For the sake of the children... (cont.)

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

The auction is heating up. Some of the items have fetched handsome prices from anonymous bidders via cellphone proxies or the organization's website. The next item due on the auction block is a limited-run Flamebird figure (Bette might recognize it - she got a box of them for her birthday earlier this year).

But this is San Francisco, and it's almost Christmas, and when the Titans are around, something is almost guaranteed to go wrong.

And it does; quickly, suddenly, and loudly, in the form of a huge Santa sleigh, replete with animatronic reindeer, crashing through an adjoining wall from the set of a movie being filmed just outside.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"What the....?"

Flamebird moves quickly, doing what she's good at doing. She is doing her best to make sure that no one is in the way of anything that is coming through that wall. If no one needs to get out of the way, she's going to do what she can to stop that sleigh.

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Hundreds of attendees are able to run away from the skidding sleigh, but the children in wheelchairs are lagging behind, being pushed by their parents or caregivers. Screams fill the air.

[santana-slade.livejournal.com]

Santana whips around at the sound of it. Knowing that the heavier hitters got the sleigh itself, she starts to move to see what's on the other side of the now gaping hole in the wall.

Then she stops. "Care to ride shotgun, Ms. Lance?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_black_canary_/]

"And how!" agrees the Black Canary.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Flamebird knows that she can't move the wheelchairs fast enough, so she's scooping them out of their chairs as she goes. One is easy. Two is hard. Three is extremely challenging but she has three, the first swung onto her back with a "Hold on tight for a few seconds."

Hopefully it won't need to be more than a few seconds.

[alt-minds2.livejournal.com]

One Santa Claus straight out of one of Gar's Futurama marathons headed right for the center of the crowd. People are screaming, panicking...

"Eagle's Wings! Bear strength!"

Joseph isn't in her field of view, but Beth and her mom are. So, they get snatched up by one flying teddybear hauling stubby tail for the ceiling.

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Mrs. Campbell gasps as they swoop up into the air, but Beth lets out a crow of excitement. "Titans Together!" she shouts.

[alt-minds2.livejournal.com]

Even under the circumstances, Fauna can't help a smile. "You betcha."

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Beth gives Fauna a gap-toothed grin, then points down. "Look! It's Starfire!"

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

As the crowd tries to escape the oncoming sleigh, the tables of merchandise are jostled. Frantic staffers hurry to save the tumbling wares.

[jessequick.livejournal.com]

Staffers hurry.

Someone hurries more quickly.

Those wares mean cash for children in need, after all.

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Whoosh.

Staffers look perplexed, then burst into applause as they realize what's going on.

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

The sleigh has landed with its full metal weight on the stage. Wood and plaster surround and cover it in parts, and a gaping hole yawns to the outside, where a stunned and somewhat large film crew, wearing duffle coats and gloves stand congregated with collectively shocked expressions on their faces.

There's an extended pause as the chaos subsides.

" .... cut?" the director manages, after a moment.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Flamebird lands on the sleigh, looking around. She's perched on the edge of it, looking down. After a moment, she blinks.

Oh my. He's... *ahem*

"Hey, you okay?" Flamebird reaches down toward the actor in the bottom of it.

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

She's answered with a groan from the slumped figure. Somehow, the man in the driving seat is still holding the reins for the "reindeer" in his hands.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Flamebird carefully makes her way into the sleigh, hoping not to disturb the sleigh or the man in it. Carefully, once she's in it, she starts to check the man over, carefully for real injuries.

Some time later....

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

The injured have been given medical care, with the most serious cases being taken to the nearest hospital. The holes in the walls have been hastily blocked and the temperature inside has returned to a more comfortable level. Thanks to Jesse Quick's efforts, the vast majority of the merchandise is undamaged.

Moscone Center staffers have found a new podium and microphone for Mr. Cantu, and he steps forward, blotting his forehead with a red-bordered handkerchief. "I'm pleased to report that no one has been too seriously hurt in this accident," he says, which draws a scattering of applause from the remaining audience. "I'd also like to say thank you to the Titans for all their help--" More thunderous applause, mixed with the high, thin cheers of the children. Mr. Cantu lets the applause continue for several minutes, then raises his hands for silence. "Because of the Titans, it looks like we'll be able to move forward with tonight's auction--"

A staffer hurries up to the podium and whispers in his ear. Mr. Cantu looks startled, but puts on a jovial smile. "In fact, if the Titans could come up here, I'd like to thank them individually, while my assistant starts the bidding on our next item, lot 57, which is a 1993 issue of Hero Beat in very good condition...." Still smiling, Mr. Cantu steps away, and his assistant replaces him at the microphone.

When the Titans gather near the stage, they can see Mr. Cantu is very worried, despite his smile. "I'm afraid I have more than 'thank you' to say," he tells them in a low voice. "The Beast Boy action figure is missing. My staff haven't been able to find it in what's left of the display case." He blots his forehead again. "Please, if you could help ... we've already had a number of potential bidders asking about the figure...."

Re: Some time later....

[alt-minds2.livejournal.com]

She allows herself to breathe, going from winged bear to blond young woman in a few seconds and steadying herself with a chair back.

Okay. Sleigh's hauled out. Crisis over. she looks over to the gathering of the sick and injured youngsters, including Ms. Campbell and Beth, who's back in a wheelchair and looking very upset to learn the figure of her hero is gone.

Wait a minute - where's Joseph?

Re: Some time later....

[starfire-kory.livejournal.com]

"Of course we'll help, Mr. Cantu." Starfire is visibly distressed. "Please, continue the auction--we'll try to find the action figure before it is due to appear on the block." She turns and sees Fauna. "Have you seen the Beast Boy action figure?"

Re: Some time later....

[alt-minds2.livejournal.com]

"No, I haven't, Starfire. Sorry. I'm thinking, though, that someone may have grabbed it in the confusion."

She scowls. "I'm trying to find Beth's older brother. He wasn't among the injured, but I can't seem to spot him."

At the end of the auction

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

The gavel comes down for the third and final time, and Mr. Cantu beams with relief as the vintage Beast Boy action figure is sold to Starfire, bidding on behalf of the Titans.

It doesn't stay long in Titan hands, though. It goes home with the Campbells, clutched securely in Beth's hand.

Re: At the end of the auction

[alt-minds2.livejournal.com]

Aurora claps happily to see the elated Beth wheeled out with her tired mom, and her older brother, who's a lot less sullen than before.

"Kory, that was wonderful!"

Re: At the end of the auction

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Flamebird watches the Campbells head out with a small smile on her face. There is a moment where she wavers but the smile is there until the children are gone, until the vendors are gone.

Until everyone is gone.

She smiles at Starfire, "I'll pay you back, if you want."

Re: At the end of the auction

[starfire-kory.livejournal.com]

Kory flicks her fingers. "It is a simple thing, to give her such happiness. I wish we could solve all problems with money."

Re: At the end of the auction

[alt-minds2.livejournal.com]

"I...I never realized just how much people out there look up to us. I got the impression that sometimes that little girl holds on just so she gets to see another Space Trek episode. It's...humbling."