Heroics: A Christmas Story, a teen titans fanfic

Hello. This is Overseer.

5/8/05:Late Breaking Annoucement: Chaos ensued earlier this month as the Nazis at FF. net suddenly decided that there would be no more songfics. To this I say: "Screw that! As long I post the copyright info, I can do whatever I want! So, here goes!" On a side note, this is obviouslyan old fic; from this past Christmas, to be prescise. Don't read it if you don't want to, this is simply a copyright update. Anyway, here goes.

Most of you have never read my work. Perhaps some of you have. Perhaps you saw my name and came in expecting another irreverent comedy fic. I'm somewhat glad to announce you are mistaken. But don't let that deter you, this is still my world, and everyone's favorite Tamaranian is still here. (Haven't read my other stuff? Go search up "Hero's Story" for some background). I just wanted to take a stab at something that wasn't action or comedy. So, in light of the season, and the holiday spirit, I'm proud to begin this little semi-songfic.

Enjoy.

Christmastime in Jump City. Lights flood the sky. Carolers flock through the streets. Children laugh. Families bask in the comfortable glow of the fire. Everyone is happy. Almost…

In an old city bar,

That is never too far,

From the places that gather,

The dreams that have been.

In the safety of night,

With its old neon light,

It beckons to strangers,

And they always come in.

And the snow it was falling.

The neon was calling.

The music is low,

and the night Christmas Eve.

A black Toyota Supra slowly made its way down Shopping Way, the driver stopping occasionally to gaze at a window display, or let some children run by. The car pulled into a parking space beside the road, and the nineteen-year-old boy turned in his seat, looking over the stacks of presents in the back seat. Ryan reached in his pocket for a list.

"Let's see…

Tim - free weights. Check.

Vic – Initial D box set. Check.

Gar – Twisted Super Uber Nitro Ultra Kart: The Wrath of the Flying Killer Ninja whatevers… Check.

Kory – A Hatful of Seuss, by Dr. Seuss… Check.

Raven – Blackwater Park… Ooh, not check…"

The Tamaranian boy looked about. There was a music store right next to where he was parked.

"Perfect." He hopped out of his car and headed in.

And here was the danger,

that even with strangers,

inside of this night,

It's easy to believe.

Ryan thanked the cashier and walked out the door, spying a bar across the street. He could use a hot chocolate…

As he placed his hand on the old oaken door, he couldn't help but notice the girl at the corner, her blonde hair visible even through the snow. She pulled a tattered old jacket about herself, trying to keep out the frost and the cold.

Ryan sighed and pulled open the door, disappearing in a flurry of wind and snow.

Then the door opened wide,

and a boy stepped inside

that no one in the bar

had seen there before.

And he asked:

"Did you know,

that outside in the snow

that someone is lost,

standing outside your door?"

Then the bartender gazed

through the smoke and the haze,

through the window and ice,

to a corner street light.

"Tara Markov, professional wanderer…"

She sighed, her head hanging. Man that sounded lame. Christmas Eve, and she was leaning on a streetlamp, wishing she had a purpose. Someone to love. A place to call home.

Where standing alone,

by a broken pay phone,

"Is a girl," The child said,

"who can no longer get home."

And the snow it was falling.

The neon was calling.

The bartender turned

and said, "Not that I care,

but how would you know this?"

The boy said, "I've noticed,"

"that if one could be home,

they'd be already there."

Then the bartender came

out from behind the bar,

and in all of his life,

he was never that far.

And he did something else,

that he thought no one saw,

when he took all the cash

from the register draw.

Ryan smiled at the bartender.

"C'mon. I'll show you the way."

Then he followed that boy

to the girl across the street.

And we watched from the bar,

as they started to speak.

The boy called for a cab,

and he said, "Harbor Way",

put the girl in the cab,

and the cab drove away.

And we saw in his hand,

that the cash was all gone.

From the light that she had wished upon…

If you want to arrange it,

this world you can change it.

If we could somehow make

this Christmas thing last,

Ryan smiled and waved at the girl with her face pressed against the back seat window. He never even got her name. It didn't matter though. No one else would care in the long run anyway. This was between him, the girl, and the bartender. Nothing else mattered. Little did he realize just how much it did matter, for the girl whom he had helped would one day use the good will he gave her to become an incredible heroine. But that's another story for another time…

by helping a neighbor,

or even a stranger.

And to know who need help,

you need only to ask.

As the bartender stood staring at the street, long after the cab had passed out of sight, Ryan made his way back to his car, gunned the motor, and headed off in the opposite direction. With not the slightest bit of irritation, he realized that he had forgotten his hot chocolate. It didn't matter. He was warm inside anyway. And besides, he had presents to deliver.

The barkeep looked for the boy,

but the boy wasn't there.

Just the wind and the snow,

waltzing dreams through the air.

So he walked back inside,

somehow different I think:

For the rest of the night,

no one paid for a drink.

And the cynics will say

that some neighborhood kid

wandered in on some bums,

in the place where they hid.

But they weren't there,

So they couldn't see.

By an old neon star,

on that night, Christmas Eve.

When the snow it was falling,

the neon was calling.

And in case you should wonder,

in case you should care,

Why she was out on her own,

and she never went home

on that night of all nights,

...She was already there...

The End

Happy Holidays everyone!