The fics I’ve read and enjoyed for the month of November. Reminder: This list features any and all ratings and themes. Please look at tags and warnings on ao3 before reading.
Fandoms included this month:
HTTYD
The Murderbot Diaries
Star Trek
ATLA
The Pitt
DC (Batfamily)
The Magnus Archives
HTTYD
familiar (like someone i used to know) by redrobin1989 for aloneintherain
Once a decade, Berk's teenagers are replaced by their future selves to help guide the island into the future. But a lot can change in 10 years and, this time, tradition takes a bit of a twist as the future comes ever closer.
(AU where Toothless, not Hiccup, travels back as the Third Seer)
The Murderbot Diaries
give it a hand, offer it a soul by dragonyfox
My route has another projected 4.7 seconds. I tried so fucking hard to get to you, to outrun that fucking CSU. Unfortunately, that’s when the CSU shoots me in my power cord.
I only have enough time to send a single, panicked message to you, telling you to get the hell out of here, before I suffer an emergency shutdown.
Parameter Lock by Sunruner
Part 4 of Procedural Learning
Two years after hacking its governor module, SecUnit003/"Three"/"Theo" is enrolled at the Pan-System University of Mihira & New Tideland because... reasons. It would, honestly, much rather be riding wormholes and liberating constructs and helping its friends aboard Perihelion, but it has a mission and needs to see it through.
It also has several humans students that it is trying to be friends with for... reasons.
And, if those reasons involve it having limited feed access, disabling its weaponry, and generally having to refute its basic function to try and accomplish this mission then...
[MISSION PARAMETER LOCK]
...Then, it's just going to have to grit its teeth and bear it.
voluntary security training by thetimesinbetween
Seth was not satisfied with ART's explanation that the whole incident was “voluntary security training” (correct), “a learning experience for all of us” (ugh), or “possibly a form of bonding between SecUnits” (double ugh). So now Three and I had to have a meeting with Seth, Karime, and ART, plus Iris, who was sitting in to "listen and learn." I could have asked Mensah to talk her way in as an expert mediator or something, but let’s be real, I’m not going to do that.
(No, Mensah hadn't joined ART's crew. We were on our way back to Mihira, and she and her second-eldest had come along to visit Amena, who was studying at PSUMNT. Well, that's what she'd said. Clearly, they were also visiting me.)
(This was not really a great time to get in trouble for shooting someone, is what I’m saying.)
A Secondary Emotion by sanctuaryrin
ART bot nodded slowly as I finished speaking. An amusement sigil flashed in its eyes.
“Pretty good,” it said, “but I could do better.”
“Hold on,” Tara said then. “I'm not sure I explained the–”
ART bot sat up in its chair and opened its mouth anyway.
“I feel–”
The end of that statement had led to the creation of the second rule.
Rule #2 ART and Murderbot are not allowed to utilize ‘I statements’ during their sessions, (or preferably ever).
Oh well.
It had been fun while it lasted.
A SecUnit and a spaceship walk into couples therapy. Neither of them really want to be there but both of them are. Apparently that’s where you get sent after you have a big fight that scares the humans. Now it's just a matter of figuring out if they’d like to actually fix their problems and admit to having emotions, or if they’d like to make things worse.
Make things worse seems like the obvious choice…right?
Family Portrait by ramshackle_fey
Turns out that if you save the lives of a bunch of kids' family members (multiple times), they might just decide you're pretty cool. Whether you like it or not.
Done With This by HermesDay
After being detained on a corporate station, Murderbot's governor module starts acting up in unpredictable ways. As things get worse and worse, Murderbot starts to wonder if it will make it back to Preservation Station alive.
Denial | Working through the pain | "What have you done to yourself?"
There's a Monster in the Feed by HermesDay
Murderbot, along with two of Karime's kids, is kidnapped by a hostile machine intelligence. Unable to escape while the ship is in transit, Murderbot does everything it can to keep the MI's attention focused on itself and away from its young clients.
Restraints | Obsession | "Aren't you feisty?"
Self-Inflicted Injury | Rocky Recovery | "If I tell you what they made me do, you won't be able to look at me the same."
Star Trek
Level five emergency by spqr
“Well, Jim," Pike says, "it looks like my chief science officer and my deputy head of engineering would really like you back over there doing whatever it is they’re doing. I trust you guys aren’t about to blow up my ship?”
“No sir,” Jim says dutifully. “We ran seventy-three models and we only blew up your ship seventy-two times.”
“Oh good,” says Pike.
K'diwa: A Steamy Novel of Interspecies Romance, by Jim Kirk, by branwyn (podfic) by cookiemom6067
Jim wrote a romance novel just to prove he could. Then someone leaked it on the public Starfleet server, and suddenly his embarrassingly smutty and sentimental Human/Vulcan love story is all over campus. Luckily for Jim, no one knows that he’s the author. Unluckily for Jim, someone forwarded the novel to the staff of the Vulcan embassy. Now, every Vulcan in San Francisco is reassessing the logical merits of taking Human bondmates.
Spock reads a Human/Vulcan romance novel because he can hardly avoid it. Suddenly, he is consumed by the need to locate the author, ascertain their wellbeing, and instruct them in the way of Vulcan mating bonds. Luckily for Spock, it doesn't take long to identify the author as Jim Kirk. Unluckily for Spock, Jim is unconscious and surrounded by interested Vulcans who also read the book.
ATLA
war's rough, buddy by amateurwordbender
“Huh. Yeah, I think that’s exactly what I was trying to say. You’re pretty good at listening.”
It’s Zuko’s turn to laugh, but his version just sounds bitter. “Trust me, I’m not.”
The amount of self-loathing in those four short syllables is enough to make Sokka wince, but it doesn’t seem like his place to say anything. Zuko did do some pretty fucked up shit, after all. Maybe the self-loathing is warranted.
(after the events of The Phoenix King (S3E18), the two oldest members of the Gaang have a talk)
(and yes, Sokka learns about Zuko’s scar)
The Pitt
ER confidential by bookgrimm
Part 3 of Ex-Amish Whitaker
Dennis walked away from everything he knew and everyone he loved to become a doctor.
And he's done a decent job keeping that part of his life under wraps. Not because he’s ashamed of it (lie, to be unpacked later), but because it’s easier to let his coworkers think he’s just a quiet farm boy from Nebraska and not someone who gave up the only world he’d ever known to chase something else entirely.
At least, until now.
All it takes is a shouting match and one ER full of bored medical professionals and suddenly The Pitt's rumor mill has a new favorite subject.
Him.
DC (Batfamily)
hand in unlovable hand by kitfornow
Tim Drake used to love photography. He used to be pretty damn good at it, too.
He doesn't do it so much anymore.
And he isn't sure why that seems to bother Damian so much.
The Magnus Archives
a deeply annoying child by ajkal2
Jon is hiding under the desk.
----
There's a child in the Archives, who shouldn't be there.
I think you've answered an ask about reading 'Embers' by Vathara a couple months back, but I can't find it.
Sooo, have you checked that fic out? I kinda like the take on spirits and culture.
And in the same vein: care to share some ATLA longfic recs? Outside of your own masterpieces and the works if muffinlance (who is SUCH a classic and shouldn't have to be named)
Hello anon! I also now cannot find that ask...
I have not yet checked out Embers--unfortunately I've been swamped with work the back half of this year at the IRL job :/ I love fics that dig into culture and the spirit-world though, when I have the headspace to appreciate the world-building!
(I'd also be curious your thoughts -- I've heard the fic's rather Aang-critical? I am an Aang lover so I may be hurting for my guy...)
As for ATLA longfic recs, in no particular order...
The All's Fair series by @lovelyelbowleech is a MUST, amazing characterization, so many different interpersonal and plot threads that come together in such a satisfying manner
Two Drama Queen's on a Shirshu by mindbending is a delight, very much crack treated seriously and blending comedy with punching you right in the feels
While Mighty Oak Do Fall by @a-witch-in-endor delivers so much world building and cultural exploration goodness, on top of delightful character arcs and a wonderful take on Zuko (Where the Stars Do Not Take Sides is also an excellent more Azula-focused fic)
Fighting Evil by Moonlight by @sword-and-stars is an EXCELLENT modern superhero AU, I am absolutely obsessed with it
Unchained Melody and Another Brother by avocadolove are excellent, they really run with their canon AU premises and bring them to such fun places
hey, batter, batter, what? and the Boo Chronicles by @ofherlionheart are super fun modern AUs, really great characterization and great writing
Boomerangs and Rainbows by mindbending may seem heavy based on the tags, but its also so so clever and funny and so much fun. I think about the ending and giggle regularly
Mark Time by foil definitely *is* heavy, I stayed up for too late reading it and it absolutely broke my heart and the moments of catharsis were wonderfully done
At the Top of the World by Lady_of_the_Flowers is an excellent modern AU that is a really great exploration of colonial dynamics and the Zukka relationship within that (also, Epistles I always shout out as the Burning Bright inspiration--BB started basically as a fic of a fic of Epistles, and its a must read imo)
And I'll Do Anything You Say (If You Say It With Your Hands) by @goldrushzukka is EXCELLENT, its everything my "lovers to oh know this might be feelings" heart could want, with amazing Gaang friendships throughout
Feels Like We Only Go Backwards by @oldpotatoe is a wild ride, the emotional high are incredible and the narrative tension is amazing and you will scream and it will be wonderful
Will We Last the Night by VSFic and CSHFic is a super fun canon AU that spends such good time building the Zukka relationship and really delivers
And because you said "ATLA fics" and not Zukka fics, I'm also going to recommend the Substitute series by Dracze (modern AU) and People in the Mirror by Nele (canon-verse). Both are Jeeko, both build out Jee's character in amazing ways, and both do such fun things with narrative irony and outsider POV when it comes to Zuko. (The things Nele can do with a single sentence truly blow my mind, I cannot recommend it enough, especially if you love worldbuilding and cultural exploration and fun with bending. PitM is one of THE foundational, influential works in the ATLA fandom for me)
“You know what I think? I think we both hold different pieces of the same puzzle, and we can only solve it if we work together. You and I – we’re on the opposite sides of a century-long mystery.”
“We’re also on the opposite sides of a war,” Zuko said drily.
Sokka flapped a hand. “Small details.”
“Not to the people you invaded.”
A century after the Northern Water Tribe attacked, two years after the Avatar’s sudden emergence from the ice and snow – why does the world feel more unbalanced than ever? Zuko and Azula are on the quest for an answer.
ASYLUM by asfearlessasamango
asylum, noun
1. (Dated): an institution offering shelter and support to people who are mentally ill.
2. Shelter or protection from danger.
Or, if Zuko was Azula, trapped in a golden palace with no family but Fire Lord Ozai for years. If Zuko was Azula, now trapped in a marble asylum with no way out that he can see. If Sokka visited. And the complications of a whole world followed.
like the sun inside of you by ofherlionheart
Sokka's expression is caught somewhere between determined and pissed off when he says, “I know you think this is your responsibility. But you’re not going to be alone in this. This is why we’re building you a council.”
“I know,” Zuko says.
“And the only way you’re going to die having done nothing but sit in meetings is if you let yourself do that. You’re not a bad leader if you take a break now and then.”
Zuko scowls. “What, so people can then say at least my father wasn’t lazy?”
Sokka tilts his head. “Don’t you think there’s a difference between laziness and, I don’t know, choosing life and happiness in spite of a terrible dad who tried to take both from you?”
----------
Zuko is sixteen years old when he’s handed a crown, a throne, and a hundred-year ancestral legacy of colonial imperialism. He’s not scared of the work; he’s scared of being consumed by the responsibilities and burdens he’s claimed. What Zuko doesn’t quite realize, yet, is that he’s not alone in this.
oh damage (sweet damage) by interstellar_silence
Sokka doesn’t expect bringing Zuko home with him to go perfectly, but he also doesn’t expect to have to find a way to salvage the summer after it goes exactly as poorly as Zuko had thought it would.
And Sokka certainly doesn’t expect the biggest obstacle to be his dad.
victory lap by dickpuncher420
And then the countries start filing out onto the stage, one by one. And then it’s their turn to step out of the tunnel, into the heart of the National Stadium, into the blinding lights and the deafening cheers and the music that pounds into every bone in his body. And then it finally hits him.
He’s here.
—
Sokka is twenty-two years old when he qualifies for the Olympics.
the firebender’s guide to living life after destiny by chuffystilton
Sokka looked around the throne room with interest. “I always wondered what the world was like from up here - must be nice looking out at your adoring subjects.”
“Being the Fire Lord is pretty dull,” Zuko said glumly, "unless you enjoy hearing people bicker about taxes. After a while, thwarting the occasional assassination is basically a form of stress relief."
In which Fire Lord Zuko and Ambassador Sokka get drunk, go fishing, watch theatre, uncover a conspiracy, visit a teahouse, destroy a historical monument, and reckon with the painful legacy of the past – but not necessarily in that order. [PODFIC AVAILABLE]
The Caged Dragon Sings by AvocadoLove
There have been Omega Fire Lord's in the past, but that had been during times of peace. Zuko is still surprised when Ozai recalls him to the Fire Nation one year into his banishment.
(Everyone has ideas of who he is to marry. No one expects him to decide for himself.)
Boomerangs and Rainbows by mindbending
At Sokka’s behest, the Gaang skips rescuing Zuko during the Siege at the North Pole. Instead they leave him, unconscious, buried in the snow.
In completely unrelated news, Sokka’s haunted by a ghost now.
Unchained Melody by AvocadoLove
Sokka is a man of science, and science says ghosts aren't real. So, he can't be dead... Right?
Too bad science can't explain why the only person who can see or hear him is Prince Angry Jerk.
War Crimes by Lovely_Elbow_Leech
Book one ends with two major diffrences: 1. Sokka went on the mission with Hahn (it did not go well) 2. Zhao survives the North Pole and that proves unfortunate for everybody (except Zhao, obviously)
Imprisoned on Zhao’s war ship, Sokka and Zuko have to work together to survive. They are not very enthusiastic about this prospect.
And they argue.
A lot.
this love burns so yellow (becoming orange and in its time, exploding) by meliebee
Ten months after Zuko is crowned at seventeen, he faces his first coup.
lover, be good to me by shadowhokage
Sokka has an affinity for pet names.
(Spoiler: It’s contagious.)
The Stingray by Smediterranea
“You’re not carrying me.”
“I don’t mind,” the lifeguard says easily.
“I can just hop over.”
“On sand?”
Zuko will never admit it, but being carried feels pretty nice. The lifeguard sets him down and eyes him warily.
“Are you really all by yourself?” he asks in a worried tone. “No friends in town you can call to check on you?”
“No,” Zuko confirms. Tears are forming again with alarming speed; his foot throbs painfully with every passing second.
“What kind of burrito do you want?”
“You don’t have to —“ Zuko repeats.
“I’m getting al pastor. You like al pastor?”
AU: Zuko falls for Sokka, the super hot lifeguard who helps him after an unfortunate encounter with a stingray.
practice makes perfect by aiyah
Unfortunately, when it comes to the horizontal tango, Sokka has two left feet.
Luckily for him, all he needs is a good tutor.
Enter: Zuko.
(do you take this jerk to be) your one and only by jatersade
Under the leadership of Fire Lord Iroh, the Fire Nation has made every attempt to restore peace and make amends for the harm they inflicted during the Seventy-Year War. Their newest proposal is a literal proposal: a marriage to unite the Fire Nation and the Water Tribes.
The Fire Nation offers Prince Zuko’s hand.
The Water Tribes offer Princess Yue’s.
Sokka is apparently the only person in the world who has a problem with any of this.
Real Slow by surveycorpsjean
“I see.” Zuko closes the scroll. “Is the Water Tribe sending a replacement?”
“Uh yeah,” Sokka gestures to himself dramatically. “You’re looking at him.”
Heya, I was checking on the fics recs that you gave a while ago and I noticed that people mostly asks you of rise fics, and once you said "but if anyone is ever interested in my “all time favorites / fics that read like a novel that leave an emotional impact regardless of fandom” I have lots of those. ^^". So... If you haven't rec those... Can you :D? (Sorry for the bad english btw)
I def can!! Note that these are all LONG fics for the most part, and I have most of them downloaded onto my phone to reread when I have time to burn.
Please read all the tags for these fics for any needed content warnings. I enjoy angst and dark themes (with happy endings though!)
Reluctant Hero by PAW_07 [Avatar the Last Airbender]
"It was an accident." That was what Zuko had said to his crew when he used an element he hadn't been meant to. Air. But... he wasn't the Avatar. The Avatar was supposed to be in the Earth Kingdom, hidden by its walls. That is unless the old Avatar had died long ago. AU-ish.
glitch notes: If you want an ATLA AU where Zuko's life is even more cursed than it already is, buckle up, here it is! Aang is still around as well, although how that happened is very different. Still a WIP, updates rarely.
Ain't No Cure for the Cervitaur Blues by Utukki [Gravity Falls]
Languishing in prison after being thwarted in the Gravity Falls Mayoral Election, Gideon is angry and desperate. He wants power, he wants Mabel, and he’ll make a deal with Bill to get both. But when Dipper ruins both Gideon’s and Bill’s long-term plans, they make another deal together. Bill wants his Weirdmageddon. Gideon just wants Dipper to suffer. Inspired by Monster Falls AU.
glitch notes: vampire Gideon, cervitaur demi-god Dipper, it's a fun ride! Unfinished but they only had one chapter left to go and its not too badly left off.
Eden!verse by ImprobablyDreams900 [Good Omens]
When Crowley gets captured by angels and dragged up to Heaven, Aziraphale knows he has to rescue him—no matter the consequences.
glitch notes: This baby is 500k (5x longer than the original Good Omens!!) and I sat and consumed it nonstop in the course of 3 days. Contains an asexual main relationship, a ton of bible based world building, Alexander Hamilton and Houdini as important characters, and the story of how a demon and angel cause a revolution in between heaven and hell itself in their attempts to be together. Does not pull its punches in angst and MUAH beautifully done.
Death Need Not Apply by Saltoo [BNHA]
No one noticed when Izuku manifested his quirk. Not at first.
A week later and people began to take notice. After a statistically improbable week without a single death, people took notice. After deadly wounds were shrugged off like nothing, people took notice. Time passed and still no one could die. When the city of Musutafu became engulfed in the phenomenon dubbed 'The Zone', people were wary. No one could uncover what caused The Zone. It was an unknown, some claimed. It went against the laws of the world, some claimed. It was profitable, others claimed.
Humans adapt. It's what they do. When faced with the bizarre, humanity adapts. The strange becomes mundane.
The rest of the world looks on in horror.
glitch notes: The world building in this one? AMAZING it haunts me to this day, I wish there was an original show about it. What DOES happen when there's an area of the world where immortality is suddenly the normal? In progress.
Bloom in Winter by e_va [BNHA]
Hisashi Midoriya is a member of one of the most notorious underground supervillain organizations, and Izuku is being forced to help them (even though, trust him, he'd really rather not). Too bad that they don't predict that Izuku's going to get adopted by half the faculty when they send him to spy on the prestigious hero academy.
glitch notes: One of the fics that really made me passionate about writing. Unfinished but man, I adore this one. Reluctant villain trope, incredible writing, I made a full fan animatic for this fic once and that should tell it all.
Yesterday Upon the Stair by PitViperofDoom [BNHA]
Midoriya Izuku has always been written off as weird. As if it's not bad enough to be the quirkless weakling, he has to be the weird quirkless weakling on top of it.
But truthfully, the "weird" part is the only part that's accurate. He's determined not to be a weakling, and in spite of what it says on paper, he's not actually quirkless. Even before meeting All-Might and taking on the power of One For All, Izuku isn't quirkless.
Not that anyone would believe it if he told them.
glitch notes: If you like BNHA, this one is the most read fic for a reason in that fandom.
Dauntless by Allora Gale [Code Geass]
Lelouch had been quite happy with his life. Sure they were living in obscurity, but he and Nunnally were safe. All of that changes however, when his identity is revealed and Lelouch is forced back into the fold of the Imperial family.
glitch notes: I watched season one of Code Geass a long time ago, and never finished or rewatched it. Honestly I prefer this fanfic over the show itself because it's just so interesting? Good stuff even if you don't know the show at all. Still ongoing.
A Breach of Trust by phantomrose96 [Mob Psycho 100]
This is a world in which Mob and Reigen’s paths have never crossed, in which 10-year-old Mob found psychic guidance in the form of the aging, retired tv personality Keiji Mogami, in which Reigen followed through on his plans to close the Spirits and Such Agency, in which a cruel twist of Mob’s powers forces him to confront how dangerous he really is.
10 year old Shigeo Kageyama has vanished, his trail instantly cold, and his case gathers dust in police archives as a kidnapping never solved. Four years pass before a chain of events causes his path to cross with that of the despondent, unfulfilled fake-psychic-turned-fake-investigator, Arataka Reigen. Reigen finds himself in over his head caring for an escaped victim of abuse who, for reasons unfathomable, has been taught to believe his very existence is a horrifically dangerous thing…
glitch notes: Every time this updates I drop everything and read it like a man possessed. Often times this is the case in this fanfic! Chrissy has the most amazing writing skills, I study her work all the time to be able to convey emotions like that. Ongoing right now.
Live Free by SplickedyHat [Motorcity]
Mike Chilton only came back to Motorcity a week ago, there to pick up the pieces left behind by the Genesis Pod, the echoes of a rallying cry still hanging in the air--"For Mike and Motorcity!" But now he's gone again, and without him the Burners' new challenges seem increasingly insurmountable; a new enemy--a second Red in Kane Co. colors, a war brewing between the Motorcity gangs, and one Burner secretly bearing unimaginable pressure from both sides of a double life. Something has to give
glitch notes: This fic is RIGHT up my alley and was another one I found and consumed swiftly without doing much else. This one is all of the tropes I love, and the sequel feels like a proper send off to the show that was cut short. Has great art every chapter. Worth watching the show just to read this lolol.
And that's it for now! I have more but I don't want this post to get TOO long. Hope you find a gem in here that you also enjoy!
Support by Epibreren | stiles isn’t in the loop au
In which Stiles and Derek are dating, and Stiles is under the impression that Derek is a furry.
Welcome to Rosie's Diner can I interest you in an eye-opener? by crossroadswrite | diner au
An entire diner is shipping sterek because they believe they’re a couple. Stiles and Derek, of course, are not (yet).
i wait for you like a lonely house by bleep0bleep | future au
“Derek isn’t sure why he buys the house.”
The (Figurative) Death of Destructo-Derek by newtypeshadow | Werewolf boyband au
“Derek Hale is a clumsy destruction magnet.
Except that he isn't. Unlike everyone else, Stiles can see the curse obstructing Derek's senses and tangling his limbs and causing increasingly destructive accidents. And now that the curse is turning deadly, Stiles is damn well gonna break it—whether Derek Hale believes it exists or not.”
Foundations by Spooks, thesuninside
“Spooks: Yanno, I can't believe that for a show set in California, they didn't do anything with natural disasters.”
Somewhere to Start by Lissadiane | fantasy au(???)
Beauty and the beast au where Stiles is half-fae, Derek is the heir to the Hales, and they’re both in the middle of a political ploy.
Special Order by bleep0bleep | stiles is a food critic au
Stiles, world-renowned food critic, wanders into the restaurant and life of Chef Hale.
dude, it's wednesday by stressingbisexual | series
Stiles is a twitch streamer, and other than that it’s canon-y.
adhd??? i think you mean GAYdhd amirite ladies by weeabooty
If the title isn’t convincing, there’s nothing to say.
Give Me Shelter by WonderWolf
Animal shelter volunteers au, where Derek gives punny names to cats and Stiles picks up more than one stray.
tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie by magneticwave
“In the low light from Scott’s candles, Lydia is breathtaking. Jackson is still a butt-ugly lizard monster, but he looks like he’s having a religious experience with Stiles’ trifle, so that’s validating in a weird sort of way.”
Please read this, it’s so good, cackling will happen.
Once Upon a Time by lady_ragnell
“Five fairy tales Stiles isn't the hero of, and one he might be.”
CSI: Beacon Hills by Jerakeen | restricted work, must have ao3 profile to access
“Back when Stiles was in high school Beacon Hills didn't have a crime lab, because they simply didn't need one. Those were the days.”
Werewolf Daycare by dinolaur
Stiles is forced to take care of the pack: toddler versions. Derek is not useful.
coffee housing by kellifer_fic
Superhero!pack au.
Kiss the Cook by idyll
“Derek's a professional chef, and Stiles is a blogger who butchers his recipes.”
At All Costs by forestofbabel | time-traveling stiles
“Stiles is sent on a mission in time to protect Derek Hale at all costs. He doesn’t know why Derek Hale is so important to the future, but Stiles takes his mission seriously.”
Stiles Stilinski and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Well Maybe It Wasn’t That Bad…) by thegirlgrey
Stiles has a very bad day, and then a very good one.
This is Ridiculous by zosofi | future au | Explicit
“There's a unicorn in Beacon Hills. A fricken' unicorn. In fricken' Beacon Hills, California. And it turns out that unicorns aren't drawn towards virgins in a happy-go-lucky let-me-lay-my-not-at-all-metaphorical-horn-in-your-lap way. No. They kill them. And guess who's the only virgin idiotic enough to get sucked into the Beacon Hills supernatural scene? Stiles, that's who.”
Hallowed Grounds by damnfancyscotch
“Everything in Beacon Hills is the same when Stiles comes home from college.
Well, except for the fact that he's a published author now, Scott is halfway across the world with a travelling circus, Erica's epilepsy has been cured, her boss offers him a job too, and there's this weird black dog that seems to be following him around just to judge him.
Oh, and the murders, of course.
But other than that stuff... totally the same old BH.”
Unofficial Stiles Stilinski by elliot_edison | series
“ "So you're the boy he was complaining about the first week of school." Derek tried to remember what she was talking about. When he did, he decided it was his turn to want the world to swallow him whole.
"What?" Stiles frowned.
"Oh, it's nothing bad, sweetie." His aunt Hazel (who has a weirdly calming affect on everyone, which he was grateful for) assured him. "Peter, dear, remind me, what were his exact words?"
"I believe they were something along the lines of 'he spent a whole hour yelling at me and covering me in hello kitty band-aids. I think I want to marry him.'" Peter gave him a look. "Right?” “
Half-hearted Contestant by LadyDrace | not!fic
Stiles is on Derek Hales’s bachelor TV show, but he’s mostly (mostly) there for the food.
Sparkly Pens by mm_coconut | Explicit
Journal entries by Stiles (and Derek.) NSFW
ATLA
Swear by naggeluide
“Toph grew up in the Earth Rumble, and Zuko went through adolescence at sea. Neither of them are shy about using profanity.”
NDRV3
Liar's Gift by booperbeanv3
Ouma gives a bento box, homemade, to Shuichi. They’re dumb and gay.
The Way to a Man's Heart (is through his stomach) by orphan_account
“Shuichi wishes he had at least an hour to think of a response to that, but he doesn't, so he just stares dumbly back at Kokichi. Then, there's a forkful of pancake and strawberry directly in his face. Does Kokichi really expect him to let himself be fed like that? On the same fork, even? When Shuichi doesn't bite, Kokichi frowns again. “Come on, one bite?” His bottom lip juts out, and Shuichi has to wonder if Kokichi can tell that he is hopelessly infatuated after a handful of interactions. It's so bizarre to him, the way he feels like the biggest idiot on the planet and the luckiest guy in the world to be the subject of Kokichi's attention.
And that is decidedly too much emotion for being offered a bite of pancakes, but Shuichi also hasn't ever been in a situation quite like this one before. Every word out of Kokichi's mouth feels like a test and Shuichi just wants to know the right answer. It's overwhelming.”
kokichi is gay and shit at cooking: the saga by hejustkeptonyoing
Crack, but also incredibly funny crack.
Marvel
Bring Your School to Work Day by notoneforreality
“Or yes. Clint waited all of ten seconds for everyone (tonight: Tony, Bruce, Steve, Bucky, Clint, Natasha, Pepper and Peter) to take their seats at the long dinner table before gleefully announcing that Peter had a field trip to the compound next Wednesday. Peter, sat between Bucky and Nat, opposite Tony, buried his face in his hands.
“Lord lend me patience or a handgun.”
Two separate guns were thrust into his field of vision by two separate hands, and Peter blinked. Bucky and Nat narrowed their eyes at each other and Tony snatched both guns away before Peter could touch either.
Hi! The kintsugi series by discordiansamba is a good read! It’s an au in which 13 y/o freshly banished zuko ends up being hired by the beifongs to watch over Toph! It follows two of them through a series of bonding, hijinks, and some good ole fashioned angst.
This is honestly fascinating. I love the Toph & Zuko relationship, so this is so cool! Thanks!!
It's accidentally been 3 months since I posted my last fic round up, so this post contains months worth of reading and so is much longer than normal. If you're curious, this round up includes the following fandoms (in this order):
ATLA
DC (Batman) & Danny Phantom Crossover
DC (Batman)
Star Wars (Prequels)
The Goblin Emperor
The Sunshine Court (AFTG series)
James Bond
Marvel (Spider-Man)
Red, White & Blue
Stranger Things
King Falls AM (Podcast)
ATLA
Academic Excerpts and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being Studied by Scholars Who Make It Their Full Time Job by Vinces
Zuko and Aang conspired early to keep the Firelord’s identity as the Blue Spirit a secret. Zuko unmasked would only make his spot on the Dragon Throne more tenuous during a time of upheaval in the post-war Fire Nation.
Nevertheless, the post-war academics are on it. Who was the Blue Spirit?
Aang and Zuko try their best to play it cool.
Aang’s pretty successful…
Zuko? Well, he’s trying his best.
--
Or where two-thirds of the story is historical “articles” set in and referencing the world of Avatar and one third is Zuko (and Aang) navigating a world where there are academic papers speculating about the prison breakout they did together.
In Utter Hones-tea by agooseinhiding
The Jasmine Dragon has been formally invited to join the Earth King's retinue as he takes the monumental first step onto Fire Nation soil since the start of the Hundred-Year War! Truly, an honor.
Unfortunately, "The Jasmine Dragon" includes Li, the owner's grumpy nephew with an outrageously bad haircut and a wardrobe that's solely green, who knows way too much about the Avatar and his teachers, and who swears on his honor that he's totally, definitely not the Fire Lord.
Somehow, the other tea servers don't believe him. But they've never gotten a chance to prove it (or disprove it, in some cases) until now.
The Jasmine Dragon is going to the Fire Nation, and Hua Ming is going to show once and for all that shop-famous enigma Li is Lord Zuko himself, or she's going to die trying.
(She is going to die on this trip.)
Ft.: General Iroh playing the biggest prank in Fire Nation history, a five thousand yuan bet, and the Jasmine Dragon tea servers.
Taking a Break (In) by Duckduck_Scribblerswan (Caellie_E_and_Vaye_R)
Part 1 of a little bit of monicker in my life (Zuko has too many secret identi-teas)
After a few agonizingly slow seconds of exhausted, confused pondering, Zuko decided there was only one logical conclusion.
“You’re right," he told the assassins, "I’m here to help you kill the Fire Lord.”
Like a genius.
Caldera City is holding a festival to celebrate finally having enough funds to hold a festival! Although Zuko originally deemed himself too busy to go, Sokka managed to cajol him into attending his own party, in a knock-off Blue Spirit disguise for security purposes. Zuko sneaks back into the palace right in time to catch a group of assassins sneaking out. They failed to find the Fire Lord and assume he's reinforcements.
Zuko needs to find who ordered a strike on him before they do something stupid, like order a second one. Obviously, the most reasonable thing to do is join the assassins and hope they don’t figure out who he actually is. Obviously. There’s literally no other option.
Feat. Zuko's only two coping mechanisms (mortal peril and improv theater), the world's most incompetent hit team, and another knock-off Blue Spirit who's determined to prove this "Li" isn't who he says he is.
Kindred Spirits (sent from my iphone) by Duckduck_Scribblerswan (Caellie_E_and_Vaye_R)
Part 2 of a little bit of monicker in my life (Zuko has too many secret identi-teas)
Zuko just wanted to take a breather after a stressful political summit in the Earth Kingdom. Unfortunately, some passerby with good eyesight spotted him entering an apartment through the door as Li and leaving through the window as the Blue Spirit, right before he left for the Fire Nation. The Earth Kingdom puts two and two together and, appropriately, gets four: the Blue Spirit has kidnapped Li, and presumably the other Fire Nation refugees who have been disappearing across Ba Sing Se. They must save Li and bring the Blue Spirit to justice!
Unwilling to reveal himself as either the Blue Spirit, wanted in both the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom for treason and petty larceny, or Li, who'll draw attention to his uncle's teahouse, Zuko does the next most reasonable thing: he panics.
Meanwhile, Mai, Suki, and Toph are busy investigating who's really at fault for the disappearances of these refugees, King Kuei has realized he can get away with some truly ridiculous antics as king, and the newspapers are getting suspicious of how protective Fire Lord Zuko is of these two random people he apparently picked up in Ba Sing Se. What's up with that, anyway?
Relieved, with honors by redrobin1989
A Fire Lord’s duty is to his people; Zuko seeks out the last Fire Nation soldiers of the Hundred Year War to send them home.
ASYLUM by asfearlessasamango
If Zuko was Azula, trapped in a golden palace with no family but Fire Lord Ozai for years. If Zuko was Azula, now trapped in a marble asylum with no way out that he can see.
If Sokka visited. And the complications of a whole world followed.
DC/ Danny Phantom Crossover
Wanted: Dead and Alive by Astereae
“Hey, I do I... Do I know you?” Danny asks, a hand coming up to brush something off Tim’s cheek.
“No,” Tim says. “We haven’t met.”
“Oh, no, I do.” Danny says, and he smiles, teeth white and sharp. “You’re that guy who rearranged my guts!”
Rearranged his-
Tim glances at the knotted scars on the boy’s abdomen. He can see the shine and shadow of haphazard stitches that weren’t meant to hold forever, that tore and healed over.
His- This-
“WHAT!?” Nightwing shouts, equal parts confused and delighted.
Tim’s fucked.
OR: Danny Fenton's been in GIW captivity for 4 months.
Tim Drake gets kidnapped by the GIW one Tuesday evening in May.
Considering how many of the Bats and the Birds have died and come back to life, it was only a matter of time for some people interested in the afterlife to come poking around. The detectives can't seem to uncover any information about the mysterious white vans, however.
And they keep losing the mysterious boy who seems to be the one person in Gotham to know anything at all.
DC
it's a long climb up the dusty mountain by whitegeraniums (puertoricansuperman)
"The mission went," Dick echoes, a faint smile on his face. He's still in Bruce's arms, though he could easily escape if he wanted to. Something warm kindles deep, deep in Bruce's chest. Then he thinks of the other Dick, tense as a wire in his arms, shuddering at his touch.
"He had children." He says it without thinking. Dick's expression darkens. He knows where Bruce went tonight, and Bruce watches him piece together the implications of alternate dimension and evil Batman and children.
Or: When you've hit rock bottom, the only place left to go is up.
Star Wars
Misunderstanding Master by bgyeetusthefetus
“A beer please,” Obi-Wan said, his voice barely rising above the din. He placed the credits on the bar, his fingers shaking slightly as he did so./
The bartender looked down at him with a frown, his brows furrowing as he took in Obi-Wan's thin frame. “How old are you, kid?”
Obi-Wan shifted uneasily, suddenly aware of the attention he was drawing from the patrons around him. “It’s not for me,” he replied quickly, his voice steady despite the tremor in his fingers. “I’m just fetching it for my Master.”
Master is a bit of a loaded word in the wider galaxy.
The Goblin Emperor
Date With The Night by DontStopHerNow
Csethiro and Csevet conspire to give Maia a night outside the Alcethmeret.
Unfortunately, when Beshelar finds out, they have a lot of explaining to do.
queen of peace by astardanced
Csethiro broke abruptly free of the pack and came sweeping towards him with hands outstretched, probably hoping to do damage control.
“Serenity,” she said, ignoring her father, who seemed to be wanting to prompt her like a conductor. “We are honoured to have you here.”
Maia had very little experience with the specific social mortifications of an embarrassing family— his own having simply chosen to forget he existed— and it wouldn’t have been fair to make a judgement, but there was already an undeniable tinge of the ridiculous to the entire affair.
(Awkward dinners are part and parcel of the Emperor's role... but the Ceredada really are spectacularly embarrassing.)
The Sunshine Court (AFTG series)
i'm not the same as i was by perchancetosleep
The imminent return to Evermore has him jumping at shadows, and he is already at the end of his rope. Every ounce of energy every single day goes to pretending to be what is required of him—he has to override years of training (away, not towards) to perform adequately on the court, to uphold the Trojan standard, and he has to pretend that while he does it he is a functioning human and not simply a discarded toy too broken to be played with anymore.
It’s why he spent his time in Palmetto when he could walk watching every single Trojans interview and game he could, so he could memorize their speeches and their strategies and their game play so that he would not be a burden. Jean knows what he owes his new masters. And he will not fail.
(Or, Jean tries to fake it until he makes it at USC)
oh i was raised on little light by perchancetosleep
On the third Thursday of every month, Jean walks seven miles across town to visit his sister.
This is the deal that he’s struck with his sister’s foster—no, adoptive now—family. They used to claim that he could visit whenever he wanted, and it used to be Jean’s ability to sneak out of the Moriyama’s home that limited the frequency, but of course the Master had figured out where he was going, and now for years they’ve had him in their ear, telling them how Jean is unstable and disruptive and getting into fights and doing drugs, and of course they don’t want Elodie around that. She’s had a hard enough life as it is, and her good-for-nothing brother is just going to bring trouble and pain. But that won’t stop Jean from showing up, and so this is the deal that he had to make.
Jean will take whatever time he can get.
please i've been on my knees, change the prophecy by perchancetosleep
He can almost pretend, sitting in a warm house at the tiny kitchen table listening to Elodie talk about her dance lessons, that everything is normal. He can pretend that he can stay, that Elodie and him were never separated, and that everything is normal and he is good and he will get to keep this. But Jean had died in that fucking basement years ago, and he’s getting tired of forcing his body to keep going. Sure, Kevin had found a way out and made it to college and made a life, but he had a father waiting for him on the outside.
All Jean has waiting for him at home is a set of guardians that are going to be pissed off that he’s failing chemistry and that he didn’t do his chores and that he’s alive.
James Bond
Begin Again by Snoweylily
M held out the file in her hand and Q automatically took it.
“It needs the new Quartermaster’s signature”.
The reminder of the Major’s death, the kindly old beta who saw him for him, brought tears to his eyes, and he desperately hoped that the smoke would hide it.
“... Okay. Who do I give it to?”
“It’s quite a few years ahead of schedule, and quite frankly I’m not even sure if it’s going to work, but Boothroyd always spoke highly of you and you are one of the very few TSS workers still remaining. I’ve spoken to R, the only survivor with seniority over you, and she is quite adamant to remain in her current position with your approval... Which leaves you”.
M held out a pen.
“Quartermaster”.
Or, “I don’t just have one alpha”. Q grinned, bloody and feral. “I have nine. They’re called the double-0 program; perhaps you’ve heard of them?”
Red, White & Blue
darling, be gentle by SkyGem
In the time that he’s been dating Henry, Alex has been on the receiving end of no less than four shovel talks.
Or.
Okay.
That number may vary, depending on what exactly counts as a shovel talk.
Marvel
Intentions by MellarkandArt
“You’re just- you’re a really great kid and-“
“Mr. Stark,” Peter whispered, suddenly feeling very, very sick.
“Mhm?” Mr. Stark hummed, patting his knee.
“I- I don’t think I can do this. I’ve tried really hard to m-make myself want it, b-but I just don’t. I know you- but I can’t. I just can’t.”
Mr. Stark removed his hand and looked at Peter questioningly. “What are you talking about?”
Peter drew in a shaky breath, feeling the burn as tears fell down his cheeks. “I know you want me to be your- your- I don’t know, but I just can’t be that for someone again, it’s so- so much, and you’re married, you have a daughter, and it’s- I’m sorry. It’s just, it’s too- and I don’t even like you like that, I- I’m sorry.”
Now he’d done it, now Mr. Stark would be looking at him with a heartbroken expression, hurt and betrayed and…
Peter looked up at the man only to see nothing but shock and confusion on his features.
“Peter… Do you think that I have… romantic feelings for you?”
OR: Sometimes people’s intentions aren’t always clear, and Peter has been burnt often enough to know not to play with fire. Irondad, NOT ST*RKER, I promise!!
Stranger Things
Shovel Talks by unkreativstermensch (+ podfic)
“Oh,” Steve says. Then again, “oh,” a little quieter. His expression changes; from confusion to something pained almost. “Mr Munson, I don’t…” he takes a deep breath, his voice a little shaky as he continues. “I don’t think he…I don’t think he likes me like that.”
He doesn’t say “it’s not like that.” Neither does he say “I’m not like that.”
That’s the first thing Wayne notices.
or: Wayne decides to give Steve the shovel talk, only to realize he might not be the one needing one
King Falls AM
i can tell that we are gonna be friends by ace8013, flashsideways
Part 1 of when the radio lights came on (This entire series would be on this round up if it wasn't so damn long)
“I’m graduating this week and I know this is weird and that I met you like a few days ago but… They like, give you tickets? And I don’t know who to invite.”
Sammy blinks. “Oh,” he says. “Is this- are you inviting me to your high-school graduation?”
or, Ben graduates from college on May 13, 2015.
to a given standard of normal by neversaydie
Part 5 of cock it and pull it (This series too!!)
The first couple of weeks are… difficult.
Some things are the same. The Jack Sammy remembers sitting across the desk from him in their dingy college radio studio, rambling about the possibility that the math building was haunted; the guy who pushed him into any risky broom closet or empty office he could find to make out, because he was always an adrenaline junkie even if it gave Sammy a heart attack; the Jack who roasted Sammy for his dad jokes even though his were quantifiably worse - he's still there. Mostly intact.
Other things… other things have changed.
[Jack and Sammy start building a life after the void]
the only hoax i believe in by taizi
“Sammy,” Ben says. “You gotta eat.”
Sammy opens his eyes. He isn’t hungry, but he pushes himself upright anyway.
“You better not have tried cooking again,” he says, aiming for light-hearted, angling for a smile.
He nails it. Ben’s eyes go bright and he scoots off the bed with a grin. Not so much fooled as willing to play along, grateful for the semblance of normalcy.
Fake it till you break it, Sammy thinks with the same grim determination that got him through all of high school, and all of college, and every second of every miserable day without Jack and before Ben.
He gets out of bed.
Wish You All The Best by FoxGlade
“This is gonna sound like a stupid question,” Ben says suddenly, “but what year is it?”
Well, Ben has said stupider things. “2018,” Sammy answers. Ben looks to Jack, who looks to Emily, who narrows her mouth into a thin line.
“That’s… maybe a problem,” she says.
(The Christmas magic of King Falls strikes again, giving Sammy a firsthand account of his own future.)
for a higher love by helloearthlings (everything this author writes would also be in this round up if I could)
“Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage this morning, 5-4.”
Ron could tell in an instant that Sammy already knew; something about him crumpled when Ron said it out loud.
God, the guy was – sad about this? Ron’s quiet suspicion about which way Sammy swung was absolutely confirmed – the straight and narrow of King Falls might be all woe is me over the fact that they didn’t have a monopoly on marriage anymore, but no one looked this wrecked if the decision didn’t affect them personally. The question was why this had put Sammy in some sort of drunken stupor.
