Conner took the super-cycle and wolf and headed back to Mount Justice, saying he would meet them in Gotham with Superman. Wally and Dick joined Batman in the Batwing, Dick suited up inside. They were both shocked when Wally suddenly appeared in his Kid Flash uniform.
"What? I keep it handy in case of emergencies." Wally shrugged. "Should I call Artemis? Get her to meet us there?"
"NO! I mean, um, wouldn't she be angry to see you suited up?" Dick was panicking 'I'm too young to die.' There was silence for the rest of the journey.
They met Superman and Conner on the roof of a building facing Dick's apartment. Wally activated the thermal imaging in his goggles as Nightwing pulled up his holographic computer, starting a scan of the penthouse, Batman was doing something similar.
"This doesn't make sense, we know she's in there," Wally turned off the thermal imaging, "But I'm not picking up any heat sources. None at all. The apartment below is showing heat signatures from water pipes, heaters, everything." He looked at Nightwing, "But nothing from your place at all man."
"I can't hear anything either," Conner grumbled.
"I'm assuming you lined the whole place with lead, because I can't see a thing with my x-ray vision," Superman looked at Batman, who nodded. He had lined the apartment with lead a few weeks before Zatanna and Dick moved in.
"You should still be able to see through the windows though," Dick was starting to worry. He knew Zatanna had cast enchantments to keep him out, but he didn't realise they could be this strong. "I guess you learn to hide yourself when you know what we're capable of."
"No, this is more than her enchantments, Nightwing." Doctor Fate appeared behind them, Nightwing side stepping so Batman was between them. There was silence for a few moments as Fate flew over towards the apartment, falling backwards from an unseen force. After another analysis of the unseen barrier surrounding the apartment, it became obvious that Fate wouldn't be able to approach due to his own magic. Nightwing and Batman managed to get slightly closer.
"Right. Next part of the plan?" Nightwing looked at Batman who held up a gadget to his mouth.
"Zatanna, please come out to the balcony," Batman's voice boomed from the shadows.
"Zatanna, please come out to the balcony," Batman's voice shocked Zatanna upright. She looked at Klarion in a mild panic. If they were outside were they able to see him? You could never tell what the Bat's were capable of. She helped Klarion get up, and headed towards the spare room, which Dick had converted into a training room.
"Please, stay here!" She closed the door after gently nudging Teekl into the room too. Klarion grinned. She was willing to protect him.
She unlocked the balcony doors and stepped outside, making sure the curtains stayed shut when she closed the door. She looked at the surrounding buildings.
"Six of you. Really?" She yelled out. A batarang landed on the ledge of the balcony, a new communicator attached to it. She sighed and put it in her ear. "What's going on? Did you really have to use a megaphone and announce to the entire neighbourhood that you wanted to talk?"
"Yes we did," Batman's voice was like steel. "There is a magical shield surrounding your entire apartment. We haven't been able to reach you any other way." She didn't reply, and just rolled her eyes and went to remove her communicator. Did they really think she was going to sit in there and cry without blocking them from contacting her?
"It's more than your magic Zee. I know your enchantments, this isn't them." Her hand froze as she heard Dick's voice. It had nearly been a week since she kicked him out, and hearing his voice felt like a kick in the gut.
"He's right Zatanna," Another kick in the gut, it was her father's voice. "It prevents radio contact, satellite imagery, thermal imaging, Super hearing and locator spells. Does this sound familiar to you?" She clenched her fists. What were they trying to do?
"Nabu, let my father know that Nightwing cheated on me with Batgirl. He broke my heart." She flung the communicator from her ear and went back into her apartment, locking the door behind her.
Dick felt like he was frozen on the spot. He could feel Nabu's gaze from the other roof top before he vanished in a flash of golden light.
"...He's going to murder me..." Dick mumbled as he grappled back to the other rooftop. Superman pulled Batman aside, speaking in hushed voices.
"Dude, if Fate and Artemis bump into each other today you're a dead man," Wally actually managed to look genuinely concerned. "The minute she was on the balcony the thermal imaging picked her up. You should be able to get to the balcony at least. How about it, Superboy? Up for a… dude are you okay?" Dick turned and looked at Conner, his eyes were wide and he was pale. Wally waved a hand rapidly in front of his eyes.
"Nightwing... come here." Batman called from the other side of the roof. He left Wally to annoy Conner. Superman put a hand on his shoulder and smiled as he passed.
"Sit down," Bruce pulled his cowl off and sat on a bench, gesturing to the other half for Dick, who also removed his mask and sat down. It was unlike Bruce to sit after requesting someone else to. "When Zatanna stepped out on the balcony, thermal imagery, super hearing and x-ray vision all detected her."
"Yeah, Wally said as much. Bruce, is everything okay?" Dick was really concerned now, Bruce was slightly pale. He looked up at Dick and smiled.
"Superman heard multiple heart beats and saw …well..." He put a hand on Dick's shoulder, "Zatanna is pregnant. You're going to be a father." Dick could only stare at Bruce, his mind attempting to understand what he just heard.
"...I'm… wait..." He leapt to his feet and looked from Bruce to Superman, "You're serious?" Superman looked across the roof and nodded.
Wally ran over, "Dude what's up? Everyone seems to know something except me!"
"Zatanna's pregnant..." Dick paled suddenly, stumbling backwards. Bruce and Wally helped him onto the bench. He didn't even try to hide the tear that rolled down his face. "...I...I cheated on my pregnant wife..."
He heard the balcony door's slam shut, and something smash. Klarion heard Zatanna's sobs and ran up to the living room. She was on the ground, curled up in a defensive position sobbing, with blood flowing from her hand. He ran over and scooped her up into his arms.
"Zatanna what happened? Did they hurt you?" He put her down on the sofa and took her bleeding hand. He looked closely, using his magic to pull out tiny shards of glass and repair the damage. He felt something odd from her.
"I...no, I couldn't stop myself." She pointed over to a broken photo-frame. There were small droplets of blood on the photo. He picked it up, and smiled a sad smile. It was a photo of her and Dick on their wedding day. She looked so beautiful, so happy. He fixed the glass, and removed the blood from the photo, setting it back where it belonged.
"Zatanna... please tell me what happened...what has he done to upset you so much." Klarion sat beside her, putting a hand lightly on her knee. He closed his eyes and searched. He had felt something weird when he healed her fist.
"Dick, he cheated on me and I kicked him out." She senses Klarion's search and knocked his hand away, "Klarion what are you doing?" He looked up at her. He could tell her, or he could get rid of it. If she knew, she would probably go back to him.
"Zatanna, I think you're pregnant." Klarion whispered. He wouldn't hurt her. He wouldn't steal her future child from her. Zatanna stared at him blankly,
"That's not possible." She ran to the kitchen, practically ripping the calendar from the wall counting back the weeks. She paled before sitting down and closing her eyes. "Three weeks late. How the hell did I not notice? Oh god." She started hyperventilating. Klarion appeared beside her and tried to calm her down.
"You have to calm down Zatanna," He handed her a glass of water, "Also, you need to be careful using your magic from now on, and who knows how much of your energy the babies will use up."
"BABIES?" Zatanna's eyes shot open.
" ." his arms were around her, catching her just as she fainted.
Zatanna woke up in her bed, Klarion was sitting beside her. He was on Dick's side of the bed, in Dick's clothes. He told her she was pregnant, he was comforting her while she was hurting.
"Klarion, I need to see my husband. I think you, I think you need to leave," She rolled onto her side so her back was facing him. She was too confused and emotional right now. She didn't trust Klarion enough to be around him like this, especially in a bed. She felt him move closer to her, his hand reaching for hers. He put something in her hand, kissed the back of her head and walked out of the room.
"It was my mothers. If you need me, call me through that." He reappeared in the doorway, Teekl in his arms. He didn't look very happy, being cast out so suddenly, but he smiled when she looked at the necklace in her hands. It was white gold chain with a black gemstone, shaped like a teardrop.
"Klarion Bleak. You'll need to say my full name. I'll appear instantly for you." He turned and disappeared through a portal before Zatanna could say anything. She stared at the necklace in her hands. It was beautiful. Something about it soothed her.
Dick landed on the balcony just as the curtains were pulled open. Zatanna and Dick stared at each other in shock for a moment. She removed her enchantments and opened the doors.
"Dick, I haven't forgiven you, I don't know if I- " Zatanna stopped, noticing Dick's tears. She stepped back from the doors, turned, and walked back into the apartment. She froze and bit into her lower lip as Dick's arms found their way around her, holding her gently. One of his hands rested just over her womb. She leaned back into his embrace, feeling the tears drop onto her shoulder. He kissed the top of her head.
"Zatanna, I can never apologise enough to you," his voice was wrecked, she assumed he had been crying a long time. "Superman.. he…he saw-"
"That I'm pregnant..." She put one hand over his, her other hand, reaching up to his face. She took a deep breath. She wanted to stay angry with him, but right now she was emotionally exhausted. Klarion had mentioned the babies using her energy, and it really felt that way. She didn't know how long they stood like that, they were both crying silently. Zatanna's league communicator on the desk buzzed to life, as well as Dick's which was in his ear.
"Batman to Zatanna and Nightwing. About 20 minutes ago, all interference dropped. What changed?"
Zatanna pulled away from Dick, a chill running down her spine. Klarion had left about 20 minutes ago. She thought about the things Nabu had said over the communicator. She was so shocked to find out she was pregnant, she was only thinking about it now. She sat down, her head was spinning.
"Zee?" Dick was on one knee in front of her, studying her face. He knew she had just realised something. She knew what the change was. "Baby, what's wrong?"
"...Klarion… did... no..." She grabbed either side of Dick's head, "nepo ruoy dnim!" She jumped into Dick's memories, racing back to the mission he went on with Batgirl.
They were stumbling, supporting each other's weights as they made their way to the coast.
"We have to call help. There is no way I can stay conscious long enough..." Nightwing buckled, his weight causing Batgirl to crash to the ground with him. Zatanna could sense it even through his memories. Dick probably would have noticed it himself if he hadn't just been caught in an explosion.
'Tegrof ruoy eurt evol, evol eth eno txen ot ouy'
Dick's vision had blurred, next thing he was aware of was Barbara wrapped in his arms, kissing her fiercely.
Dick pulled Zatanna's hands away from his head. She didn't need to see any more. He shook his head, trying to forget the memories himself. "Feel free to erase what happened next…" He held her hands as he lowered them to her lap.
Her eyes were wide. He didn't know what she had seen as he could only feel her running through his memories, which were no different for him than they usually were. She launched herself forward, wrapping her arms around Dick and sobbed. "It wasn't you, you weren't in control." She collapsed, her body going limp in his arms.
"Zee? Zatanna... Zatanna what's wrong?" Dick looked at his wife, she was pale and drawn, but there was a smile on her lips. He carried her into the bedroom, placed her gently on the bed and touched his communicator.
"She mentioned Klarion then forced her way into my memories. She passed out," Dick walked around the apartment, checking everything was safe before stepping out to the Balcony, just as Batman landed beside him.
"Go, watch over her. I'll stay here."