Zatanna sighed and mist screen before her vanished. He wasn't in the apartment and he hadn't called or messaged her since she left. That was almost two days ago, it took three days to get to Titans Tower from the East coast by car and the days only got longer as she waited for his, well his 'anything' she thought to herself bitterly.

He isn't at the apartment or the cave. I doubt he went back to the mansion…unless he did…. But that doesn't seem likely. Maybe he's just hanging out with Wally or Tim or…..or….or….Barbra she thought and a shiver went from her temple to her toes. Great just great.

"Okay, are you gonna tell me what's going on or am I gonna have to wait until Dick tells Wally and Wally tells me?" Artemis asked, pulling Zatanna out of her revere.

She gave her sly smile and rolled her eyes, she should've known Artemis would know something was up. "It's nothing," she said nonchalantly.

Artemis threw her a disbelieving look so severe she had to laugh.

"What? I'm serious and keep your eyes on the road super sleuth." She joked.

Artemis rolled her eyes but shifted to watch the road more, "Oh come on Zee, you know Wally can't gossip right, he just says it with no emotion or anything and he leaves out the best details too. It's the worst kind of torture." She pretended to shudder. Zatanna tried to fight back the smile forming on her face.

Artemis pursed her lips for a moment and then spoke in a hushed tone. "Okay, is it worse than the time you -"

Zatanna gasped and threw her hand over her best friend's mouth, "No!" she shouted quickly. "It is not that bad. Nothingis that bad."

She held her gaze with Artemis until it seemed like she finally believed her. Artemis nodded and Zatanna dropped her hand.

They were silent for a moment.

"I thought we swore never to speak of that ever again." Zatanna mumbled.

"Well it seems like we aren't talking about a lot of things right now." Artemis said curtly. Zatanna peaked from underneath her long lashes to steal a glance at her best friend's face.

Her blonde hair was in a tight ponytail underneath a black baseball cap. She wore a loosely fit black crop top that hung off her left shoulder and bared her perfectly toned torso. She wore black leggings made from the same material as her former uniform (because apparently she likes to be ready for anything even though she had been retired for some time now) and black combat boots. She wore no makeup and still looked drop dead gorgeous.

Zatanna made a whining sound and threw her hands into the air before slapping them onto her thighs. "Fine! Dick and I are fighting! Okay!? There, I said it." She said exasperatedly.

Artemis' face lit up with excitement, "I knew it!" she shouted. "I just knew it!"

"Don't sound so heartbroken," Zatanna sneered softly.

Artemis didn't hear her though, her mind was racing then and Zatanna could see the wheels turning. They turned onto a stretch of the highway that was empty. Artemis took this as a chance to interrogate her.

"You two are fighting? No way. I can't imagine you two going at it. I can't even picture you two arguing. Wow, the super couple is having trouble in paradise. Don't take this the wrong way, but it's kind of relieving to hear, I mean…..you know." She babbled.

Zatanna rolled her eyes and laughed, "We are not a super couple, I hate when you guys say that."

"You are so a super couple, you're super heros, super stars -in your respective civilian fields of course-, and you're a couple. That has super couple written all over it, half the world looks to your relationship for guidance!" Artemis countered.

"No pressure or anything," Zatanna joked rolled her eyes. "And I wouldn't say we're arguing; people talk when they argue and we apparently aren't talking soooo…." She trailed off, unconsciously taking her lower lip between her teeth.

"That bad?" Artemis asked.

"I don't know…..I guess…..maybe?" she said exasperatingly, "We've never really argued like this before, he even yelled at me." She said in a small voice.

It was silent in the car for a moment. Zatanna looked out the windshield watching the road stretch on for miles. The sun sat lazily in the sky while the air stirred only to make room for the unnatural obstructions like the car they drove. Artemis' car was a green mustang, with custom designed leather interior, a graduation gift from Oliver Queen; the Green Arrow. Artemis was reluctant to accept the gift especially because he had already convinced her to let him pay for her tuition, but she adored the car. She cleaned it meticulously even though she hardly drove it and wouldn't let Wally go near it for the first year.

Thinking about it made Zatanna smirk, though they would never admit it, Artemis and Zatanna knew more about cars than most guys; except Dick she thought sullenly. He knew the engine of most motor vehicles like the back of his hand.

"What'd you guys argue about?" Artemis asked, her whisper of a voice shattering the silence.

Zatanna didn't want to answer, she didn't want anyone to know about it. It was possible the worst fight they'd ever had, no scratch that it was the worst fight they'd ever had and they hardly had any fights to begin with. They were usually so in tune, on the same page and now that they weren't she didn't know how to feel. She didn't need any extra attention on the matter, it would only make her feel worse. But Artemis wasn't just anybody, Artemis was her best friend her sister of sorts. She sighed. "This trip, this mission, my motives and integrity as a hero, my dad…"

"Oh," Artemis breathed.

"Yeah," Zatanna squeaked. "Dick doesn't get it Artemis; my dad isn't dead. I can still save him, and anything that leads me closer to that goal, I will do."

"Within reason." Artemis added.

Zatanna pressed her lips together.

"Zee, he's worried about you. He's literally head over heels in love with you, the untamable Dick Grayson. He knows what it's like to lose family and doesn't want to get hung up on it, like he might've; like Bruce did.

Zatanna flexed her jaw in annoyance at the memories flooding back into her mind. "I can't move on with my life and just forget about my dad, he raised me, he's my blood, and he was my best friend. I've already lived a life without one parent, don't ask me to live my life without the other."

Artemis looked at her best friend, who sat rigidly in the passenger seat. She looked angry, hurt, and unforgiving. This was the very reason she didn't hesitate when Zatanna had asked her for help; she didn't want her going in alone especially feeling the way she did. Anger, resentment, those were easily manipulated feelings and though Zee was good at controlling herself, in a realm where magic ran rampant and with Klarion as their guide, she was going to make sure her best friend made it through.

"Hey," Artemis said seriously, "I'm on your side Zee. I'm here. We're on this mission together. You have my back and I've got yours. We'll do whatever it takes within reason to make sure we get him back."

Zatanna locked eyes with her best friend and nodded. An hour or so later, Artemis pulled up to the Titans Tower garage, they got out of the car and made their way to the trunk to grab their things.

As they walked inside, Zatanna grabbed Artemis's arms. "Don't let it slip that Dick and I aren't in a good place right now, kay?"

Artemis looked at Zatanna confused. "Why would-"

Just then a green flash of light exploded into the room and yanked them into a vice tight hug; midair.

"Artemis! Zatanna! Welcome to Titans Tower!" Starfire beamed.