MCU: Hope and Coming Home, by golden_d.

[thady]

FANDOM: The Avengers (2012)/Captain America (2011)
FIC LINK: Hope and Coming Home.
AUTHOR LINK: golden_d | golden_d
RATING/WARNING(S): G
WIP?/WORD COUNT: one-shot | ~ 1,930 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Maria Hill, OCs

FIC SUMMARY: When Steve Rogers wakes up in the 21st century, SHIELD tells him everything they think he needs to know. No one tells him that the Dodgers aren’t in Brooklyn anymore.

RECCER'S NOTES:

Those stories that depict Steve trying to acclimate to the 21st century prior the release of the second Captain America tend to be less sharper. And while this is true for this story, it doesn't mean it is less poignant.

I love Steve's characterization here, and how he tries to deal with everything that happened. Love his interactions with the other characters too.

Star Trek AOS: Under the Shadow of this Red Rock, by fictional-clue

[dirty_diana]

FANDOM: Star Trek AOS
FIC LINK: Under the Shadow of This Red Rock
AUTHOR LINK: fictional-clue
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen/none
WIP?/WORD COUNT: complete/29 000 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: James T. Kirk, Spock, background Spock/Uhura

FIC SUMMARY: Only a few days have passed since Nero destroyed Vulcan and attacked Earth, but the world around Jen and Spock is already changing along strange new lines—and they are caught right in the middle. Neither of them really has their shit together, but between the two of them they’re making it work. The ship’s still running. They haven’t tried to kill each other again. It’s a start.

RECCER'S NOTES:

I'm going to try not start too many posts with epic definitions of gen? But since the author has tagged this one "pre-slash", I should probably mention that I am one of those pedants who doesn't believe there to be any such thing. (Especially in the historical context of Kirk&Spock fandom.) But ymmv. What this fic is, imo, is a great fill-in-the-blanks fic for the Enterprise's trip home at the end of Star Trek XI, as Jen Kirk and Spock struggle with a broken ship, traumatised Vulcans, and other challenges.

It is also a great genderswap fic, and as such salacious gossip blog rumours become one of the plot points. But no one finds that more ridiculous than Jen and Spock, quite frankly. Their reactions are hilarious, and the banter is lots of fun.

“Acting Captain Kirk has been performing her duties in a laudable manner,” Spock says, with no inflection whatsoever.

“No, I mean, how do you and Captain Kirk get along?” the guy pushes.

“Our interactions are satisfactory,” Spock replies, and his voice says whereas your question is stupid.

Jen affixes a smile to her face.

MCU: Some Guardian Angels Have Missing Parts, by hufflepirate

[dirty_diana]

FANDOM: Marvel Cinematic Universe/Captain America/Avengers
FIC LINK: Some Guardian Angels Have Missing Parts
AUTHOR LINK: hufflepirate
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen / none
WIP?/WORD COUNT: complete / 38 000 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanov, Bruce Banner, Thor

FIC SUMMARY: Bucky Barnes has been tailing the Avengers ever since Steve got dragged back in to help them instead of continuing his search for Bucky. That makes him the first on the scene when the Avengers are hit by a spell that leaves them deaged into 6-year-olds. He knows how to finish the fight and rescue them, but gaining their trust, looking after them, and getting them back to their old selves isn't so easy. Luckily, he has watched Steve long enough to know he can trust Sam Wilson, and that just might be enough to get them by...

RECCER'S NOTES: Lots of de-aged cuteness, which I can never turn down. But more than that, it is a lovely story about Bucky Barnes being slowly dragged back into the land of the living by six tiny superheroes. The image of a young and faithful Steve treating the tramautised Winter Soldier as if they're both still six years old is utterly priceless.

Abruptly, the adrenaline from the fight drained out of him, leaving him feeling hollow and useless. He'd spent a lot of time feeling hollow and useless since he'd left HYDRA to become a person instead of a weapon. It was harder than it sounded. But he couldn't afford to think like that right now, because the kids didn't need a weapon. They needed a person. He needed to push through the empty feeling and be a person for them.