Agents of Shield, 12 Recs - Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz, minor: Skye|Daisy Johnson/Antoine Triplett
Like syd15 said around this time last year, I too have a very complex relationship with the show so these fics are largely AU or set early on and/or zero in on character interaction so tightly there isn’t much else to see.
I really did want to get some Miraculous Ladybug fic recs in here but it's the end of the month and just completing the minimum took a lot more time than I imagined. >_< It's still been fun though, sharing with you guys and revisiting some truly stellar fanfics while doing so! Thanks!
Fandom: Agents of Shield
Pairing: Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz
Title: Murder By Mistake
Author: recoveringrabbit
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): Teen And Up Audiences/murders, discussions of war and the repercussions thereof
Genre: Mystery/Romance/AU
Word Count/WIP?: 121,617; complete
Recced on LiveJournal By: roofshadow
Special Rec: 17 of 28
Why This Must Be Read: You’re going to see another piece by recoveringrabbit in this list and I actually have still more of her works bookmarked. Look, if you like FitzSimmons you really ought to just read down her whole list of fics (though that's true of a lot of authors, she's my personal favorite). Imagine if you could take a golden age detective story a la Dorothy L. Sayers or Agatha Christie and add Fitzsimmons being science-y, adorable, earnest, insta-bonded, neophytes in love. You would get this masterpiece of fiction. If you love the way FitzSimmons seemed like soul mates long before they became lovers, if you love how well they worked together and how smart they are, if you love how they were still naive and oh so sincere despite their stratospheric IQs, and if you want all of that in a fight for truth, justice and the decency of humanity than this will be your catnip. Also starring Tony and Pepper in sizeable side roles with Coulson, Agent Morse, Hunter, Mack, and Trip all showing up to make cameos. Utterly delightful.
Fandom: Agents of Shield
Pairing: Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz
Title: Diplomatic Relations
Author: everyl1ttleth1ng
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): General Audiences/none
Genre: Romance/AU
Word Count/WIP?: 1,606; complete
Recced on LiveJournal By: roofshadow
Special Rec: 18 of 28
Why This Must Be Read: There are a number of charming ficlets in the FitzSimmons: Out of the Blue series but this one always sticks in my mind as surprisingly adorable. The Scottish Prime Minister and his “lovely English counterpart” contemplating a romantic relationship? How can that not make you want to squeal a little bit?
Fandom: Agents of Shield
Pairing: Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz; Minor pairings: Skye|Daisy Johnson/Antoine Triplett, Lance Hunter/Bobbi Morse
Title: Assassin
Author: roamingbadger
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): Teen And Up Audiences/swearing, drinking, a little sexual innuendo
Genre: Adventure/Romance
Word Count/WIP?: 27,673; complete
Recced on LiveJournal By: roofshadow
Special Rec: 19 of 28
Why This Must Be Read: This is a pulse-pounding AU that puts pretty much everyone at the Academy together for maximum combustion. Daisy is perfect as a Communications student/hacker with some great shout-outs to the delightful interactions and conversations she had with Jemma in season one. Jemma and Fitz are still in their “he hates me” stage of their relationship but this game of assassination will kick start their relationship in a very new direction. Plenty of our bus kids being far smarter than average with a good dose of romance too.
Fandom: Agents of Shield
Pairing: Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz
Title: fault lines
Author: jemmasimmmons
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): Teen And Up Audiences/nightmares, PTSD, spoilers for season three
Genre: Drama
Word Count/WIP?: 7,487; complete
Recced on LiveJournal By: roofshadow
Special Rec: 20 of 28
Why This Must Be Read: For a complete change of pace here’s a piece set in canon and it’s, by necessity, pretty dang somber but still hopeful and full of love. This is the kind of support, sharing and bonding that FitzSimmons fans wanted to see as they dealt with season three but sadly, didn’t get. Just slot this piece into your headcanon and carry on.
Fandom: Agents of Shield
Pairing: Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz; Minor pairing: Lance Hunter/Bobbi Morse
Title: Fitzing People Up
Author: Lalalli
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): General Audiences/swearing, drinking, a little sexual innuendo
Genre: Romance/Humor/AU
Word Count/WIP?: 10,956; complete
Recced on LiveJournal By: roofshadow
Special Rec: 21 of 28
Why This Must Be Read: Fitz creates a practically perfect matchmaking algorithm only to find that one lovely lady, Jemma, can’t seem to get matched up with Mr. Right. Obviously, this anomaly necessitates a great deal of personal assistance. ^_^ The cameos for all the Mr. Wrongs are a riot but all those frogs help Jemma find her Prince Charming in the end.
Fandom: Agents of Shield
Pairing: Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz, Skye|Daisy Johnson/Antoine Triplett
Title: I Can't Get No (Satisfaction)
Author: newbie93
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): Teen And Up Audiences/swearing, drinking, some sexual innuendo
Genre: Humor/AU
Word Count/WIP?: 3,942; complete
Recced on LiveJournal By: roofshadow
Special Rec: 22 of 28
Why This Must Be Read: I don’t think there is better Skye/Trip flirtatious banter than this story. It’s perfect for a lighthearted laugh. Add to that Jemma checking out Fitz and their instant nerdlove rapport and it's everything we wish happened to our poor shell-shocked bus babies (I’m including Trip and Skye here too).
Fandom: Agents of Shield
Pairing: Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz
Title: Vast, Strange, New
Author: recoveringrabbit
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): General Audiences/none
Genre: Romance/AU
Word Count/WIP?: 21,668; complete
Recced on LiveJournal By: roofshadow
Special Rec: 23 of 28
Why This Must Be Read: Another period piece by the very talented recoveringrabbit, this time set during the 1851 Great Exhibition. Daisy, in particular, is in fine form here but she’s assisted in her meddling by Miss Morse, Mrs. May, and even Mr. Coulson to varying degrees. What are they all working toward? Why getting the scientifically-minded Jemma and the engineering whiz kid Fitz together of course. Fitz is in London from Scotland with a display for the exhibition and Jemma (and the other ladies) are frequent visitors hoping to soak up all the sights and knowledge such an exciting happening promises. I’m not one of the fans who swoon over Fitz’s hands but the scene where Jemma is explaining to Daisy about the motion needed in an artificial wrist joint, using the gentleman in question as a model, is the very height of tightly-laced UST.
Fandom: Agents of Shield
Pairing: Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz
Title: Time, As a Symptom
Author: notabadday
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): General Audiences/dealing with grief, spoilers for season three
Genre: Drama/AU
Word Count/WIP?: 6,329; complete
Recced on LiveJournal By: roofshadow
Special Rec: 24 of 28
Why This Must Be Read: Did I hear someone saying they wanted to cry their eyes out? Well, do I have the fic for you! Brace yourself for a heart wrenching and poignant look into what happens when Fitz leaves after Will is rescued. This fic is truly and honestly about the love between Fitz and Jemma but it is illuminated by their separation. If you appreciate the beauty of stripping away everything to probe the sorrow and strength beneath than this piece will be right up your alley. It even comes with its own haunting suggested soundtrack.
Fandom: Agents of Shield
Pairing: Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz
Title: Higher Than the Sun
Author: ardentaislinn
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): Teen And Up Audiences/loopiness due to anesthesia
Genre: Humor/AU
Word Count/WIP?: 3,614; complete
Recced on LiveJournal By: roofshadow
Special Rec: 25 of 28
Why This Must Be Read: Let's lighten things back up again. This is the epitome of a meet-cute. Fitz runs into a very out-of-it Jemma at the grocery store and does his level best to be the white knight he always is under his unassuming façade. This is an adorable and amusing read.
Fandom: Agents of Shield
Pairing: Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz
Title: Imzadi
Author: agent85
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): Teen And Up Audiences/xenophobia, similar tragic past to end of season one
Genre: Drama/Romance/Star Trek AU
Word Count/WIP?: 5,850; complete
Recced on LiveJournal By: roofshadow
Special Rec: 26 of 28
Why This Must Be Read: Are there ever times you wish FitzSimmons could understand each other emotionally as well as they understand each other intellectually? Then this is the fic for you. Jemma is coming to terms with her Betazoid (or half-Betazoid) abilities and it adds a whole other dimension to the outfall from Fitz’s “more than that” confession. The two characters are still in character and Jemma still has to figure out her own heart, but her abilities give her the insight she needs to do so at a more accelerated pace.
Fandom: Agents of Shield
Pairing: Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz
Title: The Routine
Author: agentverbivore (verbivore8642)
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): Teen And Up Audiences/drunkenness, implied sexual content
Genre: Humor/AU
Word Count/WIP?: 5,360; complete
Recced on LiveJournal By: roofshadow
Special Rec: 27 of 28
Why This Must Be Read: Another funny start to a friends to lovers tale for FitzSimmons. This has a very nice blend of pathos and humor at the start and highlights Fitz mechanical skills even while so inebriated he doesn’t know what the crud he’s doing.
Fandom: Agents of Shield
Pairing: Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz
Title: How You Get the Girl
Author: bookishandbossy
Link: AO3
Rating/Warning(s): General Audiences/spoilers for season two
Genre: Drama/Romance/AU
Word Count/WIP?: 13,666; complete
Recced on LiveJournal By: roofshadow
Special Rec: 28 of 28
Why This Must Be Read: Imagine what could have happened if, after San Juan, FitzSimmons were sent undercover together on a case. Imagine the conversations they could have, the healing, the closure, the new beginnings… Sick of merely imagining? Then read this adorable fic. (Big plus, lots of wonderful shout outs to other Marvel properties.)