32 Productions Presents…

A HIVE Team Story

The HIVE Team In…

"The Christmas Special"

Chapter One

Titan H.Q.: Main Room

Changeling whistled to himself as he set up the lights around the door frame. Christmas was a great holiday, even to him. It made him all warm and fuzzy inside. Normally only swallowing a rabbit did that. He never tried that again. This would be the first Christmas with the Titans. He wondered how it would go. He guessed they would just steal the presents or something.

Raven: …what is that?

Changeling yelped and almost fell off the ladder. He glared down at the red skinned girl. Her four eyes regarded him with curiosity.

Changeling: Christmas lights.

Raven: ...I see. They disgust me.

Raven didn't know what Christmas was (they don't have it in Azarath), but the bright flashing lights in front of her made her feel sick. They were inspiring a joyous…pure…emotion inside Changeling. She couldn't stand it.

Raven: Why are you so happy? Does the "pretty lights" amuse you?

Robin entered with Starfire close behind, as usual. She had grown attached to the boy. Raven suspected that the kiss they shared did more then simply teach her the language. Starfire floated up to where Changeling was and regarded the lights with a tilting head.

Starfire: I believe your light fixture is broken, Changeling. They do not stay lit.

Robin: They're supposed to do that.

Starfire looked down at Robin, curiously.

Starfire: Why?

Robin: Beats me. People like it I guess.

Starfire turned back to the lights.

Starfire: …they are rather pretty.

Raven couldn't take it anymore. She clenched her teeth and focused. Every light bulb shattered. Changeling fell over onto Robin.

Robin: Get off me, you idiot!

Changeling: (getting up) It wasn't my fault!

Raven: I'm not sure what this "Christmas" is, but if this is the feeling it generally inspires in humans, then I despise it.

Robin: Bah humbug to you too.

Raven raised an eyebrow. Robin sighed.

Robin: You and Starfire sit and I'll explain it to you.

: CUE THEME :

HIVE Tower: Main Room

Blackfire hummed to herself as she stuck numerous decorations to the window's glass surface. She wasn't sure WHY she was doing it, but it sounded fun. Gizmo was in the kitchen, trying desperately to bake cookies in the shape of Christmas trees. Sadly he was a terrible cook. Mammoth was hanging the lights. Sonic came in, grinning widely.

Sonic: It's done! The ULTIMATE Christmas accessory! Behold!

Sonic held up something. Gizmo snorted.

Gizmo: It's a hat with a stick and mistletoe taped to it. Whoopie.

Sonic: Oh ye of little vision. It's not the complexity that matters! It's the fact that it gets the job done. With this on my head, every girl I come across, according to Christmas tradition, has to give me a kiss. Pretty sneaky, huh?

Gizmo rolled his eyes. Blackfire looked confused.

Blackfire: Hold on a sec…what?

Sonic: This here plant is mistletoe. It's a Christmas tradition that, if two people are under the mistletoe, they have to kiss.

Blackfire: …you're a sad little man.

Sonic: Not for long.

Sonic put the hat on his head. Blackfire floated higher into the air. Sonic huffed.

Sonic: How am I supposed to get you under the mistletoe if you go all the way up there?

Blackfire: That's the idea.

Sonic sighed. He took the hat off and put it down on the table.

Sonic: So, what'cha up to short-stuff?

Gizmo: Call me that again and I'll use this cookie cutter on your face.

Sonic: …you realize that's for making star shaped cookies, right?

Gizmo looked at the cookie cutter in his hand.

Gizmo: That explains a lot.

Jinx entered the room, a Santa cap on her head.

Jinx: Hey everybody! Just two more days!

Sonic: You're in good spirits.

Jinx: I love Christmas! There's nothing like it. No other holiday fills people with such mirth and generosity.

Mammoth: Not to mention the presents.

Jinx: Yeah that too.

Blackfire landed and admired her handy work.

Blackfire: So what's the deal anyway? Why do we give each other presents?

Gizmo: Watch a Christmas special.

Mammoth: They won't tell it like it is. It's a pagan holiday. The Christians later took it and put their own religious spin on it, calling it the birthday of their savior. This isn't true because sheep wouldn't be out grazing in the middle of winter so the angel couldn't have appeared to any shepards. What IS true is that long ago a man who would later be dubbed Saint Nicholas went around giving out free toys to the needy children. After he died the legend of Santa was created, saying that St Nick somehow lives on, now delivering presents to everyone in the world.

Everyone stared at him.

Mammoth: What?

Gizmo: Don't listen to him. There is too a Santa. It's not just a legend.

Sonic: Gizmo, act your age, not your height.

Sonic ducked as the star cookie cutter flew at his head.

Gizmo: I told you to stop that!

Jinx: Guys, guys! Stop it! No fighting! Try and be nice, okay? Sonic, don't tease Gizmo and Gizmo, he doesn't mean to insult you. He's just poking fun, not trying to hurt your feelings.

Gizmo grumbled and folded his arms.

Mammoth: Uh…Gizmo…I think your cookies are burning again.

Gizmo turned back to the oven. The cookies were on fire. He turned back.

Gizmo: What makes you say that?

Blackfire sighed.

Blackfire: I'll get the extinguisher.

Jinx: Would you?

Titan H.Q.

Raven sat on the couch, ignoring all the sounds around her. None of that mattered. From Robin's description, Christmas was a time of hope. A time of joy and giving. It was exactly the kind of time that made her sick to her stomach. She glared at her teammates as they continued decorating, despite her destroying the lights. Changeling plopped down next to her, much to her annoyance.

Changeling: What's with you? You look ready to kill somebody.

Raven: When aren't I ready to kill somebody?

Changeling shrugged. She had a point.

Changeling: You look ready to kill US.

Raven: I wouldn't do that…unless you made me angry.

Changeling: So what's your problem? PMS?

Raven: What? No! This Christmas crap is my problem! What's wrong with you people? How can you enjoy this?

Robin hopped down from the ladder he was on.

Robin: You should try to enjoy it too, Raven. This is the time of year that everyone changes. For just one day the cold uncaring people of this world are different. If it was like this all the time, we wouldn't exist.

Starfire: It is indeed most glorious! I cannot wait to try this…eggnog you speak of.

Raven growled to herself.

Raven: Cyborg, please tell me that you're not this foolish too.

Cyborg: Nope. I celebrate Kwanza.

Raven tilted her head.

Raven: What's that?

Cyborg: Well it's…

I have no idea what Kwanza is. Therefore I won't make a fool of myself by having some who claims to celebrate it get it wrong. Raven slouched.

Raven: This is embarrassing. I'm surrounded by giggling morons.

Starfire: Do not presume to talk down to me, Raven. I will not stand for it.

Raven: Do not presume that I care what you will and will not stand for.

Raven snickered as Starfire's eyes glowed with anger.

Robin: That's enough! Raven, if you're going to be like that then leave the room. Don't bring us down just because you can't enjoy the holiday.

Raven: (coy) Are you sending me to my room, "Daddy"?

Robin shuddered. Raven may have a sexy body, but it was hard to be attracted to someone who stared at you with four piercing red eyes. Especially when they tried to bat their eyelashes at you.

Robin: Just leave.

Raven huffed and stood up.

Raven: Very well. I'm going to find a way to ruin this holiday for everyone else. You can enjoy your meaningless jolliness. That doesn't mean I have to tolerate it in everyone else.

Cyborg: And I thought the Grinch was green.

Cyborg and Changeling laughed. Raven didn't know what that meant, but she knew she was being insulted. She growled and stormed out of the room.

Raven: (shouting) Watch yourselves! You might wind up with a Christmas tree lodged up your asses!

Starfire jumped up and down.

Starfire: Ah, yes! The tree! We require a tree!

Robin: That we do. Get dressed in your civies, Star. We're going out.

HIVE Tower: Jinx's Room

Jinx whistled to herself as she set up her life-size Santa. She plugged it in and it began to move. She flicked her ponytail back behind her head, smirking.

Jinx: Yeah…

There was a knock on her door.

Jinx: Sonic, if that's you, I'm not opening that door. You're not getting me to kiss you.

Sonic: Ah, come on Jinxy! Where's your Christmas spirit?

Jinx: Sonic, this isn't what Christmas is about.

Sonic: The hat's off, Jinx. C'mon out.

Jinx leaned against the wall.

Jinx: And why should I trust you?

Sonic: Hey! I don't lie like that, Jinx. You have my word.

Jinx opened the door. Sonic wasn't wearing the hat, just like he said.

Sonic: There, was that so hard?

Jinx: What do you want?

Sonic: See, there you go again. I'm trying to be all friendly and you snap at me.

Jinx sighed and shook her head.

Jinx: I'm sorry.

Sonic: Apology accepted. Now then, come on. Blackfire went to get a tree. She'll be back soon so we better have the decorations ready.

Jinx smiled.

Jinx: Sounds good to me.

Sonic: I wish you did that more often.

Jinx: Did what?

Sonic: Smile.

Sonic turned and started walking away before Jinx could berate him for flirting again. She felt her cheeks growing warm. Aaah, he was probably just saying that…wasn't he?

Tree Field

Kory clenched her fists in her coat pocket. All these annoying people everywhere. How could Dick stand it? She wanted to break them in half. Meanwhile he was being polite and courteous. She was so impressed. She knew he could barely tolerate them.

Dick: Kory? Earth to Kory.

Kory: Hmm? Oh, I am sorry. What did you say?

Dick: I asked you if this was a good one.

Kory fought the temptation to fly around the tree and walked instead. She tilted her head.

Kory: It seems…adequate. I do not really know what it is to look for.

Dick: Bald spots, drooping branches, that sort of thing.

Kory: It appears fine.

Kory's ears picked up a familiar voice.

Blackfire: Cold? Nah. I'm fine. Why?

Kory hissed and ducked behind the tree.

Dick: What are you doing?
Kory: My sister is here. Even in this Earth garb, she will surely recognize me!

Dick: Don't worry about it. Trust me.

Blackfire picked the biggest tree she could find. The tower was huge and she could easily get it in there. She cut it down, paid for it, and flew off with it. She was careful not to fly too fast or she'd lose the needles. Kory stepped back out, her eyes glowing with fury.

Dick: Calm down or you'll give yourself away.

Kory: That bitch…

Kory took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Her eyes faded back to normal.

Kory: I am sorry.

Dick: Don't worry about it. Let's take this one.

Kory: …are we paying?
Dick: This time, yes.

Kory: As you wish. It is your money.

HIVE Tower: Main Room

Blackfire floated up and put the star on the top of the tree. She landed next to the others and sighed.

Blackfire: I still don't get it. What's the tree got to do with anything?

Sonic: Who knows? This was all set up a long time ago. Hey, big guy, plug it in.

Mammoth plugged the lights in. Blackfire "oooh"ed softly as it lit up.

Blackfire: That really is pretty. I've never seen anything like this before.

Jinx: Yeah. Gets you right here, doesn't it?

Blackfire: Uh…Gizmo? Maybe I should make the cookies.

Gizmo was holding a tray of black tree shaped…things. He looked down at them then back up at her.

Gizmo: But I got them right here.

Blackfire: …I prefer mine…less charcoaled.

Gizmo stuck out his tongue.

Gizmo: They're not for you. They're for Santa.

Sonic snickered.

Gizmo: Shuddap.

Sonic: I didn't say anything.

Jinx: Boys…don't start.

End Part One