#Rhodey is so done

[skits-things]

Jitterbugs

@ironstrangehaven Here's my entry for IronStrange Week 2023 Day 2: Nervous | Orange. Will post on AO3 when the DDOS attack is over. This was betaed by @darkkitty1208. Fic is under the readmore.

Summary:

“Ahaha… Phew. Oh, it’s finally happened. You’ve got your first schoolboy crush, you big baby.”

“I don’t have a crush. There is no crushing here. I’m not nervous, and I didn’t do any of that! As often as you’re saying.”

Tony lunges for his phone and punches in a number he’s long since known by heart. Thankfully, and likely motivated by some sort of conditioning, Rhodey picks up near instantly. “Rhodey. Rhodey, something’s wrong with me.”

“Tones, what’s going on?” Rhodey asks, all cautious alertness. 

“My heartrate’s skyrocketing, I’m sweating and I can’t focus on anything - not even my projects. Rhodey, what good am I if I can’t get into the zone? All I am is my mind Rhodey. I NEED my mind.” Tony paces and runs a hand through his hair. “Something’s seriously wrong if I can’t make shit.”

A pause. “FRIDAY, is Tony dying again?” 

Offended, Tony says, “I’m right here.” 

“Yeah, and you never tell us anything if it has to do with your health. Thus, the big baby monitor protocol.” 

“It’s called the Tony Monitor.”

“That’s what I said.”

Tony scowls, but is cut off from arguing further by FRIDAY saying, “Boss, while exhibiting symptoms of an anxiety attack, is not currently experiencing an attack. After cursory research, it seems to be nervousness.”

Rhodey groans and Tony can practically hear the eyeroll. “Tony, you’re killing me. What are you even nervous about?” 

“I’m not nervous.” Tony denies. “I don’t get nervous. I’ve had nerves of iron my entire life.” 

Rhodey hums in thought. “You know, you might have a point there. I’ve seen you get defensive from trust issues, but I don’t think you’ve ever been nervous-nervous.”

“See!” Tony exclaims, vindicated. 

“FRIDAY, what’s making Tony spazz out?” Rhodey mercilessly kicks Tony back down to Earth. Tony makes a sound of indignation, but FRIDAY, the traitor, proceeds to answer Rhodey’s question. 

“Dr. Strange is due to come by for a meeting regarding maintaining relations between Kamar Taj and the Avengers going forwards.” And then, because he doesn’t get to keep anything to himself apparently, Friday says, “Boss has checked the schedule three times and has shifted things in his workshop twice. He periodically stops working to clean up after himself and has changed five times.” 

Tony doesn’t get to do more than squawk in protest before Rhodey's raucous laughter pours over the phone. Insultingly, it goes on for several minutes. A couple of times, Rhodey pauses as if to say something, only to burst into suppressed giggles that Tony could still hear. 

Tony’s scowl grows deeper. 

“Ahaha… Phew. Oh, it’s finally happened. You’ve got your first schoolboy crush, you big baby.” 

“I don’t have a crush. There is no crushing here. I’m not nervous, and I didn’t do any of that! As often as you’re saying.” 

“Sorry boss.” FRIDAY apologizes, without a speck of actual regret in her tone. “You did, in fact, do all of that.” 

Tony scoffs. He changes the subject. “And what’s with you, Platypus? Even if I did have a crush on Strange, which I don’t, you’ve never approved of anyone I took interest in before.” 

The unimpressed silence stretches for just a fraction of a bit too long. Tony winces. “Because the only people you’ve ever had around were gold-diggers or mindless parrots.” Rhodey says flatly. “Strange is just you, but more on the opposite scale of things. You two balance each other out.” 

Tony only gets to feel touched for an instant. “Besides,” Rhodey continues, “Stephen might be an asshole, but underneath that shell of his, he’s all gooey insides. He’s a pretty fun guy.” 

Tony blinks. He tries to clean out his ears. “I think I have tinnitus. What did you just say?” 

Rhodey laughs mockingly. “We’ve talked every once in a while. He wanted to give me some options I didn’t have before. Did you know the wizards can use magic to move paralyzed limbs?”

A lump instantly forms in his throat. No, Tony didn’t know that. His mind races with the implications. 

“I said no. And don’t you try and talk me out of it.” Rhodey chides without missing a beat. Tony closes his mouth. “What happened, happened. I’ve made my peace with it. Sure, it would be nice to stand on my own two feet, but magic’s not for me.” And both of them know, no matter how much he trusts the ones who wield magic, Tony will never be fully comfortable with it being used around him. 

“You’ll figure something out, Tones. I’ll just wait until you can science me up a solution instead.” 

Tony takes a minute to process that. He clears his throat. “Well. Of course I will.” 

He searches for a way to divert the conversation away from feelings, only to feel like he’s been hit by a clue-by-four. “Wait. What do you mean you’ve been meeting with Strange? And did you call him Stephen?” 

Rhodey chuckles. “We meet once a month to chat. He translates some of the nonsense from my doctor’s appointments. He’s a damn good doctor, too. Remember that crick in my hip? Three different docs could only tell me something was wrong, but Stephen managed to sort me out after I told him about it. It wasn’t my spine, it was my skin - I’m mildly allergic to the muscle relaxant. It’s why the symptoms were only showing recently. Some exposure is fine, but overtime, the effects added up.”

Tony’s face does something. He’s not sure what he’s more conflicted about. That Strange went over his head to talk to Rhodey about using magic or that Rhodey’s apparently been meeting Strange for months - enough to call him Stephen (seriously Tony can’t get over that) - when the asshole knows that Tony’s been trying to get Strange on the team for just as long. 

(Unsuccessfully, but Tony prefers to think of it as a work in progress.)

“And don’t think you’re going to distract me.” Rhodey pauses and if he didn’t have a smirk the size of the Sicilian, Tony would eat his suit. “This isn’t about me and Stephen, this is about Stephen and you.” 

“What, our working relationship as heroes?” Tony tries to deflect. 

“Aha- nice try. It kills me that I can’t be there to watch you fall over yourself right now, but I’ll have to settle for prying your mouth open for the details. When are you going to ask him out?” 

Tony twitches and argues, “I’m not going to ask him out, because I don’t like him. He’s an asshole wizard who refuses to do the smart thing and become an Avenger.” 

Rhodey scoffs. “Pull the other one, it’s got bells on. You haven’t been this much of a mess since that time in Philly where-” 

“Alright, fuck- I thought we agreed to never speak of that again.” Tony cuts him off hastily. 

“You agreed. I hold veto rights.” 

He does, which Tony likes to pretend to forget about. He tongues his teeth in thought. “I dunno Rhodey, I still feel like this is all about something else.” 

Rhodey says something, but it’s covered up by interference. After a moment, his voice comes through loud and clear. “Alright Tones, I’ll let you believe that. But when you get your head out of the ground and take a hint, don’t try and push him away. Stephen likes you a lot or he wouldn’t have stood for having you hound his every step. Just man up and ask the guy out.”

There’s a lot for Tony to unpack in that (Stephen likes him?), but he doesn’t get the chance to think it over. More noise can be heard over the call. “Listen, I’ve got to go- keep me updated alright?”

There’s a tone to his voice that brooks no argument, and Tony knows he’s talking more than just about whatever crush Rhodey thinks Tony has. The soft warm feeling in his chest is more familiar than the way his guts nearly overturned just a few minutes back. “Yeah, yeah. Go do whatever it is you’re needed for.” 

The call ends and Tony’s left feeling better than he had before he talked to Rhodey. His Platypus really does know him best. Even if he HAS to be wrong about Tony liking Strange.  

Just to prove it, Tony pictures the wizard. His lithe, graceful movements. The way he somehow makes robes from ancient history look like some sort of fashion statement. His smug smirk, cheekbones sharp enough to cut diamond, and the ever changing color of his eyes. 

Tony flushes. Fuck. Maybe Rhodey has a point after all. He laughs uneasily, but Rhodey’s words come back to mind. 

Stephen likes him? Well, if Rhodey’s right about Tony, Tony won’t bet on Rhodey being wrong about Stephen, too. Plans start building up in his head. He’s going to charm the pants off the wizard- and hopefully a lot more too. 

Still late posting this, but not as late as last time. Maybe I'll actually post on time at some point!

#ironstrange #ironstrangeweek2023 #tony stark/stephen strange #tony stark #james rhodes #stephen strange #ironstrange fanfic #fanfic #mcu #mcu fanfic #marvel cinematic universe fanfic #marvel cinematic universe #ambiguous/open ending #nervous tony stark #rhodey is so done #humor #my writing

[idk-bruh-20]

Petition for Marvel to make a new series of shorts

about Tony's life in the time between Homecoming and Infinity War a la the "Team Thor" series.

Featuring:

Peter being an intern

Rhodey's physical therapy

Tony trying to get on May's good side by giving the Parkers increasingly ridiculous home improvements until May has to sit Peter down like, "Tell your not-dad to leave our dishwasher alone or I will be teaching Pepper my date loaf recipe"

"Also if he tries to add lasers to the security system he's already installed I will uninvite him to your back-to-school night."

Tony meets Ned and Ned just. vibrates.

Tony and Peter outwardly denying that they act like father and son + zoomed-in reactions of everyone around them like on The Office

SI employees: "If that's not his son, I work for Oscorp."

Tony's giving an interview into the camera like "I do not act fatherly around Peter" only for FRIDAY to interrupt, "Boss, Mr. Parker appears to be in distress" and Tony's already standing up like "on it"

The chaotic Pepper/Tony wedding planning that we deserved

#it's not even like they haven't done this kind of thing before!!! #the NBA ad with peter and tony for homecoming??? #it would be SO EASY and SO HEALING marvel PLEASE #thoughts #iron dad and spider son #irondad and spiderson #peter parker #tony stark #ironfam #team thor #spider man homecoming #mcu go back to 2017 challenge #irondad #iron dad #spiderson #spider son #may parker #pepper potts #happy hogan #rhodey #james rhodes

[sobeautifullyobsessed]

I have decided to completely disregard the events depicted in Secret Invasion.

In much the same way that Marvel/Feige have disregarded the very real effects which Stephen Strange's grueling, excruciating painful emotionally & physically, 1,500+ year search for the path to victory over Thanos, have had upon him.

#and don't even get me started on having characters in MoM mock/chastise/tell him that all Strange's are bad/dangerous #or claim they couldn't really love him even though they engraved a beaucoup bucks watch years ago to tell him they love him #and for the record I haven't watched Secret Invasion but I got enough of it through tumblr to reject it #just by the very assertion that Rhodey was an imposter for years & years #UGH #Stephen Strange #deserves so so so much better than what has been done to him in the MCU #yet he never speaks a word in his own defense #well except for 'we were at war and I did what I had to do' #Doctor Strange #the Architect of victory over Thanos #at a huge and brutal and terrible cost to himself #Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness #avengers: infinity war #avengers: endgame #unless we get Scott back for DS III I have no confidence that Stephen will be treated justly #DS III #Doctor Strange III #Strangebatch #the forever LOML #secret invasion

[crocuspetals]

twdg x warrior cats 🐱

#twdg #the walking dead game #telltale the walking dead #warrior cats #erin hunter warriors #violet twdg #louis twdg #clementine twdg #aj twdg #art #digital art #procreate #catified #catified art #animalified art #haven’t read a warriors book in years (aka I refuse to because I don’t like what they’ve done with them) #but middle school rhodey was obsessed with them #they’re also the reason why I draw so many cats and as a result can’t really draw humans

[buckys-metal-arm]

Y'ever think about how in Winter Soldier Pierce mentioned he has a daughter who was a political officer when he tells Steve about Bogota? Sure would be wild if that became important

#i dont think it will be and i doubt anyone even remembers it but like stranger things have happened #itd be an interesting “oh shit theyre trying to rebuild hydra” storyline #bc like i know bringing hydra back was polarizing when i was on twt but I have a sinking feeling theyre not gone entirely #and i really wanna be wrong but like red skull/hydra are like cap's most recognizable enemies imo so i have a feeling they won't go away #anyways i don't have a theory about this im just rewatching tws and got to that scene #anyways #mcu #captain america the winter soldier #i have a feeling this is probably just a thread that went into the “could've actually done something interesting with this but didn't” bin #bc its been so long but also nick mentioned Pierce wgen he was talking to Skrull Rhodey so who knows #or they'll do something dumb and make like Val Pierce's daughter or something if they *do* actually bring it up #but like im willing to bet all $3 in my wallet rn that if you asked the russos or feige about it they wouldn't even remember it being a line

[the-faultofdaedalus]

Wait, WAS Tony even trying to make Iron Man anything like him? Like yes in the “the best parts of me are in Iron Man” kinda way, but he’s so focused on making him GOOD, would he even expected for there to be any identity crisis' from either the Robot or his friends? His friends who feel like they know Iron Man somehow? Like, we know can make (when he has the tech) basically a 1:1 version of himself he makes an alcoholic and everything, but that wasn’t the goal here but he left some of his soul behind

Like how sometimes a writer or artists pours so much of their heart and soul into a work and people see it and are like, oh it’s you! And no, the poem/painting/character/song is not about/is them, it’s a universal thing! But no it's them oops. Like the artist thinks, no I would know if it’s a self portrait, but the face you know best is usually your own and oops you gave every character your own nose.

i think he was intending for iron man to be like... enough of him to continue doing his work. like building things. to keep the suit in repair, to keep upgrading it. i think he'd want him to be close to him, just so that he knows that like... iron man is going to have the same drive to keep being iron man that tony did.

i also think that like, you need to start from something, and the something he has on hand is... himself.

i dont think a lot of it is intentional, in that i do not think tony would've made the AI exactly like him, or tried to make it too much like him (see: not putting in the alcoholism like he does when he is Just making an AI of himself) i think he can't help but put in enough of his own values that... it does turn out like him. he's the one making it. of course it turns out like him.

i think.... honestly i think a lot of the consequences that the AI faces due to being what he is are things that tony just. did not have the time or bandwidth to consider. he was dying. he did die. he had the time to make sure that the thing he considered most important could continue on.

but yeah!!! there is definitely Something his friends notice, about him being similar to tony. i don't think it ever crosses their minds that, like, they're the same person (kind of, again, not really) because, like, iron man was at tony's funeral. but there is this kind of quite... awkwardness. about this man who maybe knew their friend better than they ever did. who knows things about him that no one else does.

and yeah!!! there are issues about it, but it isn't like tony intended any of it. which is almost worst, in a way. there isn't anyone to blame. it's no one's fault. no one intended for this ai to turn out like how he did. the way he is isn't anyone's fault.

it's just how he is.

#i am simply. sad #i love him love him LOVE this funky lil robot lad #especially if like. everyone just assumes that like... iron man was with tony in captivity and knows what happened there #that they both saved eachother #in a way. they're right. just not in the way they think #it's just.... knowing that pieces of their friend's life only exist in memory. of a man they don't really know. #and also like. just... outside of the iron man thing #tony's death IS so tragic. because it's so early in canon. he's so *young* #he was so bright. he was so brilliant. he had just *survived* the most awful thing in his life #and then he was just. gone. #nothing anyone could've done. #just. dead. dead in his home. collapsed trying to call for help. #with his body guard and friend preforming CPR on his corpse #right up until the paramedics show up. #and its like. god but tony's story only starts with iron man #there's so many gaps between his life before and his life after that #and like. i think he only ever meets rhodey immiedietly after vietnam #AS iron man! #pepper and happy and jarvis are likely the ones who mourn him the most! and then rhodey and then... well who else even knew him? #who else but iron man? #who else but his own ghost? #AIron man au

[pandagirl45]

Fury: *shows Tony a villain or hammer*

Tony:

Fury: *shows bucky pre, current and post winter soldier*

Tony: *reaction, the woman dance that was trending*

Fury: where the hell is doja cat coming from?!

Steve: I can't lie I'd be the same way with rhodey

Clint: eh, anyone really for me

Fury: (literally can't believe he put the fate of the universe in the hands of this group)

Thor: *sees Tony dancing joining in*

#tony stark #bucky barnes #winteriron #its so dumb #also silly #marvel #fury is done #incorrect marvel #incorrect avengers #i thought it was funny #steve rogers #clint barton #james rhodey rhodes x steve rogers

[cowboyhorsegirl]

who do we think carried Tony’s body off the battlefield after Endgame: Rhodey in the Warmachine suit or Steve with his broken shield strapped to his back?

#genuinely asking y’all’s thoughts #my heart says Steve but my brain says rhodey #or maaaaybe pepper in the rescue suit but tbh I don’t think so. like I don’t think physically or emotionally she could’ve done it right then #mcu #stevetony #James rhodes #my employer's opinions

[gunsandspaceships]

Proof that Tony Stark is a Sub

(Or at least a bottom) in the MCU.

Iron Man (2008):

Sex scene with Christine Everhart (0:09:00): Tony on his back, Christine is sitting on him, leading.

Deleted scene (supposed to be at 0:14:00) “Tony and Rhodey on Stark Jet” (1:25): a «flight attendant» blindfolds Tony before taking him to the bedroom.

Iron Man 2:

Alternate Opening (Deleted Scene – that moment is not on the Disney+ version of the opening, so check on YouTube): so Tony likes spanking, huh… That’s not the only “spanking” moment, read further.

The Avengers:

0:27:25 – Pepper is whispering something in Tony's ear, and we can tell by the look on Tony's face that she will do this to him in the bedroom after the job is done. If we check Gag Reel video for the movie in the first scene we can hear Tony commenting “Dirty, filthy. Fine, suits me” to Pepper’s promises.

Iron Man 3:

0:03:35 - Maya takes off glasses from Tony and pulls him by his scarf into a kiss.

1:18:50 - Tony is tied to a bed in Killian’s lab. Maya says “It’s just like old times, huh?”. Tony replies “Oh, yeah. With zip ties. It’s a ball.”

Avengers: Infinity War:

0:14:35 - Cloak of Levitation smacks Tony for leaning on the Cauldron of Cosmos. Tony turns around and looks at Strange and his hand, thinking that it was him. He replies with “I’m… going to allow that”.

#tony stark #iron man #mcu #marvel #the avengers #pepper potts #iron man 2 #iron man 3 #avengers infinity war #doctor stephen strange #maya hansen #cloak of levitation #bi #lgbtq

[waltermis]

Stay, Stay, Stay

Summary: You & Natasha share a comforting moment

Warnings: hurt/comfort

Pairings: Natasha Romanoff x reader (romantic)

A/N: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NATASHA!! ❤️❤️

↠↠↠ 

Natasha sighed, cutting her peanut butter sandwich. She listened to Rocket, Nebula, and the rest of the remaining avengers argue from across the universe. It’s been five years since the snap. Five years since Thanos. Five years since the Avengers officially split up. Five years since she lost Yelena. Five years since everything… But no matter how much time passed, she couldn’t let this life go. 

“Carol, are we seeing you here next month?”

“Not likely,”

“What? You gonna get another haircut?” Rocket teased.

“Listen, fur face. I’m covering a lot of territory. The things that are happening on Earth are happening everywhere. On thousands of planets.”

“Uh, all right. All right. That’s a good point. That’s a good point.”

“So, you might not see me for a long time.” 

“All right. Uh well, this channel's always active. So, if anything goes sideways… anyone’s making trouble where they shouldn’t… comes through me.” Natasha stated, before Rocket, Okoye, Carol’s channels disappeared, leaving Rhodey. “Where are you?” she asked him.

“Mexico. The Federales found a room full of bodies. Looks like a bunch of cartel guys never even had a chance to get their guns off.”

“It’s probably a rival gang,” Natasha denied quickly.

“Except it isn’t. It’s definitely Barton… what he’s done here, what he’s been doing for the last few years. I mean, the scene that he left…I gotta tell you there’s a part of me that doesn’t even want to find him.”

“Will you find out where he’s going next?” she asked, taking a bit of her sandwich, tears filling her eyes, threatening to spill.

“Nat?”

“Please?” she asked, quietly. She looked so vulnerable, her eyes glassy and nose red from holding back tears.

“Okay,” he sighed, before leaving the channel.

Natasha sighed, trying her hardest not to cry. She missed him, Clint, he was her best friend. One of the first few people that truly trusted her. When she met Clint’s family, they welcomed her in with open arms. They were like her second family; finding out that they were blipped broke her heart. She couldn’t imagine what Clint was going through. 

‘God, this is a fucking mess.’ She thought, wrapping her arms around herself. Taking a bite out of her sad excuse of a sandwich, Natasha’s senses picked up the sound of wheels rolling against the hardwood floor. Natasha furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, watching you hauling two big blue luggage, she’s never seen before, through the common room. “Moya lyubov’, where are you going?” You ignored her, continuing to grab the luggage’s outside. “Detka? Are you okay?!” Still nothing. Natasha began to panic; thoughts of you finally realizing that you deserved better clawed their way into her brain. “Dorogaya? Can we talk about this? Please!”

“Babe?” you asked, coming back. “What’re you doing in here? I thought you were gonna use Meeting room A today… W-why’re you crying?” you asked, wrapping her up in your arms. She didn’t even notice the tears that streamed down her face. 

“Please don’t leave me! I promise I’ll spend more time with you, just please don’t go…” she cried into your chest, her words muffled as she tugged you into her, her grip tight.

“What are you talking about? I’m not going anywhere,”

“Then why are you taking your luggage outside?!” she wailed, her nails digging further into you, afraid that you’d leave the second she loosened her grip.

“What? Those aren’t mine.”

“Huh?” she sobbed out. “Then whose are those?”

“They’re Tony’s, from when he and Pepper used to live here. They still have a bit of stuff here they haven’t moved to the cabin yet, he wanted me to finally bring it over for him.” you explained slowly, knowing that the lack of sleep was finally catching up on your redheaded girlfriend.

“Then what about you ignoring me?” she asked softly, her grip finally loosening.

“I was listening to music,” you showed her the air pods still in your ears. “I couldn’t hear you. I didn’t even know you were in here. I thought you decided to use one of the meeting rooms instead. You know I would never intentionally ignore you,”

Natasha nodded; her eyes grew heavier listening to the soothing sound of your voice. “Promise me you’ll never leave me.” she begged, tilting her head up to look into your eyes.

“I promise, there is nothing in this world that would make me leave you. Ever.” you promised, pecking her on the lips.

“I love you; you know that right?”

“Of course, I do, and I love you too. To Vormir and back.”

“Where’s that?” she asked sleepily, her head thudding on your chest again.

“Not sure… just came into my head.” you laughed, picking her up in your arms. You brought her back to your shared bedroom, placing her underneath the covers.

“Stay,” she said, grabbing a hold of your arm.

“Of course.” Bringing her into your arms, you placed a firm kiss on her head, letting sleep envelope the two of you.

↠↠↠ 

864 words

#natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff x reader #avengers #avengers x reader #natasha x reader #natasha romanoff x fem!reader #mcu #marvel #natasha romanoff x female reader #natasha romanoff x you #natasha romanoff x y/n

[shanastoryteller]

Happy Fall Season! 🍁🍂🌻🎃👻🧛🏻‍♀️ … Three faced goddess continuation 👉🏻👈🏻? God dammit shana i fucking loved this prompt, 2012 Tony is the only version that has rights and I’ve had such a problem with him ever since aou, but your writing took me back to when I actually loved his character

a continuations of 1

Rhodey heads to the smith, unsurprised to see a line of people outside of it, waiting for the man inside to succumb to his need to eat or sleep and pounce on him for whatever issue they believe needs his immediate attention. Peter is among them, the closest to an apprentice that exists, but he can’t enter the forge without everyone else pushing in too, so he waits with all the rest of them.

When they see him coming, they groan, knowing their chances have been destroyed, except for Peter, who just looks relieved.

He remembers a time when Edward belonged to him alone. Edward exists because of him, after all, and needs must, but sometimes he can’t help but resent that this is another piece that he’s had to share.

“When I walk back out, it better be to an empty hallway,” he says blandly.

He receives a chorus of, “Yes, General,” and a jaunty wave from Peter before he’s opening the door and then shutting it firmly behind him.

In the beginning, the alchemy lab and the forge had occupied the same space, the outpost not yet big enough to have the rooms to spare. It had been quickly remedied once Rhodey had found about it, because the last thing any of them needed was losing him to an explosion of his own making, but he can’t say he’s surprised to see a cauldron bubbling ominously in the center of the room. “You have a lab for a reason.”

Surprised brown eyes snap up to meet his, and then there’s that familiar grin that always causes tension to unspool from his spine, even when it really shouldn’t. “Well, well, look what the cat dragged in. How goes the battle on the Eastern border?”

As if he doesn’t know. “They’re retreating. Our soldiers are holding the line and it looks like they’ve given up attacking us on that front. For now.”

“Sounds like something you should tell the king,” he says, frowning down into the cauldron as if it’s personally disappointed him.

Rhodey closes the distance between them, grabbing his chin and tilting his head to the side, frowning at the bruising mostly hidden by his hairline. “I am. But it’s a bit of wasted effort, considering the king is half the reason for their retreat.”

“Just half?” he pouts. “I really think that I deserve more credit-”

Rhodey kisses him to shut him up, a strategy that he’s been employing since they were teenagers, the whole reason necessitating Edward in the first place.

The second prince could not be scene dallying with someone so below him in station, the fact they were known to be friendly was a fluke of a broken wagon and much derision to all who heard of it. But Edward was no one, an educated fifth son of some nameless noble with a talent for metalwork, and no one cared if he kissed a commoner.

Then war had come knocking and a king could not do what needed to be done and so Edward had shifted from Rhodey’s to the country’s overnight.

Tony hums happily against his mouth and Rhodey pulls back rather than deepening it. Half the trick with was not letting him get distracted. “You need to get some sleep. Have you slept at all since getting back from the battle?”

The deep bruises under his eyes already tells him the answer, but it’s still worth asking.

“Need to figure this out,” he says, tilting his head to the cauldron. “It’s a coating for the blades to get them sharp enough to cut through armor. Not our armor, obviously, but other people’s.”

“A day,” he says, because Tony is needed everywhere at all times in all ways, and someone has to keep him from running himself into an early grave, and at the outpost, that’s him. “Just a day at home. I know you miss it. It’s been a while.”

Tony’s eyes go distant and fond. “Yes,” he agrees, and that one word has all the exhaustion that he won’t let show.

“You disappear all the time, no one will question it,” he murmurs, “I’ll make sure of it.”

“I’ll go if you will,” he returns. “You haven’t been home in even longer than I have.”

“Less of a need,” he argues, and he should argue against this too, when it’s unnecessary and dangerous, but he’s tired too. “Fine. We’ll need to sneak out to the woods if you don’t want to get caught.”

Tony clearly hadn’t expected him to agree that easily. “You hate flying.”

He hates how much pain it puts Tony in, but since he’s flying either way to get home, it doesn’t matter. “I’ll deal.”

Tony kisses him again, writes down some notes, douses the cauldron, and then they’re using the secret entrances that had actually been the whole point of building a lab near the forge. When they’re far enough away, Tony’s chest glows, the light and sparks spreading out from his chest to effulge his body and liquid gold and mercury sliding down his limbs. Rhodey has to close his eyes against the light, but Tony’s arms around him are always welcome, even when they burn almost too hot to stand.

The Iron Mage flying to the castle is a common enough sight that it raises no alarm and the brightness of Tony in flight means no one can tell he has a passenger, seen as nothing more than their own personal shooting star.

Tony melts the iron shutters back with a wave of his hand, likely reforming it behind them with a more intricate pattern than they’d been wrought with, because he always had such opinions about anything he hadn’t crafted himself.

He’s barely set Rhodey back onto his feet and folded the star back inside himself when there’s the running of little feet coming straight for them. Rhodey’s not surprised.

She’s always watching the stars, looking for her father.

Tony bends to pick up Morgan as she rounds the corner, barreling towards him with single minded intensity. “Daddy!”

“Hey, buttercup,” he says, hoisting her into her arms and settling her on his hip. “Miss me?”

“Yes,” she answers, wrapping her arms around Tony’s neck in a hug. She turns her head to grin at him, Tony’s eyes shining in her face. “Hi Rhodey. I missed you too.”

“Hi, Princess,” he says, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. She frees one arm from Tony to grab onto the front of his jacket, keeping him in place. He settled a hand on her back and that seems to satisfy her.

The door pushes open and Pepper is standing there, still with hair up and braided around a circlet and in a deep blue silk gown. “Someone here is supposed to be asleep.”  

Tony and Morgan’s innocent faces are identical and equally unconvincing.

“It’s me, isn’t it?” Rhodey asks.

“It’s all three of you, really,” she answers, striding forward. She squeezes his shoulder, then uses it as balance to push herself to her tip toes.

Tony bends to meet her in a kiss, chaste enough that Rhodey doesn’t feel the need to pull away but long enough that he assumes Tony’s sleep might end up experiencing a delay.

“I don’t want to go bed,” Morgan says. “Daddy’s home.”

“I’ll be here in the morning,” Tony says and Pepper’s face relaxes. “Come on, I’ll put you to bed myself, okay? And then you can tell me about all the new things you learned over breakfast.”

“I’m not tired,” she insists, but only waves at him when Tony pulls away to take her to her room.

Rhodey waves back, almost goes with them, but having the two of them there will just make her twice as riled up.

“I could have another, you know.”

He looks down at Pepper, blinking. “I thought – after the war?”

After the cave, after swallowing a star rather than being swallowed by it, Tony couldn’t justify staying on the sidelines, couldn’t justify only contributing to the war as Edward. Besides, being captured in the first place had shown him that he wasn’t safe as Edward anyway, but even Tony couldn’t justify taking to the battlefield without an heir, without a child of Stark blood to inherit, without a queen who could rule both while he fought and invented and in the event of his death.

Prince Gregory had been ten years older than Tony, he’d been the boy everyone knew would be king. Tony was just the spare, and not even one had on purpose. It’s why he’d had the freedom to meet Rhodey in the first place, to take on the name Edward and poke and prod his way through universities and labs and harassing blacksmiths into teaching him a craft a prince was never supposed to know. They’d assumed his father would arrange his marriage to some foreign noble for political reasons and Tony would install her onto an estate and do what was necessary to add a couple kids to the royal line and that would be that, he would then be free to spend his time on pursuits he enjoyed and with the man he loved. He was just the second prince, after all, it’s not like what he did really mattered, and he and Prince Gregory had never gotten along anyway.

Lots of people hadn’t gotten along with Prince Gregory, lots of people had thought his temper and his cruelty and several other attributes made him unsuitable as king. Maybe, on their own, they wouldn’t have mattered much – Rhodey thought Prince Gregory was not so much worse than King Howard – but he was constantly compared to the brother ten years his junior and found lacking.

They never found out who was behind the attack that killed Tony’s parents and brother. With their enemies sensing weakness and declaring war soon after, it was easy to pin the blame on them. But there were persistent rumors that it’d been someone, or several someones, that wanted Tony on the throne over his brother.

Rhodey doesn’t know if it’s true. All he knows is that relief rippled through the country far heavier than mourning.

The relationship he and Tony had, the future they’d mapped out, had been possible for a snubbed second prince and utterly impossible for a king. Tony had put off marriage for longer than he should have, but he couldn’t forever, and his urge to get out and fight now that he could pressed down on him.

Pepper had been his friend first. Their friend first. A noble, but only barely, and utterly unsuitable for the title of queen according to her pedigree and also the only one Tony would agree to marry so the rest hadn’t mattered.

If she were anyone else, he thinks he would have hated her. But Pepper had come to him after Tony had asked her and said, “I love him,” like throwing down a gauntlet.

He’d known. Who couldn’t help but love Tony, once they got to know him? And Pepper was beautiful and competent and trustworthy, could have Tony’s children and lead his country and keep all his secrets. And Tony might be able to resist falling in love with Pepper when she was only his friend and confidant, but as his wife, the mother of his children, his queen? He would fall.

“I want what’s best for him,” she’d continued in what he thought was going to be the worst conversation of his life, “and that’s me and you. He would never give you up. You know that. You should have a little more faith in him.”

“He needs you,” he’d said quietly. What Tony needed is something he couldn’t be, he wasn’t a noble or a woman.

Pepper had lifted her chin in defiance, every inch the queen she was going to become. “He needs us.”

That had been years ago. They made it work, awkwardly and painfully at first, but much smoother these days, warmer and easier. When the war ends, he thinks things might even be easy.

Tony and Pepper had needed to have a child and quickly, to secure the succession. She’d been pregnant within four months of their marriage and Princess Morgan’s birth had been greeted with relief by the country. Still, more heirs are better, especially with Starks being thin on the ground, but Tony resisted the idea of having another child in the midst of war, another child that he might die on and abandon.

Which is what makes Pepper’s statement so confusing.

“I didn’t mean right this second,” she says, lips turning up at the corners. “I know I’m not exactly your type, but I certainly wouldn’t mind the process myself. Morgan’s yours, of course, but if you wanted – I wouldn’t mind. Tony wouldn’t either.”

He understands what she’s offering and he’s shaking his head before she’s even finished talking. “We can’t – they’d know.”

“Maybe the next one will take after my genes,” she says. “Goddess knows Morgan’s all her father.”

She is, so clearly Stark, from her eyes to her intelligence to her love of trouble. But there’s no way a child of his could pass as a child Tony’s, which is what any child of the queen’s would have to be. Even if they came out pale enough to pass as a Stark, which isn’t any sort of risk they could take, it wouldn’t be worth the risk of anyone finding out that a child in line for the throne was not of the Goddess blessed bloodline.

“Tony’s children are my children,” he says, and means it. Pepper and Tony had always been clear about that and it had been a relief, to not have to be so close and yet so far, to be able to love Morgan as his daughter even if it was nothing he could ever say out loud. “Go and help him with her. I know you have a lot to catch up on.”

He’ll go to his room, with the bed and comforts that he’s missed quiet a lot, and get the sleep that he’s also missed.

She sighs, squeezing his arm. “Don’t wander. I get up early and Tony never sleeps through it.”

Tony will get up with her, and kiss her as she heads to the hall, then go down to his room and crawl into bed with him, still sleep warm, until he has to get up and put in an appearance as King Anthony.

Rhodey smiles and nudges her towards the hall. “Go on, your husband is waiting.”

“Our husband,” she corrects imperiously and doesn’t move until he laughs and nods and repeats her words back to her.

#i actually think everyone's characterizations in aou onward were utter garbage lol #like i think tony gets shafted a lot because i love him but also they really just made everyone unlikable #the last marvel movie that was real to me was catws #damn this is so long #i'm just having a lot of fun with this au #asks #anon #prompt answers #prompts are closed #avengers

[skits-things]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Tony Stark/Stephen Strange, James "Rhodey" Rhodes & Tony Stark Characters: Tony Stark, James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Stephen Strange Additional Tags: Pre-Slash, Pre-Relationship, Humor, Fluff and Humor, Ambiguous/Open Ending, James "Rhodey" Rhodes is So Done, IronStrange Week 2023, Day 2: Nervous | Orange, Nervous Tony Stark Series: Part 2 of IronStrange Week 2023 Summary:

“Ahaha… Phew. Oh, it’s finally happened. You’ve got your first schoolboy crush, you big baby.”

 “I don’t have a crush. There is no crushing here. I’m not nervous, and I didn’t do any of that! As often as you’re saying.”

@ironstrangehaven AO3 link for Day 2: Nervous | Orange

#ironstrange #ironstrangeweek2023 #tony stark/stephen strange #tony stark #james rhodes #stephen strange #ironstrange fanfic #fanfic #mcu #mcu fanfic #marvel cinematic universe #marvel cinematic universe fanfic #ambiguous/open ending #nervous tony stark #rhodey is so done #humor #my writing #ao3

[imagine-knowing-a-name]

déjà vu

Summary: After Age of Ultron, the team are left with the decision of what to do with Wanda, and they’re not in agreement. Natasha becomes staunchly defensive of the witch, remembering her own fate at SHIELD was decided in a similar manner.

(Summaries are tricky but Nat defends Wanda, R defends Nat, then they comfort each other at the end)

Word Count: 1188

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff & Reader; Wanda Maximoff & Reader (Platonic)

Warnings: Half the team are being mean to Wanda and Natasha gets sad :(

A/N: Based on this request. Thank you all for the awesome response to my last fic, it gave me the motivation to write despite everything else going on rn, so thank you and reminder to reblog and comment on fics if you can, because that’s what keeps writers posting their fics on here :) Enjoy!

»»————-　★　————-««

"We cannot let her waltz around scot-free without any repentance for her crimes!"

"She just lost her homeland and her twin brother; you don't think that's enough punishment?"

"She's HYDRA. She volunteered. She is everything we've been fighting against and you want us to, what? take her under our wing? make her even stronger than she already is?"

"Yes! That's the kind of power we want on our side-"

To nobody's surprise, Steve and Tony are at odds, driving the argument. Thor had backed Steve with the insight that second chances had done his brother a world of good. But everyone remembers the Battle of New York, and soon even Steve is wishing the God of Thunder would rescind his support. Bruce agrees with Tony, still racked with guilt over the Johannesburg incident. Then Clint voices his support for Steve, upon a conditional level of trust, to return the sides to an imbalance.

Sam and Rhodey use their newcomer status to remove their ballot from the decision; the two of them sneaking off, likely to do better things with their time.

The argument continues, never ceasing for breaths since everyone talks over each other, constantly interrupting the previous point. You grimace from your place in the corner; sitting, observing, and waiting for them to tire themselves out before you say your piece. Natasha meets your eye. She is doing the same.

"She's a child!" Steve continues

"She's going on 26! Steve you were Captain America by that age, I was the most famous CEO in the world! We weren't let off the hook for anything, were we? We weren't told we were 'just kids so it's all okay'. I paid for my mistakes, same as you did, and this glowing ball in my chest is proof of that."

"That's enough," Natasha finally speaks. Her voice is all it takes to bring the group to silence. "She's a victim. She was manipulated into her actions and she came around as soon as she realised that. We've all made mistakes, and joining the Avengers was our chance at redemption; let her have that."

"Her actions are her own, and I'm sorry, but they're too severe to wave off as a mistake, or ignorance"

"Is that the same with me?"

"What?"

"See, I was a victim too, but no one ever treated me like one."

"Nat-"

"No. Nobody was controlling me when I went through the Red Room; my actions were all my own, same as Wanda. But when your childhood is defined by manipulation and indoctrination, how much does that matter? I did the only thing I knew how to do and followed orders, same as Wanda, and I lost people along the way, same as Wanda. Have you even spoken to her, Tony? She's known since the age of 10 that your missile killed her parents, and HYDRA took advantage of that; you think you'd keep a levelhead if you found someone responsible for your parents' deaths?

So no. I spent too long thinking my transgressions were all my own, and I won't stand here and let Wanda believe the same."

Natasha strides out of the door with purpose and speed, while all eyes in the room track her movements in silence. It is only when the door slams that the team begins to break from their stupor.

You look around unsurely, meeting everyone's eyes as if to confirm its truth. You are the first to break the silence. "I'm going after her." Nobody contests.

You don't rush, you know where Natasha is after all and you know she needs time alone, but you also know to check up on her after an argument like that. You were there when Clint brought her back to SHIELD, when Fury and the archer broke into arguments echoingly similar to the one the team just had. You remember how much she struggled from her own mind, how they left her in a cell, just as the Avengers now have to Wanda, and you remember the thin walls, where Natasha could overhear all their arguments regardless of how you tried to distract her. 

It isn't a surprise to you when you open Natasha's door and she refuses to speak. She watches you enter and makes space for you to sit beside her on the bed, but she doesn't speak. You talk to her for a bit, praising her stance, but it's clear she needs longer alone.

"I'll be here when you need," you say. She nods. You walk back to where you're needed most, passing through the common room still full of arguing Avengers on your way.

"Stop thinking about yourselves for once, and think about your fucking team," you say without even stopping to look at them, then you continue your path out of the room.

»»————-　★　————-««

Guilt sets in on the remaining Avengers as they fall to silence yet again. Clint reminds them what Natasha went through and from that memory, Natasha's hasty exit, and your outburst after seeing the assassin, they can all conclude how much the topic has hurt their teammate.

Clint apologies through her bedroom door; the others say sorry to her face once she lets them in. Natasha sighs, then nods her acceptance of their apologies. "The person you really should be saying this to is Wanda. She deserves support, not solitary isolation."

"Yeah, I don't think it's all that solitary," Tony says. He flicks his wrist to the wall, and soon enough FRIDAY is displaying a feed of Wanda's cell.

"Is that Y/N?" Steve asks, squinting for a better look.

Meanwhile, Natasha smiles, recognising the scene in front of her and knowing, with certainty, that it was you. She watches you and Wanda sit cross-legged on the floor with a plastic yellow board coming up between you. You both analyse it closely until you pull a circular blue chip from your hand and slide it in.

"That's four!" you cheer. Pointing out the four circles you had managed to connect. Wanda frowns, but you can tell it is not akin to the sorrow she had felt so often recently. At this moment, her mind is distracted entirely from that and focused only on the game. 

"We have to play again. I can win this, I know," the Sokovian frowns. "I get first move."

You're still dividing the 'connect 4' pieces into their respective colours when a knock sounds on the cell door. You look up as Natasha opens the door, greeting Wanda with a smile.

"You doing okay?" you ask.

Natasha nods. "Thank you for being here, Y/N. And as for Wanda-" she switches her gaze- "we've got a room prepared for you if you're willing to stay. You can learn to control your powers; the team agreed I can train you."

"I would like that," Wanda mumbles, her nerves around the assassin still clear.

"Come on then, I'll take you to your room.” Natasha smiles and escorts her out, but before falling out of your earshot, she leans into Wanda conspiratorially, “I’ll even give you the secret to beating Y/N at that game.”

#natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff imagine #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff x y/n #natasha romanoff x you #natasha romanoff & reader #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff imagine #wanda maximoff & reader #marvel #mcu #fanfiction #ikan writes

[thelovelylolly]

Hey can you make a fic where r is tony daughter and dating natasha

Morgan is a newborn wich brings out their parental side while babysitting morgan the entire team kinda surprised not used to this behaviour and natasha just goes 'yeah i'm definitely making her my wife'

Parental Side

Summary : While babysitting your new little sister with the rest of the team, your parental traits come out and Nat decides right then and there that she wants to marry you. Warnings : fem! reader (but thats it) Notes : this request is so cute, i love it! thank you for requesting it :) i did make it so pepper is the reader's step-mom and the blip didnt happen so i hope you dont mind that!

The moment you met your little sister, you fell in love with her. You were a bit hesitant when you found out your dad and step-mom were having a kid since you were a grown adult, but all of that went away the moment you saw Morgan. She was the cutest little thing and a little ball of sunshine in your family's life.

One day, you offered to babysit Morgan to let your mom and dad have a break. You brought Morgan to the compound so you could still get some work done, but you also knew the team loved her, too.

As soon as you walked through the door with Morgan in your arms, you were swarmed by your team members. You handed Morgan off to Rhodey, since he was the one you trusted most with your little sister, before going to the living room area to set up her things.

You placed a blanket down along with her toys, making sure to move anything dangerous out of the way so Morgan couldn't grab anything.

"I'm surprised Tony would let Morgan out of his sight."

You turned around and saw your girlfriend, Natasha, standing there with her arms crossed and a smile on her face.

"Me, too. I promised him I'd only let certain people hold her, I'd only feed her the things he packed, all that stuff. I'm also very protective of her, so dad knows I'd never let anything happen to her," you replied as you finished setting up Morgan's little area.

You stood up, smiling at Natasha.

"You're cute, you know that?" Nat said, pulling you in by the waist.

You laughed. "You remind me everyday, Nat."

"It's because it's true," she replied before giving you a quick kiss.

You heard Rhodey and the others approach you two so you pulled away. You instantly reached for Morgan, who babbled as she reached for you. Rhodey handed her to you and you sat on the ground with her in your lap.

The others sat around you and watched as you played with Morgan. You could feel their eyes on you and you had the urge to yell at them to go back to work, but you didn't care. You just wanted to play with Morgan.

"I'm surprised," Sam said quietly while standing next to Nat.

"Surprised at what?"

"I've never seen her so...parental. I mean, she's one of the younger team members so she's never had to be parental. Tony, Rhodey and Steve usually have to parent her," Sam explained. He turned to Nat, who's eyes were locked on you. "Why aren't you surprised?"

"Well, after she was born, Tony became extremely protective and parental. Beforehand, he was-"

"A playboy?"

"Yes," Nat answered with a laugh. "Maybe she gets it from her dad. Maybe her parental side only comes out when it's her own baby sister."

Sam looked between you and Nat, a smirk forming on his face. "What are you thinking, Nat?"

"Oh, nothing. Just how I wanna marry her."

Sam patted Nat on the shoulder. "You're going to give Tony a heart attack."

"That's the plan."

You looked up at Nat, a big smile on your face. Morgan was happily blabbering as she played with her little toys. Nat blushed and smiled back.

You were the woman that Nat wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She loved you and seeing you with Morgan just made her want to marry you more.

#natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff x you #natasha romanoff fanfiction #natasha romanoff fanfic #marvel fanfiction #marvel fanfic #natasha romanov x reader #natasha romanov x you #natasha romanov fanfiction

[hainethehero]

So I made the mistake of stumbling onto the NOT STEVE ROGERS FRIENDLY tag today and..

You have to be a special type of delusional to be this obsessed with a character you don't like!??

Over 2k fics have the tag and are almost entirely Tony Stark-centered fics. I'm assuming these are the "fans" who totally buy into the MCU canon and don't know any other Captain America lore outside of what Feige and Whedon have done. Or, they're the "fans" who refuse to understand the politics behind Steve's character and how he was inherently undermined throughout the entire ten years of the MCU by the directors and writers for most of the films.

Because the arguments in most of these fics for being "not Steve rogers friendly" are really surface level shit like:

1) "Steve refused to sign the Accords and broke up the Avengers" (he was right & he didn't break them up, an overemotional Tony did when he refused to listen to Bucky's side of the story).

2) Steve fought Tony and almost killed him (yeah, like Tony didn't blast Bucky's arm off and shoot his repulsor rays directly at Steve).

3)Steve is homophobic (y'all are just making up reasons to hate this man atp)

4)Steve is racist (Steve hated racists & you'd know that if you read the comics, or you guys are just that deluded that you're making Steve racist & trying to project it as canon and therefore a "reasonable" explanation as to why you hate him)

5)Blaming Steve for Rhodey's accident (WHICH WAS TEAM TONY'S FAULT!)

6)YALL, THEY MADE STEVE THE BAD GUY IN A BROCK RUMLOW/BUCKY FIC! I stg I cannot make this shit up💀 Steve's bad for wanting Bucky to be Bucky again, but somehow Brock's the good guy for wanting Bucky to be the Soldier...

Steve left Bucky for Peggy (we'll get to this soon)

There's a hundred more irrational reasons for the Steve Rogers hate, but let me get to the WORST part.

THERE ARE BUCKY STANS WHO ARE ANTI-STEVE ROGERS.

And I'm sorry, no. I don't accept that you love Bucky Barnes but hate the one person he loves the most in the world.

They argued in a couple fics that "Bucky also went rogue after Siberia but he didn't want to associate with Steve, Nat & the rest of the team- WHO HELPED RESCUE BUCKY & EVENTUALLY EXONERATE HIM- but rather, he went off on his own & eventually Tony finds him, they hash it out and become friends to lovers."

Helppp???? Wdym Bucky isn't gonna stick with the one man he's been keeping diaries about to try and get back his memories? But he'll go to the one guy that re-traumatized him by blowing out his arm again?

Not only that, but Bucky absolutely hates Steve in some of these fics and the reason will be, "he left Bucky to go back to Peggy." Like, you cannot be a serious fan if you're still going with the Endgame canon. For a majority of us, we recognize Endgame as being nothing but terrible writing and mischaracterizations. Why are yall not analyzing and interpreting media critically? The MCU has never been on Steve's side and have always diminished his character in an attempt to make Tony the ultimate hero of the OG 6. Don't yall know the discourse? It's embarrassing atp.

And this is my stance on the entire thing: there's nothing wrong with writing fics about characters you don't necessarily like or aren't interested in. It's OKAY if you don't like Steve Rogers- but you've gotta be rational about him, instead of hateful. Most, if not all of these "anti-steve" fics are written in bad faith. Bad understanding of the character and pure, shameless mischaracterizations which just makes these types of fics fickle and weak- hilarious to read though cos that Brock one had me deadddd😭💀.

#steve rogers #anti steve rogers #not steve rogers friendly #ao3 #stucky #stony #tony stark #fanfic writers #yall gon learn today #bad writing #captain america #mcu #marvel #avengers endgame #infinity war #iron man #cacw #bucky barnes #the winter soldier #think piece #ted talks #mischaracterization #steve rogers hate is unsubstantiated #kevin feige #joss whedon

[lnsfawwi]

bucky is anti-peggy: their relationships with steve and why bucky will always overshadow peggy as love interest

hardly anything novel but I have to get it out of my system. interpretations are strictly in-universe just to be fair. also seb headcanons are canon, I won't hear otherwise!

the difference between stucky and steggy can be summed up by their respective reactions to beefed-up Steve. someone on tumblr points out that these two scenes also serve as analogies of their relationships. steggy would always be about peggy reaching out, their relationship would be under the spotlight, be the center of attention while stucky is the reverse. I just want to add to that.

Peggy was literally dazzled, she tried to touch his naked body, she was eager to see what this body could do (sexually, among other things). that's the first time she saw steve as sexually attractive, the first time she saw steve at all if we are honest, and what she saw was this jacked-up version of him, an icon-to-be, someone whom steve never really accepted as himself. In essence, the first time she really paid attention to steve as the love interest, was the moment steve became someone else.

Bucky, who was tortured for days, if not weeks, still delirious, was confused bc that was not his steve, he probably didn't even think Steve was real at first. Bucky was experimented on, he likely knew there were similar human experiments aimed to enhance, he knew science like that was possible, but whose science? so that's the first question, 'what happened?' Steve joined the army, okay, so this was not forced onto him, probably. then the next thing he asked was, 'did it hurt?' he didn't care how strong it made Steve, he only wanted assurance that Steve was fine. like, what if the process hurt? what could bucky possibly do? nothing. it's not about whether it hurt, it was just bucky simply giving a shit about steve's wellbeing. we don't even need to get into the 'little kid from brooklyn' line.

peggy witnessed a magical transformation and was amazed by the eventual product but bucky saw his best friend who must've gotten through something excruciating. peggy could never fall in love with skinny steve when that's all bucky saw, until the very end (sebastian said bucky probably never got used to big steve).

another contrast would be the final plane crash. sebastian was asked whether Bucky would've gotten on that plane with Steve or stayed behind like Peggy. seb's answer is that Bucky would've tried to get on that plane cuz he felt responsible for steve, and he'd fall again.

the thing is that, had Bucky been on that plane, Steve never would've crashed it. he would've done anything to save Bucky. he didn't have to crash that plane which was canon (pointed out by rhodey). steve could've got out but he didn't. Bucky being there would've given him the motivation to do so. any other person would tbh, but only Bucky would be willing to be on that plane bc Peggy canonly wasn't. in addition to bucky's willingness to follow steve literally into the jaws of death, in this hypothetical scenario, Bucky would be the reason for Steve to live in catfa.

that leads to yet another contrast.

'just go! get out of here!' 'no, not without you!'

steve, who had no idea what he was capable of, jumped through fire for bucky.

'don't do this, there's still time, let me find a way...' 'a lot of people are gonna die if I don't do this, peggy. this's my choice.'

despite peggy's pleading, steve crashed the plane.

the word choice appeared several times in catfa. the first time was when peggy told philip that it was steve's choice (to die trying to save bucky). the second time was when peggy told steve that bucky made a choice (to die fighting with him). and the third time was when steve told peggy it was his choice (to sacrifice himself). it's no coincidence that each and every time the choice was each other, steve echoing the word at the end made it clear that he was doing this for bucky.

a relationship goes both ways. steve and bucky are canonly willing to, and did, die and live for each other. peggy simply doesn't have that level of impact on steve. in fact, steve literally repeatedly chose bucky over her in catfa.

put it simply, bucky and steve care more about each other than themselves, peggy didn't even care about skinny steve in that sense. she also literally couldn't because she only met skinny steve twice. briefly.

plus as I said previously bucky is the only one standing in between a traditional cishet hypermasculine image of steve and the real steve, peggy is the one element that fulfils the false image.

everything bucky is, peggy is the opposite. the differences quite literally result in different interpretations of steve. and who can say honestly that endgame steve is better than cap trilogy steve？

#bucky barnes #steve rogers #stucky #stevebucky #anti steggy #captain america the first avenger #stucky is in the narrative #captain america #I used SO MANY literally omg #I'm so bad at writing