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

[thebettermen]

"The field has dwindled somewhat," Charles agrees, looking briefly troubled by that fact. Miss Granger's disappearance had been sudden, and while Dr. Zimmerman's reluctance to run was understandable given her pregnancy, Captain Kirk's was disappointing. He's a good man and his presence will be missed.

"It's not very sporting of me, I realize, but I'm admittedly concerned about a few of the candidates."

[onlyforthedream]

"I like McCoy, strident as he can be, but there are a few names I wish were on the ballot that aren't," I say, nodding.

"And some of the names that are... Well, it could be an interesting group."

[thebettermen]

"Interesting is one way to put it," says Charles, swallowing a laugh that's not wholly appropriate. Perhaps he ought to stop after this last drink lest his tongue grow too loose.

"McCoy is a fine doctor, though, I agree. We're very lucky to have him." Pausing a moment, he searches the crowd for Barnes, and adds, "How is your friend, by the way?"

[onlyforthedream]

"Bucky's.... doing better," I say, gaze tracking across the room until it lands on him.

"It was a rough road back." Almost without realizing it, I murmur, "It always is."

[thebettermen]

The care Steve feels for Captain Barnes is palpable, and Charles' expression quickly becomes more subdued as he watches the pair. As selfish as it is, helping them had marked one of the few times Charles had felt truly useful in this place, even without benefit of his telepathy.

"I realize we're colleagues," says Charles after a moment, "at least for a little while longer... But my door is always open if ever you need to talk."

[onlyforthedream]

It's not that surprising, I guess, but the offer still catches me off guard.

"...Thank you, Charles," I say.

"That's nice of you. They tried sending me to therapy, when I first woke up. I can apparently be a... frustrating patient. It wasn't intentional, though."

[thebettermen]

"Not to speak ill of your former doctors, but I'm very good," says Charles with a bit of a teasing lilt to his voice. This is meant to be a celebration, after all, and while there is need to touch upon heavier things, he's not about to psychoanalyze the man in the middle of his own party. Moving his drink from his right hand to his left, he reaches out for Steve's elbow.

"And the offer stands. You've had an extraordinarily difficult year. If there's anything I can do to help, Captain, it would be my pleasure."

[onlyforthedream]

I have to allow a smile, because he's right, of course. Very good is something of an understatement, something I'm sure is true even without his powers.

"I appreciate the offer. Genuinely, I do. I may take you up on it."

[thebettermen]

"I hope you do," Charles replies honestly, with a brief touch to Steve's elbow. "But not here, of course, I've already stolen enough of your time."