I really want a fic in the time between CACW and IW where Steve is on a mission with the Rogues, and mb Wanda or Enchantress or some magic being or Reality Stone??? idk who/what but a spell misfires onto Steve. It sends him deep into a coma, where he lives out a dream sequence

of a domestic life with Tony. Tony irl who isn't speaking to him, not after Siberia and the Accords. In this dream, they're married and Tony loves him, and they're retired and happy. Steve's not on the run in this dream, and this is what they could've had if Steve wasn't a coward

In the dream, Tony is coming home from a business trip when he sees Steve in the Tower.

"What's with the lumberjack getup?" Tony asks, gesturing at the beard, and Steve is too stunned Tony is even talking to him to reply. He's even more shocked when Tony kisses him

Steve slowly realizes what's going on, and the rings on their hands. At first, he's wary, he knows it's a dream, and it could be a trap at every turn, but he can't help himself when he starts reciprocating dream!Tony's easy affection. They're living such a simple good life here

Steve slowly relaxes into the dream until he no longer wants to wake up. He doesn't want to leave. There's nothing out there for him in the real world. Bucky is in cryo, the Rogues are on the run, they're fugitives and Tony hates him. In this dream he's happy and he can have Tony

It all ends eventually, and Steve wakes up in an unfamiliar hospital room with Tony asleep in the chair next to him. The real Tony, not dream Tony, who glares and snarls at him when he wakes.

"You have 24hours to get gone before Ross comes," is all Tony says as he turns to leave

And mb it's the residual dream fading, or mb he's finally brave, but Steve reaches out to catch Tony's hand. He doesn't want to let go and to his surprise Tony doesn't jerk away. There's a long stretch of silence before Tony finally leaves, and things feel a little better somehow

Later, Steve realizes the dream is whatever powers showing him his greatest desire, to ensnare and trap him so he never leaves. And he almost stayed. Sometimes, he still wishes he can go back, where it all felt so real and good and happy. The flip phone is his only anchor

So when Thanos attacks NYC, and the flip phone finally rings, Steve thinks he finally has a chance to make everything right.

But it's not Tony on the other end of the line. It's Bruce. Tony's gone.

Okay, so does this exist already, or will I have to write it myself?

Here's an edit to go with this headcanon