Xover (Smallville/Sports Night): Networking by Shrift

Networking (Dan/Lex | NC17 | 8,134 words) is Dan/Lex and a one-night stand. Fantastically done, and it doesn't ignore the Clark/Lex that's so blatant in Smallville nor the Dan/Casey in Sports Night. This is a hot, descriptive story. Plus, the dialogue's spot-on for everyone involved.

Excerpt:
Lex's fingers closed around his wrist, hands warm and dry, and the tips of his fingers a little harder than Dan would have expected. He tugged Dan closer, and Dan had a moment to realize that Lex was left-handed before he began to write. The pen Lex used was an old-fashioned kind, dark ink spilling out of the sharp tip as it caught and scratched over his skin, staining it in bold loops. It was a weird thing to be turned-on by, the feel of being written on, someone's warm fingers snug around the bones of his wrist. The ink glistened on his skin. Lex bent over his forearm, pursed his lips, and blew a warm puff of air over the words until they dried.

Sports Night: Flirtational Theory by Shrift

Flirtational Theory (Dan/Casey | PG | 5,912 words) deals with Dan and Casey after the series finale. Dan flirts, and Casey's oblivious. There's more to it than just that though; this story is meaty. The dialogue's so utterly these guys, which is great because the dialogue was one of the great things about the show. Aah! I have much love for this story. Much love, I tell you!

Excerpt:
"You were flirting with me?" Casey said incredulously, and having said it out loud, he realized that it hadn't exactly come out the way he had intended it to. Except for the part where he hadn't intended to say anything of the kind.

"Possibly, yes." The smile on Danny's face wasn't entirely pleasant. It was like Danny's disappointed look after unexpectedly biting into a pickle.

"Wait a minute." Casey held up his hands in surprise. "You were flirting with me and I missed it? How could I have missed it?"

"Casey, Casey, Casey..." Danny said, sliding his hand up over Casey's shoulder to cup the back of his neck and shake him slightly. "You missed it because you are the most oblivious man on the face of this planet, my friend."

Danny took his hand away, and the back of Casey's neck felt cold. "On what basis do you make this assumption?"

When Danny smiled this time it felt real, nervous anger mostly gone from his face. "Oh, I make this assumption based on the fact that I've been flirting with you almost every day for the last ten years and you've never caught on, Casey."

A Knight's Tale: Addictions by Collie

Addictions (Wat/Chaucer | PG13 | 3,105 words) uses the "let's lock 'em in a room together until they get along" cliche very well. Wat and Chaucer have a wonderfully antagonistic relationship. Cute and nicely in character (what I remember of their characters from the movie anyway).

Excerpt:
"I'll have to track those gentlemen down before we leave this site," Geoff mused. Wat assumed he was referring to the men who 'liberated' Geoff of his clothing.

"Aye? And why's that? So you can give them a notice as to where our next stop is, so they can just lay out a bin for you at the entrance to drop your clothes in as we arrive?" Wat sneered.

Geoff shot him a withering glance, "No. They took my coat. The fawn-colored leather. I love that coat."

Wat frowned, "Aye. It suits you," he said, watching as Geoff tied off the waistband.

The writer threw him a capricious grin, "You think so?"

Wat blinked quickly, then cleared his throat, crossing his arms across his chest, "Well it was all flamboyant and floppy, wasn't it?"

Harry Potter: If You're Breathing by Sandy Justine

If You're Breathing (Neville/Harry | PG | 2,604 words) is Neville growing into his own. Harry wants to demonstrate hand-to-hand fighting, and he picks Neville. Absolutely brilliant reflection on Neville and on war and on Harry and on getting by. Plus I rather like the fight scene.

Excerpt:
Neville and Harry both rolled and grasped for Harry's wand -- 'disarm your opponent and keep them that way' was Ron Weasley's favorite tactic -- and Neville managed to knee Harry in the stomach.

Harry just took the hit; he was one of those wizards who didn't seem to feel pain. They were still tangling for the wand. Neville was pretty sure Harry wasn't putting everything he could into the fight, but instead of this making Neville hold back, it only made him madder. Did Harry think Neville was that pathetic a target? Even after last year?

He ripped Harry's glasses off and heard them break when they fell. Bother. Harry thumped him in the head and was about to get the best of him in their wrestling. Neville could hear the rest of the DA hollering enthusiastically for him -- for Neville! -- to win.