crack_van | Cryptic by Lydia (PG)

Fandom: THE AVENGERS
Characters: Steed, Emma
Length: 7,091 words
Author on LJ:

lydiabell
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read:

Because it could seriously be a lost episode. Steed and Emma are both wonderfully in character, and the zany plot is very much in keeping with the series, engaging OC mastermind and all. Also, it is one of the best Avengers gen fics I've read to date -- the fandom is heavily shippy, so good, IC, just-like-the-show gen fic is rare. The thing I like most about this story, though, is the plot's progression. The story opens with a routine kidnapping and ends with...well, I won't spoil, but suffice to say it's far from routine, and thus perfectly Avengers.

Emma looked up as Steed let himself into her flat. She was kneeling on the floor, tinkering with a scale model of Babbage's Difference Engine. "How did it go?"

Steed handed her the pages he'd acquired from Miss Cain. "She was charming, straightforward, and completely cooperative."

"A bust, then."

"Hmm, we'll see."

Emma started looking over the list. "Publishers ... newspapers ... broadcasters ..." She looked up at Steed. "I'm detecting a pattern."

"You noticed that too? Likely a propaganda scheme of some kind. She could be setting people in place to indoctrinate the masses into Communism, Fascism ..."

"Manchester United ..." Emma offered.

"... though I've never met such a nicely-dressed Communist," Steed finished.

Cryptic