the art of war is violent (will you be my hill to die on?)

Series Metadata

Creator:
Series Begun:
2025-05-19
Series Updated:
2025-06-20
Description:

Post-Thunderbolts* John Walker-centric series. Not canon compliant with the Thunderbolts* end credits scene.

Notes:

1. the more i learn (the less i bleed): Complete. The Thunderbolts* are forced to leave John and Bucky behind temporarily on a mission, and the two have to rely on each other if they want to get back to the Watchtower alive.
2. one foot in the ground (one foot in the grave): Complete. A joint mission with Captain America goes sideways when Sentry makes a surprise appearance.
3. you're still alive (i hope you know): Complete. The Thunderbolts* (plus Sam Wilson) are left reeling after John’s near-death on a mission (alternate POV/missing scene fic).
4. my own gravedigger (go figure): Writing in progress. When Valentina sends the Thunderbolts* into a trap, John is the only one to make it out. It's up to John, Sam, Joaquin, and—for some reason—Helmut Zemo to save the rest of the Thunderbolts* from Valentina's plans to use them as leverage against Sentry.

Series, fic, and chapter titles from various songs from the albums A Hometown Odyssey and A Hometown Odyssey (The Story Continues) by Livingston

Update (1/31/26): I don't know if anyone will see this, but this is just me coming here to say that my goal is to get the sequel finished in February/post in March!! I'm hoping by putting that out into the world here, it will help me keep the motivation to stick to it. Anywho, for now (for anyone who may be seeing this), here's a snippet:

John thought he knew hopelessness.

He thought he knew hopelessness when he was in the war, when he was faced with a failed hostage rescue or with an impossible counter terrorism op that led to the deaths of over half the soldiers who’d fought with him. He thought he knew hopelessness when Lemar’s blood, leaking from a head cracked against stone, had stained his fingers and when he’d washed it away—publicly, brutally—with the blood of another. He thought he knew hopelessness when New York went dark, when they’d gone into the Void to save Bob from himself—to save the world.

Life—the circular, vindictive bitch that it was—had a way of proving him and all his assumptions the fuck wrong.

Stats:
Words:
40,000
Works:
3
Complete:
No
Bookmarks:
128

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