As always, you're more than welcome to make comments about whether you think these recs are good, bad, or just plain ugly.Or reccommend your own favourite fics, either via the comments feature or by emailing me at allthatsbestofdarkandbrightblog@yahoo.co.uk.
Most of this is slash, and more than a bit of it is PWP, but hey, I like the sexy...
Lindsey/Riley
An unlikely couple, and normally I hate Riley-fics, but Indiscretions is so hot and so well-written that it doesn't matter.
In the summer before basic training a future Marine has an encounter with a law student, and Riley's mixture of awkwardness and need is so palpable that-well, you'll have to read it for yourself.
Not completely PWP, as there is some interesting character study and some rather nice foreshadowing of the men they will go on to become.
Quote: "Riley knew he was leaning against the door, even without visual confirmation because that’s what he was supposed to do. Just like Riley’s role in the scenario was to nervously perch on the edge of the bed like the anxious virgin that he was"
Spike/Lindsey
Looking At You is my favourite of an uconventional pairing.
Cover Art By Laura Shapiro (used with kind permission)Lindsey goes to Sunnydale looking for Darla and finds a different blonde vampire.Ooh yeah, evil, sexy, bad-ass lawyer meets evil, sexy, bad-ass punk rock vampire.They fuck, they fight, and they bitch about Angel. Again, some nice character study and a look at Lindsey's twisted relationship with Angel.I also love the little twist in the ending that reminds that even though Spike can be hurt just like the rest of us, he's still baaaad, baby.
Quote: "Christ, just like Angelus. First he buggers you, then he hits you." I froze. "What did you say?"
Spike/Andrew
Okay, I know right now someone wants to hit me for reccing an Andrew/Spike fic,but Tucker's Brother is so good that it breaks my little heart every fucking time.
It's not set in Season Seven on their little roadtrip as you might expect, its set way back in Season Six when Spike is still messed-up over Buffy and Andrew is just messed-up over his life.
The pressure of never living up to his sibling, of being a nobody, just "Tucker's Brother", all comes pouring out onto the page.
PWP this is not.The feelings of hopelessness and self-loathing and, yes, godammit, wanting to be wanted are just so raw and sincere.Beautiful.
Bonus points for the ending that makes me want to cry.
Quote: "It makes me feel like I'm... I don't know... part of something. Like it matters if I'm around." Andrew speaks fast, the words rushing over his tongue.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm not even here. Like- like I have to make people see me or I'll just disappear."
"I get that," Spike says reflectively.
"No, you don't," Andrew snaps. "You don't know what it's like to be me."
Spike chuckles. "I *was* you."
Cover Art By Laura Shapiro (used with kind permission)
