Weekly Fic Rec: Free to Be (You and Me) by TheAvalonian

Link to AO3

Author’s summary:

 

“Steve Rogers had loved exactly two people in his life: Peggy Carter, and Bucky Barnes.”

 

As the Winter Soldier fades and Bucky Barnes slots himself back into Steve’s life, Steve and Bucky have to redefine their friendship in the context of the 21st century. The feelings Steve has always had for his best friends are getting harder and harder to ignore, and Bucky just might have a few secrets left of his own.

 

But there may be obstacles they hadn’t been expecting, as old friends become enemies, and Steve realises he still has a lot to learn about what it means to be Captain America.

 

Words: 24286, Chapters: 3/3

 

Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Characters: Steve Rogers, James “Bucky” Barnes, Natalia Romanova, Tony Stark, Sam Wilson (Marvel), Nick Fury, Peggy Carter

Relationships: James “Bucky” Barnes/Steve Rogers

Additional Tags: Homophobia, Male Homosexuality, Internalized Homophobia, First Kiss, Angst, Fluff, Fluff and Smut, Post-Avengers (2012), Post-Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Bisexuality, Denial of Feelings, Feelings, Coming Out, Love, Declarations Of Love, Flashbacks, Slash, Male Slash

My notes:

 

I really like the tight time frame of this story, and how it achieves a fairly monumental change of Steve’s perceptions in a very natural way.