Fic Rec: Takes Trilogy by RurouniHime

I named it because there are actually THREE stories, and it doesn't have an over-arcing name.

OKAY MY LOVELIES HERE'S THE DEAL: I recommend these fics if you are feeling sad, or happy, or anywhere in between--but especially if, like me, your ability to ignore the negativity and just enjoy the good in the fandom has been worn thin of late.

THIS IS A STEVE/TONY STORY BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT.  The point is that Steve Rogers is an awesome human being who can react to disagreements with positive actions, words and not fists, firmness but also humor and compassion. This is something I need to remember.  Something that I lost track of in a lot of the fandom I've been seeing, lately (and cannon--YES, I'M LOOKING AT YOU 616).  (It's also about how awesome Tony Stark can be, which is something I can go on about at length because he's always been my favorite, and is probably a given in just about anything I rec.)

These are short, sweet, funny and lovely.  I felt physically lighter after reading them, and I wish I could talk about them as articulately as they're written, but they're short enough that I'm afraid I'll give away all the best parts if I babble much longer.  Just check them out! :-D

Tony Stark Takes a Liberty and the Universe Thanks Him Word Count: 1512 Author's Synopsis: In which people think they are entitled to Steve Roger's face (aka, because tomorrow is coming, and I hold out hope, Supreme Court.) My Synopsis: This is the author's reaction to DOMA and Steve's reaction to a right-wing group asking for him to stand against gay rights. Quote: (my favorite bit will be spoiled if I quote it, but here's a close second) Steve straightens. Turns. Raises an eyebrow at the absolutely shocked look on the group leader’s face.

“You asked me for a stand.” There’s a whole lot of warning in his tone. Tony’s feeling a little bit toasty under the collar. “Never said you were going to like where I put my foot down.” Bruce Banner Takes a Break and Clint Interrupts Him Word Count: 492 Author's Synopsis: In which the Avengers spend too much time on the internet My Synopsis: The Team reacts to Steve's reaction Quote: (if I could I would quote the whole fic to you but that would be kind of silly) Bruce takes a glorious spoonful of fluffy whipped cream, smoothing it across his tongue so it coats, oily and sweet, and shuts his eyes to savor it properly.

A moment later, he hears the long drawn out, “Hoooooooo boy,” from the living room. Then, louder. “Clint.”

“Right?” Clint shouts back gleefully.

Steve Rogers Takes Offense and the World Gets Schooled Word Count: 2463 Author's Synopsis: In which Steve has no idea how that got up on BuzzFeed (aka, because some people don't respond to anything but the direct approach.) My Synopsis: Steve reacts to a "fan's" letter, and WHOA I LOVE HIS REPLY SO MUCH I CAN'T EVEN CONTAIN MY CAPSLOCK SQUEE Quote: Without meaning to, the majority of this society goes by what it has been taught rather than what it can seek to learn. Just one step in a long, ugly downward slope. I saw it decades ago, riddled like a plague through the countryside of Europe, and I’ll be damned if I see it happen again when we should have learned from our past, when there are still people alive today who saw what I saw, watched what I watched, could not stop what I could not stop. Even worse, there are people alive today who actually experienced the realities of that horror, who were forced to face it because there was no other option. And it all started with one little thought: “That person is not like me.”