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

[halfscarlet]

It's still really weird, being invited to parties and holiday celebrations with the other Avengers and X-Men, but they're enough of a weird disjointed family that Billy finds himself at ease during dinner. It helps that he just about spends all his time by Teddy's side, the same as he has for the past few weeks.

With everything that's gone on recently, Billy knows he can be thankful for just being alive. And for the food he's currently piling high on his plate.

[the_wasp]

"I wish I were a growing boy," Jan murmurs wistfully as she stares at the mounds of food on Billy's plate -- which keep growing.

"I don't think I'm even physically capable of eating that much. It really makes me kind of sad."

[halfscarlet]

Billy pauses mid-scoop. No matter how much he reminds himself he knows her now, and that she's cool and knows his name and all, he's still a little star struck. It took him ages to get over Cap, and he still gets a little starry eyed around him.

"I'm taking advantage of my metabolism before it craps out on me," Billy says. He does put the spoon down and settles for what he has on his plate already, which is more than enough.

[the_wasp]

"Such a smart guy," Jan says approvingly. "Remember, superhero uniforms are not forgiving. But you know this."

Young Avengers. She wishes she could stay uncomfortable with the idea and try to mother hen these two, but the truth is she would be joining up in a heart beat were she a minor. Hypocrisy isn't something Jan's big on.

"What was your uniform? I bet you looked good in red."

[halfscarlet]

"They aren't," Billy agrees with a shake of his head. He hadn't really thought that through when he first put the spandex on; it apparently didn't make everyone look super muscular when they didn't really have them in the first place.

"I had a mostly black spandex suit and a red cloak," he replied, and realized how that made not much sense at all. "When we started we were kinda modeling ourselves after the actual Avengers, and I could shoot lightning from my hands, so...I had the whole Thor motif going on."

[the_wasp]

The cloak does strike her as a little odd -- or at least likely to get in the way -- until he explains himself. Something about the image of Thor dragging Billy around as his sidekick is way too funny.

"But no hammer?" she asks. "A hammer is an essential part of the outfit. You're not really Thorling without one."

[markedformore]

He's not entirely sure this is a good idea, his being here. Given how the event close to this time had happened last year, Erik wonders if he should simply avoid his given that it isn't even a holiday that he celebrates, but the thought that Billy and Teddy might be there spur him to at least make a quick stop. When he sees Billy, he makes his way through the crowd, keeping his chin high though he knows he shouldn't call attention to himself.

"Is the point of this holiday to gorge yourself? It seems to be a common theme," he notes to Billy.

[halfscarlet]

"Pretty much," Billy replies, shooting Erik a quick grin before grabbing just one more spoonful of gravy to go over his food. "And giving thanks for everything you have, but it's mostly about the awesome food."

[markedformore]

Erik opens his mouth to make a wry comment about how he doesn't have much to give thanks about, but he quiets himself given that he doesn't need any pity or sympathy. "Have you always had this much of an appetite?" he asks, curious to learn more about his young family.

[halfscarlet]

"Yes," Billy answers, without doubt. He points to himself and adds, "growing teenage boy." Yet he was still skinnier than he'd like to be, no matter how much he attempted to put on muscle.

"How are you doing?"

[markedformore]

Erik is...fine.

It's strange, but he is. He's fine and he's not sure how to think about it, because Charles was hurt and others were psychologically scarred from the events of Halloween and meanwhile, he had made it through easily. "Well enough," he admits. "Mostly ensuring that Charles doesn't overextend himself."

[halfscarlet]

"I'm kinda doing the same with Teddy," Billy says, gesturing to where Teddy is currently star struck by Janet van Dyne. Billy doesn't blame him one bit.

"He's...it's hard, not having powers to just make it right." He hadn't really meant to say that out loud, but once it's out, the rest follows. "Usually Teddy could heal from something like this in a couple of days or I could heal him up, but it's been a month and he's still hurt."

Which is nowhere even near the topic anymore, and once Billy realizes it he looks down at his plate, suddenly very interested in the mashed potatoes. "Uh...sorry."

[markedformore]

"You needn't apologise," Erik replies after taking a short moment to think on why Billy is saying sorry to him. "You're family to me, the both of you. I want to hear about your lives if you're willing to share. You shouldn't ever have to apologise for that."

[thebettermen]

"Perhaps I ought to have gotten my serving sooner," says Charles with a teasing smile, eying young Billy's towering plate. "By the time you're done, there'll be nothing left."

[halfscarlet]

While he was close to other superheroes by now, Billy still found it kind of strange that they knew him and even liked him. Cap still made him starstruck from time to time, and it was just weird talking to Professor X.

But only if he thinks about it too hard. Which is often, but Billy is determined not to make himself look like an idiot tonight, if he can help it.

"A growing kid has got to eat," Billy responds, giving him a grin. "Also, this food is amazing."

[thebettermen]

"They're quite the cooks," Charles has to agree, picking up a plate. He's only had some of the hors d'oeuvres so far, but there was nothing short of delicious.

"How are you, Billy? I understand you've been looking after Teddy since Halloween."

[halfscarlet]

"I'm good," Billy says, and it's even the truth right now. Maybe a few weeks ago he would have been lying to Xavier's face, but he's had enough time to process what happened. It still not easy being reminded of it and seeing Teddy recovering so slowly.

"And I have, as much as I can. It's a bit tough, because this is the first time either of us have been hurt this much without our powers." Billy glances across the room at Teddy. "He'd have gotten over this in a few days back home."

[thebettermen]

"And yourself?" asks Charles, curious. "Would your abilities have helped you heal as well?"

He's seen them in action, once, in that strange loop they were once stuck in, but the circumstances hadn't allowed for any in depth study; they were lucky to have left there at all.