The two teens walked down the cold streets of their little city, snow crunching under their boots due to the slight drizzle that had turned the place into a winter wonderland overnight. Hands in her pockets and a beanie over her head, a white crisp coat covered her cashmere sweater, protecting her from the cold kiss of winter. Zatanna Zatarra looked over to her best friend, eyeing him with blatant curiosity. He hadn't put much on. Only a casual long sleeved blue T-shirt with a black jacket. She wondered why he wasn't freezing cold.

He looked at her, blue eyes smiling though his face was calm and stoic as ever. "I used to live somewhere extremely cold Zee, this is like the beach for me if you compare what I went through before."

She smiled, he had read her mind again. He always seemed to be doing that.

Robin had no problem with what Zatanna was always thinking to herself. He had the uncanny ability to read other people to get what he personally wanted. It didn't help either that his best friend's expressions were always so blankly obvious and open through her face and eyes. He read her like a book. He found it nice that she wasn't annoyed by him, in fact, he had a feeling she liked it.

They were now walking aimlessly throughout the town, enjoying each others silent company. Zatanna turned her head to the side, watching the various shop windows pass by her as she walked on by. Until something caught her eyes that is. She stopped walking, eyeing the little and simple piece through the fancy french windows. It was a ring. A simple diamond surrounded by two blue gemstones on either side of it on a glistening silver band. It reminded her so much of her own mothers ring, it was ironically similar. She felt her heart ache a little.

Robin saw her stop to look in through the window, her eyes alight with a memory he couldn't see. He followed her gaze, seeing the simple and yet classy ring she was looking at. He looked back to his best friend, smiling at her. He thought it suited her very well. It was simple and ordinary, and yet it was also beautiful. He nudged her shoulder, gaining back her attention.

She flinched in surprise, her eyes breaking out of her previous daze. She looked at her best friend to find him smirking at her. "Ah, sorry"

Robin laughed as she blushed and fidgeted at being caught spacing out again. She shoved him playfully on the shoulder as Robin continued to chuckle at her. She didn't really mind though, hearing him laugh was always nice, refreshing. "I'm a girl Rob, you cant blame me for looking" she said.

He shook his head at her, still chuckling. He looked at the ring again and then back at her. He smiled genuinely. "Buy it" he said simply.

She was taken back, looking incredulously at him. She pointed at herself in a sarcastic manner, as if to say 'Me?'

He rolled his eyes at her, still smiling a little bit. He nodded. "Buy it" he repeated.

She scoffed. "I cant buy that, I don't have any money on me" She rolled her eyes back at him as he looked at her blankly. "Its probably too expensive anyway."

He sighed deeply, a faint smirk on his lips as he looked back at the ring. He had seen Zatanna's mother in pictures, photo albums. Her daughter talked about her a lot too. Robin also knew that ring reminded Zatanna of her mom, he suddenly wanted to give it to her. He didn't spend his money like a frivolous child, he hardly spent any at all. Bruce wouldn't mind that little ring, Robin had always been responsible. He laughed to himself, closing his eyes for a bit as he thought about something. Zatanna had this effect on him a lot. The feeling that he just had to see her happy to be satisfied with himself.

He wanted to make her happy.

He shook his head to drive away the annoyingly disturbing thoughts.

"The things I do for you" he said under his breath. She heard him though, but she didn't ask.

He grabbed her hand suddenly, dragging her with him as he entered the fancy and probably expensive jewelry store. "What? Rob, let go" she exclaimed.

He shook his head as he clutched her hand tighter in his own, preventing her escape. "No" he said lamely.

She tugged and pulled, but the Boy Wonder wouldn't budge. She gave up, huffing as she relented and let him lead her into the store to do whatever he had in mind. He stopped at the counter, her small hand still in his, refusing to let go. Both teenagers idly wondered why the other wasn't letting go yet, but its not like they minded anyway. Robin thought that the jolt shooting up from his hand, to his wrist, up his arm felt familiar and welcoming.

He coughed roughly, clearing his throat to gain the saleslady's attention, causing Zatanna to roll her eyes at him though the faintest of smiles were placed on her pink lips. The woman, who seemed to be in her early thirties, turned around. Her eyes widening at the sight of none other but Richard Grayson, infamous heart-breaker and local celebrity, heir to the Wayne Tech corporation. She smiled at him, shock fading away to leave curiosity at why a young man such as himself was here. Her eyes looked over to the pairs joined hands, and her smile instantly widened at the sight. Perhaps he was here for a special occasion?

She uttered a quick formal yet friendly greeting, introducing herself as Samantha, the owner. Robin nodded at her curtly, smiling as he put his charms to the test. Yes, he knew the way girls fawned over him, though he never took advantage. He also knew he had the reputation and title of 'heart-breaker' and 'hard to get', though he never dated many girls to begin with. The media had always taken an interest in inflating rumors about his private life.

"Hello, may I please take a look at the ring in the shop window? The silver band with the gemstones." he said, cutting to the point rather quickly.

She nodded, hands clasping together excitedly. "Ah, yes of course, please wait one moment." And off the woman went to retrieve the ring.

Zatanna smacked his arm playfully as soon as she was out of sight, trying to hide the smile on her face.

"What?' he asked mockingly, feigning an innocent expression.

She huffed, blowing the hair out of her face, placing a hand on her hip in a sassy manner. Robin laughed, the smirk he had been holding back finally forming on his face.

"I cant buy it, Rob" she repeated. She ignored the pleasant sound of his laugh, that same charming smirk prominent on his face. She ignored the thought that she had already missed the warm touch of his hold, not knowing that Robin himself was thinking the same.

He scoffed at her. "I know, I know. You told me already" But then his eyes softened considerably, his voice a gentle whisper. "I'm the one buying it...for you"

Zatanna looked at him with such a strong sense of disbelief and shock that he had just to laugh again. She didn't laugh with him this time, the same shocked expression still registered on her face. Did he just say what she thought he did?

Robin looked at her, a small soft smile on his face, though his eyes were sad and knowing.. "I know what it reminds you of, Zee" he said as he gently touched his fingertips to her cheek.

She couldn't look at him, because he knew her so well. Her gaze towards the floor, she clasped his hand firmly to her face, deriving comfort from his touch. He cupped her face willingly, still staring at her for any sign of depression or anxiety. Though it had happened years ago, death of a loved one was something that the two teenagers still considered fresh and new. A wound with a never ending story of sadness and regret, and questions of such of what could have been. Questions that continued to plague them with unwanted nightmares. Though in those lonely nights alone, when the darkness was on the brink of consuming their thoughts, they remembered each other. and from that one simple comfort, they were able to find peace for the night. They weren't alone, they had each other, and that was enough for now.

"Yeah" she nodded as she finally stared right back at his gaze, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Its creepy how you know me so well" she said, trying to lighten the mood with her bland joke.

It worked, his famous smirk working its way up to his face. "I wouldn't call it creepy" his smirk widened. "More like...I'm paying special attention." He had said it a deep voice that sent pleasurable chills down her spine, a husky tone that forced her to try and suppress the blush.

She snorted, letting their hands drop to their sides. She rolled her eyes at him, a true smile on her face. It was natural and comfortable on how their weird friendship had the strangest of mood swings.

The petite and yet tall woman came back, her blonde hair falling in waves as Zatanna noticed it had been released from its bun. Green eyes sparkled in bubbly happiness as she handed Robin the red velvet covered box. Robin thanked her, a charming smile present on his features. Zatanna knew her best friend, the one she forever would call Robin, was handsome and charming. She knew many girls wanted him, and that many in return hated her for supposedly 'stealing' his attention. Many people were convinced she was the object of his affections. What with the hugs, kisses on the forehead or hand, or the hand holding that seemed to have seeped into them as a habit when with the other. Perhaps it was the way she would always stand close to him, or perhaps it was the way he would always protect her, or maybe it was both their fault. She didn't know and he didn't know. They admitted they were perhaps too intimate for best friends, but that's just how they worked, it had seemed so right and natural. 'Damn the outside world' they would say, because it was their world. When together, it was just them, their own peaceful place away from the daily horrors they had become used to facing alone. They wouldn't let that world shatter just because of some petty rumors created by jealous fangirls.

He turned around, his eyes alight with a warmth that seemed to seep into her bones, making her feel happy and...safe. That feeling was very rare for her.

He smirked at her for a moment, before jokingly going down on one knee, presenting the box in the palm of his hand. She fought against the giggle that seemed to claw its way up to her throat, but couldn't fight the amused smile at his antics.

"Zatanna" he said, still on one knee as he popped the box open, the gems glinting in the light. She idly noticed his eyes sparkle, like the gems that he was presenting to her. "Marry me" he said simply.

She fought hard not to laugh again. They made this joke often. A prank on how they would act like a couple in front of their friends and then blow it in their faces at the end of the week or so. The results were hilarious and history worthy. The team was both fooled and floored at the Boy Wonder and Magicians conniving sense of payback.

She mocked gasped, seeming surprised as she held a hand to her heart. Zatanna was a very good actress, as Robin had come to realize many months ago when they had initiated their prank. She made the emotions seem so real, the acts of love portrayed by her seeming so genuine. It was so professionally acted that, in times when she acted, pretended to be his lover, that he had found his heart racing and his acting would become...not so fake anymore.

Happy tears slid down her face as she continued the charade. "Yes" she choked out in a whisper.

He ignored the way his heart spluttered frantically at the sound of her voice saying that one word. Yes.

A gigantic smile lit up his face as he slipped the ring onto her finger, kissing it like a gentleman before standing up and embracing her in his arms.

This was very dangerous, they both realized, as their hearts beated loudly in tune with the other. There was a very thin line between what was not real...and what was real.

Clapping and constant cheers was heard throughout the store as they released each other in shock, the sound sending the two apart like a thunderclap that had once been the silent room. Only now did the teens notice the shoppers, the faces of men and women, and even paparazzi, all clapping at their engagement.

Zatanna blushed at being caught playing their little game. Robin cursed under his breath as he felt and saw the familiar flash of the cameras as he turned his head away to the side. Great, now the entire country would think he would be marrying his best friend. This was something he hadn't been expecting. It would be printed across every newspaper across the country. He could see the headlines now.

Zatanna continued to squirm under the questions and camera flashes and the constant applause. She was being deemed the one who stole the heart-breakers heart, without having a say in it. They were just having some fun! It wasn't real! She wanted to scream at them as they invaded her personal bubble, one girl even managing to knock her over and make her stumble.

Robin was fuming by now, silently steaming with red rage and pure annoyance. He caught her steadily in his arms, wrapping one arm around her waist protectively as he shielded her from the crowd. The audience continued to bombard them with questions, increasing his annoyance by two-fold. He could handle this alone, they didn't need to drag Zatanna down into their filthy, gossip hungry world. He thought she didn't deserve that. This was one thing he loathed about his famous life.

Silencing them with a glare, that Zatanna recognized as the infamous Bat-Glare, he replied in the coldest, spine chilling voice that just hinted at danger. "No comment" he said.

Immediately the room went silent, the crowd momentarily blanketed by strong fear. Zatanna knew this was a side of him Robin had never showed the media, and that it would cost him. She grasped his hand tightly in her own, signalling for him to get both of them the hell outta here. He nodded at her, easily understanding her silent message. Just then Zatanna felt a steady hand on her shoulder. She turned around, only to find the owner Samantha looking at her worriedly.

"Come dears, this way" she said as she motioned for them to follow her deeper into the store, pass an archway that held a sign above saying 'employees only'.

Zatanna shrugged as Robin sighed, they had no choice but to maybe stay in the woman's office until the paparazzi died down, or at least lessened enough for them to get through the door without causing an uproar of some kind. They walked behind Samantha, not a word said between the two. Zatanna could feel Robins strong annoyance roll of off him in waves, so much so that his eyes had darkened to a dangerous degree. She held his hand tighter, circling her thumb around his palm soothingly in an attempt to calm his nerves. She could tell it wouldn't really work.

Robin was fuming, absolutely furious. He could still see and hear them in his head. The things they said! The things they accused of him! It made him see red.

"Whats The Heart-breaker say to having been conquered by an ordinary girl?"

"Mr Grayson, tell us, is this girl your mistress?"

"Did you get her pregnant? is that why you two are getting married?"

"Rob, calm down" Zatanna whispered to him. She was in front of him now, holding his face in her hands as she forced him to look at her. He noticed they were probably in Samantha's office. The room was tidy with an ornate desk and glass windows, a black leather couch was to their right for visitors and framed pictures of different pieces of jewelry and models were adorning the walls. One thing that caught his attention though, was a picture of a little girl in a white dress. The picture was small and was on the woman's ornate wood desk, the only personal thing in the room.

He looked at his best friend, only daring to do so since his temper was in check. And yet, as soon as he did, when he looked at her...all the red seemed to melt away into nothingness. He breathed deeply, the scent of her filling his nostrils. She smelled familiar and comforting, like home.

He sighed shakily, gaining his composure back bit by bit. She smiled at him as he closed his eyes, grasping her hands tightly in his own, holding them to his face. Her touch sent the oddest sense of relief into his body. Like a heroine addict getting his much needed dose after a month of staving, or a starving man tasting the first bite of food in three days. She radiated such serine calm and warmth, he couldn't help but feel it soak into him.

He felt the cold touch of the metal on her finger against his face, making him smile so warmly at her in surprise. She didn't take it off.

"You okay?" she whispered. Her voice was so low it was almost part of the silence. He still heard her though, partly due to his honed senses, and partly because he wanted to hear everything she had to say. He watched her lips as she said this, felt her warm breath on his face, felt her touch against his skin. It was just them again. Just the two of them. It was their world again.

Everything faded away as he was aware of her and only her. All of his anger melted away as she said those words.

It was just them now.

"Yeah" he breathed. He looked at her calmly, though the raging storm of worry was ever present in his darkened blue eyes. "Did they hurt you?" he whispered gently.

She shook her head as she released him, only for Robin to do the same to her as she did to him. His fingertips softly touched her skin before fully cupping her face in his hands. Her hands flew to his wrists, grasping them tightly, holding his hands to her face. She did exactly what he had done and vice versa.

"Nah, she just bumped me a little. It wasn't exactly painful as much it was annoying" she joked. She smiled at him.

He didn't laugh, but looked at her seriously which scared her a bit in all honesty.

"Sorry" he said.

She didn't answer him for a moment.

"For what?" she asked.

He rubbed his thumbs over her cheekbones in a soothing manner, making her blush under his hold. He smiled for the briefest moment, but then he erased it. "They're never going to leave us alone now"

But then that same smirk was back on his face. The same smirk that she secretly loved for him to wear. The same smirk that told her he was alright, and they were alright. That everything was going to be fine.

"They think your my fiancee" he said, a little smug. He tried not to chuckle at the thought. The thought pleased him actually, very much so. The thought that people knew he had made a claim on her, a permanent claim, a marking. At least it would keep the various perverts away from her for a while, maybe then he could take a break from financially ruining the guys that gave her suggestive looks.

Yes, he was protective. Ridiculously so. You couldn't really blame him though. His best friend Zatanna was a beautiful girl, in turn he had grown a little possessive and protective. Though it annoyed her sometimes, it was mostly endearing she told him one night.

She laughed as she realized that. And there all the darkness seemed to dissipate, the sound of her laughter erasing anything that had lingered to bother him.

"Ha...so when are we getting married?" she asked jokingly.

He tilted his head as he released his hold on her. She giggled into her hand as he took on a fake thoughtful expression.

"I dunno, how about tomorrow?" he asked her.

She nodded. "Where exactly?"

"At my house if its fine" he tried hard not to laugh. He shrugged for a nonchalant effect.

She bit her lip. "Cool, cool. So...how does this thing work? Do i just come in jeans and a t-shirt?"

He finally laughed because it finally dawned on him they were talking about their wedding, the idea seemed so silly and...surreal. And the idea of Zatanna wearing jeans and a T-shirt at the event just seemed to add to the unrealistic effect. He found it funny.

"I'm sure you'd look great, you always do"

And that's where his sincerity came out, surprising and flattering her all the same. She smiled warmly up at him.

"So, your house, jeans and T-shirt...what time?"

He shrugged. "Noon?" he asked uncertainly to himself.

She laughed again, making him smile at her.

She giggled. "Sounds legit" she said coolly.

He shrugged again, fighting to keep the smile off of his face. "Yeah, I know right"

"Cant wait to get married" she said with a laugh.

He laughed with her, ignoring the way his heart sped up with the release of her sweet words.

"Congratulations you two"

The unknown voice surprised them. Robin turned around, realizing once again they weren't alone, that they were in an office, and that they had someone with them. Zatanna flushed at the sight of the blonde woman. They had forgotten once again that they weren't alone.

Robin mentally facepalmed.

They had forgotten where they were.

Again.

God, why did they always do that? No wonder they got into so much trouble.

Authors Note: Sup people?

So just a little fic based on a real experience with my best friend. We were fooling around in a jewelry store and got accused of something ridiculous.

The shopkeepers exact words were: "Aren't you two a little young to get married?"

And of course we both facepalmed.

I got a cool ring outta of it though, so I guess it wasn't that bad.

So, do u guys want an epilogue? another chapter to show you what happens next? or do I just leave it as it is? Its actually not the ending I had originally planned for it to have, but I think it wasn't so bad to just cut it off there. But if by popular vote and suggestion that you guys want another chapter, I would be happy to tell you what happens next.

So..until next time.

Syrenia

PS. The second and final chapter of 'Dangerous Boredom' is almost finished and ready to be published, so please just be a little bit more patient!