Work Text:
"Where is this?" Talia asks as she steps inside the store. A regular store perhaps. But the way Jason turns around and looks at her like she killed his favorite street cat. "What is it?" She asks, confused.
"You can't be serious! This is THE dollar tree!" Jason takes her hand and pulls her further inside. Talia raises her eyebrows when she spots the small little toys. There's a streak figure the size of her finger. And small princesses the size of her hand. They are... a dollar?
"Do you think Damian will like this?" She picks up a tiny animal.
Jason glances at and says, "Well he likes animals. But won't he complain it's for poor people?" Talia watches the adoration on his eyes as he sees the small toys.
"Did you buy toys from here on Christmas eve?" Talia knows Jason is poor, but this type of poor? Her mind wanders to everything Damian was gifted by League members. Then her mind shifts to a little Jason wishing he could play with one of these little toys.
Talia frowns as Jason replies, "Leave it T, this is my past. I don't want to talk about it." Talia studies Jason because his voice dropped with bitterness and resentment.
Jason says, "What are you doing?" As Talia starts putting all the toys on the cart. Talia shushes him and empties the aisle.
"You said Crime Alley has tons of kids, no?"
"Ah... yes?" Jason catches her wrist, Talia's eyes burn into his. "What are you doing T?" He asks again.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to give them away."
Jason's heart flips. He feels the tears on his eyes. It's like he was punched in the gut because when he was a small kid he wished somebody could give him a small present. He knew very early that Santa was not real. So when he saw those rich kids with their smiles and their lollipops praising Santa left and right, Jason wanted to steal from them.
He still remembers when his feet were damp as he walked with his half old worn shoes. The way his little face crunched in sadness. Damn one time he even cried on some dark alley wondering why they had everything and he didn't. How ironic Bruce Wayne adopted him. Not that Bruce ever gave him a dollar store toy as a present.
So, he slowly nods. Talia looks satisfied at his cooperation.
They quickly pay and get in the truck.
There's ton of kids. Jason isn't very good with them but he knows some of them so he calls a girl named Alice and says, "hey, you! Tell the others to come, we have charity here. The good kind. You know me kid, just tell them little hood came to visit."
Alice distrustful approaches but as she processed his words and saw who it was she nodded and ran away.
"They trust you." Says Talia with a curve of her lips. Jason tries to brush it off.
"Oh you know, I've been around. They know I don't kidnap."
"It's a very noble thing Jason. It's good work." Talia praises him as if she was proud of him. Jason's heart skips a beat again. He clenches his fists inside his jacket as he watches his warm breath on the cold.
He will not admit it, but those words affected him more than they should. Bruce never praised him like that after he came back from the dead. "Thanks... T. I really appreciate it." Talia squeezes his shoulder just like Bruce did. Jason sighs.
The moment is broken by the small kids that are approaching, "form a line! Form a line-" Talia starts accommodating them like sheep.
Jason quickly takes the bags, opens them and starts handing one dollar tree toys. As he is handing them the kids murmur a thanks.
Until he hears a little kid, black hair, grey eyes, pale and sickly, cry. Jason freezes. "Hey, hey kiddo stop crying. What's wrong-"
"-thank- thank you Mr. Red Hood. N-no one has given me a present before. You're the real Santa Claus."
"Yes! Santa Claus! Santa Claus!" The kids from the line scream and cheer.
Jason's face is priceless.
Talia chuckles and pats his shoulder, she's about to tease him until she sees the tears on his cheeks. "Jason?" Her tone dripped with worry and confusion.
Jason saw himself in that little kid. He always wished for anyone to give him a present. No matter how small it was. He'd take it. After a moment he feels T wrap her arms around his back. It's a small comfort to bury his face on her neck. He can't let the kids see him break down.
"Thank you T."
Jason became his own hero.