Durarara!!/Fanfic Recs

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth being decapitated for here:

These are recommendations made by Tropers for Durarara!!! Fan Fics, all of which have been signed. After a few samples, you will be able to judge whether you might be interested in the 'fic, based on who recommended it. No-name recommendations will be Zapped (wiki). Nobody would back up the rec. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist, if need be.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

Authors, and Websites

• v-e-i
• Recommended by Gintax Alvissforever
• If you love Aoba, don't like smut or if you love violent Dark Fic, then this is for you. Most of her stories focus on Aoba, Mikado and Izaya and her pairings tend to lean toward Mikado/Aoba (despite saying that she doesn't like the pairing) and Izaya/Mikado/Aoba. The characters are always in character. There's a lot of dark humor and character death in her fics. She has a few funny fics that will make you smile at the end but most of her fics have Downer Endings/Bittersweet Endings. Also, this author seems to love torturing Kida in the most horrible ways possible. If you love Kida, her fics are not meant for you and if you don't like him...then these are perfect for you. (Saki also gets the same treatment, only worse.) Also, she tends to portray Mikado as Bosskado.

• MerryCheri
• Recommended by wantit
  • Nicely written and for the most part grammatically correct Shizaya fics that are a bit angsty/depressing but don't over do it. Her writing style is really brilliant, and even though she's sporadic about updating at best I really think it's worth the wait. Especially considering she comes out with things like the epically beautiful If There is Light.

General Fics

Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.

Durabook by SN 1987A

• Recommended by Enunciability
• Synopsis: Durarara cast discover Facebook.
• Comments: Basically, a humorous summary of the entire anime plot told by the characters' activities on Facebook. Incredibly short and simple but amazingly effective—especially if you imagine that you're on Facebook and actually seeing all of those notifications. The author pulls the concept off flawlessly.

Hard Surface by v-e-i

• Recommended by Gintax Alvissforever
• Synopsis/Kink Meme: Dark AU Izaya suffers from a huge humiliation and he tries to put the pieces together...but some things will never change (or get worse) and he'll drag the people down who think he'll change.
• Comments: A suspenseful Dark Fic. To sum it up, Kida is tired of Izaya being a Manipulative Bastard and seems to cross the line by having the yazuka come and humiliate him by any means necessary. Which includes rape. It seems to start falling into your typical Shizaya fic when Shizuo rescues Izaya from them but it's far from that. In fact, the author admits that she's not good with smut and as a result, all the pairings come off as unhealthy. She tends to focus on Izaya/Kida and Shizuo/Izaya with Mikado/Aoba if you squint. Aoba is very in character and has the best lines as well as the best scenes. His lines will make you laugh because of his dark humor. This story is a major Tear Jerker as it goes on, and you won't get the happy ending expected.
  • YMMV on this. While there are some very interesting ideas on how Izaya interacts with others, and how Masaomi's revenge causes a much bigger fallout, the story became a slow drag for me about halfway through (definitely after Masaomi is murdered. A lot of scenes seemed to be there just to be dark for the sake of being Darker and Edgier, and later events related to the beginning by barely a thread (at least to me. This may be different for different people). For something that originated from a Kink Meme, the fact that v-e-i tried to create an actual story out of the prompt was commendable, but it's still not a story I would recommend people to read, aside from those Izaya moments at the beginning.

Maybe I Need You by mellish

• Recommended by chibiaries
• Synopsis: It's deceptively familiar, but this is not the Ikebukuro he knows. Shizuo dies. Izaya deals with it the way only he can.
• Comments: Not a shipping fic. This oneshot maintains a melancholy mood throughout without being overwhelmed by Angst. Izaya is in-character. A good piece that also perfectly captures the whole Durarara!! cast's possible reaction to the loss of Shizuo.

The Mercurial Mask by knkfics

• Recommended by Weaver
• Synopsis: A new gang comes to town looking for something special, and is willing to turn all of Ikebukuro upside down until they find it.
• Comments: Good characterisation of everyone involved, as well as a engaging plot that includes an inventive use of folklore. The story also gets bonus points for including something that has long been suspected by the fandom regarding the nature of a couple of the main cast and making a good job of doing so.

The Dangers Of Curiosity by Uphill Both Ways

• Recommended by Enunciability
• Synopsis: Izaya regrets the day he discovered the Shizaya fan-base.
• Comments: Who made these atrocities?

Denial by Lady Charity

• Recommended by: Bleachedsnow
• Synopsis: In a twist of fate, Izaya becomes the victim of another's mind game. His sisters' lives are at stake and any choice he makes could end in someone's death. It takes only one night for his entire world to be destroyed
• Comments: Very dark fic. The ending is a Tear Jerker and fans may interpret it in any way they like.

To Try Again, or the Tale of a Family by Three Small Crows

• Recommended by wantit
• Synopsis: A beautiful, in character story of the Orihara's home life. Izaya gets sick and returns home, a place he hadn't been in years, where he is not so welcome and not so trusted, by almost everyone in the family. It's a really interesting and emotional exploration of the burdens of being related to the someone who is pretty much the devil, and with oddly relatable themes throughout.
• Comments: YMMV on whether it's in-character or not, but either way, this is wonderful story. The prose is unique and slightly embellished, but thankfully, it isn't flowery at all. A wonderfully realistic family-centered story and well worth the read, even for Izaya/Orihara-haters. May be tear-jerking for some.

Revealed by Frenschel Boo

• Recommended by Malini
• Synopsis: Pre-canon. Izaya meets Shinra's loved one and figures out why Shinra is the way he is. Spoilers for Volume 9.
• Comments: A nice change from the yaoi fics you usually see in the fandom.

A Simple Phonecall by Abist Omen

• Recommended by catspeak
• Synopsis: Izaya birthday drabble. He can't read her, but maybe he doesn't want to.
• Comments: Centers around Izaya and Namie while "working," but not really a shipping fic. A refreshing change from a lot of the more recent Izanami fics because of its wonderful characterization. The prose is reminiscent of Narita's own writing, and very simplistic and short, but it manages to say so much in so little and it adds a little bit of depth into the characters, especially Namie.

Shipping Fics

Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

Complication by Junjou-is-pureheart

• Recommended by Gintax Alvissforever
• Pairing: Shizuo/Izaya, Shinra/Celty and Kasuka/Ruri (probably more to come)
• Synopsis: Besides of one unpredictable person, he loves all humans. There are so many kind of humans and observing their behavior is simply enthralling. He forgets one thing to observe though. His own feelings.
• Comments:This one stands out from the other Shizaya fics for many reasons. First, this author brings in the characters from the novel and does a good job characterizing them. Next, this person brings a lot of novel references from the more recent chapters like Izaya getting stabbed by Yadogiri Jinnai uses them as plot points to explain why Yadogiri Jinnai wants to ruin Izaya. Izaya might be OOC every now and then, but this is what would happen if the characters actually made an attempt to talk to Izaya. This story is definitely aiming for the Break the Haughty trope and as of recent chapters, it seems to have worked. A definite read but beware of spoilers from the novel.

Old Friends and New Lovers by thereisafire

• Recommended by Maxi1234
• Pairing: Shinra/Celty/Shizuo
• Synopsis: Shizuo doesn't know it, but Celty and Shinra care about him, and want to show him that he's loved.
• Comments: Best OT3? We have a winner.

Without by Nocturnalux

• Reccomended by Statuess, Blizzagone
• Pairing: Shizuo/Izaya
• Synopsis: Deathfic. Izaya makes sure that Shizuo sees him fall from a building.
• Comments: The best DRRR fic' EVAR. Extremely bitter, with a hint of sweet. This person deserves an award, seriously. A world so beautifully created but not AU.
  • This fic is so beautiful, my god. Izaya is so perfectly in character and it actually makes Shizaya seem beyond plausible—inevitable, really. I spent an afternoon reading it, bawling my eyes out at some parts, and, yeah. All the other Shizaya fics I've read pale completely in comparison.

You're Just So Pretty In Your Pain by Anon

• Recommended by Solipsism IF
• Pairing: Izaya/Shiki
• Synopsis: Izaya is being tortured by a yakuza boss and comes to Shinra for treatment. Slowly his knot of lies unravels as the truth regarding his injuries comes out...
• Comments: Fail summary is fail. This fic is EPICALLY good and has some of the most IC scenes This Troper has ever read. Worth reading just for Izaya's psychological study alone.

If We Ever Meet Again by Shitsuren69

• Recommended by Zarclonia
• Pairing: Shizuo/Mikado
• Synopsis: Mikado thought that the biggest event in his life was when the love of his life ran off with his best friend. This was, of course, before Celty invited him to Ikebukuro
• Comments: I love this fanfic because I made me fall in love with the pairing of Shizuo/Mikado and make it seem believable while building a world and story that feels like episodes of Durarara!! It also creates interesting chemistry between Izaya and Mikado. Although, there is the reminder that this fic is a prequel to another fanfic by the same author,Operator. If you had read Operator, you know how it might probably end. It Needs More Love

Would You Remember Me? by Navigate Me

• Recommended by: CJ Croen 1393
• Synopsis: As Shinra's birthday draws near, he begins to think about getting older, death and dying. He then wonders if Celty will remember him when he dies...
• Pairing(s): Shinra/Celty
• Comments: I've seen many DRRR!! fics that tried and failed to be tear jerkers (they were usually terrifyingly OOC Shizaya fics) but this definitely qualifies as a fanfic that you will need a box of tissues for. Shinra is in character (Celty's asleep for most of the story so she doesn't really need to be in character) and the ending will definitely make you want to hug him, tightly. Totally reccomended if you love Shinra/Celty.

Sepia Tone by faces sunward

• Recommended by: Oberyn
• Synopsis: She captures him through the camera lens...
• Pairing(s): Kida/Saki
• Comments: Because of her status, there are few Kida/Saki fics, let alone good ones. I found this one to show more in a relatively short one-shot than a twenty-chapter fic. It's a downright haunting story that is not bogged down by a lot of the cliches one finds in Shipping Fics and both Kida and Saki are very in character.

The GainLoss Theory of Attraction by caffeinekitty

• Recommended by merefire
• Pairing(s): Izaya/Shizuo
• Synopsis: In which we value more the things we have to work for.
• Comments: Not at all mushy or overly graphic. It's a realistic, introspective take on the popular pairing, and takes all the other factors of their characters into account.

rhyme of another summer by Lily Jadeth

• Recommended by merefire
• Pairing(s): Izaya/Shizuo
• Synopsis: Shizuo falls in love with a faceless pianist – but when he finds out the virtuoso's identity, will his attitude change?
• Comments: Okay, admittedly, this one is a bit of a stretch. It's sweet and melancholy, and makes Izaya look like a better person than he actually is, but this is a good piece of writing anyway. It doesn't take Izaya out of character and gives a whole new dimension to Shizuo. The imagery is lovely and the story moves with an amazing flow.

A Stranger Country by Neko-chan -Silvered Tongue

• Recommended by merefire
• Pairing(s): Izaya/Shizuo?
• Synopsis: It's a long, slow journey to awareness for someone who is so willfully blind. But, eventually, sight will come.
• Comments: I'm not really sure whether this should be under shipping. It's obviously leaning towards there, but this is more like a reflective glance into Izaya's headspace for now. Written believably and convincingly, and shows some good insights into Izaya's relationship with Shizuo. Brilliant.

Under The Surface by Caelice

• Recommended by merefire
• Pairing(s): Implied Izaya/Shizuo
• Synopsis: Izaya wakes up in a coffin with nothing but a flashlight and a cell phone. He doesn't know where he is or how much air he has left. All he knows is that he's running out of time and there's only one person who can save him – Heiwajima Shizuo.
• Comments: Holy shit. If you don't read any other story in this section, THIS IS THE ONE YOU HAVE TO READ. It's impeccably on point for each character and will stick in your head for months. It's beautiful, not at all over-done and heartwrenching without being too angsty. Bring tissues. This is definitely one of the best fanfictions I've ever read in any fandom. Hands down.