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Random Stucky recs
Jan. 13th, 2020 07:46 pmFor my friend who's a bit interested in Stucky right now, and anyone else who's looking for great short-ish fics. (Sorry, it's a weird combination of author summary and review - the quality of my rushed notes here are not reflective of the quality of the stories!)
Shorter fics that vividly demonstrate Bucky's quiet strength as he rebuilds himself
Turn 'em Out by cryogenia (10,000 words, Explicit)
Super hot, beautiful and 100% unpredictable. Although rarely mentioned, the canon dynamic comes through powerfully, of Bucky's discomfort in his body and Steve's sheer gratitude to have him back. The writing is economical and smart, and even the terminology and details of the furniture removal business just jump off the screen. Bucky's ongoing trauma and the everyday work of managing it are told through detail rather than emotion - there's something completely sexy about stories where he does the work to find out how to hold himself together, and then just gets on with it. And it's also a masterclass in how to write prophylactics without losing the sizzle.
Not a language but a map by magdaliny (5700 words, GA)
A slightly AU Bucky recovery arc set just after Civil War, and one that creeps up and steals my heart every time:
“I'm sorry, Captain Rogers,” Shuri says, and for a horrible lightning-struck moment Steve thinks she's telling him that Bucky didn't make it, that something went disastrously wrong between the tube and the table, the softly glowing stone plinth where Bucky was meant to be made whole; and then Bucky comes around the corner in his white scrubs, radiant, and Steve feels his heart drop back into his chest where it belongs.
But: “I'm sorry,” Shuri says again. “The structure of the brain is so interconnected, so intricately woven, I fear that—”
What we asked for from each other by speranza (Explicit, 10,000 words)
Irresistible recovering Bucky characterisation. He doesn't get a lot of screen time but when he does, he's a firecracker.
Slightly dark Steve
(Weirdly these are all dark in the sexual sense - either I haven't read any fics where Steve is actually cruel, or maybe I backbuttoned out of them like a flash.)
Happily ever after has bite marks in it by voxofthevoid (Explicit, 29,000 words)
OK I broke my rules about story length, because werewolf Steve might be just the sort of feral you were looking for
i'm feeling like a loaded gun (and when it's done i'm the only one) by notcaycepollard (Explicit, 4000 words)
Actually it's Steve's desires that are a little dark here, not Steve himself. Author summary:
There’s something different when it’s Bucky’s hands cleaning his rifle, is all.
“What's got you blushing, Steve?” Bucky asks, low and serious, and Steve flushes harder, hot to his ears.
“I'm not,” he says anyway, and, ”leave it.”
i've been waiting for the sun (to rise where you are) again by notcaycepollard (Explicit, 4000 words)
Pre-war. Turns out Bucky has a thing for being hurt a little, and Steve lets his possessive streak show.
Your lack of an answer is kind of an answer by speranza (M, 4500 words)
OK, this take on Steve isn't dark, but the final scene about how his endless faith in the world is actually a flaw, I really love.
Closest I could get to dark Steve
In the Carcass of the World by speranza (10,000 words, Teen)
What's dark is actually the US Government, and it kind of bleeds through the story. Steve is as Steve as ever. Bucky is a study in fortitude and determination.
Shorter fics that vividly demonstrate Bucky's quiet strength as he rebuilds himself
Turn 'em Out by cryogenia (10,000 words, Explicit)
Super hot, beautiful and 100% unpredictable. Although rarely mentioned, the canon dynamic comes through powerfully, of Bucky's discomfort in his body and Steve's sheer gratitude to have him back. The writing is economical and smart, and even the terminology and details of the furniture removal business just jump off the screen. Bucky's ongoing trauma and the everyday work of managing it are told through detail rather than emotion - there's something completely sexy about stories where he does the work to find out how to hold himself together, and then just gets on with it. And it's also a masterclass in how to write prophylactics without losing the sizzle.
Not a language but a map by magdaliny (5700 words, GA)
A slightly AU Bucky recovery arc set just after Civil War, and one that creeps up and steals my heart every time:
“I'm sorry, Captain Rogers,” Shuri says, and for a horrible lightning-struck moment Steve thinks she's telling him that Bucky didn't make it, that something went disastrously wrong between the tube and the table, the softly glowing stone plinth where Bucky was meant to be made whole; and then Bucky comes around the corner in his white scrubs, radiant, and Steve feels his heart drop back into his chest where it belongs.
But: “I'm sorry,” Shuri says again. “The structure of the brain is so interconnected, so intricately woven, I fear that—”
What we asked for from each other by speranza (Explicit, 10,000 words)
Irresistible recovering Bucky characterisation. He doesn't get a lot of screen time but when he does, he's a firecracker.
Slightly dark Steve
(Weirdly these are all dark in the sexual sense - either I haven't read any fics where Steve is actually cruel, or maybe I backbuttoned out of them like a flash.)
Happily ever after has bite marks in it by voxofthevoid (Explicit, 29,000 words)
OK I broke my rules about story length, because werewolf Steve might be just the sort of feral you were looking for
i'm feeling like a loaded gun (and when it's done i'm the only one) by notcaycepollard (Explicit, 4000 words)
Actually it's Steve's desires that are a little dark here, not Steve himself. Author summary:
There’s something different when it’s Bucky’s hands cleaning his rifle, is all.
“What's got you blushing, Steve?” Bucky asks, low and serious, and Steve flushes harder, hot to his ears.
“I'm not,” he says anyway, and, ”leave it.”
i've been waiting for the sun (to rise where you are) again by notcaycepollard (Explicit, 4000 words)
Pre-war. Turns out Bucky has a thing for being hurt a little, and Steve lets his possessive streak show.
Your lack of an answer is kind of an answer by speranza (M, 4500 words)
OK, this take on Steve isn't dark, but the final scene about how his endless faith in the world is actually a flaw, I really love.
Closest I could get to dark Steve
In the Carcass of the World by speranza (10,000 words, Teen)
What's dark is actually the US Government, and it kind of bleeds through the story. Steve is as Steve as ever. Bucky is a study in fortitude and determination.
