Ships Tara/Darcy Slow Burn

Best Tara/Darcy Slow Burn Fanfics

The best slow burn Tara/Darcy (Tara Jones/Darcy Olsson) fanfiction on AO3, curated by popularity. Readers love the anticipation, the meaningful character development, and the eventual payoff of a well-earned romance.

Heartstopper 8,000 Tara/Darcy works 850,000 slow-burn works

Top Tara/Darcy Slow Burn Fic Recs

3 slow burn Tara/Darcy fics matched, followed by other top-rated Tara/Darcy stories.

1

Maddie, May I?

Slow Burn

by carrieluvshstpr (solarpunkdreamz)

In the Osemanverse, Nick and Charlie were everyone’s evidence that soul mates truly exist.But what if their teenage friendship never began?Would that be the end of Nick and Charlie? A small twist of fate tweaks the Osemanverse and Nick and Charlie’s blossoming friendship is cut short, sending the bo

3,389 kudos 273,917 words 33/40 chapters Mature
2

Arms (Unfolding)

Slow Burn

by runtostockholm

Charlie Spring returns home from his second year of university, excited to be reunited and make plans with the gang – movie nights, beach days, and a camping trip are sure to make a great summer. But the last thing Charlie Spring has planned is bumping into Nicholas Nelson in the toothpaste aisle in

2,201 kudos 60,560 words 20/20 chapters Teen And Up Audiences
3

Someone To Grow With

Slow Burn

by runtostockholm

Charlie Spring is finding his mid-twenties to be pretty ordinary; he lives with his two best friends, his love life’s a dud, and his new job at Roundabout Magazine is going just fine. But when his co-worker Isaac introduces Charlie to Roundabout’s Sports Editor Nicholas Nelson, Charlie finds his lif

1,886 kudos 95,283 words 32/33 chapters Teen And Up Audiences
4

Lavender Fields

by scienceisrealyo

31 year old Nick Nelson retired from professional rugby and is giving Sarah Nelson a well-deserved year off from running Lavender Fields Bed and Breakfast. And Nick’s doing fine, thank you very much. Until the guest name C. Spring changes everything.Note: 1-31 are the original story (Nick's point of

5,489 kudos 596,462 words 63/64 chapters Explicit
5

The Sound of his Soul

by outofbookshelves

Every evening, Nick sprawls on his bedroom floor and listens to the drums. The first time he’d heard the loud, echoing sound in his head, he’d started crying and ran to his mother. She’d wiped away his tears and smoothed out his hair, and then explained that whenever his soulmate played or listened

3,552 kudos 8,921 words 7/7 chapters Teen And Up Audiences
6

a moment in the sun

by Aryn

“Isn’t a bit of pining, like, a required step in every relationship?” Nick asked.There was a beat of silence. Then, Darcy snorted.“No offense, Nick,” Tara said. “But are you really the best person to be making that argument?” or: Charlie realizes he might not have been pining alone all that the time

3,040 kudos 2,034 words 1/1 chapters General Audiences
7

i could be your best yet future favorite regret (do you feel it too?)

by blxcat

Just a classic wrong number!AU.✧・゚: *✧・゚:*charlie (10:19) you’re right, i have the wrong number WRONG new number (10:20) It’s okay, don’t worry!!! It was actually quite funny WRONG new number (10:21) Even though you called me a bitch and made fun of my favourite movies… charlie (10:22) OMG I’M SO SO

2,783 kudos 34,540 words 31/? chapters General Audiences
8

show and tell

by thetomkatwholived

Charlie’s pretty sure bringing your uncle as a show and tell item isn’t the norm, but he’s willing to do almost anything for his niece, even subject himself to her Year 1 class. And hey, her teacher’s really handsome and funny and sweet… Maybe it won’t be too bad after all.

2,644 kudos 27,942 words 8/8 chapters Teen And Up Audiences
9

let the whole world melt away

by sonseulsoleil

“Do you remember when you tried to do my maths homework for me?” Nick asked. “This was back we’d only just met, and I was doing my homework literally on the way to the lesson, and you just grabbed my pen.” “I remember,” Charlie smiled at the memory. “You drew on me. It was an assault.” Nick snorted.

2,246 kudos 1,677 words 1/1 chapters Teen And Up Audiences
10

never saw you coming (and I'll never be the same)

by sonseulsoleil

“It’s,” he swallowed. “It’s complicated, and I don’t know how you’ll react.”  “Just spit it out, Nick,” Tara rolled her eyes. “Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.” “Okay.” Nick swallowed, face tightening into a grimace, as he glanced between his two friends. “I think I’m homophobic.”  Based on tha

1,848 kudos 5,546 words 1/1 chapters Teen And Up Audiences
11

a familiar face

by cfspringbaby

Charlie & Nick meet while on holiday and share a drunken night together. Six weeks later, Charlie is staring down at a pink plus sign on a pregnancy test.Several years later, Charlie has transitioned and is starting to settle into life as a single Dad.When Charlie moves himself and Wren into their f

1,758 kudos 189,993 words 28/28 chapters Explicit
12

It Was Always You

by AhimsaJax

Charlie looked shyly around the circle of other patients waiting for the therapist. He felt his jaw slacken as his eyes focused on the startled face of the man seated directly across from him.A man he recognised.Nick Nelson.At least, he was pretty sure that was Nick Nelson staring back at him. He lo

1,757 kudos 175,403 words 24/24 chapters Explicit
13

You Could Be My Only One (I've Gotta Let You Know)

by Elisabeth13

Darcy's always trying to set Charlie up with guys that come into his practice. It literally never works. Until it does.

1,685 kudos 10,918 words 1/1 chapters Explicit
14

This is Our Place, We Make the Call

by Brookhacker

"I think if we want to have this magical chill vibe that Darcy is so keen on we should set some boundaries. So I've got a rule. No hooking up with your housemates"Was it Charlie's imagination or did Nick glance at him when Tao said that?......orAfter a lonely experience at secondary school, Charlie

1,633 kudos 125,649 words 36/36 chapters Not Rated
15

When both our Fates collide

by mikeysgerard

This is a story of what happens when two boys meet each other during the worst time of their lives, and help each other heal again. Or, from strangers to roommates, from roommates to friends, from friends to lovers....and remember, time worked differently in the hospital.

1,615 kudos 83,419 words 17/17 chapters Explicit
16

so, what's it gonna be?

by starryprose

Charlie Spring has issues with saying no to people. So, when his roommate and crush, Nick Nelson mentions how he wishes he could prove his biphobic brother wrong by bringing a male date to his brother's wedding, Charlie volunteers. Nothing like suffering in silence by fake-dating your crush to try a

1,591 kudos 14,618 words 6/6 chapters Teen And Up Audiences
17

January

by bordercollie111

January“Things happen suddenly, unexpectedly. We want to feel we are in control of our own existence. In some ways we are, in some ways, we’re not.We are ruled by the forces of chance and coincidence.”-Paul AusterFates collide and coincidences abound as Nick and Charlie’s lives entwine in numerous w

1,577 kudos 166,627 words 40/40 chapters Explicit
18

Scar Tissue

by SprigsofViolets

Charlie Spring hasn’t thought about dating since his divorce. When he meets his daughter’s new teacher, Mr. Nelson ignites an interest in him that has been dormant for years, and that he’s not sure he’s ready for.

1,576 kudos 22,395 words 9/9 chapters Teen And Up Audiences
19

sugar, butter, flour (what a mess I'm making)

by sonseulsoleil

Nick huffed. “You’re not allowed.”“Not allowed?” Charlie sounded affronted. “It’s the Nellie’s Nibbles policy,” Nick said matter-of-factly. “No needless apologising.”  OR: Nick is a baker and Charlie buys a frankly inordinate number of cakes.

1,547 kudos 13,153 words 7/7 chapters Teen And Up Audiences
20

i will drift to you if you make yourself shake fast enough

by prettyvisit0r

“It might be the alcohol’s fault but if he wasn’t on a mission before, he definitely is now. It’s an insane idea, it probably is not going to work, and he doesn’t even know the guy, for God's sake. But he’s determined.He’s going to find Nick Nelson.” If there was something Charlie didn’t expect to e

1,515 kudos 11,546 words 1/1 chapters Teen And Up Audiences

Find More Tara/Darcy Slow Burn Stories on AO3

Browse the full AO3 archive for slow burn Tara/Darcy fanfiction, sorted by kudos. Then read offline with Fanfict Reader.

Why Slow Burn Tara/Darcy Fanfiction Works So Well

Tara Jones/Darcy Olsson — The sweet couple Tara Jones and energetic Darcy Olsson, who navigate coming out and young love with charm and authenticity.

Slow Burn — A romance that develops gradually over time, with tension building across chapters or the entire story.

Their established relationship and different personalities create opportunities for exploring lesbian representation and relationship dynamics. Readers love the anticipation, the meaningful character development, and the eventual payoff of a well-earned romance. That's why slow burn Tara/Darcy fanfiction is one of the most consistently popular combinations on AO3.

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