Save Me or Let Me Drown – by GubraithianFire, E, 73k – Sherlock Holmes was 19 when he decided he’d had enough. Uni was dull, his family smothering, cocaine too expensive after his trust fund was cut. There was no utility in pursuing a degree in Chemistry, not when he was so good at stealing cars and could make his own money. He had no reason to stay. So he left. John Watson was 19 when his absent mother dumped on him her last daughter. She disappeared (again) while his father drank himself numb every night (typical). With 6 younger siblings to take care of, uni was an impossible dream. They had no one except for him. So he stayed. Or: how Sherlock escaped from his family, John sacrificed everything to his, and how, together, they built their own.
Roommates are for Little People – by alexxphoenix42, E, 69k – John was looking forward to seeing his friends back at uni, but a new year brings new complications, not the least of which is a dorm room with only one bed, and a stroppy roommate with an utterly spectacular arse. God, John doesn’t need the headache.
Kings Among Runaways – by allonsys_girl, E, 56k, WIP – Sherlock is a street kid with a big drug problem, and John’s run away from an abusive home life. When they meet each other in an alley one day, it’s pretty much love at first sight. But the streets are rough, and Sherlock’s never easy, and so there is much angst.
Gimme Shelter– by SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John, E, 159k- All John Watson wants is the feeling of a freshly waxed surfboard under his feet and the hot California sun baking down onto his back. To finally go pro in the newly formed world of professional surfing and leave the dark memories of his past behind him as he rips across the face of a towering blue barrel. To lounge beside the beach bonfire every evening with an ice cold beer tucked into the cool sand beside him and listen to Pink Floyd and the Doors while the saltwater dries in his sun bleached hair. That’s all he wants, that is, until the hot young phenom taking Oahu and the Hawaiian shores by storm steps up next to him in the sand in the second round of the 1976 International Surf Competition.
The Boys of Summer– by Mazarin221b, E, 5k – John and Sherlock meet the first time during the summer of 1992 in Bournemouth – John is a lifeguard, earning money during his gap year before he goes to medical school. Sherlock has been dragged along on a final family holiday before he goes to Cambridge. They meet, and its the most interesting thing that’s happened to either of them the entire summer.
Let Me Touch You (The First Summer) – by Shay_Fae, M, 18k – Seventeen-year-old John is spending the summer at Sherlock’s country house. Sherlock can’t imagine anything worse. Especially since he may be falling in love with the boy.
The Kissing Booth – by thelookyouredoingthelookagain, E, 17k – John works at the university charity fair and meets Sherlock, but Sherlock has a lot of proving to do before they can be together.
Just a Touch of Lips– by Salambo06, E, 21k – Two weeks ago, Sherlock kissed a blindfolded John Watson, captain of the Rugby Team, during an university event and left before he could see his face. Neither have been able to think about anything else since. When Mike mentions a certain student in his Chemistry class who could help John find his mysterious kisser, they both find themselves in a situation they hadn’t expected.
You Give Me Fever – by michi_thekiller, E, 16k – "He’s the kind of boy you want to take apart.“Gratuitous Greaserlock. It’s essentially 16k of mostly-porn. Warnings for underage sex between teens.
**Note: I jotted down the title “Just like that” in my notes app, but now I don’t remember if it was the fic title, or the series, so I will rec them both!
Gone and Changed– by cwb, E, 4k – John and Sherlock are best friends, until John goes and changes.
Just Like That – by sussexbound, E, 8k – John’s chest feels tight. These are the most real words they’ve said to one another in months. Usually it’s case related chat, or the weather, or light banter about something on the telly. They haven’t talked like this since Sherlock’s birthday. They don’t talk like this. They never talk like this.John doesn’t want to talk anymore. He wants to… He wants… Oh. He wants. Oh dear god, how he wants. For the first time in what feels like years he WANTS.
**And because I am totally shameless about self promo, I will also rec my own teenlock fic here at the end because I am really proud of it, but read all those other ones first!
Hearts Don’t Break Around Here – by thatawkwardfriend, M, 56k – When John gets in a fight at school, his parents send him to Sussex for the summer in hopes that living with the Holmes’ will shape him up. It is there that he meets Sherlock Holmes: a class A asshole too smart for his own good. John expects a long, dull, lonely summer. What he does not expect is to form an unlikely friendship with the strange boy across the hall. What he expects even less is to fall in love with him.
Bootsrcool 