The Christmas Present

Nadia let out a low breath as she looked out the window from where she was sitting. Everyone had finally left for the holiday season meaning it was just her, Viv, and Widow in the tower.

However, Viv and Widow had left to pick up some last minute groceries so she was here alone. She didn't feel like going out right now. She just wanted to be left alone for a bit.

But that wish came to an end when she heard the elevator. She turned around expecting to see Widow and Viv. However, her eyes grew wide when she instead found you and Tandy.

You smiled with a hand raised.

Y/N: Hey, Baby Wasp. Merry Christmas.

Nadia quickly got to her feet and walked over.

Nadia: H-Hey.

Tandy: Merry Christmas. You look festive.

Nadia looked down at her attire. It was a Christmas sweater that was meant to look like Santa's jacket. She also had the Santa hat that Viv had gotten her. Besides that she wore her leggings and Christmas socks.

Nadia then looked at the two of you. You wore your usual black jacket that was zipped up along with a pair of jeans. Tandy wore a white coat, white ear muffs, jeans, and a pair of boots.

Nadia: Uh, Merry Christmas. What are you guys doing here?

Y/N: What? Can't a guy come and visit his favorite former teammates?

Nadia blushed a bit.

Nadia: I mean, you can. It's just...

Y/N: I'm just joking, Nadia. No need to get all nervous.

Tandy: Y/N here told me that this would be your first Christmas outside of the Red Room.

Nadia nodded. She had never celebrated Christmas before. Actually, she had espaced just after it had passed. A month or so before she met you and Gwen.

Tandy: Well, I'm here to give you your Christmas Present.

Nadia watched as she pulled out a bow. She then smacked it onto your chest and turned back to her with a smile.

Tandy: My boyfriend is yours for the day.

Nadia looked at you for clarification.

Y/N: I think she might be a cuck.

Tandy smacked your chest.

Tandy: I'm being nice. Behave.

Nadia: I-I couldn't...

Tandy: It's fine, dear. You two have known each other much longer than we have. Besides, no one should be alone on Christmas.

Nadia: But, Christmas isn't until tomorrow.

Y/N: That's besides the point. Today, you have me all to yourself. Whatever you want to do.

Nadia looked to Tandy who nodded in agreement. Looks like this was happening.
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Nadia: It's pretty.

You nodded as you looked at the horse.

Y/N: It is. It's a good horse.

You were both in Central Park about to get on a horse drawn carriage. It would take you around the snow covered park which Nadia always wanted to do since she had seen it in a movie.

You both sat down and the driver started the ride.

Nadia: This is really exciting. I wonder how much a horse can really pull.

You smiled. Of course she would be thinking of something like that. But, she did seem to be having fun. She took a sip of the hot cocoa you had bought her as she looked around.

Y/N: Have you ever seen snow before?

Nadia nodded.

Nadia: I saw it back in the Red Room. Sometimes we would experiment with it.

Y/N: Really?

Nadia: Well, they made us experiment with a lot of things.

You hummed and sat back. Nadia, however, smiled as she felt her cheeks warm up. This almost felt like a date. Well, technically it was.

And even though you had a girlfriend who you loved dearly, Nadia was fine. She was happy that you were as well.

And she was fine with just being a friend.

Nadia: Y/N?

Y/N: Hm?

Nadia: I'll always love you, you know.

You just smiled.

Y/N: Yeah. I do. I love you too, Baby Wasp. Merry Christmas.

Nadia: Merry Christmas, Y/N.

Party Preparations

Doreen looked around the Manor to see that everything was getting set up for the First Annual Striker Christmas Party. Robbie pinned the banner to the wall as Molly and Toxin directed him, Tyrone and Elsa were helping Laura and Victor with the cooking, Crystal was working with the Runaways with decorations, Pearl was baking with Bobbi, and you and Tandy were in New York doing something that you refused to speak of.

However, Doreen did notice that Loki and Amora were strangely absent as well.

Victor: Hey, Doreen.

Doreen looked over to see Victor standing in the doorway to the kitchen. He held a bowl with one hand and a was mixing it with the other. He wore a hair net and a pink apron that Molly had bought for him.

Doreen: What can I do for you, sir?

Victor: Everything is almost ready, but we do need some stuff. Think you can pick it up?

Doreen: Of course. What do you need?

Victor: Eggnog.

Doreen: No problemo! We're on it.

From her tail came her companion, Tippy Toe, who squeaked in agreement. Victor didn't even bat an eye.

Victor: Thanks.

He returned to the kitchen as Doreen grabbed her scarf.
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Doreen walked through town with a skip in her step as she made her way to the store. The folks of Burns were already used to the weird by now, so no one really bothered to question why a girl had a squirrel tail, or why she was talking to a squirrel.

Tippy Toe: <Squeak>

Doreen: Oh. You got her for Secret Santa? I hope you got her something good.

Tippy Toe: <Squeak>

Doreen: No, I trust you.

Doreen reached the store and walked in. She smiled at the cashier, some high-school boy who looked bored out of his mind, and made her way to the back.

Doreen: Okay. Now what kind of eggnog did Papa Sabertooth want?

As Doreen looked through the selection, the front door opened. A man entered with a crazy look in his eye and a gun in his hand.

He aimed it at the cashier which Tippy Toe saw.

Tippy Toe: <Squeak!>

Doreen looked up and spotted the problem.

Doreen: Uh oh.

The cashier held his hands up as the robber demanded the cash. However, he found the gun quickly knocked out of his hand when Doreen threw Tippy Toe.

Doreen: Really? Robbing a store on Christmas Eve? That'll get you on the naughty list for sure.

The robber began to shake as Doreen approached him.
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Victor looked up when Doreen set the paper bag down on the counter. She smiled as she gave Tippy Toe an acorn.

Victor: You got the Nog?

Doreen: Yep.

Victor: Thank you. How was the trip? It wasn't too cold, was it?

Dorren shrugged.

Dorren: It was kinda boring, honestly.

Krampus

Molly hummed a song to herself as she laid on the floor and drew up the pictures for the Christmas Party. They were of Santa Claus for Santa Claus.

Robbie watched her and found himself thinking back to his brother, Gabe. He used to do the same thing. He never did learn that Santa wasn't real.

He sighed as he looked outside. It started to snow again and you had just returned with Tandy. The party was going to start pretty soon, but he couldn't really find it in himself to feel very festive right now.

Felicia had texted him asking what he was up to, but he didn't really feel like going to New York. He looked over to the other Strikers to see that Elsa was playing the piano as most of you sang along to the Christmas music.

Victor and Bobbi were already trying to take down the mistletoe that Chase and Nico had put up. Doreen had convinced Laura to drink Eggnog with her.

Everyone was having such a good time, and here he was. Being sad.

This was the Christmas without Gabe, after all.

He decided to step outside for some fresh air and ended up in the cold winter air. He sighed as he looked out at the town of Burns.

Then, he saw something weird. He squinted his eyes and spotted what looked to be a sleigh ontop of someone's roof. His eyes grew wide when he spotted someone coming out of the chimney.

Was that, Santa Claus?!

He looked a bit closer and felt his stomach drop. That wasn't Santa. He had a child over his shoulder.

Without a second thought, Robbie leaped over the railing and changed into his Rider form. He immediately summoned his car and hit the gas to catch up to the evil Santa.

The sleigh speed through the snowy streets before Robbie caught up to it. He looked closer to see that the large sack that was tied in the back was filled with children. The evil Santa laughed as he started to lift off the ground.

Robbie quickly threw his chain and held on as the car was lifted into the air. The sleigh suddenly nose dived and slammed the car right into the snow.

Robbie was ejected from his seat and landed into the snow that began to melt around him.

The evil Santa laughed as he stepped of of his sleigh. He was a demon. He was Krampus himself. He walked over and began to stomp on Robbie's head as he laid there helpless.

He found himself giving up. There was no point. Why celebrate a holiday when his only blood was dead? Why keep fighting?

Then, he heard something that snapped him out of his trance. A laugh in the air.

He looked up to see a second sleigh coming to his rescue. The real Santa was there. He was ready to fight.

Robbie isn't sure what happened next, but he came to just as Santa himself pulled his car back to the Manor. He helped Robbie out of the car as he healed.

Robbie: What...

Santa: You can't ever give up hope, Robbie Reyes. Your brother never did. You shouldn't either.

Robbie looked at the chubby man as he walked back to his sleigh. He opened his sack and tossed Robbie a present.

Santa: Happy Holidays, Ghost Rider.

He winked and he was off. Robbie looked at the small box and opened it. Inside was a framed photo of him and Gabe. One that he never even knew existed.

And Robbie smiled.