Way back when the Marvel Cinematic Universe Avengers team only had the original six members, one of the biggest tropes in the fanfiction world was “The Domestic Avengers;” putting the world’s greatest heroes in the most normal, unassuming situations and reveling in the way they still managed to stand out. The appeal of that hasn’t changed.
It’s always a curiosity about what someone extraordinary would do if they were ordinary, just like us. Well, this list is here to fulfill that curiosity. Here are ten normal and/or domestic jobs the Avengers would do if they were just like everyone else.
10 Captain America: Highschool Art Teacher
It’s a well-known fact that Captain America’s mild alter ego, Steve Rogers, loves to draw. How extensive that love for art goes is not widely known, but something tells us that if he had to choose, it’s an occupation he would most likely love to have.
It’s easy to imagine him in a dim classroom, explaining away some famous painting being projected onto the wall, his blonde hair an attractive mess and his fingers darkened with charcoal dust from sketching. There’s no doubt that Mr. Roger’s art class would be the most well-attended class in all of high school history.
9 Hawkeye: Musician
Ok, hear us out: it’s not just because of the grungy, rock-star look that Clint Barton was sporting in Avengers: Endgame that makes this seem plausible. It’s also his personality and skill set.
Clint Barton is and has always been someone who marched to his own beat; without the polish and direction of SHIELD, he’d gravitate towards a productive but freeing passion that would allow him to use his affinity for precision. Imagine those hyper-sensitive and skilled hands playing an electric guitar or flying away over a piano. Clint’s music might not turn out to be popular, but it’d be a genius.
8 Bruce Banner: College Professor
Bruce Banner was an inspired and genius scientist before The Big Guy took over and still managed to retain that intellect, despite the gamma radiation. He’d for sure be somewhere on a university campus, dazzling the first-years with the amazing details of physics. He’d definitely have donated his body to science and would encourage his students to do the same because...science.
Without the stress of possibly turning into a rage monster, his class would no doubt have a fun and spontaneous element. He’d find a way to incorporate chemistry, somehow, and there’d probably be experiments galore happening in Dr. Banner’s room.
7 Scarlet Witch: Painter/Sculptor
Wanda Maximoff could have been anything she wanted had she not been dealt such an unfair hand in life.
We see her as being an artsy type, but in a different vein than Captain America. Wanda would likely be a painter, or sculptor, using her hands to create instead of destroy. Isn’t it easy to imagine her in front of an easel with a paintbrush between her teeth, trying to figure out which side of the room will give the best lighting? Or hunched in front of a piece of clay, molding it into a beautiful piece of pottery?
6 Black Widow: Real Estate Agent
Natasha Romanoff has a way with words and body language. She was able to get pertinent information from Thor’s brother Loki, as well as other bad guys, so she’d be a shoo-in for the kind of people-knowing and sales-pitching work that real estate involves.
With a dangerous sort of ease, she’d no doubt be talking clients into and out of units all over the world. Of course, since she turned over a new leaf she wouldn’t be cheating anyone out of their money or valuable time. Her services would be well worth the asking price, that’s guaranteed.
5 Thor: Personal Trainer
First of all, who wouldn’t want to sign up for Thor’s Ab Busting Workout when he looks like a Greek God? If Thor was a regular human and still managed to look the way he looks, he’d probably have an extensive training regimen.
No doubt he’d be interested in helping others get the same standard of health and stamina, and of course, the competitive nature of it all would be tons of fun for him. Picture a pony-tail sporting Thor on a cycling machine, shouting jovially into his mic at his clients, or spotting the biggest guy in the gym.
4 War Machine: College Football Coach
James Rhodes may play the responsible and subdued straight man to Tony Stark’s spontaneous and eccentric party animal, but as more than one movie has shown, he has more than a little spunk. His military background, fiery attitude and heart of gold would make him a great football coach.
He’d invest in and care for his players, but definitely take no mess off of them, making sure that they take their training seriously. Rhodes would be the kind of coach a player felt comfortable having over for dinner with his family. The team would play like a well-oiled war machine.
3 Black Panther: Lawyer
The Prince of Wakanda is eloquent, poised and fierce, all great qualities for a lawyer. He could be any kind really; a criminal justice lawyer, serving up a time to bad guys; a medical lawyer, upholding the rights of patients; or maybe an attorney, helping protect his innocent clients from false accusations or overly harsh sentences.
Whatever the field, he would excel, and he would want to do good for others. No doubt, after sharpening his claws, T’challa would want to open his own practice, and probably do pro-bono work for underprivileged communities. Basically, he’d still be the hero we love.
2 Vision: Librarian
Vision, or Jarvis as he would probably be known in the real world, is a button-up-under-his-sweater wearing wealth of unbiased information, with a deep and empathetic heart. That’s why it’s obvious he would make a great librarian.
He’d be beyond helpful, knowing where every single book on just about anything can be found. And if it isn’t in his library, he could find out where to easily get it for his patrons. His love for knowledge would be infectious, and kind of cute. Plus he’s really tall, so he could reach all the high shelves without even using a ladder.
1 Iron Man: Billionaire Playboy Philanthropist
Let’s be honest: Tony Stark without the Iron Man suit would still be Tony Stark, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. The first and third movies proved that definitively. He’d be the wealth and mind behind dozens of not-for-profit organizations and outreach programs, or he might focus his efforts on the environment, like his real-life counterpart Robert Downey Jr.
He’d definitely be giving TED talks and putting more than one kid through college. Overall Tony would make making the world a better place his official job, for sure. Also engineering really cool stuff for NASA, probably. He is a genius after all!