Story: "Coming in from the Cold: Saturday: Building Towers" Part 9

[ysabetwordsmith]

This story belongs to the series Love Is For Children which includes "Love Is for Children," "Hairpins," "Blended," "Am I Not," "Eggshells," "Dolls and Guys,""Saudades," "Querencia," "Turnabout Is Fair Play," "Touching Moments," "Splash," "Coming Around," "Birthday Girl," "No Winter Lasts Forever," "Hide and Seek," "Kernel Error," "Happy Hour," "Green Eggs and Hulk,""kintsukuroi," "Little and Broken, but Still Good," "Up the Water Spout," "The Life of the Dead," "If They Could Just Stay Little," and "Anahata."

Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Phil Coulson, Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Natasha Romanova, Clint Barton, Bruce Banner, JARVIS, Tony Stark.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: Public surveillance (consensual on the part of the main characters). Mention of past trauma with lingering symptoms of PTSD. Current environment is safe. Shyness. Nausea. Imposter syndrome. Boundary issues. Negative coping skills. Communication issues. Anxiety. Depending on how you interpret it, Bruce's mistreatment of Hulk may count as domestic violence, sibling abuse, or self-harm. Tension among the team. Sleep dread. Fear of death. Sleep disorders.
Summary: Steve coaxes Bruce and Bucky to go out running with him. Later on, there is Game Night.
Notes: Hurt/comfort. Family. Fluff and angst. Coping skills. Exercise. Healthy touch. Asking for help and getting it. Hope. Tony takes things apart. Dietary concerns and solutions. Comfort food. Positive coping skills. Talking. Self-control. Discouraging mistreatment. Facing fears. Nonsexual ageplay. Nonsexual intimacy. Gifts. Caregiving. Competence. Toys and games. Gentleness. Trust. Bedtime stories. Sleep. #coulsonlives

Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8.

Here ends "Coming in from the Cold: Saturday: Building Towers." Thank you all for sticking with the series this far! I love your input. Final thoughts on the story overall are welcome, in addition to reactions on this specific chapter.  Next up will be "Coming in from the Cold: Sunday: Shaking Foundations."

I also have a list of favorite photogenic scenes from the whole series for fanartists to consider, partly compiled from audience requests.

A note on feedback: While it's not necessary to comment on every post I make, remember that I don't know who reads/likes things if nobody says anything. Particularly on long stories, I've discovered that I get antsy if there's nothing but crickets chirping for several posts. So it helps to give me feedback at least once, even if it's just "I like this" or "This one doesn't grab me." First and last episodes are ideal if you rarely feel inspired to comment in the middle.


Coming in from the Cold
Saturday: Building Towers


As if summoned by the mention, Bruce padded into the common room from the kitchen. "Do you like sausage or ham?" he asked with absolutely no context.

"I'm easy," said Steve. "I'll eat whatever you put in front of me."

"That's not what I asked," Bruce said with a grimace. "I'm trying to learn people's preferences and it's harder when they won't say."

"I like sausage," Phil said.

"Sausage is good. So is ham. Steve and I really do like both," Bucky said. Then he smiled. "Steve loves any kind of candied ham. I usually go for the salty kind. I like sausage with a lot of sage in it, not so much pepper."

"Okay, thanks," Bruce said, heading back to the kitchen.

Phil listened to the quiet clink of dishes and rustle of boxes as Bruce made ... whatever it was. "So candied ham is a favorite?"

"Honey or maple," Steve said with a nod. "I like sweet things. What about you?"

"I'm flexible," Phil said. "I like salty or sweet ham. Pineapple on ham is a favorite, and baked ham with cloves."

"Not where Bruce is going tonight," said Bucky. "It sounds like he's putting something in the crockpot."

"Probably for breakfast, then," Phil guessed.

"That explains the meat options," Steve said with a nod. "Easier than trying to break up a bunch of bacon."

"Bacon is good. I remember Bucky liking that. Did you know it comes in a wide range of flavors now?" Phil said.

"Mmm," Bucky said. He was starting to lean against Steve where they sat on the couch.

"What kinds?" Steve asked.

"Maple, I'm sure you'd like that. Hickory smoked. Applewood is sweeter, though. You can get bacon rolled in cracked pepper too," said Phil. The conversation slowly rambled from favorite breakfast meats to recipes using them. Phil enjoyed the chance to sit and talk without any urgent business to cover.

Presently Bruce came back out of the kitchen. "The crockpot breakfast casserole is all set," he said. "It should be done by the time most people usually wake up."

"Thank you, Bruce, I'm sure we'll all enjoy that in the morning," said Phil.

Bruce was paying more attention to Bucky, though. He leaned over the end of the couch to rest a hand on Bucky's knee. "Hey, there," said Bruce.

Bucky stirred a little against Steve's side. "Huh?" he said. Then he focused on Bruce. "Oh. Time to put me to bed?"

"I think you're starting to fall asleep on your own. Let's try that tonight and see if it works," Bruce suggested.

Bucky frowned. "Can't sleep ..."

"I'm pretty sure you can. If it doesn't work after an hour, then call me and I'll come talk you down like usual," Bruce said. Yoga had turned out to be an effective way of getting Bucky to sleep, but he still depended on Bruce's guidance for it.

If Bucky can fall asleep on his own, that's one more step toward independence, Phil thought. It's certainly worth a try.

"All right, I'll give Steve a hand with Bucky. We'll call if we need you, Bruce," said Phil.

Next Phil helped Steve hoist Bucky up and keep him balanced between them. Bucky tended to get wobbly when tired. Together they made their way to the floor that Steve and Bucky shared. They got Bucky ready for bed and tucked him in.

Steve sat on the edge of the bed. It was so firm that the mattress barely gave under his weight. After his time in the army, it was difficult for him to sleep on a bed that was too soft. He said it felt like lying on a marshmallow.

Phil understood. His own was a little firmer than average. Bruce's bed, now that was a marshmallow. Some people came back from sleeping on the ground to seek out the deepest, softest cushioning they could find. Somehow Tony had sussed out which way Bruce swung, and decorated his apartment accordingly.

"Do you want me to stay, or shall I take the guest room tonight?" Steve asked. They usually wound up sharing his bed.

"Stay," Bucky said at once.

"Okay," Steve said. He picked up Bucky's hand, one thumb rubbing gently over the back.

Phil settled into a chair on the far side of the bed. "I don't mind sticking around until you fall asleep," he said.

"Thanks," Bucky whispered.

He looks scared, Phil realized. No: terrified.

Steve noticed too. "Bucky? Is something wrong?"

"I hate this," Bucky said, staring at the ceiling. "It feels like dying ... every time. Worse when I don't have anything to take my mind off it."

"I know the feeling," Phil said with heartfelt sympathy.

Bucky snorted.

"Ah well ... you won't have heard this story before. It's very classified, but it's my own story, so I'm entitled to share it as I see fit," Phil said. "Some years ago, I got captured in Brazil by a group of drugrunners. They took me up in a helicopter, blindfolded me, and pushed me out."

"How did you survive that?" Steve yelped.

"They had lowered the helicopter over a pond without my knowledge. It knocked the wind out of me, nothing worse. I knew enough breathing exercises to recover pretty fast. So I didn't tell them what they wanted to know," Phil said. "The next day, they did it again. And the next."

"Bastards," Bucky said.

"That must have been terrible," Steve said.

"It was for a while. I hated it. Every time, I thought was I going to die," Phil said. "Then one day ... I stopped being afraid. I don't even know why. It just happened. It was as if I'd used up all the fear of my own death that I had in me."

"Golly," Steve said. "That's amazing."

"It's actually listed in my SHIELD file as an official superpower," Phil said, trying not to blush. "It's not metahuman, but it lets me do things that most people can't or won't do."

"Like attacking a crazy alien with a gun that you don't even know what it does," Steve said. Phil nodded.

"Because you're not afraid of death anymore," Bucky said.

"Not of my own," Phil emphasized. "The idea of losing other people still terrifies me as much as ever."

Bucky reached out and clasped Phil's hand. "We'll try real hard not to get lost again," he said. "Right, runt?"

"Right," Steve said firmly, laying his huge warm hand over both of theirs. Then he shivered. "It's cold in here."

Phil raised his eyebrows. The room was comfortable and the environmental controls were voice-activated. Besides which, Steve usually didn't complain about anything.

"Crawl in bed with me, runt," Bucky said with a smile. "I'll keep you warm." The two brothers curled into each other like puppies in a basket.

Not a complaint, but a ritual, Phil realized. They probably say this every night. Bucky's skin felt cool; his temperature tended to drop as he got tired. The blankets would hold in the shared heat, though. Even with Steve to hold, Bucky tossed and turned. He seemed to have a hard time relaxing enough to drift off.

"Bucky, if you want something to occupy your mind while you fall asleep, I could read you a bedtime story," Phil offered.

"I'm a little too old for that," Bucky said.

"What about a grown-up story instead of a kid story?" Steve said.

"Fine." Bucky sighed, then said, "I miss the wilderness. We got to see a lot of Europe, and even with a war on it was still beautiful. Russia in winter looks like a fairyland, all silver and diamond dust."

Phil brought out his Starkphone and searched through Bucky's reading list. Bucky seemed to be working his way through a batch of Jack London stories. Phil liked adventure fiction himself, so he picked out a likely story and began to read, "When Clay Dilham left the tent to get a sled-load of fire-wood, he expected to be back in half an hour. So he told Swanson, who was cooking the dinner ..."

Steve fell asleep within minutes. It took longer for Bucky's restless shifting to slow, settle, and finally stop. Phil kept reading until the end of the story, just to make certain. Then he slipped silently out of the room.

* * *

Notes:

Sugar offers one way to cure meat. Bacon comes in many flavors, or you can candy your own at home. Ham also offers diverse variations, such as this recipe for maple ham.

A crockpot breakfast casserole can be made with sausage or bacon.

Bedtime rituals can help you feel better and develop family ties. Many successful people use them. For children, or people with memory loss, it helps to choose a set from individual activities and do them in the same order every night. For Bucky, routines help him relearn what to do. Understand how to establish a bedtime routine.

PTSD often causes insomnia, nightmares, and other sleep disturbances. There are tips on how to sleep better.

Yoga poses can help prepare for sleep. Yoga nidra is the practice of sleep, including conscious sleep. Here is a guided meditation for yoga sleep. I also found this terrific video which illustrates a whole range of energy work to power up and down the energy centers, remove negative energy, and so forth. Some of these are good before bed so you don't carry crud from the day into your sleep.

The marshmallow quote comes from The Winter Soldier. Here is a guide to mattress firmness.

Sleep dread and death anxiety can make for a restless night. There are ways to avoid being scared at night and help children overcome bedtime fears. You can also overcome the fear of death, even when facing real danger.

Shooting Loki happens in The Avengers 1.

Bedtime stories encourage a love of reading. Know how to read them.

"Up the Slide" is a wilderness story by Jack London.

bunnylane74 has written a "Hush Little Bucky" filk to the tune of "Hush Little Baby."  Aww!

~ END "Building Towers" ~

Comments

[helgatwb]

Oooh, nice. I loved this story, the interactions, the growth. I am unhappy that Bruce is still being mean to Hulk, though. He seems to be stuck.

I don't really care for sweet ham. I love the pineapple that's cooked on ham, but not really the ham, itself.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Oooh, nice. I loved this story, the interactions, the growth. <<

Yay!

>> I am unhappy that Bruce is still being mean to Hulk, though. He seems to be stuck. <<

The whole team is unhappy about that too. :( It is not okay. However, it is typical of the damage that childhood abuse can do to someone's relationship dynamics. Bruce is functional but he's still cut up pretty bad inside. He is, slowly, getting better and his treatment of Hulk now is at least ... less awful than it was. But you are right to observe that Bruce has some stuck points regarding Hulk.

>> I don't really care for sweet ham. I love the pineapple that's cooked on ham, but not really the ham, itself. <<

I like both sweet and savory ham. Favorites include maple ham, honey ham, hickory smoked, and applewood smoked. Yay, pineapple! I am not so fond of brown sugar or mesquite. I dislike tough salty ham, the country style. :P My most favorite is probably one of my own recipes: Amazing Mango Ham. It is made with canned mango pulp and sweet spices. The mango pre-digests the ham so that even a tough cut -- we usually use a picnic ham -- will fall off the bone and can be cut with the side of a fork.

*chuckle* I should really feed that one to Steve some time.

[dru_evilista]

Love the guys talk that pretty much comes down to "mmmm meeeeeeat" hah. It's good that Bucky's starting to get back to "normal" being able to fall asleep mostly on his own. Though even people without horrible, horrible torture in their pasts need help sleeping sometimes. Even I listen to guided meditation/hypnosis tracks most nights before falling asleep, because I find I sleep better that way. I did catch that mattress bit and go "Cap 2!" Amazing how Tony finds all this out about them. It could be creepy if we/they didn't know he was doing it out a desperate, desperate, attempt to make them happy so they'll like him as he was setting up the tower. I love that Phil's not fearing death is officially labeled a super power in his SHEILD files.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Love the guys talk that pretty much comes down to "mmmm meeeeeeat" hah. <<

:D With as much food insecurity and disordered eating as they've faced, healthy conversations about good food are wonderful.

>> It's good that Bucky's starting to get back to "normal" being able to fall asleep mostly on his own. <<

Sooth. His frequency of sleep is about twice as good now as when he first came to the tower, and total amount of sleep better than that. The quality is also greatly improved. But he still has trouble getting to sleep unless utterly exhausted, and a lot of nightmares. By this point it's mostly PDSD and related damage, along with some continuing effects from the evil power source in his arm. The effects of the cryo and drugs on his sleep pattern have largely worn off.

>> Though even people without horrible, horrible torture in their pasts need help sleeping sometimes. Even I listen to guided meditation/hypnosis tracks most nights before falling asleep, because I find I sleep better that way. <<

Very true. Lots of folks find a sleep routine helpful.

>> I did catch that mattress bit and go "Cap 2!" <<

Yay!

>> Amazing how Tony finds all this out about them. It could be creepy if we/they didn't know he was doing it out a desperate, desperate, attempt to make them happy so they'll like him as he was setting up the tower. <<

Some of the decorations -- like for Phil's apartment -- were Pepper's idea. JARVIS helped too. But Tony is better than most people realize at observing people and figuring things out, hence sharing food with Bruce-and-Hulk in Avengers 1. It wouldn't have been hard to track what kind of things Bruce is most prone to falling asleep on, or when he mentioned waking up in craters and said something like, "Sometimes I miss a real bed," ask what kind.

In a way, it is creepy. Tony has zero grasp of privacy because he's never had any. It's all guesswork based on other people snapping at him for violating it, except for his very good protocols on intellectual property and certain other intimate secrets. But he just doesn't get that most people find surveillance intrusive. Tony kind of understands Bruce's aversion to being watched because Bruce has been abused that way, but that's about it.

Of course he tries to buy companionship. It's almost all he's ever had. Tony still doesn't really understand that the Avengers love him for something other than his money.

>>I love that Phil's not fearing death is officially labeled a super power in his SHEILD files.<<

I'm glad it works for you. It seemed logical, and I define superpower as an ability far beyond standard for that species.

I liked it!

[(Anonymous)]

I liked this story! I really enjoy your Steve and Bucky interactions. I also like you characterization of Phil. I liked the gift giving topic as well. My mother's love language was gift giving, so I tend to view it in a positive light. It was interesting to see the other side of it and see why some people might have a problem with it.

While "Coming in from the Cold" is my favorite story in this 'verse, I do like you shorter stories as well. I prefer to review at the end of a story, and it's easier to do so with a shorter story. I don't worry as much about forgetting to mention something I wanted to ask or compliment.

I'm very happy that you wrote in this 'verse again, and I hope to see another arch soon!

Sincerely,
Firstar28

Re: I liked it!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>I liked this story!<<

Thank you!

>> I really enjoy your Steve and Bucky interactions. <<

That's a core connection for "Coming in from the Cold." Steve is Bucky's anchor in many ways, and Bucky is Steve's guide and guard.

>> I also like you characterization of Phil.<<

Well, somebody has to take care of the Avengers.

>> I liked the gift giving topic as well. My mother's love language was gift giving, so I tend to view it in a positive light. It was interesting to see the other side of it and see why some people might have a problem with it.<<

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I like showing the same concept from different directions.

>> While "Coming in from the Cold" is my favorite story in this 'verse, I do like you shorter stories as well. I prefer to review at the end of a story, and it's easier to do so with a shorter story. I don't worry as much about forgetting to mention something I wanted to ask or compliment. <<

That makes sense about commenting at the end. I'm glad you're enjoying this so much!

>>I'm very happy that you wrote in this 'verse again, and I hope to see another arch soon!<<

I have some more written, but this is fishbowl week, so I'll be concentrating on that first.

[siberian_skys]

I am so sorry to this story end. I have enjoyed it immensely. I am looking forward to the next part of the series. And I think I'm going out later to get carry-out ham and eggs for breakfast. Sweet ham sounds really good for a change.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I am so sorry to this story end. <<

I do have more of "Coming in from the Cold" written.

>> I have enjoyed it immensely. <<

Yay!

>> I am looking forward to the next part of the series. <<

That's good to hear.

>> And I think I'm going out later to get carry-out ham and eggs for breakfast. Sweet ham sounds really good for a change. <<

:D I'm glad I could turn you on to something tasty. I am a fan of sweet ham, although I also like savory smoked ham.

[gingicat]

That's totally Phil's superpower. Thank you for that wrapper.

In some ways, realizing this it makes TAHITI from Agents of SHIELD canon even worse.

You're welcome!

[ysabetwordsmith]

.> That's totally Phil's superpower. Thank you for that wrapper. <<

I'm glad you like it. Basically, I just extrapolated that from canon: it's a superpower he displays (being in Tony's workshop, where anything could explode without notice; dealing with Bruce-and-Hulk; using an experimental gun on Loki) so I just needed to come up with a plausible explanation. Any repeated exposure to the fear of death can produce that reaction in a very small sliver of the population, just like any other form of traumatic manifestation.

>> In some ways, realizing this it makes TAHITI from Agents of SHIELD canon even worse. <<

*sigh* I wanted to like that show, I really did. But I just could not tolerate the awful teamwork, unlikable characterization, shitty worldview, repetitive plot, cloak-and-dagger bullshit ... gave up after a handful of episodes.

[redsixwing]

Ooh. Def going to check out those sleep links when I'm not at work. Thanks in advance. ^^

This arc has been really adorable. I like that the tarantula got a quick mention again, and it's fun seeing some of the threads start to come together. Also, mmmmm, sausage! I like the sagey ones too.

Also, ouch, Phil's superpower. I love his claiming of the story, too.

You're welcome!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Ooh. Def going to check out those sleep links when I'm not at work. Thanks in advance. ^^ <<

I'm glad that's useful. There are many ways to improve sleep.

>> This arc has been really adorable. <<

Yay!

>> I like that the tarantula got a quick mention again, <<

That was a fan suggestion that made sense so I added it.

>>and it's fun seeing some of the threads start to come together.<<

This story is big on that.

>> Also, mmmmm, sausage! I like the sagey ones too. <<

Yay! So do I.

>> Also, ouch, Phil's superpower. I love his claiming of the story, too. <<

Unpleasant to obtain, but such is often true of superpowers; and it's so useful. Just in this case, he's using it to help Bucky feel better, rather than using it to deal with a threat.

[harmony_watson]

How do you feel about the Ultron movie? Are you going to incorporate any aspect into this story.

Personally, I thought Jarvis becoming Vision should be more emotional. Mr Jarvis was Tony's companion and one of his best friends as a child. Losing Jarvis, even if he lived somewhat in Vision should have torn him up. And Tony had JARVIS in his ear during every major life event from the movies, and before. And yet you're fine with him not being there?

Also, the whole Barton thing is totally implausible. He implied he was married when he was brought into SHIELD, which makes no sense because it had to happen as a teenager. What teenager is not only emotionally ready for marriage, but emotionally aware enough to hide that wife from a government agency. Also, why did they never wonder where their top sniper was going? Shadow government agencies seem pretty disinterested.

Sorry about the rant.

Well...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>How do you feel about the Ultron movie?<<

It was fun to watch, but had serious structural flaws.

>> Are you going to incorporate any aspect into this story. <<

Bits and pieces. I'm thinking of using it as a nightmare scene -- what would happen if the team hadn't gotten help for some of their issues.

>> Personally, I thought Jarvis becoming Vision should be more emotional. <<

The best emotion in that was Bruce's reaction when he realized what had happened. You could tell he'd been friends with JARVIS.

>> Mr Jarvis was Tony's companion and one of his best friends as a child. Losing Jarvis, even if he lived somewhat in Vision should have torn him up. And Tony had JARVIS in his ear during every major life event from the movies, and before. And yet you're fine with him not being there? <<

Tony is so fucked up inside when it comes to emotions, I figure he poured himself a glass of vodka to numb the pain while nobody was looking. He's used to working while in mortal agony and/or blind drunk, and only sometimes shows it. Though I think this could have been handled better, yes.

>> Also, the whole Barton thing is totally implausible. <<

I agree.

>>He implied he was married when he was brought into SHIELD, which makes no sense because it had to happen as a teenager. What teenager is not only emotionally ready for marriage, but emotionally aware enough to hide that wife from a government agency. Also, why did they never wonder where their top sniper was going? Shadow government agencies seem pretty disinterested. <<

I found the emotional disjunction more implausible than the hiding. Barton is a sneaky little thing. But without any foreshadowing, there's no support or connection for this addition, so it just seems pasted on and unbelievable. Even a little thing like Phil's "cellist" line would have helped.

>>Sorry about the rant. <<

It's okay.

[thnidu]

This is very comforting. A most appropriate ending, with bedtime. I'm going to look over that sleep yoga material.

(There's a cat between me and the screen.)

Part 8 still doesn't have a link to Part 9.

I like ham and pineapple, but I've only had it eating out for most of my life, because we kept a kosher home. But now, for various reasons, I'm not any more, so I may try that... except it's way too much for one person. ... Gotta think about that. Ditto the crockpot breakfast casserole; well, with that I could at least halve it.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> This is very comforting. A most appropriate ending, with bedtime. <<

Yay!

>>I'm going to look over that sleep yoga material.<<

I'm glad I could help.

>>Part 8 still doesn't have a link to Part 9.<<

Fixed.

>> I like ham and pineapple, but I've only had it eating out for most of my life, because we kept a kosher home.<<

That makes sense.

>> But now, for various reasons, I'm not any more, so I may try that... except it's way too much for one person. ... Gotta think about that. <<

Try buying a plain ham steak and scaling down flavor recipes for that. One ham steak, the miniature can of crushed pineapple or rings, a sweetener such as honey or maple, and you should be good. Most individuals couldn't eat the whole thing in one sitting but the leftovers should be edible.

>>Ditto the crockpot breakfast casserole; well, with that I could at least halve it.<<

Get a miniature crockpot to make 1-2 servings. Casseroles are mass recipes and usually divide well. Another option is microwave mug cooking; breakfast casseroles should work there too.

[pinkrangerv]

They list that as a superpower? SHIELD is *very* forward-thinking. I love how Bucky finally sleeps by himself! That's awesome. And Bruce is cooking for everyone!

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> They list that as a superpower? SHIELD is *very* forward-thinking. <<

It is something which allows Phil to do useful things that most humans can't do.

>> I love how Bucky finally sleeps by himself! That's awesome. And Bruce is cooking for everyone! <<

Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed this.

[snippy]

I enjoyed this and learned a lot from some chapters. I especially liked your portrayal of people growing at their own rates and in different areas.

[tadpoleacorn]

Thank you for writing this. It was nice to be reading about the Avengers again.

You're welcome!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[slash_reader]

lovely ending. Enjoyed this. thank you

Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith]

That's fun to hear.

[ephany]

I really love this series how the team interact the building of a family without needing blood relations.

Not a complaint but you surprised me this the first real story of the series (rather than a poem) that didn't end with "mission Accomplished"

LOL just struck me as funny not at all a requirement just thought I'd mention it.

eagerly awaiting the net chapter

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I really love this series how the team interact the building of a family without needing blood relations. <<

Yay! That's what really interests me about the Avengers. You can't just throw together a bunch of battered people and declare them a team. They have to figure out how to mesh, and that involves getting to know each other.

>> Not a complaint but you surprised me this the first real story of the series (rather than a poem) that didn't end with "mission Accomplished"

LOL just struck me as funny not at all a requirement just thought I'd mention it.<<

That's because "Coming in from the Cold" started out as one story. It grew until it got too unwieldy for me to work with, and I suspected readers would feel the same. So I'm breaking it down day-by-day. If I get it right, each day will be comprehensible by itself, provided that readers are familiar with the series to date. But it's not the same as a plot that is tied up all at once.

>> eagerly awaiting the net chapter <<

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

[mashfanficchick]

I really enjoyed this story. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of it (that is, more days). :-)

[(Anonymous)]

I'm in love with this series, it's influenced the way I read all other Avengers fanfiction, its so well done!

I love the growth you see in this one, there are a lot of moments you could point at and say "When they first moved in together, they never would of done this." I am a little sad that Bruce is still having so much trouble accepting his brother (Hulk is such a sweetheart, I hate to see him hurt), but I understand that a problem that complex takes time to resolve, so I'm trying to be patient, and trust Phil.

As for Phil's 'Superpower', its both really cool and really worrying- because someone who isn't afraid of their own death might not realize how devastating their death would be to those who love them. I hope Phil doesn't develop that blind spot, the TeamFamily is going to need their beloved Uncle for a while yet.

I'm looking forward to your next work, and thank you for all you've done so far.
-RockafellaSaint

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I'm in love with this series, it's influenced the way I read all other Avengers fanfiction, its so well done! <<

*bask, preen* Thank you!

>> I love the growth you see in this one, there are a lot of moments you could point at and say "When they first moved in together, they never would of done this." <<

Yay! That's exactly what I'm aiming for in this series, to show the progression from distrust and malfunction to a happy, fluent teamfamily. :D

>> I am a little sad that Bruce is still having so much trouble accepting his brother (Hulk is such a sweetheart, I hate to see him hurt), but I understand that a problem that complex takes time to resolve, so I'm trying to be patient, and trust Phil. <<

Sooth. In many ways, Bruce-and-Hulk are the most broken members of the team. More recently, Bucky looks worse because they just got him away from the villains. But Bruce and Hulk have years of family dysfunction to overcome, which creates a lot of inertia. Bruce is making gradual improvements, because feelings are NOT his strong suit. Hulk is growing a lot faster because of his higher emotional intelligence; all he really needed was people who could give him good examples of healthy interaction. We'll see more of this unfolding in the future.

>> As for Phil's 'Superpower', its both really cool <<

Yay!

>> and really worrying- because someone who isn't afraid of their own death might not realize how devastating their death would be to those who love them. <<

This is true. Phil understands that his death would upset his birthfamily, of course, but they've already talked about that years ago. He hasn't really noticed yet how much his new team is coming to rely on him. He's not just a field operative anymore, but a long-term handler, and that changes things in ways he doesn't understand yet. Hence his surprise when they all wrapped around him after the team got shot down in "Turnabout Is Fair Play."

>> I hope Phil doesn't develop that blind spot, the TeamFamily is going to need their beloved Uncle for a while yet. <<

That's actually one of the things Bucky is good at, covering Captain Target Practice people who never watch their own backs.

>> I'm looking forward to your next work, and thank you for all you've done so far. <<

*bow, flourish* Happy to be of service. I'm glad you liked this. There will be more, when I have time to post some.

[jeshyr]

Oh poo I just wrote an epic comment andh pressed close-tab instead of post-comment :(

I will come back later, hopefully. In the mean time: THIS IS AWESOME and YOU ARE AWESOME and THANK YOU <3

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>Oh poo I just wrote an epic comment andh pressed close-tab instead of post-comment :( <<

Wah! I hate it when that happens.

>> I will come back later, hopefully. In the mean time: THIS IS AWESOME and YOU ARE AWESOME and THANK YOU <3 <<

*bow, flourish* Happy to be of service. I would love to hear more detailed feedback if you have time to recreate it.

[(Anonymous)]

1.) I LOVE this series... Team as Family just gives me ALL the warm fuzzies, and I want to give all the Avengers hugs... They really need them :D
2.) Bucky & Steve's bedtime routine is so sweet. It gives them an excuse to cuddle when, based on the social mores of the time period the grew up in, they need one.
3.)I have mild developmental dyspraxia... routines, my parents & I have discovered, are a wonderful coping method. As a child, bedtime went: bath/shower, time to wind down, bedtime story (read to me by dad at first, then I read for myself), classical music playing after 'lights out' around 8pm. To this day as a 20-something, I still prefer to bathe at night and sleep with some kind of music/podcast playing.

What is dyspraxia?
https://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/about-dyspraxia/
http://www.dyspraxiausa.org/

~PiratesRose from AO3

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>1.) I LOVE this series... Team as Family just gives me ALL the warm fuzzies, and I want to give all the Avengers hugs... They really need them :D <<

Yay! I'm happy to hear that.

>> 2.) Bucky & Steve's bedtime routine is so sweet. It gives them an excuse to cuddle when, based on the social mores of the time period the grew up in, they need one.<<

Yes, exactly. It's a touchstone for them.

>> 3.)I have mild developmental dyspraxia... routines, my parents & I have discovered, are a wonderful coping method. <<

That makes sense.

>>As a child, bedtime went: bath/shower, time to wind down, bedtime story (read to me by dad at first, then I read for myself), classical music playing after 'lights out' around 8pm. To this day as a 20-something, I still prefer to bathe at night and sleep with some kind of music/podcast playing.<<

Good plan.

>>What is dyspraxia? <<

This is useful, thanks.

[mdlbear]

I love the salty Smithfield ham. My brother used to send us one every year for Christmas when he lived in Virginia; we used to soak it in the bathtub for three days, then cook it in apple juice for our New Year's party. Yum.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

I don't like too much salt -- really summer is the only time I enjoy its flavor. But I'm quite fond of apple and ham as a combination.

[(Anonymous)]

Still here and still reading. ^_^

I love all the stuff you're exploring here - Bucky and Bruce-and-Hulk, especially. Great to see the characterisation taken so deeply and including stuff that usually gets forgotten or excluded (the issues of class and poverty, in particular). Also great to see how far the team have got.

I'm liking the format too. This is a nice-sized chunk to get one's teeth into and if splitting it into days makes you feel happy with and able to post it ... well, I'm all in favour of that! Although, yes, it is obviously not a cut-and-dried ending, it works well as a pause-point (rather like imperfect vs. perfect cadences in music).

Thank you for writing and for posting!

~Anony-Mouse

You're welcome!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Still here and still reading. ^_^ <<

Yay!

>> I love all the stuff you're exploring here - Bucky and Bruce-and-Hulk, especially. <<

Those are prevailing themes throughout "Coming in from the Cold."

>> Great to see the characterisation taken so deeply and including stuff that usually gets forgotten or excluded (the issues of class and poverty, in particular). Also great to see how far the team have got. <<

Sooth. There's more exploration of class issues too.

>> I'm liking the format too. This is a nice-sized chunk to get one's teeth into and if splitting it into days makes you feel happy with and able to post it ... well, I'm all in favour of that! Although, yes, it is obviously not a cut-and-dried ending, it works well as a pause-point (rather like imperfect vs. perfect cadences in music). <<

I am so pleased that everyone seems to like this format. I will have to keep it in mind for future reference in other large-sized material.

>> Thank you for writing and for posting! <<

I appreciate it.

Ace-fan

[(Anonymous)]

I love this one. It's gentler than some of the others, with less extreme reactions before the comfort/talking things out. Both are good, I like the way you mix the tone and pace now and then.
When I read this: "Sometimes people who gave us stuff ... weren't very nice." ... My blood kinda ran cold. You don't need to hear Steve's tone to guess that that was a major understatement. I'm not 100% reassured by Bucky's statement "I never got into a really bad situation, like I know some kids did." Not being as bad as some other situations, doesn't mean it wasn't plenty bad in its own right.
I know he survived, and he's safe now, but I'm still worried about him.
Also, interesting expansion on Phil's experience of dropping into the lake from the helicopter. That was just a single line in "Little and Broken"; I didn't expect to hear more about it. I like it when curiosity is unexpectedly sated.
The note in Phil's file is amusing too - Phil has a superpower! It figures, considering how calm he was when confronting Loki. Someone has to have either an extremely fascinating natural disposition, or significant prior experience with imminent death, to do that calmly. Especially since he didn't even know what the gun did - that means, it hadn't been tested (at least, not in front of Phil, nor recorded anywhere he'd read it) so by extension, he probably wasn't even certain it would *work*!
Phil Coulson is officially awesome. And a superhero.

Re: Ace-fan

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I love this one. <<

Thank you!

>> It's gentler than some of the others, with less extreme reactions before the comfort/talking things out. Both are good, I like the way you mix the tone and pace now and then. <<

Yes. There's a hurt/comfort cycle within the series as a whole, as well as individual stories. Some are harsher, others more fluffy. It gives people a choice what they want to read.

>> When I read this: "Sometimes people who gave us stuff ... weren't very nice." ... My blood kinda ran cold. You don't need to hear Steve's tone to guess that that was a major understatement. <<

Yay, it worked! The parts that Steve saw were primarily poor-shaming, which could be horrific at that time; disability-shaming, which he got a lot of; and occasionally people trying to trap them into doing work that was hazardous or marginally legal. It didn't take much of this for Bucky to start urging Steve to stand back until it was proven safe or not.

>> I'm not 100% reassured by Bucky's statement "I never got into a really bad situation, like I know some kids did." Not being as bad as some other situations, doesn't mean it wasn't plenty bad in its own right. <<

Yyyyyeah. As far as I know, Bucky never got raped and never killed anyone, and those were his benchmarks. He was solicited for prostitution and rejected it, at least in terms of anything serious. Not all of his jobs were legal, though. I do that both of them worked as lookouts for the bootleggers: they considered alcohol consumption a victimless crime. Bucky got into that sort of thing considerably deeper than Steve did, because Bucky was actively protecting Steve as much as possible.

>> I know he survived, and he's safe now, but I'm still worried about him. <<

Well, you're not wrong.

>> Also, interesting expansion on Phil's experience of dropping into the lake from the helicopter. That was just a single line in "Little and Broken"; I didn't expect to hear more about it. I like it when curiosity is unexpectedly sated. <<

Yay! I look for opportunities to expand on things like that.

>> The note in Phil's file is amusing too - Phil has a superpower! It figures, considering how calm he was when confronting Loki. Someone has to have either an extremely fascinating natural disposition, or significant prior experience with imminent death, to do that calmly. <<

Or both.

>> Especially since he didn't even know what the gun did - that means, it hadn't been tested (at least, not in front of Phil, nor recorded anywhere he'd read it) so by extension, he probably wasn't even certain it would *work*! <<

It may have been tested, but probably not on a living target. Hopefully not on a living target. Once you get into energy weapons, the effects on living and nonliving matter can be very different. The test results may have been, "Well, it penetrates plywood and plexiglass but not metal. We don't know what it'll do to living flesh -- probably something bad."

>> Phil Coulson is officially awesome. And a superhero. <<

Worlds Mightiest Handler. :D

Hush Little Baby Filk

[bunnylane74]

Hush Little Bucky Don't you fret.
Unca Phil has tricks for yo-ou yet.

And if the Sandman you can't greet,
Lil Bruce can help put you to sleep.

And in morn'in when yo-ou wake
Steve and Tony will have baked you cake.

Natka and Clint will have your tea.
You'll Be Safe Bucky Jarvis will see.

Re: Hush Little Baby Filk

[ysabetwordsmith]

This is so cute! :D