Chapter Text
Author’s Notes
This takes place basically a week after Robert Hall’s First Assignment. I would suggest reading it first, as there are references to it in this story that you may not understand.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was a few days after everything had calmed down at the Avenger’s tower. The terrorist plot was foiled, Stones and Michaels were in a Federal Prison, and the building was being repaired again, following the attack on it.
Robert Hall was relaxing by playing Need for Speed: Most Wanted on the PS3. He was having fun ramming police roadblocks at 230+ mph, while blasting Metallica’s album, Load. He was about to ram into another roadblock with full nitro when he heard a voice from behind him.
“I don’t see the joy in that. Wouldn’t you rather work out?” Robert pressed the pause button and turned around to see Steve standing behind him.
“What? Ba, humbug, this is fun. Tell you what, you try this and see how long you play, and I will work out with you today.”
Steve thought about it for a moment. “Okay, deal. How do I play?”
------------------------------------------
Clint and Natasha were headed back to their floor after an intense sparring session. “I wonder what happened to Cap today?” Clint offered.
“Yeah, it is weird for him to not work out. He mentioned something about stopping at Hall’s and seeing if he wanted to join him," She replied.
“Hmm, strange. Well, I can hear Metallica playing again. Hall is still playing video games." Clint commented.
Natasha smirked and added, “I swear, I didn’t think it was possible for someone to be worse than you on those things."
The elevator doors slid open. As the two agents walked onto the floor, they were stunned into silence by the sight of Hall and Rogers playing a video game, ramming each other’s car. “Dammit Hall, you got me again on that turn."
“Really, Steve, such horrible language," Natasha said. “Hall, you are a bad influence."
The two quickly turned around to see who was behind them, but they both forgot to pause the game, leaving their cars to crash into each other. Steve started to blush. “Uh, uh, uh, rats, you got me."
Robert looked at the increasingly multi colored face of the Captain, and then at the spy. “Whatever. I never claimed to be a positive role model." He said with a big cheshire grin.
Natasha just rolled her eyes, and was about to say something before she was interrupted.
“Agent Hall, I want to let you know that your supplies have arrived and are on their way up to your floor." Jarvis said.
“Supplies?” Clint asked. “What are you doing now?”
“Seriously, you don’t know? Did you already forget what’s happening this week?" Robert looked at them.
“What is so special about this week?” He said back.
“Holy shit, you all forgot." Hall got up from the sofa and walked over to the fridge.
“Forgot about what? Stop talking in circles." Steve said.
“What month is it?” Robert asked.
“November." He answered.
“Holy hell, you are clueless. What happens in November?”
“Veteran’s Day, it gets colder, I do…. Oh, WOW! I am dense. Thanksgiving."
“Like, DUH! Yes, Thanksgiving. What were you all planning on doing? Skipping it or something?”
“Well, no, we forgot about it.” Clint offered.
“Okay, well, whatever. Pass the word throughout the tower. Dinner on Thursday, around 4pm. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some paperwork to do."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later on, while eating dinner-- chinese night-- Tony said, “So, Hall, I heard you offered to cook on Turkey Day."
“Yup. Anybody want my egg roll?” He replied.
Clint volunteered, so Hall passed it over to him. “Well, I am glad somebody remembered when it is."
“What is this Turkey Day?” Thor asked.
“Thanksgiving is a holiday that is mainly celebrated by Americans, and it always falls on a Thursday." Jane said.
Clint spoke. “Basically, you get together with your family, eat a lot of food and turkey, drink, and then watch football."
“What is so special about that? That sounds like every weekend here. How boring," Loki said.
“Oh my gosh! NO! There are a lot of foods that you only eat on Thanksgiving. It celebrates the Puritans who sailed on the Mayflower," Darcy replied. “Any help here, J man?”
"If you would like, I could prepare a brief lecture on the history and lore of the Thanksgiving tradition." JARVIS offered.
“History, boring!” Tony stated. “Sweet potatoes with marshmallows, green bean casserole, rolls, gravy, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and candied yams. It is such a wonderful holiday."
Natasha shrugged carelessly. "I'm Russian. We don't do Thanksgiving, but the food sounds good, especially if Hall is cooking."
“Well, that is a lot to do. Do you need help?” Pepper asked.
“Yes. We will need three ovens, since each oven can only hold one turkey, and they take 7 hours to cook."
“One turkey per oven? Nonsense. Bruce, let’s make an oven that can cook a turkey in 3 hours." Tony said.
“NO. You are not making an oven that does that. The last time you tried to improve a home appliance, the washing machine came alive and started to attack, and we had to use a rocket launcher to blow it up." Pepper said while glaring at Tony.
“Aww, Pep, you are no fun."
“The washing machine came alive?” Darcy asked.
“Don’t ask. Anyways, I will help.” Pepper offered.
“You may use the oven on our floor, and if you need help prepping, we can help," Darcy offered.
“We can?” Loki asked.
“Yes, we can. It will be fun."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday came, and the Tower came alive as everyone worked together to make the meal special. Robert, Steve, and Pepper took care of the prepping of the turkeys and making the stuffing. Tony and Bruce took care of setting up the tables. Jane, Darcy, Thor, and Loki helped with prepping and cooking the side dishes while Jarvis watched Thor like a hawk, to make sure he did not go near anything electronic. Clint and Natasha made the desserts. After three death threats and a knife that missed Tony’s head by 1.5 inches, Tony finally gave up on trying to find out what they were making.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later in the afternoon, everyone cleaned up, took showers, and dressed nicely. Tony and Pepper sat at the Head of the table. Natasha and Clint sat to Tony’s left, and Jane and Thor sat next to them. On the other side sat Bruce, Steve, Loki, and Darcy. Robert sat between two empty chairs that were opposite of Tony and Pepper. Robert looked a little confused, but then, the elevator opened, and Director Fury and Maria Hill came out to sit down by Robert. Maria sat a little closer to Robert than was necessary, not that Robert seemed to mind. Fury wasn’t missing any dinners at the tower; they were way too entertaining.
The food was brought out by some serving robots that Tony had been working on. They were flawless.
Ding, Ding, Ding. Tony tapped the side of his glass with a fork and stood up. He had everyone’s focus. “Um, about a week and a half ago, you came into our lives."
Pepper stood up. “We didn’t know you or want you here."
Bruce stood up. “We were filled with mistrust and uncertainty."
Steve was next. “But you were honest, witty, and stubborn."
Loki was next. “You tried to understand and unite us."
Clint stood up. “We still did not like you or understand you."
Natasha was next. “But we got to know your pain and your past."
Thor stood up. “You used your weapons of heart, mind, soul and spirit."
Jane stood up. “You defied the odds, and when the battle came, you stood proud."
Maria stood up. “Through the impossible, you protected the team."
Fury stood up. “Throughout this journey, your only concern was everyone else.”
Darcy stood up. “You brought us full circle."
Jarvis said, “You made our family stronger and you healed us."
Robert had tears flowing from his eyes. “I love you all. You are my family, forever."
They all sat down, and thus started a new tradition for Thanksgiving.
“Agent Hall?”
“Yes, Director?”
“You better not pull any of this shit for Christmas."