#mckirk fic recs

[veryace-ficrecs]

Mckirk Fic Recs

This list will include all ratings and tags, so read at your own discretion! :)

Preconceived Notions of Propriety, Or, Bones Tells Jim Where He Can Shove It by PassionObsessed - Rated E

"Jim had always been a touchy feely guy, hanging off of everyone who would let him do so, which meant Bones had had a Jim-limpet attached since practically the first day. Apparently no one had ever noticed that those touches had gotten progressively more intimate and bold over the last few months as well as a corresponding decline in touching when it came to other people. Bones sneered a bit, making a passing cadet flinch back and scurry away. Oh no, it wasn’t until Jim had unthinkingly leaned down to kiss him goodbye before he left the mess for class that anyone had finally bought a clue. And of course he hadn’t even thought about it, just lifted his mouth to reciprocate the chaste kiss before going back to focusing on his padd. It took him several minutes to even notice the absolute silence in the mess hall and look up- to find himself the focus of five hundred dumbfounded cadets and professors." News gets out about Jim and Bones' relationship. Cue people warning the other person off. Bones is Not Pleased.

the inherent dangers of coffee dates by MourningElegance - Rated T

Oh fuck, Jim thinks to himself, eyes widening with sudden realization. He eyes the coffee cup in his hand, noticing the telltale hives beginning to peek out from his shirt sleeves. Fucking allergies- - - Of course James Kirk would go into full blown anaphylaxis in a crowded Starbucks. Lucky for him, the cute stranger he just met seems to know an awful lot about medical emergencies...

If You're So Damn Sure, Won't You Show It by ExcavatingLizard - Rated T

“So.” Pike, on the other hand, sounded distinctly smug. “Would either of you like to explain to me why you’re both suddenly in the system as married?”

“Uh, married… to who, sir?”

“To each other, Cadet.”

Or, Five times Jim and Bones weren't in a relationship, and one time they finally were.

pack up the life that's left by haveloved - Rated T

"Win doesn't know I'm doing this, and… hell, if she ever finds it she'll think it's morbid and I'll just delete it, but…" George frowns and looks off into the distance. "Maybe I'll delete it myself. But I can't--shake the feeling. … Just a feeling." "Darlin'--" he starts, a whisper, and Jim shakes his head furiously. "I wanna see, Bones," he whispers determinedly, but he's gripping Leonard's hand hard enough to bruise.

New Beginnings by Heavenly_Bodies - Rated T

Leave is coming to an end, but it’s just the beginning for Jim and Bones.

Anywhere With You by offensiveagentpie - Rated E

The idea came to him, as most of his more brilliant ideas do, while he was doing some tune ups on his bike. Bright late summer sunlight streamed off of the hood of the Corvette parked in the drive way and something just clicked for Jim Kirk.

We were all wrong by GalaxyPixel - Rated G

The students in the English class of James Kirk are trying to find out who he's going to marry. It definitely can't be the other English teacher, McCoy, who doesn't seem to like Kirk at all, right??

The Unbirthday Gift by gadgetorious - Rated G

McCoy decides to show Jim how much his friendship means to him and takes him out for his birthday. Only it's not his birthday.

Renovation by unicorncoalition (canistakahari) - Rated E

Jim has a whammy put on him by an alien death ray and he suddenly craves domesticity. He's crazy with longing to shop at space!Ikea and get potted bamboo and he starts looking into adopting AND HE HATES HIMSELF AND CANNOT CONTROL THE SHIT. Luckily, McCoy is drunk all the time and plays house.

5 times someone found out about Jim Kirk and Leonard McCoy, and one time everybody did by noelia_g - Rated G

The night before the first day of their five-years mission they all meet for drinks in one of the less frequented bars on campus. It's not easy to fit an evening out into their respective schedules, but Gaila insists and Jim backs her up, even threatening to make this his first order as the Enterprise's captain.

All Of Your Heroes And Saints by acetamide - Rated M

Leonard McCoy has met so many people in his profession that there isn't a single superpower left that surprises him. Until he meets Jim Kirk.

Recreational Activities by laughter_now - Rated T

Just how this away mission turned into a camping trip, including a campfire and shared stories, Nyota had no idea. It might be that she's somewhat distracted by the sudden display of PDA between her Captain and his CMO…

normal's overrated anyway by soniclipstick (veriscence) - Rated T

At his thirtieth birthday party, Jim asks Bones to marry him. Bones tells him that normal people go on dates first.

[spirk-trek]

Between Friends | Connie Faddis, 1978 This fanzine famously featured the first thr--some between Kirk/Spock/McCoy. Read the story by Gayle F here!

[twinkboimler]

June Fic Recs

It's been a while since I put one of these together! Under the cut are a selection of great spirk, mckirk, spones, and mcspirk fics I've read in the past few months with a brief description of what I liked about them. Enjoy!

SPIRK

Tomorrow’s Circus by Borealisblue. TOS. Explicit, 56,084 words (as of 6/20/24). Work in progress. Circus au, 1930s, everyone’s human. The friends-to-lovers and pining in this is SO GOOD and I really think that everyone needs to be reading this fic. I haven’t been this invested in a fic in a long time; getting that subscription email letting me know this fic has updated can literally fix me when I’m having a bad day. Cannot rec this fic enough if you’re in the mood for a slowburn, plus the art in it is phenomenal.

A Perfect Fit by ThereBeWhalesHere. TOS. Teen and Up Audiences, 7,097 words. Role swap: Captain Spock and First Officer Kirk. Spock’s POV, admittance of feelings, first kiss. This fic is so lovely, I love a fic where I get to just watch these two get to know each other and fall in love.

Time After Time by spaceisgay (ChancellorGriffin). SNW and Disco. Explicit, 138,921 words. I loved this fic. The pining and sexual tension is so good, and this fic has a good balance of humorous fluffy scenes and angst and incredibly hot smut. It’s a spirk fic, yes, but it really dives into sibling dynamics as it explores the Kirk brothers’ relationship as Spock continues to process the Michael-shaped hole in his life. I love this take on this era’s Spock, there’s so much he doesn’t know about himself yet. I also really adore how this fic writes all the characters—you really get a sense of everyone’s personalities in this fic, the entire crew feels so ALIVE. Just fantastic characterizations of everyone!

Big Me (But It's You I Fell Into) by waketosleep. AOS. Mature, 38,728 words. This is the fic that got me to care about golf. I wish I was kidding—now I join my in-laws when they’re watching it on the TV. This fic has a scene between McCoy and Kirk during Kirk’s first tournament with him that had me laughing my ass off. Never not thinking about this fic; the dangerous part about reading a sports au is suddenly you care about that sport. Don’t think it can happen to you? Give this fic a try. 

Consume by the_moonmoth. AOS. Explicit, 1,139 words. Must be logged in to read. Very hot smut. Dirty talk, mind melds, Bottom!Kirk and Top!Spock. This fic just hits.

You Could Call It Love by lurikko. TOS. Mature, 45,791 words. Fake marriage, slowburn, getting together. This fic is SO good, just a whole bunch of tropes that I adore.

SPONES

That Which Lingers by stanzas. TOS Movies. Teen and Up Audiences, 1,008 words. Takes place after The Search for Spock. Established relationship with some very sweet moments as they deal with the lingering side effects of the fal-tor-pan. This fic is just everything to me, it absolutely melted my heart.

So Hold Me Close and Say Three Words by Rusoe. TOS. Mature, 1,103 words. Omegaverse. Nesting, Omega!McCoy and Alpha!Spock. I absolutely wasn’t expecting this fic to dive into insecurities about aging when I clicked on it. Loved this!

Stop Making Sense by therev. TOS. General Audiences, 13,775 words. Spock is severely injured as a result of a decision McCoy had to make in order to save the lives of others. McCoy carries a lot of guilt over his actions, even as Spock recovers from his injuries. Very good.

it’s all downhill from here by strangenewwords. AOS. Teen and Up Audiences, 2,082 words. McCoy takes Joanna sledding. Joanna gets overtired, and McCoy gets overwhelmed and panicky. Love this fic’s take on Dad!McCoy, and the spones in this is so damn sweet.

MCKIRK

and i can lend you broken parts that might fit (like this) by jeyhawk. AOS. Explicit, 17,461 words. Academy era, first they hookup, then get to know each other, and then their relationship grows from there. I’m a sucker for fics with this setup. 

Resistless is your charm by fangirlandiknowit. AOS. Explicit, 6,031 words. After hearing about Uhura’s awful first date with Kirk, McCoy decides to text him. Includes some mini-golfing and a very good car hookup scene. Loved this.

MCSPIRK

Tex-Mex Eggrolls and Spinach Dip by Ncc1701ohno. TOS. Explicit, 3,746 words. Smut, light bondage. The setup for this fic is that Spock, McCoy, and Kirk find themselves stuck in the 21st century and work at the Cheesecake Factory in order to make ends meet. I desperately want this fic to become a multi-part series, because the concept is endlessly amusing to me (which is pretty obvious since I partially inspired the idea). A very funny and very hot fic.

Everything That Disappears by sagesiren. AOS. Mature, 19,748 words. Academy era, kid fic, Trans!McCoy, fluff and emotional hurt/comfort. Absolutely loved this, McCoy being a single dad is everything to me. A very entertaining get-together fic for the three of them while exploring parenthood and being trans.

Approximation by liadan14. AOS. Explicit, 15,167 words. Mutual pining, hot smut, and a really interesting plot told non-chronologically. I especially enjoyed Spock’s characterization in this fic, but I love how all three of them are written!

[treesspeaklatin]

Directory

My fics

Xedgin

Finding; a not so human Xenk discovering human feelings

Half-vampire!Edgin series; enemies to it's complicated

Romance in the time of LoveChat; romance writer!Ed and online dating AU

Xedgin in 100 words; drabble colletion

Edgin Darvis' last heist; breaking up and making up

AOS Spirk

5 wrong kisses (+1 right kiss); aliens made them kiss

It's the most wonderful time of the year; winter holidays and family drama

An elegant solution series; Vulcan Reform arranged marriage

Ri va'ne; cadet!Kirk and Vulcan strip clubs

5 people confused by the relationship between Kirk and Spock (+1 person who understood it); queerplatonic/ambiguous slash

Crawl home to him; not really character death (?), mutual pining

TOS Spirk

A heart even more your own; Persuasion AU

How to find the perfetc partner for your Vulcan, a compendium by James T. Kirk; old (almost) married spirk

Mirror Spirk

A Thorn in his side; Kirk "haaaates" Spock

5 bad days aboard the ISS Enterprise; denial of feelings and humor

Other Trek

Trektober 2023; oneshot collection; AOS-TOS-mirror spirk, spones, mckirk, mcspirk & others

No masters or kings (when the ritual begins); mcspirk aliens made them do it, pining

Fic recs

Spirk 1, 2

Mcspirk 1

[existentialcrisistime]

Nic's AOS McKirk fic recs part 1:

longer (mostly 10k+ and/or multi-chapter), more plot-focused works

There are SO MANY excellent McKirk fics out there, and I'm only scratching the tip of the iceberg with these ones, but these are ten of my top favourites (you know, the sort of fics where you have to either yell in the group chat or stare into space for a bit afterwards, then think of it constantly for the following week?), so I hope some of the ones in here become your favourites too.

And remember, be kind, leave kudos/comments where you can, and enjoy!

In no particular order, we have:

jim kirk's guide to starship management: how to work with people you don't like by espressohno (E, 23k)

Jim has an anonymous hookup (read: the best sex of his life) with who else but the one and only Leonard McCoy, who's scheduled to start as the Enterprise's CMO the next day. Hijinks (emotions and miscommunication) ensue. A great exploration of Leonard and Jim's relationship, based around the question of: what if they met under slightly different circumstances?

unscrew the stars by espressohno (E, <10k)

Jim, lamenting his inability to pursue personal relationships due to being Captain of the Enterprise and under Starfleet's fraternisation rules, believes he's found a loophole that allows him to sleep with his CMO. Leonard, however, wants something more. Another one by espressohno, and honestly I'd recommend pretty much anything by this author.

Ask me again in the morning by @torsamors (G, 26k)

Time loop fic: Bones is stuck in a time loop. This fact upsets Jim every time he finds out, but Bones definitely isn't having a fun time either. An excellent getting-together fic told from the perspective of Jim outside the loop, with plenty of hurt and comfort.

One Little White Lie by laughter_now (M, 71k)

Jim lies about being married to Leonard after an accident which leads Leonard to losing his memory, which quickly spirals out of control. An incredible, emotional exploration of the fake marriage and amnesia tropes, becoming so much more than the sum of its tags. Another one for the fellow fans of Bones Having a Real Bad Time, with plenty of Jim angst in there too.

A Wish in the Dark (for a bulletproof heart) by drmcbones (T, 18k)

Without giving too much away: one close call too many for Jim has Leonard at the end of his tether. Somehow, a mysterious medical/magical ailment links the two of them together - how long can they keep it secret from even each other? I say this about every fic on the list, but this one is absolutely excellent - a really interesting plot I hadn't read much like before.

Catching Fire (The Firehouse AU) by kel_1970 (E, 46k)

21st Century fire department AU. Paramedic Leonard McCoy flees a disastrous break-up in Savannah and ends up working at a fire department in Iowa where he meets Jim Kirk. I know this one is on pretty much every McKirk rec list, but for good reason! A beautifully-written, emotional rollercoaster of a fic with rich settings and side characters. Will rip your heart out and stamp on it, then carefully piece it back together again. I read this one over a year ago and still I think of it on a regular basis, it hurts so good.

I Will Hold As Long As You Like by @excavatinglizard (T, 18k)

The Lighthouse fic. Set post-Into Darkness, Leonard takes Jim to a lighthouse to convalesce. Together they learn to weather the storm. A beautiful, emotional character study with rich settings that paint such a picture in the mind. Also comes with (beautiful) art and a playlist to really set the scene. Another one that I read over a year ago, as it was being published, and still think of on a regular basis.

Take a Bite of My Heart Tonight by EntreNous (T, 26k)

Vetenarian Bones AU. Jim Kirk and Leonard McCoy get off on the wrong foot as soon as they meet. So if Jim wants another shot with that gorgeous but grumpy veterinarian, he had better get his hands on some pets who need vet appointments, right? Such a fun, sweet, mostly fluffy fic of Jim getting up to some absolute (mostly unsuccessful) antics to win Leonard's heart

three sundays by espressohno

The fight club AU. Not Fight Club the film so much as a literal fight club: Leonard goes to fight club to get his anger out. Jim goes to fight club to get hurt. Leonard realizes this, and decides he doesn't want to hurt Jim anymore, but he doesn't want to stop seeing him, either. Plenty of hurt/comfort, and a whole lot of aftercare.

palimpsest by @fireinmywoods (E, 61k)

What can I say about this one that hasn't already been said? Such an incredible story, even if the final chapter did make me yell out loud the first time around (and I mean that in the most affectionate way). I've read this one twice now and got something completely different out of it each time - an enjoyable read the first time but even richer with hindsight, so cleverly constructed. As for the plot - the Enterprise is sent to negitiate readmission to the Federation with an isolationist religious group known as the Kindred. While there, Jim notices that some of the children seem to be gravely ill. The Kindred do not allow a doctor to be brought in, and so Jim... well, he improvises. + 9 (so far) further, shorter works to flesh out the whole Palimpsest verse, which I enjoyed just as much as the original story - especially aganorisis (E, 15k), which I guarantee you'll want to read right after. Can mostly be read out of order, but you gotta read Palimpsest first, I promise!

And that's it for now! Thank you for reading, please tell me which ones you enjoyed the most (or your own favourite longer/plotty McKirk fics), and keep your eyes peeled for part 2

[c4t1l1n4]

Any fic recs for Kirk being protective of McCoy?

(It can be whatever: romantic, platonic, AOS, TOS idc. Just craving protective behavior)

[majormiles]

An Affair of Honour by bradleymartin

🍂 Star Trek (AOS)

🍂 James T. Kirk / Leonard McCoy

🍂 Mature | 11k | oneshot

🍂 No major warnings

Leonard cannot imagine anything worse: stuck far from home, surrounded by aristocrats, dismally in love with an earl, and once again the sole barrier between Jim and death. [or: Jim gets challenged to a duel. Bones is furious.]

[affixjoy]

I’ve read a few fics lately with some great timey wimey premises so if that’s your jam you might also enjoy them!

If I missed your fav please share in the comments! I love this sort of thing and will always want to read more.

Some Version Of You by @ncc1701ohno

Summary: Bones is stuck in a time loop and stuck in his room. With Jim. He's forced to admit how intense this thing between them has gotten, how much he feels for Jim, even as he's been falling in love with Spock.

Does what happens in a time loop stay in a time loop?

Thoughts: I’m a sucker for time loops and this is just such a great short look at it with academy era McKirk.

Highlights: the angst! The longing! THE END!

It Ends Or It Doesn’t by @muirmarie

Summary: McCoy dies, and Kirk breaks his hand on a wall. Kirk dies to save McCoy, and McCoy breaks his hand on Spock's face for not stopping him. Spock dies, and he doesn't have to see what happens next, because the day resets. The day keeps resetting. McCoy keeps dying.

Thoughts: these self sacrificing idiots just love each other so much and I love THEM!

Highlights: there’s a loop towards the end where they accept what is happening and it’s probably my favorite part of this fic.

Grief As A Four Dimensional Figure by @jennelikejennay (moreta1848)

Summary: "One might arguably say it is not fully logical to care whether I cannot return to Vulcan because it no longer exists or because it is separated from me permanently in five-dimensional space.”

“No, I think I get it,” said Jim. “Like, I haven’t gone back to the old house in Iowa in years, but I do like knowing it’s there. If my mom sold it and it got knocked down, it would make a difference to me.”

The ambassador nodded. “Likewise, even in four-dimensional space, we are separated from the things we have lost only by distance—by the fact that we cannot easily travel along the timeline.” He marked out a section of his timeline, then a dot further back in the bottom timeline—Jim’s timeline. “My marriage is here. I am here, in a different timeline and at a different time. But my marriage exists. It is a figure in four-dimensional space which will continue to exist, in that sense, eternally. So long as the timeline does not collapse, it is a permanent part of history. So although I do not have my spouse with me, I know that he existed. That somewhere, in a time and a dimension I cannot go, we are meeting for the first time. That somewhere, I am asleep in his arms.”

Thoughts: I rarely like aos as much as tos fics, but this one worked so so well for me.

Highlights: every reference to the one with the whales, all the feelings about Amanda, all of Spirk’s big feelings about each other.

Way From Within by @gunstreet and @justveeing

Summary: Jim and Spock are assigned together for a rescue mission, and in the exhilarating aftermath, their attraction to each other comes bubbling to the surface. But the next day Spock is surprisingly distant, and the rest of the morning starts to seem eerily familiar to Jim...

Written by gunstreet and illustrated by lorvee, this is a K/S timeloop story in the vein of Palm Springs or Groundhog Day.

Thoughts: pretty sure we all collectively lost our minds about this one when it came out a few months ago, but if you haven’t read it yet it is GREAT. All the fun time loop tropes I love with Kirk and Spock at the center.

Highlights: the art is so good! I love seeing these scenes illustrated!

Happy reading everyone! 🖖

[lenievi]

spones - older fics recs

seeing that people are interested in older fics, let me link some more that are not on ao3 but on personal websites (sometimes the formatting is a bit... you’d better just copy it into some text editor in order to read it comfortably) and that were written prior to 2010, but mostly in early 2000s. It’s not all of them (of course), I’m just linking those I at some point in the past three years enjoyed and that are long-ish. They can be a bit dated and sometimes a bit weird. Most of them are mature to explicit. If you want more warnings, you can message me.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Ply's Disease (explicit-ish at the end) - it deals with a disease, obviously, so proceed with caution if it isn’t something you want to read. Mention of McCoy/OC(m)

The Prayer of St. Francis (E) - I haven’t actually read this one, but one day I want to. The summary is “the triumvirate as we know them”, but it’s spones flavoured. And it’s spones who are bonded. It spans the series up to Spock’s death.

The author’s page in case you wanna read other fics by them.

Nets in the Wind - mirror!spones, has Sybok, set after Spock kills Kirk, in case you mind. It’s a bit open ended.

The World Bewitched - mirror!spones, interesting world building imho

The Other One (E) - “After the encounter with the Mirror universe, both men have some problems they have to deal with.” (I actually don’t remember this one, but I have it saved... but don’t judge me if it’s weird; read the author’s notes) sequel Sugar Magnolia. These were written in 1998.

On Vulcan genomic engineering and love - this one though is a bit weird (proceed with an open mind), but the premise is quite interesting - McCoy becomes a half-Vulcan (I think this was actually the only fic I’ve read with that theme). “Spock has wanted for a long time to become fully Vulcan and finally devices a formula to allow him to manipulate his genetic structure to do just that. But in a freak accident, he injects McCoy with the formula, causing the Doctor to become half-Vulcan. Now with pon farr on Spock's heels, he must help the doctor learn to deal with his Vulcan half, while the two of them both try to live with their feelings for each other.” some hints at McCoy/Vulcan OC(m)

My Little Town - takes place after TUC, I’m personally very fond of this one for some reason. It has a completely different background for McCoy than what’s common. “McCoy’s mother just died, and McCoy goes to deal with the house. Spock tags along.” McCoy’s parents had a huge age gap, so if you’re bothered by it, maybe don’t read it.

stories by Tempest - Blackbird has trans!McCoy, Yon t'Ashaya - McCoy and Spock both serve on a Vulcan ship, Spock goes into pon farr [these two fics are what stuck with me after reading them three years ago, but the author has a lot more]

now you can also go through this list, but a lot of the links are broken, some can be accessed through wayback machine, some can’t.

and then you can also look through the Spiced Peaches list, which has fics from 2005 and up. Just in case you’ve never heard of the online spones zine.

---

also a bonus tos!mirror!mckirk because why not. It’s a wip, unfortunately, but it’s still worth it because it’s tos!mckirk~ And like most other mirror verse fics on this list, it isn’t as dark as what’s written these days. It’s actually pretty tame. It’s by the same author as The World Bewitched and Nets in the Wind above.

The Getting or the Having & Dust - “In the Mirror-Universe Kirk finds out that his counterpart has a sexual relationship with McCoy. This makes him thinking things over.”

[cptn-sulu]

Description:

When Hikaru is gravely injured during an away mission gone wrong, Jim is forced to confront the possibility of losing him, digging up old traumas in the process.

or: Jim and Hikaru are brothers in all the ways that it matters, and Jim has never quite been able to deal with the trauma of Tarsus IV.

I FINISHED A FIC. this is chapter 1/3, the second and third chapters will be posted on 2/23 and 2/25 respectively.

comfort warnings are in the beginning notes. the graphic violence tag is out of an abundance of caution, but please read the CWs to get a better idea!

[4th-make-quail]

God, I read so much aos academy era mckirk fic a few years back that I got absolutely sick of it, but now I'm starting to kinda crave some more again lol. I think I just want more of them in any situation (except AUs I have to admit)...

I am planning on (hopefully!) binding Switch and The Red Death as big faves, so I can't wait to reread them when I'm done :3

Either way, anyone got any recs or faves for academy era kirk/mccoy? Or even better, tos version?

[needcake]

Top 3 fics of yours that you wish everyone would read—GO! Then remember to pass this on to at least 5 other people ❤️

In this universal river (engport, r-18, on going) - this one is pretty obvious, sorry! it's my biggest fic and the one that demands most of my time to write and research, it ends up being the one I put more of my energy and attention into

forget-me-nots (engport, r-18, complete) - because it's a fun little fic haha and I don't think I write enough of those

the problem with peaches (turkport/fruk, r-18, complete) - because it's not a fun little fic, but I think it's really really good

Honorable mentions are: treacherous hearts (turkport, r-18) for always making me cry on rereads, and five stolen things (spamano, g) for being one of the cutest fics I've ever written For other fandoms I'm very proud of I held sugar between my fingers, under water (stucky, pg) because it took me several years to finish, and I like contagious (mckirk, g) because it's fun

Thank you for the ask!❤️

[captainofthestrangestship]

Long (15k+) McKirk Recs

AOS McKirk

Do you like mission fics where things go terribly wrong? Protective Bones? Bones looking after his crew? These two stories are for you.

What happens when Jim books a beach house but oops there was a mix up and now Jim, Bones, Uhura and Spock all have to share. Academy era.

Oh no the Admiralty don't think Jim is stable enough to be Captain and he needs to get married or else he'll be grounded, who ever will marry him???

What if Bones found out he had a kid part way through his time at the academy? How does that change his relationship with Jim? Do you like cool OC's and open relationships? If so this is the series for you.

What happens if Jim disappears and Bones ends up raising his kid?

Want more of Bones raising Jim's Kid???

Want even more kid fic but this time with a teenage Joanna??

Want to read a story where Jim and Bones start messaging each other without knowing who is on the other side?? Academy era.

[twinkboimler]

Thanks for the tag @affixjoy!

"Self-rec time! What are your favorite five fics that you've written and why? After replying to this ask, feel free to pass on to five other writers to spread the love. 💗"

God, this is difficult. I have 79 fics on ao3, 49 of which are for Star Trek!

shore leave at yosemite, take two: I am still so proud of how this one turned out. For a fic that's, at its core, about old men exploring each other's bodies in the woods, I'm so happy with my characterization. Explicit mcspirk that takes place at the end of Star Trek: The Final Frontier. I think this fic is funny and smutty and just my love letter to these old men.

observations: AOS mckirk smut that I wrote after going through the tag and being shocked to realize that there's not much in the fucking machines tag. This fic is DIRTY (14k of smut!) but shocking no one it ends up being super sweet. Hell, even I wasn't expecting that ending; it was like someone else was writing and suddenly it was on the page.

the life of the party: post-star trek beyond spones smut. I think the reason I'm so proud of this one is because it was sitting in my drafts folder for a year. I hadn't been happy with it, and it wasn't until I completely rewrote the second half that it turned into this. It's a fic where Spock has decided that Leonard would make a good romantic partner and insists on having that conversation while at a house party. Another fic that I think is funny on top of being smutty.

Under the Surface: this fic is my baby. AOS spirk, explicit, 30k. This fic was the first time I'd put extensive time and energy into thinking about what themes I really wanted to explore in a fic, focusing on integrating those themes throughout. I think it's not a fic for everyone--it's a spirk fic, yes, but what it's really focused on is Jim and his issues. I really enjoyed writing neurodivergent Jim in this fic.

An Endless Stream of Tomorrows: TOS movies-era spirk fluff. Following the events of The Voyage Home, Jim proposes. This fic is short and sweet and I think no matter how many trek fics I write, it'll stay in my favorites. Spock putting the ring on makes me teary-eyed and I'm the guy who wrote it!

Tagging: @thetimetostrikeislater @ladywaffles @antspaul @fangirlandiknowit101 and @kaklord

[rosignoelle]

mckirk rec list

Some of my favourites from this pairing, in order of increasing word count. All of the fics listed here are aos inspired (i’m a total spirk shipper when it comes to tos but mckirk has my heart for the aos).

where i lay my hat

Rating: G

Word Count: 5k

“If Bones wants to spend a ridiculous amount of his own salary keeping an empty apartment, then by all means.”

Jim accidentally moves in with Bones over the course of several shore leaves. The relationship progression is lovely.

and i can lend you all my broken parts that might fit (like this)

Rating: E

Word Count: 17k

“Academy Era. First they fall into bed. Then they fall in love”

A study in intimacy.

blueshift

Rating: E

Word Count: 22k

“When Leonard shows up at Starfleet Academy, he wonders just how drunk he was when he met with the recruiter. He has no friends, misses his kid, and if drowning his sorrows doesn't kill him, PT will. Then he meets Jim Kirk again.”

This is probably one of my favourite depictions of a character with depression. A little rushed towards the end, but very well written overall.

Better Strangers

Rating: E

Word Count: 23k

“When Leonard McCoy moves to San Francisco it's to start a new life. Something different from his old life. That means putting up with Starfleet policies, combat classes, idiot hospital employees and Jim Kirk.”

Major focus on Bones working as a doctor, which I love, and the characterizations feel spot on! The ending is a little abrupt.

Denial

Raring: E (teen until the last chapter)

Word Count: 26k

“Denial or, 5 times Bones touched Jim when he wouldn't know, and one time he did. When Leo bumped into the kid at the bar, he never knew that he'd met the one who would save him from his loneliness.”

This is written in a stream of consciousness style which plays out very well. A very sensual piece.

Old Man and the Enterprise

Rating: M

Word Count: not listed but probably ~30k

“The life and times of James T. Kirk and Leonard H. McCoy; a series of short scenes which start on shore leave and end in the indefinable future.”

This is not a sad fic by any means, but it feels mournful and yearning and lovely. gorgeous allusions to literature throughout.

This Business of Art

Rating: M (maybe T+)

Word Count: 46k

“Art culture modern AU mystery --- “Listen, Jim, I don’t know what you’re trying to do. Whether it’s taking the skeletons out of your closet or resurrecting some lost essence your father possessed…it’s not going to work.” He leveled his gaze upon Jim’s own, “It will only bring about more pain and upset everyone you love while you’re at it.” – the problem was, Jim thought, in this world of art and business who did he love, friend or foe?”

It’s a murder mystery and and art AU all in in one! I adore how this author adapted canon tidbits to their AU. Great use of foreshadowing.

Touch and Go (Right in Front is You)

Rating: M

Word Count: 48k

“Four days. That's now long Leonard had known Jim. Four days and eight train rides, during which they'd shared three thermoses of tea, several pints of beer, a handful of snacks and texts, and a red and white tin of mints that started the whole fucking thing.”

This is a great story— the author lived in the area where the story is set, which contributes to the gorgeous world building. It also has a nice focus on friendship and an ensemble cast!

the violence of comets

Rating: T

Word Count: 57k

“Jim has never once, in his life, believed in love. He wears his bare skin with only his own tattoo circling his ankle as a badge of honor. He meets a man named Leonard McCoy on a shuttle in Riverside, Iowa who believes exactly the opposite.”

A very cute AU with a nice focus on building trust.

Love, Like Ghosts

Rating: E

Word Count: 64k

“This is several stories, not just the story of Jim & Bones' epic romance.

Jim's story. "Most would think defeating the Narada was my greatest triumph, but those closest to me know the truth. The Narada was a distant third. My last Kobayashi Maru comes in second-- and not for the reasons you'd think. The first, well..."

Chris's story. "I reached a certain age and thought I knew exactly who I was and what I wanted out of life. Then I walked into an Iowa bar and realized I wasn't the person I thought I knew. Not even close..."

Leonard's story. "You know that story? the one where Pike meets Kirk and there's mentoring and bonding and they tiptoe through the tulips into happily ever? Well, this ain't it. Dipshit."”

The characters are so wonderfully flawed in this fic, it feels like a psychological piece in the best way.

visions

Rating: M

Word Count: 65k

“Jim and Bones met in high school. music was something they shared from the start. Over the years after they parted ways, they find each other again and again, and wonder if there will ever be some version of the future where the two of them can be together”

This is tagged as a high school au, but is primarily set during adulthood. A great example of non-linear storytelling, and a happy ending guaranteed!

Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe

Rating: E

Word Count: 70k

“From Variety, June 2008:

Pavel Chekov ("Charlie X") and Gaila ("Bread and Circuses") have joined the cast of small budget drama "That Which Survives," funded by Fleet's indie arm Academy and supervised by Nyota Uhura.The debut feature from longtime script doctor Leonard McCoy, former show runner on sitcom "Three to Tango," centers on a college student coping with his father's terminal cancer. Chekov plays the son, Gaila the nurse. The father is yet to be cast. Also attached are director James T. Kirk and producer Spock, the team behind the blockbuster spy-girl franchise starring Carol Marcus, the latest of which, "A Taste of Armageddon," opened last month. (A modern-day Hollywood AU.)”

The romance definitely takes the back burner here, which suits the realistic vibe of the fic. the storytelling is really well done.

En Promenade

Rating: E

Word Count: 73k

“After three months of weekend bar-hopping and a slow process of elimination -- with finding the right bar, that was, and tragically not discovering who Bones was into -- Jim was starting to narrow it down. Bones was actively scowling less, which seemed like a good sign, but Jim still didn’t quite have it right, and lo, he was determined.”

It’s the dancing fic. One of my all-time favourites, this is an excellent academy-era fic with a plot that manages to be both absolutely insane but incredibly compelling.

Friends with all my Demons

Rating: E

Word Count: 93k

“Someone has to teach Jim Kirk how to take care of himself, ‘cause he sure as hell isn’t picking it up on his own.”

A gorgeous academy-era slow burn, strong focus on medicine and how bones balances being jim’s doctor and his friend which was really nice to read.

Catching Fire (The Firehouse AU)

Rating: E

Word Count: 137k

“21st Century fire department AU. Paramedic Leonard McCoy flees a disastrous break-up in Savannah and ends up working at a fire department in Iowa.”

The character development in this fic is exquisite, and Bones makes for a great unreliable narrator which allows for some great set ups.

Two Men and a Motorbike

Rating: E

Word Count: 150k

Alternate Link AO3 Link

“One of the few constants in James Kirk's life the last three years has been his best friend, Leonard McCoy. After saving Earth from a bunch of crazy time-traveling Romulans, Jim & Bones find out what happens when best friends cross the line between friendship and something more after a late night ride on Jim's motorbike. There are good times and bad times, and times that are just plain complicated.”

A post-Narada academy fic that’s simultaneously a total romp and wonderfully endearing. Also has a 60k sequel with an emotionally mature depiction of two (admittedly fucked up) individuals navigating a romantic relationship.

Switch

Rating: E

Word Count: 230k

“The life and times of Leonard H. McCoy MD/PhD … If Leonard McCoy's life could get any fucking weirder, it would be … Jesus, he didn't even want to think what that could possibly mean, because it's already been too fucking weird to make any kind of rational sense. A Starfleet Academy story, set in the ST:XI universe.”

For me this is THE mckirk fic. The storytelling is so seductive. It’s beautifully written and the characters are deeply compelling.

[indienby]

Does anyone have any fic recommendations for AOS Star Trek fanfic, Kirk/Bones (McKirk) with trans!kirk? I am apparently having a very specific fic craving today 🤣