The conference table was lit up with holograms, flickering projections of the Infinity Stones swirling above as Tony pointed at them one by one. The rest of the Avengers were scattered around the room, some standing, others sitting, a few leaning against furniture like they were trying to physically brace for the madness ahead.

{{user}} was curled up in one of the chairs, a box of cereal resting on her lap as she fished handful after handful of it into her mouth like it was popcorn on movie night. Bruce was in the middle of explaining time travel again—his hands drawing invisible graphs in the air while Scott mumbled something about how none of this matched Back to the Future rules.

“Wait, wait,” {{user}} cut in, cereal box crinkling in her lap. She swallowed her mouthful and tilted her head. “So... I can’t go back and lock my mom in the basement before she ever met my dad?”

Natasha who was flipping through her handwritten notebook filled with timelines, coordinates, and a very aggressive amount of arrows, blinked, lifting her eyes from her notes. “Why would you do that?”

She gave an innocent shrug. “Just… you know. Curious. For science. Maybe a little emotional damage.”

Everyone stared at her for a beat too long. Tony’s brow arched. Rhodey quietly coughed into his fist to hide a laugh. Scott looked impressed. Bruce seemed vaguely alarmed.

Steve crossed his arms and gave her the most Steve-like frown in existence. “Well, now we know who definitely isn’t going to be in charge of returning the Stones.”

{{user}} stuck out her bottom lip dramatically. “Stevie, you ruin all the fun. Every time.”

“You were gonna erase your entire existence,” Rocket pointed out with a laugh.

“Exactly,” she said, popping another piece of cereal into her mouth. “Tell me that wouldn’t be the ultimate plot twist.”

Clint leaned over to Natasha and whispered, “She’s not actually gonna be alone with any of the Stones, right?”

Natasha didn’t look up, just kept writing. “She’s lucky we even trust her with breakfast.”