Meaning: Warmth, purpose


The door closes on its own as Zatanna plops down on her couch, too tired to even change out of her work clothes. She's sore, exhausted, and numb all over. It's freezing outside, and even with warmth spells she can't seem to keep comfortable. She's just returned from what felt like the dozenth mission today, and she is absolutely beat.

And the worst part is that she feels nothing. No pride, no accomplishment. Just emptiness, like she's flushed a whole day away with nothing to show for it. And that's probably more infuriating to her than the cold air stinging her skin through the holes of her fishnets.

This feeling isn't unfamiliar to her. For the past few weeks she's felt so stagnant, like her life's just been moving in circles. She thinks she could be doing more, but she doesn't know what she could be doing. And she hates that. She hates feeling so…so inadequate. Like she doesn't have a purpose on this Earth.

Without warning, a pair of strong, powerful arms gently grasp her shoulders from behind, and she releases a sharp gasp in surprise. Whoever broke in clearly doesn't know who he's-

She calms herself down, letting a smile cross her lips as his hands massage her weary muscles the way only he knows how. She feels a shiver run down her spine, but it's not from the cold. No, it's something else. Something magical.

His fingers banish the cold from her body, sending waves of comforting heat through ever fiber of her being. She hums in appreciation, the smile on her face growing as she kicks off her high-heeled boots and stretches her legs out.

She can't say she's not disappointed when he tears his palms away from her back, but the disappointment vanishes when he walks around the sofa to sit down next to her and throws an arm around her shoulders. They lock eyes and exchange smiles, and as she leans in to kiss him, feeling his smile linger on her lips, all notions of inadequacy and stagnation quickly melt away. He melts them away, thawing the ice that keeps her soul trapped in a sheet of worry.

Because the truth that she realizes under his touch is that she has accomplished things, things a younger Zatanna could only have dreamed about. Her father has finally been freed, and he's coming to visit only two days from now. She's in the happiest, healthiest relationship of her life, and she feels a rising excitement in her gut telling her that he's got some big plans coming up for them. She's finally, for once in her life, truly not alone.

He tears his lips away from her when he feels her moans grow strained, grinning like an idiot before reaching over to grab the remote. She rests her head on his shoulders and he rests his on a pillow of her hair, and they can practically feel the other's smile stretching across their lips. It's almost enough to make the air around them seem a touch warmer.

In an instant they're both covered by a blanket, and he pulls her closer to him with a smile before offering her a hot chocolate that she's not even sure how he got. She accepts it with a smile and kisses his cheek as he flips the channel over to their favorite soap opera. This feeling, it's so surreal. It can't be all good, can it?

Maybe she's just paranoid. Or maybe she's not used to things in her life going the way she wishes they would. But for once, everything just feels so perfect to her. She's finally living her dreams out, and it's just as deliciously warm as she imagined it would be.

Artemis was right. They should have done this a long time ago.


If you all have suggestions or thoughts on chapters or aren't satisfied with this book, please just let me know in comments. It's much easier to please people when I have an idea of what you all are thinking. But regardless, thank you for reading, even when I know it can get a little lackluster at times.