Dick was sitting in the Watchtower, mapping out the next mission for the team. Since the destruction of Mount Justice the team had been doing everything from the Watchtower. It was weird; he liked being here with the League. Several times since being here he questioned whether he should finally join the team.
It's not like he didn't deserve it. Working with Batman had given him tons of experience and ever since leading the team, that's been very much enhanced. But he couldn't leave the team, something about the thought was just wrong to him. He was so distracted by the things going through his head that he didn't really notice another person enter the room.
He turned around in his chair to see Zatanna looking at him in the doorway. They just looked at one another before she sighed and walked over to his table.
"Mind if I sit?" She gestured to the table.
"Of course not, have a seat." She sat down across from him with some food. He looked at the time, just dinner time. It didn't matter, he wasn't hungry. Zatanna had started eating and he couldn't help but look at her. They haven't really talked since the truth about Artemis and Aqualad came out. She was pretty hurt about the whole thing.
She looked up, and caught him staring. But of course he didn't back down, she knew him better. Man, it's like she's prettier every time I see her. I miss her so much.
"What are you working on?" She's looking at the maps.
He shrugs, "Just deciding where everyone's headed for the next mission."
"How's the team been doing lately?"
Dick sighs, leaning back in his chair. "It's a mess Zee; everyone is still shaken up about the whole thing. Half of them hate me and the others don't trust me anymore. They need confirmation from Batman or Red Tornado as to whether the missions I give them are League allowed. It's awful. Mal is the only one trying to make it work with me but even he has his limits. I don't know what to do." He says, placing his head in his hands. She is the only one he would be this comfortable exposing these feelings to.
Without looking up from her soup she says, "Maybe you need to take a break."
"Are you telling me to give up?"
"I'm not telling you to give up, Dick. I would never say that. I just think you need to give them space, let them cool down. Seeing you every day and getting missions from you probably isn't making them feel better."
He thought about it, maybe she was right. "And what about you?"
She tilted her head slightly, looking at him. A gesture he knew well. "What about me what?" she asked.
"Where do you stand in all of this? How are you feeling?"
"I'm not going to lie Dick, I'm still incredibly hurt. I feel so used. You're the one who asked me for that charm, you're the one who made this plan, and you're the one who should've told me what was going on! Instead you let me believe that my best friend was dead, killed by an old teammate to make matters even worse. And yes, I know, it was for the safety of everyone if no one knew. But it's me, Dick. The one person who I thought you trusted more than anyone…" She had a few tears in her eyes and seeing them hurt Dick to no end.
He wanted to make her feel better but he knew he couldn't, not yet. "I do trust you more than anyone Zee and I wanted to tell you so bad. You wouldn't believe how many sleepless nights I had about whether I should tell you or not. But I don't know it just never happened."
She just looks at him sadly, "Is it because our relationship, or whatever it was, ended?"
"No of course not! The only people in on this were Kaldur, Artemis, Wally and I. And unfortunately Wally was only told because Artemis needed him to know. If not for him then for herself. It was a very strict need-to-know basis. And I'm so sorry for that. I just hope someday that you'll forgive me for it."
Zatanna smiles at him softly, "I do forgive you Dick. At least I think I do. I can't hold a grudge for long, especially against you. I just wish I were involved, that's all." She shrugs in conclusion.
Dick can't believe the amount of relief he feels because of what she said. "Thank you Zatanna. I really needed that. Everyone is against me, I'm glad you're not. Even Tim is a bit skeptical, he'll talk to me but I can tell our relationship is strained."
"Don't worry about it. He'll come around, they all will." She reaches over the table and places her hand on his arm. A comforting touch.
"I hope so Zee. I hope so. Anyway, let's talk about you shall we? How's the League treating you?"
She smiles, "The League is fantastic! It's so cool to be a part of something so big. Everywhere I go people recognize me, which can actually be pretty annoying."
"I bet you wish you had a secret identity like me don't you?" He winks at her.
Smiling at him, she answers, "Oh yeah, for sure. You're cruising around the social scene by day and crime fighting by night. What would all your socialite friends think if they knew the Dick Grayson they know and love was actually fighting evil in a black skin-tight spandex suit?"
"What? You don't like the suit?" He asks, gesturing to his chest in mock surprise.
She smirks, "Oh, I can't complain about it." It was her turn to wink.
"God Zee, I've missed you. Seriously."
"I've missed you too Dick; and for longer than when I was upset you. I feel like we haven't talked in a year."
"It's because we haven't, not really."
Zatanna sighs, "Not since our fallout."
"Come on Zee, you know I'll always love you but we just didn't work. We both decided on that, remember?"
"Yeah I decided on that then. But we've had time apart and honestly since you've been here all the time I realized that I was ready for us again. If you are that is…" She looked away embarrassed; which was rare for her.
Dick stands up and goes around the table to sit in the chair next to her, "Zatanna, I've been ready for you since we called it off a year ago. I just wasn't aware of it until now."
"So what does this mean?"
Dick shrugs, "I don't see how it can hurt. Besides, if I say no you might cast a spell on me and make me change my mind."
Zatanna laughed at that. The kind of laugh that made her eyes crinkle and her mouth open; showing her teeth. This was the perfect opportunity for Dick to really notice what has changed. Her hair is slightly shorter and thicker and split down the middle. Her lips seem fuller and redder. And of course her body changed only the way a girl could.
Dick leaned forward, supporting himself in front of her by placing his elbows on the armrests of her chair. Their faces were inches apart; he could feel her light breath on his mouth. She opens her mouth to say something but he stops it with a kiss. At first it's just a tentative kiss, neither of them sure about this reconnection. But then her hands are on his face and he's pulling her out of his chair, back into his. They stop to rearrange themselves on his chair, him leaning back in it and her straddling his waist.
Her hands are up and holding his face again, running along his jaw and hairline while his hands are fully immersed in her hair. He brings one hand down, pushing on the small of her back to bring her closer to him. He's missed her like crazy and he wants to be with her like this for as long as possible. Just as a small moan slipped from the back of her throat, the intercom buzzed in, it was Batman calling her. They broke apart instantly, staring at each other.
Both of them sit there, catching their breath.
"I guess I better get going, you and I both know I can't really keep Batman waiting," she laughs, stands up and smooth's out her hair.
Dick laughs too, "Oh yes. I remember those days. Not sure if I miss them or not."
She smiles, understanding their relationship. "I seriously do have to get going though." She starts walking towards the door.
"See you later then." He says with all the confidence in the world.
She doesn't even turn around, just walks through the doorway saying, "Of course. We can pick up from where we left off." And then the doors close behind her. Leaving Dick to his work, and feelings of excitement.
Dick's sitting in his living room with a peanut butter sandwich in one hand and the TV remote in the other. He just took a bite into his sandwich when he hears a light rapping on his door. He makes his way to the door, pulling on a hoodie to cover his bare chest. He looks out the peep hole but doesn't see anyone, his defences go up.
Slowly he opens the door, preparing himself.
And then Zatanna slips through the opening. His defences fall as he closes the door. He turns to her and she reaches up on her toes to kiss him.
"Hey you," he says as he straightens out the collar of her jacket.
She smiles up at him, "Nice sweat pants."
"Well, sometimes I need something a little more loose fitting then spandex. Come on in," he gestures to the apartment. She walks in like it's her own place, throwing her jacket across the back of the couch before sitting down on it.
"Want anything to drink? I've got soda, milk, juice…?"
"Milk would be nice please."
Dick grabbed the carton out of the fridge and filled a glass for her. After handing her the glass he sat down next to her. She instantly curled up next to him, fitting him perfectly.
He looked down at her, "So what do you want to do?"
"I just need to relax, it was a long day. Some idiot thought he could enslave the entire Japanese military." She yawned and finished off her milk, curling in closer to Dick.
"Some bad guys these days," he says as he pokes her side.
She giggles and slaps his hand away. "Oh come on. You know how ticklish I am." He does know, that why he keeps doing it. She's laughing and squirming away until they've both managed to lie down on the couch, facing each other. He stops poking her and kisses her nose, her forehead and finally her mouth. He can feel her smile against his lips, until she kisses back. They are entwined together like this until she pulls away. She looks up at him, smiling.
"What?" Dick asks. Her smile is so contagious.
She shrugs, "Oh nothing. I just like you, that's all." He laughs and kisses her forehead again before she turns around to face the TV. They stay like that all night, lying against one another watching TV. Before long he hears quiet and gentle snores coming from her. Being as stealthy as possible, he lifts her up from the couch and carries her to his room. When he lays her down in his bed she lets out a slight sigh.
He can't help himself from smiling at her. She is so cute. He brings the blanket up to her shoulders and tucks some hair behind her ear. He quietly leaves the room, closing the door behind him. Going back to the couch and watching TV.
If this is what the rest of my life looks like, I'll be okay.