November 15

3601 NW 54th St, Star City

2:32 am

Zatanna dreamt of Dick Grayson.

Her mind wanted to curse itself for being so cliche. A walk on the beach? At sunset? Oh, and don't' forget the violinist in the background. Okay, so maybe there was no violinist. She still thought it was stereotypical. Her subconscious told her to shut up.

On some level, Zatanna knew she was dreaming. Unfortunately at the moment, she was at some other level. His hand in hers was warm, fingers interlocked. His white shirt stood out brightly against his midnight black hair, and bright blue eyes. His thumb stroking the back of her hand as they walked.

"So, did you have a good time?" Zatanna asked casually. She had an implanted memory of a date, one that involved horseback riding and picnics.

Seriously brain, have some originality! She mentally scolded.

Dick didn't answer her, only smiled. He stopped, turning around to look at her. He tilted his head.

"Are you going to answer the question?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and smiling. He took a step closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. "If you don't tell me if you liked it, I guess I can-"

Her words were cut short by a kiss- a wonderful, toe-curling kiss that promptly swept her off her feet. It was a first kiss, kind of kiss. They parted, and she smiled widely.

"What was that for?" she grinned mischieviously. He smirked and opened his mouth to speak-

"I don't want to take what's yours,"

Zatanna's heart stopped. That wasn't Dick's voice. It an instant, the world rotated around her until she was standing in a graveyard, staring at Kory.

She was even more perfect than Zatanna cared to remember.

She was glowing a bronze, tan aura. Her thick, black lashes framed her beaming emerald eyes, and her cheekbones were defined and immaculate. Her lips were plump, shiny and spread into a flawless smile. Her ruby hair was curled in piles on top of her head- but the worst...

Her dress was white, fitting around her ridiculously curvaceous body. A veil lay on her head, and an enormous ring glittered on her finger. She smiled that innocent, sincere smile once more.

"That is not my intention," she tilted her head almost maniacally as Dick Grayson, dressed as her groom, approached from the fog behind her. He lifted Starfire in the air, twirling her as she laughed. Zatanna's eyes brimmed.

"Stop it! Why are you doing this to me?" she cried, ashamed at her own desperateness. Kory and Dick both stopped, freezing. They turned their slowly withering heads towards Zatanna. The zombie couple inched towards her, their once fine clothes in rags.

"Don't miss any opportunities," Kory rasped in voice that was and wasn't hers. Zatanna backed away in horror.

"C'mon, Z," Zatanna cringed at the sound of his voice, the use of her nickname. His face fell apart in front of her. "Don't miss them!"

The two lunged at her, and she screamed.

She sat bolt upright in her bed.

She heaved a shaky breath. Where the hell had that come from?

She checked her clock. Five o'clock in the morning? Too late to go back to bed. Too early to get up. She groaned, and fell back into her pillow, staring around at her apartment. Her purple, plush sheets billowed around her and she angrily kicked them off. She was sweating. She sat up again, rubbing her eyes with her palms and sighed. She lazily swung her feet out of bed and stood up, wobbling her way towards the light switch. Her vision was foggy, but she recognized the faint red, beeping light in the corner by her nightstand. She furrowed her brow, flipped on the fan switch and made her way over to the answering machine.

"Hello? Z, if you're there, please pick up." Not Dick's voice- Wally? "I have to talk to you. Now."

She knit her eyebrows in confusion. Why was Wally needing to talk to her at two in the morning? Three more messages.

"Um, yeah...Zatanna? Scratch that, don't call back," Wally again. He sounded...conflicted. "Sorry it's just been a really long night and I uh, wanted to- okay, bye!"

By now, Zatanna's head had started pounding. She turned on the next message and went into the kitchen, opening a drawer and taking a bottle of aspirin with relief.

"Zatanna." This was Dick. After her nightmare, Zatanna nearly choked after hearing his voice. "Hey, I uh...I know it's late but...we used to call each other late, you know? I guess I was just hoping...I don't know. I guess I just wanted to let you know that...Kory was kidnapped. We got her out but...she's banged up pretty bad, Z." Zatanna tried not to let how emotional he sounded get to her. "Anyways...your magic would just help out. A lot. And...and I miss you, Z. Okay, uh...yeah. Bye."

Zatanna's heart was caught in her throat. The red bulb still flickered, but Zatanna reached for her costume.

"Egnahc otni siht," she chanted, and her uniform magically appeared on her body. She ignored the last message on her machine and turned to the fire escape. She took one last look around her room, and vanished.

Hey guys! SOOOOO Sorry I haven't been uploading- kinda hit a rough patch. All better now! Hope u like:)