A Very Merry Marvel Thanksgiving

[wasafreak]

Thanksgiving hadn't been something Teddy anticipated celebrating, and even now that he's here, it feels odd. Not just the fact that his jaw is wired shut and he's got a brace on his leg, but the fact that he was invited to Captain America's house and arrived to find the original Cap and Bucky and alternate universe Peggy Carter setting up a pretty impressive Thanksgiving buffet is just so surreal. Steve greets them at the door with a genuine smile and pats Billy on the shoulder and ushers them in to get drinks, and Teddy tells himself he's paranoid and Bucky isn't shooting him and Billy a sideways look warning them off of getting caught making out in any more closets, and then reminds himself that this is real life.

Kind of.

Instead of agonizing over what an appropriate tropical island equivalent of 'nice Holiday sweater' was, he let Billy dress him (also literally, see again: brace) and thinks they made the right call- the house is all warm wood craftsman, and the three heroes already there are dressed casually but nicely, and there are old photos and some pretty incredible drawings hanging up, which distract Teddy and Billy to the point of rudeness, except Steve seems all too glad to tell them stories and answer questions. Bucky chimes in to remind him of details and it's... it's maybe the coolest thing that has ever happened, other than discovering his connection to the Avengers.

It relaxes him, and Teddy types up short phrases and sentences on his iPad when he feels really compelled to contribute, keeps "Happy Thanksgiving" on his clipboard to copy and paste it when new people arrive. It doesn't take more than an hour for a pretty respectable number of people to show up, the chatter growing in volume, and even though it's been a pretty crappy couple of months, and a pretty rough couple of years, Teddy finds himself feeling pretty good.

Comments

[havenoplans]

They do not celebrate this Feast of Thanks in Asgard, but so long as there is drink to dull his pain and food to fill his belly, Thor will partake in the celebration, such as it is. He had thought himself accustomed to the weaknesses of his new mortal body, but in that belief he was mistaken. The ale does better work at helping him manage the aches that plague him weeks later than the 'medicines' the healers would force down his gullet.

Seated at the middle of the table with a plate laden with enough food to serve three grown men, his spirits are more subdued than at gatherings past, his thoughts on this day with Jane and Midgard. He misses her more than he would have ever anticipated, and though he knows he ought to be grateful for the company of warriors brave and wise, his sadness over his disappearance is clear behind his eyes.

[the_wasp]

A sad Thor might be the most tragic thing that Jan's ever seen, and it's not as if she hasn't seen a bunch of sad things in her life. She wants to wrap him up in a hug -- as much as she is capable of -- but it's not her Thor.

It sucks.

She sits down at the table beside him anyway, looking tiny as ever next to his massive frame, and nudges him with her elbow. "I'm guessing there's no Thanksgiving in Asgard," she says. "You got anything similar?"

[havenoplans]

"In Asgard, there are always feasts," says Thor, gracing Jan with as warm a smile he can muster. Volstagg would surely have more to say on the subject, his appetite as legendary as any of his brave deeds, but Thor appreciates the company more so than the food, though the food has proven excellent indeed.

"Are you well, Jan?"

[the_wasp]

"I am very well, thank you," Jan replies. "But jealous and curious about these constant feasts in Asgard. I'm guessing there's drinking involved? Are there embarrassing stories of you getting into trouble in the castle?"

[havenoplans]

"Aye. Drinking and stories and much eating," says Thor, almost wistfully. Not a day goes by that he does not miss Asgard, and while he is grateful for Loki's presence in this realm, his brother is a mixed blessing, both family and enemy, depending on the day.

[the_wasp]

Jan's not sure if that's good nostalgia or bad nostalgia that she sees on Thor's face, but for that second she's going to hope it's good and continue. She's too in love with the idea of Asgard not to press.

"I was only in your realm once, but I got gypped out of a celebration party for that one. Though I road on a flying horse with the valkyries. Hey, what's with the goats drawing chariots instead of horses?"

[havenoplans]

Thor lights up immediately, turning to face Jan with obvious enthusiasm.

"You've been to Asgard?"

[the_wasp]

"Briefly," she says, and it's clear that she would love to go back. "We had to help save it from Loki. Well, save all the nine realms from Loki. He doesn't do things small, does he? You stayed and we left. I wanted to stay longer."