Merlin/Arthur Modern AUs Rec List A-H
Merlin/Arthur Modern AUs A-H
(go to: I-O ; P-Z ; Canon Era)
All the recs are previously posted alone on my journal. You can find them (and all the new recs that aren't on this list yet) via my Merlin rec tag. I'm on my way to use a wonderful tagging system for all my recs, hopefully allowing you to find your way to the recs that interest you the most easily. You can easily reach my LJ-induced tag list. And you can ask me for a new tag here.
New recs (meaning, new since the last update) are preceeded by a beautiful NEW! (original isn't it?)
- A -
Accusations Fly, by winterstorrm ; NC-17; 19 chapters; 70k words; Warning : age difference.
A/S: New in town, relationship shy Arthur Pendragon meets Merlin Emrys and gets more than he bargained for. Is he setting himself up for a fall; or will the course of true love run smooth for once?
Winterstorrm is one of the best porn writer in the fandom, I think. And this story is a wonderful exemple of it. But, and that's where it gets even better, this story also has a great plot to its porn, so you get truly swallowed by it until the end.
All I Want For Christmas Is You, by dreamdustmama ; NC-17 ; Two Parts ; 18.5k words
A/S : 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.
Maybe you don't know yet but I LOVE Company AUs... And I love pining!Arthur who is completely unable to express his feelings and act like a prat because it's the only way he knows how to act. Merlin is very cute in this fic (when isn't he ?) and special bonus for going to buy a real Christmas Tree because plastic ones are just lame and sad ! Oh and there's Gwaine and Elena !!! And a PUPPY !!!!! All in a Good Cause, by themadlurker ; PG ; Two Parts ; 15 500 words
A/S : Arthur should have known better than to get involved with another one of Morgana's charity events.
This fic is terribly cute and fluffy, and Arthur is absolutely wonderful. Morgana is very canon-like manipulative, which can even be a bit disturbing, but it's for a good cause, and Merlin and Arthur are so incredibly sweet together that you understand her point. The writing is amazing, and you get swalloweed by the story at the very beginning and until the very end. (Point is : I've been supposed to go eating 25 minutes ago and I'm still here, desperate to share this with you because this is so wonderful!)
All Things Are Ours, by cassie_black12 ; PG-13; 3 Parts; 24k words
A/S : Wherein Arthur gets a new job, Morgana speaks Welsh, and Gwen introduces Merlin to the finer points of Facebook stalking!
This is one of the first Company!fic I ever read, and I remember it vividly. Morgana speaking Welsh especially. I love how Arthur is so very prattish by being so reluctent of being away from London, how Morgana is being incredibly clever about the whole situation, how Merlin is utterly and adorabely Merlin-esque and how Gwen, and Leon, and Lance are gorgeous.
And Then They Kiss, by giselleslash ; NC-17 ; One-Shot ; 5300 words
A/S : Five kisses and the one that started them all.
This fic stands in the Five Days In New York verse but it can be read alone, but I recommand to read them both. But this fic is full of love and wonderful, and I love how everything is so intense and full and everlasting. Really a wonderful fic !!!
Arcane Asylum, by new_kate ; NC-17 ; 16 Chapters ; 125k words
A/S : For the last twenty two years Uther Pendragon had been waging war on magic. Now his son Arthur has been framed for a magical crime and sent to the prison for magic users. Arthur is instantly targeted by the inmates, but mysterious top dog Merlin takes him under his wing. They form a bond, and Merlin decides to help Arthur clear his name.
Okay... To give you an idea, I just ended this fic, and it's 7am. I'm working at 9am. I haven't slept. Shall I say it again ? This fic is an utter piece of amazingness. This is a wonderful wonderful Magic!Modern AU and all the characters are incredible and complete and complicated and everything. Merlin is totally awesome. We're mostly following Arthur's POV with amazing side Uther and Merlin's POV, and this is just completely great. I think I'm starting to miss adjectives to characterize how gorgeous this fic is. It is. Really.
Arthur Pendragon and the Philosopher's Sword, by a8c_sock ; NC-17 ; 7 Parts ; 63k words ; Harry Potter Fusion
A/S : Arthur Pendragon was living a normal, mundane life, when he received a mysterious letter inviting him to the magical University of Camelot. Despite his scepticism before long he found himself being whisked of to a world of magic, mystery and destiny. His life would never be the same again.
This fic is not a crossover, it's a fusion, meaning it takes the idea and the general plot of the universe and the first book of Harry Potter but creates an entirely Merlin-esque version of it. And this is WONDERFUL!!! To tell you the truth, now I'm waiting excitedly for a second fic, then a third, then a... seventh to appear! The magic and the feelings this fic unfolds are similar to the ones you get reading Harry Potter (and this is probably the biggest compliment I could ever give) but the story and the characters remains completely belonging to Merlin and its universe. No element of the HP universe hasn't been re-thought and addapted to a Merliner version of it. There's no stealing in it, it's entirely new and yet completely born from the two universe. I really really love this fic, and hope you'll do as well!
- B -
NEW! The Beautiful Game, by pjbean ; PG-13 ; 8 Parts
A/S : No Author's Summary... Have mine: Merlin and Arthur are professional footballers and long time friends. When the FIFA, supported by the football legend Uther Pendragon, introduces the "Parent Rule" which allows only players with same-nationality parents and born on the territory to play for their national team, Merlin doesn't think his unknown father is going to be of any relevance. But then is he called to play along Arthur at Manchester United...
This story is making you become a footie fanatic for a while. You truly are out for Uther's and Nimueh's blood, and cheer and boos along with the OC!supporters. Talking about OCs, Owain (who stands for Lancelot) and Gwain and Sir Alex and even Tristiano Ronaldo (YES!) are absolutely amazing. Morgana is a professional singer, Gwen her PA, Sophia her rival (but she is no match for Morgana's greatness, of course :p) and all of them are amazing and very IC while being nicely adapted to this AU settings. Uther is infuriating, Nimueh (it's the last name of a male player... You het used to it very quickly) even more (and if you have ever watched a football match with Italy/Spain/Portugal you will know his type). But more importantly, Merlin and Arthur are AMAZING! There's not the whole "omg-I-love-him-but-I-can't" angsty-Ust thingy, and it's a relief, because you can focus on a relationship where people don't only live inside their heads. A real good fic.
NEW! Before I Go To Sleep, by hereticalvision ; PG-13 ; Two Parts ; 12,500 words
A/S : Trapped by his father's expectations and his own fears, Arthur can see no way out of a life which is strangling him - until Merlin blunders into his life.
This fic shot right to my heart when I read it, and I would have recced it immediately if I wasn't so emotional at the time. Arthur is falling away, because of everything, and Merlin is simply fantastic. But, and it made me love the story even more, he's not the only one, and apart from him and the other people helping Arthur (Leon <3), Arthur is also very decided to help himself and that, my friend, is the best thing that could come out of such a fic. I have a lot of love for this story, and I hope you'll love it too
Be Resigned, by frantic_allonsy ; NC-17; 14 Parts; Lots of words
A/S : The first time Lt Arthur Pendragon properly met A1C Merlin Emrys, he was doing push-ups on the floor of the Fort Campbell weather station.
So, as you maybe can guess by the summary, this is an Air Force Modern AU. I have to admit I find the military world fascinating, but even if you don't, this fic is a jewel. It's a long, full of adventure, exciting path into a complicated romance, and it's multimedia !! (Since it's "take your fandom to work, the lovely writer added a lot of photos inside the story) I remember doing a sleepless night over this (and I couldn't sleep all day after that because I had to work !) and not regretting it at all !
Best Man, by lamardeuse ; PG-13 ; One-Shot ; 9826 words
A/S : Arthur needs a date for Gwen's wedding. The rest is history.
This is the kind of story you think is the obvious ok-we-know-how-it-s-gonna-go story. This is kind of true. Kind of. But it's also an awesome story. The way Merlin is an activist against everything Arthur is, the way they dance around each other, the way Gwen and Lancelot are completely delusionnal about marriage, but still incredibly in love and badass, the way Morgana melds her way into her brother's love life (and we thank her for that!).... it's all amazingness.
A Binding Contract, by eldee ; Twelve parts; NC-17; 99k words; Warnings: sex trade work; authority figures (control over magic); some violence; mentions of minor character death
A/S : In a society where people with magic are considered to be dangerous, are labelled as freaks, and have their powers cut off from them, Merlin does whatever he can to survive the hard life he’s faced with. When he’s in desperate need of money, Merlin’s landlord Aredian arranges and offers a magically binding contract in which Merlin is to become a ‘companion’ to Uther Pendragon’s son, Arthur. And when Merlin feels compelled to accept it, he never would have imagined that one man could change his life so completely.
This is a wonderful Modern AU with magic. They are usually not my favourite, but this one is really great. The modern world "with magic" is quite believable, the character are very touching and I love how Morgana and Nimueh are treated to be close to the show but particular to this fic. Arthur and Merlin are gorgeous, of course, and I love Freya and Leon (and Will, but Leon is really... great.)
NEW! A Bit Like Love, by inadaze22 ; NC-17 ; 4 Parts ; 24k words
A/S: True love and soul mates are myths. Arthur's always believed that. Fate, however, has a different opinion on the matter, and Morgana happens to agree. Unfortunately, she's always right about these things.
This AU is magical, in every sense. Morgana and Merlin have the most useless superpowers of the world, Uther is actually amazing in his own way, Gwen and Lancelot are the sappiest, nicest couple ever, Leon is long-suffering but he's doing it right, the OCs are amazing and the story is just perfect because it looks like life. Just, so much love.
The Boy Next Door by lady_ragnell ; PG-13 ; One-Shot ; 6800 words
lady_ragnell 's fics are generally very fluffy. And this one is the fluffiest of all her fics. But if you like sugar, this is delightful. The boys are climbing mountains of cuteness and the reader ends up with an huuuuge smile.
Burning for Burning, by frantic ; NC-17 ; Two Parts ; 14k words
A/S : Merlin finds out that his boyfriend is cheating on him. So he goes to his best friend Arthur for some advice on how to confront the cheating boyfriend...
This fic is a fill on KMM... I advise to not read the prompt before reading because it's a spoiling spoilery spoiler. But the fic is gorgeous ! Firstly, the porn is absolutely magnificient, really. Secondly the plot is well done and interesting. Thirdly the character are amazing. You get completely caught in the story and can't stop reading until the very last line !!! A great fic !
- C -
Camelot, by dreamdustmama ; NC-17 ; 2 Parts ; 11k words
A/S : When Merlin and Will are assigned to do the Birds of Prey show at Camelot Renaissance Faire, neither of them are very happy about it. And then Will gets to dress as a pirate and discovers steak-on-a-stick. Merlin just meets Arthur (and maybe does some magic, too).
There's magic in that one too, but nicely and without showing off. This is real fun, because Arthur and Merlin snog like teenagers, and basically everybody works on a fair so they're all big teenagers. And Will and Merlin firendship is amazing. And there's hot sex, too.
Camelot Industries by dracosoftie ; NC-17; Four parts; 27k words
A/S : The fate of his father’s company is on the line, and Arthur Pendragon must learn to trust others to help him -and put himself out there, both with Camelot Industries and with Merlin Emrys, the tech genius who has caught Arthur’s interest. Camelot Industries may never be the same after Arthur and his so-called knights of the roundtable are through with it.
This is a great Company Fic. Morgana and Merlin are especially loveable, and it's quite funny to see Merlin as a computer nerd since he is so fumbling in Canon : might be his magic ! There is one moment in the snow I especially remember because I found it really beautiful, and I would advise to read the fic only for it even if the rest was awful, which it is obviously not.
Camelot's Sweethearts, by mariana_oconnor ; R ; 7 Parts ; 63k words
A/S : Arthur is a film star, Merlin is his personal assistant who might, possibly be head over heels in love with him. However, Arthur’s more interested in his ex, Morgana, and then the mysterious Sophia to notice… Oh, and Will is awesome.
This is a Reel fic so if you've seen the movie, maybe it won't be as pleasurable. But if you don't know the story, this is an excellent fic and the characters fit perfectly (not only the main ones, but also Gaius or Uther or Sophia...) ! You really ought to read this !
NEW! Castle (the rule by which we live), followed by The Audition, followed by Safe, by kick_flaw ; NC-17 ; Five Parts (2+2+1) ; 20k words ; Warning : BDSM and all that entails, including D/s relationships, knifeplay, bondage, painplay, orgasm denial and so on. Please do not read this fic if anything related to BDSM or self-shame squicks or triggers you. Additional warnings - For The Audition: public sex, fisting, implied crossdressing. For Safe: knifeplay, bloodplay
A/S : Merlin knows that getting off fastest when he’s got some BDSM porno playing loud on the computer doesn’t mean he’d really like to be that bloke, gagged and bent over and bound. Right?
Ok. This fic can be very disturbing, and if you're not too sure about wanting to read it, don't go ok ? But if you think you can get something froim it, go read it, now! What are you waiting for? This is a truly truly magnificiently HOT piece of writing. And though it's not only porn, because the feelings are incredibly despicted and the building of relationships, and the work on denial and desire and everything. This is really wonderful.
Now comes with two amazing sequels, very different from each other, though: The Audition left me breathless. This is incredible incredible porn, and relatively "soft" in a BDSM scene. The love between the two is really really incredible, and I think it's what makes this even more hot and turning on. - Safe is seriously not to put in every hands! We're talking about knifeplay and bloodplay! But if you feel you can manage it, run read it too, because it is seriously amazing, and the trust implied in such a practice is amazing!
Champagne from a paper cup (is never quite the same), by anna_zee ; NC-17 ; 4 Chapters ; 38k words
A/S : Modern AU with magic. Arthur is a professional footballer on the verge of making history. Merlin is a medical student with special powers who's just been hired to work for Arthur's club. You know the rest.
The idea of writing a football!AU is great because Arthur has this footie side to him independantly to the fact that Bradley is a footie man. And there it fits wonderfule. This story, overall, is fantastic. It's all you can wait for with this kind of summary, and yet it doesn't disappoint. The side characters are wonderful and agreably present but not-too-much, and Merlin (who's POV we are following) is nicely despicted. The funny thing is that his gift is healing magic, which Canon!Merlin sucks at... But it works well, and grant us a very nice read!
NEW! Coffeeshop Muffins, by skellerbvvt ; R ; Two Parts
A/S : Wherein Arthur And Merlin Are Dating, Save For the Part Where They Aren't. Also There Needs To Be A Girl Version Of “Bromance” But That’s a Discussion For Another Time.
This is the fluffier fluffy fluff I ever read, and it's not even in a bad way. Gwen spends the fic squealing, and we do it with her, because basically Gwen is the extension of the reader in this fic (except for the part where she dates Morgana, and I only wish I could :p). Arthur and Merlin are a married couple except for the part where they aren't dating. And it's Sophia, who I actually have a lot of sympathy for, who is the unfortunate subject of their so-called straightness. Anyway. There's two alternate ending, one romance version (the first half of part two) one bromance (the second half). I obciously backs up the first but if you like their bromance as it is (and it is very understandable) the second one is great also. Anyway, everything about this fic is a delight, so you might as well (re)read it now.
The Could In People, by junkshop_disco ; R ; One-Shot ; 8500 words
A/S : As Christmas approaches, Merlin wonders how on earth he's going to introduce his boyfriend Arthur - son of the infamous Tory cabinet bigwig Lord Pendragon - to his lefty, CND protester, egg-throwing, mum.
This is a very sweet fic, and its title is enough to make me love it. And the inside is even better than the title. It's taking the differences between Arthur and Merlin to their summum, and then show that they can still be together, and there's even some sort of destiny call and it's too cute and happy. And Gwaine is very IC. And as I love Gwaine in the show.......
NEW! Could It Be Magic, by planejane ; NC-17 ; 2 Parts ; 12,5k words
A/S: It’s early 1994, and age of consent for gay men is lowered from twenty-one to eighteen, which frees nineteen-year-old Merlin to pursue the Lesbian and Gay Society (LGSoc) golden boy, Arthur Pendragon. From the very beginning the attraction is mutual, but what they both discover as they fall head over heels, is that an even bigger freedom comes from knowing you’re truly loved, for everything you are.
It's the kind of fic that appears any other day on finder communities, because there's so many details in it to remember, so many backstory that you only get a glimpse of, and it's so full of love and amazingness and everything that you cannot help but try and look for this fic again because you need to re-read it. There's tears and hope and smile and life and it's everything you need.
Crépuscule, by emei ; R ; 4 Parts ; 11k words
A/S : Paris!AU. Merlin is a struggling writer living in a bookstore. Arthur's an exchange student. If they hadn't met, Arthur's life would have ended under the wheels of a parisian bus.
This fic first appeal to me is that it takes place in Paris. I live in Paris and the Paris this fic describes is one I know very well and love. This fic is kinda melancolic, almost romantic, and the characters are incredibly attaching. It goes slowly and tenderly, and there's a feeling behind this fic that makes it great without being pretentious. This is a very very lovely fic.
- D -
Deny Thy Father (or on LJ), by arineat ; R ; One Part ; 26k words
A/S : When Arthur refuses to marry the woman his father has picked out for him, he loses everything; his job, his status and the only life he's ever known. With the help of his estranged step-sister and a few odd new friends, will Arthur be able to stand on his own two feet and finally find what he never thought he could have?
This is a wonderful wonderful fic I've already read a few times and can't get bored with. Fics where Arthur loses everything after Uther disowns him are often very interesting and exciting and this one doesn't miss the beat. Morgana, Gwen and Merlin are flatmates, and Arthur ends up on their couch... What is interesting is that at some point you understand how much Uther has a different way of thinking that the characters we feel close to in this fic, and it's remaraquable to notice that he probably didn't mean that badly in his own vision. And the romance is wonderful. And they're being competitive with Starbucks, and I approve!!!!
The Detective!AU by givemethebook ; NC-17 (though there is a PG-13 version available) ; 146 drabbles; 15k words
A/N : 'Why was it that the most beautiful men usually were the biggest prats?' DS Merlin Emrys asked himself after his first encounter with his new superior, DI Arthur Pendragon. Fighting together against the drug empire of Nimueh Clarkson, the two different men find common ground and develop a deep friendship, which slowly turns into more.
This story is written in the very interesting form of 146 drabbles of 100 words. You can read it like any story, but it has this nice rythm. No long descriptions or dialogue, as you can expect, since every 100 words must have a meaning on its one. Plus the story is very nice. It's a post-series 1 fic (so no knights sorry), but it's still very delightful !
Directional Convergence, by cherrybina ; PG-13 ; One-Shot ; 2500 words
A/S : Merlin tutors Arthur in Calculus, so naturally Arthur sneaks in through Merlin's window so they can make out.
This is probably the best kiss I've ever read. This is pure KISS!PORN people, and the boys are being so... cute. They are of the same age, btw, so no warning ^^
The Double Single by incapricious ; NC-17 ; One-Shot ; 3204 words
A/S : Arthur was supposed to have a single, but instead he has Merlin.
This is a nice, kind of simple, fic. The feelings are coming slowly and smoothly and there's no angst, no violence, but it isn't quite fluff either. It's lovely though. And it's an Univrsity AU which is nice !!
Drastically Redefining Protocol, by ragepuckfrock; NC-17; 6 fics; 65k words
A/S : In which Prince Arthur meets Merlin and all hell promptly breaks lose.
Merlin works at a hospital and Arthur is The Prince of Wales. Slash ensues. More seriously, I think I'm once again hitting in the classics of the Merlin Modern AUs. This is a wonderful multimedia romance, with angst, and seriousness too. And, if you read the 5 ficlets that follows the big 45k main story, you'll get a view of a real, touching couple (even if it can be a bit disturbing, if you want a Walt Disney ending).
Driving Lessons, by hermette ; NC-17 ; One-Shot ; 7k words
A/S : It's bad enough that Arthur is going to have to get a stupid fucking stats tutor because he spends all of his lectures staring at the back of Merlin's neck and wondering what sort of noises he'd make if Arthur scraped his teeth against all that pale skin. But now, now he's supposed to tolerate Merlin showing up at his door early in the morning with snowflakes clinging to his eyelashes? Now he's supposed to spend four hours alone in a car with him, and fuck all, there is no way Arthur comes out of this without making some manner of arse out of himself.
This is the kind of story you can read on any circumstances, but especially if you had a bit of a bad day. This is full of love and sweetness, and snow, and fluff, and I really really love that. Arthur and Merlin are so very endearing, and Hunith is baking for thousand people and Morgana is yelling "Rubbish" at Arthur (which he deserves !!!) and this never fails tào bring a smile to my face !
NEW! Drugstore Flowers, followed by Play On (Drugstore Flowers prequel), followed by The Food of Love, by lady_ragnell ; PG ; 3 Parts ; 7500 words
A/S : Merlin starts to receive lovely gifts (and less-lovely flowers) from a secret admirer.
This is a very very lovely verse. The prequel is wonderful because it's Arthur's POV and we see how clumsy and good-intentioned he is while Merlin (whose POV we see in the main story) is completely oblivious and adorable. (Arthur compares him to a bunny and I keep picturing a fulffy Merlin-bunny with big ears and biiig eyes) The sequel is wonderful too. It sets two years later, when Arthur and Merlin move together and it's possibly even fluffier than the two previous stories. It's a wonderful fic to make you coo.
- E -
Easy There, by syllic ; NC-17; Four Parts (+ Learn About Rowing Inter-Parts) ; 50k words
A/S : Arthur is an Oxford Blue. Merlin is an Oxford cox. Lancelot is Merlin's romantic-dalliance-loving friend. Morgana is horribly clever; Gwen is cleverly waiting for Lancelot to grow up. Merlin and Arthur rub each other the wrong way, at first, but it soon becomes clear that Arthur is a university-class rower with a world-class heart (yes, I typed that). Clichés ensue.
First of all, one of the great things about this fic is that you learn a lot about rowing. And the author is making it pretty fascinating ! You slip into this world and you're taken away until the end of the fic. Secondly, the story is amazing, the romance even more. If you like Sport!AU or University!AU, this is a MUST read !
Echoes of Yesterday (or AO3), by dreamdustmama ; NC-17 ; 7 Parts ; 40k words
A/S : Three years ago Arthur Pendragon was part of a group that resisted the government's ban on magic, and the automatic death penalty for anyone who practiced it. Now, he is alone and in desperate need of the very last person he wants to see - Merlin.
To tell you the truth, I haven't been reading this fic before because of the summary which definitely didn't appeal to me. That, my friends, was a mistake. This fic is some epic piece of awesomeness. Like, really. The resistance!verse is completely incredible, it's a magical AU with a real thought to how it might work (and no Uther anywhere, though), and the relationship between Merlin and Arthur, both of them being too stupid to even talk, which would save them a lot of trouble, is absolutely amazingly despicted. And Morgana is awesome. (Gwen, Lancelot and Leon too...) (Leon is a tech!geek...) (He's gorgeous...) (I need more fics with badass!Leon)
NEW! Edit The Sad Parts, by cyus ; NC-17 ; 10 Parts ; 94k words ; Warning: see summary
A/S : It takes more than a dick to make a guy. Merlin learns this as he goes from eating pussy as a sixteen-year old girl, to fucking other guys with his own cock as a twenty-seven-year old landscaper. The journey's riddled with tears, cocks, and enough self-hate to fill the Channel; but with a little help from his friends, and some mostly-stable relationships, Merlin gets his happily-ever-after in the end.
This fic is overwhelmingly amazing. Really. It's a long story along the path of finding one's true self, through the difficult reality of transexuality, and it's very very beautiful. Even if I'm not particularly close to this thema, the things Merlin goes through are very vivid to my heart - he has a raging depression that made me cry and feel miserable. This story is beautiful and wonderful. It takes you to the core, and sometimes you have to stop reading to not be overwhelmed, but you always get back to it, because it's fascinating, and interesting, and all the characters are so so so amazing. You can feel close to all of them, even though they are all very different. There's an amazing characterization of Elyan, very relevant with his canon self if you think about it. We follow Merlin all the way, and I can't say how much we love him, and we ache and rejoy for him. I could talk about this fic for hours, but please, just go read it!
An Exercise in Holding One's Breath, by Anon ; R ; 15 Parts
Prompt : Arthur has known he was going to marry Merlin since they were little and he said Merlin had stupid ears and Merlin kicked him in the shin. Too bad he never got Merlin to agree to it because they still fight like children.
This is a wonderful, wonderful story. It's not the usual Merlin pining while Arthur gets Sophia, then Vivian and then Gwen... It's the other way around and it's kind of refreshing. And well, there are some heartbreaking moments, and a lot of love. And you can't bring yourself to hate Freya, which is even more interesting. A very very amazing story ! Hope it's de-anoned !
- F -
Fit for a Prince, by lisztful ; PG; One-Shot
A/S : Merlin is a rather hard to please high fashion designer, Arthur is his surprisingly patient and well-read model. Fashion babble and snark ensue, and maybe even love.
This is the kind of story that leaves you yearning for more. There's a bit of an interesting use of the situation, as Merlin is the designer and Arthur the model, and yet, you really find them in these characters. And the side Morgana/Gwen is utterly lovely... Special bonus point for Morgana's job, which fits her very nicely!
Five Days in New York, by giselleslash ; NC-17 ; One-Shot ; 6k words
A/S : Arthur and Merlin in NYC. Five random days and everything that's attached to them. (Or, really, just Merlin and Arthur being completely dumbface in love.)
I have so much love for this fic and there is so much love IN this fic. This is incredible. Everything about this is sweet and wonderful and domestic, and it's a concentration of happiness. This is really amazing. And for those who liked it, there's the kind of sequel And Then They Kiss, because there's never enough love !
NEW! For A While, by eldee ; PG-13 ; One-Shot ; 9660 words
A/S : In which Merlin needs a pretend boyfriend, Arthur can’t say no, and Gwaine laughs at them both.
The fic makes me smile soooo much! The summary is very accurate, and it's exactly the kind of fics I love, so I had no hesitation reading it. And I was right to do so, since this fic is really amazing. There's not an hint of angst, just the boys finally reaching the end of months of obliviousness. And Gwaine laughing at them. (Did I mention that Gwaine is amazing?)
A Fortunate Fall, by raspberry_pop ; R ; 18 Parts ; 98k words
A/S : Single father Arthur Pendragon, at the end of his rope, finds a miracle in the form of a young cashier boy at the local convenience store. As for Merlin, he's not quite sure about what to make of his new job as an au pair for the wealthiest man in town; but he does know that his employer has more than a few skeletons in his closet.
This fic is really really amazing. Mordred is absolutely wonderful, like really really really, and how he takes a liking to Merlin is amazing. Arthur is incredibly wounded and fragile behind a very strong shield and how Merlin slowly manages to get inside it is wonderful. As you can guess by the wordcount, this is not the kind of story when everything happens very easily and instantly, and this adds to the quality of it. And Gwen is incredible. Really.
From Russia with Love, by Anon in kinkme_merlin ; NC-17 ; 11 Parts
Prompt : Arthur/Merlin. Holiday, continent, a no-strings affair. Paid for sex/rape fantasy/bondage/power play/asphixiation etc. Any kink can be worked in, just make it rough and messy.
The fill doesn't fit the prompt exactly. Or... well, it fits the prompt but there's much much much more in it than messy porn. There's the messy porn, though, and it's real good messy porn. But there's a whole espionnage/war/intelligence affair behind it that is really really delightful. The boys are wonderful. Thi story is wonderful and you're gonna LOVE it!
The Fuckmachine followed by Handheld, by lolafeist ; NC-17; Two Parts ; 5800 words
A/S : Arthur stars in an amateur fuck machine porno. Merlin is a wizard. Except not really.
OK. This is pure pure PWP. Like porn like you won't read it again. Absolutely NSFW because you'll end up all red and sweaty in front of your computer. And please, join me in asking for a sequel ! - A sequel has arrived! It's completely filthy again, and very delightful.
The Future Soon by lady_ragnell , NC-17 ; 4 Parts ; 30k words
A/S : Arthur sees a vision of himself and Merlin married and happy, but they can barely stand each other. They both start doing everything they can to avoid it happening.
This is a great modern AU. Really really great. I love how there's a real interesting thinkiçng about how knowing the possible future is influencing us, and Merlin and Arthur don't fall for each other instantly... It's a bit more complicated than it. Morgana is awesome, and the Gwen/Lancelot is too cute for words. (And Elena <3) But I really really love how we see Arthur changing. A wonderful fic !
- G -
The Good Life, by rurounihime ; R ; One-Shot
A/S : Tonight's the night that Merlin will invite Arthur over to his place.
This story almost makes me cry (in a good way) each and every time I read it. It's very hard to rec without spoiling (and spoiling would be horrible) but this is a very very touching and great story. I love how all the feelings are there without words. I find the porn at the end a bit unnessecary (I even don't read it sometimes) but the beginning is really really worth every rec in the world !
Good News (is on the way) by derryere ; NC-17 ; 7 Parts ; 61k words ; Warning : age difference, underage (though nothing under UK age of consent)
A/S : Arthur, a travelling businessman, decides to rent a room with the Wyllt family while in town. Hunith is charmed. Her son, Merlin, is not.
I've heard about this fic quite a lot lately and never decided myself to read it. (Why ? It's a mystery since my first fic in this fandom was Accusation Fly with a nice underage/age difference thingy too...) Anyway, after seeing it again on somebody's rec list, I decided to give it a go... And here I am, a few hours later, positively delighted with my reading. I love how their relationship is progressing - Merlin being, at first, more than a little wary of the newcomer - and how Arthur's POV is showing how he doesn't really know what he feels. He just knows it's there. A great fic really !
- H -
The Hardest Way Possible by lady_ragnell ; PG (?) ; 2 Parts ; 12,5 k
A/S : Merlin's addicted to Craigslist, Arthur's looking for love in all the wrong places, and with a little help from their friends, they manage to get it together.
This is a slow, poetic fic. There's this nice, friendly atmosphere about it which makes me very comfortable reading it, andf wanting to read it again. Plus there's some nice plot and the characters are all very interesting !
Haven, by this_is_kelly ; NC-17 ; 9 Chapters ; 69k words
A/S : A house is just Shelter, but a home is Haven. Merlin and Arthur have been together for nearly five years and now the time has come to answer the question: Do they want to extend their family beyond themselves? As they enter the world of adoption and raising children, they realize that parenting might just be the hardest job they've ever had.
This fic follows the wonderful Shelter which is absolutely wonderful so I really recommand you read it. But it can be read on its own (and you can even read Shelter after that as a prequel). It's a kid!fic as you ever dreamed of one. There's no magic, so it's about adoption, but the long story of Merlin and Arthur having a family and watching it grow and blossom is truly wonderful. The OCs are magnificient, and you really stick to the story till the end. A wonderful read.
Heartbeats, by tourdefierce ; NC-17 ; One-Shot ; 5443 words
A/S : Being a medical student is hard. Puns totally intended.
Basically, this fic is porn. Very hot one, by th way, but porn nontheless. But it's also much more than that, because it's the kind of fic that shows widly the difference between "having sex" and "making love". Arthur and Merlin are making love like crazy, and there are such incredible feelings in this story, such love, that you get out of it with a warm heart and a smile on your face. This sex-making is one big love declaration, and after that, you understand how it is people can stay in love with each other for the rest of their life. Cause as Merlin thinks, there's not enough time for everything you want to do with the other.
Heartbreak, Secret Friends and Stupid Doodles by i_know_its_0ver ; PG-13; Five Parts; 34k wordsA/S: Modern uni AU: Merlin has a secret crush on Arthur, who has no idea who he is. When Arthur has a bad break up, Merlin takes it upon himself to cheer him up. Secretly, of course.
This is very very cute. If you need to be cheered up, this is the perfect fic for you ! And the graphics are just.... awesome. This is really a lovely fic and Merlin is just... awwww *wants to cuddle*
NEW! The House On Castleview Road, by planejane ; NC-17 ; 5 Parts ; 34k words
A/S : Arthur is a handsome and eligible bachelor with a well paid job in the City and a luxury penthouse flat in Canary Wharf. His life is the stuff of dreams ... Just not his. After his sister gets a lodger it seems that Arthur's life has taken an even bigger turn for the worse. Until, of course, he falls in love. Unfortunately, the path to true love is never smooth, and sometimes requires reckless driving, illegal parking and chasing after trains.
This is a handsome fic. "The path to true love" is a pretty good description, actually. It's how Arthur meets Merlin, decides to hate him and FAILS. But there's nothing ridiculous or laughable in this. It's just pretty human and very much life. Merlin is very sweet but not stupidly so, Morgana is Morgana, sometimes telling what's on the back of her mind, regardless of the consequences, but she has a lot of love to give anyway. Gwen and Leon and Uther (<3) are wonderful. And I want someone to do a fanart of Merlin in front of the disguised statue!