I-J’s Top 20 Bookmarks of 2022
Hey all! It’s that time of the year that I round up all my fave bookmarks of 2022 and present them to y’all. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending upon how you look at it), I once again didn’t read a lot of new Johnlock fics this year, to again, I placed all of my Johnlock bookmarks on this year’s list (I think it’s because I keep choosing to read longer fics so I’m slower at it), and rounded it out with some other fics I read this year, this time from Moon Knight, which stole my soul this year and makes up almost 60 of my bookmarks this year.
I apologize for getting so lost there, but it IS a great show and the fics that stayed in-canon-ish were great. Picking 10 from the huge list of them was very difficult; if you guys are interested, I did file all of them too, and can share all of them as well in a different non-Sunday post, LOL.
Anyway, this year I decided to put the Johnlock ones first so you guys can skip the MK ones if you want, but I DO implore you to give them a read as well if you enjoyed the D+ Moon Knight series… The characterizations are fantastic and a few AUs as well <3
I hope you guys enjoy what I’ve picked out, and here’s to another year of fic recs!
ALL JOHNLOCK BOOKMARKS (10)
Octopus by glass_rose_paperweight (G, 705 w., 1 Ch. || Established Relationship, Fluff, Bed Sharing, Limpet Sherlock) – A week after Sherlock and John finally get together, and John is finding sharing a bed with Sherlock Holmes to be … difficult, sometimes. If not downright suffocating.
Not Enough by ladylindaaa (G, 4,566 w., 1 Ch. || Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Friends to Lovers, Inexperienced Sherlock, Humour, Giggling, Caring John, Nervous Sherlock, Adorable Sherlock, Smitten John, Fluff) – This is getting a bit unbearable, now. Well… more than a bit.
A Thousand Words by Silvergirl (M, 10,288 w., 5/? || WIP || Fluff, Fics Based on Art, Multi-Ficlets, Gift Ficlets) – A picture’s proverbially worth a thousand words and frequently inspires them, though sometimes the words are many more or many fewer, as per the Muse’s whim. Thank you to all the artists who do fanworks: they are a constant inspiration. I’ll add ficlets whenever an artist gives me permission to use their creation that way, and either include the original or link to it.
A Comprehensive Taxonomy of Tobacco-Ash by Silvergirl (E, 11,475 w., 2 Ch. || No TRF AU || Cranky Sherlock, Alternating POV’s, Self-Esteem Issues, Jealous John, Pining John, Confessions, First Kiss, Frottage, Bed Sharing, Sensuality, Cuddling, Touching) – A handsome academic approaches Sherlock about publishing his magnum opus on tobacco-ash in a prestigious scientific journal. Sherlock is quite flattered and flustered, and John’s nose is out of joint.In this little AU there is no Fall and no Mary. Instead, there is humor and smut. Truly a disproportionate amount of smut.
The Slow Dance and Death of a Carbon Copy by batslikepastel (T, 15,576 w., 8 Ch. || Angst with Happy Ending, Mutual Pining, Mental Health Issues, Mary is Not Nice, Idiots in Love, Eventual Fluff, Developing Relationship, Alcoholism, Love Confessions, BAMF John, First Kiss) – He hasn’t talked to Sherlock outside the bedroom since that first night. Today, though, when Sherlock painstakingly makes John’s favourite breakfast- eggs Benedict- he smiles delightedly and kisses his cheek. “Thanks, Mary.” The first sign of delusion.
Domestic Matters by ohlooktheresabee (M, 29,404 w., 6 Ch. || Fantasy AU || First Meetings, Developing Relationship, Fluff and Angst, Domestic Fluff, BAMF Sherlock, BAMF John, Idiots in Love, Misunderstandings, Supernatural Elements, Implied / Referenced Child Abuse, Elf Sherlock, Human/Elf Politics, Emotional Abuse, Possessive Sherlock, Anxious Sherlock, Buddy Greg) – All flatmates need to work out domestic matters between them - who does the dishes, who takes out the rubbish, how often does the carpet need to be vacuumed - these are part and parcel of sharing a living space together. However, when you’re an elf and your flatmate is going to be a human you just met, this rather complicates things…Very loosely inspired by ‘The Elves and The Shoemaker’ by The Brothers Grimm.
Sentenced by SarahKnight (T, 42,194 w., 30 Ch. || Post-HLV, Alternate S4 Canon, Developing Relationship, Drama, Angst, Pining, Feelings are Hard, Prison, Case Fic, Failing Marriage, BAMF John, Sherlock Whump, Investigating John, Threats of Rape/Non-Con, Friendship/Love) – Virtual series 4 opener. Sherlock’s in prison being targeted by a murderer, John’s married to a pregnant assassin and Moriarty’s back.
Swallow the Night by ArwaMachine (E, 87,873 w., 15 Ch. || TSo3/Stag Night Fix It, TAB/S4 Divergence, Toplock, Mutual Pining, PWP, Drunk / Public Sex, Anal Fingering/Sex, Alcohol-Induced Amnesia, Everyone Knows Except Them, Emotional Love Confession, Demisexual Sherlock, Internalized Homophobia [John], Parentlock with Rosie, First Kiss, Drug Relapse, Infidelity, Texting, Masturbation, Oblivious John, Emotional Love Making, Angst with Happy Ending, Dreams and Nightmares) – “Do you know how long,” John panted, his cheek scraping against the wall, looking back at Sherlock through half-closed eyes, “I’ve wanted this?” Sherlock pressed himself against John’s back, biting at John’s ear. “Not nearly as long as I have,” he whispered.
Bakers with Benefits by Raina_at (E, 88,130 w., 14 Ch. || Great British Bake Off AU || Strangers to Lovers, Switchlock, Friends with Benefits, Mentions of Alcoholism / Past Drug Use, Banter, Flirting, Fluff, Light Angst, Semi-Public Sex, Past Sherlock/Victor, Mutual Pining, POV Sherlock, Obsessive Sherlock, John’s Bum) – Sherlock Holmes has a successful YouTube baking channel, but what he really wants is his own bakery. When an old friend sends him a call for the very first Great British Bake Off, he seizes the opportunity to finally win a sponsor for his bakery. Here’s the plan: Win Bake Off, get the bakery, don’t fall in love with the handsome Army doctor at the neighbouring station. Easy.
Drawn to Stars by Silvergirl (E, 109,272 w., 60 Ch. || S4 Compliant to TLD / TFP Doesn’t Exist, Sherlock’s Italian Adventure, Sherlock/OC and Johnlock, Jealous John, Mutual Pining, Misunderstandings, First Kiss/Time, Idiots in Love, 3 Part Story, Slow Burn, Inexperienced Sherlock, Bottom Sherlock, Introspection, Alternating First and Third Person POV, Separation and Reconciliation, Emotional Love Making, Love Confessions via Letters, Angst with Happy Ending) – After the Culverton Smith case Sherlock is clean, working, and looking for a romantic partner—since John has told him that’s what he needs. Shame John didn’t mention he was interested in that role himself, before Sherlock went off to Rome with a gorgeous Italian copper to try to fall in love and become a complete human being. Part 1 of the Drawn to Stars series
MOON KNIGHT (10)
the pieces that remain by Nanashi07 (T, 3,419 w., 1 Ch. || MOON KNIGHT [2022] || Post-E6, Character Study, Moving On, Emotional Hurt / Comfort, Marc’s Self Esteem / Lost Marc, Co-Fronting, Supportive Steven, Separate Bodies in Mindspace, Comforting Each Other) – After Khonshu, Marc and Steven try to move on. Part 1 of burning bridges
Trying by a_silver_sun (T, 3,641 w., 1 Ch. || MOON KNIGHT [2022] || Marc’s Father, Dissociation / DID, Protective Steven, Supportive Layla, Childhood Trauma, Attempting to Mend Relationships) – Today wasn’t supposed to go like this. They knew this would be hard, they all did, but he and Steven had apparently hammered everything out over the course of several days. There had been discussions and agreements and arguments. The only thing lacking was notarized signatures, Marc had joked, and in retrospect, Layla realized how incredibly naive she’d been to assume that Marc could crack jokes about a topic as serious as this one was a positive step. But of course, nothing was ever that easy. Maybe he and Steven should have made their agreement legally binding, though how anyone could ever enforce that, she would never know.
We’re Not Who We Used To Be by thefandomlife (T, 4,189 w., 1 Ch. || MOON KNIGHT [2022] || Alternate Post-Canon, They Know About Jake, Marc / Layla / Steven, Jake-Centric, Jake POV, Autistic System, Overly-Protective Jake, Protective Steven, Soft Steven, Separate Bodies in Headspace, Headspace World Building, Stubborn Steven, Jake Secretly Serves Khonshu, DID, Marc’s Trust Issues, Implied / Referenced Child Abuse, Fluff and Angst) – From a very early age, Jake had learned to prioritize their body and sanity over everything else; nothing got in the way of Jake protecting the three of them from outside forces, absolutely nothing. He would willingly (if not a little hesitantly) go through a mental health break for Marc and Steven’s sake. Or, an au where Jake reveals his identity to Marc and Steven right off the bat in order for them to not suspect his agreement with Khonshu. Part 2 of Safe Space
an invisible distance by acatalepsy (T, 5,625 w., 1 Ch. || MOON KNIGHT [2022] || Episode 4 Missing/Alternate Scene, Steven/Layla, Multiplicity/Plurality, C-PTSD, Mental Health Issues, Hurt/Comfort, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Layla POV, Mutual Crush, Flashbacks, Implied/Referenced Suicidal Ideation, First Kiss, Fighting Off Dissociation, Discussions About DID, Supportive Layla, Poetry) – Steven dissociates. Layla tries her best to help.
selenography in regard to the human mind by RJam9 (T, 6,877 w., 1 Ch. || MOON KNIGHT [2022] || S1E6 Divergence, Aware of Each Other / Still Moon Knight, Character Study, Humour, Banter, Protective Marc, Light Angst, Alter Bonding, Co-Fronting, The Goldfish, Learning to Live Their Own Lives, Communicating with Journals/Post-Its, Developing Steven/Layla, Repairing Relationships) – Between the three of them — Marc and Steven and Jake — the only one with any experience living with another person is Marc, and that relationship ended up with him fleeing from his partner and some unsigned divorce papers. Living together now is a learning curve for all of them. Part 1 of the using syzygy in place of a metaphor series
integration by bibliocratic (T, 6,924 w., 1 Ch. || MOON KNIGHT [2022] || Alternating Timeline Storytelling, Kidnapping, Implied / Referenced Torture, Drugging, Steven Whump, Jake-centric, Co-Fronting, Protective Jake, Learning to Get Along, Alter Bonding, Recovery) – Jake has to step up when Steven steps back. This is much easier said than done.
The Better Half by Rheanna (T [M], 10,763, 1 Ch. || MOON KNIGHT [2022] || Marc / Layla / Steven, Canon Compliant, Breakfast, Co-Fronting, DID / Mental Health Discussions, Communication, Marc’s Past, Threesome, Jake Reveal Mention, Worried Steven/Marc) – Steven gets married. Layla gets breakfast. Marc gets used to living an untidy life.
perilune by Pokimoko (T, 14,000 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S1, Marc / Layla / Steven, Jake & Layla Friendship, POV Layla, Romance, Fluff, Asexual System, Aromantic Jake, Queerplatonic Relationships, Light Angst, Protective Layla, Allosexual/Asexual Relationship, Established Relationship, Touch-Averse Jake, DID, Communication, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Soft Jake, Autistic System, Panic Attack, Insecure Marc) – In which Layla and Marc go to a party and share an important talk, Layla and Steven go on a date under the stars, and Layla and Jake go out for breakfast and come to a realisation.
so this could be the death of me (or maybe just a better me) by darkerintheday (G, 25,029 w., 4 Ch. || MOON KNIGHT [2022] || Protective System, Hurt/Comfort, Dissociation, Feral Protection of Each Other, Emotional Protector Steven, Protective Jake, BAMF Marc, Smart-Ass Steven, Language Barriers, Kidnapping / Torture, Murder, Discussions on Morality, Loneliness / Light Jealousy) – One time Marc saves Steven, one time Jake saves Marc, and one time Steven saves Jake. (And so forth.)
What we Are Series by DriftingPieces (T, 38,716+ w. across 3 works || Series WiP || MOON KNIGHT [2022] || System Bonding, Communication, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Implied / Referenced Past Child Abuse, Gentle Marc / Layla / Steven / Jake Romance, Implied Autistic System, DID, Protective System, Protective Layla) – Marc and Steven have returned to their flat in London shortly after everything in Cairo. But there’s just something Steven can’t get out of his head. What really happened when they both blacked out? Where do they go when they think they are sleeping?
