Holiday Sweaters
Pietro used to be cool. He used to be a rebel, a 100% bona fide freedom fighter, sticking the finger to the man and stealing what his people needed to survive. Hell, he was practically Han Solo, he really was that cool (despite what Wanda will tell you, don't listen to her).
Really, joining the Avengers should have made him more cool.
Why then, was he starting at himself and the god-awful bright blue Hanukkah sweater that he was wearing in the mirror, about to voluntarily be seen in public like this?
Oh, right. Clint.
More specifically: Clint's kids who had insisted he join in with their holiday tradition of home-made sweaters.
Clint Barton was cool. Pietro had seen it the first time he'd laid eyes on him – with the leather coat and the bow and arrow and the whole saving the world thing. Well, at least that's what Pietro had thought. Turns out, Hawkeye is cool – with the whole leather coat and the bow and arrow and the whole saving the world thing - while Clint Barton....well, Clint Barton is a goofball.
Of all the indignities that Pietro has had to put up with since he stupidly fell head over heels in love with this man (and there have been many), this is the worst.
This tacky, woollen monstrosity with three-dimensional hanukkiyah and crooked felt lettering wishing all who saw it a Happy Hanukkah!!!!! (yes, five exclamation marks were included and remind him to talk to Wanda about that when he gets back), was the ultimate nail in the coffin of his coolness.
Here lies Pietro Maximoff's former self. May he be remembered fondly by all that knew him.
“Uncle P! Uncle P! We wanna see, come on! Come out!” The excited voices of Cooper and Lila pull him from his reflection and Pietro groans in bitter acceptance. Time to face the music. He really hopes that Clint appreciates the things he does for love.
As Pietro steps out into the family room of the Barton family home, the first thing he sees is Clint's expectant face. A face that starts to crumple in mirth as Clint struggles to keep from laughing at the sight of his previously cool and hip boyfriend as he was brought down to new lows.
Even Laura and her new husband are biting at their cheeks to keep from laughing and Pietro is one, just one, escaped giggle away from storming back into the bedroom and barricading himself in until New Years.
“You look sooooooo cool!” Lila sounds a little bit awestruck as she crowds closer to get a look at the gold foil that adorned the tips of each white woollen candle. “Mom, Dad, Uncle Nick – doesn't he look cool? That's definitely the best sweater. Can I wear a Hanukkah one next year?”
“Yeah, Mom! Can we?” Cooper joins in with the puppy dog eyes and Pietro is absolutely not preening under all the attention his cool new sweater is getting.
“You're ridiculous.” Clint whispers in his ear as they file dutifully into the dining room for dinner, Lila and Cooper still pestering Laura about Hanukkah sweaters and shrieking in delight when they find out that there are eight nights of presents.
“I am not ridiculous. I am cool. Did you not hear? My sweater is the best.”
Pietro has realised that he just needs to widen his definition of cool because this? This gathering of people he loves and being part of a family and getting to wear beautiful, unique hand-crafted sweaters?
This is pretty damn cool.