Speedy tromped through the snow sullenly. "Why do I have to work on Christmas day?" he grumbled irritably into his communicator.

"Because you forgot to get me a present," Bumblebee pointed out flatly, but she was smiling. Speedy knew she and the others back at the tower were glad they wouldn't have to crime-fight today. "Scout the whole town, check for any criminal activity and maybe we'll send you some hot chocolate."

Speedy snapped his communicator shut, muttering things to himself. "Of all the ungrateful teammates, I got stuck with that bit-"

The device rang again, a familiar tune that he'd known since day one, but a song that he couldn't place the name, and he snatched it back from his belt, shouting, "What!?"

"You know we're kidding, Speedy. Just come home once you make sure everything's all right out there."

"Whatever. Just let me get back to work."

"Merry Christmas, Speedy."

He was still in a considerably bad mood on such an exultant occasion, but he murmured back, "Merry Christmas to you guys, too."

Trudging in the snow, which had grown about three feet high, Speedy removed the long, yellow bow from his back and nocked an explosive arrow. He doubted he'd need it, what with it being Christmas and all, but it never hurt to be on the safe side. Villains must've needed the holidays too, but Speedy honestly had no idea what they did on these sorts of days. It would've been the perfect time to plan an attack, since everybody was taking breaks, even the heroes. Though, in his years as being a good guy, he had never had to fight on Christmas. Or even work before, for that matter. Maybe the criminals also needed vacations. They were humans.

"The fourth sector is clear," he announced to no one in particular as he jumped up a humongous hill of snow, sliding all the way down.

Only one more area to check, and he could get back to his presents. It was true; he hadn't put a present for Bumblebee under the Christmas tree. He'd put it in the Christmas tree, and must've done a very good job of hiding it. He probably didn't, and it had just been for fun, and now here he was being forced into labor on a public celebration. Speedy knew girls were trouble.

He scanned the streets one last time and made it official. No one had tried to destroy the holidays this year, because that was just truly, pure evil. Nobody could ever be that evil, he was sure.

Pleased at the quick work he had just completed, Speedy once again retrieved his communicator. "Sector five is clear. I'm heading-"

The tool flew out of his hand as he was struck hard across the face. His cheek ached painfully and his eyesight was beginning to blur. Whatever had slapped him had been pretty brutal, but he was almost sure that he had been hit by hair. A shadow stepped over him, and Speedy's vision was almost all black, but he saw a wide, roguish grin before he fell into unconsciousness.

Speedy blinked, awareness slowly seeping back into his body. His face still stung from the blow from who knows how long ago, and he tried to sit up, but he found that he couldn't. He blinked again, and this time his vision cleared. Were those…red ribbons binding him to a cold, metal table? Speedy struggled to break free, sure that the well-trained muscles in his arms that he often flaunted were more than enough to snap some sappy Christmas wrapping strings. The bonds held tight, and Speedy wondered what the material really consisted of. Next, he tried to remember how he had gotten into this situation. Someone--or something--had obviously smacked him hard (he knew from the still burning sensation on his cheek), hard enough to knock him out. And now…they had found ropes that were stronger than steel but still favored Christmas spirit. Who would ever do this to him?

Suddenly, as if to answer his question, a figure stepped out from the darkness surrounding the table. It was a girl, with skinny, nimble legs, with a short, green kimono, two, long, swishing ponytails of midnight black hair, and a mask. A cat mask, with that awful, broad grin. It was Cheshire.

"Oh, no…" Speedy barely choked the words out; he was so petrified with fear. If he was in this position, and she could do anything she wanted with him, he had every right to be so.

"Happy Holidays, Speedy."

The lights turned off, and the mask that intimidating Speedy so was flung off and skidded on the floor. Though he probably wished that Cheshire had kept the mask on. As a cat would pounce on its prey, she leapt on top of Speedy and began things that made him wish he was the mouse being devoured rather than the metaphoric mouse he was being made into now.

The Titans East didn't see him until a week later, and he seemed a little more forgetful than usual. They never figured out what had happened to him on that Christmas Day.

Yeah, you can tell me I'm crazy and sick. It's a weird couple that I really don't know much about, but I heard that they were together in the old comic books, and I saw some pictures pairing the two together with gave me the inspiration. I don't care if you don't like it; just tell me what you do like then.