Hey, do you know of any good, short Victorian fics? (Like around 1,000 —15,000 words?) either way, thanks! 😘

Goodness, yes! I know so many. Let me see what I have saved.

What is Right, and What is Easy(1k, NR, blackmail, established relationship). “ ‘As for my reputation–’ He waved a hand as if dashing away a fly. ‘I have pleased to keep my amours private, as would any English gentleman. But if my good name now rests solely on the price of an innocent man’s life, it is time to lose it.’ ”

Wintry Morning, Victoria Station(1k, T, secret vows, established relationship). “The scope of my senses had shrunk to encompass only the little patch of platform in which Watson and I stood, separated by a mere two feet of air. He was grinning into his mustache, his eyes crinkling up into lines of joy.”

The Ill-tempered Patient(1k, T, sickfic, love confession). “There was amusement in his eyes. ‘Take care not to indulge me too much, John. I may take advantage of you.’ ”

Mon Cœur(1k, T, love confession, established relationship). “You must know that there is nowhere I would rather be than here with you, my boy.”

The Secret Flower(1k, T, pining, sickfic, love confession) by @blaetter. “In the more fanciful days of my youth, I would have thought the love, settled as it is now deep in my chest, would devour me from the inside out. And I would have let it.”

Nocturnal Illumination(1k, G, domesticity, pre-slash) by @thespiritualmultinerd. “At last I stole a glance at Holmes. His profile was lit by moonlight like an actor by the stage light, flawless from the heavy brow to the sharp chin. His eyes imitated the stars.”

Glad With Our Carols(1k, G, Sussex joy, established relationship) by @oldshrewsburyian. “He looked up at me over his toast. ‘That is exceedingly gratifying,’ said he; ‘I should be sorry indeed to think that I had entirely lost my ability to astonish you.’ ”

A Man of Great Character and Better Humor(2k, G, Sussex joy, established relationship) by @sanspatronymic. “Holmes leaned to press their foreheads together, their faces close, the arms on Watson’s hips sliding into an embrace. He nuzzled his nose against the curve of Watson’s cheekbone so sweetly that when he muttered, ‘Tough luck, old man,’ it was positively comforting.”

Broken, Mended, Mine(2k, G, addiction recovery, friends to lovers) by @darlingdetective. “ ‘I very nearly killed you this morning, Watson,’ I said softly, shame prickling up through my skin and leaving beads of sweat on my clammy forehead. I trembled lightly, and longed for the heady rush of cocaine which would have fortified my courage. But the fragile, wounded bravery of a man barely holding his head above water was all I could manage, and so it would have to do.”

Obliging Sherlock Holmes(2k, T, domesticity, first kiss). “ ‘I have heard of such things in tales from the Orient, of course,’ he said. ‘But Watson, are you suggesting that in civilized countries such a thing is also possible? Men, forming couples with other men?’ ”

In the Shadow of Mount Sikaram(2k, G, epistolary, Afghanistan, pre-meeting) by @gailbsanders. “What would it be like had his mother still been alive and he could write of these things to her? Would she have shrunk from them?”

The Incident with the Bicycle(2k, G, growing intimacy, established relationship). “I took a deep breath. ‘I don’t know what you – that is to say, this isn’t something we’ve ever discussed before, but for my part I’d quite like to remain your friend and – and companion for many years to come.’ ”

Ingredients of Love(2k, T, domesticity, established relationship) by @a-different-equation. “I looked in his beautiful eyes, and there I could read the truth in plain, simple words: he saw me wallowing and wanted to cheer me up. He was afraid of the demons that plagued my soul, demons, he knew far too well. He loved me.”

Le Beau Gent sans Merci(2k, T, post-case conversation, friends to lovers). “I smile but dare not turn to face him. Such gentle words combined with the precious sparkle I have so often observed in his dark eyes when he stands in front of the fire would certainly undo me. Heaven knows what sort of nonsense I might say to him!”

The Science of Touch(2k, T, grief recovery, friends to lovers). “ ‘It is difficult to ask for your advice, as it concerns you. I’ve two critical paths before me, both with great risk involved in each. I cannot decide.’ ”

In darkness, I call your name (and you, mine)(2k, T, addiction recovery, first kiss) by @a-different-equation. “When we meet at the door, I comment: ‘Good.’ It is uttered warmly, yet a bit briskly. Holmes’ cheeks getting a lovely flush of pink is a welcome sight after all the paleness.”

Dr Watson’s Stories: Plain Tales from a Plain Man(2k, NR, pre-slash, unrecorded case, thinly veiled love confession) by @artemisastarte. “Lay your head on my breast, my dear fellow, and we shall watch the moon rise, and Orion wheel about the sky. But do not be afraid: however long we are parted, I will always seek you out.”

Two Shoes for a Hat(2k, G, Downey ‘verse, first meeting). “His gaze held a glint of approval buried under layers of distraction. He was not ungrateful. But he had the look of a man who had dangled from innumerable windows at the hands of innumerable thugs, and I suspected this incident did not rate among his most memorable.”

In Fire(3k, G, Downey ‘verse, casefic, near-death, near-confession) by @educatedinyellow. “Beside me, Watson bent over as if winded, bracing his hands on his knees. After a minute, he straightened up, a subtly different man.  He tucked himself away beneath the familiar air of determination that he had worn carefully at twenty-nine, naturally at thirty-seven, and luminously at fifty-three.”

A Taste of Honey(3k, T, sickfic, near-death, pre-slash). “I had long since ceased to think of Watson as an invalid, or anything other than a reliable companion, a constant source of strength, support, and occasional pawky humor. I certainly never considered him fragile.“

His Heartbeat A Lullaby(3k, T, PTSD recovery, grief, friends to lovers). “Watson, I won’t say another word. But you’re wrong, you don’t have to be alone in this. You’ve done a great deal for me, and it is never an inconvenience to help you - quite the contrary, my friend.”

Buried Alive(4k, G, Downey ‘verse, casefic, pre-slash) by @drjohnhwatson. “ ‘He will come, Mr. Holmes,’ Mary said firmly, ‘Because he loves you,’ and Holmes shut his eyes.”

As if the World Should Roll Itself Out Like a Cloak(4k, G, coming out, love confession) by @earlybloomingparentheses. “My eyes traveled from the day’s paper to the man who sat beside me, reading and re-reading a letter, unaware that his presence was the source of my continued and consuming joy.”

My Dear Doctor(4k, G, casefic, canon fixit, established relationship) by @captain-liddy. “I took his armchair while he warmed himself at the hearth, and when he turned to find me in it, he only shrugged up his shoulders and perched himself on my knee.”

O Paradis(4k, T, Reichenbach, bittersweet love confession) by @plaidadder.  “ ‘To be apart from me,’ Watson concluded, ‘is precisely what Mary wants. I am not doing her any harm by staying by your side.’ ” 

Wedded Bliss(4k, M, closeted pining, friends to lovers). “Good grief, Holmes, when will you finally give the matter up? I don’t even want to marry. I have never wished for a woman in my life!”

I Am the Girl for Her(4k, G, femlock, first meeting) by @sanspatronymic. “In the light of the fireplace, the angles of her face sharpened and had given her a regal look, which reminded me for all the world of the portrait of Caesar Augustus. What fit occupation was there, I wondered, for this Lady Caesar in our modern world?”

Pride & Providence(5k, G, post-return reconciliation, friends to lovers) by @darlingdetective. “I am still angry, Holmes, but I meant it when I told you this afternoon that I never was happier to see anyone in my life—dear God, I missed you so.” He smiled faintly and placed his hand over mine.

He Stayed at Home(5k, T, sickfic, established relationship). “ ‘Good Lord, you’re burning up,’ he muttered grimly, helping me to change. ‘John, we need to send for one of your professional brethren.’ ”

The Thieves’ Den(6k, T, casefic, love confession, first kiss). “ ‘Come on,’ he found himself saying at various points through out the day. ‘Come on, wake up, Watson.’ He even went as far as to take his hand, clasping at it tightly as if he could call him back just with his touch. ‘I need you with me.’ ”

Love is to yes series (7k, T, post-case discussion, friends to lovers) by @daisyfornost. “I wish that my skill at description could match my powers of observation, for the succession of changes that overcame John’s face as understanding dawned was wonderful and terrible to see.”

The Adventure of the Glad Outlaw(7k, T, casefic, pining, friends to lovers). “I felt the quick touch of his warm lips, slightly abrasive from the wind, on my own.  He pulled back abruptly. ‘Holmes,’ I said in surprise, ‘what was that?’ ”

Private Friends(7k, T, Watson tries a little poetry, established relationship) by @gailbsanders. “I believe a case of Dr John Watson has come over me, now that I think of it. Is it treatable, do you happen to know, or shall I perish?”

Rope Burn(8k, T, casefic, racism/homophobia, friends to lovers). “John,” my friend said, looking so close and yet as distant as the moon, “If you knew something about me that would make others recoil in disgust and speak my name with derision, would it change how you viewed me?”

Bloody Cornwall(8k, M, trauma recovery, friends to lovers) by @mistyzeo. “ ‘Nothing’s the matter,’ I said. My cup of coffee barely shook in my hands.”

Five Miles From Eastbourne(8k, M, casefic, Sussex joy, established relationship). “Still handsome – devilishly so – and lean, as much as ever.  A fleck of grey now at his temple, a line or two across his brow, but still as sharp, almost as vigorous, as the first day that we had met.  More human?  Yes.”

Cameo(8k, T, magical realism, soulmate AU, love confession). “Watson swallowed past a sudden thickness at his throat. ‘Holmes,’ he said. ‘I would rather have you alive and away from me than dead in the room next door.’ ”

Perfect Pitch(8k, T, magical realism, soulmate AU, friends to lovers). “I still, curse my thickness, did not come to the correct conclusion. But at least I recognized that it was simply the purest form of love.”

Some Gentle Dove(8k, T, miscommunication, Sussex joy, established relationship). “Watson nodded and turned the page, trying his best to appear unaffected by my praise, though I caught the trace of a pleased smile below his mustache. He is not terribly good at keeping a straight face, my John, but his attempts are utterly bewitching.”

Something To Retire To(9k, T, miscommunication, ace Holmes, relationship negotiation). “I did not want to be alone as I grew old. I wondered, with some desperation, if Holmes would mind if I moved into the cottage next to his.”

The Incident In The Room With The Red Curtain(9k, T, casefic, demi Holmes, friends to lovers). “When I got up to my room, I sank down on my bed and put my head in my hands, taking a long breath. He’d known. All these years, and my second most tightly-wrapped secret was no secret at all.”

That Which is Hidden(10k, T, casefic, pining, Mycroft interfering kindly, friends to lovers). “I do think in this particular matter, however, you have allowed your fear to cloud your judgement.  Doctor Watson does care for you, my dear Sherlock, and you would be a fool to let him marry another.”

SomeFurther Notes on the Roylott Matter (11k, T, casefic, canon fixit, friends to lovers). “Watsonenjoys speaking of souls. He believes in them, and so he must, for hisown is so very present.”

If you love these, most of the authors have more work on AO3!

And some of my own fit the bill too:

Ridiculous(1k, G, epistolary, accidental love confession). “Why Holmes Is Ridiculous: Being a list of his oddities, which I am keeping for my own amusement, or possibly for blackmail. I will add to this whenever fresh proof comes to hand.”

Notes On A Love Story(4k, G, Holmes reads Dorian Gray, friends to lovers). “Holmes, you could not shock me past acceptance. You could not lose my respect over a thing like this. I would sooner cut off my own hand than raise it against you, whatever secrets you hold.”

Poets Lie(5k, G, pining, canon retelling, first kiss). “He’d thought the impulse long conquered. Now he saw that time had only distilled it. To touch a loved face tenderly–it was such a simple thing to be so entirely out of reach.”

Holmes, Voiceless(5k, G, pining, friends to lovers). “He was with me daily, from the time of his illness often hourly; he required my aid; he blushed at my praise; he demanded my attention; he delighted, baffled, needled and provoked me. His effect on me grew absolutely terrifying. I could not think, I could not be rational.”

Courting Sherlock Holmes(5k, G, sickfic, accidental courtship, friends to lovers). “I had meant only to do him justice for twenty years’ goodness to me. I had believed I had loved no one in all my life. I had never wondered why.”

My Private Affairs(6k, G, pining, jealousy, friends to lovers). “Holmes was not a man to hint. I was not accustomed to any kind of caution between us. I had a sinking feeling I’d missed something essential.”

To Join These Men in Holy Matrimony(10, T, family crisis, established relationship). “The whole thing seemed miraculous to me, and yet to anyone’s eye we would have appeared the same as ever. Only behind closed doors, and in the quiet of the night, was everything new.”

These and the rest of my canon-era writing are here on AO3. Thanks for the ask!