recs and links

Quiet, melancholy look at Damian as he tries to be a good son and a good Robin.

Where Nebula and Tony build a ship to get to Earth and awkwardly talk about their issues when neither of them are particularly good at that. Tony and Nebula and the long, slow trip back to earth. Lovely and melancholy.

The one where Bruce has amnesia and is a much better dad because he doesn't remember Jason's death, but Damian is freaked out by the difference. And then Bruce finds out. I reread this story a lot (A LOT) because it is SO GOOD at showing the difference in Bruce before and after Jason's death, and giving the younger kids a glimpse of his less grim self, and also opening a way to a more thorough reconciliation with Jason in the bargain.

oh my heart. #i'm not crying you're crying

Dick Grayson was kidnapped by the Court of Owls. Talon escaped. With no known way to undo what has been done, and the Court trying to reclaim their assassin, is there still a place for Nightwing in Gotham? Is there still a place for Dick in the family? Long, compelling read in which Dick has to fight back against the brainwashing and the Batfam has to learn to accept who he is now. (I feel like I needed a little more Dick and Jason interaction here, given the givens, but I always feel that)

The one where Jason runs from from the League and doesn't become the Red Hood but ends up building a life for himself in France instead.

Robins! And terrible puns! Hilarity!

batfamily photos

20K of various Batboys giving each other hugs. Oh heart.

Cass and Damian adopt a grown undead Talon!Dick before Bruce can change his mind and adopt him first. AU where the Court of Owls got to Dick before Bruce did, but when he defects rather than kill Damian, the Bats are there to help him out.

Clark convinces Diana to come to the farm for Thanksgiving, and Diana finally gets the chance to meet Bruce's kids. There are far more of them than she had expected. This is a really lovely JLUish look at Diana meeting the Batkids.

Jason digs himself out of his grave and rebuilds his life in Gotham, becoming a nurse and wondering if he'll ever get his memories back, and then one day, he runs into Batman.

On his first visit to Gotham, Damian discovers Dick in the Court of Owls, and resolves to help him escape when asked. Oh heart.

Dick explains to Jason just where Robin came from. Oh heart. The show really missed the opportunity to do this, and this story fills the gap. (Titans)

Jason wakes up from a time-travel mishap to find Thomas and Martha Wayne hovering over him. Wonderful. *sobs*

Gwen jumps, and when she turns around, Peter B. Parker is standing awkwardly in the bedroom doorway. It’s been a long time since anyone managed to sneak up on Gwen, but all she feels is that she’s surrounded by Peter—no wonder her spider-senses didn’t warn her. “Hey. Um. Sorry, I’m—totally snooping.” “It’s okay,” Peter shrugs, slouching against the door frame. “It’s not my stuff.” He’s got a point. This is so good, like being punch repeatedly in all my Spidey-feels.I sobbed my face off. #i'm not crying you're crying

Being transported to the past is not the sort of thing one normally expects. But this having happened, and with no easy way back, Jason's determined to make the most of it. Though the Bat still stalks Gotham's streets, the city's crime is run by the mobs instead of the rogues. There's no Joker yet. There's no Robin. When Jason lands in the past, he ends up tangled in tiny, newly-orphaned Dick Grayson's (and Bruce Wayne's) existence.

updated 4/18 - needs a new plugin?

Damian has a deep, dark secret he needs kept from Grayson, his father, and most of all Drake, at all costs: he has, quite unwillingly, been volunteered for a part in his school's annual musical. As a grouchy dinosaur. This is now Jason's problem. Or his blackmail opportunity. Whichever. This is ADORABLE.

What Jason hadn't known when Batman scooped him off the streets was how much it sucked to be the second and second-best child. Five times Jason felt inferior to Dick, and a reversal he didn't savour like he thought he would. What it says on the tin. Oh Jason.

Long, emotional story that shows how Dick almost falls apart when Tarantula drops one final bombshell on him, and how the family pulls together to help.

Nice look at Maria after the movie.

In which Lilo (and Stitch's) college roommate turns out to be Boo from Monsters Inc. Together they have an adventure. Oh heart.

the one where Robin!Jason comes forward in time and does not like what he finds. Oh Jason. Oh my heart.

Damian is briefly gifted with the brief chance to re-experience childhood in the best possible ways. Oh my heart.

Tim herds 7 tiny Damian clones. Oh my heart.

Jason and Damian are following the same lead. It doesn't go well, and then they have to survive (without killing each other) long enough to get back to civilization. Some sweet Batboys bonding during wilderness survival.

If Batman won't avenge Robin IV, the Red Hood will. Yes good. #even robins #formerly dead sidekicks ftw

Missing scene from UtRH, where Dick identifies the Red Hood as Jason.

Two stories on how Jason finally makes his way home, and how Bruce does (or doesn't) handle that.