Be Determined

"Recognized: Robin B-01"

"You're late, boy."

"Sorry Sorry. QuizBowl game went long."

"You know the rules. Being tardy waives your choice in pieces."

"Yea Yea. What's your pick?"

"I am feeling generous today. I choose black. You have the first move."

"Getting soft in your old age?"

"Hardly…"

Robin flicked his cape and sat down at the table. He moved his white pawn forward. Across the chessboard sat his opponent, Doctor Fate.

Three Years Ago

"Recognized: Robin B-01"

"LET HIM OUT RIGHT NOW!"

"Hmm?"

"You heard me. Let him out!"

"You are not in a position to order me around, boy."

"You can't just take away someone's father like that! You can't put her through that pain! She doesn't deserve it!"

"What do you know of loss, boy?"

"….More than you know."

"Really? I am an old spirit. I have wandered this Earth realm for many centuries both as man and as Lord of Order….I had a father once. I was betrayed as he destroyed my city, our city that we built together. I watched people I loved die before my eyes. I stared up in anger at the man whom had raised me as he smiled while my home burned. You and the girl are not the only ones who longed to see their father again."

"Even so, that doesn't give you the right to take Zatara from her."

"And what? So I be relegated to that fool's trophy shelf? Only used as a last resort? The world is far more complicated than you make it out to be…..Richard."

"Fuck you."

"Bold. Even Giovanni is impressed by your…..bravery."

"I just….I don't want her to experience this kind of pain…."

"Hmmm…As I said. The world is far more complicated than the feelings of a little girl."

"Sometimes the fate of the world depends on the feelings of one little girl…"

Defeated, Robin began to turn away, until he noticed a chess board on the table. He looked back at Nabu and…an idea began to hatch.

"You play?"

"I….the game interests me."

"You any good?"

"I wouldn't know. I haven't played with anyone for three hundred years."

Robin sat down and gestured the good Doctor to sit across from him

"I'll be gracious and choose black. Your move….Doctor"

In a span of twenty minutes, Robin lost the first two games.

"While I appreciate the game, you are not much of a challenge."

"Wait wait. One more! Third time's the charm!"

"That is a mere mortal superstition. There is no enhanced luck with the number three."

"C'mon, just one more. Double or nothing. You win, I won't bother you again. I win…We keep this discussion of ours….open."

"Your move then."

Three minutes later, Robin checkmated Nabu in four moves.

"You…you lied to me."

"I never specified anything about my skills. I simply asked for a match."

"You downplayed your skills to lull me into a sense of security. You played to my hubris. That is...quite brilliant."

"We mortals call it hustling."

"I…have enjoyed this time together."

"As have I."

Two weeks later, Robin visited Nabu again. He asked the same question, Nabu refused, and they sat down to play another few games of chess. These visits repeated themselves and ultimately became a regular appointment for the two. The routine was always the same. Robin would demand the release of Giovanni, Nabu would refuse, they'd play chess, shake hands, and leave. Eventually, Giovanni took this opportunity to sneak questions to Dick via Nabu as the middleman. Zatara wanted desperately to know how Zatanna was doing and how she was coping. Robin was happy to oblige. Thus began this odd couple relationship between the Boy Wonder and the Lord of Order (and the magician trapped inside Fate).

Present Day

"The answer is still no."

"C'mon man! I didn't even ask yet."

"You have been coming here for three years asking the same thing. My answer is the same."

"Fair enough. Doesn't mean I won't stop asking though"

"…this QuizBowl. Is it a competition of strength?"

"Hmmm more like strength of the mind."

"Interesting…..Were you victorious?"

"Oh yea. Unstoppable. Four-year district champs. We go to state next month."

"I see," Nabu paused before flinching and looking in a different direction, "Quiet! I'm getting to it!"

"Huh?"

"Sigh…..Giovanni would like to know how Zatanna is doing."

"Oh right! She's doing great! Her magic is really improving. She's got control of those lightning powers of her. She's quite the heavy hitter on the team."

"Have you been treating here well?"

"Are YOU asking that? Or Zatara?"

"Answer the question."

"I've been nothing but a gentleman. I've been trained as such after all."

There was another pause before Nabu turned to his imaginary conversation partner again.

"I will ask him…..I don't see what the issue is…You clearly want to know…..BAH You mortals and your societal rules."

"Can't help but feel left out here Nabu….."

"Shut up. I will ask!" Nabu said with some finality, "Reluctantly, Giovanni wants to know if you and Zatanna…..have had relations."

"Huh? I mean…..we're in a relationship. I don't know what you're referring to."

"Sexual relations."

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh"

"Quit stalling, boy."

"Uhhhh…well…..um…."

"Check."

"Sigh….once."

"Hmmm"

"Twice"

"Hmmmmm."

"…..more than twice."

"Enough! I believe we understand the…..situation."

"We've been careful! Honest!"

"Giovanni is furious in here. Are you sure you want me to release him?"

"Oddly….yes. I wouldn't mind being scolded by my girlfriend's father if it means he'll be free for a bit."

"Hmmm. Almost had me there."

"Check."

"Hmmmm."

"Y'know. Zatanna's been thriving these past few years. She's made good friends. A family. She may have moved schools, but at GA she's near the top end of the class. She's not valedictorian, but she's in the top four percent. You'd be proud."

"In that brief moment while she was under the helm, I sensed great potential from her. It is not surprising that she has achieved so much at a young age. Check."

"She wants to go into showbiz, like her father. Check."

At that last remark, Nabu froze. Robin looked up and could almost see tears falling from his eyes…or rather Giovanni's eyes. Fate blinked a couple times to recompose himself.

"I believe she can do better than waste her time entertaining mortals with cheap party tricks….but good for her. Check"

"I think it's a great idea. She's got charm, charisma, and a great love for people. I think she'd be perfect."

"You….you care a lot for her, don't you, boy?"

"Are you asking? Or Giovanni?"

"Three years later and you still think you're the smartest in the room."

"It's part of my charm…..Y'know, graduation is coming up. It's a pretty big moment."

"Hmmm"

"She's not planning on attending college so…this might be the only chance the see her walk the stage in a cap and gown receiving her diploma."

"Hmmmmm."

"Birthdays come and go. Father's day. Memorials for lost mothers. They'll always be there year by year. But some moments are once in a lifetime. Some are worth seeing with one's own eyes. Just thought I'd mention that. Checkmate."

"Hmmm."

"One day. The balance of order and chaos won't turn the world upside down in a day. Just one day is good enough."

Nabu sat unflinching. Robin stood to leave.

"Richard…..when is this…graduation?"