Rubick

When Steve returns the Soul Stone to Vormir, he pays the highest price to bring Natasha back.

—

Or: Steve and Natasha are soulbonded and Natasha discovers the real reason why Steve’s deal worked.

Natasha and Steve have a quiet conversation before going to sleep.

Humans and human-like creatures often make many mistakes.

One such mistake is their assumption that she’s the type of creature they call a cat. She supposes she understands. She’s taken on the form of a cat for the time being and they rarely see beyond external form.

--

Trusting her kittens with these humans, though? This isn't a mistake on any of their parts.

He’s floating.

Ezra can’t say how long he’s been like this, kneeling on the soft rug in front of the couch in between Austin’s legs, his upper body tipped forwards while his hands rest loosely on his thighs.

The shop next to Seph's little magical tattoos and curios place has been closed for some while. It only makes sense to leave a note to introduce himself when a very busy-seeming someone takes the shop on, right?

“Your marriage?” Gazing up at Flowers over the rim of the delicate china teacup, the Empress raises perfectly arched eyebrows.

Flowers takes her in heart-shaped face, younger than expected but still no girl, and the single lock of long hair slipped from its intricate style without being tucked back in place. Thinks about why the Empress might have taken it upon herself to slip away from her own lands to Flower’s brother’s Kingdom and to come here by subterfuge. Thinks about the fact the Empress has brought none of her many counsellors with her and none of her court: only her crew and a few handmaidens of her own.

“Our marriage.” Flowers reluctantly amends.

All eyes are on the New York Institute as they attempt to train the first mundane to become a shadowhunter in 25 years. I don't miss a chance to interview the man himself before the big day.

Yelena had her back to Kate, and Kate took the opportunity to look over Yelena’s lean frame. Plenty of places to hide weapons, she thought. Kate focused on Yelena’s hips, at the slight bulge along the outside of her sleek thighs; there was probably—

Yelena’s voice cut through Kate’s thoughts. “Are you checking me out for weapons or because you like looking at my ass?”

“Both,” Kate answered automatically, and then her brain caught up with her mouth. Her gaze cut up to where Yelena had turned around to face her, and her grin was way too wide. “Uh, I mean—”

“I forgot how funny you are, Kate Bishop.”

~~~

Kate returns to New York, figuring that after the excitement of Christmas, her last semester of college will be super boring.

Yelena has other plans, though. And they definitely aren’t boring.

A week later, Buffy still can’t stop thinking about it.

New energy surged through Quentin’s veins.

Magic. And yeah, it was magic, but it was so much more than that—it was power. Knowledge, the likes of which he’d never begin to understand as a human, was searing through him, flaring up in his eyes and on his skin. He looked down at his hands, at the blue flames that licked over them, up his wrist and disappearing into the sleeve of his hoodie.

This was him. This is me. Magic and strength and life and death were inside of him, to do with as he wished. As he wanted.

~~~

Instead of casting a mending spell in the Seam, Quentin casts another spell that impacts him in a different way.

Five times Natasha kissed Steve.
And one time he kissed her.
Set in the 5 years between Infinity War and Endgame. Plus a little bit after Endgame.