Unfit for Society Recs

Batfamily

Bury Me Face Down by historical_allusions
After his confrontation with Batman leaves Red Hood bleeding out on a warehouse floor, Jason Todd wakes up back in his teenage body and still trapped in his casket.

When every death leads back to the same starting point, Jason stumbles through attempt after attempt to get things right. But he's not giving up until he's fixed things. Interesting, slightly melancholy time loop AU where Jason keeps reviving in his grave until he gets things right. <3

door, opening by cowboysorceror
Long, compelling casefile focusing on Dick and Jason's contentious relationship. I really enjoyed it.

Forget me, Forget me not by Captain_Aurinko
Kon gets erased from reality, and Tim keeps trying to figure out why there are so many weird gaps in his life. Oh heart...

Head in the Clouds by lurkinglurkerwholurks
Jason takes a week off to heal from injuries and enjoys it more than he expected.

Independent Variable by potofsoup
Tim is doing great being an independent vigilante, he's fine! He doesn't need help, he's definitely not estranged from the family -- he's just being independent.

Good thing he's part of a family of detectives who have their own ways of reaching out.

Featuring two powerpoints, one casefile, half a contract, a roomba, and several hugs. Oh Tim... I enjoyed this! (Plus, there's art!)

Jason Todd: Regular College Student by AddictedApple
AU where, at the end of his League of Assassins training, Jason decides to go to Metropolis for college instead of going back to Gotham for revenge. Things spiral from there. The title is so sarcastic by the way. There's nothing regular about Jason Todd. This is a lot of fun!

Join the Club by Cephalogod
In which Jason Todd meets Tim Drake, who is inexplicably Dick Grayson's #1 Fan, and decides the only reasonable course of action is to plot to get the two of them to meet and see what happens. It definitely won't have a major impact on his life or anything. This is super cute!

Lois Lane's Number One Fan Tim Drake by Chiyana
Bruce is missing - as Bruce Wayne - and somewhere in Metropolis. Tim knows Bruce said to tell Clark Kent in case something like this happens, but why would you go to Clark Kent for help when Lois Lane is right there? I mean, he's not wrong...This is fun!

No Need To Fake It by LakeAwen
When Talia and Cheshire start a civil war against Ra's, they send Damian and Lian to safety with the one bodyguard they can trust: Jason Todd. Jason and his charges set up house in a small New Zealand town, and try to figure out civilian life together. They find more of a home -- and a family -- than they ever expected. Jason just can't let himself forget that this is temporary. This is really lovely. There's a sequel in progress, but I think this story can stand on its own.

Nobody by goldenraeofsun
One week of feverish research. Two days of furious tracking. Thirty minutes of hopeless fighting.

It is all coming to this, a deal Tim has no choice but to accept.

"I'll release your family in exchange for all their memories of you," Klarion the Witch Boy says.

"I'll do it," Tim says loudly before he can second-guess himself. His fingers tighten around his last birdarang, but he does not throw it. Instead, he stands stock still, forcing himself to keep breathing, keep standing, despite the bone-deep exhaustion weighing his body down.

After all, Gotham needs Batman much more than it needs Robin. Oh Tim...

Of A Genius' Legacy by sparkoflena
Tim takes a couple of months off in order to catch up on two and a half years of school all in one go - and graduates high school. He knows he deserves a celebration.

He just didn't expect his whole family to show. <333

you long for a feeling you'll never get back by puddingcatbeans
In a family made of up people unused to having such a big family, sometimes you get lost in the noise. And Tim has always been taught to be the child that was seen, not heard. Oh Tim...

✭

Batfamily

between hands that relaxed by deitybird
Sequel to "nest among the bones" (previously recced) from Tim's POV. Oh Tim.

Dragonfoot by coyote_nebula
Damian doesn't set traps for his rivals/siblings anymore. But when one he forgot to disable poisons Jason, Damian tries to stay ahead of the blame long enough to retrieve an antidote. Oh boys...<333

good golly we're lilliputian by Nokomis
Jason and Steph get zapped with a shrink ray while on an otherwise normal patrol. This is so much fun!

Help! My Brother Sold Me to One Direction by Vamillepudding
"I came here to propose something." Tim takes a deep breath. "I think we should sell me."

Jason laughs. Tim doesn't. Jason says, "Alright, I'll bite. Who're we selling you to, Dobby?"

Someone in Gotham is preying on kids but careful enough to leave no proof. Luckily, Tim has a foolproof plan. oh Tim, why are you like this???

Home Videos by StoriesAreMagic
About two years after Bruce returns from the timestream, everything is going pretty well. Then someone hacks the Batcomputer from afar, claiming to be Tim and in need of help. But there's a problem: Tim's dead. …Right? Oh Tim... This is very sweet.

Jason Todd is Absolutely Definitely 100% Not A Batfamily Member by LakeAwen
6 times Jason Todd took care of his fa- er, mortal enemies, and 1 time his family took care of him. Oh heart.

The Keeping of a Robin by batsandthebirds
Jim thought — hoped, really — that a good view of Robin might reveal scales, translucent skin, pointed ears, anything to indicate that he wasn't just a child. Instead, he saw black hair plastered to his forehead by the rain, round cheeks that indicated he still hadn't fully grown out of his baby fat, and a desperate boy shaking in the rain as blood began to pool around his knees. <333

Like the Cryptkeeper by lurkinglurkerwholurks
Jason was trying very hard to remain calm and cool and chill and every synonym he could think of for not panicking because he very much wanted to panic.

Freaky Friday: BatFam Edition Jason and Bruce get bodyswapped and it is a real learning experience. Oh my heart.

The Robin Race by mauvera
When Batman is out of town and Gotham City is left to the small flock of other Bats, what else is a group of highly trained vigilante protectors to do but make ill-advised bets about which Robin can complete a city-wide obstacle course in one night?

Everyone getting dressed up in their old costumes to prove which Robin will reign victorious is either the best idea any of them have ever had, or the worst. Dick Grayson would like it on record that though this whole thing is technically his fault, he is not to be held responsible for anything his competitors and siblings may be getting up to. He would also like it on record that he absolutely plans to totally crush them all in this race. This is so much fun! ♥ROBINS♥

✭

Batfamily

Chrysalis by Random954 & procrastinationfairy
In setting up for Jon's tenth birthday party, Kon realizes how many milestones he's missed in his life and comes to terms with the way growing up looks different for different people. Oh Kon...

Gala of the Year by sageness
Tim takes Bernard to a gala that does not go as planned. Adorable!

not a creature was stirring, not even a bat by peaktotheocean
The Batkids should really have more contingencies in place for when Bruce and Alfred are away from Gotham. Aw Cass. Aw Tim. <333

The Power of Purr-suasion by Sandrine
Damian made a promise to Father that he wouldn't adopt any more pets for the time being, but the cat is clearly in need of help.

Father would surely agree that helping always takes priority. Still, it's probably expedient to keep it a secret for now. Aw, this is adorable.

a sudden kind of softness by fencesit
Damian comes to Wayne Manor expecting many tests. He tells himself he expects them with a hint of anticipation; that he is looking forward to the satisfaction of overcoming each challenge from his father with ease. Damian is well-trained, after all, and he has been held to a higher standard than others all his life. He should be confident. Oh Damian...

there when the light comes in by shipyrds
"Well, that was fun," Tim said, his hands shoved into his pockets. "It was a nice plan, but you know us. We can just drive back to San Francisco and I'll get a flight."

Kon looked at his posture, the quintessentially Tim tilt of his head. "No, dude, are you kidding me? You're gonna deny me this rite of passage? Get back in the car. It's gonna be epic."

Tim had smiled, a big bright thing that lasted all the way until they got back on the highway and Kon tried to fight him for the aux cord because like hell was he going to listen to the same Marina and the Diamonds EP for 57 hours. Tim/Kon roadtrip! <333

trained by the best by destiny919
Damian has his orders: present himself to his father so that the Batman will finish his training and Damian can take his proper place at his father's right hand.

However, Damian has also had caution and the need to maintain an upper hand in every situation ingrained into him for even longer than he has known how to hold a sword. Accordingly, he takes his time once arrived in Gotham. He learns his father's patrol routes and not much else, but in the process begins studying the other vigilantes in Gotham—the other children in his father's life. Perhaps they will give him a better idea of how to please his father, and if they have been trained by Batman themselves, there may even be something of value they can teach Damian. Adorable! <333


~*~

Batfamily

aiding and abetting by Nokomis
Adorable bit of Bat/Cat.

Another Turn on the Roundabout by Imbecamiel
The "Pit Rage" isn't actually a side effect of Jason's dip in the Lazarus Pit. Or… not entirely. It's a tool that Ra's carefully developed before deploying him to targeted effect against Batman. Unfortunately, its intended results wore off too quickly, once away from his influence. This time, he plans to get it right. Oh Jason...

Birds on Jaybird Street by cynassa
Jason doesn't think much of it when Tim needs his help, or Damian moves in, or even when Dick turns up looking beat all to hell. But at some point he realizes that he might be the best option his brothers have to recover from the cycle of violence that Batman has set up, and all he can think is that things were much easier when he was the villain. I enjoyed Jason slowly taking responsibility for his brothers in the wake of Bruce's bad parenting.

the courage of stars by merils
"I was made to be like you," he says. "You died saving the world. I was—don't you get it? Kal, I was made to die saving the world. I was made to die. And I did. So—" His voice cracks. "So why am I back?" Kon has a couple of existential crises after he comes back. Oh Kon... *sobs*

Good Fellows by thatcuriouscat
After rescuing Bruce from floating around the past, Tim is Not Okay.
What comes next after losing everything that really matters?
Tim's got some thoughts. So do the rest of the family.
And Ra's al Ghul.
…And the Joker. This is a long, emotionally satisfying story about what happens after Bruce comes back from the timestream. I cried more than once, so have tissues handy!

in the family of things by deadchannelradio
Dick crouches to be at Damian's eye level, and his voice suddenly takes on a brisk tone, one Wally associates so strongly with being assigned patrol routes that he twitches.

"Wally, this is Damian, Damian, this is Wally. Wally is one of my very best friends. He is very important to me. You aren't going to stab him. This isn't a debate," Dick says, when Damian raises an eyebrow, "Or a rule. You can't physically do it. He is much faster than you."

"I know what his powers are," Damian says, sounding annoyed, and also like he considers them to be a fun challenge.

"I would like it to be a rule," Wally volunteers. Damian and Wally bond. Oh heart.

Once Upon A Kidnap Dreary by PlotlessWanderer
Jason and Tim get kidnapped together from Gotham Academy, and bond while they're held in captivity. Oh boys. (I also enjoyed the first sequel; the second one is still in progress.)

string theory by wingdingery
When Bruce and Dick get transported to an unfamiliar Gotham, it only takes running into a different Batman and Robin for Bruce to realize two things: one, they're in the future; and two—in the future, Dick Grayson is dead. This is very sweet.

where there's a will by batsignal
The email itself seems innocuous, if annoying: Bruce has sent some kind of invitation out to the family and other assorted family-type individuals. Jason would have hit delete without even opening it if Dick weren't rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet in anticipation.

Jason's curiosity wins out. He opens the email. Hilarious!

✭

Batfamily

Adopting a New Plan by a_silly_gander
Jason is ready to set his plan in motion, the one that will topple the Crime Prince of Gotham and finally get Bruce to see. The board is set. The players are ready.

What he did not account for, however, was a child. Or three. I enjoyed this long AU where Jason ends up emulating Bruce's adoption habits.

Displacement by Imbecamiel
"He's dead," Tim said, blankly.

"Look at me." Jason ducked his head to catch Tim's eyes. "Hey, look at me. You didn't kill him. You just shot him. No big deal, right? You've injured lots of people. Just part of the job. Doesn't matter it was with a gun this time. Doesn't change anything. I'm the one who killed him. You're fine." Oh boys. Nice look at one way Jason could come home.

(Fail Compilation) MAN DEFEATED woman PWNS him EPIC [Original Audio] club mix 10 HRS VER by deadchannelradio
Fight computer or no, she could put him in traction. But that doesn't matter, because she doesn't fight people with migraines. They make her feel the same way that she does when she looks at the skinny cats outside of Steph's apartment when it rains. Hee! Cass takes down Midnighter without lifting a finger. <333

Hello Batman by Imbecamiel
"I like your kitty ears."

Bruce stared at the girl blankly for a moment, before reaching up to touch one of the points on the cowl.

"Thanks," he rasped, then coughed, clearing his throat. "It's actually a bat, though. Like this." He pushed back the edge of the cape to give her a better look at the symbol on his chestplate. 😍😍😍

The Irony by antebunny
There's some cruel, bitter irony in the fact that Tim, at eighteen, is back to stalking Dick to check on his health and well-being. Oh Tim…

it paints me and all my mistakes by StormySkiesAhead
I enjoyed this AU where Bruce "dies" before Jason comes back to Gotham and that changes things.

Jason, Take the Wheel by Miss_Lazy_Tuesday
Jason finds a new coping mechanism post-resurrection, and it changes a few things. This is so much fun! <3

Operation Friendship Helmet by goldenraeofsun
When Red Hood meets Dick, he seems almost friendly, compared to the violent hostility he showed Batman and Robin.

Tim sees an opportunity. Dick can work Red Hood's human angle, while Batman and Robin do more clandestine intelligence gathering out of sight.

For his part, Dick's happy to go along with the plan and make a new friend. Maybe, if he plays his cards right, he can turn Red Hood from a crime boss to a vigilante. But the closer Dick gets, the question nags louder and louder: why does Red Hood seem so familiar? This is such a fun read! <3

Sacrifice by nightwalker
As far as alien invasions go, this one was pretty smooth. At least it was right up until the aliens demanded a sacrifice. A child sacrifice.

Batman's child. I enjoyed this.

take a chance on me by destiny919
Jason catches Tim following Batman and Robin and eventually takes him home to Bruce. Oh heart.

*

Crossovers

Spider-Man/Batman

Dark Matter by mysterycyclone
The last thing Peter sees is Tony's horrified, heartbroken expression leaning over him. The guilt in his eyes is almost worse than the burning pain that's taking Peter apart piece by piece. The world starts to go dark.

There's a flash of gold and green. For one moment, he finds himself standing amongst the Guardians and others. And then darkness again. It feels like blinking; an extended period of nothingness that ends as abruptly as it begins. One moment there's nothing, the next there's light.

"Easy," a woman says. Her words are gentle, and carry a slight accent that he can't place. "I'm called Wonder Woman. What's your name?" Long, plotty, compelling story of Peter getting thrown into Gotham after the Snap, and what happens to him after. Highly recommended.

✭

Batfamily

He's Alive (I Didn't Know He'd Died) by Civilized_muppets
Jason felt like they were forgetting to tell Damian something, that they were sending him into the mouth of the hellhole that was Gotham City without all the information. He didn't think it was a small thing either, he felt like it was something big, something that could make or break Damian's chances of success integrating with the Bats. [...]

He and his mom had covered everything. He had to trust that.

Damian, meanwhile, happens to be missing the key information that Jason is supposed to be dead. This is super cute!

Hope is the Thing with Feathers by TheSilencer
Jason Todd is a time traveler, and Dick Grayson is always his destination.

A story about brothers doing their best. Oh my heart...

How to Proceed by philosophersandfools
Damian tightens his grip on the knife that he's still holding, although logically he knows the teenager sitting across from him is not the threat here.

"So then, how do you suggest we proceed?" he asks through gritted teeth.

Timothy Drake leans forward on his elbows and clasps his hands together, eyes hollow and exhausted as he considers Damian.

"I think Bruce and Alfred are in trouble. We have to help them." Oh Damian. Oh heart...

"no" and other four letter words by a_good_soldier
In which Dick Grayson learns about consent, with some help from his family. Dick starts to deal with what happened to him and realizes he's not alone. Oh boys.

The Robin Generation by waterunderthebridge12
In his ongoing search for better ways to fight crime, Tim comes up with a brand new method: bombarding bad guys with Gen Alpha slang. Recruiting Gen Alpha cusper Duke and full Gen Alpha Damian, shenanigans, chaos, and bonding ensue. Hilarious! I literally laughed out loud repeatedly.

And one of its sequels:
The Robin Remonstration by waterunderthebridge12
Cass and Jason agree on one thing and one thing only: Duke Thomas is the most precious baby brother ever. What they do not agree on, however, is who Duke loves best. Recruiting family allies, triggering various traumas, and sparking online hate trains, Cass and Jason battle it out for the title of Duke's favourite older sibling. Cass and Jason are both pretty awful here sometimes but I laughed out loud numerous times.

The Second Son by FormlessVoidbeast
With Brucie Wayne on a solo backpacking trip to 'find himself' in the Himalayas (and Batman off-world and out of communication) an unknown rogue has decided to take the opportunity to kidnap all the Wayne children at once.
Cass is in the wind, and with no bats answering the Bat Signal, the rescue mission falls to the brother they didn't know to come after:
The dead one.
The black sheep.
The human tank with a fondness for guns and a taste for revenge.

But maybe, just maybe, there are a few things in the world more important than vengeance. This is a good read! I enjoyed it a lot.

Schoolyard Woes by wildsofmarch
Bullying?

Damian scoffed at the word. He wasn't being bullied.

What a quaint idea. It conjured up visions of being smacked around or shoved into toilets. Of being forced to ingest alcohol or some other mind-altering drug. Of having his locker defaced with filthy insults or stuffed with trash. Which wasn't what was happening to him at all. Oh Damian...

shattered glass is indicative of a party or a murder by a_silly_gander
Tim and Damian get into a car accident and do a little bonding while waiting for the paramedics to show up.

Synchronicity. by orpheusaki
A young Robin and Nightwing swap places; Batman is always the constant. Oh my heart...

The Tooth Fairy Cometh by Imbecamiel
"It's not about frickin' money, B," Jason grumbled, readjusting his ice pack.

"Yeah, B," Dick put in, lighthearted, teasing. Rescuing the emotional tone as usual, when he wasn't the one who was angry with Bruce himself. "It's not about the money. It's Robin tradition. You can't renege now."

"You want me to be the tooth fairy. Again. For you," Bruce said, slowly, still looking at Jason. Oh heart.

two vigilantes carry a cake across gotham by JBS_Forever
In a scheming attempt to make them bond, Bruce forces Jason and Tim on what should be a simple quest: retrieve Alfred's birthday cake from across town and make it back before the party.

But this is Gotham. And nothing is ever simple in Gotham. Oh my heart.

✭

Batfamily

Corners by librarylexicon
After Bruce's return from the timestream, his kids work on sorting themselves out.

Don't Let Each Other Wander The Dark Alone by WinterSky101
Luthor captures Dick. Secrets come out. Dick tells his brothers what happened to him before he left to join Spyral. Oh my heart.

freaky friday by envysparkler
Jason doesn't know how he got here or who that red-helmeted asshole is, but he's not going to stand by and watch him kill people. Oh Jason...

The morning and what came after by lurkinglurkerwholurks
Bruce deals with the aftermath of Alfred's death (in the future, not in current canon). GROSS SOBBING. Have the tissues handy.

Nothing's Gonna Change My World by waterunderthebridge12
Dick gets his hands on a dimensional transporter, which means there's only one thing to do: save as many versions of his little brother as possible. Oh Dick. Oh Jason. I enjoyed this a lot.

robin radio by wesslan
Tim Drake, aged 11, finds an abandoned walkie-talkie and decides to start his own little personal radioshow to combat his loneliness. Jason Todd, Robin, happens to have the other walkie, and soon Tim doesn't feel as lonely anymore.

Tim Drake, aged 16, is lonely once again. But now he's Robin. He keeps talking into the walkie, and his one-man audience happens to still be the same... if a bit more murderous. Aw Tim. Aw boys.

School of Rock by Vamillepudding
Jason Todd has been dead for almost three years now. Everybody knows this. Tim definitely knows this.

And yet here he is now, looking very much alive, three years older and approximately 200 pounds heavier, in the middle of lecturing a bunch of sophomores about poetry and having just introduced himself as their new English teacher.

Bullshit, Tim thinks. Hilarious!

straight on 'til morning by merils
It starts simply, as do most things. Jon turns sixteen.

Jon turns sixteen, and Kon suddenly realizes that if anyone were to treat him the way he was treated at sixteen, he'd tear the world apart.

The revelations, unfortunately, don't stop there. Long, thoughtful, and lovely. Oh Kon. <333

We Saved All That We Could by MrMich
In the first story, Duke travels to another dimension 5 years earlier in the timeline, to a Bruce who is still dealing with his grief over Jason's death and a Tim who is training to be Robin. Oh Duke. <3 And in the sequel alternate dimension Bruce investigates whether Jason is alive, based on what Duke told him. Oh Bruce.

*

DCU

City State by EmilyArmadillo
Gotham likes Batman, but she loves Jason. That's why she brought him back to life. Jason becomes one of Gotham's agents on his return. I enjoyed this.

dead man walking by butchspiderman
When Jason wakes up from the nightmare that was his death, there's not a burning inferno in his chest, a rage potent enough to destroy everything in his path in a fiery immolation. Instead, Jason wakes up wishing more than anything that he was still asleep- there's a bone deep fatigue that's settled in his body, an exhaustion that becomes a second skin. So when Talia drops Jason back to Gotham, assuming he's going to enact a forty-step revenge plan--she couldn't be farther from the truth.

Jason's going to leave Gotham, no matter how deep Gotham tries to sink its claws into him. Compelling AU of Jason's return to Gotham.

everything happens for a reason. sometimes that reason is that you are stupid and make bad decisions. by suzukiblu
Unfortunately, Lex takes one look at Cadmus’s progress report on the newly-crafted Experiment Thirteen and realizes he has paternal instincts.

Well, that’s inconvenient. And a little disgusting, honestly. Certainly a disappointment.

He supposes it could be worse. He could be Lionel about this. Adorable!

house of storm by atlasky
When Bruce died, he left behind two sons and a legacy.

Dick Grayson is familiar with legacies. Sequel to Defiant Until the Sun Rises (previously recced), the AU where Bruce dies in Ethiopia and comes back as the Red Hood, centering on the aftermath of his return.

Lemon Lime by motleyfam
Duke rarely gets sick, so it's a surprise when he does. Aw Duke.

Rebound by waterunderthebridge12
Family always comes around.

Or, Dick and Jason learn that if you push people away, they come right back. Being family is hard, but they are trying. Oh boys. <3

the rules of playing make believe by hoebiwan
Homeless!Reverse Robins squat in Wayne Manor. Exactly what it says on the tin. This didn't go exactly the way I thought it would, but I enjoyed it.

take a break (and maybe commit some arson) by GalaxyOwl13
Tim is really, really busy. Way too busy to take a break. But he's got a date with Bernard, his family keeps trying to prevent him from working, and his boyfriend may have just made an accidental breakthrough in Tim's case. This is super cute!

Wayne Heir Did What?! by AlexaAffect
Jason agrees to let the press know he's alive. The resulting headlines make him regret it. This is a lot of fun!

✭

Batfamily

Bone Weary by TheSilencer
While rescuing some kids from Fairyland, Dick gets cursed. The whole family comes together to save him. <333

cancrizans passerine by hellsreluctantheir
reverse robins AU - 3 stories so far. I'm really enjoying it.

civil conversations by MermaidMarie
In which Damian returns to the Batcave injured, and Tim is the only one there. Oh boys.

closet space by adelfie
Steph doesn't know what's more embarrassing: that she's been locked in a closet during a party, or the fact that her "friends" aren't really her friends.

And to top it all off, Jason's the only one who can come rescue her. Aw Steph.

Forth My Mimic Comes by clarityhiding
Robin and Oracle team up to take on a tricky case of identity theft. A really fun take on Jason's resurrection, involving Tim and Babs as well.

Holmes is Where the Heart Is by raven_of_hydecastle
The sweet boy he knew was still in there, he just had to be coaxed out with child-friendly forensics and the promise of violence. After the Waynes' murders, Alfred figures out how to help Bruce engage with life again. Oh heart.

in space, someone can hear you by Valkirin
Red Hood managed to get into Titans Tower without setting any alarms. By chance only, he doesn't encounter any of the Teen Titans when he leaves a threat behind.

Nightwing doesn't plan to leave anything to chance. Red Hood might think that he can find Robin alone on the Watchtower but he'll find Robin's big brother. AU where instead of Jason ambushing Tim at Titans Tower, Dick ambushes Red Hood on the Watchtower in an attempt to find out what he's got against Robin. Oh boys.

It Could Stay This Simple (Just Stay This Little) by magspie
Bruce and Dick are still getting used to each other. This is adorable.

Little Red and the Big Bad Hood by CrzyFun
Olivia Draper had been a good idea at first. She could pass for older than Tim could pull off while masculine and women really could get into places easier if they had a pretty face. With makeup and some stylish-yet-inexpensive clothes, Olivia could pull off most undercover ops. She was Tim’s Matches Malone.

Then Hood had shown up on the scene.
-----------------------------------
When Jason met Olivia, he hadn't intended to pull a Bruce and take the scrappy teen informant under his wing. She just kept showing up where he was doing business. He had no other choice than to keep an eye on her. And kit her out with armor so she wouldn't accidentally get shot. And make sure she was being treated fairly by her mysterious boss.

And, okay, maybe become her big brother. Identity shenanigans with Tim and Jason! This is a lot of fun.

The Lone Ranger Never Had to Deal with Bruce Wayne by theskeptileptic
Tim is an independent, clever, and super mature eleven-year-old. Unfortunately, his dopey neighbor, Bruce, can’t seem to understand that.

When he decides to disappear on a "solo camping trip" and run away to Canada, he figures it's the perfect plan that will make everybody happy. He didn't expect the Waynes would tag along with him and ruin everything. This is hilarious and adorable. Oh Tim.

The Lost Wonders by TheSilencer
Dick and Jason through the years. *clutches heart*

Memories Fade by Lady_of_Lorule
Really lovely moment between Dick and Bruce.

the more i look inside (the more you're real to me) by starsonthewalls
"What happened?" Dick asked.

"You tell us, champ," his dad said with a chastising look. "You passed out mid-rehearsals- almost as if you haven't been getting enough sleep," he said, raising an eyebrow.

Dick tensed defensively. "It’s not like I can do anything about that, Dad," he grumbled, accepting the glass to clear his throat. "You know how B is about patrols."

"And who is 'B' supposed to be?" his mom asked. "One of your video game friends?" Dick froze-what did mom mean, who is B? Oh Dickie. *sobs*

No Other Songbird Like You by SilverSkiesAtMidnight
Dick tries to mediate between Damian and Bruce and is eventually somewhat successful. Oh Dick. Oh Damian.

princess carry by CreamofTomatoSoup
Tim almost gets shot during a public speech, which is a pretty average Tuesday. Being rescued by his civilian boyfriend, however, is not. this is adorable!

So Sweet Saluteth Me by Lishalalalalala
Dick and Jason surprise Bruce with lunch at his office. Oh my gosh, this is so sweet, with just the perfect touch of angst.

✭

Batfamily

Additions and Exchanges by smilebackwards
Damian's arrival in the AU where Tim apprentices to Alfred after Bruce won't make him Robin. <3

coconut and aloe by merils
After an encounter with Condiment King, Tim asks Kon to wash his hair for him. They both enjoy it a lot. Oh heart.

dead boy walking by hellsreluctantheir
Jason gets de-aged during a confrontation with Batman and Nightwing during UtRH. This complicates everything. Oh boys.

En Masse by TheSilencer
Nightwing needed backup.

So all of Bludhaven came. GROSS SOBBING!!! This is one of my favorite tropes, tbh.

Felicitations, Felix! by whaleofatime
Bruce Wayne goes to a wedding and is Extremely Regular about it.

Dick's just here to have a good time. Hilarious!

IRIS Log #1548 by deadchannelradio
Comms transcript of Jason getting into a car accident and everyone's ridiculous responses. Hilarious.

The Isolation Place by acuteneurosis
It's only a magic spell, and Tim has a plan. To get help. Immediately!

It's not his fault Damian happens. Tim gets turned into a cat. His plan to get help derails almost immediately and things spiral out of control from there. Oh Tim. This is both hilarious and a little heartbreaking, which is how any story about Tim should be.

a light and diplomatic bird by lux_et_astra
AU series where Tim and Jason become friends before Ethiopia, and that changes things. I enjoyed this.

Most Girls Never Win If They're Polite by Sohotthateveryonedied
7yo Steph has a brief encounter with Batman. Oh heart.

necessary reminders by Quillium
Duke, as Signal becomes known and as Duke becomes part of the Wayne family. ♥DUKE♥

Of House and Home by SonoSvegliato
Tim eats his feelings and all the food in Dick's apartment and all Dick can do is watch. Hee! Aw boys.

red tags by mikkal
A series of snapshots about Jason's interactions with his community. <3

Satisfaction by lurkinglurkerwholurks
Selina had not been a little girl who dreamed of white dresses.

The marriage of Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne, from Selina's POV. Lovely!

The Time Before by Cdelphiki
19yo Jason gets thrown back in time into his 9yo body, and despite some severe misgivings, goes to Bruce for help. Oh heart.

though some cast again by Icestorm238
5th part of the "what's past is prologue" AU (series previously recced), wherein Dick is fine! with his return to Gotham and the family. (Spoiler: Dick is not fine.)

to get to this moment by queersoverbeers
Dick struggles to enjoy the first Christmas with his family all under one roof. Bruce and Jason help guide him through it. Oh my heart... *sobs*

Twelve Magpies by 061828
Tim manages to wrestle with life enough to tug Bernard into place beside him. Tim, figuring out how to be in a relationship with Bernard. Oh Tim.

✭

Batfamily

bad news, this place is magic as fuck by mikkal
Jason's on the trail of a killer who's targeting kids in Crime Alley for an unknown magical ritual. Between that and his family who insists on butting in, he's got his work cut out for him. But, as they say, nothing is as it seems. Compelling casefic. Oh Jason.

Memory Foam by orpheusaki
Even after he comes to live with Bruce, Jason continues to wear his ratty old sneakers. Bruce tries to understand. Oh heart.

right place, wrong time by Valkirin
12-year-old Tim and 16-year-old Tim switch places and 16-year-old Tim takes the opportunity to fix things for his younger self and his family. Oh Tim.

Staying for Tea by frozenpotions
Martha Kent invites Bruce Wayne in for tea. Bruce is unused to being mothered. Oh heart!

They fuck you up, your mum and dad. (—They may not mean to, but they do. ) by llamallamaduck
Batman snaps and kills the Joker and gets sent to prison. Talia sends Jason to rescue him.

This Must Be The Place by cabezas_de_vaca
I enjoyed 10 story AU where Lois and Bruce are BFF from their teens - 1 story about Babs is still in progress but the rest are complete. Could use a good line edit but it works really well emotionally, especially with Steph, Damian, and Bruce.

a world in repair by Batbirdies
In which Damian gets a perilous case of the hiccups and Jason deals with the strange experience of seeing himself in his younger brother. Aw boys. I think this works even if you haven't read the rest of the series, but I do like this series and have previously recommended it. *g*

✭

Batfamily

beware the patient woman by envysparkler
Barbara has a routine. Every evening, at around seven o'clock, she pulls up a live feed of the Joker's cell. Oh hell yes.

birdsong by ScarlettSwordMoon
After getting a face full of Scarecrow's newest toxin, Dick isn't haunted by his typical nightmares. No. This one has little green pixie boots. Dick wrestles with Robin and the Robin legacy. Oh my heart.

bitty batty baby vigilante crew by deargalileo
the story of two kids conning their way across gotham, and (mostly) inadvertently into the batman family. This is an ADORABLE AU where Tim and Steph run away from home as 8-year-olds and get found and adopted by Robin. <333

Butler, Father, Assassin, Spy by cabezas_de_vaca
I enjoyed this look at Alfred.

Crash World by rotasha
When a version of Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent from an alternate universe where there are no superheroes find themselves in the mainstream DC universe, they kick off a series of events that impacts everyone in the Wayne and Kent families… in both worlds.

I enjoyed the 3 stories where there was crossover between the canon universe and the no-capes AU (I didn't read the standalones in the no-capes AU).

Doc Harley by starknjarvis
A reformed Harley makes friends with Nightwing, and the rest of the Bats follow. Oh heart.

Easy as Pie by Ptelea
Five times Jason baked something for or with his siblings, and one time they baked for him. Exactly what it says on the tin. <333

Fools, Ghouls, and Grave Mistakes by Ellegy42
Tim is there when Jason crawls his way out of his grave. Tim does not think this is a miracle. Hee! This is fun.

Happy Little Bluebirds Fly Beyond the Rainbow (Why Oh Why Can't I) by honeycombclaire
After being subjected to the Mad Hatter's dream machine, Dick gets stuck in a dream world where he finally has everything he wants. His parents are alive, his family is together, and he still gets to be Nightwing. Everything is perfect.

Using the machine, the Bats invade Dick's mind to bring him back. They don't expect to find out just how much Dick has been hurting. Oh Dick... #i'm not crying you're crying

library card by mikkal
Jason Todd, Red Hood, and the Park Row Public Library (and her librarians). GROSS SOBBING. #i'm not crying you're crying

New Wave by yellow_caballero
Super fun AU where Steph becomes Spoiler and then the first Robin. Also read the sequel (on tumblr, linked at the end) where Jason joins the family.

off-grid by Alienu
Tim and Damian get stranded in the wilderness. Luckily, Damian's pretty good at survival.

Retired Robins Club by DarthPeezy
To be Robin is to be a soldier in a war that never ends. If you're lucky like Dick Grayson, you graduate and make something more of yourself. If you're any of the other Robins, retiring isn't a terrible way to go out, all told.

This Too Shall Pass serves to tell the story of Damian's early childhood and his introduction to the Wayne Family.

What Still Remains tells the entirety of Tim's story, from birth till the point he's finally comfortable in his own skin, and the losses he experiences therein. Long, thoughtful AU looking at Damian and Tim over the years - a compelling read. (2 stories - this links to the series)

soft clocks by dustorange
Dick has amnesia during his time at Spyral. The family grapples with finding out he's alive. Dick grapples with finding out he has a family. Oh Dick.

The Seven-Layer-Dip From Hell by OberonBronze
Jason enlists Tim to help him through the stages of a 48-hour fear toxin trip in exchange for a favour, on one condition -- Tim can't call any of the bats for help, no matter what happens. Tim, thankfully, will do quite literally anything to get his family all under one roof again. This is whumpier than I usually enjoy but it does some interesting things with how Tim and Jason relate to each other's fear toxin reactions. (2 stories - this links to the series)

A Straight Blade by Sparkypants
He's five years late, but Bruce finally teaches Jason how to shave. Exactly what it says on the tin. *sobs*

Tim Drake's Unauthorized Guide to Biochemistry, Necromancy, and Mountaineering by destiny919
Tim knows enough about necromancy to know he can't use it alone to resurrect Jason. But some light necromantic influence and other magicks combined with science? Just might work. This is hilarious. Oh Tim.

time flies by by Laroyena
Jon Kent is Superboy. Tim's gut instinct tells him that's wrong. Tim vs timeline shenanigans to get Kon back. <3

When it Rains by vellaphoria
After Cass and Tim return from Paris, something seems... wrong.

Dick tries to find out what it is. Oh boys.

when the man comes around by julodinae_sunsets
the Joker must die, and Alfred Pennyworth is not a man who waits on others to do his work. ♥ALFRED♥

with the disturbance of the spring by Nokomis
"Good to have you back, B-Man," she said. "Though not gonna lie, you were way more fun as a kid."

"Not a claim many would make," Alfred muttered, and Steph reached around Bruce to high-five him.

Was Bruce pouting? She was pretty sure he was pouting. Bruce gets de-aged and Steph has to deal with it. Adorable!

✭

Batfamily

All of This Dust by anr
Bruce and Selina and the journey from Gotham to Florence. Lovely.

all the small weights by sparkycap
When Batman gets hit with fear toxin, he worries about his Robins.

His Robins think it's their job to deal with it.

Jason wasn't aware anyone still included him in that group, but according to Tim, he's the only one available. Oh my heart. #i'm not crying you're crying

The Bruce Wayne-Batman Feud Theory by inabsurd
There are two problems with Bernard's conspiracy theories.

The first is that, while his theories are technically well thought out and backed with real evidence, they're also often wildly incorrect. Case and point, he thinks Bruce Wayne and Batman "Fucking hate each other."

The second and much bigger problem is that he can't keep them to himself. This, of course, leads all of Gotham to conclude that Batman and Bruce Wayne are exes. hee!

Chirp by SpaceWall
Red Hood: is N… adopted?

Oracle: I'm pretty sure you all know whether or not you're B's bio-kids

RR: no like… did he /get/ adopted?

Oracle: 1 sec

Oracle: Holy shit. This is adorable.

Exponentially Alfred by McJones
Alfred gets hit by a stray spell, making everyone worry. This is fun.

The Ghost of You by rotasha
After a blowout argument with Bruce, Jason lashes out in a way he knows will hit Bruce where it hurts. He doesn’t expect the aftermath. Oh Jason. #i'm not crying you're crying

head in the clouds by Alienu
Batboys being siblingy! Adorable!

Homecoming by Sparkypants
Five times Jason came home and one time he didn't. Exactly what it says on the tin. Oh my heart.

If Everything Is Temporary (I Will Bear the Unbearable) by orpheusaki
a ten step guide of things not to do when you're sent to the past, by Bruce Wayne. #i'm not crying you're crying

In Service by smilebackwards
AU where Bruce refuses to let Tim become Robin, so he apprentices himself to Alfred instead. Oh heart! Alfred is the best, no lie!

Lugubrious Alarmism by Briarwitched
Superman gets magically de-aged into a toddler. The JLU is handling it but is concerned when he keeps decapitating his Batman doll. This is adorable and hilarious.

The Next Life by spqr
"I don't need an exorcism," Tim says.

"I beg to bloody differ," Constantine mutters.

Nobly, Tim elects to ignore him. "I want you to teach me."

"Teach you what? Manners?"

"I already know manners," Tim says, then barrels on as Constantine snorts in disagreement, "what I need to learn is necromancy." AU where tiny Tim trains with Constantine in order to bring Jason back. This is a good read.

not within this restless heart by Alienu
A series of late night conversations between Tim and Damian. oh heart.

Palimpsest by cabezas_de_vaca
It is not a question of killing the Joker. It is a question of how to get him to stay dead. ooh interesting.

picture in my pocket (of a peace I won’t grieve) by coyote_nebula
Jason and Damian cross paths in a death-infested rathole turned community sanctuary/graffiti haven at 4:00 AM. They contemplate art, troubled pasts, and navigating life when everything is, on average, going right.

That, and horses. Aw boys.

Take The B(at) Train by Hinn_Raven
Cass takes Steph train surfing. With adorable art! <333

this year's love by BeatriceEagle
Really lovely story of Dick and Kory getting back together and dealing with some of their issues. Plus, Donna is the MVP!

Vilomah by Moe64
Tim and Jason accidentally stumble into a universe where Bruce Wayne died and Thomas and Martha lived. I enjoyed this a lot.

You Only Live Twice by redbrunja
Stephanie Brown finishes up the year with a few good deeds. Well, at least one. Super cute Steph/Jason.

✭

Crossovers

Batfamily/Criminal Minds

Two Birds on a Wire by OliOcelot
An AU where Spencer Reid is part of the Batfamily, but his BAU colleagues don't know that, and a case takes them to Gotham, where they finally meet his family. The series isn't complete, but I enjoyed the two stories in it so far.

✭

Batfamily

Banshee In A Well by bugbee
Tim revives whenever he's killed and it makes things more complicated than you'd expect. I enjoyed this.

been a number and a name by WynterSky
This is a really fun AU set in the 90s where Robin meets Superboy on a class trip to Metropolis and discovers he's working for Lex. <333

The Cold Like Coming Home by cabezas_de_vaca
It's a routine post-mission beer alone in a bar in Kamchatka, until it turns into a rescue mission. Oh Jason. I enjoyed this.

everything i wanted by LylaRivers
Tim has a couple of hard conversations with Dick and Jason in the two stories in this series. Oh boys.

Family Photos by KelpieCodyne
Just because Tim became a bat, doesn't mean he stopped taking photos of bats. Several times Tim took photos of the batfamily, and one time they took photos of him. Oh my heart.

from one child to another by Batbirdies
Steph goes to Jason with a problem. Oh heart. #even robins

Here's a Reminder (That You Haven't Fallen Through the Cracks) by popsunner
Batkids being adorable and sibling-y! <3

his name was king by TheResurrectionist
Alfred is known to the GCPD. Oh gosh, this is great.

Like Father Like Son by ManURonaldo
When I recommended the first story in this series, there was no series! but now there are seven more stories and they do a great job of dealing with Jason's relationships within the family and made me all achy in the chestal area.

Like Good Siblings Do by batmoniker
Lovely bit of Cass and Jason interaction. <3

Look Upon My Buckets and Despair by Nokomis
Steph and Jason team up and things go… about as well as these things usually do, honestly. This is adorable!

Not by Blood, Maybe by Heart by Ellegrine
Damian doesn't love his useless brothers at all! No really! <333

now the clock is melting (so's my mouth and so's my mind) by SilverSkiesAtMidnight
Bruce rescues Tim from the League but it brings up some of his own issues and he's not sure how to deal with them. Oh Bruce.

ornithology 301 by figofswords
Really sharp look at Tim. (the sequel, about Jason, is also really good, but so far unfinished)

We're All Mad Here by Ionaperidot
Jason's new roommate bears a striking resemblance to the Joker. And the new Robin. And somewhere along the line, things have gone very, very wrong. Long, thoughtful AU about two tortured Robins coming out the other side.

what's past is prologue by Icestorm238
Dick Grayson, bestowed with the memories of an alternate life, decides that things are going to go better this time.

Things take a few unintended turns, and the consequences of his actions ripple through his family. I enjoyed this series a lot.

*

Crossovers

Batman/Criminal Minds

The Other Side of Freedom (That Little Death) by RandomReader13
The BAU gets called in to apprehend Jonathan Crane, a psychopathic mass murderer from Gotham. Between the fear toxin and entering the Red Hood's home city, the team is more than a little concerned. But help might be coming from an unexpected quarter. I really enjoyed this! (first story in the series was recced previously.)

✭

Leverage/Star Wars

The Stardust Job by jedibuttercup
Fix-it for Rogue One involving the Leverage crew. <3

✭