**This post will be continuously updated. If you see it as a reblog, please check the blog for the most up-to-date version**
This blog automatically posts every* fic in the "Dead Boy Detectives (TV)" tag on ao3 using an RSS feed and a workflow automator (make.com). Posts are queued, so fics may take a while to appear on the blog after being posted to ao3. Only newly published fics will be posted, not updates.
I (the mod) manually add tumblr tags for ship, characters, rating, and archive warnings. Any other tags and warnings will be listed in the "additional tags" section in the body of the post, which is automatically copied from the author's tags on ao3. Please read the tags and use your personal discretion about content you want to read.
All of my fic posts are tagged with #deadboydetectivesao3feed -- good to follow if you want to keep up with fic posts, or to block if you don't want to see me in the main tags 👍 Full tag directory, including content warnings, is under the cut!
If I've mis-tagged something or the blog seems to otherwise not be working correctly, please feel free to send an ask or DM! Asks and DMs not related to this blog and/or its function as an ao3feed will not be responded to.
Hope you enjoy the blog! ✨
*Fics that are locked to ao3 users as well as fics posted to ao3 before the feed was set up on February 5th, 2025 can't be picked up by the bot. If the fic has locked comments, it's a coin toss whether the bot will pick it up or not. If your fic is not posted within a few days of being published on ao3 and you would like it to be posted to the feed, you can contact me via ask or DM and I will post it manually. You will need to do this for every new fic you publish, unless you give me a standing order.
This blog will not post fics made with generative AI.
Tag Directory (under the cut)
Content Warnings and Ratings
tumblr's native content labels will be applied to posts for fics rated "Mature" or "Explicit" on ao3. In addition, I tag for archive warnings:
#AW: No Archive Warnings Apply
#AW: Creator Chose Not To Warn
#AW: Graphic Depictions of Violence
#AW: Rape/Non-Con
#AW: Underage Sex
#AW: Major Character Death
as well as ratings (using ao3's rating system):
#rating: G
#rating: T
#rating: M
#rating: E
#not rated
Other Categories
*These categories will be continuously updated as more fics are posted
Ships:
#catcrow
#catwin
#charles rowland x original female character(s)
#cricketcrow
#cricketcat / #catland
#cryland
#crystal palace x original male character(s)
#demonland
#edwin payne x simon mould / #blue cap / #hellbound
#edwin payne x original male character(s)
#the cat king x esther finch / #kingfinch / #pussymagic
#montwin
#nightfish
#night nurse x death
#palasaki
#payneland
#shelby kahn x maren
#the cat king x crystal palace
#the cat king x desire of the endless
#the cat king x original characters
also: #gen fic
Poly Ships:
#crylandpayne
#ghostcat
#ghostcrow
x Reader Fic:
#tragic mick x reader
and: #reader-insert
Major Characters:
#charles rowland
#crystal palace / #crystal palace surname von hoverkraft
#david the demon
#edwin payne
#esther finch
#jenny green
#monty finch
#night nurse
#niko sasaki
#the cat king
Side Characters:
#angie the sea monster
#asha (dead boy detectives)
#baby doll spider
#brad (dead boy detectives)
#brandon devlin
#charles rowland's father | Paul Rowland
#charles rowland's mother | Mary Rowland
#crystal palace's mother | Maddy Surname
#crystal palace's father | Seth Von Hoverkraft
#dagfinn
#ghost postman
#hannah devlin
#honda the cat
#hope devlin
#hunter (dead boy detectives)
#iris (dead boy detectvies)
#kashi (dead boy detectives)
#litty and kingham
#maren (dead boy detectives)
#meatball the cat
#maxine (dead boy detectives)
#sa'al
#shelby kahn
#simon mould
#stacey devlin
#the notary
#tragic mick
#twitchy richie
Characters from the wider DBD universe:
#dead patrol boys (Doom Patrol versions of Charles and Edwin)
#death of the endless
#delirium of the endless
#dream of the endless / #morpheus
#desire of the endless
#despair of the endless
#destiny of the endless
#edwin payne's father
#edwin payne's grandparents
#edwin payne's mother
#edwin payne's sibling(s)
#hob gadling
#johanna constantine
#john constantine
#lucifer morningstar
#niko sasaki's father
#niko sasaki's mother
#the corinthian
#the fates (sandman)
and: #crossover fic
Languages (as this blog and most of the fics being posted are mainly in english, english-language fics will not be specifically tagged):
#language: french
#language: mandarin chinese
#language: polish
#language: russian
#language: spanish
#language: ukranian
Other Fanwork Categories:
#fanart
#fanvid
#music/lyrics
#playlist
#podfic
Housekeeping
non-fic posts will be tagged with #mod post, stuff about the rules/running of the blog with #housekeeping, and asks with #asks. Fics I post manually are tagged #manual post.
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Charles Rowland, proud member of the Dead Boy Detectives Agency, has to crack a new case on his own: what does his feelings for his partner, Edwin, actually mean?
Words: 1073, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: M/M
Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU)
Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Categories: M/M
Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU), Crystal Palace (DCU), Niko Sasaki, Cat King (Dead Boy Detectives), Tragic Mick (Dead Boy Detectives)
Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne & Charles Rowland, Cat King & Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne
Additional Tags: Part of the Reverse Big Bang, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne Loves Charles Rowland, Charles Rowland Loves Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Cat King Loves Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Edwin is attracted to the Cat King, Case Fic, It's Charle's turn to be rescued, Edwin pines for Charles, Charles pines for Edwin, The Cat King pines for Edwin, just all the pining
Winter forces Charles to remember the night he was murdered. His friends are there to remind him he'll never be alone again
AKA: Author will seemingly never stop whumping Charles
Words: 2599, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Categories: Gen, M/M
Characters: Charles Rowland (DCU), Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Niko Sasaki, Crystal Palace (DCU), Assorted St Hilarions Pupils
Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne & Crystal Palace & Charles Rowland & Niko Sasaki
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Whump, Hypothermia, Blood and Injury, maylancholy prompts 2026, Charles Rowland Loves Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne Loves Charles Rowland, Queerplatonic Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland, Flashbacks, Mentioned Paul Rowland | Charles Rowland's Father, which obviously means, Hurt Charles Rowland (DCU), Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Canon-Typical Racism, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne and Crystal Palace are Like Siblings, Niko Sasaki Lives, Protective Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Touch-Starved Charles Rowland (DCU), no beta we die like... well. exactly who you think, Author Is Sleep Deprived
Charles doesn't like how much time Edwin is spending with Monty. Crystal helps him figure out why.
Words: 3700, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: M/M
Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU), Crystal Palace (DCU), Niko Sasaki, Monty (Dead Boy Detectives)
Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland
Additional Tags: Love Confessions, Good Friend Crystal Palace (DCU), Jealous Charles Rowland (DCU), Oblivious Charles Rowland (DCU), I get mad when my best friend likes someone but idk why, No one is good enough for Edwin according to Charles, Episode: s01e04 The Case of the Lighthouse Leapers (Dead Boy Detectives)
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Back in London, Charles, Crystal, and Edwin are trying to find Niko, but the maelstrom of guilt, grief, and things left unsaid between them is making everything much more complicated. Edwin feels an awkwardness between himself and Charles after his confession, Charles is spending a lot of time away from the office, and when Crystal tries to use her powers in a new way, she keeps seeing something she can’t explain. Could there be something in the past that’s stopping them from moving forward?
Words: 3094, Chapters: 1/4, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Categories: Gen
Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU), Crystal Palace (DCU)
Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland
Additional Tags: Pre-Relationship, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne and Crystal Palace are Like Siblings, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne Loves Charles Rowland, Pining, Miscommunication, Post-Confession Awkwardness, Post-Canon, Grief/Mourning, Mirrors, Angst, Catharsis, accidental magic, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne Needs a Hug, Past Trauma, POV Multiple, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Charles Rowland is trying to figure out the rest, Not a get-together fic but there's hope there
A new show opens at Milleflora Opera House, but each night someone in the audience falls asleep during the performance, dreams unusually realistic dreams, and dies by morning, leaving distraught ghosts behind. It should be a straightforward case....right up until it isn't.
Edwin does not like coincidences—he believes the world simultaneously too random and too orderly—but he accepts that they do, on occasion, happen. But this morning brought a third ghost to their door in as many days, this time only minutes after the sun has even risen. A third ghost to have slept and dreamt and died before sunrise at the very same opera, well.
That is most emphatically not a coincidence.
Charles nods his agreement. “So we’re taking them all on, then. One big case.”
“Indeed.”
Words: 16032, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: M/M
Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU), Crystal Palace (DCU)
Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland
Additional Tags: Case Fic, Magic, Operas, Spells & Enchantments, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne Loves Charles Rowland, Charles Rowland Loves Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Feelings Realization, First Kiss
The only difference… Edwin had only seen those features in moments of fear. The hints of blue in his eyes, surrounded by bloodshot veins and dark circles underneath, in sick green lighting. The twist of Curtin’s mouth shadowed with terror, and the jut of his chin covered in blood. Edwin was washed away with nausea.
Edwin shook his head. “Charles. I met him.”
Charles’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Then, you know where he is!”
Edwin looked away. “In Hell,” he said soundlessly.
DBD solving a case which brings up a few of Edwins memories
Words: 2813, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU), Crystal Palace (DCU)
Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne & Charles Rowland, Crystal Palace & Charles Rowland (DCU), Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne & Crystal Palace
Additional Tags: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne Has Trauma From Hell, Protective Charles Rowland (DCU), The Goat Crystal Palace, Mystery, Solving Mysteries, Other Additional Tags to Be Added
Edwin et Thomas le Roi des Chats se disent au revoir dans cette scène du dernier épisode de la série. C'est l'occasion pour eux d'être plus honnêtes l'un envers l'autre.
Words: 758, Chapters: 1/1, Language: Français
Series: Part 22 of Gribouillages des Fiertés
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: M/M
Characters: Cat King (Dead Boy Detectives), Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne
Relationships: Cat King/Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne
Additional Tags: Cat King is definitely in love, Edwin is intrigued, UST, Gribouillages des Fiertés, Pride Month 2026
"Fire within so to it burns out. Leave your steps in the ash, a stained print on every life."
.
The match burned out right against Charles' fingertips. The small buzz flashing at the back of his mind.
----
Or Charles first steps into the Angie Circus, with flames at his heels.
Words: 2064, Chapters: 1/12, Language: English
Series: Part 1 of A World We Call Our Own (Circus Au)
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: Other
Characters: Charles Rowland (DCU), Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Kashi (Dead Boy Detectives), Crystal Palace (DCU)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Circus, Many more tags to be added, Protective Charles Rowland (DCU)
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[a story of a dead girl, the sun and the moon. Or of Niko, Edwin and Charles in a place between worlds. And, more importantly, both of these things]
"Am I lost?" You ask in a long-forgotten voice.
"You were, when you were out there." He looks out the window where the snow piles up and the wind howls. "Normally, we know when someone is searching for a way back. But you were a mystery, you must have something special about you."
"I have this." You reach under the blankets and into your pockets. You extract the bear you had forgotten was there. Your good luck charm. "And I have you."
"Me?" He repeats, his head tilted to one side. "Who am I?"
"You are Edwin, of course." You laugh slightly, because this must be a game you'd forgotten you play. "You are Edwin and you are with Charles, because you could never be apart."
"Of course I am," he smiles, and kisses the top of your head. Your eyes flutter closed again. "Thank you for finding me."
Words: 4420, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: M/M
Characters: Niko Sasaki, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU)
Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland
Additional Tags: payneland sun and moon, Niko Sasaki Lives, Niko's journey through the snow, Post-Canon, the world Niko visits after she dies, it is written in second person but I promise it works, these boys love each other in every universe, no version of this where they're not together is there?, in which Niko is brought back to life by love and a good luck charm
There’s a heatwave in London, Crystal’s in a bad mood, and Edwin and Charles are making everything worse.
Words: 984, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: M/M
Characters: Charles Rowland (DCU), Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Crystal Palace (DCU), Niko Sasaki
Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland
Additional Tags: Ficlet, Edwin Payne is not immune to knees, Crystal Palace is done with the pair of them, Fluff, silliness, Magical Accidents, Charles Rowland's migraine-inducing summer wardrobe choices, Kissing, Humour
Exactly what it says in the tags, proceed with caution.
Words: 293, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV), The Dead Boy Detectives (DC Comics)
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Charles Rowland (DCU)
Additional Tags: POV Charles Rowland (DCU), Charles Rowland has a bad time, Self-Harm, Suicidal Thoughts, Charles Rowland Needs a Hug (DCU), He Does Not Get One, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, Mentioned Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Mentioned Crystal Palace (DCU), no beta we die like charles rowland, short but not sweet, Hurt No Comfort
Crystal had never been particularly afraid of heights. When she was six years old, she climbed out of the window in the penthouse her parents owned in Manhattan. Her nanny nearly had a heart attack when she found her, screaming for Crystal to get away from the ledge. And still, all Crystal could do was peer down the feet spanning between her and the ground, wondering if just for a second falling could feel like flying.
Of course, back then, she didn't know she'd end up at a circus one day and be flying for a living.
When her parents send an urgent message for their daughter to come home, Crystal is torn between staying with the circus that has become her new family in the last couple of months and finally getting to have a good relationship with her parents. It'd all be so much easier if there weren't also these confusing feelings she has for the catcher to her flier: the enchanting Niko.
Words: 9350, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: F/F
Characters: Crystal Palace (DCU), Niko Sasaki, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU), Cat King (Dead Boy Detectives)
Relationships: Crystal Palace/Niko Sasaki
Additional Tags: Circus, Trapeze, Alternate Universe - No Powers, oblivious crystal, recovering mean girl crystal, crystal's complicated relationship with her parents, Denial of Feelings, Feelings Realization, background payneland, but they're fools too, this is held together by vibes and good intentions
The Agency takes the case of a missing ghost and gets more than they bargained for. Crashouts, dragons, castles, love spells, unexpected familiar faces, and far too many emotions.
Words: 3776, Chapters: 1/9, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Categories: M/M, Multi
Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU), Crystal Palace (DCU), Niko Sasaki
Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland, Crystal Palace & Charles Rowland (DCU), Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne & Niko Sasaki, Crystal Palace/Niko Sasaki
Additional Tags: Crystal Palace and Charles Rowland's Unfortunate Situationship, Post-Canon, Angst with a Happy Ending, Dragons, love spells, Idiots in Love, Friends to Lovers, does it count as a midlife crisis if you're sixteen forever, Case Fic, Bisexual Disaster Charles Rowland (DCU), Bisexual Disaster Crystal Palace, Wales
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Three dates. Which meant…
Nothing, usually. Crystal’d never been a traditionalist, never had an issue with putting out on the first date – as long as said date wouldn’t turn around and call her a slut for it. (The ones who would, she never let get that far.) But there was something about waiting for the third date. Something straight out of a nostalgic 80s romcom. Something fun.
Or: Crystal and Charles have their first time.
Words: 7060, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: F/M
Characters: Crystal Palace (DCU), Charles Rowland (DCU)
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Established Relationship, Bi4Bi Crystal Palace/Charles Rowland, Making Out, charles rowland in makeup and leather: 12 dead 27 injured, First Time, Oral Sex, Vaginal Fingering, Multiple Orgasms, Vaginal Sex, Laughter During Sex
On prom night, Charles learned a lesson: his friends were complete dicks. After attempting to stop the public humiliation of a classmate, he became the brunt of the joke instead. After a horrible beating he stumbles upon a strange scene that he should probably run from, but, you know, he's way too empathetic of a guy for that.
Edwin was never one for prom. He had very few friends before the event at his last school, and only enemies afterwards. But now that he was at a new school he didn't bother to try: keeping his head down was the best way not to get called a sissy or beat up. So when he ditched prom to go read in his favorite secluded spot, the last thing he expected to stumble upon was an unconscious teenage girl and a wounded jock.
An AU in which the boys are just normal teenagers, never having met, when they stumble across a dazed teenager named Crystal who claims to have lost all of her memories and sees dead people. They should absolutely run, but somehow the things she's saying make sense, and they really have no choice but to help the confused American girl who washed up on shore and continues to be haunted by ghosts with too much unfinished business…
Words: 5091, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English
Fandoms: Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: M/M
Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU), Crystal Palace (DCU), Niko Sasaki
Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland
Additional Tags: Slow Build, Slow Burn, Niko gets introduced later
