November recs

[spatz]

Between Thanksgiving and Yuletide canon review, I didn't do a ton of fic reading in November, so I've got a nice short batch of five superhero fics: mostly DCU, one BNHA.

Frame the halves (and call it a whole) by tucuxi (gen)

Jason gets it, gets the space between them, the way Red Robin keeps his distance. Of all the ways Jason fucked up when he first got back to Gotham, Pit-mad, green-tinted, and chock-full of Talia’s half-truths, breaking into the Tower and nearly killing a kid is the one he regrets the most. Dick or B probably would say something pointed about regretting committing multiple homicides and putting heads in duffel bags, but Jason doesn’t regret any of those deaths one bit. Maybe he’d choose a different duffel bag, but that’s about it.

OR: The one where Oracle calls Red Hood and Red Robin in to deal with a Crane-shaped incident at the docks, a brand new strain of fear toxin is released, and Jason is horrified to discover that he’s NOT Tim’s worst fear.

Tim and his abandonment issues, oh my heart. Also really nice work getting Tim and Jason over the hump into a better relationship without them really talking about things, which is hard to do well but the author nailed it.

To Eat Well by SilverSkiesAtMidnight (gen)

“Here,” Jason says, passing the tray over to Damian. “Go bring Dick this.”

Damian redirects his scowl, but the furrow in his brow looks more curious than angry now. “What is it?”

“Papanasi,” he answers. “It’s, uh. It’s something his family used to make.”

Damian accepts the tray, holding it as carefully as he would delicate electronics. “And this will…make him happy?”

He doesn’t laugh at him. “Nah, kid,” he says wearily. “He’s not going to be happy until he knows his family is safe. But it’ll help."

The ransom call comes the following morning.

In which Tim is kidnapped and Jason stress bakes because he was present but too injured during the kidnapping to go out looking. Lovely character work.

buy back the secrets by sundiscus (Tim/Kon)

He takes a long, slow breath. Ignores the glares from the other students. “Superboy,” he murmurs. “It’s me. If you’re listening, I could use some help.”

Or: 5 times Superboy saves Tim Drake, and one time Tim Drake saves Superboy.

I hardly ever rec WIPs, but this one is SO GREAT and the two chapters so far are standalone so it's easy to hop in. Definitely a loose relationship with canon/timelines, but creative and smart and feelsy, good with the classic problem of h/c vs Tim’s independent streak, with generally amazing voices for Tim and Kon.

Freefall by sage (Tim/Kon)

Kon is asleep, all of his homework finished for once and the farm quiet and peaceful around him, when Tim screams.

In which Kon catches Tim. Harrowing, and then sweet.

One Percent by redrobin1989 (BNHA, gen)

Midoriya Izuku is a boy who stands on the crossroads of many potential realities. In one percent of all realities, he meets All Might and accepts an impossible offer. In others, very different fates await him. A man with the ability to see those alternate lives catches a glimpse of Deku and sees what could have been.

A sharp collection of what-ifs from an outsider POV.