#a bit of background thundershield

[rubyisms]

i think i’m gonna write a canon divergent fic of science bros

[iamthedukeofurl]

One interesting thing that can happen in long running media is that the general cultural background can shift under the work, recontextualizing it as it is being written. I'm specifically thinking of the Order of the Stick, a Dungeons and Dragons themed webcomic that started in 2003 with the titular party of adventurers going through a dungeon.

From left to right, we have Belkar Bitterleaf the halfling ranger, Vaarsuvius the Elf Wizard, Elan the Human Bard, Haley Starshine the Human Rogue, Durkon Thundershield the Dwarf Cleric, and Roy Greenhilt the Human Fighter. The comic takes place in a fantasy setting that knowingly runs off the rules of Dungeons and Dragons third edition. Characters talk about rolls and bonuses and intentionally take levels in various classes. At the start, the comic was a pretty basic gag comic about the D&D rules, basic fantasy/adventure tropes, ect.

In the 20 years the comic has been running, it has updated about 1300 times, not counting bonus strips exclusively made for the printed version, and several print (or PDF) only side and prequel stories. It has also dramatically grown from it's roots, the art has improved while keeping the same general aesthetic, and the gag-a-day comic has become a sweeping fantasy epic. The characters have grown beyond their initial bits (Belkar is a Murderhobo, Elan is stupid, Haley is greedy, ect), and it's genuinely up there as one of my favorite stories. But anyway, let's talk about Vaarsuvius. If you look at the above art, You'll notice that the characters tend to have three types of body shapes: Rectangles for Roy, Belkar, and Elan, feminine curves for Haley, and Robes for Vaarsuvius. This presentation is a pretty consistent signifier of gender and/or somebody wearing robes. Early on, part of Vaarsuvius's running gag became their ambiguous gender. At the time, it was a fairly common joke in fantasy to talk about how Elven men had androgynous or "Girly" appearances, so V was part of that. Instead of a singular pronoun, characters would generally just abbreviate Vaarsuvius's name as "V", and whenever the narrative would have naturally provided some indication of gender one way or another, V would resolve the situation without providing any such indication. For example, an early gag has the characters seeking out a set of modern style bathrooms in the dungeon. When they find them, V says that their "More Efficient elven biology" means they don't have to go yet, so they wait outside while the boys go into the Men's room and Haley waits in the inevitable long line at the women's. When Vaarsuvius reveals that they are married, they use the term "Spouse" to refer to their partner, when we see their children, the children are clearly adopted (V and their partner both have pale skin, their children have darker skin) and refer to Vaarsuvius as "Parent". Vaarsuvius themselves seems to have trouble identifying other people by gender. Characters outside the central cast might refer to Vaarsuvius as "He" or "She", but doing so was always shedding light on that character's perspective, rather than saying anything about Vaarsuvius. The assumption behind the gag is that Vaarsuvius must be either male or female, and the joke is that the narrative/Vaarsuvius themselves keeps finding ways to avoid "Revealing" their gender. Fan wikis and official books list Vaarsuvius's gender as "Ambigious" and on the forum there used to be a regular, multi-part thread dedicated to debatings Vaarsuvius's gender, even after the author declared that it would "never be revealed".

Anyway, going back to the start, it's 2023, and something shifted at some point, both in the comic and in the general cultural background. The jokes about V's gender kind of fell off, not just because the gag got played out, but because the basic assumption behind it simply doesn't work anymore. Everybody knows that Nonbinary people exist. There's no point in the comic where Vaarsuvius switches from being "Ambigiously Gendered" to Nonbinary, in fact, the entire comic reads just fine if you read Vaarsuvius as male or female and just not caring enough to clarify their gender to anybody and at some point other characters just stop thinking about it. But it's interesting to see how a character trait that was once included in even the most basic character descriptions (Varsuvius: Elven Wizard. Arrogant, Intelligent. Ambigiously gendered) just kind of got washed away by a rising tide of cultural nuance towards gender. Also go read OOTS, it's pretty great.

[plasmas-arcade]

Jeff and the Winter Soldier

Collaboration with @over-usedlittlespoon

Summary: As Bucky is hiding out in Romania, he meets a landshark who becomes a normal part of his routine.

Themes/Tags/Warnings: comfort, found family, general jeff shenanigans, background thundershield

Word Count: 1.8k

Bucky is in hiding.

For how long? He doesn’t know. 

He’s attempting to make himself a sandwich, feeling generally like absolute shit as he’s paranoid to even go out to get bread.

Jeff peeks into Bucky's window, holding a packaged loaf of bread in his mouth. He paws at the window, trying to get Bucky's attention. He sees that this guy has stuff to make sandwiches with!

Bucky nearly screams at the creature, peeking out the window. “What are you?”

Jeff sits, his back paws sticking out. "Mrrrr!" He is offended by the question! He spits out the bread. "Raaa." He is a landshark. Obviously.

Bucky picks up the bread after opening the window. “You’re… a shark? With paws?”

Jeff nods, and he shows his paws to Bucky to prove his point. "Mrrrr!" He points his noise towards the bread. "Mmmmr?" Can he please make Jeff a sandwich?

Bucky offers to let the creature in. “Are you wild? Does someone own you?” He gets to work making two sandwiches.

Jeff hops inside, following after Bucky into the kitchen. "Mmmmrrr!" He shows off his collar, that has a HYDRA symbol on one side, and the name "Jeff" scratched in on the other.

Bucky immediately looks terrified. What if they found him? “Do they still own you? Do you work for them?” He grabs the collar harshly, holding Jeff in place.

Jeff shakes his head quickly. "Mmmrrrrr!!" He makes a disgusted sound when Bucky asks if he works for them.

Bucky lets go of the collar. “How about we get you a new tag?” He gets back to making the sandwiches.

Jeff wags his shark tail approvingly, putting his paws on the side of the counter and standing on his back legs. He opens his mouth for the sandwich, his many teeth showing.

Bucky blinks, before dropping the sandwich into Jeff’s mouth. “You were hungry, huh?”

Jeff chomps the sandwich, making a sound that is kind of like a purr? He trots around happily, inspecting what he has decided is his new home.

Bucky watches the creature, looking invested. “You can sleep on the couch? Do you need water?”

Jeff trills in affirmative, and he wanders into the bathroom. "Mmrrrr!" He climbs into the tub, waiting for Bucky expectantly.

Bucky plugs the tub, starting to fill the tub with water.

Jeff swims around happily, then floats on his back, spitting water into the air.

Bucky keeps Jeff around, feeding the little sharky who somehow manages to get money to pay his half of the rent.

Jeff comes home one day, dropping a can fill of coins and bills on the floor for Bucky. "Mmmrrr!"

Bucky crouches down, “…Where do you get these?” He offers Jeff a sandwich like he always does.

Jeff chomps his sandwich happily. "Mrrrrrr. Mrrr!" Bucky can go with him tomorrow and see!

Bucky nods, putting the coins on the counter and finding the machine he has to count them. "We'll have to exchange these for cash. I don't think the landlord would wanna be paid in change." He crouches down, offering Jeff some pats. "You like staying with me, buddy? You sure you don't have somewhere better to be?"

Jeff trills, snuggling close to Bucky and licking his hand a bit. "Mmmrrrrr!!" He likes staying here!

Bucky goes out with Jeff the next day, following behind the overly friendly shark.

Jeff walks along, heading to a farmers market. He has his little can strapped to the top of his head, and he stops at a stall, sitting patiently. 

"Jeff!" The owner of the stall comes over. "Hey bud! I got a lot for you today." 

Jeff opens his mouth wide, and the stall owner literally dumps a bin of compostable items into it. Jeff swallows happily, then trills as the stall owner puts some money in his can.

Bucky watches, looking amused. "You really can eat anything, huh?" He follows Jeff around, getting some groceries as the shark works.

Jeff finishes up his rounds, setting his can down as he stretches out on his back, his tummy full from a day of hard work. "Bweh...."

Bucky picks up the can, patting Jeff's tummy. "You need some rest, buddy."

Jeff nods a little in agreement. He sighs, soaking up the sun as he relaxes. "Mrrr?" How much money did he make?

“This is definitely enough for the groceries today.” Bucky shakes the can a little. He leaves to use the bathroom, telling Jeff to stay put. When he returns, Jeff is gone. Nowhere to be found. Not even the locals saw where he went.

Jeff doesn't come back, and it isn't like the little guy to just leave and not say why. And he really seemed to like Bucky, making it all more strange. He also left all of his stuffed animals behind, which does NOT add up.

Bucky is confused, and after a day of not showing up he starts making missing posters with a picture he got of Jeff, putting them all around. He even leaves out bowls of Jeff’s favorite snacks, waiting for him to come back.

The stall owners are also worried, helping distribute the posters and promising to tell Bucky if they see him. 

In fact, it seems a lot of the neighborhood is concerned, posters spreading everywhere.

Bucky eventually has to head off to America, but everyone promises to contact him if they see Jeff again. 

Bucky is pretty depressed, but tries to move on, not telling anyone about Jeff, not even Steve. 

Bucky ends up in Wakanda, spending most of his time with the King and Shuri as his programming is removed.

Thor returns from space with Bruce in tow, along with a very strange shark-thing that he stole from the collector. The shark keeps trying to ask about Bucky, drawing pictures of Bucky and insisting on it.

Steve greets the two, giving Thor a big kiss, before looking down at the shark. “And who’s this?”

Thor chuckles, wrapping his arm around Steve. "This is Jeffrey. The collector must have taken him from somewhere, but he understands English, so perhaps here." 

Jeff sniffs at Steve, and he shows him the drawing he made of Bucky. "Mmmrrr?"

Steve crouches down peering at the drawing. “I don’t… know who that is.” He really can barely tell from how… talented the shark is.

Jeff looks disappointed, wandering off. 

Thor sighs. "He has been trying to tell me something the whole trip, but I don't know what. Poor little guy." 

There is a crash in the other room, sounding like glass was broken.

Steve races over, “Oh my god-“ He already worries the shark has hurt himself.

Jeff has broken a picture frame, and he trots over with the photo in his mouth. He puts it at Steve's feet, then looks at him expectantly. 

It's a photo of Steve and Bucky, now very wet with shark spit.

Steve picks up the picture, smiling a little at it. “What is it, buddy?”

Jeff stomps his feet, pointing his snoot at Bucky in the picture. "Mrrr!" 

Thor looks baffled. "Does he know you?"

Steve points at Bucky in the picture. “You know him?”

Jeff spins in a circle, nodding happily. "Mrrr!!" Yes!!

Thor chuckles. "I don't know how he knows Bucky, I don't think Bucky has been to space."

“Maybe he wasn’t always from space.” Steve shrugs. “Well, Bucky is in Wakanda, so we gotta wait for him to come back, okay? Then you can see him.”

Jeff perks up. He knows Wakanda! He starts to trot off to find a way to get there. "Mmrrrr!" 

Thor blinks. "Where is he going?"

Steve guides Jeff back over. "I know you're excited, but we can't just go to Wakanda uninvited. We have to wait for Bucky to come to us." He learned the hard way that showing up uninvited to try and get Bucky to come home didn't work very well.

Jeff looks disappointed, his tail drooping. "Mrrr...." He wanders over to find a broom, dragging it over to the mess he made. 

Thor looks sympathetic. "Can he stay with us?" He asks Steve. "He's adorable."

Steve sighs. “Fine, but only because he knows Bucky.” He helps sweep up the shards. “Do you want your own room, sharkie?”

Jeff jumps up onto the couch, using his teeth to drag a blanket over himself. "Mmmrrr!" He can use the couch!

Steve nods. “…Bucky has a room here. If you want to stay in there.”

Jeff hops back off the couch, looking up at Steve to lead the way. 

Thor chuckles. "If I didn't know better, I would think you think he's adorable too."

Steve rolls his eyes, “Hush, you.” He leads Jeff to Bucky’s room. 

Bucky has a few pictures of himself with the other Avengers on the walls. His bed isn’t made, but it looks cozy.

Jeff looks around curiously, checking everything out. Bucky had gotten new friends... but Jeff knows that he is Bucky's best friend. 

He jumps into the bed, snuggling into it happily. "Mmmrrrr!"

Steve leaves the shark alone to nap. 

It’s another month before Bucky returns. With a new arm and a fresh new hairstyle and general vibe. He’s a bit more cleaned up, stretching a bit as he’s lead inside by Natasha. “Anything new here?”

Natasha thinks. "Oh! We have a new roommate." She chuckles a bit. 

Jeff comes rushing out, expecting to see his old friend. He skids to a stop in front of Bucky, staring up at him in confusion. Who is this guy who is vaguely Bucky shaped?

Bucky sees Jeff and immediately crouches down, opening his arms. “Jeff!” His voice is at least the same.

Jeff trills and jumps into Bucky's arms, his tail wagging happily. The little guy almost seems like he's crying a little with how happy he is. 

Thor smiles when he sees the two. "I found him with The Collector, stolen from Earth a while ago."

Bucky hugs Jeff tight, holding him close. “Someone took you, didn’t they?”

Jeff nods. "Mrrr!" Yes! He would never just leave his bestie! 

Thor tears up a little. "He's been staying in your room and waiting for you."

Bucky nods, petting Jeff sweetly. "We lived together in Romania when I was hiding out. He just disappeared one day."

Jeff totally relaxes, rolling on his back for tummy rubs. 

Thor chuckles. "The collector must have taken him, or one of his friends. He was on display, like a zoo animal, poor guy."

Bucky frowns. "Well, we'll protect him now."

Thor nods. "We will. He's been a good roommate." 

Natasha snorts. "Well. He is good at taking all the leftovers." 

Jeff looks up at everyone innocently. He tugs gently on Bucky's pant leg with his teeth, leading him towards their now shared room.

[avonne-writes]

Thundershield OTP Alphabet

A - Attractive (What do they find attractive about each other?)

The list could go on forever because they're both gorgeous inside and out, but something that Thor finds really attractive about Steve is how steady he is. He's loyal, trustworthy, dependable - he'll never give up on you or betray you. Given Thor's royal status and his family background, that means a lot.

Steve loves that Thor's so honest in everything he says and does. He doesn't see Steve as an asset, but a person to love and care for.

B - Baby (Do they want a family? Why/Why not?)

Thor does! The more people he can love unconditionally, the better. The problems in his family don't discourage him, he just swears to himself that he'll do better. He can't wait to be a father!

But Steve isn't ready to think about this. To have a family of his own, first he'd have to find himself outside of Captain America, and he's not quite there yet. He doesn't mind it if Thor daydreams about it though.

C - Cuddles (How do they cuddle?)

Thor's bigger and bulkier but he likes to pillow his head on Steve's chest and sprawl on him while Steve's arms wrap around his torso. He wants to be held.

The only exception is spooning - he's the big spoon then. It's not something Steve mulls over, but he likes being weighed down.

D - Dreams (What do they hope for in the future?)

That's such a difficult question for them because of the vast difference in their life expectancies. Thor, in secret, without ever daring to voice the thought, wants Steve to move to Asgard. 

Steve, deep down in his heart, when he's honest with himself, isn't opposed to that idea. It will take a while for them to figure this out.

E - Equal (Are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?)

Neither of them tends to be passive. More than anything, Thor likes taking care of Steve and urges him to relax and let go, which leads to Steve being a bit more submissive when it's just the two of them. But that doesn't mean he's passive.

F - Fights (What do they fight about? How do they react?)

Mostly about the little things, like chores. Steve's stubborn while Thor's volatile, so Thor flips out at Steve and storms away and Steve sulks. 

He gets sassy too, which Thor can't stand when it's directed at him because it reminds him of Loki.

Their fights are loud, but they make up quickly. Once the fight is over, Thor moves past it immediately, but Steve needs a little reassurance sometimes. 

When the bigger issues come up in an argument, they always end up sleeping in separate beds and one of them will crawl into the other's in the middle of the night to apologize.

G - Gentle (Are they gentle?)

So very gentle! Their lives are rough enough, they have no desire to go hard on each other. Unless it's an extra hot night and they haven't seen each other in a few days...

H - Hands (How do they express themselves through touch?)

Thor is more tactile and handles touch liberally.

On the other hand, Steve's quite precise in what he touches, how and when. He gives Thor small touches when they're in public - brushing against his shoulder, pushing on the small of his back etc.

When they're alone, he's more open. He clings when he's sad, strokes Thor's arms when he's excited and touches his stomach if he's in the mood.

I - Insecurity (What are they insecure about?)

Thor is insecure about his intellience sometimes because he gets a lot of insults directed at it, just because he made some brash decisions and he never has any ulterior motives. This truly hurts him at times.

For Steve, it's his body. He knows it's ridiculous now, but he can't get over it. He finds flaws where there's none.

J - Jealousy (Do they get jealous?)

Oh yes, Steve does. He stews on it until he and Thor have an argument about something else and he can't help but throw this into it. It always catches Thor off-guard because he's totally oblivious.

Thor doesn't get jealous, but he's possessive. Likes to leave marks, keeps touching Steve in front of others or hovers in close proximity, gives Steve his clothes, eats from Steve’s plate. 

He does this for his own enjoyment, not to fight others off. It's like with Mjolnir - he knows it's 100% his and isn't afraid of losing it, but he likes to show off that he’s wrothy of it.

K - Kiss (How do they like to kiss each other?)

Oh, they're very serious about kissing. None of that coy 'leaning away at the last minute' thing. 

When it's just casual making out, they start with a closed-lipped peck and they keep coming back for longer little kisses until someone opens up for a French kiss. Steve likes to tangle his fingers in Thor's hair.

L - Love (When did they know they were in love?)

Thor always falls hard and fast, so love isn't the important realization for him, but the moment when he knew it was serious. 

He asked his mother if Idunn's apples would have any effect on a human and Frigga just replied with "Oh, Thor." That's when he knew, and it was painful.

Love is a gradual process for Steve. The realization hits him on a mundane night, when Thor falls asleep on him in front of the TV. Steve's not paying any attention to the movie because he's listening to Thor's steady breathing instead and controls his own to breathe out when Thor's soft exhales brush his skin. That's when he realizes he's in love, and it fills him with a sense of comfort.

M - Memory (What are their favorite memories of each other?)

The first time Steve lifted Mjolnir is Thor's favourite memory because he knew it all along and he was so proud.

Steve's is Thor showing him his favourite places on Asgard, because he felt like Thor was letting him into the most sacred parts of his heart.

N - Nicknames (What do they call each other?)

Thor is partial to Steven because he thinks it conveys respect, no one else calls Steve that and it's also a bit similar to some Asgardian names. He also uses love and little one often.

Steve has some teasing nicknames for Thor like Your Highness, which he uses on occasion. He likes darling and sweetheart the most and has a strange aversion to honey and baby.

O - Ode (Do they have a way with words?)

Not at all! They're disasters. Well, they do make some dramatic, heart-stopping declarations sometimes, but there's also a lot of fumbling and blushing when they're not in their comfort zones.

P - PDA (Are they upfront about their relationship? Or are they rather shy when others are watching?)

Steve's shy, Thor decidedly not. They compromise - Thor is allowed touch Steve as much as he wants as long as the touches are platonic and when Steve's comfortable and trusts the people around him, he might give in to a little kissing.

Q - Quirks (What random habit or ability do they have that makes the relationship better?)

When Loki was a toddler and he had to hold Thor's hand, he would always just wrap his little fist around Thor's index finger because he could cover it completely. Thor grew so used to this that when Steve's hand forms a loose fist, sometimes he sticks his finger in there as a way of holding hands. Steve finds this habit endearing.

R - Romance (Are they a hopeless romantic? Are their romantic gestures creative or cliche?)

Hopeless romantics, the both of them. They're more on the creative than the cliche side, especially since Thor has a somewhat different concept of romantic gestures.

S - Sad (What do they do when their partner cries?)

Few things can make these two cry, but Steve has to process a lot of grief and sometimes the sheer magnitude of his loss gets the best of him. It takes a while for him to trust Thor enough not to force himself to stop crying in front of him. It helps when Thor strokes his hair and asks him to tell stories from his time.

When Thor cries, it rains, and he wallows in the storm, so Steve gets soaking wet if he tries to get to him then and he might not even reach Thor. So it's more likely that he'll wait and comfort Thor once he comes back inside. Food is a great starting point.

T - Thrill (Do they like to try new things in the relationship or stick to a routine?)

There's little routine in their lives - it's not like they work a nine to five job - so it's actually comforting to have some regularity in their relationship. So some things, like working out together, shopping, hanging out in comfortable silence or making love are perfect without anything extra to spice it up.

But at the same time, there are so many new things for them to experience on a daily basis that if nothing happened for a few days they'd definitely seek out new thrills.

U - Understanding (Are they empathetic, or do they have trouble figuring each other out?)

Steve's better at it, but not perfect, and some things are impossible to figure out without an Asgardian upbringing. Thor doesn't always understand Steve but he's eager to learn.

V - Vaunt (Is there anything they're proud of that drives the other crazy?)

Steve thinks his steadfastness is his best quality - but Thor thinks he's outright obstinate when it comes to proving himself. He sets hardly achievable standards for himself just to show that he can "keep up", and this annoys Thor.

What Steve hates the most is when Thor takes his pride in being an Asgardian a touch too far.

X - XXX (How often do they have sex? Are they kinky or vanilla?)

Almost every day. They're two young men with an adrenaline-pumped lifestyle, it's not surprising.

They're rather vanilla - a few simple kinks but nothing too extreme. Steve enjoys giving head a little more than he expected but he refuses to be ashamed of it, and Thor has a thing for leaving marks. They prefer praise to dirty talk but they do venture there when they have a lot of pent up arousal.

And they're incredibly messy.

Y - Yearning (How do they deal with being apart from each other?)

Gosh, Thor's terrible about it. He pines and looks like a kicked puppy until they reunite. Steve, on the other hand, copes really well with separation - unfortunately, he had enough practice to know how to deal with it.

Z - Zeal (What lengths are they willing to go to for their relationship?)

These two don't know the word 'impossible' and they're willing to make even the greatest sacrifices for the right cause.

[shieldedbythunder]

Just imagine: thundershield leather biker husbands.

Ooooooh, this would be great to see! 

They first meet when Thor moves into the area and takes his bike to Steve’s mechanic shop for repairs, and they hit it off right away chatting about each other’s bikes. After a while as friends, Steve asks Thor to join him on a cross country biking vacation he’s been planning, and the two end up growing closer than ever and becoming boyfriends along the way.

I imagine they’d be a bit intimidating at first sight, these two ripped and beaded guys in leather and shades with their bikes rumbling in the background. But they’re a pair of sweethearts under all that, and always go out of their way to make sure they don’t make anyone uncomfortable. They’ll sometimes go to biking or leather events together, but they’re mostly happy enough doing their own thing, restoring old bikes to their former glory on weekends and going for long rides in the countryside together. 

[leisurelypanda]

Thundershield concept: moderno au, no powers, the odinson siblings (including hela) are the heirs of a big mafia legacy. Steve is an FBI agent who is demanteling a drug case that's been going on for a long time but they never have enough proof of the one's behind that; after a stressful week he goes to a bar with his companions to relax, there he meets a broad, big, blond, attractive guy who ends up being the owner of the bar and invites him a drink. (1)

It ends up being a great night for Steve who goes home with a new phone number and a date promise. Later on, new tracks start guiding to the odinson which ensues on angst, indecision, and broken hearts (or does it?). (2)

Oh god, I can only imagine how this plays out! Thor is a perfect gentleman with Steve when they meet. I mean, obviously he wouldn't just mention that he ran a mafia organization. He's been in the business a long time and he's not the sort to let a pretty face make him stupid. But it's obvious from the start that Steve feels burnt out with his job and I imagine Thor offers him a way to escape it.

It's a night of amazing, intense sex. Sometimes Thor fucks like a beast and other times he was gentle and affectionate. Steve loved every minute of it. Maybe it's irresponsible for him to be so taken in by a guy he just met while he's working a case, but dammit, he's been working this case for months and he's made little progress. He knew when he was assigned the case that it was a punishment. The higher ups didn't like how outspoken he was.

He starts to find himself distracted by his new paramour and the date they have planned. He's pretty sure Thor owns more than just the bar when Thor takes him out to a classy restaurant with balcony seating and no prices to be seen anywhere on the menu. It's far and away the fanciest place Steve has been to, but Thor doesn't seem too concerned. He spends the evening wining and dining Steve, all charm and grace and confidence. Steve finds himself opening up more and more. Not details, but just the general dissatisfaction he has with his job. Thor is sympathetic and attentive to Steve's concerns. Steve really feels like Thor understands what he's going through.

The dates and sex with Thor become regular occurrences as Steve continues to work what seems to be a dead end case. It takes another two months before they finally have a new lead that seems promising. The more they pursue it, the more promising it seems. Steve feels relieved, but also sad. Solving the case means that he'll have to return to DC. Maybe that won't mean anything to someone with as much money as Thor, but Steve still wants to be with him. Part of him is thinking of resigning and moving back to New York City so he can be closer to Thor. The FBI was a good opportunity when it started, but it was increasingly clear that his job was going nowhere.

They bust a storehouse. It ends up containing dozens of pounds of drugs and other illegal material. The owners are taken in to the station and slapped with charges. Steve makes his final report to his higher ups, after which he resigns from the FBI. They accept without much argument, confirming what Steve thought. They were probably glad to be rid of him.

Later that evening, he gets a text from Thor to meet him at the bar where they met. Steve leaves immediately. He finds Thor at a table near the back of the bar with a bottle of whiskey and a pair of glasses. He smiles and makes a beeline to Thor, who kisses him.

The evening is odd, though Thor is the same as he always is. Finally, when Steve tells him about how he solved the case, Thor speaks.

"I understand you'll be looking for work soon," he says. Steve takes a sip of whiskey.

"How did you know that?" Steve asks.

"I have my ways," Thor says. "I told you, I know everything that happens in this city."

Steve nods. "I don't suppose you know someone who's hiring then?"

"As a matter of fact, I find myself in need of someone with your... talents," Thor says. "Someone who can take care of problems efficiently."

"Sounds a bit unsavory," Steve said.

"Business is business, my love," Thor said. "Sometimes it is unpleasant, but almost all business is unpleasant at some point."

"You're dancing around the question," Steve said. "What do you want from me?"

"I want you to be mine," Thor says darkly. "I can offer you the life you deserve to have. Wealth, comfort, employment if you want it. All you have to do is take my name for your own and leave your former life behind."

"And what is your name?" Steve asked. "Is Thor really your name?"

"Of course. My name is Thor Odinson," Thor says. It all clicks into place then. The extravagant home, the fancy dinners, the mysterious background. Thor is the notorious head of the Russian mafia, one of three siblings. Three heirs, each as dangerous as the next. This man probably oversaw massive criminal activity. If Steve left and turned him over to the FBI, he would probably be famous. His career prospects would improve exponentially.

But.

He didn't seem to care. Once he might have been horrified to know that he slept with such a man, let alone had feelings, or even love for him. Now... to accept his offer, to become an Odinson, and work with such a man in whatever nefarious business dealings he had... he would surely never be able to return. Then again, he had already left his job. Would he even want to go back? He had done unscrupulous things for the FBI. At least Thor was honest about doing unscrupulous things. Much of it would even be similar.

"I accept," Steve says. "I'll be yours."

Thor smiles broadly and holds up his glass. "To us, my love, and to an exciting and profitable future."

[ao3feed-thundershield]

The Secret Super Soldier Strategy and Other Misadventures

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2whLY0T

by Hades_the_Blingking

In which Tony descends upon Spider-Man in a halo of light and everyone subsequently adopts the Small Spider, Steve has some hubris-level curiousities, and Thor electrocutes the kitchen again but also quite possibly an entire planet.

Meanwhile in the background, Baron Zemo plots his revenge on Captain America (who killed his father), and what diabolical mischief will the Avengers have to put up with when Loki enters the equation?

Comments are very much appreciated! n.n

Words: 3298, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of The Lion of the North & the Hound of War

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel, Thor (Movies), Captain America (Movies), Iron Man (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Spider-Man - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Steve Rogers, Thor, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Peter Parker, Loki (Marvel), Baron Zemo, Other Background marvel villains

Relationships: Steve Rogers/Thor

Additional Tags: Bodyswap, but with who??, Loki is Up To Something, I haven't seen the Spiderman movie so he's probably a bit different, Lightning wrestling, Gratuitous Thor, Thor's power explained, Humour, Baron Zemo is comic Zemo but you don't need to know his background, Spider-Man geeks out, The Daddening of Spider-Man, Thor lets fuckin loose and it's terrifying, Asgardian Culture, the consuming of gourds continues, Humor, Sass, Fluff, ish, never sure with this much sass, multiple POVs, Domestic Avengers, Thor Tony and Clint have no significant others, Original Avengers ensemble, plus spider-Man, Fondue mentions, Steve continues to call things 'nice', Established Relationship, Thundershield - Freeform, Language warning: dang darn heck, Just have a laugh y'all n.n

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2whLY0T

[effyeahthundershield]

by Hades_the_Blingking

In which Tony descends upon Spider-Man in a halo of light and everyone subsequently adopts the Small Spider, Steve has some hubris-level curiousities, and Thor electrocutes the kitchen again but also quite possibly an entire planet.

Meanwhile in the background, Baron Zemo plots his revenge on Captain America (who killed his father), and what diabolical mischief will the Avengers have to put up with when Loki enters the equation?

Comments are very much appreciated! n.n

Words: 3298, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of The Lion of the North & the Hound of War

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel, Thor (Movies), Captain America (Movies), Iron Man (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Spider-Man - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Steve Rogers, Thor, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Peter Parker, Loki (Marvel), Baron Zemo, Other Background marvel villains

Relationships: Steve Rogers/Thor

Additional Tags: Bodyswap, but with who??, Loki is Up To Something, I haven't seen the Spiderman movie so he's probably a bit different, Lightning wrestling, Gratuitous Thor, Thor's power explained, Humour, Baron Zemo is comic Zemo but you don't need to know his background, Spider-Man geeks out, The Daddening of Spider-Man, Thor lets fuckin loose and it's terrifying, Asgardian Culture, the consuming of gourds continues, Humor, Sass, Fluff, ish, never sure with this much sass, multiple POVs, Domestic Avengers, Thor Tony and Clint have no significant others, Original Avengers ensemble, plus spider-Man, Fondue mentions, Steve continues to call things 'nice', Established Relationship, Thundershield - Freeform, Language warning: dang darn heck, Just have a laugh y'all n.n

via AO3 works tagged 'Steve Rogers/Thor'

[ao3feed-lokiangst]

The Secret Super Soldier Strategy and Other Misadventures

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2whLY0T

by Hades_the_Blingking

In which Tony descends upon Spider-Man in a halo of light and everyone subsequently adopts the Small Spider, Steve has some hubris-level curiousities, and Thor electrocutes the kitchen again but also quite possibly an entire planet.

Meanwhile in the background, Baron Zemo plots his revenge on Captain America (who killed his father), and what diabolical mischief will the Avengers have to put up with when Loki enters the equation?

Comments are very much appreciated! n.n

Words: 3298, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of The Lion of the North & the Hound of War

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel, Thor (Movies), Captain America (Movies), Iron Man (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Spider-Man - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Steve Rogers, Thor, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Peter Parker, Loki (Marvel), Baron Zemo, Other Background marvel villains

Relationships: Steve Rogers/Thor

Additional Tags: Bodyswap, but with who??, Loki is Up To Something, I haven't seen the Spiderman movie so he's probably a bit different, Lightning wrestling, Gratuitous Thor, Thor's power explained, Humour, Baron Zemo is comic Zemo but you don't need to know his background, Spider-Man geeks out, The Daddening of Spider-Man, Thor lets fuckin loose and it's terrifying, Asgardian Culture, the consuming of gourds continues, Humor, Sass, Fluff, ish, never sure with this much sass, multiple POVs, Domestic Avengers, Thor Tony and Clint have no significant others, Original Avengers ensemble, plus spider-Man, Fondue mentions, Steve continues to call things 'nice', Established Relationship, Thundershield - Freeform, Language warning: dang darn heck, Just have a laugh y'all n.n

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2whLY0T

[ao3feed-steverogers]

The Secret Super Soldier Strategy and Other Misadventures

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2whLY0T

by Hades_the_Blingking

In which Tony descends upon Spider-Man in a halo of light and everyone subsequently adopts the Small Spider, Steve has some hubris-level curiousities, and Thor electrocutes the kitchen again but also quite possibly an entire planet.

However, in the background, Baron Zemo plots his revenge on Captain America (who killed his father), and what diabolical mischief will the Avengers have to put up with when Loki enters the equation?

Comments are very much appreciated! n.n

Words: 3298, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of The Lion of the North & the Hound of War

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel, Thor (Movies), Captain America (Movies), Iron Man (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Spider-Man - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Steve Rogers, Thor, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Peter Parker, Loki (Marvel), Baron Zemo, Other Background marvel villains

Relationships: Steve Rogers/Thor

Additional Tags: Bodyswap, but with who??, Loki is Up To Something, I haven't seen the Spiderman movie so he's probably a bit different, Lightning wrestling, Gratuitous Thor, Thor's power explained, Humour, Baron Zemo is comic Zemo but you don't need to know his background, Spider-Man geeks out, The Daddening of Spider-Man, Thor lets fuckin loose and it's terrifying, Asgardian Culture, the consuming of gourds continues, Humor, Sass, Fluff, ish, never sure with this much sass, multiple POVs, Domestic Avengers, Thor Tony and Clint have no significant others, Original Avengers ensemble, plus spider-Man, Fondue mentions, Steve continues to call things 'nice', Established Relationship, Thundershield - Freeform, Language warning: dang darn heck, Just have a laugh y'all n.n

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2whLY0T

[ao3feed-thor]

The Secret Super Soldier Strategy and Other Misadventures

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2whLY0T

by Hades_the_Blingking

In which Tony descends upon Spider-Man in a halo of light and everyone subsequently adopts the Small Spider, Steve has some hubris-level curiousities, and Thor electrocutes the kitchen again but also quite possibly an entire planet.

However, in the background, Baron Zemo plots his revenge on Captain America (who killed his father), and what diabolical mischief will the Avengers have to put up with when Loki enters the equation?

Comments are very much appreciated! n.n

Words: 3298, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of The Lion of the North & the Hound of War

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel, Thor (Movies), Captain America (Movies), Iron Man (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Spider-Man - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Steve Rogers, Thor, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Peter Parker, Loki (Marvel), Baron Zemo, Other Background marvel villains

Relationships: Steve Rogers/Thor

Additional Tags: Bodyswap, but with who??, Loki is Up To Something, I haven't seen the Spiderman movie so he's probably a bit different, Lightning wrestling, Gratuitous Thor, Thor's power explained, Humour, Baron Zemo is comic Zemo but you don't need to know his background, Spider-Man geeks out, The Daddening of Spider-Man, Thor lets fuckin loose and it's terrifying, Asgardian Culture, the consuming of gourds continues, Humor, Sass, Fluff, ish, never sure with this much sass, multiple POVs, Domestic Avengers, Thor Tony and Clint have no significant others, Original Avengers ensemble, plus spider-Man, Fondue mentions, Steve continues to call things 'nice', Established Relationship, Thundershield - Freeform, Language warning: dang darn heck, Just have a laugh y'all n.n

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2whLY0T

[ao3feed-thundershield]

The Secret Super Soldier Strategy and Other Misadventures

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2whLY0T

by Hades_the_Blingking

In which Tony descends upon Spider-Man in a halo of light and everyone subsequently adopts the Small Spider, Steve has some hubris-level curiousities, and Thor electrocutes the kitchen again but also quite possibly an entire planet.

Meanwhile in the background, Baron Zemo plots his revenge on Captain America (who killed his father), and what diabolical mischief will the Avengers have to put up with when Loki enters the equation?

Comments are very much appreciated! n.n

Words: 3298, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of The Lion of the North & the Hound of War

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel, Thor (Movies), Captain America (Movies), Iron Man (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Spider-Man - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Steve Rogers, Thor, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Peter Parker, Loki (Marvel), Baron Zemo, Other Background marvel villains

Relationships: Steve Rogers/Thor

Additional Tags: Bodyswap, but with who??, Loki is Up To Something, I haven't seen the Spiderman movie so he's probably a bit different, Lightning wrestling, Gratuitous Thor, Thor's power explained, Humour, Baron Zemo is comic Zemo but you don't need to know his background, Spider-Man geeks out, The Daddening of Spider-Man, Thor lets fuckin loose and it's terrifying, Asgardian Culture, the consuming of gourds continues, Humor, Sass, Fluff, ish, never sure with this much sass, multiple POVs, Domestic Avengers, Thor Tony and Clint have no significant others, Original Avengers ensemble, plus spider-Man, Fondue mentions, Steve continues to call things 'nice', Established Relationship, Thundershield - Freeform, Language warning: dang darn heck, Just have a laugh y'all n.n

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2whLY0T