Enemy of crime and people who don't like purple

Yeah.....

Like, both in and out of universe Stephanie was never meant to be taken seriously as Robin. The writers only made her Robin so that her death in War Games would be shocking and Bruce only made her Robin because he thought it would make Tim jealous enough to come back. She only had the mantle for 71 days before being fired (for doing something that literally every other Robin has also done and not been fired over), and she was only active during 50 of them. There are only six issues where Steph is Robin in the canon timeline.

Her final words before her death are asking Batman (Batman, because even on her death bed he doesn't trust her enough to take off his mask) if any of it was real. Was she really Robin? And Batman assures her that of course she was, that she was part of the legend and no one can take it away from her. Except it's a lie, because despite his reassurances, Batman never puts up a memorial or does anything to preserve her memory. He never really thinks of her as Robin, and even her friends will always think of her as Spoiler before ever remembering Robin.

Meanwhile DC spent years ignoring her time as Robin, to the point where it was completely erased from existence for awhile. It's technically back now, because timelines are weird, but unlike the others it's never been altered. She's never been given a second chance at it, no one's ever gone back and added more issues or details about those 71 days, or even seems to want to acknowledge them most of the time.

But fans have clung on to it anyway. Sure, there are lots of people who make Robin posts that are just about the boys, but there are just as many people who are ready to fight anyone who doesn't include her. Maybe it was only for a little while, but she was Robin, and we're sure as hell not going to forget it. If DC isn't going to bother to remember, than we will.

The first child sidekick of the golden age of comics, never meant to be a man, a child for forty years who fought and demanded the right to grow up.

The second robin is slain in his career’s infancy. An unaging symbol of lost innocence because innocence itself was no longer required. Who burst back out of his grave unwillingly, in a man’s body, dragged into adulthood all at once. A child killed twice over.

The third robin, who was comfortable in his place as a child as a sidekick, evicted because someone else needed that spot, only to be wedged back into the box. Not quite a man, but he can’t go back to being a boy either, stuck in the in between.

Hello!

In honor of Fanfiction Appreciation Day, I'm going to share my favorite favorites from AO3. We'll get through as many fandoms as I have energy for, and might flop over to FFN if I get REALLY ambitious.

Shallow Water Blackout by @envysparkler

Mermaid/selkie AU. Starts out focusing on Tim and opens up to the rest of the BatFam. Heavy on both the angst/hurt and the comfort.

Kon's (Ever-Growing) Super Family by kikanawj

Okay, this is more of a SuperFam fic, but I found it through BatFam and it's the only SuperFam fic I've got, so it's going in here. Focuses on Conner/Kon-El Kent and his feelings as alternate members of his family get stuck in his universe from another dimension. Includes healing from trauma, dealing with complicated relationships, and guest appearances by both Tim and Damian. If you like this check out the whole series.

in doctor's office lighting (i didn't tell you i was scared) by popsunner

Angsty hurt/comfort look at the real world consequences of Tim's missing spleen. Includes plenty of brotherly bonding. Lots of medical stuff, if that's not your thing.

Emotional Motion Sickness by Batbirdies

A series where Bruce desperately wants to connect with his children and repair his relationships and doesn't know how. The man is doing his best, and wants his best to be better. My favorite is the third one, but they're all excellent.

shards of pain (hidden like crystals) by Sword_Kallya

After Damian attacks Tim, Bruce sits him down and explains that every member of the BatFamily has a strength they bring to the team. Damian doesn't think he has a strength so he decides to make one for himself. Cue angst because mini-assassins don't always understand.

Home Run by iselsis

Jason runs back to Bruce from the League of Assassins. But not before stealing the Demon's Heir on the way out. Very cute AU.

Kidnapped! by Cerusee

13 year old Jason and Bruce are kidnapped. Short, sweet, and just a tiny bit angsty, for the kick.

Through the Mirror by BatshitBogs

A wonderful Reverse Robins series. Has deeply inspired my own, even though there are several ways we worldbuilt different. My personal favorites are the 1st, 7th, and 9th ones, but they're all good.

Second Impressions by Valkirin

Red Hood comes back, but doesn't realize Tim Drake isn't Robin anymore. The green haze is fading, and he's maybe not as angry anymore. Everyone is just a little more reasonable, and it ends with cookies and a movie marathon.

Hoods and Jesses Redux by Sword_Kallya

A mini assassin attacks Tim. Dick talks to him while Jason guards their unconscious brother. Dick finds an abused, distrustful child who expects to be beaten for his failure and worries about the health of the bats. Oh, and they need to do a blood test because he looks a little familiar...

to brighten up even your darkest knight by Nokomis

Steph has to file paperwork after the latest hijinks with the Batmobile. In her father's file she finds something she had totally forgotten about. Utterly adorable Steph and Bruce fic, with a lovely characterized Steph.

Shutterbug by goldkirk

A series of fics in a world where Jason Todd never died, and basically adopted the next door neighbor kid. Looks at the impact of neglect and emotional abuse. Lots of BatDad with an emotional braincell taking care of traumatized kids, which is very sweet to read. Does focus on some of the impacts of abuse so if that's a trigger this might not be for you. The series is 9 fics long and we've managed to collect all the kids up to Damian.

Birds fly in every direction by distracted_dragon

Directly based on Shutterbug. This one has Tim with a couple secret identities and a little more analytical. Also has more Jewish!Bruce and Jewish!Tim content. Other than that it's very similar in tone to Shutterbug. I love them both.

Fairy Godbrother by envysparkler

In which the batbrothers make their way to the family early thanks to the meddling of some interdimensional travelers. Everything turns out happier for it. One of my favorite found family fics.

I'll Still Love You Anyway by PechoraFlow

Platonic Soulmate AU. Bruce Wayne is born without soulmates. They don't start showing up until he's an adult. How on earth does he have this many kids? VERY cute, and I love it dearly. There's even little pictures of the soulmarks at different points in the story!

The Penny Drops, The Penny Dreads by @batbirdies

Jason grew up in an environment of abuse and homelessness. It's very hard for him to trust and ask for things. GORGEOUS look at grief and homelessness and C-PTSD and what that looks like when a child gets to a safe setting. If abuse is a trigger you probably shouldn't read it, but if you are interested in foster care or recovery, you probably should.

the bird, the fog, the mist by bacondoughnut

Jason Todd returns to Gotham with a plan. Once he gets to Gotham he decides to go home. He tries to balance being Red Hood with repairing things with his family. Beautiful story about healing and family.

Identity by Miles_2_Go

Bruce Wayne is lost in time. Tim Drake is lost. Jason Todd finds him. Beautiful fic about brotherhood and trauma. I'm a sucker for Jason taking care of his little siblings. Also, with the League of Assassins, nothing will ever be the same again.

Shelter by Ptelea

Little short fic about the aftermath of fear toxin, food, and comfort. Dick and Jason have a complicated relationship, but they can probably shelter each other anyway.

sunlit and shadowed by Crystalinastar

Reverse Robins story focused on Duke. Utterly adorable and also full of pain at the same time. "Duke has always clung to the light better than the shadows, he'll just be Damian's light as well as Batman's."

Sprinklers by SunnyBlue

Tim is badly injured. Damian realizes that he really does care about Drake. The rest of the family gets to see it too. Very angsty, lots of comfort. Also a lot of medical stuff, if that makes you uncomfortable.

Have I Told You About Minnie? by Hinn_Raven

Bruce goes undercover as Matches Malone. Matches needs a family to fit in. So he starts telling stories about his "kids". Not that he bothers to inform said kids about it.

Wing Beats in Reverse by firefright

Reverse Robins fic. Jason Todd is the third Robin, living under the shadow of Tim Drake's death. Damian feels bad about how he treated Tim and is very close with Jason. Then a new figure shows up in the Gotham underworld and begins targeting Robin.

You are my bright light, you're my morning bird by orphan_account

Mood ring Batman.

Year of Fallen Angels by @maychorian

This is an intense one. The first chapter opens on the aftermath of a torture session. Tim spends a lot of time recovering. Lots of medical stuff. That said, it's also a BRILLIANT fic about emotional healing and repairing relationships and emotional growth. Also lots of BatFam taking care of Tim, which is so sweet to read.

Come Alive by Captain Ozone

This is a Young Justice fic. Dick goes to Infinity Island on a rescue mission. He found more than just the individuals he arrived to rescue. Very cute, lots of good big sibling action and I especially appreciate Cass in this one. Made a couple good points about her character I had never considered before, even though the fic really isn't about her.

Tap Out by withthekeyisking

This is really, really cute and also really sad. Talks about Dick and the importance of tapping out in his life. All the way through it. All the times he needed to tap out.

Surveillance by @smilebackwards

In a world where Jason never died and Tim never joined the BatFam, Tim still enjoys taking pictures of the Bats. His schedule is full of school and visiting his father and his nighttime adventures. Then Lex Luthor tries to take over Drake Industries. The start of a very cute series.

one shot, two shots in the night by discowing (ameliafromafairytale)

Bruce Wayne writes a memoir. He has to leave out a lot, but a lot still makes it in. It's surprisingly well received. ADORABLE fic about family and life and relationships.

It Wasn't Real (But We Were Happy) by @lurkinglurkerwholurks

Very angsty fic about Tim and the BatFam post the Bruce lost in time situation. Featuring Tim only thinking he's part of the family inas much as he is helpful.

A Little Bit of Tender Mercy by @audreycritter

Sickfic featuring Tim and his missing spleen. Also Jason, Bruce, and Tim and their slowly improving relationships. If vomiting is a problem for you, this is not the fic for you. If it's not, it's utterly adorable and I have read it SO many times.

Sleeping Heartaches by audreycritter

Batman and Robin have to take of a baby one night. Damian wonders why his father is just so good with babies. The two have a heart to heart about what might have been. Made me cry the first time I read it.

You are a soul by AutumnHobbit

This fic has forever changed my view of Jason. Jason hides from his dad in a Catholic church that his mom took him to sometimes. Told from the perspective of the priest who finds him there. After reading this, every version of Jason I'll ever write will be a Catholic to some extent.

Eye for an Eye by LueurdeLaube

This is an ADORABLE fic about Jason Todd being a good big brother and Bruce being a good dad. And Damian is, of course, an angry little bean.

Safe Haven by kyrdwyn

Janet Drake abandons Tim at a police station under the Safe Haven laws. Batman seeks to figure out why. During the investigation, Tim goes into police custody with Jim Gordon and his daughter. I'm not going to give away the ending, but it is SO CUTE.

No One's Son by AutumnHobbit

Jason's parents didn't die, but that doesn't necessarily give him a support system. A 16 year old Jason and his encouters with the Bats. This fic made me LOVE Jason-joins-the-family-late fics.

going round the twist by danishsweethearts

Reverse Robins meets the canon Batfam. This is the 9th in a series, but could be read first if you really wanted. This is the fic that inspired my own series, although the end results are going to be different.

THE HUES IN OUR HAIR COMPLIMENT ONE ANOTHER by orpheusaki

During the first week Jason is at the manor, he needs to wash his air. Featuring the aftermath of homelessness and child abuse. UTTERLY ADORABLE. I love this fic very much.

Cor Et Cerebrum by audreycritter

This is the series that got me into BatFam. UTTERLY amazing slow burn found family series. The main OC is AMAZING and the balance of the different tensions in the BatFam is wonderfully done. This is a BatFam with all their issues, but who are also an actual family that loves each other.

in a diner at midnight by Tauria

Reverse Robins fic. Robin catches Jason taking the tires off the Batmobile and can't stop laughing. He feeds Jason before sending him on his way. This is the start of Jason's interactions with the BatFam, but it certainly isn't the end.

hot wheels by @envysparkler

Bruce Wayne, seeing Jason Todd: I must help this small child.