Star Wars

Dog Bites by jerseydevious
Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan try to deal with the aftermath of Kadavo. Ouch, it hurts, but hopefully that means some healing can begin.

Ourania by dwellingondreams
AU where Shmi frees herself and travels with Anakin, the Jedi, and the Naboo to Coruscant. Sharp and melancholy.

Rebellions Are Built on Hope by Wishfulthinking1979
Long, engrossing AU where Bail and Breha are murdered by pirates and Leia is adopted by the pirate-hunting Captain Piett. I enjoyed this.

Sing Dead the Dark by ExtraPenguin
The Second Battle of Felucia has just started, but Anakin's already been derailed by a lucky shot to his hyperdrive. Now, he is stuck on a vector to Sith space and has to land to make repairs. Unfortunately he seems to have picked up more than spare parts on his detour... In which Anakin defeats the Sith through the power of song. No really. This is both hilarious and hopeful.

When I Need You The Most by SingManyFaces
Anakin keeps Ahsoka's padawan braid with him and it helps him make better choices when he needs to the most. Oh heart.

Will Save the Galaxy for Better Credit Ratings by zuzeca
This was a lot more meditative and melancholy than the cracky summary made it sound, but in this particular instance, it works. Maul finds guidance and a home.

✭

Vids

Fortunate Son by Tafadhali
Finn ain't no fortunate son. Really well done!

Grievous Good by innerbrat
Confronting grief is the destiny of a Jedi Oh Luke. *sobs*

The Spice Mineshaft II of Kessel by innerbrat
How many times do I need to save your life to pre-pay you forward for saving my soul? Excellent Anakin & Obi-Wan vid I thought I had recced before.

✭

Batfamily

Fall Where They May by withthekeyisking
AU where the Felipe Garzonas incident happens early in Jason's tenure as Robin, and he goes to Dick for advice. Oh boys.

leave the light on by atlasky
When Selina Kyle signed up to be Bruce Wayne's partner, she failed to take several things into the equation:

Saying permanent goodbye to stealing from museums, wearing his tacky ring, and being surrounded by his ever growing collection of children, especially the one who can see ghosts.

"Hmm," she says. "Are you done avoiding me?"

"I was never avoiding you," Jason replies, very obviously not putting any effort in his lie that she's a bit offended.

(Or: Selina and Jason hang out for a day.) Also, Jason sees ghosts. <333

a pointless resistance by emavee
Bruce is caught in a time loop where Dick dies every night, and he has to figure out how to fix it before Dick ends up permanently dead. Aw Bruce. He's trying to be a good dad.

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Leverage

Plus Or Minus One by leiascully
Hardison and Parker encourage Eliot to find a new friend to get physical with while Hardison's gone. Maria Shipp has a very distinctive allure. Headcanon accepted!

The Romcom Jobs by samyazaz
Five times Parker, Hardison, and Eliot lived out romcom tropes for a con, and one time they found themselves in one for real. ADORABLE.

✭

DCU

Carry by Ptelea
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!

The coroner of his eye by Aaren
Jason had made a number of jokes about his death before. Sometimes, as a way to cope and sometimes, purely because he found them genuinely funny.

They had never garnered quite that reaction before, though.

Also, someone apparently wanted to murder him again so, you know, fun times.

Or: five times Jason made a death joke and one time someone else did it for him. I enjoyed this.

death’s outlet song of life by nex_et_nox
Jim Gordon recognizes a catatonic Jason on the street and brings him home. Oh my heart.

family is family (even in its reflection) by weareallmadeofstardust
Two long reverse Robins stories that made me achy in the chestal area. I think this is the first time Tim as Red Hood has really worked for me.

Four vigilantes walk into an elevator by Ididloveyou_once
Tim, Dick, Damian, and Jason get stuck in the elevator at Wayne Tower. Hilarity ensues.

not as I am but as I am by nex_et_nox
Batman doesn't make it to the warehouse in time. Red Hood does. Red Hood!Jason from the comics rescues YJ!Robin!Jason from the Joker. I would read a million more words of this. <333

robin's roast by envysparkler
There’s a new coffee shop in Crime Alley. It’s called the Red Hood. I enjoyed this. I always love it when Steph and Jason get to be friends.

a soft place to land by unchosenone
After Dick loses all his personal memorabilia in the apartment explosion/fire at Haly's, Tim gives him some of it back. Oh heart.

The Return by silverwhittlingknife
Tim falls. Dick catches him.

It is a near, near thing.
Dick's POV on the events at the end of Red Robin when Tim returns to Gotham to spike Ra's' plans.

TheBruceWayne of insta by artisticabandon
Gotham's favorite version of Bruce Wayne isn’t the “Brucie Wayne” of the tabloids. It’s their TheBruceWayne, insta sensation, well known for his insta snaps of his daily life and positive vibes.

OR

Bruce tries out insta after reading a self-help book. He still maintains that the rest of Gotham is weird about it. Aw, Bruce.

The Unseen Garden by Nokomis
Steph accidentally encounters the daughter she gave up for adoption. Luckily Bruce is there to talk with about the complicated feelings it dredges up. GROSS SOBBING

The way back home by Ididloveyou_once
Jason's having panic attacks, he misses his family and he wants to go home. It's that simple. But Jason's never been good at making things easy for himself. Aw, Jason.

What Friends Are For by The_Buzz
In the aftermath of a Justice League body swap incident, Clark is concerned about Bruce's well-being. Bruce is not thrilled about this. Clark is trying to be a good friend and eventually, Bruce lets him. Oh heart.

Vid

Invincible by smilebackwards
This is a fun vid of the JLU kicking ass.

✭

Six of Crows

Cry Mercy by teacup_tyrant
When Inej returns to Ketterdam scarred from a run-in with a slaver, Kaz goes into murder-plotting overdrive, but Inej isn't having it. They argue and they make up. <3

sanctity of our own devising by lissomelle
Zoya, navigating her losses and the country she wants to build, Nikolai by her side. Really lovely post-Rule of Wolves Nikolai/Zoya.

Self-Made Man by insignificant457
How Nikolai became Sturmhond. <333

✭

Avengers

Out Of The Sky, Into The Flow by Dorasolo
Scott is about to promise Cassie the world, but Hope is still shaking her head and Luis is mouthing no, and with this A+ parenting team in his pocket, he chews his words thoughtfully instead.

Or, the Ant-Fam is having some post-Snap growing pains. Sweet and funny.

You Shake My Nerves by Arsenic
Carol finds Natasha and brings her home. Quiet, lovely, post-Endgame fix-it.

✭

Batfamily

The Bells of St. Clements by CaramelMachete
Police Officer Grayson kills the Joker while on duty. I liked this a lot.

Devil Like Me by Miles_2_Go
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.

I am the man we both couldn't stand by Miles_2_Go
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.

The Light That's Coming in the Morning by JupiterMelichios
5 times the Batkids bonded with Damian. Oh heart.

never be the first to believe by ohnomydear
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.

On the Other Side of the Glass by Capucine
Dick finds himself in an alternate universe where he and Bruce are evil, and has to figure out how to fight them and find his way back home.

Roadtrip Vigilantes by beabaseball
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.

The Startling Secret Identity of The Batman by Nokomis
Buzzfeed Unsolved does an episode about the identity of Batman. Hilarity, as they say, ensues. I laughed so loud I scared the neighbors.

✭

Harry Potter

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

There Is No Man, However Wise by enigmaticblue
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)

✭

Batfamily

The 70 Days After Groundhog Day by Ptelea
Jason goes through a time loop and figures out how to break it, but that's just where the story starts. this is fantastic. Highly recommended.

and the shapes that you drew may change beneath a different light by good_ho_mens
Tim makes an effort to be there for Damian after Dick's "death". Oh heart.

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

Catch Me (All Records Indicate) by Engineerd
"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.

Everybody's Heard (Bird is the Word) by tabletoptime
Batman overhears several conversations about Tim over the course of his journey to prove Bruce is still alive. Oh Tim.

Gotham City Sirens - Spoiled! by Hinn_Raven
Harley Quinn knew Crystal Brown in college. She doesn't exactly expect it to come back around when Stephanie Brown needs someone to look after her while her mom is in rehab.

Spoiler Alert, things are going to get interesting, especially when Steph realizes who, exactly, she's going to be living with. This is adorable.

Handle with Care by takadainmate
Dick gets sick while Alfred is away so caretaking falls to Damian and Bruce. They handle it. Oh heart.

if you just call me by BeatriceEagle
Dick and Donna, after the action, through the years. I love their friendship so much. *sobs* This is so lovely.

the maybe man by dustorange
Bruce and Dick haven't spoken in years. The Court of Owls changes that. This is a good look at how Bruce gets in his own way in his relationships and also features an excellent Robin!Jason.

Meeting the Family by ProsperDemeter
This is a really sweet (I mean, tooth-achingly sweet) series where Dick is much younger when his parents die and Bruce takes him in, and Clark is instantly Uncle Clark and completely happy about it.

something's gotta turn out right by Nokomis
Steph and Jason get trapped in a sewer together and bond. Then everyone thinks they're dating. Two adorable Steph/Jason stories! <333

The Study of Birds by MaskoftheRay
Tim and Damian find they have something in common, and slowly learn to negotiate their relationship around it. This is lovely.

successor by envysparkler
Tim figures out Jason is back before his murder spree, and therefore reunions happen in a more timely fashion.

Temporary by daringyounggrayson
This is a really sweet retelling of the story of how Bruce ended up fostering Dick.

un haeng il chi by danishsweethearts
This is a really beautiful look at Cass and her relationships with her siblings and Steph. <333

~*~

Avatar: The Last Airbender

charm/blade by BeatriceEagle
Any hope Mai had of killing her crush ended the day that she made a wrong turn on the way back from the privy and stumbled across Zuko practicing with his swords. The sword was not Mai's weapon, let alone the dual dao, but she knew blades, she loved blades, and Zuko, with his shirt off and the firelight glinting off his sweat and the dao alike, was a blade. Really sharp (sorry!) look at Mai and why she makes the choices she does.

~*~

The Expanse

Emersion by Northland
Drummer and Avasarala have an interesting conversation. Oh gosh, I'd love to see these two interact and this story delivers.

~*~

White Collar

Super Heroes Make Great Con Artists by hurinhouse
When Neal gets de-aged to about 4 years old, El and Peter take him in. This is adorable.

~*~