An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Fic rec! 57K Batman fic
Summary: The problem is that Tim’s spent the past month or so slowly getting murdered. (AKA, An AU where Jason never went to Ethiopia, and Tim takes a different road home to the Waynes.)
Comment: When Tim’s parents die, there’s a fight over who takes him in because while his parents gave the majority of their wealth to Tim, they didn’t specify who gets Tim. Important - because if Tim dies before 18 it’s his caretaker who gets the cash.
It doesn’t take Tim very long to realize his uncle’s trying to kill him, but proving it, even with Batman and Robin’s help, is not easy. Tim is very determined to help though, even if it means putting himself in danger and oh, does this bean do that. Alfred is very prepared to save the day.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Have you read Like a Hinge, Like a Wing?
Yes, previously
Yes, now that you've recced it to me
No
Voting ended onNov 30, 2024
Subfandom: Batman
Media: Comics
Relationships : Gen (Tim Drake)
Summary:
The problem is that Tim’s spent the past month or so slowly getting murdered.
(AKA, An AU where Jason never went to Ethiopia, and Tim takes a different road home to the Waynes.)
Authour: @bonesbuckleup (Ultrageekatlarge)
Year: 2022
Submitted by @kiragecko
Submitter's comment:
excellent Tim hurt/comfort where his parents aren't the evil abusers. (But there is still an evil abuser. It's that type of fic!)
These are all going to be fics that come off of my bookmark list from Ao3. I have a lot more in my google chrome bookmarks, but these are the ones i have the clearest memory of!
Alright we’re going to start off with my favorite merlin author ever. If you haven’t read all of CaffeinatedFlumadiddle’s works then like what are you doing, go, read! I’ll list my top three of their works if you want a place to start!
Fool Me Once | 18,728k | Rating: T+ | complete
Uther finds out about Merlin’s magic, but can’t seem to kill him. Merlin is just trying to protect Arthur. They become a begrudgingly effective duo. Arthur doesn't understand why they think he isn't noticing this.
Cheers and Spirits | 5,022k | Rating: no rating | complete
Despite all the supposed trips to the tavern none of the knights have seen Merlin drunk. They decide to rectify that. A poor decision, really.
Dragged Down and Hellbound | 46,929k | Rating: T+ | incomplete 4/6 chapters posted
After living with demons for sixteen years, Merlin decides to explore his human side by venturing to Camelot. Also, he has a destiny to unite his species and bring magic back into Camelot, but he's not too worried about that.
To Serve and Protect by Ultrageekatlarge | 25,324k | Rating: Gen | complete
After something terrible happens, Arthur, Gwen, Gwaine, and Lancelot take their turns in protecting their protector, watching over their watcher. Merlin’s the one in trouble, now, and it’s up to them to save him.
This is one of my all time favorites. It’s not merthur but, the characterization is so on point that it’s basically merthur. you know, like the show wasn’t technicallyyyyyy merthur buttttt well, we all know it really was.
My fave quote:
“Mighty Emrys,” Cor crowed, laying the blade across Merlin’s bared throat, “Time to die.”
“Hey!”
A woman’s shoe flew out, and with frightening precision, slammed the side of Cor’s head. The dagger fell to the ground with a clatter, but the sorcerer kept a tight grip on the staff, staggering back in surprise from Merlin. Arthur froze, and turned his head to his left.
Gwen, clutching her other shoe in her hand, glared at Cor with murder in her eyes. “You will not touch him again,” she said.
The Game of Lying by CastleScribe | 7,262k | Rating: Gen | complete
It's just Merlin's luck to get trapped in a castle with the knights and a crazy fae who wants to see how well he can lie. Fortunately, he's very good at lying.
Unfortunately, the fae isn't too pleased about that.The knights are going to have a lot of questions if they live through this.
I just love reading about Merlin being a badass and the knights + arthur realizing he has hidden depths. The sequel to this is also fucking bomb A+, 15/10 would recommend
Safekeeping by schweet_heart | 5,531k | Rating: E | complete
“There were bandits,” Arthur confirms. There is something grim in his tone which tells Merlin this is not the whole of it. “There was also a sorcerer.”
Merlin sighs. “Of course there was.”
As it turns out, there was also a magical beast, and there was also a sacrifice.
i have an honestly wild amount of schweet_heart’s fics bookmarked lol but they’re all really good, and most of them are relatively short so that i can binge my way through them easy! This is def one of my favorites though.
My fave quote:
He wakes up again, briefly, when Arthur breaks the shackles free from his wrists and feet. Without the cold iron to bind him, magic pours back into his body like a flood, choking and drowning, and he writhes for a moment in the dirt, fighting to keep his head above water.
“For God’s sake, Merlin, be quiet,” Arthur hisses, pulling him close and clamping a hand over his mouth. “Are you trying to get yourself caught?”
Merlin hadn’t even been aware that he was screaming, but the effort of holding back the sound is enough to send him under again, white-hot pain searing behind his eyelids.
After that, he doesn’t resurface for a long time.
Okay, and here’s another author that like really, if you haven’t read their fics where have you been?? Astolat is bloody amazing and her fics just fucking kill me tbh. I’m going to list my top three of hers and fave quotes from them
Favorite | 13,012k | Rating: E | complete
Arthur was tipped back against the wall, his mouth open for breath and staring at the small arrow-slit window over Merlin's head, trying to work out how it could possibly be that good with Merlin, of all people.
My fave quote:
Uther stared at him, for long enough that Arthur started to feel a bit anxious, and then Uther said almost warily, "What is this boy to you?" and he wasn't asking for the facile answer.
"He's—I—" Arthur said, stuttering in panic. He was getting on extremely well not thinking about what Merlin was to him, and he had no desire to start now. He stopped.
Uther said, "I see," with a peculiar expression on his face, a little as though he'd eaten something unpleasant. After a moment, he said, "What does he want from you?"
Emblazoning | 18,797k | Rating: M | complete
Morgana turned away from the high, barred window and rubbed her arms, chilled and bare. Arthur was sitting in the dirty straw at the very limit of his chains, which kept him a few inches too far away to touch Merlin's limp body. Outside they were putting up the stake
This one is Arthur/Merlin/Morgana/Gwen which may put some people off but it’s really good I promise. and none of them are aware that arthur and morgana are related, so there’s that.
The Crown of the Summer Court | 24,339k | Rating: E | completed
"The king sent me to get you," Merlin said, with a tone that implied strongly that he wasn't rolling his eyes where Arthur could see, but just wait until his back was turned. "He said you're to get changed into formal clothes and meet him in the Great Hall, there's a delegation coming from the Summer Court."
My fave quote:
"Your mortal-forged blade would not be able to enter the ring," Eldren said contemptuously.
Merlin dragged himself straight and said, golden eyed, "Try this one, then," and grabbed Arthur's hand. He took it and plunged it into the wash-water basin Gwen was holding, the water still pink with blood.
"What are you doing—" Arthur said, but Merlin was shoving his hand deeper—deeper than the basin was, and Arthur's hand was brushing something cold and hard.
He put his hand around the hilt, and slowly drew the sword out, water spilling from the cross-brace and running down the blade like rain. Gwen stared wide-eyed at it, and down into the basin, which was looking just like a basin again.
a king of infinite space by schweet_heart | 1069k | Rating: E | complete
When they bring Arthur home, he is silent.
Written for Pornalot 2017 Challenge #4 (Bound).
It’s really short but holy shit there’s so much emotion packed into this.
My fave quote:
“Merlin.” And this time, Arthur is smiling, no longer silent, something whole and real behind his eyes. “You reckless little idiot. You tore apart an entire castle to get to me – did you really believe I wouldn't know that it was you?”
Broken Days, A Guide and How To Manual by arsenicandsunshine | 20,653k | Rating: E | complete
In which if Merlin has to see the cracked gray of his bedroom ceiling one more time, he’s gonna scream. Or punch someone. Maybe the wall. Definitely Arthur, who can’t seem to find the words to say what he wants to, but after the morning Merlin’s had, whatever it was can’t possible help.
It’s a groundhog day fic, what’s not to love? honestly why don’t we have more of these in the fandom i love them so much
Winning the Battle by Prattery | 5,498k | Rating: T+ | complete
This husk of a man wears Merlin’s face and has Merlin’s magic, but he’s not Merlin. Merlin’s gone. Albion has claimed him as the price for Arthur’s victory at the battlefield.
listen....this fic will destroy you and then put you back together. It’s short but holy shit there’s a lot packed in and it’s so damn good. def one of my fave fics
Nine Weddings and a Funeral by giselleslash | 11,322k | Rating: E | complete
Merlin and Arthur keep meeting at a series of weddings.
This is a modern AU, which I don’t rec a lot of but this one was really good and the writing was fantastic
My fave quote:
“Do you think we’d be here now if we’d gotten together then? Be honest. Think about what you feel about me right now, the way it burns, and tell me you would’ve been ready for that at nineteen.”
Okay! I think that’s enough for now, i have sooooo many more but this is already super long so imma stop!
Question: If one could put five fanfics/books in a pentagram to summon you, what would they be?
I was tagged by @wynnefic and @being-luminous <3
My original thought was to do all fics and then I was hit over the head by two of my favorite books. It would have been a crime to not list them honestly. Also, this was super difficult to come up with and not at all what I originally thought I was going to put down but here we are!
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
It’s one of three books I’ve read this year and it was one of the best books I’ve read. It’s an emotional roller coaster that left me sobbing (literally) in my chair and I haven’t shut up about it since.
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
My absolute favorite classic and the only one I have ever bothered to re-read. I loved this book when I was 15 and had low standards and I loved it just as much when I re-read it this year. Dare I say, I actually loved it more. A lot of it went over my head at 15 but at 24 (ohmygod nearly 10 years) it hit a lot harder and was just as lovely.
Providence by Nocturnememory
really, if you just mention nocturnememory at all I will come running, immediately summoned by what is hands down my favorite fem!harry author. Their writing had a profound impact on mine own back when the bible didn’t mention us was still posted. This one though, is one of their old tumblr posts that they’ve re-posted and it never fails to leave me with far too many emotions.
To Serve and Protect by Ultrageekatlarge
As much as i love merthur, this is absolutely hands down one of my top five Merlin fics and it’s not merthur at all the same way that the show isn’t merthur ya know. I think my favorite thing about it, apart from all of it, is how well it captures Gwen’s character.
“There is breath in him yet,” Gwen said, her voice small but steely. She continued to cling to the front of Merlin’s shirt. Both of their clothes were singed and blackened, Gwen’s curls floating in the breeze and Merlin’s face covered in ash. She glanced upwards at the sorcerer, “And you cannot have him.”
I just, i have no words really to describe how much I love this story. It’s one of those ones that’s stuck with me ever since i first read it and I will instantly appear to rec it at all times.
In Which Tony Stark Builds Himself Some Friends (But His Family Was Assigned by Nick Fury) by scifigrl47
This is hands down one of the best found family fics i’ve ever read, not just in the Avengers fandom but in general. It hits all the sweet spots and also really digs its fingers into the trauma that they all have and carry. I was reading this back when Hollow Your Bones Like a Bird's first started posting and it’s so heavy and emotionally taxing but so good and the writing is just phenomenal. there’s two companion series that I’ve been meaning to catch up on for ages but I’m so far behind at this point that it’s a horribly daunting task...
Tagging: @kitastrophea @queenofthedagger @caty-314 @lycxrisabsinthe @jadejabberwock and anyone else who wants to do it that I haven’t thought to tag!
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Captain America (Movies)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Steve Rogers & Sam Wilson
Characters: Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson (Marvel)
Additional Tags: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Panic Attacks
Summary:
It’s been three weeks since the helicarriers, and Sam’s not doing too great.
Recommending because: ...I seem to be turning into a fic rec tumblr, but I DON'T CARE. The focus of this one is all Sam, but it's a Sam that I feel doesn't get enough screen time in fanfic. This one is the Sam who isn't perfectly well-adjusted, who's damaged because he survived a war and then dove into another one at home, where he was supposed to be safe. This is the Sam who almost died, who got up, dusted himself on, and tried to carry on but needs help to do it. And it's written so damn well, my chest was aching the entire time.
