#i was snooping through your longfic the other day and i got an idea

[heniareth]

For @snarky-bee for OC kiss week

(Set in a verse in which Kallian is herself and Astala is her Companion AU self, that is, the Warden's sister. Enjoy! ^^)

The room was dark and smelled musty. The windows were nailed shut. This had probably been somebody's home before the Vints had taken it over.

Astala leaned her head against the bars of her cage and mechanically massaged her bruised ribs. Those bastards who called themselves healers had taken none too kindly to her escape attempt. Who knew magic could bruise as much as a club? And it hadn't even hit her. It had just sort of flared up and all her muscles had locked up and she hadn't been able to breathe. It'd been scary. It was good, she supposed, that it was her and not Kallian.

Oh, Kallian. If only she could've done something to keep from that Grey Warden.

"Don't go," she'd told her when Kallian had told her where she was going. "Please, let me-"

"What?" Kallian had asked. Astala remembered the harshness in her voice like they'd just spoken yesterday. She hadn't meant it, Astala knew that. "Do what? The guards already know my face. And you've heard them, I have to leave Denerim."

"But not with that shem!" Astala had shouted. Kallian, still in her blood-drenched wedding dress and the stolen armor, had looked over both her shoulders before stepping in close. "Listen," she had whisper-hissed. "I want this. I want out of here, I don't want to get married. I'm leaving." Astala had felt the blood drain from her face. "Kallian-" "It's no goodbye," Kallian had insisted. She was trying to keep her expression neutral, Astala could tell, but the air around her had been vibrating with excitement. "You'll see me again, just you wait. I just have to talk to Shianni real quick." "She's inside," Astala had answered tonelessly. Kallian had left her standing outside the house in her hurry. A few moments later, she had stepped out again, pushed out by an equally excited Shianni, wearing old gear that Astala swore she had still been able to see blood stains on. Kallian had waved, and then hurried towards the shem waiting for her. A glare was the only thing Astala had been able to give him for taking Kallian away. And then they'd been gone.

That had been a good year ago.

Sweet Andraste. A year already. Astala looked at the ceiling and swallowed down a ball of bitterness.

They all disappeared, didn't they? First Adaia. Then Kallian; they had received news of the defeat at Ostagar a month and a half after that disaster of a wedding, and Astala desperately wished she had insisted on giving Kallian a proper goodbye. Then, the purge had come. Astala and Shianni had done their best to look after their family. But the plague and these Vints had followed, and taken first Valora, then Cyrion, and now Astala. Worst of all? She'd landed herself in here while trying to get her family out. She'd never had Kallian's ability for stealth and thievery.

They made a pretty trio, and all good things come in pairs of three. Adaia, in her blood-soaked shroud. Kallian, in the wedding dress smeared with blood. And she, Astala, in nothing but her shift and the few drops of blood she got when the magic made her muscles clamp up and her teeth bite down on her lip.

Lady Andraste, she was so tired. She shivered, pulled her knees up to her chest, and hugged her arms around herself.

Steps. Several people, out in the hallway. Astala stayed where she was. She probably should be standing up, to face her destiny with her chin raised and her back straight. But she didn't find it in her to pull herself up. So she stayed where she was. Would they be sold together? Would she end up somewhere close to everybody else? They'd sell Cyrion and Valora for housework, which they did best, but she'd shown the Vints that she was well able to fight, and strong. Field work, perhaps. Or maybe even an arena? People died there, she'd heard. People died there quickly.

It was too soon. She thought they would've taken longer to get her.

Voices, clanking of weapons and armor, the door swung open. Astala's fingers found the bars behind her, wrapped around them, not yet, please-

"Astala?"

Kallian.

Astala whipped her head around, and there she was: blonde hair, slight frame, alive, alive! Astala scrambled to her feet, sent the bars of her cage rattling when she hit against them.

"Kallian!!" she gasped. "Get me out. Get me out of here!"

Thieves' tools jangled, the door to her cage swung open, Astala clambered out, out! Next thing she knew, she had her arms slung around Kallian and Kallian was hugging her back fiercely. She had grown a bit. She had put on muscle. She smelled a bit strange, something acrid and far too sweet under the smell of dust and sweat and iron, but Astala shoved that thought aside. Everything would be alright now.

"You're alive," she muttered into the hug. "We thought you'd died!"

She felt and heard Kallian laugh triumphantly, and wanted to bottle the moment in.

"Takes a bit more to kill me than some darkspawn," Kallian answered. "Are you alright? What did they do to you?"

"I'm fine now," Astala said. And she was. "I'm fine. They just locked me up. But-"

Suddenly, everything came rushing back.

"Kallian, they've taken him. They've taken Pa, out and to the back! There's another warehouse behind this one. They take them there, and then down to the docks and onto a ship, I saw it when I snuck in. You might just catch them. Kallian, they're Vints. Blood mages!"

Kallian's expression hardened. "I know. Don't worry, we got this."

She turned around to her companions. Only now did Astala take the time to actually look at them and at Kallian herself. They were armed, and their armor looked expensive and well-cared for. Kallian held herself... differently. Yes, this was the girl who had broken her mirror and stolen strawberry-rhubarb cake for her, but she was also so much more now. Where had those scars come from? Where the quiet self-confidence and liquid grace in her movements, the way she got all of her companions up to speed and took the lead among this bunch of shemlen and one- Ah. The way the other elf was speaking to her and trailing after her was interesting. Astala smiled to herself and decided to ask all of the questions once they were out of this slaver den and safe.

"What's with that smile?" Kallian asked.

"Nothing," Astala said and shrugged, not bothering to tone her smile down.

"You smell like money now, is all."

"Ugh! Stop it."

Astala laughed as Kallian swatted her arm. Kallian grinned back.

Then, her expression sobered. "We'll get Pa out, alright? You stay here."

"Alright," Astala said. "Promise me you'll stay safe, yeah?"

Kallian lifted an eyebrow. "No 'please let me keep you safe' this time?"

"I think you're doing a pretty good job," Astala said lightheartedly. "And, to be honest... I don't think I can keep up with you anymore."

Something fluttered over Kallian's expression. Then, she pointed to her right.

"We came that way, and you should find nothing but dead shemlen there. Take the back door."

"I'll wait for you at home," Astala said. Then she pulled Kallian in and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Stay safe, please," she said again. "Ma would be so proud of you."

Kallian didn't look at her for a moment, and Astala let her.

"No goodbyes?" Kallian finally said.

Astala smiled. "No goodbyes."

With a last squeeze to Kallian's shoulder—what bit of shoulder she could get past the armor—Astala left the room and turned to the right. Kallian and her companions turned to the left. Astala listened until the clanking of their armor had faded away, and then for some more time.

Silence.

Astala took a deep breath, and ran. She skidded down the hallway, jumped over a few shemlen corpses, and burst into a wide open hall. The back door was right there. Astala ran, through the door, down the street, and halfway to home until she slowed down and took a big lungful of fresh air.

She was free.

And Kallian was alive.

[phantomchick]

List of wips - aka struggles

Call Me A Jason Todd fic I started two years ago and still go back to poke at longingly, will the second and final chapter ever be posted? Who can know for sure.

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I tell myself that I don't need Anyone (But the truth is no one needs Me) Another Jason Todd fic I haven't completed, posted two years ago for whumptober, it was the only day of whumptober I participated in, intended to be full of Captain Atom and Jason Todd interacting during the fall out of Bludhaven getting chemo'd but he doesn't show up in the first chapter and have you ever tried to read Infinite Crisis? It's a fucking mess. With this wip I have a close to justifiable excuse in that I refuse to write without knowing the canon, and reading through all the canon that's relevant is A Task.

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The Monster in The Man A Merlin fic floating around my drafts, currently at a good bit over 5k wherein Merlin gets POSSESSED by an old enchantment gone mad. Written because a Merlin fic I read ended on a horror style cliffhanger and I couldn't handle it so I charged my way through the first 2k of a sequel and I've been adding to it ever since. Angst with a hopefully happy ending, if I ever frikking finish it.

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The Dragon Lord In the aftermath of his father's death after Merlin inherits his father's dragon lord abilities he notices some minor changes to his interactions with his friends, the thing is that Merlin is a dragon lord and unusually what he hoards is people, things might just turn out the better for it.

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Maelstrom A Naruto time travel fix it fic that wouldn't leave me alone until I got the first chapter out, ironically it has left me entirely alone since I finished the first chapter and I have no idea if inspiration for it will ever return or when that will be.

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You Don't Know Anything Long long ago in a land of asks and a time of legend @paradise-runway sent me a fic request for "one where the other Bat boys find out the circumstances of Jason's death and resurrection and their reaction?" it has been lingering in my drafts haunting me ever since, someday, someday I shall fulfill what has been promised.

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Of Curses and Covenants A longfic exploring the magical underbelly of Gotham's history, focuses on the intertwined relationship of the Wayne Family and the Zatara Family brought about by how often Waynes through the generations have ended up being cursed. I have an index of all the curses ready, the problem with this one is the plot and the story.

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Vicki Finds a Bat (temporary title) Vicki Vale stumbles upon a still alive young adult Jason Todd at a wafflehouse on the way back from snooping into Cobblepot's latest criminal schemes. Convincing the young man to go back home to his loving father might prove more of a challenge than she thinks however. (will have a happy ending if I ever fucking finish it, for now it looms in my drafts like an unhappy gargoyle)

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Hug Deficit A fic about Jason being touch starved and his family fixing it, hurt/comfort all the way, post resurrection.

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Stephanie Brown and The Mansion of Man Pain Robin Era Steph, she and Alfred have pumpkin spice lattes together, it's their thing because I say it is. Includes, Alfred raised 5 boys counting Bruce, he's not sure how to handle a little girl and Bruce trying to dad plus Steph trying her best. Would be a lot easier to write if I was any good at comedy.

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Another Time, Another Place Some twenty years or so after their death, Martha and Thomas Wayne appear in the middle of Wayne Manor's ground floor parlour room, the major problem with this? Not only are Bruce and Dick away, Alfred's on holiday in England! Which is why Jason as the eldest has been unwillingly nominated by his younger siblings to deal with the situation at hand. Martha and Thomas in this are heavily inspired by @unpretty's amazing portrayals in her fics with them.

- Queen Blackfire and the Lazarus Lord An au with Soulmate identifying marks: Jason Todd was having an okay time as de-facto leader of The Outlaws, a band of misfits and rebels with hearts of gold (or at least silver) saving the world the best they could and filling in the gaps the more straightforward heroes tended to miss while they were at it. Then he found out he was soulmates with the Alien Warrior Queen bent on declaring war on planet Earth if the Justice League didn't find her soulmate for her. Things with his friend, team mate and potential future sister in law Kori just got super awkward and the only good thing he can find about this situation is how angry (and protective? But maybe he's just imagining that) Bruce seems over the whole thing.

Side note: Kommand'r freaked out during the years Jason was 'dead' and accidentally brought peace to a huge chunk of space and intergalactic society via building up her empire after throwing herself into work to escape the grief.

- To Grasp The Hand of a Fox Naruto and Kurama travel back in time to save the world but unfortunately they land in the same moment that Kurama's just been put under a genjutsu by Madara Uchiha, Naruto has to make his way to Konoha and wake Kurama up before the villagers seal him away inside Mito. Can he save his friend in time to save them all?

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Those Winter Sundays Mcu fic. Snapshots of Tony working hard for the avengers and no one noticing. Civil War Team Iron Man.

- Salvation Rides a Solar Wind Iron Man fic in a Science fiction / Western style fic where Tony's presence is described through the eyes of the aliens he helps. Au where the war with Thanos goes very differently. The type of fic that needs like 5 multi chapter fics in a single series to truly shine, hence why I will likely never finish it.

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And We Break Away Again Jason goes back to Talia after Damian is brought back from the dead by Bruce. It's not that he begrudges his little brother his resurrection, the opposite, but he can't ignore what Bruce did to him by taking him to the magdala valley and he can't ignore what Bruce doing for Damian what he didn't do for him, (do for Dick, do for any of them besides the blood related one) means. So he decides to go back to the only person who ever seemed to understand why he wanted to avenge himself in the first place, the only person who seemed to agree that he had a right to be angry that he'd died at all, the only person he can trust to hold him together while he feels like he's falling apart that won't judge him against the heroic mold while they're at it. Not sure if this will be a oneshot or a series but we're going good Talia with this one regardless, DC's been ruining her lately but through fanfic all things are possible so fuck them.

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Fan The Flames In the aftermath of a magical fire taking hold of the Daily Planet in Metropolis, Superman is missing, can Batman and the rest of the Justice League find their friend as well as the identity of the evil arsonist before Lex Luther does it first?

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In a Whisper (In a Wish) Ichigo Kurosaki protects people, it's not just who he is, it's what he is, down to the core of his very soul. The only problem is, that a few weeks ago he sacrificed half his soul to protect the world. It aches inside where he knows something important used to be. When everyone he cares for is avoiding him and he's starting to feel more like a shadow than a person, that aches at him too and he can't help but wish, quietly, privately, painfully, to himself if no one else that things were different, that he wasn't so broken or so alone. But if wishes were fishes they'd fill a whole sea (just be careful not to whisper them within the hearing range of the Hōgyoku).

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An Honest Conversation (Is A Bitter Thing To Crave) Jason kidnaps Bruce but things don't go as Bruce expects. First of all the reason Jason was able to kidnap him was because Stephanie of all people was his insider, why would she support someone Batman knows she's only met once. And second of all the reason he's been abducted - So that Jason can drug them both with the same substance. And when Bruce asks what he's doing this for Jason only responds, "We don't trust each other enough to have a truthful conversation otherwise" and refuses to say anything more while they wait for it to kick in. What will be revealed by this forced honest encounter on both sides? -

carrying the world on thin shoulders Midoriya Izuku deserves better from literally all the adults in his life so this is part whump part hurt comfort part fix it fic that sprawls out from time to time but it's pretty bad tbh, at some point I'll probably make it neater and give it something resembling a coherent plot. Hopefully. -

Trust Issues HP fic. Harry gets dosed with a potion that's supposed to reinforce your strongest survival instinct, the person who drugged him might've intended to be helpful but said potion happened to be at extra strength and he was given what would be a normal fix for the regular version but for this one is twice the recommended amount. Great.. The biggest problem about all this - beyond his internationally wanted godfather Sirius endangering himself by hiding out in a cave near Hogsmeade against all rational advice, his best friend Ron hating him, everyone in school besides his other best friend Hermione also hating him or avoiding him and the entire Goblet of Fire problem - is that he can't bring himself to trust anyone enough to tell them what's wrong.

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Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies A post marvel avengers story, thor pov probably, made because I like to dive into a pool of thor & loki sibling feels sometimes: Starts off as Thor regales his new human shield brothers with the story of his banishment and return to Asgard ending with Loki falling into the Void and the Avengers have some questions, questions Thor had not thought of, remarks on things that Thor doesn’t know how to explain away.  After he goes to Loki’s cell and asks him some things he becomes more and more angry despite having no one he can punch > Gets drunk and criticises Sif and The Warriors Three after they try to calm him down > mention of Loki still being underage by Aesir standards during Thor 1 seeing as Thor was being crowned due to being of age in the movie > heavy inspiration drawn from queen regnant by peaceheather. “For while the Treason I detest, the Traitor I love still.” Currently just an outline.

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Separation Split personality disorder Red Hood and Jason Todd, alternatively, Red Hood is a demon/parasite latched on to Jay. A lot of work necessary considering right now it’s currently just an idea inspired by a cool tumblr fanart.

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A Trinity of Head Wounds The dcu trinity in the aftermath of a fight against some alien invaders (or something along those lines), whump, hurt/comfort, starts with them arguing, ends with them bleeding on each other in a friendship way, whole thing should take place in a single room on the watchtower and be a oneshot so it's gotta be a short and sweet one-two gut punch with the feelings which is difficuuult.

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A Stark in The Stars an mcu fic, a really over complicated mcu fic, mostly because of Steve Roger's timeline fuckery, Tony's alive but he's not supposed to be, but so are a lot of people who were dead but aren't now you might say what with the snap and the blip. The thing is that Steve's timeline fuckery is making it so that everyone keeps getting confused between the two different timelines of events, obviously more confused the more that their characters were connected to the films/the events that were altered, the punchline of this particular fic though is that Tony's still alive and he's unaware of the timeline of events where he died. And as he's currently in space he's also unaware that everyone on Earth thinks he's dead (because why wouldn't they? he died in endgame after all). That makes this fic super tough to write because like ultimate unreliable narrator right here and not sure how to tie in the whole 'oh wait actually everyone on Earth thinks I'm dead because of the canon timelines' thing in or at what point of the story to do that at. The fuckery of it all gives me a headache. Plot is hard. Also all of that's basically background to the actual focus of most of the fic thus far which is Tony travelling around space in an Iron Man suit up until the point where it won't be background.

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Magic Chained Merlin au. When you put magic restraining cuffs on Magic himself you don't just bind him you bind all magic the world over. It is therefore, infinitely lucky that Uther Pendragon never became aware of this fact.

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A Child in The Cold bnha Midoriya deserves better also Recovery Girl and Aizawa have shit to answer for as far as I'm concerned.

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[swissmissficrecs]

Novella-length casefics, Part 1

I’ve put together several longfic casefic rec lists but I realized I haven’t posted anything for those who just want a bedtime snack. So here are some novella-length (ca. 15-50K) recs to hit that sweet spot.

This got long, so I’ve split it into two parts.

Part 1 below

Part 2 [click]

A Question of Identity by VolceVoice (40K, Teen, Johnlock) The observations of an amnesiac murder witness force John to rethink his assumptions about Sherlock, himself, and the definition of love. Meanwhile, a murderer is still on the loose . . .

A Week in the Country by chainsaw_poet (20K, NR, Gen) Sherlock's lifestyle has taken its toll on his health and John is worried. With Mycroft's help, John coerces Sherlock into taking a holiday in the country to get some rest. Unfortunately, their trip doesn't quite turn out to be a relaxing as John had planned, when Sherlock's latest case decides to catch up with them.

Algorithms of the Night by ampersand_ch (28K, Explicit, Johnlock) Sherlock goes undercover at a psychiatric hospital for a new case. For John and Sherlock it's the start of an unforeseen, emotional adventure that has far-reaching consequences for their relationship.

All the Pieces Falling Into Place by 221b_careful_what_you_wish_for (14K, Explicit, Johnlock) Before heading off on a case that leads to Belgrade, John grabs the Sudoku cube from Sherlock's desk. As John tries to solve the puzzle, he and Sherlock find themselves playing their own game charged with sexual tension.

Anyone Else by SilentAuror (39K, Explicit, Johnlock) Sherlock is in the middle of a case involving a vigilante serial killer when he discovers that John has been cheating on Mary, and not with him.

Blind Man’s Bluff by Rae666 (25K, Teen, Gen) "We are gods among mortals. But even gods must be tested." Sherlock loses his sight temporarily and must rely on his other senses and John in order to solve the case at hand. But as the killer draws closer, could the pair be in more danger than they first thought?

Contamination by Laura JV (16K, Mature, Gen) In which an artistic murder draws Irene Adler and her brother Nathan into the lives of Lestrade and Holmes, and Dr John Watson balances his morals against the happiness that is a warm gun.

Corpus Hominis by mycapeisplaid (47K, Explicit, Johnlock) John knows the human body intimately.  He’s had plenty of opportunity for study as a doctor, soldier, and lover.  There’s one particular body, however, he knows very little about.  When Sherlock launches himself head-first into a new obsession and they get sent on a case in an unlikely location, the pair discovers each other’s bodies with confusing yet delightful (and sometimes hilarious) results.

Dancing with Fire by ampersand_ch (35K, Johnlock and Sherlock/OMC) A client named Benjamin Waters makes Sherlock question everything he thought he knew about himself, and throws John far out of his comfort zone. Even as John and Sherlock work together to investigate an unusual series of killings, they can't help questioning the basis of their friendship. But then something unexpected happens.

Everybody Knows by Susan (44K, Explicit, Johnlock) As if John and Sherlock don't have enough problems already (that whole Sherlock getting shot by Mary thing), now there's a cold case detective from Canada snooping around asking questions about Moriarty.

Full Circle by Rehfan (18K, Mature, Johnlock, Warstan, and Sherlock/OFC) Re-adjusting to life with Sherlock after his fall isn't easy. Especially when you're still grieving for your late wife and your flatmate kisses you.

Hounds by quietasasleepingarmy (22K, Explicit, Johnlock) Sherlock enlists John's help with a case that falls far beyond his area of expertise.

Legwork by yonwords (21K, Teen, Lestrade/OFC) "The boy sat on the farthest bench on the platform, slumped in his seat as though asleep." Lestrade gets to be the hero of his own detective novella.

Lucifer’s Gardens by ampersand_ch (32K, Explicit, Johnlock and John/OMC) John goes undercover for an investigation as a favour to Lestrade in a village in Suffolk. The events surrounding the case awaken deep-seated fears in Sherlock. While John begins to come to a realisation of what he needs in Lucifer's Gardens, Sherlock tries to find a way to reach John – in more ways than one.

M for Marriage by RonaSargent (28K, Mature, Johnlock and Warstan) John Watson finds out who he is actually married to. It's not who he thought. Beset with marital problems and with distraction in mind, a distressed John Watson helps Sherlock Holmes on a fast paced, high profile case. Unexpected revelations resolve not just the case but all the unanswered questions from S3.

Misconceptions by kuhekabir (29K, Explicit, Johnlock) John's betrayal has more consequences than even Sherlock could've anticipated. With Sherlock's past unravelling right before his eyes, will he be able to forgive John and more importantly will he come out this new case alive and with his sanity intact? Plus an interfering older brother and one curious Detective Inspector and  the scene is set for chaos...of the emotional kind.

Mountebank by Odamaki (26K, Mature, Johnlock) “I am calm,” John snaps, leaning on the door to glare out at the dark streets around them. Sherlock’s not said where they’re going; all he knows is they came off the ring road to the west of London and have vanished somewhere into the depths of Berkshire. All he knows is that he’s been trussed up in a suit that wasn’t hired from anywhere and if brought new would edge up into the triple figure margins. “Be calmer,” Sherlock advises, with a trace of irony. “We’re going to a party.”

Nucleus by ampersand_ch (39K, Explicit, Johnlock) Sherlock attends therapy sessions with Ella to work through his family history. In doing so, he stumbles upon another issue that's been buried deep down inside him. This story picks up immediately at the end of series 4 and contains spoilers.

Old Haunts by DiscordantWords (15K, Mature, Johnlock) In the days following their return from Dartmoor, with the uncertain threat of Moriarty still hanging overhead, Sherlock and John take a case that changes everything.

Read Our Futures in the Rising Steam by xzombiexkittenx (22K, Explicit, Johnlock) An unknown killer begins kidnapping and vivisecting men who bear a strong resemblance to one John Watson. Lestrade wants both John and a newly-resurrected Sherlock as far away from the case as possible- and not just because Sherlock is the Met's prime suspect. But this is a case that Sherlock, still feeling out the limits of John's grief and his own guilt, can't just ignore.

Secondary Exposure by thesardine (18K, Teen, Gen) After twenty years, the killer who abducted John as a child has resurfaced.  Now John and Sherlock must track him down before he claims another victim, and at the same time navigate the shifting nature of their relationship.

Slender: However Improbable by philalethia (33K, Mature, Johnlock) Six months after The Fall, John is falling apart. Then a homeless woman is thrown from the roof of St. Bartholomew's; a tall, thin man in a black suit begins follow him; and John slowly realises that both he and Scotland Yard are very, very out of their depths.

Stick to the Script by thisisforyou (43K, Explicit, Johnlock) Maybe Sherlock should have guessed that asking John to pretend to tie him to the bed and shag him though the headboard - for a case - wasn't such an intelligent idea. Or, the one in which a femme fatale murder causes Sherlock and John to role-play sex. Repeatedly.

Sussex by SilentAuror (26K, Explicit, Johnlock) John can't seem to stop touching Sherlock. He can push the anger away, but sometimes he just needs to take Sherlock's pulse again. Slight angst, case-fic, post-Reichenbach.