recs and links

Before the fall of the Soviet Union, the Winter Soldier was sent to the American arm of Hydra - only there was a malfunction in the cryo-unit that meant it couldn't be opened, and it was left, powered but abandoned, in an underground base. 25 years later, the Avengers find it. I enjoyed this AU of how Steve gets Bucky back.

Another really fun vid of the Crows being badass.

"I'm that knife in your boot, girl / I'm your number two man in a fight." Fun vid of the Crows being badass.

How Nikolai became Sturmhond.

This is a long, thoughtful, heartbreaking (and mending) story dealing with the fallout of Bruce's treatment of Jason (and Tim and Dick and Damian) during rebirth, including the best use of "Ric" Grayson I've seen.

In which Inej tries to get the best of Kaz. Her feelings get the best of her instead, whoops. Inej keeps trying to sneak up on Kaz without him catching her. This is exactly how it happens.

Kaz and Inej give each other gifts, small and large. Oh heart.

Kaz Brekker has spent years building walls between himself and others. He begins to tear them down the same way he does everything else. Brick by brick. Oh Kaz. This is really good.

Both Kaz and Inej have been known by many names throughout their lives--Dirtyhands, the Wraith, Bastard of the Barrel, Lynx. Some are more preferable than others. But there are some names that simply are not meant to fit. Neither Kaz nor Inej ever carry the name “Mother” or “Father,” but they do their fair share of parenting anyway. Oh heart.

(show-canon) Alina wishes she'd heeded Genya's warning about powerful men, and passes it on to Inej. This is a lovely moment between the two girls whose situations are similar but not the same.

Tim Drake has landed in an alternate universe and something is very wrong here. He needs to find a way home, but in the mean time everyone's hiding something from him, and he plans on getting to the bottom of it. Oh Tim.

AU where Ra's uses the Lazarus Pit on Tim and Jason has to help him learn to deal with it. I enjoyed this, though I wanted more closure for Dick with both Tim and Jason.

Long, sweet story where, ten years after the war, Draco and Harry become friends, and Harry wants something more.

Sirius escapes Azkaban and rescues Harry from the Dursleys when Harry is 8. This is really lovely. (sequel to My Sun Sets to Rise Again, previously recced)

This is a really beautiful look at Cass and her relationships with her siblings and Steph.

Does exactly what it says on the tin, and is really lovely in doing it.

Bruce Wayne gave up hope, stayed with the League of Shadows, and generally fucked up his entire life until a little kid called Dick Grayson came along and saved him anyway. Now on Ra’s al Ghul’s shit list, they travel the U.S. in whatever car they can get their hands on, trying to piece their hearts back together again. fascinating AU.

Batman overhears several conversations about Tim over the course of his journey to prove Bruce is still alive. Oh Tim.

This is a fun crossover where Wanda (and eventually Monica) end up on Tatooine. Wanda is taken in by Shmi, and she ends up freeing the slaves, which of course, brings her to the attention of the Jedi Council. Anakin just wants to see his mom, and Obi-Wan needs so many drinks.

Buzzfeed Unsolved does an episode about the identity of Batman. Hilarity, as they say, ensues. I laughed so loud I scared the neighbors.

Tim and Damian find they have something in common, and slowly learn to negotiate their relationship around it. This is lovely.

“I’m a cool brother!” Dick shouted back from the bathroom. “I’m the coolest brother you have!” Damian pulled his shoes out from the shelves where Pennyworth carefully stored them. “Todd is cooler than you, Grayson! He has a leather jacket!” “Jason!” Grayson shouted back, outraged. “Last time he saw you, he shot at you!” “That makes him even cooler!” Nice look at Damian's growing appreciation for Dick. Ends a little abruptly though.

Whoever said, "He ain't heavy, he's my brother," didn't have to haul you around. Aw, the Red Hood rescues Richie Grayson-Wayne from kidnappers. He really does care!

A brief but necessary coda to WandaVision in which we see where Monica goes next.

Taking Steve's choice in Endgame to a logical conclusion. Ouch.

This is a long, fascinating Harry/Draco story, full of melancholy and hope.

When Neal gets de-aged to about 4, El and Peter take him in. This is adorable.

Three stories where Damian is having a hard time figuring out how to be Bruce's Robin instead of Dick's. Lovely.