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The Avengers' Christmas party glittered with festive cheer. Strings of colorful lights twinkled across the high ceiling, and a massive tree dominated the room. Snowflake projections swirled on the walls, and the scent of hot chocolate mingled and freshly baked cookies hung in the air. Peter's laughter echoed as he danced near the refreshments table, delighting everyone around him.
“Look at you, Kiddo!” Tony cheered from a nearby couch, raising a glass of eggnog.
“You call that dancing?” Clint asked, twirling a candy cane around his finger before tossing it across the seating area. He smiled smugly when it hit its target, loading itself in Tony’s overly gelled back hair. “I’ve seen better moves from a cup of Jell-O.”
Tony hummed, shooting Clint and unimpressed look as he peeled back the candy cane wrapper and popped the end of it into his mouth. “I highly doubt that. The kid’s got talent.”
Across the room, Peter grinned ear to ear. He leaped and spun in a circle, letting his momentum carry him. His bright red Converse skidded across the polished floor. The upbeat holiday song came to an end. Another one quickly replaced it. Peter shouted between songs. He bent backwards, adding a few flips into his routine. Everyone in the room started to cheer.
Tony swayed his head. The kid was buzzing with an overabundance of energy. Probably a result of the amount of sugar cookies he’d consumed earlier. Not that he was complaining. It was a Christmas time. The kid eating too many cookies and dancing like a goofball was part of the experience.
“Careful, Peter!” Natasha called, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “The last thing we need is for you to flip into that giant tree.”
“She’s right, Sweety,” May added, Pepper nodding along beside her. “You need to watch where you’re going, okay?
“Ladies! It’s fine. Relax about it!” Tony dismissively waved his hand. “The tree is anchored and the party’s got insurance. Besides, that’s the kid’s natural state of being– vibrating with enthusiasm and defying gravity.”
“Alright,” May dubiously agreed. “Pepper and I are going out to grab some more cookies. Don’t let him do anything too crazy until we get back, okay?”
“Sure. Go.” Tony nodded, then tipped the last of his eggnog into his mouth. “It's the holidays! He’ll be fine.”
Once Pepper and May had walked out of the room, Tony scanned the room in search of Peter. He chuckled when he spotted him across the room, predictably ascending.
A quick spin, and Peter’s foot was on the wall. Each movement flowed seamlessly into the next leading him upward– as if the vertical surface was an extension of the dance floor. He glided along, the rhythm carrying him higher and higher until he finally reached the ceiling.
“Uh, Pete?” Rhodey glanced between Tony and Peter’s inverted state. “You’re, uh– really taking things to new heights, huh, buddy?”
Peter paused mid-bounce, glancing around. His eyes widened as he noticed the floor receding beneath him. “Oh! whoops!” he exclaimed, scratching the back of his neck. “Guess I got a little carried away. Uh… literally.”
“Of course you did.” Tony smiled. “Why don’t you come down and have–”
Before he could finish his thought, Thor clapped his hands, laughing gleefully. “Truly, the boy possesses unmatched prowess! Don’t stop now! Dance on, young Parker!”
Peter grinned, shuffling backward, his hips swaying to the beat. Without realizing it, he had a piece of thick, silver garland wrapped around his ankle. He moved his arms to the side, preparing to spin.
“Kid!” Tony shouted but he was too late. The festive decor wrapped around Peter’s legs, bringing some nearby lights along with it. By some kind of Christmas miracle, he didn’t trip, he just stood there laughing while cocooned in lights and glitter.
“He’s like a human ornament,” Bruce remarked. “Should we help him down?”
“No way,” Tony teasingly scoffed. “He got himself into this mess, he can get himself out.”
Peter kneeled down, attempting to unravel himself from the decorations. He tugged a few times before tilting his head back and pouting. “Mr. Stark!”
“If you fall and land on the nog, I'm selling all your gifts!” Tony called, pointing at the drink station.
“Oh come on! You can’t leave me hanging here!” Peter shouted back, but as he continued his efforts to disentangle himself from the garland, a strand of lights wrapped around his arms. He flailed in an attempt to get them to fall loose,the flurry of movement sending glittery bits to the floor.
Tony rolled his eyes. “Fine, fine. Just hold still before you manage to get even more tangled up there.” He chucked, stepping into the middle of the room and gesturing for everyone else to take a step back. “FRIDAY, send a suit—”
Before Tony could finish his request, Peter managed to free himself. He dropped from the ceiling and landed with a soft thud on the couch, garland and lights trailing after him.
“Hey! I did it!” Peter exclaimed, raising his arms. “I’m free!”
At the same moment, May and Pepper entered the room with fresh trays of cookies. May’s eyes narrowed as she looked between Tony and her breathlessly laughing nephew. “Tony! He’s covered in decorations!” She looked up and sighed. “Ceiling decorations! I leave you alone for five minutes… and this is what happens?
Tony walked over, shaking his head but grinning. “Kid’s got style, I’ll give him that.” He plucked a piece of tinsel from Peter’s hair, then leaned in with mock seriousness. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Too late!” Peter laughed.
As the evening continued, Tony found himself sitting with Peter, both sipping from mugs of cocoa. The log in the fireplace crackled and gentle Christmas music played quietly in the background.
“You know,” Tony said, nudging Peter's still glitter coated shoulder, “you’ve got something most people don’t.”
Peter grinned. “Yeah? Like, super-strength? Sticky hands?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of– rhythm,” Tony said with a wink. “Not great rhythm, but rhythm nonetheless.”
Peter rolled his eyes, then smiled. “Thanks, Mr. Stark. For everything. This party? It was totally perfect.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Tony slung an arm around Peter’s shoulders, pulling him close. He looked to the side, meeting eyes with May, then leaned his cheek on his kid’s head. “Merry Christmas, kid. You’re what makes it perfect.”