Tool/A Perfect Circle/Puscifer

Sorted by most recent. Fics with a ribbon on the corner are personal recommendations/favorites.

Vicariously

Rating M Archive Warnings CNTW Words 47k Era Lateralus

In the summer of 1978, Maynard and his friends—Adam, Les, and Paul—found the body of a boy in the woods. In their desperation to make sense of it, they changed the course of several lives.

Now, decades later, the past won’t stay buried. Forced to reckon not just with old wounds but with the shadows creeping into his present, Maynard discovers that danger may be closer than he ever imagined.

Alternate Universe - No Band Coming of Age with a Dark Twist Domestic Noir Horror Angst. Oh the angst Kidfic Angst with a Happy Ending Gratuitous Use of Flashbacks Trauma (past and present) Fandom Blind Friendly

somebody's watching me

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, Graphic Violence Words 58k Era Thirteenth Step

Maynard's life was supposed to calm down after the events at Blackburn Manor. But when his co-star, Paz, gets pulled into a glamorous new "self-help" group in Hollywood, he's the first to notice something is off. Desperate to save Paz from the cult's clutches (and maybe from herself), Maynard enlists Danny's help navigating a world of secret rituals and sinister cosmic weirdness.

What starts as a rescue mission turns into a city-wide crisis as the cult's leader attempts to bring back something that should have stayed dead… and LA begins to rot from the inside out.

Alternate Universe - No Band Casefic Established Relationship Horror Supernatural Elements Horror Eldritch Horror Cults Fandom Blind Friendly Angst Psychological Horror Government Fuckery This one gets absolutely batshit and i love that

patient (one breath, one word)

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 4.8k Era Ænima

Danny has a box of cold pizza, a ride home from Lollapalooza, and a very inconvenient crush on his best friend. He also has only one bed. What could go wrong?

PWP Smut Kissing Anal Fingering Only One Bed Handjobs Porn With Feelings Banter Fandom Blind Friendly

Mer de Nudes

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 30k Era Multi

Danny’s a paranormal YouTuber with a grumpy bald cat and a grief-shaped hole he’s not ready to name. Maynard runs a high-concept OnlyFans where he pours wine on himself in moody lighting. One quiet tip turns into a DM. Then they're texting about cryptids and emotional repression. It's fine. It's totally normal. No one is catching feelings here. Probably.

Alternate Universe - No Band Alternate Universe - Social Media AU Age Difference Humor Crack Taken Seriously Mutual Pining Masturbation Mer de Noms era Maynard Fear Inoculum era Danny Porn with Feelings

Right in Two

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, Graphic Violence Words 38k Status WIP Era Multi

When young mage Danny meets Jim in the woods, their connection is instant, and their teenage romance blooms over a short span of years until a brutal war between mages and commoners tears them apart.

Danny flees the wartorn continent to a sun-drenched, neutral island. But Jim is dragged through hellfire and transformed into Maynard, the military's infamous Gunslinger.

Years later, Danny returns to the wounded land and uses his magic to repair and rebuild. An investigation into magical anomalies leads him to Yuelin, a young girl with powerful, untrained magic—and her guardian, a haunted man with a mechanical arm and achingly familiar eyes.

Reunited by chance, Danny and Maynard must reconcile who they once were with who they've become as old feelings resurface, complicated by the blood on Maynard's hands and the price on his head.

A story of trauma, atonement, and the fight for second chances.

Or: The one where Maynard's a war criminal.

Alternate Universe - Fantasy Magic War Childhood Sweethearts Found Family Ridiculously Stucky-coded Hurt/Comfort Steampunk Elements Military Redemption Slow Burn Grey Morality War Crimes Automail Dead Dove: Do Not Eat Whump Minor Character Death Fandom Blind Friendly
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Conditions of My Parole

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 64k Era 10,000 Days

Maynard is an ex-con rebuilding his life while secretly hunting the supernatural creature he believes killed his mother—a conviction that landed him in prison. Now on parole, he volunteers at an animal shelter and agrees to walk a stranger's dog while the owner recovers from an injury.

That stranger is Danny: the most disarmingly genuine person Maynard has ever met. As their relationship deepens, Maynard finds himself torn between moving forward with Danny and pursuing the entity that haunts his past. But when the creature attacks Maynard's home and leaves behind physical evidence, he discovers he's not alone in this fight. With Danny's magical empathic abilities, their friend Adam's genre-savvy expertise, and an experimental sonic weapon, they form an unlikely monster-hunting team.

Yet the creature feeds on suffering and grief, emotions Maynard has in abundance. To defeat it, he'll need to confront not just the monster, but the emotional wounds he's carried since his mother's death, and decide if vengeance is worth risking his second chance at life.

Alternate Universe - No Band Hurt/Comfort Found Family Supernatural Horror Domestic Fluff Humor Angst with a Happy Ending Eldritch Horror Sci-Fi Horror Magical Elements Body Horror Psychological Horror yet another 'connection and love are powerful weapons against darkness' story apparently it's My Brand™ Maynard + angst + trauma + touch-starvation???? be still my heart

this body holding me

Rating E Archive Warnings None Apply Words 5.6k Era Lateralus

A 5+1 of escalating intimacy, banter, filth, and Danny realizing he’d wine and dine this man if he asked. (Maynard does ask. Kind of.)

PWP Smut 5 + 1 Things Kissing Anal Fingering Thigh-Riding Anal Sex Porn With Feelings Banter good lord the banter y'all i'm having palpitations Fandom Blind Friendly

Undertow (Catching Fire)

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 55k Era Undertow

Fire never asks permission. On the tradition-bound island of Solémar, fire mage Maynard has spent his life treading the line between belonging and burning it all down. His world cracks open when Danny, a visiting surfer with an easy command of water magic and an infectious grin, arrives and sees the brilliance Maynard hides.

Their bond ignites, but in a moment of desperation, Maynard makes a life-altering choice: trading his fiery passion for the peace of a normal life. The life of someone who doesn't have to shrink to belong.

But Danny refuses to let Maynard’s wildness vanish without a fight. A stolen painting smuggled into Solémar's yearly festival shatters Maynard's peace and makes him a pariah all over again. The outrageous piece catches the eye of a gallery curator on the mainland, where art is encouraged to be wild and challenging—all the things Maynard used to be.

As acclaim draws him into the mainland’s vibrant chaos, Maynard faces one final reckoning: Is it better to belong, or to be true?

Alternate Universe - No Band Alternate Universe - Magic Magical Realism Horror Drama Fantasy Slow Burn Angst with a Happy Ending Fandom Blind Friendly Identity Crisis the power of connection to heal and transform The Neurodivergent Struggle for Selfhood a Matryoshka doll of allegories basically one big Rorschach test Original Characters
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Total Eclipse of the Heart

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, Graphic Violence, Major Character Death Words 122k Era Opiate

Following the events of Dark Side of the Moon, Danny is thrown into a brutal combat tournament, where the grand prize is not only the powerful talisman known as the Nimbus Shard, but also his life.

As the day of the eclipse approaches, Maynard's ka-tet scramble to collect Gaia's Rose before the Saturnine can. When disaster befalls the group, Maynard and his companions will face their toughest challenges yet.

Alternate Universe - Fantasy Fantasy Elements Solar and Lunar Cosmic Motifs Magical Elements Science Fantasy Fandom Blind Friendly Shonen Anime Vibes Adventure Tournaments Gods

threw you the obvious

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 7.9k Era Multi

Five times Danny pretended he wasn't attracted to Maynard, and the one time he really couldn't anymore. Or: Danny's "oh no he's hot" crisis stretched over five acts of bisexual panic, followed by one act of very enthusiastic relief.

Humor Idiots in Love 5 + 1 Things Maynard's hips are a public safety hazard mutual pining except only one of them knows what's happening

rosetta stoned

Rating E Archive Warnings None Apply Words 22k Era Ænima

AU. 1996. Maynard has his record store organized perfectly, thank you very much, and he doesn't need a certain tall drummer coming in and disrupting his filing system with lectures about occult mathematics. He especially doesn't need Adam's mysterious "delivery run" turning into an all-night adventure. And he definitely doesn't need to find Danny increasingly hot.

…Actually, maybe he needs all of those things.

Alternate Universe - No Band Humor Slice of Life Absolute Absurdity no plot just vibes Mutual Pining Getting Together Magical Elements Recreational Drug Use Road Trips Banter Fluff forced to spend extended time together in increasingly absurd and intimate circumstances Fandom Blind Friendly

Falling for the First Time

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 50k Era 10,000 Days

When Maynard wakes up with no memory of the last sixteen years, he's shocked to discover he's married to Danny with two adopted kids. The last thing he remembers is being single and definitely not in love with Tool's drummer.

Danny's determined to help Maynard recover his memories while juggling parenthood and keeping the band's upcoming shows from falling apart. But as Maynard starts falling in love with him again, Danny realizes this might be a chance to fix the little cracks that had formed in their relationship over the years.

Alternate Universe Magical Elements Hollywood Amnesia Kidfic Fluff Getting Together (again) horror potential re: memory Fandom Blind Friendly

close to midnight

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 25k Era Thirteenth Step

Maynard's relaxing vacation at the Blackburn Manor is interrupted by poltergeist activity and the arrival of Danny, a handsome and charming paranormal investigator.

Alternate Universe - No Band Gothic Horror Haunted Houses Eldritch Horror Supernatural Elements Fluff Casefic Getting Together Fandom Blind Friendly
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Dark Side of the Moon

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, Graphic Violence, Rape/Non-Con, Underage Words 53k Era Opiate

After escaping the Gulch in Heart of the Sunrise, Danny and Maynard learn the locations of two more artifacts to collect in the race to stop the Saturnine. One of these relics, the Black Mirror, will put Maynard through the psychological gauntlet, and in order to survive he must finally face the past and his own mysterious shadow.

Alternate Universe - Fantasy Fantasy Elements Solar and Lunar Cosmic Motifs Magical Elements Science Fantasy Fandom Blind Friendly Shonen Anime Vibes Adventure past child sexual abuse Trauma Conga Line Rape/Non-con outside of main pairing
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Heart of the Sunrise

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, Graphic Violence Words 51k Era Opiate

Just days after the events of Moon Crying, Maynard and Danny resume their quest for the relics by traveling to the Gulch, an underwater metropolis populated by opulent elites. Rumors that Neptune's Key, a powerful talisman commanding the forces of the seas, resides here.

A new member soon joins their ka-tet--a student of psychology named Adam with a pair of magical ravens--but the trio quickly learn that the shining city under the sea is far from a utopia. When the city's founder, Asherah, takes a liking to Danny, danger closes in on their ka-tet, threatening to undo them.

Alternate Universe - Fantasy Fantasy Elements Solar and Lunar Cosmic Motifs Magical Elements Science Fantasy Fandom Blind Friendly Shonen Anime Vibes Adventure Friends to Lovers Getting Together Love Triangle Jealousy Toxic Relationship Danny/OFC for a bit but Danny/Maynard is endgame Bioshock fusion

one headlight

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 17k Era Thirteenth Step

“It’s beautiful at night,” Maynard says, wistful as he gazes at the dark sky. “Don’t you think?”

“Yeah.” Danny sits across from Maynard and watches the sky. The night is a canvas of possibilities, each star in the clear desert sky a beacon guiding him towards a different fate. He wonders if that’s what brought Maynard here, too. Some dark thing he’s trying to outrun, or at least put in the rear-view long enough to breathe.

Alternate Universe - No Band no plot just vibes Road Trips Holidays Fluff Banter Smut Past Dysfunctional Relationships Sexual Identity Self-Discovery Fandom Blind Friendly
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Moon Crying

Rating M Archive Warnings CNTW, Graphic Violence Words 51k Era Opiate

When Maynard, a descendant of the Moon lineage, embarks on a quest to find a magical artifact capable of healing his mother's paralysis, he discovers a sinister plot by a mysterious cult. The Saturnine, powerful mages endowed with the magic of Saturn himself, plan to destroy the sun and moon during an approaching eclipse. Teaming up with Danny, a cheerful Sunborn with fledgling healing powers, is Maynard's only hope to prevent the Saturnine from completing their terrible quest.

Alternate Universe - Fantasy Fantasy Elements Solar and Lunar Cosmic Motifs Magical Elements Science Fantasy Fandom Blind Friendly Shonen Anime Vibes Adventure (eventual) Friends to Lovers Original Characters

always, all ways

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 4.3k Era Multi

Not that celebration really means all that much to him. He’s told Danny over and over that it’s just another day on the calendar, so what if they miss it, but Danny knows Maynard’s secret romantic heart, the softness he hides even from himself. Which is why Danny has commemorated every anniversary in some way, from the small to the grand.

Smut 5 + 1 Things Fluff Anniversaries they're in love your honor Fandom Blind Friendly
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re(UNION)

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 71k Era 10,000 Days

After a sensational tenth anniversary tour, pop star Maynard's PR team urges him to reunite with his old bandmates for a special concert series in Los Angeles. With Adam and Paul already onboard, only Danny stands in the way of a full-fledged Tool reunion.

Since their bitter dissolution years ago, Danny hates everything he thinks Maynard's solo career represents: fame, decadence, and disposable music for the lowest common denominator. Danny's not exactly living his best life, though, so when Maynard offers Danny the cushy gig of acting as his bodyguard, it's a chance for them to reconnect and repair the past.

Alternate Universe - Idols Canon Divergence Crack Taken Seriously Humor Drama Slow Burn Enemies to Friends to Lovers Kidfic Epistolary Elements Magical Elements In-Universe Meta a sprinkle of "and they were roommates" Angst with a Happy Ending Fandom Blind Friendly
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Will & Wonder

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 24k Era 10,000 Days

“So you want me to eat a magic mushroom and go on a psychedelic adventure to help you climb a metaphorical tower and open a door that will show you what’s missing in your life?”

“Yes, it sounds crazy when you say it like that,” Danny says, blushing under Maynard’s hard gaze.

Fandom Blind Friendly Friends to Lovers Recreational Drug Use Dimension Travel Alternate Universes Shared Dreams Fantasy Elements Spirituality Canon Divergence

clutch it like a cornerstone

Rating M Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Crossover Metallica Words 21k Era Opiate

AU. Now working as a private investigator alongside Lars, Kirk is hired to spy on basketball star Danny Carey.

What seems like a cut-and-dry case of infidelity becomes something more sinister that puts Kirk at a crossroads between his integrity and a dark desire for revenge.

Alternate Universe Detectives Drama Established Relationship Angst Emotional Hurt/Comfort Internal Conflict Past Trauma Fandom Blind Friendly

Equivalent Exchange

Rating M Archive Warnings CNTW Words 58k Era Mer de Noms

In the small town of Whetstone, Maynard and Danny investigate a string of curious disappearances that stretches back decades. But what starts as an exploration of the town's dark past soon turns into a battle for survival.

Fandom Blind Friendly Alternate Universe - No Band Horror Mystery Thriller Established Relationship Urban Fantasy Fullmetal Alchemist Fusion Casefic Original Characters Past Infidelity Drama Minor Character Death
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Tool-Assisted Speedrun

Rating T Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply

A JRPG-style fangame where you play as the members of Tool. Fight aliens, demons, cultists, and your own fanbase on your quest to recover magical grimoire pages and save the world–or just kill time between tour dates.

Fandom Blind Friendly Humor JRPG Fangame Crack

manic pixie dream demon

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 8.5k Era Mer de Noms

AU. Danny "accidentally" summons an incubus as a plus-one for Justin's wedding.

Alternate Universe - No Band Humor Crack Smut Supernatural Elements Fandom Blind Friendly
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some sweet gravity

Rating M Archive Warnings CNTW Words 46k Era Multi

AU. Maynard and Danny are soulmates, brought together by fate. But as the universe gives, the universe also takes.

Danny burrows his face into the slope of Maynard’s shoulder, nose buried in his hair. The slow rhythm of his breaths soothes Maynard’s racing heartbeat. He closes his eyes and focuses on the warm points of contact where Danny’s skin touches his own.

This is my soulmate.

Maybe, after this long, Maynard can be okay with that.

Alternate Universe - Soulmates Alternate Universe - No Band Soulmate-Identifying Marks Angst Emotional Whump Domesticity Kidfic Slice of Life Snapshots Original Characters Fandom Blind Friendly

schism (or: we are never ever getting back together)

Rating E Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 28k Era Mer de Noms

AU. 2000. Maynard hasn't spoken to his ex, Danny, in the twelve years since their breakup. Now Danny is back, intent on fixing the past at all costs if it means a second chance with the love of his life.

But maybe their breakup isn't exactly as one-sided as Maynard remembers it...

Fandom Blind Friendly Alternate Universe - No Band Humor Exes to Lovers Banter Pining Idiots in Love Second Chance Relationship Gratituous Use of Flashbacks

wine & roses

Rating M Archive Warnings CNTW, None Apply Words 7.5k Era 10,000 Days

AU. When (the after)life gives Maynard pomegranates, he turns them into wine. And Danny, the god of spring, is thirsty.

Inspired by Hades and Persephone Alternate Universe - Mythology 5+1 Things Flowers Wine Mutual Pining Banter Fluff Fandom Blind Friendly