Epic Recs - Diplomatic Relations & Kindred by Maldoror (NC-17)

Diplomatic Relations & Kindred by Maldoror (NC-17)

Aug. 5th, 2008 at 4:24 PM

slytherin-gypsy.livejournal.com

Title: Diplomatic Relations & Kindred.
Fandom: Naruto.
Pairing: Gaara/Rock Lee.
Categories: For “Diplomatic Relations”: Adventure, Angst, Romance.
For “Kindred”: Established Relationship, Kids, Romance.
Length: Epic.
Warnings: “Kindred”, the sequel to “Diplomatic Relations”, is a kid!fic.

Author on LJ:

maldoror_gw.
Author Website: http://www.ficwad.com/author/11649

Review:
I had only seen some of the first few episodes of Naruto when this fic was recced to me and I'm extremely glad about it: I might not have given Gaara/Lee a chance if I had actually seen the characters’ first meeting (where Gaara nearly crushes Lee to death). That, I think, is the greatest achievement of Maldoror's writing (and that is saying something): the fact that she manages to take two very different characters that started on the wrong foot and make them work so perfectly together while still keeping them very much in character.

"Diplomatic Relations" starts with Rock Lee being sent to Suna as Konoha's diplomatic envoy. Gaara, now Kazekage, requested him because he did not want another sycophant, but he gets much more than he expected in the bargain: a true friend who, little by little, becomes extremely precious to him. They both have to struggle with their feelings, their pasts and the preconceptions they had about love to build a relationship.

The sequel, “Kindred”, is somewhat darker despite being a kid!fic. It takes us some months in the future, where a tragedy in his family makes Lee responsible for two of his very young cousins. He and Gaara have to deal with this and the repercussions it has for their relationship. As Maldoror states in her author’s notes, though the children are original characters they’re not perfect or utterly adorable at all times. They’re realistic written and, instead of making the story descent into pure mush, actually add a lot to its complexity and appeal.

I cannot praise both these stories enough: they flow seamlessly from hilarious moments to sad ones and manage to get the right mix between action and romance (and, of course, some great smut). The original characters are interesting, the canon ones fantastically written. The interaction between the sand siblings is one of the highlights to me (the side story where Kankuro is forced by Temari to give Gaara “the talk” is priceless). Overall, these are two epic, well written fics that most certainly deserve their status as some of the best stories this pairing (and the fandom as a whole) has to offer.

Diplomatic Relations.

Kindred.

Diplomatic Relations & Kindred by Maldoror (NC-17)

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