Archive of Our Own

When Life Gives You Tangerines Day by Day

Dick was normally more deliberate with his actions. Training as an acrobat since birth combined with training under Batman for four years meant that all of Dick’s moves were crisp and precise. One wrong step or even just centimeters off the mark meant life or death. Thus, Dick always knew exactly what he was doing…..unless you involve one raven-haired magician. On that fateful visit to the Cave, Robin could feel his body move on its own. No thoughts, just action. M’gann was shoved out of the way midsentence and all of a sudden Robin’s hand was extended out to the new girl.

“Hi! I’m D-….Robin!” he blurted out.

“Hehe Zatanna,” she shook his hand.

It took a moment, but Robin quickly remembered where he was and that all eyes were on him and his little interaction with the new girl. Still fumbling, he somehow was able to go around and introduce the rest of the Team. But his eyes never left her. Interestingly, her eyes never left him either.

Everything after flew by like a blur. From leaving the Cave, interrogating Ivo, and ultimately fighting the rogue Red androids, the whole ordeal was just exhausting. And yet, Robin just kept gravitating towards Zatanna. Maybe it was the little smirk she sent him on the Bioship as the word Chalant rolled off her tongue so naturally. Or maybe it was the way she handled herself in combat. He felt the need to protect her, but Zatanna’s creativity with magic as she took on the Reds was amazing. She held her own as she blinded the bots with smoke and created illusion clones to gain an advantage. Dick was beyond impressed, which was probably why he found himself perched on the fire escape outside her New York apartment.

“Uhh how should I do this,” he muttered to himself, “Hey, Zatanna. What brings you here? No that’s dumb. She lives here. Uhhh Sup, Zatanna. Ugh lame. Hey I was just in the neighborhood and…..no wait she knows I mainly work in Gotham, right?”

“So uh, you gonna come in or what?” a new voice asked.

“Huh?!?” Robin looked up, now broken out of his reverie.

Staring at him was none other than Zatanna Zatara herself. Wearing just a tank top and pajama pants, she started peeling what looked like a tangerine as Dick still just sat on the fire escape speechless.

“Here, get some vitamins in ya. That’ll jumpstart your brain again,” she teased as she put a tangerine slice into his open mouth.

Helping him out a little, Zatanna placed her hand under his chin and pressed upwards so he could chew. Finally awake, Dick shook his head and backed away a little, still chewing on the tangerine wedge.

“You never answered my question. You coming in?” she asked again.

“I uh sure?” he nodded climbing through her bedroom window.

“Sooo whatcha doing here?”

“Well. Um erm……there’s really no good answer that doesn’t make me creepy, is there?”

“Not really hehe. But I also know that Batman knows everything so by proxy I guess you know most things.”

“That’s a uh…..fair assumption.”

“I’m glad you’re here though.”

“Really?” Dick perked up a bit.

“Yea. I was sooo bored. I have some math homework, but I kinda don’t want to bother.”

“I can help with that!”

“Seriously? You came all this way just to help me with some homework?”

“I don’t mind. I just wanted an excuse to see you again,” he blushed.

“Heh. Robin, could you please help me with my homework?” she rolled her eyes.

“I’d be happy to.”

Night after night, Dick came to visit Zatanna at her bedroom window. The first few times really were just study sessions as Dick would help with math and physics, but these soon turned into movie nights under the covers or stargazing. Whatever the activity was, neither wanted the moment to end.

“My mother used to say that each and every star in the sky was a different world,” Zatanna started, “One could be a world of great Olympians. Another could be a world with a Genie who could grant your every wish. Or there’s a world out there where you’re a little toy. Wherever your imagination takes you.”

“Haha is there a world where I’m six feet or taller?”

“Hey c’mon now! Size matters not, Robin!!”

“Haha I’m just saying. It’d be nice not to be the short stack on the team.”

“What’s the phrase again? Big things come in small packages?”

“Yea yea yea.”

“Heh. I’m sure you’ll grow to be tall and strong. Just give it time, Birdy.”

“Maybe. I guess being small and agile isn’t so bad.”

“That’s the spirit!”

They laid on that blanket atop the roof for who knew how long. It was a very mellow night. Not too cold but not too hot either. Just two friends gazing at the endless possibilities in the world.

“I envy you sometimes,” she admitted.

“Hmm?”

“You seem so….free. You’re out exploring, fighting bad guys, seeing the world. Meanwhile I’m just cooped up with my dad.”

“Well, it can’t be all bad.”

“No. It’s not. I love him, but I could do without his overbearing nature. If I go anywhere, he must know where I’m going and who I’m going with.”

“Ah. That does sound a little strict.”

“Seriously! Gah, it took him like six months to let me see Tommy on my own.”

“….Tommy?”

“A guy at my school.”

“Oh,” he looked away kinda dejectedly.

“Oy, Boy Wonder,” she poked his shoulder, “he’s my best friend’s boyfriend. And ever since he and Cecily started dating, they’ve been suuuuuuper clingy. If I want to hang out with Cecily, I have to hang out with Tommy. That piece of information took my dad six months to wrap his head around.”

“Ohhh. So you’re third-wheeling.”

“Basically. I’m glad it took you less than six months to figure that out.”

“I am a detective after all.”

“Heh,” she rolled her eyes, “Wait….were you jealous?”

“Huh what?” he looked at her, caught off-guard, “No?”

“Yes you were! When you thought that Tommy and I were a thing!”

“I-I was not jealous! Why would I be jealous!?!”

“I dunno. You tell me,” she smirked leaning closer and closer.

Feeling like he should be on the offensive, Dick leaned towards Zatanna, and booped her on her forehead with his. Though confused at the gesture, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hahahaha.”

“Shh, it’s late. We don’t want to wake up the whole block,” he quieted her.

“You started it.”

“Yea yea. Anyway, I know it might seem constricting and tiresome with your dad, but he means well. You’re his only child. He’s just trying his best.”

“I know. But sometimes it’d be nice to have just a bit more freedom. Be able to go out when I like. Do the things I want to do. See the people I want to see. All that stuff.”

“I get that. But trust me. One day, you’ll miss all his nagging and overprotectiveness.”

“Ha. I doubt that.”

“Just……trust me.”

Unfortunately, Dick was right a lot sooner than he would’ve liked. Merging the world of adults and children back together was a huge victory for the Team, but it came at a heavy cost. As Giovanni Zatara placed the Helmet of Fate on his head, imprisoning himself indefinitely, life once again moved like a blur. Through all the concerned stares and supposed thoughtful condolences, Zatanna blocked out all the noise and nuisances. Within days, she moved out of her New York apartment, moved into the Cave, transferred to a new school, and was given the freedom she always wanted. No dad to trap her in walls. No dad asking where and with whom she was going. No dad to care for her anymore. For days she locked herself in her new room. Boxes were left unopened. Just nothing but emptiness and sorrow.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

“Go away!” she yelled.

There was no answer back. No subsequent knock. Annoyed at first, Zatanna simmered down realizing how rude she must have been. Now wanting to apologize, she got up and opened the door. But no one was there. No one around either. Instead, on the floor was a tray with a bowl of tomato soup, a grilled cheese sandwich, and two tangerines. She was confused at first, but her grumbling stomach convinced her to pick up the free food. When she finished, Zatanna brought the tray back to the kitchen hoping to thank whoever gave her the meal. But no one was around. So, she left the tray on the counter and retreated back to the darkness.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

Again, someone had come to visit. This time, Zatanna walked over and opened the door immediately. And again, no one was there except for the tray of food by her feet. A mushroom risotto to feel warm and hearty along with a pair of tangerines to feel refreshed. She accepted the gift happily but once again did not meet her personal chef.

This little ritual went on over and over again for weeks. Zatanna began to anticipate the knocks, literally counting down the seconds before the rapping of her chef’s knuckles on her door signaled mealtimes. They were surprisingly consistent as well. Breakfast was at 6am on school days along with a little packed lunch. Dinner was at 7pm every night on the dot. And for whatever reason, every meal came with a pair of tangerines. Honestly, feeling cared for and nourished slowly started to reinvigorate the young magician. She finally started unpacking her belongings, organizing her clothes in the limited closet space, placing picture frames on the desk and end tables, doing just enough to make the windowless room under a mountain feel like home. Though the food was scrumptious, it still gnawed at Zatanna that her personal chef was a person of mystery. Although the obvious answer was that M’gann had been feeding her this entire time. After all, the only other occupant in the Cave was Conner, and Zatanna was certain the (half) Kryptonian didn’t know how to boil an egg.

“Hey Zatanna!” M’gann greeted the rare sight before her.

“Hi M’gann,” Zatanna smiled bringing her dinner tray out to the kitchen, “Hey. I just want to say thank you for bringing me food all this time. The warm homecooked meals really helped me get back on my feet. They were just what I needed. I really appreciate it.”

“Uhhh well I’m flattered, but I haven’t been cooking for you.”

“Huh? So, you didn’t make this vegetable paella that I just ate?”

“Zatanna, I’m still learning Earth’s recipes. Like I can barely bake snickerdoodles let alone a…..what’s a paella?”

“Uhh it’s a Spanish rice dish. Wait wait so has Conner been making food for me?”

“I doubt it. Conner doesn’t even know how to boil an egg.”

“Right…”

“Honestly, I’ve kinda been curious myself. Like I’ll see the tray at your door, but I never see who sets it there. Sometimes I’ll swing by and pick it up when you’re done. But other than that, I have no idea who your mystery chef is.”

*TEAM. REPORT TO MAIN HALL FOR MISSION BRIEFING*

Not wasting a second, Zatanna and M’gann changed and hurried over. Keeping Batman waiting during mission briefings was practically a cardinal sin. It seemed to be an important mission as well since the whole Team was called for. Almost naturally, Zatanna wandered and found her way next to Robin who greeted her with a smile. As Batman droned on and on about stealth being top priority and how Conner was on standby as the “break glass in case of emergency” guy, Zatanna picked up on a peculiar smell. It wasn’t something you’d find in the depths of a cave under a mountain. It smelled….nice. And also familiar. Very familiar. As if she had just recently encountered this scent. Somewhere between Batman laying down the blueprints of the compound they were about to raid and Wally asking why he couldn’t just zoom in and knock out all the guards, Zatanna finally figured out the scent. Roasted garlic with a hint of saffron, exactly what was in her paella just now. But why would that specific smell come back now? When she looked over to Robin, the smell slightly intensified. Her eyes widened in realization. Hoping to confirm her revelation, Zatanna leaned in a little and sniffed him a few times. Appropriately confused, Robin looked back at her. Blushing and embarrassed, Zatanna could only shrug and smile. As Robin seemingly dropped the matter and refocused on the briefing, Zatanna scooted closer to him. Quietly, she threaded her fingers with his and held his hand. Confused again, Robin looked down and then back up at her. And again, all she could do was smile. Garlic and saffron quickly became her favorite smell.

Dating seemed like the most obvious, logical choice from then on, but somehow neither was willing to make the first jump. Even so, the pair were practically inseparable. Quite literally there was no Zatanna without Robin and vice versa. Conner multiple times caught the two having a private workout session in the gym. Of course, they shrugged it off since nothing really happened anyway. Just two friends sparring. But Conner didn’t need super vision to notice certain touches lingered longer than “friends” would allow. Hands pressed upon thighs or arms for quite some time despite claims of “just fixing postures”. Nevertheless, everyone knew the drill when it came to Robin and Zatanna.

“This mission is strictly reconnaissance only,” Kaldur began, “We’re here only to scout how Penguin is distributing his new drug, Bliss. Some key players to keep track of are his right-hand man Victor Aguilar, his confidant Eve, and Sofia Falcone, daughter of the late Carmine Falcone. Aguilar is also Penguin’s driver and is quick at the wheel. Wally, you and Miss Martian will be responsible for him in case they try and make a quick getaway.”

“Aye aye Captain,” Wally saluted.

“Penguin’s hired extra muscle as well. Certain guards are carrying venom patches. Though a watered-down formula compared to Bane’s, they’ll still give an immense boost of strength. Unsurprisingly, they’re following Eve like hawks. Superboy, you’ll shadow Artemis as she tries to get closer to Eve. We all have our assignments. Let’s move out.”

“Uhhh Kal?”

“Yes, Zatanna?”

“What about me and Robin?” she asked as Robin tried to hide his smile, “What are we supposed to do?”

“Well, I assumed it was apparent to everyone here.”

“What’s apparent?” she asked again this time with Robin trying to hide his blush.

“That you and Robin would pair up and tail Sofia Falcone.”

“O-oh…” Zatanna now blushed realizing the implication.

“Are you displeased with this arrangement?” Kaldur asked sincerely.

“N-no. I-I’m good,” Zatanna now burned like a tomato while the rest of the team failed to snicker quietly.

Admittedly, Dick and Zee were their own worst enemies when it came to expressing exactly how they felt. There were so many times when Zee just wanted to outright confess her feelings for the boy despite not even knowing his real name. But somehow, Robin kept just enough distance between them. Dick meanwhile wanted to break every rule of secrecy Batman instilled in him and tell her everything. But it was hard. Instead, the two expressed their care for one another through their own little love language. Dick visited often helping Zee with her homework. Movies usually followed once they were done. Just like before in her New York apartment, they’d settle under a warm blanket. Zatanna couldn’t help herself as she’d often cling to his arm. It took a while, but eventually, Dick opened up and let her settle on his side and rest her head on his shoulder. Even better, he started wrapping his arm around her waist to keep her close. For warmth, of course. At first, they tried using the main TV in the living room, but someone always interrupted them with some form of teasing. “Oh look! Mister and missus are cuddling on the couch.” “What movie are you two watching this time? A rom com? Trying to take notes?” Even though their friends weren’t entirely wrong, the pair got tired of all the mockery and decided to just watch movies in her room. Obviously, hiding away in a bedroom like that did nothing to combat the dating allegations, but at least they didn’t have to hear about it.

“Ugh this slow burn might kill me,” Zatanna complained.

“I know! Like c’mon Tristan! Forget Victoria, Yvaine is sooo much better!” Robin yelled to the screen as the movie “Stardust” played on.

“Really? Is that what you like in a woman?” Zatanna poked his side, “A platinum blondie who literally fell from the sky?”

“I heh well…”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to put you on the spot.”

“No no it’s ok. I just uh…I like someone who’s strong and unwilling to let others dictate to her how things should be. Someone who can match my energy and think outside the box like I do. I know I can kinda be quirky or energetic. But I also don’t necessarily want to change who I am for someone else. I’d like someone who’d like me for me. Someone who sees past my height and the mask I wear. Someone I can be comfortable with…And maybe someone with darker hair.”

Silently holding back tears, Zatanna bit her lip a little. She had never really seen him this vulnerable before. He was as open and honest as he could be. It almost felt like an invitation, a plea. Not wanting this opportunity to go to waste, Zatanna climbed over and straddled him. Though stunned, Robin didn’t move. With both hands, she held his face and kept him still. She had him right where she wanted him.

“Do you want to know what I want in a man?” she whispered ever so closely to his lips.

“Yes,” he answered with no hesitation.

“I want someone who cares for me. Someone who understands me. Someone who will be there by my side and won’t let me down. Someone who lifts me up when I’m down and pulls me back when I’m too far. Someone who will listen. Someone I’m comfortable with.”

Slowly, her fingers started to prod at his sunglasses. But she was waiting. For a moment, Zatanna was sure Robin would bring his hand up and stop her. But he didn’t. Gently, she pulled the shades up. Seconds would go by, but it felt like an agonizing eternity for the both of them. Bit by bit the arms of the glasses slid off his temple. Finally, blue eyes shimmered under the light.

“Dick Grayson,” she smiled.

“Y-you knew?!?!”

“Sort of. I had an inkling.”

“How?”

“Call it Magician’s Intuition,” she winked.

“Uh huh…”

“And your school ID fell out of your wallet a while back.”

“Ugh,” he groaned slamming his head back on the pillow, “Seriously?!?!?”

“I guess the Boy Wonder isn’t immune to blunders every now and then.”

“Hahah maybe.”

As the shock of the identity reveal died down a bit, the two were still in a predicament. Zatanna still sat in his lap, and Dick shyly stared into her eyes. Slowly, they began to smile enjoying this little quiet moment. He moved his hands to her waist, holding her securely.

“So,” he started.

“So,” she replied.

“What now?”

“I dunno. Would you like to keep going?” she purred leaning closer again to his lips.

“Yes.”

He leaned up to meet her lips in the middle. Softly and shyly, he kissed her. It was short and sweet, but magical for both of them nonetheless. Zatanna now basically dropped down letting their chests feel close and flushed. Her face was now mere centimeters from his.

“So, are we dating or what?” she whispered.

“I thought we already were. According to our friends at least.”

“Hehe. Well, I hate it when Artemis is right.”

“I hate it when Wally is right.”

“But,” she rolled her eyes, “I guess they weren’t necessarily wrong.”

“No. Not really.”

“But we’re never going to give them that satisfaction, are we?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Good. I love a man who agrees with me.”

“I love a woman who thinks like I do,” he growled capturing her lips again.

In an attempt to alleviate weeks of tension and longing, they kissed and kissed until their lips were dry. Rolling around, tickling, and laughing filled countless minutes as Dick and Zee let free their wants and emotions. Hours later, M’gann knocked on the door.

“Robin? Zatanna? Conner and I are gonna go get some pizza. You two want anything?”

Curiosity got the better of her as no one answered. The door was unlocked, so she gently slid it open. The sight before her warmed her heart. Two dark haired figured cuddled and held each other on the bed. The covers were drawn over them aiding in their deep slumber. M’gann noticed the sunglasses on the end table, but Dick’s back was to her. She could only see Zatanna’s face which was beaming with glee. Silently, the Martian backed out of the room and slid the door close.

“I am so winning the betting pool…”

Despite not openly admitting to dating, Dick and Zee got much lazier about hiding the signs. For example, nearly every night Zatanna would leave the Cave to “go out to eat.” Sometimes she’d stay and have dinner with Conner and M’gann. But more often than not she’d head to the Zeta tube to either get pizza, or a burrito, or some other excuse. However, everyone knew she was going out to see Dick, especially since she’d sometimes only return the morning after. Dick likewise would visit in the mornings and wouldn’t leave till night.

“They have to be dating right? There’s no other logical explanation!” M’gann brought up.

“Oh absolutely,” Artemis agreed, “friends don’t spend hours cuddling like that.”

“I mean some friends do,” Raquel tried to argue.

“Then those friends are dating without even knowing,” Artemis countered, “which only proves my point. Robin and Zatanna are totally dating.”

“Ladies ladies, please,” Wally interjected, “We all know exactly why we’re arguing like this: Who won the bet?”

“There’s no argument. I clearly won,” Artemis stood proudly.

“Whoa now girl. We have yet to nail down an official date,” Raquel argued again.

“But it’s so obvious!!! They clearly started dating two weeks ago!”

“Kaldur?”

“Sigh,” the tired Atlantean opened his notebook, “Per the rules agreed upon, the winner shall only be declared when Robin and Zatanna either openly admit to the date in which they started dating or when they exhibit clear indisputable evidence that they are in a relationship…”

“They’re sleeping with each other!! What more proof do you need!” Artemis yelled.

“You all take naps with Wolf all the time. Doesn’t mean you’re in a relationship with him,” Conner added.

“That’s different! Wolf is floofy and warm! And he’s a dog!!”

“Technically he’s a wolf, Artemis.”

“Shut up Wally!!”

“Wait…..are we trying to argue that Robin is floofy and warm and that’s why Zatanna’s been sleeping with him?”

As the Team argued furiously over the betting pool, over in the dark corner, Robin and Zatanna couldn’t help but snicker.

“When should we tell them?” she asked.

“I dunno. I’m curious to see how long they’ll keep bickering like this.”

“Aww but this kind of chaos can only last for so long.”

“True. But it’ll keep us entertained for at least another week.”

“Wanna bet on it?”

“A side bet on a bet about whether or not we’re dating?” Dick asked.

“Hell yea. It’ll be bet-ception!”

“Zee, you’re brilliant!”

“I know. But say it again.”

While Dick and Zatanna lived in pure bliss, sometimes dating brought new unexpected challenges. Evidently there was such a thing as caring too much about one another.

“Zee look out!!”

“No! Robin, I’ve got this! Stay back!”

“ARRGGGHH!”

“Noooo! Robin. Robin…….Dick, please. Stay with me….”

It was supposed to be a simple mission. Contain the various pieces of Clayface and call it a day. Sadly, it was anything but simple. As Zatanna was working on a containment spell for one of the pieces, another was about to jump her from behind. Robin being the closest to her as always, leapt into action. The Clayface minion stabbed him through the abdomen causing the poor Boy Wonder to fall and break his ankle.

“Ughhh. Z-Zee? Zee??” Robin groggily woke up.

His vision was fuzzy, and his body ached all over. The light humming of the neon lights overhead oddly ground him a bit. There was a weight on his leg, most likely from a cast. Dick tossed and turned desperate to try and find his girlfriend.

“Zee? Zee, where are you? Are you ok?”

Soon, his mind cleared up, and Dick was able to discern where he was. The gray cave-like walls and the sound of bats flapping their wings helped tremendously. He could hear some minor sniffling in the corner. That was when he finally set his eyes on Zatanna who admittedly had seen better days.

“Zee! You’re ok. Oh thank God,” Dick breathed a sigh of relief.

Zatanna however remained silent. She couldn’t even meet his eyes. If anything, according to Dick, she looked miserable. Normally that wouldn’t be much of an issue. Presumably, Dick had been out cold for a considerable amount of time, but this was different. Zatanna was biting her lip, as if she were holding something back. Something terrible had happened, and the poor girl could not muster up the courage to tell him.

“Zee, what’s wrong. Talk to me. How long have I been out?”

“…”

“Zee?”

“Y-you shouldn’t have saved me.”

“What?”

“You shouldn’t have saved me. You’re hurt because of me.”

“That’s not true. Zee, I saved you because I care about you. And honestly, you might be in this bed instead of me. And I…I wouldn’t be able to live with that.”

“Just STOP!” she huffed.

“Huh?”

“I-I’m tired of all this. All this insufferable bullcrap!!”

“Zee what are you talking about.”

“This. Us. I-We’re hurting each other more than you know.”

“No we’re not! Where is this coming from?”

“Dick don’t you see? We’ve been holding each other back. I haven’t been getting stronger and I’m nowhere near close enough to free my father. And you? You’ve been slacking on your training. You used to be so precise and sharp. And now, you slipped and got hurt because of me.”

“That doesn’t mean we should break up! Zee, let’s talk this through. Sure, maybe we’ve been spending a lot of time together, but we can manage. I can train again, no problem. And you know I’d help you with anything. I’ll help you with spellbooks and other stuff. Zee we can do this!”

“Shut up shut up SHUT UP!!!!” she wailed, “I’m sick and tired of you always following me around like a lost puppy.”

“….Zee?”

“Fuck! Always cooking for me. Caring for me. Protecting me. I’m not some little girl, Dick. So, for the love of God stop being my father!” she sobbed.

“I-”

Desperately, Dick tried to sit up and reach out to her, but Zatanna backed away. Again, she refused to make eye contact with him. If Dick wasn’t so stunned by what was going on, he’d probably notice how much Zatanna was biting her lip. He’d probably see that this wasn’t a decision she was making willingly.

“I’m leaving the Team, Dick. I’m going away.”

“B-but why?”

“I have to grow stronger. I have to get better. And so do you.”

“Zee. Please. Talk to me. What’s really going on?”

“I-I can’t bear to see you in this kind of pain.”

“I’ve been through worse.”

“Shut the fuck up, Dick my God. Just let me go already! If you love me even in the slightest, you’ll do what’s best for both of us and just let us go!”

“Zee I don’t think this is the best for us. I love you! I love you enough to take a bullet for you. I love you enough to try and work through whatever this is. Let me in. Talk to me.”

“There’s nothing to talk about anymore. I’ve already packed, and I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Zatanna looked away and wiped her tears with her sleeve. She knew this was harsh, but it was the only way. He needed to feel hurt. This had to be done abruptly and sharply. He’d hate her now, but he’d feel better in the long run. She needed him to forget her.

“……Zatanna,” Dick called out firmly startling her a bit, “Look me in the eyes. Look at me and tell me the truth. Am I really holding you back? Am I really standing in your way?”

Slowly she turned to look at him. She clenched her teeth and tried to remain as stoic as possible. But stoicism was impossible to attain with the tears flowing down her face and her heart shattering. Somehow, someway, Zatanna was able to croak out the words.

“Yes,” she answered.

With that, Zatanna immediately stood up. She practically ran out the infirmary and beelined towards the Zeta tube. Dick just sat back, shellshocked at what just happened. His body no longer ached. His leg no longer hurt. Instead, everything was replaced by a different kind of pain. His heart was just cut out of his chest and thrown on the floor, and there was nothing he could do about it. Zatanna meanwhile couldn’t keep herself composed either. As she programmed the coordinates into the Zeta tube, she could only mutter one single phrase.

“Don’t look back. Don’t look back…”

A lot could happen in two years really. For example, getting used to life in London. Sure, the rainy weather was something Zatanna could do without. And the lack of vegetarian options didn’t help either. But it wasn’t her fault that the best magic school in the world was based here. Honestly, she didn’t even know schools for witchcraft and wizardry existed. Yet another thing her father hid from her under the guise of protection. But alas, she eventually found her way here. Getting back to basics wasn’t too bad. She was happy to learn how to center herself and effectively channel and manage her mystic energy. No more falling completely motionless after a big explosion spell. The school also taught her healing magic which would’ve been helpful years ago when he got hurt…

“Oy! There you are ‘Tanna. Almost didn’t recognize you in that coat!” a voice called out to her in the rain.

“What’s that supposed to mean, John?”

“I’m just saying, when you got legs like those, why hide them?”

“Ugh. Perv.”

“Can’t blame a bloke for tryin’.”

“Yes, I can,” she rolled her eyes and pressed on.

Zatanna wasn’t exactly sure how she and John Constantine became friends. Well, to be fair no one was really her friend at school either. Apparently backwards talking magic was considered low-class and inferior. The longest conversation she had with any of her classmates was with a guy trying to hook up with her. The memory itself disgusted her. This in turn led her to seek entertainment outside the school grounds. A pub wasn’t her first choice at the time, but what was a girl to do on a Friday night. As she sat down at the bar, her drink hadn’t even arrived yet before the scruff blonde next to her got punched in the face. Thinking the poor guy got the short end of the straw, she punched the assailant back. Another punch here, a black eye there, a few more shattered glass pints and all of a sudden, Zatanna was banned from the first pub she ever stepped foot in.

“Anywho, we’re runnin a bit late. Big client this go-around,” John mumbled with a cigarette in his mouth.

“Is that why you need me?”

“More the merrier. Isn’t that what you Americans say?”

“I guess.”

John worked as a sort of private investigator/magic fixer guy. He dealt in unusual magic, stuff that neither her father nor her school would dare teach. But that’s probably why she found it fascinating. Better than turning birds into wine glasses or simply making feathers float anyway. Exploring different realms of magic might also give her ideas on how to free her father. She hoped anyway. Besides, John was the only friendly person around her at this time…even if he tried to get in her pants on more than one occasion.

“Ugh if this is such a big client, why do you still smell of cheap whiskey.”

“Oy! Don’t doubt the whiskey. It’s a confidence booster. You’d know if you came over last night.”

“Shut up, John.”

“I’m just saying. We haven’t really talked about that kiss the other night.

“Now I’m really serious. Shut. Up.”

“Fine fine. But ignoring a topic and erasing its existence are two completely different things.”

Admittedly, that kiss she shared with John when they were out one night did feel…..magical. It was a little needy and aggressive, but it filled a void she’d been harboring. Zatanna tried justifying it to herself with the reasoning that she, like any other human, had needs. But really, deep down, she knew that she just really really missed…..him.

“Alrighty, here we are!” John announced as they arrived at a random alley.

“Uhh ok. Are we meeting the client here?”

“Nope! This is simply the gateway to the client.”

“Ah so we’re conjuring a portal.”

“Believe it or not pretty legs, this door is completely magic-free. Sort of.”

“John stop being cryptic and just get to the point.”

“I am! Because technically one could call the field of science its own form of magic.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, it hit her. She hadn’t been by this particular alley in a while because she hadn’t needed to. In fact, she hadn’t walked down this alley since the day she arrived in London. Because that red worn down phone booth covered in ripped newspapers…..wasn’t just a phone booth.

“John! You can’t be serious. Are you working for-”

*BEEP BEEP*

“Ah chop chop girlie,” John checked his phone, “That means they’re letting us through!”

Without warning, John grabbed Zatanna’s wrist and pulled her into the phone booth. A flash of light enveloped them taking the pair away from the rainy streets of London. Quickly the cramped phone booth became spacious, an all too familiar feeling for Zatanna. She had closed her eyes during the trip but slowly opened them as the indistinguishable computer voice announced their arrival.

“Recognized John Constantine A-33.”

“Recognized Zatanna Zatara B-08”

“B? John inquired as he stepped forward into the main hall, “You’ve been here before?”

“…”

Before Zatanna could really answer, she was immediately glomped into a tight hug.

“ZATANNA!!!! Oh my gosh it’s been soooo long!! It’s so good to see you!!”

“Uhhh,” Zatanna froze before noticing the green skin and red hair, “H-hey M’gann. It’s been a while.”

“When this is all over, we’ve got to catch up!” she squealed, “Like for instance. Who’s the blonde? He your new boyfriend?”

“No! I uh. I’m just working with him for now.”

“Hmmm. Ok,” M’gann eyed her skeptically.

Now released from the clutches of M’gann, Zatanna scanned around the room. Apparently, they had ended up on the Watchtower. Whatever mission they had seemed to be serious. Batman was leading after all, and if Batman needed help from Constantine, the threat must be serious. Some of the other people she recognized. Kaldur was there, which wasn’t surprising given the magical nature of the mission. Same with Wonder Woman. M’gann and Conner rounded out the last two people she knew. As for the new people, two other Atlanteans were present, a dark-haired guy and a redhead girl. Given the way Kaldur would sneak glances at her, Zatanna deduced that she and Kaldur either were romantically involved….or wanted to be. She of all people knew that look of longing very well. On the other side of the room, waiting in Batman’s shadow were two other figures. One was feminine in a purple Batsuit and redheaded. A new apprentice apparently. The other felt…..different. He was tall. Muscular but lean. His suit was dark except for the bright blue bird symbol on his chest. The air around him felt serious, tense. And yet, his aura. Something about him felt familiar to Zatanna. It caused her chest to twist, her heart to ache. He looked over to her, making eye contact. His expression was frozen, unreadable. But Zatanna felt small, like she had wronged this person deeply.

“M’gann, who’s that?”

“Huh? Oh, that’s Batgirl. She’s kinda new but wicked smart!”

“No no. The other one. The guy.”

“Oh. Um. It’s not for me to say.”

“Huh?”

“Just erm don’t worry about it.”

Going to the depths of the Greek Underworld to break Hades of all people out of prison, overthrow Felix Faust, and then put the God of Death back in charge was certainly not on Zatanna’s bucket list. If anything, it was the last thing she’d ever want to do. But souls were not being ferried properly and started to leak back into the land of the living. It didn’t help that this new Nightwing character kept giving her the cold shoulder. He wouldn’t even look at her. The whole vibe he gave off made her feel extremely uncomfortable. And yet, whenever he’d talk to Batgirl, she couldn’t help but feel a minor pang of irritation.

“Oy, you good?” John asked as he held her waist.

“Y-yea.”

“You need to get your mind right, Zatanna. This here is serious business we’re embarkin on.”

“You’re one to talk given your late-night whiskey session.”

“I’ve sobered up since. Batman telling you Hades lost control of the Underworld does that to ya.”

“I’m sure.”

For one frame of a moment, Zatanna looked over and saw Nightwing’s gaze on her, more specifically, John’s hand on her waist. She could feel his eyes squinting into a glare and his fists clenching into a ball. Curiosity gnawing at her, Zatanna pushed John away and slide her way next to Kaldur.

“Kal.”

“Yes, Zatanna.”

“What’s the deal with Nightwing exactly? Why does he look at me like I broke his favorite toy or something.”

“….Forgive me, Zatanna. It’s not my place to say.”

“Ugh. M’gann said the same thing. What about Robin? What happened to him?”

“….”

“Kaldur!!”

“It would be wise to concern ourselves with the matter at hand, Zatanna.”

“Grr you guys are so frustrating.”

If anyone were to say that restoring the King of the Underworld to his rightful throne was easy, they’d be lying. Hades being locked in a tower like a princess was comical at first, but the laughter died down when it took John, Zatanna, and all three Atlanteans to break the enchanted chains that bound him. Faust complicated things as well hiding in a nearly impenetrable fortress. The “nearly” aspect being crucial, as open windows were basically free invitations for three bats. Things were seemingly going according to plan. Sneak in, capture Faust, and restore Hades’s power. Of course, everyone knows that the next step in a very intricate and meticulously designed plan is to throw away the plan and let chaos reign.

“Damn you, Faust!” Hades cried out, “Do you have any idea the magnitude of the unbalance you have caused?”

“You’re in no position to fight and rebel, Hades. I’m the one with the power here! Get ready to BURN!!!”

The heroes were spread out way too thin as Faust had conjured up an endless army of skeletons. Truthfully, they were battered and broken easily, but when one skeleton soldier fell, two more took its place.

“Dleihs!” (Shield!)

Needing to buy time and regroup, Zatanna created an energy dome around the heroes. Massive hoards of skeletons kept crashing into the shield as Zatanna strained to keep its integrity.

“Oy Bats! Got any plans in ya?” John asked.

“I had a plan. Someone decided to make changes.”

“I waited long enough in that tower, you ignorant mortal. I want nothing more than to watch Faust chained by his arms begging for his life,” Hades growled.

“This is getting us nowhere. What exactly do we need to do defeat Faust?” Zatanna chimed in.

“We must break through his enchanted armor and separate him from my bident. Somehow, his garments not only protect him from the full power of my weapon, but also bind him to it,” Hades explained.

“What’s the armor made out of?” Conner asked.

“Not sure,” Diana answered, “But I can see Hephestus’s handiwork on it”

“…..BRILLIANT!” Hades exclaimed, “Hippolyta always said you were smart, Diana.”

“Don’t bring my mother into this, Hades.”

“No no you see, Zeus may have allowed Hephestus to expand his art and build weapons of boundless power, but Zeus would never willingly arm his own insurrection. He instructed Hephestus to place a failsafe in nearly every weapon made.”

“And that would be?” Batman grunted trying to speed things along.

“With a strong enough bolt of lightning, the weapon or armor or whatever would shatter and fall apart.”

“How strong we talking?” Conner tried catching his breath.

“One only Zeus could generate,” Hades sighed.

“Well shit man. Why don’t we being the big man down here and sort this out then!” John grumbled.

“No time. We’ll be dead before news gets up there,” Batman swiftly answered.

“Zatanna can do it.”

Suddenly all eyes turned to Nightwing. Even Zatanna, who still strained to keep the shield up, made eye contact with his blue domino mask. Kaldur, M’gann, and Conner shared concerned looks. Meanwhile, Batman just smirked.

“What are ye goin on about, Blue Boy?” John questioned.

“She can do it. Generate a lightning bolt as strong as Zeus’s.”

“You’re crazy. She’s not nearly powerful enough to pull that off,” John continued to argue.

“She can do it. She just needs time to charge up.”

“Nightwing…” Batgirl placed a hand on his shoulder, “A-are you sure about this?”

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation, “I believe in her.”

For the first time in this entire mission, Nightwing’s gaze didn’t feel so scathing. To Zatanna, it felt warm and empowering. Her heart pounded in her chest. Confidence rushed through her veins as she put a little more umph into the shield.

“Then that’s the plan,” Batman began, “Protect Zatanna at all costs. We form a ring around her. No one gets past. Are we clear?”

“You heard the man!” Conner declared, “Pick a spot and be ready!”

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this…” Constantine groaned.

As planned, the heroes formed a ring around Zatanna with their backs to her, facing the oncoming swarms of skeleton. With a countdown from Batman, she expanded the shield pushing the hoard away but let it dissipate to begin charging her spell. Like clockwork, each hero fended off skeleton after skeleton doing their best to keep Zatanna focused and uninterrupted. M’gann used her telekinesis pushing away the oncoming soldiers. Conner punched his way forward shattering all in his way. Soon, little sparks began encircling around Zatanna. Her eyes remained closed as she tried to take deep breaths. Catching onto the plan, Faust launched a wave of fire at the group. Hades fortunately stepped in taking the brunt of the attack. However, it was all a diversion as Faust charged forward. Breaking formation, Conner lunged at the sorcerer, only to be knocked away. Flames encircled M’gann taking her out completely. With the ring broken, the skeleton began to overwhelm the heroes. All three Atlanteans along with Batman and Batgirl were completely held down. Seeing his opportunity, Faust leapt forward into the air, ready to thrust his weapon right at Zatanna. Too focused on charging her spell, she wasn’t even aware of how open she was until it was too late. She opened her eyes, expecting two sharp prongs to have pierced her body. But they never did. She remained untouched. Instead, her eyes were met with the white eyes of a blue domino mask. Everything suddenly became silent. No skeletons. No battles. No fight for the Underworld. It was just her and him. She looked down finally seeing two sharp prongs puncturing the blue bird symbol. Blood slowly trickled down his chest. Her eyes moved back up not to meet the blue domino mask again, but to reconnect with the blue eyes she longed to meet again. And now, she couldn’t breathe.

“…..Dick,” she croaked as her throat dried out.

“Y-you…….Y-you can d-do it, Z-Zee…”

Unceremoniously breaking the moment, Faust swung his bident and flung Nightwing’s body elsewhere. Though everyone strained to get up and help, Faust was still within striking distance of Zatanna, too close for anyone to come to her aid in time.

“Pft. Idiot. He only delayed the inevitable,” Faust smirked.

*CRACKLE CRACKLE CRACKLE*

“Hmm?” he looked down before him.

The ground started to shake. Air was circling around like a vortex. More and more sparks of lightning gradually appeared. Intense magical energy was being drawn inward. Finally, Faust looked down to see winds swirling around Zatanna. The rage emanating from her body was so intense, everyone could feel the heat. Her eyes glowed brightly blue as she twisted her torso and cocked her arms back.

“Ll’I llik uoy…” (I’ll kill you)

Despite a whisper so soft, no one heard her, Zatanna pushed her arms forward letting out an immense burst of electricity. The lightning blast was so intense, it enveloped everything around it. All the surroundings, all the skeletons, everything was drowned out by the blinding light of energy. Moments later, the floor was completely cleared of skeletons. Faust had crashed into a nearby wall. He looked thin and burnt as his armor completely disintegrated. Zatanna floated for a bit, eyes glowing, but fell to the floor in exhaustion. Only seconds later, she let out a breath and strained to get up.

“Dick?” she cried out not caring about secret identities, “Dick!??!”

Seeing him just a few feet away lying in a pool of blood, Zatanna used whatever strength she had left to crawl towards him. John came over to try and help her up, but she aggressively swatted him away.

“Zatanna…”

“Get away from me. I-I need to see him. I need to hold him,” she sobbed.

In a few excruciating minutes, Zatanna finally made her way to his body. Sitting up, she cradled his head into her lap and let her tears fall onto his face.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry…”

As she sat just outside the Watchtower’s infirmary, Zatanna couldn’t help but chuckle. It was ironic, almost cruel that she’d find herself in this situation again. Sitting outside a sickbay, waiting, hoping, praying that the man she loved would wake up soon. As if the uncertainty of Dick’s survival didn’t already weight heavily on her mind, Zatanna just had to be reminded of her biggest regret…

TWO YEARS AGO

Nervous and worried, Zatanna walked down the steps of the Batcave towards the sick bay carrying a bowl of tangerines. Guilt clenched her heart tightly. It was her fault that he leapt in the way to save her. Why did he have to do that? Why did he always have to be there for her? Because he was Dick Grayson, she realized. Reliable. Dependable. Everything she loved about him. A smile formed on her face. She was just grateful that he was alive.

“Zatanna,” a booming voice called out.

Over by the computer sat Bruce, still in his suit sans the cowl. Though startled, Zatanna still made her way towards him. But as she got closer, her gait shortened, and her steps softened. Something was different. Bruce was serious…..well more serious than usual about something.

“Is everything alright, Bruce?”

“Zatanna, how……serious are you and Dick?”

“I uh um…”

“Please. Tell me.”

“I-I mean I g-guess it’s too early to tell but…” she stammered trying to avoid Batman’s glare, “I might love him.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m serious! He is kind and loyal and my rock. He’s supportive, encouraging. He’s always there for me. He always cares for me. And I….I just want to do everything I can for him.”

“Sigh. Zatanna, there’s no easy way for me to say this.”

“What do you mean?”

“You need to let him go.”

“What?!?!? What do you mean let him go?!?!?”

“You need to stop seeing him.”

“Like hell I will!! You’re not my father, Bruce!”

“He agrees too.”

“Y-you spoke to my father?”

“Briefly. Zatanna, I know this is hard to hear, but right now, you two are hurting each other.”

“How can you say that? How can you honestly look me in the eyes and say that I’m hurting Dick?”

“Because you’re drawing focus away from what’s important. You keep saying that you’ll find a way to free your father, but have you actually done anything about it?”

“Don’t you bring him into this,” she growled.

“Have you improved your magical abilities? Have you grown stronger?”

“N-no…”

“You and Dick spend hours and hours being together, doting on each other. You both are neglecting what’s important.”

“Well excuse me for wanting to spend time with my BOYFRIEND!”

“Your feelings for each other are clouding your judgement. It’s finally caught up to you both. Dick hasn’t been training and even when he is, he’s distracted. Today we were lucky. But if he’s not careful, the next slip up could be worse.”

“He dove in to save me from Clayface!!!”

“If he were thinking clearly, he could have frozen Clayface with an ice disk. Instead, his protective instincts made him dive and take that shot.”

“So what? Are you trying to make him a robot? A heartless being?”

“No. Of course not. But you’re hindering each other’s potential.”

“What potential?”

“Zatanna, you and I both know Dick is an extraordinary person. Like you said he is strong, loyal, dependable. He has drive, skill, and heart. He has qualities that will make him great. Better than I ever could be.”

“B-but.”

“He is good at what he does, just like you are. Your father has told me you have immense power locked away deep inside you. But you need proper training and teaching to bring it out. Neither of you can be your best selves if you keep distracting yourselves like this.”

“SCREW ALL THAT!!” she started to cry, “What if we don’t want to be the best superheroes or whatever?!??! We just want to be together. To be happy.”

“I know. But you know how he is. He’ll jump in front of you over and over again to take whatever bullet comes. And one day he might not come back from it. Zatanna, you both have to become greater if you’re going to protect each other. That’s the hard truth.”

“I-I don’t think I can do it. I won’t do what you’re asking of me.”

“You have to.”

“Even if I wanted to, he’ll fight for me. I know it.”

“I know,” Bruce sighed, “This is not an easy favor, Zatanna. But it has to be this way…”

Zatanna dropped to the floor sobbing. Tangerines rolled around everywhere as the bowl clattered on the floor. Bruce to his credit knelt down and tried to comfort her. It wasn’t really helping, but Zatanna accepted anything at this point.

“Fate and your father have arranged for you to go to school in London. A school for witchcraft and wizardry. It’s for your own good, Zatanna,” Bruce spoke softly.

“And Dick? Are you sure he’ll make the League one day?”

“Zatanna, he’s going to lead it.”

PRESENT DAY

As her anxiety subsided, Zatanna stared at the door before her. Her heart practically begged for her to walk forward, but that memory of Bruce irked her like a thorn in her side. He knew it too. It was probably why he stood brooding in the corner watching her this whole time.

“I know it’s your brand or whatever, but standing there in the shadows is starting to get creepy,” she growled.

Slowly, Batman stepped into the light. His cape was draped over his shoulders. He stood tall. To the superstitious and cowardly lot, he was menacing. To Zatanna, he was just a man. She had nothing to say to him.

“You’ve grown,” he bellowed.

“…”

“You’re stronger. Magic like that is difficult, even for Zatara.”

“Don’t try and justify what you made me do,” she spat back, “We’re right here back at square one. Dick got hurt trying to save me. Same result.”

“…..I was wrong, Zatanna.”

“Huh?” she turned to look at him.

“It pained me just as much as it hurt you to see him in that condition, to see him hurt, almost to the brink of death. I knew Dick could be great, and I demanded perfection out of him because I thought perfection would keep him alive. But I sorely misjudged his heart. When you left, there was no joy in his eyes anymore. He stopped cackling. He changed his gear. He became cold and calculating. And he was angry. He became more….more like me.”

“I-I didn’t know.”

“When Zucco murdered his parents, I moved heaven and earth to bring Dick the closure he needed. He brought his parents’ killer to justice. Since that day, Dick was never motivated by guilt, but by his nature to do good. In trying to make him better than Batman, I’d forgotten that. When I sent you away, I unwillingly sent away his heart, his light. I see that now. I was blinded by my belief that there is only the mission. The mission is all I will ever know. But Dick knows better. I taught him to be better. And he already is.”

“B-Bruce I lost two years with him. I said things I never meant, and they were cruel and scathing. He hates me. I could feel it even today.”

“You and I both know Dick could never hate you.”

“But we left on such bad terms,” she started sobbing, “I-I don’t know if I can fix that.”

Unmasking his cowl right in the middle of the infirmary, where anyone could see his face, Bruce stepped forward and hugged her. Zatanna sobbed loudly and incessantly letting out two years of pain and sorrow.

“You can do anything, Zatanna. Your father thought so.”

“M-my father never thought I was good enough. Why else would he send me far away to a dumbass school?” she stammered through her tears.

“Your father thinks the world of you. I told you before, he knew you were powerful, but he also didn’t want you to get hurt. Don’t blame him. He just wanted to protect you the best he could.”

“Pft. Even under the helm of Fate, he never changed.”

“Nor should he. Fathers are like that, Zatanna. When you have a child of your own, you’ll understand. The fear of them failing. The sacrifices you make. All in the name of making them better. Be better than us, Zatanna. Be better than we ever could be.”

The slight whirring of the neon lights felt familiar. Of course they were probably the same lights as the Batcave. Bruce funded the Watchtower’s construction after all. She approached his bed slowly, still unsure about being here. White bandages were wrapped around his chest. He was breathing. He was alive. Just resting. Leaning closer to the bed, Zatanna couldn’t help but admire how much he’d grown. He was finally six feet tall, just like he wanted. There were contours around his eyes, marks from how tight he wore his mask. His body was bigger, fuller, but not overly bulky. It was lean, but toned, the perfect acrobat. His cheeks had filled out, and his jaw had sharpened. He was handsome. He was beautiful.

“Urrrr,” he groaned.

Taken aback, Zatanna froze. A mix of emotions ran through her mind in waves. He was waking up. This was good. But what would he say to her? What was she supposed to say to him? Before she could compose herself, his eyes opened. They blinked a couple of times as he tried to assess his surroundings. Then, they landed on her. His expression remained blank for a minute while the gears in his brain were turning. But in real time, memories flooded his mind. Zatanna could see in his eyes go from wondering if he died, confirming that he was still alive, and understanding that the girl in front of him was real.

“I told you you could do it,” he smirked.

That was it. That goddamn smile. It broke her. Shattered her heart into a million pieces. She knelt down and pressed her face into the side of the bed sobbing. Dampening the sheets with her tears. Zatanna cried for what felt like forever. Meanwhile Dick laid silently, letting Zatanna vent out her frustrations, her sadness, her relief.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled finally dried of tears, “I’m sorry you got hurt again because of me.”

“Heh. I thought you hated me,” he brushed her hair with his hand.

“I could never hate you. I know I said all those things. But I never meant any of them. Not a single one.”

“It felt like you did.”

“Well, I did believe one thing. I really did think that you’d be better off without me. And heh I mean look at you. You got stronger.”

“But I didn’t get better. Did you?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“I wouldn’t say that. You’re even more beautiful than I remember,” he smiled wiping her tears with his thumb.

“I guess you haven’t changed either. Still jumping in front of sharp objects for me.”

“Please. This was nothing. Just a flesh wound.”

“Don’t you dare downplay this,” she said firmly now clenching his hand.

“Sorry. It’s just….I’m really happy to see you.”

“You didn’t seem so earlier.”

“I was confused. I wasn’t sure how to react really. Seeing you again brought up a lot of feelings. I was angry at first. I tried so hard to forget about you and move on. I erm….dated Barbara for a while.”

“Barbara?”

“Batgirl.”

“Ah.”

“She probably won’t be happy that I just outted her like that.”

“Eh, blame the morphine,” Zatanna chuckled.

“You’ll have to remind me heh. But yea, it didn’t last long. She broke up with me. Said I wasn’t really committed to the relationship as she was. She knew I kept holding onto you. And just when I thought I was good enough to move on, you show up in a flash of light in a Zeta tube. I felt like I was 14 again.”

“And you let M’gann say hi to me this time.”

“I wanted to throw M’gann out the airlock.”

“Hahahahhahah.”

“I’m serious!”

“I know hahaha I know.”

“What about you?”

“Hmm?”

“What’s the deal with trench coat and whiskey?”

“Oh. Him.”

“Yes, him.”

“He’s a friend. Annoying honestly, but he’s been good to me.”

“Hmmm.”

“Stop pouting,” she lightly nudged his arm, “He’s no you.”

Despite the lightness of the conversation, the air still felt a little tense. It seemed like Dick and Zatanna were friendly again, but the future felt uncertain. Once again, years later, neither felt courageous enough to take the next step. But someone had to say something.

“I-I don’t expect you to forgive me or forget all the mean things I said to you. But I hope you know, Dick, I love you. I’ve always loved you. Every night you came to my window my heart fluttered. You made me giddy, happy. And when you cooked for me when I lost my father, it meant the world to me. I felt so alone, forgotten. I didn’t fit into the team yet. And everything happened so suddenly. I lost my school, my friends. But you leaving tray after tray of food reminded me that the world hadn’t ended and that someone out there cared. And I’m beyond glad that that person was you. I know things have changed. We’ve changed to an extent. But please know, I love you and have always loved that you followed me everywhere I went.”

Teary, she moved to get up, but she didn’t get far. Dick held her wrist and motioned her to sit down. A smile formed on his face as she looked at him. Indulging him a bit, Zatanna grasped his hand between hers.

“I’d follow you forever, Zee. I’d follow you like morning follows night.”

“I know. It’s why I said those awful things. I thought if you hated me or thought I hated you, you’d let go and move on. I was hoping day by day you’d grow numb to me.”

“Zee, when you left, I lost my light. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t live.”

“Bruce said you became angry and dark. Is….is this because of me?” she gestured to his suit in the corner.

“I couldn’t bear to be Robin anymore. He felt like an identity I’d always tied to you. Robin and Zatanna. Zatanna and Robin. There were so many good memories deeply ingrained in that red and black suit. I needed a change.”

“Hmm.”

“I thought it would help. To be stronger. To let my rage drive me. But it just didn’t feel right. It felt forced and unnatural. I was hurting criminals. I wasn’t pulling my punches. I felt awful.”

“Dick, I’m so sorry. Admittedly I didn’t fare any better either. I was judged at my new school, shunned, and left alone without you. But I’m here. Here with you now. So, I want us to make a promise.”

“A promise?”

“Yes. A promise that we will be better. We’ll be better together. No more angsty lies. No more darkness. No more doubt. Just you and me, day by day.”

“Do you mean it?”

“Dick, all I want is to be with you. I love you. Let me follow you for once.”

“I-I love you, too,” he smiled blinking tears away.

Happy with his acceptance, Zatanna kicked off her shoes and let her coat float over to a nearby chair. Curling her legs onto the bed, she laid down next to Dick, careful not to press against any wounds or remaining sore spots. As her head rested against his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her waist. Despite the cramped hospital bed, Dick and Zee were more comfortable than they had been in a long time. Like two perfect puzzle pieces, they clung together tightly and perfectly. She craned her head up a bit to meet his eyes. Slowly they leaned forward, lips meeting for the first time in forever.

“You still haven’t made your promise,” she whispered into the kiss.

“Say it backwards.”

“Sigh. Only if you say it too.”

“Deal.”

“Retteb rehtegot.” (Better together)

“Rettab rahtegot,” Dick tried.

“Eh close enough,” she rolled her eyes.

“I’ll work on it! Day by day.”

“And I’ll be there to help you, day by day…”