Anyone who knows me will tell you that my whole ass heart belongs to Niall Horan. His Nice to Meet Ya tour was supposed to kick off today, but has been cancelled due to the current pandemic. So today, to put a little love out into the fandom-verse for everyone’s beloved side-kick and Captain of the SS Larry Stylinson, here is the list of my favorite works with great Niall characters. The highest praise I can possibly give. If you’re feeling a bit blue and longing for a dose of Niall, try out some of the awesome selections below! If you’ve got some that are not on the list, let this Niall-lover know! And now…for my Magnum Opus.
Domestic Monsters - g_uttertrash / @g-uttertrash (E, 234K, 9 works)
What can I say about this fic that I haven’t already said…it’s my absolute favorite, and most of the reason is because of Niall, the cooking obsessed werewolf. He’s sweet and hysterical and excitable and conflicted and the absolute glue of this crazy domestic family of monsters. I love how this author gives all the boys their own space within the fic so that you feel you know them each intimately. It’s a WIP, and I will forever be hoping it finishes but even if left as it currently is, it’s well worth the read (especially around Halloween)!
Avengers Series - @whimsicule (M, 227K, 2 works)
One of my favorite series, full of angst and action. This has a great Ziall pairing where Niall is Hawkeye and Zayn is Black Widow, a power couple if there ever was one. They both help Harry and Louis heal old wounds of trauma and heartbreak as they learn that their lives mean more than the next mission. Even if you haven’t seen any of the Marvel movies, this is a must read. It’s how the Captain America/Winter Soldier story line should have gone (I’m not bitter…nope).
Ain’t That a Kick in the Head! - keysmashlesbian & wreckingtomlinson (T, 22K)
Niall is the ring leader for a day of gay chaos at a Boston soccer game. He’s funny, sharp and delightful from start to finish as he turns Harry’s lust for the hot British import soccer player, Louis Tomlinson, into the famed viral meme “Drunk Hawaiian Guy” who has a weird hang up about Tide Pods. It’s laugh out loud amusing and one in a series of similar style fics that will brighten any dreary day.
(Take Me Home) Country Roads - awriterwrites / @a-writerwrites (E, 86K)
One word…ayup. Niall is a hometown backwoods staple as Dr. Tomlinson learns to work with Harry, the local healer known as Mountain Mama. Niall owns pretty much every establishment in town, all of which are perplexingly named Nells. Just his accent alone will have you laughing.
The Finish Line (Is A Good Place For Us To Start) - LoadedGunn / @loaded-gunn (E, 121K)
Niall is a trusted member of Harry’s F1 racing pit crew who travels the world along with the rest of the boys in a high speed, high laughs, high emotion saga. This is probably the best OT5 fic I’ve read where they are literally a pile of codependent puppies. You will love this fic even if you don’t know a thing about F1 racing, and if you do? It’s a fever dream come true.
Love Is A Rebellious Bird - gloria_andrews / @gloriaandrews & @100percentsassy (E, 134K)
Don’t hum Bolero. Niall plays the french horn and is best mates with his elder female stand partner, Gladys. For some reason that instrument choice just fits him, maybe because his voice has that same brassy gentle tone. He brings the laughs and the heart to a classic fic from this dynamic writing duo.
Wild and Unruly - gloria_andrews / @gloriaandrews & @100percentsassy (E, 123K)
When big town paralegal Louis is sent to Wyoming to convince ranch owner Harry to sell his property for its oil reservoir, he meets Niall the ranch hand and his adorable wife, Maggie. Niall is Harry’s steadfast supporter and the one who helps Louis play white knight to win over his man. There are also adorable baby calves that are alone worth the read.
Be My Little Good Luck Charm - @100percentsassy (E, 34K)
Niall is the caddy to Harry’s golf pro in this fic and provides more than just club advice. He’s a nosy little busy body, “monitoring” Harry’s dates with Louis the Sky Sports announcer, but only out of love, of course. At least he doesn’t fall on his butt while carrying Harry’s clubs in this fic like he’s done in real life *cough cough The Masters cough cough*.
Saving Symphony Hall Series - @helloamhere (E, 137K, 3 works)
Niall is a beta and Barbara is his alpha, and both of them are the kickass protectors of omega Louis who plots to save his beloved Symphony. This is another of my favorite and most well fleshed out side pairings with Niall. The writing is stellar and the way Louis’ emotional needs are explored through his friendship with Niall and Babs is so heart-achingly tender.
It’s a Better Place (Since You Came Along) - phdmama / @phd-mama (E, 51K)
Niall is the “amp” for Harry’s “finder” powers, as necessary to one another as a limb, but his importance and support of Harry goes far beyond his magical abilities. The setting of this fic is so unique and fun. It’s supernatural…but on a yacht! There are wands. There is super powerful side Ziam. And there are soulmate fireworks. Have I convinced you yet?
a bagel for all seasons - @disgruntledkittenface (Not Rated, 29K)
A Shiall fic where Niall is a jaded lawyer meant to convince Liam to sell his Christmas tree farm. What a scrooge, I know! Slowly but surely (with the help of completely the adorably domestic B&B owners, Louis and Harry, and their many cats), Niall falls for the local baker, Shawn, and the charms of the tiny holiday obsessed town itself.
5 weeks of Shiall Series - alienharry (E, 37K, 5 works)
Every single one of these fics are amazing and focused on Shiall. A personal favorite is the apple picking fic where Niall bakes and cooks absolutely everything he can think of with apples just so he can keep returning to the orchard where Shawn happens to work.
A True Love of Mine - myownspark @myownsparknow) (T, 2K)
This is a poetic and beautiful masterpiece where Niall reminisces on a past love while walking the beach with his current love. It’s written impeccably, a snippet of time that opens up a world of feeling.
Dive Series - @allwaswell16 (E, 21K, 5 works)
A lovely series where Niall pops up everywhere, mostly uninvited, to both pester and push Harry into his happily ever after with Louis, the recovering football star, all set on a dreamy California beachfront.
Happy Valentine’s Day, You Cockroach - @allwaswell16 (Not Rated, 2K)
A short and sassy little piece where Niall literally feeds cockroaches to meerkats to get back at Harry on Louis’ behalf.
If I Loved You Less - @allwaswell16 (E, 36K)
Niall is the omega mastermind who helps his fellow omega friend, Louis, find a mate. Niall’s patient and loving mate, Shawn, is ever supportive of his husband’s schemings. He’s every bit the antithesis of what one would expect from a regency victorian omega, which is why he’s so awesome.
No Pressure, No Diamonds Series - @karamelised (E, 71K, 5 works)
Niall is the brilliant and borderline crazy criminal ring leader of a heist team that brings thief Louis and grifter Harry together in this high action, super sexy series. He steals things, blows things up, and brings the ship home.
Through Eerie Chaos - MediaWhore / @mediawhorefics (G, 102K)
Niall is the adorable and nerdy local ghost hunter who convinces an unwilling Harry that the ghost at the old manor is not only real but the love of Harry’s life. He’s so earnest and sweet leading his ghost hunting society and is secretly (or no so secretly) hung up on the brooding bad boy Zayn who attends the meetings despite his snark and skepticism.
Harry Styles Cooks… - sunsetmog / @magicalrocketships (E, 61K)
This fic is a wild and zany WIP where Harry and Louis are about as weird and endearing as you can get. One of the best parts is the devotion of Niall and Liam as Louis’ best friends that indulge his obsession over Harry Styles, the celebrity chef, in the form of buying him innumerable items of unauthorized Harry Styles merch, including shower curtains and pillow cases. They all but drag him kicking and screaming into an adorable relationship with said lonely chef.
The Impossible Now - stylinsoncity / @alienproof (M, 64K)
Time travel, fate, angels, love lost and found. Niall is at the heart of this stunning fic where he throws Louis into another universe with a Christmas Eve wish. Louis learns to love and support all iterations of both Harry and himself. A classic Captain Niall fic if there ever was one.
Escapade - dolce_piccante / @haydolce (M, 146K)
This fandom classic has one of the most hysterical Ziall side pairings, where Niall is a filthy rich sausage empire heir who loves yoga, golf, lube, and karaoke. He’s so wacky and weird but lovable in the same sense.
Santa/Satan Series - @taggiecb (E, 15K, 4 works)
Who else could possibly support Santa Harry in his dealings with Satan Louis than head elf Niall as they battle over who gets to deliver gifts to the misaddressed letters of the world’s children. I can just picture Niall in an elf get-up with pointy little ears.
if i had the chance, the things i would do to you - @missandrogyny (E, 14K)
Niall is the fierce manager wrangling a love struck musical star Harry into performing on the show Lip Sync Battle facing off against the object of that love, Louis. He’s the “Niall-bastion” to Harry’s “Hariel” and helps him nab “Loursula” in the end despite having to constantly stop Harry from “blowing” the enemy instead of “blowing him out of the water”.
As You Are - Zarah5 (E, 139K)
A Narry bros story for the ages. Niall and Harry are a group on the X-factor where former participant and current musical darling Louis is a judge. He is exactly what you imagine young Niall was as an X-factor competitor, always with a guitar and everyone’s favorite human.
I’d Do Niall - alongthewatchtower (E, 7K)
In most fics, Niall is not a participant in any of the smut, but this fic breaks that trend. It’s a threesome fic with Larry that is surprisingly hot and sweet as Niall gets a little well deserved action.
Mars Needs Irishmen - kassio / @fakedeepplantjerker (T, 2K)
Such a great little fic where Niall gets to see out his dreams of being a NASA astronaut headed to Mars with the support of his former 1D bandmates. It’s written so well that you could actually believe it to be possible in the future.
like a simile, i paint suggestive pictures (of me and you) - dangerbears (Not Rated, 14K)
Niall supports his fellow college professor Louis through his morality crisis of falling for a student. He loves his friend so much he even repeatedly offers alternative rom-com endings where Nouis fall in love instead and have dogs and kiddos and do pottery and coach footie, but alas ’twas not to be when Larry are the OTP.
Our Love is Timeless - @lululawrence (Not Rated, 6K)
This is a great Shiall fic where a time traveling Niall literally materializes in Shawn’s shower and steals his heart. So gentle and heartwarming in all its hilarity.
How I Feel Inside - @lululawrence (Not Rated, 9K)
This was a fun ABO college verse fic written for yours truly, and while Niall is not onscreen for much of the fic, he is the center of the plot as the rest of the boys try to figure out where he’s mysteriously disappeared to.
For One of the Least of These - LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup (G, 6K)
Supernatural fics are my jam, and this has Niall as the 863 year old, weary witch leader of a coven of “baby” witches in Harry, Liam and Zayn that discovers a fox who has been cursed. He’s such a surly little curmudgeon, but he really loves his fellow wiccan brudders.
Has Me By My Heart - LoadedGunn / @loaded-gunn (E, 29K)
Niall steals everything (including a desk chair) and his fondness for Harry, his partner in literal crime, leads him to set aside his massively successful illegal dealings for a desk job. He helps Harry steal Louis’ heart and woos a lover of his own by showering an oblivious Zayn in expensive lunches, priceless art and vintage comics.
Where Your Heart Is - freetheankles (E, 154K)
Niall is the best friend we all wish we had in this fic. His support of Louis (and head over heels love for Louis’ female roommate Sam) is unwavering and heartwarming. Sam is such a well rounded character that you forget she isn’t canon and completely understand Niall’s obsession.
The Road Less Traveled By - freetheankles (Not Rated, 98K)
Louis is left widowed by…get this…Ed Sheeran, whose brother is none other than Niall Sheeran. He gives Lumberjack Louis love, support, and an occasional kick in the butt when needed to help him nab the new local principle, Harry.
Bioluminescent Vampire Squid - Keep_Calm_and_Read_Fic / @keepcalmandreadfic-blog (E, 45K)
This author’s fics got me into the fandom and were some of the first I read, so it’s no surprise that my love of well written Niall stems from them. This one is main paring of Ziam, where Niall is Zayn’s agent who forces him onto a seafaring expedition on the ridiculous Captain Payne’s boat, who he has been flirting/consulting about a comic book project. Niall may not be the actual captain of the ship, but he certainly captains the Ziam ship in this one.
Bittersweet and Strange - Keep_Calm_and_Read_Fic / @keepcalmandreadfic-blog (E, 41K)
Niall “The Whore” Horan is feared across the lands in this Beauty and the Beast AU, but can rumors really be trusted? While he doesn’t seem to have any necessary duties around the castle despite being hysterical, he is among the first to befriend the new “captive”, Harry, and to convince him to give the infamous King Louis, “The Beast”, a chance to change his mind…and his heart.
And now I humbly offer a few of my Niall-centered fics, because it’s all I seem capable of writing.
Ain’t No Friend of Mine - RealityBetterThanFiction (M, 7K)
Harry and Louis adopt a stray dog that reminds them eerily of their best friend, Niall. It’s wild and weird, but what else would you expect from me?
Fly Boys Top Gun Series - RealityBetterThanFiction (E, 157K, 2 works)
This is my Top Gun AU first fic baby where Niall not only ran away with my plot but my whole heart as well. Niall is Lieutenant Harry Styles’ RIO as they make their way through Premier Delta Naval flight school. Niall is probably the most integral character to moving the story along, and I am an absolute monster for what I did to him in the fic (no spoilers), so please don’t come at me with pitchforks. It hurt me more than it will hurt you…promise.
It’s the Little Things in Life that Mean the Most - RealityBetterThanFiction (T, 7K)
The boys are all shapeshifters and Niall’s a late bloomer who takes an unexpected form. Or as I fondly call it, the chicken fic. That about sums up this strange little thing that I wrote after much contemplation over Niall’s skinny legs.
My Saddle’s Waiting - RealityBetterThanFiction (E, 28K)
Niall is a Honda hating brand rep at the Chicago Auto Show who hangs out in trunks, eats his body weight in churros, and serves as the love guru for all his misguided and stubbornly love-stupid friends.
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