Title: Near Miss
Fandom: Dresden Files (book 'verse)
Pairing: Harry Dresden/John Marcone
Categories: AU, action/adventure, humor, romance
Length: epic (42,064 words)
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Author on LJ: beachkid / binz and shiplizard / sidhebeingbrand
Author Website: binz and shiplizard

Summary:
Three years ago, Tony Vargassi died and left his flourishing criminal empire to his son Marco. Gang violence is rife in the streets, but Harry Dresden's concluded, reluctantly, that it isn't his kind of problem. He's about to find out that the real power behind Chicago's throne is a lot worse then a spoiled mobster's son -- and maybe more than he can handle.

John 'Johnny' Marcone is a mechanic with a bad limp and a bad history with Vargassi. He doesn't want to get back into the business of the Business; he barely escaped with his life before. But in Harry Dresden he sees enough raw power to save the city he loves. Will he risk it all to back his crazy friend against the powers that be?

And can Harry and his car survive what Chicago has in store for him, even with a full-time mechanic?

Review:
This is THE epic AU of the Dresden Files fandom. It re-tells the first three Dresden books with the key difference that Marcone, instead of being the mafia boss of Chicago, is Harry's mechanic. If you're at all familiar with Harry, you know his magic is not at all friendly toward technology, and between that and the trouble he comes across, his car is constantly breaking down. Harry and John become friends, then roommates, and eventually lovers. Meanwhile, Harry deals with his regular case work, vampire-infested mafia, werewolves and super-ghosts.

Harry's first-person POV is impeccable, and the story feels very much like Butcher's works. My favorite parts of the Dresden fandom are all present in this fic: action and magic, creepy villains, snappy banter. It's fascinating to see what the world would be like with someone other than Marcone in charge of the criminal underworld and the ripples it sends through everyone's lives.

Link:
Near Miss