irina-something - Tumblr blog

irina-something · 4 months

Text

End of the Year Fic Recs!!!

thank you @echo-bleu for tagging me! <3

I adore this as a game because I love reccing fics (and really should do it more often because So. Much. Good.Fic). This is going to be all shadowhunters I'm afraid though because I am still very much in the shadowhunters brainrot stage and haven't read much of anything else. (Also, sorry to those I haven't left a comment for yet, I WILL, spoons have just been low this year...) Also, I'll try to keep it to one rec per author because there are so many wonderful authors, but definitely go check the other fics of these people (if you haven't already) they're all excellent.

Recommend up to 5 series or multi-chapter fics from 2023 that everyone should read (multi-year WIPs count, if the last update was in 2023).

Running from the Night by @to-the-stars-writing. My forever fic spouse and the fic I reread themost this year goes to the fantastic, angsty Alec goes to live in a small village to get away from the Clave because the poor dude is traumatized fic from to-the-stars. This fic is my fics spouse (yes I got @to-the-stars-writing's permission to marry this fic) and I love, love, love it so much.

Flames to Embers by @notcrypticbutcoy: teenage!Alec is poofed into the timeline of his older self and it is lovely, sad, and heartwarming all at the same time. Also, teenage Alec is delightfully grumpy and Adult Alec is even more delightfully Done with teenage!Alec's grumpiness.

starshine and moonlight by she_who_reads (all_fandoms_reader) A three +1 fic where Alec isn't enough until he finally is. This fic is angsty and delves into Alec's (not all that great) self-worth issues and it hurts. Might or might not have cried reading it.

The Warlock's Cat by @dreaming-marchling. I hesitated a while which one I should pick from Marchling, but I ended up choosing this one (that said PLEASE go read Bleed for Me as well it is so goooood). The Warlock's Cat is a delightful "Alec gets turned into a cat and ends up in Magnus's care" fic. I adore it, and while it has its angsty or whumpy spots, it's mostly a nice, feel-good read.

Magnus Bane: Menace by AceOnIce To give some reprieve from all of the angst in this list, here is a fic of pure, unabashed fluff. Starring: Warlock Alec and Shadowhunter Magnus, the latter of which writes some truly ridiculous mission reports to HOTI Ragnor's grief.

Recommend up to 5 single chapter fics/one-shots (long or short) from 2023 that everyone should read.

The river cannot go back by @lawsofchaos1. Alec being Alec and completely in love with Magnus which leads to him committing treason like it's nothing. It is a short, brilliant fic that had me screeching like any @lawsofchaos1 fic does.

I'm finding it hard to breath by Honey_Hued_Hermes This one is pretty heave, but it does have a Hopeful Ending. Alec never promised he would tell Magnus if things ever got that bad...and sadly they do. Diving into Alec's Suicidal Thoughts and his Self-Harm tendencies.

A Most Fundamental Truth by autisticalec A missing scene from 2X10 when Alec tells Magnus that he's never been as terrified as when he feared Magnus had died from the Soul Sword. This one-shot dives into the "Alec was really very not okay emotionally" in this scene, so go read it!

The Difficult Task by @dani-dabbles: Another Alec is going through it emotionally fic (there are quite a lot of these on this list I just realized, oops). Thankfully, Magnus is there to offer support when Alec needs it because Magnus is still the best boyfriend. (also the repeated "not good enough"is evil and I am suing for emotion damages, please and thank you very much)

come to me (in the night hours) by @moonlight-breeze-44 Izzy is a supportive sister and is there emotionally for Alec right before his wedding to Lydia. This fic left me feeling all sad and weepy. This fic is technically part of a series, but as no other parts have been posted yet I am posting this in the one-shot part.

Recommend up to 5 fics NOT from 2023 that everyone should read (oldies but goodies).

I've Always Dreamed of Meeting Someone Like You by ColorfulWarlock A non-magical Alternate Universe this time around. Single-dad, fashion designer, and CEO Magnus needs someone to draw his designs for him after a hit-and-run leaves him unable to draw for himself. Insert Alec, the wonderful babysitter, and game designer who seems to understand what Magnus envisions and draw them into reality!

Angelus ex Machina by BlueA The series starts with the sudden disappearance of demon activity and the way that lack of activity impacts the local Shadow World. I love the way the parabatai bond is portrayed in this fic (especially in the third installment).

through the fire and pain by alxndrlightwoods is another parabatai-bond deep-dive that goes deep into how a parabatai bond can change shadowhunters. It also explains why, if parabatai are so powerful, there aren't that many of them. Love this fic!

i cannot touch because they are too near by @faejilly nobody manages to write poetry without writing poetry quite like @faejilly for me, seriously the words are always so beautiful I am in awe. This fic has to be my absolute favorite though because deep-dives into the parabatai bond are interesting to begin with but the way Jilly decides to do so in this fic makes it go from interesting to absolutely brilliant.

Greater Love Hath No Man by @lawsofchaos1 Okay, I lied, here is a second Laws fic, but considering this fic led to the demise of my laptop, I felt that it deserved to be on the list. (No, that wasn't a joke). Dad!Alec is forced to send baby!Max away to a warlock orphanage when his magic grows too strong for him and leaves him injured. The pain is real and it is excruciating, tissues are advised.

Recommend up to 5 of your own fics (completed or WIP) from 2023 that everyone should read.

As much as I adore reccing fics, doing self-recs is awkward, so I'm going to keep this to one rec before I combust into flames.

All Was Golden (everyone has probably read that one already because it's my most-read fic which makes this slightly less awkward than reccing any other of my fics.) Anyway, soulmate AU with a kind of ugly meet that has some angst.

Tagging, without any kind of pressure, the authors I tagged in the rec-list (if they haven't participated already) as well as @miss-mouse.

87 notes · View notes

irina-something · 4 months

Photo

EDIT: I kept working on this piece after posting it, so I’m updating here with the new version.

Snip of my newest painting! Commissioned by flirtygaybrit (twitter). I’m sharing this again ‘cause the first post reached almost no one, probably for the mention of “not safe” content. You can find the full N S F W version here in a very N S F W animated gif.

Open for commissions!

2K notes · View notes

irina-something · 5 months

Text

Michael had issues with memories. In that, he hated them.

He hated being reminded of the past, he hated remembering how awful his life had been before that moment when he’d been seventeen and then for the next decade. He hated thinking back to all the times he’d kept his feelings bottled up, all the things he should’ve said but was too scared or angry to, all the times he should’ve fought for the love of his life but didn’t.

He hated imagining his Alex, afraid and miserable, trudging his way through life alone because he had believed Michael didn’t love him. Michael thought he probably should’ve confessed to this hate he had, taken the weight off his chest and unleashed some of the tension that knotted in his shoulders every time he thought of his Alex back then and everything they’d both had to endure. But then Alex would smile lovingly at him for no reason, or laugh at something he’d say with the perfect blush in his cheeks, and Michael preferred to bask in that affection instead of lament all the time he’d wasted.

That was why, when he had started cleaning their bedroom that morning and come across Alex’s old journal underneath the bed, he hadn’t expected to find himself curled up on the floor against the bed, his legs pulled up to his chest as he read some of the last of Alex’s scrawls. The setting sun poured in through the blinds and left bars of gold light across the floor when Michael heard Alex calling for him.

The door creaked open and Alex peeked his head in.

“Hey,” Alex leaned his shoulder against the doorframe, hands in his jacket pockets, “I brought some cake. What’re you doing?”

“Reading.”

“Something interesting?” he raised a brow, and soon was easing himself onto the carpet beside Michael. Michael instinctively reached a hand out and eased his descent, and instead of pulling away, he grabbed a fistful of his jacket.

“Yeah,” Michael murmured, eyes still searching the page. “Really interesting.”

Alex titled his head, trying to peek at the book. “What . . . is that my journal?”

“Yep.”

“Oh my god, I thought I lost this months ago,” he exclaimed, and tried to take the journal back, but Michael kept it out of reach. “Where’d you even find it?”

“Under the bed,” he said, and did not fail to notice the way Alex watched him. There was no mistaking it; he’d picked up on his tone.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Michael shook his head. What was wrong? Did Alex not remember the things he’d written in here? Could he really not understand what the problem was?

“Hey,” Alex ran his fingers through Michael’s curls, “talk to me.”

Michael clenched his jaw. He knew it wasn’t fair to be angry with Alex—how could he be, when Alex had been nothing but honest about his feelings?—but he couldn’t help it. He was angry that Alex, who always understood him better than anyone, couldn’t understand him now. He was angry that Alex had been so miserable in a time when Michael couldn’t protect him. He was angry, more than anything, at himself. Because he knew he was the reason these words existed. He knew what the splotches of ink meant, and imagined Alex pouring his heart out on the paper only to cry his heart out when he couldn’t take it anymore.

Michael stood. “Nothing’s wrong. I have to go. I have a shift at the junkyard.”

Alex, concerned, started to follow. “Guerin?”

“I’ll see you later.”

Without another word, Michael closed the bedroom door behind him, stilling against it with his fist tight around the doorknob. His fingers trembled, every fiber of his being demanding that he go back inside, hug his Alex, kiss away that furrow in his brows, and confess to everything that was weighing him down. But acknowledging the contents of this journal meant acknowledging his own fault in its existence, and he couldn’t do it. Not now, when he was so consumed with this ugly feeling.

He looked back at the door, wondering if Alex hadn’t chased after him yet because he knew Michael needed space, and forced himself to let go, to leave the house and get in his truck and drive away, all the while telling himself that distance was what he needed to feel better.

It wasn’t working. Michael had gone to the junkyard in the hopes of working himself to a sweat, until he wasn’t unable to think of anything but the pain in his limbs, but almost two minutes later, he’d pulled out Alex’s journal and here he was, yet again, sitting on the steps of the airstream as he reread Alex’s last entry from just two years ago.

“I thought I’d never feel this lost again. I thought, after Forrest, I’d learned my lesson and knew to give Michael up. I thought I finally knew how it felt to be loved, and I didn’t want whatever guarded version of it Michael chose to give me. But it’s happened again. He’s kissed me, and I let him in. I didn’t expect it, but even after everything I told myself, even after all the warnings, even after I’d had someone who loved me better, I still wanted him. I still do, with everything I have. I kind of hate myself for it. I think I hate him a little, too. Because now, he smiles at me and kisses me and touches me, and I don’t know how much of it to believe. I don’t know how much of him to have faith in this time. I think I hate him a little more than a little. I only wish that was enough to give him up.”

Michael shut his eyes tight, pressing the base of his palm to his temple. Alex’s concerned face came into view, and again, Michael wondered if Alex had been so frightened of him that he pretended not to know what he’d written. Or had he been mocking Michael, silently asking if it had really needed to take Michael reading Alex’s words written down to understand how he’d hurt him. A darker part of Michael had debated whether Alex had purposely left this journal under the bed in the hopes that Michael would find it while he was cleaning and finally come face-to-face with some hard truths.

But no, it had been covered in a thin sheen of dust, clearly forgotten for a while.

Michael groaned, running his hands through his curls. He heard tires on gravel, and his heart leapt, foolishly hoping that Alex had followed him, and looked up to find Dallas instead as he parked and stepped out of his car.

“Wow,” Dallas greeted with a smile, his hands in his pockets, “you’re not even pretending that you’re not waiting for him to show anymore, are you?”

“We’re married,” Michael said, slumping against the trailer. “I don’t have to pretend I’m not waiting for him.”

“Aww, tough cowboy in love,” he groaned as he sat down on the step beside him. “That why you’re here instead of spending the night having a romantic dinner with your husband?”

Michael pursed his lips, turning Alex’s journal in both hands before he held it out for Dallas to look at.

Brow raised, Dallas took the journal and opened to a random page. “What is this?” he asked as his eyes scanned the page. His brows furrowed as he got to the bottom and started on another entry. His frown deepened. “Guerin, did you just get me to read Alex’s diary or something? I should definitely not be reading something like that without permission. You should definitely not be reading something like this without permission.”

“Alex doesn’t keep secrets from me,” Michael defended, because he couldn’t help it. “Or . . . I didn’t think he did.”

Dallas considered him. “This thing is why you look like someone else just kissed your husband?”

Michael glared, but Dallas was already returning his attention to the journal. “Seriously though, does Alex know you have this?”

“Yeah,” Michael murmured, staring out into the dark desert. “He knows.”

A pause. “Does he though?” Dallas grinned. “There’s no way he knows it’s getting to you like this, and he’s just leaving you alone to deal with it. Hell, the only time I’ve ever seen Alex give you space is when you fight to get away from him—”

“I’ve never wanted to be away from him!” Michael snapped, and Dallas looked startled, silence weighing them down for a long, uncomfortable minute.

“Okay,” Dallas finally said slowly. “Is that what’s going on here?”

Michael worked his jaw, unwilling to look at him. “You saw what he wrote.”

“Yeah, but . . .” he flipped through the pages. “Michael, these date back to at least two years ago.”

“I kissed him, Dallas,” he said, the edge in his voice more a mark of his fear than any anger. “I kissed him, and he said he hated me. And all that time—” he cut off, his chest suddenly aching. It got harder to breathe the more he thought about it. “All that time, after he left me standing in this junkyard and I thought he had a million other things to do, all the work I thought he was doing for the Air Force, all the friends I was sure he was hanging out with, and it turns out, all he did was protect me and think that I couldn’t care less about him while he did it.”

Dallas sighed. “Michael, man, come on.”

“All that time,” Michael whispered, shaking his head, “I thought he had this whole other happy life that I was infesting, and he was just as miserable as I was. Except he never gave up on me, and I—”

“Stop it,” Dallas squeezed his shoulder. “Did you tell Alex any of this?”

He asked as though he knew what Michael’s answer would be. As he thought, Dallas didn’t look the least bit surprised when Michael shook his head.

“So let me get this straight,” he said. “You read a few journal entries about Alex upset over you walking away from him, and to fix it, you . . . left him alone without any explanation.”

Michael swallowed. “I’m scared,” he confessed, his voice quiet.

“Scared of what?”

“That I’ll find out he still hates me.” Saying the words made it all feel so much more real, and Michael found he couldn’t look away from the journal. “And he’s only with me because he’s more miserable away.”

Silence. Then Dallas surprised him when he chuckled softly. “When are you going to get it? There’s nothing that man loves more in this world than you.” Michael didn’t know what to say to that, and Dallas patted his arm. “Hey, you know why you didn’t go into the airstream to wallow inside instead? You know it’s not your home, and it’s not what you need. Lucky for you though,” Dallas smiled and stood, “the answer to both those things is the same person. And I’ll bet you anything he’s waiting for you to realize that right now.”

Michael didn’t get back home for another hour, when the sky was pitch black and the rest of the world was sound asleep. Except Alex, apparently, because Michael parked in their driveway to find all of their windows and front porch lit. The door was already open when Michael tried it, and he swallowed. Alex was making a point to show him that he was waiting up for him, because there was no way he would go to sleep without doublechecking all the locks first.

Sure enough, Michael smelled tomato soup cooking, and when he stepped into the living room, there Alex was, sitting on the couch with his elbows on his knees, his fingers interlocked. He looked like he’d been in that position since Michael had left, and when his eyes met Michael’s, they were as angry as Michael’s had been. Alex, however, had a coldness to his anger that made Michael shudder and glad he was never on the other end of it. Until now.

“You’re still up?”

Alex didn’t humor that question with a response.

“Did you eat? It doesn’t look like you ate or changed—come on, you must be uncomfortable, we’ll get you into some sweats and—”

“You better have a damn good explanation for walking out like that,” Alex cut him off coldly, and Michael flinched. “Or am I just supposed to pretend you didn’t shut me out again?”

Michael tugged on the hem of his jacket, looking at everything but Alex. “Please don’t talk to me like that, Private.”

“Like what?”

“Like you still hate me,” he whispered, and Alex said nothing. Michael’s lower lip trembled as all the exhaustion and fear and misery showed itself, and he knelt down in front of Alex. He gripped his thighs and rested his chin on Alex’s knee, needing to touch him. “Do you?” he murmured, a tear sliding down along his nose before he could help it. “Still hate me?”

Alex watched him, and Michael kept waiting for him to say that it was true, that there was still a part of him that hated the cowboy for how he’d treated him. But Alex only sighed and looked away, then looked back at Michael and held out his hand.

“Give it to me,” he commanded.

Michael swallowed, pulling the journal out of his jacket and placing it slowly in Alex’s hand. Alex then took his wrist and said, “Up,” albeit gentler. Michael rose to his feet, and Alex bent over to quickly dust off his jeans. Then he walked over to the fireplace, and without warning, tossed the journal into the flames.

“What—Alex!”

Alex, however, couldn’t have cared less about the journal as he rounded on Michael, arms crossed. “I thought we were done with that crap,” he demanded. “I thought we were in this thing together now. I thought we didn’t walk away from each other anymore.”

“Alex,” Michael shook his head, still wide-eyed at the burning pages. “I only—”

“No, Guerin, no!” he snapped. “If you were upset, you should’ve talked to me. If you were angry, you should’ve talked to me. Even and especially if I’m the one you’re pissed at, then you talk to ME! Being your husband means I don’t have to pace and panic anymore every time something’s going on with you!”

“And you hated doing that, right?” Michael said, before he could help it. “You hated how I made you feel, you hated me, Alex. I read your journal entries, I know how you felt about me that whole time we were apart—”

“Of course I did,” Alex argued, frustration showing itself in his brimming tears, “I hated everything because we were apart!”

Michael stared, shocked at Alex crying, but when he tried to take a step towards him, Alex shook his head and stepped back.

“I hated you,” he conceded. “I hated you because I wanted you more than anything, and I never knew where I stood with you. I hated knowing that I would do anything—anything—to make you happy, but not knowing if you cared one way or the other how I felt. I hated fighting all my demons for a guy that turned everything I said into a joke and never even tried to see how hard I was trying. I hated loving a man who never thought twice about walking away from me!”

“Alex—”

“Damn it, Guerin, you can’t just leave like that, you have no idea what it does to me!”

“Okay, I’m—I’m sorry,” he tried, holding his hands up in defense as he slowly approached his husband. “I’m sorry, don’t cry. Don’t cry, okay?”

Alex had told Michael that he didn’t know what his leaving did, but Michael could see it play out on his face. He could see Alex’s anger as it shifted to heartbreak and panic, the fear he must’ve felt when the man he’d spent so long fighting to have had suddenly left him all alone again. Michael had wondered earlier if Alex hadn’t tried getting in touch with him because he thought Michael needed space, but now Michael wondered if the truth wasn’t closer to Alex fearing getting in touch with Michael and pushing him further away.

“You can’t do that to me,” Alex whimpered, and Michael’s heart broke. He finally got to him and wrapped Alex in his arms, holding him tight enough that it should’ve hurt. Alex’s cries were soft against his shoulder. “I was so mad at the world,” he managed under his breath, “and so mad at myself, and I said so much crap I didn’t mean. I’m not that man anymore, Guerin. I’m so in love with you that I can’t imagine a time where I ever felt anything less than what I feel right now. I forgot how bad the feelings in that book were until you left. You shouldn’t have left me.”

Michael shushed him softly, reaching a hand into his hair and tugging on the strands. “It’s okay. You don’t have to explain anymore, it’s okay.”

Alex gripped his jacket back tightly. “You can’t leave me again,” he cried, and Michael shut his eyes. “You can’t ever do that, Guerin. I can’t let you go anymore, I can’t give you up. If you leave me, I’ll die. I will.”

“Stop,” Michael demanded in a whisper, squeezing him at the very thought. “Stop stop stop. Don’t talk like that. I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere.”

Alex only hugged his waist tighter in response, and they both stood there, holding each other in front of the fire as the pages of the past burned.

Finally, after a long several few minutes when Alex’s tears had subsided and his cries turned silent, Michael said, “Did you still make dinner?”

Alex, tired and his voice cracking, huffed a chuckle. “I almost reached for the phone twelve times. I had to keep myself busy with something.”

Michael turned his face into Alex’s neck and kissed the soft skin there, then he said, “Do me a favor?”

“Anything,” Alex said without hesitation. Michael believed him.

“The next time I try to do something stupid like I did today, jump on my back, okay? Cling to me, hug me, tie me up. Just don’t let me turn away from you, no matter what reason I have. Being away sucked, and I’m just a dumbass when it comes to you.”

He could feel Alex’s soft smile against his cheek, even as he held him protectively. “Will do.”

***

I wrote this to save for malex monday, but I couldn't wait. Happy saturday 🩷

Quick reminder that I'm posting my original stories on my side blog, @katherineblackmare. Three chapters every Friday 🩷💕🩷💕

41 notes · View notes

irina-something · 6 months

Text

Nili’s Benchmark Geraskier Fic Rec List

hey yall! I officially hit 750 followers (a few days ago, I blew past the benchmark without even realizing!), which is… insane. I truly can’t believe that so many people over the last year have enjoyed my presence in this fandom enough to continue to follow my work. you guys are so great and I love you all so much, so I decided to put together a gift for you!

this is a list of my favorite geraskier fics from the fandom, which I have been putting together over the last year or so. a few of these are big in the fandom, but a lot of them are smaller pieces that I feel deserve more attention! I have provided ao3 and tumblr links where I could find them, as well as ratings and summaries. Most of these are canon!verse because I’m not personally a big fan of modern au’s, but there will be a few of those scattered throughout as well. I’ve divided the fics into two sections: oneshots and multichapter. See the list below the cut!

Being in this fandom truly has gotten me through the pandemic in a big way and I have made so many good friends while here. thank you all for validating my weird obsession with these characters and enabling me in these trying times <3

Keep reading

324 notes · View notes

irina-something · 7 months

Note

What are your favorite johnlock fics of all time?

Ohhhh.

Ohhh noo.

Nonny you’re cruel.

Okay so funny story:

Someone asked me this exact thing a couple years ago.

I started a fic rec list offline at that time

Said list kept growing and growing as I decided to start sorting my fics.

It’s now a couple years later, and the list has over 300 fics on it XD.

So you see my dilemma LOL.

I have done a few fic lists in the past along this vein:

Top 20 Fave 40K+ w. Fics (April 2017 )

Ten Fave Short Johnlock Fics (Easy Reads April 2018)

25 Fave Johnlock One Shots (April 2018)

Top 10 Fave Fics (September 2018)

So what should I do today? How about the fics I ALWAYS re-read when I feel like I just need something familiar and oh so delicious? Would that be okay? Fics that I never hesitate to read again? Note that this list will probably change in a few months’ time as I re-read newer fics I’ve recently bookmarked; if I’m in a certain mood, a fic will get added and another removed, LOL. In fact, I’ve had this sitting in my drafts from quite awhile before I finally posted it, LOL. Waited a week, because my “feels” kept changing, HAH!

I have WAY more than 30 of these, but I had to stop somewhere! So here’s the criteria for these ones today:

I’ve read them more than 5 times since I bookmarked them

I read them start to finish, without skipping anything even though I know what happens.

That’s it. It’s just so I can keep my list down, LOL. Seriously, I love SO many fics that this list was HARD to do. Hope you enjoy!

I-J’s TOP 30 READ-AGAIN FICS (MARCH 2019)

The Strait of Juan de Fuca by mightypog (T, 6,400 w. || Vacation, Love Confessions, Friends to Lovers, Canada, Post-TRF, Love Confessions) – Sherlock is back and all seems forgiven, but something is missing between him and John. Their friendship initially appears intact, but Sherlock doesn’t understand why John seems to be slipping away. Finally, in terror, he tries to reconnect with John by taking him to the one place that seems to inspire any emotional interest in John any more: the Canadian wilderness. While there, Sherlock faces his greatest fear.

Fa Subito by kim47 (E, 6,659 w. || Suit Porn, Cockblocker Mycroft, Obsessed Sherlock, PWP) – John wears a suit. Sherlock finds it extremely distracting.

Bread and Wine and Curry Once a Week by cwb (E, 8,737 w. || Fluff, Friends to Lovers, Stroppy Sherlock, Love Letters, POV John) – Sherlock asks John for relationship advice. Little does he know that it’s him that Sherlock is in love with.

The Emergency Contact Series by blueink3 (M, 11,763 w. across 2 works || 5 and 1′s, Whump, Mutual Pining, Fluff and Angst, Caring Sherlock / John, Scars) – The first time John Watson’s emergency contact is called is the first time Sherlock Holmes finds out that he has the job. The first time Sherlock Holmes realizes he needs an emergency contact is the first time he mentally appoints John Watson with the job.

Iris by slashscribe (E, 11,948 w. | Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Post-S3) – Sherlock does his best to make John happy when John comes back to 221B with his new baby after the events of Season 3, but Sherlock has a track record of getting things wrong in this area. This story is an exploration of their gradual shift from friends to lovers, told from Sherlock’s perspective, full of a lot of pining and lack of emotional awareness.

Speaker for the Bees by antietamfalls (M, 14,649 w. || Deaf Sherlock, Friends to Lovers, First Kiss / Time, Fluff, Sign Language) – It isn’t always easy assisting a deaf detective. Luckily for John, they make a pretty good team.

A Hundred Thousand Ways to Say the Name John by Jberry (E, 16,825 w. || Fake Relationship, Fake Marriage, POV John, Pining John, Cruise Ship, Angst & Fluff) – John Watson and Sherlock Holmes must solve a case on a cruise ship. To get close to the crew and passengers, they must get married for the case on the Baetica. However, their relationship hits rocky seas both due to the case and internal conflicts. Part 1 of Baetica

A Shipless Ocean by myswordfishmind (M, 22,135 w || Post-TRF, John has a Kid) – Ten years after the fall Sherlock goes back to London to find that John no longer lives there. Instead, he resides in a seaside town, a widower, and the father of a seven year old son. Now, Sherlock must struggle with the fact that there may no longer be a place for him in this new world.

Knotted by naughtyspirit (E, 23,166 w. || UST/URT, Cuddling, Sharing Body Heat, Confessions, Kissing, Mastrubation, Frustration, BAMF!John) – John has to cancel a date because of Sherlock’s case, which leads them to be tied up in a basement from which they have to escape. They get wet, get tied up close and John has to step up and save them. Because he’s pretty. And hot. And just a little bit of a BAMF.

Tomorrow’s Song by agirlsname (M, 24,645 w. || Post-TRF, POV Sherlock, Angst with a Happy Ending, Virgin / Repressed Sherlock, Love Confessions, Slow Burn, Pining) – How can he think a relationship with me would be a good idea? I am the sort of person to take a break from my life and when I come back after two years, I expect to find it exactly as I left it. In reality I find it shattered to pieces. (I actually equate you with my life. When did I start doing that?)

26 Pieces by Lanning (E, 28,236 w. || H/C, Torture, First Time, Happy Ending, Schmoop) – Mycroft gives Sherlock the apparently simple task of solving a puzzle box containing a stolen microchip. It isn’t simple.

Hitting the Water at Sixty Miles an Hour by what_alchemy (E, 30,568 w. || Fake Rel., Roadtrips, Slow Burn, Mummy Holmes) – “You love your mother, Sherlock?” John watched the muscles in Sherlock’s jaw jump. He nodded in one sharp jerk.“Then we’re going to her party and making her happy.” John let out a resigned sigh. “As a ruddy couple, you bastard.”

A Study In Auto-Signatures, Sniper Dolphins, and Sex Holidays by cwb (E, 32,690 w. || Case Fic, Post S3, Evil Mary, Dev. Rel., Honeymoon, Epistolary, Bottomlock, First Kiss / Time, Fluff, Secret Agents, BAMF!John) – John and Mary go on their sex holiday, and Sherlock is grumpy and pining about it. Part 1 of HOT DOLPHIN SEX

a good old-fashioned happy ending by darcylindbergh (E, 32,731 w. || Christmas, Frottage, Comfort, Est. Rel., Fluff, Insecure Sherlock) – For Christmas this year, Sherlock wants to get John something special: something every fairytale deserves. Part 2 of things fairy tales are made of

The Yellow Poppies by SilentAuror (E, 34,952 w. || H/C, Nightmares, HLV Fix-It, PTSD, Trauma, POV Sherlock, Doctor John) – Sherlock is threatened and assaulted in the hospital immediately after having been shot in the heart, first by Mary, then by Magnussen. As he recovers at Baker Street with John and plans the attack on Appledore with Mycroft, he fights to work through the trauma caused by these two visits. Set during His Last Vow.

LHR-HNL by scullyseviltwin (E, 35,066 w. || Hawaiian Vacation, Post-TRF, Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn, Just Talk Already, Drinking, Mutual Pining) – In need of an endangered flora sample, Sherlock and John must make a trip to an unexpected destination.

Classified(s) by blueink3 (E, 36,153 w. || Wedding Date AU || Fake Relationship, Jealous, PIning, H/C, Idiots in Love, Happy Ending, Mary is not Nice, Escort Service) – Clara’s American father is the ambassador to some such territory that Great Britain probably used to own, but she (and Harry’s undying love for her) is the reason John is getting on a flight at 12:30pm, flying across the second largest ocean in the world, and pretending to be in a perfectly happy, healthy relationship with an undoubtedly perfectly coiffed stranger. See, Clara is not only American (and wealthy to boot), she’s also best friends with John’s ex-fiancée. Whom she’s placed in the wedding party. As Maid of Honor. And John just happens to be Best Man. Bloody brilliant.

A Promise Made to Be Broken by PlantsAreNeat (E, 37,018 w. || Fake Relationship, Pining, Slow Burn, RST, Eventual Relationship, POV Sherlock) – A young John makes an ‘if we’re still single at 40, we’ll get together’ pledge to a woman who ends up all wrong for him. She keeps reminding him of the promise, and won’t let go of it. John asks Sherlock to pose as his boyfriend at a family wedding, so as to dash her hopes permanently. Sherlock, who has at last acknowledged his feelings for John, reluctantly agrees despite knowing how painful it will be to ‘have’ John, but not keep him.

Goodness Gives Extras by mydwynter (E, 39,629 w. || Fluff & Angst, Case Fic, Oral / Anal, Humour, First Time, Miscommunication, Snark, Christmas) – Christmas time. ‘Tis the season to settle down with a drink, some food and a present or two, and to enjoy the quiet relaxation of the holiday. Instead, there’s a case that drags them all over, missing presents, disappointed kids, angry parents, and a freak snowfall. On top of that John has to deal with Sherlock, who is being even more of a prat than usual. He really shouldn’t have expected anything different.

Right Hand Man by SilentAuror (E, 42,031 w. || H/C, Injury, Slow Burn, Infidelity, Mary is Not Nice) – When John’s left arm becomes paralysed after a car accident, Mary asks Sherlock to take him back to Baker Street to recuperate, as she’s about to give birth. Despite the fact that the search for Moriarty is ongoing, Sherlock takes John in and takes responsibility for overseeing his rehabilitation as he adjusts to the loss of his arm.

Left by lifeonmars (M, 45,153 w. || Magical Realism) – John Watson is left-handed. He’s tried not to let it affect his life, but as any Lefty knows, that’s almost impossible.

Corpus Hominis by mycapeisplaid (E, 47,709 w. || Casefic, Fluff, Romance, Frottage) - John knows the human body intimately. He’s had plenty of opportunity for study as a doctor, soldier, and lover. There’s one particular body, however, he knows very little about. When Sherlock launches himself head-first into a new obsession and they get sent on a case in an unlikely location, the pair discovers each other’s bodies with confusing yet delightful (and sometimes hilarious) results.

Triage by scullyseviltwin (E, 51,612 w. || Character Injury, Introspection) – Sherlock’s mind goes exceedingly, devastatingly quiet and gray-blank. When he speaks it’s through a thick haze, it’s through molasses, he’s so disconnected from the words that it may as well be the unconscious shooter speaking.

Spare Change by Ermerness (E, 51,966 w. || Rich Sherlock AU, Virgin Sherlock, First Time, Alternate First Meeting) – The Holmes family is one of the richest and most powerful in England. Sherlock spends his time flying around the world on the family’s private jet drinking a lot and shopping at expensive boutiques as a way of trying to alleviate his endless boredom. His mother decides it’s time he settles down with someone powerful, wealthy and well connected. John Watson happens to be none of those things.

Coventry by standbygo (E, 52,020 w. || Dollhouse AU || Case Fic, Slow Burn, Sci-Fi / Fantasy, First Kiss / Time, Attempted Rape, BAMF John, Falling in Love) – “Let me get this straight,” John said, wondering when his life had become a science fiction film. “Some guy orders up a personality, a person, to his specifications, and they program this into a real live person, who has consented to do this, and she goes to this person and acts as his wife, or lawyer, or Royal Marine, or Navy Seal or what have you, and she has all the skills, all the knowledge, everything? Then you say the magic words, and she follows you back to The House, and they erase it all until her next appointment?”

Wars We Fought, Things We’re Not by blueink3 (M, 55,204 w. || Parentlock, Fluff & Angst, Kidnapping, Whump, Post-TAB, UST, Slow Burn, Couple for a Case) – Five months after John’s world has fallen apart, Mycroft sends the consulting detective and his doctor on a case that neither is prepared for.

Perdition’s Flames by i_ship_an_armada (E, 63,435 w., || Treklock AU, Est. Rel, Genetic Engineering, Angst & Fluff, BAMF!John) – Sherlock would do anything to save him. Risk anything. Give anything. His money, his life. His soul. What he does, though, is change both of their destinies forever. Genetic re-engineering is the only option left. It turns out researchers underestimated the life expectancy and potential abilities of genetically re-engineered subjects. The British government and what would eventually become the United Federation of Planets, however, had not. Part 1 of PF Universe

You Have Drawn Red From My Hands by J_Baillier (T, 67,085 w. || Three Garridebs, Heavy John Whump, Hurt / Comfort, Pining, Heavy Angst, Case Fic/Adventure, Slow Burn, Sick Fic, Injury, Guilt & Depression, Just Talk Already Please, Medical Realism, PTSD) – John getting injured leads Sherlock on a path of guilt and revelations.

Shatter the Darkness (Let the Light In) by MojoFlower (E, 109,683 w. || Genie/Djinn AU || Magical Realism, H/C, Kidnapping, Genie Sherlock, First Kiss / Time, Case Fic, H/C, Angst, Clubs, John Whump) – Fairy tales are for those who remember how to dream; not John Watson, broken and hiding from his bleak future in a beige bedsit. But then he discovers a lamp and finds himself in the dangerous riptide of an enigmatic man whose very existence is unbelievable, murder charges against his sister, and the growing pains of feeling alive once more.

Midnight Blue Serenity by BeautifulFiction (E, 151,907 w. || Friends to Lovers, Gay Bar / For a Case, Drugs, Pining, Case Fic, UST) – When Sherlock infiltrates a club in order to track down a serial killer, his altered appearance is enough to make John question his assumption that Sherlock is beyond his reach. However, is he the only one who appreciates his flatmate’s charms, or is Sherlock at risk of becoming the next victim?

1K notes · View notes