Chapter Text
When Selina first met Talia she was shocked about how put together she was about this whole considerably odd--only by the fact that there was a group of assassins and culty stuff involved--situation that had transpired. That was something that Selina could admire was her seemingly calm put together demure with the edge of knowing you make one wrong step and you could set her on a warpath so to speak and you will be dead within at least 5 minutes but more than likely less then that and Selina knows that she has nothing on the brute strength that Talia has but Selina was made to slink around and take people out in the their shadows. Not dive straight in if there is nothing to lose. Sure in the right setting she would more than likely have a fared shot then being out in the open like this.
Selina can put on a face but it isn’t something like this. She has her flaws in showing her real thoughts but that usually only comes down when she allows it to and not. Like if she is just around people that she is comfortable with the mask cracks and she lets it. But if it was situation where she didn’t then you would not know, though honestly she is not quite sure just how good she is at doing that considering that whenever she does she feels like the cat is out of bag and not just bag no it is in the middle of town square shouting with such projection that everyone in the world can hear it.
Then there was the fact that Talia in fact gave Bruce Damian because she acknowledged her own flaws to a degree that she knew that she was not the best option which takes a lot of guts. So many guts. Most parents, if put in that position, would not react in that manner. They would just keep chugging along like nothing happened. It was inspiring to say the least.
But now they are going to lunch as they apparently now did on the first Saturday of the month to go and look around at all the fair goods. Selina had been thinking much like Talia of how to make the stuffed animal that she was going to extend out to Damian around the third time of them doing this since she could not figure out what to give Damian. But hers was going to take a lot more time than normal.
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They did what would now become their usual routine of meeting up at different little restaurants to try out the food spots all over the little town square thing. The one that was chosen this time--which would soon become quite the favorite between the two women--was called CornFlower Field with a picture on the sign of what Selina could only assume was Corn Flower.
They sat in the little quaint restaurant that had the rustic feel to it, clearly it was well loved and well used considering you could see the marks of left behind from chairs scarting the wooden floor from moving to get out and the lighter color marks that it left behind as result from that and other odd ends that had happened to it.
Selina was waiting for Talia to come meet up considering she was almost always the last one to show--a habit that Talia has yet to break, not that Selina minds all to much thinking it probably has something to do with the League of Assassins--the menu said that it some of the foods where made in preservation of different types of food different Native American groups have made. While holding the menu in one manicured hand the other was playing the necklace that she had “stolen”--she does not get to commit real theft anymore considering that Bruce now just comes back through the records of the store to make it look like he bought and not like he was paying the money worth the jewelry that his girlfriend had stolen--it had caught her eye when she was there for unrelated reasons and she just could not stand to not go a get while she was it.
The necklace was by far one of the simpler ones that she had stolen by which it was a small charm and nothing too showy. It had 21 emeralds, 12 of them not being that substantial in size. Then there were the medium sized ones of which there were 4. And lastly there were the 5 big ones that made up the centerpiece of the charm of the necklace. The gold framed the big five ones into the shape of 5 leaf clothes with a medium one taking the center which was outlined by 6 of the small ones until you got into the big pieces. It was positioned in a star-like shape so that way where the two at the bottom in the middle held out a smaller dangling piece that held the 3 other medium sized pieces in a vine-like shape at the bottom of the dangling but was 2 other smaller emeralds. Where the dangling bit was hanging off of the clover it appeared to try to give the illusion that it was flowers climbing down until the last bit where there was a deisgustable flower holding the vines. On each of the illusion and real flowers was the last 4 of the small emeralds. What hyped up the price was the 90 small diamonds--each about the size of the small emeralds--on the outside of the clover leaf on the left and the right making each leaf have 18 pieces. But they were so small and subtle that one could not tell unless they had a good eye and Selina sure had that in her books. It was currently one of her most beloved pieces at the time.
Selina looked up briefly to see if she could spot Talia coming in when her eyes landed on Talia currently right in front of her. Seemingly reading her mind about why Talia had not just said out loud she was here to let Selina know she was already speaking before she could even get the chance to voice the thought out loud. “I did try to alert you but you did not seem to notice.” Talia paused for a second then decided to add more on. “You have that look in your eye whenever you see jewelry pieces that you are interested in. I am guessing that clover is a new one then?”
How Talia was able to pick up on all of that will remain a mystery for Selina but at this point it was something as second nature considering the people that she associates with on the daily. Then again one could say the same thing about jewelry: she has startled Bruce once or twice about how quickly she can rattle off about a piece of jewelry that she had not even seen for more than a minute.
“It is a nice piece I might have chosen for myself.” Talia says Selina thought the same way when she first saw the piece herself. It was a Talia thing to wear considering--at least when she was trying to play on the down low--she wore very minimalist but still good things, nothing gaudy or obnoxious to draw attention but something that Talia herself could look down and know what it was and how much it was really worth while other undignified people would just scoff at it.
“Yeah, it was the light color of the green for me and I have seen emerald green so consistent! I would never want to know how long it took to find all of these that matched.” They continued like this for quite some time talking and until the server finally made an appearance and they ordered their food and had a good time but as they were paying for the meal the conversation was coming around to how this whole Saturday get together thing started.
“...so he just lets you steal stuff and goes back and makes it look like he had been there to pay for it?” Talia asked, looking like she was about to laugh which was a hard feat to achieve so Selina felt quite proud of herself for getting at least somewhat close. Next goal. To make her smile? Now that Selina thinks about that might be unachievable for anyone but Damian. The puff of white filling the air told of how cold it was getting to be even for Gotham since the holidays were starting soon and Selina had the goal of getting Damian the stuffed animal before Christmas since she had already found him the perfect gift.
They looked all over like they had the other two times they had been here before and still was successful in her endeavor of finding the right one. Selina and Talia then start talking semantics about finding the one stuffed animal which might sound a little dramatic but Selina was getting desperate here. Selina saw the sign that said J&J Goods and wondered if she herself should look there but found herself not going to go see.
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It was now a week before Christmas and Selina still had nothing. It looked like she was just going to have to look it up online at this rate and pray it come before christmas but how the things are looking with the snow storms and package delays glory she knew that some of Bruce’s gifts for the kids was going to be a nice paper saying that it was going to arrive in the new year because it could not get there in time.
Selina was again walking the town square this time just taking in the lights since the town looks like something straight from a hallmark movie that Bruce for some reason will watch. Maybe she will get a please God anything before Christmas miracle? Selina is pretty sure, that is not how it works since all the Christmas miracles surround getting/doing stuff for Christmas not trying to get other crap done before Christmas like getting on flight to go somewhere that stuff always fails so maybe this is the Christmas anti-miracle working right now?
Selina had made the turn when she saw the farmers markets were here again? While considering this in her mind it did make sense. Maybe just one more round of going to look for the one before going back to manor which was where she was staying for the time being since Bruce wanted her for the holidays this time around which she was excited for.
Once she had gotten out of her car her mind was set on only looking for the stuffed animal but then realized something else with pressing importance...In her haste of getting the stuffed animal she had forgotten to get gifts for everyone else. Okay, Selina told herself in her mind, now I am living the life of a would be Hallmark movie character. So she needed gift shopping done quickly.
Luckily she did in fact come to the perfect place to have to do some very last minute Christmas shopping so off to the races she went!.
For Bruce Selina had gotten a nice hand crafted wooden tie clip. It was hard to get someone that has the--means--to just get anything they could wish or desire for but something like this was something that could not be replaced easily.
For Alfred she had gotten some nice crocheted pan holders and nice sewn bowl holders that looked nice. Even if he didn’t use it he would just display it because nothing was nicer than having many options to which you can clean with. Or so Alfred has said on many occasions along with a perfect gift is something they are going to need and or use.
Though it might seem insulting to get the person who does all the cleaning, cleaning supplies but it was something that Alfred specifically enjoyed a lot and would always drop hints like the statements previously mentioned not that he never gets stuff that is not cleaning supplies that he will enjoy but it is one of his favorites. Even his daughter gets him a duster every Christmas and Selina has it on good authority that apparently he even liked these things very much as a child. This information totally did not come from his daughter. No. Not at all.
Tim also fell into the category of easy but that depends only on what you had gotten him for other holidays during the other events of the year. Tim is easy when you have yet to have gotten him a coffee mug during any other event that one is to give gifts since Alfred had put in a “One Coffee Cup Per Event/Holiday For Tim (Per Person)” after Tim had basically had his own cabinet of coffee cups that were given to him. And that was not counting the ones that he used as pen holders and such for both his office at WE and at home. Also the amount of coffee mugs that he had at WE.
Not that Tim minded the gifts then again he liked collecting interesting looking cups from restaurants and you name it but Alfred was the one who put his foot down because he did not want to quickly lose another cabinet to just Tim’s cup collection.
The rule even was not “One Coffee Cup Per Event/Holiday For Tim (Per Person)” before it was just “One Coffee Cup Per Event/Holiday For Tim” meaning he could only receive one in total for the whole holiday.
Everyone (especially Tim) made a fuss about this rule. While the rest of the family argued that it was unfair since Tim’s friends don’t have to listen to that rule, Tim made a fuss about it because he was no longer allowed to buy any kind of cup for himself (a rule that was established many years earlier. At first Tim did not think would be able to follow but apparently Alfred has eyes everywhere and will know if such a thing were to occur) so he would usually just take someone with him and make them buy it for him so they can just give it to him on the next nearest holiday. Yes, that even includes days like Labour Day. Which then established that if no one else was getting gifts on that holiday then you cannot give it to one person. Tim also had a cow over the rule but was able to be ignored by everyone else.
Yet for a while Alfred had stayed firm in his resolve until the family came up with another idea while Tim was pouting about it probably to Kon--who was thanking his stars that he did not also have to follow that rule--to get rid of these piles of cups that would be collecting dust for years otherwise they started give joint gifts.
The idea was Stephine’s because one of her friends from school did this with Stephine and another one of her and the other’s shared friends where she gave them two gifts and they got to pick which one they wanted. After Stephine made it back to the manor sparkle pens in hand after giving it up for the journal that came with it for the pens that is when it hit her. She could use this to her advantage and give “joint” gifts for them to pick and that way Tim could get as many cups as he wants and the cups in her closet saved for him that he probably doesn’t even remember are there any more--Stephine has a crazy system of when to give the cups so that way it is still surprising for Tim--and she got the whole family on it.
So that Christmas she brought up the game with the only ones not being in on it where not already in on it where Tim and Alfred--yes she somehow got Bruce in on it but not too much for fear of setting off Alfred--and also Selina herself since this was the first Christmas that she was spending with them and it was probably one of their more eventful ones that did not involve having like the world almost ending type stuff going on. There were already many of those.
So imagine her surprise when this whole thing was going on and Alfred looked so upset about the amount of cups that Tim was getting while Selina was sitting there very confused on just what was going on around her. Why was Tim getting so many cups willingly? And he looks so happy about it? Is this an inside joke? Wait, is Alfred going to burst a blood vessel over there?
Later that Christms morning Alfred had declared that the rule that Slenia was not even aware of at that point was to be rewritten to what it is now. Tim was hoping it was going to be gone completely and so was still mighty fine disappointed but the rest of the family was proud of the results of Stephine’s game had become.
Anyways, Selina had not gotten Tim a cup of any sort for any other holiday this year so she promptly went to go find one. Luckily she found this mug that had a subtle moutiff to Superman and or Boy in a section of pottery this young lady made that was called ‘The Subtle Nod To Childish Things’ for people to bring to work if they felt embarrassed to bring an actual mug with a Superman logo on it. It was painted and glazed beautifully not to mention the shaping of said mug was to die for. It cost an arm and a leg but considering the absolute quality that the mug was Selina could confidently say that it was for sure worth it.
Especially for the added factor that it would be a stick at the fact that Tim used to have the biggest crush on Kon and did not even realise it himself until years after it went away.
Thanking the heavens that Selina did not in fact buy Tim a cup earlier this year since it was so much easier because Selina would then have to think about something that Tim might need and or want.
The next one that was semi difficult was Duke but that was mostly because no one else knew what the other was getting him. Going right alongside Jason to vying for the prize. Since Duke was really into mythology, fables, fairy tales, and such you could get him a classics of such stories and or retellings of the stories that he would later complain to everyone about their accuracy to the myth and the just the plot in general. While Jason just all around liked classics. But you don’t know what they already have. What the others are getting for them etc.
Looking around Selina saw a person that did book bindings of certain classics and or collections of classics with beautiful covers that would make any book collector die for. Wow Selina was using dying as an analogy a lot today wasn’t she? Well to be fair it was an adapted description.
Anyways while Jason and Duke are not book collectors per say by which they don’t generally go out and buy another version of the same book just because it has something special about it that does not mean they would not be happy to see such a thing.
Looking through the classics that the book binder had brought out to showcase and sell she was looking for titles that she knew both Jason and Duke would want. Selina found a collection of Arthurian Romance which she knew Duke would like and also Jason. The both of them probably already have at least a couple of the plays/poems/stories that were in the pages the collection also probably had ones they did not have as physical copies considering their were a lot of short stories with add historic context of what year it was written the main ideas of romance in the culture it was written in etc. And it would be something both Duke and Jason could bound over since Jason is a sucker for classic romance stories and Duke classic myths and legends. So Selina went over to grab one copy and the other one which looked like it would be the last one the seller had before someone bumped into and snachted the book out of her hand before running off without even paying for the goods. It made Selina upset for many reasons though it may seem quite ironic considering that she herself is a thief but she takes it from people who have money to spare. That multi billion dollar jewelry shop chain is not going to go out of business because she stole a necklace or 2 or 10. Or the billionaire of which she steals priceless artifacts that they should not have been allowed to own in the first place.
This was handmade by someone who was a small business owner! That is not right this girl has probably done nothing to do this for anyways and they are probably going to resell it anyways.
Not to mention that it was probably the last copy the girl had of that collection and then Selina would not be able to give one to Jason and Duke.
The girl watched as the person who stole the book ran off shaking her head silently. “Well this is the reason I do not put out more than two books at a time. I am guessing you would want another copy ma’am? People this time of year either bring out the best and a lot of the times the worst.” The girl--Allison her name tags said--said getting another copy from under the desk that was hidden from view so that it would be harder for people to steal it once Selina nodded her head.
“I completely understand what you are saying. I mean that is so rude when the seller and creator is right there! I mean I have had people shoving me around in all different directions to get me out of their way today,” Selina replied ignoring the voice in her head that said that she has done that exact thing many times but makes it stop when she reminds that voice that she was doing it to people who have money to spare.
Allison nodded as she took Selina’s payment for the two books. “Well I can only hope they are at least going to read it. I volunteer at the library here just around the corner and there is section where people can donate however much many they want from old books from the library or donations from people with books to spare, and I have seen people take them and leave without paying anything and I usually let it slide considering that usually they are homeless from around here I have seen before. And at least they are trying to read you know.” The girl got a bag after taking the payment and put the books in the bag. It was a reusable bag and it was quite big and it was clear it was bought from the store around the corner that sells them.
“Here that way you can put all those other losses in here. And it won’t break on you. And before you say ‘No i can’t take that’ just take it my mama has enough lying around all over the house that she can spar a little.” Allison grinned when Selina’s mouth that was about to open to ask why she was getting this bag was snapped shut. “I hope you have a good holiday season.”
Selina nodded then walked off. People were hitting her even more since getting the bigger bag by hitting it and making the bag swing and hit her arm/side over and over again it surely was annoying.
While walking around she went over to a couple of jewelry spots that were around looking for something for girls since she knows Cass has been trying new styles out, Stephine will take just about anything purple, and Barbara was said that she was looking for some rings recently. After a couple of stops around she was not seeing anything that she really thought the girls were going to like until Selina saw this big chunky deep purple necklace that Selina knew that Stephine would love. It also came with a pair of earrings to go with it. It would go perfectly with the outfit that she knew Stephine was going to wear for the winter time Gala the Bruce was making them all go to. So Selina went over to take a look and get them. There was a man going around and fixing up the booths and that was when Selina noticed that it was a multi stand with the jewelry on one side and a wood working one on the other and they were connected together. There was a young girl probably early teens that was sitting at the table crocheting or at least that was what Selina was pretty sure she was doing since it only involved a hook looking thing but what did she know? Nothing!
Though there were clearly some errors all in all it looked pretty good especially for her age. Looking around the man turned around and saw Selina since he must have heard her coming up. Turning around he was about to speak when the little girl spoke up--though the little girl would probably argue that she was a big girl now like how Selina thought that she was all grown up now when she turned 13--”Daddy, I want to be the one to say it! You said that I get to say it.”
The man laughed, “Of course of course sweetheart Daddy just forgot. Go on now. Tell this nice lady what this is.” The little girl nodded her head with a very serious expression on her face that was outshined by the fact that nodding her head cause her cornrow braids that had white a blue beads on the end to click along with it which just made it all so much cuter with that serious expression contrasted by the kitty on her sweater. It was a calico cat with its mouth open like it was grinning with the letters spelling out “Merry Meow-mas!”
“Hello, here we sell jewelry that my Mommy makes and wood stuff my Daddy makes. Though sometimes they like to try the others so some jewelry my Daddy made and some wood stuff my Mommy made.” When speaking she had a bit of lisp brought on by the braces she was wearing most likely and it was just so sweet.
“How nice. I can’t wait to see what your parents made of Miss.” Selina replied, holding back the ‘little’ she was going to put before the ‘miss’ since it was clear she was acting all grown up. It was clear that she had enjoyed that very much cause she grinned wide before stopping as if she realized what she had done and went back to the cool suave adult ish look she had clearly been putting on.
“Thank you, ask my Daddy if you have any questions about the wood. If you have questions about the jewelry then you are going to have to wait until my Mommy gets back from helping Miss Jay fix her stand.”
“Well thank you for letting me know. I will be sure to keep that in mind.” Selina says nodding towards the young girl before going back to pick up the set of earrings and necklace that she saw earlier that made her come over here in the first place.
As Selina was looking for other pieces that she thought the girls might like she saw something that caught her eye when she looked over to the wood section saw a vine looking thing that was crocheted and she went over to touch it and admired the look of it.
It had little leaves all over the thing that kept it together. The errors that were made from clumsily hands had only added a charm to it.
“You like that vine huh? Little Nada over here made that a month or so ago and wanted to show it to people so she brought it here.” The man--Micheal his name tag read now that Selina could finally be able to read it--said pointing over to his daughter Nada which was the girl from before.
“It is really good. Say, Nada will you sell this to me? This would be perfect for my friend who is in a wheelchair to wrap around it when she wants to add so much detail to it.” Selina asked looking at Micheal quickly to make sure that this didn’t bother him and he smiled and nodded for her to go ahead. Nada meanwhile looked stunned by the comment. “It is okay if you don’t want to-” Selina had begun to say before she was quickly cut off by Nada.
“Yes! I would love to sell it to you! Flow was right, all you have to do is put it where others will see and someone will probably want to buy it!” The act of being cool put together was quickly thrown out the window leaving only an excited little girl.
“Hey, you have been bothering Flow about crocheting again?” Micheal asks clearly, looking for a reaction from Nada that he was about to get.
“Hey. She says I am not bothering her. She loves teaching me!” Nada fell for the bait immediately which made her Father laugh.
“Calm your horses before you have them stamped all over me! I was just pulling your leg Nada. Yes, Flow likes teaching you.” Michael reptiles easily put his hands in front of himself as if waving a white flag.
“Flow? As in the girl that sits and cells her crocheted and knitted stuffed animals?” Selina could not help but ask and Nada nodded her head vigorously making the beads click together again.
“Do you know of her? Isn’t her work great! She used to babysit me but she doesn’t anymore and instead tutors me in math. Flow also helps Miss Jay with her business which is who my Mommy is helping right now!”
“Yes, I am friends with the lady who bought one of her stuffed snakes for her son. Anyways, how much more do I owe you then Nada?” This caused the girl to stumble and she looked at her dad for assistance.
“I am not sure about the prices for crochet stuff like that Nada. Say how about you let this nice lady finish her shopping here and then you can go show her to where Flow and Miss Jay are. I am starting to think that your Mother has gotten up to talking.”
“But then who is going to say the line Daddy you're going to be the only one here?”
Micheal chuckles at that statement then says in a dramatic tone. “Huh I think I might be able to manage without anyone else here to say the line I guess...” Micheal trails off then sighs dramatically, “I guess then it is only up to me to say the line.”
Nada then talks to Father saying something along the lines of ‘I will be back quickly I promise’ then ‘Daddy can you help me get the vine down so I can show it to Flow to get the most accurate number’ and a whole bunch of other stuff that parent and child talk about when they are about to go walking around alone with a stranger. Selina quickly picks up the big star earrings that she thinks Cassandra would like since Cassandra loves the shape of a star. And just about as Selina was going to pay then follow Nada so that way she got the vine for Barbara. It was a lucky coincidence that she was going to dress as a fairy for some event for the children of Gotham that Selina cannot remember off the top of her head at the moment but this will most likely go perfect with it!
That was when she saw another gift. It would be perfect for Dick it was a wood carving of an elephant. Selina knows just how much Dick misses that life--though he would always say it, that is if he ever said it out loud for that matter, that “He wouldn’t trade being part of this family for anything.” and “Do not take it like he does not love them enough.” Like dude you can miss something and still be happy with the present--and giving him something like this would be a nice reminder that it is okay to miss the past and still like the future. Maybe this will help Selina bang it into that boy's head. It is weird to look back on times with fondness even though without those times having come to and end an end that still hurts and you sometimes wished would have never ended but it had to get to this point where you are happy and love where you are. It is hard and very conflicting. She had a lot of experience with that.
“I will also take that elephant over there.” Selina points out and Micheal nods along and goes to pick it up. “Good choice. It was based on the African elephant.” Micheal informs Selina who was nodding along, Selina was not sure if Skita was an African elephant or not, she remembers a hazy memory of Damian telling her about the kinds of elephants but that is not helpful right in this moment. Though she wished it was. At least it was the thought that counted?
After getting the two purchases she followed Nada to where the booth for J&J Goods was and yep. Selina can now confidently confirm that Nada’s mom got caught up talking since she was just standing there with the older lady that ran the booth and probably J&J Goods as well. There Selina saw Flow sitting in a chair again working on school work which was confusing since she should probably be on winter break shouldn’t she? Are they giving kids homework for breaks now too? Selina had no idea. She’d have to ask Bruce.
Once Nada’s eyes locked onto Flow’s figure she practically ran over into the booth and gave Flow a big hug. Such a big hug with so much force that it nearly knocked Flow off of the chair she was sitting on and seemed to wince in pain causing Nada to practically throw herself backwards. “Oh I am so sorry Flow! I forgot about your pain and it being cold and all.” Nada said with more apologies falling out of her mouth following the words that she first said in quick succession.
“It’s okay Nada really. I forget about it myself too if I am having too good of a day. I mean yesterday I walked the dog and man did I quickly regret that.” Flow attempted to soothe while adjusting how she was sitting in the chair to back how it was with more winces. Selina could not recall if she noticed before but Flow had a cane next to her. Huh. Selina thought to herself silently. I wonder how that happened. “Anyways what can I do for you? Did you make that?” Flow quickly changes the subject, a smile painted on her face as quickly as it momentarily disappeared though Selina could see the tension and exhaustion that was radiating off of her body. It was clear that it was still bugging her quite a bit for a reaction like this to have happened but she probably didn’t want Nada to feel bad and did this as such. Selina would do much the same.
“Oh! Yes I did just like you taught me! In fact this lady over here wanted to buy it so I can ask you how much I should sell it to her for?” Nada evidently not good at reading the room of Flow deflecting and clearly still not being completely okay after the hug attack--then again maybe Flow was never truly completely okay and this might just be the normal. Her face was similar earlier now that Selina was thinking about it more.
Flow listed out a price which Selina took out in cash and gave the little girl and put the vine in her bag. Nada had gone up to her mom now seemingly trying to get her attention away from the conversation so that way they could get back to her father at the stand. Selina decided to take a look at Flow’s stuffed animal options for a quick second when she found the one it was going to be. It was a small snow leopard looking animal that Selina saw and it would be perfect to homage to Damian’s first home being with his mother and missing that. Since Selina never wanted to step on Talia’s toes and make her feel weird or bad it would be perfect. So Selina bought it immediately and went home victorious! The Christmas gifts had been bought and Selina had finally found a stuffed animal to give Damian all before Christmas. Maybe Selina really did walk into a Hallmark movie. Now all she needed to do was move into this area and meet some small town man that would sweep her off her feet and break up with city boy Bruce over it. Yeah, I was going to do that. Not in a million years.
Once Selina got the manor she immediately went up stairs to start the wrapping that she now had to cram into a week before Christmas. Now this was the worst part of any Christmas but she did have a highlight before having to go town and pull an all nighter to make sure all the gifts would be wrapped.
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Talia
Selina: [Sends picture of the crocheted snow leopard sitting on the a box Selina will later use for wrapping Christmas gifts]
Selina: I finally found the stuffed animal. Success!
Talia: [‘Talia’ Liked the message “I finally found the stuffed animal. Success!”]
Talia: Good. I am guessing you got it in front of the same stand as last time?
Selina: Yes!
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Yeah, Talia was not much of a texter but it was time for the moment that Selina had been waiting for time to give the stuffed animal that Selina found for Damian not even a few hours ago.
Truly she has been waiting such a long time for this exact moment.
So she goes to Damian’s room after asking Alfred where he was after almost running into Alfred on her search for Damian. When she got to his room she composed herself to act like she was not just practically running to his room with joy, unbeknownst to Selina, Jason and seeing her and paused and gave a really weirded out look before shrugging and moving on like nothing happened.
Selina then knocked on the door but got no answer and said out loud that she was coming in, in case he didn’t hear her and didn’t want her in his room. She opened the door and saw Damian was asleep on the bed with a pile of stuffed animals laying next to him from everything else.
Selina smiled and went to put the stuffed animal in with the rest knowing that Damian was probably going to know it was her anyways and then quietly made sure he was completely tucked in as not to get cold since she knows he has been absolutely miserable with the snow and shivering all the time. It did not help that his body seemed to just run naturally cold. Barbara sometimes calls in a reptile since he will sit in sunny parts in an attempt to warm up. Then Damian will mimic what the lizard does in the light. You know the one. On its four legs, head tilted up and eyes closed as if the lizard has finally found absolute peace in this world.
It is quite the funny thing to witness if Selina was being honest.
She left the room as quietly as she left not knowing that she had in fact woke DamIan up from the noise since he was a trained assassin and was therefore able to hear when someone came to his door and when Selina left he sat up and picked up the stuffed animal bringing it close to his chest and snuggling into it with a small smile on his face.
He has already decided on a name as soon as took a look at it. Icy Paws. Like what Baba calls him whenever Damian puts his cold feet onto his Baba’s legs. Maybe Icy Paws can lend him her paws so he would not be so cold all of the time?
Damian could not fall asleep after getting the new stuffed animal companion because he was woken up, along with wanting to introduce this stuffed animal to his others and therefore go around show this stuffed animal around the manor and it probably did not help that he accidentally took a 4 hour nap earlier that day.
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Selina had just down heaven knows how many consecutive hours of wrapping gifts when she stumbled her way into the kitchen getting the leftovers that were waiting for her since she missed dinner to keep on rapping. It was one of the few occasions where Alfred took one look into the room and said, “You know what, just go find the leftovers later, alright?” And then quickly left. Which was shocking considering that usually dinner was a no miss type of thing but you know things can change.
That was when her eyes fell onto a small figure sitting at the aisle on one of the stoles. At first she thought that it might have been Tim who can look shockingly small when he wants to and that is especially when he does not want to be seen by anyone else like when he is up at horrible hours of the night. But then Selina realized it was Damian who was sitting on the counter with the light coming from the solar lights from the backyard that was coming in through the windows. He was seemingly working on something and it looked like it was...math homework? Okay, that confirms the suspension that Selina had earlier that day--or she guesses yesterday now--that they are now giving kids homework for over breaks now as well. What is next? School work for summer break?
“Hey, Damian, what are you doing up?” Selina asks to come over to sit at the stool next Damian’s one he was doing fractions--the poor thing--and he looks up surprised and that was when Selina noticed that the stuffed animal that she had given him was in his lap. This was so cute!
“Math work that I was given to complete over winter break. I couldn’t go back to sleep.” Damian explains, sounding oh too cute like he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Though I forgot how hard math was, considering Duke or Alfred usually helps me. I do not understand why they make me use one way to solve the problem when they have taught me other ways and I prefer that way. But I am not allowed to use it for these problems. It is so ridiculous.”
“Yikes, I remember those days.” Selina replies looking down at Damian.
“Why are you up? I noticed you were not at dinner.” He noticed I was gone! Selina thought to herself. That is so cute!
“I was busy wrapping Christmas gifts. Say, how about I make us some hot chocolate. I know Alfred’s recipe though it probably will not turn out as good as his. One can only mimic Alfred and his good cooking so far after all. Except for Jason. He is really good at it.”
“Sure.”
As Selina was getting up to get the pot that she was going to use to boil the water since sorry Alfred this was the way she has always done it, she asks. “What did you name the stuffed animal I got you?”
“Icy Paws. Like what Baba calls me.”
Selina giggled a bit hysterically at that but that was probably due to the lack of sleep that she has yet to get.
And that is how the people that were on patrol that night found the two sitting at the aisle and drinking hot chocolate as Selina attempted to help Damian with his school work through her own past knowledge--which was barely there--, a calculator, and of course the power of Google. Though they were still quite confused about what was going on.
Unbeknownst to the two, while the others came and saw them then quickly left so as not to disturb them Bruce was still standing in the doorway in Batman suit without the mask or cape. He had come as soon as Dick reappeared in the batcave when he was just trying to get some coffee to drink since he and Bruce were going to write up the reports so the others could sleep to tell what was going on and Bruce practically sprinted up the stairs to see.
Phone in hand after taking a picture he was texting it to Talia.
)( )( )( )( )(
Talia Al Ghul
Bruce Wayne: Hey do you think you would be able to come over for Christmas/New Years or some time around that. I think Damian would like that.
Sent Yesterday
Talia Al Ghul: I wouldn’t want to disturb anyone. I will see though if I come sometime before/after Christmas/New Years
Sent Yesterday
Talia Al Ghul: By the way, did you get my package for Damian?
Sent Yesterday
Bruce Wayne: I did. Thank you for participating. I think he will like the Nancy Drew books. Especially since each one has a message from each of us.
Sent Yesterday
Talia Al Ghul: Of course I think it is a good idea. Maybe for his birthday we can do that with the other book series you mentioned you might have picked. What was it? The Hardy Boys?
Sent Yesterday
Bruce Wayne: I was already planning on it since I ended up buying both box sets.
Sent Yesterday
Talia Al Ghul: Of course you did.
Sent Yesterday
Today At xx:xx AM
Bruce Wayne: [Sends picture of Selina and Damain getting along over the math homework stuffed animal in Damian’s lap. There are empty cups of hot chocolate surrounding the two]
Bruce Wayne: Damian and Selina are getting along well. Also I am not sure why Damian is up at this hour but here he is.
Talia Al Ghul: [‘Talia Al Ghul’ loved ‘picture’]
Talia Al Ghul: [‘Talia Al Ghul’ saved ‘picture’]
Talia Al Ghul: I am glad they are getting along. I think Selina will be good for Damian. Especially for when I am not around.
Talia Al Ghul: Also I will be able to show up on the xx. Let me know what time you prefer.
Bruce Wayne: Great Damian will be excited to see. Anytime will be fine though I would prefer the afternoon.
)( )( )( )( )(
Bruce turned off his phone and finally made his presence in the doorway known.
“What are you two doing at this time of night?”
Two heads popped up from where Selina and Damian were trying to work out how to do whatever it was they were working on. Wait a moment. Bruce thought, is that math homework? Who assigns homework for a break.
“You have school work to do over break? What are they going to do next to give you school work for summer break?”
“That is what I said!” Selina says and Damian starts laughing like she said the funniest thing in the world most likely since he was up in this earlier hour of the morning. Selina joins him. I definitely need to get these two to sleep. I don't think either of them slept, Bruce thought with evasprovation as if he does not do the exact same thing.