Welcome to my 2021 favourites. Just a tiny disclaimer: I read over 500 fics in just the last 6 months of 2021 so if your fic isn't included on this list that doesn't mean I didn't like it, choosing just 10 fics was SO hard! But here are 10 of the fics that stayed with me the most and I truly hope everyone has a happy 2022 💕
1. you're not my homeland anymore by emilywithoutY @between-a-ship-and-a-hard-place [Stucky, 65k words, Teen]
"Here's the truth: when you were leaving you kissed me in the kitchen, angry, red-faced, crying. I pushed you away when I wanted to swallow you whole, burn you into my skin, press you into the hollows of my bones, until your cells became a part of me.
I said I wouldn't ask you for anything more, but I'm a greedy bastard. So I'll ask you for this: not forgiveness, but a goodbye, if you can give it to me."
The ghost of Bucky Barnes turns to keep walking down the next floor of stairs as Steve finally gets his mouth working.
Or, it's the age old tale: Two boys grow up together in Brooklyn, inseparable until they are torn apart by death and war. This, our story, starts in 1990. But the truth for some people is that, no matter the universe or timeline, fate has a way of reuniting them with the ghosts of their past.
2. Rites of the Wild by dreamsinthewitchouse @dreamsinthewitchouse [Stucky, 2,1k words, Mature]
When they move, it’s into Steve’s direction, and two things become clear at once.
One, the person has only one arm. Two, they’re covered in blood.
Steve is a nature photographer in an unfamiliar forest. Bucky is a maenad who saves Steve from their bloodthirsty siblings.
3. It's Been A Long Season Through by thiccbuckybarnes @thiccbuckybarnesfic [Stucky, 49,3k words, Explicit]
Bucky Barnes is in desperate need of a change in scenery, which is why he makes the foolhardy decision to quit his job, leave his asshole of a fiance, pack up his life, and move to his grandfather’s old farm all within a single day.
He expects confusion, hardship, and maybe even failure. But love? He wasn’t expecting that.
Or, a Stucky Stardew Valley AU that nobody but me wanted and that’s ok.
4. Marry Me by Somanywords @somanywords [Stucky, 14,4k words, Teen]
“You askin’ me to marry you, Barnes?”
Bucky tipped his head back, a cheeky smile on his face. “Yeah. You gonna answer me or what?”
A story of two best friends, way too many marriage proposals, and a slight cat obsession.
5. What Once Was Mine (A New and Improved Guide to Project Rebirth by Steven G. Rogers) by dontcallmebree @iamthe-wo-manwhocan with art by kocuria-visuals (kocuria) @kocuria [Stucky, 26,8k words, Mature]
They tell him he was a soldier, a leader—a hero.
He doesn’t know if he believes them.
Fresh out of the ice with no recollection of his past, Steve Rogers strikes out on his own and tries to cobble together a life worthy of the clean slate he’s been given.
6. be still my beating heart by millesable @marvelousescapism [Stucky, 19,3k words, Mature]
“I know you're out there, Hunter... You're late. I was beginning to worry you were gonna make me go hungry this month.”
Steve felt giddy – as giddy as he always did ever since their dance began – as the Hunter stepped out from the alleyway. He was a towering Hercules of a man. From his belt, he unsheathed a long, sharp knife and pointed it right at Steve.
“Tonight you die, Vampire.”
7. Wishing and Praying by jaxington [Stucky, 19,2k words, Teen]
“It’s a mistake,” Steve whispers. Neither of them have moved a muscle, too busy gaping down at the living, breathing, actually-here-somehow baby on their doorstep, blinking against the morning sunlight.
“There are no mistakes with babies,” Bucky whispers back. “That’s the whole goddamn point.”
8. While Unearthing by eyres with art by PottersPink @potterspink [Stucky, 7,2k words, Teen]
In a different universe, an older Bucky Barnes intercepts a message that SHIELD (now headed by Alexander Pierce) has located the body of Steve Rogers under the ice in Greenland.
Bucky may be retired but he knows one thing: he can't let them stick Steve's body in a lab.
No matter what it takes, he'll bring Steve home.
9. En Pointe by Oh_i_swear @oh-i-swear-writes [Stucky, 8,2k words, Teen]
Bucky Barnes is an ex-professional ballet dancer now running his own dance school. He's kind, compassionate and clearly cares about the kids in his class and their dreams and goals - most of which involve getting to the stage where they can dance en pointe.
Steve Rogers is a perfectionist and owns En Pointe, the dance wear store nearest to Bucky's dance studio. It's almost light a right of passage when the kids in Bucky's class get to visit the store, not only because they finally get their pointe shoes, but because they get to see the infamous squabbling between Mr Barnes and Mr Rogers who clearly rub each other up the wrong way.... but is everything as it seems?
10. Chef's Kiss by Kalee60 @kalee60 [Stucky, 8,7k words, Teen]
Bucky Barnes was expecting a quiet Christmas. With a cancelled flight home and time off from his demanding job, his most exciting immediate plans involved an eggnog binge with his best friend Darcy.
But when Captain America stumbles into the Stark kitchens, bruised, battered and seemingly in need of company, what can Bucky do but help turn his Christmas around. And in the process, maybe find a little Christmas miracle for himself…
BONUS: I Can't Do Everything (But I'll Do Anything For You) by musette22 @musette22 [Stucky, 24,5k words, Explicit]
Steve Rogers cares about a lot of things, but dating isn’t one of them – much to his fellow Avengers’ bemusement. It’s just never been very high on his list of priorities, falling somewhere behind his work, his friends, his hobbies, and that excellent pepperoni pizza from Vinnie’s on Flatbush Ave.
That is until one night, Natasha drags Steve out to a charity music concert by some hotshot singer that Steve has never actually heard of (which would surprise exactly no one, seeing as Steve is still partial to his records and his radio plays). And as soon as Steve lays eyes on Grammy-award winning musician and international heartthrob James Barnes for the very first time, suddenly he wonders if maybe dating wouldn’t be so bad after all. Dating James Barnes, specifically, that is. The question is just: how does one go about that? Especially one like Steve, who’s never wooed anybody in his century-long life, let alone a man. Let alone a man with long, dark hair, tattoos all over his arms, and a fanbase that rivals Steve’s own.
It’s not like he can just go up to him and say something like, "You and me babe, how about it?"
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