#dicklan

"thanks, d" (a dick gansey/declan lynch fanmix)

"I’m only trying to help," Declan said finally, but he sounded defeated. There was a time, a few months ago, when Gansey would’ve believed him.

fucking beautiful fanfic:

10/∞—

@kiiouex’s DEADMAN’S SWITCH

“Tell me about the Volturi,” Gansey says, imperious, presumptuous, like Declan isn’t already doing him a favor by picking him up in the middle of the woods after his stupid car broke down and Ronan couldn’t be reached. If Declan had blood, it would run cold. Because he doesn’t, and because the world moves for him at half-speed, he succeeds in not reacting, except for a tensing of his jaw that can’t be helped. He keeps his eyes on the road though he doesn’t need to; he can hear every car for miles, every woodland creature that might even consider darting into their path. Gansey absorbs his silence and projects onto it his own fragile emotionality. “I apologize if that was insensitive, considering what happened to your father, but I thought I ought to know, and Ronan’s telling was light on the details.”

“Jesus Christ,” Declan says. It’s never been all that hard for him to fight down his less-human instincts, as he’s never been in the habit of getting what he wants anyway, but now he feels feral in a way that has nothing to do with hunger and everything to do with the petty rage of finding out he’s the only one stupid enough to bother playing by the rules.

Gansey misunderstands his reaction and pulls back. Declan still hasn’t looked over, but he can feel the retreat of the warmth Gansey carries with him. “I’m sorry. I should have known better than to bring it up. I’m sure the pain is still very fresh.”

“I don’t care about that,” Declan says, convincingly, he thinks. He risks a glance at Gansey, who’s watching him, eyes wide with concern and a shocking dearth of fear. “I didn’t know Ronan told you about–us.”

“Oh,” Gansey says, and then, the hint of a chuckle, “Oh. I’ve slept over at your house. Did you expect him to lie motionless for eight hours?”

“I’d hoped,” Declan mutters. “Knowing about us is dangerous. We’re dangerous. Do you understand that?”

“I’m not stupid, Declan.” They subside into an uncomfortable silence, Declan frustrated by the way Ronan has put them all at risk, Gansey–presumably– offended by the implication that there’s anything in the world he isn’t entitled to an intimate knowledge of. Gansey breaks first, because he might have been lonely before he and Ronan met, but he hasn’t spent decades only able to show his true self to people who don’t particularly care for it.  He says, “Of course he told me. He’s my best friend.” He says it simply, completely, as if he can’t imagine that further explanation might be needed.

gansey: he went out.

declan: he's grounded.

The night air was cold against Declan's skin – bracing but not unwelcome after spending the past half hour stuck in the Pig with Gansey. It was still new, this thing between them, neither of them had told anybody yet, and being alone with Gansey could be overwhelming at times. Especially when they were in a space that was basically an extension of him – like the Pig, or Monmouth.

Declan didn't know where they were, exactly. He'd been too distracted on the drive up to pay attention – he'd been focused on Gansey, on his delicate profile and the way that neither was able to look the other in the eye for more than a few seconds. Every time Gansey caught him staring, Declan felt the blush creep higher on his face.

Without hesitation, Gansey walked to the middle of the clearing and sat down, motioning for Declan to join him. Declan grinned and followed him, sitting close enough that their shoulders brushed. Warmth spread through his arm as Gansey dragged him down as well.

Gansey was telling a story that Declan was only half listening to. He was watching Gansey talk animatedly, eyes fixed on the stars above him, a small smile playing at his lips. There was something about Gansey that drew people to him – Declan had always felt it, had always been a little bit jealous of Ronan because of it – and it was especially noticeable when he wasn't putting up a front or trying to be presentable.

“Declan?” Gansey asked, waiting for a response from the older boy before he continued. “What are you thinking about?”

Declan felt his cheeks getting warm, glad that it was dark and hoping Gansey couldn't see. Part of him wanted to lie, to pretend he was thinking about something else, but this was Gansey. He couldn't bring himself to lie to him. “You,” he answered simply. “I think I love you,” he added.

That was not what he he intended to say and it hung in the air between them for a few moments. Declan wanted Gansey to say something, for him to be the one to break the silence, but he didn't. Declan could practically feel Gansey's eyes on him, and he couldn't stand to meet his gaze.

“I'm sorry,” Declan finally said. “I –” he felt like his voice stopped working when Gansey clasped his hand tightly.

“Don't,” Gansey said softly. “Don't apologize… I,” the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. “I love you, too.” He propped himself up on one elbow and leaned over, gently pressing his lips against Declan's.

Good TRC fanfic is honestly a very wide range, so I’m going to focus on the Declan element of this and rec you the best Declan fics I know of (because lord knows it’s hard to sift through his AO3 tag). Some of these are ship fics, so YMMV depending on shipping preferences. (Also the first fic I’m reccing isn’t a Declan fic, but he’s in it and he’s great and it’s also the best TRC fic I’ve ever read.)

A is for apple, b is for boy, c is for carrying the weight of dreams by Mici (noharlembeat)

Because civilization is a specific code of social interactions, and because Opal isn't in a dream anymore, civilization has to occur.

But a year of kindergarten doesn't teach precisely what one had hoped.

(or: Opal is sent to school)

one shot, complete, I WANTED THIS STORY TO BE THE OPAL SHORT STORY. JUST PRINT THIS IN THE BACK OF TRK. anyway it makes it onto this list because... you’ll see. declan is just great in this and everything this author has written with him as a character is making it onto this list

the savage price of piety by Mici (noharlembeat)

There are secrets that the Lynches keep, and Declan might be the best-kept one of them all.

one shot, complete, i will unconditionally rec this until the day i die

since you've been home, see what you have become by Mici (noharlembeat)

Adam goes touring colleges, and Ronan comes along. And Opal, well. She stays with Declan.

one shot, complete

Rúin by Razzaroo 

Niall Lynch may have taught Declan how to be a liar but it was Aurora who taught him to keep secrets.

one shot, complete

i see the stars, they're in your eyes by Razzaroo

Declan and Ashley hardly have what can be a called a fairy tale relationship

one shot, complete

more to lose than gain by spikenard

He stood up gracefully, and flashed Declan a smile. It made him look approachable.

Cheng had as carefully and masterfully manufactured a public face as Declan himself did.

one shot, complete, this was written for me for the trc holiday exchange and i am SO eternally grateful for it

but like 2% milk, or seitan beef, i almost taste the same by goodbyechunkylemonmilk

As far as Gansey can tell, Devin's only interests are meticulously-researched biographies of U.S. presidents, whispered arguments with her father, and boys. This gives them roughly one and one-half things in common, two if Gansey has gone long enough without a date to forget how pointlessly distracting she finds the whole process. That's one and one-half to two more things in common than Devin has with either of her sisters, which seems to partially but not at all satisfactorily explain why she doesn't fit with the rest of the family.

rule 63/genderswapped, one shot, complete

The Falconer by jouissant

Declan and Gansey, before the beginning.

one shot, complete

I’m going to be that person who recs my own fics once again

House With No Windows by QueenRiza

Ronan doesn’t question much about his family before his father dies. Hogwarts AU.