I’ll start the ball rolling, by recommending 3 fics I’ve read recently that I’ve really loved:
Wild Love by purpledaisy 130k
“Good,” Julia says, clearly pleased to have them both uncomfortable and unable to look at each other. “Now, I only have one more question before you can go. What are you planning to do when this experiment ruins your friendship?”
“We said we’d stay friends no matter what,” Harry says smoothly, his chin lifting in defense.
“That was our one thing going into it,” Louis agrees. “Stay friends no matter what.”
Julia raises a perfectly manicured brow, “That’s all fine and good. But I hope you realize your emotions aren’t going to realize this is an experiment in the end. If one of you falls for the other and finds out those feelings are not reciprocated, you’re not going to be able to laugh it off as a social experiment. I’m not saying you shouldn’t do this, I’m just hoping you’ve considered all of the possible outcomes.”
- AU: Two best friends try to date each other for forty days. It's supposed to be fun until emotions make it complicated.
dancing in the dark by @clairdeloune 75k
Harry takes a deep breath and then slowly lets it out. He lifts his head and meets Louis’ eyes again.
“Do you think they could—” Harry stops, swallows dryly; Louis tilts his head to the side, silently urging him to go on. “Do you think they could forgive that someone, then? At some point?”
Louis just looks at him for a moment, quiet, contemplating. “I think maybe, in some ways, they already have,” he says finally, his voice soft.
Or: Harry comes out and it brings more than he's expected.
the wonderlands by stylinsoncity 150k
"Somewhere between chaos and control — these are the wonderlands."
Harry's daughter, Andy, is signed to Louis' girl band. Her path to success is marked by competition, chaos, and for Harry, a love affair.
These are just the last 3 I’ve read...I’ll follow up later with a more in depth list to recommend.