
X Men
Closer
I'm Bound (the long distance remix) by Aldalindil
Ah, Scott. Learning how to be a man, to be a leader, and not just from Charles,
as you would expect, but from Erik also. Mostly, even. Wonderful.
Two
Measures in Three Quarter Time (Waltz, Cadenza Remix) by Aldalindil
Lovely, evocative Charles/Erik that also tackles the complex relationships between
them and their first students.
As
imperceptibly as grief by Sarah T.
A beautiful and elegant exploration of the friendship between Xavier and Magneto
with nice use of detail and dialogue.
For
Now (The Fuck Waiting Remix) by Katherine
Katherine, bless her, is an ambitious soul, and she chose to remix not one story,
but a series, and not just any series, but the seminal For
Now series by Jenn, which tracks the evolution of Marie into Rogue. The
original is strictly from Marie's POV, and sometimes, it's hard to see what,
exactly, Logan is thinking. Well, Katie gives it to us straight up, in a pitch-perfect,
dead-on Logan-voice. He can see the potential in Marie, see the woman she could
become, if she'd only let herself, and so he waits and watches and teaches her
until she finally, finally comes to realize that you can't go through life scared
of everything, especially not yourself. That living is being vulnerable, and
not just because you have life-sucking skin. Funny, sad, uplifting, romantic,
this story has everything.
Songs
of a Wayfarer by Marguerite
A beautiful epistolary Logan/Rogue fic. The quiet, realistic way Marguerite
writes the characters just blows me away every time. I cried through this last
night, not because it's sad, though it is, but because it's true and beautiful
and reminds me why I love Rogue and Logan as characters, and even more of why
I love them *together*, even if they aren't actually together, just writing
to each other, circling before Logan gives in to the inevitable.
Normal
by Penknife
A very nice Scott vignette set pre-X2, with
lovely insight and a very sweet ending.
Omen
by Eve
A lovely post-X2 Scott fic, with Logan thrown
into the mix for good measure. Painful, angsty, and oh so satisfying.
Antiochus
Wept by Azurine
I don't even read the Ultimate books,
but hot damn this is good. Charles/Erik at Hanukkah sometime in their past,
I guess, and Erik's megalomania is on full display, and Charles is swept
up in his madness. The religious imagery is what makes it so chilling,
I think. And even though it's Ultimate, it's amazing and shivery to imagine
Stewart and McKellen speaking this dialogue.
Four
Ways of Coming out of the Cold by Penknife
Four things that may or may not
have happened to Ororo Munroe - four scenarios in which she and Xavier
meet. Sharp, clear prose, intriguing possibilities and the last one will
send a chill down your spine.
The
Sure Thing by Katherine
Logan
has a nightmare. Rogue won't give up. They talk, and Logan almost screws
it up entirely, but Rogue's patient and smart. She knows they want the
same thing. Lovely, understated and hopeful.
His
Terrible Swift Sword by Yahtzee
Just when you thought drabbles and
flash fiction had taken over fandom, along comes Yahtzee with an awesome
and wonderful meaty novel, set post-X2 and focusing on Magneto and Xavier.
Both the characterization and writing is tops, not to mention a plot that
moves along swiftly. Definitely something to read when you have a lot of
time on hand - you won't want to stop once you've started.
Nameless
by C. Elisa
This is possibly one of the best
post-X2 stories I've read about Xavier. Beautiful, revealing conversation
and clean and simple prose, and a clever epiphany at the end. I especially
enjoyed the OC, who has an interesting but revealing mutation.
Butterfly
Net by MollyTM
Logan lies, and finds the consequences
of it are far worse than expected. Sharp, bittersweet *believable* story
of how a man like Logan would react to falling
in love, and how he just might screw it up completely, simply by being
himself.
End
of Summer by Macha
The president may have refused to
sign the MRA, but things are only getting worse for mutants. It starts
when Logan needs help crossing the border, so Rogue gives him a lift. Thoroughly
enjoyable L/R banter, plus real live plot! And the spa glove is not to
be missed. It is *all* about the spa glove.
Agonia
by Minisinoo
Lovely and quietly understated portrayal
of grief. Beautifully written.
Bleed
Out by AJ
Gorgeous imagery and wonderful use
of second-person POV.
Thaw
by Glenn
The poetic use of language does
wonders in evoking the depth and emotion and makes a relationship between
Scott and Logan that much more believable.
After
the Fact by darkstar
Logan, Rogue, secrets and sanity,
post-X2. Like everything by darkstar, the words linger in your mind,
the images cut to the quick, you feel the characters' pain as if it were
your own, and you believe it will never be any other way than this. Gorgeous.
Freeze
Out by zahra
Bobby. Johnny. Thoughts. A quote
that sums it up: "You froze my fire. I can't believe you froze my fucking
fire." "Believe it."
Gifts
by Tev Ye
Wise Rogue, riding the line between
adolescence and adulthood, gives Logan some good advice. Love this version
of them - the quiet understanding and strength, and the unspoken possibility
of the future. X2 spoilers.
The
Opposite of Sibling Rivalry and The
Nightmare Fighter by Troll Princess
Bobby isn't the only mutant in his
family. Two lovely stories from Ronny's POV, exploring this otherwise plot-device-ish
character and making him human.
An
Accidental Interception of Fate by Minisinoo
A long and meaty novel that follows
the evolution of Scott and Jean's relationship. The characters are very
carefully crafted and the development of the friendship and relationship
is very realistic. There are also a few treats sprinkled here and there
for comic fans, including a few cameos. Very well-written and be sure you
have plenty of time to spend when sitting down to read as it's absolutely
'unputdownable'.
Fugue
by Swik
Gorgeous, pretty, emotional -- a
lovely look at Scott's grief post-X2 but without falling prey to sappiness
or melodrama. Beautiful imagery and some very poignant and pointed conversations
along the way.
The
Best-Laid Plans (Art of War Remix) by Ransom
Best. Remix. Ever. Logan tells his
side of the story of how he and Rogue got together. Perfect Logan-voice,
and an explanation, finally, of why it took so long for him to get his
head out of his ass.
Use
Me, Almost
Dead, Interlude:
Raining Inside and Everything
by Dianna
Beautiful, heartbreaking series
that explores a darker, sadder version of the Logan/Rogue relationship.
Throw
My Head Away by Alestar.
Bobby's thinking of changing his
codename. Subtle, well-drawn characterization and an ending that made me
sniffle.
As
I Lay Dying by Victoria P.
A sad sweet story in which Rogue
shuffles off this mortal coil (featuring a cameo by Death, the Neil Gaiman
variety) and its sequel, Gingko
by Pepper, a beautifully done fic wherein Logan finally meets Death (the
Terry Pratchett variety).
Zero
Plus One by Azurine
Logan and Bobby help each other
deal with stuff. Beautiful look at how the bonds of friendship are forged
and how a badass loner with no past and a fifteen year old kid can find
common ground and care about each other. Gen. Ultimate.
The
Evolution of Jubilee by Mara Greengrass
Lovely story of Jubilee learning
how the world works, and that one person *can* make a difference.
Safety
in Numbers by Elizabeth
This is still my favorite Logan/Rogue
story, I think. It's what got me started on this whole fanfic addiction
in the first place. Beautifully written, amazingly true to the characters,
it still makes me weepy, no matter how many times I read it, and I've read
it many times.
Life
Less Static by Molly
Probably my second favorite L/R
fic. Logan comes home and realizes a few things. I love this fic.
Letters
and Papers from Prison by Minisinoo
A beautiful exploration of Rogue,
and how she deals with one of the men in her head. (Not a direct
link)
X-Manson
by Dr. Benway (Comicverse)
This is guaranteed to blow your
mind. What if everything you ever knew about the X-Men was wrong? And not
in a good way? Not for the faint of heart.
The
First and Last Places by Nexus
Rogue finds strength in the last
place she ever expected.
Perfect
Ring of Scars by Shana Nolen
Possibly the first, and likely the
best of the Logan/Rogue/Scott/Jean fics out there. An amazing angst-fest.
Real
World: Anchorage by Dawn L. Bobby and Lea Downie (Comicverse)
Seven mutants brought together to
live in one house in the middle of nowhere. What happens when people get
real, and stop being polite? Absolute hilarity ensues. Note: You need to
click on the authors' names to get to the story.
Seventeen
by bishclone
Beautifully dark and twisted fic
about the young Jean Grey. Not at all what you'd expect her to be. (note:
this site has frames, so you have to click on the X-Men link and then the
link to the story)
Welcome
to Genosha by Ramos
A tropical vacation turns into an
unexpected adventure. First-rate action and some hot Logan/Rogue scenes,
too.
Princess
by Kate Elizabeth
Beautiful thought piece that explores
the Logan in Rogue's head. One of the best of a popular type of L/R fic.
Exceptions
by Jenn
Absolutely note-for-note perfect
fic detailing how two people can be in love and be the last to know.
In
a Thousand Miles by Jenn
Logan takes Rogue on the run, and
she learns, finally, what it is he's looking for.
Make
Me Forget by Dianna
Oh, lovely happy fic with melancholy
overtones. Logan helps Rogue cope with her nightmares.
Nowhere
Fast by Andariel
Dark Rogue - dark and scarily possible.
Rogue pushes the limits, and Scott tries to rein her in.
The
Soiled Dove by Victoria P.
Noir, X-men style. AU. Private detective
Logan is hired by a curvy redhead to find her stepdaughter. But nothing
is as it seems.
Save
the Last Dance for Me by darkstar
Utterly heartbreaking and beautiful.
The ending is inevitable and *right*. Logan and Rogue, memory-wiped and
set free in a world where mutants are kept in camps.
Remember
Me by Khaki
Jean notices a new student no one
else can see. What's her connection to Logan? Lovely meditation on one
possible reason for Logan taking Rogue under his wing so quickly.
I don't think this series has a name, but it's some of the best Logan/Rogue fic I've read in a very long while. It begins with Crossroads and continues in Cause and Effect and then On Instinct. All are by MoJo, and her characterization is spot-on, and her writing, as usual, is lovely.
Accidentally
Like a Martyr by Molly
Painfully exquisite story in which
Rogue comes to a few conclusions about Logan and expectations.
Black
Out by Jamie
This fic has it all - action, humor,
romance, good writing and good characterization. I'd happily fork over
$10 to see this in the sequel.
Dancing
Cranes by Pollyanna
Beautiful, understated, graceful
slice of life vignette that captures Logan and Xavier in a quiet moment
of
remembrance. Plus, the scarf.
The
Glass King by Unanon
Put the master of metal in a plastic
cage and watch how he reacts. Incisive, shivery goodness that gets
right inside Magneto's head.
The
Best-Laid Plans by Victoria P.
One of our readers recced this to
us, and we agreed. Go and worship the goddess that is Victoria P.