History Fanfic / TheAlternateTimeline

** Tony doesn't return to California after the Battle of New York but instead stays and helps Steve investigate HYDRA. As a result, the events of Film/IronMan3 do not take place.

** Because Thor is given the scepter earlier than in the original timeline, the events of Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron do not take place.

** Bucky's metal arm causes strain for his muscles; as a result, he is in constant pain. Tony offers to make a new one for him, but only when Bucky is in the right frame of mind to fully consent to it.

** Because Thor is given the scepter earlier than in the original timeline, the events of Film/AgeOfUltron do not take place.

There are four fics in the series: [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13375422/1/Alternatively Alternatively]], [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13474264/1/The-Alternate-Handler The Alternate Handler]], [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13714315/1/An-Alternate-Approach An Alternate Approach]] and [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13754222/1/The-Alternate-End The Alternate End]]. As of December 2020, ''The Alternate End'' is still ongoing.

* DamseloutofDistress: [[spoiler: Pierce takes Councilwoman Hawley (the real one) hostage after the Helicarriers are destroyed. She responds by elbowing him in the face and slapping his phone out of his hand, allowing Fury to shoot Pierce dead.]]

* ThereAreNoTherapists: Averted. Tony encourages Steve to see a therapist in order to deal with his PTSD and panic attacks. Unfortunately, Steve is terrified of therapists and for good reason, as nobody wanted to be sent to the 'therapists' in his time. Tony reassures him that he's not going to be locked up because of his problems. Steve is only persuaded to go and see a therapist because Tony says "I'll go if you go".

* Irony: Invoked in-universe. Bucky is the only Howling Commando to "die" in the war, and

* ThereAreNoTherapists: Averted. Tony encourages Steve to see a therapist in order to deal with his PTSD and panic attacks. Unfortunately, Steve is terrified of therapists and for good reason, as nobody wanted to be sent to the 'therapists' in his time. Tony reassures him that he's not going to be locked up because of his problems.

** Although Tony knows Bucky isn't truly responsible for killing his parents, he finds it difficult to be around him and for a long time, he can't bring himself to call Bucky by his first name.

* ReverseMole: Tony is able to help Steve learn more about HYDRA's plans by suggesting that he pretend to be loyal to them, allowing Steve to be appointed Bucky's handler and subsequently help expose the truth of 'Project Insight'.

* RealityEnsues: Steve and Tony have no way of knowing who is and who isn’t HYDRA. In fact, for all they know, their fellow Avengers could be HYDRA.

%%* OhCrap: Tony and Steve’s reaction when they realise that SHIELD is infested with HYDRA. (Zero-Context: explain how their reaction is an OhCrap

RealityEnsues: Steve and Tony have no way of knowing who is and who isn’t HYDRA. In fact, for all they know, their fellow Avengers could be HYDRA.

''Alternative Timeline''[[https://archiveofourown.org/series/1581769]] by 16woodsequ[[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/9730677/16woodsequ]] is an AU fanfic series of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It can be found on Fanfiction.Net and AO3.

"!! [Alternative Timeline] contains examples of:"

ForWantOfANail: Tony learns about his parents’ deaths much earlier than he did in canon. In fact, he finds out at the same time Steve does.

OhCrap!: Tony and Steve’s reaction when they realise that SHIELD is infested with HYDRA.

ThereAreNoTherapists: Averted.