Monster List of Sherlock (BBC) Fic Recommendations - PART 2
Part 2 of my Sherlock Recs. Originally part of This Post, which is now Part 1. New recs as of Feb 2014.
Categories: Future!fic, Case!fic, Misc (mainly character pieces), Mind-f*ckery, Fantasy AU, Other AU
Using the list
Summaries are italicized and my comments/tags are not. Assume Sherlock/John unless other pairing noted or marked GEN. I use "First Time" to denote fics that include the realization, confession, and/or consummation of non-platonic feelings. "Fandom Classic" denotes fics I've seen frequently rec’ed. Starred (*) fics denote personal favorites.
Future!Fic
(And the future's full of sadness...)
Alone on the Water by madlorific (8K, G) ***
Sherlock Holmes never expected to live a long life, but he never imagined that it would end like this. Future!fic, Character Death, Angst, Fandom Classic. The most famouses of all Sherlock fics. Fandom-defining work.
"404 error: file not found" by nejem (1K, G)
Sherlock writes notes to remind himself. Dementia. Future!fic. Quiet. Punch-in-the-gut hurt.
For Me It Isn't Over by sciosophia (5K, PG-13, John/Mary)
“Didn’t you consider,” John began, not quite sure where he was taking this, “that I might want to do this alone?” Because John is adrift, and Sherlock wants to be a good friend. Friendship!fic. Character death. Grieving.
Get Over Your Hill and See by tueswmoriarty (3K, PG)
He kept bees, his own council, and John Watson. Asexual!Sherlock/John. Future!fic.
Case!Fic
The Burning Game by lamiel (28K, M for violence)
"If you are clever enough to bring destruction upon me, rest assured that I shall do as much to you." - James Moriarty, The Final Problem. Moriarty is back. Case!fic. Not great execution, but lots of action and a thrilling read.
Major Pieces by lindentreeisle (32K, T+, Gen) **
Sherlock knew that he could thoroughly rely upon John Watson's moral sense. And that's why he knew that Lestrade was wrong, wrong, wrong. Riveting.
Monster by moony (19K, R)
“It is fortunate for this community that I am not a criminal.”- Sherlock Holmes, from The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans. To catch a monster, one must become a monster.
Wherein There Is a Case, Several Mysteries, John Coming to the Rescue, and an Old Folk Saying by parsnips (5.5K, PG-13, Gen)
When Sherlock bothers to go to the chemist, he always goes in person. Once a month, however, he will have something delivered. Clever!John.
Cu Sylvatica by sprl1199sprl1199 (35K, R) *
After the events of the Great Game, Sherlock and John are called to assist the police on a murder investigation. Sherlock--convinced that the victim’s missing flatmate is the key to the investigation--finds himself unraveling a complex web of faked identity, kidnapping, and blackmail. All the while, he and John work to come to terms with the scar that Moriarty left on their lives and the possibility of his return. The difficulty is compounded by seemingly everyone in Sherlock’s life appearing to expect him to take Moriarty up on his offer of criminal partnership...The worst part is that Sherlock isn’t certain that they’re wrong. First time, Sherlock introspection.
Secondary Exposure by thesardine (19K, PG-13)
After twenty years, the killer who abducted John as a child has resurfaced. Now John and Sherlock must track him down before he claims another victim, and at the same time navigate the shifting nature of their relationship.
Miscellaneous
(Character pieces / Relationship studies / Back story / Etc.)
Extraordinary by ardenteurophile (~2.5K, PG-13, pre-slash)
Sherlock tries to understand his new flatmate.
Apologies for Large Feet by BlackEyedGirl (3K, T+) *
Sherlock can see his way through most problems in a single glance. John is something of an anomaly. John compliments Sherlock. Sherlock can’t figure out why. Character study. Epic Bromance/Pre-slash.
Drowning by dayja (18K, R for trauma)
Sherlock has never learned to swim. Character Study. Building up to a canon moment. Childhood trauma. Something different.
Chiaroscuro by kirstenlouise (2K, PG-13, Sherlock, Mycroft) *
Sherlock keeps his memories of his father in a cigar box in his memory palace. All save one. Sherlock POV. Dark. Childhood Trauma. Character Study.
Sfumato by kirstenlouise (2K, PG-13, Mycroft, Sherlock)
Mycroft is too old to believe in monsters, but he cannot shake the fear that he will spend the rest of his life listening for the footsteps of a man long dead echoing behind him. Follow-up to “Chiaroscuro. Mycroft POV. Dark. Childhood trauma.
Not untwist these last strands of man by Lindentreeisle (Captainblue) (~3.5K, G) *NEW*
Mycroft teaches him to conceptualize his moods as colors when he is four. “What color is today?” Wee!lock. Deals with Depression.
Five Things John Watson Will Never Tell Anyone by raina (3K, R)
There are things about himself that John Watson will never, ever, tell anyone. Not even consulting detectives who might already know. Character Study. Angst. Companion piece to “Five Things Sherlock Will Never Admit Out Loud.”
Five Things Sherlock Will Never Admit Out Loud by raina (3K, R)
Character Study. Companion piece to “Five Things John Watson Will Never Tell Anyone”
Autopsis by spikeface (6K, NC-17)
Sherlock always needs to see for himself. AU-ish - inside the mind of psychopath!sherlock. First Time. Dark!Sherlock. Violent imagery. Intense.
Five Times Sherlock Realised This Was Different and One Time He Admitted It by starjenni (2K, T, Gen) *
This is so sweet and simple. My heart spills over with love for this fic. Sherlock & John.
Any Way the Wind Blows by thesardine (~2.5, T) *NEW*
Sherlock has always sought affection through self-destructive behavior; it's only a matter of time before he takes it too far
Seeds by thesardine (5K, G, Gen)
In a fit of boredom Sherlock plants some seeds, may or may not eat one cracker, and definitely waxes dramatic on the sofa for a while. The heart of this piece crept up on me and took me pleasantly by surprise. Sherlock POV.
Sniffer Dog by TSylvestris (3K, T) *NEW*
If anyone had asked him, Robbie could have told them the way they were handling Holmes was all wrong. Outside POV
Applied Linguistics by what_alchemy (5K, M) *NEW*
“He wants to shake John by the shoulders, wants to open his mouth and swallow John whole. Wants to marry him.” Sherlock searches for the right words. Sherlock’s version of fluff.
The Paradox Series by wordstrings (Lots but not enough, PG - NC-17)**
Fandom Classic. In which Sherlock is a bat-shit crazy genius and John speaks Sherlock. The most unique and envelop-pushing version of John and Sherlock that I've come across that WORK and never seem cliche or forced. Each work stand alone (but with wonderful continuity), alternating POVs between segments. Sherlock's POV is particularly arresting. He soars and crashes and the style is so evocative that we peak and bottom out with him. His unapologetic view of himself -- beautiful and brilliant, a freak and not good the way John is good -- continues to break my heart. The Death and Resurrection of the English Language is the most famous of the series, but really, it's all wonderful. There is sex. The sex is hot, but it's the intensity of their feeling for each other that leaves you enthralled.
Mindfuckery
(Memory / Perception / WTF? / Unreliable Narrators)
The World on His Wrist by bendingsignpost (31K, PG-13) ***
First, he is shot in Afghanistan. Second, he wakes to a phone call in Chelmsford, Essex. Third is pain, fourth is normalcy, fifth is agony and sixth is confusion. By the eighth, he's lost track. (John-centric AU). Parallel universes. Pre-slash. Amazing.
Waking You Up by brbsoulnomming (12K, T+) **
John dies and Sherlock blames himself, so much so that the guilt begins to affect his life. However, he keeps getting dreams of John talking to him and assuring him that he's not dead.
Redivivus by cathedralcarver (5K, PG)
There are so very many different ways to die. Mycroft breaks Sherlock down.
Lacuna by coloredink (16K, Explicit)
God, it must have been terrible, to think that he would never have this again. Amnesia. A bit dark.
Oneirology by Helicidae (15K, T+)
John wakes in a strange room, injured and bewildered, to slowly find that memories are more important - and less reliable - than he has ever imagined before. Amnesia. Unreliable narrator. Creepy.
Waiting To Be Known by soera (7K, R) *
John Watson has been saving Sherlock's life for a very long time, even if he doesn't know it. John and Sherlock’s time-defying epic connection.
A Matter of Perspective by thisprettywren (13K, M, Gen) *NEW*
Sherlock is sectioned; it all goes downhill from there.
AU - Fantasy
(Supernatural / Powers / Magical Realism / Literal Metaphors)
Shadows on the Wall by AraSigyrn (18K, PG)
John came back from Afghanistan psychic. Spoilers to The Great Game. Powers. One-sided John/Sherlock, Episode retelling of ASiP.
Heart of Hearts by bendingsignpost (~4.5K, T+) *NEW*
John's old heart isn't broken, but he's still very fond of his new one. Heart!fic.
I Used to Live Alone Before I Knew You by etothepii (11K, PG-13) **
Where Mycroft is an angel, Sherlock is a demon, and John is still John. Good Omens fusion but very very enjoyable even without familiarity.
It Feels like Home when I'm With You by etothepii (14K, PG-13) **
John still gets nightmares about Afghanistan. That's the worst part of it all, he thinks -- he still has dreams about sand and drowning to death in his own blood. But they're more memory than nightmare. Supernatural!AU. Frienship!fic. Very very good.
Ash, Gold, Quartz by ifonlynotnever (1.5K, PG)
Magical realism AU. Moriarty burns the heart out of Sherlock. John builds him a new one. Heart!fic.
Left by lifeonmars (45K, M) *NEW*
John Watson is left-handed. He’s tried not to let it affect his life, but as any Lefty knows, that’s almost impossible. People have “powers”
I have been Searching for my Wings Some Time by lotherington (~600, G) *
Sherlock has wings. All his life, they've been fairly small; small enough he can hide them under his coat and no one notices. But when he falls in love with John, they start to grow. Wing!Fic. Achy, quiet and gorgeous.
A City on the Head of a Pin by mad_maudlin (5K, G, Gen) **
Post-TGG fic. John, for once, sees something Sherlock doesn’t. (Not-really) Wing!fic. Powers.
~~Now with a remix! The Things You Don't Know by lotherington (~1.5K, PG, Gen, Reichenbach)
With Your Crooked Heart by positivelymeteoric (6K, T+) *NEW*
The words that appear on your wrist after birth lead you to your soulmate, so it should be no surprise to John that Sherlock's are blank, or that his own lead him to Sherlock. Angst and Fluff. Soulmate!fic.
With All My Heart by QuinnAnderson (19K, Explicit) *NEW*
AU in which every time a person falls in love, a red line like a tally mark appears on their wrist. Sherlock is determined to keep himself from ever gaining one of these marks for fear that love will corrode his mental faculties. Then he meets John Watson. Angst and Fluff.
Three Ways To Gain A Heart by silverpard (~700, G, Gen)
John has a collection of hearts he's won and stolen. He doesn't treasure them at all. When he discovers them, Sherlock is terrified that John intends for his to join the pile. Short and Sweet. Heart!fic
The Heart, and Other Fleshy Organs by stickstockstone (4K, PG-13)
A literal interpretation of the quote "I have been reliably informed I don't have [a heart]. Heart!fic. Sherlock+John.
When the War Fires Fade by snowdarkred (7K, PG-13) *
Magic!AU, violence, swearing, vampires that don’t sparkle and are actually supposed to be somewhat scary. John has a rare gift. Sherlock has an even rarer one. Powers. World-building.
Tremolo by what_alchemy (6K, PG-13) ***
Regular people, normal people, people like good, warm, tea-making, hair-stroking John, they have visible pulses, pulses that slow and quicken, pulses tied to their emotions and their brains and their life forces. Pulses attached to whatever animates them. Sherlock has no such time-keeping. Magical Realism. Gorgeous.
AU - Other
Dustfall by AmandaDBone (19K, Explicit) *NEW*
There are no alphas and no omegas - not until maroon dust falls from the sky and changes the world. Sherlock and John treat their biological changes with a medicine of denial and avoidance, very nearly destroying themselves in the process. Omega!verse. Okay, I usually wouldn’t rec fics with Alpha/Omega dynamics, but the world-building here is fascinating and takes an angle that I’ve never seen for this trope.
Equilibrium by augustbird (12K, M) **
At Baskerville, John is infected by a virus that turns him into a genius. But when the infection progresses into neurodegeneration, it's a race against time to save himself. Flowers for Algernon fusion. If you've ever read Flowers for Algernon, you know what sort of journey you're in for. Lovely, poignant and honest look at John and Sherlock, the author allows us to discover along with the characters.
Strangers by cj_ludd18 (34K, R, Pre-slash)
In 2110, Sherlock Holmes builds a machine. Android!Watson. Written with as much cleverness and heart one would hope from a fic inspired by Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Rated not for slash.
Aptronyms by ElaspedSpiral (1.7K, PG-13, Gen)
Mr Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson are characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Mr Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson are the unfortunate sods named after them (AKA a rather strange AU of 2010 Sherlock). A little meta. A lot of fun. Humor.
In The Land Of The Blind by entangled_now (13K, R) **
Sherlock's been acting strangely for days. There's a claustrophobic silence to the flat, experiments tossed aside or abandoned, cases ignored. It's almost as if nothing matters any more. John's determined to know why. First Time. Apoca!fic. Quiet and aching. Suffocating anticipation.
Seems So Easy for Everybody Else by etothepii (15K, PG-13)
He signs his correspondences to the police as Sherlock H, as he always has, and he signs his letters to his parents as SH -- they can take what they will from the S. He signs his school assignments S. Holmes, and manages to get away with it because he is the only Holmes in his classes. FtM!Sherlock. Great use of fan fic to illuminate/explore an issue.
the theory of narrative causality by falling_voices (Epic Length, but worth it, PG-13 / NC-17 for fic within the fic) Sherlock and John are BNFs in Sherlock Holmes fandom. Together, they fight crime. (Always.) And write porn, incidentally. Meta like woah. Docu!fic. Amazing. Amusing. LOL funny.Fandom Classic.
Finding John by IronicNarwhal (5.5K, PG)
Sherlock Holmes has met exactly twenty-four Johns in his life. They have all been the wrong John. He's getting tired of waiting, staring at the inscription on his finger and wondering when his John will turn up, if ever. Soul mates.
Hope by lifeonmars (~3.5K, NR) *NEW*
In the end, John will have died for Hope. The universe has such a charming sense of humour. Terminal illness. Achy.
Correspondences AU (Series) by thirdbird (13K total, PG-13 - R, Gen first part)
What if John and Sherlock had met five years earlier? Long distance pen pals. Army!John, First Time. Fascinating.
Late by scorpiontales (3K, T+, Gen)***
Zombies have taken over. Sherlock is safe inside the city. Many are dead. Even more are missing.To Sherlock, John is just late. Waiting. Coping. Bromance.
Categories: Future!fic, Case!fic, Misc (mainly character pieces), Mind-f*ckery, Fantasy AU, Other AU
Using the list
Summaries are italicized and my comments/tags are not. Assume Sherlock/John unless other pairing noted or marked GEN. I use "First Time" to denote fics that include the realization, confession, and/or consummation of non-platonic feelings. "Fandom Classic" denotes fics I've seen frequently rec’ed. Starred (*) fics denote personal favorites.
Future!Fic
(And the future's full of sadness...)
Alone on the Water by madlorific (8K, G) ***
Sherlock Holmes never expected to live a long life, but he never imagined that it would end like this. Future!fic, Character Death, Angst, Fandom Classic. The most famouses of all Sherlock fics. Fandom-defining work.
"404 error: file not found" by nejem (1K, G)
Sherlock writes notes to remind himself. Dementia. Future!fic. Quiet. Punch-in-the-gut hurt.
For Me It Isn't Over by sciosophia (5K, PG-13, John/Mary)
“Didn’t you consider,” John began, not quite sure where he was taking this, “that I might want to do this alone?” Because John is adrift, and Sherlock wants to be a good friend. Friendship!fic. Character death. Grieving.
Get Over Your Hill and See by tueswmoriarty (3K, PG)
He kept bees, his own council, and John Watson. Asexual!Sherlock/John. Future!fic.
Case!Fic
The Burning Game by lamiel (28K, M for violence)
"If you are clever enough to bring destruction upon me, rest assured that I shall do as much to you." - James Moriarty, The Final Problem. Moriarty is back. Case!fic. Not great execution, but lots of action and a thrilling read.
Major Pieces by lindentreeisle (32K, T+, Gen) **
Sherlock knew that he could thoroughly rely upon John Watson's moral sense. And that's why he knew that Lestrade was wrong, wrong, wrong. Riveting.
Monster by moony (19K, R)
“It is fortunate for this community that I am not a criminal.”- Sherlock Holmes, from The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans. To catch a monster, one must become a monster.
Wherein There Is a Case, Several Mysteries, John Coming to the Rescue, and an Old Folk Saying by parsnips (5.5K, PG-13, Gen)
When Sherlock bothers to go to the chemist, he always goes in person. Once a month, however, he will have something delivered. Clever!John.
Cu Sylvatica by sprl1199sprl1199 (35K, R) *
After the events of the Great Game, Sherlock and John are called to assist the police on a murder investigation. Sherlock--convinced that the victim’s missing flatmate is the key to the investigation--finds himself unraveling a complex web of faked identity, kidnapping, and blackmail. All the while, he and John work to come to terms with the scar that Moriarty left on their lives and the possibility of his return. The difficulty is compounded by seemingly everyone in Sherlock’s life appearing to expect him to take Moriarty up on his offer of criminal partnership...The worst part is that Sherlock isn’t certain that they’re wrong. First time, Sherlock introspection.
Secondary Exposure by thesardine (19K, PG-13)
After twenty years, the killer who abducted John as a child has resurfaced. Now John and Sherlock must track him down before he claims another victim, and at the same time navigate the shifting nature of their relationship.
Miscellaneous
(Character pieces / Relationship studies / Back story / Etc.)
Extraordinary by ardenteurophile (~2.5K, PG-13, pre-slash)
Sherlock tries to understand his new flatmate.
Apologies for Large Feet by BlackEyedGirl (3K, T+) *
Sherlock can see his way through most problems in a single glance. John is something of an anomaly. John compliments Sherlock. Sherlock can’t figure out why. Character study. Epic Bromance/Pre-slash.
Drowning by dayja (18K, R for trauma)
Sherlock has never learned to swim. Character Study. Building up to a canon moment. Childhood trauma. Something different.
Chiaroscuro by kirstenlouise (2K, PG-13, Sherlock, Mycroft) *
Sherlock keeps his memories of his father in a cigar box in his memory palace. All save one. Sherlock POV. Dark. Childhood Trauma. Character Study.
Sfumato by kirstenlouise (2K, PG-13, Mycroft, Sherlock)
Mycroft is too old to believe in monsters, but he cannot shake the fear that he will spend the rest of his life listening for the footsteps of a man long dead echoing behind him. Follow-up to “Chiaroscuro. Mycroft POV. Dark. Childhood trauma.
Not untwist these last strands of man by Lindentreeisle (Captainblue) (~3.5K, G) *NEW*
Mycroft teaches him to conceptualize his moods as colors when he is four. “What color is today?” Wee!lock. Deals with Depression.
Five Things John Watson Will Never Tell Anyone by raina (3K, R)
There are things about himself that John Watson will never, ever, tell anyone. Not even consulting detectives who might already know. Character Study. Angst. Companion piece to “Five Things Sherlock Will Never Admit Out Loud.”
Five Things Sherlock Will Never Admit Out Loud by raina (3K, R)
Character Study. Companion piece to “Five Things John Watson Will Never Tell Anyone”
Autopsis by spikeface (6K, NC-17)
Sherlock always needs to see for himself. AU-ish - inside the mind of psychopath!sherlock. First Time. Dark!Sherlock. Violent imagery. Intense.
Five Times Sherlock Realised This Was Different and One Time He Admitted It by starjenni (2K, T, Gen) *
This is so sweet and simple. My heart spills over with love for this fic. Sherlock & John.
Any Way the Wind Blows by thesardine (~2.5, T) *NEW*
Sherlock has always sought affection through self-destructive behavior; it's only a matter of time before he takes it too far
Seeds by thesardine (5K, G, Gen)
In a fit of boredom Sherlock plants some seeds, may or may not eat one cracker, and definitely waxes dramatic on the sofa for a while. The heart of this piece crept up on me and took me pleasantly by surprise. Sherlock POV.
Sniffer Dog by TSylvestris (3K, T) *NEW*
If anyone had asked him, Robbie could have told them the way they were handling Holmes was all wrong. Outside POV
Applied Linguistics by what_alchemy (5K, M) *NEW*
“He wants to shake John by the shoulders, wants to open his mouth and swallow John whole. Wants to marry him.” Sherlock searches for the right words. Sherlock’s version of fluff.
The Paradox Series by wordstrings (Lots but not enough, PG - NC-17)**
Fandom Classic. In which Sherlock is a bat-shit crazy genius and John speaks Sherlock. The most unique and envelop-pushing version of John and Sherlock that I've come across that WORK and never seem cliche or forced. Each work stand alone (but with wonderful continuity), alternating POVs between segments. Sherlock's POV is particularly arresting. He soars and crashes and the style is so evocative that we peak and bottom out with him. His unapologetic view of himself -- beautiful and brilliant, a freak and not good the way John is good -- continues to break my heart. The Death and Resurrection of the English Language is the most famous of the series, but really, it's all wonderful. There is sex. The sex is hot, but it's the intensity of their feeling for each other that leaves you enthralled.
Mindfuckery
(Memory / Perception / WTF? / Unreliable Narrators)
The World on His Wrist by bendingsignpost (31K, PG-13) ***
First, he is shot in Afghanistan. Second, he wakes to a phone call in Chelmsford, Essex. Third is pain, fourth is normalcy, fifth is agony and sixth is confusion. By the eighth, he's lost track. (John-centric AU). Parallel universes. Pre-slash. Amazing.
Waking You Up by brbsoulnomming (12K, T+) **
John dies and Sherlock blames himself, so much so that the guilt begins to affect his life. However, he keeps getting dreams of John talking to him and assuring him that he's not dead.
Redivivus by cathedralcarver (5K, PG)
There are so very many different ways to die. Mycroft breaks Sherlock down.
Lacuna by coloredink (16K, Explicit)
God, it must have been terrible, to think that he would never have this again. Amnesia. A bit dark.
Oneirology by Helicidae (15K, T+)
John wakes in a strange room, injured and bewildered, to slowly find that memories are more important - and less reliable - than he has ever imagined before. Amnesia. Unreliable narrator. Creepy.
Waiting To Be Known by soera (7K, R) *
John Watson has been saving Sherlock's life for a very long time, even if he doesn't know it. John and Sherlock’s time-defying epic connection.
A Matter of Perspective by thisprettywren (13K, M, Gen) *NEW*
Sherlock is sectioned; it all goes downhill from there.
AU - Fantasy
(Supernatural / Powers / Magical Realism / Literal Metaphors)
Shadows on the Wall by AraSigyrn (18K, PG)
John came back from Afghanistan psychic. Spoilers to The Great Game. Powers. One-sided John/Sherlock, Episode retelling of ASiP.
Heart of Hearts by bendingsignpost (~4.5K, T+) *NEW*
John's old heart isn't broken, but he's still very fond of his new one. Heart!fic.
I Used to Live Alone Before I Knew You by etothepii (11K, PG-13) **
Where Mycroft is an angel, Sherlock is a demon, and John is still John. Good Omens fusion but very very enjoyable even without familiarity.
It Feels like Home when I'm With You by etothepii (14K, PG-13) **
John still gets nightmares about Afghanistan. That's the worst part of it all, he thinks -- he still has dreams about sand and drowning to death in his own blood. But they're more memory than nightmare. Supernatural!AU. Frienship!fic. Very very good.
Ash, Gold, Quartz by ifonlynotnever (1.5K, PG)
Magical realism AU. Moriarty burns the heart out of Sherlock. John builds him a new one. Heart!fic.
Left by lifeonmars (45K, M) *NEW*
John Watson is left-handed. He’s tried not to let it affect his life, but as any Lefty knows, that’s almost impossible. People have “powers”
I have been Searching for my Wings Some Time by lotherington (~600, G) *
Sherlock has wings. All his life, they've been fairly small; small enough he can hide them under his coat and no one notices. But when he falls in love with John, they start to grow. Wing!Fic. Achy, quiet and gorgeous.
A City on the Head of a Pin by mad_maudlin (5K, G, Gen) **
Post-TGG fic. John, for once, sees something Sherlock doesn’t. (Not-really) Wing!fic. Powers.
~~Now with a remix! The Things You Don't Know by lotherington (~1.5K, PG, Gen, Reichenbach)
With Your Crooked Heart by positivelymeteoric (6K, T+) *NEW*
The words that appear on your wrist after birth lead you to your soulmate, so it should be no surprise to John that Sherlock's are blank, or that his own lead him to Sherlock. Angst and Fluff. Soulmate!fic.
With All My Heart by QuinnAnderson (19K, Explicit) *NEW*
AU in which every time a person falls in love, a red line like a tally mark appears on their wrist. Sherlock is determined to keep himself from ever gaining one of these marks for fear that love will corrode his mental faculties. Then he meets John Watson. Angst and Fluff.
Three Ways To Gain A Heart by silverpard (~700, G, Gen)
John has a collection of hearts he's won and stolen. He doesn't treasure them at all. When he discovers them, Sherlock is terrified that John intends for his to join the pile. Short and Sweet. Heart!fic
The Heart, and Other Fleshy Organs by stickstockstone (4K, PG-13)
A literal interpretation of the quote "I have been reliably informed I don't have [a heart]. Heart!fic. Sherlock+John.
When the War Fires Fade by snowdarkred (7K, PG-13) *
Magic!AU, violence, swearing, vampires that don’t sparkle and are actually supposed to be somewhat scary. John has a rare gift. Sherlock has an even rarer one. Powers. World-building.
Tremolo by what_alchemy (6K, PG-13) ***
Regular people, normal people, people like good, warm, tea-making, hair-stroking John, they have visible pulses, pulses that slow and quicken, pulses tied to their emotions and their brains and their life forces. Pulses attached to whatever animates them. Sherlock has no such time-keeping. Magical Realism. Gorgeous.
AU - Other
Dustfall by AmandaDBone (19K, Explicit) *NEW*
There are no alphas and no omegas - not until maroon dust falls from the sky and changes the world. Sherlock and John treat their biological changes with a medicine of denial and avoidance, very nearly destroying themselves in the process. Omega!verse. Okay, I usually wouldn’t rec fics with Alpha/Omega dynamics, but the world-building here is fascinating and takes an angle that I’ve never seen for this trope.
Equilibrium by augustbird (12K, M) **
At Baskerville, John is infected by a virus that turns him into a genius. But when the infection progresses into neurodegeneration, it's a race against time to save himself. Flowers for Algernon fusion. If you've ever read Flowers for Algernon, you know what sort of journey you're in for. Lovely, poignant and honest look at John and Sherlock, the author allows us to discover along with the characters.
Strangers by cj_ludd18 (34K, R, Pre-slash)
In 2110, Sherlock Holmes builds a machine. Android!Watson. Written with as much cleverness and heart one would hope from a fic inspired by Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Rated not for slash.
Aptronyms by ElaspedSpiral (1.7K, PG-13, Gen)
Mr Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson are characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Mr Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson are the unfortunate sods named after them (AKA a rather strange AU of 2010 Sherlock). A little meta. A lot of fun. Humor.
In The Land Of The Blind by entangled_now (13K, R) **
Sherlock's been acting strangely for days. There's a claustrophobic silence to the flat, experiments tossed aside or abandoned, cases ignored. It's almost as if nothing matters any more. John's determined to know why. First Time. Apoca!fic. Quiet and aching. Suffocating anticipation.
Seems So Easy for Everybody Else by etothepii (15K, PG-13)
He signs his correspondences to the police as Sherlock H, as he always has, and he signs his letters to his parents as SH -- they can take what they will from the S. He signs his school assignments S. Holmes, and manages to get away with it because he is the only Holmes in his classes. FtM!Sherlock. Great use of fan fic to illuminate/explore an issue.
the theory of narrative causality by falling_voices (Epic Length, but worth it, PG-13 / NC-17 for fic within the fic) Sherlock and John are BNFs in Sherlock Holmes fandom. Together, they fight crime. (Always.) And write porn, incidentally. Meta like woah. Docu!fic. Amazing. Amusing. LOL funny.Fandom Classic.
Finding John by IronicNarwhal (5.5K, PG)
Sherlock Holmes has met exactly twenty-four Johns in his life. They have all been the wrong John. He's getting tired of waiting, staring at the inscription on his finger and wondering when his John will turn up, if ever. Soul mates.
Hope by lifeonmars (~3.5K, NR) *NEW*
In the end, John will have died for Hope. The universe has such a charming sense of humour. Terminal illness. Achy.
Correspondences AU (Series) by thirdbird (13K total, PG-13 - R, Gen first part)
What if John and Sherlock had met five years earlier? Long distance pen pals. Army!John, First Time. Fascinating.
Late by scorpiontales (3K, T+, Gen)***
Zombies have taken over. Sherlock is safe inside the city. Many are dead. Even more are missing.To Sherlock, John is just late. Waiting. Coping. Bromance.