Avengers: Five (Or More) Uses for a Tie by Selenay

Five (Or More) Uses for a Tie (Clint/Phil | R | 9,451 words): Coulson's tie ends up being instrumental in a number of ridiculous missions. The missions are all great, every last one of them, full of banter and fun to read. The developing relationship between Clint and Phil (with Natasha off to the side mentally laughing at them) is delightful because of how well they work together while still being completely oblivious.

Excerpt:
"Barton, your bow is an expensive piece of SHIELD-issued weaponry. Not a component in an outdoor adventure park. Please try to remember that."

"Because your tie is obviously much better," Clint said. "A two hundred dollar tie will definitely survive the friction of a hundred foot drop along a zip line."

"It's more like a five thousand dollar tie," Coulson said, pulling the tie free with a snap.

"How...how is that even possible?"

There was just the hint of a smug smile at the corner's of Coulson's mouth and yeah, that was absolutely what Clint needed to see right at this moment.

Star Trek TOS: Such Enormity Moving With Such Grace by pauraque

Such Enormity Moving With Such Grace (Gillian Taylor | G | 927 words): A vignette on the life of Gillian Taylor, the whale scientist from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. This is a beautiful love letter to Gillian and to every person with a passionate, all-consuming interest. Gillian's love and care for whales shines.

Excerpt:
Gillian is in fourth grade, and in the margins of her composition book, while Mrs. Nicholas drones on about some boring war, she is drawing whales and stars.

She always draws them the same way, not creating the image so much as perfecting it.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Running Interference by haruka

Running Interference (Leonardo-Raphael | G | 431 words): Leonardo and Raphael talk while being punished by Splinter. Leo and Raph butt heads a lot, and this fic gets right at the heart of their relationship with each other. It's a great look at Raph and how he interacts the world and how similar Leo and Raph are.

Excerpt:
"You did this to us," he finally said into the silent room. He almost heard Leo stiffen behind him.

"How do you figure that? You're the one who attacked me for saving your shell."

Stargate Atlantis: 5 Things Chuck Sees (But Wasn't Supposed To) by seektheinfinite

5 Things Chuck Sees (But Wasn't Supposed To) (Chuck | PG13 | 605 words): Being the gate technician, Chuck sees a lot. This is...surprisingly dark for a 5 Things fic, a genre that generally includes a humorous component somewhere in the five things. It's an interesting look at a side of what life in Atlantis would be like if the show were real.

Excerpt:
1. The look on Elizabeth's face every time someone doesn't come home. He's sure no one else notices, she's always so careful to hide it.

Master & Commander: Three Ways To End an Acquaintance by astolat

Three Ways To End an Acquaintance (Jack/Stephen | R | 1,363 words): Three ways a duel between Jack and Stephen might go. Oh, between the three outcomes, this is delightfully sad and angsty and sweet, with the sadness and angst just making the sweet all the sweeter.

Excerpt:
Stephen had taken off coat and shirt and folded them neatly on the ground; his bare skin was sallow in the fading light, his face unreadable and distant. Jack had loosened his neckcloth and nothing more, and stood stiffly in his best coat and breeches, ill and sad, all sustaining anger gone, leaving only a wretched pallor.