Ignite [Book Three In The "Fire And Lightning" Series]

Chapter Seventeen- Merry Christmas

December 18, 2017. 12:08
Gotham City

Mara is still bitter.

It's Christmas, she's not supposed to be bitter.

She wants to go with her friends and have fun shopping, but all it does is turn into a competition between Bridget and Sarah over who can find the best present for their boyfriend. Of course, they try to get Rachel to get something for Impulse too, and then they start bugging Mara to see if she has a "special someone," which she doesn't.

Leaving her card with Rachel, Mara ends up calling Alfred to pick her up early.

When she gets back to the manor, Barbra is trying to convince Rick that his injuries should prevent him from climbing up the ladder to decorate the tree, and Rick insists that his acrobatic abilities work even better when he's injured. Emma sits on the main stairs, watching the two of them with a pleased smile. Aqualad is with her, and arm comfortably around her shoulders.

Mara's face contorts into a scowl, and she storms past the happy couples to her room. There, she slams to door shut and falls on her bed, ready to have a good pity party.

Everyone has someone, and though she denies it, Mara wants someone. She wants a friend to talk to, she wants someone to watch my little pony with her and talk about the Magic of Friendship, like she and Rachel used to do all the time. She wants to escape on mission of their own, sneak Olivia out for a night on the town. Stop a few badguys and pick up some milkshakes on the way home in the Batmobile.

Then she realizes...

Why not?

She grabs her phone as it starts to ring, wiping away tears with the sleeve of her jacket.

"Hey, Finch, what's wrong?" Rachel asks. Mara picks up on the sincerity in her voice, and realizes she was all wrong.

"Nothing," She sniffs, "I just lost my Christmas spirit for a while."

"O-okay, well, we're all going home now, want me to drop off your card?"

"Actually, Rach, what are you and the others up to tonight? I think there are a few people on the street who could use a little reminder of what the season is all about." Mara pounds her fist into her palm for emphasis.

That night, seven small but proud figures stand on top of the GCPD building, under the light of the Bat-signal.

Mara grins, and adjusts her mask. Bruce is in a meeting, her team's got this.

The girls stop fifteen muggings and seven robberies all on their own, and they still have time to buy Christmas cookies for all the kids in the Gotham Orphanage before midnight.

Finch hands cookies to a tired girl squeezing a worn gray stuffed puppy, trying to not think about how this could be her and Tim if Bruce, Emma and Rick hadn't stepped in.

She parks the Batmobile in the cave and finally says goodbye to her friends leaving via zeta-tube. After putting away her costume, Mara slowly walks up the stairs and into the West Wing.

Bruce is finally back from his meeting, and he's relaxing in the living room because a small group of unknown vigilantes took care of his night job for him.

Mara sits next to Bruce on the couch, snuggling closer to watch the fire. Soon enough, Emma, Richard, Tim, and Alfred join them with mugs of hot chocolate.

As she listens to the twins' laughter, and watches Tim and Bruce smile, Mara can't help but know that this is what Christmas is all about.

December 20, 2017. 15:58
Chicago