Fandom: THE AVENGERS (MOVIEVERSE)
Pairing: Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov
Length: 17,336
Author on LJ: bob5fic, workerbee73, inkvoices, sugarfey
Author Website: Bob5 (AO3), Workerbee73 (AO3), Inkvoices (AO3), and SugarFey (AO3)
Why this must be read:

We get very little in the way of backstory for the movieverse versions of Clint Barton and Natasha Romanov in canon. Their backgrounds are blank slates with shadows leftover from the comics canon to be used as rough sign posts, and many authors have written stories trying to fill that in, and subsequently, "how they met" stories are incredibly prolific in the Clint/Natasha category.

Here, Bob5 and Workerbee73 begin there, and (with guest authors Inkvoices and SugarFey) craft a sweeping but intimate and darkly beautiful history between the two master assassins that is sparse, raw, and poetic by turns. It's not for the faint of heart - assassins after all are rarely nice or stable people. These are slightly darker versions of the characters than we see in the film; they're both rife with jagged edges and raw, easily opened wounds. Their relationship is equally dark and almost fragile, and based on subtle power exchange and at times an almost (if not outright) religious devotion.

One of the best parts of this particular series is how much meta and analysis is recorded alongside it - most of the series has a lot of commentary and conversation to be had in the comments. For that reason, if meta is a thing that interests you, I highly recommend reading the LiveJournal version of the story and check out the additional links in the master post.

And as always, if you like it, please take a moment to let the authors know. You'll absolutely make their day.

( Excerpt: Click for more )

"Small Acts" AO3 or the Master Post on LJ
Author's Summary: "Is this love, Agent Romanoff?" The story of Clint and Natasha from first meeting to post movie, as told by David Cronenberg. A love story, deconstructed.

Fandom: NEW GIRL
Pairing: Jessica Day/Nick Miller
Length: ~4k
Author on LJ: allthingsholy
Author Website: AO3, LJ
Why this must be read:

For my last rec of the month, this is a gorgeous, sad, and beautifully lyrical story about Nick in the days after his dad dies, when everybody flies to Chicago for the funeral. The voice for Nick is understated and just the right amount of unhinged funny, with a fuzzy overlay of real, so-big-you-can't-even-wrap-your-head-around-it grief.

been too lonely too long (AO3)
Nick’s sitting next to Jess, who keeps not looking over at him really conspicuously, in that way that lets him know that she’s worried about him. (Her eyes take up 3/4ths of her face, he can’t help but notice when she keeps darting them real quick in his direction.) He wishes she’d stop looking at him even while he’s grateful to have her there, like he’s indignant that she’s worried but he also kind of wants to hold her hand. It’s confusing. He balls his hands into fists and crosses his arms in front of his chest instead.

Well, it's time to clean the Van of all the candy wrappers and get it ready for the next driver.  I've had a blast, as usual.  Thanks to everyone who took the time to read, comment to me and give feedback to the authors/artists.  You rock their world (and mine) when you do it.

Happy Halloween/Blessed Samhain to those of you who observe.

Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Blair Sandburg/Jim Ellison
Length: 4K words
Author on LJ: ainm
Author Website: at AO3

Why this must be read: It’s a Halloween treat that’s only a little tricky.

Post-series, Jim and Blair are a successful crime-fighting team, which means that the mayor wants to show them off at his annual charity event. This year, it happens to be a Halloween masked ball. Jim puts up his usual protests, but is coaxed into good humor (and a tuxedo) by Blair.

At the ball, Jim is approached by a guest who seems to know more about Jim and Blair’s covert relationship than she should.

Masks by Ainm (Mature)

If you like this, take a moment to tell the author. You will absolutely make her day!

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Benton Fraser
Length: 26,125 words
Author on LJ: mizface
Author Website: Author’s work on AO3
Why this must be read:

Today is Halloween, so of course I have to rec a zombie story! I am completely stealing Seascribe’s words here, but she describes exactly how I feel about this fic.

Mizface 's Ch-ch-changes is the MOST ADORABLE zombie story on the face of the internet. ADORABLE. Ray and Ray are zombie buddies and I want to hug them both. And Fraser, is, well, Fraser, and he and RayK do what they do best, which is be weird and fall in love with each other. JUST GO READ IT OKAY, IT WILL MAKE YOU SO HAPPY.

Miz has also written a short fic about V in this 'verse, Just Gonna Have to be a Different Man (he really needs ALL the hugs, okay), so hopefully we'll get more stories about ALL of them!

Ch-ch-changes

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Gwaine/Elena, various other pairings
Length: 3323
Author on LJ: giselleslash
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read:
( Read more... )

And this will be my last rec of the month. I wish I'd been able to rec more but grad school + free time don't always mix! Still, I hope you enjoyed the fics and that the variety was as good as I tried to make it. Now, without further ado . . .

Fandom: TEEN WOLF
Pairing: Allison Argent/Derek Hale/Erica Reyes/Isaac Lahey/Jackson Whittemore/Lydia Martin/Scott McCall/Stiles Stilinski/Vernon Milton Boyd IV
Length: 15,800+
Author on LJ: Unlisted
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read: Yes, you read that pairing correctly. And since my goal this month was to include as many various pairings as possible, I thought it only fitting to end with a fic that literally ships all the things.

This fic follows Derek's discovery not only of what his pack gets up to in private and sometimes semi-public places, but of how he fits into the dynamic. What I appreciate most about this fic, and what makes me love it so much, is that it truly does allow Derek the room to grow. This was written pre-S3 so the depth of Derek's issues weren't quite known to us, but it still takes a look at his reluctance to enter into a relationship and in particular, a complicated tangle of emotions and people that could ruin his pack. The fact that there's an actual adult conversation (or intervention, depending on how you want to look at it) gives one the sense that they can really do this. This is for the best. It's all gonna work out.

At once a little awkward, a lot sexy, and cute as hell, this fic takes all the things I love most about poly ships and makes me laugh, too. Hopefully it can do the same for you.

Hunting the Snark

Well, it's that time again - the Helicarrier is coming in for a landing to refuel and have some maintenance and a crew change. I've had a blast reccing this month, and I hope y'all have found some great new stories to read. Happy Halloween!

Fandom: THE AVENGERS (MOVIEVERSE)
Pairing: Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov
Length: 3,671
Author on LJ: anuna_81
Author Website: LJ or AO3
Why this must be read:

This story has so many things going for it I'm not sure where to begin. Anuna paints emotions with words in a way that gives the story a real presence. The story is set in her home country of Croatia, and she manages to highlight cities and landscapes to better illuminate where both characters are on their own inner landscape. Natasha's conscious choices about what to bring and where to go, the way that she methodically does everything she's learned from her own experience to try and help Clint through his ordeal with Loki is brilliant. She does the same thing with music and Natasha's experience of it. The character introspection is effortless but spot on, it's quiet, but the narrative voice is one of the best Natasha's I've run across.

( Excerpt: Click for more )

Li.ber.tas AO3 or LJ
Author's Summary: They say, when you travel long enough, you finally end up running into yourself.