pls rec the most gut wrenching dg fics ever 🥺🤲

late reply but hopefully you still want to suffer..... 🥺🥺🥺

what are your top DC fics?

@zxenilittlefloras @t4llyyy @i-put-the-homo-in-homocidal

Oh wow such an unexpected question im so glad you asked

*deep inhale*

(Edit: jshsahahag i accidently put this in my drafts without realising instead of posing it)

Okay so honorable mentions: fics that i love and reread but wouldn't put in my top list but i really really recomend in no particular order

The Nightwing Protocol well obviously as a tt03 apprentice arc fan this is gonna be there. Usually i hate shipping slade and dick but the way they are represented here is just too good and explored stockholm syndrome very well (longfic, complete) Meilleurs Ennemis is another renegade fic and the one that introduced me to dickroy. Very fun adventure fic, not much to say but i had fun reading it and it introduced me to a ship i really like (longfic, unfinished) Best Thing I Never Had is a strange little timbern fic where Bernard starts exhibiting signs of abuse after a shovel talk with the batfam. Usually i luke normal fluffly timbern but its very fun to explore the toxic side of Tim in relationships especially because timberkon fics tend to portray the mistake of thinking their cheating very lightly when i wanna delve into that lack of communication more which this fic does (there isnt any kon in this fic, just giving an example) (longfic, complete) Not For Very Much Longer as a legend of zelda fan, obviously i love me a good timeloop fic. A Bernard centric timeloop fic of the day that Darla died. Its just good fun you can't go wrong with an angsty timeloop fic. Very fun writing of Bernard too and very fun scenarios. (Longfic, unfinished) If You Know, You Know okay this is just a straight up whump fic for Tim but its fun. Riddles, time restrictions, death traps and a good dose of brotherly love (oneshot) Bleed The Poison Out a painfully realistic and relatable portrayal of emotional abuse fromna parent. Really stood out as one of the only ones that could accurately put to words all the feelings and emotions that comes with it. (Oneshot)

Okay onto the actual list: these are my top fics, ones i keep on revisiting for various reasons and have really stuck with me

8. See You At Your Worst

What if the Red Hood was new and active when Dick had joined the mob. Tevis agrees to lend Dick to Red Hood in exchange for getting his foot into Gotham and after Hood takes an interest in Dick. A story where Jason tests Dick, trying to find out figure out why he is pretending to be in the mob and where dick discovers that his baby brother is alive. Good fun, interesting scenario. The characterisation of the newly resurected Jason is so good. (Oneshot)

6. Before Robin

Dick gets sent back to a few months before he is adopted by Bruce, thrown into the middle of the watchtower and babysat by Bruce in Gotham until he can return home. A fun story of Bruce learning to accept others into his family as he attempts to solve the puzzle that is this time travelling 'Rob' while Dick tries desperately to maintain the timestream. The writing of young bruce is perfect and the dynamic of the two as father and son makes me want to cry. (Longfic, complete)

6. Body Swap

A fic where Steph and Tim, and Dick and Jason body swap and all sorts of shenanigans take place. I really enjoy this fic for exploring the gross side of bodies and not shying away, very fun stuff full of the usual crack, fluff, embarrassment, whump, realisations, angst, and sibling teasing as well as the uncomfortable, periods, sex swap, hormone levels, asexual questioning, masturbation and bodily hygiene. Very fun stuff. There are chapters that focus on all involved and each chapter is a treat. (Series of oneshots, updating)

5. I Am What I Am

A simple 5+1 fic about Dick's past as renegade. The scenarios are cool and intriguing while displaying his skills in a very satisfsctory way while the +1 part brings it all together in an intense and fulfilling way. Always love the intimacy between Dick and Slade too. (Oneshot)

4. Terrible Sting, Terrible Storm (series)

An in depth, tear jerking story of Dick learning to overcome his trauma with tarantula and rape. This story is absolutely devistating, one of the ones that has torn me apart to rebuild me again. I am extremely serious when i say to heed the tags because this series goes far beyond dead dove. However if you can stomach it (which is very hard but worth it) you are treated with exelent writing and characterisation. The cast of OCs help to build the world around the batfam and are each filled with amazing background and depth that really makes you care for each of them. The relationship between Dick and Jason is like none other. This series has made me want to cry, has put me to the verge of throwing up many many times and the pain will surely be worth it when this series ends. Cannot reccoment enough. The current and final work in the series is currently ongoing however there is a lot to catch up on in the meantime while it updates. Each work in the series builds upon the last in such an intriguing storyline for each work that harbous some excellent character building and development and i truly cannot wait to see how it all pans out. It is also fully written and updates twice a week. The only reason this is not in third is because of how difficult emotionally to read but it might as well be tied, i wait impatiently desperate for the next chapter every time. Truly worth it but again, be careful with the tags. (Series, unfinished)

3. Bird Flu

In which Dick hallucinates Jason in the bathroom of a gala in the depth of depression and Bruce comes to his rescue. A great little oneshot that has such a good portrayal of Good Dad Bruce helping his son who is in desperately in need of it, Dick feels so small in this and i need to cradle him, no matter how disgusing or poisonous or messed up he thinks he is, the portrayal of hallucination Jason as well as Dick's spiraling depression is horrifying and greatly done. (oneshot)

2. A Bird, A Boy, A Talon, and A Toy

Actually gonna go feral over this fic, its so so fun. In which Jason gets kidnapped by a collection of Dicks who all need help returning to their universes, including a genderbend universe Dick, a reverse robins Dick, a Talon Dick and a renegade Dick. OH MY i cannot stress enough how GOOD this fic is. Each of the Dicks are written with a lot of care and detail, their worlds feel fully fleshed out and i care so much about each of them, their stories all feel so tangible and each one has character voice and development that fits so well with their universe and scenario but are so intrinsically still Dick, i really cannot describe good enough how well these characters are written. The way they interact and come into contact with the people they come across as well as each other. The story itself is just a whole lot of good fun with twists and turns as we get to know each of the Dicks and help them go home. I really cannot wait for more updates. Also again as an apprentice arc fan, Richard has my heart and i wanna hug him so bad. The story is really just good fun and i really recommend it, well worth it. (Longfic, unfinished)

1. Never Alone

Absolute wild fic. Ive already made posts once or twice about how amazing this fic is so i don't think i need to say it again. A post episode 30 'haunted' fic in which Dick continues hallucinating Slade and that this might be something more than some toxins. Really amazing fic if you want more details then read my other posts about how this fic is written so well, but seriously the writing feels directly pulled out of the show, the writing is so animated that i can litterally visualise the show in my head and read the characters with their voices so naturally and much more easily than with anything else because the character voices are written so authentically its actually seriously amazing. As soon as i finished this fic for the first time in one sitting i litterally reread it again went back to chapter one in the exact same sitting, ive litterally never done that before or since. It was gripping all the way and delved into the topic of mental health exceptionally well. Also its strangely rare to see a fic with the tt03 team even if you are looking at apprentice arc fics, they all either feature batfam or the og comic titans, which, its very nice to have the show characters. Really amazing read i cannot recommend it enough. Lots of hurt and comfort and its all around so juicy and engaging and gripping. My favourite things about this fic was that the whump and gore is not too graphic for the sake of being graphic and is just the perfect amount to still fic the show and the depth and severity of the story of the fic, it is as gorey as it needs to be, nothing more nothing less and that is actually so satisfying, even as a whump lover. the world does not pause for this story to happen and the events of spellbound and beast within and more episodes are hinted towards or outright weaved into this story and i love how the world didnt go on pause or wasnt forgotten just to focus on dick and his story and the world feels very authentic and tangible and its not even that the world around them is brought up when it can be relevant, no its just happening around them as the story progresses that it doesnt feel forced but as if the world genuinely just exists and time progresses, the time progression actually feels so real that i have legitimately never seen another fic or even published book pull off. the writing is not too difficult to understand i found myself very little having to reread paragraphs many times to comprehend it but the writing is still eloquent and has depth and such sheer understanding and authenticity to the show. The key moments hit HARD and it is as engaging as ever. I have read many amazingly written fics and even books but have always found them difficult to read and often missed many details that when i find out about them they are massive parts for the story but this had no confusion while still beig written with all the exact same eloquence and detail. (Longfic, complete)