Only the Most Beautiful
The gorgeous, gut-punching, life-affirming fics I come back to time and time again. Sometimes it's love, unrequited or fulfilled. Sometimes it's friendship, family. Sometimes it's angst and horror and unhappy endings, sometimes everything is soft and nothing hurts.
Mostly Marvel, with some other gems. Use the bookmarks to see the full list of works with collector's commentary. Skip to the best-of-the-best if you want to be like that, but they're all the best.
(Maintained by WaterMe)
(Open, Moderated)
Random works
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bury me face down (in your heart) by actionpackedlips
Fandoms: Deadpool - All Media Types, Spider-Man - All Media Types, Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies), Deadpool (Movieverse)
19 May 2020
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Summary
Deadpool hasn't been back in New York since Peter told him, screamed at him, to stay away all those years ago. He hadn't just barred Deadpool from New York, but also from his heart. So when he sees a familiar black and red clad figure on the news, he knows Deadpool's back, and he's fully prepared to go confront him.
He doesn't want any of that anymore, anyway. Or so he's been telling himself daily since the very last time he laid eyes on Deadpool.
Peter's not prepared for what seeing the other man does to his resolve, and he finds what they ended all those years ago picking right back up from where they left off.
Series
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if it's all in my head (tell me now) by notcaycepollard
Fandoms: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV)
24 Apr 2021
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Summary
With the code words, Zemo can do anything.
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An abridged history of Nyota Uhura's experience with Vulcans, including the gay one she dated who became her best friend, and his former betrothed who became her wife.
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Summary
We all know where this is going.
Series
- Part 4 of In Times of War
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not an end, but (the start of all things) by notcaycepollard
Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Captain America (Movies)
01 May 2019
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Summary
They keep driving, for lack of anything better to do. A mission, Sam had said, and maybe that's true; maybe wherever they're headed is the way out, the way up.
Random bookmarks
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Let Our Love Be a Flame (Not an Ember) by Gement for OkayAristotle
Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types
19 Dec 2021
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Summary
"Whatever Gotham City asks of me, I'll give."
Batman arranges a tryst with his beloved city. Mind the tags.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 17,061
- Chapters:
- 8/8
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 215
- Kudos:
- 384
- Bookmarks:
- 97
- Hits:
- 7,607
Bookmarked by WaterMe
12 Jan 2022
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Bookmarker's Notes
“I wanted to see you.”
The man walked closer, gaining height and losing light until he was the streetlight silhouette burned into a child’s memory. “You’ve seen me.” Anything else?
(Like an issue of Sandman, and even in the right 'verse. Mind the tags and then barge right past them. It's worth it, I promise.)
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In an alternate universe where Sirius Black never went to Azkaban, Harry divides his life between the Dursleys' house and Mr. Black's bookshop -- until Sirius realises what the Dursleys are doing to him, and takes him away from their care.
Series
- Part 1 of Stealing Harryverse
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 99,937
- Chapters:
- 11/11
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 1,594
- Kudos:
- 24,685
- Bookmarks:
- 6,578
- Hits:
- 869,462
Bookmarked by WaterMe
21 Jul 2020
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Bookmarker's Notes
I have a total soft spot for "Harry gets to grow up happy" fic :'')
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morning in the burned house by antivenom
Fandoms: Deadpool - All Media Types, Spider-Man - All Media Types
02 Jul 2020
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Summary
Wade’s got a defense mechanism. Grin and bear it.
But the thing is, Wade’s angry into his bones.
(Or, this is what happens when a seemingly unassuming, run-of-the-mill hit gets personal)
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 50,344
- Chapters:
- 13/13
- Collections:
- 5
- Comments:
- 405
- Kudos:
- 2,162
- Bookmarks:
- 567
- Hits:
- 41,196
Bookmarked by WaterMe
06 Jul 2020
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Bookmarker's Notes
In the burned house I am eating breakfast.
You understand: there is no house, there is no breakfast,
yet here I am.
(A deep dive into the past and present of one Wade Wilson. And also one of the most exquisitely heart-wrenching things I have ever read.)
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John isn’t all that interested when he finds out that Mycroft is pregnant. Mary just left, things with Sherlock are difficult, and nothing is the same, most of all not John himself. But then there is a bond needed, a baby born, and it was never meant to happen like this, but somehow...
Family, love, sex, and making it work - the complicated way. Post season three Omega Verse AU!
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 272,549
- Chapters:
- 127/127
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 3,967
- Kudos:
- 2,361
- Bookmarks:
- 376
- Hits:
- 72,525
Bookmarked by WaterMe
06 Oct 2017
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Bookmarker's Notes
This story is the reason I got an AO3 account - I knew I had to keep up with this story as it unfolded, chapter by chapter. It's long, but worth it. Read if you enjoy: realistic interpretations of A/B/O; imperfect but well-intentioned polyamory; adorable genius children; older people being vibrantly sexual beings; burn so slow it physically hurts.
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The Interrogation by magdaliny
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
28 Apr 2018
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Summary
There's a story and it goes like this.
Series
- Part 1 of Notebook No. 6
Bookmarked by WaterMe
21 Jul 2020
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Bookmarker's Notes
Lovelovelove Bucky's voice in this one. Really unique and gorgeous take on post-Civil War Bucky remembering how to Human again.