DCA fanfic recommendation list: Final Boss of all reading lists
It's TIME, I am finally doing this.
Hello friends! I read every DCA fic I can get my autistic little raccoon hands on. I absolutely love this fandom, and there are so many fics that deserve more love out there. Many have asked me for recommendations, so today here they finally are. All of them. I'll be taking I'll be taking inspiration from Pillowspace and dividing these into themed sections, but the list has grown far too long to post them all at once. Instead, I will present you with links to a variety of separate lists.
I don't have spoons, or room on this enormous list, to give full descriptions of each fic unfortunately. Instead I've included a portion of the summary from the fic itself. Below some I may also include a few notes of my own in parenthesis, to help you out if you're looking for something very specific.
You are the arbiter of your own content. Before reading any fic, make sure to check the full summary and tags on the fic page itself. Please note that while none of these are purely smut, not all of them are appropriate for minors.
Many of these fics are a few years old now, and thus some have gone on hiatus or otherwise stopped updating. If they're here, that means I consider them worth reading and loving regardless- even if they might not update again.
This list may contain mistakes. I sorted through over 400 fics to make this, and that's a lot of little links to keep track of. Please notify if you come across broken links, incorrect links, incorrect/partial descriptions/summaries, etc. Please also notify me if you have a fic you think should be on this list that I haven't read, while I can't guarantee it will get a spot I am always so very hungry for new fanfic.
Where to start? I'd recommend finding a category that sounds exciting and working your way down it, from top to bottom, until you find something that catches your eye. You could also commit to the madness and read every fic on this list one by one until the brainrot consumes your entire body :)
Ghost in the Machine is my top recommendation. Read Ghost in the Machine. Read it. It shouldn't be the first DCA fanfic you read if you're new to the fandom, as it's best enjoyed with an appreciation for many different interpretations of Sun and Moon, but once you've read a few come back here and read Ghost in the Machine. Read Ghost in the Machine. Seriously if you are on the fence just read it read Ghost in the Machine. Whatever you like, Ghost in the Machine has GOT it.
Ghost in the Machine
You are not strong in the Sight. To you, the supernatural has become the background noise of a mundane and lonely life. You have no interest in becoming involved with ghosts.
But they have every interest in you.
When your eccentric great uncle offers you a job fixing the ‘jewel’ of his collection—the original Fazco Daycare Attendant—you expect a challenge, sure. This was undoubtedly going to be the biggest project of your life. You expect pain, mistakes, and late nights aplenty, and you expect an excruciating learning curve.
Though there have been lots of ups and downs, Deadmen Tell No Tales is finally complete just in time for the Davis Twins Birthday celebration -- as promised!
Summary; Just when Noll thought it was over, he finds himself face-to-face with the one person he thought he'd never find. The worst part is, she thinks he's the ghost of the boy she killed, out for revenge. She's hell bent on taking her mistake with her to the grave, but will he be able to escape or is he about to learn what it means to be dead? Our story begins and ends with Oliver Davis.
Five chapters.
Five stages of death.
Read it here; ff.net / Ao3
Snippet below the line~
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Do not go gentle into that good night,
-Dylan Thomas
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CHAPTER 1: Denial
Part I
Oliver Davis.
It was weird how his own name sounded so foreign to his ears; how the more time he spent as Kazuya Shibuya, the more he forgot what it had been like before. There was a part of him took comfort in this new identity. This new life.
He hated that part.
"Oliver Davis-hakase." Takigawa-san said again, as if Noll's thoughts had an echo.
There was a pause in which six pairs of eyes focused on Noll, all in various states of incredulity. Noll looked away from them all, glaring down at the only person in the room who wasn't watching him as if he'd grown another head. Hara-san's slate grey eyes were turned resolutely to the floor at his feet; the only one of the Irregular's who had known who he was. Why he was here.
"Naru…" Mai fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. He couldn't help meeting her wide, brown eyes. "Is that true?"
Anger shook his fists. If he hadn't already hidden them in a tight fashion across his chest, they would have ruined his carefully constructed mask. He took a breath. Somehow, they had effortlessly unraveled all his secrets right under his nose. So effortlessly, in fact, that if he hadn't already been so furious at his own carelessness, the stormy teen might have been impressed.
"Well?"
"I don't feel the need to answer you," he said, hoping no one else noticed the slight tremble in his voice. Disgusted with his own foolhardiness, he turned toward the door. "Are the 15 minutes over?"
His words must have shocked them into stillness because no one moved to stop him. He escaped into the stuffy heat of the summer day, ignoring the worrying rattle of the cabin door as it slammed shut behind him. Finally free from prying eyes, he let his guard slip. His fingernails were beginning to bite into his palms, threatening injury. He forced him open.
Who were they to corner him into such a position? he asked himself. Who did they think they were to take all his secrets and throw them back in his face?
Friends, his mind supplied. Noll rolled his eyes skyward, pushing the thought away with a growl.
He strode further from the cabin, hands curling to fists in barely contained anger, not caring that his Chinese chaperone was not right behind him. In fact, he didn't think he could stomach it if it did. These past two years, Lin had barely allowed him a mere second to himself — it was almost a relief to be alone.
No Lin hovering over his shoulder; a constant reminder of how fragile he was. How useless. With a sudden pang, Noll set off at a brisk pace. He just needed to put as much distance as he could between them as he could. He needed space to think.
He found himself back at the door of his cabin in a few short minutes. He fumbled in his pocket for the key.
The campground was obviously outdated; the floorboards creaked, the paint was bleached from years under the blazing sun, and the locks stuck. Fighting with the old lock, it took two tried before the key slid in and another three before it would turn. Just when he was starting to consider kicking the damn thing open as a completely viable option, the lock finally clicked and the door gave way.
The cool air of the cabin's surprisingly functional A/C greeted him. It blew back his bangs and chilled the sweat gathering on his nape.
He pocketed the key again, ignoring the small western couch pushed flush against the back wall, and collapsed onto the tatami with a grunt. The second he hit the floor, exhaustion seemed to settle into every muscle. With a sigh, he crossed his arms behind his head, allowing his unfocused eyes to fall shut but not expecting to sleep.
The act of sleeping had proven to be more and more difficult over the past two years. He'd spent more nights staring blankly up at the ceiling then he could remember. And even when he'd managed to fall asleep, his dreams were plagued by screeching tires, shattering glass, and green, murky water.
fuckin. when i graduated high school emeric and i went to build-a-bear and made bears for each other with stupid little voice recordy things so u can include a message to listen to, and i put mine in a box when i moved out and more or less forgot about it for SEVERAL YEARS and i only just now rediscovered it by stepping on it whilst cleaning and it says in this creepy ass muffled voice “i’m sorry paige.... i can’t let you do that” i almost shit myself
Featuring Quinn: neighbor, Hallmark movie, office, apartment, & soulmate: You smell them before you see them and you know.
As the Vice President of Marketing, Serena Mantovani had to deal with plenty of shitty people; most of them asking stupid questions or making ridiculous assumptions that nearly cost the company money. It was no wonder that her employees came to fundamentally fear her, and that was exactly how she liked it. It was with this fear that she was able to keep chaos from ensuing. Sure, a few tended to ask how exactly someone so young managed to make it so high up the ranks, but with a quick glance and the rumors halted. At least within the office.
Pinching between her eyes, Serena listened as one of her managers prattled on about some sort of office function that was being held that night. She never attended them before; at least not any one that her own boss didn’t attend, and she certainly didn’t plan on attending that one. Looking up at the man that stood on the opposite end of her desk, she sighed, “Gerald, that will be all.” It was her signature phrase for telling people to get out of her office.
As expected, it worked and she was left in silence once more. At least until her phone dinged at a message received. The VP of Production, who also happened to be her neighbor and lover as of five months ago, was ordering her to leave soon. She frowned down at the tone of the text. There were very few instances in which she allowed others to order her around and considering the recent family emergencies she had been dealing with, she assumed that he would be smart enough not to use it at that time.
Just to spite him, because she knew he’d be waiting to see her walk by his office on the way out, Serena waited an extra twenty minutes past when he told her to leave by.
As she entered her apartment building, Serena fought with her keys to pull them from her purse as she distractedly pressed the elevator button for her floor. Her heels clicked against the tile of her hallway and she glanced at the door just before her own. There was no light coming from beneath the door so she assumed he hadn’t yet arrived. As soon as she entered her apartment, Serena toed off her heels. Toulouse crept his way through the darkness along the wall before rubbing up against her leg in greeting. She dropped her bag down and replaced it with the fluff of orange. She was sure there would be traces of him against her black dress when she released him but the soft purring he greeted her with made up for it.
Almost as if on cue, her phone from her counter dinged once more. Having very little doubt as to who it was, she found it no surprise that he had sent her another message to come over as soon as she was settled.
“At least he wasn’t bossy this time,” she muttered down to Toulouse. The cat mewed before motioning his way out of her arms. He dropped with a plump onto the wooden floor before prancing his way towards his food. Serena checked a few more emails and responded to the large one that her and her brothers were keeping as they planned out when they would be meeting up next week. Rolling her neck, Serena pulled the pins from her hair before grabbing her phone and keys once more. Softly opening her door, it only took a moment for her to lock it before she walked to his door and opened it with practiced knowledge.
Her stocking clad feet padded against the runner he placed in his apartment at her insistence. Moving towards the main room, she noticed Quinn’s form in the kitchen. There was already a large glass of wine waiting for her on the counter and she sighed in a greeting at the sight. Placing her things down onto the counter, she immediately reached for the wine, nearly finishing it before a hand rested on her lower back.
“Already?”
“It was a long week.” He made a grunt in response as his arm wound around her and tugged her sideways to look at him. His hand went to brush back her hair, fingers entangling with the strands he ran through. Her head titled slightly at the feeling of his hand against her skin and her eyes slowly shut.
Her other senses kicked in and there was a familiar smell that surrounded her. Up until recently, Serena had no idea what it was because it was more than just his cologne. It was after he had walked into her office and seen the look of pure sadness and confusion on her face that she placed the scent. It was more than just Quinn’s essence. It was comfort, a place that she felt truly safe and wanted; two things she had always lacked before. It had enveloped her completely as he tugged her tight into his arms with no questions.
His forehead leaned against hers to bring her back to the present, “When are you leaving?”
Their noses brushed and as much as Serena didn’t want to talk about it, he was the only one she had who would listen. “Wednesday. The funeral’s on Friday.” His lips brushed down against hers, tilting her head back enough to make up for the height difference. “Come with me?”
It was the first time she had offered spending time outside dim lit venues or their own apartments and he pulled back enough that she opened her eyes. Her hands, regardless of the space between them, continued to run along his back slowly. Their eyes met in a silent conversation that ended with him smirking softly down at her, “I don’t think the company would run without two of it’s VPs there.” But I want to, were his unspoken words.
She sighed and nodded, glancing down at the wine glass she had forgotten. He tilted her chin up with conviction and forced eye contact briefly before pressing his lips against hers. That night he didn’t let them get swept up in the mutual attraction, instead he pulled away softly and ran his fingers to outline her face.
He pulled away to pour her more wine, grabbing his own glass of whiskey with him towards the stove. It was then that she noticed the food he was making. It made her brows furrow as she moved to peek around his back. He blocked her view and made a noise of discouragement which only made her more curious. Turning around, he pressed his hands against her shoulders and directed her backwards away from the counter, using his height as a shield.
“Why don’t you get changed, love.”
She tried to pout up at him and when it didn’t work she muttered, “Asshole,” at him as she walked away towards his bedroom. Instead of changing into her own clothing which rested in the top drawer of his dresser, Serena bent down and reached for one of his shirts. It was an action she had been doing nearly every night since she found out her grandmother had passed away. As she began to reach for the zipper of her dress, she noticed a form in the doorway. She smirked at him as she slowly pulled it down, not surprised when his hand suddenly appeared to help her along the way. His hands pulled aside her hair as his lips rested against her skin. He suddenly pulled her back against his chest and rested his lips just below her ear, a place he knew would drive her to madness.
“Supper’s almost ready.” With that he pulled away and disappeared from the room again. She’d make him pay for that. Attempting to ignore all heat that was running through her, Serena changed into simply his t-shirt and made her way out of the room to see two settings of plates prepared on his coffee table. Her wine was waiting for her and in slight revenge, the Italian ignored Quinn who was waiting for praise and went right for the glass of wine. She smirked against the rim of her glass as she noticed how stiff he had gotten. The look she sent his way loosened him up and he smugly moved around her to sit on the ground in front of the couch, still waiting for her to join him before eating.
As she settled down, picked up her utensils, Serena noted the food that was on her plate. “My favorite?”
He simply nodded in silence, eating and attempting to ignore the feelings that were boiling within him. Serena, on the other hand, hadn’t yet began to eat and she merely stared at him intensely with a look Quinn had never seen before. The longer she stared, the more worried he became so he rested down his fork and knife and made eye contact with her.
“What’s--?” Unable to finish, Quinn accepted the lips that were pressed forcefully against his own. Wine mixed with red pasta sauce but she pulled away just as quickly as she had started the kiss, clearing her throat, and finally getting to her dinner. He stared at her only a moment longer before following her lead.
As she rested her legs across his lap, enjoying the sensation of his hands running along her skin absentmindedly, both VPs had their attention on the television. Random news played in the background but both seemed to be caught up in their own thoughts.
“What did Gerald want from you today?” He left out the part of curiousity that wanted to know why the production manager had been in her office so long. Yet still her lips turned up in knowing smugness.
“He asked me out.” Her bluntness, while not unexpected, still caught him off guard causing Quinn to stare at her.
“What the fuck?”
“I told him I couldn’t. He’s much too of a man for me.” She couldn’t stop herself from laughing as his face turned challenging. Without warning his hand went to the back of her knee and stroked her sensitive skin there. He’d learned long ago just the right amount of pressure needed to go from sensual to tickling. She twitched and tried to move away but he was stronger than her and pulled her into his lap, trapping her in his grip.
As her laughter died down, their faces closer than before, Serena leaned her forehead against his. They were silent for a time which neither bothered to count. “Move in with me.” His voice was more of a whisper than she expected.
“What?” He wasn’t going to repeat himself, they both knew that. It was asking more than what they had originally agreed upon. However, they had been moving past that for quite some time now, neither had bothered to speak of it. “We’re both VPs.”
“Not for long. I was offered a position elsewhere. Better pay too. I’m starting in a couple weeks.” She moved her head back to stare at him.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I was, the day I walked into your office.” It was all the explanation she needed. She turned herself in his lap to straddle him, her kiss being the answer he wanted.
“You should finish what you started earlier.” Whatever answer he had planned was cut off with a groan as she pressed herself completely against him.
