Sorry I'm a couple of days late, I'm in the middle of IB exams. My friend suggested I set up a Twitter account for any of you guys who want to offer ideas or to let you know if I'll be late and stuff, it is RedHood_19.
Hope you like the chapter. Remember to review
Zatanna had gone home to the Cave shortly after Batman had returned. When she arrived the others all went up to hug her, even Conner. After hugging her, each person went back to the common area, except for Artemis who hugged Zatanna more tightly and for longer than anyone else. She lingered behind nodding to Wally to tell him that he should join the others in the common area before turning to face the younger girl.
"So Zatanna," Artemis said, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay I guess," Zatanna replied, "Better now that Robin is awake. We talked about our fight that we had earlier today."
"What fight? When?" Artemis asked.
"I sorta yelled at him about how he was being overprotective," Zatanna said sheepishly, "And then said that out of all the others he was the least likely to be able to protect me. Then he jumped in front of me and took a knife in the stomach, almost dying, to protect me." Zatanna had started to cry again. Artemis hugged her tightly again.
"It's not your fault," Artemis whispered into the magician's ear, "You shouldn't feel guilty."
"I know, I know," Zatanna whispered, "But I do."
"Look Zat," Artemis said moving back from Zatanna to look her in the eye, "Is Robin okay?" Zatanna nodded, "Are you okay?" Zatanna nodded again, "Did you break up?" Zatanna shook her head, "Then there is nothing to worry about all right? You just need to go get some sleep."
"You're right," Zatanna replied before hugging her best friend tightly, "Thanks."
"No problem, that's what best friends are for," Artemis said. Although Artemis didn't usually like hugs she made an exception for her best friend, especially with what she was going through, and sometimes Wally, if she was in a good mood, "I'm going to go to bed now, goodnight."
"Goodnight," Zatanna replied before they both went their separate ways to their rooms. Zatanna's room was in the corridor where the bigger rooms, for the permanent residents, whereas Artemis was in a different corridor with smaller rooms for when there were nights over.
Zatanna tossed and turned in her bed, unable to fall asleep. She looked at the clock, it read four sixteen. She had gotten back from the Batcave around three hours ago but she hadn't even gotten a wink of sleep. She was afraid that when she did fall asleep she would see the replay of what had happened to Robin and that in her nightmare his injury would become worse. Not only could she not sleep but she didn't really want to. She picked up her phone and sent a text to Robin but after five minutes with no response she guessed he was asleep.
Zatanna sat up in the bed rubbing her eyes softly. She slipped on her black slippers and wrapped herself up in her purple bathrobe before opening the door. She made her way to the kitchen, desperately in need of a cup of tea. She fumbled around in the dark before casting a spell that let her find her way.
When she got to the kitchen she saw that she was not the only one who had had decided to have a late night, or early morning, snack. Wally was sitting on a stool, his fiery red hair a mess, drinking a cup of what seemed to be soda. Zatanna was suddenly even more nervous, she and Wally hadn't spent a lot of time alone together before, excluding Christmas, and she honestly didn't know what to do. Zatanna slowly walked into the kitchen heading towards the water-boiler. When she picked it up it made a little click sound causing Wally to pick his head up and realize that he wasn't alone.
"Oh hey Zatanna," Wally said, "What are you doing?"
"Making a cup of tea," Zatanna answered, "Couldn't sleep. You?"
"Same here," Wally said picking up his cup to illustrate his point. They stood there in an awkward silence, the only sounds being that of Zatanna getting water ready to boil and Wally taking small sips of his soda.
"So Wally," Zatanna said, finding the silence unbearable. Wally looked over to her waiting for her to continue, "What's keeping you up?"
"Robin," Wally said. Zatanna almost felt the urge to slap her forehead like M'gann would have, of course Wally would be worried about Robin, he was his best friend, "You?"
"Same," Zatanna responded. Zatanna opened her mouth to speak again but was beaten to the punch.
"This got me thinking about that mission in Kahndaq," Wally said in a way that seemed absentminded, "And how I ran away when we were fighting Black Adam," Wally hesitated, "I'm really sorry about that you know."
"I know Wally," Zatanna assured him kindly, "But it's fine really." The boiler made a loud click sound signifying that the water was hot.
"I know that it's supposed to be but there's this echoing feeling of guilt," Wally trailed off looking down to his cup again.
"I know what you mean," Zatanna said as she poured the hot water into a cup and put a tea bag into it. Wally looked up, eyebrows raised and an expression of surprise plastered on his face, "I feel the same way."
"About what?" Wally asked, intrigued that the younger girl felt the same way.
"My father," Zatanna replied. As Wally opened his mouth to respond she continued, "And Robin's injury."
"What do you mean?" Wally queried.
"Well Robin and I got into a fight," Zatanna said, not ready to talk about her dad, "Where I accused him of being overprotective and then of being the least able to protect me anyway. Then he jumped in front of me and saved my life." Zatanna started crying for what felt like the thousandth time that night, surprised she had any tears left. Wally got off the stool and walked over to her, wrapping her up in a hug. She hugged him back, head against his chest and began to sob.
Wally opened his mouth to tell her that isn't her fault when she speaks, "I know it's not my fault, and that I shouldn't blame myself but like you said, there's this echoing feeling of guilt."
"It's going to be okay," Wally whispered softly, "It's going to be all right."
"Thanks Wally," Zatanna said as she let go of the older boy, "I really needed that."
"Needed what exactly?" Wally asked making Zatanna smile faintly.
"Someone to understand what I'm feeling," Zatanna replied.
"Well I'm your understandey feeley guy," Wally joked to which Zatanna laughed a little.
"Sure," Zatanna said sarcastically.
"You do not believe me?" Wally said dramatically, "I am wounded by your tone fair maiden." He put the back of his hand to his forehead dramatically as he turned his head away. Zatanna started laughing even more.
"Thanks Wally," Zatanna said, still laughing.
"No problem," Wally said, "Now you should try to get to sleep, tomorrow's a new day."
Robin shot up, his eyes burst open, sweat dripping down his face and his torso, his entire body covered in it. He gasped for air before feeling a sharp pain in his abdomen and forcing him to lie back down. He wiped away the sweat his wrist before looking around. He was sitting in the Batcave with no one around.
He slowly got up and off of the gurney he was lying down on, making sure to not hurt himself too much. He drudged over to the elevator that led to the mansion. He quickly closed the door and pushed the button to go up. He arrived in one of the dens of the mansion. Bruce was sitting in his armchair by the fireplace, brow furrowed and hand on that furrowed brow.
"Bruce?" Dick asked. Bruce looked up to look at Dick.
"Dick, you should be resting," Bruce said standing up.
"I couldn't really rest on that thing," Dick responded as he rubbed the back of his neck, "It's really uncomfortable." Bruce's mouth edged into a small smile.
"I know," Bruce acknowledged, "You should go to your room. You still need to sleep."
"Actually Bruce, I wanted to talk to you about something," Dick said hesitantly, "It's about Zatanna."
"About the guilt that she was feeling?" Bruce asked, "Don't worry I..."
"No it's not that," Dick interrupted shyly, "It's about Valentine's Day." Bruce had never seen that shy, at least not since he moved into the mansion.
"What about it?" Bruce asked.
"I want to do something really special for Zatanna but I don't really know what," Dick informed his guardian, "I was hoping that you could help me." Bruce smiled, he was happy that his son was coming to him with this.
"Well, this is going to sound cheesy, but do something that you'll be proud of when you grow up and look back," Bruce said, "Something that is special and unique just to the two of you. Think of what you want her to know, what message do you want to give her?" Dick's eyes widened with excitement.
"I've got it," Dick exclaimed, "Thank you Bruce."
"No problem," Bruce replied.
Dick walked out of the den slowly, so as to not feel a rush of pain. When he reached the door he turned back to Bruce with a devilish grin, "Bruce, can I borrow Alfred on Valentine's Day?"
"Sure thing," Bruce said happy to see his son excited about Valentine's Day for the first time.
"It's gonna be awesome," Dick said.
I know a bit of a filler chapter but I thought it necessary. Just to explain Zat if anyone was wondering. I feel that Zee is Robin's special nickname for her and I don't like Tanna so I thought Zat like Nat for Natalie. Anyway hope you enjoyed it. Please Review.
