#johnlockficrecs

it's finally here! after a lot of blood, sweat and tears thanks to tumblr being tumblr, i have finally managed to compile and format my feb 2022 reading list 😩 february absolutely flew by, didn't it? can't believe we're already facing the second week of march 😳 last month was rather busy for me, so i thought that i hadn't read many fics. boy, i was wrong. i read so much, that for the first time, i had to make two lists instead of the usual one. holy shit. last month, i read many, many short fics—so a special thank you to short form writers! i know short fics can sometimes get a bad rep in fandom spaces, which is ridiculous. it takes real talent to tell a story, and tell it well, in short form! plus, they're perfect for when you don't have the mental energy to invest in a long fic. go give your favourite short fic a comment! and now, without further ado, here is my feb round up, part one! part two coming soon 😉

key: ✨ elements of magic/fantasy • 🔍victorian era • 🐺 a/b/o • 🎆new years themed • 💌 valentine's themed • blue highlight: reread

spotlight rec

✰ A Quiet Murmuration by cathedral_carver (4k, teen) // Just pay me back with one thousand kisses.

//

i went back and forth about spotlighting this, partly because i thought maybe i should spotlight a fic i haven't read before and partly because i was spoilt for choice—i mean look at all the brilliant fics on this list! but in the end, i went for it because this fic is just. special to me. it's so soft and sweet and gentle, everything i adore 🥺 one of the things i really like about A Quiet Murmuration is that it really does pick up on the slightly odd, one-of-a-kind nature of john and sherlock's friendship/relationship. i mean, not many mates would ask for a thousand kisses as payback 😌 of course, that's a little to do with the fact that john and sherlock are in love, but also, they're just two funny little dudes with odd quirks of personality that complement each other and no one else. and i love that <3 i could read this fic a thousand times and still not get tired of it. and all that in just 4k! do yourself a favour and go and read this, as a treat 💖

bite sized (5k and less)

This Isn't About the Bathtub by cypress_tree (1k, G) John and Sherlock go to Angelo's for dinner. In both of their pockets are rings they are going to propose with, but the other has no idea. John proposes first, and Sherlock answers by pulling out his engagement ring.

Telling the Bees by @shiplocks-of-love (1k, G) He turns again to the cottage and takes a deep breath, his senses filling with the soft buzzing of bees, the rustling of leaves and the sweet aromas of wildflowers. He takes one step, then another. A short, soft epilogue to "The Death and Resurrection of a Beekeeper".

The Detective and the Demon by oreganotea (2k, G) ✨ “Every demon on record is described as either monstrously terrifying or breathtakingly beautiful,” Sherlock says. “I have never heard of a demon with a forgettable face and a propensity for ugly jumpers.” The demon looks down at his jumper. Okay, so it might not be the most flattering article of clothing in the world, but it sure looks a hell of a lot more comfortable than Sherlock’s two-sizes-too-small shirt.

Applied Linguistics by what_alchemy (4k, M) “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.

Resolution by WritingOutLoud (1k, G) 🎆 There’s ten seconds until midnight, and Sherlock deduces some life changing information about his army-doctor. Will he finally have someone to kiss at midnight?

Eight Minutes by Ranowa (5k, teen) {part 1 of the I Dream of Dying series} Sherlock dies three times in three years, and John makes a different decision.

The Roads Not Taken by Ranowa (5k, teen) {part 2 of the I Dream of Dying series} Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both. -The Road Not Taken

The Evidence Suggests by Ranowa (5k, teen) {part 3 of the I Dream of Dying series} The evidence suggests that Sherlock is going to expire from sheer  boredom, pine himself into an early grave, and then claw himself back to  life just to haunt Mycroft for the rest of eternity.

Guardian Angel by Ranowa (5k, teen) {part 4 of the I Dream of Dying series} Sherlock Holmes is not an angel. John never asked him to be one.

five times sherlock holmes lied to john watson (and one time he told the truth) by miss_frankenstein (5k, G) 🔍 "Something in Wilde’s persecution has touched a nerve in Sherlock –  snapped that tenuous thread of hope holding him upright – and it feels  as if he has taken to bleeding internally." Set in "The Abominable Bride" universe, this piece adopts a  familiar format to chronicle Sherlock's quiet suffering in the wake of  the 1895 Oscar Wilde trials and the particular way they affect his  relationship with (and feelings for) John.

A Discourse on the Inadequacy of a Duvet by guns_and_poses (1k, teen) For a prompt: Sherlock keeps stealing the covers when  they share a bed because he wants John to move closer to him when they  are sleeping but of course doesn't want to ask. John gets annoyed at first until he realises what Sherlock wants and is more than happy to oblige. John looks over at the folds of covers gathered on the opposite  side of Sherlock's body, then glances up at Sherlock’s face. “You’re doing it again.”

Settling In by PorcupineGirl (1k, teen) For Selskia, who wanted "Asexual!Sherlock/Straight!John in a queerplatonic romantic relationship. It's a bit of an oddball, but  anything fluffy and loving and nonporny will be endlessly and forever  adored. It's always fun to see the two work out that hey, we're in love, we don't have sex, but it's still a wonderful and meaningful  relationship."

Like Any Other Day by wearitcounts (Sher_locked_up) (1k, teen) Just when John thought Sherlock couldn't get any more strange...

Conversations With Idiots by @scullyseviltwin (1k, teen) A huge gust of breath comes rushing out of John's lungs as he steels himself, checks his resolve, and then, “I’m… I’m gone on you.”

Assurance by belovedmuerto (2k, teen) It’s not so much the ‘you’re half-dead, you wanker,’ or  even the broken ribs, the hairline fracture of the pelvis, the  dislocated shoulder and knee, and the wrenched ankle.

It's a Dummy by Johnnlocked (Krullenbol2602) (2k, teen) What if Mary had taken the shot?

Homemaking by rageprufrock (4k, teen) The original plan for returning to England involved fucking around being shellshocked and suffering mandatory post-combat counseling and physical therapy to dissect the shattered mosaic of his feelings. That's not quite how it goes.

Crime Scene Procedure for Death by Drowning by paxlux (2k, teen) {part 1 of the proper procedure series}

He lies back in bed and listens to the notes and pictures them gathering around Sherlock’s feet like water.

Crime Scene Procedure for Asphyxiation by Living Burial by paxlux (3k, teen) {part 2 of the proper procedure series} He feels like there's a stone in his chest, maybe an albatross around his neck.

No Good Without You by textsandscones (4k, teen) A diverting new case surrounding musicians and stolen instruments captures Sherlock's attention, the consequences of which lead both detective and doctor to see one another in a different light. "There is a sudden twist of torso, an arm reclining impossibly far back that skims against the terrycloth of John's dressing gown. Sherlock halts, and turns to stand with both feet placed firmly upon the floorboards beneath him." Written for ughbenedict's dancing prompt.

A New Arrangement by flawedamythyst (2k, G) John and Sherlock aren't meant to have any contact until they're married, but how is Sherlock meant to plot a wedding without John's input? Arranged Marriage AU.

The Breath Between Us by fayfayfay (4k, E) 🐺 A simple romance that takes place in a traditionalist alpha/omega society. John is invalided home and finds himself an eligible bachelor; Sherlock is a stubborn omega who has refused all of his suitors. They take to one another.

The Breath Before Us by fayfayfay (3k, E) 🐺 A simple romance that takes place in a traditionalist alpha/omega society. John is invalided home and finds himself an eligible bachelor; Sherlock is a stubborn omega who has refused all of his suitors. They take to one another. Sherlock POV version of The Breath Between Us.

tea-mug distance by Anderl (645, G) Just a moment ago, Sherlock had been standing in his personal space, only the mug putting the distance between them. John should have leaned up and kissed Sherlock. It would have been so easy. John overcomes the distance of his tea mug.

A Metaphorical Gesture by cyparissus (1k, teen) "Sherlock, are you--" the words die in John's throat and he has to swallow and start again, "Are you asking me to marry you?"

The Two of Us Against the World by slashscribe (1k, teen) John is there to take care of Sherlock as he comes down from his overdose in The Abominable Bride. Set immediately after the tarmac, back in 221B.

Giveaway Fic #9 - Angsty Sick Fic/Sherlock is Sick by ConsultingPurplePants (1k, teen) The next time he awakens is even more chaotic. Two doctors are shouting at each other in the corner, and John is holding his hand so tightly Sherlock is worried he’ll break it. “—fever’s been like this for two days! He hasn’t remained conscious for more than two minutes at a time so far!” shouts one of the doctors. “I don’t care! We can’t do what you’re suggesting, it’ll just make it worse. Besides, according to his file, he’s already taken every drug under the sun, who knows what that man is resistant to—.” Sherlock flinches, feeling like all of his progress is being thrown in his face again. John’s head jerks up.

You Know, The Old Saying by songlin (2k, teen) "Marry me. I need to have you forever." Unrepentant husbands!Johnlock fluff.

Watson’s Anatomy by @calaisreno (1k, teen) 💌 John and Sherlock's first Valentine's Day as a couple.

Their Best by johnlockhedgehog149 (793, teen) John Watson was trying his best. Sherlock Holmes was  trying his best. It wasn't going very well. A little ficlet about coming  together to their best.

short fics (5k-15k)

Bread and Wine and Curry Once a Week by cwb (8k, E) "I am not agitated. I'm just tired of it. The insinuations, the comments, that I have no... no interest in relationships, or sex." "Oh. So you do, then?" "Maybe." "Which? Relationships, or sex, or both?"

Bakers with Benefits ficlets by @raina-at (6k, ch:4/?, E) A series of one-shots, ficlets and timestamps set in the Bakers with Benefits 'verse. You should probably read that first.

How to Sleep with Your Enemy in One Semester by 221b_careful_what_you_wish_for (9k, M) Visiting professors John Watson and Sherlock Holmes are longtime academic rivals — and now unwilling office mates — at a prestigious American university. When their tense arguments give way to an undercurrent of mutual attraction, their war of wits turns into something more personal — until it goes off course. A party, a phone number, and deserted office at night might just bring them back together.

A Hooligan's Game Played By Gentlemen by @scullyseviltwin (15k, E) In which John wants to get back in shape, does so, joins a rugby league and has sex with Sherlock Holmes. In that order. He was no spring chicken - as it were - and the extra stress of running and jumping and tripping and falling and climbing and leaping and - in one notable instance - swimming to the bank of the Thames was putting his body through the proverbial ringer.

Let You Kiss Me (So Sweet and So Soft) by out_there (8k, G) The first time Sherlock kisses him, John keeps his eyes open, and so does Sherlock, and mostly, he wonders what Sherlock could possibly be up to. There'll be some logic to this. Some ridiculous experiment about body warmth or respiratory rates or testing a new way of picking pockets. Sherlock does the unimaginable for bizarre reasons, but behind it, there's always logic and curiosity. Sometimes, it just takes him a while to explain it to John.

Amenably by Resonant (6k, E) You certainly never forgot who you were kissing with Sherlock.

Four Funerals and a Wedding by Susan (12k, E) The story of John and Sherlock or Nothing worth having is ever easy. John fit himself neatly into Sherlock, his arm curving over his  back, his hand tucked warmly under Sherlock’s body. John thought  Sherlock had fallen asleep when the feather-light breath of Sherlock’s  whisper drifted across his skin, “Stay with me.” John understood then that Sherlock had always been there, in the  corner of his mind, in the tracks of his memory, right there close  enough to touch. He held onto him, trying hard to steady his voice.  “Where else would I go?”

In A Changing Age by allonsys_girl (15k, E) 🔍✨ Sherlock wakes up in the 19th century, with no idea how he got there.

No Such Person by @calaisreno (11k, teen) ✨ Sherlock takes the case of a missing man, an army doctor whose sister believes there is something sinister about his disappearance. It's actually a bit more complicated than that. His case haunts me. I picture his smiling face in the photos, open and ingenuous, and wonder where he is now. The options are not happy: held against his will somewhere, in hiding, or dead. The notion that I might find him has possessed me; I am loathe to give up my search.

February 15th by prettysailorsoldier (8k, teen) 💌 After a difficult breakup years earlier, Sherlock has decided that  romance is something he can do without, but a blind date with the handsome, charming, funny (did we mention handsome?) John Watson might  just prove him wrong--if he's willing to take the risk again.

The Death and Resurrection of a Beekeeper by @shiplocks-of-love (12k, M) Sherlock escapes London for a quiet, solitary life in Sussex, exhausted after the whirlwind of drama following Mary’s death. One day, a letter arrives.

The Zebra Sheets by agirlsname (13k, M) Sherlock is back from the dead and he's exhausted. So is John. They go on a holiday to a faraway cottage and unexpected truths are revealed.

mid length (16k-50k)

The White Lotuses by @silentauroriamthereal (20k, E) One day John realises that he just isn't where he belongs, which is back at Baker Street with Sherlock. So he goes back and Sherlock, in his own way, courts him. Romance.

26 Pieces by Lanning (28k, E) Mycroft gives Sherlock the apparently simple task of solving a puzzle box containing a stolen microchip. It isn't simple.

Lifetime Achievement by Mad_Lori (47k, E) John Watson has just won an Oscar and gotten engaged in the same day.  Now what? (Sequel to "Performance in a Leading Role")

John sobs slowly ebbed, he’d lost track of how long he had been crying into Sherlock’s shoulder. There was a large steady hand supporting the back of his neck, and a head rested on top of Johns. He tried to ignore the swell of shame in his stomach from laying himself open in such a visceral way.

Sherlock had taken him in his arms when faced with his friend's breakdown and beyond the humiliation, a part of John was thankful to have someone with him this time. Night after night he spent in a drunken fog, crumbling into his whiskey glass was the only thing he knew how to do right anymore.

Exhausted and hazy, he moved his hands to rest on Sherlock's hips. It was a tentative reciprocation, an acknowledgment of Sherlock's support, something like this couldn't come easy for a man like him.

John was mildly surprised to feel a squeeze back in turn. Like a young vine finally being given a ladder to climb up, Sherlock wraps closer into Johns body, arms squeezing them chest to chest. His steady breath ghosted down John's ear and into the collar of his shirt.

He lifted his head and opened his bleary eyes and was faced with a pale smooth neck. He breathed deeply--mint body wash and Sherlock's own scent flushed his senses. John had gotten hints of this smell before, but now that it was a direct line filling his head his brain and body tingled. He smoothed his arms further behind Sherlock and flexed his fingers into his back, hearing Sherlock quietly sigh into the comfortably silent space.

John thought that what happened next was perhaps because he was weak, feeling exhausted and delirious from tears shed. He could be feeling soft and sentimental from the way Sherlock had accepted his body into his own and told him it was going to be alright. Maybe it was the loneliness that picked away at him every night or the guilt from assaulting the man who had proven more than enough times that he was human, a good friend and deserving of much more. Most possibly it could be the years of stifled emotions that he was no longer strong enough to fight off; they beat and beat at his sternum demanding to be set free disguising themselves as a heartbeat.

Whether it was one or an accumulation of those things, John didn't fight the force of magnetism that pulled him up on the balls of his feet to help place a chaste kiss on the warm dry skin of Sherlock's neck.

happy april! spring is here!!🌻💐 i'm heralding in the flowers with a case of the coronavirus, so that's less than ideal, but thankfully my symptoms have all but disappeared and i seem to be on the mend. hopefully that means i get to go back to offline uni soon, because i'm really missing the campus life 😩 i hope you're all taking care of yourselves and your loved ones, wherever you are. please remember the virus is still around and wearing a mask in public costs you nothing. alright, now that the psa section is over, let's get down to the fic recs, shall we? march was incredibly busy for me, so i didn't read many fics and a lot of what i read was a reread. but i still stumbled across some new gems and even stalked an author or two 😌 here is my reading list for march 2022! enjoy 💌

key: blue highlight: reread • 🎄 christmas themed • 🍀 st. patrick's day themed

spotlight recs

✰ Speaker for the Bees by antietamfalls (14k, M)

It isn't always easy assisting a deaf detective. Luckily for John, they make a pretty good team.

an AU where basically everything is the same, except sherlock is deaf. this is a lovely fic that features peak teamwork and also protective john. i live for their dynamic here and i love to see how much john adores sherlock here and how they navigate sherlock's disability 💕

✰ a good old-fashioned happy ending by @watsonshoneybee (32k, E) {part 2 of things fairy tales are made of} 🎄

And Sherlock stands there, in the middle of a Christmas market as John hums along to Silent Night, John’s hand warm in his with fingertips a little gritty from the cinnamon-sugar doused churros they’d shared, and thinks, oh, that’s–that’s an idea, isn’t it?

*

For Christmas this year, Sherlock wants to get John something special: something every fairytale deserves.

this is a fairy tale, just as it promises to be. it's absolutely everything you could want for these two, a life of softness and love after all the pain they've been through, together and apart. i would spotlight the whole series tbvh but that seemed like a bit much, so i picked just one part of it. there's just so much love in this story. so much. and i'm so here for it. cozy, warm, christmassy. i couldn't rec this enough 🥺

bite sized (5k and less)

1. Bodywork by @totallysilvergirl (3k, M)

Five times John became unbearably aroused while being massaged, and one time he absolutely didn't, which was all he needed to know.

2. Mind Palace by @totallysilvergirl (1k, teen)

John’s room in the mind palace has filled up with signs and signals, omens and portents, symptoms and indices, of a John Watson who loves you.

3. Mrs Hudson Disposes by @totallysilvergirl (4k, E)

Mrs Hudson's got the bit between her teeth, and she's going to get her two idiots sorted once and for all.

4. Pinch Me by @ohlooktheresabee (3k, M) 🍀

Sherlock begrudgingly agrees to go with his friend John to a St. Patrick's Day celebration - but he refuses to wear something green. John thinks it's funny that Sherlock doesn't know about the tradition that no green means you get pinched - that is, until strangers start pinching the detective, who doesn't seem annoyed by it at all.

In fact, he seems to be enjoying himself...

5. A Study in Sherlock by Ariane_DeVere (3k, G)

Sherlock asks an awkward question, and John struggles to answer helpfully without revealing his hidden feelings towards his flatmate.

6. Voicemail by johnwatso (3k, teen)

Sherlock and John leave each other voice messages chronicling their relationship.

7. MR# 1430155 by @blueink3 (3k, teen)

John paces the length of the not inconsiderable hallway and glances at his phone for the tenth time since he exited the hospital room seven minutes ago.

Sherlock’s last text was sent at 5:06pm. It is now 5:39pm. He should be here by now. After all, his daughter is 46-minutes-old and if John is going to share this momentous event with someone, it sure as hell isn’t going to be the woman who just gave birth to her.

8. Upping the Ante by @calaisreno (2k, teen)

Sherlock tells lies easily. John will not be outdone.

9. A Case of Identity by PostcardsfromTheoryland (4k, teen)

All John wanted was to get away from London for a few weeks. No people pointing and whispering about Sherlock Holmes when he walked past, no reporters wanting an "exclusive" about the dead detective, just some rest and relaxation in the sunshine. Then again, these holiday trips never seem to go as planned.

short fics (5k-15k)

10. Casualty by @totallysilvergirl (12k, E)

Sherlock renders assistance at a hit-and-run and is left deeply shocked. When the accident turns into a case, John moves back in to 221b to help—and finds that Sherlock has way oversold his image as an emotionless thinking machine

11. A Comprehensive Taxonomy of Tobacco-Ash by @totallysilvergirl (11k, E)

A handsome academic approaches Sherlock about publishing his magnum opus on tobacco-ash in a prestigious scientific journal. Sherlock is quite flattered and flustered, and John’s nose is out of joint.

In this little AU there is no Fall and no Mary. Instead, there is humor and smut. Truly a disproportionate amount of smut.

12. Equinox by @calaisreno (7k, teen)

John has chosen Sherlock. He’s come home, committed himself to making the three of them a family. But love, even true love, isn't always easy.

13. Five Times Sherlock Had Coffee... and one time he had John instead by @verity-burns (6k, teen)

Overseas on a case with his blogger and friend, Sherlock finds that thoughts which are easily suppressed amid the distractions of London are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore...

14. The Things You Hide *Adult Edition* by @verity-burns (10k, E)

Sherlock and John have been working and living together for nearly a year, each finding the other's friendship to be the one thing they would not risk or want to live without. Until something happens to disturb the status quo…

15. Survival Instinct by shirleyholmes (7k, teen)

Prompt: After Sherlock's "comeback" John starts obsessing with constantly making sure he's alive (checking his heartbeat etc.)

...........

“Don’t. Just- come in. It’s cold and—you look like you came—“

“Back from the dead?” Sherlock suggested.

16. Darkest Days, Finest Hours by @blueink3 (12k, M)

They both knew, deep down, that it was only a matter of time. And now the time has come.

Rosamund Catherine Watson is missing. And Sherlock Holmes is about to set the world on fire.

mid length (16k-50k)

17. Dance With Me by @totallysilvergirl (28k, E)

Sherlock rescues Sally Donovan, and in turn she tries to help him get John to stop faffing about and get on with Johnlock.

18. You Should Have Changed Course Long Ago by msdisdain (33k, E)

John realizes too late what has been in his heart all along, and flees London. But can he ever truly leave Sherlock behind?

long fics (50k and above)

19. The Heart In The Whole by @verity-burns (101k, E)

Events after 'The Great Game' leave Sherlock dependent on his best friend and colleague. But John has a secret of his own...

20. Given in Evidence by @verity-burns (97k, E)

Coming back from the dead can be a complicated business. With a new case on the horizon, rebuilding a life is one thing... rebuilding a friendship quite another. For Sherlock and John, things may never be just the same...

21. From a Drop of Water by @victorianpining (95k, M)

"It was simply my conjecture of what a future world might look like and how you and I might fit inside it. From a drop of water a logician should be able to infer the possibility of an Atlantic or a Niagara."

Sherlock is certain that James Moriarty is dead and he already has a theory for the person behind his apparent return. Considering Sherlock was overdosing at the time, it's only to be expected that he overlooked a few details in coming to his conclusions.

John meanwhile has moved back in with Mary after reconciling with her at Christmas, but finds himself agonising over why Sherlock would have thrown away everything he cares about to keep her safe. Could Sherlock be in love?

A reimagining of Series 4 picking up from the end of The Abominable Bride.

series

22. Nightwatch by Chocolamousse (273, teen) {part 1 of the Night Trilogy}

221B Baker Street, a bedroom, at night. Before the Fall.

23. The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of by Chocolamousse (1k, teen) {part 2 of the Night Trilogy}

Before meeting Sherlock, John had nightmares. After meeting him, he still has. Different ones. Worse ones.

24. Awakening by Chocolamousse (865, teen) {part 3 of the Night Trilogy}

In which not a word is uttered but many things are said.

It's Nightwatch's sequel but you can read it as a stand-alone.

25. The Paradox Series by wordstrings (98k, 8 works)

26. once upon a time by @honeybeeswatson (6k, M) {part 1 of things fairy tales are made of}

It starts with a wish.

*

In the beginning, John comes home.

27. between the end and the ever after by @watsonshoneybee (2k, G) {part 3 of things fairy tales are made of}

“I love you,” John says, the first words of the new year and it feels like a promise, and then the fireworks begin in earnest, lighting up the sky behind John, and neither of them really even notice.

*

John has something to give to Sherlock.

28. the first day of forever by @watsonshoneybee (11k, E) {part 4 of things fairy tales are made of}

“I’m going to marry you,” John murmurs with against Sherlock’s smile, and they both giggle in the joy of it. “We’re getting married.”

“Yes,” Sherlock says, just to hear himself say it out loud. “We are.”

*

A June wedding.

29. the best things in life (are not things) by @watsonshoneybee (4k, M) {part 5 of things fairy tales are made of}

“Do you like them?” John had asked, reaching out to flop a soft little ear back and forth.

Sherlock had given him an absolutely withering glare. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he’d said flatly. “Of course I do. Don’t you?“

*

John has a certain special gift to give.

30. although it's been said (it's always worth saying again) by @watsonshoneybee (3k, teen) {part 6 of things fairy tales are made of}

It’s the chins, John thinks, that makes Sherlock so endearing like this.

*

part 2 of my feb round up! that's a wrap on february 2022, folks. even though this one is much shorter than part one, seeing as these are mostly the fics i read near the end of the month, i've still decided to spotlight two, very different fics, because i can't pick one 🤷🏽‍♀️ the more the merrier!

key: ✨ elements of magic/fantasy • blue highlight: reread

spotlight recs

✰ Your Daughter by agirlsname (9k, G)

Five times Sherlock held John's baby and one time he held John. John didn't forgive Mary for shooting Sherlock, so the end of HLV didn't happen. When the baby comes John lives with Sherlock at Baker Street, and they take care of the newborn together. Sherlock adores her more than he's prepared for. Oh, and he might have something important to confess to John...

this fic very neatly ignores all the aspects of canon i think i are messed up, and gifts us with: the softest sherlock, a (subtly) smitten john, glorious parentlock, and an absolutely adorable rosie 🥺 seriously, rosie and sherlock's relationship here will make your eyes well up. he loves her so much, god. i love it when fics lean into sherlock's soft side, and while there are different interpretations of it, i think Your Daughter does it perfectly.

✰ In Dreams by @calaisreno (18k, teen) ✨

After Sherlock’s death, a strange dream makes John wonder what really happened that day at Barts.

i've been steadily falling in love with @calaisreno's catalogue, and this fic is no exception. such an imaginative and tender way to write a post-trf fic 🥺 the level of devotion sherlock and john have for each other is what really makes this fic stand out for me. and john's dreams! so so tender, i love a bit of soft hurt/comfort, and In Dreams delivers it in spades. they just love each other so much, and in case y'all haven't figured it out from past recs, i'm a sucker for romance 💞

bite sized (5k and less)

41. I’m not drunk enough for this. by @kitten-kin (1k, teen)

Sad truth was, smirks and sneers and scoffs that translated anywhere near to "I knew you didn't have the balls, Watson" were essentially a lit match tossed onto the turpentine-soaked ragpile that was John's competitive streak.

Mark Your Calendars by @therealsaintscully (3k, M)

John happens upon a box full of Sherlock’s old yearly planners.

Luminous by unicornpoe (1k, teen)

John hovers, silent, and Sherlock knows that he is thinking. He loves when John thinks; when John puzzles and wonders. He’s dazzling like that, even if Sherlock never says. (Should say it someday.) John touches Sherlock’s knee with careful, gentle fingers; Sherlock gives in, and takes the bottom hem of John’s t-shirt in his hands. “Tea?” John asks him quietly.

short fics (5k-15k)

over our spoken words the words unspoken by @thetimemoves (6k, teen)

Over our spoken words the words unspoken Shouted like trumpets, and like violins Were the deep after-tones that circled round us. Now a new year begins!

Solstice, Josephine Johnson (1936)

***

On the longest night of the year, John finds his words and takes a chance.

mid length (16k-50k)

What Friends Do by agirlsname (23k, E)

Sherlock has never had a friend before. He didn't even know he wanted one until John moved into 221B. But John quickly becomes essential to him, and their friendship turns more and more intimate.

It's all platonic, of course. All perfectly normal for close friends.

A Singular Friendship by agirlsname (28k, E)

Sherlock is closer to John than anyone has ever been. It's almost like a relationship - but John isn't gay, so it's clearly not.

Not even when they hold hands and hug every day, not even when they sleep in the same bed, not even when they cuddle every morning...

Companion story to What Friends Do, from John's POV.

The Real Meaning of Idioms by feverishsea (21k, teen) After two weeks away, John finally texts Sherlock. He doesn't expect Sherlock to respond. He doesn't expect Sherlock to keep texting him. And he really doesn't expect things to spiral out of control so rapidly.

More Things Than Are Dreamt Of series by 1electricpirate (37k, 3 works, marked incomplete but feels complete) {harry potter crossover} ✨ There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. - Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 1 In which John is (reluctantly) a wizard, Mycroft is (apparently) omniscient, and Sherlock is (surprisingly) oblivious. A magical AU, in which I probably abuse timelines and distort characters and basically indulge my own interpretation of magic, Hogwarts, and what it means when two worlds collide.

All We Do Is Fall by vitruvianwatson (keepyoureyesfixedonme) (16k, teen)

There's obviously a very good reason for Sherlock to take over John's bed in the middle of the night. It's absolutely not just because Sherlock is a drama queen, no siree, not at all.

long fics (50k and above)

A Firm Hand by Ellipsical (63k, E) I started writing this fic in a hotel room in Japan two years ago after asking for prompts on Tumblr. This began as a one-shot for the prompt: Make me. And...I kept writing it. Hahaha, I really should know myself better by now. I know many are turned off automatically by the Daddy kink tag, and honestly take care of yourselves and have a blessed day, if that's a hard no for you. But I will say that this fic begins as a Daddy kink fic and then transforms into something else. It's mainly an exploration of consent and identity and vulnerability and communication and agency and trust building and and and and.... I'll let the tags speak for the rest of it. This happens through sex. Lots and lots of sex. Some of the sex is kinky, but it is always switchy, switchy sex. Neither character is exclusively a top, neither one is exclusively a bottom, in fact I aim to make you question what those things mean. The Moriarty plot was very tangential to my wanting to write this story, but provides much of the urgency, so take it as you will, squinting from far away, perhaps ;) Your comments are very important to me. If you enjoy this story, please let me know. I'm sending love and peace to you and yours <3 <3 <3 <3 You Might Just as Well Be Blind by @arwamachine (56k, E) When a serial killer starts targeting couples, Sherlock and John must do what they have to do in order to get to the bottom of things. Unfortunately, John already has a girlfriend. Surely pretending to be in a relationship with Sherlock won't pose any problems with his relationship, will it? How Novel series by StarlightAndFireflies (56k, 11 works, incomplete) AU in which John is an author, and Sherlock is a fan who comes to his book signing.

Rosethorne by suitesamba (98k, M)

John Watson, WWII army doctor, is injured in the line of duty and can no longer wield a scalpel. Sherlock Holmes, Britain's best code-breaker, is side-lined by his own devastating injury. In a work inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett's "The Secret Garden," the two men must find meaning and purpose in a world which seems to have taken away all they hold most dear.

Electric Pink Hand Grenade by BeautifulFiction (67k, E)

'I couldn't have asked you to go,' he said at last, glancing down at the paper before meeting John's gaze again. 'Everyone else was an intruder – they always have been – too sharp or hard or wrong. You, you are sunlight and Brahms. All I – all I want.'

Good lord, where to start this rec. Every single element of this fic is simply perfection. I often bang on about how bone-deep love and devotion hold John and Sherlock together, and this fic epitomises that in an incredibly moving way.

In Electric Pink Hand Grenade, Sherlock suffers from migraines — to put it mildly — with an array of other terrifying symptoms, and no doctor has ever been able to make sense of it. There's no cure, no cause, and seemingly very little to help Sherlock manage his pain either. Enter one John Watson. He refuses to stand by and do nothing while Sherlock suffers so horribly. The care he shows Sherlock and the steady comfort he gives him, is a heartwarming thing to read amongst all the angst of reading Sherlock suffer. In turn, Sherlock reaches for John, seeking a solid foundation to lean on amidst all the turbulence of his mind, depending on John during his sickness and making himself vulnerable in a way he's never done with anyone else before.

And the prose in this fic! I know I've already added a quote above, but here's another: "To say it was a mess was to miss an opportunity for other, better words: Disaster and cataclysm in shades of cerise filled his skull, staining the scatter of facts and knowledge with putrid tones of rot and maleficence. The walls were tumbledown, overgrown as if a century had passed. His metaphor literal in the caverns of his head." Need I say more?

The use of colours is a constant in the fic that reflects Sherlock's synaesthesia and lends itself to incredible imagery. In the above quote, Sherlock is describing his mind palace in the midst of his migraine. The way the author describes his mind palace, in this scene and all the others, is illuminating. The writing style and unusual metaphors paints a clear, yet abstract picture — it's like you can only see the smaller parts clearly while the larger whole is slightly more fluid. The whole effect is intriguing and, I think, very fitting considering the subject of description. Sometimes surrounded by the heat of a desert and sometimes the cold of the Arctic, Sherlock's mind palace is expansive and imaginative, a visual treat. One thing that remains heart-warmingly constant though, is the sitting room of 221B, memoralised in Sherlock’s mind palace along with all its connotations of home and safety. And if the description of Sherlock's mind palace is a pleasure to read, reading John's actions through the way they impact Sherlock is simply magnificent. The prose is so inventive and creative, using fascinating metaphors and alliterations that glide off the tongue to describe what's happening through Sherlock's sensory-impaired perspective. We spend a lot of time in Sherlock's head in Electric Pink Hand Grenade and it is a sublimely fascinating place to be in.

My favourite parts of this fic happen between John and Sherlock (no surprises there 😌) when Sherlock is ultimately admitted to hospital. I'm keeping the descriptions vague because they're both such charged and tender moments, I wouldn't want to rob anyone of the full experience. And I also have a sneaky feeling that if I go into too much detail, I'd just end up a sappy mess 😂 In both instances, it's Sherlock who's trying to reassure John – once just before Sherlock's MRI scan and once again in Sherlock's hospital room before he has to go for more scans. Both instances made my heart clench and my breath catch. Throughout Electric Pink Hand Grenade, John's worry and love for Sherlock is palpable, like something physical. The two moments I mentioned show us that the feeling is very much mutual – Sherlock can see John is afraid and tries to reassure him the best he can.

happy belated new year to all! last december, i realised i was reading a lot of fics, and i thought, well, why not make a monthly round-up style fic rec list? so, here are all the johnlock fics i read last december! i'm thinking i may make this a regular thing, but let's see how that pans out! in the meantime, i hope you enjoy some of the fics on here >:) i tried to make this list as accessible as possible, but i'm always open to feedback, so lmk if you have any suggestions!

key:🎄christmas themed • 🔍 victorian era

spotlight rec:

✰ Ghost Stories by SwissMiss🎄 (22k, M)

Sherlock's parents think he and John are a couple. They might be onto something.

i love the canon holmes parents so much, because look at how much they care about their sons 🥺 i like knowing that despite all the things sherlock has been through, he still does have parents who genuinely love him as he is, and are protective of him. i love that sherlock has that, and i absolutely love it when john sees that he does. Ghost Stories is such a gentle love story, filled with quiet moments. i loved reading all of john’s interactions with mr. and mrs. holmes, and how sweetly john and sherlock’s love story unfolded.

bite sized (5k and less)

1. shut up and dance by @simplyclockwork​ (560, not rated)

What is it with spies and dancing?

2. stag night: take two by @simplyclockwork​ (2k, E)

After missing out on John's first stag night, Greg tries to plan a fun evening for his engaged friends.

He is immediately filled with regret. So much regret.

3. step for two by @simplyclockwork​ (4k, teen)​

When single dad Sherlock Holmes enrolls his young son in ballet class, unexpected sparks fly between Sherlock and the fill-in dance instructor, John Watson.

4. Namesake by scullyseviltwin (4k, teen)

John stands just beyond the glass, the fluorescent lights giving the room a clinical, sterile feel. He needs to stop himself from raising his hand and placing on the cool pane before him; it’s a compulsion, it’s a cliche from a thousand different films.

5. Christmas Music by WritingOutLoud 🎄 (1k, G)

“Teach me?” The words slip from his lips before he has a chance to catch them. What is he doing? He can’t dance. He’s never wanted to dance. Yet, something is enticing about being whisked around the living room in the arms of his detective.

~ John walks in on Sherlock waltzing. Of course, he has to join in ~

6. No Better Occasion by two_nipples_maybe_more 🎄🔍(1k, G)

In the last century—good God, how old these four words alone make me feel—when we were in the prime of our days, Holmes was in the habit of raising me from my bed at all hours of the night. Our consulting room may have had set visiting times, but tragedies rarely stuck to them. It was a necessary trouble in our line of work, but I had long been under the impression that, along with Retirement, so would come some manner of nocturnal peace.

I was wrong.

7. Shepherd, Joy & Blankets by insistentbass 🎄 (5k, M)

'Sherlock chuckles, that double bass laugh he does only when he’s particularly pleased with himself. It’s more endearing than it should be. It’s been so long since John’s heard it that he can’t help but smile, too.'

John pulls back from a kiss. Sherlock disappears for a few days. There's a hill, and snow, and it's almost Christmas. I hate summaries.

8. Now by stopthat (1k, G)

John has only caught glimpses of it before. He’s seen flashes of it, in Sherlock’s less guarded moments, only to doubt it all completely once it’s been carefully shuttered away.

But Sherlock is not hiding now.

9. Yet What I Can, I Give Him by a_big_apple 🎄 (1k, G)

This Christmas is much improved over the last--mostly because Sherlock isn't dead--but it isn't so simple for John to recover from his grief, and he finds comfort in likely and unlikely places.

10. Forth They Went Together by thetimemoves(WriteOut) 🎄 (4k, teen)

Stuck on a train in the middle of a snowy nowhere, John and Sherlock reminisce about Christmases past, plan Christmas present, and commit to Christmases future.

short fics (5k-15k)

11. Almost Home by Berty (13k, E)

"He pulls out the ID card – the one that Sherlock had somehow seen when he was buying drinks at that awful club. He’s had other ID cards since then but he's hung on to this one for some reason. He looks at the image of his face, young and pale and idealistic, and he knows that just a month later that man would have found and lost the love of his life within a week, and even knowing that, John wouldn’t change a single thing."

12. The Burning of the Leaves by blueink3 (15k, M)

After the events of series 4, Major Sholto invites John and Sherlock to lunch one day. It nearly proves to be too much for their tenuous relationship as the past haunts the present, putting the future that Sherlock so desperately wants at risk.

13. Second Chance by @silentauroriamthereal​ ​(15k, E)

Now that John's divorce has gone through and the dust is settling, Sherlock thinks that he would very much like to see if there is any possibility of moving their friendship in another direction. The only thing is, he has no idea how to go about doing that...

14. Lines Written in Kensington Gardens by CaitlinFairchild (6k, E)

Thirty-five was the established boundary, Sherlock decided after extensive calculations. He would be dead by thirty-five. That was the kind of man he was. That was the kind of life he lived.

At thirty-four, a year before his appointed rendezvous with oblivion, Sherlock met a man. Nobody special, or so he thought, an ordinary man--who soon proved extraordinary, a man who killed without hesitation to protect a life Sherlock cared nothing about.

15. This Time by Berty (12k, teen)

After five months of silence, John asks Sherlock to meet him for a coffee. Five months of learning to live completely without John has been harder than he could have imagined but the lure of seeing his friend once more is too much to pass up.

16. That Time of Year by JRow 🎄 (6k, teen)

It's Christmas Eve. The tree is decorated, the mince pies are out, and Rosie is fast asleep. Flipping his mobile in his hand, John wonders what Sherlock is doing. Then he wonders, not for the first time, what it means that Sherlock is never far from his mind. Before he can stop himself, John hits the call button.

mid length (16k-50k)

17. In Need of Quiet Affection and Gentle Words by kinklock (16k, E)

After John's girlfriend (of sorts) sends him an online sex guide, John finds himself more intrigued by the guide's author than anything his girlfriend might have had in mind.

18. Through the Clouds by Mazarin221B (20k, E)

They might go completely insane, but sometimes it takes stepping outside of the life you're living to find the life you want.

Sherlock takes one last look out to the horizon, mouth downturned and brow furrowed, before seeming to shake himself and catching up to John with a few long-legged strides. John turns back  toward the path cut into the cliffs, climbing steadily toward the rolling downs already green and lush in the weak April warmth.

They reach the top and Sherlock strikes toward the west, back to where their hired Land Rover sits a mile away in a public carpark. John falls into step beside him and takes a deep breath.

“I expected a case,” he starts. “A bit chilly for a walk, really, so. D’you mind telling me what we’re doing out here?”

Sherlock doesn’t even pause, simply tucks his head down against the wind and continues walking.

“I’m retiring,” he says simply.

19. To a Friend Who Sent Me Roses by AlgySwinburne (16k, E)

Five times Sherlock is mistaken for John’s partner and Rosie’s father, and one time it isn’t a mistake.

20. A Doctor in the House by @kitten-kin​ (32k, teen)

A replacement for Series 3 Episode 1 of BBC's "Sherlock", because my John would never.

21. Here We Go Again by disfictional (46k, E)

Ransacking some old trunks, Rosie Watson finds her father's old journal filled with remnants of a blog he used to keep about his association with Sherlock Holmes. In an attempt to meet the man who had a profound impact on her early years, Rosie invites the long-estranged detective to her wedding under false pretenses.

It's a Mamma Mia Fusion!

22. Learning Curve by thpontiacbandit (41k, M)

John is a Kindergarten teacher. One of his students, a boy named Henry Holmes, refuses to speak in school. John is determined to get to the bottom of it, and that is how he meets Sherlock Holmes.

long fics (50k and above)

23. blessing in disguise by @simplyclockwork​ (54k, E)​

Venice, Italy. June 2010.

After surviving the bullet that ended his military career and nearly cost him his life, John Watson can't seem to shake the loss. Eight months after returning to London, he finds himself dragged off to Italy by the good intentions of the same men he once commanded in Afghanistan.

One stupid bet turns John's world upside down after his mates challenge him to spend a night in the infamous Palazzo Dario. Known to the locals as Ca’Dario, rumours of a curse of misfortune surround the old Venetian palace. But, far stranger than myth, is the man John meets inside: Sherlock Holmes, a consulting detective investigating a series of suspicious deaths tied to the notorious building. After exposing each of John’s most personal fears within seconds of their first meeting, Sherlock invites John to help him dig deeper into the mystery of Ca’Dario’s curse.

When danger looms, John is forced to face the depth of his feelings for the cryptically charming Sherlock Holmes — even if that means finally letting down his guard.

24. Working on the Edges by earlgreytea68 (56k, M)

No matter where you put Sherlock and John, they click. Including the Winter Olympics.

25. Stranger at the Gate by bendingsignpost (85k, E)

As far as initiation rites go, kidnapping a human doctor from a defended town ought to seem extreme. When James Moriarty offers him the challenge, Sherlock never considers saying no. (Fantasy vampire AU)

26. Dive by @finamour 🎄 (65k, E)

It’s John’s third year of studying abroad at Harvard, and he’s still struggling to fit in. On a cold night in December, he finds his girlfriend with another man—and meets a tall, gorgeous bartender with horrible manners that he can’t stop thinking about.

Just as John falls for him, madly, swiftly, deeply—the bartender disappears, and the bar unexpectedly shuts down.

Unexplained occurrences begin to happen to John and his friends, and he slowly discovers the truth about the one he loves. Will he find him in time to tell him how he feels, and more importantly—can he keep him safe?

27. The Baker Street Nativity by SwissMiss 🎄 (99k, E)

Fusion between Sherlock (BBC) and Nativity! (2009 movie starring Martin Freeman). Sherlock is a primary school teacher and John is assigned to be his classroom assistant. Together, they are charged with putting on the school's Nativity play. What could possibly go wrong?

wip

28. Sherlock Holmes Live by emilycare (41k, chapters: 8/24, M)

hi anon! ah, that’s very understandable, The Paradox Series by wordstrings is an excellent series. it’s been a while since i’ve read it, but i skimmed through it before answering this ask and i’m already planning on doing a proper reread 😂 i’m not quite sure that there is any other fic quite like it, but i’ve listed a few that have similar vibes, at least to me. i hope you find something to your tastes!

proper procedure series by paxlux

Crime Scene Procedure for Death by Drowning (2k, teen)

He lies back in bed and listens to the notes and pictures them gathering around Sherlock’s feet like water.

Crime Scene Procedure for Asphyxiation by Living Burial (3k, teen)

He feels like there's a stone in his chest, maybe an albatross around his neck.

I Dream of Dying series by Ranowa

Total, non-complicated HLV fix-it. The John we all wanted from HLV, Mary and Magnussen handwaved out of the way, and a happier Sherlock in endgame Johnlock.

Eight Minutes (5k, teen)

Sherlock dies three times in three years, and John makes a different decision.

The Roads Not Taken (5k, teen)

  Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

  And sorry I could not travel both.

  -The Road Not Taken

The Evidence Suggests (5k, teen)

The evidence suggests that Sherlock is going to expire from sheer boredom, pine himself into an early grave, and then claw himself back to life just to haunt Mycroft for the rest of eternity.

Guardian Angel (5k, teen)

Sherlock Holmes is not an angel. John never asked him to be one.

this last one is somewhat similar in that sherlock is lost in his head and john helps him come back. it’s very sweet and fluffy in a straightforward sort of way—so not quite like The Paradox Series, but still a very good fic!

The Origin of a New Species by @arwamachine (4k, E)

Sherlock hadn’t had a case—not a case worth chasing, anyway—in over four billion years and everything was so mind-numbingly boring that he had devolved. This just sort of happened from time to time.