The MCU isn’t known for having the most well-developed romances. While there are some canon romances, including a few that are well done, some fans have taken their favorite ships and brought them to life through fan fiction. Many of the most popular fan fiction relationships in fandom are between two people of the same sex, as this is an area where the MCU has really let fans down so far. While there are some great canon relationships in the MCU, there are also many fan fiction relationships that could easily be real. Here are ten fan fiction relationships we wish were.
NED LEEDS AND PETER PARKER
One thing that many people don’t realize is how important having LGBT representation for younger people is. Having these two best friends possibly date or have a crush on each other would be really sweet and something that many preteens and teenagers could relate to. Fans have loved the pure friendship between Ned and Peter and how these two are so supportive of one another. It’s not hard to see how their friendship could be romantic at some point in their lives.
PEGGY CARTER AND ANGIE MARTINELLI
This is one MCU couple that many fans loved but is underrated because they appeared on a television show. Angie was a character introduced in the short-lived Agent Carter television series. While these two were never a canon relationship, many fans were rooting for a bisexual Peggy Carter. Given that the pair end up moving into a penthouse together at the end of Season 1, it’s easy to see why some fans thought these two could actually be in a romantic relationship.
CLINT BARTON AND NATASHA ROMANOFF
While many of the super-popular MCU ships are LGBT, there are a few popular ones that are not. Although Clint has a wife in the movies and Natasha has a romance with Bruce Banner at one point, many fans thought these two would be a much better pair. While they are sometimes a canon pair in Marvel comics, the MCU took a different direction. Though the MCU handled the death of Natasha and Clint’s character arc poorly, this ship is still popular with many fans rewriting their endings.
VALKYRIE AND LADY SIF
Valkyrie and Lady Sif is a somewhat popular femslash pairing that is definitely compelling. These two women have a lot in common, as they are both from Asgard and are strong warriors with fierce personalities. While many fans now want Valkyrie and Captain Marvel to get together, and are hoping something like that will become canon when Valkyrie’s bisexuality is confirmed, this pairing is still a cute one. There’s nothing confirmed for sure about who, if anyone, Valkyrie will fall for in Thor: Love and Thunder, so Lady Sif isn’t out of the running by any means.
STEVE ROGERS AND TONY STARK
Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, commonly known as “Superhusbands” or “Stony,” is an extremely popular ship. These two have been popular for shippers based on the comics as well as the MCU. As far as the MCU is concerned, the sometimes antagonistic friendship between the two inspires writers to explore their passion and chemistry. They are definitely influential in each other’s lives and arcs in the movies, so it’s easy to understand why some people want to see them together.
THOR AND BRUCE BANNER
While in the earlier days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fandom Bruce was often shipped with Tony, these days Thor and Bruce are one of the more popular ships. After their interactions in Thor: Ragnarok, many fans thought they had a great friendship that was rather soft and endearing. There have been many fics about them written since this movie came out, and fans would definitely like to see them interact more in the future.
CAROL DANVERS AND MARIA RAMBEAU
When Captain Marvel was released, there were quite a few fans who noticed that the deep bond between Carol and her best friend Maria seemed more than just platonic. These two were extremely close, and it even seemed like Carol was a parental figure for Maria’s daughter, Monica. The chemistry these two had, and their trust and support of one another, is extremely endearing, and it’s hard to see why these two couldn’t have been a romantic couple in canon.
JAMES “RHODEY” RHODES AND TONY STARK
Rhodey and Tony are a somewhat popular but also vastly underrated fan fiction relationship in the MCU fandom. These two might have their ups and downs, but it’s clear they always care deeply about each other. Rhodey is one of Tony’s only friends throughout the years, and he is one of the only people whom Tony cares deeply about, even in his most selfish phases. While Pepper and Tony may be the canon relationship, there’s definitely something to be said for Rhodey and Tony as a pairing.
PEPPER POTTS AND MARIA HILL
While some of the most popular ships as far as the number of fan fiction written are between two men, there are also some more rare but adorable relationships between the female characters. Pepper and Maria might not be an extremely talked-about ship, but they would work well together. They’re both somewhat serious and extremely hard-working women. They’ve both risen to the top of industries that are mostly male-dominated, and they would be able to relate to each other in these ways. These two would definitely make quite the power couple.
STEVE ROGERS AND BUCKY BARNES
If there’s one popular fan fiction pairing that’s the most popular in the MCU, it’s Steve and Bucky. These two, known often as Stucky, have been so popular they’ve even made it to mainstream discussion over the years. While the MCU in canon might have tried to kill the ship in Endgame by separating these two, they are still extremely popular in fandom. The fact that all of Captain America’s movies were driven by Bucky, trying to find and save him is telling. It’s not hard to see why many people read their extremely devoted friendship as romantic, too.
