Cabin in the snowy woods of upstate New York Steve was putting the crackers and canned food on the shelves. "Hey, Buck? How's it coming up there?" Bucky came downstairs from the bedrooms. "Fine, our rooms were on the left, correct?" Steve walked into the living room. "Yeah." Bucky nodded, "Thought so." As he said this, a rainbow flash shone through the windows. Steve stood up from his chair and went to the door. Two Asgardians stood outside beside the pair of motorcycles. "Thor's here." The door opened a moment later and Thor and his brother, Loki, walked in. Loki shook snow off his shoulders. "I do not enjoy this snow. It is like Jotenheim on Earth." Thor glanced at the hat rack and hung his hammer on it. Loki walked over to the living room and glanced at their the Christmas tree. "Why is there a tree in the house? I don't understand." He tilted his head. "What purpose does it serve?" Thor joined his brother in the living room and settled down on the couch. Loki looked over at Bucky and Steve. "Do enlighten me." Bucky glanced at Steve, "Uh... the Christmas tree is a tradition. You decorate it and put presents under it." Steve nodded and gestured to the living room. "Why don't we sit down?" Once they had all settled into their seats, he turned to Thor. "So how was your bifrost here?" "Exactly the same as it always is. Your travel was well?" Loki looked over from the recliner. "What exactly is this...Christmas? You mortals act like it is a big deal. What truly is the point of all this?" He gestured towards the tree. Steve answered, "Family, giving gifts." Bucky gave a slight smile and said, "Getting gifts." Steve leaned back in his chair. "That reminds me, at one point this week, we should go into town and do some Christmas shopping." He looked at the bare tree. "and decorate the tree." Thor nodded in agreement. "When do we eat?" Loki glanced over in amusement. "Really, brother. We have just arrived." Thor shrugged and leaned against the back of the chair. Loki shook his head at him and stood. "I am going to find our room and perhaps explore this tiny house a little." He left the living room and headed upstairs. Thor watched him go. "I hope he isn't up to some something." Steve watched Loki too. "Yeah. And to answer your question, we are probably going to go to the Cracker Barrel in the next town over. Maybe in 20 minutes." Bucky stood up, tugging a little on his sleeves. "I'm going to unpack my sweater and gloves." Then without another word he hurried out of the room. Thor stood up and followed after him. "I am going to find my mischievous brother. The way he left worries me," he called to Steve as he hurried up the stairs. Loki was in one of the bedrooms to the right, staring out the window at the snow. Thor walked in the room and Loki turned around. "Well brother? What is it that you need?" Thor joined him by the window. "Nothing. I was seeing what you were doing." Loki turned back to the window. "Surprised I'm not up to anything?" Thor laughed and started to leave. He paused in the doorway. "We leave to eat in twenty minutes." With that, he left the room and headed into the last one to the right, closing the door behind him.
Bucky was also looking out the window but in his room. On the bed he had folded a sweater and left a pair of gloves on top of it. Snow fell softly on the trees outside. Bucky sighed, "I wish..." He straightened. "Steve, I heard you come in." Steve sat down on the bed, and picked up a glove. "You know you don't have to wear this." Bucky kept looking out the window. "You know that isn't true. I.. don't want..." "Its okay, it wasn't your fault-" "But I did it! All of it!" He stopped and breathed deeply, then continued in a lower tone. "Its just, after the war you were in that ice and you come out seventy years later, unscathed, haven't aged a day, then you save New York. But I'm not like that. I... did some bad things." Bucky looked down at his left arm. "and this reminds me of it. I just don't want questions." Steve stood up and put his arm around his friend's shoulder. "Its okay. No matter what happens Buck, I'm with you till the end of the line." Bucky smiled a sad smile. "Yeah, I know." "That was quite depressing." Loki said from the doorway, leaning against the frame. "Though I would like to hear the story behind that arm." He smirked. Thor came over from his room and pulled his brother away from the door. "Really, brother? Listening to their conversations?" Loki yanked out of his grip. "Please. They left the door open." Thor sighed and shook his head. "Try to behave?" Loki glanced at his brother. "Really? I am not a child." Thor arched his eyebrows. "Some days you do act like one." Loki rolled his eyes and headed down the stairs to the living room. Bucky sighed. "Loki, really?" Steve leaned against the doorway. "Christmas is about family, and Thor convinced me that it would be fine." Bucky shrugged. "He just better stay out of my room." Then he pulled his sweater and gloves on and they headed downstairs. Steve tied his boot laces. "Alright, who's ready for cracker barrel?" Loki tilted his head. "A barrel of crackers?" Thor had gone back to his room and now came down in a long sleeved shirt and pants. He carefully opened a window and placed his hammer on the sill. "It is a restaurant, brother. You go there to eat. Jane took me to one." He regarded his brother. "You are going to wear that to a place with mortals?" Loki glanced down at his black, green and gold outfit. "Of course. Would you rather I have the helmet and cape as well?" Thor shook his head and sighed, before heading out the front door. Bucky and Steve followed. "Um.. how are we going to get there?" Bucky asked. "There are only two motorcycles and four of us." Steve looked around. "Hmm. Its a twenty-five minute walk." "I am not walking for twenty-five minutes in this." Loki stood in the doorway of the house, careful to stay out of the falling snow. Thor glared at his brother. "Out of all of us you should be the most okay with this. We're walking." He started to trudge through the snow. "Oh really? Because I'm a frost giant?" Loki crossed his arms and glared back at Thor. "Its not that far. We get on the road and we'll be there before you know it." Steve was still trying to be patient with Loki. Bucky slipped his hands in his pockets. "Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm hungry." He tapped his foot, and put his hat on. "Loki aren't you hungry? Or at least curious to see cracker barrel?" Bucky said, turning to Loki. "Not in the slightest." Thor shot him a look and Loki rolled his eyes, but stepped out into the snow. He started along the road, Thor following close behind. "Thank you, brother." Loki paused for a moment, before shaking snow off his shoulders, and then continuing down the road. Bucky gave Steve a look, and Steve shrugged. Then they both followed. The walk wasn't bad but there were a few snow drifts that had to be avoided. Once they got to the Cracker Barrel, Steve went inside to get them a table. Bucky wandered the porch, pacing in front of the rocking chairs. Cars drove by on the snowy road, chains wrapped around their tires. It was a busy little town, he noted. "There are a lot of people in this town." Thor walked over to where Bucky was standing. Loki was leaning on the wall next to the doors, watching the snow fall down. Another car sped down the road, spraying slush and ice. It splashed at Loki's feet and he straightened, trying to avoid stepping in it. This didn't escape Bucky's notice. "Do you not like the snow?" he asked Loki. The door swung open behind them. "Well," Steve said, "We should have a table ready in five minutes. They have to clear off one. Its probably warmer to wait inside." The shop area of the store was well stocked, and Christmas music filled the air. Steve and Bucky walked over to a shelf claiming to have "Vintage Christmas Finds" Steve looked at the display. "Its weird, isn't it? I mean some of these were just starting to be popular when we enlisted." Bucky nodded. "Yeah, we're old." he said with a smile. Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/963593756
