Are there any good 5SOS friendship fics?
the answer is definitely yes! we have fantastic writers in this fandom, so there are great friendship fics here. i can compile a list based on previous times i've answered this question, but i haven't been reading much 5sos fic for the past year and friendship fics have never been my favorite type of fic.
to find friendship fics on ao3, search for any of the pairings with a & sign instead of a / (example: Michael Clifford & Luke Hemmings). You can filter out the romantic pairings by excluding pairings with a / on the filters bar. this is a great way to find friendship fics, especially because asking me is only going to get the fics i'm aware of in my small circle here on tumblr, whereas filtering on ao3 will help you find a whole lot more!
now on to my recs:
with open hearts and open eyes by @lifewasradical: rated G, ot4 friendship, 2k. very highly recommend this one i love it a lot
If he closes his eyes, Luke thinks he can almost believe that he’s 16 again, that they’re in Australia and they’re just starting out, thrumming with energy and excitement and glee that still lingers in their bones if they look hard enough. Some of that childlike wonder bleeds through the moment, Luke’s sure of it, as the others all turn onto their stomachs too. Their outlines are barely able to be seen through the darkness, but Luke would know the contours of the other guys even if he went blind.
If I Can Dream Long Enough by @4thbrighteststar: rated G, ot4 friendship, 2k.
Luke leans back, closes his eyes and lets the setting sun wash over his face, lets his fingers find a rhythm of their own. Third fret, fifth string. Tenth fret - his fingers hop up and down the guitar. Seventh fret. Fifth fret - no, keep the riff. He loses himself in it, until the wind and the birds and the distant, roaring cars fall silent in the face of the music he’s making by himself for the first time in eternity.
(An ode to making music in the toughest of times.)
am i broken (are you the saviour) by jbhmalum, rated T, malum friendship, 4k
He should do something. Maybe take a deep breath, in and out. Maybe turn on the bedside lamp. Maybe go lie down on the cold bathroom floor. Maybe bury himself under Calum’s covers and cuddle up to him; it probably wouldn’t even wake Calum, and Michael would get the comfort he needs.
Michael hears something he didn’t want to and has a hard time dealing with it.
dearly depressed and brokenhearted (i’d like to let you know that boys cry too) by @clumsyclifford: rated T, muke friendship, 2k
Michael returns. He’s wearing a jacket and a beanie and there’s a blanket from off their couch in his hands.
“Michael,” Luke says.
“Please,” Michael says. “I’m obviously not going to convince you to come inside, but I don’t want you to freeze.” He takes the steps, footsteps falling where Luke’s had, and comes close enough to Luke that when he offers up the blanket, Luke reaches out and takes it. “I know you don’t wear jackets,” Michael explains.
(It’s cold and rainy out. Luke goes for a walk.)
crack a smile, stay a while (am i holding for applause?) by @clumsyclifford: rated T, cashton friendship (but the other two are there as well), 1k
Glancing down at Ashton, Michael adds, “What’s with him?”
“He’s convinced he’s going to do terribly and publicly humiliate himself,” Calum says, rolling his eyes again for good measure.
“No, you’ll be great,” Michael says brightly. “Calum’s always saying how you’re the most talented person in his music whatever class.”
“Calum’s stupid and wrong,” floats Ashton’s voice from somewhere underneath the seat.
no love sincerer (than the love of food) by TempestRising: rated G, ot4 friendship, 4k
5 times One Direction fed 5 Seconds of Summer / 1 time One Direction needed feeding.
melancholy & honey by @igarbagecannoteven: rated G, malum friendship, 500 words, they’re bees (yes you read that right)
Michael’s only been resting there for a minute when he hears a familiar hum approaching him from behind. He doesn’t have to turn his head to know it’s Calum.
glitter by @igarbagecannoteven: rated G, cake friendship
Calum has no idea how Luke is able to infect all of their tour gear with glitter so completely.
below are a collection of friendship fics that I personally have not read, but I’ve read other works by the writers so I feel okay recommending them
Jess @daydadahlias has written so many friendship fics that I have heard great things about!!!
Torn Up (ot4 friendship, 8k)
Tailspin (cashton friendship, warning for alcohol/smoking, 5k)
Lightweight (ot4 friendship, warning for heavy alcohol, non-consensual kissing, 5k)
Tender (mashton friendship, 3k)
Superbloom (cashton friendship, warning for discussions of Skinny Skinny, 3k)
Movie Night (lashton friendship, 3k)
Shoebox (lashton friendship, 3k)
The Craft Club series (outside pov of ot4 friendship, but only Ashton appears in most of the installments. I've heard a lot of really fun things about this series, so while it isn't necessarily a heavy friendship focus I still recommend!)
from Bella @clumsyclifford
you should know i’ll be there for you (lashton friendship, 2k)
maybe this is just as good as it gets (cake friendship, 2k)
our best years are yet to come (thanks for choosing me) (cashton friendship, 1k)
from @lifewasradical
have my back (yeah, everyday) (malum friendship, 3k)
so much older (lashton friendship, 2k)
then if I may self-rec:
takeoff by me: rated G, mashton friendship, 1k
Sweater Weather by me: rated G, malum friendship or pre-slash, 1k
Tornado Warning by me: rated T, ot4 friendship, 2k
wedding vows by me: rated T, malum friendship, background roylum and mystal 5k
if anyone else has friendship fics they want to recommend feel free to add on!
8 notes
·
View notes
Goodbye Grey Sky, Hello Blue - 32
Summary: In an alternate universe where trains and zeppelins are still common forms of travel and the internet and cell phones exist, nineteen year old Peter Parker has few options left after he’s swindled out of his inheritance. Unable to pay for college, let alone keep the house left to him by his deceased aunt, he’s running out of time before he’s out on the streets. Desperate, Peter signs his life over to the Bureau of Civic Spousal Selections to take his chances as the selected husband of a complete stranger. After all, he only has to make it through a year and then he can choose to annul.
Dr. Stephen Strange has little interest in marriage, preferring to focus on his career. When his career is threatened by what a nosy board of directors considers a “lack of personal fulfillment and settling down,” he opts to select a spouse through the BCSS and chooses Peter Parker. The young man’s profile he’d briefly skimmed suggests intelligence and compatibility. It’s not ideal, but if after a year it’s not working out, he can always annul the marriage and send Peter on his way.
It’s a marriage neither truly wants, with sharp learning curves for both. It’s either going to be forever or it’s going to go down in flames.
Warnings/AO3 Tags: 18+ MINORS DNI, Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - 1950s/Modern Fusion, Doctor Stephen Strange, Jewish Peter Parker, Peter Parker is an Adult, Marriage of Convenience, Marriage Contracts, Government Sanctioned Marriages, Domestic Discipline, Dubiously Consensual Spanking, Spanking, Aftercare, Mildly Dubious Consent, Dubious Morals, Dubious Ethics, Asshole Stephen Strange, Smartass Peter Parker, Passive Aggressive Canned Soup, Two Morons Trying to Try Their Best, Borrowing Characters
-------
Chapter 32
-------
Tony Stark's mansion sat on a cliff with a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean. While it was the largest private residence he'd ever seen, it wasn't a clunky multi-storied monstrosity like Peter had imagined, but sleek with curving lines and generous windows. It felt modern, almost futuristic.
"Impressive, right?" Stephen asked as they waited for Klaus to unload their luggage.
"It's amazing!"
"And here is the man of the hour," Stephen murmured.
Peter around and spotted Tony striding towards them, arms spread in greeting.
"Doc! Pete! Welcome to my humble little mansion!"
Peter snorted.
Tony had a quick word with Klaus, who then drove off with a grin.
"Now, I'd say tell me all about your first flight, Pete, but I know Sharon's going to ask so we may as well hold off until you and your taller half are settled."
"Where is Sharon?" Peter asked.
"She's in the sun room, reading with her feet propped up. Her obstetrician absolutely refuses to put her on bed rest, so it's the most I'm able to convince her to do," Tony said, disgruntled.
"Tony," Stephen said patiently. "I've read over everything her doctor sent me. There's no need for her to be on bed rest."
"Not even for my peace of mind?"
"Not even," Stephen said.
Tony huffed but nodded. "I just want everything to go okay. Sharon and I can always make another baby. I can't make another her." He paused. "Not ethically, at least. I mean, if anyone could figure out human cloning, it's me. But, you know, ethics and all that."
"She'll be fine," Peter soothed, holding back a laugh. Tony was probably right on the whole pioneering cloning thing. He'd already made science fiction science fact a few different times. "Pretty soon you'll find all new reasons to annoy her."
Tony inclined his head. "I know, I'm driving her crazy. I just can't stand the thought that something might go wrong."
"It won't," Stephen said. "She's healthy and she has the best doctor at her disposal. Her obstetrician is quite good as well."
"Can you believe that this guy lacks all self-confidence?" Tony asked Peter, jerking his thumb in Stephen's direction.
"It's tragic," Peter said, playing along. "He doubts himself all the time."
"You two are hilarious," Stephen said dryly. "Can we go inside now? It's gorgeous out but we've been flying for fourteen hours."
Tony took Peter's luggage with a wink and led them in.
The inside of Tony's mansion was just as sleek and modern as the outside, albeit lived-in and somehow comfortable.
"We decided to put you in the west wing guest suite. It's close to us but you'll still have plenty of privacy and your own bathroom."
The suite was more like a small apartment. They had a sitting area with a royal blue oversized couch that Peter ached to just sink into and two charcoal armchairs in the same style. Their kitchenette boasted a cold cabinet, range, oven, and top-loading dishwasher from the Stark Kitchen Living Collection - not in Stephen's preferred Superior Sapphire, but Tony's signature Hot Rod Red. The bedroom had a chest of drawers in dark walnut that matched the odd bed frame. The mattress looked... sunken somehow, as if the frame was built around it. And the bedding was tidy and clean but definitely lacking in precise corners.
Stephen noticed his puzzlement. "Why don't you take your shoes off and lay down?"
Peter did, shooting Stephen a suspicious look. He laid down and immediately tried - unsuccessfully - to get back up.
"Wha-"
"It's a waterbed, Peter. The mattress is a reinforced bladder filled with water that's kept heated." He couldn't help but laugh at how startled Peter was. "It's quite comfortable; just relax and lay down."
Peter did. It felt like he was floating. The mattress seemed to mold around him so there was no pressure. He shifted and his body undulated with the mattress. It was as if he was being cradled.
"It's comfortable," he agreed.
"But?"
Peter blushed. "It's just... well, I enjoy when you cage me in against the mattress and I'm not sure how well that will work on this thing."
Stephen smirked. "Oh, we'll have plenty of fun." He extended a hand and helped Peter up and out of bed. "Let's get changed. Tony said dinner is being catered so there's no need to go out."
They changed out of their button-downs and blazers and Peter pulled his tie off with relish. He pulled on a polo and Stephen pulled on a light-weight sweater.
"You're not taking your shoes off?" Peter asked.
"Oh, right." Stephen slipped his loafers off and lined them up with Peter's against the wall.
As Tony had said, they found Sharon reclining on a couch and ottoman in the sun room. She wore a pretty blue caftan and her propped-up feet were clad in matching cushioned slippers. She was reading, and after taking a closer look, Peter could see it was one of the scandalous romance novels his aunt May had sworn she didn't read but he'd once found a stack of stashed in her bedroom closet.
"How is romance with-" he read the title "Lord Wickersham?"
Sharon rolled her eyes. "A little tame for my tastes but it is the only romance I've been getting lately." She nodded in Tony's direction. "This one won't touch me."
"Oh, come on!" He complained. "I don't want to risk hurting you or little Starter."
"Starter?" Stephen asked. His hand was warm on Peter's shoulder; Peter liked the closeness.
"His portmanteau of Stark and Carter," Sharon explained. "He thinks it's clever."
Peter snorted.
"You know, I'm glad you two are here," Tony said, sounding put upon. "You can be the focus of her sass."
"If sass is what you're calling it, I don't blame her," Peter said. Stephen's hand squeezed his shoulder in warning.
Sharon marked her place in the book and set it aside. She motioned to the seat next to her. "C'mere, Peter." He sat and she pulled him into a side-hug. "I've missed you," she said.
"Guess we know who's really important here," Tony muttered to Stephen.
"Be nice," Stephen chided. "Growing another person is a taxing, often thankless endeavor."
Tony sighed. "You're right. I'm just-"
"Just wanting everything to go smoothly," Peter finished. "We know." He looked at Sharon. "Right?"
Her expression softened. "Right." Then, "well, sit down already!"
Stephen and Tony did, each taking a chair, though Tony's chair was closest to Sharon. He picked up one of her feet, removed the slipper, and began to massage.
"Oh, that's perfect," she said, eyes closing in pleasure. "I think I'll keep you after all." She enjoyed the foot rub for a few moments before asking Peter about the flight.
"It was amazing!" Peter exclaimed. He launched into telling Sharon and Tony all about the trip, from the early wake-up and Stephen's teasing about him being a menace when running low on sleep - ("What teasing?") - to arriving at the Upper York Air Hangar and checking through security and actually boarding the airship. "It was a Cessna LTA 2-4026!"
"Top of the line," Tony commented approvingly.
"For now," Peter agreed. "Luftschiffbau in Deutschland has been making some headlines about their upcoming trials." Tony smiled and motioned for him to go on. "I got to see some amazing views after we actually started flying and were given the all-clear," Peter continued. "Then I had to take a nap because Stephen said so."
"It was a few hours out of a fourteen hour flight," Stephen inserted.
"I needed it," Peter admitted. "And we had one of the private cabins, which was great! The bed was so comfortable."
"Did you join the LTA Club?" Tony asked Stephen with a smirk.
"No, I did not fornicate with my husband in the very un-soundproofed cabin of the zeppelin," Stephen said.
Peter's cheeks burned at that. He hadn't known what the LTA Club really meant. He'd thought it just meant people who'd flown in a zeppelin! Oh, Stephen must have laughed at him during the previous week when Peter was talking nonstop about his excitement in joining!
Stephen should have corrected him, Peter thought, annoyed. There was so much canned soup in that man's future!
"You alright there, Peter?" Tony asked.
"Leave him alone," Sharon insisted. "Not everyone is comfortable talking about sex openly." Peter shot her a grateful look.
Thankfully, Stephen didn't mention any of the comments Peter had made and prevented further embarrassment.
"How was the drive?" Tony asked. "Was Mr. Haas satisfactory?"
"Klaus? Oh, he was great!" Peter said. Stephen nodded his agreement.
"Good, I'm glad. I know traffic can be a nightmare coming out of that hangar."
Peter made to ask a question but was interrupted by his stomach growling. "Ah, sorry," he said sheepishly.
"No, no, that's fine. It's just about time for dinner," Tony said. He helped Sharon up, resting a hand at her lower back. "Let's go to the dining room."
Dinner finished, Tony insisted on showing Peter his workshop, spiriting him away. "You'll love it; I have all the toys!"
Left alone, Stephen walked Sharon to the family room and helped her into the cushioned rocking chair. He helped her prop her feet up onto an ottoman and took his own seat.
"So," Sharon said. "Where shall we start?"
Stephen leaned forward. "Tell me about these agents I'm supposed to meet."
"Agents Hunter and Morse. They're two of the less... morally upstanding agents of my acquaintance, even by CSB standards."
"And they understand the situation?"
Sharon nodded and went over the particulars of what she'd told them and what they'd agreed to. "Everything is set up for you to meet with them on Thursday, so you and Peter should be able to enjoy yourselves tomorrow and Wednesday. I know he was excited to see the beach."
"The location I'll be meeting them?" Stephen couldn't think about enjoying himself just yet.
She sighed. "Middle California, just like you requested. Is there a reason why you were so insistent on Middle California?"
"The less anyone knows, the better," he said evasively.
Rolling her eyes, she nodded. "Okay, we're good on that front. Now, I told you last week you weren't getting out of a conversation. So what's had you in such a foul mood?"
He sat back and rubbed his eyes. "Richards," he gritted out. "That man had the audacity to come to my office and tell me that I had no business staying married to Peter after our year is up." He forced himself to unclench his hands and relax. "I'm holding him back from greatness, apparently."
"Oh," Sharon said softly. "Oh, no that was terrible of him!"
"No, he was right," Stephen said wearily. "I know how brilliant Peter is; if it hadn't been for Beck, Peter would be busy finishing up his first year of college. Hell, maybe he'd be well into his third or fourth semester, knowing him."
"You can't torture yourself with what-could-have-beens," she reasoned. "Did you ever consider that maybe Peter is more happy with you than he'd be if he'd gone to school?"
He snorted. "Please. What about life married to me could make him truly happy? Like I once told Dr. Grimm, I'm self-aware enough to know how insufferable I am."
Her expression hardened. "Stephen, for one of the most brilliant men I know, you can be quite stupid. I know exactly what kind of man you are, and you are so good, but it's as if you're the only one who can't see it. Peter sees it," she added at his skeptical look. "No, don't roll your eyes at me! Stephen, I talk to Peter multiple times a week. And yes, we talk about you and I am telling you that unhappy is the last thing Peter feels concerning you."
"He deserves better," he said.
"He deserves a life where he's happy," she countered. "And whether you believe it true or not, he's happy with you." A sly smile played around her face. "Somehow miserable people like you and I both ended up with husbands who are happy with us."
He couldn't help but laugh at that. "You deserve every happiness," he said.
She sighed. "I'd settle for Tony loosening his strings even a fraction. He's been driving me crazy, Stephen. I can't even go for a snail-paced walk on the treadmill anymore; he's always hovering."
"He wants more than anything for you to come out of this in good health. And he's determined to do everything he can to ensure that," he reasoned. "He's also determined to be the best father he can be."
"I know this is scaring him," Sharon acknowledged with a sigh. "But he shouldn't worry; he'll be a wonderful father."
"Of the four of us under this roof at the moment, the only person who grew up in a loving family is Peter. I'd certainly be scared in in Tony's place. And yours," he added. She'd told him all about growing up as a Carter and none of it sounded pleasant. "So cut him a break," he suggested. "He's doing his best."
"I know. And I love him for it."
"Baby Starter is going to have the best parents and the best life," he assured her.
"I'd like to get to the having Baby Starter, if it's all the same. I've already told Tony I am not doing this again."
"And how did he take that news?"
"Oh, he was fine with it. Said he wasn't sure he could handle more than one."
Stephen laughed. "That sounds like him."
"So, what do you think?"
Peter looked around the workshop - which was essentially the whole basement of the mansion. "I think it's wonderful!" he exclaimed. "Really, it must be incredible to work here whenever you want."
"It gives me something to do," Tony said easily. "Share-bear would probably be happier if I spent more time down here at the moment but-"
"But you don't want to miss anything, do you?"
Tony rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't, no. I know I'm driving her crazy, but Howard was never around and I want to be better than that."
"Something tells me that you already are."
Tony smiled. "He set a pretty low bar so I'd have to bring a shovel and start digging to do worse, I suppose."
"You'll be great," Peter said confidently. He turned back to the infusion pump prototype Tony had shown him earlier. "What's the status of this one?"
"Oh, well, I'm still working out the heating element of it, figuring out the optimal temperature without compromising the variety of tubing that can be hooked up to it."
Peter frowned. "The tubing isn't standardized?"
"It's in committee," Tony said. "So while there's going to be a consensus and soon, manufacturers are dragging their feet and keeping substandard material."
"Then put out a statement that Stark Industries' medical line for this, in anticipation of whatever standard is forthcoming, will only be designed with tubing that complies with the forthcoming standard." It sounded simple enough to Peter. "Why would you even want to be associated with substandard materials?"
Tony considered, then grinned. "You really are brilliant," Tony said. "Ms. Potts is going to love this."
"I'm glad I can help," Peter said.
"You'd probably have set the medical world on fire, Pete."
Peter shrugged. "Maybe. I could have ended up a laughingstock, too. Life didn't exactly turn out that bad, all things considered. I didn't know just how lucky I was that Stephen chose me, but I've learned."
"He's lucky he has you, too," Tony said. "I've known Stephen for a number of years now, and he's a lot lighter than I've seen him in a long time."
"He's said that I make his life easier," Peter said, studying the schematics for the infusion device. "And I'm actually happy that I can, which is definitely not how I felt at the beginning when he selected me." He picked up a pen, crossed out one of the tolerances noted, and wrote in a different one.
Tony looked it over, curious as to what Peter changed. Then he nodded. "Yeah, I think that will about do it." He eyed Peter. "Think we should go and break up their little tête-à-tête?"
"Stephen's probably calmed Sharon down a bit," Peter said in agreement. He looked up at Tony and smirked. "She really has been going crazy. You're lucky she hasn't slipped a sedative in your drinks."
Tony laughed. "Yeah, I know. Come on, we have games to play."
Games turned out to be Scrabble, which the four of them were viciously well-matched for. Tony had to keep his mobile on so they could verify the words in various language were, in fact, words. With the radio set to an easy music station, they played for a couple of hours until it was growing dark and Sharon couldn't stifle her yawning.
(Peter won by four points, with Sharon close behind thanks to her knowledge of languages.)
"Well," Tony said. "It's time for us to hit the metaphorical hay." He looked at Stephen. "Will you two be doing some sightseeing tomorrow?"
"That was the plan for tomorrow and Wednesday," Stephen said. "Then I have a meeting on Thursday."
That was news to Peter. A meeting? While they were on vacation? What if Sharon went into labor? She was due any day now! She didn't look concerned at Stephen's plans, though, or surprised.
"I'll have a list of places for you to check out ready by breakfast," Tony said. "You're going to love it," he added, turning his attention to Peter. "Malibu is a great place."
"I'm looking forward to it," Peter said honestly. "I can't wait to actually walk on a beach."
Sharon yawned again and leaned heavily against Tony. "Alright, good night, you two. Sleep well."
"Oh, we will," Stephen assured her. The tone had Peter's cheeks flushing a hot pink.
They did.
-------
6 notes
·
View notes