Hey! Thanks for all that you do! The recent pandemic pandemonium has made given me a hankering for some good sickfics. Any good recommendations?
Here are a few, dear! And here’s the tag if you’d like to find more.
Something So Magic y apliddell
Crowley gets stuck in his serpent form, and Aziraphale tries his best to help.
And the shadows they burn dark by Antheas_Blackberry
5+1 or Five times Crowley comforted Aziraphale and one time Aziraphale comforted his Crowley
All the times they've crossed paths throughout the centuries they've been there for one another in some way or another. Or 5 ways Crowley shows his love for Aziraphale through his actions and one way Aziraphale declares his love for Crowley.
Beware, Take Care by Guardian_Rose
The now unrestrained light was starting to hurt his eyes, waves of aching pain radiating through his head. And Aziraphale...Aziraphale was…
“Fine, everything’s fine,” Aziraphale sputtered out at last, his grip on Crowley’s arms tight still and his expression manic. “You’re fine. I’m fine. Everything- everything is just- just fine.”
Um....it got kinda long... :D Hope you like! (Mentions of blood, injury)
The world had crumbled around Merlin in the space of seconds. Roughly fourty two to be precise. Enough time to step in front of Arthur and the young guard, Howard, hovering in his post. Just enough to throw up a glimmering shield that he barely managed to hold together as the rubble started to fall, as everything scattered into greys and differing shades of blacks. More than enough time to hear Arthur shout and stand and throw himself in front of where Merlin had been. Effectively switching their places; effectively leaving the strained circumference of Merlin’s shield.
He stayed awake the whole time, the whole day they were trapped. The young lad, barely an adult in anyone but his own eyes, was knocked out by the edge of the barrier clipping the side of his head. Which was....less than opportunistic. But the graze on his head had clotted quickly so Merlin wasn’t sparing him much attention past ensuring his breathing didn’t stop. There were only two things he truly spent his time on.
Not collapsing lower than his knees under the weight of his own spell.
And straining to pick up any signs of life from outside the bubble, where Arthur supposedly was.
Alive or dead; it was impossible to know.
There’d been one shifting of rubble, a brief needle of light had broken through for a blessed minute then disappearing just as strangely. It must have been hours later, definitely after Merlin had slid onto both knees, arms wobbling above his head, when there had been the one shout. If it had even been real. He was more than aware that the mind would trick one long before it gave out. Whether it was cruel or not held no bearing.
Tears had long dried on his cheeks, his neck, soaked salt into his trousers. It was excruciating. Physically. Mentally. Magically.
The usual tingle that accompanied his spells had evolved into a static burn then devolved further into a yawning ache, itching and pulsing, never easing. Only worse and unbearable. It was agony.
Rescue came slowly. It came in bits and pieces.
The hissing of falling trickles of rocks.
The shaft of light that stayed for what he was later told was about half an hour until a support beam was eased off the top of the shield. Merlin remembered that bit as the first spike of clarity. The reduction in energy expended to stop that section from cracking under the pressure had sent electricity through his veins, through every particle in every cell of skin. He’d screamed in relief, sharp and bloody in his dried out throat.
He would notice the ways the staff of the house stopped teasing him for his skinny stature after the incident and he, at first, would attribute it to the fact he’d held it together for so long. This reasoning would fall through a week later when he’d overhear Gwen crying to Morgana about how Merlin’s own shout of pain still echoed in her nightmares. No one would address it. He didn’t want to either, though, to himself, he vowed to never scream again if this was the duress it caused days later. Arthur mentioned it once. After a nightmare. Merlin had spent the rest of the night crying on his own after Arthur had fallen back to sleep.
It wasn’t Arthur who broke through at last. It was some masonry woman who’d been there to request stricter regulations on structures being built. Merlin had recognised her instantly, had laughed out loud, loud enough for her to hear and spot him. She’d smiled, strong in the face of such horrors, and motioned that help was coming before retreating.
Arthur was second though.
He batted away the hands trying to pull him back to safety in favour of hauling rocks, shoving broken timber beams out of his way. Merlin had started crying again. There was blood and dust in Arthur’s hair. Numerous cuts and grazes covering every inch of skin that Merlin could see. The biggest was partially covered by Arthur’s sleeve, hiding it’s greedy reaching up Arthur’s inner forearm. It looked like it had been cleaned but that was all.
Arthur was shouting his name. He didn’t really need to shout. The barrier didn’t block sound from coming in. Coming out...yes. It was a versatile spell he’d had too many chances to use.
Merlin waited until Arthur was looking at him before directing his gaze deliberately, slowly at Arthur’s injury then back, mouthing just how badly he was behaving with a wound like that and just how annoyed Merlin was about it. Arthur’s eye roll meant the message had been received loud and clear.
It was still another half hour before he judged it safe enough to drop the shield. Arthur was the only reason he didn’t fall face down the podium stairs into the debris when he did. His head rung like the alarm bells had taken up residence between his ears. Arthur’s questions, his touches, barely registered against his skin, the message getting lost on its way to his brain. The last thing he did as his vision started dropping away into nothing was to shoot a last burst of magic at the prone guard to wake him up to be tended to.
***
He briefly woke whilst in Gaius’ chambers, Arthur pacing the length of his cot over and over. Gaius himself worrying at him as he forced various concoctions down his throat. The taste of them, the valerian especially was foul on his tongue but they did their job. He slept like the dead. Or like a man drained of all energy.
***
It was roughly the third time that he managed to wake up and stay awake. Calling out through chapped lips for Arthur before starting the fight to open his eyes. Arthur was there instantly, rolling over in their bed to face him, pulling him close. Merlin threw up in the morning from the nightmares mixed with memory.
***
He was alone the next evening when he woke up. He was shivering, shaking with the imbalance of energy and magic readjusting to being contained in his worn out frame. It didn’t stop him from pulling on a robe and shuffling like a new-born foal towards the door though. Not to say it wasn’t a ridiculous relief when Arthur stepped through the door before he got there, thus safely negating the need to go any further. Arthur’s eyes widened and he stopped trying to untuck his loose shirt from his trousers, instead rushing forwards to stabilise Merlin, hands on his waist and arm. Merlin, for his part, choked out a laugh and wrapped his arms around Arthur’s neck. Effectively cutting off the harried question about what he was doing that was making its way out of Arthur’s mouth. Instead, he put Arthur’s lips to far better use.
The ghosts of a very recently eaten apple on Arthur’s mouth had him welling up even with his eyes closed. Arthur, forever attuned to his other half, pulled him in close; kissing back, taking every ounce of Merlin’s desperation and trading back just as much before easing them off the cliff’s edge. Leading him back down the path that led them there, back to safety and warmth and easy comfort. Reassurance.
Glad you liked the merlin-magnus switch idea. Usually I have tons of ideas but not enough time or inspiration to write it, so I'm honestly glad you liked it and want to write it <3 means a lot
Link Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15354291
Keep Reading to well…keep reading it here! Thank you so much, I had a blast writing this!!! <3
“Merlin, hurry up! We’re going to be late to our own feast!” Arthur dropped his head back against the door to their quarters, glaring at the guard next to him who tried to stifle a laugh. “I will leave without you!”
He sighed when no reply came and turned around to head back into their room.
“You’re not Merlin.”
“Astute observation. Honestly, should have realised where I was as soon as I saw the colour scheme. Nice to see you again, Arthur.”
Alec was exhausted. Bone deep weariness was causing everything to ache. Even his Angel-damned toes were aching and he hadn’t even known that was possible. It probably shouldn’t be possible. He dropped his bow onto his desk and slumped into his chair, sighing in relief as he leaned back. Soon enough Magnus would arrive to take him home to have dinner. Maybe he’d ask to put a film on, one that he could fall asleep listening to whilst curled up with Magnus on the sofa. That’d be nice.
He smiled to himself, playing the evening out in his head as he took a minute to breathe.
“Alec!”
Alec groaned in protest but stood up as fast as his legs would allow and opened the door just as Jace reached him. “What is it now?”
“I uh- well, you see, it’s a bit complicated.” Jace’s brows were pulled together, Alec had known his parabatai long enough to know when he was trying to paint a prettier picture than reality presented.
“What have you done now, Jace? Do I need to grab a weapon?”
“Woah, what’s with the instant assumption that it’s my fault?”
“Is it?”
“No!” Jace cried, throwing his hands up in the air dramatically before grabbing Alec by the wrist and all but dragging him to the training room.
“Jace,” Alec came to a halt in the open doorway and pulled his wrist back, hand paused halfway to the hilt of the dagger strapped to his thigh, “who’s that?”
A man, roughly the same height as Magnus with similarly coloured black hair stood against the far wall with Izzy seemingly frozen in place, whip caught mid-air. He wore a brown jacket over a purple shirt, complete with a neckerchief of all things and no shoes; his blue eyes darted over to take in Alec, who was quickly trying to decide how best to diffuse the situation. The man was familiar in a strange way, like Alec had seen him in the streets often but never bothered to introduce himself, but also clearly a warlock, without any obvious warlock mark.
“Where am I?” The man asked, golden eyes flicking between the three Lightwood siblings.
Jace threw an arm out, as if to say ‘see-what-I-mean’. “One minute me and Iz are sparring when Magnus waltzes in asking where you are, all normal and then poof, Magnus is gone and this dude is freaking about! Izzy tried to uh…well, you can see how well that went.”
Alec nodded, squinting at the stressed Man’s face. There was something familiar about his clothes as well, that combination of colours maybe? He shook his head, it would have to wait.
“Let my sister go and we can talk. Peacefully.” He held his hands up in a show of surrender and took a couple of steps into the room, Jace at his back following Alec’s lead.
“Tell me where I am first. Where’s Arthur?”
“Arthur?”
Realisation hit Alec like a brick. “Oh for the love of- you’re Merlin Emrys, aren’t you?” Magnus had a couple of photos up around the apartment of himself and Merlin and a blond man Magnus had named as Arthur. “Magnus told me some stories about you, I met Arthur once too. When you were in Magnus’ study working on some spell or something.”
He’d walked into their apartment to find a stranger fixing himself a cup of coffee, a second mug filled to the brim with tea next to the kettle. Alec was used to coming home to find Magnus still occupied with clients but normally his boyfriend would give him a bit of warning. Alec had put away his gear before introducing himself. He remembered how he’d been struck by how old his eyes looked compared to the young body and face, those eyes had held centuries of pain and wisdom and life. Magnus had poked his head out of the study upon hearing Alec’s voice and beckoned him over for a hello kiss, thoroughly distracting him from asking anymore questions.
“You know Arthur? How? Who are you people? I don’t know a Magnus.” Merlin seemed wary still but less like he wanted to freeze them all on the spot.
“Alec, you know him?” Jace asked, voice pitched just that little bit higher than normal belying his intimidating facade.
“Let our sister go, and we can fix this. Please, Merlin.”
Merlin looked over at Izzy again at last, he looked a bit surprised to see her there still. They watched as he muttered something and his eyes flashed a darker gold before fading to blue. Izzy’s whip dropped to the floor and she stumbled forward a step, swearing a mile a minute in outrage.
****
“How do you know my name? What have you done with my husband?” Arthur thought about shouting for help, alerting the guard outside, but the man currently standing out like a sore thumb in his maroon jacket and extremely tight fitting trousers didn’t seem like much of a threat.
He was adorned with more jewellery than he’d seen any man wear and his hair… Arthur assumed it must be magic that had coloured the tips of his hair an almost matching dark red.
“Oh goodie, this is going to be fun to explain.” The man murmured to himself before walking past Arthur to sit on his table. “I- who’s Merlin to you currently, husband did you say?”
“What does that matter to you? Tell me who you are and what you’re doing here before I draw my blade.” Arthur dropped his voice low, threatening.
The man rolled his eyes. “My name is Magnus, a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Arthur. Again. I can’t explain why I’m here until you answer my question.”
“You do realise I’m your King? I don’t have to answer any question unless I see fit.”
“Oh, god. I wish Merlin was here to have heard you say that.” Magnus said with a chuckle, seemingly unaware, or at least unconcerned, with how thin Arthur’s patience was starting to run.
“I won’t ask again.”
“Nice to know you’ve always been a bossy prat. I think, and I can’t say this for certain, that Merlin and I had a little magical mix-up and have managed to swap places.” He waved a hand, complete with what looked like dark blue nails, dismissively. “It’s fine. I’ll figure out how to swap us back in no time, or Merlin will first.”
“Let me get this straight. You’re a sorcerer. You mixed up a spell and now Merlin is trapped in some other world?”
“Ah, no. No. I know you two in the future, which leads me to believe that this is more of a…time travel incident as well as an issue with having moved in space too. And trust me, my boyfriend is not going to be too happy about this either. We were meant to have dinner. I was going to cook and everything.”
“I-…You- What?” Arthur let himself be helped into a chair, a headache was beginning to stop him from even trying to wrap his head round the situation.
“What are you all dressed up for? Had a date with Merlin?”
****
“Arthur is going to kill me.”
Alec frowned at Merlin’s distressed statement, yet again thrown for a loop as the man buried his head in his hands. They had moved to Alec’s office for some better privacy; Izzy stood by the door, prepped to send anyone who came knocking away whilst Jace had been pulled away by Clary.
“Um. I’m sorry about that?”
“No, I’m sorry, I know that I should probably start focusing on getting back and getting your…?”
“Magnus. My boyfriend.”
“Right, getting Magnus back. But I was already running late, I’m not even dressed yet!”
“You look pretty dressed to me, sadly.” Izzy commented, throwing a wink his way causing her brother to roll his eyes.
Merlin flushed, coughing loudly before clearing his throat; Alec shot Izzy a reproachful look before offering to fetch their guest a drink.
“I’m fine, thanks.” Merlin waved him away. “And um, thanks I think for the uh interest, miss, but I’m already married. Happily. Well, maybe not so happily now I’m so utterly late for my own anniversary.”
“Anniversary of what?”
“Oh, just my coronation.”
****
“Why don’t you just go to your feast or whatever, Arthur. I can’t focus with you flitting about over my shoulder.” Magnus grit his teeth as Arthur sat down again. Then stood up to restart his pacing.
“I can’t very well turn up to a celebration for Merlin’s coronation without Merlin.”
“Isn’t it also your wedding anniversary then?” Magnus asked, giving up on trying to get some peace and quiet.
Arthur froze near the window. “Ah, right. Well, it is as far as the people know.”
“Arthur, how long have you lied to your kingdom? I never thought you’d have it in you, Merlin definitely but not you with your ridiculously royal responsibilities.” Magnus teased, clicking his fingers together to produce one of the spell books he knew Merlin had kept since his time in Camelot.
“We aren’t lying! How dare you-”
“Oh you’re threatening now, there’s the Arthur I know.”
“Merlin and I are married! We did get married in front of the kingdom this day three years ago. We just, were married by the druids a bit before that.”
“How long before?” Magnus asked, genuinely curious.
“We’ve been married for five years, together for seven. Happy now? How long until you can,” Magnus’ eyebrows rose as Arthur did a very good impression of Alec’s own gesture for his magic, “get Merlin back?”
****
“How long until you think you can get Magnus back?”
“You’re almost as bad as Arthur! Go talk to your sister or something. Your little glass thing keeps flashing so that’s gotta be important.”
****
“I can’t cast the spell if you’re standing looking over my shoulder, Arthur.”
“Oh, right right. Sorry.”
****
“Well, it was lovely meeting you, Alec.”
Alec shook Merlin’s outstretched hand with a smile. “The same to you, I’ll be sure to ask you about this next time we meet.”
“I’m sure I’ll like that. That’s such a weird thing to say.”
****
“Goodbye Arthur, hope your evening looks up from here.”
“Thanks.”
Magnus rolled his eyes at Arthur’s crossed arms and skeptical frown and started the spell.
****
Alec didn’t actually see Merlin disappear or Magnus appear. In the blink of an eye they’d switched. Magnus slumped back against the coffee table, only stopped from sitting on the cluttered table by Alec’s supporting embrace.
“I missed you.” Magnus whispered, curling into Alec’s body without a moment’s hesitation.
“We can just order takeaway tonight, I think we’ve done enough to deserve it.”
“You are an actual angel, darling.”
“Says you.” Alec said shyly, pulling Magnus into a soft kiss.
****
“You aren’t even dressed?” Arthur cried, albeit after practically squeezing the life out of Merlin.
“What a pleasant reunion this is. Remind me why I came back?” Merlin griped but couldn’t and didn’t try to stop from smiling as he wrapped his arms behind his husband’s neck.
“You love me really.” Arthur murmured, pressing soft kisses across Merlin’s cheeks.
‘Too late. Too late. Too late. They were too late. His fault. All his fault.’ Someone was shouting. ‘Didn’t they know they were too late? Didn’t they know that all the screaming in the world wouldn’t turn back time?’
****
“Merlin! Merlin, no! Stand up, Merlin!”
****
“Arthur, he’s okay. Sire? Sire, look at me, Merlin is alive. He’s okay.” Someone was shaking his shoulders, clicking their fingers in front of his face. He couldn’t focus his eyes. His throat felt like someone had poured fire down it, raw. He’d been the source of the screaming.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood
General Rating
Fluff, No Angst
“They’re beautiful, Alexander. Though now I’m worried I’ve missed a special occasion.” Magnus lifted his gaze to meet Alec’s, who was relieved to see the bright smile that lit up his boyfriend’s face; the one that always had a hint of surprise from receiving a gift. It was one of Alec’s favourites.
“There isn’t an occasion, I just thought that they were beautiful, like you."
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Fenris/Male Hawke
Dragon Age 2
“Hawke, use me. Heal yourself enough to get up again. Quickly.” Fenris was practically growling out the words into Hawke’s ear; that was how orders were meant to be delivered, Hawke was really missing the mark.
“Never.” Hawke snapped, no way would he ever use Fenris like that.
