When you read the long fics list me pls those with happy endings (JB endgame) thank you very much.
You know, I’ve been lowkey dying to rec my favourites, so I’m not letting this opportunity pass. These are my favourite fics (>10k and/or multichapter) from my bookmarks. Most are AUs, as I’m working through ao3′s AU tag first.
Canon
Pretty by astolat (E but more like M, 30k, season 4 divergence)UST following Jaime and Brienne’s arrival in King’s Landing. Jaime gets spurned by Cersei and lusts for Brienne, who lusts back but has Standards and (self-imposed) Obligations. One of the few fics that does justice to the fallout of the Jaime/Cersei relationship, in which Cersei is treated as an actual character. A lot of this fic is Jaime being terribly chuffed about the fact that his wife can beat/kill the shit out of anyone who raises a finger against her and it’s glorious.
Travelling Far by astolat (E but more like M, 24k, canon divergence)Jaime decides to join Brienne’s quest to bring the Stark girls back home. Much family feels, it’s all terribly soft and sadjhk
AUs
Blood Bank by Coraleeveritas(E, 40k, doctors)Based on the Bon Iver song Blood Bank (which I coincidentally can’t stop listening to). Brienne is an ER doctor, Jaime a visitor. Both have children/family in hospital, they meet at the blood bank where Jaime is giving blood; things get heated like whoa. Minor subplot of Jaime (re)connecting with his children, Cersei is an asshole but virtually non-existent. Also I have to add that this writer’s style is AMAZING; it’s much more novelistic and descriptive than your standard fic, and absolutely beautifully written.
Human Touch by Lady_in_Red (T, 17k, doctor/patient and recovery)Jaime is suffering from phantom pains after the loss of his hand, and his last hope is a treatment Brienne offers. They kinda like each other, but Brienne is a Professional, so there’s lots of UST with a soft ending.
Madonna on the Balcony by QuizzicalQuinnia(M, 40k, artist/muse)Gosh okay so this is probably the only artist/muse fic I’ve ever genuinely liked. Jaime is a grumpy one-handed sculptor-turned-teacher who is sulking at some kind of resort thing, Brienne is a slightly traumatised rescue worker who is sent on leave after an accident. Jaime notices different parts of Brienne’s body from his balcony, and it Inspires him, so he seeks her out. Probably one of the more abstract fics I’ve read; it features a really nice lowkey commentary on art, beauty, and parts/wholes.
Mile High by bergamot(M, 20k, airport meet-not-so-cute)Jaime and Brienne meet at the airport; Jaime “subtly” arranges to move Brienne to first class because he finds here Interesting. Lots of excellent bickering, things get a bit heated, but not as heated as you’d hope judging from the title. Until they do. idk what I’m saying. XD
quarantined. by justme (silver_spring)(not rated but T-ish, 27k, doctors)Jaime and Brienne are doctors who get exposed to some kind of virus, so they have to spend ten days in quarantine. Fun times, exasperation, and awkward boners ensue. Enemies (ish) to friends to lovers.
Spy Games by Lady_in_Red(M, 16k, secret service/undercover)Three-part series which containing snapshots of Jaime and Brienne’s partnership from grudgingly tolerating each other to being stupidly in love. In the first and longest fic Jaime and Brienne go undercover in a suburban neighbourhood, and one of the subplots is that Brienne is forced to read Fifty Shades of Grey. Jaime voluntarily (and secretly) reads the damn book. Highly recommended, I wish there were more fics like this!
Working Girl Brienne series by CaptainTarthister (E, 170k, various)Smutty smut with feelings where Brienne meets Jaime in different professional situations, which quickly turn… less professional. My favourites are Manslayer (journalists AU, 22k, Brienne has to write a perfume review and Jaime is smitten), A Lion at the Door (hairdresser/celebrity AU, 45k, Jaime breaks up with Cersei and wants to lop his locks off, much smut ensueth), and At All Fronts (bodyguard/royals AU, 30k, Jaime and Brienne are in a sorta secret relationship, this fic chronicles the fallout of an assassination attempt and Realisations of Feelings).
Clean hands by Gwen77 (T, 13k, lawyers)Brienne is an idealistic lawyer; she and Jaime went to law school together and he occasionally tries to poach her for his company lmao. Brienne is forced to work together with Jaime on a case and they catch feelings, Shit hits the fan, and there’s slight temporary angst, but all’s well that ends well. Brienne has zero confidence and puts herself down a lot, which is kinda hard to read cause she’s so brilliant. 😭
Stacked by QuizzicalQuinnia(E, 11k, academia and libraries)This fic is ridiculously uncomfortable for me because it’s set in academia and dear lord phd candidate/associate professor relationships make me so so so so uncomfortable. BUT. It’s soooo goood ugh. Brienne is a phd candidate hunting down an obscure medieval source (i.e. a future and more successful me), and she challenges Jaime, who wants to recruit her as a research assistant, to help her track down said source. JAIME’S FIELD OF EXPERTISE IS THE HISTORY OF INSULTS FHDAJDGAJ. Anyway, he commits to the challenge because he’s s m i t t e n and library research/steamy times/manuscript abuse ensues. It’s terribly cute and hot, but I just can’t with the eating pASTRIES WITHIN THE VICINITY OF MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS. SACRILEGE. Also this has my favourite first kiss scenario probably.
On the Night’s Watch by Miss_M (M, 105k, detectives)THIS IS HANDS DOWN MY FAVOURITE FSGJAGHDJA. Okay so the case is hands down disgusting (think Reek storyline in the books), but the story is more partner-focused than case-focused. Jaime is a bitter disgraced detective, who’s partnered with newbie Brienne, who is transferred after an Incident. Relationship starts off antagonistic, but develops into mutual respect and, of course, lust. Kind of slow-burn but not really. The development of the relationship and the whole detectives thing is really well done and I’d read 500 more of this fic it’s so good fhsjdk. This author has written a few other fics set in law enforcement, but this really is the best one.
Storks Ltd. by FaerieChild (M, 70k, coworkers and babyfic)So tbh the premise isn’t my thing at all, but I thought the story was really well done, so I’m including it. Brienne works at the Lannister company and desperately wants a child because she’s the last of her house. Jaime is in a relationship with Cersei, who won’t let him be a parent to their kids, which is the one thing he really wants. So Jaime and Brienne enter an Agreement where he fathers the kid, but also gets to be a father. Jaime/Cersei fizzles out, feelings happen, Jaime (re)connects with his already existing kids.
The Book of Love by hardlyfatal (M, 60k, airport meet-not-so-cute)Jaime and Brienne meet in less-than-ideal circumstances in an airport and are condemned to each other’s company when all flights are cancelled and Jaime happens to have rented the last rental car, and also Brienne happens to be a cellist in Tyrion’s orchestra, talk about coincidences. So they roadtrip (that’s a verb now) to their destination and catch feelings. The roadtrip part is absolutely excellent 💯👌 but obviously things get a little complicated when they reach their destination before the happy ending.
Flat White by shiphitsthefan (M, 10k, coffee shop)Jaime is a barista and obsessed with the tall and mysterious flat-chested lady who has a very specific coffee order.
Jaime’s Awkward Boner June collection (various)Does exactly what it says on the tin and it’s glorious. Definitely my favourite trope in this fandom.
Bonus: There’s Always Much Ado About Nothing by imagineagreatadventure (T, 1k, theatre)Yeah I’m including this purely because it’s a motherflipping Much Ado About Nothing theatre fic fhasjk
