Chapter Twenty-Eight

Zatanna was proud of herself. Her first winter break as a college student was over and no major catastrophes had occurred. In fact, it had gone exceptionally well, even with all the Conner trouble she had to deal with. He didn't like holidays, apparently; that had made him grumpier than usual and harder to cheer up. She liked seeing him smile and laugh, like when Wally had to kiss Robin thanks to the redhead's genius mistletoe set up.

No matter, things had gone quite smoothly after she dragged Conner back from the garden and the party ended. Then they went home, and Zatanna got to see her dad for the first time in months at New Years. Just thinking about all the food they made, the movies they watches, and the down they spent together made Zatanna smile.

But now everyone was back to their busy schedules, complete with classes, homework, holding down a job or two, and maintaining some level of social activity. Artemis dragged her to a few more parties but while Zatanna didn't mind, she didn't go out of her way to make time for them. Funny how she was so content doing so "little" in the eyes of her peers.

But Zatanna was busy. Busy passing all her classes, busy looking for a job nearby for the spring, busy keeping up with campus with her camera. The girls' basketball team seemed to like her decently, but it was nothing compared to the warm welcomes she had always received from the cheerleading squad. Oh well, she thought, resuming her work sorting through old pictures on her computer.

Zatanna had gotten through her morning classes without issue but decided to relax a bit before finishing her homework for the next day. Such relaxation consisted of music andtexting various people ―mostly Robin. They had gotten closer; she was happy.

Suddenly she got an I'm heading over there. from him, making her raise an eyebrow. Either he was feeling particularly flirty and wanted to spend time with her, or something was up.

Something very bad, it seemed, because while Robin wouldn't tell her explicitly, Zatanna could see the worry on his face even behind his ever-present sunglasses. No one had died, she assumed, and it was no dire emergency ―in which he wouldn't have wasted time and instead simply called her. "Alright, don't drive too fast," she said, giving him a too-quick hug before letting him hurry out the door.

Zatanna sighed, sinking down onto her bed in thought, her digital work forgotten. She had… offered to go with him, to include herself as Wally had suggested, but he had bushed her off rather quickly. It was family business, which she could understand ―privacy and all that. But…

Oh I don't know. It can't be that big of a deal. I'd probably just get in the way anyway. Somehow she ended up with a number dialed on her phone and her phone ringing, faint against her ear. It rang three times and was about to hang up, mumbling about how she was overreacting and Robin would text her later, surely, so why-

"Any particular reason I just had to step out of class, Anna?"

Even as her mind spun ―why had she called Conner, of all people? Hadn't she meant to type in Robin's number? Or Artemis'?― when she answered instinctually, "Can you meet me at the library?"

Something in her voice made him hold back his usual grouchiness. "Of course,": he said, his tone fighting not to sound too willing, too automatically… happy to help. "Now?" There, that helped him, made him seem less-

"Uh-I."

Conner grumbled a bit and she heard a door open then close behind him. "Emergency," he offered to the teacher, but kept Zatanna at his ear as he grabbed his stuff and head back out. "Funny, it doesn't sound like you're heading to the library…" he sassed, spurring Zatanna into movement.

She scrambled, not caring when he laughed at her damn shoes won't get on and then jogged out the door to meet him. "Thanks for doing this."

"Just shut up and get here," he grumbled.


Next Chapter: A slightly longer chapter tomorrow ;)