It Just Needs a Little...Shaping

“It's too hard! I can’t do it!” Frustrated, Bob threw his hands down. “I'm such a failure!”

The mug he’d been trying very hard to levitate simply changed color from orange to blue before your very eyes.

You were quick to pat his back and reassure him that magic based on emotions was very hard to control.

Before you’d lost your powers, you’d gone through a lot of guilt, pain and therapy before you’d gotten to be the Avenger everyone knew and loved.

The masses here had no idea of the multiversal blood on your hands. An entire world that no longer existed because you had one bad breakdown.

One slip-up covered you in invisible blood that stained in a way you couldn’t describe.

You would do everything you could to make sure Bob didn’t go down the same path.

Sentry certainly had the same, Will driven, do whatever you want kind of magic you once did.

“Hmm…”

He peaked over at you, baggy sweater sleeves slightly tear stained as he wiped his face a final time.

“Maybe you just need some help to…direct it. Maybe…” you started to pick at your lower lip as you put together your thoughts, dully feeling Bob pull your hand away before you peeled the skin and drew blood.

Again.

His much larger hand kept a hold on your dominant one, feeling how your fingertips twitched and you still tried to pick despite it.

Bob’s grip tightened ever so slightly to keep you from slipping out while he watched the gears turn in your head.

Your eyes skimmed over your handwich, then up and down both your forearm and his.

He noticed you refocus, feeling excitement in his stomach when you looked up at him with a renewed spark in your eyes.

“Maybe I can sort of….guide it. If you feed your magic into me -just a little bit – I think I can…shape it.”

“Is that safe? Will it work?”

You shrugged, “I’ve done similar things in the past. I know you don’t know much about…who I was but trust me…a little bit of Sentry’s magic won’t hurt.”

You brought your other hand up the back of the one on the bottom of yours, pressing together.

A bright smile lit up your face, nudging him a little with your shoulder. “We can do this! Let’s give it a try! I’ll help you.”

A light dusting of pink entered his cheeks, small nod making his long, dark hair dance around them.

A stunning, white ring formed in his eyes as your support instilled the confidence he needed.

He rolled up his sweater sleeves, showing surprisingly toned, milky forearms.

Not wanting to risk ruining the moment by making him ask, you held out your non-dominant hand.

Bob was a little too eager to take it, sandwiching it between his own again and visibly a bit surprised at how little it was.

Heat shot up your arm at the touch, you assumed it was Sentry's magic going from his body to yours.

Admittedly, it was magic but not the kind you thought.

You inhaled sharply as a rush of energy came to you, pupils dilating as your body re-learned how to handle magic, like plugging in an old refrigerator for the first time in years.

Bob watched a similar golden ring appear in your eyes for a couple of seconds, calm and unaware of the risk you were taking for him.

You had no idea if your body could still handle magic, physically. You could have exploded into ichor on contact from the inside out.

Luckily, the ‘fridge still works!

It only took a couple of seconds, but, for you, it felt like several minutes had passed by the time you felt his magic flow through your pipes like it belonged there.

Turning your gaze on the mug, you held out a hand the way you once did and used the magic Bob was feeding you to make the ceramic slowly lift from the counter.

Cheers came from both of you, your shouts of joy gathering the curious ears of a few of your teammates.

When Yelena, Alexi, and Bucky entered the kitchen, they witnessed you turning the mug different colors at Bob's gleeful request – all while it hovered a foot off the counter.

Both of you had huge smiles on your faces and genuine happiness in your eyes.

“Glad to see you’re making progress.” Bucky offered, aware he wasn’t good at this sort of thing.

“Making progress?! They’re in here kicking ass and doing actual magic!”

You set the mug down as Yelena came over with her arms wide, letting her take both you and Bob in them.

“You guys are amazing! I’ve seen a lot of technology…some reeeeally fucked up shit, honestly,” she glanced over at Alexi, who shrugged and nodded, “But magic I just cannot believe exists! That’s so cool!”

The large man joined the hug, putting his daughter in the middle and easily encircling your and Bob’s shoulders while Yelena shifted to hug your waists.

“And our friends can use it! Together, there is nothing you can’t do!”

Bob’s chuckle of joy warmed all of your hearts as you were squeezed.

“Oh no you don’t, Barnes. Group hugs are mandatory. I don’t know what this is about but I’m in!”

You all looked over to see John enter and stop Bucky who’d tried to weasel out while the group was distracted.

He pretended not to like the hugs, but you all knew he got just as much from them as the rest of the team.

And that’s why he immediately rolled his eyes and turned back on his heel to hide his grin from the other super soldier, before coming over to join the group hug.

Bucky draped himself around you and Alexi, cool metal of his arm going around your lower back.

When John wrapped around Bob’s back you felt his arm cross your shoulder blades, pulling you a little closer to Yelena who happily tipped her head back to have room to breathe.

You agreed with her.

The minor suffocation was well worth it.