The Self-Importance of Being Jensen by vicious_trade
J2, R
In the summer hiatus before season five of Supernatural, Jensen has a lot on his plate. It's hotter than hell outside. There's an extremely impatient girlfriend waiting for him in LA. Jared's under the weather and leaving a trail of life-sucking germs throughout the house. Plus, not to mention, the all-encompassing inner battle to 'do the right thing'. Whatever the hell that is.
I really sorta love this. NO offense to the real Jensen and Danneel (they're beautiful together), but in my fan-world this is the perfect kinda ending and I WANT IT TO BE CANON. Even the sick, hurt Jared part- Jensen taking care of him is totally perfect. This is one of the those stories where the characters speak and feel so much like the real thing that you get carried away thinking 'yes, this should so happen!'. I love the easy, realistic flow of their relationship. The honest, small minute details of living with someone that makes everything seem fuller, more real.
~long-ish


Rounding the Bases by crackedbuthappy
J2 AU, NC-17
Jared is a firm believer that dating is like baseball. Every man who steps up to the plate has to work hard to round the bases. He doesn’t believe in letting anyone hit a home run; a guy has to work for it, he has to hit every base from his place in the batter’s box to sliding into home. And in Jared's baseball metaphor for life? Jensen's a very capable batter. Although it is a college AU, its really not about a college romance. Its about how to fall in love, how sex can fit into that, but not be the reason, and the amazing hot sex you can have when you wait for it - or build up to it, as Jared says! Its fun, hot and good time read.
~long-ish


This Is The Ultimate by neros_violin
J2 AU, NC-17
Jensen is the UFC's Welterweight Champion, and the company's biggest star. He's also its most private. Jared is the writer assigned to help the public get to know him better. Jared is begrudgingly invited into Jensen's training camp, where Jensen is preparing for the biggest fight of his career, to get a better glimpse of his professional life. But Jared soon realizes he has a personal interest in Jensen. He's surprised when Jensen returns his feelings, and a real relationship begins to develop between them. It's torn apart when a devastating news story is leaked to the press, and Jensen shuts Jared out of his life. Jared watches from the sidelines as Jensen's career disintegrates in the passage of four five-minute rounds, and refuses to stay away. What they have, and the man Jensen doesn't realize he can be, are worth fighting for.
Alright alright, I'll be honest. This has been rec'd all over the place, but I have just been really resistant to read it. I just didn't think I would really buy Jensen in this role. Not a fighter, but the whole champion thing. My presumptions about what kind of character he would be were completely off base, as was the notion that I wouldn't like it. Duh. It was a good read. The quiet determination Jensen shows, Jared's friendly nature and their chemistry were good, but I was surprised to really enjoy the training and fight descriptions. I have no idea how accurate they are, but it all reads very well - you can feel the pulse and flash of a fight night clearly.
~long-ish

vamphile is very wise, it is fabulous. *nods*

Give Me Splendid, Silent Sun by maboheme
SPN, NC-17
Down and out in Bogalusa, where the summer sun don’t shine, just burns and churns and turns so bright ... All I can hear in my head is Louis Armstrong's rasping gravelly voice singing "...Bright blessed days...dark sacred nights. And I think to myself...what a wonderful world." The other lyrics of the song don't have anything to do with it, but those just keep filtering through my head. Honestly, the writing style in this is not anything like the things I typically enjoy, but this one really is beautiful. Its poetic and lyrical, with a burning and heat that inflames from under the skin. Its all feeling and touch and hedonistic warmth.
~short


But then maboheme has that gift, you know? Bedtime Stories is one of the most lovely little Jensen&Jared pieces I've ever read. Again, that hedonistic warmth and poetic rhythm slide over your skin, only in this one tender and sloppy with a lightness that infuses the best kind of J2 stories. As it tells you, these are the kinds you listen to. Absolutely lovely, both of them.
~short


The Dangers of Bullying by jassy3399
SPN, G, Gen
It's a very bad idea to mess with little Sammy Winchester. Because little Sammy Winchester is downright adorable, Big Brother Dean is pretty awesome and John Winchester is just hellahot as Cool Dad. *grins*
~short-ish


Ok, I *just* saw this rec someplace and can't remember where, but OMG, it is so good.
When It's Done by elizah_jane
SPN, PG-13
Dean's not sure he and Sam have a beginning. Great storytelling that stirs and shakes up a linear time, creating a new world of fated love and happy endings.
~ short=ish

Pass It On by hay1ock
J2 AU, R
Jared, geek, nerd, and everything in between. Oh, and he's as out as any 17 yr old can be at high school. Jensen, swimteam captain, popular, everything Jared isn't. Oh yeah, and he's not so out. A simple offer by Jared to help Jensen with some extra studying, lands both the boys in the middle of something they weren't quite expecting. A little bit of angst, some heavy usting, Jared with a crush and skiddish Jensen - yeah, all the lovely things that can go into a highschool AU to make it worth settling in for a nice read.


Dogs and Cats Living Together! Mass Hysteria! by timewillbe
J2, PG
In which Jared decides to get another dog. And Jensen is a pushover. And yes, it is adorably schmoopy as the summary indicated. *grins*


King of the Mountain by raeschae
J2, NC-17
Jared's a top. So's Jensen. Conflict naturally ensues. Its not about the sexy hotness, its about the charming cuteness. LOL. And Jared and Jensen. Its just sorta great, dude.

And that story brought me to the Disclaimer!Verse also by raeschae
J2 AU, NC-17
In September '06, a skater walks into a tattoo parlor . . . the rest, as they say, is history. I've read this before, but I think it wasn't as complete as it is now. I just finished We Will Not Be Held Responsible and totally loved it. This entire verse is interesting, deep and sexy. It has tattoos and love and kids and freaky hot sex and all sorts of things. Its a fully developed 'verse with interesting secondary characters and a Jared and Jensen that seem to be at the core very realistic, but with enough back story and changes to make them uniquely different and entirely intriguing. Ok..Imma stop with the thesaurus. Lets just say its very cool 'verse and I did a bit of *flail*ing over many parts of it.

Without Packages, Boxes, or Bags by valiant
SPN, NC-17
Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store.
This is one of those that you need to heed the warnings: PWP, underage (Dean is 16, Sam is 12), masturbation, voyeurism/exhibitionism, cuddling and brothering. Hot weecest fic. Yes, its feels dirty hot wrong (YUM), but it also has layers of love, angst and *Winchester*. You can see these two boys fighting so hard to be a family, hanging so tightly to what little they have. And Dean, doing the absolute best he knows how to take care of Sam, to make sure Sam never feels wrong or like a freak. And the sexual discovery, wooboy. Yeah, that part is completely YUM.


Blow Out the Candles I Still Hear Them Say by felisblanco
SPN, PG-13
Sam is turning fifteen and Dean is going to Hell. You know I've been looking for some more Weecest schmoop. This? Is not it. This is a flashback fic, posted over two years ago that is totally worth a revisit. felisblanco's stories have a way of twisting your heart around in just the right way. Making you ache at how life for the Winchesters is/was. Sam's desperate wanting to not be what John turning hiim - them - into and Dean's earnest attempts at being what everyone else needs him to be - makes you want to *whimper* at the angst of it all.


And just to offset the angst and Weecest...
Sweat Rags (ok, it doesn't have a title, but whateva) by aggybird
J2, PG
keepaofthecheez posted about at a retweet: "Jensen knows exactly where jared begins sweating first. and admitted that he mops him off between scenes" and then wanted JENSEN WITH A HOPE CHEST of Jared's sweat rags. LOLOLOL, everyone needs massive amounts of sexy cuteness to start their day with, I'm glad this was mine.

Here's to a Happy Ending by verbalavalanche
J2 AU, NC-17
Graduation day. You get to hear all kinds of shit being passed around in the crowd.
Because I can't resist highschool AU fic and schmoopy hot sex is what fanfic is all about...
~ short-ish


In Restless Dreams I Walked Alone by roque_clasique
SPN, Gen, PG
Dean's mouth, and what it can't do. Just a little insight into Dean's character. This could easily be canon. It fits and it *feels* like it. Angsty and painful, a slightly broken Dean may just be the most hauntingly beautiful thing ever. Stories like this certainly make it seem that way.
~ short-ish

Incestuous Adventures in Post-Apacalyptic Dating by not_refined
SPN, PG-13
And they all lived happily ever after and double dated. (Schmoopy cracky future fic, spoilers for 5x08.)
Got five minutes? Dare you not to crack a grin at this.

Give the Lie by dreamlittleyo
SPN, NC-17
It turns out Dean was wrong when he said there was no such thing as unicorns. It also turns out that when a unicorn steals your memories, you have to play nice to get them back. But what's a Winchester to do in the meantime?
One day I'm going to stop being surprised at all the really good fic I still haven't read. I'm going to stop having the thought of 'omg, how did I not read this before?!?'. But not today. How come I didn't know about this!?! *sigh* Anyway, this is a lovely little fic of crack-that-couldn't. lol. I think it was supposed to be crack - and with sparkley unicorns and amnesia plot lines how could it not be? - but between the really good writing, the unexpected romance, the stinging angst and heartache Dean goes through and the simple loveliness of season 1 Winchester boys it just really can't let itself be crack.
~sit a spell

White Knight, Talking Backwards by destina
J2, R (PG-13?)
A short shot of adorable Jensen doped up on pain meds and his Jared, real or imaginary?, to the rescue. Makes you want to *smoosh* the story!

Which had me rereading a fandom classic:
The Truth About Heaven by destina
J2, NC-17
As Supernatural nears the end of its run, Jared and Jensen have careers and relationships waiting for them. Trouble is, all they want is each other, and a string of quiet epiphanies changes everything. Haven't we all read this like at least twice? Its just that good. Its funny how now it almost feels like a flashback fic - what with Sandy and Jared being together in the beginning and the slow easy discovery of feelings the boys have. I think it probably has one of the most perfect endings ever and each time a I read it my heart just thumps a little harder. It also makes me feel all soft and nostalgic for how young and sweet they both seem. Oh boys.
~ sit a spell

No Strings Could Secure You by dugindeep
J2 AU, R
The Media Freeze took away all music, movies, and gaming systems to sterilize citizens of any excessive emotions and let them live their own lives. Media Agent Jared Padalecki upholds the Freeze, destroying media and arresting those who possess it. But his world viewpoint is skewed when he watches a TV show and experiences what all the offenders have – raw emotion. His life is further upended when he builds a friendship with actor Jensen Ackles, who turns him onto more entertainment and opens his eyes to the beauty of this creative world. I'm a really impressed with this. This was an amazing job of bringing a classic piece of literature into the fandom world. And I just think that Fahrenheit 451, the book this is based on, is something everyone should read, so I was excited for this to have worked out so well.
~ rivers_bend, are you looking? longish


The Night Could Just Bend on Forever by ampersands
J2, PG
Things have been ending for a while now. The is lovely writing style, that gives deep expressive and descriptive implications to subtle nuances. Jensen and Jared road trip to Texas after the show finally ends. You get the sense of the places they visit and how they feel about each other even though they are stilted in their attempts to actually discuss anything. The ease of their friendship tangible and solid.
~ sit a spell


Where the Wild Things Are and Into the Wild by annie46
J2 AU, NC-17
Animal Psychologist Jensen Ackles has been sent on a very mysterious mission for the US Government. When he finally meets the ‘animal’ they want him to tame, he realizes that he is out of his depth. Will he be able to fulfill his dangerous mission or will he leave his strange charge in the hands of people who do not really understand him. Sometimes you just want to read something that is so very AU and far removed from anything realistic, ya know? Well, I do, at least. I can't help it, I love things like this. Maybe the stories are implausible, but they are unique. And when you've read as much fanfic as I have, that can be powerfully alluring. I love how child-like Jared is. Stripping a person down to their basic instincts is fascinating. And topped with lovely happy-ever-afters, of course I enjoyed these.
~ longish

I don't kow why I'm All Over this Meme by dugindeep
J2 AU, NC-17
It wasn’t explicit, but they’re just 15, and it’s a decent sex scene packed into 90 minutes of college hilarity. How could Jared not feel something about it? OMFG so much yes. *moans*

I WANT THIS TO BE A REAL LENGTH FIC, omg, so much.

Your Kind's My Kind by unreckless
J2 AU, PG-13
On the eve of college graduation, two best friends struggle with the label on their relationship and that hazy thing called the future. This? Is totally my kind of fic. But its not the kind I get to read often. It would be easy to say that its snarky, funny J2 living together kind of story. Cuz it is. But its also them being guys. Like real guys. With bad eating habits, unattractive moments, zits and a complete lack of the ability to actually sit down and talk out a situation. (Don't look at me that way, I have a large family full of guys.) I also really loved the fact that they have been best friends for 12 years. It gives off a vibe the real Jensen and Jared do - that deep down closeness you can only get from spending a lot of time with someone. So, to recap, there is snark, humor, 'manliness', friendship, hijinks, sex, and loyalty in their relationship. omg I'm in love. The story only lightly touches on these things, but you can really get a vibe for everything. Making this a Win in my book.


An Irresistible Force by mickeym
SPN, NC-17
Season 5 Spoilers
"Partners, or partners, like us?" Sam's right up in Dean's personal space, looming, pressing in on him, holding him against the door with nothing but the weight of his body.
Mmmm, yeah. Just like this.


Star Trek Reboot by gladdecease
SPN, PG, Xover w/ Star Trek, Gen
Season 5 Spoilers
From the Kripke Started It Changing Channels Free For All Meme
The channel changed to Star Trek. *giggles* Cute little tidbit.


I Could Stay With You by standing_fic
J2, PG-13, AU(-ish)
It's their wedding day, and pretty much everything that could possibly go wrong goes wrong. still, they're married! also, a cake fight of epic proportions. So lovely to read something schmoopy and sweet with a happy ending after all the painful loss and angst going on in J2 right now. I like how the little bits of their personalities are things only the other picks up on - like Jared knowing how to deal with Jensen's mounting anger. It is the little things that really reflect a close, lasting relationship.


And you may or may not care about this, so feel free to skip...

On the nature of AU. For a while now I've wanted to post about what I consider AU. You might have noticed something like this I put 'AU-ish'. And there are other things that have them dating starting at season 1 that I don't list as AU. To me, AU is for something that really is an Alternate Universe. Like, they meet as kids and become doctors or something. But something that pretty much the same until they meet each other for Supernatural then I think that is more of what could have happened in this reality if things had been different. I'm sorry, I'm not explaining it well. But that is my opinion ad that is why I do or don't put in AU. (This one is -ish because nothing in it is beyond the realm of this reality, but I can't tell from the story if they are actors on Supernatural or teachers in Texas, ya' know?)
And for Supernatural stories it has to be very AU for me to list it is such. In a world where monsters, demons and magic plays havoc anything can go. But say Mary didn't die, or Sam didn't got Stanford or they were raised separate then I'll list it as AU.

The gender ratio was a bit off, don't you think?

LMFAO

I LUV U SHOW.

If you haven't been reading vamphile's newest fic TKO then I'm sorry, but we might have to revoke your status as a J2 'shipper.

SRSLY, you need. to. read. this story folks.

Oh J2 AU, how I love you. (and vamphile too)

Hate Crime by freakn_out
J2 AU, PG-13
The boys get a new neighbour: "What's the matter?” Rolling his head against Jensen shoulder, Jared stares into the fireplace, “I ran into our new next-door neighbour…. Apparently he’s got a problem with gays.”“Yeah?” Jensen’s arms tighten, “At least we can forget the housewarming gift.” Um, massive schmoop with a homophobic hate crime. Um...I know, you think WTF? But honestly, that is what it is. And I actually liked it. For all that it has something really horrific in it and treats it respectfully, it really is just light schmoop. Like domestic dating and Twu Luv. So vanilla you might ask for chocolate sprinkles on top. But like I said, it was a good read for me.


Don't Let It Go To Waste by kinkynicky
J2 AU, NC-17
Growing up in Texas is hard. Growing up in Texas and realizing at the age of 16 that you’re in love with your male best friend? Is harder. So as you might know, I've been backtracking lately. Finding things I read and somehow, in my stupidity, forgot to post about. This is one of them. I actually really thought I posted this. I was looking for it to rec to someone. Then I figured out that I hadn't. And then I was kind of excited because, of course, that meant I had to read it again so I would get the details right. Man, it was just as good as I remember. Teenage usting, friendship and schmoop. *happysigh*. First-time sex, drunken kisses and sexual discovery. *swoon*


By Proxy by timewillbe
J2 also Jared/Brock, NC-17
Jared has a little thing for Dean and everyone knows it but him. And Jensen. Guh Yep, that pretty much says it. lol. Remember the fascination with Teen Dean and Brock Kelly? There were several like this where Jared uses Brock as a stand in for his lust for Jensen. This one, however, is one of the best. Full of steam and jealousy - yum.

The Decisions We Make by garvaldmains
J2 AU, NC-17
Jensen is an orphan, fostered by the Padalecki’s, the product of a lonely childhood he is thrown into the Padalecki life and into the life of his new foster brother Jared. At nine they have nothing in common, at sixteen the introverted, closed off, snarky Jensen still has nothing in common with the wild child, firebrand, free spirit that is Jared, but the decisions they make in life mean that eventually this could all change.
This is easily one of the best AUs in fandom. I doubt there is anyone that read my journal that hasn't read this fic. I just happen to click on it today by accident and got caught up in it again. I think I've actually read it like 4 times - yes, its that good. I keep thinking I need to say something profound about a story of this caliber to try to do it justice with a description. But really, I don't need to. The very few that haven't read it can look at the many hundred - srsly - of comments to know that its a beautiful, amazing well written story. I've already posted about this story, but I figured anything I've read four times deserves another go.

Free Falling by evening_spirit
J2, R
explicit sex, mental illness, anti-schmoop I think this might have started off as a one off and developed into a 'verse. There is a disjointed unreal quality about this story, yet it is also rather beautiful and fluid. It is hard to describe, but then Jensen (in the story) probably feels that way all the time so it really lends itself to helping the reader to 'feel' Jensen, even when parts are told from Jared's perspective. The link takes you to a master post and you can read it either as it is written or in linear order. I chose linear.


Worlds Apart by freakn_out
J2 AU, PG-13
In medieval days, a peasant has no standing in society according to the nobles So then why does Sir Ackles suddenly take an interest in peasant-boy Jared? Is it Jared's dream finally coming true, or something else...? Its a fairy tale, as in an actual fairy tale. Which was kinda cool in its uniqueness. Its not the most 'in-character' piece I've ever read, but I'm just a sucker for happily ever after schmoop!


There's No Logic (So Please Believe Me) by raphaela667
J2, R
So, overall, Jared was not especially surprised that he’d fallen in love with Jensen suddenly. He was a little shocked that he’d fallen in love with Jensen. Who was, OK, sort of blindingly pretty, but you got over that once you figured out that he would rather buy new underwear than wash the old ones (sometimes, Jared got annoyed with him and did his laundry, it made sense to him). A lovely cute little story about falling in love with your best friend. About knowing someone. Did I mention how cute it is?

Caught On Tape by taelynhawker
SPN, NC-17
Dean's not sure what's hotter. Porn. Without Plot.... Sam & Dean watching Sam & Dean. Guhhhh


I'd Marry Your Cat Just to Get In the Family by wanttobeatree
SPN, PG-13
Written for woodstarling's prompt 'Dean gives Castiel all his lame pick-up lines and Castiel keeps trying to use them on Sam' over at THE TOTALLY AWESOME SAM/CASTIEL COMMENTFIC MEME. Complete and total WTF?!?! CRACK. OMG, such good crack. Hang on, I need to rest my gut for a sec.


And if you like that one then you might also like Just a Question of Morality by emerald_embers also from the meme for the Castiel discovers texting. Dean ignores his messages, but Sam is too polite to do so prompt. A little less on the crack and little more on the cute schmoop. I said a few weeks ago that I was sad about the complete lack of Sam/Castiel fics out there so this is fucking awesome to me! I'm so enjoying this.

So here is the deal, there was a recent post on spnstoryfinders asking for hurt Dean or something like that. Anyway, the topic interests me and there were a ton of links. I'm going through them. Some are really good. I'm still working through so there may be more to come.


We Belong Together by not_refined
SPN AU, PG-13
Wincest AU. Sam and Dean, growing up and growing closer together in the ordinary world. I'm not sure how I missed posting about this when I read it almost a year ago. But when I stumbled across it again I found it tore me up just as much the second time around. Hauntingly beautiful. Dean being fragile like this makes my heart clinch. I love how wonderful John is to both the boys in this. Anyway, I'm sure most people have read it as not_refined is well known for some really amazing stories. Like the Still Life 'verse. The damage done to Dean only makes him more beautiful. The innocence and struggle of life that make up the fabric of Dean and Sam's life in that story is breathtaking. These two stories just really touch something deep in me.


Nothing Dark by evening_spirit
J2 AU, NC-17
Jared thinks his life sucks (even if he denies feeling bad about). He starts college, which he didn't want and he swears he will not make friends there. But then he meets another student, a boy with emerald eyes, who draws and draws, and draws . . . Jensen is an amazing artist, he's mysteriously shy, and Jared finds himself fascinated to the point of obsession. Can anyone explain to me why stories like this are so immensely intriguing to me? I mean, yes, the writing is good and I like the characters and all that, but why is young, confused Jared and a 'damaged' Jensen so mesmerizing? (And I mean that in terms of 'damaged!Jensen', not as in someone with his disability being damaged, k?) Is it the childlike innocence that somehow can merge and weave seamlessly with mature, adult actions? I honestly don't know why, but stories like this always snag my attention. When they are written well then its a win-win for me - this was, btw, a win-win.


Of Black Dogs and ASL by smokeyhorse
SPN AU, PG, Gen
A miscommunication results in a hurt 10-year-old Dean and a heart-to-heart between Sam and John. AU - deaf!Dean. Schmoop! This is a short little thing, but it is absolutely touching and darling. Little Sam was adorably cute, Dean is more of a concept - and him being deaf is just plain interesting to me, and John is very John, but maybe he'll get a clue in this world. Anyway, I really really wish this were a larger 'verse. The author did the characters great and I love the emotion of the story.


Sleepless Night by prepare4trouble
SPN, PG, Gen
After being injured on a hunt, Dean tries to carry on as normal. Man, I think I might have actually sniffled on the last line. Poor Dean. My only complaint is that it is too short. I just got into it!

Authors, I love you people. I really really do. You make my life richer and filled with intense emotions that leave me breathless. I am extremely appreciative of the time you take to not only write out a story, but spellcheck, beta and draft - meaning, I know a lot goes into a well written fic.

But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, for the love of all things Holy and Winchester, if you are writing a multi-chaptered fic PLEASE either link the chapters on each page or have a master post with all the chapter links. Or hell, at the very least use consistent tags.

Because Dudes, having to go back and shift through a journal for the next chapter is.... *cough* Just please, it would be MASSIVELY appreciated.

Thank you, that is all.

With huge amounts of love, Peachus