Rare Pair Fest 2017 Letter
Hello fellow rare pair fiend! Thanks for volunteering your services, and I hope you have as much fun as I plan to :)
I have below my standard likes/dislikes list, and some feelings about and prompts for each of my fandoms, but what's most important to me is that you have a good time writing it! This is a small exchange so I don't expect a huge epic. The prompts are there for inspiration and to give you an idea of the sort of thing I like in a fic, they are by no means demands. Don't stress!
I'm not very good at art prompts, so apologies in advance, but in general I like the color blue, realism, abtract backgrounds, relationship fluff, and characters being good at what they're good at.
Standard likes/dislikes list:
Instantaneous or inexplicably fast attraction/relationship/sex. Pointless fic, IMO, unless you want PWP.
Mental torture without H/C or extensive physical torture or rape without H/C. I like it as a plot point, but I care more about the characters than the acts themselvs, so focus on the former, por favor.
RPF in general.
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Here are my general takes on fandoms and ships, and my preferences, along with some prompts. The prompts are totally optional, and feel free to ignore them if you think of something that flows better, but please don't, for example, stray too far from the headcanons. If I put down two characters as besties feel free to ship them, but don't make them enemies? Fandoms and ships are not listed in any order of preference.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
James "Rhodey" Rhodes/Sam Wilson: SHIPS I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED UNTIL CIVIL WAR: James "Rhodey" Rhodes/Sam Wilson. UGH the 'trying to keep these idiot white boys from killing themselves' club is a combination of two of my favorite people in this 'verse. They're both the sort to think about things before they make decisions, and they're both intelligent enough to have legitimate considered discussions (as seen in their ONE scene together *cries*) so I'd love for them to just-
Prompt: I'd love for these two to be that one extremely solid relationship on the team. You know the one. They're so much more mature than you and your tentative flirtation, or those on-again-off-again friends, and they just sit over there calmly holding hands and offering sage advice and making investment portfolios (I have a weakness for adult relationships, by which I mean maturity, not porn).
Canon missing scene: Sam and Rhodey's first training session or first meeting or first actual talk over drinks after the first training session.
Steve and Natasha spend half their time gossiping about their lost loves, and Vision and Wanda are clearly working their way up to weird magical semi-solid banging, so Sam and Rhodey become friends almost by default.
Trying to keep their relationship quiet for (publicity? career?) reasons while also trying to see each other in between Avengeing and searching for the Winter Soldier and working for the Air Force.
Unexpectedly, they've gotten no kickback from any of their colleagues, former teammates, or superiors in the Air Force or Air Guard about being an extremely visible gay representation of the military. The Avengers, on the other hand, have had some mixed reactions.
For any of these prompts or as its own prompt, I'd also like any kind of exploration of their experiences as Black superheroes, soldiers, gay men, on the Avengers, in private life, in media, or anything else. Current events as a backdrop is great, or whatever the MCU's political spectrum looks like rn, idek.
Tony Stark/Sam Wilson: Sam Wilson is the eternal Marry of my constantly shifting game of Avengers fuck-marry-kill because he is a hot, smart, funny, sane, competent person who kows how to handle other peoples' shit on top of his own without getting pulled under. Not saying I want to see him not getting deflected by all of Tony's antisocial behaviors, but being able to see Tony's actual problems and having the patience to work wth him rather than manage him. Actually, I wouldn't mind even if this weren't shippy, I just want them to interact. Of course shippy is great too :) :) (Also they're both super sexy. Just putting that out there.)
Prompts: Sam is actually a fucked up vet too, even though he spends most of his time helping other people. Put him in fandom!Bruce's shoes: Stark Industries is a great place for secure work that helps people while he can help himself.
College AU: No one expected Steve's new best friend and Tony Stark to get along.
Bruce and Sam become besties. Tony becomes aware of this with a massive surge of jealousy.
Tony decides to haze the new guy. It doesn't go according to plan.
Dating Tony doesn't make the tension between him and Steve go away, as much as Sam wishes it would.
The making of Redwing.
Tony's never had someone willing to just fly with him.
They agreed not to let work affect their private relationship, and vice versa. That doesn't make fighting on opposite sides any less painful.
James "Bucky" Barnes/Natasha Romanov/Tony Stark: I love when people put Tony and Natasha together because they are complex characters whose relationship could go so many ways depending on their circumstances. I love Natasha and Bucky in the comics, and I really like all the Stuckony fic I've read. That being said, I realize you have a limited amount of canon interaction to work with here, so really anything you come up with for this ship will be great. I have a few prompts which you can modify as you wish, but if they don't inspire you, anything H/C, fluffy, or even just chilling out and talking or playing a board game will make me happy. Bonus points for Steve being approving if it's fluffy, but if it's not feel no need. You can accept Civil War or completely ignore it and start with 'After SHIELD fell, they brought Bucky to Avengers Tower after a week of hide-and-seek.'
The Soldier is put on trial, and Natasha and Tony are the only Avengers allowed to see/guard him. They try to make it as not-traumatic as possible. Up to you if Bucky turned himself in or not, and how Steve feels about all this.
Natasha and Tony haven't told anyone on the team that they've tentatively started a relationship, which is complicated when Bucky announces he and Natasha used to be in love- which she doesn't remember at all.
Natasha and Bucky are sickeningly sweet in love, but they are for some reason willing to put up with Tony moping around them after he and Pepper break up for the last time. Then, for some reason, they decide to be more proactive in making him happy.
Any modern AU would also make me squee all around town. I have this idea where Natasha is a professional Secret Shopper, anything with that would be amazing.
Sedoretu with Pepper?
Bruce Banner/James "Bucky" Barnes/Natasha Romanov: These personalities would either take the Tower down or propel the Avengers to new heights. It's all up to you.
Post-Ultron (ignore that bit at the end), Natasha and Bruce have worked their shit out. But the arrival of Natasha's old flame the Winter Soldier, in the form of Steve's recovering best friend, throws a wrench in the works.
Bruce's friend [Tony or Jane] keeps insisting that Hot Natasha Romanoff from the [office across the hall, Firearms Squad, soccer team, etc] is flirting with him, but she's with Barnes, right? (Right.)
Bruce and Natasha's already complicated fledgling relationship is further complicated by arrival of Bucky when he starts to remember his time training the Black Widows.
Those are all really involved, I know, so feel free to ignore them and just go with anything where Bucky is cool, Bruce is shy but also not shy sometimes, and Natasha is a fucking bad-ass spy and also legitimately likes Bruce. Additionally, anything that incorporates Civil War, or is set afterwards, would be bombastic.
Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
Bruce Banner | Hulk/Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov (EMH): Clint and Bruce/Hulk's relationship is the best thing on this show to me. And the relationship between Clint and Natasha, made up as it is of duty, betrayal, hate, romance? Super awesome. Basically anything for this ship will make me very happy.
Natasha and Bruce | Hulk get trapped in a cave-in and the team has to- very carefully- get them out. Predictably, Clint loses his shit. Underground, however, Bruce | Hulk and Natasha have a real conversation for the first time.
Natasha is surprised (not that she lets it show) when she joins the team to be the recipient of two shovel talks: a loud, angry, green one, and a quiet one that sounds more like begging her to treat Clint right. Clearly, she must take control of the situation.
Clint's new boyfriend and his old girlfriend are both willing to share, mainly because Clint annoyed them into it.
If you write Bruce | Hulk/Clint/Invented EMH Betty/Natasha sedoretu you get first dibs on my firstborn.
Bruce Banner | Hulk/Clint Barton (EMH): I love how Clint and Hulk have this great relationship, and meanwhile Clint and Bruce get along like a cat and a dog. (Actually this is the only iteration of Hawkeye I see as a cat person instead of a dog person, huh.)
Prompts: Ugh my prompts are so subpar, but basically anything you want to write for this ship will make me happy.
How did Bruce and/or Hulk feel about the team after being freed from the shock collar in S2? Did their long imprisonment affect the way they felt about Clint and/or the team?
Hulk POV is also sweet. As is any addition whatsoever of Betty Ross to this universe, as a ship or a mention.
Clint picks Bruce for Secret Santa. Not Hulk, Bruce. His quest to find an even okay present.
Hulk tries to flirt. Needless to say there are mixed results.
How the hell do they date?
Marvel (Comics)
Rumiko Fujikawa/Steve Rogers/Tony Stark: I love Rumiko and thought she was really great for Tony, while they lasted. She was a breath of fresh air and relaxation when things had been getting too dark and stressful. She reminded him to loosen up, and wasn't afraid to be stubborn and demand what she wanted. Meanwhile, both Tony and Steve at different points play the self-sacrificing, job-comes-first attitude and are all manly and straight-backed, while having their no-homo all over the place. I think that this mix of personalities- dedication and flexibility and stubbornness and passion and love for life- could really servce to make all of them more stable and happier. I'd love get-together here, or someone supporting the others or offering advice or even just backrubs during a difficult time. The difficulties of a three-way relationship as public figures would be interesting, or you can go the other way, with a universe where threesomes are the norm, and have them work to fit their weirdo jobs and what they actually want in with society's expectations of relationships.
Rumiko Fujikawa/Tony Stark: I've only seen a few panels and meta and fic for Rumiko, so my knowledge base is that she dated Tony Stark and was really good for him, fun and not letting his get away with shit and not feeling guilty for being a bit materialistic and enjoying the high life. I also know that apparently she cheated on him and left him for Ty Stone and left him? Bu tthen she died and Tony was really sad? So, let's just ignore that last bit there. Anything with Rumiko being cool and smart and enjoying life, and maybe lifting others' spirits just by being herself, and/or making Tony's life better by being in her presence.
Crossover Fandom
Eliot Spencer (Leverage)/Natasha Romanov (MCU): Super sexy, great fighters, and extremely endearing when you catch them in the right light. Are they longtime friends? Do they meet post-Avengers and immedately hit it off? Are they soulmates?
One of Eliot's flashbacks when Natasha shows up in one of the Leverage team's missions.
Will accept PWP, I mean, if that's where the muse takes you, like, I'll deal with it, *sigh* *so generous*
Sparring with their teams looking on and placing bets.
AU- Eliot is the Avenger, Natasha the Robin Hood vigilante
Eliot Spencer, Agent of SHIELD
After the Civil War, Natasha goes to ground with an old... friend. Eliot's team is split between running away and breaking out the popcorn.
James "Bucky" Barnes (MCU)/Eliot Spencer (Leverage): The story of how these two met would be super. Did Eliot encounter him like Natasha, on opposite sides of a mission? Did they collaborate for one day (and one night)? Do they meet, or meet again, after CA:TWS?
Prompts: "The worst thing I ever did in my life, I did for Damien Moreau." Eliot met the Winter Soldier before D.C.
When the Winter Soldier is brought to justice, Eliot and his team break him out.
Eliot shows up at/in Stark Tower one day, looking for the man he met one weeked in Pakistan.
Cooking together
Once, Eliot took a contract with Hydra. Once.
Toshiko Sato (Torchwood)/Tony Stark (MCU): I'm offering some prompts, but pretty much anything for this pair. They have so much in common and so much that is different, but they both will sacrifice their lives to protect people.
(Something along the lines of) Tony's soulmark says 'Did you hack my program?' Toshiko's says 'If I said I only did it to meet you, would you forgive me?'
Instead of the Ministry of Defence/terrorists, Tosh was working for SHIELD before Hydra made her betray them. Now, the Avengers require her skills.
Tony falls in love with an incredibly graceful and efficiently-written and extremely illegal international data mining program.
When Toshiko accidentally soulbonds to one of the most notorious celebrities in the world, she doesn't think there's any chance her life will turn out happy. D/S or ABO AU.
The Avengers are very surprised by Tony's date to the New Year's party.
Ziva David (NCIS)/Eliot Spencer (Leverage): Two smart, savvy, and kick-ass 'specialists' with pasts they prefer not to talk about and a sense of humor that they will normally put to the side in favor of business, unless it gets teased out. I'd be very interested in the variety of ways such people could meet! Actually, a five times fic for this pairing might be fun. I haven't seen anything past Season 8 of NCIS, so if you're going to break up the team, have it be a few years later or at least not-spoilery.
Prompts: Somebody was undercover the first time they met. The next time, they fought. The third time, well.
Eliot meets the NCIS team undercover, not expecting to see an old flame. They exchange intelligence.
Abby and Hardison met at coding camp back in the day. A visit to D.C. sets off a whole chain of events.
For Reasons, the Leverage team hooks up with the MCRT to deal with a Bad Guy. Ziva and Eliot go undercover.
Any shenanigans involving Tony, Abby, McGee, Parker, Hardison, Sophie will be great, too.
Ziva David (NCIS)/Natasha Romanov (MCU): Two smart, savvy, and kick-ass spies who know shades of gray very well. I could see this pair as anything from calculating opponents to loyal confidants. I haven't seen anything past Season 8 of NCIS, so if you're going to break up the team, have it be a few years later or at least not-spoilery.
Ziva joins the Avengers team when they require her expertise for a mission.
Ziva calls her old 'friend' to help her infiltrate a gay cruise for an NCIS case.
After Civil War, none of Natasha's usual boltholes are safe. Luckily, she has many friends.
Long before she joined SHIELD, Natasha had an ugly confrontation with Mossad. Now, Ziva does not take kindly to being assigned to work with her.
Interagency cooperation never felt so good.
Diana (Wonder Woman - 2017)/Steve Rogers (Captain America - Movies): I would love to see something set during WWII wherein Diana has been living on Earth since the last war, and Steve is as he was in the films. Does Diana train him in fighting? Is she a mysterious legend among the troops who he encounters on a battlefield? Is she a spy who feeds the Commandos information? I don't mind if this is friendly rather than shippy. Any discussion on principles and how they relate to normal life and to wartime would be nice as well, or how they've both had to come to terms with their body as a living weapon.
Peggy Carter (MCU)/Diana (Wonder Woman) (DCEU): I want to read a fic where Diana has stuck around England, perhaps remaining close to the squad she worked with in WWI, and comes to mentor Peggy or be a comprade or role model. I don't mind if this is shippy or not. Both of these women are very principled and demand respect from those around them, but I think the slights and insults dig deeper for Peggy because she has to overcome a lifetime of being told they're true; whereas Diana has been told her whole life that she is superior to men, and need only ignore them now- or perhaps she's a big name in MI5 in the war and Peggy does get more respect because of it. I would love to see Peggy taking strength from Diana's imperviousness, as well as learning from her about fighting, espionage, or love. Feel free to ship Peggy and Steve or whoever from Agent Carter if you wish, with Diana as a good friend, or let Diana teach Peggy some of the wisdom of Themyscira concerning woamnly love ;D
Steve Trevor (Wonder Woman -2017)/Peggy Carter (Captain America - Movies): Although I know it's not going to happen, the part of me that's used to beloved characters no staying dead has an alternate headcanon where Steve magically survived the explosion and lived on. I don't need for this to be shippy if the age gap is weird for you, though I'll be happy as well if it is. A mentoring relationship, or the characters as friends would also work- or maybe Diana went back to Themysrica, and Peggy reminds Steve of Diana. Or, maybe Steve and Diana are together, and Steve gets to support Peggy while she has her own difficult love story. Whatever the specifics of the relationship, I like these characters together because they are both dyanmicly intelligent spies who are willing to die for their countries- and both see no need to play by the rules on principle, while simultaneously cleaving to those traditions they value. I think they would fit very well together! Gosh, maybe a marriage of convenience or undercover? I don't usually like those tropes, but I could see these two making the most of the situation and finding themselves comfortable.
Person of Interest:
Zoe Morgan/John Reese: What I love about this ship is that, for once, the pairing is two adults who are confident in themselves, their work, and their place in the world. They are allies and friends, and have no obligation to each other other than friendship. This means they can do whatever they like, whenever they like, can spend time together or not. I would like to see something exploring how their relationship might take different turns throughout the show as they support each other and step aside for each other at different times. Any AU where they have different jobs where they are still competent professionals would also be cool. Any rating.
Harold Finch/John Reese/Root | Samantha Groves/Sameen Shaw: Canon verse is fine, or any canon fusion AU like ABO, pack mentality, sedoretu in particular is one of my favorites. If multiple-person relationships are not the norm in the verse, I'd like to see a get-together fic or something about how they make it work, what with the various trust issues and living requirements these characters all have. If poly relationships are the norm- they'd still be off-the-grid weirdoes! I doubt that even as an established group, certain members would be comfortable living together, though I do imagine Finch would get them all a communal home or two, for the times they're feeling trusting and homey- that's a prompt! Or something looking at how their relationships are strained when Shaw diappears, or John starts spending more time with therapist lady, etc. Lastly, crackish prompt- how does four-person shared custody of Bear work?
Jessica Jones:
Luke Cage/Jessia Jones: Ahhhhhhhh, I loved this ship so much honestly. I think it happened at a realy bad time for Jessica, it was a train crash but such fun. Since the Defenders won't be coming out until the day before fics come in :( feel free to write their meeting after JJ however you like. I haven't finished Luke Cage yet, but I will soon, and please feel free to ship Claire or not as you wish. This fill doesn't have to be shippy if you like Luke/Claire better, but in that case please definitely get some of the gritty emoton that would be hanging around after the events of JJ. Do a JJ AU, or a LC AU where Jess shows up to help, if that would, in fact, be helpful? Basicalyly, frame it however you like, but please let these hotties talk or punch or fuck out their mixed emotions after the events of JJ! Prompts include sparring, another case for Jess, soup kitchen, tourist trap, Apollo, and but what if they accidentally adopted a pet together?
Jessica Jones/Trish Walker: Okay so maybe this is technically sorta incest, but it's also technically sorta not! Play up whichever you wish, I like both. What I like about this ship is how clearly they both rely on each other- Trish is the only person Jessica seems to trust at all, the only one she told about Kilgrave, and the person she wants to protect the most. Trish sees nothing wrong with putting her career or life on the line for Jessica and tries her best to support her and protect herself in every way possible. I like Simpson and Luke, so please be nice to them if you write either or both out, but also feel free to keep them in- I don't see half-pickled in the bottle Jess as being particularly dedicated to monogamy anyway. Prompts include a happier trip down memory lane, publicity, kinky, actual sparring, spa day, and choosing the right dog.
Avengers Academy (Video Game):
Steve Rogers/Greer Grant: This ship hit me so hard so unexpectedly. I think the writers did a good job with Steve's character in this game, but Tigra is incredible. I love her confidence, her focus on her goals, and her sass, and I liked how Steve liked the same things. I also dug how she convinced him to do 'training' with her. I like that they had actual chemistry and I wish there was more! *waits PATIENTLY for the next storyline update* I'd love to see them going on a date, or flirting, or fighting together, or having a disagreement. Christmas presents, study sessions, clubbing (I bet Steve's a super awkward dancer besides the Charleston), Tigra's family coming to visit.
Steve Rogers/Tony Masters: During Taskmaster's story, he sort of has a hate/idolize relationship with Cap? Like 'do I want to be(at you to a pulp) you or make out with you?' is how I read it. Cap agrees to fight him so that Tasky can pick up his moves, but still beats him when they battle it out for real. Tasky is shocked, Cap is a tiny bit smug. Anyway Taskmaster is a villain going on 'redemption' in AvAc, and I think that if Cap saw something redeemable in Tasky he'd try to nurture it. With dates. Fighting dates. Which both of them like. Okay this got away from me. But, unnecessarily violent and agressive courting FTW. Taskmaster bringing Steve a bouquet of wooden stakes he carved up himself during Halloween. Steve maybe letting Tasky win a fight (or maybe not). Stupid cute, you know?
Nico Minoru/James "Bucky" Barnes: Goth depressed teenagers finding comfort in each others' moody badassery and sullen silences. Any poetry or music involved would get bonus points :)
Captain America 2099/Tony Stark: Honestly I don't remember much of her storyline, but I remember I really shipped it then? This is what I get for not finishing my letter on time... But I would like to see Roberta appreciating Tony for how awesome he can be, and some of his worse attention-seeking behavior being curtailed when he is praised for his actual hard work. I got the impression of Roberta as a principled, hard-working, and very smart character, and I think once he got past 'female Captain America' TOny's instant crush would deepen into still-dazzled respect and admiration.
Clint Barton/Kate Bishop: While I don't ship them too much in the comics universe, I feel that these two are closer in maturity in this game- to the point where I could definitely seethat horribly awkward 'we're just friends but you're hot' hormones get the best of them situation. I could see it going in so many directions from there xD *experiences glee at the awkwardness of others* Would be hilarious to see their friends watching all this go down/giving questionably helful advice and commentary.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the exchange!
~Meatball42
I have below my standard likes/dislikes list, and some feelings about and prompts for each of my fandoms, but what's most important to me is that you have a good time writing it! This is a small exchange so I don't expect a huge epic. The prompts are there for inspiration and to give you an idea of the sort of thing I like in a fic, they are by no means demands. Don't stress!
I'm not very good at art prompts, so apologies in advance, but in general I like the color blue, realism, abtract backgrounds, relationship fluff, and characters being good at what they're good at.
Standard likes/dislikes list:
- Hurt/Comfort. I like emotional more than physical, but both are good
- Misunderstandings and miscommunication
- Friends-to-lovers or frienemies-to-lovers
- Trust issues
- Snark or banter
- Ethical sluttery: While I do adore will-they-won't-they, my heart lies with happy poly people, whether this means a committed moresome or a committed relationship with one-night-standery. Make any ship I've listed a threesome, or an open relationship, or just have them flirting with other people. IF YOU WRITE SEDORETU YOU GET AN AUTOMATIC WIN NO MATTER WHAT.
- Crossovers are cool: Here is a list of my fandoms: http://meatball42.livejournal.com/8879.html
- Sex is cool: Here is a list of kinks and tropes that I like, though you are under no obligtion to include any of them is you write sex: http://meatball42.livejournal.com/78471.html
- Happy endings
- Canon AUs rock, wherein one thing changes and everything after that changes accordingly, or where the universe is intact but most other things are different. This is opposed to a total AU (which I also dig), wherein characters meet at:
- Any sort of professional workplace, from a general store to the UN- massive bonus points if the author has RL experience in said setting
- Sports AU- I will marry you for this, particularly if you actually teach me about the sport. Ping pong to Olympic diving, idc.
- Fusions- HDM is great, ABO is fine as long as it's more complicated than a straight-up romance, D/s is fantastic. IF YOU WRITE SEDORETU YOU GET AN AUTOMATIC WIN NO MATTER WHAT.
- Genderflipped canon AU or any sort of creatively built alternate universe gender/sexual dynamic system is great, especially if there's plot too, not just 'Character X is a woman see what that changes'. World-building is great, even if you're lazy and don't do too much, I'm not egging you on for a novel here ;)
- Racebending is win, end of.
- Incubus/succubus AUs, whether a complete AU or just an alternate change to canon, are a soft spot.
Instantaneous or inexplicably fast attraction/relationship/sex. Pointless fic, IMO, unless you want PWP.
Mental torture without H/C or extensive physical torture or rape without H/C. I like it as a plot point, but I care more about the characters than the acts themselvs, so focus on the former, por favor.
RPF in general.
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Here are my general takes on fandoms and ships, and my preferences, along with some prompts. The prompts are totally optional, and feel free to ignore them if you think of something that flows better, but please don't, for example, stray too far from the headcanons. If I put down two characters as besties feel free to ship them, but don't make them enemies? Fandoms and ships are not listed in any order of preference.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
James "Rhodey" Rhodes/Sam Wilson: SHIPS I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED UNTIL CIVIL WAR: James "Rhodey" Rhodes/Sam Wilson. UGH the 'trying to keep these idiot white boys from killing themselves' club is a combination of two of my favorite people in this 'verse. They're both the sort to think about things before they make decisions, and they're both intelligent enough to have legitimate considered discussions (as seen in their ONE scene together *cries*) so I'd love for them to just-
Prompt: I'd love for these two to be that one extremely solid relationship on the team. You know the one. They're so much more mature than you and your tentative flirtation, or those on-again-off-again friends, and they just sit over there calmly holding hands and offering sage advice and making investment portfolios (I have a weakness for adult relationships, by which I mean maturity, not porn).
Canon missing scene: Sam and Rhodey's first training session or first meeting or first actual talk over drinks after the first training session.
Steve and Natasha spend half their time gossiping about their lost loves, and Vision and Wanda are clearly working their way up to weird magical semi-solid banging, so Sam and Rhodey become friends almost by default.
Trying to keep their relationship quiet for (publicity? career?) reasons while also trying to see each other in between Avengeing and searching for the Winter Soldier and working for the Air Force.
Unexpectedly, they've gotten no kickback from any of their colleagues, former teammates, or superiors in the Air Force or Air Guard about being an extremely visible gay representation of the military. The Avengers, on the other hand, have had some mixed reactions.
For any of these prompts or as its own prompt, I'd also like any kind of exploration of their experiences as Black superheroes, soldiers, gay men, on the Avengers, in private life, in media, or anything else. Current events as a backdrop is great, or whatever the MCU's political spectrum looks like rn, idek.
Tony Stark/Sam Wilson: Sam Wilson is the eternal Marry of my constantly shifting game of Avengers fuck-marry-kill because he is a hot, smart, funny, sane, competent person who kows how to handle other peoples' shit on top of his own without getting pulled under. Not saying I want to see him not getting deflected by all of Tony's antisocial behaviors, but being able to see Tony's actual problems and having the patience to work wth him rather than manage him. Actually, I wouldn't mind even if this weren't shippy, I just want them to interact. Of course shippy is great too :) :) (Also they're both super sexy. Just putting that out there.)
Prompts: Sam is actually a fucked up vet too, even though he spends most of his time helping other people. Put him in fandom!Bruce's shoes: Stark Industries is a great place for secure work that helps people while he can help himself.
College AU: No one expected Steve's new best friend and Tony Stark to get along.
Bruce and Sam become besties. Tony becomes aware of this with a massive surge of jealousy.
Tony decides to haze the new guy. It doesn't go according to plan.
Dating Tony doesn't make the tension between him and Steve go away, as much as Sam wishes it would.
The making of Redwing.
Tony's never had someone willing to just fly with him.
They agreed not to let work affect their private relationship, and vice versa. That doesn't make fighting on opposite sides any less painful.
James "Bucky" Barnes/Natasha Romanov/Tony Stark: I love when people put Tony and Natasha together because they are complex characters whose relationship could go so many ways depending on their circumstances. I love Natasha and Bucky in the comics, and I really like all the Stuckony fic I've read. That being said, I realize you have a limited amount of canon interaction to work with here, so really anything you come up with for this ship will be great. I have a few prompts which you can modify as you wish, but if they don't inspire you, anything H/C, fluffy, or even just chilling out and talking or playing a board game will make me happy. Bonus points for Steve being approving if it's fluffy, but if it's not feel no need. You can accept Civil War or completely ignore it and start with 'After SHIELD fell, they brought Bucky to Avengers Tower after a week of hide-and-seek.'
The Soldier is put on trial, and Natasha and Tony are the only Avengers allowed to see/guard him. They try to make it as not-traumatic as possible. Up to you if Bucky turned himself in or not, and how Steve feels about all this.
Natasha and Tony haven't told anyone on the team that they've tentatively started a relationship, which is complicated when Bucky announces he and Natasha used to be in love- which she doesn't remember at all.
Natasha and Bucky are sickeningly sweet in love, but they are for some reason willing to put up with Tony moping around them after he and Pepper break up for the last time. Then, for some reason, they decide to be more proactive in making him happy.
Any modern AU would also make me squee all around town. I have this idea where Natasha is a professional Secret Shopper, anything with that would be amazing.
Sedoretu with Pepper?
Bruce Banner/James "Bucky" Barnes/Natasha Romanov: These personalities would either take the Tower down or propel the Avengers to new heights. It's all up to you.
Post-Ultron (ignore that bit at the end), Natasha and Bruce have worked their shit out. But the arrival of Natasha's old flame the Winter Soldier, in the form of Steve's recovering best friend, throws a wrench in the works.
Bruce's friend [Tony or Jane] keeps insisting that Hot Natasha Romanoff from the [office across the hall, Firearms Squad, soccer team, etc] is flirting with him, but she's with Barnes, right? (Right.)
Bruce and Natasha's already complicated fledgling relationship is further complicated by arrival of Bucky when he starts to remember his time training the Black Widows.
Those are all really involved, I know, so feel free to ignore them and just go with anything where Bucky is cool, Bruce is shy but also not shy sometimes, and Natasha is a fucking bad-ass spy and also legitimately likes Bruce. Additionally, anything that incorporates Civil War, or is set afterwards, would be bombastic.
Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
Bruce Banner | Hulk/Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov (EMH): Clint and Bruce/Hulk's relationship is the best thing on this show to me. And the relationship between Clint and Natasha, made up as it is of duty, betrayal, hate, romance? Super awesome. Basically anything for this ship will make me very happy.
Natasha and Bruce | Hulk get trapped in a cave-in and the team has to- very carefully- get them out. Predictably, Clint loses his shit. Underground, however, Bruce | Hulk and Natasha have a real conversation for the first time.
Natasha is surprised (not that she lets it show) when she joins the team to be the recipient of two shovel talks: a loud, angry, green one, and a quiet one that sounds more like begging her to treat Clint right. Clearly, she must take control of the situation.
Clint's new boyfriend and his old girlfriend are both willing to share, mainly because Clint annoyed them into it.
If you write Bruce | Hulk/Clint/Invented EMH Betty/Natasha sedoretu you get first dibs on my firstborn.
Bruce Banner | Hulk/Clint Barton (EMH): I love how Clint and Hulk have this great relationship, and meanwhile Clint and Bruce get along like a cat and a dog. (Actually this is the only iteration of Hawkeye I see as a cat person instead of a dog person, huh.)
Prompts: Ugh my prompts are so subpar, but basically anything you want to write for this ship will make me happy.
How did Bruce and/or Hulk feel about the team after being freed from the shock collar in S2? Did their long imprisonment affect the way they felt about Clint and/or the team?
Hulk POV is also sweet. As is any addition whatsoever of Betty Ross to this universe, as a ship or a mention.
Clint picks Bruce for Secret Santa. Not Hulk, Bruce. His quest to find an even okay present.
Hulk tries to flirt. Needless to say there are mixed results.
How the hell do they date?
Marvel (Comics)
Rumiko Fujikawa/Steve Rogers/Tony Stark: I love Rumiko and thought she was really great for Tony, while they lasted. She was a breath of fresh air and relaxation when things had been getting too dark and stressful. She reminded him to loosen up, and wasn't afraid to be stubborn and demand what she wanted. Meanwhile, both Tony and Steve at different points play the self-sacrificing, job-comes-first attitude and are all manly and straight-backed, while having their no-homo all over the place. I think that this mix of personalities- dedication and flexibility and stubbornness and passion and love for life- could really servce to make all of them more stable and happier. I'd love get-together here, or someone supporting the others or offering advice or even just backrubs during a difficult time. The difficulties of a three-way relationship as public figures would be interesting, or you can go the other way, with a universe where threesomes are the norm, and have them work to fit their weirdo jobs and what they actually want in with society's expectations of relationships.
Rumiko Fujikawa/Tony Stark: I've only seen a few panels and meta and fic for Rumiko, so my knowledge base is that she dated Tony Stark and was really good for him, fun and not letting his get away with shit and not feeling guilty for being a bit materialistic and enjoying the high life. I also know that apparently she cheated on him and left him for Ty Stone and left him? Bu tthen she died and Tony was really sad? So, let's just ignore that last bit there. Anything with Rumiko being cool and smart and enjoying life, and maybe lifting others' spirits just by being herself, and/or making Tony's life better by being in her presence.
Crossover Fandom
Eliot Spencer (Leverage)/Natasha Romanov (MCU): Super sexy, great fighters, and extremely endearing when you catch them in the right light. Are they longtime friends? Do they meet post-Avengers and immedately hit it off? Are they soulmates?
One of Eliot's flashbacks when Natasha shows up in one of the Leverage team's missions.
Will accept PWP, I mean, if that's where the muse takes you, like, I'll deal with it, *sigh* *so generous*
Sparring with their teams looking on and placing bets.
AU- Eliot is the Avenger, Natasha the Robin Hood vigilante
Eliot Spencer, Agent of SHIELD
After the Civil War, Natasha goes to ground with an old... friend. Eliot's team is split between running away and breaking out the popcorn.
James "Bucky" Barnes (MCU)/Eliot Spencer (Leverage): The story of how these two met would be super. Did Eliot encounter him like Natasha, on opposite sides of a mission? Did they collaborate for one day (and one night)? Do they meet, or meet again, after CA:TWS?
Prompts: "The worst thing I ever did in my life, I did for Damien Moreau." Eliot met the Winter Soldier before D.C.
When the Winter Soldier is brought to justice, Eliot and his team break him out.
Eliot shows up at/in Stark Tower one day, looking for the man he met one weeked in Pakistan.
Cooking together
Once, Eliot took a contract with Hydra. Once.
Toshiko Sato (Torchwood)/Tony Stark (MCU): I'm offering some prompts, but pretty much anything for this pair. They have so much in common and so much that is different, but they both will sacrifice their lives to protect people.
(Something along the lines of) Tony's soulmark says 'Did you hack my program?' Toshiko's says 'If I said I only did it to meet you, would you forgive me?'
Instead of the Ministry of Defence/terrorists, Tosh was working for SHIELD before Hydra made her betray them. Now, the Avengers require her skills.
Tony falls in love with an incredibly graceful and efficiently-written and extremely illegal international data mining program.
When Toshiko accidentally soulbonds to one of the most notorious celebrities in the world, she doesn't think there's any chance her life will turn out happy. D/S or ABO AU.
The Avengers are very surprised by Tony's date to the New Year's party.
Ziva David (NCIS)/Eliot Spencer (Leverage): Two smart, savvy, and kick-ass 'specialists' with pasts they prefer not to talk about and a sense of humor that they will normally put to the side in favor of business, unless it gets teased out. I'd be very interested in the variety of ways such people could meet! Actually, a five times fic for this pairing might be fun. I haven't seen anything past Season 8 of NCIS, so if you're going to break up the team, have it be a few years later or at least not-spoilery.
Prompts: Somebody was undercover the first time they met. The next time, they fought. The third time, well.
Eliot meets the NCIS team undercover, not expecting to see an old flame. They exchange intelligence.
Abby and Hardison met at coding camp back in the day. A visit to D.C. sets off a whole chain of events.
For Reasons, the Leverage team hooks up with the MCRT to deal with a Bad Guy. Ziva and Eliot go undercover.
Any shenanigans involving Tony, Abby, McGee, Parker, Hardison, Sophie will be great, too.
Ziva David (NCIS)/Natasha Romanov (MCU): Two smart, savvy, and kick-ass spies who know shades of gray very well. I could see this pair as anything from calculating opponents to loyal confidants. I haven't seen anything past Season 8 of NCIS, so if you're going to break up the team, have it be a few years later or at least not-spoilery.
Ziva joins the Avengers team when they require her expertise for a mission.
Ziva calls her old 'friend' to help her infiltrate a gay cruise for an NCIS case.
After Civil War, none of Natasha's usual boltholes are safe. Luckily, she has many friends.
Long before she joined SHIELD, Natasha had an ugly confrontation with Mossad. Now, Ziva does not take kindly to being assigned to work with her.
Interagency cooperation never felt so good.
Diana (Wonder Woman - 2017)/Steve Rogers (Captain America - Movies): I would love to see something set during WWII wherein Diana has been living on Earth since the last war, and Steve is as he was in the films. Does Diana train him in fighting? Is she a mysterious legend among the troops who he encounters on a battlefield? Is she a spy who feeds the Commandos information? I don't mind if this is friendly rather than shippy. Any discussion on principles and how they relate to normal life and to wartime would be nice as well, or how they've both had to come to terms with their body as a living weapon.
Peggy Carter (MCU)/Diana (Wonder Woman) (DCEU): I want to read a fic where Diana has stuck around England, perhaps remaining close to the squad she worked with in WWI, and comes to mentor Peggy or be a comprade or role model. I don't mind if this is shippy or not. Both of these women are very principled and demand respect from those around them, but I think the slights and insults dig deeper for Peggy because she has to overcome a lifetime of being told they're true; whereas Diana has been told her whole life that she is superior to men, and need only ignore them now- or perhaps she's a big name in MI5 in the war and Peggy does get more respect because of it. I would love to see Peggy taking strength from Diana's imperviousness, as well as learning from her about fighting, espionage, or love. Feel free to ship Peggy and Steve or whoever from Agent Carter if you wish, with Diana as a good friend, or let Diana teach Peggy some of the wisdom of Themyscira concerning woamnly love ;D
Steve Trevor (Wonder Woman -2017)/Peggy Carter (Captain America - Movies): Although I know it's not going to happen, the part of me that's used to beloved characters no staying dead has an alternate headcanon where Steve magically survived the explosion and lived on. I don't need for this to be shippy if the age gap is weird for you, though I'll be happy as well if it is. A mentoring relationship, or the characters as friends would also work- or maybe Diana went back to Themysrica, and Peggy reminds Steve of Diana. Or, maybe Steve and Diana are together, and Steve gets to support Peggy while she has her own difficult love story. Whatever the specifics of the relationship, I like these characters together because they are both dyanmicly intelligent spies who are willing to die for their countries- and both see no need to play by the rules on principle, while simultaneously cleaving to those traditions they value. I think they would fit very well together! Gosh, maybe a marriage of convenience or undercover? I don't usually like those tropes, but I could see these two making the most of the situation and finding themselves comfortable.
Person of Interest:
Zoe Morgan/John Reese: What I love about this ship is that, for once, the pairing is two adults who are confident in themselves, their work, and their place in the world. They are allies and friends, and have no obligation to each other other than friendship. This means they can do whatever they like, whenever they like, can spend time together or not. I would like to see something exploring how their relationship might take different turns throughout the show as they support each other and step aside for each other at different times. Any AU where they have different jobs where they are still competent professionals would also be cool. Any rating.
Harold Finch/John Reese/Root | Samantha Groves/Sameen Shaw: Canon verse is fine, or any canon fusion AU like ABO, pack mentality, sedoretu in particular is one of my favorites. If multiple-person relationships are not the norm in the verse, I'd like to see a get-together fic or something about how they make it work, what with the various trust issues and living requirements these characters all have. If poly relationships are the norm- they'd still be off-the-grid weirdoes! I doubt that even as an established group, certain members would be comfortable living together, though I do imagine Finch would get them all a communal home or two, for the times they're feeling trusting and homey- that's a prompt! Or something looking at how their relationships are strained when Shaw diappears, or John starts spending more time with therapist lady, etc. Lastly, crackish prompt- how does four-person shared custody of Bear work?
Jessica Jones:
Luke Cage/Jessia Jones: Ahhhhhhhh, I loved this ship so much honestly. I think it happened at a realy bad time for Jessica, it was a train crash but such fun. Since the Defenders won't be coming out until the day before fics come in :( feel free to write their meeting after JJ however you like. I haven't finished Luke Cage yet, but I will soon, and please feel free to ship Claire or not as you wish. This fill doesn't have to be shippy if you like Luke/Claire better, but in that case please definitely get some of the gritty emoton that would be hanging around after the events of JJ. Do a JJ AU, or a LC AU where Jess shows up to help, if that would, in fact, be helpful? Basicalyly, frame it however you like, but please let these hotties talk or punch or fuck out their mixed emotions after the events of JJ! Prompts include sparring, another case for Jess, soup kitchen, tourist trap, Apollo, and but what if they accidentally adopted a pet together?
Jessica Jones/Trish Walker: Okay so maybe this is technically sorta incest, but it's also technically sorta not! Play up whichever you wish, I like both. What I like about this ship is how clearly they both rely on each other- Trish is the only person Jessica seems to trust at all, the only one she told about Kilgrave, and the person she wants to protect the most. Trish sees nothing wrong with putting her career or life on the line for Jessica and tries her best to support her and protect herself in every way possible. I like Simpson and Luke, so please be nice to them if you write either or both out, but also feel free to keep them in- I don't see half-pickled in the bottle Jess as being particularly dedicated to monogamy anyway. Prompts include a happier trip down memory lane, publicity, kinky, actual sparring, spa day, and choosing the right dog.
Avengers Academy (Video Game):
Steve Rogers/Greer Grant: This ship hit me so hard so unexpectedly. I think the writers did a good job with Steve's character in this game, but Tigra is incredible. I love her confidence, her focus on her goals, and her sass, and I liked how Steve liked the same things. I also dug how she convinced him to do 'training' with her. I like that they had actual chemistry and I wish there was more! *waits PATIENTLY for the next storyline update* I'd love to see them going on a date, or flirting, or fighting together, or having a disagreement. Christmas presents, study sessions, clubbing (I bet Steve's a super awkward dancer besides the Charleston), Tigra's family coming to visit.
Steve Rogers/Tony Masters: During Taskmaster's story, he sort of has a hate/idolize relationship with Cap? Like 'do I want to be(at you to a pulp) you or make out with you?' is how I read it. Cap agrees to fight him so that Tasky can pick up his moves, but still beats him when they battle it out for real. Tasky is shocked, Cap is a tiny bit smug. Anyway Taskmaster is a villain going on 'redemption' in AvAc, and I think that if Cap saw something redeemable in Tasky he'd try to nurture it. With dates. Fighting dates. Which both of them like. Okay this got away from me. But, unnecessarily violent and agressive courting FTW. Taskmaster bringing Steve a bouquet of wooden stakes he carved up himself during Halloween. Steve maybe letting Tasky win a fight (or maybe not). Stupid cute, you know?
Nico Minoru/James "Bucky" Barnes: Goth depressed teenagers finding comfort in each others' moody badassery and sullen silences. Any poetry or music involved would get bonus points :)
Captain America 2099/Tony Stark: Honestly I don't remember much of her storyline, but I remember I really shipped it then? This is what I get for not finishing my letter on time... But I would like to see Roberta appreciating Tony for how awesome he can be, and some of his worse attention-seeking behavior being curtailed when he is praised for his actual hard work. I got the impression of Roberta as a principled, hard-working, and very smart character, and I think once he got past 'female Captain America' TOny's instant crush would deepen into still-dazzled respect and admiration.
Clint Barton/Kate Bishop: While I don't ship them too much in the comics universe, I feel that these two are closer in maturity in this game- to the point where I could definitely seethat horribly awkward 'we're just friends but you're hot' hormones get the best of them situation. I could see it going in so many directions from there xD *experiences glee at the awkwardness of others* Would be hilarious to see their friends watching all this go down/giving questionably helful advice and commentary.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the exchange!
~Meatball42