"Santa!"
Thor let out an oof as a small blur tackled him in the doorway.
"Hello little one, is your father available?"
"DADDY! SANTA'S HERE FOR YOU!"
"Morgan for the last time," Tony said as he emerged from his basement laboratory," He is not...you know what nevermind, Thor you come with me....and you little miss, go into the kitchen and help your mom out."
"Okay Daddy....Bye Santa!"
Morgan gave the Thunder Góð another squeeze before running out of the room.
"Sorry about that point break, kid's convinced your the real deal and can't be persuaded otherwise."
"Tis no worry, Stark, we actually followed a tradition in Ásgarð where children would leave out boots with carrots and hay, and my father would feed them to his horse and put gifts in their stead. I assume that's partly where the mortal legend of Santa Claus is from."
"Huh, that's interesting and also related to what I wanted to talk to you about."
Thor gave him a confused look so he explained.
"The María Stark foundation is having its annual Christmas fundraiser event, and we need someone to be Santa for the kids. Steve's offered to do it, but there's no way he'll fit the part with a six-pack like that."
"Ah, and you believe I'll be able to do it because of 'looking like melted ice cream' as the rabbit so eloquently put it."
"Well I was leaning more towards because you have that epic beard, but that helps too,"Tony said before laying a hand on Thor's shoulder," look, I know things have been hard for you the last few years, and there's not much I can say to make it better...but maybe doing this might help you some. Your people would want you to find peace, and I'm pretty sure Loki would too."
Loki.
His name still stung whenever Thor heard it. He'd avenged his death when he cut off Thanos's head, but it still felt so empty without his other half.
Stark understood. He was the only one that knew how deep the Góð's relationship had went after they'd reunited, especially after Loki had finally admitted his mind was not his own during the invasion. For several months aboard that ship they had been happy, finally free to admit their love and be together. Thor had planned on asking Loki to marry him once they got to Earth, where they could rule their people together and maybe start a family.
But a snap and a slaughter ruined all of those plans.
Now here he was, a drunken slob with no soulmate, no home, no reason to go on anymore,really.
This suggestion to play Santa however....
"Would it be possible for the children of New Ásgarð to attend this event as well?"
"Of course! The whole purpose of this gala is to help kids after all, and with everything that's happened recently, I'd say they need it more than the human ones."
"I'll do it then," Thor said with a renewed vigor," just tell me how we get started."
************
Thor was nervous as he observed himself in the mirror. The outfit Tony had procured was a traditional Norwegian Santa Costume, with long-flowing satin robes. Valkryie did his hair and beard in careful braids, and sprayed them with some silver tint for the full effect. Pepper provided a large sack with intricate embroidery to haul presents for the children in, and the boots were a custom gift from Bruce. All-in-all he looked like a perfect St. Nicholas, he just needed the jolly demeanor to go with it.
"Guess I'll have to fake that part."
He was startled by a knock on the door, but sighed in relief when it was only Pepper peeking in the doorway.
"Are you ready, Santa?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, Lady Pepper...lead the way."
**********
"SANTA! YOU CAME!"
Morgan was the first child to fly into Thor's lap when he came and sat down in the corner of the room designated for him. Children both human and Æsir formed a line behind her to get their turn with Father Christmas as well.
"Greetings Starksdóttir, I hope you've been a good girl this year?"
"Uh-huh, I sure have!"
"Glad to hear it! Tell me, what would you like to have for Christmas?"
"Well,you see," Morgan began before looking down shyly at her shoes," I have this friend, his name is Thor, and he's a space Santa! He's always so sad, even when he smiles. So, what I'd really like for Christmas is for him to be happy again. Is that possible?"
Thor was completely flabbergasted. He'd thought that his feelings had been successfully hidden since Noone outside of Stark ever said anything, but an innocent child noticed....and made a wish for his happiness above her own.
He hadn't had anyone care for him like that since....since....
He realized he still hadn't answered her, so Thor wiped the moisture from his eyes and reached into the bag for one of the gifts.
"I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, here's a special present, just for you."
"Thank you Santa!"
She jumped off of his lap and ran back to her parents, while Thor got his emotions in check to prepare for the next child.
****************
"You sure you don't want to stay the night big guy? It's no trouble."
After the charity event was over, Thor stayed behind to help with cleanup. The silver had faded from his beard and a couple braids were loose, but overall the night was a huge success and the Góð felt somewhat lighter than he had before. Still, he'd had his fill of socializing and wanted to clear his head.
"No, it's best I get back, but thank you for the offer, Stark."
"Anytime, point break....be careful getting home."
Thor gave a nod of his head, lifted Stormbreaker into the air, and disappeared in a flash of light.
*********
When he arrived in New Ásgarð, the snow had just begun falling. Instead of going straight home, Thor decided to walk until he reached the cliff his father had disappeared from so long ago. He sat down on the same rock he had then, and stared up at the sky. The stars were incredibly bright,and the glittering flakes raining down only enhanced that view. He focused on one star in particular, and let out a sigh.
"I can see your favorite star tonight, Loki. I hope that means you're looking down on me. I know little Morgan wished for my happiness...I wish it too. But how can I be happy when the best part of me is gone? Ripped away like paper in a notebook, and burnt into ash. I would give anything to hold you again....just for a little while.....that's all I ask."
He closed his eyes and listened to the quiet rumbling of the ocean as the waves crashed against the rocks below. After awhile, he stood up and stretched his limbs. Just as he made to walk down the hill, an orange door-like portal opened up in front of him...
And Loki stepped out of it.
It wasn't his Loki, not exactly. This version was a little younger, hair just a tad bit shorter, and sporting a torn-up suit that even most Miðgarðians wouldn't be caught wearing.
Still, it was Loki, and he wasn't going to miss this opportunity, no matter what.
"Loki?"
"Thor? Is that really you?"
The Thunðer Góð approached slowly, still unsure if this was a dream or not.
"It's me....I imagine I look a bit different from the last time you saw me."
"I imagine the same is true for me...I...I'm not the same Loki that died on that ship...I was diverted from an earlier time, right after the battle in New York."
"I had a feeling that's where you were from. It doesn't matter though, you're still Loki, the man that I've loved for centuries without end, and no amount of time travel can change that."
The bottom of Loki's lip started to quiver. He dropped the weapon he was holding, and ran straight into Thor's embrace, wrapping tightly around him while burying his face in the crook of the elder God's neck.
"Norns Thor, the places I've been....things I've seen...you wouldn't believe it. But know this, every step I've taken has been to lead me closer to you."
"I'm so very glad it did. I've missed you so much."
"And I you, elskaður, and I you."
He looked up , and Thor grabbed his neck in that hauntingly familiar gesture before pulling him forward and pressing their lips together. As they melted into each other, the snow decided to let up, leaving a clear sky full of twinkling lights, with one showing brighter than the rest.
It seems even Santa Claus can get his wish when love is involved.