babydraco

Jack Benjamin gets sent to war, held hostage, and has to be rescued by his best friend again. ( I know this isn't meant terribly literally, it's more of a reference to the fact that they're played by the same actor).

Steve and Bucky (and we're talking mostly about the 2011 movie here) certainly have a David and Jonathan vibe. But more in the traditional Bible sense, not as much the "Kings" version. Bucky starts out as Steve's protector, the confident, successful one. Steve has the heart of a warrior but no one wants him on the battlefield. And then when Steve eclipses him via Deus ex Machina, and becomes a potent national rallying symbol in war time, Bucky, just like Jonathan, graciously deals with it like a grownup and accepts his supporting role because he loves him that much. As anyone who has seen Kings knows, this is not how Jack Benjamin reacted to David being praised as the hero while he was given a desk job and told the hostage situation was his own fault. He's not at all proud of David for turning out to be just as awesome on the outside as he always knew David was inside.

He didn't...actually know David before David rescued him.

When Steve went to rescue Bucky, he did it (mostly) because it was Bucky. HYDRA's big mistake was getting between Steve and Bucky. Somewhere out there, Bucky was hurting and instinct took over. David rescued Jack simply out of an overwhelming patriotism. Not only were Jack and David not friends, they didn't know each other yet- in fact, when David rescues him, it's dark and Jack has bandages over his face so David doesn't even know he's saving the prince until Silas personally arrives at the camp.

And they don't become soulmates from there. Jack is actively trying to get David to give up and go home until "Brotherhood" (where he and David come to an understanding) and "Javelin" where his conscience finally takes over and he refuses to allow Silas to continue railroading David. He doesn't truly accept David's friendship until he thinks Silas is dead and he believes he has the freedom to live his own life (which tragically, lasts about five minutes because he's in even deeper trouble now).

David and Jack are less like Steve and Bucky from before, and more like Steve and The Winter Soldier Bucky (Jack also sustains an injury to his left arm). Sometimes, post Winter Soldier Bucky has apparently been used to do Steve's dirty work, and there's a pretty good Kings fic out there in which David as king has been sending Jack out on secret assassination missions. David has to stay pure and good, and well, Jack's already defiled.

In canon, Jack is lost, broken, abused, and angry and fighting him because he doesn't know any other way. David refuses to give up on Jack, believing in the capacity of not just Jack but all the Benjamins, to be good people. Jack just has a lot of trouble coming to terms with this worldview because he's used to the carrot and the stick. If he doesn't do what Rose, Silas or William want, the consequences tend to involve some form of pain, and then, because of David, the real person you knew was in there somewhere is starting to fight back.

Enemies, I understand. But you...I don't know what you are.

I'm a part of this mission, Jack. Now let's go home.

(and ohh, his face when he says it- people had criticisms of this actor and/or the way the character was written but that is one of those moments where you go "look at that, that's wonderful, Jack's a mess and David just steps in, all kindness and emotional maturity and takes care of him).

I'd like to mention that that hot fic I linked to earlier, it's gone. This makes me sad and disappointed and a little freaked out. Why is it gone? What happened?