December recs

In what's starting to be an annual tradition, I got into a new fandom fic-first while procrastinating on Yuletide. But unlike last year, I didn't stop at reading fic, but actually ended up binge-watching all five seasons of 9-1-1! We're gonna be in firefighter found family land for a spell now, ya'll.

I've got a lot this month, so we're back to my five favorites up top, and the rest under the cut. In total, there's sixteen 9-1-1 fics (all Buck/Eddie), plus a handful of fics from ATLA, The Untamed, The Witcher, and Murderbot.

Leave the Light On (I'll Be Coming Home) by @hmslusitania​

“We’re here for our grandson,” Helena says.
“Chris is still sleeping,” Buck says.
“I meant, we’re here to take him back to Texas,” Helena clarifies.
“Yeah,” Buck says. He’s too tired, way too tired to be tactful. “Over my dead body.”

An accident on a call leaves Buck with custody of Chris after Eddie is... missing presumed. While they navigate their new family circumstances -- and fight to stay together, despite Eddie's parents' best efforts -- a John Doe wakes up in a coma ward with no memory of his own life beyond the knowledge he has a son named Christopher and, somehow, he needs to get home.

This story came for me personally with a fatal two-hit combination of my beloved amnesia and presumed-dead tropes, and the author absolutely destroyed me with both sides of the story - Buck and Christopher grieving and figuring out their new life together, and amnesiac!Eddie managing to pine without remembering what he's longing for. Heartbreaking, romantic, beautifully written. I've already read it twice!

too many heartbeats for one ribcage by @lamardeuse​

Eddie's not queer.

It's always fun running into lamardeuse in a new fandom, because they have been wrecking me emotionally with their fic since...2006? When I found Due South fandom? Good times. This one's a beautiful queer character study of Eddie growing up and growing into himself and falling in love.

all that we need by not1_2write

When Buck buys a Powerball lottery ticket he doesn't think much beyond his need for change to air up his tire. He forgets all about the ticket until word spreads that the winning ticket was sold in LA and hasn't been claimed yet and pretty much dismisses it. After all, there's no way he won the lottery.

Turns out no, he really did win the Powerball, to the tune of 295 million dollars and just in time for Christmas. He's going to make sure the 118 has the best Christmas of their lives. And just maybe he'll have a good one too.

Pure fluffy wish-fulfillment of the highest quality, featuring Buck's enormous heart and love for his family. (Am I weak for thoughtful gift-giving? Yes, yes I am.)

Don't Take the Money by @hmslusitania​

“You know, being stuck here isn’t actually the end of the world,” Chimney says, coming up to the table and picking up one of the smoke detectors. “It just feels like it, Buck. Trust me, I know.”
“I’m pretty sure it might actually be the end of the world,” Buck says. “Considering this is the sixth time I’ve lived this day.”
Chimney stares at him for a beat and then his eyebrows lift. “Wait, are you like – dude, are you in Groundhog Day?”

OR: The post-lawsuit time-loop AU literally no one asked for.

Time loop fic set during 3x06 Monsters. Sheer delight, great characterization, and a clever exemplar of the genre - plus the character-dies-repeatedly-in-weird-ways trope is especially apt given 9-1-1 in general and Bobby's fears about Buck in particular.

things we shouldn't do by @ingu​

“Why is everybody taking my relationship status so personally? Can’t I be fine with being single?” Buck said.

“Hey, you don’t have to say yes, be sad and alone if that’s what you want,” Josh replied. “But, I’m just saying. I’ve seen photos and this guy is volcanic levels of hot. Also, single dad, super cute kid. Saves lives for a living like you. I think you should give it a go.”

(the one where Buck and Eddie accidentally get set up on a blind date with each other, and everything snowballs from there)

I love fake-dating fic, but I have gotten very picky about it after all these years in fandom. This one is fresh and funny, from the setup to the fake-dating-for-discounts through the denouement, and just the right amount of angst to balance the sweetness.

Many more recs under the cut!
 

( 9-1-1, ATLA, Witcher, Murderbot, Untamed )