Christmas in Blüdhaven: I Gave You My Heart
by Smitty
"Why is there mistletoe?" Tim asked, watching Dick wrestle the plant from atop a step ladder.
"Because it's Christmas," Dick mumbled.
"And Cass and Kon are going to walk through that doorway any minute now."
Dick stopped and looked at the sprig in his hand. "Moving on," he declared, tossing it toward the nearest chair. "Got more lights?"
"No." Tim thought of the stash of gifts under his bed and ached for the still-unwrapped wooden box. "That was the last string."
"Just as well," Dick said, dusting off his hands and stepping off the ladder. "I -- " He paused and stared at his hand curiously.
"You ok?" Tim asked.
"Yeah, I just -- " Dick was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. "Who's that?"
"Cass and Kon must have forgotten the key again," Tim said, stepping over several rolls of wrapping paper. "I'll get it."
"'Kay," Dick said, picking up the fallen mistletoe in his left hand and glancing back up at the transom where he'd been trying to post it earlier. He'd nearly gotten it affixed when he sensed someone else's presence and looked down.
Barbara Gordon smiled up at him.
"How's that arm, Former Boy Wonder?"
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.