This is not the Endgame

And that's how it works

Although he was tired, he was on a roll, and Bucky set up the cat tree, rubbing some catnip on it to lure Nat the Cat onto it, clearing wall space for the new fireplace, arranging the little rug in front and turning it on. Natasha abandoned the cat tree for the fireplace and plopped down in front of it, forcing Bucky to go around her as he happily decorated. He needed more hands, though, and summoned Steve down.

Steve laughed when he saw everything. Garlands hung around his friend's neck and Christmas music played from a speaker. There was packaging everywhere and Bucky had done a little for each project except the presents, cannily stashed in his bedroom. The serenity came from the cat, laying on her side and ignoring everything but the warmth. He entered into the spirit, and the two old friends got the garlands over the door and decorated the tree together, twisting the ornament hangers around the ornaments and the tree branches tightly so that a curious paw wouldn't denude the tree. Or break the ornaments; Bucky hadn't thought about his cat and broken glass when he bought them. The tree was placed on an end table that Natasha had no interest in, draped with the tree skirt, and they lit the candles in pretty glass holders on the mantle of the fireplace. They were pine scented, clear and strong, and both men liked them. Steve helped Bucky clean up and take the trash out. Bucky asked about Steve's availability for his cocktail party, and while Steve went upstairs for some eggnog, Bucky started filling out the invitations, consulting his old-fashioned address book after stamping the envelopes. He went online and ordered hors d'oeuvres from a nearby business so that he'd have something good to heat and serve his guests, and made a quick list for the liquor store. Steve returned with the carton and teased Bucky's holiday playlist as he grated a little fresh nutmeg over the top of each glass. Bucky whapped his head with his invitation before handing it over.

"I don't remember your handwriting being this beautiful," Steve said, surprised, opening the envelope.

"Oh, calligraphy is a weird skill that Hydra made me pick up. There was a mission in the 50's where I used it as a way to penetrate to the target," he said. "I also learned how to make centerpieces out of fruits and vegetables in the 70's, roses out of radishes, swans out of apples, carving melons, my best work." Steve started to laugh.

"This I need to see."

"Just you wait, punk. I'll do something for the party, you will be amazed, and I expect an apology." He'd planned on flowers, the carving was time consuming and finicky, but he couldn't let a challenge to his skills go past.

"Ten bucks, jerk." They shook on it.  Their conversation turned to their Christmases pre-war, fond reminiscences only, the passage of time making the memories of privations softer. Steve wanted to decorate his place too and ordered a Lyft, glad for extended shopping hours.

"Pickings are a little slim," Bucky warned, and Steve shrugged.

"I'll have to remember to get on it sooner next year. I'm not in the habit of decorating for myself." He left to get his wallet and coat after extracting a promise from Bucky to help put things up the next day. He also took the invitations to drop in the mail.

Wanting the full experience, Bucky decided to wrap his presents and put them by his tree. He had not reckoned on his cat. As soon as the tape and ribbons were produced, Natasha bounded over with bright green eyes and a sweeping paw, blissful when she could chew on the curly end of a ribbon or a piece of tape. She was completely unfazed by Bucky's efforts to push her away and he finally admitted defeat, twisting some paper scraps together, tying it with several pieces of ribbon, curling the ends with scissors, and tossing it far, far away. She was successfully diverted, and Bucky wrapped as fast as he could.

His wrapping wasn't as neat as he'd hoped, but it would do. His nerves were shot, and he decided to put the ribbons on just before he gave the presents away, since some of the ends were now chewed on and spitty. He'd need to trim those before gifting. He and Steve had been invited over to the Avengers complex for a Christmas Eve dinner, but he'd get rid of most of them at his party. Steve and he had planned on making a Christmas dinner for themselves. Pork roast, for the leftovers potential, gratin potatoes, a mushroom fricassee, roasted green beans with beets and feta, and a fruit salad. Gingerbread for dessert. They had divided the tasks between them and were ready to go. Exhausted after fending off his cat, who had lost interest in the ribbon toy and gone back to the fireplace, he retrieved a bottle of stout from the fridge and collapsed on the couch, where he watched the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, which made him sniffle.