I’ve been reading a lot of stories I want to rec recently, so I thought I’d try a bumper fic rec post of my most recent bookmarked fics. Read on for Animal Transformation, Medieval Fantasy, Canon Divergence, Shrunkyclunks and Shrinkyclinks and Florida!
< 10,000 words
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
The description in this is just so delicate, and the emotional punch it packs is considerable. This is the Bucky waking up out of cryo in Wakanda tearful reunion that you’ve been longing for.
20,000 - 50,000 words
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
This was a reread. I read an animal transformation fic (and then several more) and it made me want to reread this one, where Winter Soldier! Asset! Bucky is transformed into a dog and (unsurprisingly) gets adopted by a lonely Steve. They are what each other needs, and this is a beautiful, touching ultimately feel good story.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
First things first, leveragehunters’ On a Pale Horse is one of my favourite Stucky fics, so I was predisposed to a) like a Bucky is a horse transformation fic and b) compare any horse transformation fics to that one. This story really stands up. It’s different enough that it doesn’t feel rehashed, and the essential things I love about On a Pale Horse (winning trust, equine devotion, essential goodness of the ‘rider’ character, stubborn not-a-horse antics) are all here.
Second things second, I was a horsey girl growing up. I love horses. I loved that so much of this story was about building trust between Steve and horse!Bucky, and I enjoyed all the talk about halters and lunging.
This story has so much heart and humour. There’s the usual gang (Sam is delightful here), and such a kind, stubborn, good Steve. I really adored it.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
*Examines fingernails* so, you know that animal transformation fic reading binge I mentioned earlier? This is the last one. In fact, I went to leveragehunters’ AO3 page looking for On a Pale Horse (have I said how much I love that fic enough yet?) after reading The Winter Stallion, and found this story instead. It’s a Ladyhawke AU. I had to google what Ladyhawke was, and didn’t bother until after I’d read the fic. You don’t need to know anything about the film to enjoy this story. It is set in a medieval fantasy world and features my favourite flavour of pre-serum Steve (stubborn, slightly bitter, quick and with so much innate goodness, honour and self-sacrificing idiocy). He falls in with the unlikely, bickering and mysteriously-cursed duo of Bucky (grumpy, oddly vulnerable, ultimately awesome) and Sam, who is kind, witty and Sam (is there ever a bad Sam?). Also, importantly, there is a horse and he is the best horse (just ask Bucky).
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
We are (briefly) back to the real world after my animal transformation fic spree. And oh my goodness, if you read nothing else on this list, read this fic. It’s a Winter Soldier recovery fic except that it isn’t, it’s a Steve recovery fic. Steve has all his powers in this story, but he is so human. He is brave and loyal and snarky, but he is also so, so vulnerable, and this story shows him feeling lost and little and hurt in a way that not many stories do. Bucky is equally awesome - he’s so clearly the Bucky of the 1930’s whose main objective was keeping Steve safe. This story also has one of my favourite versions of Tony as a side character.
> 50,000 words
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Alright, we have skipped happily back into medieval fantasy land for this fic. It features another of my favourite kinds of AU Steves. He’s strong and clever and has proven himself in battle, and has the confidence that goes with that, but he still remembers being the scared young man defending his village with tools not weapons. He’s honorable and down to earth, strategic but also so open to love. This fic has some of my favourite tropes (identity porn! Forbidden love! So much pining!) and is such a fun romp through this ‘swords and honour’ landscape.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
And now a different kind of swords and honour. I’m very late to the party in reading this, but if you haven’t come across this Shrunkyclunks story, then do yourself a favour and settle in to read. This fic has so much humour, warmth and passion with a side of politics (but in a good way!) Bucky is a civil rights attorney, and the fact that the story is tagged for period typical homophobia and transphobia and is set in the modern day tells you the rest.
But what this story does really well is make you passionate and pissed off (alongside Bucky and Steve) about civil rights, whilst primarily being a romance story that is fun and positive. There are so many deft character touches as well that round out the supporting cast into lovable, memorable individuals (Yelena!!).
WIPs
I’m trying to be better about reading WIPs. In that spirit, here are two that I’ve started and which I’m really enjoying.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Currently 10/27 chapters posted (74,000 words)
In which MCU-verse Bucky and Steve retire and move to Florida. Steve gets into surfing and Bucky is busy gardening. Okay, my summary sucks but this story is brilliant. I’m a sucker for fic where the author clearly knows their shit. Florida is sketched so well in this story that it’s practically its own character. The story is about how being in this place (that is shown for all its wonders, flaws, and idiosyncrasies) is challenging, helping and healing a Bucky and Steve who are both in pretty bad shape at the beginning.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Currently 5/30 chapters posted (24,000 words)
This is an A/B/O AU set during WW2. Omega! Pre-serum!Steve is a mathematical genius recruited to try to break Nazi codes. There’s the right amount of codebreaky detail which goes into (to me - someone who knows nothing about codes) impressive depth and feels very authentic. This story is just getting started, but so far the characters are great (there’s an excellent supporting cast - Darcy and Wanda are early faves), and Steve is such a good mix of physical frailty and mental power. I’m interested to see how the A/B/O elements play into the story as it progresses. The setting and moreso the feel of the setting - the frustration, desperation and guilt as the team struggle to make sense of the codes and inform troop movements - is really well-realised and gripping.
