Steve had had more than enough practise with the shield to use it as a sled. It was, in fact, a really effective sled - the curve made a shallow track which got slippier with each run - and he’d put it to that exact use the very first winter he’d had it. That and all the inventive handling on missions made for a large showing-off repertoire that his fellow Avengers just couldn’t compete with. Clint toppled over sideways into a snow bank, getting snow up the back of his jacket, and Thor overshot and tipped himself head-first into an icy stream.

It got an especially good reaction out of Darcy too, when he used his weight to twist and turn their way down. She shrieked all the way down the hill and wrapped her arms tight around his thighs. She only pretended to pout when he stopped them in a big pile of snow and warmed her hands by shoving them up under his hoodie ‘in revenge.’ He didn’t mind if her hands lingered a bit longer than was needed.

—

Happy Christmas, Darcylanders!