Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count: 1439

Pairing: TonyThor

As Long As You'll Have Me

Tony, contrary to popular belief, didn't hate winter. It gave him an excuse to curl up on the sofa with his honeybear, popcorn, hot chocolate and a pile of blankets spread around them, and just relax.

He liked cold evenings for relaxing.

When it was warm out, he always felt like he should be doing something, working or partying or at the very least being sociable.

But winter… winter was fantastic.

Tony believed that the animals that hibernate through the winter had the right idea. He'd definitely do so if it were possible for humans. He was a bit jealous of them, in all honesty.

This year was a little different though. It wasn't only his honeybear in the room for a start. The team had migrated in to join them when they realised what was going on whenever Rhodey got a night off to spend with Tony, and they'd decided to crash the party everytime they knew Rhodes was there.

Tonight was much the same, and Tony was sprawled over Rhodey with the other Avengers spread around the large sofas. Jurassic World was playing on the tv, and Clint had even made salted caramel popcorn, so Tony was in his element.

The weather outside was hideous, of course, but when he heard thunder he sat up and glanced at the window. There hadn't been a storm forecast.

Rhodey smirked at him, and Tony waved a hand at his face as he waited. Sure enough, another bang of thunder sounded and then lightning lit up the sky, and Tony grinned wide.

"Thor's back!"

…

"Man of Iron, why are you standing out in the rain?" Thor asked, though he immediately swept Tony off his feet into a tight hug. He was always imposing, but his size seemed more evident whenever he hugged Tony. He enveloped him almost entirely.

"I heard the thunder," Tony said, grinning. "I knew you were here."

Thor smiled down at him and pushed him gently towards the door. "Inside, where it is warm."

Tony led the way back inside, immediately snuggling back down in Rhodey's lap with the blankets gathered up to his chin.

Rhodey bitched at him for being damp, and Tony snorted, snarking back while he warmed up.

Thor joined them on the sofa, almost tipping Tony off Rhodey's lap when the weight of the sofa dipped. Rhodey snorted, but shifted a little to allow better sharing of the blankets.

Movie forgotten for the moment, Thor greeted them all cheerfully, updating them on Asgard at Steve's request.

"Are you planning to stay for Christmas, Thor?" Bruce asked, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Yes," Thor replied cheerfully. "The good Lady Jane told me of Christmas, it sounds like an excellent time of year. I very much desire to share in the customs of gift-giving and feasting."

Tony smiled, but his heart fell a little at the mention of Jane. Don't get him wrong, she was fantastic, but Tony was….

Well.

Let's not go there.

…

"What the hell is that?" Clint asked.

Tony turned in mid air to see a blue… bird? He thought it was a bird, circling above the remains of the battle they'd just won, chirping happily. At least Tony hoped it was happy. The beak looked like it could do some damage if it wasn't happy.

"Uh. No idea, Tweety," Tony replied. JARVIS was trying to get a reading but was getting nothing. "I don't think it's of this world though."

Thor appeared on the roof Clint was standing on, and even from the air, Tony could see the wide grin on his face.

"She is an ice phoenix," he said, holding his arm aloft like one would in a bird of prey display. "Imelda. She is of Asgard."

"Of course she is," Tony replied, watching as Imelda lowered in the sky until she eventually perched herself on Thor's arm.

"Come and meet her, Anthony," Thor invited, and Tony lowered himself to the roof because it was Thor and Tony was a sap, and he still wasn't going there.

"She's beautiful," Tony murmured, his faceplate slipping up so he could get a better look at the icy-blue bird perched on Thor's arm. She was very… regal looking, emerald eyes shining, and when she turned her eyes on Tony, he felt like she was looking into his very soul.

Oddly embarrassed, he ducked his head as he felt his cheeks heat up.

"Ice Phoenix, Thor?" Clint asked, his head tilted curiously. "All the mythology books I've read talk of fire phoenixes. Red and gold, you know?"

Tony grinned at him when Clint side eyed him.

"Reborn from the ashes," Tony couldn't help but confirm, and Clint nodded his understanding.

"So, uh. What is she doing here?" Steve asked over the comms. He was still down on the street, having been arranging the switch over with SHIELD for the clean up. Natasha was hunting Bruce down.

Thor stared at the phoenix for a moment and then smiled secretively. "I believe she's here to spread some holiday joy, Captain. Time will tell."

…

Thor's phoenix—because Tony decided if she was from Asgard, she was Thor's, regardless of his insistence that one could not own a phoenix—seemed to take something of a shine to him.

Tony thought maybe it was because of the Iron Man suit, but she'd taken to perching on the back of whatever chair he was sitting in—sans suit—so he didn't know what was happening.

Whenever he saw it, Thor grinned widely, his eyes sparkling, and it always made Tony's heart pound in his chest because seeing such a smile aimed his way, even if it was at the bird, wasn't good for him.

He had a heart condition, dammit.

Late the day before Christmas Eve found Tony sitting by the window of the communal room, curled up on the chaise, looking out at the snowfall. Imelda was, as always, perched at the bottom of it, preening her feathers.

"They say ice phoenixes come when they sense soulmates," a voice behind him said, startling him. He turned to see Thor leaning against the wall, and when their eyes met, Thor smiled. He joined Tony on the chaise, Imelda hoping up onto his arm so he had room to sit.

Tony couldn't tear his eyes away from Imelda, who seemed to be humming softly, a beautiful tune that he didn't recognise but that felt like… like home.

"While one cannot own a phoenix, they can choose their humans, and Imelda has been with me for many years, Anthony. Never before has she taken to someone like she has you."

Tony blinked. "I… I don't know what that means, Thor."

Thor smiled softly, and reached out a hand to rest against Tony's ankle.

"Imelda seems to believe you special, and I cannot say I disagree with her. You are… mesmerising, Anthony."

"I don't… we're not soulmates," Tony said, shaking his head. He bit his lip, and looked away. "I'm not… you're a god. There's no way am I—"

"There is a way to know for sure," Thor offered, and when Tony looked back at him, his eyes were gleaming with anticipation.

He raised his eyebrow in question, and Thor raised his hand. Seconds later, Mjolnir flew into it, and Tony blinked.

"You… you don't think I'll be able to lift your hammer?"

"Actually I do," Thor replied softly. "She responds to me, as her master, but she will also respond to my Queen."

"Queen?" Tony squeaked, and Thor chuckled.

"My consort," he offered.

"You just want me to… pick it up?"

Thor placed the hammer carefully on the floor and sat back, waiting patiently. Tony took a deep breath and leant forward, wrapping his hand around the handle. He paused for a moment, and then attempted to move it.

He hadn't expected it to shift an inch, but to his surprise, it lifted easily into his lap, leaving Tony to gape at it.

"I… what?"

Thor's smile was wide, and Imelda's song started again, louder this time, as she took off from his arm to fly in circles around the room.

"You are mine to love, Anthony, if only you'll allow me."

Tony blinked up at him, and then nodded his head. He was in a strange state of shock, because this was… this was…

Thor tugged Tony into his arms, pressing a kiss to his temple as he held him close.

Eventually, Tony pulled himself together enough to look up at Thor and ask a simple question.

"You're mine?"

Thor smiled and nodded his head. "As long as you'll have me."

Written for:

Record Collection: 23. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas: Write about relaxing on a cold night.

Elizabeth's Empire: 5. Winter

Marvel Appreciation: Thor: Imposing / Thunderstorm / standing in the rain

Snow Globe Maker: 22. Mirror of Erised: (word) Desire

12 Days of Shipmas: 14. Your ship encounters a magical winter creature.

Pop Figures: Marvel: 01. Thor: (object) Hammer

Insane: 586. Thunder