I got a lot of review of a couple stories I did saying that they would like some more Chalant stories. I am happy to oblige. There can never be too many. So, this is a sister story to Guilt. Hope you enjoy it :)
The team was at the cave doing their usual thing. Kaldur was sitting in a corner reading. Conner was watching static. Megan was in the kitchen perfecting cake batter. Zatanna was helping Megan. Wally and Artemis were fighting. Again. And Robin...was nowhere to be seen. No one was really paying attention to the bickering teens because this was a regular occurence. They always sorted it out on their own. However, when the volume escalated, it was hard to ignore."All I wanted was for you to stop tapping! Not for you to keep talking to me like an idiot!" Aretmis yelled.
"Well, I was bored! If you won't let me tap or hum, you will have to serve as my entertainment!" Wally shouted back. Artemis growled and threw her hands in the air in frustration.
"Where is Robin when you need him?" Artemis yelled.
As if waiting for that cue, Robin walked in. "Gee, Artemis. I didn't know you felt that way." Artemis smirked. Grabbing his shoulders, Artemis threw the younger boy at her tormentor.
"Robin, if you value my sanity at all, you will entertain Kid Mouth." Artemis begged. Robin laughed. He had landed on Wally's lap and just made himself comfortable.
"Hey, Supes. Think we can change the channel to something that will occupy our little Wally-kins' attention?" Robin asked, earning a thump to the head from the red head mentioned. Superboy handed over the remote wordlessly. Anything to get Wally to stop talking. Robin swtiched the setting on the TV so he could cream Wally in some video game or another. As they were playing, Zatanna walked around the couch to sit down while the cake she and Megan made baked in the oven. Robin saw her long, wavy hair draped over her shoulder. He stared at the way her tank top showed off her amazing neckline. Next thing the boy wonder new, Wally was yelling in triumph that he won. Then, Wally was silent. He never won. Not when playing Rob.
Everyone stared at the boy wonder. Robin looked at them all. "What?" He asked nervously. His voice cracking again. They were all used to it by now, but it was still embarrassing to him. Wally put a hand on his forehead.
"You feeling okay, Rob?" Wally asked. Robin slapped his hand away.
"Wally, I'm fine." Robin laughed. Trying to play off their worry. He couldn't let the team know that he had a crush on Zatanna. Especially since Zee was part of the team! Wally looked a little more than skeptic.
"Robin, I have never beaten you except like twice when we were kids. And you have never let me win. What's up?" Wally demanded answers.
Conner heard Robin's heart kick into high gear. He saw the way that Robin was looking at them all like he was a cornered animal. "Are you sure you're okay?" the clone asked.
"Seriously, Robin. You look like you're gonna pass out or something," Artemis said. Robin jumped up.
"I'm fine! Stop worrying. There is nothing to worry ab- Whoa!" Robin yelped as he tripped over Wally's outstretched legs. And feel to the ground. It was one thing for Robin to trip. It was a whole other matter entirely when he fell instead of doing some crazy flip to catch himself. "Crap," Robin said. He knew that his team wasn't going to let up now. He couldn't help it. He had looked at Zee's face when he stood up. Her eyebrows were furrowed in concern and there was a slight pout in her lips...he went weak-kneed and just feel over.
Megan was the first to speak. "Okay. Something's wrong. Now tell us, Robin." Megan used her power to hold the boy where he was, much to Robin's chagrin. He struggled and fought against the invisible force to no avail.
"Megs, come on! Let me up." He complained.
"If I let you up you won't tell us what's wrong." Megan pointed out.
"Nothing is wrong," Robin repeated.
Wally crossed his arms. "Mm hmm. That's why I beat you. Because everything is perfectly fine." Wally said sarcastically. Robin looked at his knees. He wasn't talking. Zatanna knelt down in front of Robin. He still kept his gaze firmly on his knees. Zatanna put a hand under his chin and forced him to look at her.
"Robin, just talk to us," Zatanna said kindly. Robin's face got even redder than before. He couldn't help it. She was just so close. It felt like he had the wind knocked out of him. Robin also got that same feeling he had a week ago. Like they were in their own world, just him and Zee. Superboy heard the younger's boy breathing hitch in his throat. "Robin?" Zatanna asked. He didn't say anything, he just stared at her. His body was visibly trembling with pent up energy. He just wanted to get away from those piercing blue eyes. If he stared at them much longer, Robin knew that he would blurt it out.
Megan gasped a little at the raw emotion Robin sent her. The need to run. The need to preserve...something. He wouldn't tell her what, but the message was clear. Megan released her hold on Robin, who jumped up and bolted. Soon after, Kid Flash was racing after him. Mean while, Artemis looked at Megan. "M'gann, why did you let him go? Something's clearly wrong."
"I...don't know if something is exactly wrong. He just has something on his mind. Something that he really doesn't feel like sharing. With anyone. I felt this incredible desire to just...run. He felt like a caged animal." Megan explained. Zatanna stared at the spot where Robin had been. There had been something so...electric about staring at him. She still remembered the vivid color of his blue eyes. Maybe that was why. She was imagining looking past the glasses.
Wally ran around his friend. Robin didn't have time to stop, so he tried to shoulder his way passed. Wally just stuck out an arm in front of Robin's chest. The force of the impact spun Wally around, but he used it to his advantage, wrapping his other arm around his best friend. "Wally, let go!" Robin yelled. He knew what was coming. He didn't want to admit his feelings to Wally. The speedster wouldn't ever let him hear the end of it.
"Rob, just tell me what's going on," Wally said. Robin sighed and stopped struggling.
"Fine, but we have to talk in my room." Robin said. Wally nodded. He knew all the precautions Batman took where his son was concerned. Dick's was the only room Conner couldn't hear them talk. Once they got in, Robin shut the door and removed his sunglasses, becoming Dick Grayson.
"So, what's up?" Wally asked, sitting down on Dick's bed. Dick sighed and walked over to sit next to Wally.
"You-you have to swear not to tell," Richard warned. Wally nodded. "Okay...Well...I-I kind of...might have a-a thing...for Zatanna." Dick said quietly. Wally thought about that for a moment and started chuckling. Dick looked up at his best friend in betrayal. "Are-are you. . . . . laughing?"
Wally tried to stop laughing. "I'm sorry, Dick...but I just can't believe that you took so long to tell me," Wally shook his head.
"You knew?"
"Duh, I knew," Wally said with a look of offense on his face. "I'm your best friend. How did you figure I wouldn't notice? Your voice was cracking more than usual. You get this kind of goofy grin when you talk about her, or to her. And the way you just stared at her during the video game? Obvious!" Wally said.
Dick glared. "Then why did you make such a big deal with the rest of the team?"
"A few reasons. One, if I didn't, they would think something's up. Two, because it's fun to mess with you. Three, and most importantly, I am a little offended that you didn't come to me with this sooner." Wally scowled a little before his usual grin was back on his face. "You got it bad, Dick."
"I-I do not!" Dick protested, face rivaling Wally's hair, and voice cracking. Wally snickered.
"Oh, but you do."
Dick ran a hand through his hair. "I...I mean...Well,...She's just so pretty, ya know?" Dick accepted his feelings. "No. That doesn't even cover it. She's gorgeous. Zee is smart and funny. She has a great laugh. Her smile is just...wow." Wally laughed as Dick feel back on the bed with the biggest love-struck grin the ginger had ever seen.
"Soooooo...what happened to Barbara?" Wally asked.
Dick looked up at him. "Who?" Wally laughed even harder.
"Oh, man you are so love-sick! You can't even remember the girl you were crushing on for two years? Man, Zatanna must be something."
Dick frowned. " 'Something'? Dude, she's everything. Zatanna is the total package, and then some." Wally held up his hands in surrender.
"Okay, man. Whatever you say." Dick just smiled, lost in thought about Zatanna. "So?" Wally said, playfully nudging Dick.
"'So' what?"
"So, when are you going to ask her?" Wally asked impatiently.
Dick propped himself on his elbow. "Ask who what?" the thirteen year old boy looked totally lost.
Wally face-palmed. "Oh, my gosh, Dick. Ask Zatanna out!"
"Ask her out where?" Dick asked. He still wasn't sure how that all worked. Did you actually have to go somewhere? Were you allowed to do something as simple as hanging out at the park?
Wally groaned. "Dick, you are so clueless. It doesn't matter. You can go to the movies, go out to eat. Heck, you could just take her out to get ice cream. All that matters is that you ask her. Although, I wouldn't recommend going to the movies on a first date."
"What? Why not?" Dick asked, now sitting up.
"The whole point of a first date is to get to know the person. You know, talk? You can't do that unless you have both seen the movie before."
"Oh. Okay. But...how?"
"'How' what?" Wally asked.
"How do I ask her out?" Dick said.
Wally smiled. "Oh. That. Well, you could ask her directly, or be creative and subtle. For the direct approach, it'd probably be best to do it alone. As for subtly, well I don't think the boy wonder would have any problem with that."
Dick smiled. "Thanks, Wally. But...I don't think that I could ask her out."
Wally was totally confused. "And just why, the heck, not?"
Dick crossed his legs in front of himself loosely and fiddled with one of his shoelaces. "What...what if she...you know...What if Zee says no?"
Wally smiled. "Dick. You can't let that stop you. How many times did I hit on M'gann when she kept rejecting me?"
"Every single time you saw her until Artemis told you that she was dating Conner." Richard replied.
Wally nodded. "So, you can't not ask her out because she might say no. There's also a chance that she would say yes. Who knows? Zatanna might like you too. A lot. She might have a shrine to you. For all we know, Zatanna whispers in her sleep, 'Robin...I love you.'" Dick blushed.
"Wally, come on. Don't be mean," Dick pouted.
Wally gently pushed him. "I'm not, honest. I think you seriously have a shot."
Dick rolled his bright blue eyes. "Yeah, right. In what world would a girl like Zatanna Zatarra go for a guy like me?" Wally shook his head and stood up.
"Whatever man. Well, I'm going to go do some damage control. You staying in here?" Wally queried before walking out the door.
Dick lay down on his bed. "Uh...yeah. I don't think I can take another run in with those baby blues of Zatanna's right now." Wally shrugged and left his friend to his thoughts. The second he shut the door, Wally pulled out his phone and texted Artemis.
Wally: Dude. We need to talk. Now.
Artemis: What is it, Kid Idiot?
Wally: You're Zee's best friend, right?
Artemis: Yeah...So what?
Wally: You would know who she likes, then
Artemis: Well, she definitely isn't into you, Baywatch
Wally: No! Not me, Arty.
Artemis: Then who?
Wally: If I tell you, I am dead. You have to tell me who
Artemis: Yeah, right. Like I would betray her trust
Wally: Ugh! Fine...I never told you this, okay?
Artemis: Okay
Wally: ...It's Robin. I tried to get him to ask her out, but he's too afraid she'll say no
Artemis: ...We REALLY need to talk
Wally: ?
Artemis: Zee has it pretty bad for the boy wonder, but she thinks he doesn't notice her
Wally: Dude. meet me in my room. NOW
Wally shut his phone and walked into his room. A minute later, Artemis walked in. Wally crossed his arms. "She seriously thinks he doesn't notice her?"
"She says that they are just good friends. And she thinks that's all there will ever be between them, because he isn't aware of girls yet."
Wally snorted. "Okay, seriously? Has she not noticed his voice cracking? Puberty is definitely working its magic on our bird boy. And you would not believe how hyper-aware of her he really is. Zee is all he can think about lately. Or talk about." Wally thought back on their recent conversations. Anything that remotely related to the sorceress, and Robin would go into a monologue.
Artemis smiled. "Well, Zee isn't much better. She can't stop talking about how his sunglasses make him mysterious. The way his hair flops in his eyes the perfect way. She loves his humor, and she says that lately, he is the only person that makes her feel totally like herself with her dad...you know...absent."
Wally ran his hands through his hair and started pacing. "Okay...So, my best friend is head over heels for your best friend...Yours is head over heels back. Neither one of them thinks that they have a chance with the other..." Wally snapped his fingers. "Got it!"
"I have an idea too," Artemis smiled.
"We send them both a note, telling them to meet somewhere-"
"-and say that it's from the other person." Artemis finished. The speedster and the archer looked away from each other, slightly blushing. They weren't used to getting along, let alone sharing thoughts.
"Um...uh, yeah. Exactly," Wally said, slightly stunned. Artemis smiled.
"Okay then. So...how are we doing this?"
And, that is where we leave off. Originally, this was just a Chalant fic, but I think I will throw in a little Spitfire action as well. My favorite couples :) Reviews are always appreciated!