Arete20
Fandoms
- Merlin (TV) (7)
- Heartstopper (TV) (3)
- Heartstopper (Webcomic) (3)
Recent works
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As If You Were a Mythical Thing by Arete20
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV), Heartstopper (Webcomic)
28 Jan 2026
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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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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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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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Going Camping by brbrbeatrice for Tolgrim
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV), Heartstopper (Webcomic)
22 Jul 2026
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Summary
A Four panel comic about Nick, Charlie, and Tao camping.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 0
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 13
- Kudos:
- 56
- Bookmarks:
- 7
- Hits:
- 295
Bookmarked by Arete20
22 Jul 2026
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At The Beach, In Every Life by frogcakes
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV), Heartstopper (Webcomic)
21 Jul 2026
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Summary
A car approaches ahead of them and Nick is forced to shift his hand from Charlie’s thigh while he pulls into a passing place. He kisses Charlie with the car stopped, the engine running; his eyes flicker closed, the other car passes, Charlie pulls away. Sudden light turns the inside of his eyelids blinding red.
Nick opens his eyes.
He’s in the car, in the passing place, facing the other way. The wrong way. The passenger seat is empty, lit by the harsh hot sun. The dash clock says ten to five.
“Nick…”
“Yeah?”
“I think we’re in a time loop.”
Nick exhales deeply with relief. “Oh, fuck. I’m so glad it’s not just me.”
“So am I.”
“So… how do we get out? Are we just going to be here forever?”
Bookmarked by Arete20
21 Jul 2026
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Yes, we speak of things that matter with words that must be said (“Can analysis be worthwhile?”) by SilverShadow1
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV)
21 Jul 2026
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Summary
“I want to start by saying … what I’m about to ask … there’s no judgement attached to it.”
“Char, I love you, but I’m sort of freaking out.”OR
Nick and Charlie have an honest and important discussion after the Leavers' Ball
Bookmarked by Arete20
21 Jul 2026
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43 Days: After all this time by Red_Letter_Days for gamma_wow
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV), Heartstopper (Webcomic)
04 Jun 2026
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Summary
The night after Nick and Charlie's wedding, Nick quietly reminisces.
Series
Bookmarked by Arete20
21 Jul 2026
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How long has it been by chocolatefreckle
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV), Heartstopper (Webcomic)
28 Jan 2026
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Summary
It’s Harry Greene’s sixth form end-of-exams party, and Head Boy Charlie Spring properly meets Rugby King Nick Nelson for the first time - just before he’s about to leave for Leeds University. Whatever it was, it clearly wasn’t meant to be.
Years later, Charlie finds himself back in Kent at a wedding.
Based loosely on Sub Radio’s Room For You.
Bookmarked by Arete20
21 Jul 2026