Fandom: HOMESTUCK
Pairing: Dave/Terezi (flushed)
Length: 3k
Author on LJ: cephiedvariable and naive_wanderer
Author Website: Cephied Variable on AO3, Naive Wanderer on AO3
Why this must be read:

The Homestuck Shipping Olympics was a twice-run fandom challenge where people gathered in groups to support their favorite ships and entered fanworks for four themed rounds. There were a ton of wonderful fics and other fanworks produced both years.

The theme of the first round in 2011 was 'Fandom Cliches', and this short fic used the well-traveled trope of truth serum. It's cute, hilarious, and kind of adorable - and has some really great artwork, too. (It also won first place for the round!)

( Excerpt )

In Shitty Sidequests Veritas

Fandom: Terminator / Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Pairing: Sarah Connor / Derek Reese
Length: ~1500 words
Author on LJ deslea
Author Website: Literatti
Why this must be read: I prefer Sarah/Kyle, but I'm open to Sarah/Derek when it's done right, and this is one of those cases. "The Promise" is short but packs a heck of a punch as it circles Sarah's single-mindedness, Derek's desire for life, and their shared humanity. You won't believe what this author can do in so little space, really.

( You're allowed to matter, too. )
 
The Promise

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Gen
Length: 3K
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: author's fic on DSA
Why this must be read:

The random story button turned up this cute little genfic. I dare to you read it and not giggle out loud at the ending.

Left Behind

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Parings: Duncan/Methos/Amanda
Length: 4,445 words
Author on LJ: gryphonrhi
Author Website: Rhi’s Eyrie or
on AO3
Why this must be read:

This story is a Timestamp for the Stone of Scone episode set in the universe of Kill’s vid Opportunities, an AU where Duncan, Amanda and Methos embark on a life of crime. And since it’s an AU wonderful characters like Fitz and Sean and Rebecca Connor are still very much alive.

Sticks and Stones

Fandom: TEEN WOLF
Pairing: Stiles/Derek
Length: 8310
Author on LJ:
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read:I love hotter-than-the-sun FT sex. I love humor. And I love Stiles being oblivious about his own appeal and compensating with snark.

This story has it all – Stiles-snark in abundance, screamingly hot FT Stiles/Derek, and as a bonus it has Danny being cooler than cool. Until he isn’t. Probably the best part thought? The angriest, hottest and most hilarious werewolf striptease you could ever imagine.

( Excerpt )


Touchpaper

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: No pairing
Length: 6,692 words
Author on LJ: nickygabriel
Author Website: Nicky Gabriel on the S&H Archive
Why this must be read:

As I continue with Christmas-in-January recs, I'm still considering stories whose themes are outside my comfort zone. I've previously recommended Nicky Gabriel's work, and she continues to impress me with her complex and unique stories. A native of Poland, she writes in Polish then translates her stories into English. Her stories explore human emotion and the human heart, and the different ways humans find to define and express love.

The Second Choice is a sequel to Nicky's story, Angel in the Snow, which I also rec'd here. That story explores issues surrounding adult relationships that are not typical, especially in fanfiction. While this story, a gift for the SH 2012 Advent Calendar, picks up where Angel left off, it explores yet another aspect of friendship and love in a way I couldn't have anticipated. A familiar fanfic theme (especially in slash) focuses on the concept of one partner finding his "soul mate" in the other partner. Starsky and Hutch as soul mates is an idea so entrenched in the fandom, it's nearly canonical, considering how close their relationship was on the screen. But this gen story takes that theme and turns it on its head. Finding original ideas in this nearly 40-year-old fandom is rare and finding original ideas that make you reconsider concepts you always held as a "given" even more rare. Not only are Nicky's ideas unique and fresh, the emotional rollercoaster she takes you on as you suffer through Hutch's pangs of doubt and disappointment make this story intensely personal, richly compelling, and surprisingly satisfying. You won't get another Christmas gift quite like this one.

The Second Choice by Nicky Gabriel