Merlin Modern AU Recs
Click HERE to get to my other Merlin recs!
In the Warnings section of each entry I have different tags, so if you are looking for something specific (like "kid!fic" for example) just ctrl+f and enter your tag and it should highlight the relevant entries!
♥ = favorite
updated January 15, 2015
Arthur/Merlin Modern AUs
Title: Just for a Moment
Author:
dreamdustmama
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 3,110
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, bottom!merlin, felching, rimming, barebacking
Summary: Merlin shows up at Arthur's late one night, rain-soaked and tired of being avoided.
Adorable and smoking hot Modern AU.
♥ Title: Paraphrase
Author:
rageprufrock
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 3,304
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, established relationship, light D/s, bottom!merlin, face-fucking, office!sex, desk!sex, dirty talk
Summary: "Merlin," Arthur says, barely looking up from the stack of documents on his desk, "come here, please."
Holy shit, this was so fucking hot!
Title: The World Will Follow After
Author:
sassafrasx
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 4,579
Content/Warnings: AU: Magical, AU: Modern, bottom!merlin, drunk!sex, rimming, light bondage, accidental bonding!fic, merlin holidays 2015
Summary: Merlin's mum always told him to stay away from Druid festivals. Unfortunately, Merlin never has been any good at listening.
Or, five times Merlin and Arthur shag after waking up accidentally soulbonded together, and one time they don't.
Really lovely and super sexy fic with Merlin and Arthur accidentally getting soul-bonded without liking each other much. Which leads to lots of hot sex and of course ~feelings.
Title: If Greater Want of Skill
Author:
Emjayelle
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 4,947
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, AU: University, bottom!merlin, drunk!sex
Summary: Merlin's Friday isn't going to plan, to say the least. Especially when he takes the wrong late-night bus and ends up in Frat Row where he meets Arthur, the annoying frat boy that sits behind him in poetry class, who, by the way, is entirely to blame for the drunkenness, betting, sex, and poetry reciting that follows.
Oh this was so much fun and so hot! Love the banter throughout, and the reciting poetry while having sex was amazing.
Title: A Knight to Remember
Author:
LadyVader
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Gwen/Lancelot
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 6,227
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, barebacking, first time, stripper!arthur, bathroom!sex, bottom!merlin, semi-public!sex
Summary: Merlin attends Gwen's hen night, and finds that the strippers are even more than he could hope for.
Funny and sexy and so, so, SO HOT!
Title: This Dance of Days
Author:
kianspo
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Lance/Gwen
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 8,090
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, established relationship, switching, bottom!merlin, bottom!arthur
Summary: In which people get married, Arthur is confused a lot, Uther gives relationship advice, and Merlin isn’t scared, except when he is, but only a little bit. Also Merlin steals things, and Gwaine is up to no good.
This fic is lovely and the tone is a bit more real and serious than the rom-com summary suggests. Not necessarily angst-serious, but this fic does a wonderful job showing Arthur and Merlin's relationship and Arthur's sort of struggle about whether he should propose.
*NEW: 1/15*
Title: The Lake
Author:
Magnolia822
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, past Arthur/Gwen
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 8,565
Content/Warnings: AU: Reincarnation, AU: Modern, bottom!merlin, memory loss, merlin holidays 2015
Summary: After years of waiting for Arthur, Merlin can’t take it anymore and uses a memory-wiping spell on himself. Since the spell, every year on the anniversary of Arthur’s death, Merlin returns to the lake like a migrant bird. It’s a compulsion he cannot overcome, but he doesn’t know why he does it.
Really lovely Modern Reincarnation type fic. Loved seeing Arthur get used to the modern world, and Merlin rediscover himself with Arthur.
Title: The Virgin Series (2 Fics)
Author:
ingberry
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin (first fic), Arthur/Merlin/OMCs (second fic)
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 8,624
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, AU: High School, first time, bottom!merlin, threesome, moresome, m/m/m, spitroasting, blindfolds, orgy
Summary: Gwaine’s parties are legendary. It’s mostly because of the orgy in the basement where people offer themselves up for the greater good. Merlin figures that’s a smashing way to get rid of his virginity, mostly because he’s never seen anyone from his high school at Gwaine’s. The idea seems a lot worse when he’s on his knees, naked and blindfolded. Thank fuck for the guy who grabs him and hauls him back up the stairs. // Merlin is on his knees, naked and blindfolded, at Gwaine's party. At some point it seemed like a really good way to lose his ever-present virginity. In the end, it turns out that it is.
Smoking hot fics! Love how we get the best of both worlds here, with the aborted orgy in the first and the follow-through in the second.
Title: How to Say I Love You in Six Days
Author:
dreamdustmama
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 9,131
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: High School, AU: Non-Magical
Summary: Arthur keeps trying to tell Merlin how he feels, but everything just keeps going wrong. Until, of course, it finally goes right.
Super sweet high school AU.
Title: When Morning Comes
Author:
Starlingthefool
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Hard R
Word Count: 9,248
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Apocalypse, AU: Non-Magical, bottom!merlin
Summary: If life were fair, anyone who managed to survive the apocalypse would be given a fuzzy blanket, some tea, and a nice bed to hide under and weep.
Life is not fair, obviously, and there's no actual end to the end of the world. Instead, there's grief and pain and mud and death, there are minor miracles, and there's the love that gets you out of bed in the morning, despite everything. Life goes on.
Gorgeous Apocalypse AU. The relationship between Merlin and Arthur here is fabulous and heartbreaking, and the horrors of the alien invasion are definitely not overlooked. But there is a hopefulness throughout, and the ending was more than satisfying. Plus an awesome incorporation of all the characters.
Title: Wait
Author:
eldee
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 10,094
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, established relationship, BDSM, D/s, dom!arthur, sub!merlin, implied bottom!merlin, sex toys, bondage
Summary: It’s been a couple of weeks since Merlin and Arthur have had the chance to get together for a night of play.
Sexy D/s fic with some feels thrown in for good measure!
Title: Watch It All Melt Away
Author:
Emjayelle
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, past Merlin/Gwaine
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 10,958
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, AU: University, established relationship, switching, bottom!merlin, bottom!arthur
Summary: Sometimes he still forgets that he is allowed to kiss Arthur, to hug him, to snuggle close to him at night. It’s not awkward, not really, or maybe a little, they just seem to...forget somehow, stuck in old habits and locked desires.
Gorgeously written Modern AU that shows Arthur and Merlin on their first weekend away trip right after getting together. Sexy switching and lots of feels in this one!
Title: Red Herring Leon
Author: rotrude
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 11,076
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, AU: University, bottom!merlin
Summary: “Leon, yeah,” said Merlin, stupid butterflies crowding in his stomach. “It's about Leon.”
Adorable Uni AU with Merlin thinking he has a crush on Leon and a clearly pining Arthur dutifully helping him make a good impression. Lovely and sweet watching Merlin slowly realize who the true object of his affection is.
♥ Title: Let me be your canvas
Author:
marguerite_26
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 11,499
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, tattoo!kink, tattoos, first time, age difference, bottom!merlin
Summary: Merlin wants a tattoo. And maybe the tattoo artist as well.
Super hot Modern AU with tattoo artist Arthur giving Merlin his first tattoo, and then some!
Title: The Pendragon Way
Author:
dreamdustmama
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Elena/Gwaine
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 13,924
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical
Summary: Arthur answers an ad in the paper for a third flat mate, and his life is turned completely upside down. It's the best decision he's ever made.
Awesome Modern AU with Arthur deciding he needs to get out from under his father's thumb and finding his way into Merlin's life. Super lovely.
Title: The Difference of You
Author:
ingberry
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Lance/Gwen, mention of past Arthur/Gwen
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 14,512
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, first time, bottom!merlin, lawyer!arthur
Summary: It’s not that Arthur Pendragon can’t get girls to fall for him; it’s just that he can’t seem to keep them around. Relationships and Arthur aren't on the same page at all, really, but one day there's Merlin on a bus and then it's different.
Really fabulous and suprisingly non-angsty fic about an uncounsiously closeted Arthur who meets Merlin on a bus and then things just start clicking into place. Lovely, sexy fic!
Title: Game, Set, Match
Author:
ingberry
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 15,261
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Sports, AU: Non-Magical
Summary: All of Britain watches as Arthur Pendragon (golden boy of tennis) gets injured at Wimbledon with the London Olympics looming only a few weeks away. Not many people watch as Merlin Emrys (newbie on the medical team) works to get Arthur back into shape, but maybe that’s just as well because Merlin gets a bit more entangled than he planned.
I freaking love Tennis AUs and this one is fabulous, with tennis pro Arthur and sports medic Merlin. Lovely relationship here and some wonderful UST.
Title: Pull
Author:
corilannam
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, implied Lancelot/Gwen/Morgana
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 15,560
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Fusion, Push fusion, bottom!merlin, wall!sex, rough sex, barebacking
Summary: Merlin has spent his life running from the Pendragons, but destiny has other plans. An AU based on the movie "Push."
Really awesome Push fusion that does a great job blending in the canon verse. Plus some of the hottest sex ever.
Title: Paint the World Orange and Blue
Author:
ingberry
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 17,372
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, artist!merlin, bottom!merlin, implied switching
Summary: Armed with pen, paper and mugs of tea, Merlin created a relatively successful series of graphic novels. Armed with determination, sarcasm and more tea, he signs a deal with Pendragon Pictures to turn his first novel into a film. Merlin's relationship with Arthur Pendragon starts with TWO (2) slammed doors and ONE (1) severely bruised ego, but that's not at all how it ends.
Oh this is such a lovely and wonderful read! I adored their characterizations here, and I thought it was really fun seeing how the other characters were incorporated. Plus, the sex was playful and super freaking hot!
Title: All I Want For Christmas (Is You)
Author:
dreamdustmama
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Elena/Gwaine and Gwen/Lancelot
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 18,493
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, boss/employee relationship, bottom!merlin
Summary: Arthur is not amused when his (probably insane) father decides to hold a Secret Santa exchange for the entirety of Pendragon Corporation. He's even less amused (and more than a bit panicky) when he draws Merlin's name.
Really lovely Modern AU with fabulous pining that ends in hot sex!
Title: Blue Would Still Be Blue
Author:
winterstorrm
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Gwen/Lancelot, past Arthur/OFC
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 32,376
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non- Magical, age difference, kid!fic, boss/employee relationship, doctor!arthur, paper legends fest 2012
Summary: When widower Arthur Pendragon finds out that his three children have conspired to help him find 'someone to kiss' by placing an ad on an internet dating site, he allows his guilt to push him into agreeing to go on a succession of dates even though he's determined that he's not lonely and doesn't believe in 'love'. However, someone does set his heart racing, but it's not one of the endless parade of beautiful women he has to choose from, it's the children's new babysitter, Merlin.
Such an adorable AU! I love age difference fics, and pining, confused Arthur was wonderful.
Title: And Leaving Me Whole
Author:
ingberry
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 35,699
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Werewolves Exist, AU: Fusion, teen wolf fusion, alpha!arthur, bottom!merlin, marking, scenting, creature!fic, werewolf!arthur, werewolf!merlin
Summary: Life as a newly bitten werewolf is kind of terrible, especially when Merlin gets captured by hunters. It’s not exactly the way he expected his life to go when he moved to London, and he really wishes he could make all of it disappear. Instead, he ends up being rescued by a pack of werewolves with a slew of problems of their own, including an inner power struggle, hunters and rumours of... well, Merlin doesn’t know, exactly, but it’s not good.
Really wonderful fic that sort of fuses the Merlin characters into the Teen Wolf universe. Loved the werewolf aspect and the pack dynamics and hot damn was the sex fabulous!
Title: The Victory of Shadows
Author:
scribblemoose
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Gwen/Morgana, Morgana/Morgause
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 41,314
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Reincarnation, bottom!merlin
Summary: Merlin is an ordinary young man with extraordinary magic, who is just finishing his first year reading ancient history at Cambridge when he gets dragged away from his books and falls for the Captain of a rowing team. But history can be full of surprises.
Fabulous fic with a really wonderful and fresh take on the reincarnation trope!
♥ Title: Dead of Knight
Author:
jsea
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, implied Gwen/Lancelot
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 43,212
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Vampires Are Known, AU: Werewolves Exist, vampire!arthur, bottom!merlin, light bloodplay, creature!fic
Summary: Merlin Emrys, supernatural expert and consultant for the local police, knows that going to the opening night of a vampire bar isn't a good idea, not with anti-vampire sentiments running rampant. So when he draws the eye of the bar's charismatic owner, and the new Master of the City, Arthur Pendragon, he's not exactly pleased.
When a series of murders, seemingly the work of vampires, forces them to work together anyway, Merlin unwittingly finds himself falling in love. Suddenly, the lines between work and love are not as cut and dry as they seem.
LOVED this fic! Not quite a True Blood fusion, but you can definitely see the inspiration here, and it works so, so well! I love how all the characters are incorporated and the tension and pull between Merlin and Arthur is seriously electric. Such a fun read!
♥ Title: We Pull These Jobs To Make A Little Money (No One Gets Hurt If They Don't Act Funny)
Author:
leashy_bebes
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, Leon/Elena, Will/Freya, Gwen/Lancelot, past Leon/Morgana
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 48,918
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, bottom!merlin, implied switching
Summary: Arthur and his friends have been making their money this way for years. It's all they know and they're good enough to get away with it. Merlin grudgingly works in a bank, wishing his days away. Their worlds collide and everything changes.
AKA: Bank robbers of the round table.
OMG this fic is awesome! I love Arthur and his merry band of bank robbers, and adorable Merlin as a bank teller was perfect. I adored the connection between Merlin and Arthur here, and the sex was just unbelievably hot. Really fun plot, and just an all-around super enjoyable read!
Title: Counterpoint
Author:
PlaneJane
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Leon/Gwen, Freya/Percival
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 56,481
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Dystopia, first time, bottom!merlin, arranged marriage
Summary: Twenty years after The Great Purge and the continuing effects of a High Priestess’s curse, Albion is a nation on the brink of collapse. Not even High Chancellor Uther Pendragon’s Compatibility Regime can curb the plummeting population. To add to his troubles, his wayward son, Arthur, makes no disguise of his unwillingness to wed. With good reason. Arthur is secretly leading the Movement, a covert organisation plotting to overthrow the government and return magic to Albion. Not to mention, it’s been foreseen that Arthur’s future, his destiny, is an indomitable union with a warlock-not marriage to the farm-boy matched to him by Uther’s Compatibility Machines.
Really interesting dystopia fic! Fascinating read.
Title: The Lonely King
Author:
corilannam
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 56,777
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non- Magical, AU: Royalty, first time, bottom!merlin, king!arthur, teacher!merlin
Summary: The Prince of Wales at his school. Merlin was sure it was all just a very bad joke. A modern royalty AU.
Really fabulous Modern Royalty AU. I adored Arthur and Merlin and seeing their attraction to each other and watching their relationship evolve. And all the supporting characters were really wonderful.
Title: Good News (is on the way)
Author: derryere
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, Arthur/OMCs, Arthur/OFCs, past Arthur/Gwen, mention of Gwen/Lancelot
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: ~61,000
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non- Magical, underage, age difference, first time, bottom!merlin, rimming, merlin glomp fest 2011
Summary: Arthur, a travelling businessman, decides to rent a room with the Wyllt family while in town. Hunith is charmed. Her son, Merlin, is not.
This fic gacve me a lot of feels. It's got some glorious age disparity combined with underage and doesn't shy away from the guiltywrong feels that come along with it. But the chemistry between Merlin and Arthur can't be denied, and watching Arthur struggle nd try to come to terms with his feelings is wonderful. It's sexy, and heartbreaking, and bittersweet, and beautiful, especially when they find their way back to each other.
♥ Title: The Student Prince
Author:
FayJay
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, mild Merlin/OMC, background Gwen/Lancelot
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 145,222
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: University, AU: Reincarnation, bottom!merlin, implied switching, semi-public!sex, bathroom!sex, face-fucking, some dirty talk
Summary: A Modern day Merlin AU set at the University of St Andrews, featuring teetotal kickboxers, secret wizards, magnificent bodyguards of various genders, irate fairies, imprisoned dragons, crumbling gothic architecture, arrogant princes, adorable engineering students, stolen gold, magical doorways, attempted assassination, drunken students, shaving foam fights, embarrassing mornings after, The Hammer Dance, duty, responsibility, friendship and true love...
Oh man, this is just a brilliant fic! Really fabulous Modern AU, with Merlin as still magical and Arthur as the Prince of Wales. Their relationship and banter here is perfection, and I adored how all the other characters were worked into the story. The tension and chemistry was amazing, and the sex scenes were all the hotter for it. There are definitely subtle themes of reincarnation, but I liked how that wasn't overpowering, that their old lives didn't take over the narrative. Amazing fic.
Threesome Fics
Title: Up for It
Author:
kitty_fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin/Gwaine
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 5,882
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, threesome, m/m/m, semi-public!sex, dirty talk, friends with benefits
Summary: A night at the movies with two of Merlin's best mates ends up much different and more enjoyable than he expected.
Oh god, this is so hot and the dirty talk is phenomenal.
Title: Landed Series (4 Fics)
Author:
Magnolia822
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, Arthur/Merlin/Gwaine, Arthur/Merlin/Percival
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 16,293
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, established relationship, threesome, m/m/m, public!sex, dirty talk, voyeurism, airplane!sex, bottom!merlin, bottom!arthur
Summary: On a transatlantic flight, Gwaine has the good fortune to be seated next to two good-looking blokes. They're perfect strangers. Or are they?
Dear fucking lord is this unbelievably hot! Loved Arthur and Merlin's relationship here, and the threesomes were smoking hot. Arthur/Merlin is the romantic pairing here, and the threesomes are hook-ups, FYI.
This entry was originally posted here on Dreamwidth. Please comment there using OpenID
In the Warnings section of each entry I have different tags, so if you are looking for something specific (like "kid!fic" for example) just ctrl+f and enter your tag and it should highlight the relevant entries!
♥ = favorite
updated January 15, 2015
Arthur/Merlin Modern AUs
Title: Just for a Moment
Author:
dreamdustmama
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 3,110
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, bottom!merlin, felching, rimming, barebacking
Summary: Merlin shows up at Arthur's late one night, rain-soaked and tired of being avoided.
Adorable and smoking hot Modern AU.
♥ Title: Paraphrase
Author:
rageprufrock
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 3,304
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, established relationship, light D/s, bottom!merlin, face-fucking, office!sex, desk!sex, dirty talk
Summary: "Merlin," Arthur says, barely looking up from the stack of documents on his desk, "come here, please."
Holy shit, this was so fucking hot!
Title: The World Will Follow After
Author:
sassafrasx
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 4,579
Content/Warnings: AU: Magical, AU: Modern, bottom!merlin, drunk!sex, rimming, light bondage, accidental bonding!fic, merlin holidays 2015
Summary: Merlin's mum always told him to stay away from Druid festivals. Unfortunately, Merlin never has been any good at listening.
Or, five times Merlin and Arthur shag after waking up accidentally soulbonded together, and one time they don't.
Really lovely and super sexy fic with Merlin and Arthur accidentally getting soul-bonded without liking each other much. Which leads to lots of hot sex and of course ~feelings.
Title: If Greater Want of Skill
Author:
Emjayelle
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 4,947
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, AU: University, bottom!merlin, drunk!sex
Summary: Merlin's Friday isn't going to plan, to say the least. Especially when he takes the wrong late-night bus and ends up in Frat Row where he meets Arthur, the annoying frat boy that sits behind him in poetry class, who, by the way, is entirely to blame for the drunkenness, betting, sex, and poetry reciting that follows.
Oh this was so much fun and so hot! Love the banter throughout, and the reciting poetry while having sex was amazing.
Title: A Knight to Remember
Author:
LadyVader
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Gwen/Lancelot
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 6,227
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, barebacking, first time, stripper!arthur, bathroom!sex, bottom!merlin, semi-public!sex
Summary: Merlin attends Gwen's hen night, and finds that the strippers are even more than he could hope for.
Funny and sexy and so, so, SO HOT!
Title: This Dance of Days
Author:
kianspo
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Lance/Gwen
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 8,090
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, established relationship, switching, bottom!merlin, bottom!arthur
Summary: In which people get married, Arthur is confused a lot, Uther gives relationship advice, and Merlin isn’t scared, except when he is, but only a little bit. Also Merlin steals things, and Gwaine is up to no good.
This fic is lovely and the tone is a bit more real and serious than the rom-com summary suggests. Not necessarily angst-serious, but this fic does a wonderful job showing Arthur and Merlin's relationship and Arthur's sort of struggle about whether he should propose.
*NEW: 1/15*
Title: The Lake
Author:
Magnolia822
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, past Arthur/Gwen
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 8,565
Content/Warnings: AU: Reincarnation, AU: Modern, bottom!merlin, memory loss, merlin holidays 2015
Summary: After years of waiting for Arthur, Merlin can’t take it anymore and uses a memory-wiping spell on himself. Since the spell, every year on the anniversary of Arthur’s death, Merlin returns to the lake like a migrant bird. It’s a compulsion he cannot overcome, but he doesn’t know why he does it.
Really lovely Modern Reincarnation type fic. Loved seeing Arthur get used to the modern world, and Merlin rediscover himself with Arthur.
Title: The Virgin Series (2 Fics)
Author:
ingberry
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin (first fic), Arthur/Merlin/OMCs (second fic)
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 8,624
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, AU: High School, first time, bottom!merlin, threesome, moresome, m/m/m, spitroasting, blindfolds, orgy
Summary: Gwaine’s parties are legendary. It’s mostly because of the orgy in the basement where people offer themselves up for the greater good. Merlin figures that’s a smashing way to get rid of his virginity, mostly because he’s never seen anyone from his high school at Gwaine’s. The idea seems a lot worse when he’s on his knees, naked and blindfolded. Thank fuck for the guy who grabs him and hauls him back up the stairs. // Merlin is on his knees, naked and blindfolded, at Gwaine's party. At some point it seemed like a really good way to lose his ever-present virginity. In the end, it turns out that it is.
Smoking hot fics! Love how we get the best of both worlds here, with the aborted orgy in the first and the follow-through in the second.
Title: How to Say I Love You in Six Days
Author:
dreamdustmama
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 9,131
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: High School, AU: Non-Magical
Summary: Arthur keeps trying to tell Merlin how he feels, but everything just keeps going wrong. Until, of course, it finally goes right.
Super sweet high school AU.
Title: When Morning Comes
Author:
Starlingthefool
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Hard R
Word Count: 9,248
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Apocalypse, AU: Non-Magical, bottom!merlin
Summary: If life were fair, anyone who managed to survive the apocalypse would be given a fuzzy blanket, some tea, and a nice bed to hide under and weep.
Life is not fair, obviously, and there's no actual end to the end of the world. Instead, there's grief and pain and mud and death, there are minor miracles, and there's the love that gets you out of bed in the morning, despite everything. Life goes on.
Gorgeous Apocalypse AU. The relationship between Merlin and Arthur here is fabulous and heartbreaking, and the horrors of the alien invasion are definitely not overlooked. But there is a hopefulness throughout, and the ending was more than satisfying. Plus an awesome incorporation of all the characters.
Title: Wait
Author:
eldee
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 10,094
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, established relationship, BDSM, D/s, dom!arthur, sub!merlin, implied bottom!merlin, sex toys, bondage
Summary: It’s been a couple of weeks since Merlin and Arthur have had the chance to get together for a night of play.
Sexy D/s fic with some feels thrown in for good measure!
Title: Watch It All Melt Away
Author:
Emjayelle
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, past Merlin/Gwaine
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 10,958
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, AU: University, established relationship, switching, bottom!merlin, bottom!arthur
Summary: Sometimes he still forgets that he is allowed to kiss Arthur, to hug him, to snuggle close to him at night. It’s not awkward, not really, or maybe a little, they just seem to...forget somehow, stuck in old habits and locked desires.
Gorgeously written Modern AU that shows Arthur and Merlin on their first weekend away trip right after getting together. Sexy switching and lots of feels in this one!
Title: Red Herring Leon
Author: rotrude
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 11,076
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, AU: University, bottom!merlin
Summary: “Leon, yeah,” said Merlin, stupid butterflies crowding in his stomach. “It's about Leon.”
Adorable Uni AU with Merlin thinking he has a crush on Leon and a clearly pining Arthur dutifully helping him make a good impression. Lovely and sweet watching Merlin slowly realize who the true object of his affection is.
♥ Title: Let me be your canvas
Author:
marguerite_26
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 11,499
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, tattoo!kink, tattoos, first time, age difference, bottom!merlin
Summary: Merlin wants a tattoo. And maybe the tattoo artist as well.
Super hot Modern AU with tattoo artist Arthur giving Merlin his first tattoo, and then some!
Title: The Pendragon Way
Author:
dreamdustmama
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Elena/Gwaine
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 13,924
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical
Summary: Arthur answers an ad in the paper for a third flat mate, and his life is turned completely upside down. It's the best decision he's ever made.
Awesome Modern AU with Arthur deciding he needs to get out from under his father's thumb and finding his way into Merlin's life. Super lovely.
Title: The Difference of You
Author:
ingberry
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Lance/Gwen, mention of past Arthur/Gwen
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 14,512
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, first time, bottom!merlin, lawyer!arthur
Summary: It’s not that Arthur Pendragon can’t get girls to fall for him; it’s just that he can’t seem to keep them around. Relationships and Arthur aren't on the same page at all, really, but one day there's Merlin on a bus and then it's different.
Really fabulous and suprisingly non-angsty fic about an uncounsiously closeted Arthur who meets Merlin on a bus and then things just start clicking into place. Lovely, sexy fic!
Title: Game, Set, Match
Author:
ingberry
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 15,261
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Sports, AU: Non-Magical
Summary: All of Britain watches as Arthur Pendragon (golden boy of tennis) gets injured at Wimbledon with the London Olympics looming only a few weeks away. Not many people watch as Merlin Emrys (newbie on the medical team) works to get Arthur back into shape, but maybe that’s just as well because Merlin gets a bit more entangled than he planned.
I freaking love Tennis AUs and this one is fabulous, with tennis pro Arthur and sports medic Merlin. Lovely relationship here and some wonderful UST.
Title: Pull
Author:
corilannam
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, implied Lancelot/Gwen/Morgana
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 15,560
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Fusion, Push fusion, bottom!merlin, wall!sex, rough sex, barebacking
Summary: Merlin has spent his life running from the Pendragons, but destiny has other plans. An AU based on the movie "Push."
Really awesome Push fusion that does a great job blending in the canon verse. Plus some of the hottest sex ever.
Title: Paint the World Orange and Blue
Author:
ingberry
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 17,372
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, artist!merlin, bottom!merlin, implied switching
Summary: Armed with pen, paper and mugs of tea, Merlin created a relatively successful series of graphic novels. Armed with determination, sarcasm and more tea, he signs a deal with Pendragon Pictures to turn his first novel into a film. Merlin's relationship with Arthur Pendragon starts with TWO (2) slammed doors and ONE (1) severely bruised ego, but that's not at all how it ends.
Oh this is such a lovely and wonderful read! I adored their characterizations here, and I thought it was really fun seeing how the other characters were incorporated. Plus, the sex was playful and super freaking hot!
Title: All I Want For Christmas (Is You)
Author:
dreamdustmama
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Elena/Gwaine and Gwen/Lancelot
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 18,493
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, boss/employee relationship, bottom!merlin
Summary: Arthur is not amused when his (probably insane) father decides to hold a Secret Santa exchange for the entirety of Pendragon Corporation. He's even less amused (and more than a bit panicky) when he draws Merlin's name.
Really lovely Modern AU with fabulous pining that ends in hot sex!
Title: Blue Would Still Be Blue
Author:
winterstorrm
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Gwen/Lancelot, past Arthur/OFC
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 32,376
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non- Magical, age difference, kid!fic, boss/employee relationship, doctor!arthur, paper legends fest 2012
Summary: When widower Arthur Pendragon finds out that his three children have conspired to help him find 'someone to kiss' by placing an ad on an internet dating site, he allows his guilt to push him into agreeing to go on a succession of dates even though he's determined that he's not lonely and doesn't believe in 'love'. However, someone does set his heart racing, but it's not one of the endless parade of beautiful women he has to choose from, it's the children's new babysitter, Merlin.
Such an adorable AU! I love age difference fics, and pining, confused Arthur was wonderful.
Title: And Leaving Me Whole
Author:
ingberry
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 35,699
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Werewolves Exist, AU: Fusion, teen wolf fusion, alpha!arthur, bottom!merlin, marking, scenting, creature!fic, werewolf!arthur, werewolf!merlin
Summary: Life as a newly bitten werewolf is kind of terrible, especially when Merlin gets captured by hunters. It’s not exactly the way he expected his life to go when he moved to London, and he really wishes he could make all of it disappear. Instead, he ends up being rescued by a pack of werewolves with a slew of problems of their own, including an inner power struggle, hunters and rumours of... well, Merlin doesn’t know, exactly, but it’s not good.
Really wonderful fic that sort of fuses the Merlin characters into the Teen Wolf universe. Loved the werewolf aspect and the pack dynamics and hot damn was the sex fabulous!
Title: The Victory of Shadows
Author:
scribblemoose
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Gwen/Morgana, Morgana/Morgause
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 41,314
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Reincarnation, bottom!merlin
Summary: Merlin is an ordinary young man with extraordinary magic, who is just finishing his first year reading ancient history at Cambridge when he gets dragged away from his books and falls for the Captain of a rowing team. But history can be full of surprises.
Fabulous fic with a really wonderful and fresh take on the reincarnation trope!
♥ Title: Dead of Knight
Author:
jsea
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, implied Gwen/Lancelot
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 43,212
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Vampires Are Known, AU: Werewolves Exist, vampire!arthur, bottom!merlin, light bloodplay, creature!fic
Summary: Merlin Emrys, supernatural expert and consultant for the local police, knows that going to the opening night of a vampire bar isn't a good idea, not with anti-vampire sentiments running rampant. So when he draws the eye of the bar's charismatic owner, and the new Master of the City, Arthur Pendragon, he's not exactly pleased.
When a series of murders, seemingly the work of vampires, forces them to work together anyway, Merlin unwittingly finds himself falling in love. Suddenly, the lines between work and love are not as cut and dry as they seem.
LOVED this fic! Not quite a True Blood fusion, but you can definitely see the inspiration here, and it works so, so well! I love how all the characters are incorporated and the tension and pull between Merlin and Arthur is seriously electric. Such a fun read!
♥ Title: We Pull These Jobs To Make A Little Money (No One Gets Hurt If They Don't Act Funny)
Author:
leashy_bebes
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, Leon/Elena, Will/Freya, Gwen/Lancelot, past Leon/Morgana
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 48,918
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, bottom!merlin, implied switching
Summary: Arthur and his friends have been making their money this way for years. It's all they know and they're good enough to get away with it. Merlin grudgingly works in a bank, wishing his days away. Their worlds collide and everything changes.
AKA: Bank robbers of the round table.
OMG this fic is awesome! I love Arthur and his merry band of bank robbers, and adorable Merlin as a bank teller was perfect. I adored the connection between Merlin and Arthur here, and the sex was just unbelievably hot. Really fun plot, and just an all-around super enjoyable read!
Title: Counterpoint
Author:
PlaneJane
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, background Leon/Gwen, Freya/Percival
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 56,481
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Dystopia, first time, bottom!merlin, arranged marriage
Summary: Twenty years after The Great Purge and the continuing effects of a High Priestess’s curse, Albion is a nation on the brink of collapse. Not even High Chancellor Uther Pendragon’s Compatibility Regime can curb the plummeting population. To add to his troubles, his wayward son, Arthur, makes no disguise of his unwillingness to wed. With good reason. Arthur is secretly leading the Movement, a covert organisation plotting to overthrow the government and return magic to Albion. Not to mention, it’s been foreseen that Arthur’s future, his destiny, is an indomitable union with a warlock-not marriage to the farm-boy matched to him by Uther’s Compatibility Machines.
Really interesting dystopia fic! Fascinating read.
Title: The Lonely King
Author:
corilannam
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 56,777
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non- Magical, AU: Royalty, first time, bottom!merlin, king!arthur, teacher!merlin
Summary: The Prince of Wales at his school. Merlin was sure it was all just a very bad joke. A modern royalty AU.
Really fabulous Modern Royalty AU. I adored Arthur and Merlin and seeing their attraction to each other and watching their relationship evolve. And all the supporting characters were really wonderful.
Title: Good News (is on the way)
Author: derryere
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, Arthur/OMCs, Arthur/OFCs, past Arthur/Gwen, mention of Gwen/Lancelot
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: ~61,000
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non- Magical, underage, age difference, first time, bottom!merlin, rimming, merlin glomp fest 2011
Summary: Arthur, a travelling businessman, decides to rent a room with the Wyllt family while in town. Hunith is charmed. Her son, Merlin, is not.
This fic gacve me a lot of feels. It's got some glorious age disparity combined with underage and doesn't shy away from the guiltywrong feels that come along with it. But the chemistry between Merlin and Arthur can't be denied, and watching Arthur struggle nd try to come to terms with his feelings is wonderful. It's sexy, and heartbreaking, and bittersweet, and beautiful, especially when they find their way back to each other.
♥ Title: The Student Prince
Author:
FayJay
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, mild Merlin/OMC, background Gwen/Lancelot
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 145,222
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: University, AU: Reincarnation, bottom!merlin, implied switching, semi-public!sex, bathroom!sex, face-fucking, some dirty talk
Summary: A Modern day Merlin AU set at the University of St Andrews, featuring teetotal kickboxers, secret wizards, magnificent bodyguards of various genders, irate fairies, imprisoned dragons, crumbling gothic architecture, arrogant princes, adorable engineering students, stolen gold, magical doorways, attempted assassination, drunken students, shaving foam fights, embarrassing mornings after, The Hammer Dance, duty, responsibility, friendship and true love...
Oh man, this is just a brilliant fic! Really fabulous Modern AU, with Merlin as still magical and Arthur as the Prince of Wales. Their relationship and banter here is perfection, and I adored how all the other characters were worked into the story. The tension and chemistry was amazing, and the sex scenes were all the hotter for it. There are definitely subtle themes of reincarnation, but I liked how that wasn't overpowering, that their old lives didn't take over the narrative. Amazing fic.
Threesome Fics
Title: Up for It
Author:
kitty_fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin/Gwaine
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 5,882
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, threesome, m/m/m, semi-public!sex, dirty talk, friends with benefits
Summary: A night at the movies with two of Merlin's best mates ends up much different and more enjoyable than he expected.
Oh god, this is so hot and the dirty talk is phenomenal.
Title: Landed Series (4 Fics)
Author:
Magnolia822
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, Arthur/Merlin/Gwaine, Arthur/Merlin/Percival
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 16,293
Content/Warnings: AU: Modern, AU: Non-Magical, established relationship, threesome, m/m/m, public!sex, dirty talk, voyeurism, airplane!sex, bottom!merlin, bottom!arthur
Summary: On a transatlantic flight, Gwaine has the good fortune to be seated next to two good-looking blokes. They're perfect strangers. Or are they?
Dear fucking lord is this unbelievably hot! Loved Arthur and Merlin's relationship here, and the threesomes were smoking hot. Arthur/Merlin is the romantic pairing here, and the threesomes are hook-ups, FYI.
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