Let me start off by giving you all my deepest apologies on how long it's been since I've posted something. It all began when my computer died and was prolonged by my last semester of college, writing my thesis, and some incredibly stressful stuff in my personal life. So, again, I am so very sorry about that. To make up for that here are two new chapters in a row, including a super belated Christmas present (what do you mean Christmas was over a month ago?). Enjoy!
Robin's First Christmas
Gotham seemed unusually… cheerful. Her citizens were bustling about the streets, huddled up in their warmest winter clothing, talking and laughing to each other as they dashed in and out of shops, making last-minute purchases. It seemed that a wreath hung on every door and through every window one could find a tree, decorated with bulbs and blinking lights. Carolers were parading the streets singing joyful tunes to anyone who cared to listen.
This infectious spirit seemed to invade the penthouse apartment of Wayne Tower. Dick and Tim had gone out in search of the perfect Christmas tree while Alfred stayed behind to set up other decorations. Currently, he was at the electric fireplace hanging stockings and humming along with "Deck the Halls" cheerfully. Damian sat on the couch, scowling at the merry atmosphere around him.
Damian could not, for the life of him, figure out what the big deal was. Christmas was just another day, same as the other 364 on the calendar. Why were people making such a big fuss over this one day? And why did the celebration of this one day need to spill over into the whole month of December? He knew of Christmas, of course, but he'd never celebrated it. In fact, he'd never celebrated anything. The League of Shadows weren't exactly known for their joyous celebrations.
The elevator opened with a ding, revealing Dick and Tim, both clad in heavy winter coats. Between them was a huge fir tree. The two boys worked together to hoist the tree up and carry it out of the elevator and into the den, careful not to scratch up the walls or injure the tree in any way. Damian noticed that no matter how careful his brothers were, they still managed to leave a trail behind them of twigs shed from the tree. The odd part was the absence of any kind of commentary from Alfred about it.
"Check this thing out!" Tim exclaimed as he and Dick situated the tree in a stand in an open corner of the room. "We told you we would get the biggest tree we could find and that is what we did."
"It is quite large indeed," Alfred commented with a smile on his face at seeing the two boys gleaming with pride in their tree.
"Now we get to decorate it!" Dick exclaimed, looking to the boxes of decorations that they'd brought out of storage earlier in the day.
"Tt." Everyone's attention turned to Damian.
"Hey, Dami, do you want to help us?" Dick asked as he pulled a string of red and green lights from one of the boxes.
"I didn't want to help you pick out a tree, Grayson," Damian snapped, standing up. "What makes you think I want to help with such a foolish chore as decorating it?"
"Aw come on, Damian," Dick moaned. "We'll even let you put the star on top!" Damian rolled his eyes and stood up to leave.
"No, thank you," he said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I think this whole Christmas thing is going to make me sick."
"What a Scrooge," Tim commented when Damian was out of earshot. Dick shrugged.
"He'll come around when we make cookies," he assured Tim. "Who can resist making Christmas cookies?"
But Damian did resist. In fact, he'd seemed downright disgusted when Dick offered him the Santa-shaped cookie cutter.
"But Damian," Dick had urged, "don't you want to decorate it when it's done baking?" Of course he didn't. And he didn't want to write a letter to Santa and he didn't want to send out any Christmas cards and he didn't want to try any of Alfred's fruitcake and he didn't want to do Christmas karaoke and he didn't want to wrap any presents.
"I refuse," Damian growled murderously to Dick, giving him an equally furious glare.
"Aw come on, Damian. You haven't lived until you've had a chance to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what you want for Christmas!" Dick had insisted on taking Damian with him when he went to the mall to complete his Christmas shopping. Damian had been planning on hiding from the torture of Christmas by sneaking away and hiding in the video game store until Dick was ready to leave. Unfortunately, his plan had been spoiled the minute they'd walked into the mall. Right inside the main entrance was an elaborate scene of snow and candy canes. Smack dab in the middle was a large, elderly man dressed in red, surrounded by his elves and a long line of children waiting for their turn to talk to him.
Damian had tried to maneuver his way around the horrific scene as quickly as possible but Dick had other plans. His eyes had lit up the minute he'd seen Santa and he'd grabbed Damian's arm, pointing like an idiot at the man in red. Since Damian had never had the experience of meeting Santa, Dick had insisted that he do it now.
"I am not going to sit on his lap and tell him what I want for Christmas," Damian snarled.
"But Dam-"
"I actually think that perhaps we should come back here in costume and arrest that crook," Damian decided, causing Dick to give him a confused look.
"What makes you think we should arrest Santa? All he does is bring joy to people's lives."
"I know you're a naive fool, Grayson, but it is quite obvious that the man is a child molester," Damian pointed out.
"And what would make you say something like that?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at Damian.
"It may be hard for you sometimes, but use your brain, Grayson! He has young children sit on his lap with the promise of gifts and candy! If that does not warrant an investigation from Batman and Robin, then I don't know what does!" Needless to say, Damian's conclusion ruined the rest of Dick's day.
"'Twas the night before Christmas, and all throughout Gotham, all the villains were stirring, attracting the Batman. He and young Robin were doing all that they could to put them away in Arkham for good."
"Oh, will you just shut up!" Robin roared giving his partner a glare. "Enough with the rhyming!"
"Maybe you should just stop being such a Grinch and get into the Christmas spirit," Batman countered.
"Oh yes, because a Dynamic Duo that wishes everyone in the city a "Merry Cristmas to all and to all a good night" is going to strike fear into the hearts of Gotham's criminals," Damian rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Whatever. Let's just take out Joker and call it a night. We've got to be up bright and early because tomorrow's Christmas!" Batman jumped from the building they were on and swung to a lower one.
"Tt," Robin scoffed before following suite. He couldn't wait until tomorrow had passed and the "Christmas spirit" was gone. At least Grayson would have the threat of Joker to keep him occupied for a while. Mysterious packages wrapped in bright, colorful paper had been delivered to the homes of Gotham citizens with the instructions to open before Christmas. Once opened, the packages released Joker's toxin on the unlucky recipient of the package. The news channels had already urged citizens not to open any packages that they did not know the origins of, but Batman and Robin had to make sure that the Joker was stopped. The Joker's trail had led them to the same Christmas tree farm that Dick and Tim had purchased their tree from.
"Stay close, Robin," Batman ordered. He didn't quite like the idea of bringing Robin along to deal with the Joker, but Damian obstinately refused to stay home. Dick knew that the boy was strong enough to handle himself, but he couldn't help but worry about him.
Batman and Robin crept among the few remaining trees that had not been claimed this holiday season. Suddenly, they heard a loud maniacal cackle. Batman and Robin exchanged a knowing look before making their way towards the laughter.
"Jingle bells, Batman smells," Joker sang wildly as he pranced around a particularly pitiful looking tree. Standing motionless around him were several armed henchmen, trying their best not to do anything to anger their boss. "Robin laid an egg. Batmobile lost a wheel and Joker took ballet." At this point the Joker leapt into the air and performed a rather ungraceful twirl. "Hey, let's sing it again, shall we?"
"Alright, Robin, when I say-" But Robin wasn't listening. Robin was running ahead of Batman with an angry scowl on his face.
"Jingle bells, Batman sm-" Robin leapt from his hiding spot and landed a powerful kick on Joker's jaw. A sickening crack resonated throughout the air as the Joker doubled back, clutching his jaw in pain.
"Why does everyone feel the need to sing these damn Christmas songs!" Robin demanded as Joker's henchmen moved to attack him. Batman rolled his eyes then jumped in beside Robin to help with the fight, more than ready to get back home and curl up in bed, hopefully getting in a few good hours of sleep before the morning festivities.
"Good job out there tonight, Damian," Dick said as they stepped out of the Batmobile, "but I expect you to listen to my orders and not just charge into things like that."
"Tt. We got the job done, didn't we?" the boy asked, crossing his arms.
"Yes, we did, but you still have to listen, Damian."
"Yeah, whatever. I'm sorry and it won't happen again," Damian said, taking his mask off. "Now I'm going to go to sleep. And even though you want to wake me up early tomorrow to join in the festivities, don't. I don't want to join." Damian started to make his way upstairs, but Dick halted his retreat.
"Hold up, Little D," he called, slipping his cowl off. He picked up a small box that was sitting on the desk and held it out to Damian.
"What is that?" Damian sneered at the box wrapped in shiny green paper with a bright red bow on top.
"It's your Christmas present from me," Dick explained. "I would wait until later, but, honestly, I really can't wait to give it to you. Technically, it is Christmas," he said, eyeing the clock on the computer. Damian merely stared at the gift as if it was a foreign object that would harm him if he touched it. "Go on, take it! Open it up!" Damian narrowed his eyes and reluctantly took the present from Dick.
He eyed it warily before tentatively plucking the bow from the top, then gingerly began to peel off the paper to reveal a small box. He pulled off the lid and looked to see what was inside. He picked up the little metal pendant inside, gazing at it curiously. It was a robin. Damian's scrutinizing gaze softened and he looked back up at Dick.
"Your father gave that to me on my first Christmas as Robin," Dick explained, sensing the confusion Damian was feeling. "I think it's only right that you should have it now." Damian looked back down at the robin. A small smile appeared on his face as he considered what this gift must have meant to Dick when his father gave it to him and what it means now that it was being passed on to him. Perhaps this Christmas thing wasn't as bad as he thought it was. Perhaps… perhaps he could stand to wake up a tad earlier than he was planning, after all.
"Thank you," he mumbled, gently laying the robin back in its box. Dick smiled and ruffled his hair. Damian didn't even attempt to slap his hand away.
"No problem, bro," he said as Damian turned to leave again. "Merry Christmas, Damian." Damian paused at the stairs and turned back around.
"Merry Christmas, Grayson."