Fandom: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
Pairing: gen
Length: 1588 words
Author on LJ: not that I know of
Author Website: Sewer Slider on FF.net

Why this must be read:

The idea that one of them may not come home one day is something that the guys have faced in canon a half a dozen times, but every time they face that possibility it doesn't get any less terrifying. In this story, Sewer Slider takes that reality and combines it with Leo's own personal nightmare – being the one to chose who lives and who dies.

The bastard's had it in for Leo ever since the last time we fought. It was Leo then, the one who caused his downfall. And it's Leo now. Leo, who he's had it in for ever since. But breaking his body isn't enough for this guy. He wants to break Leo's mind... to break his heart.

Trouble is, he might be succeeding.

"Choose," the guy says, like Leo's picking a meal and we're the menu. "One of your brothers stays with me. The others are free to go. Which among them is expendable?"

Left Behind

Being a relative newbie to fandom (less than a year), I don't think I will be able to rec many stories that will be new to most of you.  My greatest hope is to perhaps remind you of an old favorite (or not so old as is the case with this story) while I share some of my favorites with you.

Fandom:  Smallville
Pairing:  Clark/Lex
Length:  Approx. 26,200 words
Authors on LJ:   danceswithgaryand morganichele
Website:  http://danceswithgary.tlnhs.net/ & unknown for Morgan

Why this must be read:  With the above being said, this is my absolute favorite AU.  It is the story of a Lex who did not follow in his father's footsteps and instead chose to open a dance studio in honor of his mother.  Martha, in the hopes that dance lessons will help her son feel more comfortable in his own skin, convinces Clark to sign up.  And thus begins the legendary relationship.  What made this story stand out most was the beautiful imagery evoked by the descriptive language used by the authors.  Paragraphs such as

Now that he was no longer flying around the floor, Clark could see that the dancer was bald, his pale scalp glimmering in the muted lighting. His back to Clark, he began greeting the group, his voice low and soothing. Clark waited as one of the gathered women raised a hand, pointing to him, and he watched the man turn slowly.

AND

He walked easily in long strides until he was out of sight of the school, and then he broke into a full-out run. The air was a solid thing that he simply glided through like one of his mother's hot knives through freshly churned butter. He felt simple and calm like this, almost graceful. He was running, with nothing but the sun as his companion, and his feet barely touched the ground.


used descriptions of movement so well that I felt like I was in a dance myself.  Beyond the lovely language is the story itself.  It is a wonderful coming-of-age story for Clark as he changes from a shy, awkward teenager at the beginning to a quietly confident young man by the end.  

Dance With Your Heart

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Fraser/Vecchio
Length: About 23K
Author on LJ: kormantic
Author Website: The Ska Lab
Why this must be read:

Last week was Halloween; today I give you Christmas! There's a lot to love about this story, but what I enjoy most about it is the presence of Fraser's dead father, who has some great moments. The whole thing shines, beginning to end, and every line rings true; Pares has an excellent handle on the Fraser/Vecchio dynamic and the way they come together in this feels really natural and right.

Upon the Feast of Stephen

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: Cortina/Just about everyone!!!
Length: approx 20,000 over 6 (so far) chapters
Author on LJ: corvidology
Author Website: Community Memories in lifein1973

Why this must be read:

Oh god, where do I start?

To begin with, this is Cortina!porn.

 If you don't know the show then let me explain that Gene's pride and joy is his Ford Cortina. He *really* loves that car and is very protective of it.   He gets jealous if anyone breathes too heavily on the paintwork and certainly wouldn't let anyone else drive it - ever!

Take that premise, add into the mix the ever so slightly twisted mind of the undoubted Queen of LoM Crack!fic and you have a series that is both hysterically funny and fluffy and, just a little bit, hot in just precisely the wrong sort of way.

Please - if you do nothing else today, do yourself a favour and enter the wonderfully cracked and strangely alluring world of draycevixon. Your brain will love you forever (if you can stop it dribbling out of your ears)