I sat up straight in my seat. It was at once so entirely Steve, and also so important for validating the twins’ growth, choices and journey (which was the thing I went into the movie expecting to hate, and actually really enjoyed).
But this is so Steve, who hates bullies no matter where they come from, to be able to look at these enemies, these scrappy violent kids, and try to understand what they’re fighting for. When he respects people, it has nothing to do with how reputable they are, the stories told about them, their age, propriety, their allegiance. Are they fighting for people? Are they hurting people, and do they have a reason?
Maria Hill makes some snide comments about the twins volunteering. “Gee,” says Steve, in one of his few properly dry, cutting wit moments. “What kind of kid lets a German scientist experiment on them? In order to help defend their country? Gee, just what kind of idiot?“
“You were at war,” Hill protests.
“So are they.”
(And I swooned).
2. Natasha and Steve being the two to lead and train the team (WHICH–BY THE WAY–WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LINE UP) at the end of the film. Natasha and Steve is one of the friendships I am most invested in. (Clint/Nat is another. Bruce/Nat another. Hm. Let me rephrase: I am invested in Natasha having friendships.)
But also! What a good pair for guiding a crew of new Avengers. They have different but powerful types of empathy and social comprehension. They fight differently, but both (at least originally) are used to fighting at a disadvantage– this is not Thor trying to teach a mortal to ‘just hit things really hard, it’ll be fine.’
And, most importantly: they have a strong mutual respect and camaraderie. I want a miniseries of just Steve and Nat teaching the new Avengers crew.
Sam fan-boying over Rhodey, and Falcon and War Machine having flying competitions. Vision slowly falling for Wanda’s decisive heroism. Wanda mourning, and growing, and finding a new family in these brave, eclectic souls.
Everyone calling Steve ‘grandpa.’
Natasha popping out of weird corners of the base to startle them, at any time of night, because they need to learn to be aware. “Constant vigilance!” (She discovered Harry Potter at a late age, but it stuck). (The first time she does it to Wanda, they destroy a corridor. “Oh, well, it’s Stark’s dime. Good roundhouse kick, by the way.”)
3. When did Thor and Steve go out into a secluded part of the New Mexican desert to see what happens when they hit their Immovable Object v. Unstoppable Force magic items together? Because I’m A+ completely on board with this. (I also need a MCU short film, please please please.)
Steve needs to have a Swear Jar and every time someone says a profanity in front of him, he just holds it out. The especially bad ones cost two dollars, don’t think Steve will let you get away with that. And this goes on for months and months and when Bucky starts coming around, he notices it. And he also notices how Steve doesn’t swear in front of any of the Avengers.
And when he gets Steve alone, he’s like, “what gives, you’ve got the worst mouth out of anyone I know.”
And Steve, with a perfectly innocent expression, says, “they made assumptions, Buck. I think those assumptions should at least buy a new bike, don’t you?”
And Bucky just stares at him, awed, like, “I forgot how fucking devious you are.”
god i just imagine steve texting sam throughout the entirety of aou, trying to convince him to join the avengers
“i don’t know if you’ve heard but we actually all get great dental/health plans through SI”
“ultron can fly…………. you can fly………… interesting”
“didn’t jump off any tall things all day since ur not here to catch me :////”
“sam if u join the avengers i can stare at you lovingly we can see each other everyday”
“thor says all avengers are welcome to use the bifrost to travel, didn’t you say you liked space that one time? huh. weird coincidence.”
“how do you feel about spandex?”
“wHOA!!!1!! just saw some WILD birds! lots of them!! just a lot of birds. so many. i’d send pics but my phone’s broken anyway haha too bad you’re not here, it’s weird how many birds the avengers run into like just unbelievable haha sam pls i miss u”
