March Amnesty Challenge: 15 Recs (+1)
A couple of notes: First, I've never made a rec list in my life, partially because my why tends to be "it's well-written and I liked it," instead of anything, you know, actually informative. That said, I tried to be a bit more expansive.
Second, I assumed that the community policy allowing any interpretation of the prompt extended to reccing any interpretation of the prompt, so this list includes the main characters as serial killers, as well as the main characters as the victims and/or FBI agents/cops/slash other person hunting said serial killer.
Finally, there are 16 fics recced, despite the list being for 15, because I wasn't sure if one of the fics counted, but I wanted to include it, so you get a bonus.
Onwards and upwards!
FIC RECS
Serial Killers
Love or death, grab an end, pull hard, and make a wish by rikyu
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: Rookie mistake number one: the sheriff should have put the handcuffs on a notch tighter. (Or, how I spent my summer vacation, by Jensen Ackles, serial killer.)
This fic is short and sweet (in a messed up, serial killer kind of way), taking advantage of a the structure of the police interrogation to explore the arc of Jared and Jensen’s relationship. The moments are well-chosen, and explain a lot about Jensen, Jared, and the way they fit together.
I Know by Hunters_retreat
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: Jared worked for the police. Jensen works for the FBI. They might not be telling everyone the whole story.
One of the things I liked about this story was that, until the end, I wasn't sure who the killer was. It could’ve gone either way, and the author did a good job keeping the narrative moving without tipping their hand. The style is spare, but compelling, and well-written.
A Choir of Angels Inside My Lungs by All_the_damned_vampires
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen, one-sided Misha/Jared)
Summary: From the Masquerade prompt:
Jared is one of the highest level empaths in the nation. Everyday, he's driven a little more mad by everybody's emotions- until he meets Jensen. Jensen is almost entirely without emotions-the only time he can feel anything is when he's slicing into his next victim...And maybe when he's fucking the tall, floppy-haired kid who's following him around like he's some kind of hero.
I'm a sucker for special ability AUs, and this one takes the idea of special mental abilities dystopian. It’s an interesting take on the trope, managing at once to be cynical, disquieting and hopeful. And I really like the way the author handles Jared’s empathy.
We’ll dance all night by fleshflutter
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: Deaf!serial-killer!attendance!Jensen and insane!underage!Jared in a mental hospital.
That’s not much of a summary, granted, but to me it sums up the fic perfectly. It’s Jared’s POV, and the structure of the narration, combined with the vivid imagery and stark details, draws you into Jared’s very messed up head. It’s fractured and beautiful (and disturbing) and fascinating, and totally worth feeling a little crazy yourself after to read.
Chasing the Sky by daymarket
Fandom: Supernatural (Dean/Cas)
Summary: AU. Round and round the bodies they go, in the game that only ever ends one way. Ironically enough, it’s the only way that Dean ever feels alive.
I really like the way the author takes boys and makes them serial killers, and still keeps Dean fundamentally Dean. He takes care of Sam, worries about Sam, makes sure Sam has what he needs, and it doesn’t matter if his needs aren’t the same. It’s a little bit of sweet in an alternate universe where the Winchesters don’t see people as people. I also like how the fic starts with John and never really gets away from him. It’s really well-written and, despite the fact I’m not really a Dean/Cas person, the story had me hooked.
Darker Shade of Black by sardonicsmiley
Fandom: Supernatural (Sam/Dean)
Summary: They say that no one can get out of here. Never been done. Never will be done. Sam's heard that before, and Dean has never, ever, been wrong about his prediction on how long it will take them to get out. He's good that way.
Okay, honestly? The thing I really like about this story is that it’s fun. It’s death and destruction, but without the gut-clenching fear of what’s going to go wrong. The boys are confident and unconcerned, and it’s easy to get drawn into the thrill of success and the anticipation of how they’re going to manage to get out of this super-secure prison. Check your morals at the door. You won’t need them and won’t miss them. Also, despite the fact they’re locked in prison, there’s no shortage of death.
All Things Either Good or Ungood by tebtosca
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: FBI profiler Jared Padalecki has been searching for the man who murdered his brother for over a decade. He gets his best lead yet in the form of the killer's only known survivor -- a mysterious amnesiac named Jensen.
This story almost feels like an episode of Criminal Minds, a fact that’s encouraged (I think) by the opening scene of the team drinking together in a bar before getting called into work. I like the way the author unveils Jared’s backstory, explaining some of Jared’s decisions. Because of its similarity to a Criminal Minds episode (deliberate? I have to think so), I had an idea where it was going, and the author did a good job of undermining my expectations and threw in a twist.
The Beat of Our Noisy Hearts by cleflink
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: In a world where heartbreak is a literal condition, it's Jared's job to sew, fill and patch the physical wounds left in people's hearts by lost loves, misunderstandings and betrayals. Jared's own love life is more than a little dire, largely because Jensen doesn't date and Jared doesn't do one-night stands, but he's got good friends and a job he loves, so he figures that he can't complain too much.
When a killer attacks Jensen, Jared discovers that a needle and thread, desperation and a sharp scalpel are enough to save Jensen's life, but at a cost that is going to change Jared's life forever and tie them both together in a way that goes far deeper than flesh.
I love the premise, and cleflink pulls it off beautifully, taking this unrealistic world where doctors cut you open to fix your heart from emotional hurts and making it real, with emotional depth and well-written characters, and a tightly crafted narrative and murder mystery as icing on the cake. Or maybe that’s the other way around. Either way, the build-up is perfectly paced and the ending is wholly satisfying,
Tails by keep_waking_up
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: Jared couldn’t imagine the kitsunes had ever lived without the werefoxes to look down on and this was just another example of it.
Jared Padalecki is a homicide detective for the werefox police, up until the kitsune police department decides to recruit him as their ‘Fox Consultant. There is nothing Jared wants less than having to work with the kitsunes, but he doesn’t have much of a choice. Of course, on the first day of his new job, one of the city supervisors is murdered and an official from the US government is flown in to handle it-one Jensen Ackles, an eight-tailed Heaven kitsune. Jared isn’t sure what’s going on, but he just wants to lay low and stay out of trouble. Unfortunately, fate-and Jensen-have other plans.
I’m a sucker for a well-written FBI!AU. Throw in a little bit of magic, and I’m in love. The world-building in this fic is excellent, the narrative alive with all kinds of fascinating details, and it’s very character-driven, the emotional push-and-pull beautifully written as Jared and Jensen struggle to work together and figure out who keeps killing people.
Bau Bau to the Black Sheep by Kuria
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Summary: Haley had every reason to hate Aaron and his job. Even after the divorce, all Aaron had to do was show up and he was hailed as the FBI agent who at least tried. She wasn't expecting to finally forgive him.
I like that the author chose Haley, first because the story helped flesh out her character for me, offering a look into her perspective, and providing a rare negative view of the BAU that had nothing to do with jurisdictional conflict, by a character both knew them and couldn’t really know them at all. The author does an excellent job portraying her irritation and the way looking for something as far from Aaron as possible dropped her into the hands of a serial killer. Her portrayal of Jack is charming.
Blackjack by Kuria
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Summary: Aaron isn't sure what is worse: being held hostage naked in a basement while being subjected to beatings, or having Spencer dissect his failed marriage in horrifying detail.. Hotch-Reid friendship.
Ok, I’m submitting this as a serial killer fic because the unsub’s behavior is ritualistic and escalates, and his choice of victim is impersonal-given the chance, he would absolutely take another victim. That said, I love the tone of this fic, the way the narrative captures Aaron’s voice, detailed and slightly pedantic, insightful, pragmatic. The unsub is unique and well-drawn. And Reid is an excellent addition, both real and imaginary.
Survivor’s Guilt
Soldier’s Heart by bandit_queen_1
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: Because of horrific nightmares and crushing guilt, Doctor Jensen Ackles hasn't practiced medicine since the end of the Civil War. He has only one thing left to live for--saving his sister from a life of working in a saloon.
After losing his parents and brother during the war, Jared Padalecki struggles to hold on to the family ranch. And though he never planned to marry, he's obligated to wed his widowed sister-in-law to provide her and his niece and nephew a home.
When Jensen finds himself working for Jared, he's afraid his terrible secrets will be exposed. However, Jared has his own secret....
This AU is beautifully written, the setting vivid, and the characterizations awesome. I really like the way the author ties their little world together, and the various relationships have wonderful depth. Nothing I have to say here can do it justice, but you should definitely go read it.
Beautiful Disaster by nyxocity
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jensen/Jared, Jensen/Justin)
Summary: Rock Band AU. Jensen’s the lead guitarist in the number one rock band in the country. Justin’s the lead singer, and they’ve been doing this together since middle-school, been together since just after high school. As on top of the world as they are, Jensen’s starting to become disillusioned with the lifestyle and his crumbling relationship with Justin. And then he meets a new roadie on the crew named Jared who’s got a voice like an angel and a heart to match, and everything starts to change.
Because the story is from Jensen’s POV, it takes a while to learn why Jared’s not the lead singer of his very own band but that reason is why I’m reccing this fic under Survivor’s Guilt. I had a really hard time figuring out what to say here because the story is kinda epic: deeply emotional story arc, excellent characterizations, fantastic world-building. Really hot sex. The tension between having what you think you should want and feeling like you can’t reach for what you really want, between being loyal to what made you happy and what will make you happy. It’s beautiful and heart-wrenching and compelling, and Jensen’s struggle is so amazingly rendered that it’ll completely draw you in.
No Easy Way Down by IamShadow21
Fandom: Avengers
Summary: “So, some rich white dude walks in yesterday, says he’s gonna make me a robot arm,” Bucky says scathingly. “What an asshole.”
This AU story has brilliant characterizations. Tony is Tony, irreverent but good-hearted; Bucky is a handicapped, 13-year old black boy, a choice I don’t fully understand, but the characterization is rich, and he plays well against Tony. Steve choose one and gets stuck with the other, still strong and quietly broken and sad, but you forget to feel it in the character interactions, which, considering the guilt Steve and Tony carry with them, is probably the point.
Stockholm Syndrome
That Stockholm Thing by dijisun
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: Jensen gets kidnapped.
I'm tempted to call this classic Stockholm. It’s exactly what I was picturing when I went looking for Stockholm Syndrome fics to rec. This story is a fast-paced, easy read. The progression from scared, hostile hostage to active participant is smooth, the emotional connection arc given just enough depth without getting bogged down. The author has a funky hang-up with the proper tensing of “kidnap” and a couple other consistent typos, but it’s a good read.
The Winchester Identity by zuben_fic
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: A tall and handsome doctor is kidnapped by a mysterious green-eyed man who has no memory-but who definitely has a past. The J2 AU version of "The Bourne Identity".
I like this story because Bourne Identity. It’s really long with lots of twists and turns and obstacles to overcome, a thoroughly enjoyable action/adventure with a side-helping of romance and self-discovery, and kidnapped!doctor!Jared falling in love with his captor. There’s bonus Sam Winchester, and plenty of angst and determination. And timestamps, if the 100,00+ words of the fic aren’t enough to satisfy.
Second, I assumed that the community policy allowing any interpretation of the prompt extended to reccing any interpretation of the prompt, so this list includes the main characters as serial killers, as well as the main characters as the victims and/or FBI agents/cops/slash other person hunting said serial killer.
Finally, there are 16 fics recced, despite the list being for 15, because I wasn't sure if one of the fics counted, but I wanted to include it, so you get a bonus.
Onwards and upwards!
FIC RECS
Serial Killers
Love or death, grab an end, pull hard, and make a wish by rikyu
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: Rookie mistake number one: the sheriff should have put the handcuffs on a notch tighter. (Or, how I spent my summer vacation, by Jensen Ackles, serial killer.)
This fic is short and sweet (in a messed up, serial killer kind of way), taking advantage of a the structure of the police interrogation to explore the arc of Jared and Jensen’s relationship. The moments are well-chosen, and explain a lot about Jensen, Jared, and the way they fit together.
I Know by Hunters_retreat
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: Jared worked for the police. Jensen works for the FBI. They might not be telling everyone the whole story.
One of the things I liked about this story was that, until the end, I wasn't sure who the killer was. It could’ve gone either way, and the author did a good job keeping the narrative moving without tipping their hand. The style is spare, but compelling, and well-written.
A Choir of Angels Inside My Lungs by All_the_damned_vampires
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen, one-sided Misha/Jared)
Summary: From the Masquerade prompt:
Jared is one of the highest level empaths in the nation. Everyday, he's driven a little more mad by everybody's emotions- until he meets Jensen. Jensen is almost entirely without emotions-the only time he can feel anything is when he's slicing into his next victim...And maybe when he's fucking the tall, floppy-haired kid who's following him around like he's some kind of hero.
I'm a sucker for special ability AUs, and this one takes the idea of special mental abilities dystopian. It’s an interesting take on the trope, managing at once to be cynical, disquieting and hopeful. And I really like the way the author handles Jared’s empathy.
We’ll dance all night by fleshflutter
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: Deaf!serial-killer!attendance!Jensen and insane!underage!Jared in a mental hospital.
That’s not much of a summary, granted, but to me it sums up the fic perfectly. It’s Jared’s POV, and the structure of the narration, combined with the vivid imagery and stark details, draws you into Jared’s very messed up head. It’s fractured and beautiful (and disturbing) and fascinating, and totally worth feeling a little crazy yourself after to read.
Chasing the Sky by daymarket
Fandom: Supernatural (Dean/Cas)
Summary: AU. Round and round the bodies they go, in the game that only ever ends one way. Ironically enough, it’s the only way that Dean ever feels alive.
I really like the way the author takes boys and makes them serial killers, and still keeps Dean fundamentally Dean. He takes care of Sam, worries about Sam, makes sure Sam has what he needs, and it doesn’t matter if his needs aren’t the same. It’s a little bit of sweet in an alternate universe where the Winchesters don’t see people as people. I also like how the fic starts with John and never really gets away from him. It’s really well-written and, despite the fact I’m not really a Dean/Cas person, the story had me hooked.
Darker Shade of Black by sardonicsmiley
Fandom: Supernatural (Sam/Dean)
Summary: They say that no one can get out of here. Never been done. Never will be done. Sam's heard that before, and Dean has never, ever, been wrong about his prediction on how long it will take them to get out. He's good that way.
Okay, honestly? The thing I really like about this story is that it’s fun. It’s death and destruction, but without the gut-clenching fear of what’s going to go wrong. The boys are confident and unconcerned, and it’s easy to get drawn into the thrill of success and the anticipation of how they’re going to manage to get out of this super-secure prison. Check your morals at the door. You won’t need them and won’t miss them. Also, despite the fact they’re locked in prison, there’s no shortage of death.
All Things Either Good or Ungood by tebtosca
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: FBI profiler Jared Padalecki has been searching for the man who murdered his brother for over a decade. He gets his best lead yet in the form of the killer's only known survivor -- a mysterious amnesiac named Jensen.
This story almost feels like an episode of Criminal Minds, a fact that’s encouraged (I think) by the opening scene of the team drinking together in a bar before getting called into work. I like the way the author unveils Jared’s backstory, explaining some of Jared’s decisions. Because of its similarity to a Criminal Minds episode (deliberate? I have to think so), I had an idea where it was going, and the author did a good job of undermining my expectations and threw in a twist.
The Beat of Our Noisy Hearts by cleflink
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: In a world where heartbreak is a literal condition, it's Jared's job to sew, fill and patch the physical wounds left in people's hearts by lost loves, misunderstandings and betrayals. Jared's own love life is more than a little dire, largely because Jensen doesn't date and Jared doesn't do one-night stands, but he's got good friends and a job he loves, so he figures that he can't complain too much.
When a killer attacks Jensen, Jared discovers that a needle and thread, desperation and a sharp scalpel are enough to save Jensen's life, but at a cost that is going to change Jared's life forever and tie them both together in a way that goes far deeper than flesh.
I love the premise, and cleflink pulls it off beautifully, taking this unrealistic world where doctors cut you open to fix your heart from emotional hurts and making it real, with emotional depth and well-written characters, and a tightly crafted narrative and murder mystery as icing on the cake. Or maybe that’s the other way around. Either way, the build-up is perfectly paced and the ending is wholly satisfying,
Tails by keep_waking_up
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: Jared couldn’t imagine the kitsunes had ever lived without the werefoxes to look down on and this was just another example of it.
Jared Padalecki is a homicide detective for the werefox police, up until the kitsune police department decides to recruit him as their ‘Fox Consultant. There is nothing Jared wants less than having to work with the kitsunes, but he doesn’t have much of a choice. Of course, on the first day of his new job, one of the city supervisors is murdered and an official from the US government is flown in to handle it-one Jensen Ackles, an eight-tailed Heaven kitsune. Jared isn’t sure what’s going on, but he just wants to lay low and stay out of trouble. Unfortunately, fate-and Jensen-have other plans.
I’m a sucker for a well-written FBI!AU. Throw in a little bit of magic, and I’m in love. The world-building in this fic is excellent, the narrative alive with all kinds of fascinating details, and it’s very character-driven, the emotional push-and-pull beautifully written as Jared and Jensen struggle to work together and figure out who keeps killing people.
Bau Bau to the Black Sheep by Kuria
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Summary: Haley had every reason to hate Aaron and his job. Even after the divorce, all Aaron had to do was show up and he was hailed as the FBI agent who at least tried. She wasn't expecting to finally forgive him.
I like that the author chose Haley, first because the story helped flesh out her character for me, offering a look into her perspective, and providing a rare negative view of the BAU that had nothing to do with jurisdictional conflict, by a character both knew them and couldn’t really know them at all. The author does an excellent job portraying her irritation and the way looking for something as far from Aaron as possible dropped her into the hands of a serial killer. Her portrayal of Jack is charming.
Blackjack by Kuria
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Summary: Aaron isn't sure what is worse: being held hostage naked in a basement while being subjected to beatings, or having Spencer dissect his failed marriage in horrifying detail.. Hotch-Reid friendship.
Ok, I’m submitting this as a serial killer fic because the unsub’s behavior is ritualistic and escalates, and his choice of victim is impersonal-given the chance, he would absolutely take another victim. That said, I love the tone of this fic, the way the narrative captures Aaron’s voice, detailed and slightly pedantic, insightful, pragmatic. The unsub is unique and well-drawn. And Reid is an excellent addition, both real and imaginary.
Survivor’s Guilt
Soldier’s Heart by bandit_queen_1
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: Because of horrific nightmares and crushing guilt, Doctor Jensen Ackles hasn't practiced medicine since the end of the Civil War. He has only one thing left to live for--saving his sister from a life of working in a saloon.
After losing his parents and brother during the war, Jared Padalecki struggles to hold on to the family ranch. And though he never planned to marry, he's obligated to wed his widowed sister-in-law to provide her and his niece and nephew a home.
When Jensen finds himself working for Jared, he's afraid his terrible secrets will be exposed. However, Jared has his own secret....
This AU is beautifully written, the setting vivid, and the characterizations awesome. I really like the way the author ties their little world together, and the various relationships have wonderful depth. Nothing I have to say here can do it justice, but you should definitely go read it.
Beautiful Disaster by nyxocity
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jensen/Jared, Jensen/Justin)
Summary: Rock Band AU. Jensen’s the lead guitarist in the number one rock band in the country. Justin’s the lead singer, and they’ve been doing this together since middle-school, been together since just after high school. As on top of the world as they are, Jensen’s starting to become disillusioned with the lifestyle and his crumbling relationship with Justin. And then he meets a new roadie on the crew named Jared who’s got a voice like an angel and a heart to match, and everything starts to change.
Because the story is from Jensen’s POV, it takes a while to learn why Jared’s not the lead singer of his very own band but that reason is why I’m reccing this fic under Survivor’s Guilt. I had a really hard time figuring out what to say here because the story is kinda epic: deeply emotional story arc, excellent characterizations, fantastic world-building. Really hot sex. The tension between having what you think you should want and feeling like you can’t reach for what you really want, between being loyal to what made you happy and what will make you happy. It’s beautiful and heart-wrenching and compelling, and Jensen’s struggle is so amazingly rendered that it’ll completely draw you in.
No Easy Way Down by IamShadow21
Fandom: Avengers
Summary: “So, some rich white dude walks in yesterday, says he’s gonna make me a robot arm,” Bucky says scathingly. “What an asshole.”
This AU story has brilliant characterizations. Tony is Tony, irreverent but good-hearted; Bucky is a handicapped, 13-year old black boy, a choice I don’t fully understand, but the characterization is rich, and he plays well against Tony. Steve choose one and gets stuck with the other, still strong and quietly broken and sad, but you forget to feel it in the character interactions, which, considering the guilt Steve and Tony carry with them, is probably the point.
Stockholm Syndrome
That Stockholm Thing by dijisun
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: Jensen gets kidnapped.
I'm tempted to call this classic Stockholm. It’s exactly what I was picturing when I went looking for Stockholm Syndrome fics to rec. This story is a fast-paced, easy read. The progression from scared, hostile hostage to active participant is smooth, the emotional connection arc given just enough depth without getting bogged down. The author has a funky hang-up with the proper tensing of “kidnap” and a couple other consistent typos, but it’s a good read.
The Winchester Identity by zuben_fic
Fandom: Supernatural RPF (Jared/Jensen)
Summary: A tall and handsome doctor is kidnapped by a mysterious green-eyed man who has no memory-but who definitely has a past. The J2 AU version of "The Bourne Identity".
I like this story because Bourne Identity. It’s really long with lots of twists and turns and obstacles to overcome, a thoroughly enjoyable action/adventure with a side-helping of romance and self-discovery, and kidnapped!doctor!Jared falling in love with his captor. There’s bonus Sam Winchester, and plenty of angst and determination. And timestamps, if the 100,00+ words of the fic aren’t enough to satisfy.