Arete20
Fandoms
- Merlin (TV) (7)
- Heartstopper (TV) (3)
- Heartstopper (Webcomic) (3)
Recent works
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In Search of Sunnier Paths by Arete20
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV), Heartstopper (Webcomic)
17 Aug 2025
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Summary
Nick opens his photo app and scrolls through the pictures from that afternoon he spent with Charlie in the snow.
Charlie is beautiful. He’s truly the most beautiful person he’s ever seen, and his smile — Charlie Spring smiling is the best thing in the universe. Nick thinks he would join the circus, go sky diving, cross the ocean to make Charlie smile the way he did that afternoon.
But Nick just went on a date with someone else on Charlie’s birthday.
Nick doesn’t stop himself from crying. He nuzzles his head into his pillow, trying to muffle the sound of his sobs, but if shoulders heave with it, the grief of hurting the best person he’s ever known.
It’s a grief, and a guilt, that weighs down on him, wraps around him like chains, and doesn’t let him go all night long.
Or, Nick does not overhear Tao and Charlie's conversation in the bathroom at Charlie's 15th birthday and goes on the date with Imogen. In the aftermath, Nick is confronted with his people pleasing tendencies, navigates his sexuality crisis, and searches for a way to bring Charlie Spring back to him.
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Last Valentine's Day by Arete20 for deceptive_serenade
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV), Heartstopper (Webcomic)
03 Mar 2025
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Summary
Charlie hates Valentine's Day. it's a dumb, consumerist, utterly performative holiday. He hates the hearts, the way everything is pink and red, the way couples perform affection and fake happiness.
It might sound dramatic, but Charlie has a reason to be the Valentine's Day version of the Grinch. Last Valentine's Day, his whole world fell apart.
Still, when his best friend and long time unrequited crush Nick Nelson asks Charlie to be his platonic date to a Valentine's Day party, Charlie can't say no.
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As If You Were a Mythical Thing by Arete20
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV), Heartstopper (Webcomic)
17 Nov 2024
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Summary
Charlie Spring thinks he’s well into recovery. He’s managing both his OCD and anorexia well, and thriving in university. He and Nick are going strong. His life is better than it has ever been — and he means that.
That is, except for the fatigue, brain fog, stomach pain, and the way Charlie is losing weight even though he’s eating consistently and following his meal plan. When a routine blood test threatens to upend his life, leading to new struggles with his health and his eating disorder, he decides to shoulder the burden alone and keep it secret from his family, friends, and his boyfriend.
He doesn’t really understand what coeliac disease is — but there’s no reason to bring Nick down with him. Not again.
***Nick Nelson knows that something is wrong with his boyfriend. If only he knew what.
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Summary
On Albion, the only space station in the Alliance of United Earth that welcomes open magic users, Merlin works as an assistant mechanic to Gaius. Though Merlin doesn’t hate his job, spending days repairing broken coffee machines and toasters can be tedious, but it's a small price to pay for being able to use his magic openly.
Then one day, a mysterious man called Arthur shows up with a broken droid and a barrage of questions. Arthur keeps coming back with more broken things, and as charmed as Merlin is, he knows Arthur knows more about Albion than he lets on, possibly even about the strange and suspicious incidents from a group of new crewmates. With the Alliance threatened by a brewing conspiracy, Merlin and Arthur find themselves putting differences aside to save both Albion and magic itself.
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Summary
Arthur Pendragon is known for being oblivious. But he always, always knows when Merlin isn't okay.
Recent bookmarks
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come sail away with me by sonseulsoleil for IsobelLynette
Fandoms: Heartstopper (Webcomic), Heartstopper (TV)
24 Nov 2022
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Summary
Charlie's been invited on the Nelson's annual Menorca trip for the first. He and Nick are both a bit nervous.
Bookmarked by Arete20
27 Oct 2025
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Summary
Imogen loves going out with her friends, but sometimes being the token ally at a queer club is tough. But is she really just an ally?
Series
- Part 4 of Lesbians Out Loud
- Part 10 of Responding Promptly
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 1,000
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 44
- Kudos:
- 88
- Bookmarks:
- 8
- Hits:
- 480
Bookmarked by Arete20
27 Oct 2025
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Flirting With Her by Yojfull for BluestJM
Fandoms: Heartstopper (Webcomic), Heartstopper (TV)
26 Dec 2022
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Summary
Tara finds out she has passed her accountancy exams, and she and Darcy go on a brief beach holiday to Cornwall. Darcy has a very important question to ask (and it's not about pasties or pasties…)
Series
- Part 3 of Lesbians Out Loud
Bookmarked by Arete20
27 Oct 2025
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Summary
I sit across from them, watching brown eyes looking at blue as the couple across from me considers the bomb shell I've just dropped.
“When you say ‘I’m not sure if I'm an ally, what does that mean?”
Oh. Oh, shit. I've phrased that awfully. My face burns with shame.
Series
- Part 6 of Lesbians Out Loud
Bookmarked by Arete20
27 Oct 2025
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Pictures of you by zippydoodaa for Skasi6
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV), Heartstopper (Webcomic)
26 Oct 2025
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Summary
It turns out Tao can draw after all
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 379
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 10
- Kudos:
- 16
- Bookmarks:
- 1
- Hits:
- 47
Bookmarked by Arete20
27 Oct 2025