Title: His Very Own Ugly Christmas Sweater
Author: Alysia
Summary: Daisy introduces Daniel to a new Christmas tradition.
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters familiar to Marvel.

"My worst Christmas?" Daniel Sousa parroted. "1944."

Daisy Johnson worked out the year. 1944, the second World War was still raging on at the time. It wasn't often that Daniel volunteered information about the time that he served, and she never pushed.

"The siege of Bastogne," he continued. "In the span of seven days, over 19,000 were killed, 23,000 people were imprisoned and 50,000 wounded." He doubted that she knew much about the battle, not that he blamed her for it. They were born decades apart. But once he'd learned the numbers, he'd never forgotten them. "The longer the war went on, the tighter the rations became. Soldiers on the front line were able to get Turkey and cranberry, but…" Not everyone had been so fortunate. He fell into silence, reflecting on his memories before he forced them away. Daisy wore a cautious expression on her face. "Did I ruin the conversation?"

Daisy gave him a small smile. "Not at all," she denied. "I like hearing stories about your life, no matter what kind they are. I just…you don't talk about your time in the war very often. I guess I don't know the best way to respond." Not having lived during the time, she could only imagine the horrors that he'd seen during the war.

It was then that he decided to turn the question around on her. "What about you? What was your worst Christmas?"

"Hmm…" she made a show of trying to think. "So many to choose from…"

Daniel frowned in response. "Are there really that many?" It wasn't so much that he loved Christmas, but he always had a place to go, either with family, then friends once he moved to California.

Daisy sobered up. "Not bad per say, but…not good," she finished. "Holidays are what you make of them, you know? It was never really a big deal when I was growing up, so when I was an adult, it wasn't either."

"So, you never did anything?"

"If they were particularly persuasive, sometimes I would join friends," though she would admit that even that was few and far between. "Mostly, it was Christmas movies at home with Chinese takeout."

"And what about now? What do you do to celebrate it?"

"If I'm not consumed with SHIELD work, I still do the Chinese food and Christmas movies. When I met Coulson, he…tries to make it…something. Nothing too extravagant. He tries to make sure that we have a night off and we'd all wear ugly Christmas sweaters, have a few drinks."

"Ugly Christmas sweaters…" he frowned, repeating the words.

"Let me show you." Making her way towards the small closet in her bunk, she pulled out two items, making sure to keep the front of them hidden from his view so that she could see his reaction in real time. "And…ta da..." she flipped them around for him. His eyes widened and he went slack jawed as he looked from one monstrosity to the other and she found herself laughing in response.

"They're awful."

"That's the point," Daisy reminded him as she laid them out on the bed. "I guess Christmas was a lot different in the 50's…"

"It was more…" he tried to find the best word but failed. "Just…more," he finished lamely. "People dressed up for Christmas, wearing their best. They always went to Midnight Mass. There were large gatherings and dinner was an affair with the best cut of meat."

"You miss it," she sighed, turning towards him with a parcel box in hand.

"I miss the people," Daniel admitted. He missed the habit of getting together with friends or family, but not so much the fanfare. "What's that?"

Daisy extended the object towards him. "Open it and see."

"I don't like opening Christmas presents early."

"It's not a Christmas present," she denied.

Removing the lid, he set it down before pulling the festive tissue paper aside. "An ugly Christmas sweater…"

Daisy giggled at his lack of enthusiasm. "Well, we're supposed to be wearing them tonight. And I thought you could use your own sweater as opposed to borrowing one from Coulson or Fitz."

He pulled the garment out of the box. "It looks like Christmas wrapping paper threw up all over it," he muttered, frowning.

"You're welcome," Daisy replied brightly.

He wanted to remind her that he hadn't said 'thank you,' but he found himself smiling instead. She looked completely satisfied in that moment and as uncomfortable as he was about the idea of wearing such a ghastly item, Daniel knew he would if it made her happy. "I assume you got one for Kora as well, because it wouldn't be nice to exclude her from this…tradition."

"I did," she admitted, but it may have been a little inappropriate for her sister. She wished she knew her better, or at least well enough to judge. That was another reason why she'd pulled out the other sweaters, in case Kora preferred one of those again.

He stood up, his own box in hand and followed her out of her bunk. "So, I'll meet you back here at 6:30 and we can go together…"

Daisy leaned in and placed a kiss on his cheek. "I'll see you then."

He watched her until she disappeared and looked back at the ugly sweater with a shake of his head. He was a goner…

With one last glance at his attire, Daniel winced. His sweater certainly held up to the title of 'ugly.' He hadn't been kidding when he said it looked like wrapping paper threw up. It was a mishmash of red and bright green. It was loud and not something he would have ever chosen for himself.

True to his word, the knocked on her door exactly at 6:30. When she opened it, he hesitated slightly. She wore her own ugly sweater, but it went further than his with tacky green garland sewn to it in a design. She wore earrings in the shape of lights that lit up and a headband with a felt tree attached to it. "You know, I don't feel so awkward anymore," he teased.

Daisy smiled in response to the easy repartee. "Is it festive enough?"

"Enough? Probably, but if you want to add a little more, I can wait…"

"I think I'm good," she replied, closing the door behind her. "I know it's a silly sweater, but you look good in it, Daniel."

"Thank you," he replied, his ears heating up in embarrassment. They walked in a slow, companionable silence towards the direction of the main lobby area, following the sound of various conversations and laughter. When their hands brushed against each other he grabbed it within his own and linked their fingers together. "And thank you for buying me this monstrosity, for including me in your tradition."

"You're welcome," Daisy replied, squeezing his hand.

When the entered the common area, Daniel looked around the room. Sure enough, everyone wore something just as outlandish as him and Daisy. Once again, he found himself feeling more comfortable in the room. His attention fell on Kora, noticing that she was wearing one of the sweaters that Daisy had showed him earlier.

He leaned into Daisy's side. "Hey, how come Kora is wearing one of your old sweaters but you bought me a new one?" He inquired in a soft voice.

"Because when I undress you, I don't want to be reminded of my father or brother figure," Daisy replied simply. When he stopped short in response to her words, she smirked.

The End