Season 1, Episode 15: "Humanity"
AN: I know it's been forever, and I am so incredibly sorry that it's taken me so long to update! School and life have gotten the better of me (again) but I have most of the next chapter done so I promise it won't take me nearly as long to post that! In other news, nothing too significant happened to Dick, Artemis, or Wally in this episode so I decided to dedicate the chapter to Zatanna, especially since we don't see too much of her in season 1. I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING.
Zatanna
Yellowstone National Park
October 10, 20:31 MDT
Zatanna knew it was all a farce, but it was still unsettling to see Red Tornado take out the entire team. She didn't know the full story behind his betrayal – her father refused to talk about it – but she had deduced that when his siblings raided the cave Tornado had sided with them before taking off.
Now she stood in the midst of her fallen comrades, completely alone and unsure of her opponent's true alliance. Throwing caution to the wind, she ran up to face him, attempting to formulate a decent spell –
"Etaerc a … a… dleihs dnuora ym –"
Tornado's cold, metallic hand suddenly clamped around her throat. She had been expecting something like this, but was still taken aback at the abruptness. His fist clenched, effectively cutting off her air supply.
He drew her face close to his, and she tried to stay calm, but the pressure on her neck was intense and she really couldn't breathe.
It was possible that Tornado didn't know his own strength – but it was also possible that his message was a ruse, a ploy to get them to let their guard down.
Maybe he really was a traitor.
Either way, her life was in his hands now – so she did what he said: play dead.
Closing her eyes, Zatanna feigned unconsciousness, and seconds later she felt his grip lessen before he tossed her down beside the rest of the team.
Zatanna Zatara
Mount Justice
October 10, 23:58 EDT
From her spot on an examination table in the Med Bay, Zatanna watched her father pace the length of the cave, shouting reprimands at Batman and Black Canary. The last time she had seen him this upset was when he had found out that she'd been using a duplication spell to sneak out of the house.
"Unbelievably irresponsible!" Zatara roared, "Anything could have happened to her!"
Zatanna rolled her eyes. She was torn between anger and exasperation at his insufferable coddling – she was fourteen! When was he going to stop treating her like a child? Zatara was red in the face, but both Batman and Black Canary appeared indifferent to his shouting. On the contrary, Batman looked bored, and Black Canary was preoccupied with examining the bruises circling Zatanna's neck –
There were 5 oval-shaped contusions, one for each of Red Tornado's fingers.
" – could have snapped her neck!" Zatara roared, "I see now I was right to have my reservations about your little team! Good kids – HA! Good kids don't break rules set for their own protection!"
"They're kids," Canary said patiently, turning away from Zatanna, "breaking rules is what they do."
"Not my Zatanna! I raised her better than that!"
"I admit that the team's actions were reckless," Batman said slowly, "and you can rest assured that I will be meeting with Aqualad to discuss the repercussions of their actions. But considering the situation, the team's perseverance proved–"
"It proved nothing except that they are still too young and immature to have any involvement with the League!"
"That's the purpose of the team, Giovanni," Canary explained, "they're not ready for the league, but they've outgrown being sidekicks. They need a new challenge, and the team lets them operate independently while still remaining under the league's supervision."
Zatara huffed, his gaze shifting to Zatanna,
"Well how will she explain these bruises? Do you expect me to keep her home until they heal? She has school, she has –"
"Of course we don't," Canary interrupted, the faintest hint of annoyance evident in her voice, "I've had plenty of bruises on my neck and they're fairly easy to hide, especially with the weather getting cooler. Trust me, you can use –"
"The last time I trusted you my daughter nearly died!" Zatara said, flaring up again.
"Tornado wasn't going to kill us!" Zatanna interjected, "he had to make it look good so the other Reds didn't suspect anything! He gave us a warning – it was all an act! I knew what I was doing, dad, I'm not a child!"
"Oh, really? Well you certainly acted like one today! Sneaking off without permission, lying to Black Canary about your intentions – what were you thinking, Zatanna?"
"I was thinking that I could help!" Zatanna said sharply, "The league wasn't getting anywhere with their investigation, so Robin came up with a different approach, and Kid Flash suggested we question Ivo, and I was the one who made him talk! They couldn't have done it without me, dad!"
"And now you've put yourself in danger! Ivo is going to remember your face and –"
"And what's wrong with that?" Zatanna asked, "What's the point in teaching me magic if you're not going to let me use it?"
"That's enough! This is not the time or the place for this discussion!" Zatara said hotly, "You deliberately disobeyed me and the entire League today, which shows that you are not ready for the responsibility of the team!"
"But dad –"
"I said that's enough!"
"Giovanni –" Canary began cautiously, and Zatara whipped around to face her,
"Is she well enough to come home?" he asked abruptly.
Canary sighed,
"Yes. The scans show no internal damage to her hyoid or larynx. Give it a few days, a week at most, and the swelling will start to come down. Until then, just use a scarf or a high-necked sweater to hide the bruises."
Zatara sighed in relief,
"You're lucky it's not worse. Now come, Zatanna. We're going home."
Without sparing Canary or Batman another glance, Zatara turned and marched from the room. Zatanna hopped down from the table and made to follow him, but Batman rested a hand on her shoulder,
"Your father is right to have his concerns," he said, "there are a lot of risks that come with this job. The Red's almost killed the team when they raided the cave, and most of them have had years of training."
"What he's trying to say is that joining the team isn't a decision you should take lightly," Canary explained, "But you did good work today, Zatanna. And for what it's worth, I think you would make a great addition to the team."
"But my dad –" Zatanna began.
"Will come around. Just give him some time."
Zatanna sighed impatiently and crossed her arms,
"I just wish he'd stop treating me like a child."
Black Canary smiled,
"Don't try to grow up too fast."
AN: I hope Zatara is not too OOC – I had a really hard time finding the line between concerned father and controlling father. I promise I will have the next chapter out ASAP! Thank you for your patience to everyone who follows this!