burn your heart fic recs
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The music drifted down the stairs, clear and sweet, to greet John as he fumbled the door open. He froze halfway through the door, grocery bag tangled up on the door handle and cane stuck at an awkward angle trying to prop the door open. Navigating through London with a cane again was somehow proving to be even more difficult this time than it had been previously, although John would absolutely never admit it to any of the too-kind people who tried to help him. No matter how often Mrs. Hudson offered him the downstairs flat, no matter how many times Mike tried to send him a cab so he didn’t need to walk, no matter how many people tried to step out of his way and let the poor injured man through, John would not allow it. He would not allow this stupid bloody injury that was all in his head rule his life, not now. Not when he was finally beginning to move on, not when he could finally get through a day without any other reminders of what had happened and what he had lost. That the cane was a constant, damning, ever-present reminder of the joke his life had become was something he would not admit even to himself.
But now he was grateful for the cane, just slightly, for it was the only thing that was keeping him propped upright in the doorway. The music was still drifting delicately down the stairs, its mournful and reverent tones both achingly and impossibly familiar. The music sounded like home, like the home he had thought lost to him forever when the only person that had ever truly mattered vanished out of his life off the edge of a building. John’s life had been silent since then. Everything seemed muffled, muted, colorless and empty without the man who made his life really worth living. But here was music once more, coming down the stairs from his empty home to greet him.
Hope and despair welled in John, threatening to overwhelm him. This couldn’t be real, it couldn’t. Am I imagining this again? he wondered wearily, remembering all too well the last time he had thought that there was violin music coming from the sitting room and the crushing disappointment that came with the inevitably empty flat. But this time it wasn’t the middle of the night and he hadn’t been shaken awake by the too-familiar nightmare of falling and screaming and the crack of bone against pavement. He was standing in his doorway and listening to a melody he knew so well it reverberated in his very bones, a melody that had accompanied his sleepless nights and waking hours until it became the music of home and safety and loving acceptance.
Finally, finally, his treacherous feet began to work again after keeping him frozen in the door like a statue, and he lurched clumsily forward to stumble up the stairs as fast as he could manage. The steps had never seemed this long before, nor this impossible to climb with their narrow steps that closed in around him to block his cane and his fumbling limbs and keep him from the source of the music. He climbed, and climbed, and climbed, tears stinging in his eyes as the music grew stronger and more passionate even as he told himself that it could not possibly be real. At last he reached the door to the flat that he had definitely left closed when he left for the shopping, standing defiantly open now as an invitation and a welcome. John stopped, and his heart nearly stopped with him.
Sherlock was inside the darkened flat, his back to the door as he played the violin that John had not been able to bring himself to throw away despite the pain it brought him. It was a familiar scene, one that John had walked in on countless times, but oh, how three years could change everything. Sherlock was dead, had died very nearly in John’s arms as he watched the blood and light and life drain out of him onto that damned sidewalk while John could do nothing but fall apart in shocked horror. Sherlock was dead, and yet here he was, that gorgeous, arrogant, brilliant head bowed in concentration over a violin as he played a simple tune made beautiful in its emotion. He played with his whole being, with every part of that impossible, wonderful brain turned towards wringing every ounce of feeling out of each note, and the violin danced beneath his fingers.
The song was a greeting, an apology, a thousand words of explanation all in one. Sherlock played for John like he had never played before, like he probably never would again, all to say a simple “I’m sorry” like words never could. As the final notes of the song rose plaintive and sweet into the evening air, John could feel tears he had not even known were there sliding down his cheeks to splash onto his trembling hands. He could not breathe, not when he was looking at the man he had thought lost forever alive and well standing before him. He could not think, not when his world had been turned upside down by a few notes of the violin and a soft melody in the night. He could only stand, and stare, and weep.
At last, the song ended. Sherlock stayed standing with his back to John, head bowed over the violin and arms raised, and John could see faintly through his tears that those arms were trembling under the strain of his careful pose. Finally he lowered the violin to his side and turned to face John. As the light from the hall brushed over his face, it was instantly obvious in the lines around his eyes and the strain that was etched there that the years had not been kind to him either. But the smile, sad and tender, that bloomed on his face was enough to wipe away those years in an instant, even as he said with a sadness and a joy that John had never before heard, “I’m sorry, John. I’m so sorry.”
2,470 notes (via norsed & seki0930)
Two people from tumblr on omegle created this great fic, it’s well written and centers around the idea of Sherlock being abused and running away from home. It’s terribly sad and beautiful.
Oh my god guys I’m such a bad blog runner
it’s been too long since I’ve updated.
I’ll do better after college work is all done
give me another week guys, then I’ll start updating regularly.
Guest Rec-er
If you’ve been following my fic rec master post’s, then you’ll know that a while ago I attempted to rec violence fics and…failed.
The good news is, if you like BDSM/violence fic’s (if any of you have read velvet mace’s work, then you’ll understand what kind of fic’s I’m referring to) then you’re in luck. Sometime in the next two weeks (sorry I can’t be more precise with a date) d0minatrix has agreed to guest-blog/rec with a fic rec master post for those genre’s. Yay!
Also, even later on than that you might see some combined rec’s from the two of us under the Angst tag on this blog…but that’s not coming for a few weeks, either.
Well, I hope that’s enough to look forward to, so here are some fics.
Two Beauty and the Beast crossover/au fics: Freedom Is Being Alone by call_me_ishmael (in which Sherlock is the beast) and Beauty (nonsignificant) by luthier (in which John is the beast, this is a WIP)
I can’t take credit for finding those two, as I was linked to them from someone who found them on the rec blog ficoverload, and as I had already rec’d most of the fic’s in that particular post by the time I had been linked to it, these were the two I decided to go with (also, if we’re being completely honest, that is a much better blog than this one, you should really check it out)
The End of a Dream by heeroluva, Teen and Up Audiences, 1342 Words, very angsty and flashbacks are everywhere, and its very painful to read in some ways, adorable in others.
Smug by DullYellowEye, Explicit, 1902 Words, smutty, fabulous. ” Sherlock whispers naughty things to John while they’re on a case, because that means by the time they get home - since of course they can’t go home until the case is solved - John will fuck him nice and hard, just the way he likes it. Less whispering naughty things and more just PWP.”
This Endless Distraction by keelywolfe, Mature, 2431 Words, Smutty, semi-fluffy, All Sherlock wants to focus on is the work. Is it his fault that John is such a distraction?. The curses are somewhat juvenile, but somehow still John. Harry Potter references. Very satisfying fic.
- By: keelywolfe
- John didn’t take a cab back to his new flat after he dropped Mrs Hudson back at Baker Street. Post: Reichenbach. Well written, smutty, angsty, fluffy Post-Reichenbach twist, and I’d tell you in this summary but it’d ruin a lot of building tension within the first 500-ish words.
- 2046 Words
- Rated Mature
I’m Not Usually Into Asexual!Sherlock…
but sometimes it can get pretty fluffy when you throw in patient/understanding!John, and I seem to start enjoying it because even though Sherlock is asexual in these fics (which I totally prefer him to be sexually active, don’t get me wrong. I like reciprocation much better.) he’s totally interested in cuddling/romance/fluffiness.
There aren’t many that solely focus on John’s acceptance in this list, so sometime during the week I’ll do a rec list of acceptance, be it personality acceptance or kink!acceptance .
anyways, here are some that I’ve read and enjoyed.
the art of getting by (isn’t really so artsy at all)
- By stupidmuse_hatesme
- “He’s treating things like they’re normal! Things are not normal.” Sherlock drags his hands from his mussed up hair and covers his face. “You aren’t helping much,” he mumbles into his palms. “I hope you know that.” The skull only grins from his perch and says not a word. “Really, you’re supposed to do more than just—sit there.”
- 6521 Words
- Rated General Audiences
- By bendingsignpost
- Whatever it took, he was going to make this work. So the entire time I read this, all I could think about was how John loved Sherlock but didn’t think that Sherlock loved him and that Sherlock was taking advantage of him and you just want them to talk it out and for Sherlock to explain his love of cuddling and for John to explain his want of sex and it’s all just very complex and closed off until John finally tells Sherlock how he feels.
- 23726 Words
- Rated Explicit
- By Boeshane42
- Sherlock is asexual (not really in this fic, but both John and him believe he is), and John is starting to come to terms with it. One day, however, during his patching-Sherlock’s-injuries-post-case ritual, he notes that Sherlock is becoming aroused. After much questioning he comes to the conclusion that Sherlock is aroused by medical/clinical stuff (for lack of a better word) and they agree to give Sherlock…an examination.
- 4753 Words
- Rated Explicit
Horse and Carriage (a series)
- By flawedamethyst
- Sherlock is asexual, John is heterosexual, but somehow they get married as friends and it works. Absolutely adorable to look at the dynamic of a marriage that is platonic and beautiful. So well written, so in character, and the relationship is adorable. Cuddly moments are sparse and far between, but so worth it when they appear.
- 37830 Words
- Rated General Audiences
I Feel Like Such A Slacker
I barely posted any fic recs this week.
But never fear, ace!Sherlock is here.
I’m going to try and do an asexual!Sherlock master post this weekend (I’m very skeptical about asexual!Sherlock, I’ll explain why in the master post) as well as either:
three full length fics (50,000 words, roughly) or a master post of fluff and smut (because who doesn’t like that.)
Two Fic’s and Master Post Rec List Requests
Hello everyone! So I took a break from reading yesterday, considering all the time I’d been spending on it the past week. However, now I am back, and with two LONG, FANTASTIC rec’s for you.
- By Mesita
- In an alternate universe, Mycroft and Lestrade run a circus together. John’s father is verbally abusive, and when it escalates into physical abuse he escapes to join the circus. He is placed in a room with the consulting psychic, Sherlock Holmes. This is all quite fast paced for John, when suddenly a murder occurs and he and Sherlock decide to solve it.
This was a very fast paced fic, but it was so wonderful. Since it’s a fic and the personalities of the characters are already known to the readers, then there’s not much to worry about in terms of character development. As I mentioned before, the fic is VERY fast paced regarding plot, but the tension continues to escalate slowly between Sherlock and John, which is an interesting juxtaposition with the plot. To be honest, I’m waiting anxiously for any one shots off of this universe, or the epilogue…or both. - 50163 Words
- Rated Teen and Up Audiences
The second fic I’m recommending tonight is the one fanfiction I actually enjoyed from my abortive attempt at reading violence fics.
- By shinkonokokoro
- Mycroft decides to let John in on a secret, an intimate aspect of Sherlock’s life: his past. He lets John know that Sherlock was a ‘sensitive child’ which becomes a kind of mental touchstone for John throughout the fic, and the repetition was done well. The tension between Sherlock and John continue to rise and the romance is adorable in the Johnlockian way. But then…Moriarty kidnaps Sherlock and tortures him, attempts and succeeds to wound Sherlock psychologically and physically. John and Mycroft develop a friendship, Sherlock and John develop something more, and the plot reaches its final climax when the final confrontation begins.
Overall, this was a very high-quality fic, I enjoyed every second of it, and I would love a sequel. Currently, I am looking for similar fics where I can handle reading the violence because the plot, romance, fluff, hurt/comfort, and vague slash is so good. - 37586 Words
- Rated Teen and Up Audiences
Now on to the requests.
It appeared that a lot of you enjoyed the master post rec lists, and I’m so happy with the enthusiastic response they received.
That being, if anyone is looking for specific types of genre’s that I did not cover, or they want more from one I did cover, let me know and I can put together a master post rec list again. Either reblog this with the suggestion or leave it in my request/ask box and let me know.
Thank you ever so much for rec'n my fic, The Last Drop!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. In case you were interested, I just posted the first chapter of the sequel, The Temper Between. Again, thank you thank you thank you. You made my day! -Phyona
You’re very welcome! I’m so glad you decided to continue it into a series, the chapter was so well done. Sherlock’s reaction to John as a distraction…adorable, and very in character in my opinion. For everyone else, here is the link to the sequel. I highly recommend reading it!
Saturday - AU
And now for all of the alternate universe fics I’ve read and enjoyed.
- By luthier
- In the Watson family you grew your wings when you found your life’s partner. John didn’t often dwell on the fact that not one of them could actually fly. Wing!fic. Very well written, I enjoyed every word of it, and John and Sherlock were very in character.
- 7723 Words
- Rated General Audiences
- By fengirl88
- John comes home from a trip to the seaside with a pale-eyed young man in tow. Sherlock is tall, brilliant, and strangely sad, and seems incapable of leaving John’s side. One day John brings a seal skin to Harry’s house and makes her promise to hide it, and that she will never, ever tell Sherlock where it is. AU in which Sherlock is a selkie and John is destined to do exactly as the legends say.
- 12375 Words
- Rated Mature
- By machshefa
- On John Watson’s sixth birthday, his mum gave him a flat wooden box to hold his wish stones. In this story, people produce ‘wish stones’ which come out as stones or precious gems, sometimes touchstones or prayer stones, which can in turn be used to signify emotions. Wish stones can be used to make wishes. John, for instance, uses wish stones during Afghanistan to help fallen/injured soldiers. The stones are produced by the body, and based on hints in the text, emerge from the fingertips. It took me a while to understand the concept, but this is now one of my favorite AU’s of any fandom, its so well written and beautiful and the idea is fantastic. (also, in the ending author’s note there are links to stone meanings and stone types to help explain.)
- 9764 Words
- Rated Mature
- By eight_demands
- If his patient thought he was the first person to ever try to intimidate John Watson, he was sadly mistaken. John sometimes considered, in his own head, the subtitle of his Afghanistan years to be “Arseholes with Guns who Love to Yell.” If anything, being verbally abused by a haughty git who was bleeding all over him brought back a rush of warm nostalgia. Sherlock is John’s patient since no one else can stand them. AU in which they meet there instead of through Mike. Also, there’s some Mystrade.
- 12247 Words
- Rated General Audiences
- By yalublyutebya
- John is arrested and serves time for shooting the cabbie. This is too cute and angsty for its own good okay it’s just wonderful. (Brief allusions to violence, and the sexual tension should be a warning all on its own)
- 6187 Words
- Rated Teen and Up Audiences
- By IronicNarwhal
- 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. When everyone is born, a name is inscribed on their finger. That name would be their soul mate. John and Sherlock have almost given up looking. The first part is complete, but the second is still WIP.
- 5456 Words
- Rated Teen and Up
These are WIP’s for this genre that I follow semi-religiously.
Chameleon (which just updated its thirteenth chapter a little while ago.) It’s both crossover and AU, but you don’t need to be a part of the other fandom to understand what’s happening. I love it just as much as any other fic, good lord. I screamed today when I saw the update, that’s how good it is.
A Swan Princess/Sherlock crossover fic. Some aspects of that one are OOC, but much of it is adorable, particularly a section of correspondences between John and Sherlock after Sherlock joins the military. Also, its so beautifully written and lovely I just feel so enamored with this fic. I’ve enjoyed it so much, and it’s nearing completion and while I want it to be complete I just don’t want it to be over. I have so many conflicting emotions.
Well, that’s all I have for now. I never really enjoyed AU before, but after doing this post it’s kind of grown on me. I might post more rec’s for AU tonight/tomorrow, because I simply can’t seem to stop reading them.
This is the last post for the week of fanfiction rec masterposts. I hope you’ve enjoyed them and have found the recs to be acceptable.
