Warm light spilled over New York City.
In a quiet, two-story brick building nestled in a Brooklyn neighborhood, Steve Rogers stirred awake.
His body, still frail and fragile, protested the movement, but he sat up anyway, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
A strange warmth lingered in his chest… memories of a vivid dream still fresh in his mind.
Orange cat… what a strange dream.
"Steve! Breakfast's ready!" His mother called from the kitchen.
"Coming, Mom!" Steve replied, sliding off the bed.
As his bare feet touched the wooden floor, something caught his eye… a soft shine beneath the bed. Curious, he knelt down and reached underneath.
His fingers closed around several cool, smooth objects. Pulling them out, he stared in astonishment.
Five gold nuggets.
Each one stamped with a tiny imprint of a cat's paw.
"…!!?"
"Steve?" His mother called again, sensing his hesitation. "Is everything alright?"
"Uh… yeah, just… give me a second."
Still stunned, Steve brought the nuggets to the dining table, where his father was sipping coffee and reading the paper. He placed the gold pieces down carefully.
"Dad… I think I dreamed this."
His father looked up, frowning in confusion. "What do you mean, son?"
Steve took a breath. "Last night, I had a dream. There was this orange cat… it asked me a question."
"What kind of question?"
"It asked if I'd be willing to stay sick, if suffering from illness would help a lot of people in the future. It said it needed to know if I would still choose this life, knowing what was ahead."
His mother stepped closer, concerned, placing a hand on his shoulder. "And what did you say, sweetheart?"
Steve looked at both of his parents, eyes bright with sincerity.
"I said yes. That… if I could help people, it'd be worth it. That's what you and Dad always teach me, right?"
"To do the right thing. To help people."
There was silence for a moment. The weight of a child's selflessness hung heavy.
His father reached out, ruffling Steve's hair. "You're a good boy, Steve. A very good boy."
Steve smiled faintly. "The cat said these gold nuggets were the reward for my answer… it said it left them under my bed. I thought it was just a dream."
His mother brought a hand to her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. She looked at her frail son, so full of light and resolve, and it broke her heart with pride.
"But Steve… why would you choose pain?"
He looked down, then back up, face glowing with hope.
"Because I want to make the world better. Even if it hurts a little, I'm okay with that."
His father nodded solemnly, voice gentle but firm.
"Then keep that promise, Steve. But don't tell anyone else, alright? These gold nuggets… some people might try to take them."
"I understand, Dad."
After breakfast, Steve left the house with Bucky, who'd come by to walk with him to school.
They chatted as always, but when Steve told him about the dream and the gold nuggets, Bucky nearly choked.
"You're kidding, right?!" Bucky said, eyes wide. "That's… insane. Real gold? From a dream?"
"It really happened." Steve said, beaming.
"And I don't care if I'm sick in the future. If it means I can help people, it's worth it!"
Bucky looked at his best friend's happy face, his tiny frame weighed down by illness, yet burning with purpose. "…"
I'll protect you Steve... no matter what.
Back home, Steve's mother watched the boys disappear down the street. Then she turned to her husband with suspicion in her eyes.
"…You're hiding something."
Steve's father sighed, stood up, and slowly unbuttoned his shirt.
A soft paw-print glowed faintly over his heart.
"I… saw the orange cat too." He confessed. "It said if I lied, I'd be marked."
"You lied?" she gasped.
"I told it I always believed in our son. But deep down… I wasn't sure he'd survive this life. I didn't want to admit it."
"And now… this is my punishment."
His wife stared at him for a long moment. Then, quietly, she leaned into him, resting her head against his chest.
"…Our boy is going to be someone amazing."
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
Far from the waking world, Garfield sat cross-legged in a quiet dimension, tail lazily flicking.
He remembered Steve's response from the dream the night before. The test had been simple… a single question.
And Steve's answer had been selfless.
The golden nuggets were symbolic. They were smelted from Garfield's magic, infused with the sincerity of Steve's choice, and marked with his own paw print… a contract of destiny.
To ensure Steve wouldn't inadvertently disrupt his parents' lives with the knowledge he'd gained, Garfield conducted one more test, this time, on his parents.
The results were…
Steve's father lied. He didn't fully believe his son could survive the hardship ahead and had hidden that doubt behind a father's smile.
His mother, however, overflowed with unconditional love, the kind that needed no test.
Her heart had already spoken for her.
So Garfield made a decision.
He approached Steve's mother in a dream.
"The Lord has tested you." Curling his tail around her sleeping thoughts.
"Say nothing of this. You are to be your son's silent guardian, of both him and your husband. From the shadows, with love."
She nodded in her dreamscape, tears glistening behind closed eyes.
Garfield understood now.
The words of The Ancient One echoed in his mind.
"As long as you don't overstep, the world will right itself."
In simpler terms, so long as Garfield didn't go overboard, Steve Rogers would still become Captain America.
That was the magic of the multiverse, a self-correcting mechanism.
It didn't mind some blending, some fun, some "catly" interference… as long as the core of a person remained unchanged.
Steve's selflessness and sense of justice were untouched.
So, the future remained secure.
Beautiful. Cool. Chaotic. Our slogan?
'Get Things Done.'
With his tasks complete for the day, Garfield returned to Queenie and Tina's flat.
He was immediately scooped up and smothered in Queenie's arms, her worries melting away.
Garfield purred with pleasure.
"A cat's work is never done… but a cuddle break is acceptable."
Some things had changed during Garfield's time away:
Tina's Auror position was reinstated after clearing her name. Queenie continued her work at the Ministry of Magic, her talents respected once more.
The U.S. Department of Magic expressed gratitude to Newt Scamander, granting him honor and requesting his help in magical creature control.
A warm, diplomatic relationship was budding.
Only Jacob Kowalski chose a quieter fate.
The lovable baker walked away alone, his memories washed away in the rain.
Thanks to Garfield's 'minor nudging.' Queenie never fell in love with him. They remained dear friends, and nothing more.
Newt extended his stay at Tina and Queenie's home for a few more days. But soon, his leave ended.
It was time to return to England.
Before leaving, Garfield, nestled in Queenie's arms, looked up and asked with a flick of his tail:
"Sister, are you sure you won't come with me, meow?"
Queenie smiled gently and shook her head. "No, Garfield. I can't leave my sister behind."
Garfield sighed, then raised a paw with solemn dignity.
"Then promise me this, if Tina ever visits England… you'll come find me immediately."
"Alright." Queenie nodded.
With a flick of his paw, a flash of golden light appeared.
A small metal necklace, engraved with mystical runes and a paw-print crest, dropped into Queenie's hand.
"This is my gift. A magic necklace, made by me personally. If you ever face danger… press it. I'll be there. Instantly. Meow."
Queenie's eyes softened as she clutched the enchanted charm.
"Thank you… Your Majesty Garfield." And with a laugh, she kissed his head.
As Queenie and Tina waved from the dock, Garfield leapt atop Newt's head, and the two boarded the cruise ship to England, first class, naturally.
The fare?
Courtesy of the U.S. Ministry of Magic, in thanks for their service.
Newt, of course, was too modest to ask.
Garfield, however, had no such reservation, he had privately told Queenie to make sure Tina arranged the upgrade.
"His Majesty." Garfield had sniffed, "Refuses to squeeze into some broom closet."
On the voyage, Newt attempted (once again) to gain Garfield's approval.
There were games, debates, mild skirmishes involving fish and feathers. Garfield emerged victorious, obviously.
By the time the ship reached England, Newt had more scratches than pride.
But then, standing at the port, waiting in person…
Albus Dumbledore.
The future Headmaster himself.
"Oh no." As soon as Garfield saw that familiar face, his ears twitched.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
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