Hello! I am this week’s ATTF host (again)! And today’s topic is the much loved Alternate Universe, or AU.

BUT more specifically than just AUs, this is about Clint and Natasha, and how you make Clint and Natasha Clint and Natasha when you’ve taken away a great deal of what makes the canonically Clint and Natasha.

SO what do you see as being fundamentally Clint and Natasha? The part of their personality and/or character that identifies them as themselves, whether they are circus performers or ex-cons or teachers or regular high school students or whatever.

For Clint I think it is (among other things) being loyal, stubborn and slightly self-sabotaging. For Natasha I think it is (again, among other things) being a fighter, in control of her emotions and quite wary. But that's just what I think, and I don't write very often so what do I know? :P

So, discuss! Rec! Argue! (Politely!) Have fun!

Things to remember:
1) Always label NSFW (Not Safe For Work) stuff in the title and post under a cut.
2) Fic and artwork needs to have a rating and warnings (or you can say that you’ve chosen not to use warnings).
3) For people with annoying internet connections, say in the title if a comment is graphic/images/gif-heavy and post picspams under a cut.
4) Have a damn good time! (Because if that’s not happening then this post has clearly failed.)

My absolute favourite Clint/Natasha AU: Two for the Show (and its sequel Upon this Winter's Night) by mousie tongue [ff.net]
[ Clint&Natasha | R | 31,000 words | high school AU | warnings: physical and verbal bullying, sexualized assault, violence, homophobia and homophobic language, swearing, child abuse, implied non-con ]
After her uncle is taken, young Natasha Romanov ends up in state's custody at a group home. She can tough it out alone... but somehow fellow resident Clint Barton becomes the reason she doesn't have to.
About the most in character AU I have read for this pairing. If you haven’t read this why? (And please, be aware of the warnings, but also that the issues are well handled and not the main focus of the story. Ratings and warnings for Two for the Show.)

My second favourite Clint/Natasha AU: No Light in this Valley by trysts
[ Clint/Natasha | PG-13 | 7600 words | wild west (?) AU | warnings: violence and swearing ]
30 miles to water, 20 miles to wood, 10 miles to hell and I gone there for good
Again, fantastic characterisation, and also just a really interesting setting. Clint especially is brilliant.

And two other favourites: Soiree by ruby_caspar
[ Clint/Natasha | PG-13 | 8600 words | Georgette Heyer Regency AU | warnings: none ]
The Dowager Duchess known as the Black Widow is the talk of the ton - rich and mysterious, the only way to meet this elusive lady is through the equally mysterious Mr Barton…
OH MY GIDDY AUNT I love this. In a way, this is still a spy story just set in Regency England, but it’s so so fantastic I’m reccing it here anyway. :P

Set The Fire To The Third Bar by themonkeytwin
[ Clint/Natasha | PG | 4500 words | warnings: none ]
It was a strange thing, to know you were living a life that wasn't quite your own.
Clint never runs away to the join the circus and becomes a firefighter with a feeling that he’s missing something. As a concept, it's stunning. And again, I feel it is very in character. LOVE.