Tiger DeRanged: Sadly I do not own the sexiness that is the Marvel Avengers, however the two OC that are the main focus of this are mine mwahahahahahahahaha ;)
Chapter Two: Why Do You Name This Tiny Bit of Plastic a Star?
Luna bounced joyfully on Ronnie's bed as she watched her sister-in-all-but-blood dig through her closet, "Can you believe this?! The kids are going to love it!" she squealed.
Ronnie sent a grin over her shoulder before re-focusing on her search, "I can't believe Bruce is actually going to wear the Santa suit!" her voice was muffled, but her laughter was obvious.
Luna began to giggle, "Well, Nat told him it was that or large purple pants and no shirt," she managed beaming and filled with warmth.
"Found them!" Ronnie exclaimed in triumph, pulling out a box with little victory dance while she was at it.
Luna started to bounce even more as Ronnie set it on the bed, but a calming hand on the top of her head had her freezing dramatically. Ronnie ruffled gold locks before pulling her hand back so she could open the box after blowing off the dust. Slowly, she pulled out two costumes and stockings with matching hats and fake elf ears.
"Alright Moonbeam, get dressed and then I'll do your make-up and ears," Ronnie said, passing over the required costume.
Luna grabbed it and skipped to the bathroom while Ronnie began to change herself. When both were done they wore felt green dresses with a petticoat beneath to make the skirts fuller, with long fitted sleeves that came slightly off their shoulders. Beneath they wore candy-cane stockings and pointed slippers with bells on the toes. Ronnie had curled her hair and pulled it into a loose, side-braid with curls to frame her cheeks whereas Luna kept her bangs and strips of hair to frame her pale features.
"Alright, now make-up, darlin'," Ronnie said, making Luna sit on the closed toilet seat.
"Could you sing to me, sis?" Luna asked quietly while she fidgeted, "I can't calm my nerves."
Ronnie paused in shock before offering a soft smile, "A poor orphan girl named Maria," she continued to sing in a clear soprano while applying Luna's make-up.
She made the eye-shadow light with a hint of cinnamon for color and made the eye-liner thin and exact with a sweeping curl at the edges. From there she added red to the girl's cheeks to make it seem as if she was flushed and then added gloss to full lips. With the finer things done, Ronnie added some light glitter to Luna's face, neck, and shoulders.
While she began to glue on the pointed ears, she continued to sing clearly, "Then just as the midnight bells rang out, the little bird started to sing." She blended some foundation to make the ears see natural.
Done, Ronnie pressed a gentle hand atop Luna's head to show she was finished before turning to do her own in a similar manner. She then added glitter and the elf ears. To finish it off she pinned a green elf hat atop her head with a small bell at the tip. Luna did the same, jingling up a storm now that Ronnie was finished singing and helping her get ready.
"C'mon, let's go meet the others!" Luna said excitedly, skipping over to the door of Ronnie's room.
"Hakuna your tatas," Ronnie chuckled, grabbing the large sack full of presents for the children from beside the bed, "I'm coming!"
The two women made their way to the lounge floor (Luna skipping and trying to get Ronnie to join her), talking and laughing the whole way. Upon entering they saw the others sans Bruce suited in their uniforms and talking quietly amongst themselves; even Loki had come (without his helmet).
"Where's Bruce?" Luna pouted, prancing over to stand beside Tony (to his pleasure) and observe his Iron Man suit curiously.
Clint snickered, "He's busy trying not to turn into a tomato," he said, pointing a thumb toward the couch.
Ronnie saw Bruce sitting uncomfortably in a fitted Santa suit with the hat and fake beard, he was pretty red around the ears.
"Clint Barton if you tease Bruce anymore I will make you go as Rudolph!" Ronnie's voice was sharp as she glared at the archer with her arms crossed, "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yeah! Just 'cause your too scary to be able to pull off the Santa look doesn't mean you should pick on Bruce!" Luna said, sticking her tongue out at the sputtering Clint.
Bruce seemed to gain confidence at this and stood, "Let's go or we'll be late," he said, accepting the sack of presents from Ronnie, "Plus we still have to put up the tree tonight," he added.
Luna gave a large smile and skipped over to Bruce, dragging Tony behind her (not that the genius minded all that much), "Yay! Let's go!" she grabbed the doctor's hand and dragged both of the resident geniuses out behind her.
"She seems really enthusiastic," Steve said, coming to walk next to Ronnie, "well more than usual," he added with a chuckle.
Ronnie smiled as she pulled on some white gloves from her skirt pocket, "This is the first year since Pops death that we've done this with others and in costume. For years it was just us and our other sister Harry when she's in town," she explained, "I think in a way this cements the fact we have a family again."
Steve was struck silent by this and pondered it as they walked toward the underground garage. How long had these women been alone?
Time Skip and Scene Change = Children's Hospital a few minutes later
"Guess who came?!" the RN announced to the playing children; they turned curiously and all lit up to see Ronnie and Luna standing there.
"Aunt Luna! Aunt Ronnie!" they called in unison, all dropping their toys to clamor over to the dressed up women.
"Hey there, you heathens!" Luna greeted playfully, scooping up a few of the children who were not wheelchair bound or attached to an IV pole.
Ronnie knelt down to cuddle with the impaired children, "We have a surprise for you guys!" she whispered as if sharing a secret, arms around a particularly frail looking child.
With those words the team filed in and the children seemed to light up further in delight.
"Aunt Luna," one of the boys whispered form Luna's arms, "Do you think Iron Man would sign the poster in my room?" hope shone brightly in the boy's eyes.
Luna smiled, this boy had always been close to her heart since she met him, "I don't know, Sammy. Why don't we ask him?" she walked past Bruce, Ronnie, and Steve who were handing out gifts and toward where Natasha, Clint, and Tony crouched talking to other kids. Loki and Thor were playing with some of the children confined in chairs.
"Mr. Iron Man," Luna interrupted mock-serious though her eyes twinkled, "Sammy here has a question for you," she said with an amused grin while the boy ducked his head shyly into her neck.
Tony felt his heart stop at the sight of Luna holding a child with a mixture of their features, but quickly composed himself, "What can I do for you, kiddo?" he asked, helmet under his arm so he could talk easier with the children.
"Um," Sam blushed but powered through, "Would you sign the poster in my room? Your my favorite Avenger!" he gushed, gaining confidence under Tony's warm smile.
Tony felt warmth fill his chest, "I'd be happy to, buddy! Show me the way?" he asked, reaching up to ruffle dirty blond locks gently.
Sam gave a wide, gap-toothed smile, "M'tay!" he said, leaning to get down. Luna placed him on the ground gently only to have her hand apprehended by the pajama-clad boy, Tony's was grabbed as well. Sam stood between them looking particularly proud as he led them out of the play room and down the hall towards his room. Tony and Luna exchanged amused grins over the boy's head as he tugged them insistently along
As they passed, the nurses smiled fondly at them, and Luna would offer waves to familiar faces, "You must come here a lot, Luna," Tony commented, noticing just how many people recognized the woman.
"Aunt Luna and Aunt Ronnie come every December 22 and sometimes weekends!" Sam exclaimed happily, only to stop suddenly because of a coughing fit.
Instantly, Tony and Luna knelt beside the boy with their arms around him to keep him steady and off the floor. Luna spoke up in a surprisingly gentle, soothing tone, "There now Sammy-Sam, you just got a little too excited, huh?" she teased, rubbing the boy's back in reassuring circles.
The boy nodded with a sheepish smile, shaking a bit from the exertion and a chill which was when Tony noticed his bare feet "Now there's your problem, little man, your not wearing any shoes or socks!" he exclaimed in playful dramatics, before scooping up the delighted boy into his armored arms.
With a giggle, Sam snuggled closer to Tony while running his hands admiringly over the man's armor. Tony chuckled, "Where are we headed, Sammy?" he asked, drawing the boy's attention back to him.
The boy led them to their location via pointing and amusing commentary about each nurse; sometime along the way Luna had drifted closer and Tony entwined their fingers. When they reached the room Tony gave his helmet to Sam to play with and talk to JARVIS while he signed the boy's poster. Luna searched for some socks for the boy.
"Alright, Sammity-Sam," Tony said, "We should get back to the others. Up you go!" Tony lifted the boy high, throwing him up slightly and catching the giggling child.
Luna felt her heart fill with warmth at the interactions between her two favorite boys; this Christmas was the best after her and Ronnie's last with Pops. Quickly she jogged to catch up with the two, grinning as they both turned to look at her with matching smiles. Yup, she was gone.
They returned to see Bruce, Thor, and Loki sitting with some of the children telling stories; Clint and Natasha were helping put out dinner and oral medications; Steve and Ronnie were playing with two twin little girls sitting in their laps.
The rest of their time was spent helping out with dinner and putting all the children to bed. They all offered goodbyes and left, tired yet feeling accomplished and joyous after their time with the kids.
"Thank you," Ronnie spoke quietly, head on Steve's shoulder in the back of the van they'd used, "all of you. You made those children's night."
Luna nodded, "Some of them only a few more months, I've never seen them so lively," she said with a sympathetic smile, wrapping her arm in Tony's and leaning into him contentedly.
The rest of the team remained silent, soaking in the reality. Why had they never done this before? Loki spoke up, staring broodingly out the window at passing buildings, "Where were their parents?"
Ronnie sighed and Luna glared at something only she could see, "Some couldn't handle having sick children and left them at the hospital doors with nothing but the clothes on their backs and sometimes a birth certificate. Others are orphans. Some have left on constant vacations and visit once in a blue moon," Ronnie told them sadly.
Luna managed out in a growl, "Thankfully not all parents are like that. some of the parents to children on other floors visit ours to help out."
The rest of the car ride was spent in silence. Bruce turned on the radio low with carols playing, hat and beard long gone as he made his way out of the city. They still had to find a tree to decorate.
Half-way there things lightened as Luna seemed to jump back, singing and bouncing in her seat while fiddling with a bomb she seemed to pull out of thin air. Soon, Ronnie was looking over her sister's shoulder, stroking her hair after removing the elf hat. With the two sisters back to normal everyone seemed to bounce back as well. Thor and Loki were bickering while Clint, Tony, and Natasha were throwing sarcastic quips at each other with Bruce acting as unwilling mediator. Steve sat quietly by Ronnie watching the two sisters practically cling to each other. Only he noticed the false personas they were using: the two were still shaken it seemed.
When they reached the tree farm JARVIS had found, they all piled out and broke off into groups to search for the perfect tree. Steve, Tony, Ronnie, and Luna were in a group together while Thor, Loki, and Bruce were in one and Natasha and Clint went off on their own. They broke off, Luna bouncing ahead dragging Tony along by the hand while Ronnie and Steve stood back. Every so often their hands would brush before finally Steve grabbed a hold and held on, entwining their fingers.
Ronnie shot him a glance out of the corner of her eye, blushing slightly, but didn't let go as she watched her sister romp about between the trees with childish glee. She, herself, couldn't fight the grin spreading across her features; this had always been one of her favorite parts.
The carolers standing on the edge that you could hear no matter where you were you were in the forest. The hot chocolate you could smell wafting through the chill winter air mixing with the smell of pine trees. And knowing you are there with the people you love made it even better.
She squeezed Steve's hand a bit harder before relaxing her grip and subconsciously leaning into the man that had unknowing stolen her heart. And she knew Luna couldn't be happier, having listened to her sister's constant chattering about her feelings for Tony who she was now cuddling against without a care in the world as they looked over the trees.
Steve was content and pondered revealing how he felt for the woman whose hand he held, but chickened out. Some hero he was, he thought to himself humorlessly.
They continued looking before they got a call from Bruce claiming Clint had found the "perfect one". They made their way over to the others and found that Clint had been right, it was the perfect tree and Luna couldn't be happier.
She was practically vibrating the entire way back into the city and to the Tower, constantly sticking her head out the window to check that the tree was safe. Ronnie smiled in fond exasperation and informed the others to just go with it, but to keep an eye on her. She knew what Luna could be like more than any of them.
As Thor and Loki carried the tree up to the lounge area, Luna danced her way into the Tower behind them somehow dragging Tony into it. Ronnie stood laughing before she was shocked by Steve offering his hand with an amused glint in his azure gaze. Not really knowing what the man was up to, Ronnie hesitantly put her hand in his only to be swept up into a dance making her laugh in delight.
Soon enough Tony and Luna were beside them as they danced through the hallways, Tony calling for JARVIS to put on music low. The two couples danced their way to the elevator under the amused stares of Clint and Bruce seeing as Natasha had disappeared somewhere.
The whole way Ronnie was laughing with Luna, meeting Steve's gaze with twinkling, miss-matched eyes. Luna was beaming, laying her head on Tony's shoulder trusting him to lead her right.
When they reached the elevator, the couples stopped though the women made no move to remove themselves from their partner's arms. They rode in silence, meeting up with Natasha on the way up who was clutching two non-descriptive bags to her chest with a daring look in her eye. Clint knew better, Bruce was willing to wait, and Tony (who would usually try to bug it out of her) was too distracted with a giggling Luna in his arms. Steve was just as preoccupied as the genius, smiling adoringly at the woman in his arms as she spoke to him in low tones, and as usual Ronnie and Luna seemed oblivious to the two men's attention.
They reached the lounge floor in time to see Thor and Loki digging through boxes with a look of incomprehension on their faces. Luna burst into laughter to see the god of mischief tangled in the lights for the tree whereas Thor had wrapped the tinsel around his neck like a boa, lifting it to his face curiously. Ronnie soon joined in helplessly as Loki tripped and fell because Dummy had snuck up and tied the lights around the demigod's legs before plugging it in so they lit up. Both women were being supported by their respective dance partner while Thor postured and flailed trying to help his brother.
When everyone was safe and composed, Natasha had everyone sit around as she unpacked the bags she carried. Only Ronnie and Luna seemed unsurprised, and at the rest of the teams accusing/questioning stares Luna shrugged and grinned, "It's not our fault none of you were listening when we mentioned ornament shopping!" she exclaimed before sticking her tongue out playfully.
Ronnie and Luna watched on as the other Avengers gushed over the miniatures of themselves as ornaments. Loki seemed even more amazed than the others and Ronnie went over to run her fingers through his hair as she had at breakfast.
"Despite what you have done, it does not mean that no one understands or respects you darlin'. Ever since you joined the Avengers, and even before, you've gained admirers; never doubt yourself or think you have no place. You will always be welcome here; you are family," she assured him, kissing him gently on the forehead.
For a moment Loki was speechless before he reached forward and grasped her hand trying to keep a stoic face. Luna quickly distracted the others by shouting, "JARVIS hit it!" and upbeat Christmas music began as she quickly rushed unpacking the rest.
Tony and Steve exchanged a knowing look and assisted Luna in distracting the others unnecessarily to humor the girl. The others played along as well, subtly ignoring the corner where Ronnie sat cradling Loki gently in her arms as the demigod composed himself.
Soon enough both were in the middle of the crowd about the evergreen tree, all singing at the top of their lungs, as if nothing had happened. Jokes and laughter circled the room constantly and Luna couldn't stop grinning as she danced between her family members, placing ornaments as she went.
"The first thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me: rigging up the lights!" she sang with Ronnie, changing her voice accordingly.
They finished quickly; having nine people working on it sped up the process significantly, though they bumped elbows quite a bit. Finally, it was time to put the star on top of the tree, so of course an argument broke out.
"I think I should put the star on the tree!" Luna proclaimed with a shit-eating grin, Ronnie knew instantly that her sister was trying to start something.
Tony snorted, going along with it instantly, "Yeah right! My tower, my star! I should put it on the tree!" he claimed, grabbing up the plastic star they had bought and clutching it to his chest and running
Clint gave a war cry and started swinging from the rafters before swinging down by his knees and snatching the star out of Tony's hand and swinging away.
Ronnie raised an eyebrow and turned a pointed look toward Loki who rolled his eyes and raised a hand, magic shooting from his palm. With a shout of disbelief Clint fell from the rafters wrapped up in ribbon, the star landing beside his head.
"Party foul!" he shouted, glaring at Loki who merely raised a brow and pointed to an unrepentant and smirking Ronnie.
The woman shrugged, "No one gets to steal the star from my sister," she explained.
"I didn't steal it from her, Stark did and I took it from him!" Clint pouted.
Ronnie raised an eyebrow, "Tony knows better, besides Luna gave him the star. If she didn't want him to have it, he wouldn't."
Steve fought a snicker as he sat beside Ronnie to watch things unfold. Bruce and Natasha had gone off to the kitchen to gather drinks, conveniently leaving just as things began. Loki quickly made his way over to Steve and Ronnie, sitting on the other side of the woman on the couch they had apprehended.
Thor, however, walked over and picked up the star turning it curiously in his hands, "Why do you name this tiny bit of plastic a star? This is no star! If you wished a star we could use Mjolnir!" the blond demigod claimed, lifting his hammer in preparation to place it upon the tree.
Everyone was quickly on their feet, bar Loki, trying to prevent the damage they knew would come. Luna and Ronnie were across the room before many could blink, Luna grabbing Thor about the neck in a headlock that wouldn't harm the demigod but would pull him up short while Ronnie slid much like a professional baseball player going for a home run taking out the man's legs from beneath him.
The bewildered demigod fell into a heap with a resounding thunk while Luna snatched up the star and handed it to Ronnie with an angelic smile, "Put the star on the tree for me, sis?" she asked, mock-innocently.
Ronnie snorted, raising an unimpressed brow towards her sister before walking gracefully over to the tree and using one of the walls to jump up and place the star perfectly atop the tree before flipping and landing skillfully on the other side.
"And she sticks the landing!" Tony yells out dramatically, throwing his arms up while Luna and Clint cheer dramatically from beside him making Ronnie laugh and grin.
Natasha and Bruce had returned by this point carrying trays of drinks for everyone as they all began to settle in the seats. Ronnie was settled in the center of a three-seater couch between Steve and Loki, both leaning on the woman's shoulders while Thor sat by her feet and lay on her leg comfortably; completely forgetting the fact that the same woman he was using for a pillow had helped tackle him.
Luna sat in the center of the last three-seater between Bruce and Tony, laying with her head in Tony's lap and her feet in Bruce's. Both men were completely unbothered by the woman sprawled over them; Tony ran his fingers soothingly through the woman's hair while Bruce rested a warm hand on the woman's calf.
Natasha and Clint were comfortably curled in the loveseat, comfortable enough to show affection before their team, their family.
"JARVIS," Tony called, content for the first time in what felt like years, "lights."
With that the lights in the lounge room dimmed and the Christmas tree seemed to come to life and cast a calming glow over them all, the music playing low and soothing. Luna and Ronnie fell asleep, surrounded by family once more and feeling safe and secured for the first time in years. No nightmares that night, no haunting memories, only peace.