Merry (Fucking) Christmas

Another Christmas alone and Tony was left with only a bottle of booze to keep him company. He sighed as he poured himself another glass before downing the liquid that burned his throat. Christmas had been his least favorite holiday since his parents’ death. That had been three years ago and he just hadn’t wanted to celebrate since then. Knowing he hadn’t celebrated in three years he stared half drunk and confused by the basket with a ribbon on it sitting on his kitchen counter. He picked up the card in the basket that had fairly fancy handwriting on it. It just said the sender wished his upcoming year would be better. Tony frowned as it was only signed with the letter H. He looked inside to see neatly wrapped chocolate and shrugged as he took a bite of one. It was the best chocolate he’d tasted and somehow the random unexplainable gift distracted him from his usual drinking.

After that year every Christmas a gift would show up with no explanation. In the beginning it was things like fancy chocolates and sweet fruits he had no idea what they were or where they came from. Other times it was strange outfits but he liked the colors so he wore them around the house. The clothing usually consisted of tunics typically in some shade of red, trousers usual dark in color, and boots. Years after the first gift he received jewelry with gems that he couldn’t identify. He probably should have started questioning where the items were coming from but he was afraid the moment he did they would stop coming.

The only real change in the delivery date of the gifts was after he escaped the ten rings. He’d been dehydrated and on the verge of passing out to die in the desert heat. He had originally thought the strange rainbow of lights that brought a basket of water and strange golden fruit had been a hallucination brought on by the heat. When he touched the basket he eagerly downed the water and ate the fruit. Continuing on had been easier from there. The only issue before Rhodey found him was the panic attack when he stopped having felt pain in his chest. He’d moved his shirt seeing metal shards being pushed from his body but in the heat he’d convinced himself he hallucinated it.

Later he only reconsidered if he hallucinated it when having the arc reactor removed by Obadiah hadn’t killed him. Scans done proved that he didn’t have shrapnel in his chest anymore.

The yearly gifts continued and the types of gift changed from there. He was given armor which was made of material he didn’t recognize as well as weapons. A few very well crafted daggers as well as an impressive sword. He was beginning to think he might have an alien admirer. He couldn’t figure out how else he couldn’t recognize fruits and metals he was receiving.

Then the invasion happened and Tony was met with proof that there was life outside their planet. Of course those aliens were living gods and Tony was suddenly reminded of Norse mythology. A god that came to mind that had a name that began with H was Heimdall, the all-seeing guardian. Well shit, his admirer might be a god.

It was odd how memory worked as he recalled something as he was being thrown out a window by a god of mischief. Norse mythology was famous for golden apples that granted immortality. The reason for the thought suddenly occurring to him was due to the fact he hadn’t been injured by being thrown through the window and he really should have been. Thoughts for later when there wasn’t a war going on.

Of course he never really got the chance to ask Thor about it as he was in a rush to get his brother home to face Asgardian justice. Of course Asgard apparently handled justice very differently than their world because Loki’s punishment was basically community service on the planet he attempted to conquer. Tony found it amusing while everyone else had been upset.

At some point he and Loki became weird friends. The god listened to Tony babble about science and Tony in turned listened to Loki go on about magic. It was five months into his community service that Tony bugged Loki about teaching him to wield a sword. Loki had been intrigued by the request but he’d granted it. Tony guessed he’d been happy to be asked instead of Thor. Tony couldn’t imagine Thor would be good with a sword when he always used Mjolnir.

When Christmas rolled around again Tony waited for the yearly gift that always arrived. It was the first year having gods in his home but he didn’t think that would change things. Apparently it did though as instead of the usual gift he found a golden armored warrior in his penthouse. Confused he debated calling his armor.

“I thought perhaps I would see you in person this year as you have accepted the many other gifts I’ve given you.”

The warrior had been looking out the window but now turned revealing golden eyes that told Tony the god knew his secrets. Seeing him Tony could admit the warrior was sexy as hell.

“Um…ok. Let me guess, Heimdall?”

The god smiled.

“I see you have already guessed who I am. Though I suppose I should have come sooner to see if you realized my intent with the gifts I’ve given.”

“Well if I wasn’t hallucinating the apple in the desert I’d say it’s something serious. Maybe courting?”

Again he smiled.

“Do you accept if it is?”

Tony grinned.

“I’d be stupid not to.”

He closed the distance between them and the warrior to kiss him. He wished the kiss lasted longer but unfortunately JARVIS interrupted them.

“Sir, the avengers have been gathered by Thor. He sensed the bi-frost but with no explanation for it he’s concerned.”

Tony caught Heimdall’s gaze wondering if he wanted the others to know about this.

“I have requested time away from Asgard, if you wish for your comrades to know of our courting I will go with you to tell them.”

“Hey if you’re dressed all fancy I’m going to match.”

He quickly tossed his worn jeans and t-shirt away to put on the outfit Heimdall had sent him before. He didn’t even realize he’d just stripped in front of the god until he turned to see Heimdall’s eyes locked on him. He probably would have been embarrassed if not for the fact he’d been caught naked in weirder places.

Together they headed down to where the others were gathered.

“Man of iron I have sensed the…” Thor’s voice trailed off as he saw who was walking beside Tony.

“Hey why’s everyone freaking out just because my Christmas gift came early?”

“Tony who is that?” Steve asked eyeing the golden warrior.

“This is Heimdall, he’s the one who’s been courting me.”

Natasha raised a brow her gaze still locked on the warrior.

“How long has he been courting you?”

Heimdall eyed the spy looking unimpressed.

“I have been courting Anthony Stark for a few decades.”

“Dude what the hell; most people get married after a few years.”

“We are gods, we do not court the same way you mortals do.” Loki scolded the archer before looking to Tony. “You must show me the weapons Heimdall has gifted you with.”

“How did you know he gave me weapons?”

“You have already been courting long enough for him to gift you with a weapon worthy of battle. Heimdall is a fine warrior so I am certain he arranged for only the best of weapons and armor for you.”

“Yes man of iron, I to wish to see what Heimdall has chosen for you to.”

While Tony eagerly rushed to show off his many gifts his godly boyfriend gave him Steve was trying to say they needed to alert Shield. Heimdall distracted Steve by telling him Bucky was alive. Natasha continued on when Steve got distracted, he told her Shield had a Hydra infestation. Being an all-seeing god certainly made it easy to distract people.

If getting a boyfriend for Christmas wasn’t the most amazing thing ever the headache Fury got from finding out about Hydra was. He and Loki laughed about it later until they were dragged into cleaning out the Hydra problem. Then they both were pouting (at least until Tony got attention from Heimdall then Loki was alone in the pouting)