people get ready

Iron Man

Days Like These by abvj
When she thinks about it, Pepper knows that she probably should have quit years ago. No one would have blamed her really (especially later, after he came back from the cave and built a suit of armor to hide away in, because what sane person would have actually stayed?) but she didn't, and she won't, so it's neither here or there. Just another part of the vicious cycle of give (mostly her) and take (always him) that they're stuck in.

Lovely, understated look at Pepper negotiating her relationship with Tony after Afghanistan.

Get Your Gun, I'm Done by rocknload
"This is America, Tony," Fury says, surprised. "We don't murder people." Tony hangs up the suit. There are consequences. Spare, sharp, heartbreaking.

~*~

'til you spend a lot of money

Crossovers

Chuck/Wonder Woman

The stars go waltzing out in blue and red by jengrrrl
Beautiful, achy crossover wherein Sarah Walker (from Chuck) meets Diana Prince in a hotel bar. The ache of their loneliness is palpable, but at least they get to soothe it with each other. Lovely.

*

Iron Man/West Wing

That Kind of Crazy by neonhummingbird
"I mean, honestly, how many times did your boss try to get himself killed?" A resounding silence followed, and Pepper winced. "I meant on purpose. As opposed to random racists shooting him more as a function of bad aim than out of intent. Which was completely horrible, but definitely not his fault."

"...Only the once, if we count the aforementioned random horror. And I think the explosion in Gaza made us even. Also, we agreed not to do that anymore."

"Exactly, because that's what normal people do. This... this is not normal!"

Donna commiserates with Pepper after Tony's announcement. Perfect crossover.

~*~

you know that you were born to be

Dark Angel

Culpability by nickeldime_17
This story hits so many of my bulletproof kinks that I am willing to overlook some of the technical issues (POV slips, epithets) and fanon (mating wtf?) that would normally irritate me. Max and Alec start sleeping together, but then Logan finds a cure for the virus, and Max chooses him instead of Alec, setting up years of angst and regret before she figures out what she really wants, because of course, they can't stay away from each other, either. For all its flaws, this story is excellent at looking at all the ways two people who love each other can inflict the most damage, but they can also find ways to overcome it.

He hated heat, great sex aside, but it fucked up his head. She wasn't ever going to be his, not even with his mark around her barcode. They could play at being in love for Logan, pretend they were together in every way that mattered, but it was just make believe. Heat screwed up the balance of things, made him want. Made him think he could have.

Mixed Signals by dazedizzy
Six months after Freak Nation, Logan calls Alec out about his behavior, because he thinks Alec and Max are actually a couple, and he's seen Alec leave the bar with other girls. Could use fewer epithets, but nice pining from both Max and Alec, and also it feels in character that they'd be so clueless about each other's feelings.

Test of Wills by alethialia
Ridiculously hot AU of Designate This, in which Renfro pushes until Max and Alec follow orders.

~*~

all you did was wreck my bed

Anne of Green Gables

Still He Offers the Sea Shell by chash
Anne of Green Gables college AU. I was skeptical of the idea of Anne/Gilbert working in a modern setting, but it works really well. Anne is her confused, prickly, brilliant self, and Gilbert is Gilbert. *sigh* Lovely.

~*~

Friday Night Lights

Falling off a log by kassrachel
"I've got condoms," Matt admits. "In my wallet."

"Hoping to get lucky tonight, huh?"

He looks up at her with all the seriousness in the world. "I kinda already am."

Lovely missing Matt/Julie scene from "It Ain't Easy Being JD McCoy." Full of all the aching wonder of a first time.

~*~

living like a lover with a radar phone

Supernatural

California Dreaming by rivers_bend
Lovely story in which Dean gets stuck having to refurbish the house they're staying in. Dean's quiet competence and satisfaction in a job well done are palpable, as well as his unspoken wish for a little permanence in his own life.

Casualties by july_july_july
AU post-NRftW, Steve Wandell's daughter joins Sam and Bobby and Ellen in their quest to save Dean from hell, and avert the apocalypse Lilth is planning. Highly enjoyable, engrossing read with a fun original character, and a nice outsider POV of the Winchesters.

"Fuckin' A, Sammy," Dean said. He tried to turn to evade Sam's hands, but his efforts were pathetic, ineffectual.

"You're the one bleeding all over our new truck," Sam replied. [...] "And Jo went through all the trouble of stealing it for you. Put that over your knee, dude. You want to hear something funny?"

"Did you learn a new knock-knock joke, Sammy? [...] Not the orange one. Not again. You, Sam, are many things. But funny is not one of them."

"Oh, blow me. Anyway, at the hospital, they told me you were probably brain damaged from the lack of oxygen. You know what I said? I said don't worry we'll probably never be able to tell the difference."

"You're hilarious," Dean said, too weak to sound sarcastic.

Go Fish by tahirire
Really nice look at the growing detente between Ruby and Dean in the wake of 4.09 and 4.10.

Heaven Help Me Be a Man by embroiderama
Dean helps Bobby when he needs it. Pre-series. Lovely snapshot of both men.

Illumination Night by pwcorgigirl
Sam is dying, and Dean asks Castiel for help. Beautiful and heartbreaking.

Ink by ultraviolet9a
Sad, achy, gorgeous story of how the boys got their tattoos, and how not okay Sam is after Mystery Spot.

Interlude in W Minor by kellifer_fic
This is a fantastic look at exactly how they would have this conversation about Dean's feelings, post-hell, with Dean all coming in on the oblique and Sam just bulling right ahead. Oh, boys...

Like the Tides of My Life by rivers_bend
Dean marks every place they stay. A series of poignant and haunting ficlets that feel really true to Dean, and the need to make his mark, secret but visible if you know where to look.

Metronome by laytoncolt
Sam goes evil, and Dean does what he can to bring him back. It may not be enough. Heartbreaking.

The Secret Life of Angels by zelda_zee
Sharp, lush look at Castiel and Uriel.

the sound is breaking all my bones by oxoniensis
Lovely, ouchy story from Ruby's POV, about how she feels about Sam, about herself.

talking through tin cans by lyra_wing
Castiel and Sam have a conversation about faith and forgiveness. Lovely.

Two Kinds of Light by eighth_horizon
During the final battle, Castiel kind of becomes part of the family. Lovely. "I am an angel of the Lord who has walked a very long way and needs a hug," Castiel said with a stern line between his brows.

~*~