"Artemis! What brings you here?!" As soon as the magician opens the door of her apartment and realizes who was there, she throw herself to hug her archer friend.
"Hey, Zee! I was just around and decided to pay you a visit and it's nice to see you too" After a few seconds, the magician let the archer go.
"Please. Come in. I was just drinking tea and eating sweets with my dad" As the archer steps into the magician's place, she spots the seasoned magician sit on the couch.
"Hello, Artemis"
"Hello, Zatara. How are you?"
"I'm really well. Thank you"
"I don't want to interrupt anything…I can comeback later if I-"
"Nonsense. Join us. I'll serve you some tea" Artemis nodded as Zatara started serving her some tea and cookies.
"This tea is sooo good. Isn't this from-"
"It's Alfred's, yes"
"Oh. So nice for him to drop by and give you guys some of his British tea"
"Actually…It wasn't Alfred the one that got us this…" Zatara and Artemis shared a knowing look.
"Then who if I may ask?"
"Dick. He dropped by the other day to check on my da-"
"While Richard indeed asked about my health, we both know that he wasn't here for just me, Piccola" Artemis sent a do tell look to Zatara. "Ever since Richard learned about Fate's deal, he has been checking on Piccola without skipping a beat and spending time with her…I believe that he even spent the night here a couple of times"
"In the couch. Don't you forget that, dad! He's just worry about me like always, you know how he takes care of all of us"
"Maybe you. He doesn't visit me as often if it weren't for the Team I'm sure that I'd see that elusive Bat once a year"
"In any case, are you here to talk about my love life-….?"
"Ohhh so there's something going on…do tell"
"I mean…we are just friends"
"My little zebra, friends don't look at each other the way that you and Richard do" Zee blushed with her father's comment.
"Dad! Since when you are Dick's fan or interested in me dating anyone for that matter?"
"Well, you and I know that Richard isn't just anyone. I've seen it in your eyes, in your way when he's around…you are more yourself when he's around. I mean if I didn't knew any better I'd thought that you were the ones getting married at Megan and Conner's wedding" During Supermartian wedding, Dick and Zee, were so lost in each other that didn't realized that everyone were watching them while talking, dancing and just being joking around.
"Oh! Have I ever tell you that time on my graduation party? It was so awkward…" Zee glared at her friend to shut up and Artemis only smiled in response.
"I'm sure that it was quite the party. No doubts that my Zatanna was about to tell that magnificent story"
"Allow me. I'm sure that she might skip a few parts here and there if she gets to tell this story…" Artemis went into deep detail about that night. From how Barbara introduce to her Jason Bard, her current boyfriend, to how much alcohol she, Raquel, Megan, Barbara and Artemis took.
"And then Artemis went with Jason, you are cute but you don't seem to have the guts to ask me out" The trio laughed at the story. "Poor Jason, he is so nice and he can be a little bit shy sometimes"
"Jason is Barbara's ex boyfriend, right?" Zatara wanted to get all the details right.
"The same. Well, it was a bit weird since Dick and Barbara were dating back then and Barbara wanted to set me up with him…in any case, the whole time Zee and bird boy didn't leave each other's side and every single one of my friends from faculty thought that they were dating" Zee flustered and felt ashamed by that. Even if she and Dick did nothing wrong and acted like they always have, she feel weird for Barbara.
"And Barbara didn't mind?"
"Nah. She knew how these two were and trusted both but now that we are in confidence and we trust each other…Barbara confessed to me after she and Dick broke up that she was jealous of Dick and Zee's bond. She tried to pretend that she didn't see it or that her relationship with Dick didn't have to be the same as these two but ultimately, she realized that it wasn't meant to be…" Zee didn't know why Dick and Barbara broke up but she'd be lying if she didn't say that she was somewhat happy.
"Artemis, don't tell me that I?"
"Nah. Don't worry, Zee. Those two knew that it wouldn't work out no matter what…as matter of fact Barbara is eyeing both a congressman and some tech guy from Kord Industries"
"And I'm sure that Richard has already set his eyes on a beautiful woman" Zatara added.
"Would you two please stop with that! Dick and I are just friends and nothing more!"
Pfft* "Yeah because both of you are cowards" Artemis was done with the subtle approach and decided to take the bull by the horns.
"What was that Artemis?!"
"You heard me! For some stupid reason you two are afraid of happiness! Yeah, yeah, yeah…I know he's happy being on the circus and you with your shows, you have your dad back and he has the whole Batclan…but you two are lacking your soulmate and it's right in front of you" Zatara decided to stay on the sidelines while the girls argued.
"I'm not doing that besides I have tons of responsibilities with my students, Fate, league business and-"
"Blah blah blah. All I heard is that you are a coward..."
"I'm not a coward"
"Then let me ask you this…what would you have done if Dick was on Wally's place?"
"What?!" The question shocked the magician down to her core.
"You heard me. What if the one that did the sacrifice for us was Dick and not Wally…" The mere thought of not having Dick in her life, Zee's throat went dry, her knees got weak and her hearts was bursting out.
"Why are you asking me that?"
"Because I'm sure as hell that if the roles were reverse…I'll be even more over Wally. I'd have marry his sorry ass and wouldn't leave his side. I'd stop him for doing stupid things just like he would do for me" Artemis took a deep breath to calm herself down and took Zee's hands. "I move on from Wally thanks to you and Megan"
"Artemis, what we d-"
"I know" Zee's eyes widened in surprise. "Everything was way too perfect if it truly was Wally he'd have messed up by saying something…well too Wally and he didn't and I paid attention, you did tell me that you couldn't do that. I'm not mad at you or Megan for doing that. It's what I needed to move on and try to be happy again and I did. I got a second chance at love but you…YOU STILL HAVE YOUR ONE. Don't waste it" Zee looked down for a couple of seconds.
"Piccola. You need to stop wearing that helmet" Finally, Zatara decides to step in.
"But the deal with Nabu…"
"I'm not talking about that one. The guilty's helmet. Ever since I donned that cursed helmet, you got one of your own. You and I know that Nabu allowed me to check on you from time to time and the only constant in your life besides your friends was Richard even when you two push each other away, you both still holding onto the other as tightly as possible" Zee thought back to all the times that she pushed Dick and threat him poorly and beyond that and he still spend countless night holding her tight and how she did the same for him.
"You don't need to do anything right now Zee but you should really think about this or better yet, don't think just do what your heart tells you" The magician smirked at the archer.
"You know. That sounds like something Megan would say…is that you Megan? Don't make me use my magic to show your true self…does Artemis know that you are-"
"Oh. Shut up!" The trio laughs at the exchange.
That day at night…
"Heya! Zee! W-w-what are you doing here?" The magician couldn't hold back her smile. Artemis was right, Dick has a big golden retriever energy when she was around him.
"Can't a girl visit her favorite detective?" Dick's smile grew bigger. Zee peeked to Dick's living room and saw that there was a whole set up for movie date night with blankets, snacks, drinks; the magician didn't fail to notice that some of them were his and her favorite. She got nervous thinking that she was interrupting something. "Oh! Are you with someone?"
"Huh? No, all by myself" Dick notices Zee's change of attitude right away.
"Then…are you waiting for someone?"
"Maybe I am but not sure"
"Then what's all that about?"
"You shouldn't spy on people's places…you are better than this Zee"
"Says the man that was raised to spy on people"
"More like to do trapeze but okay. I talk with Artemis earlier…" The magician didn't know what to think about. Did they talk about the same she talked with archer in the morning?
"Yeah? About what?"
"Old times. Wally…a little bit of everything if I'm being honest and I-I got nostalgic and thought about the times that I'm the most happy"
"And when that would be?" Zee steps closer to him.
"When I'm hanging upside down on trapezes"
"Oh. Right…" For some odd reason, Zee didn't caught Dick's teasing.
"Look…I thought about all of our dates and double dates and even how much we hang out even after breaking up and I wanted to call you but I didn't know if you were busy o-" Zee stops him mid sentence by putting her finger on his lips.
"Why don't we start over?" She smiles before pulling her phone and pretend to answered. She clears her throat before speaking. "Hello? Dick?" Grayson smiles before pulling his phone.
"Hey! Zee. How are you?"
Giggles "Good. What about you?"
"Feeling the aster…look I was wondering if you'd like to have a movie date with me…at my place"
"I have a pretty busy agenda but since it's you…I'm sure that I can make it work. What time?"
"Right about now"
"You don't like to make things easy, do you? You are lucky that I'm on the neighborhood. Anything you need me to bring?"
"Just you. It's all I need" Zee blushes with his statement.
"See you in a second Boy Wonder" They put down their phone. "Hi, Dick. Am I too early?"
"No. You arrived just in time. Please, come in" Grayson steps to the side to let the magician in. "Let me help you with your coat"
"Such a gentleman…" Dick smiles as he hangs her coat but notice her entering in deep thought.
"What's wrong?"
"I think I didn't dress for the occasion. A little too formal for a movie night…specially if I'm spending the night. I need something more comfortable" She mischievously smiles at him. She was wearing a purple dress.
"Are you staying the night?" He teases her as he arches his eyebrow.
"Of course. You know how dangerous are the Bludhaven streets for a lady like me"
Cackle* "There's no ladies like you and I'm sure that Blud is safer with you here but I guess you are right. I can't let you go all by yourself so late, better be safe than sorry"
"So…?"
"So what? Aren't you going to use your magic to get your pajamas?"
"I could but you could do the gentlemanly thing and offer me your shorts and shirt or hoodie?"
"Don't you mean ours? Isn't that why you are here? So my stuff become OURS again?"
"Such a bold accusations…tsk tsk tsk. You must think really highly of yourself"
"Am I wrong tho?"
"No. You are my detective for a reason but I must warn you that there's Fate an-" Zee was nervous about her deal with Nabu and having the lord of order as someone that ruins the best parts of her life again.
"No. This time I won't let Fate get in the way" Blue meets blue and Zee gets on her tip toes but ghost her lips.
"Good. Let me get change so we can start our date" Zee make her way to Dick's room to get more comfortable but Dick grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in a deep kiss.
"Don't take long"
"Don't worry. We won't have to wait for the other ever again" She flashes him her bright smile.
The next day…
"Yeah…I'm fine. Talking with Zee and Dick yesterday brought back some memories….no, hey! But in a good way, y'know? I promise you Megan if I need you I'll call you. I'm jus swinging by Dick's to see if he wants to go to Wally's-…Holy Shit!" Artemis almost drop the phone with what she was seeing. "No, no, don't worry. Everything is better than fine. I'll drop by your house after seeing Wally's memorial…No, Dick is rather busy. I tell you later" From a block away, Artemis spots Dick and Zatanna leaving the former's complex building. Artemis' smile turn into the Cheesire cat when she saw that Zatanna was wearing Dick's jacket and clinging to his arm and laughing at something Dick said.
The Watchtower
"Wally. I know, I know. But before you say anything…they were taking TOO LONG. I know that I was the one that told you that we shouldn't interfere that they were getting back to the right minds sooner than later but AGGHH! Those two were driving me crazy" Artemis take some air before looking back at the hologram. "I'm happy. He treats me right and everyone has been amazing with me. Your parents as well. Liam and Brucely are inseparable…you let me with a huge task of taking care of your best pal, Dick is just like you in so many ways like being the smartest yet the dumbest person in a room" With a tear running down her eye and smile she looks up to the redhead speedster's hologram.
"I love you Wally"