Fandom: Teen Wolf
Pairing: Stiles/Derek
Length: 5395
Author on LJ: rispacooper
Author Website: here on LJ and here on AO3
Author's Summary: They had almost never spoken back home, but this war was different. Here the youngest child of the Hales would often sit at a distance from Stiles and listen to him bicker playfully with Scott and spin dreams about the future as the two of them read letters from home. Stiles assumed Derek missed Beacon Hills, even if he had not spoken of it, and liked to hear home in their voices. It was easier to imagine that than to dream of other reasons.
Why this must be read:
Civil War meets Teen Wolf.  I love the author's descriptions, the way they portray the relationship between Stiles, Derek, and Scott during a time when war is rampant and everyone was expected to fight for their country.  The byplay between Derek and Stiles is especially delicious.

A Wolf In Faded Blue

Fandom: The Avengers (movieverse)
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Length: 8230 words
Author on LJ: gdgdbaby
Author Website: Tumblr
Why this must be read: Everyone on the Helicarrier ends up playing a cutthroat game of paintball, a la Community's "Modern Warfare," starring Tony in the Jeff Winger role, action movie references and all. Do you need another reason to read this? (Answer: no.)
( Some things are more important than SHIELD loyalty at the moment. )

a higher form of war

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Eric Kitikmeot
Length: 2600 words
Author Website: Sossity's AO3 page
Why this must be read: I love this pairing, and I also love backstory, so I was really happy to see this story (in fact I saved it up for a while before I read it, the way I do with things I'm looking forward to). And I wasn't disappointed! It feels like it gives glimpses of a larger story, and you're left to fill in the blanks. I like the tension between Benton and Eric over Benton going to Depot--I've always imagined that they had a rift over that. And I also like the way it portrays the disconnect between Benton and Bob, and the way they get a little bit closer in the coda. There's some real due South weirdness in the details of the story, too.

Green Grow the Laurels

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Word Count: 2671
Author on LJ: obscuredmemory.livejournal.com
Summary: Merlin is trying to watch Dr. Who in peace--how could Arthur forget? Yet he's interrupting...
Why this must be read: Need a squee? This is so romantic! Such a terrific feel-good fic. I seriously squee'd while reading.
Link: You Be My Companion, I'll Be Your Doctor

Fandom: HAWAII FIVE-0 (NEW)
Pairing: Steve/Danny
Length: 30,205 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read:

Author's Summary : The Yakuza aren’t about to let go of their influence on Hawaii, and when one of their ‘bosses’ arrives on the Island the team want nothing more than to see them gone again. Steve especially, because he's still trying to work out where he stands with Danny since his return from Japan with Wo Fat. But before they can find out why the Yakuza boss is here, two bodies are found in a forest reserve, their burials years apart. The deeper the team digs, the further away from the Yakuza threat they’re pulled.

I really liked how tightly woven of a casefic this was and I could literally picture everything in my head. It read just like an episode, from the mysterious bodies to the yakuza to the big showdown at the end. The suspense kept building till I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next action scene.

Siluria also drew in some wonderful character study and Steve/Danny moments. She picked up on the tension of Steve's sudden departure late Season 2 and drew us on a journey to eventual S/D harmony. I especially enjoyed some of the tenderness in her scenes with these two guys. The shower scene is a particular favorite. It was emotional, loving, and just showed the sheer depths of these guy's feelings for each other.

Hakai

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: None
Length: N/A: Artwork
Author on LJ: anachron
Author Website: Unknown

Why this must be read (viewed): In my previous post, we crossed the threshold into an S&H art gallery to gaze on a solo portrait of Hutch. Well, we cannot have a Hutch without a Starsky!

Before we leave the gallery and pile into the Torino, let's take a peek at one more glorious portrait. The past months have brought a wave of new talent into our fandom, including the amazing Anachron. I love her creations--every single one. I love how they speak to us and challenge us to experience the sheer power...to linger and ponder. In Anachron, not only do we have an artist with masterful technical skill, we have a conjurer with a gentle and sensitive hand who reaches in and pulls emotions from air onto canvas. The results are wonder and beauty and pure feeling--as in this drawing of Starsky, trapped in a moment, aptly titled, "Rattled."

Anachron shows us our boys in all of their humanity, and in all of their strength and vulnerability. She is an artist to watch--an artist to enjoy. I hope everyone savors this piece as much as I do!

Rattled

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Anakin/Obi-Wan
Length: ~1k words
Author on LJ: chase_acow
Author Website: Tags
Why this must be read:

For seminal required reading for the Anakin/Obi-Wan slash branch of Star Wars, there's no better 'go-to' inspiration than Matthew Stover's Revenge of the Sith novelization. This author shapes a fic at the crucial moment of Anakin's disturbance at being required to spy on his friend Palpatine: Obi-Wan soothes Anakin's upset by his very presence, and the sex is hot, heavy and angry. An unusual flashback format makes the story even better.

Flashes of Truth