![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIf, like me, you loved the Avengers movie but wished there would be a tv show: there is a great series called Responsible Science, which, with Bruce as the point of view character (but great ensemble use), is basically just that in fanfic form. Each "episode" can be read on its own, and one of the many things I appreciate is that it takes its time with the "everyone becomes friends" part; once the rush of having saved the world togther is over, these characters, as befits their backstory, are still very prickly with each other, and barriers are only lowered slowly. The latest "episode" is this one:
The Kids Weren't Alright
Which takes a fanfic trope usually used for fluffy fanfic (nothing wrong with that, I hasten to add!), i.e. "one or several characters get turned into children" and uses it for absolutely amazing character and relationships exploration. The first child is Tony, and the initial attempt to fix that means Bruce, Steve and Pepper end up as kids as well, which leaves Natasha and Clint as the adults in charge, later joined by a hastily drafted for scientific help Jane Foster. The interactions between both the children and the various adult versions with the child versions is fascinating, sometimes gut wrenching, and never cutesy though of course there are funny lines as well. Bear in mind the author uses the backstory for Bruce which includes child abuse, and does so in a non-exploitative way. (There are no flashbacks, but it's clear this is what happened to him, and not coincidentally Natasha, who knows something about messed up childhoods, spots it at once.) I'm afraid the fantastic quality of this story spoiled me for all other reversed age stories in this fandom!
The Kids Weren't Alright
Which takes a fanfic trope usually used for fluffy fanfic (nothing wrong with that, I hasten to add!), i.e. "one or several characters get turned into children" and uses it for absolutely amazing character and relationships exploration. The first child is Tony, and the initial attempt to fix that means Bruce, Steve and Pepper end up as kids as well, which leaves Natasha and Clint as the adults in charge, later joined by a hastily drafted for scientific help Jane Foster. The interactions between both the children and the various adult versions with the child versions is fascinating, sometimes gut wrenching, and never cutesy though of course there are funny lines as well. Bear in mind the author uses the backstory for Bruce which includes child abuse, and does so in a non-exploitative way. (There are no flashbacks, but it's clear this is what happened to him, and not coincidentally Natasha, who knows something about messed up childhoods, spots it at once.) I'm afraid the fantastic quality of this story spoiled me for all other reversed age stories in this fandom!
no subject
Date: 2012-07-17 04:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-17 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-17 04:30 pm (UTC)I hadn't read the previous parts yet because the pairings don't appeal to me but I'm gonna start this series from the beginning now. (Plus, I couldn't even see any Bruce/Natasha in part 4 when I squinted sideways... it doesn't get more gen.)