Avengers/Captain America Recs
I have read a lot of excellent Avengers/Captain America fic recently and I feel like this is just the tip of the most recent part of the iceberg. If you're short of fic to read, you can check out my bookmarks of things to be recced. It's all fic below the cut - with limited bandwidth and therefore limited Tumblr time, I know I'm not even seeing a fraction of the amazing art related stuff happening there, let alone bookmarking it. I do have some links saved, though, and I can always rummage through the stuff I've reblogged (the end of the month means extra bandwidth to use up, which is an opportunity to fill up my queue and let it trickle out over the next couple weeks) so I keep thinking I’ll cobble together an art post at some point.
In other news, I realized yesterday that I've never had so firm an OTP as I do Steve/Bucky right now. Which is hilarious, because I was still very Steve/Tony after the first Captain America. Now, though, I'm having a hell of a time reading Steve with anyone else. I can read Steve/Bucky/Whoever just fine, but otherwise my brain's going, "...but Buckyyyyyyy *CRIES*" Possibly Sebastian Stan has broken me. So, ya know, that's where I'm at. I'm still completely in theoretical support of All the Pairings - and firmly anti-ship war, jfc - but I'm reccing what I'm reading, so it's pretty much gonna be Gen or some iteration of Steve/Bucky(/+) with only very rare exceptions.
Between the Lines by
Allecto [Gen, PG, 855 words]
What the Smithsonian said, and what it didn't.
Rec Notes: Bucky started growing up too fast long before the war. This is some of the other parts of his story. Very good.
Clint Barton's Home for Wayward Mind Wiped Assassins by
roguewrld [Gen, PG, 4.905 words]
“Where ever you were, whatever you did and whoever you did it for, it’s over. You need to pretend to be a person now, okay?”
Rec Notes: A unique salvation for The Winter Soldier. I really love how Clint is accidentally exactly what Bucky needs at that point in time. Also, as several other people have said, Clint Barton would absolutely rent an apartment to a blatantly unhinged assassin for a stack of cash from a duffle bag. The beauty of the fic is that it makes it a perfectly logical choice because Clint finds this a completely relatable situation.
[Steve and Bucky Reunion Tumblr Ficlet] by
queerly-it-is [Gen, PG, 1.560 words]
Steve’s sitting on a bench in an art gallery, looking at a landscape. They had to close the place up just so he could walk around for a while without causing a scene. He’s not happy about it, doesn’t want to take away people’s chance to view the art, but it’s late in the evening and Pepper promised him she’d worked it all out with whoever’s in charge of this collection. That, and that she’d made ‘a generous donation’ to the gallery for him.
Rec Notes: Set post-CATWS, Steve's finally stopped chasing after Bucky, only for Bucky to finally be ready to find him. It's short but poignant and very genuine. Note that I've appended "/mobile" to the URL for readability; to favorite or reblog, just delete that part and reload the page.
Five Avengers Who Earned Their Fan Cred Honestly (and one who didn't) by
melannen [Gen, PG, 5.353 words]
In 1940, Bucky took Steve and a couple of girls to the closing weeks of the New York World's Fair, and Steve sneaked off to go to the U. S. Army recruiting station instead.
In 1939, Bucky took Steve and a couple of girls to the New York World's Fair when it was still new and exciting. Steve sneaked off to go to the First World Science Fiction Convention instead.
Rec Notes: Glorious and amazingly written, with notes on various references at the end of each section/chapter. Well envisioned with an excellent scope of experiences - everyone in the fandom should definitely be reading this one.
Geriatric Road Trip, 2015 by
what_alchemy [Steve/Bucky, PG/PG-13, 4.569 words]
Bucky was the eldest of four.
Rec Notes: Bucky's three younger siblings are still alive and when Steve turns up on the news, they end up on a road trip to go visit him - only to find even more than they expected. Post-CATWS, I loved this to pieces. Told from the POV of Bucky's great nephew (his sister's grandson), the OCs are well realized characters and there's a sweet ending.
the future's so bright (I gotta wear shades) by
KiaraSayre [Steve/Bucky, PG-13, 3.482 words]
Things Bucky loves about the future.
Rec Notes: This is BEAUTIFUL, by which I mean hilarious with just a touch of poignancy to underline the sweetness. Items include, but are not limited to: The Sharper Image, microfiber blankets, the internet, tv binges, and fucking with Tony Stark.
The Deep End by
emilyenrose [Steve/Bucky/Natasha, R, 8.692 words]
In this story: exquisitely tragic and beautiful Russian romance, James Bond shenanigans, designer drugs with highly specific effects, Steve Rogers’ overactive imagination, a swimming metaphor. Also: a villain has a secret sex room, some assassins join the mile high club, and Captain America punches a shark.
Rec Notes: Natasha and Bucky are fuck buddies and Steve's trying not to imagine it (really, he's not, there's just... a lot of it, okay?). Fortunately, there's an excellent solution to this... problem... which a remarkably effective sex pollen aerosolized designer drug brings to light. The afterward has a particularly interesting Natasha POV and, on another note, Sam laughing at Steve isn't going to stop being funny for me any time soon.
The Portfolio of Pining by
soshhy [Steve/Bucky, PG-13, 24.804 words]
Bucky is a fashion photographer and pines over Steve for roughly four years. It’s all as angsty and ridiculous as it sounds.
Rec Notes: The Sebastian Stan photo shoot that launched this fic is terrible in content, but this takes it a whole different direction in the initial entry/chapter/part, which I very much appreciate. The fic that unspools from there is a good read in 10 parts. Do heed the warnings - the sexism (in the first part) and the homophobia (throughout, internalized and otherwise), are central to the storyline. My only quibble is that I would have liked the Steve/Sam to have ended a bit more amicably.
Critical Feline Mass by
Kryptaria and
rayvanfox [Steve/Bucky, R, 39.531 words]
Adjusting to civilian life is hard for any military veteran - especially for one ex-sniper with a cybernetic arm, a classic Harley, and friends who keep trying to ‘help.’ When Sam Wilson at the VA sends Sergeant Barnes to rent a room from the hottest guy in the DC area, Bucky thinks maybe civilian life is worth it after all. And then he finds out Captain Rogers is everything Bucky’s not: a real hero, a Medal of Honor recipient, and an all-around nice guy. Bucky doesn’t have a chance in hell with him.
Sam was a huge help to Steve Rogers when he left the military. In the spirit of ‘pay it forward,’ Steve decides to rent out his basement room to a vet in need. But when Sergeant Barnes shows up on his doorstep, he knows he’s in for a world of trouble. Barnes is exactly what Steve never knew he wanted, from his bedroom eyes to his wicked innuendos. And he’s Steve’s tenant.
A love story in twelve chapters, including two Harley-Davidsons, a guardian angel, multiple snipers, the only woman who can scare them into behaving themselves, spontaneous kittens, and one attacking sheep.
Rec Notes: Amazing and wonderful! I read it as a WiP, eagerly devouring each chapter update. The night it wrapped up - just a couple days ago - I was draped over my laptop, utterly exhausted from gardening and moving bales of hay and straw, but I just had to read it! It's was a fun and addictive ride that lives up to the summary. The author has mentioned there may be outtakes and a sequel (potentially on the heavier side, which there's definitely room for) which I would welcome with open arms.
the nightmare from which I am trying to awake by
Speranza [Steve/Bucky, NC-17, 15.970 words]
"You gotta bring him in, Cap." Tony Stark, distant: on speakerphone. "You can come in to me, or you can go to-well, I don't know who else is left. But you gotta bring him in."
Rec Notes: Mostly intact Bucky post-CATWS (leaning heavily towards comics canon Winter Soldier, possibly) that's relatively light on the angst, heavy on the making up for lost time, elevates Brooklyn to a main character, and generally winds up a feel good sort of fic.
[Slip of the Tongue?] by
strange_radio [Steve/Bucky, PG-13, 1.222 words]
Prompt: I wonder if Steve’s ever been in the middle of sex and got mixed up shouting “fuck” and “Bucky” and instead yelled “FUCKY.”
(Oh, fucky, I slipped and made a fic)
Rec Notes: My embarrassment squick was dying, but I was laughing hard enough for actual tears. [There are other obvious options for the title, but see "embarrassment squick".]
lonely houses off the road by
Etharei [Steve/Bucky, PG-13, 17.448 words]
Barnes is now glaring at him for some reason. It's somewhat terrifying but also, oddly, a little reassuring- because that's emotion right there, which means there's still somebody behind those eyes. Somebody who seems to think Sam is being a bit slow on the uptake. "Time parameters exceeded. Mission failed."
"Wait." Sam narrows his eyes. "Is this some kind of... report? Debriefing?"
"Mission report," confirms Barnes, looking pleased. Well, looking slightly less murderous than before.
In which various people deal with things they never signed up for, but at the end of the day no one's particularly surprised.
Rec Notes: Just plain enjoyable. Veers between sincere and sincerely funny as Bucky works his way through the Avengers, intervening at just the right moment to keep things from going exponentially complicated. Interspersed with each new interaction are great little snippets of informal one-on-one's with Sam. I loved how Bucky slowly became more sane even as he was still integrating the three parts of himself into some new whole. The characterizations of everyone else are wonderful, touching, and hilarious in turns. A great fic. :)
these eyes lest I should think of shame by
linzeestyle [Steve/Bucky, PG-13, 1.247 words]
Bucky still fights like he was forged under fire, a wraith in leather and gleaming metal. Steve is pinned under concrete, a sharp pain in his lungs and chest holding him where he fell, and the man standing on the rubble and pressing down with his boot is ex-STRIKE force but still Hydra, wearing a repulsor-tech gauntlet and armor that creeps along his spine like nerve endings.
He reaches for Steve’s throat, but the Winter Soldier is faster.
Rec Notes: Steve, injured and pinned down, watches Bucky in brutal motion.
you know you make me want to by
kototyph [Steve/Bucky, NC-17, 635 words]
Imagine your OTP lying next to each other in bed, staring at the ceiling, embarrassed and slightly alarmed by the wild, intense, filthy sex they just had.
Rec Notes: OMG yes. Takes the idea and renders it well... Then goes for round two. :D
your blue-eyed boys by
lalaietha [Steve/Bucky, R, 123.002 words]
It’s a room with a bare floor, one window. It’s got six or seven flats of water stacked in one corner, beside flats of canned stuff like soup. No sign of any way to heat them. A little line of tooth-brush-soap-baking-soda in a plastic container. Steve picks up the baking soda and can’t decide whether he should think it’s a hopeful sign. It’s what they used to use, but who knows?
Rec Notes: Upon finishing this fic, I noted in the bookmark, "I can't write the rec yet because I have no words for it". That's still the case actually, but I really can't not rec it either, so I'll give it a go. This? This is an amazing fic. It's a 123.000 words and I would have read it all in one sitting if I didn't have to keep stopping for stupid things like food and water and the chaos which is my life in summertime. The characterizations, the details, the way you're drawn through the painstaking process of Bucky recovering functionality - honestly, it blows me out of the water. The other characters that are drawn in are just as stunningly rendered (features a lot of Betty Ross in particular and left me needing her in every Avengers fic from here on out) with conversations and view points that are so very interesting, giving you a real understanding that these are intelligent, perceptive, capable, and sometimes dangerous people. Running through the core of it is Bucky struggling from near complete disassociation to near complete functionality in a slow, painful, agonizingly real process that he's going through from the inside and Steve's going through as the care taker. The bulk of it is Steve's POV, but Bucky's POV is interspersed from the very beginning, his state of mind markedly shifting over the course of his recovery as he struggles to forge a new version of himself and overcome the substantial mental and physical damage left by the past 70+ years.
Crossposted to Dreamwidth where there are
comments. Comment here or there. ♥ Blue :)
In other news, I realized yesterday that I've never had so firm an OTP as I do Steve/Bucky right now. Which is hilarious, because I was still very Steve/Tony after the first Captain America. Now, though, I'm having a hell of a time reading Steve with anyone else. I can read Steve/Bucky/Whoever just fine, but otherwise my brain's going, "...but Buckyyyyyyy *CRIES*" Possibly Sebastian Stan has broken me. So, ya know, that's where I'm at. I'm still completely in theoretical support of All the Pairings - and firmly anti-ship war, jfc - but I'm reccing what I'm reading, so it's pretty much gonna be Gen or some iteration of Steve/Bucky(/+) with only very rare exceptions.
Between the Lines by
Allecto [Gen, PG, 855 words]
What the Smithsonian said, and what it didn't.
Rec Notes: Bucky started growing up too fast long before the war. This is some of the other parts of his story. Very good.
Clint Barton's Home for Wayward Mind Wiped Assassins by
roguewrld [Gen, PG, 4.905 words]
“Where ever you were, whatever you did and whoever you did it for, it’s over. You need to pretend to be a person now, okay?”
Rec Notes: A unique salvation for The Winter Soldier. I really love how Clint is accidentally exactly what Bucky needs at that point in time. Also, as several other people have said, Clint Barton would absolutely rent an apartment to a blatantly unhinged assassin for a stack of cash from a duffle bag. The beauty of the fic is that it makes it a perfectly logical choice because Clint finds this a completely relatable situation.
[Steve and Bucky Reunion Tumblr Ficlet] by
queerly-it-is [Gen, PG, 1.560 words]
Steve’s sitting on a bench in an art gallery, looking at a landscape. They had to close the place up just so he could walk around for a while without causing a scene. He’s not happy about it, doesn’t want to take away people’s chance to view the art, but it’s late in the evening and Pepper promised him she’d worked it all out with whoever’s in charge of this collection. That, and that she’d made ‘a generous donation’ to the gallery for him.
Rec Notes: Set post-CATWS, Steve's finally stopped chasing after Bucky, only for Bucky to finally be ready to find him. It's short but poignant and very genuine. Note that I've appended "/mobile" to the URL for readability; to favorite or reblog, just delete that part and reload the page.
Five Avengers Who Earned Their Fan Cred Honestly (and one who didn't) by
melannen [Gen, PG, 5.353 words]
In 1940, Bucky took Steve and a couple of girls to the closing weeks of the New York World's Fair, and Steve sneaked off to go to the U. S. Army recruiting station instead.
In 1939, Bucky took Steve and a couple of girls to the New York World's Fair when it was still new and exciting. Steve sneaked off to go to the First World Science Fiction Convention instead.
Rec Notes: Glorious and amazingly written, with notes on various references at the end of each section/chapter. Well envisioned with an excellent scope of experiences - everyone in the fandom should definitely be reading this one.
Geriatric Road Trip, 2015 by
what_alchemy [Steve/Bucky, PG/PG-13, 4.569 words]
Bucky was the eldest of four.
Rec Notes: Bucky's three younger siblings are still alive and when Steve turns up on the news, they end up on a road trip to go visit him - only to find even more than they expected. Post-CATWS, I loved this to pieces. Told from the POV of Bucky's great nephew (his sister's grandson), the OCs are well realized characters and there's a sweet ending.
the future's so bright (I gotta wear shades) by
KiaraSayre [Steve/Bucky, PG-13, 3.482 words]
Things Bucky loves about the future.
Rec Notes: This is BEAUTIFUL, by which I mean hilarious with just a touch of poignancy to underline the sweetness. Items include, but are not limited to: The Sharper Image, microfiber blankets, the internet, tv binges, and fucking with Tony Stark.
The Deep End by
emilyenrose [Steve/Bucky/Natasha, R, 8.692 words]
In this story: exquisitely tragic and beautiful Russian romance, James Bond shenanigans, designer drugs with highly specific effects, Steve Rogers’ overactive imagination, a swimming metaphor. Also: a villain has a secret sex room, some assassins join the mile high club, and Captain America punches a shark.
Rec Notes: Natasha and Bucky are fuck buddies and Steve's trying not to imagine it (really, he's not, there's just... a lot of it, okay?). Fortunately, there's an excellent solution to this... problem... which a remarkably effective sex pollen aerosolized designer drug brings to light. The afterward has a particularly interesting Natasha POV and, on another note, Sam laughing at Steve isn't going to stop being funny for me any time soon.
The Portfolio of Pining by
soshhy [Steve/Bucky, PG-13, 24.804 words]
Bucky is a fashion photographer and pines over Steve for roughly four years. It’s all as angsty and ridiculous as it sounds.
Rec Notes: The Sebastian Stan photo shoot that launched this fic is terrible in content, but this takes it a whole different direction in the initial entry/chapter/part, which I very much appreciate. The fic that unspools from there is a good read in 10 parts. Do heed the warnings - the sexism (in the first part) and the homophobia (throughout, internalized and otherwise), are central to the storyline. My only quibble is that I would have liked the Steve/Sam to have ended a bit more amicably.
Critical Feline Mass by
Kryptaria and
rayvanfox [Steve/Bucky, R, 39.531 words]
Adjusting to civilian life is hard for any military veteran - especially for one ex-sniper with a cybernetic arm, a classic Harley, and friends who keep trying to ‘help.’ When Sam Wilson at the VA sends Sergeant Barnes to rent a room from the hottest guy in the DC area, Bucky thinks maybe civilian life is worth it after all. And then he finds out Captain Rogers is everything Bucky’s not: a real hero, a Medal of Honor recipient, and an all-around nice guy. Bucky doesn’t have a chance in hell with him.
Sam was a huge help to Steve Rogers when he left the military. In the spirit of ‘pay it forward,’ Steve decides to rent out his basement room to a vet in need. But when Sergeant Barnes shows up on his doorstep, he knows he’s in for a world of trouble. Barnes is exactly what Steve never knew he wanted, from his bedroom eyes to his wicked innuendos. And he’s Steve’s tenant.
A love story in twelve chapters, including two Harley-Davidsons, a guardian angel, multiple snipers, the only woman who can scare them into behaving themselves, spontaneous kittens, and one attacking sheep.
Rec Notes: Amazing and wonderful! I read it as a WiP, eagerly devouring each chapter update. The night it wrapped up - just a couple days ago - I was draped over my laptop, utterly exhausted from gardening and moving bales of hay and straw, but I just had to read it! It's was a fun and addictive ride that lives up to the summary. The author has mentioned there may be outtakes and a sequel (potentially on the heavier side, which there's definitely room for) which I would welcome with open arms.
the nightmare from which I am trying to awake by
Speranza [Steve/Bucky, NC-17, 15.970 words]
"You gotta bring him in, Cap." Tony Stark, distant: on speakerphone. "You can come in to me, or you can go to-well, I don't know who else is left. But you gotta bring him in."
Rec Notes: Mostly intact Bucky post-CATWS (leaning heavily towards comics canon Winter Soldier, possibly) that's relatively light on the angst, heavy on the making up for lost time, elevates Brooklyn to a main character, and generally winds up a feel good sort of fic.
[Slip of the Tongue?] by
strange_radio [Steve/Bucky, PG-13, 1.222 words]
Prompt: I wonder if Steve’s ever been in the middle of sex and got mixed up shouting “fuck” and “Bucky” and instead yelled “FUCKY.”
(Oh, fucky, I slipped and made a fic)
Rec Notes: My embarrassment squick was dying, but I was laughing hard enough for actual tears. [There are other obvious options for the title, but see "embarrassment squick".]
lonely houses off the road by
Etharei [Steve/Bucky, PG-13, 17.448 words]
Barnes is now glaring at him for some reason. It's somewhat terrifying but also, oddly, a little reassuring- because that's emotion right there, which means there's still somebody behind those eyes. Somebody who seems to think Sam is being a bit slow on the uptake. "Time parameters exceeded. Mission failed."
"Wait." Sam narrows his eyes. "Is this some kind of... report? Debriefing?"
"Mission report," confirms Barnes, looking pleased. Well, looking slightly less murderous than before.
In which various people deal with things they never signed up for, but at the end of the day no one's particularly surprised.
Rec Notes: Just plain enjoyable. Veers between sincere and sincerely funny as Bucky works his way through the Avengers, intervening at just the right moment to keep things from going exponentially complicated. Interspersed with each new interaction are great little snippets of informal one-on-one's with Sam. I loved how Bucky slowly became more sane even as he was still integrating the three parts of himself into some new whole. The characterizations of everyone else are wonderful, touching, and hilarious in turns. A great fic. :)
these eyes lest I should think of shame by
linzeestyle [Steve/Bucky, PG-13, 1.247 words]
Bucky still fights like he was forged under fire, a wraith in leather and gleaming metal. Steve is pinned under concrete, a sharp pain in his lungs and chest holding him where he fell, and the man standing on the rubble and pressing down with his boot is ex-STRIKE force but still Hydra, wearing a repulsor-tech gauntlet and armor that creeps along his spine like nerve endings.
He reaches for Steve’s throat, but the Winter Soldier is faster.
Rec Notes: Steve, injured and pinned down, watches Bucky in brutal motion.
you know you make me want to by
kototyph [Steve/Bucky, NC-17, 635 words]
Imagine your OTP lying next to each other in bed, staring at the ceiling, embarrassed and slightly alarmed by the wild, intense, filthy sex they just had.
Rec Notes: OMG yes. Takes the idea and renders it well... Then goes for round two. :D
your blue-eyed boys by
lalaietha [Steve/Bucky, R, 123.002 words]
It’s a room with a bare floor, one window. It’s got six or seven flats of water stacked in one corner, beside flats of canned stuff like soup. No sign of any way to heat them. A little line of tooth-brush-soap-baking-soda in a plastic container. Steve picks up the baking soda and can’t decide whether he should think it’s a hopeful sign. It’s what they used to use, but who knows?
Rec Notes: Upon finishing this fic, I noted in the bookmark, "I can't write the rec yet because I have no words for it". That's still the case actually, but I really can't not rec it either, so I'll give it a go. This? This is an amazing fic. It's a 123.000 words and I would have read it all in one sitting if I didn't have to keep stopping for stupid things like food and water and the chaos which is my life in summertime. The characterizations, the details, the way you're drawn through the painstaking process of Bucky recovering functionality - honestly, it blows me out of the water. The other characters that are drawn in are just as stunningly rendered (features a lot of Betty Ross in particular and left me needing her in every Avengers fic from here on out) with conversations and view points that are so very interesting, giving you a real understanding that these are intelligent, perceptive, capable, and sometimes dangerous people. Running through the core of it is Bucky struggling from near complete disassociation to near complete functionality in a slow, painful, agonizingly real process that he's going through from the inside and Steve's going through as the care taker. The bulk of it is Steve's POV, but Bucky's POV is interspersed from the very beginning, his state of mind markedly shifting over the course of his recovery as he struggles to forge a new version of himself and overcome the substantial mental and physical damage left by the past 70+ years.
Crossposted to Dreamwidth where there are
comments. Comment here or there. ♥ Blue :)