This is an idea I've been playing around with for some time. The main story is set exactly 2 years after Auld Acquaintance. Here are the ages...

Dick Grayson: 16

Zatanna Zatara: 16

Wally West: 18

Artemis Crock: 17

M'gann M'orzz (physically): 16 and 1/2

Conner Kent (physically): 16

Kaldur'ahm: 18

Raquel Ervin: 17

This is set before the break-up of Chalant (that's a one-shot I might write later on). And, in this one-shot, Season 1 occurred in 2013 so the New-Year in the final episode of season 1 was 2014 so this fanfic is set in the year is 2016.


When the Sun Rises

-Prologue-


...YEAR 2014...JANUARY 1ST...MOUNT JUSTICE...HAPPY HARBOUR...

Robin walked towards the zeta-tubes. He hated to admit it but he was trying to get back to the Batcave before Zatanna could catch him. Sure, she had kissed him but he was afraid that he'd mess it up. The Boy Wonder started typing in the co-ordinates for the Batcave when he heard a backwards incantation...

"t'noD evom, yoB rednoW!"

Robin tried to move a foot in front of the other but couldn't put it down, it bounced back and landed behind him.

"Hey, Rob," said the Team's resident magician.

"Oh!" Robin clenched his hands and jaw to stop himself from shaking with nerves "Hi, Zatanna,"

"So... about what happened at mid-"

"Zatanna, if we're gonna talk can you let me move? I promise I won't make a break for the zeta-tubes," Robin asked.

"O-oh! S-sure," Zatanna stuttered "esaeleR niboR,"

Robin stepped in a circle and turned to face her.

"So. About what happened at midnight," Zatanna said, hurriedly so the Boy Wonder couldn't interrupt "I like you. As in, like-like you. More than a friend like you," she shivered on the spot, her knees tapping against each other "But, since you've been avoiding me, I guess you don't feel the same. I just felt like I was gonna scream if I didn't tell you,"

Zatanna looked at her boots. Robin couldn't believe it. The girl of his dreams liked him! The Boy Wonder bit his bottom lip and stepped closer. He took her right hand in his left, cupped her cheek in his right hand and tilted her head to look at him, they were about the same hight (ok, maybe he was an inch shorter).

"Zatanna... The reason I've been avoiding you is because I'm nervous," something was making him spill his heart out "The thought that you like me made me nervous because I have feelings for you too. I just didn't want to mess it up and trust me, I'm an expert on messing things up," crystal tears came to the corners of Zatanna's neon-blue eyes "I haven't felt this way before, because I'm barely 14, so I'm sorry for acting like a royal stiff,"

"Robin..." Zatanna whispered.

"Yeah, Zatanna?"

"You have no idea how much I've wanted to hear you say that to me," she said, the crystal tears rolling down her cheeks.

Robin brushed the tears away with his thumb and they stared into each other's eyes. This time, Robin was the one to lean in. He gently put his lips on her's and felt Zatanna smile as she pressed her lips against his, making it their first real kiss. The Magician wrapped her arms around his neck and the Boy Wonder wrapped his arms around her waist, their eyes sliding shut.

They both, steadily, pulled away. Zatanna savoured the innocence and shyness in the kiss. The Magician and Boy Wonder looked into each other's eyes again. Zatanna saw a flash of sapphire-blue behind the white film of his mask and a shiver went down her spine, getting the sensation of trauma and horror. Something had happened to Robin, something she knew resulted in the creation of Robin the Boy Wonder. But his backstory was his to tell, not for her to ask.

Robin leaned in and whispered in the Magician's ear...

"Zatanna... Will you go out with me? The Happy Harbour Pier is having a fireworks show for those who missed the New-Year's Celebrations,"

Zatanna tensed as his hot breath tickled her neck. But it struck her, that was really smooth for a kid who's barely 14. When Robin leaned back, she leaned in and whispered her answer into the Boy Wonder's ear...

"Yes,"

When Zatanna leaned back, they both smiled and laughed together.

"A'right. Sort out the details later today, you know; when the Sun comes up?" Robin said, smiling a genuine smile instead of his oh-so-famous Robin-smirk.

"Yeah," Zatanna agreed, leaning in and kissing his cheek "Sounds asterous,"

Robin lightly cackled.

"Totally feeling the aster right now," he said.

"Same here," said Zatanna.

They wrapped their arms tighter around each other and kissed again, for the 3rd time in their lives.

Unknown to them, the Dark Knight was watching from the shadows and was trying to figure out 2 things. 1) How could he have not seen that his son had fallen in love? and 2) How did he miss the fact his son was growing-up?

Robin and Zatanna pulled away and, this time, stepped out of each other's arms.

"See you when the Sun rises," said Robin, re-entering the co-ordinates for the Batcave.

"Oh, is that gonna be a thing now?" Zatanna asked, crossing her arms with a smirk and one eyebrow raised.

Robin smiled and nodded.

"Just between us, though," he said "Wally would never let me live it down,"

Zatanna giggled, covering her mouth with her gloved-hand.

"See you when the Sun rises," she said.

Recognized: Robin, B-0-1

Zatanna sighed, thinking about Robin with a dreamy look in her eyes as she lazily walked towards the corridor that led to the Team's personal quarters.

Recognized: Batman, 0-2

Zatanna blushed as she realized Batman must have been in the room with her and Robin. She pushed it aside, shaking the fact she was 75% sure Batman was Robin's father (legally or biologically, she was yet to figure out) off, and ran down the hall.


We all love depicting Robin as a romantically loyal boyfriend but, it struck me, there must have been a period of time, no matter how small, that he was a nervous teenager who was experiencing new emotions for the opposite gender. So here it is! Look out for the rest of this story!

-Rocky :p