Titans-a-Wassailing

A Teen Titans Fan Fiction by Jacob McDonald

From One to Ninety-Two

Titans Tower was lit up brightly, casting its glowing reflection out across the bay of the Jump City harbor with cheery delight. The city across from the structure was just beginning to wake up as the sun rose even further beyond it to the east.

Inside the Tower, the Titans had already been awake and preparing for some time. Sublevel one had been cleared and converted into a workshop, and various tables were strewn with parts of multiple descriptions. Three green clad figures zoomed about the area, assembling what appeared to be… toys. The rapid jingling of bells rang as they zipped around.

One of the green blurs came to a halt and wiped some sweat from his brow. The red haired Fastest Teen Alive grinned as Mas y Menos zipped by to finish the assembly of a robotic dog. Kid Flash held up a blueprint and inspected it as he squinted at the toy on the table in front of him. "Hmm…" he frowned, "I put the washers on in the wrong order on this one." He frowned down at the curly toed boots tipped with bells he wore, "Damn."

"Don't sweat it Kid Flash." Robin walked up to the table, "You've already passed the production goal."

"A little extra stock never hurt anything." The speedster replied, "You guys about ready?"
"Yeah." Robin nodded, "Thanks again, Wally. I don't know how we could have done this without you."

"You couldn't have." Kid Flash grinned.

"True." Robin called out, "Mas! Menos! Pack it in guys!" as the two younger speedsters came to a halt and blinked at him in a very elf like way (they were wearing pointy ears left over from Halloween… something Kid Flash had flatly refused to do) Robin chuckled, "Santa's little helpers are done for this year… now it's time for the Santas to hold up their end of the deal…"

The Harold P. Ruckster Orphanage was named after a mildly famous businessman and philanthropist that had set it up before his death twenty years ago. Unfortunately, after he died, his business interests passed into the hands of his well meaning but hopelessly stupid son. The business folded, and the Ruckster Orphanage was left with little to no funding. What little public funding they received went to upkeep of the building, food for the kids, pay for the staff, and all the other piles of bills that came with running a home for thirty-nine children, all under the age of fourteen. It was enough to keep them running, but beyond that there was little else that could be done for the kids.

So it was that none of them had received a Christmas present in two or three years. Some of them hadn't ever received a present for any occasion. As the clock struck 9:00am, the children were all engaged in doing their chores. Since the Orphanage couldn't afford a cleaning service, the kids were called upon to divide the maintenance duties amongst themselves. They were required to put in at least two hours of cleaning every day. They didn't mind so much, since they were taught from day one that in this building, they were all family, and family helped each other out.

So when the matron's voice echoed throughout the halls, they were all mildly shocked to hear her calling every last one of them to the main entrance hall. There was much glancing at one another, muttered ideas on what could be happening, and shrugging of shoulders. They all trooped down to the first floor as one, and when they got to the main hall, all of their eyes grew wide.

Standing there was a the good natured half robotic Titan Cyborg. He was dressed in a Santa suit, complete with a fake beard, and had a huge red sack slung over one shoulder. He was grinning like a fool as they all gaped at him.

"Ho ho ho, ya'll!" he laughed, "Cyborg Santa's here to make your season bright! Who wants a toy?"

It took a full thirty seconds for the first kid to raise his hand. Cy grinned wider as thirty eight more followed it a second later. "Well all right!" he sat his giant bag down with a resounding thud and opened it up. Motioning a little six year old girl forward he reached into the bag and brought out a brightly wrapped present, "Here you go! Now you'll have to wait until everyone has one before you can open it, but let me tell you… it's really awesome."

Standing off to one side, the matron had her face buried in the shoulder of one of the other house mothers, sobbing tears of joy. Behind them, the rest of the staff stood, sniffling and grinning. Some of them were praying to God and thanking him for the Christmas miracle.

If Cyborg heard or saw any of them, he didn't show it. His attention was fully on the wildly grinning children who crowded around him, thanking him and waiting for him to hand them a present.

At the Fair View Nursing home, there were a grand total of forty-three men and woman who had no family left. They were either the last of their lines, or they'd been forgotten and pushed to the wayside by uncaring, unfeeling children, siblings or other family. They had no one, and they had no money, time or energy to get each other presents.

At lunch time, the large double doors to the cafeteria flew open and a joyful shout was heard from the threshold, "Greetings venerable Earthlings! Star Santa has come to deliver onto you presents of the most wonderful quality and verity!"

Starfire wore a uniform that looked much like her normal one, but in red with fluffy white trim. A Santa hat flopped about on her head, and she clomped big black boots on the floor as she landed. Over her shoulder was slung a sack of presents that seemed far too large for her girlish frame to carry, and as she deposited it on the ground with a thump, it shook the whole room.

"Now then!" she looked around the room, "Who would like to be first?"

The hands of every single male resident shot into the air.

"There's no such thing as miniature reindeer." A young bald child said to another as they sat on their cots in the children's ward of Jump City General Hospital, "They're either full sized, or not at all."

"Whatever." His counterpart replied with a wave of his hand, "The story says that Santa has eight miniature reindeer. That's how it is."

"Dude, listen to yourself!" the first boy waved his arms around, "You're going to believe some stupid Christmas story over the real, hard facts?" shook his head, "Santa would have to use full sized deer, just because his sleigh is way to heavy to pull otherwise!"

"I'm telling you, they're miniature!"

"They are not! There's no such thing!"

The second boys eyes grew wide suddenly and he pointed over his friend's shoulder, "Then what do you call that?"

Both boys turned, along with the other seven children that sat with them in the section of the ward where those patients receiving massive financial assistance because they're families couldn't afford the cost of their treatment resided. There, in the doorway to the ward, was a miniature reindeer.

A green miniature reindeer, with several sacks of presents slung across his back.

The deer stared at them for a moment, then became a green elf dressed in a Santa suit. He grinned a grin that exposed his one protruding fang, and called out, "Hey! Who wants presents?"

There was a cheer from the kids, and Beast Boy walked in, dragging his bags behind him.

The people of the East End housing projects had never seen anything quite like it before. A huge floating black disk of energy, supporting a massive sleigh flew through the air on a direct course for the intersection of Pine Street and Clements Avenue, which was largely considered to be the main drag through this part of town.

As the huge red sled lowered to the ground, people started to gather around it. The first thing they noticed was that it was brimming with wrapped packages. The second thing they noticed was the cloaked figure standing atop it.

Raven's robes blew in the chill December wind, still blue, but trimmed with white fur. Her hood was pulled up, but she gave the people below her a soft stare without her eyes glowing with her unworldly power.

"Have the children gather 'round." She called in a soft, but clear voice, "I have presents for them. Just remember…" one side of her mouth curled into a soft smile, "I know who's been naughty and who's been nice…"

Night had come to Jump City. The Titans had spread joy and happiness all throughout the town, and many, many unfortunates were going to have a merry Christmas thanks to the efforts of the teen heroes.

Still, there were some kids who weren't going to get anything come Christmas Day. One such child was Henry Gilbert. He was nine, and he lived with his dad. His mother had died three years before, and it was all his pop could do to keep working and trying to support him. They lived in an old run down house, and they didn't have much money. Henry's father was too proud to accept help, so this Christmas, just like the last two, he was going without presents.

Henry was sleeping on the couch, having dozed off there waiting for his dad to get home from work. A small noise startled him awake, and he looked around in a daze until he saw what had woken him.

A slim figure dressed like Santa, but wearing a black eye mask crouched next to the fake Christmas tree. He was placing present after present under its plastic bows, and as Henry opened his mouth to say something, the Titan Father-Christmas turned to him and motioned for him to stay silent.

"Your Dad got home almost an hour ago." Robin whispered, "He's sleeping in his room."

"Are you real?" the boy asked in awe.

"Sure am." Robin nodded with a light smile, "These presents are for both you and your father. I have to move on to another house now, but you enjoy these. Know that times will get better soon." Robin paused at the open window he'd come in through, "Oh, and Henry? Tell your dad that he should apply for that promotion at the Wayne Recycling plant he works at. I'm pretty sure he'll get it."

"I will." Henry nodded, "Thanks, Mr. Titan."

"You," Robin winked, "are very welcome."

With a swish of red and white cape, he was gone.