No Place Like Home for the Holidays
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the canon characters in this story; they are owned respectively by Marvel and any other affiliated companies and people. I would like to say Rest in Peace to the amazing Stan Lee who passed away on November 12th; you will be sincerely missed.
Dedication: It is my pleasure to dedicate this monster of a Secret Santa gift to my Soul Sister Rival Argentica for Secret Santa 2018. Rival Argentica, you are one of my very best friends even though we have never met in person; I am so glad we connected nearly three years ago over my story Love Is Worth More Than Gold. I sincerely hope you love your Secret Santa gift! Also, I do not own any of the songs that may be mentioned throughout this fic; they belong to their respective owners. (However, I highly encourage you all to listen to the songs mentioned within the chapter so that you may get an idea of the chapter's overarching mood and feeling. With all that out of the way, let's begin the story!
Chapter One: Christmas Spirit
Tony Stark, genius, playboy, billionaire lets out a heavy sigh as the singing outside his lab starts up once again.
"It's the most wonderful time of the year!" Peter Parker's voice loudly sings, his volume rising ever so slightly on the end of Andy William's famous Christmas song by the same name. "With the kids jingle-belling and everyone telling you be of good cheer! It's the most wonderful time of the year!" the teenage Spiderman continues to sing, a happy smile on his lips as he rushes around the bottom floor of Avengers Tower, searching for a collection of boxes that may or may not even exist.
"Kid, you gotta stop it with the singing!" Tony suddenly calls out, appearing in the door of his lab, clothed in black jeans and a flannel shirt, his hands covered in motor oil and grease from where he was making improvements to yet another one of his Iron Man suits. "I can only take so much of it in November," Iron Man continues, and Peter suddenly skids to a halt, turning around and fixing Tony with one of the most innocent stares the genius has ever seen in his entire life.
"But, Mr. Stark!" Peter chirrups, his face switching to a slightly crestfallen one when Tony begins to glare at the high schooler. "It is the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is coming in a month and two days exactly!" Spiderman continues, joy evident on his face as his eyes sparkle with possibilities and pure enjoyment of the holiday season.
"Exactly, Peter. Thanksgiving was just yesterday; give my body time to digest the turkey we had before you start trying to shove the Christmas spirit down my throat," Tony says in all seriousness, wiping the grease from his hands on a small towel. "What even are you doing down here, kid? I thought you and Clint were gonna teach Cap and Bucky how to play Mario Kart where you could all have a grand prix of the three generations and see who's the best equipped to win the races," he inquires, thinking back to how excitedly Clint and Peter had concocted the plan last night in front of a very amused Bucky Barnes, a curious Steve Rogers, and an utterly confused Thor Odinson.
"I'm looking for the Christmas decorations, Mr. Stark!" Peter reveals, and it is just then that Tony notices that the young Spiderman has a floppy red and white Santa hat proudly sitting atop his head. "Miss Pepper said there might be some down here if I looked hard enough!" he excitedly remarks, and that comment makes Tony look incredulously at his young pupil.
"Pepper told you there might be Christmas decorations down here?" Tony asks in confusion, not quite sure why Pepper would think there were such trinkets in Tony's lab of all places.
"Mm-hmm! She said that you never really get into celebrating the holidays on your own, because you're usually much too busy for such things, but when she decorates, Pepper said you always come up to at least compliment her tree decorating skills and eat Christmas cookies!"
"Oh, she did, did she? Well, look, kid, there's a reason why I never really participate in any of the traditional touchy-feeling aspects of the holidays. I never really had a family to spend it with, all right? Jarvis was the only person who ever even noticed my existence around the holidays; my dad's busiest business days were always around the holidays, and usually he'd always drag my mom into them as well, promising her they would be like mini-vacations for her."
"That's so sad, Mr. Stark!" Peter begins before Iron Man cuts him off, making a shooshing noise like he does whenever Peter was in trouble around homecoming.
"Exactly, Peter. That's why I never told anyone besides Pepper that story. Can't have anybody thinking less of me, can I?" Tony states with no emotion whatsoever present in his voice, but Peter can see the pain on the older man's face.
"That's yet another reason why we should decorate early this year! To help you catch up on all the holidays you've missed in the past!" Peter Parker continues to grow his idea, a huge smile on his lips, the Santa hat flopping over his forehead and threatening to cover one of his eyes.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, kid! Slow down," Tony laughs, taking the moment to snatch the Santa hat from Peter's head and hold it out of the teen's reach. (Without the help of webshooters, that is.) "If you can get one more person in the tower besides Pepper to agree that we need to start decorating early, then I will personally take you out shopping for Christmas decorations for the tower myself," the billionaire of Stark Industries states the wager, a confident look on his face as he looks Peter in the eyes. "Do we have a deal, Spiderman?" he inquires.
"It's a deal, Mr. Stark!" Peter shouts with a determined look on his face before the young man takes off and practically vaults towards the elevator to try and find someone who will agree with him and prove Tony Stark wrong.
When Peter leaves, Tony slips the Santa hat onto his own head, starting to mumble "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" under his breath, because Tony has to admit it is one of the catchier Christmas songs Peter could have gotten stuck in his head.
When Peter enters into the common room, his breath coming out in gasps, Bruce, Natasha, Thor, and Steve all jump to their feet, concerned for the youngest superhero in New York.
"What ails you, young Master Parker?" Thor inquires in concern, kneeling beside the fifteen-year-old, wanting to make sure that the young man is feeling all right.
"Is something the matter, Peter?" Natasha questions, coming forward and looking at the teenager with such devotion that Peter almost believes that his own mother would have acted in just this way had she not perished when Peter was young.
"You doin' all right there, champ?" Steve asks, and Peter can't help but shoot the Captain a smile, assuring the war hero that he is perfectly fine.
"Is there something I can do to help you, Peter? Do you feel sick or anything? I could run some tests to—" Bruce begins, only to be cut off by Peter himself.
"Guys! No, nothing's wrong with me. I feel perfectly fine; I promise," Peter assures, a smile on his lips, and a collected sigh of relief escapes from the adults' lips.
"Would ya leave the poor kid alone and let him speak?" Bucky speaks up from across the room on the couch, a controller in hand as he waits patiently for Peter to come and show him how to play Mario Kart. "He's barely been in the room for two seconds and you're all looking at him like he's caught the plague or something," the Winter Soldier continues, and Clint laughs in agreement at that before clinking his beer bottle against Bucky's.
"Mr. Stark thinks that's it's much too early to start decorating for Christmas since it's only the day after Thanksgiving, but I don't think so! He says that if I can get one of you to agree with me, then he will personally take me to buy Christmas decorations and I can start as soon as we get them!" Peter explains to the Avengers and Loki, whom is sitting in one of the large armchairs, his feet curled under him as he reads A Tale of Two Cities, a book recommended to the God of Mischief by Jane merely a week earlier.
At first, all of the Avengers are silent, mulling over the idea in their minds, trying to think of where they fall on the Tony versus Peter wager; Peter isn't quite sure that is a good sign.
Suddenly, an influx of answers begins to flood Peter Parker, and the young man smiles at most of the responses merited by the Avengers and the God of Mischief.
"I don't think it's too early to start decorating, Peter," Bruce honestly admits, thinking about how much he loves the tenderness of the holiday in addition to the green apple flavored candy canes he adores so much.
"Bucky, when did we start decorating before the war?" Steve inquires, having a nearly perfect memory, but not quite being able to recall this detail since Christmas was more about family and less about decorations and presents back in the days of Steve's and Bucky's childhood days.
"I think around December 1st, if memory serves me right, Steve," Bucky answers back, finally just deciding he would try and figure out the controls to Mario Kart by himself since it didn't look like Peter Parker was going to help him learn any time soon now that the kid has a bet with Tony Stark.
"I thought so! Peter, I don't think November 23rd is too early to decorate for Christmas," Captain America begins to explain in that charming, sweet voice of his, and it is no surprise to any of the present company- Loki excluded- as to why the war hero was chosen to represent all that was wholesome and good in America during the fight against the Germans. "It's only about a week earlier than Bucky and I would begin to decorate with the tree, and Avengers Tower is certainly going to need more than just a tree to look festive," he continues, a large smile on his face as he thinks of the absolute purity of shedding a bit of Christmas spirit on the Avengers tower amidst all of the turmoil and darkness existing in the modern world.
"Couldn't have said it better myself, buddy," Bucky chimes in, biting down on his lip as he spins off the road on Mario Kart, earning the Winter Soldier last place as Clint crosses the finish line in second place due to the computerized Luigi overtaking him at the last possible second.
"I'm in!" Clint agrees, a boyish smile on his lips as he thinks of all the fond memories of Christmas he has with his amazing wife Laura and their children on his family farm. "It's the first Christmas that Nathaniel may actually remember now that he's three-years-old, so I definitely always try to make those the best Christmases for my kids," the master of any bow and arrow continues, starting a new race for himself and Bucky on Mario Kart, giving the World War veteran some tips this time on how to better stay on the road and how to use the power ups properly.
"Miss Natasha?" Peter questions, thinking that the red-headed assassin has been a bit too quiet throughout the entire exchange.
"To be honest, Peter?" Natasha rhetorically asks, sighing as she knows her explanation and answer are not going to go over well with the teenager. "I couldn't care less to start decorating for Christmas now. I'm actually with Tony on this one, shocking as that is," she reveals, and Peter's surprised gasp is one of the most heart-wrenching she has ever heard in her entire life.
"I am surprised at that! Why don't you like Christmas?!" Peter practically begins to sob out, his eyes filled with shock and disappointment, not sure how anyone could not like the Christmas spirit, especially when surrounded by some of the best people in any of the galaxies.
"Yeah, Nat! Don't be such a killjoy!" Clint calls from the couch, spinning the Wii remote in his hand as he makes a sharp turn on the road of Waluigi Stadium, knocking King Boo off of the road in the process. "You're gonna want to pick up a powerup, Bucky. It'll especially help you on this part in the course," Hawkeye then cuts himself short to explain the game, continuing on the course while still remaining a part of the original discussion on Christmas.
"Kid, when you're an assassin who was trained from a very young age to simply be a killer, you don't end up with very many good memories, let alone did you get to take time out for activities such as Christmas or Christmas decorating," Black Widow gives the context to Spider-Man about her lackluster, grueling childhood in which hardly any holidays were celebrated. "So, I grew up not caring to put up any Christmas decorations, because it's not like I was ever in one place long enough to enjoy them, and I didn't have anyone to spend it with. Christmas was just another excuse to remember how alone I was during the holidays," she makes known, and Peter's arms are around her faster than she can even process, a feat which amazes the female Avenger greatly.
Nearly no one in the entire world had reflexes as honed and lightning-fast as Black Widow's, yet the youngest member of their team somehow managed to pull one over on her without the assassin even getting the smallest hint he might.
"Clint, you were in the same boat I was. Tell him," Natasha tries to get some back-up on the argument, thinking her once enemy turned long-time friend might try and help her out in this instance.
"Nat, I'm crazy about Christmas. I Facetimed Laura and the kids every year on Christmas, no matter where I was, because I couldn't live with myself if I didn't wish them a Merry Christmas and show them that their Daddy was safe and happy, no matter where he was in the world," Clint reminds her, and Natasha can't help but recall all of the times she had to yell at Hawkeye to hurry up during his calls where they could continue their mission, as Budapest was one of said missions in which he nearly got them killed while watching Cooper try out his new bike in the Barton household's living room. "So, for once, I'm not on your side for an extended amount of time, and I'm stayin' that way!"
Peter can't help but chuckle, releasing Natasha from the hug, looking around at all of the beaming faces surrounding him, thankful he has found a larger family that loves him, quirks and all. Granted, Aunt May would always be his family, but it was incredibly sweet and heartwarming that all of the Avengers have adopted Peter as their younger brother, or son in the case of Tony and Pepper, even though the genius billionaire may be a bit more hesitant in admitting it than Pepper is.
"Yes!" Peter shouts, pumping his fist in the air, a large smile on his face before he does a large backflip across the living room, landing in front of Thor, making the God of Thunder chuckle warmly at the teenager's antics and obvious excitement. "I got Captain America, the Winter Soldier, the Incredible Hulk, Hawkeye, and Miss Pepper to agree with me that we should start decorating! That's a lot more than just the one Mr. Stark wanted me to get!" he shouts in glee, and Steve smiles brightly at the infectious nature of the young Spider Man. "I'm gonna go tell him right now! Thor, Loki, are you two not going to vote?" Peter questions, not wanting the two Asgardian brothers to feel left out of the decision-making process.
Thor and Loki share a rather befuddled look with one another, Loki's brows furrowed in utter confusion as he frowns at his blonde-haired adopted brother, wondering if the God of Thunder knows of whatever Midgardian tradition the young Spider-ling was rambling on about while Loki was trying to read. Thor just shrugs at his younger brother, the same confusion working its way onto the God of Thunder's face as he stretches backwards to work out the crick in his back, an action which flexes his biceps in the process.
"What, pray tell, is this Christmas, young Master Parker?" Thor inquires in the sweetest, most innocent way possible, and everyone wishes Jane Foster were here to explain the holiday to her husband and brother-in-law.
The renowned scientist always has such a way with words, and Thor gladly soaks in any new information his wife presents to him. However, now the men and Natasha would have to take over the explanations for today while Jane was out on a crucial mission of her own.
After nearly an hour of explanations, Loki and Thor are left with a basic understanding of what Christmas is and why it is important to the Avengers. However, at many times during the explanations, someone had to cut Steve Rogers off, as he was trying to incorporate his characteristic patriotism and religious side, to which Natasha reminded the Captain that some of the present company are not as religious as he is while Bruce reminded Steve that Thor and Loki didn't practice Christianity, so they only needed a working definition in order to understand the holiday season and why Peter was so excited to start decorating.
"So, what I have come to deduce is that this Christmas is meant to be a hybrid celebration of both the winter solstice and the birth of the sacred baby in a manger in Bethlehem, but it is mostly to celebrate the birth of the baby who is actually your God's son," Loki synthesizes all of the information he has heard within the past hour from the Avengers. "Am I correct?" he inquires, his shrewd mind and ability to memorize important details big or small, storing away all facts gained from this venture.
"Yes, Loki. That is a fair explanation," Clint agrees, and Loki chances a small smile before turning back to his reading.
"I do believe I shall enjoy this holiday, young Master Parker! When do we begin the revelry and merrymaking?" Thor announces, a perfectly cheerful and innocent smile on his face.
"As soon as possible, Thor. As soon as Mr. Stark takes me shopping for decorations," Peter grins back, plopping down on the couch beside Thor, picking up a Wii remote in the process to prepare and beat Bucky and Clint in the next Mario Kart race.
"So, how'd the bet go, kid?" Tony inquires as he walks in unannounced, making nearly everyone in the room leap to their feet, save for Loki who remains enthralled in the conclusion of the novel and Natasha who has pure nerves of steel.
"You lost!" everyone in the Avengers Tower choruses, save for Natasha, who lost the bet alongside the genius.
"On the first day of Christmas, the Avengers gave to me: permission to put up a tree!" Peter joyously sings his new rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas, much to Tony's dismay and Natasha's chagrin.
Christmas is officially coming to Avengers Tower.
Author's Note: And there it is! Chapter One of, hopefully, twelve chapters to come. I am writing this Author's Note on Thanksgiving since I forgot to write it when I finished the chapter last week, and I just want to say that I am thankful for each and every one of my dear readers who continue to read my work either for one fandom or for very many fandoms, such as in the case of Rival Argentica. Rival Argentica, I am very, very, extremely thankful for you; you are one of the best friends I have ever had in the entire world, and we haven't even met! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of your Secret Santa gift; I worked very hard to come up with the premise and even though I haven't seen Infinity War yet, I have heard the ending was disastrous, so I decided that everyone would not be tormented by Infinity War and everyone would remain alive, because I can't keep myself from all spoilers and have seen somewhere that at least some heroes die, although I do not know which. All that to say, I sincerely hope you enjoy, Rival Argentica! There's a lot more where this came from!