#gammasassin

Hi, Anon! I don’t mind the question at all! If you’re just getting into the ship (welcome!), I have an insane amount of brucenat meta all collected here on ao3. It’s…a lot. This long meta in particular sums up the potential I see in the couple: brucenat + hearts of darkness.

Essentially, what makes the ship work for me is that these are two characters on a similar story journey. Both of them (besides being major, unrepentant dorks) are heroic, tragic figures. Their arcs can be boiled down to redemption from past deeds and a synthesizing of the dark and light parts of themselves. These are lethal, fearful people who just want to do good.

I started lowkey shipping them in Avengers because I really, really liked their tension. They quickly saw into the heart of each other— the good, the bad, and the ugly. By coming to terms with each other, they recognize their own place on the team. The Avengers “could use a little worse.” Bruce’s rage. Natasha’s manipulations. The parts of themselves they hate the most applied to saving the human race.

AoU has its faults, but there is a lot to love in terms of the exploration of Bruce and Natasha as a unit. I like that the narrative lets them be sweet and hesitant, while also taking them to some very dark places—Johannesburg and the Red Room. I’m a fan of angst, so the way they part works for me on a lot of levels.

Infinity War gives us only a glimpse into what might come of their relationship, but it’s clear to me that they’re both in great places to start (finish?) something. Bruce is rejuvenated, in a sense, and committed to “go be a hero.” Natasha is part of a found family, she’s confidently “not alone.” We’ve been promised a “showdown” between Bruce and the Hulk. We’ve been promised more screentime for Natasha. So I’m very excited to see what comes of it next year!

Marvel. Ships. It.

I’m posting an extended meta on the good, the bad, and the ugly of Bruce/Natasha in bite-sized pieces. Discussion welcome!

pt. 1: Hearts of Darkness & Threats / Honesty

Flaws / Compassion

The affect of the Mind Stone is something that the brucenat haters love to cast away in their quest to vilify the ship. But The Avengers and, later, The Age of Ultron makes it very clear that the Mind Stone is one hellaluvah paranoia machine. All the worse because it works on all the bad stuff that’s already there. 

As described earlier, Natasha and Bruce have been able to play nice on the Helicarrier — but they’re showing signs of strain. 

Natasha is on task as ever, getting information out of Loki — but she confronts him earlier than the movie implies Nick Fury ordered. She’s up against her toughest advesary and highest stakes yet, a trickster god who has her best friend under his thumb. Yes, she completed the mission. But she doesn’t follow orders to the letter, she has to get personal to get the mission done. This isn’t Natasha-as-usual.

Bruce is bristling over Tony’s ‘poke the bear’ approach to friendship and the lies that he knew SHIELD was hiding. They, like the General, don’t want heroes. They want weapons. But, at the same time, he likes being in the lab with Tony. He misses teamwork. He’s at odds with himself.

When Natasha comes in to confront Bruce, it’s with the intention of getting him away from the Scepter but her attempt at professionalism quickly devolves when Bruce starts in with the sarcasm. The Mind Stone has already gotten to them. Natasha is effected, but she’s better able to withstand it because her mind is made of marble, slippery but still strong where there are cracks. Bruce bares the brunt of it. His mind is a river, two streams that flood and recede. 

[Even my short parts are too long...more under the cut.]

MOST. BRUCENAT. SONG. EVER.

when his hair falls in his face ... color coded speak ... I’m such a fool for sacrifice ... I’m unforgiven ... I found a martyr/he told me that I’d never/with his educated eyes/and his head between my eyes ...’cause he’s off paying for his crimes/and he’s got no time for mine ... every night I pray the sun will rise ... 

AH!

Full lyrics under the cut.