I’ve been sharing my fanfiction Operation Christmas Drop online, but most of the feedback I receive tends to come from people offering art commissions rather than from readers reacting to the story itself.
So I decided to try something different: creating my own illustrations for each chapter — to give readers a visual glimpse of the scenes and characters while sharing small excerpts from the story.
Operation Christmas Drop is a Romanogers AU inspired by the Netflix film, reimagined with Marvel characters.
This artwork illustrates Chapter 1, “The Naughty List.” Below is the beginning of the chapter.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Monday, December 18, 2023
The wind off the Potomac turned the late afternoon sharp and biting, wrapping the city in cold air. Along Pennsylvania Avenue, tourists clustered for photos near vendors selling roasted chestnuts and cider in paper cups. Evergreen wreaths swayed beneath the streetlamps. Somewhere down the block, a bell rang steadily, cheerful and relentless.
Senior Legislative Aide Natalie Rushman navigated the festive street on an urgent assignment. Or so she kept telling herself.
Her wool coat fell just below her knees, a scarf hugging her throat, leather gloves resting in one pocket. "Hey, Darcy." Natalie shifted the high-end shopping bags in her arms. "This is taking longer than I thought. Can you bump me up? I'm still two cashmere sweaters and a Tiffany bracelet away from the bottom of the congresswoman's list." At the crosswalk, she tapped her heel against the curb. "Feeling more like her personal shopper than an aide right now."
Inside the Capitol complex, holiday decorations were subtler yet just as deliberate. Garlands lined the railings across the wide central office floor. Poinsettias flanked security desks. Congresswoman Virginia "Pepper" Potts' bullpen buzzed with overlapping conversations, clattering keyboards, and the low hum of printers working overtime before recess. Long rows of desks formed small islands, each cluster close enough to collaborate while keeping strategic privacy.
Staff Assistant Darcy Lewis stood near her desk, balancing a call while scrolling on her computer.
"It's a compliment, Nat. She takes her Christmas shopping very seriously. That's why she only trusts it to you."
Out on the street, Natalie gave a passing Santa a quick high-five. "That's a positive spin."
Darcy tapped the keyboard. "Ah, I found that article you wanted."
The Indianapolis Post appeared on her screen.
What is the military spending our tax dollars on?
Beneath a cloudless Pacific sky, an Air Force pilot posed in front of a cargo plane, ukulele in his hands, a Santa hat perched jauntily on his head.
The assistant squinted at the screen. "What's a Christmas Drop?"
"It's a mission from a Pacific airbase. They parachute gifts and supplies to remote islands at Christmas."
"Sending the link now. And…" Darcy let out a low whistle. "Okay, who's Major Eye Candy in the Santa cap?"
Pausing mid-stride, Natalie zoomed in on the image. Broad shoulders. Sun-bleached hair. Smiling. Annoyingly attractive. She'd met plenty like him — a cocky grin that masked a reckless streak, using charm to cover any mistake. Definitely not worth the trouble.
A reluctant smile tugged at her lips as she scrolled. "No idea, but looks like he's heading straight for the congresswoman's naughty list."
First impressions of Natalie?
If you'd like to continue reading, the full chapter and more are available on AO3 / Wattpad / FanFiction.net.
Feel free to leave a comment here as well — I always enjoy hearing readers’ reactions.