crack_van | Shining Tor by fawsley (PG) with an illo. by basaltgrrl

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: Sam/Gene
Length: 2,400 or so
Author on LJ:

fawsley
Author Website: Fic index @ lifein1973
Why this must be read/seen:
I'm relatively new to the fandom, so one way I've been lucky enough to find outstanding fic is through fan artists who are inspired to illustrate it. That's what happened with fawsley's "Shining Tor." I saw

basaltgrrl's beautiful illustration for it, which involved Sam and Gene's mirroring "cat that got the canary" grins and Sam relaxing into Gene's possessive grip, and knew I had to read it.

And oh my, am I glad that I did. This is one of those rarer "Sam and Gene leave Manchester" fics and the way fawsley describes the setting--let alone Sam and Gene--is gorgeous. And as for Sam and Gene, Gene's acting...odd. He lets Sam drive the Cortina. There aren't any homophobic rants when they discover that their missing person is in fact living with his boyfriend. Sam wonders what's going on with Gene while readers wonder whether they'll have their first time in the back of the Cortina. This is a wonderful hesitant!Gene fic filled with banter and fog and realizations.

‘Let me say something at least before you get another mard on.’

‘Just forget it.’

‘No! Listen! You’ve always been a complete bastard to me, Guv…’

Gene sighed and rubbed at his frown line.

‘I know, I know. Can’t say you haven’t always deserved it though.’

Sam took a step closer. If the Guv could find it in himself to tell secret truths in this strange vaporous cocoon, then so could he. Their voices sounded deadened and hollow in the gloom, but what they were saying was anything but.

‘And you’ve also been absolutely bloody magnificent. Gorgeous in fact.’

‘Have I? I mean, yeah. Course I have. Course I am.’

Shining Tor by

fawsley and the gorgeous, atmospheric illo. by

basaltgrrl here