A View to a Kill

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Fanfiction
Title: A View to a Kill
Author(s): Merricat
Date(s): 2005
Length:
Genre(s): slash
Fandom(s): Starsky & Hutch/Wiseguy
Relationship(s):
External Links:

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A View to a Kill is a slash Starsky/Hutch Wiseguy crossover story by Merricat.

It was published in Dangerous Lives, Dangerous Visions #3. Fans may ask at the author's journal for access.

Author's Comments

I basically started my [LiveJournal] account because of one story, "A View to a Kill," my Starsky and Hutch/Wiseguy crossover from hell, which is probably the most evil story I have ever written. Yeah. Yeah, probably.

And the thing is, it's also the one that people contact me about the most. I remember exactly where is, is it online? Some place I thought, Okay, fine, I'll put it online. So and then I figured, Well, you know, it's a safe place because, you know, people break into my house and steal my computers. And this way I can put stuff online, and I don't have to worry about it disappearing. So. Exactly. If I had a way of locking it, thought like four people could look at it, I would do it. [1]

Excerpt

From a rec at Crack Van:

And Hutch pulled the trigger. It hit Gunther in the left lung and he went down. "Tell me what he's feeling," Hutch asked Sonny.

"He feels like someone's shoved a red hot spike into his chest. Hurts like hell. He's breathing as hard as he can, but he can't get enough air; it's like he's underwater, only the water's thick and hot. It's scary," Sonny admitted. They watched for a while--Hutch wasn't sure how long. Then he pulled the trigger again. Sonny left, saying something about Chinese food, telling Hutch not to shoot again until he came back, and Hutch didn't, he just watched. "If there was anybody here who loved you--if there was anybody who loved you--they'd be trying to stop the bleeding, pressing on the wounds. But nobody's going to do that for you, and not just because I'd kill anybody who tried. If anybody loved you, they'd be seeing the whole world turn red. The whole world; no matter where they went. Do you know what it's like to have the whole world bloodstained?" and suddenly he was crying, his sobs drowning out the wet sounds Gunther was making.

The next thing Hutch knew, Sonny had his arm around him. "No more blood. I don't want any more blood. The whole world is red!"

"You're out of your mind," said Sonny his voice soft.

"Is he drowning?" Hutch asked suddenly. His voice sounded strange to his own ears, The world had gone from red to black-and-white, like that old joke, badly mangled.

"On his own blood," Sonny agreed. He picked up one of the little cardboard cartons sitting on them the coffee table. Hutch hadn't noticed when Sonny had put them there. He plucked a shrimp from the box and put it to Hutch's lips. Hutch took it in his mouth, grabbed Sonny's wrist and licked his fingers. Sonny disentangled his hand, fed Hutch another shrimp, and another. Eventually the room became quiet: silent as death. Still, they watched.

Reactions and Reviews

I have recced this story on my journal before, but I wanted to rec it here too, because I think it deserves as wide an audience as possible. I freely admit I don't know Wiseguy fandom; however, I had no trouble at all following the story. The S&H elements were enough to hook me from the first paragraph. I must warn you, if you don't like death stories, violence, tragedy, gut-wrenching angst, and unhappy (but so right) endings do not read this fic. Even if you do like all of the above, it will tear you up. But it's one of the most brilliant pieces of fanfic I've ever read. [2]

I remember getting this story in Dangerous Lives, Dangerous Visions 3 and I couldn't stop reading it. The story is dark, VERY dark. Make no mistake about that. But it's that darkness that keeps you enthralled and wanting to go on and see what will happen next. Starsky's dead, killed by Gunther. Hutch is, notably, not good. In fact, he's going insane. And his existence is fueled by one mission. He has to kill Gunther. It's the only thing he's living for. And he's willing to go to any lengths to do it. So, he goes to Las Vegas and meets up with Sonny Steelgrave (from Wiseguy). Hutch does a favor for Sonny, Sonny will do a favor for Hutch...

The key to this story is that you're drawn into the darkness with Hutch. Readers often try to find the light in the darkness. Hutch has always been light, but not now. Now, Hutch's light is gone and you slowly realize that there's no coming back. He's lost, he's lost within himself and within his past. He's gone over the edge and nobody can save him. He has to complete his mission so that he can go and be with Starsky....

The journey is well worth it. Hutch's descent into madness is one of the most powerful things you will ever read. He has to do right by Starsky. He has to make sure Gunther pays. After that, his life's not worth anything anymore. Until then, he will go on, fueled by vengeance. Gunther has to die and Hutch is going to make sure that happens one way or the other. [3]

References

  1. ^ Fan Flak 3 - The cult detective show Wiseguy, and a discussion of fandom (Oct. 14, 2019)
  2. ^ from a 2010 comment at Crack Van
  3. ^ a 2006 comment at Crack Van