Be Thoughtful

Nov 29th-Mount Justice Kitchen

"Heyyy Zatanna-Banana!"

"Call me that again, Wally, and I'll turn you into a real banana…"

"Ok ok chill chill. You wouldn't happen to know where M'gann hid the leftover turkey would you? I'm clamoring for a sandwich. Gonna try and recreate the moistmaker from 'Friends'!"

"Uhh the fridge? I guess?"

"No no that's too obvious. Tell you what. I'll trade my secret information for yours."

Intrigued, Zatanna raised an eyebrow.

"Ok…you first."

"Well, I just happened to know that a certain birdy was born on December 1st."

Wally's attempt at winking caused him to miss Zatanna's eyes widen in panic.

"What! December 1st?! That's the day after tomorrow? You ass! How am I supposed to get him a meaningful present in two days!?"

"I dunno. Can't you just summon the perfect gift or whatever?"

"That's not how magic works! Ugh do you even know what he got me for my birthday?"

"Uhhh magician gloves?"

"Not just ANY magician gloves. They were ivory silk with gold trimmings and my name embroidered on the cuffs! Ugh you're useless!"

As Zatanna stormed off, Wally realized, "Hey! You never told me where the turkey is!"

Doofenshmirtz Evil Comic Books

"So, what are you looking for, Miss?" asked the store owner in a slight German accent.

"I need the perfect birthday gift for my best friend, pronto!"

"Ohhh ok well what is your friend interested in?"

"Umm he's kinda a nerd but in a lovable way. He likes video games, uhh computers, and-"

"Can I interest you in this platypus?" the owner (who for some reason wore a white lab coat) picked up a teal green platypus doll with big eyes and a yellow-ish tail.

"A platypus? Uhh does it do anything?"

"Oh it doesn't do anything. But if you put this fedora on his head, he becomes PERRY THE PLATYPUS!"

While the owner held up Perry like Rafiki held Simba in "The Lion King", Zatanna just held a blank stare.

"Uhhh ok let's get back on track here. Um do you have any Star Wars related stuff?"

"Oh sure," as the owner tossed Perry over his shoulder, "I've got this limited-edition LEGO Republic gunship. Comes with little Yoda, Mace Windu, and even Captain Fordo and his ARC troopers. Oh so cute."

"Yes! Oh this is perfect. How much?"

"Four hundred dollars….plus taxes."

For the second time in the last five minutes, Zatanna just held a blank stare.

"What? I'm sorry but what?"

"Lady didn't you hear me? Limited-edition! This gunship is the blue ARC trooper transport from the original Genndy Tartakovsky animated Clone Wars. Look, it's even got the war paint on the front giving it eyes and teeth!"

"Wow. Honestly these prices are just…..evil."

"hehe I KNOW….uh I mean look I don't make the prices."

"Wait…..yes you do? You're the store owner!"

"Look I've got overhead and royalties to cover. This is the best I can do."

"I uh…thanks I'm gonna try somewhere else."

As she left, Zatanna noticed in the corner of her eye two young boys aged probably ten or eleven holding a life-sized replica of Excalibur. One wore a striped orange and white shirt while the other had purple overalls.

"Aren't you a little young to be playing with a toy like that?"

"Yes, yes we are," answered the boy in the striped shirt as he and his brother walked over to the counter to pay.

Nov 30th-Zatanna's Bedroom

After magically unlocking the door to Robin's room and carefully rummaging through his closet, Zatanna finally found Robin's box of spare equipment.

"Ok well, buying something is out of the question. Maybe I can make something homemade! Surely he wouldn't mind some magically enhanced….uhh what does he call these? Birdarangs?"

From her bookshelf, Zatanna grabbed a large thick spell book and placed plushie Robin beside her….for moral support.

"Alright. These spells are a little advanced, but I'm sure if I put my mind to it, I can get them to work. You ready?" she asked gesturing to plushie Robin.

"Let's start with uhhh Fire-rangs! Hmm. Nrut pu eht taeh (Turn up the heat)." Nothing happened.

"Huh? I'm sure I said that right. Imbues target metal with the power of fire. Yea! What gives?"

Frustrated, she turned the page.

"Ok so maybe fire is just too strong? Yea! Ok. Ooo instant darkness. I'm sure he'll have a use for that. Sthgil tuo! Sthgil tuo! (Lights out)"

Again. Silence.

She turned to plushie Robin, "Ugh why isn't any of this working?"

All plushie Robin could do was sit there with his head slightly tilted.

"Quit laughing! Ugh, ok. Ice. Instant freeze. Birdarangs that freeze enemies. I can do this. Llihc! (Chill). I said Llihc dammit! Why won't you freakin Llihc. Uggggghhh"

Meanwhile in the kitchen

"Hey Conner, could you stir the pot for me please?"

"Sure M'gann. What are you making again?"

"Chicken paprikash. It's a new recipe I'm trying out."

As Conner stirred the pot, the flames from the stove suddenly exploded right in his face burning most of his t-shirt off and causing him to take some steps back.

"Oh my gosh, Conner! Are you ok?"

A confused Conner just blinked, "Uhhhh yea I'm fine. I didn't really feel it but that was…bizarre."

"Well, I'm glad you're ok. Why don't you go on and take a shower? I'll call you when dinner is ready."

Conner and nodded and began walking towards the bathroom…..only for the lights to shut off.

"Woah what the!"

*CRASH*

"Conner? What's going on?" Just then, the lights turned back on, and M'gann spotted poor Conner on the ground with a chair under him.

"I….I don't know. I tripped over this chair. What's with the lights?"

"Maybe the league forgot to pay the power bill?"

"Whatever." Conner finally made his way to the bathroom ready for a nice, relaxing, cool shower. Right when he turned on the shower….

"WHAT THE HELL?"

"Conner!? Are you ok?" M'gann rushed to the bathroom and exclaimed with a slight blush, "Conner! What the? How did this happen?"

Poor Conner was covered and trapped in a block of ice with only his head and two arms stick out. A block of clear, see-through ice did little to cover his…..dignity.

"M'GANN JUST GET ME OUT OF HERE!"

Dec 1st – Mount Justice Kitchen

"Mornin' 'Tanna! So how goes the gift search?"

An exhausted Zatanna could only lift her head from the counter and glare at the speedster.

"Uhh ok then. That bad huh?"

"Wally, I've got nothing. He's been so kind and wonderful to me. I….I need to do something to show how much I lo-…care about him. As his guy best friend, what are you getting him?"

"Nothing."

"….come again?"

"Well, nothing physical anyway. I'm hanging at his place. We're having a guys' night. Him, me, Playstation 4, Star Wars Battlefront II, Street Fighter, maybe a few movies, but a ton of chicken wings and pizza."

"…..really?"

"Yea. Robin's a pretty simple guy. He's not one for super extravagant gifts or anything. Well, maybe he'll get them for his friends and whatnot. But for himself, he'll take whatever kind gesture he can get from the people he cares about. Just….be thoughtful."

"Huh….ok. Thoughtful. Simple. Thanks Wally!"

Later

"Recognized: Robin B-01"

Exiting the Zeta tube, Robin stretched a bit getting ready for training of the day.

"Hey, Boy Wonder!"

*SMEK*

Right as he turned, soft lips placed a quick kiss on his cheek and warm arms embraced his neck.

"Happy Birthday, Robin," Zatanna whispered into his ear. Robin could only blush and hug her back.

"Uh…thanks Zee!"

Still holding him in her arms, Zatanna continued to whisper, "You are my best friend and one of the most important people in my life. Thank you for being there for me. I know you and Wally have a guys' night tonight so I won't intrude. Have a good time, ok?"

"Oh uh yea. I will! Thank you, Zee!"

Zatanna finally let him go and winked, "I'll see you around."

Wayne Manor

"Enemy has taken a command post!"

Empty pizza boxes and wing containers surrounded one Dick Grayson, free of his sunglasses, and one Wally West, with buffalo sauce on his shirt, as their clone army made their way across the jungle of Kashyyk. Suddenly, a realization hit Dick.

"Hang on. How'd she even know it's my birthday?"

"Who? Zatanna?"

"Yea!"

"…Dude, you're welcome."