories that hark back to the earlier, less conflicted days of Clark and Lex's friendship. This is to balance some of the more angsty recs to come, and it's also for sentimental reasons: it reminds me of eagerly watching seasons one and two and the (vain) hope that Clex fans had that we'd get lots of more of the friendship before the inevitable Rift.

In this story, Clark is a freshman, and Lex is his best friend, and he's taken Clark to a strip club. I have a weakness for College!Clex, and the sweetness of this story is a good way to start the month. Pru and Jenn wrote a lovely, complex Lex and an inexperienced Clark befuddled by his attraction to Lex. Canon has since given us reason to see Clark as more experienced than this, but I'd like to think that he could have been this innocent if certain canon events never occurred. *g*

Sparks

Fandom: SMALLVILLE
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Author on LJ: formerly dammitcarl, now sloganeer
Author Website: Smallville stories here

Why this must be read:
This a slowly building first-time story with a mellow yet satisfying emotional tone. It's a story that suits the sensibility of the first two seasons, so I am rec'ing this here at the beginning of the month. Later I'll take you down darker paths, but for now, enjoy the sweetness.

The Push and the Pull

Fandom: ANGEL
Pairing: Buffy/Angel, Connor/everybody
Author on LJ: hjcallipygian
Author Website: HJ on fanfiction.net

Why This Must Be Read

To quote the author: It's wacky, and weird, and disjointed... but enjoyable. Pretty much a perfect description of the story. Using his very best Terry Pratchett voice, HJ paints a bizarre and surrealistic portrait of what could have, but probably didn't, happen to Angel and Spike after Not Fade Away.

It features celestial beings who look like third-party presidential candidates. And Spike does haiku. Nuff said.

( Excerpt )

A Happy Ending