Best Johnlock Pining Fanfics
The best pining Johnlock (Sherlock Holmes/John Watson) fanfiction on AO3, curated by popularity. The exquisite torture of loving someone from afar, especially when it's mutual but unspoken.
Top Johnlock Pining Fic Recs
1 pining Johnlock fic matched, followed by other top-rated Johnlock stories.
The Progress of Sherlock Holmes
Piningby ivyblossom
“I had,” he said, “come to an entirely erroneous conclusion, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from insufficient data.”-- Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Speckled Band
The Internet Is Not Just For Porn
by cyerus
John is Sherlock's internet boyfriend - from CANADA.No one thinks he's real.
What Meets the Eye
by worldaccordingtofangirls
Amnesia is just another case to solve. Piece together unfamiliar faces, reconstruct the old identity, the lost reality. A challenge that Sherlock could even enjoy. He can read people like books. The man with the silver hair is his boss. The tottering old woman, his landlady. The girl with the worrie
and stand there at the edge of my affection
by coloredink
"You've written love letters," Sherlock asserted.(Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Polish, Japanese, Slovak, and Hebrew translations available.)
Nature and Nurture
by earlgreytea68
The British Government accidentally clones Sherlock Holmes. Which brings a baby to 221B Baker Street.
Acceptable Behaviour
by bbcatemysoul
Sherlock isn't really sure why John wants to shag him, but he's certain that if he's careful to behave properly about it, John can be persuaded to keep doing it.In other news, John is a good boyfriend and Sherlock is an idiot.(German translation available.)
A Terrific Soporific
by antietamfalls
Sherlock, a long-time sufferer of insomnia, is forced to share a bed with John at a hotel while on a case. To his astonishment, he finds that spending the night next to John helps him sleep and becomes determined to maneuver himself back into John's bed.
The Real Meaning of Idioms
by feverishsea
After two weeks away, John finally texts Sherlock. He doesn't expect Sherlock to respond. He doesn't expect Sherlock to keep texting him. And he really doesn't expect things to spiral out of control so rapidly.
Hitting the Water at Sixty Miles an Hour
by what_alchemy
“You love your mother, Sherlock?”John watched the muscles in Sherlock’s jaw jump. He nodded in one sharp jerk. “Then we’re going to her party and making her happy.” John let out a resigned sigh. “As a ruddy couple, you bastard.”
Empathy
by Blind_Author
John is an empath. Which isn't nearly as much fun as it sounds. Most of the time, it’s not even useful.
State of Flux
by Atiki
John’s marriage is over and he is finally back home (i.e. at Baker Street, where he belongs).Sherlock is awfully insecure and John is awfully hesitant, and they're both awkward idiots, of course, but they figure it out. Many First Times happen.
The Detective and the Demon
by oreganotea
“Every demon on record is described as either monstrously terrifying or breathtakingly beautiful,” Sherlock says. “I have never heard of a demon with a forgettable face and a propensity for ugly jumpers.”The demon looks down at his jumper. Okay, so it might not be the most flattering article of clot
A Cure For Boredom
by emmagrant01
They'd never talked about sex in the year they'd known each other. Well, that wasn't quite correct: Sherlock had never said a word about sex; John had bemoaned his personal dearth of it on many occasions.
Alone On the Water
by Mad_Lori
Sherlock Holmes never expected to live a long life, but he never imagined that it would end like this.
they tell me their secrets (will you tell me yours too)
by etothepii
In Afghanistan, the supplies tell him when they're running low, and the cars always, always tell him when strangers have touched them, and John gets known as having a knack (paranoia, his men call it, but he's never missed a single car bomb) for keeping his men safe.
He’s Not Paid Enough to Deal with This Shit
by janonny
One of the first things John did was to write up step-by-step instructions on how to conduct a proper job interview before handing it over to Mycroft for his perusal. There were no kidnapping, deserted car parks or stolen therapy notes anywhere on that list.(Or the one where John returned from the w
you are a paradigm
by 1electricpirate
Sometimes, only sometimes, when Sherlock is very far away and absolutely guaranteed not to return for at least three hours, John sits on the sofa and lets the tea make itself. In which John is (reluctantly) a wizard, Mycroft is (apparently) omniscient, and Sherlock is (surprisingly) oblivious.
Left
by lifeonmars
John Watson is left-handed.He’s tried not to let it affect his life, but as any Lefty knows, that’s almost impossible.
Once More, With Feeling
by cellard00rs
To put off his meddlesome, matchmaking mother, John convinces Sherlock to play the role of his significant other. Unparalleled awkwardness ensues.
Finding John
by orphan_account
Sherlock Holmes has met exactly twenty-four Johns in his life. They have all been the wrong John. He's getting tired of waiting, staring at the inscription on his finger and wondering when his John will turn up, if ever.
Find More Johnlock Pining Stories on AO3
Browse the full AO3 archive for pining Johnlock fanfiction, sorted by kudos. Then read offline with Fanfict Reader.
Why Pining Johnlock Fanfiction Works So Well
Sherlock Holmes/John Watson — The brilliant detective and his loyal blogger, reimagined in modern London.
Pining — Unrequited or unspoken longing for someone, often with lots of internal anguish.
The intellectual partnership, emotional depth, and undeniable chemistry between these two flatmates. The exquisite torture of loving someone from afar, especially when it's mutual but unspoken. That's why pining Johnlock fanfiction is one of the most consistently popular combinations on AO3.
More Johnlock Tropes
Johnlock · Friends to Lovers
Best friends who realize their feelings run deeper than friendship.
Read friends-to-lovers →
Johnlock · Alternate Universe (AU)
Stories set in a different universe or setting than canon, from coffee shops to space operas.
Read alternate-universe →
Johnlock · Fluff
Light, happy, feel-good stories focused on sweet moments and happiness.
Read fluff →
Johnlock · Amnesia
One character loses their memory, creating angst and opportunities for relationships to be rebuilt from scratch. Past connections are rediscovered or reimagined.
Read amnesia →
Johnlock · Humor
Fic written to make you laugh: crack premises played straight, group-chat chaos, banter-driven romcoms, and comedies of errors starring characters canon treats with deadly seriousness. One of AO3's biggest tags for good reason.
Read humor →
Pining in Other Ships
Love pining? Explore the same trope in other popular pairings:
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