For Paulâs Birthday: Some of my favorite Pauls in fic
I shouldnât be overthinking this list, but itâs mine, and itâs done in the spirit of McCartney, so I guess itâs inevitable. So: this is a handful of stories that stayed with me because of a Paul-specific image or vibe. Totally subjective. I kept it to one story per writer (brutally difficult in places!), I wanted a reasonable spread over Paul eras and writing styles & I slightly favored âless well knownâ storiesâŠto honor the Beatlesâ love of B-sides?!
Finally, I avoided deep angst/sadness for now. They say itâs his birthday, and such. (I love angsty and sad stories, and I did go back and forth on this one, but...)
There are so many sparkling Paulâs stories. To no oneâs surprise. Maybe there will be other lists? There could be a million.
What a mind, what a man, this is still that body: Paul McCartney.
Birney (bookofapril): 1967. Paul loves himself.
The Storytellers (whiteisthewarmestcolor): Very early days. Paul and John discuss how theyâre going to share their story with the world once theyâre famous.
Thinking of Linking (@beatlessideblog): INYD-verse extra. A confident but also very nervous Paul is determined to impress John at the Woolton Fete. I love stories about baby Elvis Paul engineering âthe meeting,â and this is one of the very best!
My Open Arms Ache (Try to Fall For Me) (@thegirlwiththeaxe). Young Paul is touch-starved, and John is there for him. Some of the loveliest descriptions of them sleeping together.
Fur (@ohjohnnysblog). Also early days. The first time John sees Paulâs leg fur. Sweet cuddling ensues!
Monkberry Moon Delight (goodbody). Slightly later early days. After playing a late show, John is nursing at Paulâs breast. They discover that this is what they both need. I love the dreamy nighttime mood of the story, and how surprisingly well it fits them. Just Us.
Lifting Latches/Writing Postcards (thinkpink20). A classic for a reason! John and Paul realize their feelings for each other. It starts with John stealing Paulâs shirtâŠ
Macabre (@dovetailjoints). I always summarize this as âLennon & McCartney go too far.â Mesmerizing serial killer moment that, once more, just fits them perfectly.
Sock hop, soda pop (@scurator). John is developing a taste for Stu. Paul shows him what heâs missing. This one has several unforgettable lines/ images; for me itâs this one: âPaul rolls his hips in a way he thinks is probably illegal in the Deep South, and bites his lip when John makes a sound like a gasp.âÂ
The Bass Lesson (@aquarianshift). Hamburg. Paul teaches Stu how to play the bass, or tries to. To his horror, they are attracted to each other. Resentful, hot sex is the result.
How You Were Diverted (candle_beck). At the height of fame, itâs like itâs always been: Paul is taking care of Johnâs volatile emotions. The sex is part of it. George POV on a different, rough version of Lennon/McCartney.
Plant A Seed (@eveepe). Itâs short, itâs sweet, itâs my desert island smut. And so much more. John fucks Paul in his slutty sailor boy outfit in Miami. Incredibly slow and intimate, and of course it ends in music.
still mates (@pauls1967moustache). Peter Asher and Paul. The descriptions of Paul/Jane and Paul/John are so good, and yet, theyâre background: the focus is on Peter Asher and his confusing feelings for the hot mess that is 1968 Paul. I canât word it well, but to me, this is a story about manliness, and *men*; about heroism in a sense. I loved the glow of hope in the end. Â Â
Silly Girl (@bluewater9). Paul through the years, through the eyes of Martha. The endingâŠ!
Be Careful of the Thorns (@skylikeaflame): NYC, the 70âs. John and Paul pay a visit to David Bowie and Mick Jagger. Seeing Paul through Johnâs eyes is such a treat!
Lucky You (@crumblingcookies): NYCâs, the 70âs. Paul answers an ad in a gay paper. Someone is looking for a Paul McCartney lookalikeâŠguess who that is. And did Paul ever let him down?
oh darling, pardon me (can you help me remember) (inherownwrite). Mid 80âs: John and Paul are together. Paul is nervous about the release of their new album, and John calms him down by combing his legs.
but still they lead me back (@revollver): Paul looks back on the night John asked him âdo you like me?â The summary quotes from Giovanniâs Room, and that is the vibe.
Someone Else Can Worry About MeâŠ(@idontwanttospoiltheparty): Paul taking care of others, and being taken care of by others, through the years. I love the symmetrical structure of the story, and how real Paul & his relationships feel throughout. Itâs lovely to see him open up, and for his courage to be rewarded with love and comfort.
kissing the blarney (@zilabee): Paul as good luck charm.
bright are the stars, dark is the sky (Chapters 8 and 9 of the incredible âSmutletsâ collection) (@unchaineddaisychain): Liverpool, 1960âs. John is developing a crush on his bandmate's father (a.k.a. middle-aged Paul). What can I say, it feels right, and the sex, spiced by guilt and how wrong it feels, is to die for.
eclipsed by the moon (@dailyhowl): John and Paul are elite students working to develop technology to ensure humanityâs survival on a moon base. Paul is his lovely, stubborn, overachieving Self in this story, and I love the route by which he and John get their happy ending.
vide noir (@backbenttulips): John disappears after taking a mysterious new drug. Paul follows him down the rabbit hole.
Iâll Pretend That Iâm Kissing the Lips I Am Missing (yaggerdangs_jumpsuit). Praise Smaul in all eternity!!! (Unofficial John Lennon quote)
Double Fantasy (@javelinbk): This Paul (a.k.a. the best customer of Johnâs flower shop) is incredibly charming, and his and John's growing friendship and love are the loveliest thing to see. I think of this AU every time I see a Venus Fly Trap. Read and find out why. (This is part of a series that also contains Paulâs POV of these events.)
A Definitive Next Time (@toovirgins): Famous actor John Lennon (How I Won the War) visits Liverpool to meet the fan who wrote him that flirty letterâa certain Paul McCartney, who plays in a very good band. I love Paulâs confidence and experience in this story. He knows exactly what (and who!) he wants.