Fandom: Avengers movie!verse (however, the author notes that zie has borrowed elements from the films, the mythology, the comics, and the animated tv show "Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes".
Pairing: Gen (none, Loki-centric)
Length: 29,743
Author on LJ: Author does not appear to be on LJ.
Author Website: spinstitcher on AO3

The author doesn’t rate this story on the AO3, but PG-13 or so seems pretty accurate to me. There is an archive warning for "Graphic Depictions of Violence", but I didn’t find it to be particularly violent or graphic.

Author’s Summary: In the wake of the Chitauri Loki is stripped of his powers and banished to Vanaheim. Nobody tasers him, but there is an awful lot of singing and dancing. Accompanied by his eldest son, who happens to be a horse, Loki slowly begins to carve out a place for himself – one that isn’t Supreme Ruler of the Known Universe.

But there is another power emerging from the darkness; one that threatens the safety – and sanity – of all the Nine Realms. Loki may have given up his dreams of becoming Glorious Overlord, but that doesn’t mean someone else gets to take his place.

Why this must be read: This is set after the Avengers film, and the Avengers show up in the story near the end, but it’s really all about Loki. While this story is complete in itself, it’s also the first part of a series. The second story in the series is currently in progress.

I honestly don’t have a clue how to describe this story. Spinstitcher ranges from serious angst to the crackiest crack ever to quiet domestic fic without blinking an eye. And then the plot kicks in, and you’re off on a wild ride through an incredible tale that leaves you guessing – and gasping – at every turn.

Kings and Vagabonds

Fandom: Bandom (My Chemical Romance)
Pairing: Alicia Simmons/Mikey Way
Length: 6,919
Author on LJ: littlemousling (inactive, find her at DW: littlemousling)
Author Website: at the AO3
Why this must be read: This blew me away. The dynamics of Alicia and Mikey's relationship work so well, making this touching AND hot. It's a BDSM-themed story, so check the tags at the top of the story if you need details.

Tacit Agreements

(Thanks for tagging ♥: bandom, fanfic)

Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: Rose Tyler/The (Tenth) Doctor
Length: 5769 words
Author on LJ: soaring_smiles
Author Website: FFN

Why this must be read: I had been wondering for a while why Rose got off seemingly consequence-free after absorbing the heart of the TARDIS, while the Doctor regenerated and Jack sort of stopped and even Blon Fel-Fotch Passameer-Day Slitheen reverted back to an egg form when exposed to it. This fic takes a clear idea--that there were consequences--and runs with it in a fascinating, enigmatic direction that takes into account classic- and Moffat-era Who as well as Rose's tenure. The writing has an eerie poetic quality, and anyone who loved "The Doctor's Wife" will certainly be entranced.

( Do you know why a raven is like a writing desk? )

Heartbeat

(For an unrelated and simpler but worthwhile story along similar lines, you can also check out the girl that time loved.)

Fandom: Avengers movie!verse
Pairing: Darcy Lewis/Loki
Length: 3,288
Author on LJ: Author does not appear to be on LJ.
Author Website: Sarshi on AO3
TheOtherSarshi on DeviantART

Author’s Summary: Cute political scientist finds Norse god in her apartment. What's a girl to do but taser him? (romance kept at a minimum to leave room for insanity)

Why this must be read: What is it about Kat Dennings? Darcy Lewis was a pretty small role in Thor, but she made a big impression. The only problem is that, since we know so little about her, it’s far too easy to write Darcy as a Mary Sue or a self-insert.

Sarshi writes Darcy like the best self-insert ever. When Loki shows up in her apartment, she says – and does – all the things many readers, including myself, would love to imagine doing ourselves. But Sarshi makes it realistic and believable, and deftly avoids devolving into Mary Sue territory. And Loki may be wildly out of character in this story, but it’s in service of telling one of the most slyly funny stories I’ve ever read.

The Affair of Loki and Darcy

And this should be it for my month of Stargate recs. Hope that readers found something they enjoyed or an old familiar read.
It seems my time here continues on next month in different fandoms, so see you around!

Fandom: STARGATE ATLANTIS
Pairing: Ronon/Teyla
Length: 20k+
Author on LJ: hth_the_first
Author Website:
Why this must be read:
The recruiting sergeants came through Ronon’s town when he was a month short of sixteen, but it didn’t bother him to lie on his application, putting his birthday a few weeks into his past instead of his future. They gave him two days to put his life in order and be at the pick-up site and told him not to bring anything but a shaving kit and one change of clothes – something sturdy, nothing fancy. Beyond that, he didn’t know what to expect, and he didn’t ask.

Ronon's backstory, looking at his life in the Satedan military with his old friends, juxtaposed against Ronon's place on Atlantis with his new teammates. It's a great look at one version of Ronon's past that shapes his actions and relationships in his new home. Teyla is a fantastic character here as well and her presence and familiarity in the unfamiliar environment of Atlantis sets the mood in a lovely balance.

Steadfast, Loyal, and True

My last rec (except for a vid rec tomorrow)!

Fandom: Avengers comic!verse
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Length: 81,526 for the first story; 89,646 for the whole series
Author on LJ: kijikun
Author Website: kijikun on AO3

Author’s Summary: For the first story in the series, All That Remains: In retrospect, it was the answer to all of the questions he'd carefully avoided asking, all of the things he hadn't wanted to look at too closely.

The subsequent stories are in the nature of timestamps for the first story.

Why this must be read: How has this story not been recced before? It goes on my list of the best Civil War fix-it fics, and my list of the best kid!fics. I don’t want to give away the plot, but if you pay attention to the tags on the story, they provide a lot of clues. Suffice to say that Tony makes a great dad, Maria (not Hill) is an amazingly genuine and fleshed out OC, and Steve does eventually come back.

Some Assembly Required series

All That Remains (Explicit)
Messages (PG)
In The Workshop (Teen)
Ice Cream and Secrets (Teen)
First Noel (Teen)

Fandom: NARUTO
Pairing: Sakura/Deidara
Length: 16 chapters, 82,879 words
Author on LJ: wyntermute
Author Website: FF.net profile page

Why this must be read: This was my first experience with Sakura/Deidara, and before its summary caught my eye, I'd never considered it. I gave the fic a try, and was glad I did! Sakura and Deidara's uneasy alliance to find their way home, dealing with foreign cultures, and all the lovely UST make for a satisfying read. I also rather liked how the author explained Deidara's speech pattern, if if has been Jossed since. ^^ [set after the Rescue Gaara Shippuuden arc]

Somewhere I Have Never Traveled, Gladly Beyond by Wyntermute