Be Fluffy
"Does anyone have eyes on Circe?"
"Negative, Kal. I can't see through all this smoke," chimed in Artemis as she fired arrows at a golden bear statue that came to life.
"I've got her. She's making a break for the lyre!" Rocket yelled as she zoomed towards Circe's location.
"Zatanna, back her up. Artemis, Superboy, occupy the feral statues!"
"Roger, Kal. Etativel!" (Levitate) exclaimed Zatanna as she rose above the battle in the museum hoping for a straight shot to Circe.
"Arrrgghhhh. I. HATE. MONKEYS," Conner screamed as he repeatedly punched the gold gorilla statue.
The Team had been tipped off about a possible heist on the legendary Lyre of Orpheus. It was thought to be lost for centuries, especially after Orpheus failed to bring his wife Euridice back from the Underworld. Somehow though, a rich pompous archaeologist stumbled upon it on the island of Crete. Its gold finish and intricate detailing all but confirmed it was the real article. What had yet to be confirmed however, were its mystic powers. Legend has it, whosoever plays the lyre can hypnotize any listener and force them to do thy bidding.
What the Team did not expect was one Circe to be galivanting on the Man's world targeting the magic lyre. Circe was just about to break the case enclosing the instrument when Rocket at full speed rammed her shoulder into the sorceress. Immediately, Rocket set up a force bubble around a knocked-back Circe.
"Gotcha now! Ain't no way you're getting outta there!"
"Try me little girl." Circe snapped her fingers and in a cloud of smoke, she appeared outside of Rocket's force bubble.
She then fired a magic blast at Rocket knocking her unconscious. Zatanna arrived just then.
"Erif nrub, nordlauc elbbub!" (Fire burn, cauldron bubble)
A ring of fire formed around Circe, but she remained unphased.
"Cute girly. You've got some neat party tricks."
With a flick of her wrist, a wave of magic energy hit Zatanna pushing her to the ground. Circe then broke the glass case and picked up the magical lyre.
"At last! Oh if only I had this baby when Odysseus visited. He could have been my beautiful king."
Though groggy, Zatanna still had one more spell in her.
"Tuc eht sdroc!" (Cut the cords). Suddenly the gold strings of the lyre all snapped and fell. Circe's eyes widened with rage.
"Noooo you you BITCH! I waited nearly three thousand years to even be considered for parole for good behavior. Do you have any idea how difficult these strings will be to replace!? Arghgh. Kids today. As punishment for crossing me, I think I'll dip into an old well of mine. Hope you like carrots. Mwahahahah!"
After the puff of purple smoke cleared, the Team regrouped. Artemis, Conner, and Kaldur successfully subdued the animal statues that attacked them. Rocket was finally coming to. Zatanna…well.
"Rocket, what happened?"
"I'm not quite sure. I knocked Circe away from the lyre, but she hit me pretty hard."
"Looks like she got away with it…hey, where's Zatanna?" Artemis asked worriedly looking around for her best friend.
Some rustling could be heard under some debris near the broken case of the lyre. Conner approached the source of the noise and moved some dirt and wood around.
Out popped a little white bunny rabbit with tiny ears, a fluffy tail, bright blue eyes, and a little white bowtie. Everyone just stared dumbfoundedly as Conner picked up the little creature.
"Conner? Why do you have a bunny?"
"Uhh I'm not sure. I just kinda found him here."
The bunny lightly bit Conner's thumb.
"Ok uh found HER here?" The bunny nodded in approval.
"Wait….can she….understand us?" queried Rocket.
"It would appear so. Strange. Maybe she can help us locate Zatanna."
After Kaldur's remark, the bunny tapped its head with its paw almost as if it were smacking its forehead. It was then Artemis put the whole thing together.
"Uhh guys. This bunny's wearing a bowtie…..Zatanna's bowtie. And considering we were just dealing with Circe of all people…."
Realization hit everyone like a sack of bricks.
"We CANNOT tell Robin…."
The Team arrived back at the cave, but Superboy used his super hearing to make sure on Boy Wonder was still away on a mission with Batman. Once the coast was clear, the Team slowly made their way to the kitchen.
"Well, what are we supposed to do now? Circe has the lyre and Zatanna's friggin bunny rabbit!" cried Rocket as she fetched a pair of apple juice boxes and handed one to Kaldur.
"Thank you, Rocket. As for our next move, it would seem prior to her transformation, Zatanna damaged the lyre somehow. I found cut gold strings near the museum case. Circe may have the instrument, but for now it is useless."
"Ok cool. That's great. But how do we turn Zatanna back ASAP without her boyfriend knowing? He is SOO gonna flip."
Bunny Zee could only tilt her head in confusion. She looked around the room also wondering how to resolve her situation.
"I'm not keeping her in my room. She's gonna bother my heightened smells like crazy."
Upset at this comment, Bunny Zee hopped full speed and tried to head butt Conner. Unfortunately, this only made her dizzy.
"Conner! Be nice. She can understand you!" chastised Artemis, "For now, maybe we just keep her in her room with some animal feed and see who can turn her back."
"In her room, really? That's like the first place bird boy is gonna look for her. They spend hours in her room doing….uh well kissing? Doing the nasty? I'm not entirely sure I want to know."
"Well Rocket! You got any other plans?!"
"Recognized: Robin B-01"
"Ohhh shit ok uh don't panic," panicked Artemis as she scooped Bunny Zee into her arms.
"Artemis run to Zatanna's room. We'll hold off Robin," ordered Kaldur.
The Boy Wonder in full uniform strolled into the kitchen. He was a little exhausted after tracking Two-face with Batman for the past few days, but he still acted chipper hoping to see his beautiful girlfriend.
"Sup guys! Did you just get back from the mission?"
"Yes Robin. We have just arrived and finished debriefing," Kaldur answered nervously.
"Neato. How'd it go?"
"Well, it was ok. We found Circe, but she got away with the lyre," Rocket explained.
"Oh wait…that's bad right? Can't she like enslave the human race with that thing?"
"Nope nope! All good," Conner chimed in, "Luckily, Za-…..I mean Kaldur, cut the strings and now the thing's pretty much a paper weight now."
"Yes. Exactly, I used my blades to slice the strings. Circe won't be playing any hypnotic music for the time being."
"Ok well that's good. Hey, where are Zee and Artemis? Didn't they go with you?"
"OW ZATANNA WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR!?"
At that moment, a little white fluffball came zooming into the kitchen. Bunny Zee immediately spotted her boyfriend and rushed over to his leg nuzzling it. She then stood up on her hind legs and placed her front paws on his shin. With her blue eyes, she gazed lovingly at Robin, hoping he'd get the message. Artemis ran in with a small bite mark on her finger.
"Uhh hello little one. What's your name?" Robin cooed as he picked up Bunny Zee.
It took a second, but Robin began recognizing those bright blue eyes and the little button nose on the bunny. Such cute traits could only ever be found on….
"Oh my god….. Zee?! What happened!?"
Excited that her boyfriend recognized her, Bunny Zee began licking the thumbs holding her up.
"Robin, uhhh we can explain. Uhhh Rocket? You tell him."
"What? Uhh ok. See….What had had happened was uhhh, Kaldur?"
"Right. Of course. Well, we arrived at the museum to intercept the theft of the lyre. We encountered Circe, the witch of Greek mythology who lived on an island and-"
"Circe turned Zatanna into a bunny," interrupted Conner who just wanted to get to the point.
Robin then cradled Bunny Zee and brought her close to his chest. She closed her eyes and nuzzled gently into his touch. For a moment, Robin squinted his eyes, giving the Team a slight Bat-glare, but he immediately softened.
"Well. It is what it is right now. Considering Zee's our resident magic user and Dr. Fate is on some other plane of existence right now, I'll have to look up the League database for any potential magic users who can help us. Go get some rest guys. You just finished a tough mission."
"Robin. Is this wise? Do you not also need your rest?"
"Kal, I'll be fine. Not the first time I've been awake for 36 hours. I'll manage," Robin replied while holding up Bunny Zee up to his face, "In the meantime, hey cutie! You hungry? Let's go fetch us some snacks!"
Robin moved to the kitchen looking for some carrots, apples, and bell peppers. The rest of the team dispersed getting some much needed rest.
Hours later, Robin sat at the Cave's computer, skimming through various profiles of magic users on the League database.
"Hmm, Giovanni Zatara's obviously not available, Wotan? Definitely not going to help. Jason Blood….nope. Shazam is…ten so that's a dead end. I don't think Queen Mera can help with transfiguration…"
As Robin continued to mumble to himself, Bunny Zatanna woke up from her nap and began hopping along the desk towards her hard-working boyfriend. She put a paw on his hand and just gave him some cute glassy eyes. Robin could only just smile.
"Hi, honey. Sigh Don't worry. I'll get you back to normal. Though I have to admit, you're so adorable….but only slightly more than usual."
Bunny Zee tilted her head and did her best to give a smirk. Robin began scratching her behind her ears which she really really liked given the rapid thumping of her back leg. After scratching the top of her head, Robin went back to work on the database. However, Bunny Zee wanted more affection, so she hopped into Robin's lap and curled into a ball, settling into her new napping spot. Robin could only sigh as he petted her with one hand and used the computer mouse with the other.
"Hold on…..This could work"
"Drew Brees drops back to pass….ANNND….he's sacked deep in the backfield. This will put the Saints in a fourth-and-long situation and out of field goal range."
"Dagnabbit! How the hell you miss that block. I thought we supposed to have the best offense in the league!?"
A bell rang indicating a customer had entered the store, specifically via the French Quarter entrance in New Orleans.
"Hello Hello! Welcome to Madam Xanadu's! How may I…" Madam Xanadu paused a little noticing of that all people Robin the Boy Wonder had wandered into her store holding a white bunny rabbit with a bowtie around its neck.
"….help you?"
"Madam Xanadu, my name is Robin."
"Yes, I figured that part out."
"And well….this is my girlfriend."
"…..you realize, boy, that's illegal in like 53 states?"
"Aren't there only….never mind. I promise you, she's actually human but…"
"Lemme guess? Circe?"
"Well…yea"
"I knew it. I knew that bitch was gon cause some trouble. Why they even offer parole in the Underworld is beyond me. I tried to tell Wonder Woman to tell Hermes to tell Zeus to talk to Hades about that stupid policy but nooo I'm just a crackpot in New Orleans."
"Uhh Madam Xanadu?"
"Look, the Saints win the Superbowl for the first time ever, I'm allowed to have a little wine. Excuse me for partying like the rest of Louisiana. But nooo I went a little too hard and I guess that makes you lose all credibility in the magical world."
"….ma'am, could you please turn her back into a human?"
"Huh? Oh right, sugar. Um Circe's magic is streets above mine. But I'll give it my best. What was her name again?"
"Zatanna"
"Right Za…..as in Zatara? You datin' Gio's little girl?"
"Uhhh yes?"
"Shieee How'd you pull that off?"
"uhhh perseverance?"
"More like he can't kill you under the helm of Fate. But I digress. Let's see if we can put this fluffy bunny back into your girl's beautiful thicc curvy body."
Several hours later, and several spells later, Bunny Zee sat blissfully in a basket nibbling on some lettuce. Robin slouched in a chair and wore a plastic food bib that had a picture of a crab and said "I'm a legs man". At this point he was just hoping for once a single spell would work.
"Screw it. Abraca-flippin-dabra"
*PUFF*
Nothing happened.
"Son, I've tried everything in at least five different spell books and three different Cajun menus. At this point, them LSU tigers have a better chance of recruiting a solid quarterback than little Zatanna here has of being human again."
"Yea, remind me again how priority delivering crawfish and beignets helps with this magic stuff?"
"Boy, I need to eat. You try casting spells on an empty stomach! Besides, you had a good meal, didn't you?"
"Yea it was delicious, but we're still at square one."
"Sorry kid, but at this point, only Circe can bring her back."
"Sigh ok….how about we track her? Magically?"
"How about we run a draw play on 4th and 20? Are you crazy?"
"Look, Madam Xanadu, I just want her back. I'll….I dunno bargain with Circe, maybe?"
"You? Bargain with a demigod who quite frankly is one crazy ass bitch?"
"Look I love Zatanna ok? And as cute and fluffy as she is….I just want my girlfriend back."
Seeing the genuine love for his girlfriend moved Madam Xanadu and she felt sorry for the poor kid.
"Look, even if I wanted to track her, I can't. Again, I've sung this song before…..she's got superior magic."
"Song….music," realization hit Robin, "What if you can track an object she has on her?"
"Come again?"
"Circe stole Orpheus's lyre, but Zee cut the strings rendering it useless. Circe will want to have it repaired. Can you track the lyre or at least point me to where she could get fixed?"
"….Yes! Yes I can!"
Madam Xanadu's tracker spell pointed Robin towards Marsyas's Musical Wares in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, Circe was not there. Luckily, she left the lyre in Marsyas's care and hired him to repair it. Robin paid him triple what Circe offered not only to hand the lyre back to the proper authorities but to also reveal Circe's current location. That was why he now stood in front of Krowny's Jazz Bar holding a napping Bunny Zee in his arms. As he entered, the sound of smooth jazz permeated the whole establishment. People wearing tuxes and flapper dresses sat at tables and bars and were just having the time of their lives. Finally, Robin spotted the stand-out green dress of Circe at a booth. He sat down in front of her and placed Bunny Zee on the table.
"Hello, Boy Wonder."
"Circe."
"I see little Zatanna is doing quite well. She looks all tuckered out. You sure you want to bring her to a loud music establishment such as this?"
"Cut the crap, Circe. How do I get her back?"
"Ooo right down to business. Little boy, there's such a thing as foreplay. Have you and Zatanna….experienced foreplay yet?"
"Sigh. Look I know I can't convince you to turn her back. And I definitely can't fight you either."
"Ohh, you are a smart lad."
"So Circe….I've come to bargain."
"…..Really? Now this is…intriguing."
"What will it take for you to turn Zatanna back to normal?"
"Hmmmmm. Well admittedly what can a young boy such as yourself offer me a demigod?"
"Please…..I'll do whatever it takes."
"….hmm. Ok. I want something from you, dear boy, something so guarded. Something so precious that once taken away, you'll never get it back. Something so deep and something you hold so dear….."
Krowny's Jazz Bar was quiet. The lights were off as everyone sat in silence anticipating the next act to come on stage. A single spotlight shined center stage. A young boy in a domino mask and a black and yellow cape walked slowly towards the lone microphone on stage. Gentle music began playing as the boy started to sing.
We're the best of friends
And we share our secrets
She knows everything that is on my mind
Oh, lately something's changed
As I lie awake in my bed
A voice here inside my head
Softly says….
Why don't you kiss her
Why don't you tell her
Why don't you let her see
The feelings that you hide
'Cause she'll never know
If you never show
The way you feel inside…..
What would you say
I wonder would she just turn away
Or would she promise me
That she's here to stay
It hurts me to wait
I keep asking myself
Why don't you kiss her (tell her you love her)
Why don't you tell her (tell her you need her)
Why don't you let her see
The feelings that you hide
'Cause she'll never know
If you never show
The way you feel inside
Why don't you kiss her (Why don't you kiss her)
As Robin stepped back, there wasn't a dry eye in the entire bar. Everyone was so moved by the passion and the emotion behind the song. Even Circe grabbed a handkerchief and blew her nose. She bent down a whispered into Bunny Zee's ear,
"You've got a keeper there, dear girl."
Robin got off stage and approached Circe.
"My my, Boy Wonder. I honestly forced you up there hoping to embarrass you in front of this LA crowd, but by the Gods do you have a set of pipes on you."
"Yea Yea Thanks. Look, I kept my end of the bargain."
"A deal's a deal."
Circe snapped her fingers and a little bottle of purple liquid appeared in her hand.
"Have little Zatanna here drink this potion, and she'll be right back to normal. I have a feeling, you'll….enjoy this particular transformation."
Though confused, Robin graciously accepted the cure.
"Thank you, Circe."
Quickly, Robin scooped up Bunny Zee and made a beeline for the nearest Zeta tube.
"Boy, is he in for a surprise…"
Back in Zatanna's bedroom, Robin poured the purple potion into a little bowl and placed Bunny Zee in front of it. He sat on her bed as she approached the little bowl and began to drink the potion little by little.
*POOF*
"Cough Cough. Zee? Did it work?...OH MY GOD"
Robin pulled the sheets from Zatanna's bed and turned around covering his eyes. As the smoke cleared, Zatanna definitely returned back to human form….except she was completely naked save for her white bowtie.
"Robin? Robin? Yes! It worked I'm back…I'm…..OH MY GOD I'M NAKED."
"Uh yea I can see that, Zee…. I MEAN I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. I'M TOTALLY TURNED AROUND RIGHT NOW HONEST."
Blushing a little and covering as much of herself as she could, Zatanna slowly calmed down.
"Actually uh Robin…..I uh…..don't mind if you…um take a peek? I mean yknow. It's you and…..I'd like it if you looked at me like that. I don't mind…really…but only you!"
"Ummm th….thanks Zee. But um for now, let's get you dressed ok?"
"Right Right! Ok."
Zatanna found an oversized t-shirt and some shorts and tapped Robin on the shoulder signaling him that it was ok to turn around. When he did, she climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms around her neck
"Phew. I'm glad you're back, Zee. I was so worried."
She gently kissed him.
"Thank you for taking care of me. I'm so sorry to cause you trouble. You must be tired."
"I'm fine. Really! I just…..couldn't sleep without knowing how to bring you back. Besides, I got some crawfish out of it!"
"Haha yea. How about this, you get changed and um please brush your teeth before I kiss you again, and then we just lay here and sleep. Ok?"
"Sounds like a plan."
In minutes Robin returned smelling minty fresh and wore a Superman t-shirt and some black shorts.
"Really?"
"Believe it or not, it's comfier than the Batman one."
"Haha come here. Rest oh brave warrior."
Robin got into bed and Zee pulled him into an embrace resting his head on her chest. She began stroking his hair. Robin slowly relaxed and gently drifted off to sleep. Zatanna kissed his forehead.
"Thank you for everything, Birdie."
Softly, she began to sing.
"Why don't you kiss her,
Why don't you tell her,
Why don't you let her see,
The feelings that you hide,
'Cause she'll never know
If you never show
The way you feel inside…."