Author's Note: These stories were written for DCComicsNerd and although they are very, very, very late I certainly hope that DC enjoys them :-) There is no particular order here. I will try my best to add stories as I can. Happy Holidays!
Mush had the best laugh. It was the kind of laugh that made other people smile when they hear it. Even when it's preceded by the dumbest joke in the world Mush's laugh still makes people grin. Or maybe it was his smile. The kind of smile that was infectious. It's the kind of smile that makes Blink forget how much his feet hurt, how cold it is outside, how many papers he hadn't sold that day. All he needed was to see Mush smile and everything seemed better somehow.
Years ago, when Blink was first sick and the infection set in, it was Mush who had stayed by his bedside. It was Mush who had held Blink's hand when the doctors told him he would never again have vision in his left eye. It had been Mush who always had a corny joke or a witty comeback for those times when Blink was feeling plain old down in the dumps.
One of the other customers bumped into Blink, nearly knocking his money out of his hand and he was brought back out of his reverie. The marketplace was packed with people and the heavily falling snow was making it more difficult to get around to the different vendors. Blink stared meditatively at the selection of laces in front of him, trying to choose the two best. The wire rack shook as the small girl holding it shivered in the cold but Blink tried not to think too hard about it. A bleeding heart, that's what Kelly would have said.
"These two'll work," Blink said as he exchanged his nickel for two of the laces.
"They's only a penny a piece," the girl began.
"Keep the change," Blink told her and tucked the laces into the pocket of his threadbare jacket.
By the time Blink made it back to the lodge house the snow was falling even faster and he was grateful to see that Kloppman had managed to get the old stove in the bunkroom working. Blink slid the tattered shoebox out from under Race's bunk and opened it. They were second-hand shoes but with Kloppman's help Blink had managed to find two shoes that not only matched, but were the best out of the donation bag.
As Blink laced up the shoes he considered adding another coat of shine but thought of how Boots had already generously given enough of his rather limited supplies.
"Whatcha doin'?"
Blink looked up, shoes still in hand, to where Mush stood at the end of the bunk. He hastily tried to shove the shoes back into the box. There was a hint of mischief in Mush's eyes, as though he already knew exactly what Blink was doing.
Blink fiddled with the lid of the box. "I just…I wanted…"
Mush sat down on the bunk beside Blink and picked one of the shoes up. He grinned at Blink. "These are for me?"
"Yeah," Blink admitted, feeling his face flush. The sight of Mush smiling at him caused his stomach to flipflop uncontrollably.
"Must have cost you a fortune," Mush said. His smile slipped just a little. "I don't have…"
"You didn't have to..." Blink stammered.
Mush leaned over and kissed Blink softly. "Merry Christmas, Blink."
In that one moment Blink knew that Mush's smile was nothing compared to his own.