Been obsessed with the Super Sons since forever, and honestly? The 'best' ships really depend on what flavor you're craving. Damian Wayne/Jon Kent just hits different from their younger counterparts. Fics that really dig into their post-'Teen Titans' dynamic, where Damian's trying to be less of a little terror and Jon's grappling with his Kryptonian legacy, are my absolute jam. There's this one, 'Of Sun and Shadows,' that nails the tension of them being pulled between their fathers' worlds while building something uniquely theirs.
If you want something completely off the wall, though, Damian Wayne/Jon-El (Earth-3) from 'DCeased' or 'Injustice' universes is a wild ride. It's all about the angsty 'enemies to something more' vibe, with Jon having that corrupted edge. It's not for everyone, but when it's done right, the chemistry is electric in a messed-up way.
For pure, tooth-rotting fluff, you can't go wrong with the classic Super Sons as kids. DamiJon fics set during the 'Super Sons' comic run are just pure joy. They capture that perfect balance of bickering and unwavering loyalty. I keep going back to 'Pajama Day' on AO3 whenever I need a pick-me-up.
Trying to pin down one genre for them is tricky, their dynamic bends a lot. A ton of stories slot neatly into hurt/comfort – Jon’s inherent empathy is a natural fit for Damian’s stoicism cracking under stress. The 'Super Sons' era stuff leans heavily into that: school field trip mishaps, sparring sessions gone too far, the classic 'one of them gets captured and the other goes feral'. But the modern shift, especially with them older in the comics, has fueled more straightforward romance and slice-of-life. People write coffee shop AUs or college roommate scenarios that explore their bickering as a weird form of domestic intimacy. There’s also a weirdly specific subgenre of 'Jon’s powers glitch and Damian has to science the hell out of it' stories, which I live for. They’re less about saving the world and more about problem-solving in the Batcave with a side of emotional vulnerability.
What surprises me is the amount of darker, speculative sci-fi that uses them. Think 'Jon gets exposed to something Kryptonian that changes him' or 'Damian’s League training clashes with Jon’s idealism in a morally gray future.' It’s less popular than the fluffier tags, but the writers there are deeply invested in world-building. The appeal seems to be taking two characters with such rigid legacies and seeing how they warp or uphold them under extreme pressure. You don’t see that as much with other pairings from the same universe, maybe because their foundations are so oppositional yet complementary.
There's this weird tension in their fanfic that I don't see with other duos. Damian's all rigid and mission-focused, raised as this perfect weapon, while Jon just... radiates this open-hearted farmboy warmth. Writers who lean into that contrast are my favorite—the ones where Damian's trying to analyze a threat with cold logic and Jon just flies them both above the clouds to get a different perspective. It creates this push-pull where Damian's guardedness is constantly being gently, unintentionally disarmed. He can't maintain the aloof heir persona when his friend is handing him a freshly baked pie.
What I find less convincing is when authors soften Damian too much too fast. The appeal is in the thaw, not in him being secretly cuddly all along. The best dynamics keep that prickly exterior but let Jon's influence show in subtle ways, like Damian choosing a non-lethal takedown without being asked, or reluctantly admitting he 'supposes' the Kent farm is 'adequate' for a weekend visit. Their personalities make the trust feel earned, not automatic, which is why the mentor-student or brotherly fics hit harder than the out-of-character fluff.
Plus, Jon's inherent optimism means the angst hits different. When Damian does have a crisis of conscience, Jon's the one who fundamentally believes in his goodness, which forces Damian to confront that potential in himself. It's less about fixing each other and more about challenging each other's default settings.