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“So let me get this straight, you want me to cover for your patrol with Babs from now until Christmas Eve while you go on a mission you’re keeping secret from B?” Zatanna wiped her hands with dust to keep them steady on the rings. The two of them were practicing in the gym of the manor.
“Yes. I have a spare Robin suit, it’s not a big deal. Babs will know, B won’t. He doesn’t really call whenever he’s away on business and he’s taking his annual shift at the Watchtower on Christmas Eve. He’ll be none the wiser. I have to go, Z. It’s the circus.” Dick did a back handspring off the mats.
“I know you, do.” She frowned. “Just wish I didn’t have to cover, so I could go. You’re at least taking Wally, right?” Z leapt to connect with the rings.
He shook his head. “No. Can’t. He knows my ID, I can’t have anyone close going. Artemis is going but she doesn’t know anything beyond the papers and I swore her to secrecy with the others.” He got on the pommel horse to continue training. It had to be his least favorite part of gymnastics but he strives for perfection, even if Bruce didn’t allow him to compete.
“As in you blackmailed her?” She swung back and forth on the rings.
“I may have told her if she said shit, then I would tell everyone about Sportsmaster..” He shrugged nonchalantly as he curved his legs around the metal bars.
“May?” She lifted her legs to attempt to do the splits in the air.
“Fine, I did. No shit, Sherlock.” He was currently holding himself mid air and looking sour.
“Don’t be an asshole if you want me to cover for you.” She hopped down from the rings and walked over to Dick.
“Sorry, Zee. Just please cover?” He pleaded.
“Yeah, yeah. You don’t think people will notice Robin suddenly has boobs?” She gestured to herself.
Dick went silent and got off the pommel horse.
“Dick. Are you implying I don’t have boobs?” She slapped his arm.
“I didn’t say anything.” He murmured.
“Dick. And I don’t mean it as your name.”
“Thanks, Zee. You’ll have fun with Babs, she’s the best.”
“Yeah, yeah. She’s your type, a redhead.”
He flipped her off. “Let Babs do the talking. Our voices are too different for the villains not to notice.”
“Really? Your voice is pretty high.”
“Zee.” He groaned. “I can probably rig a voice modifier to the suit if you want to make quips at the rogues or just talk to Babs. Alfred will be on comms but he usually only listens in if we request him. The next couple nights will either be crazy from rogues attempting to get Gotham while we’re all distracted by the holidays or it’ll just be quiet. This is the first time B has a business trip this close to Christmas but Christmas Eve being my patrol is our tradition; so he can take over guard duty at the Watchtower for the league members who celebrate.”
“That’s sweet of him.”
“It’s been our thing since my 12th birthday. Worse comes worst, you can call for Clark and he’ll come.”
“It won’t come to that.” She swore.
“I can’t believe he talked you into this.”
Zee fit Dick’s uniform surprisingly well, she had her long black hair hidden in a beanie except for a small bit of it that was fitted into makeshift bangs. “It’s the circus.” Since the two of them were on the rooftop of Wayne Enterprises, there was no need for the voice modifier.
“I could’ve handled the city by myself, Rob.” She smirked a bit at Zee.
“I have no doubt but I’ve got to admit that I’ve missed the action, myself.”
“You have?”
“It’s hard not to be envious when the dynamic duo goes out every night and I’m stuck at home with Agent A.”
“I hadn’t thought about that.” Barbara mused. “It seems like it’ll be pretty quiet tonight. Agent A hasn’t reported anything from the police scanner, we can just keep an eye out from here. Where does Agent A think D is?”
“Wally’s. A Christmas break sleepover extravaganza. He thinks D is using Zetas to come back for patrol each night.”
“Where does he think you are?”
“My room. I just have to say girl problems and all three of them will leave me alone at any time.” She smirked.
Babs stifled a laugh. “I’m not surprised. They’re not the best at communication.”
“Understatement of the decade. I’m pretty sure B up until now has relied on D to do all the talking.”
“You’re not wrong. Patrolling with them is something.” Barbara shook her head. “I can appreciate being with another girl for a change.”
“Why aren’t you on YJ? We could use someone like you.”
“Batman doesn’t want to have another unpowered teen on the team, Rob just thinks that’s Batman for, I’m not ready. But honestly, Gotham rogues are worse than some of the missions he’s described.”
“Gotham is a beast all its own.” Z nodded. “I’m not surprised he won’t let me become a full member either, I’m subject to guest status because of my father’s wishes.”
“Meanwhile he probably won’t even punish D whenever he finds out he secretly led a mission in another country.”
“Because It’s a Batman move.”
–
“Robin, Batgirl, there have been reports regarding Poison Ivy in Coventry. The faster you get over there, the better.” Alfred’s voice crackled through the comm.
“We’re on it, Agent A.” Babs confirmed, standing before reaching a hand down to Zatanna.
“Is Harley with her?” Zatanna asked, not bothering to disguise her voice.
“Unknown at this time.” Alfred responded. Zatanna nodded.
“Let’s get going.” Babs didn’t wait for an answer before running to the edge of the building, raising her grapple just before she jumped.
“Batgirl!” Zatanna protested, laughing, as she followed.
“Gotta move faster if you wanna keep up!”
“Ivy’s definitely been here.” Zatanna muttered as she and Babs landed in Coventry. There were vines hanging off the streetlights and-
“How did she get ferns to grow out of the sidewalk like that?” Babs asked. Zatanna shrugged.
“She's Poison Ivy. I stopped asking questions.”
“You’re a wiser woman than I, Robin.” Babs laughed. Zatanna made a valiant attempt to wink through her domino mask.
“Look a’ how cute they are, Red.” A voice above them cackled. “Use that stuff on ‘em. The truth serum.”
“You know that’s not how it works.” A second voice answered, dry. Zatanna and Babs made nervous eye contact. Ivy on her own would be one thing, but with Harley… they’re in for it.
Zatanna threw a batarang. One of the concussive sonic ones that Red Arrow slipped into Dick’s utility belt once, then kept supplying once Dick mentioned he liked them.
Both villains dive sideways to avoid the projectile.
“Little birdies don’t know how to play nice, huh?” Ivy asked. As the girls watched, she waved a hand. A moment later, a huge vine burst through the window of the nearest shop.
“Plant store, kiddos. Always choose your battleground.” Ivy snarked.
Later, when Zatanna tries to remember it, most of the fight is a blur.
Ivy kept summoning vines, and Zatanna had to rely on every bit of training she’d had and then some just to avoid them, much less fight back. Barbara had a little more success against Harley, but the business end of that hammer is no joke.
“Switch dance partners!” Babs yelled. Zatanna shot her grapple at the nearest building - if Babs wanted her fighting Harley, she’s going to have to clear these vines somehow.
“Boy Wonder!” Harley crowed. “‘S good t’ see ya.”
“Quinn.” Zatanna grunted, mentally cursing Dick. She had no idea what kind of strange relationships he has with the Rogues.
“Bad day, huh?” Harley asked. “‘S okay, I get it.” She nodded sagely. “Just gotta hit it out, yeah?”
Zatanna nodded.
She has no idea how long she and Harley traded blows, but Zatanna is nearly too tired to follow her up the fire escape.
She didn’t see the vine coming.
“Robin!” Babs snapped, annoyed, when Zatanna landed on her.
“C’mon, Red. Natasha Bedingfeild them.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Release their inhibitions!” Harley sang.
“Is that what you meant? You could’ve just said, Harls.”
Before Zatanna or Barbara can react, they’re surrounded by a cloud of pollen.
“Bye, kids!” Harley called, laughter fading as she and Ivy left.
“Shit.” Babs mutters.
–
“Are we going to talk about last night?” Z asks. The two of them were now jumping from rooftops of Gotham looking for potential trouble.
“What about it?” Babs innocently jumped ahead of Zatanna.
“You said you liked me, was that the pollen or real?”
“The pollen gave me courage, but I-I do.”
Before Z could react, the two of them stopped in their tracks. A whiny voice was screaming for help; without any reaction from the public typical Gotham.
“Help!” She squawked, but she was soon muffled by a shirt being thrusted in her face.
A man in his mid to late thirties, held up a gun to her head and grabbed her purse. “You’re lucky, I didn’t take your cane with that rachet screaming of yours.”
Babs slid down the fire escape of the building and tip toed behind the man. Batgirl did a round kick to knock the gun out of his hand as Robin grabbed the purse and ushered the old woman out of the alley. “I don’t think you were taught to respect your elders.” She knelt down to grab the gun and then stood in front of the only exit of the alley to keep him from escaping.
“You really think I’d only have one?” He rolled his eyes at Batgirl and lifted the leg of his jeans to pull out another pistol that was holstered to his leg. He pointed the gun at Barbara. “I’d suggest letting me go, Batgirl.”
“I have a gun too and the police are on their way. Robin contacted them when he got that woman to safety.” She reminded him and shook the gun in her hand. “I hold all the cards, here.”
“Except I’ll shoot and you won’t.” He fired a warning shot in the air, then aimed at Batgirl. Robin returned and tackled Babs to the ground, the second she saw the gun change directions. Once they were both on the ground, he ran off in the opposite direction.
“Sorry, I panicked.” Z sighed once she noticed that he got away.
“Rob, you saved my life. I could kiss you right now.”
Zatanna smirked and whilst she was still on top of Babs, leant down to peck her lips. “Come on, we should go after him.” She got up off of Barbara and offered her a hand.
“You don’t want to talk about what just happened?” She shook her head and took Z’s hand to get up.
“You’re the one who suggested it.” Z smirked.
“God, you are D’s sister.” She huffed and ran in the direction of the robber.
It was the early hours of the morning when Zatanna arrived back at the cave at the end of patrol and Dick ended up at the cave via Zeta.
“Robin.” Dick smirked.
“Robin.” Z returned.
The two of them embraced in a quick hug before parting ways to go shower and change. They walked up the stairs together and entered B’s office. Both of them were surprised by the presence of Alfred and Bruce. B had a cat on his lap and was reading a paper while Alfred poured him a cup of tea. “Happy Christmas, what were you two doing down there?”
“Training.” They said synchronously.
“I heard about the mission I approved from Red Tornado.” He looked at Dick. “How was Geneva?”
Dick looked down guiltily. “No cave talk upstairs, but I’ll write a full mission report.”
“You’ll have plenty of time while you’re grounded. No Robin or any other extra circulars, apparently I have a spare. How was Haly’s?”
“It was good.” Dick smiled.
“Spare?” Z raised a hand.
“We’ll get to that.”
“What’s with the cat?” Dick interrupted.
“Christmas present for Zatanna, every magic user needs a cat.” He handed over the kitten
Z and Dick exchanged a weird look. “Thanks, B!”
“You got that from Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” Dick accused.
Bruce was silent.
“I’ll name him, Salem.”