Touch Starved

A character has been deprived of physical affection and desperately craves touch. Simple gestures become incredibly meaningful and powerful.

250,000 works

What is Touch Starved in fanfiction?

A character has been deprived of physical affection and desperately craves touch. Simple gestures become incredibly meaningful and powerful. With over 250,000 works on Archive of Our Own, Touch Starved is one of the most beloved tropes in fanfiction.

Why readers love Touch Starved

The emotional vulnerability, the sweetness of simple touches becoming profound, and the healing power of gentle affection.

Examples of Touch Starved

Characters unused to kindness, isolated individuals, people recovering from trauma, first experiences with gentle touch.

Best Touch Starved Fanfics

The highest-rated Touch Starved stories across all fandoms on AO3.

1

never let you cry alone

Complete

by asheville03

Abolish is feeling small, and Legs said that if he feels small, he should go to them for help - as always, he listens to them.

0 kudos 2,049 words ~9 min read Teen And Up Audiences
Trans AbolishRegret Transmasculine AbolishRegret Trans Legundo
2

A Tale of Three: A Puppet on Strings

by Nameless_Manuscript

In a world most transient does the past hide, and in the whims of floating flowers does thin snow abide. If the measure of humanity is having a heart, then he cannot be deemed as such. If one without a heart experiences joy and sorrow, then he shall be a puppet most alike to humanity. He needs not i

33 kudos 64,314 words ~258 min read General Audiences
no beta we die like tatarasuna & everyone in Dottore's lab Other Additional Tags to Be Added Human Experimentation
3

°•𝔽𝕝𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕕𝕖 𝔻𝕦𝕣𝕒𝕫𝕟𝕠•°

by Angelo_Nero

Wukong y Nezha lidiando con la paternidad y todo lo que esto conlleva con sus gemelos, quienes no colaboran mucho con sus Papis.

6 kudos 33,634 words ~135 min read Not Rated
Parent Sun Wukong | Monkey King Touch-Starved Sun Wukong | Monkey King Soft Sun Wukong | Monkey King
4

Touch

by Anonymous

Finn is still warming up to a kinder sort of camaraderie, and maybe starting to unpack some things. Poe is relieved and honored and angry and caring all at the same time and would do anything for his new friend.

0 kudos 2,452 words ~10 min read Teen And Up Audiences
During Canon Canon Compliant Canon-Typical Violence
5

i want trees instead of gravestones (and nothing to confess)

by Soulweaver

Simon is broken, a failure, a waste. That's what he's always been told, time and again. Enter Ryland Grace, who promptly throws a wrench into everything Simon was raised to believe.   -- title is from Big Houses, by Squalloscope --

176 kudos 20,786 words ~84 min read Mature
Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics Omega Simon Mpreg | Male Pregnancy
6

Starved

by g1tter_andg0ree

Five times Arvid initiated physical contact and one time Liam did instead. Or, Arvid is touch starved and Liam is to oblivious to notice.

268 kudos 7,008 words ~29 min read Not Rated
Fluff Touch-Starved Skateboarding
7

the shape of obedience

by hollowbonds

Omegas were protected. That's what the government says, at least. Oliver Locke has spent twelve years in the Omega Control Center, learning to stay quiet, obedient, and easy to place. After a failed bonding leaves him returned and marked difficult, he expects the rest of his life to fade behind the

104 kudos 36,046 words ~145 min read Mature
Original Universe Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics Female Omegaverse Alpha Characters
8

Beautiful Dangerous Things

by dancingindocktown

She was never meant to be a Crow. He was never meant to be a Thread. Life has a way of carrying on whether you want it to or not, and now it’s the end of the world. What’s the worst that could happen?

13 kudos 45,545 words ~183 min read Explicit
Antivan Crow Rook (Dragon Age) Physical Abuse Past Child Abuse
9

Let me get over you (please don’t leave me)

by HoneyxxxMoon

“So you think I’d mess up your game.” Mike snapped. “I didn’t say that.” “But that’s what you mean.” “Fine,” Will closed his eyes, just for a second, and let out an even breath. “Yes. I want to hook up without worrying about you freaking out.” Or What happens when Will actually starts going to Gay b

184 kudos 37,605 words ~151 min read Not Rated
Mike Wheeler Loves Will Byers Will Byers Loves Mike Wheeler Idiots in Love
10

All Hat and No Cattle

by Twinsand

SEQUEL TO MY PREVIOUS WORK "SKIN DEEP" !!!!! Takes place a few months after the events of that one. Exploring more Cassie and her relationships with Syzoth... and Erron. :)

116 kudos 31,207 words ~125 min read Explicit
Post-Game: Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Post-Game: Mortal Kombat 11 Game: Mortal Kombat 11
11

it's dark down here, but look how well we lit it

by Champagne

The Hail Mary was a familiar situation. A small vessel, limited resources, skeleton crew. Grace had excess because it was supposed to be a three person team, but that didn't automatically mean it was available for Simon to use. Taking what they were saying at face value, that he didn't have to fulfi

0 kudos 9,239 words ~37 min read Teen And Up Audiences
Crossover Character Displacement Prosthetic Limbs
12

Scrape These Echoes from My Bones

by WaywardJaybird

When Time's pack raids a Yiga hideout, they're ready for combat, magic, even Majora’s twisted mind games—but not for the traumatized omega left behind. Malnourished, defensive, and unable to offer any name other than his dynamic—"Omega"—he earns the nickname "Wild." Wild remembers little beyond capt

959 kudos 350,257 words ~1402 min read Mature
Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics Hurt/Comfort Past Rape/Non-con
13

Infinity, Interrupted

by SubMeIn13

Her whole life, Yua's technique has allowed her to live almost entirely ignored.She disappears into the spaces between things—between crowds, between conversations, between existence and absence.One night, her technique fails.Standing on an empty road, in front of a man with impossible eyes and the

66 kudos 15,269 words ~62 min read Explicit
Romance Eventual Romance Smut
14

You're my forbidden fruit

by NerwenStar

Rich and freshly divorced Galadriel returns to her parents’ place with her daughter Celebrían. There she meets the twenty year old son of their groundskeeper, who will make some feelings flourish. or The one where Halbrand is the Noldor's sugar baby.

41 kudos 51,342 words ~206 min read Explicit
Rich and freshly divorced galadriel Young Halbrand Young!Halbrand x Older!Galadriel
15

Confirmation Bias

by BatBratsAndTheirCrossovers

Confirmation bias: the human tendency to search for, interpret, and recall information that aligns with our existing beliefs, while ignoring or dismissing evidence that contradicts them. No matter what Grace tries to tell him, Simon is very sure that the man is divine in nature. It just makes sense.

819 kudos 24,345 words ~98 min read Mature
Happy Ending first and foremost Ryland Grace is a Leaky Space Blob
16

|| AI Amnesia |

by Krysteliskrazy

Can and AI get amnesia? Read to find out!   Aka, me not liking the final at all so I’m making my own version. I hope you injoy!

10 kudos 2,049 words ~9 min read General Audiences
OC TADC - Freeform They/Them Pronouns for Zooble (The Amazing Digital Circus)
17

Blood For Blood

by Sulliquan27

“We found a ship. Human ship. A lifeform has been detected inside”. What? That can’t be right, a human ship? A lifeform? “What do you mean Lifeform” Grace managed to say. Adrian stepped forward “The lifeform appears to be a human, statement” Grace finds a tired and bloody Simon drifting alone in spa

9 kudos 3,941 words ~16 min read Explicit
Amputee The Convict | Simon (Iron Lung) Ryland Grace Needs a Hug Ryland Grace & Rocky are Best Friends
18

The Shadow Trio

by almost_alice

Alice Everlark had been called a variation of names since she'd been sorted in Slytherin house in her fifth year; ranging all the way from Mudblood to Hero of Hogwarts. And Alice didn't know which one she hated more.Traumatized, exhausted and crushed by grief, she goes back to the orphanage for the

91 kudos 222,497 words ~890 min read Teen And Up Audiences
Slow Burn Slice of Life Found Family
19

Starlight

by starcocktail

Inspired by Starlight by Muse-Ryland Grace finds Simon (The Convict) Just kinda floating out there, brings him back to Erid and tries to hide his yearning, but thinks its one sided...

0 kudos 845 words ~4 min read Explicit
Mentioned Eva Stratt Mentioned EVA (Metal Gear) Ryland Grace Needs a Hug
20

Amongst the Wolves

by Anxiety_filled_Brioche

Finn has settled into life in Jackson, Wyoming. Five years have passed since the hospital in Salt Lake City, and for the first time, life has begun to feel almost normal. Patrols. Horses. Snowstorms. Winter dances. Family. But peace in this world has always been fragile. After ghosts from the past i

12 kudos 37,537 words ~151 min read Mature
Angst Hurt/Comfort Emotional Hurt/Comfort

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Touch Starved fics are on AO3?

There are over 250,000 works tagged with Touch Starved on Archive of Our Own.

What fandoms have the most Touch Starved stories?

Popular fandoms for Touch Starved include MCU, Supernatural, Good Omens.

How can I read Touch Starved fanfiction on my phone?

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