Fic rec: An Internal Affair (Coldflash)
Nov. 12th, 2021 11:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
out_thereFull disclosure: this isn't my fandom. I've enjoyed Wentworth Miller and Grant Gustin in other roles, I've seen gifs on Tumblr, and I've occasionally seen bits of snark on YouTube, but I've never actually watched an episode of the Flash or Legends of Tomorrow. And yet, someone on my Reading List recommended this story and I bookmarked it to read later and a couple of days ago I gave it a shot.
And I really loved it.
Possibly, I'd enjoy more things if I knew s1 of the Flash (I strongly suspect this is a bit of an AU retelling of those events) but it's well explained enough that you don't need canon knowledge. It helps that I vaguely remembered who Kara Danvers is (well, okay, for the first three chapters I was thinking of Carol Danvers, but then I realised that was the wrong comic universe). But mostly, the characterisation is great, the pacing is good and I even enjoyed the switching POVs each chapter.
(My generally firm stance against switching POV still stands. But this story is a great example of it done well. Where the plot continues, the POVs are used to give us different information, and not once did I feel that trap of reading the same scene just through a different set of eyes.)
Apart from the puns and fun characterisation, this story had two other things that I adore in stories. First, a hero who is good and ethical, but isn't nice or popular. I love a hero who can be sharp and angry, even occasionally mean, and still be someone doing the right thing for generally good reasons. I love the idea of Len being so angry at cops and using that frustration to improve the situation. Secondly, the world-building is fantastic. The legality of being a cop, the temptation to do the wrong thing, how people can be generally good and still make bad decisions, how difficult it can be to try to fix culturally accepted mispractice -- all of that is wonderful. It makes these characters feel real and complex.
An Internal Affair (133686 words) by nirejseki, robininthelabyrinth
Chapters: 23/23
Fandom: The Flash (TV 2014)
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Barry Allen/Leonard Snart
Characters: Leonard Snart, Barry Allen, David Singh, Joe West, Kara Danvers, Eobard Thawne | Harrison Wells, Iris West, Eddie Thawne, Wally West, Mick Rory, Cisco Ramon, Caitlin Snow, Ralph Dibny
Additional Tags: Coldflash Weeks 2018, Role Reversal, Cop!Leonard Snart, Identity Reveal, Disabled Character
Series: Part 1 of Coldflash Week 2018
Summary:
And I really loved it.
Possibly, I'd enjoy more things if I knew s1 of the Flash (I strongly suspect this is a bit of an AU retelling of those events) but it's well explained enough that you don't need canon knowledge. It helps that I vaguely remembered who Kara Danvers is (well, okay, for the first three chapters I was thinking of Carol Danvers, but then I realised that was the wrong comic universe). But mostly, the characterisation is great, the pacing is good and I even enjoyed the switching POVs each chapter.
(My generally firm stance against switching POV still stands. But this story is a great example of it done well. Where the plot continues, the POVs are used to give us different information, and not once did I feel that trap of reading the same scene just through a different set of eyes.)
Apart from the puns and fun characterisation, this story had two other things that I adore in stories. First, a hero who is good and ethical, but isn't nice or popular. I love a hero who can be sharp and angry, even occasionally mean, and still be someone doing the right thing for generally good reasons. I love the idea of Len being so angry at cops and using that frustration to improve the situation. Secondly, the world-building is fantastic. The legality of being a cop, the temptation to do the wrong thing, how people can be generally good and still make bad decisions, how difficult it can be to try to fix culturally accepted mispractice -- all of that is wonderful. It makes these characters feel real and complex.
An Internal Affair (133686 words) by nirejseki, robininthelabyrinth
Chapters: 23/23
Fandom: The Flash (TV 2014)
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Barry Allen/Leonard Snart
Characters: Leonard Snart, Barry Allen, David Singh, Joe West, Kara Danvers, Eobard Thawne | Harrison Wells, Iris West, Eddie Thawne, Wally West, Mick Rory, Cisco Ramon, Caitlin Snow, Ralph Dibny
Additional Tags: Coldflash Weeks 2018, Role Reversal, Cop!Leonard Snart, Identity Reveal, Disabled Character
Series: Part 1 of Coldflash Week 2018
Summary:
Leonard Snart, the CCPD Captain of Internal Affairs, is known as Captain Cold for a very good reason: He hates corrupt cops with a merciless vengeance, and once you're on his list, you're in serious trouble.
His next target?
A CCPD lab tech named Barry Allen who's developed a suspicious habit of disappearing at random intervals.
no subject
Date: 2021-11-12 01:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-11-12 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-11-12 04:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-11-13 10:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-11-12 06:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-11-13 10:43 am (UTC)