I don’t want you to work all day. Hard hats, hard abs, it’s Men at Work! Below are my Top 5 Favorite stories:
“Steve Rogers: Architect” (E, 10k) by loonietuna
“Why would he actively try and fuck up a building that he and his men are constructing? You really that narcissistic to think the guy is giving blood, sweat, and tears just to fuck up your project?” Sam asks incredulously.
“Every time Sam, without fail, every time I go to that site something is wrong, or something is being built that wasn’t in my fucking plans. I can’t go to the site every day and watch over his shoulder, I’ve got other buildings going up!” Steve sighs, throwing his hands up. Steve was fortunate enough to hit the ground running after school and has become one of the youngest architect to achieve his level of success – a level that warrants him being contracted by Tony Stark personally to work on his namesake – so Steve can’t fuck this up.
More importantly, Steve can’t let Barnes fuck this up.
+ Modern AU. Construction Worker Bucky. Enemies to friends to lovers with everyone else shipping them
-☆-
“Reclamation” (T, 31k) by dragongirlG and soup_illustrations (potofsoup)
The Winter Soldier’s mask never falls off when he fights Captain America on the overpass and the helicarrier. That doesn’t stop the Soldier from recognizing Captain America and wondering why the man’s face is haunting his scattered memories.
After HYDRA falls, the Soldier appoints himself three missions: figure out his connection to Captain America, develop an optimal self-care routine, and re-establish his own identity in a world where he isn’t at HYDRA’s beck and call. When he unexpectedly encounters Captain America and his team of Avengers, he must figure out how to honor the man he used to be without sacrificing the man he’s become, all while hiding the face he shares with James Buchanan Barnes.
+ Alt WS. Construction Worker Bucky. In the first half of the story, Bucky is a temp worker while he regains his autonomy. Featuring an expanding self-care routine
-☆-
"Avengers... Assembly” (T, 4k) by EachPeachPearPlum
Bucky likes his job. He knows going into construction isn't what his parents wanted for him, that they'd had their hearts set on him being the first Barnes to go to college, but he's happy with it. He gets to work in a variety of places, rarely ends up doing the same thing two days in a row, spends a decent amount of time outdoors, and the hard manual labour has the twin bonuses of keeping him in shape and of making his overactive brain go quiet.
What he doesn't like is that he’s been working with a new team since Shield Construction bought out Avengers Assembly last month, and they’re either the most absent-minded people ever or just straight-up dicks. Bucky has tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, but this is the third time this job that Brock and Jack have packed up the ladder, ‘accidentally’ trapping Bucky on the roof because they ‘forgot’ he was working up there.
(AKA: Bucky gets stuck on the roof in the rain. Good thing Steve’s around to rescue him…)
+ Modern AU. Construction Worker Bucky. Steve saves Bucky and gives him a place to stay overnight. Mutual crushes and dual POVs.
-☆-
“Steve Rogers, Cheerfully Slutty” (E, 20k) by relenafanel
Steve Rogers. Cheerfully Slutty. But not going to take your shit about it.
Bucky Barnes. Voted most likely to fall in love first.
+ Modern AU. Construction Worker Bucky runs the family business with the Howlies. Bucky’s fine with being one of Steve’s fuckbuddies, and he becomes Steve’s Favorite.
-☆-
“Opportunity Cost” (T, 15k) by ChibiSquirt and detour
It’s hard for killers to start over. But Buck comes to New York with a new name, a new identity, and and plans to discover who he is. It should be easy to be Buck the average worker, meeting this guy Steve to talk about baseball, even if it doesn't feel like it's enough. Between the secrets and the ghosts from his past following him around the city, it’s bound to get messy.
+ Shrunkyclunks. Construction Worker Bucky tries to stay off the radar after escaping his violent past. Steve gives him a third option.
-☆-
*More Construction Workers in Wingfic, Starter Pack, and Kidnapped lists
