Work Text:
“Are you excited for Santa Claus?” Owen asks as he and Water sit together in their preschool, building a block tower together.
She looks at him quizzically, tilting her head. “What’s Santa Claus?”
Owen blinks. “Oh,” he says quietly. He knows that Water’s parents are bad, and they don’t care about her. “It makes sense your parents wouldn’t have told you about him.”
“But who is he?”
“He’s a man who lives at the north pole,” Owen starts, voice hushing as he begins to tell the story. “And he runs a factory full of elves. They make toys, and all the things anyone in the world could want. Then on Christmas, he goes all over the world and gives everyone who believes in him what they want for Christmas!”
Water’s eyes widen. “Really? But- Christmas is tomorrow!”
“So Santa comes tonight,” Owen whispers conspiratorially, “and tomorrow morning, you’ll have your gift from him.”
Water stares up at the ceiling. “He probably doesn’t know me, though. I’m not important, and my family doesn’t have lotsa money like yours. I’m just another kid.”
“But Santa knows everyone in the world. Even the kids who no one else seems to care about.”
For some reason that Owen can’t quite realize, Water sniffles a bit, rubbing at the side of her eye. “I hope so.”
Owen reaches out and grabs her hands, his gray eyes meeting her green ones. “He does. I know it, Water! I just know it!”
Water offers him a watery smile, and Owen embraces her.
Santa will come tonight for her, and Owen’s going to make sure of it.