Chapter nineteen: Santa.
There was no Saint Nicholas in Azarath, no Kris Kringle, no Father Christmas, and no Santa Clause. When Raven first came to Earth it was summer time, and she was still oblivious to the festive season, so when she experienced her first Christmas it was a concept that she struggled to wrap her head around. Her teammates had tried explaining it to her, but she showed little interest, and they relented their efforts. Starfire was just as clueless, and showed great enthusiasm for the holiday that she knew nothing of, and the boys had explained, as simply as possible, every aspect of the occasion, in hope that she would grasp it. Raven was curious, but had no interest in being sucked in to such a ridiculous notion, but the history of the myth interested her more than she'd liked to admit, so when the boys had these chats with the Tamaranean, she found herself listening in.
She found the very idea absurd, and more than a little disturbing. She was adept at actual magic, and knew intimately that anyone with enough power to do what this so-called Santa could, would more likely than not be power-hungry, and not someone you'd want to associate with. She placed no stock in the theory regardless.
She hadn't given Father Christmas a second thought until she spent her first Christmas with Melvin, Timmy and Teether. She saw how the children's eyes lit up with just the suggestion that they would meet Jolly Ol' Saint Nick. For the first time she understood the magic of it, it wasn't actual magic at all, it was simply the overwhelming happiness it brought children all over the world. So, even though she knew she'd hate every second of it, she took her 'kids' to see the local 'Santa'.
To Raven's great surprise, Beast Boy readily volunteered to accompany her. She'd given him a light ribbing, suggesting he would use any excuse to see his beloved Father Christmas. Beast Boy had shrugged off her snide comments with an easy smile. Raven's brows pulled together at the wave of contentment that came off of Beast Boy the entire time they walked side by side. When they reached their destination Melvin and Timmy ran on ahead, leaving a struggling Teether in Raven's arms.
"Wait for me! Don't run!" Raven called out on instinct. She caught Beast Boy's smile widen, and there was a sparkle in his eyes.
"What?" she demanded.
"Nothing." He said gently, giving another easy shrug. But the sparkle did not extinguish as he watched her.
One by one the kids sat upon the old bearded man's lap and whispered their Christmas wishes in his ear. And in her peripheral Raven saw Beast Boy lean in. To her he whispered softly what they kids had asked for, his animal senses picking up their softly spoken words. Raven smiled gratefully, the kids would definitely be getting what they wanted for Christmas, thanks to Beast Boy.