Meaning: Change, encouragement


Zatanna unlocked the door to her apartment and sighed as she saw Dick sprawled out on her bed. She wasn't annoyed - she doesn't think she could ever be mad to see him - but she'd just moved in a few days ago and a small part of her was kinda thinking that would mean she'd have a place to herself for once.

Oh, well. If there was anyone she didn't mind around, it was him. They weren't dating anymore - they hadn't been for almost a year now - but they still shared a connection she didn't think either one had with anyone else.

"Hey, Zee."

"I don't seem to remember giving you a key." He snorted.

"As if I need one." Zatanna rolled her eyes.

"I'm surprised Daddy Bats never taught you any manners, Wonder Boy."

She walked over to her closet and started to undress herself and he smiled. He really loved how casual she was around him. Not that he hadn't examined every inch of her countless times before, but he doubted anyone else got the privilege of watching her change like this.

He whistled as she tossed off her shirt and bra before throwing on a far looser top, one he was pretty confident belonged to him just a few months ago. "You've been working out."

Zatanna rolled her eyes. "Glad you noticed." She smirked as she noted his eyes on her and started to make a show of changing into her nightly shorts. "Enjoying the view?"

"I'd enjoy it more if I was the one taking those off."

"Naughty boy." The raven-haired girl walked back over to him on the bed, having completely dressed herself, and plopped down next to him. "Something tells me you're not here just to watch me strip." He bit his bottom lip, and she placed a hand on his cheek. "What is it?"

He sighed. "Zee, if I told you I didn't wanna be a sidekick anymore, would you think I'm crazy?"

"You've never been a sidekick."

"Yeah, I know. I was his partner. But that's not what it felt like sometimes."

Zatanna raised an eyebrow. "Was?"

Dick leaned up and scratched his arm, and she followed him up, keeping eye contact with him as he stared off into the yellow walls of her apartment's bedroom. "I quit."

"Huh?"

"I quit Robin earlier today."

She made an 'O' with her lips, doing her best to hide the surprise littering her face. "What did Bruce say?"

"It was amicable. I told him I'd still be in touch and he could call me if he ever needed help, but I felt like I was in a place where I wanted to move on with my life, y'know? I-I wanted to get a place of my own, be my own man. Maybe one day settle down with this really cute girl who makes talking backwards sound sexy." She smiled at him.

"You're not quitting the team, right?"

"No, I'm not. But for now…I think I'm gonna stick to the sidelines, maybe just cheer you guys on or play tech support from the cave. At least till I think of something."

The magician hummed. "You got any ideas?" A playful grin came to his face.

"Yeah, whaddya think of Blue Jay? Or Black Falcon?"

"I think I would never be able to sleep with someone who calls themselves that. At least not without permanently destroying my reputation." They shared a small laugh with one another before he finally looked away from the wall and into her beautiful blue eyes. She was always his compass, even if she didn't know it. He sometimes wondered what they were waiting for because he knew for a fact neither of them had any intention of seeing anyone else.

"There's one other thing. I kinda need a place to stay till I find a new apartment. I was gonna hit the cave, but I was sorta hoping-"

Zatanna shut him up promptly with a chaste kiss, and he barely got time to react before she pulled away and smiled at him. "You can stay as long as you need. Just don't touch the Fruit Loops."

He snorted. "What are you, five?" She rolled her eyes and punched his arm jokingly, and he laughed before rubbing it in slight pain. "I can take the couch if you got a spare blanket."

She smirked. "What kind of host would I be if I didn't offer better accommodations? My bed's certainly big enough for two, and seeing how I'm gonna need to make some use out of you being here…"

Dick grinned eagerly as Zatanna pushed him down onto the bed, crawling on top of him and sliding her arms under his shirt. His hands went to her back instinctively as she leaned down to kiss him.

"Thank you." It was barely even whispered into her mouth, but she heard it just fine.

"Anytime, birdy. Now I believe you mentioned something about wanting to take my clothes off."

He smirked up to her, happily obliging. After all, it was the least he could do for his new landlady.