Top 20 One-Shot Slow Burn Fanfics
Ranked by AO3 kudos. Each fic is tagged with slow burn and falls in the short stories under 10,000 words range.
Oikawa's Last Wish/es
by DanaiaCake
“Just fucking choose.” Iwaizumi was trying to control his voice but it was getting harder every passing moment. Especially when his best friend was being extremely difficult.“Hmn… how about cuddling with hundreds of kittens?” Oikawa mused pursing his dry lips.
moonflower
by Magnolia35
Hob has to do a double take because Dream is crying; big, ugly, hiccuping sobs that wrack his skeletal frame to the point where Dream looks like a leaf in the wind. The raven that’d been following the man the last time they met— Mike or Martin or Matthew or something— pecks at the guys shoes. The s
a love like this
by monkkeyslut
Inej and Kaz come together in fits and starts.
Familiar Habits
by Philosophics
After joining Overwatch, Hanzo finds it difficult to sleep some nights. It is nothing a hot cup of tea cannot fix, but he never expected that he would have company.(or: hanzo is very thirsty, in more ways than one)
Mixed Signals
by snoqualmie
Feelings are definitely a thing he’s having. Kyoutani is really sweet. He’s family oriented and he prefers novels with female leads and he’s in all honors classes. He kind of has a big head, totally has a big smile, definitely has a big heart. His eyes are nice, he’s got that dimple. Yahaba groans a
firefly
by Anonymous
Ayato is sure Thoma will outgrow his childhood crush.He forgets, that some things in Inazuma are eternal.
Adapt and Endure (WebComic)
by Aydaptic
After the CyberLife store raid, Chris was left traumatized by the event of having a gun pointed at his head and was ordered to take some time off. Gavin -- currently without a partner -- temporarily received a new one... a surprisingly snarky RK900 that was to go for a test drive. "Take your time,
Only Lost The Night
by KBstories
"Arthur should've realized, then and there, that a gesture of kindness is like pulling a trigger – it shifts the course of fate just so, and things will never be the same again."Charles and Arthur regroup after a brush with death.
This Time, I’ll Stay
by Zumix_Xx
After defeating the White Star, Cale Henituse expected peace in his next life. Instead, he was reborn into the Fujioka family and somehow ended up attending Ouran Academy alongside rich weirdos, a chaotic Host Club. Cale is determined to live lazily and avoid trouble. Unfortunately, Kyoya seems oddl
One World Over
by writer_whims
“Evalin and Rhoe’s daughter has re-emerged.” There was no mistaking the loathing that was dripping off of her words. “My niece who has neglected her people for the past decade has finally called to reclaim her kingdom. A representative of Doranelle will be present. A force to assess her power and co
Cup Spilling Lies
by VerboseLepus
Voldemort didn't have any Horcruxes, so when he tried to kill Harry, he died, no coming back. Harry became known as the Hero of the Wizarding World.Raised by Remus he was sent to Beauxbatons. Dracos father avoided the dark mark by moving and sending Draco to Durmstrang like he always wanted, who got
In Every Moment
by Christensen
A collection of moments — glimpses of Jamie and Claire's life, from the first glance to forever. Growing up, falling in love, building a life together, one breathless, beautiful step at a time.
Hal Jordan might be careless, yet Batman is always observant
by RestockedBrain
Ollie and Hal made a bet: within one week, Hal had to get Batman to admit out loud that they were friends.Hal took the bet, although he didn't think they were friends. Bruce thought they were friends, but he decided to say nothing.
S1: Loustat Extended/Deleted Scenes
by thespicyavocado
Becoming a vampire came with an onslaught of firsts. First drink. First kill. First death-inducing walk in the sun. For Louis, these came forcibly and furiously within twelve hours of his turning - but at least they were, in large part, expected (well, less the sun part - that he learned with some d
Lazarus
by Gojofan23
Utahime has slipped into the quiet rhythm of a night owl, spending her late hours alone in her Tokyo apartment overlooking the city. But what begins as a solitary routine slowly shifts when she starts noticing the penthouse above hers.
Hades and Persephone - You are my life, I am your death
by Sakuya_Serenity_Kira
Hades (Law) kidnapped Persephone (Luffy) so that he could always hear his laughter. Until he came to an agreement with Zeus so that he could spend time with his beloved.But Persephone didn't let anyone tell him what to do.Or: How Luffy got his way and plunged Olympus into chaos.
In the Quiet of Morning
by Ella_166
In the quiet moments of early mornings, Fei Du and Luo Wenzhou find love not in grand gestures, but in simple rituals and shared silences. Through tender routines and small acts of care, they build a world of intimacy and trust that feels both fragile and unbreakable. This is a story about finding c
let the flesh instruct the mind
by loustatunderstander
Louis decides he wants a tattoo. Claudia tells him Madeleine's new roommate TC is a tattoo artist at Satan's Night Out, where they do walk-ins. SURPRISE the person helping him is Lestat. This is gonna be a slow burn but worth it I hope :P Odd chapters will be Louis texting Claudia in a scrollable te
Rule One: Do Not Fall in Love with a Fae
by maileus
Rule #1: Never tell them your name. Names hold power.Rule #2: Never accept a gift from them. They do not come for free.Rule #3: Never go into the woods at night. The lights are a trap. There are rules for a reason. You didn't believe in them and now you have to pay the price.
Down The Aisle
by CelestialStar555
Violet and Xaden have been best friends their entire lives. Connected and understanding each other in a way that no one else ever could. Eventually that kind of friendship leads to the kind of love most people would kill for...right? What happens when Violet returns home with not just a boyfriend bu
More One-Shot Slow Burn Fics on AO3
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About Slow Burn
A romance that develops gradually over time, with tension building across chapters or the entire story.
Readers love the anticipation, the meaningful character development, and the eventual payoff of a well-earned romance.
Common scenarios: Characters who are oblivious to their feelings, lots of almost-moments, friends realizing their feelings over time.
About This List
This list of 20one-shot Slow Burn fanfics spans 126,708 total words. Kudos range from 61 on the newest entries to 12,185 on the most established. 55% are marked complete — check the status flag before committing to a longfic. The most common rating is Teen And Up Audiences (9 of 20 fics).
Recurring tags across this list: Slow Burn · Hurt/Comfort · Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence · Mutual Pining · Mild Hurt/Comfort.
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