Back to December

"You know that thing about you not being leaguers...you three still have an open invitation to- "

Despite addressing all three former teammates via M'gann's mindlink, Zatanna's eyes are completely glued to one raven-haired hero adorned with a bluebird on his chest.

"We know, Zatanna," Nightwing interrupts her.

To everyone else, his tone and abruptness might've seemed notmal and casual, but to her it feels sharp and curt. Embarrassed, she looks away as Conner and M'gann explain how comfortable they are simply working with the Team. She doesn't even notice that they're starting to disperse. Luckily, Nightwing is the last to move.

"Wait, Dick," she shyly reaches out.

"Hmm?"

"Uhhhh, h-how have you been?"

"I'm ok. Do you need something?"

He isn't being rude or anything. His tone is relatively neutral, but it used to be so much more loving. Her confidence to engage in small talk diminishes as she realizes he hasn't changed very much since that night. Gone is the little boy who stole her heart with his cackling wit and genuine compassion. Standing before her now is a man who's all business. She knows he's putting up a front. His guard is up, and she worries it's her fault. However she shouldn't be complaining. She broke his heart first.

"Um, nothing. I just uh...um how was your birthday?" She asks

"Eh," he shrugs, "Worked a case. Caught a child trafficking ring at Disneyland."

"Oh. That's great! Uh that you caught them. Not that they were uh yknow, smuggling kids."

"Hmm. Yea. Anyway, I've got work to do. I'll see you around, Zatanna."

It tightens her chest and twists her stomach how he doesn't call her "Zee" anymore. He walks off, and she's left to wonder if she's made a horrible mistake.

They were so blissfully happy at first. Ever since she stepped into the cave, he was a nervous wreck. She liked to flirt and play with him a little. She was admittedly a tease and liked to toy with guys making them think they had a shot. However, with the Boy Wonder, she realized that he really did have a chance with her. His wit amused her as he was one of very few who could keep up with her. More importantly, he wasn't interested solely because she was hot, but because he really did care about her. When Fate took her father, he held her night after night. For weeks he never left her side. Come New Year's she became bold and decided to give him a chance pulling him into a sweet kiss. It became clear though, that once Boy Wonder was committed, he was all in. In came the gifts, and the kisses, and the sweet sweet affection. It was clear from the start, he liked her so much more than maybe she liked him. She felt smothered and just didn't know a way out. On that fateful December night, on his goddamn birthday no less, he visited her with a full bouquet of roses. It was his birthday but he was the one treating her. That was her breaking point. She needed a break, and for some stupid reason, her cold heart broke up with him immediately. He gave her roses, but she left them there to die.

A year later, clearly that night is still burned in the back of his mind. She felt free at first when they broke up. Spring came and she went back to her flirting ways. She casually dated here and there, but there was no one serious. No one could compare to him. It was little things at first. They didn't hold her hand the way she liked. Their hugs weren't as warm as his. They didn't laugh at her jokes like he did. Then she started noticing the bigger issues. They didn't hold her like he did. They never listened to her vent like he did. They never understood her like he did. Nobody captured her heart like Dick Grayson. The cold dark days came when she realized she missed the touch of his skin, his sweet smiles, the way he cradled her when she cried. She tried to suck it up, especially since she had heard rumors of the revolving door of women in and out of his life. She tried to move on, but she couldn't. To prove a point, when his birthday came and went last month, she didn't call or text, or did anything really. It was the first time in five years that she didn't kiss him on his birthday. But, now she so deeply regrets that decision. As such, she's standing in front of his apartment door twiddling her fingers. She's walked up and down the stairs at least five times now unsure if she should knock. Finally, she takes a deep breath and taps the door. Silence.

"Dick? A-are you in there? It's me, Zatanna. Ummmm can I come in?"

No response.

"Dick, listen. These days, I haven't been sleeping well. I stay up late playing back how I left. And I just want to say, I'm...I'm so so sorry for that night, the night I broke up with you on your birthday. It was cruel of me. I was younger and I honestly didn't realize what we had. I-I felt suffocated and just scared about where we were going. I didn't know what to do. And then I think about the summers we had and all the beautiful timed we shared. And by this past fall, I realized that I love you. I miss everything about you, Dick. I miss your laugh, your smile, your heart. I thought I wanted a break. I thought I wanted freedom. But turns out freedom is just missing you and wishing I realized what I had when you were mine. I got back to December all the time, Dick. So this is me swallowing my pride, standing in front of this door, saying I'm sorry for that night. I'd go back in time and change it, but I can't. If the chain is on your door and you don't want to see me, I understand. Just know that, I really really miss you, Dick."

Tears fall from her face as she places a hand on the door. She sniffles and looks up praying that he'd open and let her in.

"Do you really mean that?" a voice asks from behind.

Startled, she turns around to see one Dick Grayson holding a bag of groceries in his arm. She eyes him up and down wondering how something as mundane as grocery shopping makes him so beautiful to her.

"Yes," she answers stepping forward, "Every word."

"But, you broke up with me."

"Yes. I did. And maybe I just wasn't ready like you were. But even so, that wasn't fair of me. You gave me all your love and all I gave you was goodbye. Lately all I do is go back to that December night wishing I could change my own mind. And then I piled onto it more by ignoring you on your most recent birthday. I really really miss you, Dick. I know this is asking a lot, but do you feel the same way? Do you still love me?"

In a rush, he drops his groceries and pins her to his door. Hungrily, he smushes his lips to hers and desperately kisses her. Reciprocating, she puts one hand on his cheek while the other grasps and pulls the hair on the back of his neck. He holds her waist and pulls her in tightly. He pinches her side causing her to yelp. She opens her mouth and his tongue darts in to twist around hers. Almost by instinct, she lifts her leg up, and he catches her thigh. Finally out of breath, they pull apart and he leans his forehead against hers.

"God it feels good to kiss someone, again," he pants.

"Mmmm...wait. What do you mean? When was your last kiss?"

"Thanksgiving...before you broke up with me."

Wide eyed, she stands there with her back again the wall and her leg still in his grasp.

"You mean, you haven't kissed anyone in the entire year? I was the last person you kissed?"

"Yes. It just didn't feel right with anyone else."

"B-but, what about the countless women you bagged or whatever?"

"Heh, I actually haven't err 'bagged' anyone. I went on a couple dates here and there but there were never second dates. Wally likes to give me shit because Bette from GA hit on me the other day not realizing I was the young freshman that annoyed the hell out of her."

"...oh," is all she could reply.

"You?"

"Thanksgiving, before I broke up with you."

"Oh."

"Dick, can we go back to December? I want to turn around and make it alright. I want to change my own mind. I miss you. I wasn't ready then, but I'm ready now."

Smiling he cups her ass and lifts her up. Quickly she wraps her legs around his waist.

"Zee, I don't have any roses on me, but my heart and feelings haven't changed. I love you. Do you love me?"

She bites her lip trying to stifle a giggle. She's absolutely elated that he uses her pet name for the first time in over a year.

"Dick, I swore that if we ever loved again, I'd love you right. I'd love you the way you deserved."

Given the green light, Dick kisses her again as he fiddles with his apartment lock. Finally getting the door open, he stumbles towards the bedroom with her in his arms. He lays her down gently on the bed and climbs on top of her. He stares at her beauty with her sore red lips and puffy pink cheeks.

"Zee, I'm glad you made time to see me..."

Back to December - Taylor Swift