December recs

Just getting over a cold, so this is barely in under the wire, go team.

DCU

Favorite Strangers by SpiritsFlame (DCEU crossover, gen)

It’s been six months since Bruce’s actions led to the death of Superman. Six months, two weeks, four days. He could count it to the hour. He’s handling it as well as could be expected when he finds himself in a Batcave that is unfamiliar to him, a world that is unfamiliar to him. Superman is still alive, Dick is still talking to him. The Justice League has been around for years, not months. And there is another Batman, who wants more answers than Bruce is willing to give.

When Batman v Superman!Bruce ends up in the comics world, he’ll have to navigate another version of himself, his family and the man he tried to kill if he wants to get home.

Just the *concept* was already very satisfying, but it’s also well-executed.

Satisfaction Brought It Back by SpiritsFlame & slippin_into_darkness (gen or Clark/Bruce depending on how you squint)

Bruce always thought that Superman’s cute shtick of rescuing cats from trees was a bid for publicity—until a confrontation with a magic user leaves him stuck as a cat. He learns how mistaken he was when Superman not only rescues him, but takes him back to a small Metropolis apartment. The opportunity to learn more about the alien can’t be ignored, but is Bruce ready for everything he will learn about someone he has only ever regarded with distrust and dislike?

Extremely charming use of this trope.

all each riddles, when unknown (Clark/Bruce)

Post-MoS AU: Clark, struggling to deal with the events of Black Zero Day, is assigned a straightforward human-interest piece—on Wayne Enterprises. Then Batman catches Superman’s attention, Clark Kent starts investigating Batman, Bruce Wayne spends a lot of time arguing with hitting on Clark Kent, and Bruce’s best efforts to find a way to hurt Superman start to bear fruit.

And then things get complicated.

A smart fix-it of a dumbass canon.

Cor et Cerebrum by audreycritter (gen)

Bruce Wayne deals with a serious illness, one that threatens the most crucial part of himself. He and the family try to cope with their own fears and expectations about it and then the aftermath.

A long (VERY long) and wonderful series about family and healing from trauma of various kinds, featuring an amazing OC in Dev, the neurosurgeon who works of Bruce and then gets drawn into the Batfamily. Despite the medical stuff, the story leans towards emotional h/c more than physical, imo, but both sides are great.

If You’ll Have Me by Mithen (Clark/Bruce)

In the wake of Lois Lane’s death, Bruce finds himself Superman’s lifeline to humanity.

A delicate, sweet story about friendship, grief, and falling in love again, with a touch of Bruce being a badass even in his old age.

MISC

even if it hurts by @pollyrepeat (Star Wars, vid)

It’s darkest before the dawn.

I already reblogged this vid separately, but it’s SO GOOD, and really draws out the cost and bravery of the Rebellion and Resistance. Beautiful editing, and it makes me cry every time, especially the time I made @inmyriadbits watch it before going to TRoS and we both cried :)

Adrenalin Trap by @philomytha (Vorkosiga Saga, Simon/Aral)

Simon Illyan likes to live dangerously. It’s a bad habit for the Chief of ImpSec.

Only Philomytha could successfully turn a prompt about watching pornography together into a thriller about conspiracies and polyamory. <3

let none be content with me by @mizzy2k (Marvel 616, Steve/Tony)

After Detective Michael O'Brien learns Iron Man’s real identity, Tony invites him to stay in the Avengers’ mansion while he fixes the flaw in the Guardsman armor that led to Michael’s brother’s death, an incident that Tony still hasn’t properly dealt with.

The Avengers take to Michael, and they might like him more than Iron Man, which Tony… isn’t too surprised about. People should like Michael more than they like him. And when new threats and villains just start piling up, Tony has to seriously consider Iron Man’s future. Or lack thereof.

A wonderful, long, old-school Iron Man identity porn fic. Jeez, Tony’s self-esteem issues need a whole truckload of warning signs. I’m not at all familiar with this corner of 616 canon, but it was still perfectly comprehensible, and there’s a ton of great team content in addition to the Steve/Tony slow burn.