Hey guys! Sooooooo sorrry i didn't update earlier. I wanted to update two days ago but i was lying on my bed and then I got lazy.
I'm gonna be doing some time skips ( sort of) you'll see when you read.
I do not own yj or its characters blah blah.
Oh and I'm not allergic to nuts so i did the whole allergy thing in my mind. I don't know if people who are allergic to nuts can eat popcorn since it's made from corn kernels so excuse me if i am inaccurate.
Let the story begin!
8:35 am
ZATANNA POV
Zatanna walked through the halls in a sense of bliss. She vaguely remembered checking her watch and noting it was five minutes before homeroom registration. All last night she and Dick had talked for hours about silly little things: from favorite Saturday morning cartoons to favorite colors to current events. She remembered how the six hour discussions and debates had been interrupted when Zatanna's dad asked for her help and when Dick's dad told him he had some extra studies to attend to. They'd reluctantly ended the conversation, promising to resume it the next day unless something came up.
Zatanna bumped into someone
"Oh sorry, I wasn't really paying any attention to where I was going. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine"
"Tiff? Tiffany? Is that you?"
"Yes!" she said in a frustrated tone "sorry but you're the umpteenth person who asked that. I guess I never realized how many people really liked me." Instead of her usual Rachel look alike outfit which would have been a pink tank top with an army green shorts and a brown jacket with a dark pink boa( you know those feathery scarf like things, movie stars in the '60s use to wear across their shoulders) and brown, green and pink shoes. It would have been a close imitation as no one was allowed to have the same outfit as Rachel, not even her entourage.)But she was wearing a pair of dark blue almost black skinny jeans, a white T-shirt marked GOING GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK in green letters and a pair of plain grey converse. Her hair which would've been poofed up and done in some elaborate style was in a simple low lying braided ponytail swept to the side.
"So… Rachel knows?"
"Nope!" she giggled nervously "I'm thinking of breaking it to her with this" she handed Zatanna a copy of the school's daily newspaper. On the front page in big block letters were the words "RACHEL GETS DOUSED WITH PUNCH AT THE DANCE!" The article beneath it read:
On Saturday, 24th of this month was the school's annual spring dance. At the beginning of the dance a surprise visit was made by Zatanna Zatara who showed up with her boyfriend (despite Rachel's insistence) , a seemily, nice person who had a diss off with little Mini. A short while later one of Rachel's friends came back from the refreshment table after going to get drinks for all of the girls and she "tripped" resulting in punch being poured down Rachel's front (both her dress and bra).
For more information and several cut out color and black and white pictures, both single snapshots and frame by frame of the alleged incident please turn to page 3 to the rest of the paper." Zatanna looked up. For the first time she realized everyone had a newspaper and a cutting utensil of some sort" scissors, stencil knife a plain knife etc.
"She's gonna kill you, you know that right?"
"Yeah but she can't or I'll tell everyone or rather show them."
"Show them what?" Tiffany took out a thick book.
"The book of secrets" Tiffany said smirking
"But isn't that… I know they've been mean but are you thinking of sending that through the whole school if something happens?"
"Yup"
"Did you at least read through the book first to make sure if you read anything, it wouldn't be anything, I don't know private or emotional"
"You mean like if one of them had a drinking problem or if someone's mom had breast cancer or something like that?
"Yeah, I know they haven't been the nicest persons but just spilling it out like that without any thought as to how they would feel would make you worse than them. There would have to be a reason they would keep it private right"
"Yeah, it's nothing like that and if it was I wouldn't use it like that. It's filled with stuff like "oh my gosh how does Isabella get her hair to look so good, I try all these products and my hair is still dry" or oh, um this one "where does Janie get her clothes. I have designer and her clothes look better than mine sometimes"
"They are human!"
"Yeah, I guess they think popularity is based on how much money you have"
"Not at this school" Zatanna said as the bell rang signaling
2:55pm
ROBIN POV
At another school where popularity is based on how much green you have, a blue eyed, raven haired boy was wishing one of his favorite classes Computer Science would end.
"Tick Tock, Tick Tock" mimicked the clock and his watch mocking him. Only five more minutes before school finishes. But that's 300 seconds. Tick Tock"
"Mister Grayson!" a sharp, no nonsense voice called from the front of the room. Inwardly Dick jumped, outwardly he blinked in surprise
"Yes Mister Lashly?"
"Since you don't seem to be paying much attention, why don't you demonstrate to the class in the next 5 minutes how to fix these ten computers with varying problems?" Glad to have something to focus on other that the time Dick rushed forward. He finished fixed the computers in ten minutes. He could've easily fixed them in three but Bruce told him to hide his true skills so if any villains checked out for the young superheroes, their abilities would not seem to out of the ordinary.
When he was finished he went to grab his bag, most of the class already gone. As he was about to exit the classroom, called him.
"Listen, Richard, I understand you as a teenager, will be absent minded sometimes but try to focus on your work and make the best of your education now instead of wasting time, regretting it and going back to learn what you couldn't years ago"
"Uh sure Mr. Lashly"
"Goodbye Richard"
As soon as the stepped out of the classroom, he called Alfred and explain what had happened. He bumped into someone as he headed out to the courtyard entrance
"Oh sorry Babs"
"Dick! What are you doing rushing home so early? And so excited?"
"Nothing, I'm have an appointment with someone"
"Is it a girl? With the way you're rushing about, you would think so" she said this jokily but didn't expect for Dick to turn a little red
"Nothing Babs, just a friend"
BARBARA POV
Barbara watched as Dick ran towards the long, sleek, black limo and slid in the car. She stood on the sidewalk as the car drove away. Dick liked someone? Who was it? Barbara was frustrated at her lack of knowledge when her eyes found a tall, blond girl who looked uncomfortable in the uniform. Staring intensely, Barbara walked forward.
ARTEMIS POV
Artemis looked in surprise at the 13 year old girl that was looking at her as if she wanted to gut her. What was her problem? The girl walked until she stood in front of Artemis. She was a little taller than that freshman whoever he was that had taken the picture of her and him on her first day.
"So what's Dick big secret?"
Artemis looked left and right. The girl sighed
"I mean you"
"I-I'm sorry I think you have the wrong girl. Excuse me I have to get home to my mother."
"Not until you answer my questions"
"What?"
BARBARA POV
Barbara was annoyed.
"What?" The girl asked
"Listen, new girl, it's obvious Dick knows you because he wouldn't just go up to you and take a picture of you two together.
"Dick! So that kid's name is Dick?"
"It's Richard really, but Dick a nickname, Richard seems to cold and snuffy for his personality"
"Oh, alright then Bye"
"Not so fast"
ARTEMIS POV
Artemis was becoming pissed. "Listen kid, I got to go home to my mother okay? And I don't want to be late. This is Gotham you know" Artemis then wrenched her arm out of the younger teen's death grip and ran to make sure the bus didn't drive off because of some little kid's mistake. I mean come on! The guy's the one who took the picture! Not me! Geez!
BARBARA POV
'It had to be a girl' Barbara worried obsessively. 'As far as I know, he's never been in a rush to get home and he's never blushed like that before when I tease him about his nonexistence love life. Barbara sighed. This was so difficult. If only that thick headed boy could see she didn't want him to get in a relationship and change, since all the girls were only interested in his money as the ward of Bruce Wayne.
He really is dense or this girl must be covering up her gold-digging ways really well if he can't see through her act. And if Dick can't see through her act, it just means I will have to after all I am the daughter of a police officer.'
ARTEMIS POV
Luckily, the bus didn't leave her but it did come late so that meant Artemis was late. Normally she got home at 5:00pm but today she got home at 6:30pm. Her mother was waiting just outside the length of the door and the area it took to swing in. The sigh and look of relief on her mother's face was quickly extinguished by the beeping of the communicator. Putting the phone shaped device to her ear, she answered.
"Hello! Artemis here"
"Hey Arty"
"Wally. How many times do I have to tell you don't call me Arty?"
"Yeah, yeah, hey meeting in 15"
"Minuets? Meeting? What meeting?"
"No 15hrs. Of course I mean 15 minuets"
"I can't make it in 15 minutes, and what meeting Wally?" she was rushing around trying to get her bow and arrows and change clothes at the same time," I just got home and everyone is not as fast as you!"
"Tick tock Arty"
"Tell Kaldur, I'll be late."
"Sure"
"Wait! Why isn't Robin making this call?"
"Uh? Oh well he not to long arrived and is tinkling with the computers or something"
"Oh okay then"
"Bye Arty. Oh and don't change into your suit. Your normal clothes would be fine"
Click.
Artemis cursed and nearly fell over her hurriedly dropped bag as she struggled to untangle her left leg from her archer's suit shirt sleeve.
ROBIN POV 4:30PM
Robin sat in the chair. 'finally' he thought , I did all that homework right and as fast as I could and I still feel I've taken to long' He turned on the computer, logged into MyFriendz and sent Zatanna a video chat request. Zatanna didn't answer back instead her father's voice came over in the form of a recorded message.
"Zatanna cannot be here, right now talking to you today. She had an allergic reaction to hazelnuts at school and was taken to the hospital. It happened earlier today and she didn't want to worry you so she asked me to record this message…"
ZATANNA POV 6:30pm
Zatanna was irritated and pink and thinking about the source of her irritation didn't help. Being in the hospital was turning out to be boring but the doctors wanted to keep her un observation through the night to make sure all the liquid they'd pumped out was the last of the hazelnut concoction and that her airways had opened up and were being used to their full capacity and all that. She didn't hold it against them. After feeling what she had at school, she wanted to make sure all of the hazelnut stuff was out of her body but it would've been nice to have something to do.
It happened earlier today…
FLASHBACK 9:00AM
It was homeroom, the teacher hadn't come in yet and Zatanna and Tiffany were talking.
"So where did you put all your Rachel look alike clothes"
"I put them in a big garbage bag and on the way to school, I out them in a donation box for the homeless and children orphanages"
"Really? Th –"
"Aaaahhhhhh!" How dare she call me Mini! How dare she! My name is Mimi not Mini"
"Your name? Your stupid name? Look at these pictures, I look ridiculous, hideous!"
Suddenly the door to their homeroom flung open. Zatanna and Tiffany continued talking as if they didn't hear the outburst with the rest of the school. The room turned so silent you could hear a pin drop. Four shapes blocked the light in front of them, causing Zatanna and Tiffany to look up.
"You, you disgusting, stupid, non-fashionable, piece of shit" Mimi exclaimed loudly nearly deafening the people around her.
"Who me?" Tiffany asked innocently "oh, Mimi thank you so much for the compliments, it is an honour" Zatanna laughed, she couldn't help it. It was so hard not to do while Mimi stood there screaming like a little cat.
"Tiffany Dots, you have made an enemy out of us! Be afraid, be very afraid."
"Seriously Rachel? That is so melodramatic!" Zatanna said trying to smother her laughs
"At least my boyfriend isn't some tech geek named Dick. Can you believe it Dick" The rest of the girls laughed.
"Yes his name is Dick but your nose job is fake so I guess you can't exactly say anything now can you."
"You can scoff at me all you want but I am meeting with Robin, the Amazing Superhero, on Saturday and pretty soon you will be begging for my mercy because I will have the Amazing Robin hooked around my finger."
"Yeah? Keep dreaming" Zatanna said snorting
"At least, I will have someone important instead of your babysitting job"
"What's that I hear Rachel? Jealous?"
"Of what? You? As if!"
"Oh and Zuzu?"
"What Bitchel? Oh so sorry it's Rachel isn't it?"
"You disgusting, son of a bitc-"
"It takes one to know one"
"You!" and with that enraged cry Rachel lunged at Zatanna. Everyone was shocked. Rachel, the Queen, Daddy's little devil did NOT lunge at people. She got the wrestling team to do that so it was understandable when Zatanna was caught unaware.
Snarling like a dog or a cat, Rachel grabbed Zatanna's hair and hit her head against the floor. HARD. Zatanna hissed in pain, it hurt.
Kicking up, Zatanna rolled so she was on top of Rachel and was getting ready to punch her. SLAP! Zatanna stared for a moment in shock. Rachel had attacked her had used something as petty as a slap. Using her elbow Zatanna rammed it into Rachel's nose and smirked when she heard the satisfying sound of crunch
Rachel screamed, blood slowly running down her nose. She punched Zatanna in the stomach and reversed positions. She grabbed Zatanna's medium length hair with one hand and pulled on it. Like a girl. With the other hand she grabbed Zatanna's hand and squeezed tightly. Zatanna felt a sharp pain in her arm and when she looked her arm was bleeding a little trickle of blood from a spot where a syringe had jabbed her
"At least I know you are some pinheaded, piece of shit exactly like that underage freak, who brought you to the dance Zuzu"
Zatanna began to get pissed now. No one insulted Dick, ever. Part of the reason was that he alone would make you pay in a way that seemed ten times more painful than what you did to him; but the fact that Rachel had just insulted him in front of her was another matter.
'He doesn't deserved to be insulted by this bitch when I asked him to do something so silly for me and even if he hadn't said yes, he had been nice to me when I was doing the trial run*'.
So Zatanna grabbed Rachel's hair, pulled it and slammed her head into the floor viscously. Zatanna became aware of people pulling on her arms and hooking their arms underneath her armpits. Realizing with a shock, what a scene she was causing Zatanna stopped struggling.
Suddenly, she threw up violently for no reason. Kneeling on the floor which suddenly seemed nice and cool, Zatanna heard a snicker. Her searching eyes found Rachel battered but smirking face.
"Oh poor, poor Zuzu, you never worried about what was in the syringe now did you?" The rhetorical question was left unanswered.
Zatanna heaved but nothing came up. It felt as if her throat was closing up.
"What…. What… in needle" Zatanna was wheezing. She couldn't get enough air through her nose.
"Oh it's a mixture my doctor gave me, for my low protein levels or something like that"
Zatanna became aware of Tiffany wiping her face with a wet handkerchief. She hadn't been there a moment ago. Had she blacked out?
"It was a mixture containing nuts. Peanuts, almond nuts, walnuts and hazelnuts.
Hazelnuts!
"I know you don't go near hazelnuts so I injected you with the very same thing you hate to eat"
People were crowding Zatanna now: checking her pulse, monitoring her choppy, off balance breathing.
"...gic"
"What?"
"llergic… hazel… nuts bad" Zatanna was racked with coughs and after the last cough has subsided, she'd collapsed.
She'd woken up in the hospital surrounded by several beeping machines comforted by the feel of her father cool hand stroking her hand gently.
"Daddy?" she'd whispered softly and bit rough because of her lungs which were reversing back to their original state now that the hazelnut had been pumped out.
"Shh Zatanna, get all the rest you can" She tried to resist but her father's hand had begun to stroke her forehead and sing her that lullaby the way he did when she was a little girl. When she'd awoken the second time a nurse had informed her that her father had sudden business to attend to and had to leave her. The nurse had also informed her of her overnight stay in the hospital.
All this free time on her hands was great but she needed something to do and because the nurses wouldn't let her get out of the bed, her mind began to roam.
She wondered what Dick was doing now. Was he at HQ being briefed on some mission, or was he at home being bored out of his mind because she was in the hospital. Was he even worried about her? Nah! He wouldn't have been worried about her, not like that only like a friend.
MOUNT JUSTICE 6:55pm
ARTEMIS POV
"recognized Artemis B07"
Artemis rushed inside HQ expecting to have everyone look at her and to receive the famous Bat glare. Instead she found Robin doing some computer stuff, saw Wally sitting in the chair next to him talking about Ions and Cations, smelt cookies and heard static. She was sure if she had gone to the pool she would have found Kaldur relaxing in the water.
"Wally!" she screamed. Wally merely smirked at her in that irritating way of his. "where," she said slowly, narrowing her eyes "is the meeting?"
" There is none."
"Arghhhh! You arrogant, inconsid-"
"At least not yet"
"Not yet?"
"yup! There's supposed to be one at 7. You got 5minuets to relax Arty. You should be happy"
Artemis narrowed her eyes at him, and then she vaguely remembered Batman and Black Canary had called a meeting with the teens to discuss balancing their lives or something.
"Thanks… I guess"
Wally walked up to her. Artemis tensed ready for any tricks, instead he grabbed her arm, plunked her in a couch and had a glass of cold water in her hand before she could blink.
"What did you do?" she asked sniffing the water
"Nothing! Swear!"
Artemis took a cautious sip. Nothing happened so she drank more, rested her head back against the couch back and shut her eyes. The next thing she knew was that someone was shaking her awake. She blinked, a bit out of it. She had fallen asleep? That wasn't the fact that amazed her; it was more that she had let her guard down enough that she hadn't snapped awake the moment someone came near her.
Wally stood in front of her holding her glass of water.
"What?"
"Get up. It's time for the meeting"
"Oh" Artemis rubbed her eyes aware of how heavy her body felt. She hadn't been getting enough sleep. She went to grab her backpack but Wally interjected
"Don't bother with the bag. It's safe out here."
"Okay…"
They entered a mini sized conference room to the league's conference room and when everyone was settled, the meeting began
WALLY POV
15mins later
"This meeting is finished. Now could someone please wake up Artemis and tell her nap time's over?" said Batman, sarcasm rolling off of him.
"Let's leave her, she looks tired" Wally said quietly
"I agree with him" Black Canary said. Anyone could tell she was tired. Now that she was sleeping out of exhaustion, that exhaustion became more profound. Her skin was paler than usual, faint, black shadows linings her eyes.
"Wally, why don't you carry Artemis to a couch?"
"No way! She'd kill me if she found out and-"Wally gulped. Both Black Canary and Batman were looking at him. He began to feel pressured.
"Okay, okay!" Wally lifted Artemis in his arms and after laying her gently in a couch, he realized someone was staring at him. He turned around to meet Robin 'stare.
"Ah dude. What's up?"
"Um, this might sound a little vague but, what are you doing?" Wally had grabbed Artemis's bag and was shifting through it.
"If she catches you, you're dead"
"I know but she seemed like she needed to carry it in the conference room with her and I intend to see why"
"Dude!"
"Wally what are you doing now?" Black Canary said
"Lightening a load?"
"Wally that's invading her privacy"
"So she has something to hide?" Wally pulled out 5 heavy textbooks, 10 worksheets and 2 long reading assignments and all of them were due tomorrow. Wally glanced at some of the questions and several of them were assigned that day, others over the weekend and even those were barely done and you could tell Artemis was working hard on them by the numerous working covering the sides and back of the papers and textbooks.
"Jeez! Who the hell assigns this much work?"
"Didn't she work on any of this when she got home from school?" Dick asked
Wally shook his head "no I don't think so, when I called her she said she just got home and she sounded out of it."
ROBIN POV
"Hey K.F.? Can I get a moment?
"Sure Rob. What's up?" he asked
"Um what do you give a girl-"
"A girl, really? Who's the lucky chick?"
Dick turned red "no you idiot! What do you give to a girl when she's sick? Do you think a teddy bear, a dozen roses and balloons is enough or to much?"
Truthfully Wally wanted to say it seemed like a little to much but seeing the young superheroes' anxious face he nodded.
"Yeah it seems okay"
"Thanks"
"No prob, now if you excuse me, I'm gonna have to forge Artemis' homework answers. Some of them at least not all"
Dick watched his friend leave and smiled to himself. When was Wally going to admit he liked Artemis as more than a friend? The boy was clueless.
And so are you a voice whispered in his ear. Dick shook when you started to hear things it wasn't a good thing. He just home Zatanna liked her flowers.
'Well if giving her that was enough I guess it was a good thing I didn't buy the chocolates' Dick smiled and laughed to himself sheepishly. He just wished he was in the hospital room to see Zatanna's reaction when she saw his get well presents.