Merry early Christmas to those who celebrate it! I'll take a break from normal pranks to bring you a Christmas special.
I don't own the Avengers. However, I do own The 12 Days of Avengers Christmas song. ;)
"Rise and shine, sleeping beauties! We've got decorating to do!" the incredibly loud and annoying voice of Tony Stark blasted over the intercom.
Steve sighed, grabbing his pillow and pressing it against his face. The one day he decided to sleep in got interrupted by the Avengers' head elf. (Though Tony insisted he was more of a Stark Claus.)
"I know you're trying to ignore me Steve. Don't make me sing The 12 Days of Avengers Christmas song!"
Steve slowly lowered the pillow off of his face, glancing up at the ceiling. "The what?" he asked, knowing J.A.R.V.I.S would carry his voice back over the intercom.
"An Avengers parody to The 12 Days of Christmas. I made it up this morning. Do you want to hear it?"
"No!" the Captain returned quickly, swinging his legs over the edge of his bed. "I'm up, I'm up."
When he made his way to the main Avengers floor, Steve found Tony, Clint, and Natasha hanging ornaments up on the nine foot tree. He noticed Bruce still in his pajamas, nodding off on the couch while saying in a half asleep tone that he was supervising and why were they doing this at seven in the morning? Thor was currently tangled up in tree lights looking quite bewildered.
"Let me help you, big guy," Steve offered, making his way over and beginning to unknot the lights.
"I thank thee, Captain," Thor returned, doing his best to lend aid. "I do not believe the others heard my cries for help."
Steve shot a look at the three Avengers hanging ornaments and noticed them trying to hold in their laughter. "Oh, I think they heard."
Thor followed Steve's gaze, frowning slightly. "Indeed."
"Sorry, Point Break," Tony apologized, not sounding the least bit sorry. "You make a good Christmas tree, though."
The sarcasm was lost on Thor, for his frown disappeared as he smiled.
"Is this your ornament, Nat?" Clint spoke up, examining a delicate glass ballerina. "Or is it Stark's?"
Tony made a face. "Har dee har har."
"Be careful with that," Natasha scolded, ever so gently taking it from him. "It's highly breakable."
"Did you used to dance?" Bruce asked, startling everyone with how quietly he'd moved from the couch to stand beside them. "Ballet, at that?"
"It was a long time ago," Natasha answered, hanging the ornament on the tree. "I don't do it much anymore."
"What better time to discover old hobbies than Christmas?" Tony asked, making his way over to the piano in the corner of the room. "I won't judge. Consider it my early Christmas gift to you."
"Wait a minute," Steve interrupted, signaling for a timeout with his hands. "You can play the piano?"
"Don't look so surprised, Capsicle. Mom paid for piano lessons when I was a kid. She said something about everyone needing to learn how to play at least one instrument."
"But piano?"
Tony was starting to look offended and Steve backtracked. "I mean...piano. Impressive."
Stark smirked and winked before cracking his knuckles. "Okay, Romanoff. You ready?"
"Hold on," Natasha said, shaking her head. "I never agreed to this."
"Aw, come on, Tasha," Clint encouraged, stepping over to the piano and sitting down next to Tony. "Give it a go. I'll even help make the music."
Steve crossed his arms, deciding it was best not to act surprised about Barton being able to play the piano, too. You learned something new everyday, he supposed.
"I have no doubt that you are the most lovely dancer, Lady Natasha," Thor agreed, nodding solemnly.
Bruce simply nodded his encouragement and Natasha glanced at Steve, arching an eyebrow in a silent query.
"Don't look at me," Steve said, holding up his hands in front of him. "I'm as eager to watch you as the rest of them."
Natasha blew out a sigh, stirring a single strand of hair that had fallen into her face. "All right, fine. If you're all sure."
Before she could back out, Tony and Clint began to play, their fingers moving deftly across the keys, keeping in time to make a beautiful harmony emanate from the piano. (Steve didn't know how the two had learned the tune of The Nutcracker, but he didn't say anything.)
Natasha seemed reluctant at first as she started to dance, but it wasn't long before her expression relaxed and an actual smile appeared. She looked like she'd lost herself in the music, and Steve didn't doubt that she'd forgotten they were there.
After a few minutes, and after the song was over, she came to a stop, her arms raised above her head. Focus came back into her eyes as the clapping started, and she straightened, brushing hair out of her face.
"Well," she said shortly, sounding a little out of breath. "I...thank you."
Clint smiled at her and Tony did a two-fingered salute.
"That was beautiful," Bruce said softly.
Natasha smiled slightly in return, and Steve could've sworn a semblance of a blush had risen in her cheeks.
"Since we're letting Romanoff do something she's been wanting to do, does that mean I can do what I want to?" Tony spoke up, eyes alight with mischief.
"Stark, if it has to do with The 12 Days of Avengers Christmas..." Steve trailed off, leaving the warning unspoken.
But Tony either didn't get it, or chose to ignore it. "Then that means it's okay!"
"Actually, I-"
"On the 12 days of Avengers Christmas, New York in peril gave to me!" he began, a childish grin on his face.
Steve sighed, preparing for the worst. So much for that nice feeling after Natasha's dance.
"12 thousand Chitauri crying,
11 dozen S.H.I.E.L.D agents shouting,
10 hundred reporters riling (up the public),
Approximately 9 hilarious one liners (from Stark),
8 hundred or so S.H.I.E.L.D files found,
7 floors of Stark Tower fixing,
6 Avengers avenging,
5 Avengers not under Loki's control!
4 ticked off Avengers at Tony (because Bruce loves him),
3 powerful gods (or is it two because does Hulk count?),
2 master assassins,
And a Capsicle cracked out of a cube of ice!"
The entire room was completely silent until Clint let out a loud groan. "That was the worst Christmas song adaptation I have ever heard."
"Poetic license," Tony said, looking like he was having way too much fun. "It doesn't have to make sense. Or fit the tune."
"I don't think a single line of that song fit the tune, Stark," Natasha pointed out, rolling her eyes every so briefly.
"That was a prank, right?" Bruce asked, confused. "You're pranking us with that song? Because I have to admit I didn't see it coming."
Steve let out a sigh through his nose when Tony dissolved into hysterical cackles. "You think you're funny."
"That's because I am," Stark agreed, breaking off his laughter to smirk and wink at the Captain once more.
"I thought it was quite glorious!"
All eyes in the room turned to Thor. They were filled with various looks of disgust, astonishment, and glee. (Guess who the glee came from.)
"It is a song that shall be passed down for generations on Asgard!" Thor insisted.
No matter how much they all hated the song, every single one of the Avengers couldn't help but burst into laughter. Thor was right. It probably would be passed down for generations.
Just not as a "glorious" song.
This one wasn't so much a prank as it was a Christmas gathering. But I figure they would call a truce for the holidays.
