Title: This Hell We've Made
Fandom: Supernatural RPS
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Categories: AU, superheroes, slash
Length: Epic (68,000 words)
Warnings: Violence, brief mentions of past abuse and self-harm.

Author on LJ: bewaretheides15
Author on AO3: BewareTheIdes15
Author Website: The Sam/Dean Archive author's page.

Summary:
Except for the fact that they were both born with remarkable superhuman abilities, and a seething mutual dislike, Jared and Jensen have nothing in common. Turns out, though, that they may also be the only ones who can save each other from themselves.

Review:
That's a pretty good summary of this X-Men-esque story, to be honest. Jensen is a young delinquent with Wolverine-like levels of self-healing. Naturally enough that means the author has license to do huge amounts of damage to him, since he'll be back up and ready to go in seconds, though this happens less often and less viciously than in some comic books I've read.

Being more cocky than careful, Jensen gets pulled in and recruited by a UN-sponsored secret superteam. Jared, ostensibly a precog, is the team's field leader. It's somewhat unfortunate that being around Jensen makes Jared feel ill, because Jared is actually an empath. Naturally enough that means the author has license to mentally torture him, though again I've seen far worse in print.

The story works through a lengthy investigation/manhunt, but the focus is solidly on the working out of Jensen and Jared's relationships, personal and professional, and the cartload of issues both of them have to deal with. This is the crux of the story; both boys have been mentally scarred by the effects of the powers they have, and it is in dealing with things as they come up that they come to recognise each other has people.

The supporting cast are nicely done, though sometimes a little predictable. Superstrong Tom Welling in particular might as well have been called Clark Kent, but it's not something that matters a great deal. This is the sort of RPS that is far more fantasy film-casting than anything that might be expecting to present real people, after all, and in that context Tom has already been cast as Clark once, so why not do it again? Far better used is Jeff Morgan as the non-powered organiser cum father-figure of the team, who is entirely smart and devious enough to get his "family" to take care of each other.

This is a solid romance disguised as an adventure story. You should enjoy it either way.

This Hell We've Made

Title: Being with You
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, brief non-explicit Arthur/Sophia
Categories: Modern AU, angst, drama, first time, romance
Length: Medium (12,572)
Warnings: None

Author on LJ: ella_bane
Author Website: ella_bane

Author’s Summary:
Modern AU. Merlin is gay. Arthur isn't. When they meet, their mutual attraction can't be denied. But then it is. Sexy times and angsty times ensue. And it all happens in less than a day. (This was written for a prompt on the Merlin kink meme.)

Review:
This story grabbed me right at the start. The connection between Arthur and Merlin is so intense, so immediate and clear from the very first word, and the tension between them builds perfectly as they contend with the unexpected deep attraction they feel to one another.

A small part of me wanted Merlin to be a little more patient with Arthur, who is understandably somewhat perplexed by the experience of being attracted to another man for the first time in his life. But I think it's understandable that this Merlin has no interest in getting involved in the oft-romanticized secret relationship that he has every reason to believe might ensue based on Arthur's behavior. While I do enjoy secret relationship fics, it was interesting to see Merlin standing firm that he won't go back into the closet for anyone, not even Arthur.

Featuring a sexy, strong-willed Merlin who knows what he wants (and doesn't want), an Arthur who wants Merlin so badly he can't stand it, and tons of scorching hot chemistry, a little angst and a happy ending all in one day, Being with You is not to be missed.

Being with You