Christmas in Blüdhaven: Special Delivery
by Smitty
"It's not fair!"
Robin's bo slammed into a trash can, knocking it over and sending the lid tilting to the ground.
"Rob," Kon started.
"We nailed that guy three nights ago!" Robin shouted. "Three nights! What's he doing on the streets?"
"Um, I think they call it 'making bail'," Kon ventured under his breath.
"I don't believe this hellhole," Robin snarled. "Why are we bothering?" Kon and Cass watched him stomp around the alley, cursing the revolving door and impugning Blüdhaven law enforcement. Cass tilted her head as he raged at the corrupt criminal justice system but didn't interrupt him. She and Kon just waited until he ran out of steam.
It happened sooner, rather than later. Tim stopped talking, and paused in the middle of the alley, head bowed. After a long stretch of silence, Cass approached him and placed one hand on his shoulder.
"It's like you said," he murmured finally. "This is one awful, mean city."
A rustle in the shadows brought them all to attention and the dark shape that stepped into view surprised everyone but Cass.
"You're damn straight it is," Nightwing said, his mouth twisted up in a cocky grin. "Good thing we're meaner."
Author's Note: Christmas in Blüdhaven is written in the same general style as Jingle Bells, my attempt to write 24 200-word ficlets--one per day until Christmas, sort of like an Advent calendar--with characters from around the DCU. Christmas in Blüdhaven differs, however, by each of the ficlets being loosely linked and progressing toward a greater conclusion. The title was derived from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Christmas in Sarajevo" because everything and everyone in Blüdhaven is currently something of a wreck.