An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Author: @zenaidamacrouras1 Date: February 18, 2023 Chapters: 30/30, 123,456 words Fandom: Captain America (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers Characters: Sam Wilson (Marvel), Natasha Romanov (Marvel), Clint Barton, Kate Bishop, Rebecca Barnes Proctor, Darlene Wilson, Carol Danvers, Maria Rambeau Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alternate Universe - Activism, Activist Steve Rogers, Pre-Serum Steve Rogers, Protective Bucky Barnes, Appalachian Bucky Barnes, Direct Action, Meet-Cute, Meet-cute while locked to the same piece of construction equipment, Fluff and Smut, Just a little angst, Happy Ending, Big Brother Bucky Barnes, Appalachia, Slow Burn, Probably too much description of how to lock down to a piece of construction equipment, But Also Pining, Pining, Eventual Smut, Virgin Steve Rogers, Not that it's any of your business he's kind of shy about it ok?, He's good at a lot of things but romance isn't one of them, Poor Bucky., Kid Fic, But the kids don't show up till chapter 11, But then there are definitely kids., Southern Gothic, I meant to write a meet cute but this is actually a sprawling southern gothic, Sorry Not Sorry, Once things get smutty they get smut-tay if you know what I'm saying so just head up, Idiots in Love, schmoopy love stories, swimming in a sea of fondue level of cheese, bring your bread, the bread is to dip in the fondue, it's a romance novel Series: Part 1 of Backhoe Expansion Pack Summary:
Steve Rogers is a seasoned activist and not at all afraid to get arrested while protesting the building of a pipeline. HOWEVER he is TERRIFIED when he realizes he’ll be chained to the same backhoe as Bucky “very handsome southern boy who also plays guitar and struts like a panther in his very tight, worn thin blue jeans” Barnes.
Our brave, tiny Steve will find out once and for all: Can you catch on fire from blushing over your crush?
May Contain: Extended descriptions of how to get arrested while chained to a backhoe, copious amounts of sisters, Appalachian accents, cheerful silliness interspersed with tragic background realness. Pining with a happy ending. Chicken related controversy.
Tragic background realness mainly consists of parents passing away, because who doesn’t love adult orphans. Discussion of funerals. Very brief homophobic interaction in chapter 18 (marked in the chapter intro notes). There is no violence, but there are a few moments where you might think there might be violence. Overall this is a romance not a gritty, hard hitting documentary.
If I missed any potential triggers I always appreciate being told as I know what it's like to have my day/etc ruined by something in a fic.
Bookmarker's Notes:
My favorite recent no-powers AU, with adorable small Steve artist and Bucky country boy nurturing big brother. It starts with UST but then swerves into love (and hot sex) and a fantastic family story. I really like the OC sisters, they have such great voices and stories, in their particular Appalachian setting.