YJ: 25 Sweet Christmas Day 11-15
::Candy Dots::
Dick sat perched on the kitchen counter munching on little fruit flavored gum candies watching Alfred prepare dinner. Dick chewed thoughtfully as the aroma of the food the butler was preparing.
"Master Richard is it your goal to spoil your dinner with all those sweets?" Alfred asked walking by with a pan headed for the oven.
"I don't know why you bother." Dick said reaching into the paper box for another candy and popping it into his mouth.
"What is it that you are eating there?" Alfred took the candy box out of Dick's hand as he put a bowl down on the counter next to Dick.
"All this food isn't going to get eaten." Dick sucked on the candy he was eating looking down at the sauce Alfred was mixing up in the bowl beside him.
"Dots? These are not Dots." Alfred said looking at the box. "Well we cannot have that." Alfred turned to stir something on the stove.
"Should I call Wally now or wait?" Dick asked reaching out to steal a flaky dinner roll but the old butler slapped his hand away gently as if the man had eyes on the back of his head.
"Here you go Master Richard." Alfred said handing Dick a packet. Dick looked down at the packet. It contained a sheet of glossy paper and on it were three rows of small dots. "These are candy dots."
"I know it's your job… your pride." Dick said peeling off a small dot as Alfred went back to work on the dinner. The sugar was delightful as the dot melted in Dick's mouth. "But multiple courses? Every day?"
"When I was your age those were dots." Alfred said sautéing something in the pan. "When we had change from groceries we were allowed to get ourselves a treat. Those were my favorite." In the background the grandfather clock chimed signaling it was seven o'clock. No sooner had the clock stopped ringing the phone began. "Can you watch that pot for me Master Richard?" Alfred went and answered the phone. Dick watched the old man from his new perch next to the stove.
"Yes Master Bruce." Pause. "No that is quite alright." Pause. "Yes Master Richard has finished all his homework." Pause. "I will let him know." Dick saw a flicker of sadness dance across Alfred's face, just a flicker. Bruce was apologizing. "I understand sir. We will see you later sir." Alfred hung up the phone and came back to the stove. Dick peeled a dot off the paper and gave it to Alfred.
There were no words but the gesture made Alfred smiled. Dick leant over and gave Alfred kiss on his cheek before hopping off the counter and heading for the phone.
"I will call Wally, and Roy too!"
::Saltwater Taffy::
When Robin and Kid Flash materialized in the Mountain Justice the first thing they noticed was the smell of smoke and burn sugar. Concerned the teens exchanged a quick look before rushing to investigate the source of the smell. They found the source easily enough. Ground zero of the disaster was the kitchen and to say it's a disaster it's an understatement.
"Whoa! What happened?" Wally asked looking at the disaster zone. There was a smoldering fire in a pan on the ground. Scorch marks marked the walls and counters and a strange colored slime seemed to be on the walls, counters and floors.
"Were we attacked?" Robin asked looking around at the mess.
"No…" M'gann said with her head down. "I was trying to make some candy I saw on the television."
"Hey it's okay…" Wally said patting the girl on the shoulder. "Candy making is hard."
"Yeah. Next time you want some candy let's leave it to the professionals." Robin said poking the hardening slime with a spatula. "What were you trying to make?"
"Salt water taffy." M'gann admitted. "It looked really good and they made it look so easy on television."
"Salt water taffy huh? The best is of course is from where this candy originated." Wally said with a smile. "Atlantic City New Jersey. I will be right back." With that Wally disappeared.
"Where is he rushing off to?" Artemis asked as she side stepped to avoid a blur zipping past her.
"He is going to New Jersey to buy some candy." Robin answered nonchalantly texting with his phone.
"Does he always do that?" Artemis rolled her eyes. "I know it doesn't take very long but…"
"Only when he is trying to impress." Robin smirked. "Anyways we should get this cleaned up before Batman gets here." Artemis was about to argue why she should have to clean up a mess she didn't make but knowing Batman she would get a trouble regardless so she rolled up her sleeve and joined in.
The teens finished cleaning up not a moment too soon as the computer announced Batman's arrival. The dark knight eyed the teens suspiciously as he looked into the kitchen but chose not to ask.
"Robin. A word." Robin immediately went over to his mentor a smile on his face. The two girls tried to follow to find out what it was about but a look from Batman made them think better of it. Once they were out of ear shot and in private Batman produced a package from beneath his cape. "Agent A told me to deliver this to you and said it was urgent."
"Perfect!" Robin smiled taking the box.
"We will have to have a conversation about the definition of urgent later." Batman said giving the boy a Bat glare knowing full well the content of the package.
"But Agent A makes the best saltwater taffy, and I can't let Wally be the only one impressing the ladies." Robin knew his words made the man smile inside even though he remained stoic.
"Very well. I will expect you back in Gotham for six." With that Batman swept out of the room.
"Sorry guys it took a little while at the store there was a line up around the block." Wally said as he ran back into Mount Justice. That was when he noticed the others sitting in the living room laughing and eating… was that home-made saltwater taffy?
"Hey Wally welcome back!" Robin was the first one to greet him.
"Wh…what are you guys eating?" Wally stammered. "Is…is that homemade saltwater taffy?"
"Yeah it is delicious." M'gann smiled offering Wally a piece.
"I wasn't gone for that long! How did you manage to figure out how to make it?" Wally was flabbergasted.
"Oh no, Robin had his friend Agent A bring it." M'gann explained.
"It's better than any store bought ones I have ever tasted." Artemis said reaching for another piece.
"But I am sure the ones you got are good too." M'gann said quickly as she noticed the box in Wally's hand. Wally, however, was too busy glaring at Robin.
"You are the worst wing man kid." Robin only smiled innocently in response. Wally shook his head again. "Worst wing man ever."
::Caramel::
They are different, Conner noticed. Robin and Wally had very different ways of eating caramel. Wally chews at the soft candy breaking it apart quickly in order to eat another piece. Robin on the other hand takes his time sucking on the candy letting his saliva dissolve the caramel never once chewing it.
"Why don't you chew your caramel?" Conner asked drawing both boys' attention.
"What do you mean?" Robin asked a little caught off guard by the obscure question.
"I mean chewing caramel is a much more efficient way of eating the candy. Why do you just suck on it?" Conner rephrased equally puzzled that his very valid question confused the younger boy.
"Ha. Robin sucks." Wally laughed leaving Conner confounded.
"Very mature Wally." Beneath the shades Conner could imagine Robin rolling his eyes. "Any ways. You don't need to be 'efficient' when it comes to eating candy." Robin explained. "You eat candy for the taste once you swallow it the candy doesn't do you any good."
"But the faster you eat your first piece of candy the faster you get to eat a second so you get more candy." Wally said popping another piece of caramel in his mouth for effect.
"Well not all of us can burn through empty calories as fast as you can." Robin shot him a dirty look.
"You are such a girl you know that?" Wally teased. "Watching your figure all the time. You are tiny in every sense of the word!"
"Hey I have to be in top physical condition to do what I do!"
The two began bickering and that was when Conner stopped listening noting to himself next time he noticed something interesting to keep it to himself.
::Toffee::
Bruce raced down the stairs woken up by a loud crash coming from downstairs. The sound seemed to have come from the kitchen, remembering Alfred had the day off today Bruce quickened his steps. As he stepped into the kitchen the first thing Bruce noticed were several pots and pans that normally stacked neatly in a high cupboard over the stove now laid scattered on the ground. As Bruce rounded corner behind the large island in the center he found a little boy sitting on the ground rubbing his head.
"Dick are you alright?" Bruce rushed to the boy's side. "Were you climbing on the counter?"
"Yeah. I fell. But I landed on my feet. But the pots and pans hit my head." The nine-year-old boy responded sheepishly. Bruce quickly checked the boy for any signs of a concussion and sighed in relief when he found none, but a bump on the poor boy's head.
"What were you doing?" Bruce scolded preparing an ice pack for Dick. "I thought we agreed that you would stop climbing on things." In the five short months since Bruce took the boy in he has learned how fond of high places the little boy was.
"I know... I'm sorry." Dick apologized remorsefully. "I needed a pan but they were all too high up and you were asleep... "
"Why do you need a pan?" Bruce asked. Bruce picked the boy up and put the boy on the island. Bruce got the boy to hold the ice pack in place while he picked up the pans.
"I was trying to make Alfred a present for Christmas." Dick said picking up a piece of paper. On the paper in Dick's neat hand writing was a recipe for English Toffee. "It's Alfred's favorite snack." Dick's declaration surprised Bruce. The boy had only known the old butler for five months yet he already knew something about Alfred that Bruce didn't know.
"Next time you want to do something and need some help I want you to come find me okay?" Bruce smiled gently at the boy. "You could have gotten seriously hurt."
"I didn't want to be a bother..." Dick murmured looking down at his feet. Bruce tilted his chin up so their eyes can meet.
"You are never a bother. Do you understand?" Dick hesitated for a moment blinking back tears but then the boy nodded. "Good. Now let's give this a go shall we?"
Three hours (six times the regular cooking time) and several burnt batches later the pair managed to produce something that was moderately passable.
"Do you think Alfred will like it?" Dick asked as they wrapped up the toffee and began to clean up the mess they made. Bruce smiled.
"I am sure he will love it."
::Turtles::
Robin was sad and Conner seemed to be the only one who has noticed. To be fair the younger boy was putting on a very good act. Robin still smiled just not as bright as usual. Robin still laughed at Wally's antics but his characteristic giggle was reduced to a mere polite chuckle. When Robin thought that no one was looking he let his face fall and let out small sighs.
"What's wrong?" Conner asked sitting down next to Dick once the others had cleared out of the living room to go bake cookies with M'gann in the kitchen (Kaldur went to supervise and as fire prevention).
"What makes you think something is wrong?" Robin asked with a half hearted smile.
"You are sad." Conner stated.
"I am not..." Robin was about to argue but Conner's I-am-not-buying-it look made the boy close his mouth. Robin let the smile go. His face was blank. "It's just the season."
"Winter?" Conner asked confused.
"No. Christmas." Robin corrected with a sad smile. "The conversation we were having before... Everyone has family to spend Christmas with... You are going to the Kent's farm. Wally has his family, Artemis has her mother... Kaldur is going home too. Even M'gann is taking a trip back to Mars and they don't even celebrate Christmas."
"And you?" Conner asked as Robin trialled off.
"I..." Robin hesitated trying to decide what to say. "My family is gone... That happened years ago. You think I would be used to this by now."
"Are you always alone on Christmas?" Conner asked.
"No... Usually Batman and Agent A are there." Robin explained. "But this year they will probably both be away."
"Why don't you come with me?" Conner asked.
"Can't. Promised Batman I would keep Gotham safe while he was gone." Robin's smile was a little brighter this time. "Thanks though."
"Wait here then." Conner took off leaving Robin a little bewildered. Conner returned a few moments later with a box of Turtles. "These turtles will keep you company until Batman gets back. There should be one for each day. That way you won't be alone on Christmas." With that Robin's usual bright smile was back as he took the box from Conner.
"Thank you."
Second last instalment! My reviewers and readers I hearts you all and hope you enjoy this instalment as well as we count down to Christmas!