MHA #2 | Friday Evening

[defenderofdesmoines]

So, given that Annie was planning on throwing a super-early Christmas party here in two weeks and that she and Diego would be gone next week to see her family, it was completely reasonable for the apartment to already be kind of festive, right?

Whatever, Annie said it was and would be taking no questions, thank you. She hadn't gone totally overboard yet (had to save something for when they got back from Iowa, obviously!), but she had totally just adopted the habit of putting Christmas music on when she was home, and burning a Christmas candle (it smelled like wonderful Christmas treats that neither she nor Diego were capable of baking!) and there was totally a little stack in the corner of the living room of deliveries that had already commenced for the party. The return of Christmas kegs!

Right now, she was taking things into her own hands and winding a few strings of lights through each of her several houseplants (now safely inside and off the balcony, where they'd remain for the winter), and taking extra care with the spider plant that she had no reason to think wasn't the original spider plant from last spring.

"You know what," she mused aloud, "I think the lights might need to be a permanent thing, because you guys are looking great."

[for the guy who gets to live in Santa's workshop for the next month and a half.]

Comments

[knife_bender]

"That'd be kind of hot," Diego murmured, ducking his head down to kiss her neck. "You punching a guy while all tinsel-y and jingling."

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie tilted her head helpfully to get more of that, thank you. "I mean, it would kind of be on brand for, like, thugs or something to show up to this party. Or for the island to spring something on us."

Annie would like, knock on wood or something, but also a fight that wasn't driven by anyone's emotions would actually be kind of fun in the middle of a party.

[knife_bender]

Diego thought that would be an awesome way to end their party.

"I mean...I wouldn't complain about the evil candy canes and plastic reindeer..."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I mean, I always say anyone who busts in here deserves what they get," Annie told him, nuzzling lightly at his jaw. "Including candy canes or those reindeer. That would be kind of super fun."

And considering the whole drinking factor, Annie suspected those poor reindeer would receive even less mercy than last year.

[knife_bender]

"It would be," he agreed, bumping his nose against hers lightly. "But even if it doesn't happen, I'm sure we'll make our own fun."

They usually did.

"The mistletoe alone..."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Oh, I'm planning to cover the place in it," Annie assured him with a light kiss for emphasis. "You're gonna spend the next month getting interrupted with kisses because it turns out we're standing under mistletoe."

What an utter tragedy.

[knife_bender]

"Is that different from any other time we're together?" he joked. Lack of affection was definitely not a problem they had as a couple.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Well, now we'll have a reason besides liking each other," Annie pointed out. Because yeah, they were very physically affectionate -- see also how Annie was basically draped across him. "Though making it mandatory kissing does sound sort of less appealing."

But she also wouldn't want to be mandated to kiss anyone else, so it was also back to being romantic in a roundabout way.

[knife_bender]

"God, I hope that gross mistletoe doesn't come back," Diego said. "If I have to kiss Danny again I might leave town."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I would miss you," Annie said, pressing a kiss near his ear. "But understandable. I got off so easy with just kissing my girlfriends last year."

Could've been a lot worse. She could have had to kiss Danny. Or Steve. Either one would have probably resulted in all parties, like, going to live in the woods out of embarrassment.

(Though maybe she'd run into Captain America this year? That was a fun thought. Shh.)

"But I think it's an annual thing. It's probably coming back."

[knife_bender]

"Maybe we should stay here that day," he suggested. "Then we'd just be kissing each other."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"And fighting aggressive plants," Annie pointed out. "Which, like, call me crazy, feels like it might lead to kissing just organically."

Like, maybe.

[knife_bender]

"Oh no, not that," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her again.

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie smiled into the kiss, leaning into him happily. "I think we'll suffer through, but yeah. We'll just have to be careful of our plants."

No spider plant sacrifices when they were stabbing and setting mistletoe ablaze, please.

[knife_bender]

"Oh I would never endanger the lives of our plants," Diego said solemnly. "I care about them like they were my own children."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Oh, I can tell," Annie assured him, lifting one brow. "We should probably find somewhere safe for them for the party, actually, even if they're decorated and all spiffed up for it."

Someone else's apartment was probably the safest bet, honestly.

[knife_bender]

"Afraid someone is going to spill their drink on them?" Did alcohol hurt plants?

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Look, just because I'm not doing a keg stand doesn't mean no one else is getting sloppy," Annie pointed out, deciding that the best way to convey this information was by saying it into Diego's neck as she leaned in to press a kiss there. "They can't defend themselves."

Though if they did, one of these days -- well, Annie would be impressed. And Diego would be able to 'I told you so' all over the place.

[knife_bender]

"I'd be more worried about our TV," Diego said softly, sliding his hand further up her leg. "The plants we could probably scoop back up."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I mean, this is also true," Annie noted softly, since last year a TV hadn't really been in the mix. "But I could get us a new TV. The plants are living things and could be killed."

Dramatic.

[knife_bender]

Diego laughed softly. "Your dedication to protecting the weak, even plants, is why you're my favorite superhero."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Well, that's convenient, because you're my favorite superhero," Annie told him, pressing close for another kiss. "Even if you care less about plants."

Just meant he could cover her while she evacuated the weak! Even if 'the weak' were green and leafy, fine.

[knife_bender]

"I'm so grateful you overlook that aspect of my personality," he murmured. "You know, we should probably look over the bedroom. See what kind of holiday spirit is needed in there."

Just the thinnest of excuses. But he was also just asking for her to take him seriously and next thing you know there'll be lights and fake snow in there.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I actually was kind of thinking of putting mistletoe over the bed," Annie told him, in all seriousness. Because come on, like that wouldn't play well?

Even if she was giving him a playful little lift of her brows if she moved enough that they could both get up, at least. "But we can definitely decorate in there more than that."

[knife_bender]

"Well, we can just see if we come up with any ideas in there." Diego got up from the couch, and went to scoop Annie up to carry her as soon as she was off the couch too.