Summary: Suggestion from pxaviercm, but I was already planning on writing this one, so great minds think alike, I guess. Takes place around September of this year (2012), so 9 months after Auld Acquaintance. I wanna remind everyone that there is 0 Barbara/Dick romance in this book since I view them as siblings, same reason there's no Artemis/Dick, so keep that in mind while reading
Disclaimer: I don't own DC
Dick and Zatanna walked into Gotham Academy with one another. He had invited her to his prom after the last one had gone so well, and she gladly accepted. People were used to Dick Grayson going to their school, but none had seen him with a girl. Many boys threw glances at Zatanna in a very good-looking dress, much to the chagrin of their own dates, and several girls were pissed off, as many of them had asked Dick out themselves and he had denied. Artemis was there as well with Wally, whom she had invited. Dick was glad he had gotten to bring Zee along, but there was one person in particular he wanted her to meet.
"Hey, Babs!" Dick brought Zatanna over to meet Barbara, who was with Luke. Zee felt a pang of jealousy upon seeing them hug and laugh with each other, but she pushed it aside quickly when she noticed Luke. Okay, stop overreacting. "Babs", or whoever she is, has a boyfriend, and Dick wouldn't cheat on me. They're probably just friends. Dick took Zatanna's hand and pulled her over to them, rubbing his neck sheeishly. Oh man, please like each other. "Uh, Babs, this is Zatanna. She's...my girlfriend. Zee, this is Barbara Gordon. Commissioner's kid and one of my best friends." Barbara took her hand, smiling.
"Barbara Gordon, but you can call me Babs, Barb, or whatever."
"Zatanna Zatara, but I go by Zee." Barbara raised an eyebrow.
"Zatara? As in the Justice League Zatara?" Zee's expression dropped a bit and Dick immediately took her hand and gave a gentle squeeze. She smiled a bit, and he leaned in to whisper to Barbara.
"Uh, her dad's...not exactly around anymore. She's kinda like me, in that way. Her mom's gone, too, so, uh, don't bring it up?" Barbara nodded before looking at Zee with slight guilt evident.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"It's fine." Babs introduced Luke, and they conversed for a bit before walking over to dance. "So...Barbara's nice."
"Yeah. She was my first ever real friend after...that happened." Zee nodded.
"Y'know, I think I remember her from when I went into your mind. She seemed nice."
"Yeah, she's great. Pretty much my sister." I've got a lot of those, huh? Arty, Babs, Donna, heck even Megs and Rocky!
"What else should I know about her?"
"Well, her mom left her dad after she was born, so that's a touchy subject for her. Also, she doesn't know my ID, so let's keep that quiet."
"What if she asks how we met?"
"Uh...I think...just tell her that Bruce donates to the League, and we met at a meeting when our dads dragged us along once." Zee nodded and they continued dancing. Soon enough, they broke off so that Dick could go to the bathroom and Zee could go get a drink. Barbara walked over to her to talk. Some other girls walked over and started pestering Zatanna, pissed off at the mystery girl who stole the heart of Gotham's youngest bachelor, but Barbara qhuckly shooed them off, which Zatanna was grateful for.
"Thanks."
"Yeah, I hate those girls, too. Everyone keeps asking Dick out for his money. It's really degrading. I'm just glad you don't care about that sorta stuff." Barbara and Zatanna got to know one another better and genuinely enjoyed each other's prescence. Babs was like his older sister, and Zee was his girlfriend, so of course they had fun at his expense.
When Dick came back from the bathroom, he saw Zatanna and Barbara laughing together while throwing the occasional glance at him. He shook it off and went over to them. Dick and Zee sat by the bleachers for a bit, smiling at one another. "I like Barbara. She's nice."
"Thank god. I really needed you both to get along. I was seriously hoping she'd approve of you." Zee laughed a bit.
"We should hang out more often. I think we'd be good friends."
"Yeah...you both do have a lot in common, now that I think about it." Dick watched as Luke and Barbara danced with each other before taking his own girlfriend's hand and leading her to the dance floor. Zatanna laughed a bit as they moved together, and Dick jokingly spun her around and dipped her. He pulled her back up to her feet and smiled as they rubbed noses together. "So, good kidnapping?"
"One of your better ones." They brought their lips together as they smiled.
Sorry if it's not the best. I have a hard time writing Barbara, but I kinda wanted to try this type of chapter. Until she becomes Batgirl, I doubt I will include her all that much since she might be one of the hardest characters for me to properly and accurately write, but if you all wanna see her, I guess I'll try to include her. Feel free to leave comments or suggestions. Next chapter up soon.