Be Part of My Life

"I mean…what else isn't he telling me about? First there's this girl whom he's known since he was eight. Does he have like a side chick or something? Does he have a brother! Gasp! Is he even American!? Ugh this is driving me crazy!"

Zatanna was frantically pacing in her room. After returning from the Gotham Academy Spring Festival, all she could think about were the potential secrets her boyfriend was hiding from her.

"Y'know Zatanna, I'm sure he loves you all the same. He must have a good reason for keeping things from you," chimed in a Mickey Mouse type voice.

"Oh what do you know? You're just a Robin plushie!"

"Well technically I only know as much as you do. After all, I'm just a part of your consciousness you brought to life as a soundboard!"

"Ugh you're not helping!"

"You asked hehe"

"I mean. I know I told myself to wait until he was ready to reveal himself to me. But, I just can't help but feel left out. Like I said, what else could he be keeping from me?"

"Personally, Zatanna, I think you should just talk to him. Let him know how you feel."

"But what if he's not ready? What if I make things worse?"
"If you love him, you'll take that risk. I'm sure things will work out."

"Are you really just a part of my subconscious? You seem to know more than you let on."

"Hehe. I can prove it! I know what part of him you stare at the most! It's. His. Bu-"

"Peels!" (Sleep).

And just like that, plushie Robin slumped down devoid of all life it held previously.

"Yea….good talk."

"Recognized: Robin B-01"

Robin strolled into the kitchen, opening a secret compartment in the upper cupboard where he hid a bag of freeze-dried chicken whizzes from Wally. Just as he was about to open up his snack, Zatanna came in.

"Hey, Robin? Can we talk?"

"Huh? Sure Zee! What's up?"

"Come to my room?"

Confused, Robin followed his girlfriend toward her bedroom. After locking the door, she sat down on her bed a patted a spot next to her. Taking the hint, he sat down. Nervous, Zatanna took a deep breath before proceeding.

"Is everything ok, Zee?"

"Robin, sweetie, can I ask you something….personal?"

"Uhh ok I guess? What's wrong?"

"Robin, is there a reason why you can't show your face to me?"

Shocked, Robin was left speechless. Zatanna pressed on.

"I mean, we've been dating for a while now. And we've been…intimate to an extent. Can't we take the next step and become a bigger part of each other's lives?"

"I mean Zee, you know all there is to know about me!"
"Do I? Do I really Robin? I know you lost your parents at a young age. I know you're smart and funny and witty. I know you and Batman have a close relationship and that you're a Star Wars geek. But like that's it! Robin, you know every part of my life. You know what school I go to, you know about how I lost my mom to cancer and how I had to go to therapy to get over it. You know about my friend Cecily and her boyfriend Tommy. You know that to calm myself down before going to bed I like to drink a warm cup of cocoa. You know all this and yet, I don't even know your favorite ice cream flavor!"

"I mean, why would you want to know all that boring stuff?"

"What do you mean boring stuff? This is your life, Robin! I want to know every single detail! I want to know what happened to you at school. Or or if you pissed off a teacher by being a smart-aleck or I dunno if you saved a kid from being bullied. Robin I just want to be a part of your life because I love you so much."

"Zee, I…I just can't. Batman's rule….I just can't get around it."

Frustrated, Zatanna stood up and began pacing around the room again.

"Ugh Batman this Batman that. Don't you trust me? Who would I tell?"
"Zee, it's not that simple. If I tell you, it links back to him and-"

"And what? So I know who the Batman is? Big whoop. I've met your butler already."

"Well yea, but Zee, if you knew about me and Bats, someone could…hurt you to get to us. And….I'd never forgive myself if I got you hurt."

"Sigh Robin. I've got magical powers and I'm on a superhero squad. I'll be fine."

"You don't know that."

"Robin, now you're just making excuses. Just admit it, you don't trust me enough."

"No Zee, that's not it I swear! I trust you with my life!"

"THEN DAMMIT DICK LET ME BE A PART OF IT!"

Immediately, Zatanna realized her mistake. She covered her mouth with both hands and could only stare wide-eyed at an equally shocked Robin. A pregnant silence hung between the two for what felt like an eternity.

"I'm…..I'm so sorry."

"How…how long have you known?"

"…..months now. Ever since we met at the Interscholastic competition." Tears began falling from Zatanna's eyes.

"I…..I didn't know at first, but everything just started making sense. Your build, your charm, the way you played with the word jected. You made me laugh so flawlessly. I even kept the five-dollar bill with your cheesy pick-up line. But most importantly, your voice. Dick, darling, how could you ever think I wouldn't recognize your beautiful voice?"

"But then, if you knew, why didn't you say anything?"

Zatanna sat back down next to Dick on the bed.

"Because, I knew you weren't fully ready to tell me yet. So for a while I was happy to wait for you. But then….I met Barbara at the festival."

"OH….uh well…."

"Dick, meeting her made me realize there's another side of you I've essentially never seen. I…..began to worry that I would never truly be a part of your life. Sure we're dating and we've slept together, but it always feels like you're keeping me at arm's length."

"Zee, I promise you, not a day went by where I wish I could just tell you everything. But, like I said, I was scared. I didn't want some Gotham crazy using you to get to me or Bats. Joker, Bane, and all those others are completely different animals."

"I know. I get it, but I'd say it's better to love fully than to just scratch the surface."

"I…..I guess you're right. I'm….sorry for keeping you away like that. I'm sorry I made you feel like you're on the outside looking in. Because honestly Zee, you're the only person I've let this far into my heart. I love you so much."

"I feel the same way, Dick. You're the only one I've ever felt comfortable being vulnerable around. I'm sorry, too. I'm sorry for hiding my own feelings when we should have had this talk a while ago."

Slowly, she began reaching towards his sunglasses.

"May I?"

"Of course."

Gently, she removed his sunglasses. At last, she could freely see his beautiful baby blue eyes. They were a little glassy from the tears they shed, but Zatanna couldn't care less. All the mattered now was that the final barrier between them was lifted.

"Hi, Dick."

"Hi, Zee."

"I love you."

"I love you more"

"Not possible haha"

"Let me prove it"

Swiftly, Dick pulled Zatanna down towards the bed and pinned her underneath him. Gently, he began tickling her sides.

"hahahaa aahahhaha Dick! Ahhahah hhahah stooooopppp! Hahaha please!"

"Well isn't this a familiar sight hahah."

Breathless, Zatanna couldn't help but look up at her handsome boyfriend. He was glowing, just like he was on that fateful day of their first kiss. Similarly, Dick began to drink in the familiar sight of Zatanna laying on her bed with her hair spread out on the pillow. And just like their first kiss, Dick tenderly lowered himself and kissed her on the lips. She wrapped her hands around his neck and her legs around his waist. She held onto him for dear life as she melted into the blissful kiss. After a minute….or two…or five, the pair finally broke apart gasping for air.

"So uh….now that we're being honest…there's something I have to tell you."

"Hmm?"

"So uh….Barb….may have uh…..tried to kiss me at a party last week…."

"…THAT SKANK!"

"Oh also my favorite ice cream flavor is sea salt!"

AN: Thanks to Lover of romance246 for letting me name drop her OCs Cecily and Tommy. Check out her amazing Chalant fics including Chalant Kisses and It's Magic My Dear!