recs and links

It becomes a second-Wednesday-of-the-month official tradition, and they follow it religiously. Nothing less than a full-scale Arkham breakout is enough to justify calling off Batman and Robin Ice-Cream Night, and even then, when the night is finished and they limp back to the Manor, bruised and hurting and tired to the bones, Alfred will be waiting with two bowls of ice-cream. Or, the one in which ice-cream makes everything better. Oh my heart. #I'm not crying you're crying.

Jason decides to give Damian the musical education he never asked for. Predictably, things escalate. ahahaha this is so great.

Long, lovely AU where Bucky frees himself from HYDRA in 1968 and goes to Peggy for help.

Three snapshots from Bucky Barnes' life. Lovely.

map of gotham city

Steve gets turned into a frog. Bucky has to deal. This is ADORABLE.

Question: How do you tell your sort of girlfriend and the metahuman teens you’ve sort of adopted that you were and still are considered a sex symbol to an entire east coast metropolitan area? Answer: You don’t. Ha! I keep wondering if Dick is semi-famous in Titans and this story is a cute take on the question.

All the cats in Gotham City are being kidnapped! Who could the culprit be? this is a lot of fun with some Bat/Cat flirtation thrown in.

Steve and Natasha's friendship post-CATWS.

“I didn’t expect you to stay,” she said. She thought he’d make his appearance after dinner and then leave before drinks, but he’d stayed through the piano recital for two glasses of whiskey. The remains of the second one was on the desk. He drained what was left and set the glass down. His gaze shifted back to her face, focused and black. “You’re here,” he said, as if that was the answer to everything. Lovely Kaz/Inej, slowly figuring out how to be together.

A few months after the Battle of Yavin, Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker explore an ancient Jedi Temple. Like any decent Jedi Temple, of course, there were traps: Leia and Luke are both pulled by the Force into their own respective fantasy worlds, where everything is perfect. However, they're not the only ones stuck in a false paradise: Darth Vader is trapped in a dream of his own... and the three worlds are beginning to merge into one. I enjoyed this. Oh Skywalkers.

Death likes humans, but their lives are so short that she usually only gets to see them twice, and they don't remember one of those. Natasha is different. this is lovely.

While screwing around with a time machine, Damian accidentally brings 8yo Bruce to the future. Oh my heart.

Terry needs help keeping vigil by an ill Bruce's bedside. But the old man had kids once, didn't he? Are the bridges he burned unable to be rebuilt? As he observes, Terry definitely starts to wonder how this family used to be. Heartbreaking.

Long, interesting AU where James and Lily survive, and that changes everything.

Luke and Vader have to cuddle for warmth! The idea is ridiculous but this story is sweetly melancholy.

This is a lovely look at Damian figuring out he's asexual, and figuring out his relationship with Jon.

Damian spends times with his extended family (Thomas and Martha, assorted Flying Graysons, etc.) while he's dead.

Dick and Donna, pre-series. Sharp and heart-breaking. (Titans)

Dick takes a long, slow route to recovering after being assaulted by Tarantula. This has some animated YJ stuff in it that threw me off timeline-wise for a bit, but it's a good read and I teared up a couple of times.

When Dick learns that Tarantula is being released from prison, he doesn't handle it well. Jason lends some unexpected support.

The Dogfather AU from Draco's POV.

In the chaotic years after Steve Rogers arrives back in 2023 as an old man, he helps rebuild the world, falls in love with his best friend, adopts a stray cat, and saves the entire timeline. Not necessarily in that order. Long, exquisitely melancholy look at Steve and Bucky - and the world - after he returns from the past.

Wistful Bruce/Selina from Selina's POV.

In which Tim goes on his first (unplanned) mission as a member of the Batfamily, and Extension, which is about his crush on Conner. Adorable! (two sequels to "Surveillance" (previously recced))

Really lovely Steve/Bucky through Bucky's eyes over the years.

“He said I was a mistake. I don’t care to be reminded.” “Reminded.” “Yes.” “That you’re… a mistake?” “Yes,” Damian nodded. “The biggest mistake you ever made.” He turned towards Bruce, still perfectly straight-faced. “I already know, so you don’t have to pretend. It’s fine.” For a few seconds, Bruce stared blankly at his son, trying to decide which shocked him more— the words or the matter-of-fact tone. Damian still didn’t look the least bit emotional. “I don’t have to pretend?” Bruce spluttered. “Damian, what on earth would give you the impression that—” “You told me,” said Damian. “Sort of.” Bruce has a talk with Damian to straighten some things out. Oh Damian.

Early on in their partnership, Damian disobeys orders and Dick has to figure out how to get through to him. Oh heart.

Everyone dresses as Batman for the Justice League Halloween party. Hee!

Steve wanders into a diner one night when he can’t sleep and experiences a taste of home. Aw, this is just darling. #pie = love