25 Days of Batfam

Day 19

"Grayson, no!  I absolutely refuse!" Damian shouted as he was ushered out to the car. "You can't do this to me! You can't make me go with...with them!"

Dick sighed. "Come on Lil' D. It won't be that bad, and this is your only chance to go Christmas shopping."

"Well, why can't I go with you? Or Pennyworth? Or even Father?!"

"They're all busy. Alfred's been in the kitchen all day, Bruce is working, and I have to stop by Blüdhaven."

"But-"

"Just get in the car. Please."

Damian frowned and reluctantly complied. He sat in the back seat and glared up at the front, where Jason and Tim were sitting. Dick waved to them, then walked away.

"I can't believe I'm stuck with you two imbeciles,"Damian grumbled as the car started.

Tim turned around in his seat to glare at Damian. "Believe me when I say we aren't any happier about it," he replied. "But Steph's coming too. She'll meet us at the front of the mall."

"Fatgirl's coming? And we're going to the mall? Out of all the places you could have chosen..." Damian sunk into his seat, hating this more and more by the moment.

But then again if Stephanie was coming, Tim wouldn't be able to get away with torturing him any further. Maybe anyway...

As soon as Jason parked the car in front of the mall, Damian jumped out. "Finally," he exclaimed. "I've already been stuck in a car with you longer than I ever wanted to this winter break, Drake."

"And I with you, Demon Spawn. Now at least *try* to act civil here."

"Of course I will! I am not a child!"

"Well, you kind of are. And you're a slightly murderous ex-assassin, so I'd say you don't act civil 99% of the time," Tim replied.

It took all of Damian's willpower to not lash out at Tim. He ignored the previous Robin, and started walking to the front of the mall, where he saw Miss Brown waiting.

"Hey Steph!" Tim said, grinning, as he waved as said person.

"Hey Tim!" Steph replied as she smiled widely. "Ready to do some holiday shopping?"

"Yep!" Tim replied at the same time Damian grumbled, "No."

Steph raised an eyebrow, her smile wavering slightly, as if just now noticing Damian. "Oh uh...Hey Damian!"

"-Tt-."

Jason walked up, and the four of them entered the mall. "So, where to first?" Jason asked.

Steph shrugged. "I don't know...How about we go up one level and see what's up there?"

"Kay."

That decision proved to be a bad one. When they went up the escalator, everything was fine, until Damian noticed something.

The ex-assassin's eyes narrowed. "No...It can't be..." he muttered to himself.

Steph, Tim, and Jason all looked at him curiously.

"Uh...Damian? You alright there?" Jason asked, raising an eyebrow.

Damian ignored him. The second he stepped off the escalator, a murderous expression crossed his face. "It's Santa Claus...He's here!" (Quick A/N: Refer to chapter 1 ;) )

A slight smirk came to Steph's face. "Aw, do you want to go sit on his lap? It would make a really cute picture-"

Damian whipped his head around and glared at her. "No, you complete and utter idiot!  We must capture the Santa Claus and bring him to justice!"

Jason stared at Damian, completely dumbfounded. "Um, what?"

Damian hissed. "You heard me!"

Steph looked like she both wanted to laugh and wanted to take Damian to see a psychologist. "Er...Okay... Why exactly must we 'capture the Santa Claus'?"

Damian looked at her like she was crazy. "You don't know?!"

"Know what?"

"That he enslaves people! He enslaves elves and is guilty of major breaking and entering! And theft!"

"Theft?"

"Cookie theft! It's his most common crime!!!"

Jason and Tim both wore smirks on their face. Tim looked like he was about to start laughing his head off any second now.

"Damian," Tim started, grinning. "Santa isn't even real. This is just some guy dressed up like him. And even if he was real, he's not a bad guy!"

Damian spun around and started walking toward Santa. "-Tt- And where'd you hear that, Drake? I've read all about him. I've done hours of research, and is obvious that he's guilty!  If you won't believe me, I'll just have to prove it to you!"

With that, Damian took off towards Santa. Tim, Jason, and Steph all just stood there, extremely confused. 

Damian kept in front of the line of children here to see Santa, and started to yell about all the crimes he was guilty for. It wasn't until he looked ready to punch Santa, that Jason snapped out of it, and realised they should stop their youngest brother.

Jason sighed as he walked over to Damian and practically had to carry him out. At the same time, a security guard was yelling at them to get Damian out of there.

Let's just say that when they got home, Bruce was *not* impressed. And they also had to give Damian a very long lecture about the tradition and origins of Santa.  Everyone also agreed that they wouldn't let Damian out at Christmas time any time soon, in fear that he would provoke another fake Santa anyway.

"It's going to be a very long Christmas," Bruce mumbled to himself as he shook his head and walked away.