- nekokobanaxel->roxas • romance • T5.660
Axel has the thought: he could set this entire room on fire, and even as the whole thing burns to ashes, Roxas would not respond.
A very old fic, so it's throughly disproven. Still my absolute favorite Axel/Roxas though. - quillslingeraxel/roxas • romance • M*18.670
Like a game of Snakes and Ladders, life can change with a roll of the dice.
Very captivating canon-verse fic. Written pre-Days, so completely disproven. - Flying Dholeaxel, roxas • adventure • M~74.000 (incomplete)
Follows Axel and Roxas through their time in the Organization, centralized on their friendship.
Well-paced and character-focused with a good balance between levity and drama, it does a good job filling in the then-unknown blanks explaining the eventual breakdown of A/R's friendship, relying pleasantly little on ice cream and sunsets to sell their closeness. No longer canon compliant, and sadly discontinued, but what's written is worthwhile to say the least. Note that ff.net removed all the section breaks, which might be distracting. - sono spiacenteaxel/roxas • drama, romance • M*10.797
In which Roxas learns that not everything is as simple as it seems, and sometimes the dark path is the right path.
Disproven fic. The plot is pretty ridiculous, but it hits all the emotional highs and lows, down to the abrupt, somber ending. - caseyvalhallaaxel/roxas, riku • drama, romance • M*42.432
Roxas never wanted to be the hero.
Another older, now long-disproven fic. Starts off slow at first, this fic has an extremely intimate and personal feel to it which juxtaposes well against the way the story plays out in actual canon - like they're just being swept away by everyone else's destiny and essentially dealt a bad hand. Even when you know what's coming, the ending doesn't lose any of its potency. - Tabitha Dornocaxel/roxas • romance • M*8.850
It's mission time, and Axel and Roxas are paired together to take over a new world. Roxas is unimpressed and Axel is mostly just amused.
Another old non canon-compliant fic. 'Swearing and murder and dance cards' - great fun to read. - sister_coyoteaxel/roxas • romance, angst • M*1.623
"You make me see too clearly," Axel says, and for a moment Roxas can see the bonfire in his cat-green eyes, the way he burns himself alive.
Vivid and searingly bittersweet. - surestsmileaxel->roxas • gen • T695
Everyone has a Jericho. Roxas is his.
Bitter, sarcastic and poignantly sad. - Tabitha Dornocaxel(/roxas), namine • gen • G~1.400
In the pretend Twilight Town, Roxas has no memory of Axel. Namine stole them all when she placed him there, but she, unfortunately, owes Axel a favour.
Sparse and packs a punch. - moonsheenaxel/roxas • romance • T*3.368
“Where was I? Oh, right. Every waking hour, every day-- …nevermind we don’t…have days, okay-- I don’t want to think of anyone but you, Roxas. I’ll wait, and wait, and wait for you to come back—”
“That one’s from that play right?”
“…the sequel actually—but shush, you. I’m going somewhere with this. A thousand words, doesn’t even begin to describe it. I waste away! Turn into an insubstantial shivering mass of -- …man.”'Axel with a side of... Axel, Axel, Axel. and okay some other guys too.' Fun read! - Kaesteranyaaxel/roxas • drama • G267
He's your unattainable one.
Short and sweet. Or sad! - driedvoicesaxel/roxas • romance • G499
Death is a lot like a boat drifting, which is just wonderful, because Axel's always gotten seasick.
Short and wry with an ending that still manages to punch you in the gut. - perfututumaxel/roxas • romance • G2.060
Roxas and Xion have volunteered to have their memories studied to help find Sora. Axel can't help but be concerned.
A really sweet and cute coda to where they've settled at the end of KH3. - a spot of botheraxel/roxas • AU, humor • T~2.400
A diner, some coffee, a raging storm and a dripping redhead. Roxas always did hate Mondays.
Funny and cute. - senrimarluxia/namine • angst • T*3.068
the lion the wardrobe the witch.
Another fic about Namine's life in Castle Oblivion. The ending is great. - yo-yo-sanmarluxia/namine • gen • T*223
Just Marluxia, considering the future. Pretty harmless, really. ♥
Short and sweet. - surestsmilemarluxia, namine • gen • T*342
don't forget, she's heartless too.
Another short and sweet Marluxia/Namine. - surestsmilenamine • gen • T*1.907
This is how a memory witch forgets.
A heart-skewering fic delving into the aftereffects of the events of Chain of Memories on Namine. - moonsheenriku replica/namine • angst • G670
The end of all things turned out to look suspiciously like the inside of a broom closet.
Semi-coda to CoM. It's funny, but also twists your heart just right. - surestsmileriku replica • gen • G835
You've been lying to me since the day you said, 'Hello'.
Riku Replica in his last moments. I like the hopeless yet desperate tone of the fic - as though representing his struggle to assert himself as his own person, knowing it's futile - and the anger he feels towards Namine and Sora. - syviaaxel, namine • gen • G600
It would be so easy.
A short and interesting look at Namine and her uneasy relationship- or lack of- with Axel. - Yatidiz, namine • gen • G379
DiZ, Naminé. Ice creams and a box of crayons.
I like the way Ansem withdraws from Namine; as if hinting to the callous nature his later actions will take on. The whole thing has a brittle, fragile feel to it I really like. - ghostysaix/xion • romance • T*1.137
Life is an endless series of transgressions against him and Saïx has no intentions of admitting the mountain made of that molehill, nor the enjoyment he gets from the view at the top.
After all, the view has no face.This was written for me. But even if it weren't it'd still be a gift to read - so many good lines and an incisive portrayal of both characters. - anonymoussaix/xion • romance • NC-17*98
He's most cruel to her...
Look at the rating, it's Saix/Xion, how can I not put it here?! - starling-chansaix/xion • angst, horror • T*~700
One day, this little toy will regret that they ever met.
Saix's frustration and jealousy comes across starkly in this fic. I like his bitterness at the possibility that Xion might misunderstand his intentions. - taliaxvanitas/aqua • friendship, adventure • T91.125
Just because he was a heart of pure darkness didn't mean he wanted to be stuck in the Realm of Darkness forever. Just because she was the only other one there didn't make them friends. And just because they were going to spending a whole, whole lot of quality time together didn't mean she could change him. Ignores BbS 0.2.
Longfic! "Vanitas and Aqua getting stuck in the Realm of Darkness together" is a premise that promises an entertaining read from the get-go. I really enjoyed the way their antagonism - which OP doesn't just gloss over or easily resolve, either! - and differences in idelogy gradually gives way to a surprisingly sweet alliance. And on that note Aqua's awkwardness plays off entertainingly against Vanitas' more childish, innocent side. - bellmarevexen, zexion • gen • G526
Even before they had lost their hearts, they had never seen eye-to-eye.
It's the quiet antagonism and flashes of their pasts as Even and Ienzo reconciled with the present time that makes this little fic so striking. - TheIcyQueeneven, ienzo • family, gen • T1.485
And there they were again, back in the labs where everything had begun and ended. They'd lived lifetimes between then and now; they'd been entirely different people. It's said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but the whole "heart" thing was...pretty new to them. Unfortunately, so were the emotions that went along with them.
I'm actually a sucker for fics portraying these two as family, as reluctant as they are to acknowledge it. The dialogue in this is great, and the fic doesn't shy away from acknowledging how strained their relations were in the Organization proper. OP's other fics, and about these two in particular, are also highly recommended ^^ - voxanonymiienzo, others • gen, friendship • T33.788
Everything was oddly smaller than Ienzo remembered it being, if only because he himself was not so small anymore. The castle, however, was still immeasurably large, and now it felt accordingly empty. Ienzo was more than familiar with emptiness. Ten years an empty shell, after all.
With the second Keyblade War on the horizon, Ienzo wants to help the Guardians of Light however he can; to atone for sins past. It's hard to focus, however, with his newly-reclaimed humanity hanging heavy on his conscience.
Or: Kingdom Hearts III, through Ienzo's eyes and heart.Ienzo's journey in picking up his life back again after getting a chance of redemption is so well-paced here that the optimistic ending canon handed out feels that much more believable now. - snappleducatedaqua, terra, vanitas • drama • T~2.000
On drowning, passion, and ones who fall because they never learned to run fast enough.
Aqua's POV, and the way she is caught between multiple roles at once and feeling as though she's failed at every single one, is done beautifully here, as is the antagonism between her and Vanitas. - kaylarxene/marluxia • drama • T580
Part of why Marluxia enjoyed Larxene's company so much was that she enjoyed the same things he did.
A great re-enactment of the corresponding scene in the game with some original touches. The cameos were great, particularly the one at the end that made me giggle. - a certain slant of lightaxel/olette • angst, romance • T*~550
You can’t get something for nothing.
Haunting, sour, and leaves just enough for the imagination while perfectly standing alone. - snappleducatedolette/roxas • drama • T~3.500
It’s not her fault. If she’s got a complex, it’s just because everyone keeps on leaving.
Gripping, bleak and surreal. - Mitsukaiiroxas, kairi • AU, tragedy • T1.123
It's beautiful outside, dead guy.
Short and sad. A real gut-punch of an ending. - Cy Furaxel/xion/roxas • "friendship" • M*1.868
Axel explains friendship to Roxas and Xion.
Delightfully messed up, but truer to their 358-era dynamic than most content out there. - Karyranamine/xion • romance • G1.312
Namine had met Xion before. At Castle Oblivion. And now she met Xion again, in order to erase her existence.
The only Namine/Xion fic I like. Really underrated fic. - enmitynamine/xion • gen • G1.150
“I can’t save you. Not even a memory of you.”
Naminé and Xion come to a decision."why does anyone ship this, you jerks" pt. 2, etc etc. There's not a lot of fanon that deals with this aspect of their relationship, I don't think. And I found it funny how many randos I managed to cameo in such a short fic. - snappleducatedriku/namine • angst • G444
Riku doesn’t like it when she draws Kairi.
The frustration and sadness comes through excellently in this piece. It's short but poignant. - syviasaix/kairi/axel • drama • NC-17*6.050
Axel has been working with Riku and Namine since they lost Roxas in Twilight Town. When the Organization takes Kairi captive, Axel is elected to get her back.
Not the greatest idea they've ever had.
Really strong characterization (though closer to KH2 than 358) and depiction of claustrophobic tension. Plus a 3-sentence Xion cameo in the most perfect context possible. - Cryptographic_Delurkwoodrow/chelsea • romance • G*1.224
"I’m better than you at archery. Doesn’t that bother you?" Chelsea asked.
It was a steady suffocating pressure, and so much responsibility. But Woodrow wasn’t the kind of person to be selfish.Absolutely hilarious. Peak Woodrow characterization right here. - Cryptographic_Delurkleon/philia • gen • T3.162
He left Philia feeling assured in herself that justice and fairness were impartial.
It's Rio/Firi fic, you can't get any better than that?! But that aside, this fic focuses on aspects of Philia's character that aren't dwelled on much - her insecurities and naivety and narrow-mindnedness - and puts her refusal to believe Leon has betrayed the group in a different perspective. - enmityleon/rutee • angst • G*200
The betrayal.
You kind of have to admit, the PSX version of this scene was pretty metal. So OP sprinkled incest on top of it. Just a little. - kartretsleon&/chaltier • gen • T*2.015
The swordian Chaltier recounts the many things that have fallen throughout his young master’s fleeting lifetime.
Not much English Leon and Chaltier fanworks out there, this one scratches that itch I had for them. Good characterization and enough kick-in-your-teeth moments. Chaltier's POV is full of bittersweet wibbling; my absolute favourite part of the fic. - jadaxsven/norma • romance • T*2.058
In which Sven manages to be questionable, a jerk, a goofball, and a sweetheart all at once and Norma somehow puts up with it.
One of the only good relationships in this entire game AND it's a romcom to boot. Just mind the skeeve - though that's part and parcel of the appeal, tbqh. - suzumewalter, fenimore • gen • G368
"Don't you ever get tired of being more machine than man?"
A short but great look at two of the best and underserved characters in the game. - enmitywalter/fenimore • gen • G1.547
How it might've happened.
Walfen iconic enough for me to keep unearthing this ancient fic and reskin it as different pairings. - enmitywalter/fenimore • gen • G2.219
There is a girl in the cage, small and shadowed.
Walfen is just that iconic guys... You have to understand!! Despite its age, the ideas in this fic continue to influence my more recent output. - welzeswalter • gen • T516
Five times Walter was cold and one time he wasn't.
Short and packs a punch. - eraserheadbabyregal/presea • (w)angst • T*393
She has long since regained her soul, but he's still struggling to see how she's any different from before.
This fic takes Regal's guilt (hah) and manages to make it actually compelling - guilt has many sides, not all of them sympathetic, and OP does the feeling justice, especially considering the short length. Fixating creepily on the thought of you being hurt and covered in blood can be such a romantic moment, actually. - silver_fishregal, presea • angst • G544
It’s just the shame obscuring hindsight that makes him think she deserved to hear it then more than he deserved to say it.
Incredible story that uses repetition to great effect, the overwrought angst of the narrator is portrayed excellently. Regal's thoughts and guilt towards Presea during the events of the game are sorely overlooked - even though they clearly mattered enough that it's possible to leverage it in gameplay - and I always love any attempts to articulate on what his feelings for her may have been, however twisty and self-serving and muddied. - Rhaellaraine, yuan • gen • G2.678
Post-game. Yuan has not given up his habit of stalking, and Raine wonders why.
Raine's instinct versus Yuan's (half-hearted?) evasiveness, and between them, the effort to find some even ground. It's a nice read and take on both characters after the events of the game. - prototypingluke/natalia • friendship, romance • G*4.082
Facing exile from their homeland, Luke and Natalia reflect on both the past and the future, the good and the bad.
Honestly I did not deserve such an excellent fic of such an underrated couple... this story brings their insecurities and conflicted feelings about their past and each other into sharp, personal focus. Plus it's also really cute, whether you ship them romantically or not (or just a fan of both characters). - mikomi's penjade, anise • friendship • G2.647
Anise has something to ask of her dear, sweet, darling, favorite Colonel.
Pitch perfect nailing of character voices and dynamic, and the ending is cute in a way that's so very them. - lavendrejudith/rita • friendship • G*666
Rita brings up the prickly topic of Judith's father. For once, it doesn't hurt.
Judith and Rita living together after the events of the game is so good. As is their conversation here - despite its brevity, this fic manages to touch on the things that make their relationship so interesting. - snappleducatedflynn/estelle, yuri • humor, romance • T~2.800
In which Flynn attempts to expose Yuri for the dirty scoundrel he is, and ends up married as a result. Well done.
Just look at the summary. The dialogue and inclusion of Yuri are very on-point. - Whitniumflynn/estelle • romance, friendship • G7.972 (incomplete)
Flynn meets Estellise.
Pre-canon fic filling in the blanks of their friendship before Yuri came into the picture. Good interactions and characterization, and incorporates the in-game quirk of Flynn's many support skills and Estelle's ability to equip rapiers. - canis_mrita/estelle • romance • G~2.500
"Once upon a time there was a princess who lived in a palace. The princess loved old tales more than anything else, the kind where handsome princes swept maidens off their feet, or knights went on quests to rescue fair ladies. She'd read every book of romances in the palace library, and she knew all of the endings, happy and sad."
A good stop for some fluffy Ristelle fix. - windianasbel/hubert • romance • NC-17*5.659
"If you had a time machine, would you use it? And where would you go back to?"
During his annual leave, Hubert returns to Lhant for the harvest festival. Asbel wishes things could go back to how they were as children. He loses badly at battleship. He accidentally witnesses his brother in a comprising position.
As it turns out, his little brother's still afraid of thunderstorms.Excellent characterization and translation of the brothers' not-quite-completely resolved conflict in the game into UST, with just the right amount of their characteristic awkwardness. - windianrichard/sophie • romance, angst • T*1.599
'Winter comes to Barona castle. The ponds in the garden freeze over and great sheets of frost are laid out over the grass. With the change in weather comes Sophie. She walks out with Richard to the gardens and looks down at the flowers that already now are starting to wilt.
“That’s that,” she says.'A gorgeous post-canon fic. The bittersweet atmosphere is conveyed wonderfully. - VSSAKJmalik/hubert • romance • G*1.250
When Hubert's involved, everything's more complicated than it should be.
Cute, with an interesting premise executed to great effect. - snappleducatedalvin/elize • romance • T*~4.700
Growing up, Alvin teaches Elize the things she doesn't want to know.
Post-canon fic following Elize's growing into adulthood and feelings for Alvin. Handles the issues in their relationship tactfully and staying in-character without being moralizing. - secretagentfanjude/ludger • fluff, humor, AU • G2.555
Walking disasters Ludger and Jude pull an all-nighter and make a snow cat. College AU.
This is absolutely adorable. I love how the story translates their canonical lives (college debts! grad school! ludger's part-time jobs! it works too well!) to a more mundane AU. The cameos from Elle and Julius were small but so memorable. - kalypsobeanlailah/rose • romance • G1.920
A post-canon Lailah/Rose story.
Sweet with undertones of sad. This story manages to pull at the hints of interesting worldbuilding and characterization that canon doesn't quite live up to, and make them come alive. - pengiesamamaotelus, michael, lailah • humor • G1.366
The Shepherding life is a lonely one indeed, but Michael thinks that he's probably got more problems than most.
A hilarious satirical story about a character that doesn't get enough attention. - suzumeselene, michael • gen • T6.792
Five years in the footsteps of the Shepherd Michael.
Speculative backstory fic with interesting worldbuilding, rich characterization of a minor character and a pervading sense of hope and optimism despite the retroactive nature of the story. - lavendresorey/mikleo • romance • T3.045
Mikleo thought hard about bodies of water, and how, even in a sea of people Sorey looked marooned.
“Do you remember your first visit here? A silly question, maybe.”
Sorey considered. "Well, it was with you. I remember that much. Was there something else?"
He thought harder. Everything else. Can't you remember? But saying it aloud would make him that much further away from the boy he used to know.A subduedly bittersweet post-canon look at the pair and how Sorey's time asleep has changed (or not changed) their relationship. - lavendreeizen, edna • gen • T2.079
He thinks he would have liked to have gone home, once or twice.
Or: Eizen, and losing.The matter-of-fact, fatalistic way Eizen's POV is written makes this fic feel like a punch to the gut; not unlike the feeling you get from realizing his fate in Berseria is a foregone conclusion. - lavendremagilou/velvet • romance, angst • T5.145
In the dark of the Van Eltia’s cabin Velvet presses a thin and simple blade to her throat.
Magilou is still learning how to be afraid.My favorite Magilou/Velvet fic bar none. It portrays Magilou's POV perfectly. - Fortune_Maidenestelle, olivier • friendship • G2.068
Fishing is a sport about patience, peace, and perseverance.
Olivier sets out to challenge all three.So cute, and very true to both characters - the dialogue in particular is excellent. Olivier being grossed out by worms is hilarious. - eraserheadbabyolivier/estelle • gen ;) • G*1.111
“So now I should be a good kid and wait for the adult things to come on their own, huh?”
Great fic for a really, really underrated relationship - it has exactly the same undercurrent of skeeve and discomfort the way their canon interactions often carry, but minus the accompanying laugh track to soften the blow. Also, it's for me! Read it! ^-^ - kate0115olivier/estelle • drama • G*~80.000
Disproved post-canon divergent AU. Several years after the events of Sky, Joshua is missing and Estelle tries to look for him. A bunch of crazy things happen afterwards.
I had to use DeepL to read this, I was so desperate for content of this pairing lol. Despite not being able to experience the story as intended, I think this fic gets a lot of things right about both characters and their relationship. There are a lot of funny scenes as expected of their dynamic, but the dramatic and somber moments are pulled off convincingly as well. The plot is self-indulgent and somewhat improbable (befitting the pairing) but holds up impressively well in parts, keeping you on your toes almost in typical Trails fashion. The characterization is the fic's strong suit by far; it has a more mature and sentimental take on the pairing, keeping in mind the post-canon setting, and blends the author's original inventions and interpretation of the characters very well with nostalgic callbacks to the original trilogy. It isn't afraid to treat the pairing seriously too which is a plus, especially towards the end. - enmityolivier/estelle • gen • G*794
He’d probably found it a rather funny spectacle, really, how she'd looked, trying to be a sieve, sifting apart the lies from the jokes from the convenient truths.
My sister called me deranged after I told her how sad I felt writing this. Also, I think normal people who don't ship homosexual creeps with his token straight teenage girl crush/wellspring of apologia can read this. That means you. - eraserheadbabykevin/rufina • family, romance • G781
“Because you wanted me to,” she answers, and in the mirror, the earring's shine goes her way and leaves him in the dark.
I heard Rufina Argent had a fat ass. I heard Rufina Argent was shredded. - karthurkevin/ries • family, romance • G2.285
(Post Sky the 3rd) Kevin attempts to make amends for his failings.
A sweet little post-canon story, featuring an adorable flashback to kid!Ries and a creative bit of worldbuilding. (I just want Ries to be happy, man. u_u) - knightofsuperiorjoshua/estelle • humor • G*4.987
Cassius wants Kevin to officiate the wedding of Estelle and Joshua.
There's just one slight problem with that.
Pitch-perfect tone, character voices and zany humor, plus an absolutely irresistable premise. A great coda to the events of SC. - eraserheadbabyrandy/tio • gen • G*1.104
At least it's now safe to say they're in agreement:
This is stupid.[...]how many times must vaguely-stilted, vaguely-holy-shit-disturbing conversations in domestic situations must they endure before all the awkwardness turn spontaneously into genuine camaraderie and gasp ~*romance*~? I hope at least a dozen times more. Anyway, read this. It's adorable and for me. - belderiverrenne • friendship, family • G1.604
Renne learns something important through a series of tea parties.
A - more sweet than bitter - bittersweet story. The found family is tastefully written and not overly cloying. - NightsMistressmueller, kurt • family • G1.590
Mueller returns from Liberl and has a heart-to-heart with his brother.
Adorable sibling fluff with on-point characterizations. - Heero_De_Faneljuna/kurt • romance • T2.758
He's still getting used to her, still getting used to this, though at the end of the day he wouldn't trade it for the world. Four looks at Kurt and Juna after the the final curtain falls.
Earnest, heartfelt, awkward, tooth-rotting fluff. - rulanarinrushkurt, altina • angst • G500
This was an emotion the Instructor never taught her to overcome.
A really great story, with evocative prose that cuts right into the heart of the underlooked similarities of both characters and how they might cope in the aftermath of CSIV's non-canon normal ending. It's also for me! - Enmitykurt, altina • angst • G100
Nobody ever told them the future was whatever they wanted it to be.
Oh jeepers. It's Kurt and Altina existing miserably in one another's orbit. Again. But! It's short and forcibly pithy, therefore I like it. - rulanarinrushlechter/claire • gen • G408
He wonders when he stopped pretending to fall for this act.
Harsh, joyless, with no promise of conciliation on the other side - just right! Just wonderful. - quagganolivier/mueller • romance • T*4.456
An accident known as Prince Olivert happens to Mueller Vander during his last summer at Thors.
A sweet and funny story with humorous dialogue and a thoughtful bit worldbuilding at the very end. - Karthurlechter • gen • T2.291
The Ironbloods hold a meeting about security at the upcoming Trade Conference, and Lechter offers a startling proposal.
Some very good dialogue, and does Lechter justice, letting him go from goofy to competent to grim in the span of a few lines. - enmitycedric, alfin • family :) • G*696
He has a lot of free time on his hands, these days, to think, when he’s not screaming into the cage of his own skin.
Cedric is OP's favorite Cold Steel character. He's just so peachy - such a delight. This fic was somewhat well-received; I can only hope I made his vitriol towards Alfin - and whoever this 'Olivert' person is - seem completely unreasonable. - antistar_emiles/fran, phoenix, trucy • gen • G*9.073
Phoenix Wright needs some time to recuperate. There's really only one place to go.
I came for the Miles/Franziska, but the fic is just as much about Phoenix and Trucy. Either way, it's amazing. - antistar_emany • AU, romance • G6.046
Or, five weddings that never happened (and one that almost did.)
Another fic that captivated me utterly when I was 12. The way OP makes all the AUs feel so fleshed out despite letting us only see a relatively small part of each is incredible. - antistar_eapollo/trucy, phoenix • drama • T*3.587
"I don't think you're old enough to quite appreciate what it means to lose everything."
Twisted and suspenseful, it takes the game canon and turns it into something a little darker, a little more sinister, while still leaving a lot of things up in the air for interpretation. - Enisydiego/maya • angst • T*1.512
He was protecting her again, like he had at Hazakura Temple nine years ago. Swooping in, all knight-in-shining-visor, and untying the maiden from the tracks, just in the nick of time to save her from the oncoming train.
Never mind that he had also been the one to start it.
Back in Kurain, Godot and Maya nurse the same old wound.An eerie, tightly-written story that wastes no words. - jibrailisdahlia • gen • T*1.773
Snapshots into the girlhood of Dahlia Hawthorne.
Incisive and brutal. - lightningwaltzsanta, june • gen • T5.220
Santa and June in the years between nonary games.
Really great fic that slots in perfectly the missing nine years between the two. Poignant and sweet and brittle in all the right ways, and June is characterized as eerie and otherworldly enough to make Santa's view of her all the more sad. - Sporadicxjune • gen • T9.603
The missing nine, that Akane counts in years.
Akane's characterization here is done so subtly and thoughtfully. The small cameos here and there from other characters are perfect. - manhattan martinisanta/clover, santa/june • angst • T*5.595
He dreamed mostly of sinking ships and time bombs.
Haunting and evocative post-canon fic. The characterizations are gripping and the plot keeps you guessing. - 94BottlesOfSnappleace, june • gen • T3.522
This isn’t the first time Akane Kurashiki has woken somewhere unfamiliar with a headache and stiff joints and no memory of how she got there.
Akane wakes up in a cell and has to escape with an unexpected ally.
Interesting scene with a premise where the two have to work together. Ace is a delightful asshole to read, especially from Akane's perspective. - morphogenesisphi/akane • romance, angst • T1.547
"Phi kicked off their third anniversary dinner by burning herself four times." Akane and Phi will celebrate their anniversary come hell or high water.
A deeply bittersweet canon divergent story. Just as cute as it is sad. - MarkoftheAsphodelpalla/abel/est • drama, family • T*2.933
It's hard to hold the hand of anyone who is reaching for the sky just to surrender. Palla and Abel, after the fall.
Moody with a lot of depth for characters from a sparse canon. - 78424325innes/l'arachel • romance • T3.343
Just married, sharp mind meets sharp wit.
I thought this was gone for the longest time! Sweet and refreshing and funny in equal parts, it's so, so cute. - velthomerrknoll/lyon • gen • G1.097
"Knoll returns to Grado, where he dedicates himself to rebuilding it and fulfilling Lyon's vision. When the country is restored to its former glory, he disappears without a trace, never to be seen again." -Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones epilogue.
Knoll only stays in Grado for as long as he is needed.Knoll/Lyon is certainly a relationship that invites tragedy, and this fic takes Knoll's ending in Sacred Stones to its obvious conclusion. - Aurumiteephraim->lyon, eirika • gen, family • T4.198
Lyon is dead, Eirika leaves Renais to marry, and Ephraim is alone.
Lovely, poignant, bittersweet post-canon fic. Gives life to the implications given in the game and its ending(s) in a rather heartbreaking way. - sulfatefelix/ingrid • angst • M4.296
When they fought together it was like for the moment they were inhabiting their former selves again.
A fic set after their paired ending - which is a marvel in and of itself. Tackles their issues and mutual antagonism/concern/affection/etc without flinching. - enmityfelix/ingrid • angst • G556
Neither of them are much for games, these days, but they’ve been playing the same one for years.
Remember when I tried to make the ship name 'Fingrid' a thing. Oh god. I still think this fic is cute though. Adorably dysfunctional. - MadameRayfelix/ingrid • romance • G278
Felix thinks Ingrid's would-be suitors have some strange preconceptions about her beauty.
'I love the use of contrast between the nameless suitors' romanticized view of her and his narration's more humbling perception; there's a gap in the middle of those two portraits and that part that's omitted is where his fondness and affection shows through all the more for his attempt to hide them.' - signalbeamlindhardt/dorothea • gen • M5.703
"If an opera is made about my life someday, I wonder how I'll be portrayed. The revolutionary who guided the Empire to a new dawn, or the foolish ruler who took her revolution too far?"
In the summer, the people of Fhirdiad puts on a festival to celebrate their victory. Linhardt, on sabbatical from Garreg Mach, goes to see an opera with an old friend.A look at Lindhart and Dorothea's lives after the war. This story balances farce and tragedy, seen through Lindhart's POV, with breathless ease. - grayimperiadimitri, edelgard, claude, sothis • gen • T16.040
Game Over.
You have received an invitation to the goddess’s tea party. Accept?
After their deaths, Sothis reaches through time to invite each of the three who tried and failed to claim the crown of Fodlan to her tea party.
A wonderful and thoughtful exploration of all three lords in all their flawed glory, reconciling their motivations and actions throughout the different routes. - Schemilixozma/hobyrim, oz • family • G*618
The twins discuss Ozma's engagement to Hobyrim.
An innocuous moment of sibling bonding, taken straight out of the game. - Schemilixdenam, leonar • gen • G635
You did what you had to do. (Non-route specific.)
Balanced and sympathetic portrait of the man, piecing together the same individual whose fate will diverge - and eventually converge - in each route. Also: d'aww. - chibirisuchanzack/sephiroth • drama • M11.613
Seph, Zack. Uniforms.
Muchly-disproven old fic. A compelling speculative interpretation of Zack and Sephiroth's relationship, colored heavily by their days fighting in the Wutai war. Part II is here. - Tenshi no Korinzack, sephiroth • gen • G1.041
Zax and Sephiroth... second impressions. (Pre-game, Wutai frontier)
A follow-up to this fic; short, amusing and surprisingly sweet take on how Zack and Sephiroth's rapport might have been sparked. Disproven, of course, if the choice of name in the summary doesn't make it evident. - Ardwynnazack/sephiroth • humor • T2.980
Transports blow up. Things wash ashore. Think of it as an unplanned vacation.
Cute and funny, their personalities play off quite well here. - fuckenerzack/sephiroth • drama • G2.571
He thinks about being the one to say it. Let’s desert together. Let’s never go back. Let’s accept the things we’ve done for what they are and leave them behind us.
Sad with humorous moments, and definitely portrays the human sides of both characters. - snappleducatedzack/tifa • drama • T2.400
This is one of those things that never, ever happens.
Lovely and heartbreaking. Despite the ending being a glaringly obvious conclusion, the writing has enouh hope and imagination that it still hits hard. - claire sorrentinoreno->cissnei • gen • T1.532
Reno's last mission with Cissnei. Post Crisis Core.
Cold and gritty, memorable despite the relatively short length. - moemachinadelita/ovelia • angst • G300
Some girls get ballads. Ovelia got a blade.
Each drabble stings like a lancet. - Mithrigilagrias, ovelia • gen • G587
There comes a point--lying awake on her pallet, perhaps--when Agrias decides, no more.
Great fic. Like you haven't wondered what Agrias would think about the game's ending; and her thoughts don't paint a pretty picture. - PumpkinPaelladelita/ovelia, delita/valmafra • drama • T2.613
In the midst of a war, two young women grapple with the nature of their relationship with a certain dark-eyed knight.
This is an interesting story about the possibility of Delita and Valmafra having had a relationship during the events of the game. Its depiction of their connection feels appropriately - almost gleefully - cynical and brusque, especially in contrast to the acknowlegment of his seemingly delicate, 'perfect' canonical eventual marriage to Ovelia. - CorpseBrigadierargath/tietra • angst • T1.000
Tietra considers the nobility of silent suffering.
Tightly-written, impactful story that humanizes both characters and their sufferings while drawing a connection between them, without apologizing for Argath's actions. A masterful spin and interpretation of canon facts, all wrapped nicely in messed-up, minor character het. - CorpseBrigadierdycedarg/louveria • angst • NC-17*19.307
An account of a plot, an affair, a disaster, a comet, and a child.
This is exactly the kind of supplemental reading material I'm glad to discover someone has written to add to the main story of the game. [...] I really like how [the story] manage[s] to make [Louveria and Dycedarg]'s moments of tenderness and connection and vulnerability feel genuine, without overstepping the limitations of what we know about the characters based on the game. (I also admit to enjoying the unrequited Louveria->Zalbaag more than I probably should.) - Jaydee_Fairedycedarg/milleuda • drama • T*2.376
Milleuda Folles of the Corpse Brigade is brought to justice.
Stunning fic, with amazing, antagonistic dialogue and a wonderful interpretation of the relationship of two characters who never interact in the actual game. The tagged pairing invokes high expectations, and suffice to say this story delivers in the most delightful and vicious of ways. - atramentolouveria, delita • drama • T1.430
The queen makes a choice.
A cutting, powerful 'missing scene' story explaining what happens to Louveria after her ousting. Does justice to her alleged traits of tyranny and pragmatism, but also humanizes her and allows her voice to show vulnerability. - CorpseBrigadierlouveria, delita • drama • G524
Delita meets with the former queen of Ivalice.
A cold, guarded scene between two schemers, tightly written and wastes no words. - moemachinadycedarg, zalbaag, louveria • angst • T3.885
Dycedarg and Zalbag ride in a hunt with a future queen.
A great prequel story starring the elder Beoulve siblings. Zalbaag's POV is done really well, and I like the understated humor, despite it being overall a rather bleak story. - Jaydee_Fairedycedarg, zalbaag • angst, family • T1.895
After arguing with his little brother, a young Dycedarg Beoulve ventures out into the woods to find him.
A lot of great worldbuilding and naturally-incorporated setting details tied together in a heartwrenching story about the elder Beoulve brothers during their childhood. - enmitypoissonrie, oeilvert • gen • G269
Happy birthday! For more information... kill Pablo again?
So OP played the game for 2 straight weeks and walked away having more feelings for Simone and her evil, evil boss than they had any right to be. This little ditty is rough around the edges, but no one else is going to write this pairing -- that's why this link is here. Hope springs eternal though. - Empatheiaquistis/martine • romance • T*20.733
Filling in the blanks as to how Quistis knew Martine "quite well."
A gently romantic fic, bringing forward the characters' vulnerable side with attention given to the setting and canon plot. Part I is genfic, the second chapter is more explicitly romantic. - Motchiquistis/laguna • romance, humor • T*1.113
Quistis/Laguna drabblets and ficlets, post-FF8.
Cute and humorous. - crankyoldmanquistis/laguna • romance, AU • T*1.915
He doesn't like to come to the Garden often, but since it's been near permantly parked in his backyard--well, not really his, it's just that he can't bring himself to leave Esthar--he finds himself there sometimes.
Excellent tone and atmosphere. - raininshadowsvriska♠eridan • romance • NC-171.500
Drone season hits. Eridan and Vriska need to contribute.
A nice smut fic that definitely scratched my itch for some established relationship between the two, pre-breakup. Surprisingly cute, despite the characters and setting involved; that said, the moody dystopian feel, despite understated, adds a certain charm to the fic. - kishiriazannerose • gen • M*13.575
From the way Reinhard tells it, Annerose had no say in going to the Emperor and was a victim once she was there. He couldn't be more wrong.
Excellent characterization and exploration of Annerose's side of the story. - zauberer_sirinizaya/namie • romance • T3.637
Izaya and Namie try this thing called cohabitation.
Weirdly sweet, sad and brittle in a way that, despite all, still feels like them. - thereisafireshizuo/celty • romance, friendship • M2.700
Celty invites Shizuo to go look for aliens.
Endearing and jarringly cute, just like the pair's relationship in canon. - zauberer_sirinkoizumi/haruhi, koizumi/kyon • gen • G*3.214
This is not a war as of yet, Itsuki tries to remind his bosses.
I like the nuances of Koizumi's characterization and how the litle details of his life are described- his workplace, the job and how it impacts his relationships. - puella_nerdiiamerica/england • gen • G1.350
Fifty years after V-E Day, America visits some of his boys who never made it home.
I mean, augh. It's Hetalia, and US/UK. So there's those disclaimers out of the way. But since the story is set in the 90s it's relatively removed from Obama-era cringe, and it's very well written for what it is, the evocative prose and back and forth dialogue managing to hit you in places you won't necessarily expect. - Anonymousamerica/marilyn monroe • romance • G~2.000
He didn't understand how someone like Marilyn, who was the focus of so much love, could feel so all alone.
Short and sad thing I read 10 years ago. Told in vignettes. - Cryptographic_Delurkpegasus/cecelia • gen • G3.891
Pegasus recreates the story of his love, once, twice, thrice.
To be honest, my favorite part was when Pegasus was being a bit of a git about foreigners. But, that aside, the fic really does him justice. - rainstormcolorsisis/seto • romance, friendship • T*4.616
Three years have passed since the time of Battle City and Seto Kaiba finds himself bothered by how Isis Ishtar didn't send a response to his company's invitation to a new card game tournament.
To steal from someone else's review: soft and acutely poignant and melancholic all at the same time. - Cryptographic_Delurkmalik/ryou • angst(shipping) • T5.228
On a Friday night, Ryou catches the train and rides an hour out to the wealthy suburb surrounding Versailles, where Isis and Rishid have asked him to ‘housesit’. What ensues is movies, crepes, and The Game of Life.
An post-canon take on the pairing with interesting characterization and some very cathartic scenes. - rainstormcolorsseto, mokuba • family • G973
A short angsty Kaiba brothers story.
I think the summary undersells the fic; it touches upon the more complicated and uneasy feelings between the two brothers without at all undermining the affection and love at the base of it. Heartwarming in a bittersweet and brittle kind of way. - Anonymousryou/fubuki • romance, friendship • G9.145
Marufuji Ryou, before he was Kaiser.
A pre-canon fic about Ryou and Fubuki's growing relationship at Duel Academia. Mostly lighthearted, it's thoughtfully written with subtle character writing and worldbuilding. - sintarineji/hinata • romance • G*674
Neji is seventeen. Hinata grows old.
A short and bittersweet story following Neji and Hinata's relationship through the years - even as she outlives him. OP's other Neji/Hina fics are also recommended. - ceresineji/hinata • gen • G*1.895
Someone has been freeing the caged birds in the Hyuuga compound.
The bird/cage metaphor is done so well here. - Annwydshikamaru/temari • tragedy, romance • T520
Futurefic. Shikamaru takes an ANBU mission, and whether he succeeds or not, it's not going to end well.
Grim and impactful. - Lissesai • gen • G542
Sai and art lessons.
Nice little ficlet for an underappreciated character. - vapanalleyling/lan fan • romance, angst • T~1.600
His father had fifty wives and his father's father had fifty wives and all the fathers before him had half a hundred wives of their own.
More bitter than sweet, but their affection and devotion for each other comes across so well here. - suzumekimblee • gen • T1.327
Kimblee has long been bending circumstances to his advantage.
Backstory fic. Chilling and true to the character without being overstated. - camudekyuroy/winry • drama, angst • M*~19.700
Practice losing something every day.
A realistic portrayal of an impossible couple following the ending of the 2003 anime. I greatly enjoy OP's Win/Roy fics and interpretations of their lives post-canon. - incandescensrukia/renji • romance, angst • T370
Renji would write poems, if he could.
Short and sweet and pins down the essence of their relationship like butterfly under glass. - kayrukia/renji • romance, angst • G1.351
Every now and then, Renji gets caught up in the moment and loses sight of his goals. And every time, he gets a reminder of what he's missing in his life.
A pre-canon fic that brings out the best parts of their strained closeness in not too many words. - Jetamorsrukia/renji • gen • G~668
Five birthdays Rukia never celebrated, and one she just might.
Just the right amount of poignance and bristle for Rukia. - ghostheartaizen/momo • tragedy • NC-17*3.147
His first bid for power comes full circle.
This story takes their relationship to its most brutal - but plausible - conclusion. - tasteslikemisoaizen/momo • angst, romance • G*156
"As the leader of Fifth division."
Short and sad. The last line is a killer. - Memphis Lupineishida/orihime • romance • G~550
Sometimes butterflies don't die.
Short, quietly melancholic but also optimistic take on the pairing. - afraikarin/everyone • drama, angst • M*~3.700
It's a good thing Karin only took after Ichigo in some respects.
Canon-divergent futurefic. Goes into dark territory, but Karin's voice comes across very strong in every word, right through the twisted knife of an ending. - afraiorihime, tatsuki • gen • G1.000
Orihime, Tatsuki and Umbrella-san against the world. Three is a better number than two.
Thoughtful, oddly poignant fic that puts down both Orihime's quiet sadness and determined sense of imagination in the span of 1.000 words. - puella_nerdiisuzaku/kallen • drama • M*~4.000
"Why?” she interrupts him. “Because it’s wrong, or because you think it’s what he would have done?"
Just an incredible fic; an extension of a certain scene in R2 that's described so searingly and vividly, it feels like such a treat to read. And the pairing is just fun. - lily10suzaku/kallen • drama • T~900
In the aftermath of the Zero Requiem, Suzaku and Kallen do what they do best.
Bitter/sad post-canon fic, with the violent and painful edge that comes with this pairing. But it's also short and sweet somehow ^_^ - YamiPaladinofChaossuzaku/kallen • humor, romance • T~2.000
In which everyone assumes it's because of some kind of fetish and Kallen inflicts property damage and bodily harm.
'Because we're alive'. Uuh. D'aww. Post-canon, obviously. - Mikomi's Penlelouch/c.c. • gen • G~2.100
The things C.C. dreams.
An excellent story that's more of a dissection about C.C. than romantic, but it still tugs at your heart in a non-mawkish, understated way. Probably the fic that spurred me to watch the show in the first place. - snappleducatedmilly->lelouch, lloyd • angst • G~100
"I’m not going to marry you."
A sad, startling take on the pairing. Definitely worth your time for the impact in proportion to the brevity. - rainfallgino/kallen • romance • G105
What he wants from her.
Cute and just a touch unsettling, so perfectly Gino-like. - KaliCephirotlelouch/everyone • romance, AU • M*2.269
Five first times that Lelouch never had.
A straightfoward, well-written take on the 'five times' cliche, portraying each pairing really well. - bard_linnlelouch, marianne • gen • T549
And one thing he didn't.
An impressive and evenly balanced portrait on how Marianne influenced his son. - quartzgutsnunnally, rolo • drama • T1.018
Viceroy Nunnally receives a late night visitor.
Really good, sad fic, sticks with you afterwards. - tapochkirolo, lelouch, nunnally • drama • G2.961
Home is where your things are. Rolo and Lelouch, haunted by ghosts.
A haunting, sad story. Lelouch's softness and discomfort and Rollo's obsession, along with Nunnally's invisible presence, together make such a stark and chilling contrast. - Stealth_Noodlekatsuya, tatsuya, ulala • gen, family • T15.574
The dead timeline lives on, and Katsuya Suou stubbornly persists in it. His brother is determined to do better.
Top notch worldbuilding and Suou brothers dynamic with a good helping of Katsuya and Ulala friendship - my favorite! Ulala's reminiscing of Maya destroys me utterly to this day. - patchworkearthtatsuya, all cast • gen • T41.585 (incomplete)
Living after the end of the world is hard. Living with yourself is harder. Tatsuya Suou comes home to find not everything is where he left it... and some scores are yet left unsettled.
(Or, "Persona 2: Atonement")
A post-EP epilogue of the Other Side... but why are his friends still there? Why has someone new donned the Joker mask? Who are the City of Heaven cultists? Why is Kei Nanjo working with Tatsuzou Sudou? And can Tatsuya work up the courage to ask that damned boy out on a date, or what? A story of finding a place to belong.Long and plotty, with loving characterization and attention to canon details, and enough twists thrown to keep you interested. Also it acknowledges Shiori, what other Persona 2 fic does that?! Hasn't been updated in years sadly, but worth reading nonetheless. - bluetreeslisa, tatsuya, anna • gen • T4.414
Lisa thought she could just erase her past. Turns out, the ugly parts of yourself only stand out more the more you try to avoid them.
Really good Lisa-centered story. Tatsuya and Anna are there too and their presence help make the fic feel a lot more complete. - enmityulala/maya • gen • G300
Graduation day.
"why do people ship this, you jerks?" -- me - piasoraginji/lisa • gen • T*~800
Ginji who is strong and smart and desperate and pukes black stuff and can do enough thinking for both of us but is that really okay? Lisa thinks not but Lisa thinks a lot of things that never happened.
My favorite part of the fic is that it portrays EP!Lisa as being more naive and unguarded compared to her IS!self. That's a little attention to detail that adds so much. - eightofcoinsadachi/yukiko • drama • NC-17*4.218
Adachi meets someone he wasn't even looking for and they spend an afternoon together.
Mind the content warnings. A great look at a horrible scenario. - sister_coyoteargilla/jinana • romance • T495
Argilla grows up in the shadow of the woman who she was and yet was not.
Some desperately-needed fix-it fic for both characters. - CrunchySaladzelenin, gore • gen • G2.456
A black hole appears in Antarctica and grows day by day, consuming everything in its path. Russian scientist Zelenin is invited on a U.N. expedition into the hole. She accepts, though not without concerns.
A subtle story, engaging all the way through with a great character voice for Zelenin. - signalbeammiki/kozue, juri • gen • T*5.408
Five years later, Miki and Kozue search for teenage fencing incest turtles.
My absolute favorite Utena fic (though I'd reccomend OP's Utena fics in general). The surrealism of the show translates flawlessly to the fic's prose and it gets better from there. - orphan accountmiki/kozue • romance • T*380
Everything they did, they did together.
A short and sweet little scene of the siblings in an idle moment. - DameGriseakio/anthy • drama • M*1.893
When the Rose Prince fell, it took a number of years before he truly became End of the World. Now that they are safely ensconced at Ohtori, the past comes calling and Akio and Anthy have to face it.
Although a tad scattered and incomplete-feeling, it's nevertheless a very compelling and suitably unnerving glimpse at Akio, Anthy, and the long shadow of the past that haunts them. Severely underrated story. - rabbitprintanthy, akio • gen • G*2.640
Anthy's call statements always have Akio's number on them.
Akio's (literal) voice is unnerving, precisely as much as he needs to be. - gogollescentutena/anthy • drama • G724
Some of the puzzles in the game were more elaborate than anything she’d come across in Euclid. There was the Witch, for example, who made two cups of tea, and asked you to pick one; they were always poisoned. “Cantarella,” she’d say, while Utena’s avatar was writhing around on the floor of the hut. Or: “Mercury. The chemical, that is—though how you remind me of a fleetfooted young god!” Or: “Wouldn’t you like a little shaved ice with that?”
A fusion with... a series I don't know! But the writing is lovely and succeeds in translating the pairing's emotional beats into a foreign setting. Definitely worth a read. - Raajutena/anthy • romance • G1.370
And what did she think, when her Orpheus looked back?
A short, fairly cathartic reunion story. - Letterbladea-ko, b-ko, c-ko • gen • T2.919
The part where they woke up afterwards was--blurry. Painful. Michie never liked to think on it. Particularly not the part where the End of the World carefully peeled up their shadows like water-soaked labels off a jar, his long fingers sliding under the skin of their being--no, they were all skin now, nothing else left--and pinned them up neatly against a smooth wall the next building over.
Twisted, quirky, and brings depth into the shadow play girls and their role in the larger story like nothing else. - syrupwitutena, anthy • gen • T*1.922
Five things that might, perhaps, possibly have happened if Utena had not won the duel in episode 12.
A series of glimpses into an alternate universe that manages to be engaging and interesting throughout. - twigcollinsutena • gen • T*572
Utena is brave and looks always, and keeps on looking, even when the images aren't as peaceful as this.
Short, haunting and evocative, with a brilliantly-placed Anthy cameo. (The painting the story is written after.) - Slantkozue • gen • T*576
Kozue's revolution consists of pushing creeps down stairs.
Short and amusing with a perfectly succinct first-person Kozue voice. - Measured_Wordstouga/utena • gen • G100
"A prince should care about his princess shouldn’t he?"
Short and amusing. Utena is prickly and Touga is himself. - syrupwitutena/akio/anthy • gen • M*431
Akio's starter harem.
Took me a bit to get the premise, and then it hit me like a brick. - ryfkahjuri • gen • G2.386
Life is more than a collection of still frames.
A coda to Juri's character development throughout the series. - Ember_Keeltyjuri/utena • friendship, romance • G2.285
Our timing was all wrong, Juri thinks.
Post-canon fic with some great interactions between a more mature Juri and Utena. - kurukmisato/ritsuko • gen, romance • T4.555
Ritsuko’s hand was warmer than she could have foreseen. Misato kept her hand atop hers for an overlong moment, if only to make good on the gesture, before she retracted it and wiped the small film of moisture that had accumulated on her palm onto the counter.
[Misato and Ritsuko try their hands at friendship, again.]The bleak, gray feeling of the series comes across perfectly in this fic - as does Misato and Ritsuko's history together. - Moonsheenshinji/asuka, shinji/kaworu • gen • G12.004
"Here, there was a collection of scenes, mainly pertaining to what happened to Our Protagonist, between the time he entered into UN custody and the time that the final hearings began." Post-Third Impact, Shinji faces his strangest trial yet: providing witness testimony in the case against the defense organization known as NERV.
- ruriruriyui/mari • gen • T957
Now, right now, in SEELE’s wreck of a hospital ward, smelling the rot of the place, the rot of the world, like Hiroshima, like Nagasaki, like hell itself had swallowed up—everything—Mari breathes in blood and breathes out poetry.
Complicated femslash. - Xairathanyui/mari • romance • G2.736
The story of the end of the world, told in two parts.
Sad and sweet, and gives them a semblance of happy ending that still slots in with canon. - elijah_was_a_prophetfuyutsuki, yui • gen • G*1.144
2003. Somehow they limp onward.
Wonderful worldbuilding, the story feels rich and alive despite the grief and barrenness of the world surrounding the two characters. - koneko zerohyuga/misato • romance, angst • T~4.560
Hyuga Makoto is the most pessimistic optimist in all of NERV, according to Aoba. Unfortunately he also has all the willpower of a heroin addict when it comes to the central cause.
So captivating despite being in the POV of a minor character. - suitablyskippyensemble • gen • T5.606
“We’re here to discuss a better world,” says Sudo, quietly, after a moment. Slowly, Satomi’s fists unclench; slowly, Komori sheathes his knife. “A world where those who live are those who have earned the right to live.”
“Oh, God,” says Bungo, and drops his face into his hands. “No offence, Sudo-kun, but I knew you were too good to be true.”
(Before they had their shadow dragons, and before they were a team, and before they had a plan - they were all still just as fucking weird.)
An excellently written fic giving all the pre-canon details about the Star Chamber kids - and how they play off each other - you never knew you needed. - gveretyuri/momoka • gen, tragedy • T2.745
She's not broken; she's misassembled.
A fic that paints a stark picture of Yuri's backstory and her feelings for Momoka. Yuri's POV is heartbreakingly matter-of-fact. It's also available on ff.net in case you don't have an ao3 account. - petaldancingringo/shoma • romance • G878
“You remind me of a poem I can’t remember, and a song that may never have existed, and a place I’m not sure I’ve ever been to.”
A short, cute post-script to the anime's ending. - fiction fetishista-drei/l-elf • drama • T2.798
A-drei is assigned to sit in the back row during his first week at Karlstein.
Microfic meme following the progress of their friendship told through different genres - plus a not-too brief segue into a mundane!AU world. Funny, poignant, and subtly captures the spirit of the show's battiness. - thesisgreen/leaf/red • drama • NC-175.502
An old fill for the pokemon kink meme: In which Green dominates the heck out of Leaf, and they have a complicated relationship because he's banging his best friend's fiance and yeah that sort of thing isn't happy.
See the summary! The conflict and possessiveness between the trio is laid out in lurid, uncomfortable detail - in a good way - and well-integrated with the sexual content. - manhattan martinicyrus/dawn • drama • G*211
Cyrus hates hating her.
Their relationship, and Cyrus' bitterness, encapsulated in 200 words. - faces sunwardcyrus, dawn • gen • G2.340
flowers can still bloom in winter.
Heartwarming and heartbreaking at once - you can feel Cyrus' humanity freeze and thaw and frost all over again. - failnaughtnate/rosa • romance, AU • G251
An "accidental" meeting in which Rosa is both offended and hit on: otherwise known as an average Tuesday.
I love evil team!AUs - it helps that this fic is very cute. - aestheticismsserena/calem • romance, AU • T5.268
“But why me? Wouldn’t Calem be better suited for this grand opportunity?”
She can’t help but notice the way her voice poisons her two most favorite words in the universe.
(your name is serena descartes and you are not a queen. au: serena joins team flare.)
A fun read, it's surprisingly lighthearted and outright turns into a romantic comedy midway through. - fuwaestheticfalkner/janine • romance • G110
fatherlyshipping, villainspe. 110 words.
Short, and not really sweet, but gleefully intriguing all the same. - manhattan martinigold/crystal • AU, romance • T~5.000
"I was not the one who confessed to the wrong girl," Crystal snipes, watching Gold flinch.
This fic captured me from its first few lines. It's a high school AU with delicious teenage melodrama and A+ character writing. - petaldancingruby, blue, silver, platinum • humor • T~5.500
"I can't possibly be good at everything, can I? I am human too, you know. Majestically flawed."
Part of a series with two other fics: Hide the Guns and Heroine in Hiding. This one, that focuses on the water dex holders, has my favorite banter and humor between the characters. - manhattan martiniyellow/everyone • horror, tragedy • T~2100
The summer is her favorite season.
Brilliant execution of a troubled Yellow. - Frog-kunsatoshi/mayaka • gen • G2.999
For Satoshi, the root of obsession is love.
Satoshi study framed as as in-character essay. Great grip on Satoshi's voice and use of first person POV that keeps you engaged from the first word to the last. - manhattan martinisatoshi/mayaka • angst • T1.512
He thinks of her as his, but doesn't allow her the pleasure of a vice-versa.
Very vivid portrayal of Satoshi's indecision and the wedge between his and Mayaka's relationship. - petaldancingsatoshi->mayaka/houtarou • AU • T4.875
"Aren't you going to wish me 'good luck'?" — AU, where Mayaka falls for Houtarou instead of Satoshi in middle school.
Wonderful use of first-person POV here - OP really nails Satoshi's voice and his insight on Mayaka and Houtarou's relationship. - petaldancingtsuruko/yukiatsu • angst • G250
He keeps buying white dresses for her birthday.
A cuttingly sad and bitter look at their relationship several years on. - snappleducatedyukiatsu, anaru • gen, drama • T7.100
In some other place, a little boy takes his turn drowning in the river.
An AU where Jintan died instead of Menma. Anaru's POV - her griefs and anxieties and anger - steals the show however. - Rain Bucketbeatrice, joseph, corbin • AU • M*4.408 (discontinued)
Beatrice Sugarman impulsively decides to settle with the arranged marriage of her and Corbin Creamerman.
I was really glad I wasn't the only person who picked up on the disturbing subtext between Beatrice and her father. Accordingly, this is quite a heavy and disturbing story, incomplete wih no sign of a pleasant ending in sight, but I think it really delivered on what I imagined their relationship could've easily been like, had the writers of the show decided to go there - and I argue they could have, what with the main setting itself satirizing the sexually exploitative Hollywood industry. Even without Joseph and Beatrice's relationship being textually incestuous, his misogynistic and objectifying abuse of his daughter is both textual and constantly emphasized. The story's claustrophobic second-person POV adds well to the effect. - harps17herb, butterscotch • drama, AU • T8.346
He got careless. He got sloppy. He allowed himself to think of immediate satisfaction over the long-term fate of his sitcom, and now he was paying the price. Herb Kazzaz lost his chance at fame, his sitcom, and worst of all, his best friend -- he lost everything, and he couldn't deny that it was his fault.
But hey, that's the 80s for you, huh?Amazing, gripping story. The character voices are strong and the setting of the fic really manages to come alive. - moscariker/troi • gen • T1.290
Someday, she'll be her own.
Compelling, vivid and bittersweet. - cohobbitationdukat, kira • gen • G729
When the Changeling looked him in the face and lied about their prime murder's suspect's innocence, Dukat should have... He didn't know what he should have done. Shot something, two somethings; put the corridor on lockdown. He didn't. He let Odo get away with it, because he was going to let Kira Nerys get away with it too. He owed her that much.
Packs a punch despite its brevity, with some very choice observations of Kira from Dukat's point of view, and gives another version of the explanation behind a certain early-season joke. - Selenadukat/kira • drama • T*11.692
Five roads not taken between Kira and Dukat.
Often dark, sometimes shocking, and overall displays an understanding of both characters and the relationship they share in canon. - Ariana_Parisdukat/kira • humor, romance • T3.080
Interspecies sex is all very well... but what do you talk about afterwards?
A humorous, decidedly self-indulgent all-dialogue piece. Might be implausible, depending on how you view the pairing, but it's a light, fun read that made me giggle a few times. - Always_IKnowdukat/kira • drama • M*510
There are plenty of ways to react to traumatic events. Not all of them are good ideas.
Short and potent. Also, arguably, presents the most believable (and sad) justification for why she would let him touch her to begin with. - Zabbersdukat/mirror!kira • romance, horror • M*5.195
They were the same, he and Nerys.
Superb characterization and especially dialogue, playing excellently with the similarities and differences between the characters to write a tense, haunting and sometimes brutal story. - evenstar8705dukat->kira • romance, horror • NC-17*3.776
How far Dukat would have gone if he had more time.
Terrifically disturbing, with a POV narration that pulls you in. - deborah_judgedukat/kira • drama • M*1.720
Dukat and his gods.
Wonderfully messed up, slotting into an unusual period of time in their relationship (shortly prior to S1) - I can't see the burnt station and Kira taking over Dukat's office the same way again. There's an interesting little twist to the in-universe mythology too. - Sabdukat/kira • drama • T*2.760
Let it go.
Excellent grip on tone and wonderfully translates the tone of their relationship in canon to the point it could almost be a missing scene. - Enisydukat/kira • drama • NC-17*18.352
Kira has drawn a line in the sand: she will not spend time with Dukat outside of station business. But this line – nay, the whole beach – is blown away when the people on Deep Space 9 start mysteriously disappearing...
Reading this fic was a nice prelude for watching seasons 6 and 7 (lol). But that aside I really enjoyed the plot and moments of humor that echoes back to the odd, dissonant tone of their relationship in early-to-mid season 4. - l'ombre de tes yeuxdukat/kira • drama • T*70.912
A tale of the Second Occupation: Kira, Dukat, and a plan within a plan within a plan leading to a trap.
Another metaphorical salve to plot developments in later-seasons DS9. Of course like with most Kira/Dukat fics that end with - not necessarily "getting together" per se, but the closest thing to it for this pairing - you have to go into it already believing, so to speak. That said if you're already one, like I am, you'll likely be in for a treat, with minimum suspension of disbelief required. The story deserves credit for its plot as well - not just in that there is one, but that it doesn't exist solely to serve the pairing. Plus, it's quite funny; like with most K/Du fics I recommend, if you laughed at some of their humorous moments in S3/S4, there's more of that here. There's also a sequel, though I haven't read it*. (*Yet.) - ariana_parisdukat/kira, z->g->b • drama, humor • T*47.571
All hell breaks loose on the station as, gradually, communications systems and universal translators fall victim to some mysterious epidemic.
The story manages to balance a whole bunch of characters and their respective dramas while having quite the ambitious (but self-contained) plot. The characterization is quite thoughtfully done, and the tone is miraculously not too bleak, considering the characters being focused on. Fair warning for the sex pollen plot point though (but, let's be real, you have to take drastic measures to get Kira and Dukat to actually act on all that clusterfuck they call UST). - thedevilchickendukat/kira • PWP • NC-17*1.497
Kira arranges an encounter with the orb of prophecy and change. The encounter she actually has is with Dukat instead.
Hot and gleefully ambiguous. - Enisydukat/kira • gen • G*980
In which Dukat talks a good game, and Kira might be losing her religion.
The show doesn't go very deeply into Kira's relationship with her religion, so it's nice to see a take on it. At least the cult plot has some mileage. - Yahtzeekira, odo • friendship • T1.705
In the final days before the Federation officers arrive at Deep Space Nine, Kira considers what their presence will mean.
Excellent portrayal of conflict of early-season Kira, with all her bitterness and sharpness and compassion underneath that. Her rapport with Odo is nicely written too. - Rocky_Tkira • drama, gen • T6.894
5 AU's involving the title character.
The story feels much longer and more lavish than the wordcount seems to suggest. All of the AUs presented are quite interesting; particularly the ones that give a spin on her sometimes-adversarial relationship with Sisko in S1. - gogollescentziyal • gen • T*2.255
Ziyal, five loves.
Poignant and melancholic, and obviously bittersweet, considering what happens later. - Selenaziyal, dukat • family • T4.874
When Dukat brings Ziyal with him to Cardassia, everything changes.
Wonderful missing scene, wonderful characterization, and is sweet and just a bit chilling in the best way. - bmousegarak, ziyal • friendship • G1.324
An afternoon doing alterations.
A cute moment between two characters who don't have their relationship developed enough. - Selenagarak/bashir • angst, drama • T6.638
Five things which never happened between Garak and Bashir.
Every scenario packs a lot of story into a relatively short wordcount, and does a great job of mixing the darker outcomes presented in the AUs with Garak's dry character voice. - raspberryhuntergarak/bashir • humor • G3.484
Life goes on as usual for the inhabitants of DS9. With the exception of Julian Bashir, who has a Plan.
Delightfully humorous. A Garak/Bashir story that's not all doom and gloom. - mylittleredgirlbashir/dax • friendship, romance • G6.563
At some point he was going to have to hear the truth, that it didn't matter how much he'd changed or grown up or how much she respected him. He was already having a rotten evening, so he might as well get it over with.
After Prophet Motive, Julian and Jadzia talk.It's a romance, but at the same time, the story deserves credit for portraying the relationship as being true to how it was portrayed (mostly) in the series, as a sweet and thoughtful friendship without giving into the urge to flanderize either Julian or Jadzia for the sake of getting them together. Plus, it's nice to see the fic try to make the retcon to Julian's backstory work - with a good choice of episode to boot. - Always_IKnowgarak/bashir • angst, AU • T1.752
There’s a planet, a ship with torpedoes, and a chance to save billions of lives from a senseless war.
There’s also Julian.Honestly breathtaking in how it pulls off the AU, the story is shocking-and-not in the same way Garak's scheme at the end of S3 is. - nostalgiabashir • gen • G*704
The sins of the mother.
A nice little ditty on Julian's mother. It's ambiguously sympathetic towards her that it could be read either way, and manages to paint a compelling portrait of her guilt (and moral lapses). - youcallitwinterjustin/alex • romance • M*6.645
Maybe she should have taken the Beatles' way out and told him she just wanted to hold his hand or something.
Alex's voice is spot-on. - fandrasticsam/spencer • angst, romance • M*~4.950
She'd always been such a natural in front of the camera.
Dark and maybe a little too edgy, depending on how you look at it, but the story incorporates familiar aspects of canon and twists them deftly enough to catch you off guard.
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fics: 251
updated: july '22