Due South fic recs
As the title says, DS fic recs! There's not nearly as many fics represented here as I have saved or even read, but hopefully people will chime in with their favorites. I especially would like to know of any good ones written in the last year or so, since I can guarantee that I haven't read one written since I discovered Star Trek.
All fics are F/K except for two that are rare pairings. What can I say, I've become a monogamous shipper over the years. You guys should have met me in the Harry Potter fandom. I think I read every pairing conceivable.
First off, read everything Speranza has written (and a link to her shorter dS fics.) You know that one author in a fandom that everyone knows about and usually loves? This is her. She's loved even more in other fandoms and people will often claim that they were led to Due South from other fandoms just by the awesomeness of her fic. Since I just gave you the link, I'll just put a short list of my favorites of hers:
Chicago's Most Wanted - Probably my favorite fic in the Due South fandom. Fraser suffers a head injury and for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture, believes that he is a criminal and what is Fraser like as a bad guy? A criminal mastermind version of Robin Hood. Amensia fic at its best, people.
Juggling Act - Fraser and Ray go undercover at a circus. Do you need a better reason to read it?
Eight Sessions - Fraser and Ray attend separate therapy sessions. I love how it dives into their psyches and I rather like the OC psychiatrist.
With Six You Get Egg Roll - Not only is this kidfic, which I'm not really into, but it's kidfic with six children. How does it manage to be so awesome and engaging?
*Now back to your regularly scheduled reccing. :)
A Day in the Life - This is probably the best Dief POV ever. I love how it's written, the different names Dief gives people and places, it's like how a dog would really think.
American Way - Love this premise! Fraser has to pass as an American in order to work on a case. Much more involved, but damn I love role reversal fics and this one is a nice casefic.
An Officer and a Gentleman (Frannie/Welsh, background F/K) - You'd figure this pairing wouldn't work in a thousand years, and normally I'd agree with you, but this fic makes me believe in it. :)
Blind Justice - Fraser goes temporarily blind from a pesticide used in the consulate. I like how they deal with Fraser's temporary handicap and of course I love the UST.
Blueprint - I just recently read this monster again and it's STILL awesome. I like to call this one "the dating fic" because of the fucking A+ perfect date Ray takes Fraser on. Plus there's domesticity like woah, and this is the only fic I actually like Ray calling Fraser "Ben", mostly because it doesn't happen until you're well into the story and so it's a natural progress. I kind of love Fraser in this one, how socially awkward he is and it's so romantic how Ray takes care of him in his own way.
Broadway Hotel - Ray goes back to Chicago and tries to go back to who he was. This is a lovely story and the ending is SO romantic.
Consider the Lilies of the Goddamn Field - Five things fic in which Ray examines things that aren't as bad as you think they'd be. Thoughtful and sweet.
Eight Weeks - Ray's mom comes in and does his laundry every week, discovers his boyfriend. This one is quite lovely and I like her reactions to everything.
Family Portrait - The only other kidfic I like in this fandom. AU in which Ray and Stella had two kids and she died. Ray meets Fraser and slowly integrates him into their lives. I love this fic because it gives Fraser a family, and I love that.
Finding the Words - LOVE this one, must re-read it in a day or two. Basically, Ray suffers an injury that gives him slight amnesia and a speech disorder. Not only do we get nursing-back-to-health fic, but we later get the Return of Victoria. I need to find more fics about Victoria returning, because that was my only real disappointment with the third and fourth seasons of Due South. What I wouldn't give to have had her return and interact with Ray Kowalski.
Find Me a Find - AU. Vecchio quits the police force to become a matchmaker. Now he's got his eye on Stella, and Stella suggests hooking up her ex-husband so she can go in peace. Fraser tags along on dates and for some reason they never work out. Or do they? :P Another fic where I can accept "Ben", as this is AU anyway.
Gun, with Occasional Kangaroo - Who doesn't rec this? Probably the most unique way of writing I've seen in the fandom. This has so many subtle jokes, and I about die laughing a hundred times
Haven - Ray almost dies from the cold and Fraser nurses him back to health. More to it than that, but I love the situation and their relationship.
Head Trip - Ray meets the ghost of Bob Fraser, who is trying to hook up his son. Oh the loneliness in this fic, especially the part where Ray sees Fraser in alone in his cabin, missing Ray. I like the surreal quality of this fic.
How Ray Got His Groove Back - Looking for not just for a quick porn fic, but a good porn fic that's long? Welcome to this story, which really is about porn with sexual orientation questioning thrown in. But let me reiterate: this porn is HOT.
Learn to Speak Canine in Seven Easy Steps - Dief fic! I love his names for everyone (Spiky-Ray vs. Shiny-Ray and Not-Here-Bob) and his trying to talk to Ray's turtle.
Like a House on Fire - Fat!Fraser. Well there's more to it than that, but you know how you have a code word for fics you have saved? That's my code word. Anyway, this is a long, wonderful casefic that has a lot of humor, a lot of sweet moments, and a couple of lonely dudes who really need to hook up already.
Parental Guidance - Through a series of mishaps, Ray's parents think that Fraser and Ray are dating when they're not. Once again, adorable parents!fic.
Pornography - Thatcher reprimands Fraser over mysterious pornography found in his office. I like how Ray tries to figure out what it is, and when it's revealed halfway through the fic, you sort of expect it and don't expect it. Oh, Fraser. :)
Telephone - Ray and Fraser are roommates. Ray gets a call from an old friend, Fraser thinks Ray is romantically involved with them, and Fraser decides to let Ray know that he's taking a transfer. I always have a soft spot for petty!Fraser and also for fics in which there is a miscommunication.
The Man Who Wasn't There (Turnbaull/Dewey) - Talk about an obscure pairing! But this fic makes it work and I actually love it.
The Minute After - Fraser and Ray kiss, then work on a case involving homosexual men being targeted. This has a good dialogue of bigotry in America as well as soon sweet slash moments. A win in my book.
True North - This one starts out so devastating! Maggie unintentionally reveals Fraser's feelings for Ray, and Ray reacts badly and returns to Chicago. Except while there, he finds that he misses Fraser too much and returns. I love how the reader totally knows Ray is head over heels for Fraser when he doesn't understand himself until near the end of it. Some people just need to buy a few dozen clues.
When the Ice Goes Out - Ray quits the force and goes to work as a private investigator without telling anyone where he's going. Fraser finds him, and what he finds is not what he expected. I admit it, I have a thing for loneliness in this fandom, because it's my basic belief that these two work so well together because they're two lonely men who have found something in each other, and this fic gives it from both sides.
Winter Home - Apocalypse fic. The world ends, but they have each other. I kind of like the change of pace for this one, and the ending is sort of uplifting in a way.
All fics are F/K except for two that are rare pairings. What can I say, I've become a monogamous shipper over the years. You guys should have met me in the Harry Potter fandom. I think I read every pairing conceivable.
First off, read everything Speranza has written (and a link to her shorter dS fics.) You know that one author in a fandom that everyone knows about and usually loves? This is her. She's loved even more in other fandoms and people will often claim that they were led to Due South from other fandoms just by the awesomeness of her fic. Since I just gave you the link, I'll just put a short list of my favorites of hers:
Chicago's Most Wanted - Probably my favorite fic in the Due South fandom. Fraser suffers a head injury and for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture, believes that he is a criminal and what is Fraser like as a bad guy? A criminal mastermind version of Robin Hood. Amensia fic at its best, people.
Juggling Act - Fraser and Ray go undercover at a circus. Do you need a better reason to read it?
Eight Sessions - Fraser and Ray attend separate therapy sessions. I love how it dives into their psyches and I rather like the OC psychiatrist.
With Six You Get Egg Roll - Not only is this kidfic, which I'm not really into, but it's kidfic with six children. How does it manage to be so awesome and engaging?
*Now back to your regularly scheduled reccing. :)
A Day in the Life - This is probably the best Dief POV ever. I love how it's written, the different names Dief gives people and places, it's like how a dog would really think.
American Way - Love this premise! Fraser has to pass as an American in order to work on a case. Much more involved, but damn I love role reversal fics and this one is a nice casefic.
An Officer and a Gentleman (Frannie/Welsh, background F/K) - You'd figure this pairing wouldn't work in a thousand years, and normally I'd agree with you, but this fic makes me believe in it. :)
Blind Justice - Fraser goes temporarily blind from a pesticide used in the consulate. I like how they deal with Fraser's temporary handicap and of course I love the UST.
Blueprint - I just recently read this monster again and it's STILL awesome. I like to call this one "the dating fic" because of the fucking A+ perfect date Ray takes Fraser on. Plus there's domesticity like woah, and this is the only fic I actually like Ray calling Fraser "Ben", mostly because it doesn't happen until you're well into the story and so it's a natural progress. I kind of love Fraser in this one, how socially awkward he is and it's so romantic how Ray takes care of him in his own way.
Broadway Hotel - Ray goes back to Chicago and tries to go back to who he was. This is a lovely story and the ending is SO romantic.
Consider the Lilies of the Goddamn Field - Five things fic in which Ray examines things that aren't as bad as you think they'd be. Thoughtful and sweet.
Eight Weeks - Ray's mom comes in and does his laundry every week, discovers his boyfriend. This one is quite lovely and I like her reactions to everything.
Family Portrait - The only other kidfic I like in this fandom. AU in which Ray and Stella had two kids and she died. Ray meets Fraser and slowly integrates him into their lives. I love this fic because it gives Fraser a family, and I love that.
Finding the Words - LOVE this one, must re-read it in a day or two. Basically, Ray suffers an injury that gives him slight amnesia and a speech disorder. Not only do we get nursing-back-to-health fic, but we later get the Return of Victoria. I need to find more fics about Victoria returning, because that was my only real disappointment with the third and fourth seasons of Due South. What I wouldn't give to have had her return and interact with Ray Kowalski.
Find Me a Find - AU. Vecchio quits the police force to become a matchmaker. Now he's got his eye on Stella, and Stella suggests hooking up her ex-husband so she can go in peace. Fraser tags along on dates and for some reason they never work out. Or do they? :P Another fic where I can accept "Ben", as this is AU anyway.
Gun, with Occasional Kangaroo - Who doesn't rec this? Probably the most unique way of writing I've seen in the fandom. This has so many subtle jokes, and I about die laughing a hundred times
Haven - Ray almost dies from the cold and Fraser nurses him back to health. More to it than that, but I love the situation and their relationship.
Head Trip - Ray meets the ghost of Bob Fraser, who is trying to hook up his son. Oh the loneliness in this fic, especially the part where Ray sees Fraser in alone in his cabin, missing Ray. I like the surreal quality of this fic.
How Ray Got His Groove Back - Looking for not just for a quick porn fic, but a good porn fic that's long? Welcome to this story, which really is about porn with sexual orientation questioning thrown in. But let me reiterate: this porn is HOT.
Learn to Speak Canine in Seven Easy Steps - Dief fic! I love his names for everyone (Spiky-Ray vs. Shiny-Ray and Not-Here-Bob) and his trying to talk to Ray's turtle.
Like a House on Fire - Fat!Fraser. Well there's more to it than that, but you know how you have a code word for fics you have saved? That's my code word. Anyway, this is a long, wonderful casefic that has a lot of humor, a lot of sweet moments, and a couple of lonely dudes who really need to hook up already.
Parental Guidance - Through a series of mishaps, Ray's parents think that Fraser and Ray are dating when they're not. Once again, adorable parents!fic.
Pornography - Thatcher reprimands Fraser over mysterious pornography found in his office. I like how Ray tries to figure out what it is, and when it's revealed halfway through the fic, you sort of expect it and don't expect it. Oh, Fraser. :)
Telephone - Ray and Fraser are roommates. Ray gets a call from an old friend, Fraser thinks Ray is romantically involved with them, and Fraser decides to let Ray know that he's taking a transfer. I always have a soft spot for petty!Fraser and also for fics in which there is a miscommunication.
The Man Who Wasn't There (Turnbaull/Dewey) - Talk about an obscure pairing! But this fic makes it work and I actually love it.
The Minute After - Fraser and Ray kiss, then work on a case involving homosexual men being targeted. This has a good dialogue of bigotry in America as well as soon sweet slash moments. A win in my book.
True North - This one starts out so devastating! Maggie unintentionally reveals Fraser's feelings for Ray, and Ray reacts badly and returns to Chicago. Except while there, he finds that he misses Fraser too much and returns. I love how the reader totally knows Ray is head over heels for Fraser when he doesn't understand himself until near the end of it. Some people just need to buy a few dozen clues.
When the Ice Goes Out - Ray quits the force and goes to work as a private investigator without telling anyone where he's going. Fraser finds him, and what he finds is not what he expected. I admit it, I have a thing for loneliness in this fandom, because it's my basic belief that these two work so well together because they're two lonely men who have found something in each other, and this fic gives it from both sides.
Winter Home - Apocalypse fic. The world ends, but they have each other. I kind of like the change of pace for this one, and the ending is sort of uplifting in a way.