By Yessydo

Juulna’s 2021 Multi-Fandom Fanfiction Rec List - Part Two

(Yes, I realize this is a year late, but this year's been a bit nuts. I still hope you enjoy these fics anyway!)

Based only on what I’ve read with my own eyes this year!

Follow me on my journey into what, at times, was…

…actually rather calming! Perhaps you can find some comfort and entertainment, fluff and angst and romance and friendship, smut and a distinct lack of it, space adventures and fantasy and modern adventures, serial killers and good guys, redemption and reconciliation and learning to become someone completely different — there is so much here I read that stuck with me over the past year, and the 2021 Fanfic Reading Challenge ( @fanfic-reading-challenge ) allowed me a new way to keep track of all of my favourites. So props to that event! Definitely participating again (considering I run the event, yeah, that's probably a given lol, but full disclosure).

Without further ado, here were my 2021 fic favourites!

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six

Fandom: Marvel (Comics & MCU)

Stony, Polyvengers:

you great unfinished symphony (you sent for me) by @ketchupcrisp

The last thing Steve Rogers ever expected to see on a Wednesday afternoon was his (their) dead submissive tumbling out of a portal and practically into Phil’s lap, very much alive and frantic about Soul Stones and timelines and some other version of the team.

Avengers Family:

Of Spectrums and Spoons by @calloftherunningtide

Natasha had been taught to pretend – to act and respond just like she was supposed to act and respond - from an early age.

Things You Learn In the Kitchen at Night by @buzzcat

When Darcy went into the kitchen that night, she didn't expect to meet her platonic soul mate or Tony Stark, let alone have them be one and the same person.

Iron Family (typically very Civil War Team Iron Man):

Second Chances by @izazov

Tony Stark is in love with Steve Rogers. Also, he is dying. There is no direct correlation between those two facts. But there is also the matter of Steve Rogers having no idea about Tony’s feelings.

And all that's best of dark and bright by @kaaterinapetrova

When Steve Rogers leaves her to die in Siberia, Toni Stark hacks her soulmark apart, tears the flesh and veins until she is blinded with pain, and waits to die. Up above, somewhere in the universe, something fractures.

Trigger warning for cutting, suicidal thoughts, breakdown.

Siren by @tsuki-chibi

When the exvengers were granted pardons, they return to the Compound. Steve was prepared to fight an uphill battle, but not for the biggest change of all:a clone of Peggy Carter, who is already at the Compound and acting as the newest Avenger. Determined to see everything go back to the way it was, Steve, Wanda and Clint become obsessed with figuring out a way to upstage the New Avengers and prove that the Accords are unnecessary.

Spoiler: their plan doesn't work.

Basic Rules by @striving-artist

It said something about Toni’s life that she had an established system in case of kidnapping and torture, and while there had been tweaks, it was still basically the same as from when she was a kid.

1. Let them underestimate you. 2. Don’t fight back until you have an exit. 3. Lie from the start. 4. Protect what matters. 5. Assume no one is coming to help.

you want a war? (you don't know what you're asking for) by @dyke-yoonji

“And now? Now you’ve all betrayed,”  Steve flinched at the choice of words, “Stark, and Potts and Rhodes are not going to sit and take it.”

Natasha frowned at the phone. “What does this mean for us?”

Fury laughed - an ugly laugh with no myrth in it. “It means that Potts or Rhodes are the ones who sent me this phone because they wanted me to contact you. They wanted me - and you - to know that they are with Stark, that they are the line of defence between him and us.”   “It means that they just declared war. God have mercy on your souls.”

Tony Stark is Not a Supervillain (But his Poker Group All Are) by DaughteroftheSilverMoon

A superhero walks into a room full of villains- and they play poker and give him a drink. After all, it's the polite thing to do. Only then they get to liking him, and all of a sudden they're slaying dragons for the good guys. It's very disconcerting, but kind of nice.

The Worst Job by @thealextheshipper

Jessica is assigned as the Rogue Avengers Accords delegate upon their return to the US, on the plus side she befriends Tony Stark, on the down side she has to deal with PR nightmare Steve Rogers, and his best friend PR nightmare Clint Barton.

DomesticIronHawk: (Laura/Clint/Tony)

Set On Fire by @allthemarvelousrage

She's not sure if she forgot to take her suppressants, or if something Wanda did screwed with her meds, but her world is on fire for the first time in years, and there's no one to help her through it... until there is.

IronMarvel:

Keep Me in Your Orbit by @moonlitmidnight-1

A post Civil War AU in which Toni knew Carol during the events of Captain Marvel, and was the person she gave the pager to.

IronStrange:

ARC I: An Infinity In The Wings by @bad-days-and-beautiful-nights

Stephen and Toni met just before she's kidnapped. They spent the night together and when she returns, they strike up an easy friendship. Soon enough, Stephen falls in love with her, but by the time he realizes, it's too late. Hoping she never finds out, he gracefully steps back, trusting Captain America to be the right man for his best friend. But when Steve surprises everyone and Toni ends up at death's door for the fourth time, Stephen has to re-evaluate his life's choices.

IronTaser:

Disinformed by Del_Rion

It’s time to come clean about Phil Coulson’s death. Out of all the Avengers, Tony’s reaction is the most surprising, and Phil must investigate it further.

Maria Hill/Sif:

Diplomatic Relations and Intelligence Failures by @scifigrl47

Maria Hill would like a night off, and maybe a date. She's not likely to get either one of them, so she's pretty resigned to long nights of protecting the world from behind the scenes. It's very satisfying, but not quite in the way she's hoping for.

Most people who know Maria are far too intimidated to make a pass. Luckily, the Lady Sif doesn't have that problem.

Phlint:

SHIELD Has Paperwork for Everything by @scifigrl47

Clint Barton knows where his loyalties lie, and they have more to do with his handler than his employer. Phil Coulson takes his responsibilities seriously, and a big part of his job is protecting the agent in his care from any threat to his well-being.

At this rate, neither of them is going to get a date. Natasha Romanov has other ideas, and the only side she's on is her own.

Stucky:

Reputation by @cpt-winniethepooh

Captain America is a hero to the nation, but an uncomfortable cage for Steve Rogers. He is confined by his reputation as the boring Avenger, Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes, and has long given up on hope to change his public image.

Then he meets James Barnes, the infamous assassin also known as the Winter Soldier, who recently switched sides and is now working for the US instead of Russia. Barnes is tall, dark and handsome with his man-bun and eyeliner, and everything Steve shouldn’t want but does.

But just as there is more to Steve than Cap, there is more to Barnes than the Soldier - but will they be able to see that and find happiness?

An albumfic about finding love through the noise, set to the tune and narrative of Taylor Swift’s Reputation.

Steve Rogers at 100: Celebrating Captain America on Film by @hellotailor, @alwaysalreadyangry, eleveninches, febricant, @morgan-leigh

“Heil Hydra,” the enemy agent shouts. 

“Heil this, motherfucker,” says Captain America, shooting off a rocket.

Steve and Bucky find out Hollywood has been busy since they went away. A historical survey, including but not limited to: one set of exploded genitals, a brief interlude in France, Mel Gibson and other masterworks of casting, eight Academy awards, several dinosaurs, and something Tony Stark has ominously dubbed “the masterpiece.” Art included.

Steve Rogers and the minefields of social media by @cpt-winniethepooh

Steve gets a Twitter account, then an Instagram one, then he gets Bucky back, too.

ThunderIron:

King Of Hearts, Queen Of . . . Nothing by ThatDamnKennedyKid

He was sure that she didn't remember, not with the way she had cried herself into drunken slumber in his arms. That did not mean he forgot. Not anything - not the painful slurs from her father that lingered in her mind, the barely visible scars across her arms and thighs from jumping into adulthood alone before she was no longer a child, how she had blubbered the name Yinsen over and over again like a regret.

I don't Want the World to See Me by @outercorner

Tony has a secret, one that is harder and harder to keep from observant teammates.

WinterIron:

Lines by @treesramblings

“If you want—and feel free to say no, everyone and their mothers know that I’m the queen of offering too much where I’m not wanted—but, if you want…” Toni hesitates, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment, and then continues, “well, that’s the longest period of uninterrupted sleep I’ve had since last week, which was also with you, and—twice is a coincidence, but maybe we could test to see, uh, see if it’s a pattern? Only if you want; I’m not trying to guilt you into it. In fact, forget I said anything. This is a horrible idea. I’m just going to leave—”

She’s stopped by his fingers slipping into her palm as he's suddenly standing in front of her. “Okay,” he whispers.

The tension that had built up in her body releases all at once and she looks up into his eyes, the ever present churn of emotion swirling enchantingly, tenderly.

“Okay,” she responds, and his hand glides from hers as he turns away. She aches with the missing weight.

Watercolour Scars by ThatDamnKennedy

Despite fighting against Iron Man, Bucky didn't actually know Tony. Even then, he didn't know how he was the only one starstruck. He couldn't imagine the kind of miracles she must have pulled off before for the team to not even thank her.

Our Shattered Past by Elenduen

Bucky survives the snap, survives to see two-thirds of the universe die, half turning to ash, the others killed because those others turned to ash. He follows Steve back to America and the Avengers compound struggling to try and make sense of everything that has happened. Then Tony Stark returns to earth, broken, sick, desolate. Bucky feels he owes Tony for what he did to his parents, he wants to find a way to make amends and the only way he think to do that is to act as protection for Tony while he slowly recovers from his time in space.

Tony couldn't care less what happens to him now. He failed, Peter is gone, two-thirds of the Universe is gone, why should he care if he lives or dies now? he is determined to help others while he can though and if that means Barnes is following him around then he can help too.

What neither expect is a relationship to blossom between them or the family that blooms out of the ashes of their shattered pasts.

721 Fifth Avenue by Skarla

Tony Stark is a man of many faces; stressed, a little manic, overly fond of smoothies and kinder than anyone Bucky has ever met, although he hides it well. He's not quite sure why no one else is providing the support and companionship that the man is quietly desperate for, but it's no hardship to step up to the plate. He's always had a thing for scrappy underdogs after all.

The Evidence by @striving-artist

Didn’t notice. Right. Sure. Two brilliant minds, two super spies, and a god didn’t notice when the chattiest man they knew stopped making sound. They just seemed happier than before. Brighter and more cheerful than before. They just seemed like they were more comfortable with him around when he was stone silent.

Fuck it.

He knew they noticed.

And he knew they liked him better this way.

ShieldShock:

MARRY, FUCK, KILL by @sevensneakyfoxes

"Actually, you know, I get it. Rogers would be an excellent MARRY choice. You know that he'd never leave the toilet seat up, would never drink the last of the milk, and would clean the rain gutters without prompting," Darcy says. She's never really considered Steve as anything other than Captain America who is impossibly unapproachable; weirdly enough, the things she finds intimidating about him as a person oddly work for her in a domestic setting. "Ugh, plus you just KNOW Barton would be the type of fucker that would eat the last oreo and then shove the empty box back into the cupboard."

"So what's your list then, Darcy?" Jane asks, turning back to look at the mold, which has done exactly fuck all in the last half-hour.

"Don't rush me! I need to make an informed, calculated choice."

Darcy looks down at her pad, then back up at Natasha. She purses her lips in thought. "You've fucked Barnes, right? How dexterous is that metal hand?"

--

The ladies of SHIELD play a mass game of MARRY FUCK KILL, Avengers edition.

Wherein everyone marries Steve, kills Tony, Jane betrays science and Darcy hypothetically turns Thor into a llama.

WinterShock:

Black Holes and Revelations by @amidtheflowers

The Winter Soldier doesn’t like her much. It doesn’t help when they get thrown in a black hole together.

WinterShieldShock:

Upon A Hill, Across a Blue Lake by @i-mushi

Fluffy ABO - Darcy has a few run-ins with the police and a couple Alpha Avengers show up to help. She /really/ should have specified to Jane not to send her crushes when she called for help. Steve/Darcy/Bucky Alpha!Steve, Alpha!Bucky, Omega!Darcy

WinterWidowIronShield:

my body is not their bed by @deathsweetqueen

In 1995, the Engineer and the Winter Soldier escape HYDRA and end up, bleeding, on Peggy Carter's doorstep.

This is their journey after. This is the story of their victory march.

by cloudyskyzz

the time between the bank heist and the boat. awkward flirting and cuddles ensue.

Words: 1065, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Red Dead Redemption (Video Games)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Categories: M/M

Characters: Arthur Morgan, Charles Smith (Red Dead Redemption), Dutch van der Linde, Hosea Matthews, Leonard “Lenny” Summers, Javier Escuella, Bill Williamson, Micah Bell

Relationships: Arthur Morgan/Charles Smith

Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Fluff, Fluff and Angst, Domestic Fluff, Awkward Flirting, Cuddling & Snuggling, Sleepy Cuddles, Grief/Mourning, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Arthur Morgan Does Not Have Tuberculosis, Arthur Morgan Deserves Happiness, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

by Minty_Moon

Arthur has always been a tormented man but this time, he can’t live with it any longer

…

Arthur’s horse is the white Arabian which I named Isabelle aka Izzy after the place she’s found at

Words: 2409, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Red Dead Redemption (Video Games)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: M/M

Characters: Charles Smith (Red Dead Redemption), Arthur Morgan, Dutch van der Linde, Hosea Matthews, Jack Marston, John Marston

Relationships: Arthur Morgan/Charles Smith, Hosea Matthews/Dutch van der Linde

Additional Tags: Self-Harm, Suicide Attempt, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Not Beta Read

Look okay can we talk about Ethan saying the word yes

Heisenberg holds out his hand, palm up, heart on his sleeve and Ethan says yes

Can you imagine a Heisenberg that is genuinely eager to work with someone, an outsider, an equal, in order to take down the the woman that made him what he is???

Can you imagine the relief? He'd feel? At having someone actually On His Side for the first time in this life??? That has to be something Big for him, right? Someone going "yes, I will help you" and actually Meaning It

Sure he goes through all the stages of grief before he actually believes a single word Ethan says to him, or maybe his intent all along was to use and betray Ethan as an asset and nothing else, but eventually, after a good few life or death moments with the megamycete stuff, he has that moment

You know the moment I'm talking about. The italicised oh. The one where he looks at Ethan, really looks at him over his shoulder, the man laying down covering fire at his back during the revolution they both brought to fruition, and he realises what true companionship can be like. And from that moment on he Craves It. The reliability. The camaraderie. God, is this what Validation and Trust feels like?? Someone caring whether he lives or dies?? I'm telling you the man is SUNK no conniving bastard just wakes up one day and decides 'I'm going to befriend the enemy'. He either had a plan to betray Ethan OR he legitimately wanted help and companionship. And I know which one I'm gonna pick up and run with

Sure they started wanting to actively kill eachother in the beginning, but that just adds to that edge in their relationship both of them have learned to thrive on. Keeps them sharp and distant, that tightrope pulled taut, ready to snap...

Anyway yeah, imagine

by BlueKingDedede

Charles and Arthur had found the perfect match in one another, easily coming to love and trust each other the more time they spent together. Intimacy wasn’t hard to come by for them, either, both of them constantly gravitating towards the other to share their affection in every way they could. It wasn’t weird that such closeness would lead to the awakening of their more primal desires, to Arthur wishing for something he knew he couldn’t have.

But maybe his cravings weren’t as unattainable as he thought. Maybe his significant other had just the right solution that would ensure both of their everlasting happiness.

Words: 3616, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 8 of Cowboy Smut

Fandoms: Red Dead Redemption (Video Games)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Arthur Morgan, Charles Smith (Red Dead Redemption)

Relationships: Arthur Morgan/Charles Smith

Additional Tags: Trans Arthur Morgan, Trans Male Character, Established Relationship, Breeding, Kink Negotiation, Vaginal Sex, Vaginal Fingering, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Creampie, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Please read the notes for warnings

Happy spooky month

by adashofblue

Excerpt from fic: Arthur swallows, his heart swiftly picking up pace. Charles studies him for just a moment, features carefully neutral, and then he offers the man a small smile and a nod before leaving. Arthur’s eyes are glued to his broad back as he walks off.

“You got it bad, Arthur Morgan,” Sadie says with a low whistle, quiet so no one else hears, and Arthur knows she’s right. He couldn’t have phrased it better himself.

Or; Arthur takes Charles on a fishing trip at Dutch’s request. Can he handle being alone on a boat in the middle of the lake with the man, or will things go… overboard? (I’m so sorry.) Happy reading!

Words: 4366, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Red Dead Redemption (Video Games)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Arthur Morgan, Charles Smith (Red Dead Redemption), Sadie Adler, Dutch van der Linde, (Mentioned) Josiah Trelawney, (Mentioned) Simon Pearson, (Mentioned) Micah Bell, Arthur Morgan’s Horse, Taima the Horse (Red Dead Redemption), (Mentioned) Molly O'Shea

Relationships: Arthur Morgan/Charles Smith, Arthur Morgan & Charles Smith, Sadie Adler & Arthur Morgan

Additional Tags: Fluff and Angst, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Insecurity, Fishing, Horseback Riding, Chapter 2: Horseshoe Overlook (Red Dead Redemption 2), No Spoilers, Mutual Pining, Wingwoman Sadie Adler, Developing Relationship, Slow Burn, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Arthur Morgan’s Many Horses, Not Beta Read, My First Work in This Fandom

by planetcowboy

This isn’t the first time Arthur has thought about this. For the past few months, no matter where he is, his thoughts keep going back to images of Charles. They started out innocently enough, Charles laughing with their friends or him being sweet on his horse. But more recently, these images have shifted from the mundane to more provocative visuals.

His mind snaps out of its haze when he hears rustling coming from some bushes nearby. Before he can move, Charles’ figure comes out from behind some trees.

+ + +

Arthur can’t seem to get Charles out of his head and decides to do something about it.

Words: 2764, Chapters: 1/6, Language: English

Fandoms: Red Dead Redemption (Video Games)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Arthur Morgan, Charles Smith (Red Dead Redemption), Javier Escuella, John Watson, Hosea Matthews

Relationships: Arthur Morgan/Charles Smith

Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Kinda?, Friends With Benefits, Trans Arthur Morgan, Trans Male Character, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Switching, Outdoor Sex, Phone Sex, Blow Jobs, Sex Toys, Strap-Ons, Trans Guy With Strap, Falling In Love, Unrequited Love, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Porn with Feelings, Some Plot, Fluff, a lil angst, Being Walked In On

by tulo

The boys are celebrating after a brawl in Valentine. Comparisons are made. Arthur is left with a slew of complicated emotions and a pair of warm brown eyes that suggest something to be done about them.

Words: 2743, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Red Dead Redemption (Video Games)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Arthur Morgan, Charles Smith (Red Dead Redemption), Bill Williamson, Javier Escuella, John Marston, Karen Jones (Red Dead Redemption)

Relationships: Arthur Morgan/Charles Smith

Additional Tags: Set after Americans at Rest, Horseshoe Overlook, Hand Jobs, Size Kink

by perilit

Chapter 3 Mission: Magicians for Sport.

Charles and Arthur rescue Trelawny, and Charles realizes how much Arthur is beginning to mean to him.

Words: 1279, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Red Dead Redemption (Video Games)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Arthur Morgan, Charles Smith (Red Dead Redemption), Josiah Trelawny

Relationships: Arthur Morgan/Charles Smith

Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Asphyxiation, Strangulation, Vomiting, Developing Relationship, Blood and Injury