Fandom: GRIMM
Pairing: Renard/Nick
Length: 13,500 words
Author on LJ: smilla840
Author Website: Masterlist on LJ, AO3
Why this must be read:

Author's Summary: Captain Renard has plans for Nick and he will go to great lengths to keep him alive until he can fulfil them - including using some unconventional methods like tasking a Blutbad with his safety.

An intriguing introduction into Renard/Nick, this fic was just that for me. I love the possibilities it opens up for us in their being together. It draws on the differences in their places in their worlds, as Royal and as a Grimm and how one isn't exactly subordinate to the other but something else altogether. Morgane gives us some lovely hints and details into the past interactions between Royals and Grimms and how that will affect their relationship. Morgane also touches on the obstacles in the way of this pairing like the fact of Marie's death being connected to Sean and the whole trust issue.

On top of the whole Renard/Nick relationship, the hints of how the Wesen (though this fic won't use that term as it was written before the word was canon) world works make for fascinating reading as does the historical past between Grimms and the Royals/Guardians that I talked about before. We get an actual harkening back to one of the original Grimm brothers and how he was drawn into a Royal Court back in Germany. Made this history-loving fangirl happy as all get out. Seeing how a territory worked in Portland in the modern world was also fascinating. With Renard facing a challenge from another Royal, Nick gets pulled into the "government" of Wesen Portland to help keep everything rolling smoothly, and it was fascinating reading, let me tell ya.

The Prince of Portland

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Anakin/Obi-Wan
Length: 1830 words
Authors on LJ: imadra_blue and rabidfangurl
Authors Website: Imadra_blue Fics on LJ and archived work. Rabidfangurl archived work and Fics on LJ.
Why this must be read:

crack_van encourages references to well-used themes in a fandom, and the theme of 'Padawans must wait until Knighthood until beginning relationships with their Masters' is common both to the Qui/Obi branch of Star Wars slash as well as to the Ani/Obi bough. 'Pure Torture' is an especially apt title for such a story. These authors also weave in Anakin's mechanical genius and Obi-Wan's lack of such. A light-hearted piece with pepperings of angst, it's a fun read.

Pure Torture

Fandom: AVENGERS
Pairing: Clint/Natasha
Length: 13,630 words
Author on LJ: kuhori_rei
Author Website: @ AO3
Why this must be read:

This is a hot, funny, and heartbreaking fusion with the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith, wherein Clint and Natasha meet, fall in love, and get married, all without knowing that the other is a spy for a rival agency. Despite some lies of omission, they make the relationship work, and when the truth finally comes out, well, they end up making that work somehow, too.

( an excerpt )

Mr. & Mrs. Barton (Or: Why Natasha Sends Jennifer Aniston an Annual Apologetic Fruit Basket) by shellybelle

If you enjoy the story, please let the author know!

*

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Length: 6160 words
Author on LJ: carodee
Author Website: Caro Dee's Insatiable site
Why this must be read: Because this one nearly disappeared!

As the author explains, The Rough with the Smooth was originally posted to an LJ comm which was subsequently deleted. I wasn't around when it was first posted and got my hands on it only because someone else had saved a copy. So I am very very glad that carodee has now posted it again.

It is a story of bondage, and shock, and first times, and unrequited feelings. Which is quite a mix. So why do I recommend it? Well, I have a bit of a thing for competitive and confident lads who aren't afraid to get extremely physical. It's their job, dammit. And because they still haven't hit thirty (and they are therefore clearly immortal), and they generally win, and they take crazy risks on the job and things mostly work out, I think their risk assessment can be a bit off. So one spotting the other wandering into a club of obviously niche interest is bound to be curious. Following him, he finds out that when it comes to risk assessment, they really are terrible.

And eventually, Bodie has to confront Doyle about it.
( Confrontation below the cut )
I love it: the initial scene Bodie stumbles across, Bodie's first night with Doyle - in particular, this: "For a moment, Ray's eyes cleared, actually seeing Bodie, and the fierce look of amusement, gratitude and affection made Bodie's heart lurch" - that combination of emotions in the middle of pretty rough sex just grabs me - and the ever so faint promise at the end.

Go and love it too.

The Rough with the Smooth, by Caro Dee

Tomorrow is the 15th of the month, which means Crack Van Collisions, a.k.a. cross-over day.

Drivers, you may rec one fic that crosses over your fandom with another (no, this does not count against your maximum). Please post crossovers in the following format:

Subject: Fandom/Fandom (Rating)

Title: Title by Author
Pairing: (no abbreviations, please)
Author on LJ:
Author Website:
Why this must be read:

(link to story)

Fandom: SKINS
Pairing: Katie/Effy (gen 2)
Length: 5,000 words
Author on lj: bugbitten
Author website: (author's fic tag)
Why this must be read: If there's any fandom that needs fix-it fic, it's Skins, and fix-it fic that is cautiously optimistic in a way that fits in with canon, with delicious, believable femslash on top is just all the more wonderful. It's set post-season three, and takes things in a direction that I would have loved to see explored more fully in the show (with or without the romance.) The Katie voice is sharp and deft, and the whole thing is completely enjoyable, beginning to end (pun intended).

( Excerpt )

the beginning after the end