recs and links

Two years after the end of Developmental Milestones, Gotham is starting to look like a brighter city. But old villains and old problems come back to haunt them and the Wayne family starts to wonder if anything can really change for good. Long, engrossing entry in the Cor et Cerebrum series.

After the Blue Spirit frees the Avatar from the Pohuai Stronghold, Admiral Zhao captures Prince Zuko under suspicion of treason. Isolated from his Uncle and his crew, Zuko has only one ally: the chatty prisoner one cell over. Sokka breaks Zuko out of prison and immediate starts planning to make friends with him in order to end the war. This is a lot of fun.

He knows he's Bucky Barnes. He knows he's dangerous. The rest of it's going to take some time to figure out. Aw, heart.

“Appendicitis,” Tim breathed in disbelief. “Are you fucking kidding me?” Tim - and his internal organs - just can't catch a break. Oh Tim.

The thing about never really being wanted anywhere is that Steph's gotten pretty good at getting people to begrudgingly bond with her via sheer force of will. Dick Grayson, with that sad little downturn at the edge of his smile, is no match for Steph's friend-ification beam. Oh heart.

Two nights dealing with the aftermath of fear toxin, or, Dick and Jason, trying to be there for each other with food and storytelling. Sequel to "Shelter" (previously recced) with Dick and Jason building on the trust and friendship that began in that story.

Everyone knows Wayne Manor is haunted--that's why the last several sales fell through. Selina doesn't care; she's got plans. I enjoyed this.

Alfred didn’t mean to raise a costumed vigilante. Excellent look at Batman's origins from Alfred's POV.

Following a couple of Very Bad Weeks™ (which may or may not have involved being kidnapped and mildly tortured), Jason decides the best way to cheer himself up is to break into the Manor for a 3 a.m. snack. Turns out he isn’t the only one awake. Siblings!

Luke gets taken by Inquisitors at 10, which makes for a very different trajectory for him. Long, engrossing read.

All Damian wanted was to spend the day alone with his father. Then Drake had to go and ruin everything by getting himself kidnapped ... I enjoyed this.

THE MOON LANDING IS REAL NOW: STEVE ROGERS IN SPACE, PROTECTING PLANET EARTH! And maybe finding love with a buxom space babe?? “Jesus Christ,” Sam mutters. “This Steve on the moon conspiracy is getting out of control.” Except it turns out that it might not just be baseless conspiracy theory fodder for the tabloids. Not when Natasha has returned, alive and well, and certain that Steve, their Steve, will come back home too, if he hasn't become totally lost in the vastness of spacetime. Ha! I enjoyed this a lot.

There are few rituals among the girls of the Red Room, and fewer still that retain some innocence, but this is one of them. The Widows play with each others’ hair, combing and curling and brushing and braiding. It’s a practical enough pastime that the handlers have never cracked down on it, though they have looked askance whenever the Widows get too creative with their makeshift hairdressing. Five times someone braids Yelena's hair, and one time she braids someone else's. I'm not crying, you're crying.

Anakin, having defected from the Empire after being its most notorious monster for years, questions whether he can ever truly be anything other than a Sith. Ahsoka, after finding her old master again, nearly being killed by him, and then being saved by him, questions what it means to be a Jedi or not to be one. And the Empire continues its path of destruction across the galaxy even without Darth Vader to lead it. I enjoyed this a lot. (It probably helps to read the other stories in the series, previously recced.)

When Zuko frees Appa from the Dai Li, he’s forced to flee Ba Sing Se along with Sokka. Separated from Iroh and the Gaang, the two boys end up camping together while waiting for the dust to settle. The catch? Zuko is still disguised as the Blue Spirit, and Sokka wants to be his friend. Sokka's life-changing road trip with Zuko happens a little earlier than canon. I enjoyed this a lot.

Superfun Legends of Tomorrow vid!

Red Hood reads Batman for filth (while Batman doesn't know who he is) and I enjoyed it a lot.

Dick and Jason finally have the Robin discussion. Oh boys.

Dick and Jason end up undercover as fake boyfriends on a mission and it makes Jason consider things he never thought he'd get to have.

A mass Arkham breakout brings all of Bruce's children home, and with them, all the drama, secrets, and anger they've been keeping for years. Amidst rising tensions and a mysterious new threat in Gotham, the family has to work together to round up the rogues—and confront their feelings about each other. This is really well done, with fantastic characterization, and an examination of the ways Bruce mistreats his kids and how they handle it.

Snapshots of Jason's life with Bruce. Wistful and lovely. *sobs*

When an explosion traps them in the same doomed escape pod, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Dooku are stranded together on Tatooine. The goal is simple: cooperate long enough to survive, and not a second longer. But a shared past has a way of connecting the people we think we know—and bloodlines run deep. [or: your classic family road trip across a desert planet, except your grandpa is, you know, a Sith Lord. And now he's sort of starting to bond with your Jedi dad. And that might be an issue.] Thoughtful exploration of the ties that bind Dooku, Obi-Wan, and Anakin.

There’s nothing particularly remarkable about Sullust. Well, except for Obi-Wan's time-traveling son. But, you know. Apart from that. This is adorable and I enjoyed every second of it.

Jason starts working his way back into the heart of the family. Oh Jay.

Jason grabs toddler!Damian from the League of Assassins and makes a run for home.

"When did you even get to meet my dad?” Shangqi demands. “You're in supervillain prison, surely they don’t let you guys mingle.” “Mahjong night,” says Erik, deadpan. Other people look for retirement homes for their parents. Shangqi has to check out prisons. While sorting out his father's incarceration in Wakanda, he unexpectedly reconnects with his old college roommate, the villain formerly known as Killmonger." I enjoyed this a lot

Long, compelling story of the Batkids coming together to foil a League of Assassins plot and bring Bruce back from the timestream. (sequel to Redrawing the Lines, previously recced.)

Tim's not ready to forgive Jason for trying to kill him, and that's okay. Oh boys.

text fic but hilarious - last story isn't finished yet.

Bruce shows up at Selina's apartment after being exposed to a toxin and an antidote. He is...not handling either well. Fortunately, Selina is kind of a nice person and won't tease him about it later...too much. this is sweet and hilarious. #silly old bat