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In Bludhaven, in a very modest apartment complex, there was a man being kicked out of the comfort of his own home by intruders that he normally would consider them as friends. There was chaos and stress in the air. All these emotions were because of an important event in most of young adults life, it was the prom for the freshly graduates of Gotham’s Academy, Zatanna Zatara and Dick Grayson.
“Why am I getting kicked out of my own place?” A distraught Grayson asks as he was being pushed by his friends, Artemis and Megan.
“Because we have to get Zatanna ready for the prom” Megan answers as Donna just stays in the sidelines watching the events unfold with a smile on her face.
“And? It’s still like 7 hours away! And you can use the room or living room and I can be in the other room”
“Which means that we barely have time and you are making us lose precious time and no, we need the whole place so chop-chop” Megan gently pushed Dick closer to the door.
“C’mon! Miss M. Zee looks gorgeous no matter what! You don’t need to worry about that”
“We know but she wants to look extra special for her and you” Canary was getting exasperated with Megan’s kind approach and decided to step in.
“Dick? You know how in the weddings you are not allowed to see the bride before the ceremony?” While confused, the acrobat nodded. “Well…imagine this is a practice for your wedding day with Zee” Dick blushed and couldn’t process the information. Marrying Zatanna was something that clearly was in his plan, not in the foreseeable future, but the plan and dream was there. Dinah took the chance that Dick was left speechless to push him out of the couple’s apartment.
“Wait!” Before Dinah could close the door on the man’s face. Zee sprinted to him and planted a soft kiss on his lips. “Love you, see you in a couple hours” And with that, the door was locked.
“Aww. You two are so sweet. Did you see his face?! He totally is asking you to marry him…eventually” Megan was trying to control her shrieks but she was totally over the moon for her friends. Even if she was having problems herself with Conner.
“Did you have to go there?” Zee smiled, she was also taken by the mention of the wedding bells but managed to get back to earth faster than her boyfriend.
“I needed something that would make him useless and at the end of the day his both a man and a Bat…there’s was no a better way”
“Let’s begin. Shall we? I’m dying to see what are we doing with our friend here” Diana was excited. She was there for Dick and Z first prom night and she wanted to be there for the last one.
“Wait! We still have to wait for Selina”
“Did you invited Catwoman?! Why?”
“Selina knows her stuff, has an amazing taste and she told me that she didn’t want to miss kitty’s face when I blow him away with my hot looks” It didn’t took long for Ms. Kyle to arrive. As soon as she arrived, the women did the first important thing and serve some wine and snacks and started the day at the spa in Chalant household.
“Okay. Zatanna let’s see the dress so we can decide what to do with the make up” Selina was excited and ready to see her wearing the dress that she handpicked for the magician, for once, she paid for something.
“Yes. I cannot wait for everyone to see the dress we got for you” Artemis and Megan also decided to get a dress for the magician.
“Wait you guys got a dress for her as well?” Just like the rest, Diana and Dinah got a dress for the magician. Donna was surprised by all the dresses Zatanna had to put on, plus the one she bought herself for this very moment but still, Donna knew which dress she was choosing.
“As guess there’s just a way to decide which dress In wearing” And thus, Zee’s fashion show began.
“Master Dick. Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your big night with Mrs. Zatanna?” The Buttler questions the young man as he spots him suiting up as Nightwing.
“There’s still time. I think I can go on patrol and be back on time”
“So you are telling me that you are planning to go on patrol while the young Misses is doing her best for you and you are risking her effort by going out and potentially ruin the night for both of you?”
“Alfred is right. Dick, you should take it easy. You can work out but you should take the night off” Dick was surprised by Bruce’s advice. Tim has been really helpful with Bruce’s mental health after losing Jason.
“Yeah. You don’t want to do that to Zatanna. It’s a pretty big day for you guys or aren’t you telling her you know what?” Tim teases his big brother.
“Yeah. You are right. I guess I better put some workout clothes on” The trio were surprised by how easy was to convince him.
“That’s it? I was expecting some back and forth…”
“Well…normally I would but Zee was super excited and so am I and I want this to be perfect for us” The trio smiled at the man’s answer.
“Well if you are working out why don’t you make me a favor and put this on” Bruce throws a box to Dick.
“What’s this?”
“I believe that you need to open the box to know the answer Master Dick” Tim snickers at Alfred’s comment.
“It’s a new watch being developed by Wayne Technologies. It’s helps to know a persons heart rate, oxygen and sugar levels and calling 911 in case of emergency plus other tools…”
“Like giving the hour?”
“That too. That’s a prototype and it’d help me a lot if you tested while you workout and your date with Zatanna. Just so you can tell me how it feels and see if the function are working” Dick nodded before putting the watch on.
“Alright. It looks good. Maybe a little too formal for sports watch but it’d do. But let me text Zee, that I got kicked out of my place far too quick”
“Zatanna looks better in my dress! That blue compliments her eyes to perfection”
“Hello? Did you see how long and amazing those legs were on our dress? Dick is definitely getting a heart attack”
“You clearly know nothing if you think that those dresses are better that the one we got for her. The red is just out of this world” Diana, Dinah, Megan, Artemis and Selina were discussing about Zatanna dress. They made the magician change the dress at least dozen of times.
“Let’s ask Zee which one she likes better?” All eyes were on the magician. Truth being told, she loved them all. Her friends had an incredible test and with her skin and body, she could literally pull everything she wanted.
“I-“
Ring* Ring*
Canary was the one closest to Zatanna’s phone and picked up to see if it was an emergency, but she couldn’t believe there was a bigger emergency that the one they were currently facing.
“It’s a message from Dick” She tossed the phone to the magician.
“He says that he had a surprise for me and is under the bed” Artemis left her drink to the side and looked under the bed for said surprise and pulled a big box with a ribbon.
“For the star of my heart” Artemis read the card that was attached to the gift. “He really is corny”
“Shh. You are just jealous that Wally isn’t as romantic as he is”
“Nah. Artemis is right. He’s quite corny but that’s part of his charm” Selina intervened. Curiosity getting the best of her and getting closer to see what is inside the box.
“50 bucks that it’s lingerie for tonight’s after party….something edible even” Zatanna hoped that Selina was wrong. She had that part already covered. She opened the box and all the women were awestruck by its content.
“I hate bird boy so much”
“For the gods! It’s really beautiful”
“Kitty really outdid himself” Donna smirks from her place before getting closer to Zatanna, who was speechless looking at the beautiful sparkling black dress that Dick got for her.
“Say Zatanna…don’t you think that this dress would match perfectly with let’s say…a necklace that Dick got you a month or so ago?” Zatanna eyes shined with excitement. She has been looking for a chance to wear it.
“That’s true. It will totally-wait. How did you know about the necklace? I haven’t wear it or tell anyone about it either?”
“I have friends in high places” Donna explains like it was nothing will watching her nails, clearly enjoying the fact that she was way ahead over the other women in the apartment.
“So no college for you and Dick, huh?” The archer asks as she gets more wine from Dinah.
“No. I want to follow my dad’s footsteps and be a stage magician. Bring happiness to the people, an escape from their daily lives. Being the headliner is what I was born to do” Zatanna was in her bathrobe while Selina was doing her make up with Megan taking notes up close.
“Look Megan. Zatanna’s beauty is so natural that she doesn’t need much make up, just a few touches here and there. “And what’s kitty doing?”
“He’s joining the academy. He wants to help in both fronts”
“That’s a noble mission and surely sounds like Richard” Wonder Woman was proud of the original Boy Wonder.
“And how is college and living with Wally is going Artemis?” Dinah was enjoying this girls’ night. Even if they were friends, the league was mostly men so be in a environment with just girls was beyond relaxing.
Sigh* “Great. You get to know a lot of people, some really dumb-dumb that you don’t have any idea what they’re doing in college…”
“And-?” Artemis growled. Zatanna was smelling that there was something bothering her.
“There are just too many people to…let’s say…to see? Like I notice other guys when they are handsome and everything but Wally can be so rude sometime that makes me wonder-“
“Hey! Don’t say that. Wally loves you” Zee reaches for Artemis gaze.
“I know and I love him but sometimes it feels that our relationship is too real and too serious for our age. Maybe it won’t hurt or I don’t know…I have too much wine already”
“Yes, yes you have” Diana takes the glass from her.
“Zee? Don’t you feel like this? I mean you are younger than me for a year almost two and yet you move in with bird boy and are making plans for next steps…aren’t you scared?”
“I would be lying if I say that I’m not but…I don’t know. I’m scared of losing him, I’ve been thinking of leaving him before he leaves me but then he does this thing were he holds me or say something that worries me that he’s not ready to be a full adult on his own” Zee smiled. Even with her friends being there for her and support her…she felt that Dick was the only thing she has left after Fate took her dad. The thought of her dad made her sad.
“It’s easy when you have someone as handsome as kitten. There are not many men like him and he still has some growing to do. I’d give him 3 more years and girl….you won’t have enough of him. I have an eye for this”
“Pff. As if you don’t know them already Selina. These two don’t have enough of each other. Like the day of the necklace…Dick and I went shopping”
“Wait! You went shopping with him? You know how much it cost me to get him to do it?”
“I trick him. Told him that some guy stood me up and well…he was there in a blink of an eye”
“Wait! I remember that. He was so stressed”
“Yeah…but I didn’t have anyone else to go with and I really needed some guy perspective. In any case, there was this drop dead gorgeous woman that-let me tell you- even I was considering to asking out but then I see Dick standing up and getting close to her and you know what he did?” Zee shakes her head. “He asked her about her necklace, it was a nice design and wanted to get something for you and then he calls me to follow him and got to the store the girl told him about and left her speechless alongside all the guys and some girls in the area”
“Yeah but Dick is a special case. I’m sure that Z put a spell on him”
“No, just my good looks and amazing personality”
“Damned you and your amazing genes”
“Wait. Donna? How did Dick manage to afford that necklace? It really looks expensive and as far as I can tell he doesn’t have a job and lives with a minimum wage from Bruce” Dinah’s comment made Zee start thinking, the dress didn’t look cheap either and they don’t have that kind of money and she doubted that he was asking Bruce for some cash.
“About that…he told me that he tutors some other guys in his school and gets some money from there, I guess he has been saving up some money for something and decided to spent it on Zatanna” That was close, Donna was half lying, Dick indeed was a tutor but that money wasn’t enough to cover those expenses.
“Yeah. I guess that’s how. We don’t spent much money, he’s really responsible like that…if only he were as responsible with his laundry” And then Z complained about Dick leaving his laundry everywhere and how more than once she has tripped and fall because of his armour being all over the place.
“So where are you performing? Not offence but not many would come to Bludhaven just to see you not matter how good you are…” Donna asks. Bludhaven was well know to be even worse than Gotham in every way, with Nightwing aroud things have gone better but it has been justt two years against decades of corruption and violence.
“Yeah. The theatre isn’t the best but what other option do I have? Maybe Gotham…? It’s not that bad and I performed there a couple of times with my dad but I don’t want Bruce to pull strings for me plus with all the traffic and everything I’m going to spend like 2 hours on the way and 2 hours on the way back…”
“Why don’t you use a zeta tube?”
“There’s no Zeta tubes in Bludhaven”
“What about a portal or flying?”
“Portals drain a lot of energy, I might be able to do one way trip at week with a portal in the best case scenario and the distance is too long to use my levitation spell…plus I have to rehearse. Sigh*. I’m going to find a way” The women exchange looks, that’s a big obstacle in their relationship. How to make both of their dreams work.
Knock* Knock*
Dick was finally ready, it was time to pick his lovely girlfriend to take her to prom. He was wearing a black tuxedo with blue lapel and black tie. Alfred was alongside him as their personal driver.
“Did you forget your keys young Master?”
“No, I have them with me but if I barge in…I might get attack by the group of girls inside and I didn’t wear the Nightwing suit to protect this pretty face for Z just to get smacked in the last second” Alfred was proud of his boy, he only wishes that Bruce would follow the lead on this matter as well.
Knock* Knock*
“Who is it?!”
“The luckiest man on the world looking for the luckiest woman” Even if he couldn’t see it. He knew that at least Artemis, Donna and Selina were rolling their eyes. It didn’t take long for the door to open and Dick was meet by the girls except for the one he was looking for.
“Kitty. You really pull your A-game. I’m glad that you pass the filter”
“What filter?”
“If you didn’t dress well enough we weren’t allowing you to see Zatanna” Artemis hits her friend on the shoulder. “Looking good bird boy”
“Thanks” Dick blushed with all the compliments before everyone turned their attention to Dick and Z’s room door opening.
“Hey…boy wonder” Her voice, that sexy sultry tone of her that she would use every time she wanted to melt him. Dick was left speechless and without air watching her.
Beep* Beep*
“What’s that?” Dick and Zatanna were still into each other eyes but the rest were taken by surprise by the sound coming from Dick’s wrist.
Beep* Beep* Anormal heartbeat detected* Calling 9-* Before the Wayne Technologies new watch could call the ambulance, Dick took off the watch and throw it to the couch before finally walking close to her.
“You-you really took my breath away Z. You are beautiful”
“It’s the dress”
“Nah. It’s you. I’m the luckiest guy”
“You are not so bad yourself. I guess I hit the jackpot” A tender kiss sealed their love but their tender moment didn’t last long as a bright gold ankh appeared in the middle of the already cramped room, breaking the coffee table. From the light, Doctor Fate emerged.
“Holy shit” Everyone exclaimed at the same time, everyone thought that Fate was there to take Zatanna on a magic related mission thus ruining the couple’s special night.
“Fate. Whatever is going on we can help you…just let these 2 be for today” Doctor Fate didn’t bother to look at Wonder Woman’s way as his eyes were fixed on the couple in front of them.
“I came here with a warning” Zatanna step closer to heard Fate’s words but Dick followed her lead without letting her hand go.
“Don’t you mind? We are in a hurry” Cold as distant as every time she had to meet the Lord of Order that took her father hostage. Fate growls at the young magician rudeness.
“This warning is for Richard” Everyone turned their gaze to the acrobat. “Don’t you dare to hurt her or you would face the consequences” And with that, Fate, made the ankh appear once more but not before getting into a starting contest with Zatanna. Zee didn’t know how but when she saw the eyes of Fate, she didn’t saw Nabu but her dad. Maybe it was magic, maybe it was Fate giving them a couple of seconds but just with the eyes, Zee could see that her dad was proud of her and loved her profoundly. After a few seconds, Fate vanished leaving the heroes, and Selina, in the apartment.
Diana, Dinah, Donna, Megan and Artemis offered to clean the mess that Dr. Fate left behind in their apartment, so the couple could go back to their night. They accepted and went to the car with Alfred.
“Z? Are you okay?” Dick takes her hand and rubs the backside of her hand with his thumb.
“Yeah. I-it wasn’t how I thought it would be. I was expecting my dad to be here for this day and you know…threaten you or give you a speech but-he managed to pull this off” Dick took her hand to his lips.
“Of course he would find a way to be here even if it wasn’t the way you were expecting…but it’s just another prove of how much he loves you and I’m sure that one day…I’m getting those threats in color and all that jazz” She giggles.
“I love the dress and the necklace. Thank you”
“Just the best for you and I have another surprise for you” Out of his suit jacked, Dick pulled a flask.
Gasp* “Is that?” Dick nods. “Richard John Grayson. What got into you?”
“I want to have a normal civilian last prom night with you and I know that you been dying for this as well even if it’s not my style” Zee smiled and reached to get a sip but Dick pulled back.
“Wait! There’s something we need to discuss before we spent the rest of the night enjoying ourselves” Zatanna gives him a quizzical look.
“Remember that a month or so ago I went to Haley Circus? Well…Haley told me about a fund that my parents were building for me, my whole family actually and since my uncle died recently, he fixed everything so Haley could manage my money”
“Money? What money?”
“The Flying Grayson’s money. My parent, or anyone from the circus, were bank people so they keep their money on their mattress until they died and when my uncle wake up from the coma he decided to put it on the bank with Haley support and it has been pilling up for some year and let’s say that now I have more than enough to buy our own place” Haley knew that Bruce Wayne was taking good care of his boy but still knew that the money was rightfully his and even if wasn’t much, he was hoping that I’d help him whenever he need it.
“Wait! Go back a couple of steps! Is that how you bought the necklace and dress?”
“Kinda. I can’t use that money just yet. I need to turn 18 and since I didn’t want to ask money from Alfred or Bruce because they wouldn’t let me pay them back, I asked a loan from Clark”
“Dick! You didn’t have to”
“But I do. You have been my biggest supporter. You were there for me when I decided that I didn’t wanted to be in Batman’s shadows anymore, you help me when I was doubting myself and wanted to go back to Robin’s mantle, and you have helped me countless times more…”
“That’s because I love you and you have helped me as much” Dick moves his hands to caress her face.
“We make a great team, huh?”
“The best”
“But you know what’s the worst part? We took a giant leap in our relationship by moving in together and I didn’t even ask you properly to do so. You know I needed you and you were there”
“Well…I wasn’t letting the opportunity to be more independent slip away and I knew you wouldn’t survive a week”
“Yeah, probably but the thing is that with this money we can finally own something”
“Wanna buy our current place?”
“That’s an idea but I was thinking about looking for something different, maybe somewhere else…”
“Where?”
“I don’t know I heard that there are big stadiums and theatres to be filled by talented magicians in New York”
“But what about police academy and Nightwing?”
“I’m sure that New York has a lot of criminals. Enough for another hero and police officer”
“Why do you want to move out?”
“I told you. You followed me to Bludhaven without knowing a thing about living alone or in couple. You went through hell for me, we had some nasty fights already and I want to be there for you now on this new chapter for us” Zee’s mind went overdrive with everything he was saying to her. The words of Artemis bounced on her head, ‘What if it’s too soon’ ‘What if he wants someone else’ What if…’ ‘What if…’ ‘What if…’
“I-I-I HAVE TO GO!” The magician was lucky that they were waiting for the green at the traffic lights and got out of the car a flew away.
“ZEE! WAIT! Grayson just watches how Zatanna goes away and disappears in Gotham’s skyline.
The stars were shining and the sky was clear from clouds, something weird for a city like Gotham, everything was aiming to a perfect night…if you ignore the sirens and gunshots. She could see all the beautiful lights and the woman shivers with the cold wind but she doesn’t bother in putting a heating spell.
“You are catching a cold” Dick says as he covers her with his jacket and sits next to her. She won’t even bother to ask how did he find her because well…is him. “Are you okay?” Her silence worries him and decides to give her some space and just sit on the ledge of the biggest building in Gotham. Another cold wind blows and Dick scoots closer just to hold her tight. It seems that his warm and touch does the trick as he feels her relaxing.
“Sorry for running away. I just-I just-“ She couldn’t find her voice as she cracks.
“Got scared?” She nods. “I get it. You really took quite seriously the fight or flight response”
“It’s just that…aren’t we moving too fast? What if tomorrow you regret moving to New York with me or Los Angeles or whatever…I don’t want you to hold a grudge on me. You love me today but what about tomorrow? What if something happens to you?! What if I lose you?! What if-what if there are better options out there?” Dick knew very well was happening to her because it wasn’t her first time and he has been there too. It’s one of the aftermaths of losing the people you loved the most. You get afraid of loving too much.
“I would never hold a grudge on you. Or do you hold a grudge on me for living in Bludhaven the past two years?” She sakes her head. “And, at least for me, there are not other options, there’s just you Z. I feel hard for you and keep falling everyday. I can’t promise that you won’t lose me because of our line of work but I promise that I’d fight and push my limits to get back home to you, every single time” She hugs him back tightly.
“I’m just afraid of you leaving me and me being alone”
“I’m afraid of losing you too but let me tell you something” He gently lifts her head with his finger on her chin. “I don’t regret any day that spent with my parents in that tent during Haley circus, I love every single day and look back at them with a smile and a tear all those happy memories…and that what we have to do, instead of being afraid of loving, we should use that as fuel to love even more. To cherish the silly fights, the dull moments, the bitter, the sweat, the Chalant…”
“When did you got so wise?”
“I got it from you. We have more or less this conversation in your dad’s first anniversary as Fate and then with Jason. You didn’t let me go when you could and should but you didn’t and I’m here for you. And I’m more than ready to take this leap of faith with you, not caring if there’s not safety net because YOU ARE WORTH THE RISK ZATANNA ZATARA” She couldn’t hold herself any longer and took his lips in a very loving kiss, conveying all of her emotions and washing away her doubts and fears.
“I love you Richard Grayson. Thanks for being my safety net”
“My pleasure”
“Sorry for ruining our special night”
“You didn’t ruin anything and the night is still young. We can still make it to the party and I still have this” Dick sneaks his hand on the jacket that Zee was now wearing pull out the flask.
“You really are a daring one. But I’d rather stay here a couple of minutes more…just me and you if you don’t mind?”
“It works for me” Dick takes a sip for the flash that was filled with very expensive tequila from Bruce’s display bottles. “Aghh This tastes horrible and it burns” She couldn’t help but to giggle at his reaction.
“Lightweight” She wasn’t used to the taste either, she did her best to hold her facial expressions but fail. “So? New York?”
“New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles…I’d go anywhere with you but we still have to wait until after I turn 18 so we can use the money”
“I think I can survive a couple of days more in Bludhaven. Practicing…planning…picking the perfect place for us”
“Anywhere is perfect as long as we are together”
“You don’t have to be soo corny every phrase”
“Yeah…”
“But you are right. Just keep holding me close and don’t let me go even when I freak out”
“Only if you do the same for me”
“Laed!”