I’ll be Home for Christmas
“Hey man, it’s good to see you out and about,” Sam said, clapping a hand on Rhodey’s shoulder. “I thought Tony was gonna keep you locked up in his workshop forever.”
“Don’t think that hasn’t crossed his mind,” Rhodey said. “Actually, his obsession over this holiday album has been a nice break from his obsession over curing traumatic spinal cord injuries.”
“Well, I know a bunch of guys back at the VA who appreciate that obsession. You know, I asked Tony if we could donate a portion of the proceeds from the album to the VA. You want to guess what he said?” Sam asked.
Rhodey shook his head.
“He said the VA was domestic and not in the ‘holiday spirit’ enough, and that he wanted the money going to a global food organization.”
“But I heard he’s having a contest for the album art that’s only open to current or former service members,” Rhodey said, thoroughly confused. Tony’s concept of logic was… bizarre at best.
“Yeah, that’s his concession,” Sam told him. He actually thought it was a great idea, but he hoped Steve wouldn’t get it in his mind to enter. Technically he qualified as a former service member, but Tony had a blind spot a mile wide when it came to their Captain and Sam felt like someone else should get the chance to win.
“I guess that makes… no, nevermind, that makes no sense,” Rhodey laughed. “But it’s very Tony.”
“Right?” Sam responded. “But you know what happened the very next day?”
“He took your heart and he gave it away?”
Sam glared at Rhodey who just grinned back at him. “No, the VA got an anonymous 2.5 million dollar donation.”
“Now that is very Tony,” Rhodey said. It was like when Tony refused to hand over the specs for the Iron Man suit, but then up and gifted the Iron Patriot suit to him. He put on a cold and heartless front, but the man wore his heart (literally and figuratively) in a glowing box in the middle of his chest.
“Of course he denied everything when I asked him about it. But he did say we could dedicate this song to the troops.”
“Well, I for one am happy you invited me to join you on this,” Rhodey said. “I think this whole thing is a great idea, but I’m honestly surprised Steve didn’t claim this song. Wasn’t he one of of those overseas soldiers Bing Crosby sang this song for?”
“I think he was actually touring with Crosby at the time, but Steve and Bucky are doing ‘Christmas in the Trenches’ for the album,” Sam informed him.
“Woah…” Rhodey said, eyes wide.
“Yeah, but it means we get this one.”
Rhodey raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, far be it from me to look a gift horse in the mouth. This sure beats ‘Frosty the Snowman’.”
“I think Loki’s singing that.”
“Of course he is.”
“I’ll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and Black Widow
Keep Hulk away from the tree
Christmas Eve will find Clint
In the rafter beams
I’ll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams”