@stephrc79 said: No one has put the arm on PageBoy hat-wearing Seb yet! And that needs to happen because reasons! So here we are, PageBoy hat-wearing Bucky for everyone~ click for better quality
You already know
the story of a couple of Brooklyn boys who went to war and
never quite made it home again, but part of the magic that makes Steve and Bucky so
compelling is that, against all odds and after decades of more hell than anyone should go
through, they manage to find each other. That same magic is what makes me a sucker
for a good alternate universe story: the idea that these two guys are so
completely meant to be together that in any world, under any circumstances, they
would always be a pair. (That, and the fact that sometimes you just need to
take a break from the complete and utter
anguish that is their canon story line and take comfort in them
finding love in a bakery instead.)
(manip by the amazing and adorable @hikku – original post here)
Some AUs are funny, some are fluffy, some are
smutty, but the ones on this list are some of my favorites across the board –
they’re worth their weight in gold. (Yes, the periodic table pun was necessary.) In no particular order:
To Be Vulnerable Is Needed Most of Allby perfect_plan – M, 118363 words – Comic artist Steve
helps new neighbor Bucky through his PTSD. Bonus appearances by a lot of their pals, but the true joy is in watching
two complete dorks with low self-esteem fall madly for each other.
Cake Walk by @rocksaltandroll and @shortsighted-owl – E, 65117 words – Baker skinny!Steve works with wedding planner Bucky on the arrangements for Nat and Sam’s wedding. A slow build to an adorable (yet sexy) romance.
Sex, Drugs & Needles by @ohcaptainmycaptain1918 – E,
38645 words – Bucky the tattoo artist falls hard for his customer, skinny little
Steve. Well-characterized appearances by a lot of Marvel friends. And hot. So, so, so, hot.
Casual Encounters by @morethanslightly – E, 66593 words – Artist Steve and disabled vet Bucky decide that fuckbuddies would be a good step up in their relationship. Which it might be, if either one of
them was really in it just to experiment with sex. Cue all the pining.
The President’s Son by @rocksaltandroll – E, 60016 words – Bucky’s
a traumatized former POW whose mom happens to be the President of the United
States. Steve isn’t supposed to fall for someone he’s been assigned to protect,
but the guy is so much more than what the media have made him out to be. Angst
and smut in all the right places.
Hotel Serviceby Odsbodkins – E, 5477 words – Businessman
Steve falls for the desk clerk at his usual NYC hotel; college student Bucky finds flirting with his regular customer to be an excellent addition to his work days.
Love, Sex, and Paperwork by mtothedestiel – M, 2392 words (plus
two sequels) – Parks and Rec crossover; I hadn’t watched the show when I
first read it and still loved the fic. Steve is the director, Bucky is his
executive assistant, and all of the other Avengers are various Parks & Rec
employees either horrified or amused by the sex happening in their department.
Hilarious and cute.
Slide to Answer by @relenafanel – T, 6326 words – Steve
calls Sam for advice in the middle of a date, but dials the wrong number and gets a stranger. Twice. Bucky is more than happy to help out this disaster of a man who keeps calling
him, and a friendship is formed. Steve wants a relationship, Bucky’s an expert
at one-night-stands, but they might just change their ways for the right
person.
Timeline by perfect_plan – M, 34621 words, WIP – Steve realizes around sixth grade that he is 1) gay, and 2) madly in love with his (presumed) straight best friend. Four of six chapters complete and I just can’t with all the feels.
Signs and Sounds series by @leandraholmes and @saturnmeetsmercury – M, 26416 words total – Bucky is working as a sign-language interpreter when he gets a customer who wants him to translate phone sex. It’s as awkward as
things can get (which his coworker Natasha finds hilarious). But the
customer is kinda cute, and he seems to keep calling back and requesting
Bucky…
Just Say You Do by @biblionerd07 – T, 173149 words – Bucky
needs a spouse in order to get financial aid for college – and also someone to help him
get through his PTSD-filled nights. His mom decides the perfect solution is to
hire one for him, of course. Steve never realized how badly he needed family
until he becomes part of Bucky’s and has to deal with the idea of losing them – and his husband – once the sham marriage ends. Slow-burning fluff with a bit of angst.
The Run and Go by @banedwood – E, 14960 words – Steve and Bucky go to the same college, live in the same building, and have some of the same friends – but somehow they don’t meet until Bucky is standing in the laundry room in just his boxer shorts. Fluff – so much fluff – results.
Alternate universes may or may not contain prosthetic arms, small angry chihuahua of righteousness Steve, or promises of “to the end of the line”. However, they all feature one punk and one jerk who can’t be kept apart no matter what situation you put them in. Use care when reading AUs as a desperate desire for the canon universe to have an equally happy ending may ensue. As always when reading fanfic, be prepared with tissues for both happy and sad tears, and have your favorite Stucky shipper on standby for support.
There are some more stunning and wonderful AUs in each of my previous Massive Fic Rec Project posts, but because there are so many great fics out there, I’m trying not to rec anything more than once. Check out the links below.
ealdor 