Fandom: BANDOM
Pairings: Bob Bryar/Mikey Way, Bob Bryar/Mikey Way/Brian Schechter, Patrick Stump/Pete Wentz, Frank Iero/Gerard Way
Length: 29,136 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:
This Mannerpunk fantasy is a lot of fun for fans of historical AUs, with fantasy elements such as pet mini dragons and sword fighting. Arranged marriage that turns to love is one one my favorite plots, and this one has a love triangle that complicates things the romance interestingly. The other romances are secondary, but add to the character building.

From Wilde, With Love on AO3

Fandom: ANGEL: THE SERIES
Pairing: (no abbreviations, please)
Length: 865 words
Author on LJ:
Author Website: Shaitanah

Why this must be read: This fic picks up early in the post-"Not Fade Away" comics, where Los Angeles has become "Hell-A," Angel is missing in action, and Connor is struggling to reconcile his recently-restored memories of his actual life with the "normal" ones Angel traded Wolfram & Hart for.  There's a quite a conflict there, between a bloodthirsty, angst-ridden, suicidal and homicidal teenager with a penchant for ear trophies and Oedipal complexes and a stable, mature young man headed to a top American college with employment prospects that don't involve demons and a romantic history that doesn't involve anyone his father has macked on (that we know of).  

The series never really explores that dichotomy--we get a few glimpses in which Connor's regained his memories and seems to be trying to help rather than kill/imprison/otherwise torture Angel--but this fic does.  It's a bluntly eloquent stream of consciousness that feels right for the character and both of his selves as he tries to reconcile everything he knows with everything he is.  Throw in a nicely drawn Spike, and you've got a winner.

( Two sets of memories and three homes create a chaos in Connor’s mind. )

Alone and Colder

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Mulder/Scully
Length: 48k
Author on LJ: Not to my knowledge.
Author Website: Gossamer page

Why this must be read:
"Bad Blood" is another of The X-Files (almost) universally agreed upon "classic episodes," one that Gillian Anderson identifies as her favourite of the entire series. It's also the only context in which this fic is possible, because that episode definitely has Our Heroes regressing to adolescent-type behaviour - well, okay, "Syzygy" does too, but it's a much weaker episode, IMO. Anyway, "Pandora's Box" has as its premise that Scully didn't find anything unusual in her second autopsy and returns after midnight to the lousy motel sleep-deprived, aching from standing on concrete for back-to-back autopsies, and extremely irritable from having had nothing "to eat since six o'clock this morning, and all [she] had then was a half a cream-cheese bagel, and it wasn't even real cream cheese, it was lite cream cheese!" She finds Mulder contentedly drooling on her pillow after having eaten her pizza, and from there on in... well, let's say the energy of their interaction isn't set as "irritated." What follows is hilarious, brilliantly characterized, and scorching hot. 

My one caveat would be that there is, in between the irritation and the fun part, a game of sexual "chicken" and/or "playing doctor" that I, personally, can just buy in this context only, but that some readers find a deal-breaker. If that's the case for you, I recommend, when you get to that point in the fic, scrolling down to "2/2" (it was originally posted in two parts) - the rest of the fic, in my view, is definitely worth the effort. 

( excerpt )
You can read the whole thing at the link here.

Fandom: NUMB3RS
Pairing: Charlie/Billy
Length: 16,113
Author on LJ: emmademarais
Author Website: http://emmademarais.livejournal.com
Why this must be read:

( There was another splash above him and Billy was back. )


Safe Harbor Part 1

Safe Harbor Part 2

Fandom: NUMB3RS
Pairing: Charlie/Amita (cannon), Colby
Length: 2,138
Author on LJ: ladygray99
Author Website: ladygray99.livejournal.com
Why this must be read:

In TV shows characters bounce back from injury and trauma way faster than real life.

(Unless it's one of those really dark cable TV shows)

In this post Angels and Devils story Amita isn't bouncing back from being held captive quite as fast as they do on TV and Charlie goes to Colby for help.

This is a refreshing and maybe more realistic look at what Amita might have gone through post rescue without being dark or preachy and is really a nice character and Charlie/Amita, Colby friendship piece.

Amita is even likable in this. The show didn't even manage that a lot of the time.

Friendly Advice

Fandom: NUMB3RS
Pairing: Colby/OMC
Length: 11,000
Author on LJ: swingandswirl
Author Website: http://swingandswirl.livejournal.com
Why this must be read:

( The dust from the explosion had barely cleared before Andy leapt through the opening, )


The Other Side of the Fairy Tale Part 1

The Other Side of the Fairy Tale Part 2

Fandom: NUMB3RS
Pairing: Don/Oswald Kittner
Length: 3,642
Author on LJ: spikedluv
Author Website: http://spikedluv.livejournal.com/tag/ (You’ll have to sort through tags to find the Numb3rs fics.)
Why this must be read:

This is one of spikedluv's more classic pieces of rare pair smut.

It's kinky, naughty and just leaning towards wrong.

It's got SexyManHo!Don hunting Virgin!Oswald and catching his prey.

This is a take to your bunk fic of the very best kind.

Mr. Robinson

Fandom: DOCTOR WHO
Pairing: Gen (Harriet Jones, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart)
Length: 1,767
Author on LJ: hathy_col
Author Website: Fic tag
Why this must be read:

Very early in her term, Harriet Jones (formerly of Flydale North, currently Prime Minister) has a meeting with the Brigadier. This is one of those fics that slides instantly into personal canon, because of course they met, and of course this is what they would have had to say to each other.

( 'No one would believe quite a lot of what goes on in this country,' the Brigadier said bluntly. )

Wider World

Fandom: DOCTOR WHO
Pairing: PG (Three/Delgado!Master)
Length: 2,349
Author on LJ: bagheera_san
Author Website: Fic Masterlist, or at Teaspoon
Why this must be read:

I submit to you all that the only thing better than an old cliche done well is an old cliche subverted hilariously well.

Delgado!Master really shouldn't leave soul-bonding artifacts lying around where the Doctor might happen to pick them up.

( The Brigadier's eyebrow merely twitched, and then his face turned perfectly laconic again. 'Doctor,' he said, and made it sound like a military rank, and a low one at that. 'Would you care to explain - - this?' They were standing in the doorway to the Doctor's laboratory, the Brigadier in the hall, and the Doctor inside the lab. At one of the lab tables, a familiar figure in a grey Nehru suit was puttering around with (probably classified) UNIT equipment. At the sight of the Brigadier, the Master gave a jaunty, ironic wave and returned to his business, whatever that might be. )

Placebo Effect

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Length: 29,741 words
Author on LJ: jgraeme2007
Author Website: http://hatstandfic.net/viewuser.php?uid=46

Why this must be read:


The premise of this story from the author: After Doyle is killed in what appears to be a random accident, Bodie attempts to come to terms with all that was left unresolved between them. Then, miraculously, Doyle is discovered alive. But is the man claiming to be Ray Doyle actually a clever impostor?

What I really like about this story is that it keeps me guessing, misdirects me, and makes me wonder if I'm crazy or if the writer is. *bg* JGL gives me a story that keeps me on the edge of my seat. His case leads me down this path and that until I'm sure I know the truth. Then he tosses another little tidbit (or bombshell) out that makes me wonder if I know what the heck is going on. Excellent job and great writing make this story sing all the proper notes for me. JGL is a man who knows his craft and executes it very well.

With a sense of inevitability he paused in front of the board and stared at the smashed and partially-burned car. The blood-spattered windscreen.

“Is it Doyle?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Och, my office, man,” Cowley said, and there was compassion in his face.

Bodie brushed this off. He felt nothing staring at the photos. Distanced. It seemed unreal.

Fated.

Sooner or later it was going to be one of them. He’d just expected it to be himself—given the effort he put into making damned sure it wasn’t Doyle.

I can take it. He wasn’t sure if he thought it or said it aloud. What he did say was, “It’s easier if you just say it, sir.”

Cowley’s mouth thinned, he seemed to have to make some effort before he said flatly, “Agent 4.5 was pronounced dead at the scene…”

The Palest Ink