Romanogers is not ruining platonic female-male friendships.
Seems to me like the biggest complaint people have about Romanogers is that Steve is Natasha's only platonic close male friend, and we can't taint that.
My dude, you've made Clint Barton cry.
Personally, I think Steve x Natasha is great for this very reason. We get to take advantage of the wonderful romantic chemistry between the two, whilst still getting to proudly represent platonic relationships between men and women because Steve's existence doesn't negate the fact that Clint is RIGHT FUCKING THERE.
frankly, this is why I think it works a little better than Clintasha. Clint and Natasha have an incredibly deep, profound and complex relationship, that is still based on loyalty and trust ("best shot you ever took?"/"uhhh... the one I didn't take"). HOWEVER. These two superspies, the best in their field, who've been working together for years, still keep it workplace friendly. Which, a, really says something about people (usually men) engaging in gross and exploitative workplace harassment, and b, it PROVES that men and women can interact on an emotionally deep level without even considering fucking each other.
Steve and Natasha on the other hand... hoo, boy. Steve stans don't like the idea of him being with Romanova because it ruins his "pure" character. I'm not even kidding, I've actually heard people say this. Firstly, it's a little misogynistic, with the contextual implication that Natasha is a dirty little slut who isn't worthy of the great Captain America. Secondly, Steve is a grown ass man. Forgive him for having romantic feelings. Forgive him for maybe possibly considering getting laid after 100 years of being a virgin (lmfao). The infantilisation of Steve in this fandom is ridiculous. Personally, I think having him date Natasha would humanise him a little. Plus, it would eliminate that cute little plotline at the end of Endgame where he completely ruins an independent woman's character arc and life for the sake of reducing her to a love interest and trophy wife. I am of the opinion that Rogers should've rebuilt his life in the present (because he didn't belong in the past anymore either), and allowing him to find love (not from his own technical niece) and move on from Peggy would've been the perfect way to display that.
On the other hand, Natasha stans (i love em) staunchly believe that Romanova would never have been interested in a fucking boy scout. Again, this simultaneously decomplexifies Natasha's feelings and infantilises Steve in the same breath. Steve isn't a baby. He knows the cost of warfare, he knows its horrors. And Natasha... maybe a break from the all the misogynistic, womanising men she has to associate with on missions is exactly what she needs. I'm actually not kidding. Remember that car scene in CATWS? I do. I loved that scene. I think, despite Rogers somewhat understanding the horrors of Natasha's childhood and current job, he is a great guide for her in rediscovering her own worth, which she seems to have lost so much faith in. Many times, the woman is used as the emotional guide in the man's story, which, whilst overused, isn't overly problematic, but I think it would be both culturally and narratively significant here to flip the tables. Steve Rogers was the leader of the group Natasha felt she could do the most good in, and he truly seemed to believe in her. It's honestly so beautiful to me. I don't hate Natasha x Bucky shippers or anything, but perhaps instead of having to deal with empathising with another man's emotional baggage like most women have to in movies, Natasha deserves someone whom she can help and who can help her in return. Someone who tries to understand her, despite having gone through vastly different experiences. Someone who she feels like she can be there for, another meaningful relationship to add to her list, someone who's willing to help her soul-search and wipe the red from her ledger. She deserves that.
Anyways, if my whole ass essay doesn't convince you, I'm sure Empire by Isn't_it_pretty_to_think_so on ao3 will. Seriously, that thing changed me.
@gunsandspaceships been following your account for a while and was inspired by your MCU meta science and essays, decided to give it a whirl myself.
SIDE NOTE: I do, however, think that Romanogers should be very, very, veeeery slow burn. C'mon, Rogers is a fucking workaholic in CATWS, and he's still trying to get over Peggy. As much as I love to deny Infinity War even exists, I think it would've been cool if Steve and Natasha's relationship developed more as they went around the world, trying to deal with the effects of the snap. There's actually a deleted scene that implies Natasha opened an orphanage or several during that five year time period, and I think it would've been cool if Steve had helped her out with that. Just my thoughts.
