Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncam/Methos
Length: 1300 words
Author on LJ:hafital
Author Website: Highlander Fiction
Why this must be read: This story has a warm, comforting atomsphere with a gentle build up of the friendship between Duncan and Methos. The setting is the American Book Store soon after "Through A Glass Darkly."

An Afternoon Discovery

Fandom: BLEACH
Pairing: Hinamori/Hitsugaya, Hinamori/Aizen, Hinamori/Kira, Hinamori/Renji
Length: 1,450
Author on LJ: kay_willow
Author Website: figment_tree
Why this must be read: It's hard to find good Hinamori-centric fic that shows the different aspects of her, and shows them with respect. This does it and does it well, showcasing Hinamori's character through the relationships with four other characters during the years, from becoming a shinigami to after Aizen's betrayal. It's lovely and the ending will leave a smile on your face.

The Almost-Loves

Fandom: HEROES
Pairing: Nathan/Luke
Length: ~8k in total
Author on LJ: boudecia7
Author Website: Fic Masterlist

Why This Must Be Read: In these two companion fics, Luke gets an internship at Nathan's office and slowly comes into his own, becoming more independent and self-reliant. His relationship with Nathan isn't easy, particularly in 'One More Try'; boudecia7 has done a great job of articulating the emotional minefield that is a relationship with such a great age difference and power imbalance, and that realism is why this fic stands out so much for me.

I also love the parallels boudecia7 has drawn between Nathan's unexpected compassion for Luke and his steadily worsening relationship with Claire. Nathan is wonderfully in character, using his power and influence to help Luke but never really extending himself or putting himself at risk on Luke's (or Claire's) behalf.

( Excerpt )

Transposition and One More Try

Fandom: BANDOM
Pairing: Frank/Gerard, Mikey/Ray
Length: 177,570 words (+ 9,760 in codas)
Author on LJ: bexless
Author Website: Strange Delight
Why this must be read:

The first part of this three part epic is very loosely based on the movie Stigmata. Frank is the guy that's been inflicted with stigmata, his best friend Mikey's older brother Gerard is a priest and a investigator for the the Vatican, and together with the rest of Frank's work mates, Brian, Bob, and Ray, they manage to figure out the mystery and save Frank's life. In part two this mismatched group continues to save lives and help make people's life better but the personal cost to the characters is mounting and it all comes to a head in part three.

This story is first class in all aspects, it's got a plot that is scary and intense and heartbreaking and completely absorbing, characters that are vivid and well-rounded and completely believable, I've never seen group dynamics and interpersonal conflicts handled better, and the dialogue is to die for - spanning from deeply meaningful religious discussions to hilarious banter and gallows humour. The happy ending isn't perfect - it couldn't be after what they've gone through - but it's deeply satisfying.

( Excerpt from the story... )

Main story: I Have Been All Things Unholy & Staring Through the Demons & Heaven Help Us
Codas: During Working Hours & Turning Point
This entry contains links to podfic of part one as well as assorted fanart and fanmixes

That was my last effort for the crack_van this month. I hope you've managed to find something worth reading among the stories I've recced.

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Harry Potter / Severus Snape
Length: 23,000
Author on LJ: the_minx_17 (better to find her on IJ)
Author Website: none?
Why this must be read:

Time Travel. We all love it, right? Even JKR couldn't resist it (even if working out paradoxes is not, shall we say, her strongest point). HP fan writers are no exception.

This time travel story is one of several where Harry goes back in time to the Marauders' Era, but what I like best about this one is the deliberateness of Harry's decision to go back: he knows from the beginning that his goal is to rescue Snape from the awful hand he's dealt by fate. Over the course of the story, he'll learn that some things, true, are fixed and immutable, but he'll also see that sometimes the power of love (or a sense of fair play) can triumph. This is a Harry willing to give up every future happiness he might have been entitled to, his friends, his victory, on the mere chance that he can put things right for someone who's been, frankly, a bit unkind to him. And yet, he goes anyway. *That's* a Harry I like to see.

Tapestry of Fate

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: Sam/Gene
Length: 57,000 words
Author on LJ: mikes_grrl
Author Website:Mikey at the Collator's Den
Why this must be read: Because I recced Dak's wonderful story The Kept Man earlier in the month and this piece makes a perfect bookend to that one. Here Mikey weaves a tale just as long, complex and plotty in which she turns the premise on it's head and gives us something no Life on Mars fan thought they would ever see (but were eagerly awaiting) Rent Boy Gene. Just enough time left in the month to curl up and really enjoy this one like it deserves.

Shadow Box

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Harry Potter / Severus Snape
Length: ~167,000 words
Author on LJ: grazhir
Author Website: http://grazhir.com/
Why this must be read:

A long-distance and accidental time travel story here: post-OotP, Harry is mysteriously transported back to the time of the Founders. The interesting world building here -- blood magic, Hogwarts' wards, a new family for Harry, and many other interesting departures from canon -- in a deliciously long story more than makes up for the great distance travelled from canon in the characterization. Harry literally does become someone else, and it's worth following him along on that journey. Not always perfect, but always worth staying with. This is a story I've definitely enjoyed losing many hours in, several times.

Crumbling Pedestal

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: Dean/Castiel
Length: ~ 5000+
Author on LJ: libraryofsol / entangled_now
Author Website: Master Fic List
Why this must be read: Corona's written so many really, really good fics that it was hard to choose just one. I like this one (just written!) particularly because it turns on a premise we don't find very often in fanfic. Sure, we get lots of hurt/comfort fics, but this is more than that. In helping unleash the army of angels on the demons during the apocalypse, Dean pays a price. His eyes.

In the aftermath, the rest of the world is having a hard time adjusting to a Dean Winchester who can't see. Sam's sad and guilty. Castiel is silent and guilty. Dean's contemplating a world where he might never look at the angel again, and that's something he regrets because he's come to realize how important that particular angel is.

It's told from Dean's perspective, and the ending will reach inside you and grab hold. There are not a lot of things that make me turn on the waterworks, but this story had me sniffling silently by the end, and not necessarily in an "oh, that's sweet" way, more of an "OMFG!" way. It's both beautiful and horrible, and that's a hell of a thing to pull off.

( Dean hasn't seen anything for three weeks and quite frankly he's still more relieved about the world not sliding into hell and no one dying than he is upset about the whole eyeball thing. )

Read the story and feedback the author: My Eyes Are an Ocean

ETA: Now with awesome sequel! An Eye for an Eye