Be Encouraging
"Despite its meager appearance, this facility boasts state-of-the-art motion sensors, around-the-clock surveillance, and a small army of guards. Stealth is top priority. You cannot be detected. Now that Luthor is Secretary of the UN, getting caught infiltrating one of his properties without a warrant could cause a huge political incident."
"Batman, is Robin coming?"
"I'm sorry, Zatanna."
"Batman, this course of action may be unwise. You are asking us to execute a significant infiltration-extraction mission with stealth at the upmost priority, but we are down our three best stealth experts. We cannot do this mission without, Robin, Batgirl, or Artemis."
"Unfortunately, Kaldur, we don't have the luxury of time. The Light is recruiting more members such as Black Manta and possibly another new partner. We need intel quickly. This Lexcorp warehouse is the least suspicious and least guarded one we could find that may have the information we need on its servers. Work with what you have. Get in then get out."
"Sigh college strikes again, I guess," said M'gann
As Batman left, Kaldur could only bury his face in his hands. Clearly stressed, he wiped some sweat off his forehead and put on his game face.
"Alright. As Batman stated, this is a heavy stealth mission. The team will be small. M'gann, Zatanna, you will be alpha. You will be our lead-ins and grant us access into the facility. Conner, La'gaan, Kory, and I will be beta. We will remain on stand-by and monitor the outside until alpha gives the go-ahead."
"Neptune's beard! You must be joking. My first mission and I'm lookout?"
"La'gaan, you will accept your role and you will perform it to the best of your abilities and beyond," Kaldur scolded.
"Pft. I wouldn't even be on this mission if it weren't for our MIA stealth experts. They don't even care enough to show up. I haven't even met this Robin yet. I bet he's all talk. Nothing but sea barnacles."
Zatanna stomped towards the new team recruit and aggressively pointed her finger into his chest.
"Listen here fishfuck. Robin could kick your ass blindfolded using one leg. Just because he's not here, doesn't mean he's any less committed to this team than you, me, or anyone else here."
"What are you? His wife or something?"
"Why you little…."
"What could be so important that prevents him from being here?"
At La'gaan's last remark, Zatanna turned her head in sorrow. She didn't say anything else and just walked away.
So far, the mission was going smoothly. M'gann camouflaged herself and knocked out her quota of guards on the east side of the building. Zatanna used a glamour charm and was taking care of things on the west side. As she was making her way down the halls, she couldn't help but think back to her boyfriend.
"He's just busy. MIT is a tough school and he's just focused on his schoolwork right now. It's nothing major. No biggie."
Unfortunately, she was distracted just enough for her glamour to falter.
"Hey! Who are you?"
"Huh? Oh shit."
"You shouldn't be here!" the guard exclaimed as he turned on his radio, "Captain, I've got a security breach. West side, second floor."
"Guys! I've been spotted and he's called it in."
"Understood, beta, move in!"
With stealth out the window, the Team's heavy hitters burst through the ceiling. It was a messy and chaotic free-for-all. Luckily the Team quickly subdued the security detail…but not fast enough.
"Aqualad, we've got a problem."
"Yes, Conner?"
"The server's been wiped. There's nothing here."
"Neptune's beard! We've come up empty? This was all for nothing?"
"I'm afraid so, La'gaan. We'll have to clean things up. Make it look like a standard break-in. We cannot leave any traces of League interference."
Growling, La'gaan turned to Zatanna.
"You! This is all your fault. How could you have been spotted like a rookie."
"I uhh"
"Explain now! What happened?"
"Hey!" Conner growled grabbing La'gaan's neck, "You don't get to talk to her like that."
"Why? She compromised the whole mission. Now we have no data, and we have to clean up her mess!" La'gaan said as he struggled out of Conner's grip.
"That may be," Kory interjected, "But she is still a valued team member. We do not treat each other with such animosity. Mistakes can happen. Now is not the time for anger or blame."
"Starfire is correct. For now, we began the cover-up."
Zatanna was almost about to burst into tears. M'gann came up and hugged her.
"Hey hey. It's ok. These things happen. We're not stealth experts."
"My…..my glamour wore off. I got distracted. IT'S ALL MY FAULT."
"It's ok, Zatanna. These things happen. We'll get them next time."
The Team worked quickly with Zatanna wiping out the cameras and M'gann altering the memories of the guards. They made it look as if a small group of gangsters tried to rob the place. Afterwards, Zatanna returned to the mansion. She never really moved out even though Dick did. She took a long shower and jumped into bed. Rolling over to his side of the bed, she clutched his pillow and took a big sniff hoping to get any semblance of his scent. Eventually, she grabbed her phone and dialed.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
"Alright, one more line of code annnnnnd, done! Ok, Ned! Try it again."
Dick's roommate wearing a Hawaiian shirt pressed the start button and a little four-wheeled robot with pincers lit up but only for a second. Immediately, sparks flew from its joints, and it shut down.
"Dammit! I thought that was it," Dick scowled.
"Sorry, Dick. Maybe it's a power distribution problem. Too much output on the servos?"
"Maybe. We might have to take it apart and start over."
"Sigh. Ok. Looks like another all-nighter then."
"I'm used to those. Sorry bro, but we don't have much of a choice if we want to meet the project deadline."
"Yea. Professor Stark is pretty strict about deadlines."
Just then, a girl with curly hair walked into the lab holding a tray of coffees.
"Another false start with sparky? You losers ever gonna get it together?" she teased.
"Har har, Michelle," Dick snorted.
"Pft. Here, I brought you guys these. I had a feeling you were gonna need them."
"Ohh you're a lifesaver, Michelle. You remembered the cream and sugar, right?"
"I gotchu Ned. Dick I just went black for yours. I wasn't sure what you wanted. I tried to call but uh well."
"No worries, Michelle. My phone's in my bag. I honestly didn't hear it go off."
Wayne Manor
"Hey, it's Dick! I'm UNable to come to the phone right now, but soon as I'm ABLE I'll get back to you ASAP. Leave a message and stay whelmed! BEEP"
Annoyed, Zatanna hung up and threw her phone across the room. She clutched Dick's pillow tightly and quietly sobbed.
"No, no. It's ok. He needs this time. He's busy. It'll be fine."
Two Weeks Later
"Hey Dick, Michelle and I are going to Alpha Chi's party tonight. You coming?" Ned asked.
"Sorry man. I've got a vidcall date with my girlfriend tonight. I think I'm just gonna stay in and chat with her."
"Riiight your imaginary girlfriend."
"Dude! She's real! You've seen pictures!"
"Lighten up, Ned. You're just jealous he got a babe like Zatanna," Michelle teased.
"OF COURSE I'M JEALOUS MICHELLE! I WANT A BABE LIKE ZATANNA!"
"Besides, Ned, the only reason Grayson here hasn't been ensnared by that man-eater Regina George is because he's loyal to his beautiful girlfriend."
"Hey! I'm smart too!"
"Sure you are. Anyway, enjoy your virtual date here in the dorm on a Saturday night!"
Ned and Michelle left for their party. Dick put on a blue button-up shirt that Zatanna got him and then fixed his hair a little. He fired up SKYPE and waited….and waited…and waited.
"Your call could not be connected. Please try again later."
Confused, Dick checked his watch.
"Huh. It's 10 o'clock. Maybe I'll text her."
Dick😉: Heya Babe. Is everything ok?
Zee🐰: Shit! I'm so sorry, baby. I'm still in rehearsal for the show. But don't worry. I'll end it right here. Just gimme like 20mins to freshen up!
Dick😉: No no! It's ok. Keep rehearsing! It's good to get important practice time.
Zee🐰: Honey? Are you sure? I know we haven't seen each other in a while.
Dick😉: Yea! No worries. I can get started on my homework. Keep on keeping on, Zee! Your performance is gonna be out of this world!
Zee🐰: Ok. I love you 3
Dick😉: I eovl uoy!
Zee🐰: lol try again baby
Dick😉: *I evol uoy!
Dick put down his phone and sank into his chair. After sulking for a bit, he opened Canvas to see if he had any assignments left.
"Done that. Did that. Turned that in last night. File blocked by professor. Ugh great. Now I can't even get try to get ahead."
He got up and pulled out a soda from the mini fridge. After settling down on the lump couch he shared with Ned, he grabbed a PS4 controller and turned on the TV.
"Guess it's another Saturday night with Joel, Ellie, and the zombie apocalypse…"
Three Weeks Later
"Come on! Come on! Dam…..dang it how does he do it so effortlessly."
Zatanna was in the Cave's training room furiously flicking her wrist. A stack of cards laid on the table nearby. Some were crumpled and ripped. Again, Zatanna swung her arms around hoping to get something out of her sleeve.
"Zatanna?"
"Oh! Heya Raquel! Didn't see ya there."
"Uhh what are you doing?"
"Just practicing."
Zatanna continued to flick her wrist trying to flip a card from her sleeve into her hand. Like the last fifty tries, no card came out and her wrist was starting to get sore.
"This one's the one. I can feel it!"
Zatanna flicked a little too hard and all the cards from her sleeve exploded out of her wrist and swarmed her making a mess on the floor.
"Ohhhh SHIIII….SUGAR HONEY ICED TEA!"
"Huh?"
"Sigh M'gann's been trying to get me to use alternatives to swear words. She says I've been more irritated than usual."
"Uh huh. Why's that?"
"I haven't had sex in…what day is it?"
"Wednesday, the sixteenth."
"Ok. I haven't had sex in four months, eighteen days, and uh seven hours."
Raquel began counting on her fingers.
"Wait, wasn't that the day Dick left for…"
"Yea…."
"Alright, putting your serious need to bone aside, what exactly are you practicing?"
"I'm trying to do close-up magic. It's more slight-of-hand really. I'm supposed to flick my wrist and a card appears in my hand."
"Can't you do that with actual magic?"
"Well yea, but some of this normal stuff is cool and fun. Plus mixing in illusions with my real magic won't wear me out after every show. Gah if only Dick were here."
"To bone you?"
"No! Well yes. But also because I got the idea from him."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, sometimes when he's in a pinch or needs to act quickly, he just flicks his wrist and a birdarang, or an explosive disc, or a smoke pellet just appears in his hands. He doesn't even reach into his belt! It's so fast and it's soooo cool."
"I've worked with the man for three going on four years now. I have never seen that."
"What? He does it like seventy percent of the time! He's so fast about it and it always comes in handy."
"Or maybe I don't watch him like a lioness in heat like you do."
"Oh fuuuuuu….fudge off Raquel!"
"Haha. Y'know. He'd be here in a heartbeat if you asked. I guarantee you with his help, you'd get this flick of this wrist down pat in like an hour. Then you'll spend the next five hours boning. Or maybe you fuck first? Unclear with you two."
"That's precisely why I don't want to call him. I don't want to tear him away from his school. He's got a lot on his plate. He's on the robotics team, the hacker club, flag football, and I think he just founded a clam chowder club just for me. The point is, he's thriving out there at MIT. I don't want to pull him back every time I need a little help. I want to encourage him."
"Mmmhmm. And what's he doing in return?"
"He's been encouraging me too! I've shown him a few routines via webcam."
"Zatanna! My goodness!"
"…..NOT REMOTELY WHAT I MEANT!"
The girls laughed a really good belly laugh at the dumb innuendo. Zatanna relaxed a little before continuing.
"I showed him some of the magic routines I had planned for the show. As a former circus performer, he gave me great insight on where I should stand, how I should face my audience, what the lighting should be like. He's been perfect."
"Well, I get that you two are busy. He's coming home soon though, right? Thanksgiving is near."
"Actually, a prof asked him to stay over break to work on some new tech drones in the lab."
"And?"
"…..and I encouraged him to take the opportunity and stay at MIT."
"In other words…."
"Sigh fudge me."
Two Weeks Later
"Ok ok Zatanna breathe in then out."
"Hoo Haa Hoo Haa"
"Not that quickly!"
"Artemis I can't do this. There are so many people out there!"
Zatanna peeked past the curtain to see a fully packed Gotham Theater. Bruce pulled some strings and got Zatanna in contact with a media company. They were able to book the theater for her debut show. Word spread quickly about the first ever show from the daughter of the Great Zatara so tickets sold like hot cakes.
"Artemis look! The whole ass league is out there. Superman, Lois, the whole Batfamily! Both lanterns. Hawkman and Hawkgirl. The Flash family! Holy shit Aquaman and like half of Atlantis is here. Fuck even Nabu is out there!"
"Zatanna, remember your alt swear words."
"Now is not the time to work on my swearing!"
"Zatanna you're gonna be fine. You've rehearsed all your moves and tricks over and over again. You've got your routine down pat. You're going to dazzle everyone."
"I guess. I just….I think I need a moment."
"Take all the time you need."
Zatanna walked a little backstage to compose herself. Artemis got curious and opened the curtain a little. After scanning the crowd, she spotted someone who would surely help Zatanna put on a fantastic show.
"Hey, Tanna. Come here. I think you should look out into the crowd one more time."
"Why the hell would I do that?"
"Just trust me."
Reluctantly, Zatanna parted the curtain. She looked around the crowd, but suddenly focused on the front row. Her eyes began to water as she continued to stare at the person sitting in the center seat of the front row between Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth holding a bouquet of roses in his lap.
"He's as beautiful as the day I lost him…."
Dick checked his watch and wiped a little sweat off his brow.
"Phew. Just made it."
"I'm glad you could join us, Master Dick. I'm sure Miss Zatanna would be overjoyed to see you here."
"Cutting it a bit close there, aren't you though?"
"Sorry guys. Ned and I just finished soldering the new circuit board for the drone we've been working on for Professor Stark. Honestly, God bless Zeta tubes. I never woulda made it without them."
The lights dimmed and the PA boomed to announce the start of the show.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and guys, heroes and civilians alike, please put your hands together for the amazing, the dazzling, the astonishing, Mistress of Magic herself, ZATANNA ZATARA!"
A spotlight shined center stage. In a puff of smoke, Zatanna appeared and Dick could not hold his jaw in place. For her debut show, Zatanna decided to change up her look. Her black blazer was now a blue tailcoat. She still wore waist high shorts and fishnets but accompanied them with knee-high heel boots and a garter loop on her right leg. She kept her white corset and bowtie but added a top hat with a blue ribbon. Shining brightly in the lights were her ivory white gloves with gold trimmings, Dick's birthday gift to her that she treasured so deeply. Finally, for some flair, she added blonde highlights to the tips of her hair.*
"Hello everyone! Good evening! Welcome to my very first show! I'm so glad you could all be here tonight. Since I'm just starting out, I really do appreciate every single one of you for being here to support me," Zatanna directed that last line to her beloved boyfriend in the front row.
Dick really only heard bits and pieces of her opening monologue. He just could not stop staring at his beautiful girlfriend strutting on stage charming everyone in the audience.
"God, she's as beautiful as the day I lost her…"
Zatanna was absolutely giddy in her dressing room. Her show went off without a hitch. Her big finale with pulling Pocus out of her hat and then enlarging the little guy was perfect. In the end, everyone gave her a standing ovation and kept throwing roses onto the stage. The Team had visited backstage, and all gave her congratulations and high praises. Bruce, Diana, and Alfred also came by to gift her a huge bouquet of peonies. Now though, sitting in her dressing room in a silk robe, she was anxiously waiting for one more particular visitor.
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Zatanna shot up from her chair and swung open her dressing room door nearly tearing it off its hinges.
"Heya Zee. You were gre….mmmmph"
Roughly, Zatanna pulled on Dick's shirt and smashed her lips into his. With her free hand, she slammed the door and kept pulling Dick closer and closer. She turned them around and she pressed her back onto the door griping Dick hard and pressing him deeper into her lips. He dropped his bouquet of roses and grabbed her legs. Happily, she wrapped them around his waist as their tongues a danced. Finally, Dick broke the kiss desperately needing air. Zatanna, however, wasted no time and began fumbling with his belt.
"Whoa whoa Zee. First time seeing each other and we're doing this already?"
"You bet your sexy ass we are, Grayson. Touch me. You haven't touched me in over five months. Gods, Baby, I need you. I really really need you right now."
Given the greenlight, Dick dove in and began biting and kissing her neck.
"Yes Yes YES! My God, Dick I've missed you so much."
Oddly, Dick stopped his onslaught and began sniffing her neck.
"Uhhhh Dick?"
He didn't respond. He just kept taking in big whiffs of her neck.
"Baby? Is everything ok?"
"Hmmmm Chanel Number Five….."
For the first time in months, Zatanna laughed so hard she was crying. She hugged him tightly and whispered gently into his ear.
"Baby, let's make boom boom tonight…."
Across the street from the theater at a Starbucks, the Team gathered for some hot cocoa and coffee.
"Friends. I feel guilty for making Richard wait that long to visit Zatanna. They haven't seen each other in quite some time. Why did we have to extend his agony like that?"
"Kory, trust me. If you had let Dick go in first, we'd never see Zatanna."
"Really Artemis? How could that…..Ohhhhhh"
"Yup."
"But I mean, they wouldn't do that for long right? I understand Richard is one of the healthiest human males on Earth, but even he doesn't have that much stamina, right?"
"Girl, you have no idea…."
"Let's just say, there's a reason this debut show was one night only…."
AN: *I just had to incorporate Zatanna's look from her new Webtoon comic. She looks amazing! As always, come hang out at the Chalant Discord /Mzd5ABNSz9