Bucky&Steve, not in love but might as well be

[magic-7-words.livejournal.com]

I recently (re-)read Issues by so_shhy, a Steve/Tony fic in which Bucky Barnes is a) 100% straight and b) 100% convinced that Tony is not good enough for Steve, and not afraid to say so. Ordinarily I'm all about the Steve/Bucky, but right now I'd like to read some more fic where they aren't especially attracted to each other, but get excessively involved in each other's private lives anyway.

Some suggestions that would fit the theme I'm looking for:
-Something like Issues, maybe involving one of them giving the "shovel talk" to the other's partner
-Matchmaking, if they put a really ridiculous amount of effort into it
-Everyone else assuming they must be dating because of the way they act
-Getting married for solely pragmatic reasons (e.g. hospital visitation rights--I read and enjoyed a fic like that once, but I can't remember the name now)

It's actually fine if they get together at the end, but I do not want any pining, thank you. (I have read too much pining lately.) Most of the fic has to feature them as friends content with their current situation.

Fics where they're in a romantic but nonsexual relationship (say, because one is ace) are not *exactly* what I'm looking for... but hey, if you know a good one, go ahead and rec it. Can always use more of those anyway.

Thanks!

Comments

[wanted-a-pony.livejournal.com]

Dang, I'm sorry no one's answered your post--now I'm interested too. ;-)

The only fic I can remember that's close to your request is sabrecmc's Gift with Purchase Remix (http://archiveofourown.org/works/2156475), a non-powered AU where Tony 'dates' escort!Steve & they secretly fall for each other. There is quite a bit of pining & angst tho'; Bucky contributes to it by pretending to be Steve's boyfriend to get rid of Tony, & trying to talk Steve out of 'dating' Tony. There are more complications of course--it's a Harlequin! I highly recommend perusing the gorgeous NSFW fanart in the last two chapters. >;->

("Gift with Purchase Remix" is, as advertised, sabrecmc's remix of her own "Gift with Purchase". That's a short & funny fic where Tony also propositions & tries to 'hire' Steve... who's a non-powered but heavily-decorated captain in the Army Special Forces. :-)

[magic-7-words.livejournal.com]

Hey, I stumbled across one of these if you're still interested: The thing is (http://archiveofourown.org/works/4788464) by curiousbees. Apparently I should have added "poly relationship where Steve and Bucky are queerplatonic but cool with sharing" to the list.

Also meant to say, I read "Gift with Remix" and quite enjoyed it, thanks! Although you made me nervous--you said he pretended to be Steve's boyfriend to "get rid of" Tony, and when I saw how well Tony and Steve were getting along, I worried that he'd be pulling a jerk move... but pretending to be Steve's boyfriend in order to goad Tony into showing his true feelings, that was totally fine. :-)