Fandom: MARVEL COMICS
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Length: ~4,000
Author on LJ: aliana_iskassa
Author Website: aliana_iskassa's fic on lj

Why this must be read:

Knots can basically be summarized as "the fic where Steve ties Tony up," but that doesn't begin to do justice to it. It's a gorgeously detailed bondage!kink fic that manages to work a healthy dose of characterization in amongst the kink, and that also treats the scenario with a level of realism not always present in kink fic (when was the last time you read a BDSM fic where a character actually used a safeword over something like his arm being at a funny angle, or where the characters stopped to check and make sure the knots weren't too tight?). And I have it on good authority that it's hot even if bondage *isn't* one of your own personal kinks.

Knots

Title: And Already It is As Old As You Are by pervyficgirl
Pairing: Spock Prime/T'Pol
Length: 2,300 words
Author on LJ: pervyficgirl
Author Website: My Fiction Index
Why this must be read: When I saw this story, this pairing, appear on my flist, I admit I was sceptical. But I had to click, and thank goodness I did. Because the relationship pervyficgirl evokes is strangely wonderful, as two survivors of different time tragedies finally find peace with each other.

And Already It is As Old As You Are

Title: Criss-cross series by Quasar
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard, Jim/Blair
Length: novel
Author on LJ: quasar273
Author Website: Quasar's tags
Why this must be read: Quasar's work is always a little quirky, and this interesting 'what if' is not only fresh and full of unexpected twists, but epic in length. Without giving too much away... it has a mirror 'verse colliding with canon 'verse. There's angst! Action and adventure! Sentinels! And best of all, a charming romance at the heart.

Criss-cross 'verse tag (scroll down for the first story)

Title: Destiny Revisited by Lavvyan
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur, McKay/Sheppard
Author on LJ: lavvyan
Author Website: Lavvyan's Fiction Index
Why this must be read: This isn't so much a cross-over as it is a fusion with the SGA universe. There's one version of the Merlin legend where Merlin continues to live throughout time, waiting for Arthur to reappear. It's an epic notion, and a fairly romantic one if you lean that way, with lots of potential for angst and happy reunion-ness.

What makes Lavvyan's take on this brilliant is that she uses actual SGA canon to make it work. Incorporating what amounts to a throw-away line in Season 5 episode's "The Shrine" - "you've been a good friend, Arthur" - where Rodney is losing his memory, she manages to transform the characters into modern incarnations of their ancient selves. It's smart, it's funny, and it absolutely works. This story is a must-read for any SGA and Merlin fans.

( His name's not Merlin in this incarnation, of course. It's Rodney – at least, Merlin says it's Rodney, because that's better than the other one – and he's not a sorcerer as much as… well, a magician perhaps. )

Read the story and feedback the author: Destiny Revisited

Fandom: BANDOM
Pairing: Brendon Urie/Spencer Smith (Panic at the Disco)
Length: 8,426 words
Author on LJ: ficsoreal
Author Website: Fic Tags
Why this must be read:

With bandom currently knee-deep in the first week of bandombigbang's offerings and me being knee-deep in a week of tragedy, I didn't feel too bad about missing two of my recs already. But I'm planning on making up for it and to kick it all off I bring you . . . fairies! This fic wasn't on my original list of reccables, but I thought that in the midst of everything, BBB and personal stuff, something a little quirky, a lot fun, and all sweet would be appropriate.

Spencer Smith and Ryan Ross are fairies who routinely get assigned to young children; they are then expected to look after them as they grow up, like guardian angels but with fancier wings. On their first solo assignment, Ryan is sent to Jon Walker in Chicago and Spencer is sent to Brendon Urie in Las Vegas and, of course, love happens. What I adore so much about this fic is that it tells such a great story. While it could lend itself purely toward crack!fic, it takes a somewhat outlandish premise and makes it completely believable. Spencer and Ryan as fairies are extremely well drawn and their emotions are sweetly depicted, while Brendon is a heartbreakingly beautiful boy here and the love between them, Ryan and Spencer's friendship and Brendon and Spencer's unrequited feelings, feels natural and organic and real. Even Jon, who doesn't come into play until later in the fic, is fantastically done. These boys are not caricatures of themselves, even though a story about guardian fairies would be the perfect place for it, and that's the true wonder of this fic.

It's a great love story and it has literal fairies and if you want to check out something less than 20k but still as satisfying as any Big Bang, take a break and read this.

A Fairy's Tale

Fandom: Heroes
Pairing: Nathan/Peter/Claire, mainly Claire/Peter, Nathan/Peter, Nathan & Claire
Length: 14,923
Author on LJ: 47_trek_47
Author Website: Unexpected Places
Why this must be read: Everyone who watches Heroes is aware of how good looking the cast is and how sometimes their chemistry comes through to the viewers, especially in the case of the Petrelli family. This fic takes place immediately after Season 2 and deals with the aftermath of Nathan being shot, Peter's need to save him, and Claire learning just how complicated being a Petrelli really is.


Healing

I know I've sort-of recced something by this author before, but this crossover beat the others out of the water, and, well, this is a different penname of hers.

Title: Running Blind by Dejah Thoris of Mars  
Pairing: Danny/Sam (in the background)
Length: ~22,600
Author on LJ: marsdejahthoris 
Author Website: Fanfiction.net or her other FF.net account

Why this must be read: This is probably the most popular crossover in the fandom. It's absolutely pitch-perfect for both shows, has spot-on characterization for everyone, and has a very interesting take of Vlad. The Vegas CSIs are on the case of a blob(?)  that sucks all the moisture out of its victims, and they've got a material witness, Danny "Parker", who's on the run and convinces Child Services to let him stay with Grissom. Who, of course, figures Danny out eventually and becomes a ready defender of him. Then Vlad and his minions show up, trying to get Danny. The ensuing car chase is brilliant.

Running Blind

Title: Take My Robot by cgb
Pairing: none; features Bender and the crew of Serenity
Length: approximately 3,900 words
Author on LJ: mandysbitch
Author Website: Mind Games
Why this must be read:

Bender stumbles onto Serenity and hijinx ensue.

He heard a voice behind her. "River, what is it? What did you find?"

"He followed me home," the weird kid said. "Can I keep him?"

He followed her home? Oh, that was great. Now he was being accused of stalking crazy humans. Slander! "Listen, lady…" He sat up and his head spun. The weird kid took a step back. "Oh, man," he said. "That was some party."

"River," the other voice said. "You know the Captain doesn't like robots."

It's Bender and Jayne getting up to shenanigans. Much hilarity is had.

Take My Robot by mandysbitch

Please let the author know if you enjoy the story.

***

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: Starsk/Hutch
Length: almost 8.300 words
Author on LJ: None as far as I know
Author Website: Mystic Whim at Parker Center Playground
Why this must be read: After Gunther, Hutch is back at school, and having problems with one of his art assignments, as he can't get a model for a nude work. Of course, Starsky offers himself as a model, and they work in some sketches for one weekend.
When Starsks ask to see the finished work, he's quite disappointed when Hutch tells him he wasn't able to paint from the sketches he drawn, and, as a consolation, paints his friend's Torino.
But later, he discovers Hutch had lied to him. Why?
To know about this, you should read this story. But not only because of this, but because the writing is amazing. Mystic can make you see a scene with her writing, and she gets their voices in such a wonderful way...
But, here, ( have a taste )

The Body Beautiful

Most of my recommendations this month have amounted to me on full impulse power, wandering around a chaotic bunch of private posts and taking whichever of my backlog of favorite stories sounded best to me at 5pm PDT Monday, Wednesday or Friday. Except for the crossover; there aren't enough good crossovers in any fandom, and I made a point of finding a good one to recommend well before June started.

Then the due South Big Bang went live yesterday, and there was a crossover so good that I couldn't resist it. Impulse power wins again.

Title: Can't Wait Till the Morning Has Come by Spuffyduds
Pairing: Ray Kowalski/Benton Fraser, past Oz/Willow
Author on LJ: spuffyduds
Author Website: There is a very useful set of links on Spuff's live journal page.
Why this must be read: Because it's got Oz! and RayK and Fraser! And Ethan Rayne, and evil minions! Because we find out more about how Dief communicates, and what Oz's change is like, and there's lots and lots of plotty goodness! Because Oz is like a reagent, clarifying reality wherever he goes.

Excerpt:
( He gags, keeps the gun up, digs his little Maglite out of his pocket with his other hand. Flicks the flashlight on—it looks cute, but at the Academy they taught you a bunch of ways to cause serious, serious pain with it if you needed to. The gun should ensure he doesn’t need to, but having both hands full makes him feel a little better. He takes a deep breath of outside air and then steps up into the van. )


Can't Wait Till the Morning Has Come

Title: Simply Couldn't Be Bad by Petra
Pairing: Gen
Length: 1800 words
Author on LJ: petronelle 
Author Website: Petra's Fanfic
Why this must be read: Because it's epistolary fanfiction done well. Daddy-Long-Legs is a novel by Jean Webster about an orphaned young woman and her mysterious benefactor. It is told almost entirely through the letters of the main character. Petra emulates the format and tone of the novel to great effect. This fanfiction is a fusion, more than a straightforward crossover, with Dick writing letters to his unknown benefactor. The fic builds excellently, as Dick puts together the pieces with regards to the identity of the person he is writing to, concluding in a way that had me grinning. This fic is absolutely charming.

( Excerpt )

 

Read It!

Crossover day!!! There are so many fantastic highlander crossovers out  there I felt like a kid in a candy store, but well I had to pick eventually

Title: Love, Honor and Immortality
Pairing: Gen
Author on LJ: strangevisitor7 
Author Website: None that I know of.
Why this must be read: Methos meets a preimmortal Buck. I loved this crossover it was one of the things that made me curious enough to go and watch magnificent 7. This was fun, light and an interesting look at the characters of the seven and of Methos.
( A taste )

Love, Honor and Immortality

Title: Ruby Slippers are a One-Way Ticket by Kaite
Pairing: Picard/Janeway
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: You can find more of Kaite's fic here (scroll down)

Why this must be read:


This is a dark, brilliant story about the things Picard and Janeway have in common. It's one of my favourite stories from one of my favourite writers in this fandom.

( excerpt )

Ruby Slippers are a One-Way Ticket

It's mind-meld week on the van!

Fandom: STAR TREK: REBOOT
Pairing: Kirk/Spock
Length: 1,300 words
Author on LJ: crimsonclad
Author Website: write wrongs
Why this must be read: So, really, the whole mind-meld thing? I mean, sure, we can all see the slash potential right? Right. But it takes a special mind to turn that potential into... well, this. Thankfully, crimsonclad is on the case. *wipes away a single perfect tear of laughter*

Cut and Fucking Paste and Edit

Fandom: STARGATE: ATLANTIS
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Length: 4,500 words
Author on LJ: runpunkrun
Author Website: The Underground
Why this must be read: Sometimes, all you want is a story that you can curl up with and snuggle and go naawwwww over. THIS IS THAT STORY.

The King of Atlantis