Compiled for your reading pleasure are fics that fit under the theme of "John discovers something from Sherlock's past". This could include stories from his childhood, stories from the time he was away after TRF, and anything else that fit!
Love Letters by HollyGlow 1.2k
Answer to a prompt from Renntastic on Tumblr: John finds a file of love letters Sherlock has written him but never intended to give him and John had no idea how Sherlock felt so finally he decides to write one back and he tucks it into the file for Sherlock to find the next time he goes in there.
Journal of Truths by Goddess_of_the_Night @goddess-of-the-night04 2.3k words
When John escorts Sherlock back to Baker Street from the tarmac, he discovers a journal that Sherlock has kept secret...that he has kept secrets in.
"What he sees when he opens it is nothing like what he expected. He expected scrawling notes of observations, or maths equations, or drawings of plantsâŚanything but what he actually finds: confessions.
The first page:
I donât regret jumping to save you. I regret that you donât know what Iâve done."
notes: post tarmac, writing replies to unsent love letters, leaving Mary for Sherlock
It Takes Two by patternofdefiance 4.2k words
John stops dead in his tracks. Nothing could have prepared him for the scene before him:
Sherlock is frozen â surprised, no doubt, caught unawares by Johnâs abrupt return. He is frozen with his arms extended (graceful like the rest of him) to cradle an invisible other, left arm raised, right arm curved lower.
Slowly, the rigor in his muscles lifts, and his arms lower to rest at his sides. âJohn.â Heâs facing away from the doctorâs poleaxed stare, and that allows John a moment to collect himself, to inhale against the tightness in his chest. âI â â
âYou dance.â
Shiny Eyes by Schattengestalt 4.6k words
Sherlock likes the gift, John has given to his girlfriend - now ex-girlfriend - more than he has thought possible. He only fears how John is going to react if he ever finds out.
notes: teddy bears and sherlock's memories of having stuffed animals. Love confessions, sweet little fluffy thing
Ugly Duckling by testosterone_tea 6.9k words
Sherlock has spent his life thinking that he's ugly, and it really wouldn't bother him except for two things: a) he wants John to like him, and b) he finds himself on a case involving underwear modeling. But apparently body positivity comes with a bloody side dish of serial killing, and John in nothing but pants is very distracting. What's an ugly duckling to do?
notes: we're gonna include an insecurity as something that can be discovered about someone's past, mmkay?
En Pointe by nbcravenstag 9.9k words
The thought of John Watson, his John Watson finding out about his love of ballet was terrifying. John was a soldier. Robust, muscular, almost rippling with strength, and he could only imagine what said soldier would do if he found out. Of course, in the back of his mind, he had a dream once of his rugby-playing soldier doctor meeting him after show, teasing him lovingly about the leotard and tights, wiping away the sweaty stage make up that fell down his face as he leaned in for a kiss... But it was wrong. John wasn't gay, Sherlock wasn't a ballet dancer, and love was a horrible thing to think about after a murder.
notes: Sherlock accepts an offer from a client to perform in a ballet and invites John to watch
Into the Dark by bittergreens 10.8k words
When Lestrade calls John and Sherlock in to help arrest the ringleader of a notorious dog fighting syndicate, things donât go quite according to plan. Sherlock has a bad reaction. Itâs up to John to pull him back from the edge. (graphic mention of dog-fighting rings)
notes: Sherlock opens up about his history with losing Redbeard, seeking each other for comfort, first kiss, first time
Say For Me, Love by MirabileLectu 13.1k words
If you had asked John this morning what the result of his quiet afternoon at home would be, discovering a truth about Sherlock's past startling enough to shift the foundations of their friendship would not have been his first guess. So naturally, that was what was bound to happen.
notes: talking about Sherlockâs past relationships, feels demi Sherlock, John will Not stop nudging this guy for real, post Adler case
All the Pieces Falling into Place by 221b_careful_what_you_wish_for 14.3k words
Before heading off on a case that leads to Belgrade, John grabs the Sudoku cube from Sherlock's desk. As John tries to solve the puzzle, he and Sherlock find themselves playing their own game charged with sexual tension.
notes: hesitant sherlock, pining, sentimental sherlock, flirty john
echoes through time by chellefic 21.6k
Mummy sends a trunk from the Holmes cottage in Sussex to 221B. Its contents alter the way John and Sherlock see themselves and one another.
notes: Reading through old journals, parallels, coming together, such a satisfying read, its " if BBC Johnlock got to read the original ACD Watson's personal gay journal, what could that make them realize about themselves" done STUNNINGLY. have reread many times
Ghost Stories by SwissMiss 22.2k
Sherlock's parents think he and John are a couple. They might be onto something.
notes: Sherlock showing John his childhood home, best characterization I have read, big feels (have definitely rec'd before)
Whisper To Me by Chrysanthemumsies 20.5k words
Sherlock picks up playing the guitar. John falls more and more in love with every passing day.
notes: post s4 slowburn, light parentlock, mostly john figuring out his feelings, author creates tension soo well
Bonus! Something from John's Past:
Sleight of Hand (Or, five times John Watson took something that didnât belong to him, and one time it did)Â by Knackorcraft 7k words
John is a master pickpocket and Sherlock has a competency kink. (Info on the New Yorker article that inspired this fic can be found in the AN at the end.)
notes: sweet, flirting in their own style, which means pickpocketing people, have reread sooo many times when I need some fun
Aaand Bonus Bonus! Something from Mrs. Hudson's Past:
Hot Chocolate by ohlooktheresabee 10.7k words
With Sherrinford but a distant memory, Christmas season approaches and John Watson is not in the mood. His friend and flatmate Sherlock disappears for a week, leaving him behind again, and John doesnât think that things can get any worse. However, with a little help from their friends, he might finally start seeing the reasons to enjoy this Christmas after all...
notes: Sherlock loving John quietly and loudly at the same time, John appreciating Sherlock (finally), tender and sweet
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Woah, another Johnlock list after so long? What in tarnation? Anyways, here is my seventh collection of Johnlock fluff for you! I believe these are all BBC Johnlock, as that is what we are rollin' with in the bookmarks right now. Enjoy!
Though I Do Not Know The Way by positivelymeteoric 2.8k
He hasnât told John this, but itâs his aim to know everything about him, until he can describe the way that Johnâs hair slides from blond to gray or the way that John laughs, warm and steady, when Sherlock does something he likes, as easily as he can rattle off the markers of time of death.
notes: Sherlock reads LOTR for John, feels series 1/2
Rises The Moon by VERLINZ 2.7k
âWell Iâm not going to leave you here alone when you are obviously shaken. Iâm certain I will cope with being awake for another hour before you are feeling better.â
When John comes downstairs late at night after having a nightmare, heâs surprised when Sherlock refuses to sleep until John feels better.
notes: comfort after nightmares, could be post s2 or post s3 from the phrase âsince Sherlock moved backâ
The Doctorâs Prescription (Or: Five Times Sherlock Didnât Say Anything And One Time He Did) by patternofdefiance 2.9k words
Itâs not that he didnât notice Johnâs aesthetic qualities before the glasses â itâs simply that the sudden, unexpected addition of them has called attention, no â forced attention, commanded it, really â and Sherlock finds himself caught on the hook of Johnâs gaze again and again and again.
In the mornings over newspapers, in the afternoons over medical journals, in the evening over corpsesâŚ
The Sweetest Taste In The World by crossroads 3.1k words
for the prompt: The sweetest taste in the world is rarely ever the easiest to come by.
notes: jealous Sherlock interrupting John's date, bickering before first kiss, anywhere you want in canon
six points of contact by simplyclockwork 3.3k
touch can be a terribly powerful sense.
notes: fluff, some hurt/comfort, first kiss
Three Little Words by siennna 3.5k words
"Raptly, Sherlock watches his lips move as he forms the words, listening carefully to the sounds the consonants make when they tumble off his tongue. It's a decadent phrase that spills forth like dark chocolate and red wine and liquid gold. It leaps past his lips and grows larger and larger in the ensuing silence, until it's so big that it fills the entire room.
'I love you, John,' he tells his reflection. 'I love you.'"
notes: Sherlock-focused, bickering before love confessions
Closer by FinAmour 5.1k words
âin which John teaches Sherlock about human touch.
 John releases a breath he didnât realise heâd been holding, a satisfied sigh of relief, and he presses his own face into Sherlockâs smooth, thick curls. âGood,â he says. âThatâs good.â
Â
âYes,â Sherlock agrees, relishing the scent of Johnâs aftershave. âVery good.â And he means it.
notes: lots of consent, slow, from first touch to first kiss
Telling the Bees by siennna 5.1k
It took a beat of silence for the words to settle in, before both of them realized what John said.
"Youâ" Sherlock started.
"Iâ" John said at the same time.
"Love me? You love me?" Sherlock asked faintly.
notes: gift giving, Sherlock rambles about bees, getting together over a yearsâ time, love confessions
5 Times Sherlock Observed John and the 1 Time He Told John His Observations by AngelZash 6.4k words
Sherlock thinks John is brilliant in every way.
notes: getting together, feels early in bbc canon, love confessions, first time, body worship for John
Keep The Holmes Fires Burning by prettysailorsoldier 6.8k words
Prompt:Â Can you have it have something to do with cookies? Making them or buying them or eating them or something like that? - merlynnllwyd
Waking up to a fire alarm on Christmas morning is rarely a good thing, but, when spending Christmas with the Holmes', it's the least of John's worries.
notes: Sherlock & John are childhood friends/roommates spending Christmas at the Holmes', hints of Jealous Sherlock, no mention of John going to the army, they're university age, Sherlock bakes cookies as a romantic gesture
Evidence by JezebelGoldstone 7.6k words
Sherlock steals evidence. Lestrade threatens to cut him off murder cases unless he gives it back. Faced with a severe blow to The Work, Sherlock grits his teeth and offers a compromise: he'll tell Lestrade why he stole each and ever piece of evidence, and Lestrade can then decide if he gets to keep it.
notes: funny and fluffy, Sherlock having to face his feelings, love confessions
The T-Shirt Thief by watsonsherlocksuniverse 7.9k words
Request: Sherlock steals John's t-shirt from the laundry. John catches him wearing it one evening, fluff ensues with an endeared yet teasing John?
notes: Sherlock pines so hard he wallows in lovesickness, feels almost like a sickfic with how down bad he is
An Experiment By Any Other Name by adventureofthedancinggirl 21.8k words
Sherlock conducts an "experiment" that involves giving John a rose every day. The results could change the dynamic of their relationship forever.
notes: flower languages, lovely moments of their chemistry, John nailing it even though he is clueless, alluded mystrade if you want, anywhere in BBC TV canon
i am genuinely asking for feedback here. Is there a way i can format my rec lists that would make them more approachable?
Iâm worried theyâre too long, maybe fewer fics? or just write my own short summaries instead of pasting the whole authorâs summary? whatever your thoughts, if you have any, replies or anons welcome! i have added my roundup tags to this post so u can see the lists so far
