Heya fellas!

So yesterday I forgot I had a fanfic to update. Haha. 8D (In my defense, I was kinda busy, but hey now you have it!)

I hope you'll enjoy it! :)


XII

Snickers

October 31st

Kids and teenagers were running around in full costumes – witches, vampires, skeletons, zombies... Every monster imaginable was out there asking for candy. In the middle of them, the Waynes and their two friends Harper and Stephanie were also knocking door to door for the precious candy. Dick, wearing a shiny blue disco-like costume – where he had found it, that was the biggest mystery –, was ahead of the little band they were forming. Behind him, Tim, as a classic vampire in a long cape, was chatting with Stephanie, herself as a classic witch with a long pointy hat and perfectly horrible make-up covering her face. Right behind them, Cassandra and Harper were counting the little candy they had collected already. Finally, Cassie had taken Stephanie's advice and was walking around dressed up as a black cat, while Harper was a crow. And last but not least was the little devil also known as Damian Wayne, walking by the side of a zombie Jason. They weren't talking to each other.

- Are we going to do this all night? The little devil asked.

- Of course we are! Stephanie gleefully answered.

- I'm bored. I should have gone with father to that gala of his.

- Stop complaining and try to enjoy yourself, Tim replied.

Damian shut up for a couple of seconds before complaining again:

- What is there to enjoy?

- Free candy! Dick immediately answered.

- We're walking in the middle of the night, knocking on doors to ask for candy. I really do not see the point of this celebration.

- Where the hell have you been raised your whole life? Harper asked.

- Somewhere where celebrations have sense.

- This one has sense, Stephanie tried to explain, we celebrate monsters and nightmares! And we collect candy. Because it's always a good reason to get free candy.

- Another point I don't understand with this celebration. What is the big deal with candy? What is so special about them?

- You really were raised in a hole, weren't you? Jason said.

Dick stopped and turned around.

- Give me your basket, he ordered.

- Why?

- I'm going to make you taste the best thing you've ever tasted in the whole wide world.

Damian gave him his basket, hesitant. Dick took a look inside, moved some candy around, and finally took one out.

- Here.

- What's that?

- Snickers.

The devil didn't understand.

- Oh my god.

Dick was hallucinating – he wasn't the only one.

- This just can't be real, he said.

- I'm starting to believe you really were raised in a hole, Harper laughed.

- I think I've never been this sad in my life, Stephanie admitted.

- Me neither, Tim commented.

- Meh, I've heard worse, Jason shrugged.

The elder Wayne gave the Snickers to his little brother.

- You have to taste it.

- I don't think...

- Yeah, don't think and just do it. Your life will change forever.

At last, Damian took the candy. He looked at the wrap and tried to read what was written on the back, but Tim stopped him from doing so.

- Rule number one when you eat candy, he said, you do not read what's written on the back.

- Ever, Stephanie added, otherwise you'll regret it.

Damian didn't ask any questions. He opened the packing and took the chocolate bar out of it. Again, he took a few seconds to inspect it. The group had stopped walking in the middle of the sidewalk, and all were watching Damian eating his very first candy bar.

- Come on! Cassie cheered, eat it!

The others started cheering with her, repeating the words "eat it" until he finally did so. He chewed on the big bite he'd taken, took all of his time before swallowing. The others watched in silence.

- So? Dick finally asked.

- If you don't like it, Stephanie said, I volunteer to take all your candy.

The little devil looked up at her.

- Too bad for you, Brown. I enjoy it.

As he said so, he grabbed another candy and started unwrapping it.

- Hey hey, go easy on it, Tim warned him.

- But it's so good!

- Too much candy makes you sick, Jason said, it's a verified fact. Ask Dick.

Dick winced as an answer.

- I won't get sick, Damian replied as he put the candy in his mouth, now let's go get some more.

The group resumed their walk. Stephanie leaned over zombie-Jason and Tim and whispered:

- I bet you ten bucks he'll get sick before we get back at the manor.

- Of course he will, Jason answered, it's the first time he eats candy. He's lucky if he doesn't die before we get back to the manor.

- How can a child survive without candy?

- Strict parents, I guess, Tim answered, I've heard Talia Al Ghul was a kind of very strict mother.

- At this point she's more a bitch than a "very strict mother", Jason said.

- She's still his mother.

Jason shrugged and walked away. The mother subject was always pretty delicate with him – more than with his orphan siblings. Stephanie stayed by Tim's side and looked into her basket. Tim started wondering about something to say, to keep the conversation going between them. He liked her, and he really wanted her to like him back. He was trying very hard not to screw anything up.

- I think my mum is the total opposite of his, she said, she lets me do everything I want.

- I've seen that.

Just like Harper, Stephanie had been spending most of her time at the Manor with them. She had become part of the family.

Stephanie was going to ask something, but she seemed reluctant. But as the silence started to feel heavy, she let herself go:

- I'm sorry to ask, and you really don't have to answer if it's too awkward for you, but... How was your mom?

Tim gathered his memories. It had been a while since he had last thought of his mom. Not that he didn't miss her, but he tried not to think about it.

- My mom wasn't as draconian as Damian's, he finally answered, nor as relaxed as yours. She was... In the middle, I guess. Maybe a little strict sometimes, but it was for my own good. I can't blame her.

- Did she at least let you eat candy?

They laughed.

- Yeah, she did. I remember her joining me on Halloween to collect candy.

- That must have been cool. My parents never did that. I always had to do it on my own or with some friends. I remember when I was eight, I walked all around the neighborhood all by myself to get candy. Did you know that you get more of it if you're alone?

- Well, now that I have the information, I think I'm going to have to ditch you all.

- And leave us to take care of Damian on our own?

- You're giving me a really good reason to go.

- You'd miss him, admit it.

I'd miss you, he almost replied.

- Admit at least you'd miss me, Stephanie smiled.

She had that cute little smile that made his heart all warm and fuzzy in the inside.

- Yeah, I'd miss you.

Her smile grew bigger and she put her arm around his shoulders – he was taller, so she had to walk on the tip of her toes.

- Now let's get some candy! She hummed.