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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28 Days: 1.7x speed by bishyreadytocry
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV), Heartstopper (Webcomic)
19 Jun 2026
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Summary
In which Nick gets into reading, Charlie is doubtful, and... well. Something about forever.
Series
- Part 34 of don't need nothing more (uni boys)
- Part 59 of 85 Moments of Forever: A Heartstopper Countdown
Bookmarked by Arete20
19 Jun 2026
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The Rugby Coach’s Class by alwayshope633
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV), Heartstopper (Webcomic)
15 Jun 2026
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Summary
The parent of a student assigned to Nick’s year two class doesn’t want Mr. Nelson to be her teacher — but not for the reasons you might think.
Bookmarked by Arete20
15 Jun 2026
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36 Days: Always, Forever, Running Back to You by MarzelGrimm
Fandoms: Heartstopper (TV), Heartstopper (Webcomic)
11 Jun 2026
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Summary
Charlie tells himself he doesn’t think about Nick Nelson anymore.
It’s been so long he can barely remember the strawberry-blond swoop of his hair or the way light twinkles across the warm honey brown of his eyes. He doesn’t still feel the lingering warmth of brushing fingers or the ghost of a spark against his lips. He doesn’t look for him in every crowd. He’s a 28-year-old man for fuck sakes. He doesn’t have time to think about the boy he was in love with at 14.
Okay, so maybe Charlie still thinks about Nick Nelson a
lotlittle.Or
Nick ran away after their first kiss and right out of Charlie's life. 14 Years later, Charlie's an activist and YouTube sensation who's sworn off love. Until Nick Nelson stumbles back into his life.
Series
Bookmarked by Arete20
12 Jun 2026
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Summary
“We should get out.” His voice comes out breathless. Is he breathless? “We’ll get locked in if we stay in much longer.”
“Yeah.” Charlie’s footsteps follow him down the scuffed vinyl corridor, somehow steady despite it all. Solid and rhythmic.
Nick bends to pick up his bag, hastily discarded at the chilling edge to Ben’s voice, then tries the door.
It’s locked.
He tries again.
It’s definitely locked.
Bookmarked by Arete20
09 Jun 2026
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lavender by transshanehollander (cyrusbreeze) for collieflower
Fandoms: Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid
05 Jan 2026
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Summary
“Frankly, I think we may have to make a group chat,” Rose says. Rose wants Svetlana’s number in part because she wants to talk to Svetlana more. Mostly for skin care tips because Svetlana’s skin is truly gorgeous.
“A group chat?” Svetlana asks. She does that smile again and Rose’s stomach does a flip flop. (How does it feel to be God’s favorite, Svetlana?)
“Yes,” Rose answers. “Or just a chat, I guess. It would be called Personally Victimized by Queer Hockey Players with an Eight Year Long Situationship.”
“You know, if you want my number, Rose. You can just ask.” Svetlana winks and it is truly unfair that Rose isn’t a lesbian because absolutely that would’ve melted her into a total puddle.
Or
Rose Landry maybe has a crush on Svetlana Vetrova; too bad she’s not a lesbian.
Bookmarked by Arete20
09 Jun 2026