Chapter Text
Zatanna’s POV.
“So…tell me how did you do it?” After yet another great show, Zatanna was on a dinner date with a guy that approached her after her show. They were at a restaurant in Las Vegas. She was regular there, she loved their salad and always treated her with so much respect and care. She was friends with the staff and the owner. She was well regarded not only in the restaurant but in Las Vegas as a whole, as a top performer.
“Sorry, I spaced for a second. What did you say?” Zatanna mind wasn’t really there, she wasn’t enjoying her salad like she usually did…like she did not so long ago in this very restaurant with her number one fan but couldn’t help but to wonder why wasn’t her with him.
“Right. I asked how did you manage to make that bunny grow? Or how did you pull your assistant out of your hat?” The man frowned, he wasn’t used to be ignored. Every gal he has date, has thrown themselves at his feet.
“Can’t tell. Magician’s code” She tried to hide her annoyance behind smile.
“Aww. C’mon. I’m telling no one” Zatanna cringed. It always the same. People asking how did she do this or that. Caring about her act and not about her. She could believe that she accepted having a date with this guy.
“Sorry. If I do tell you…I’d have to disappear you.” she tried to be cheeky and joke, trying to steer the conversation to something else but the guy didn’t laugh, he just grunted and went back to his meal. She just think how no one laughs at her jokes like he did.
“Aren’t you getting any meat or some real food?”
“I’m vegan” A detail that most people didn’t know about her but he never forgot. The rest of the dinner was a disaster, he didn’t have anything else to talk about and she wasn’t really interested in him either.
“Here’s the check” Zatanna and the man thanked the waiter for the check. Then both looked at the piece of paper between them.
“So…what about you disappear this and we go back to my place or yours?” He lifts his eyebrows in a teasing manner but only make the magician feel disgusted.
“What are you talking about?” Offended, she weighs her options. Maybe she should hex him or sent him to a pit but decides against it. She couldn’t risk her rep.
“Can’t you use your magic to make it disappear or something? Aren’t you like super rich?” Yeah, she didn’t know why she accepted to have dinner with this asshole.
“You know what. Fine! But you better disappear as well. Idiot!” Zatanna slammed the money on the table and left the guy there. Actually, she knew why she accepted a dinner with him. The guy wasn’t bad looking, he was tall, raven haired and had blue eyes…he had a familiar look but just in paper and truth being told, when she saw him from behind she thought it was him but her mind was playing her tricks as usual. She would see him everywhere but unlike the man she daydreamed everyday, this guy was tall but skinny, his eyes were blue but didn’t shine like diamonds, his hair was black but dull. She accepted his invitation out of sheer awkwardness. Dick has been showing up to a lot of her shows and after that they would have a not-a-date. For a second she thought he wasn’t there then she saw this asshole thinking it was her bird but she was wrong.
Dick’s POV
“Another successful mission. Thanks for helping me out Dick” Kaldur, aka Aquaman, thanks his friend, Dick, aka Nightwing, as they arrive to Bludhaven’s HQ after recovering some Atlantean stuff that was stolen.
“Anytime Kaldur. That’s what friends are for besides nothing like some team up between the OGs” They shared smiled but Kaldur notice that Dick was holding something back.
“What is it?”
“Nothing. You know that I’m here whenever you need me”
“The feeling is mutual my friend”
“But what did you call me for? I mean you are a Leaguer and all that and I’m sure that could’ve done all this by yourself”
“Can I not see an old friend?”
“Maybe we can go and grab something to eat next time”
“I will keep that in mind but also I wanted to talk with you for a while and it has been rather difficult to track you down…”
“Yeah…” Dick scratches the back of his head. “I’m sorry. I’ve been really busy with detective work and the Team, the Bats and well the whole Nightwing business”
“I also heard that you might be seeing someone…”
“I never took you for someone to believe in gossip” Dick was surprised by Kaldur’s curiosity.
“Humour me”
Sigh* “I’m not seeing anyone…can I know who started this rumour?” Grayson smirks at his friend.
“Not even Zatanna?” It was weird to see Kaldur so teasingly about something like that but Dick couldn’t hold his smile. He was happy that Wynde was helping Kaldur to relax and because he did had been spending a lot of time with her. “I have notice that you’ve been pretty busy spending a lot of time with her”
“Just chatting like the friends we are. Just like you and I are doing right now” Kaldur raised an eyebrow, not buying Dick’s word.
“And yet, she seems to be on your speed dial and I’m not and besides, friends don’t look at each other the way you two do”
“This doesn’t sound like you man! Who put you up to this? Artemis? Tim? Megan? Raquel?”
“Everyone wants to see you two together but no. I was talking to Wynde and if you remember correctly, he used to think that you two were dating when I first introduced you guys.”
“So does everyone talk about my love life?”
“So there’s a love life…my friend I’m not looking to disturb you or anything but-“
“There’s always a but. Let me hear it. I owe you as much.” The two friends got comfortable and sit down.
“As you know, I’m not the most open person and will always look for my friends, I always try not to meddle in your personal business” Kaldur relaxes before continuing. It was still weird for Dick to see Kaldur so relaxed and well…open. He was the most stoic of them all. “After what we thought was Conner’s death…Wynde got me to finally have some time for myself and he show me the wonders of not being on my guard all the time and just be me”
“I can see that. I’m glad that you find someone like him. You deserve the best”
“Thank you and so do you my friend. And so do you and Zatanna. And I’m sorry if I’m being too blunt but you two are that for each other. When Fate took her dad, you were the only one to break her walls and make her smile. Then Jason happened, and she was the one that put your pieces back together. She helped us with the Artemis/Tigress’ situation without hesitation because of you. Then, when we lost Wally, you were for each other, and then when Barbara was injured, and you been there for her every time she’s overwhelmed about her dad or Fate or her powers. We, well at least I try not to, comment how there’s always a tell when you two see each other even if it is just to say hi. An extra bounce on her step, a bigger smile or some out of the pocket idea”
“Isn’t that what friends do? And if I remember correctly, it wasn’t just me that helped Z and it wasn’t just her who helped me. You, Artemis, Raquel, Conner, Megan were there as well”
“I’m sorry my friend but if you think that we have the same effect on you or her to the one you and Zatanna have on each other then you are not as bright as I thought you were…”
“Hey!”
“My apologies but I guess I need to intervine a little bit more. When we thought Conner was dead, after the funeral, didn’t you spent like the whole time with her?” Dick thinks back to those dark days and remember that he and Z got extra attached to the hip. If he was honest it was the closer they have been to get back together again but then she pulled away after her new deal with Nabu and he let her go. Why did I let her go?
“Maybe…” He wasn’t sure where Kaldur was going with all that.
“I spoke with Zatanna at the funeral. And you know what she said to me?” Kaldur looks directly to Dick’s eyes as he shakes his head. “She thought she was a horrible person because with Wally and Conner gone. She couldn’t bring herself to imagine a life without you. That she was mourning her friend at the same time, she was relieve that it wasn’t your hologram the one standing there. That while you and her are not together…she couldn’t bring herself to put herself on Artemis’ or Megan’s shoes because a life without Dick Grayson…isn’t a life at all and that there isn’t as many stars in the sky without you” Dick looked away, he couldn’t believe that she shared that bit of information with him. Dick always told Z, that she was his north start and how Z responded that he was her light in the dark.
“Did she really said that?”
“Yes. And that’s why I ask…why aren’t you two together?”
“We were close to get back together but she pulled away. She said that I didn’t deserve to share the burden of Fate. That with the new deal we wouldn’t have a good life and that I deserve better”
“And you let her go again?”
“Yeah”
“Do you believe that?”
“What?”
“That there’s a better life for you that doesn’t include her in it?”
“No. She’s all I ever wanted and most likely what I will ever want but what can I do if she doesn’t want to be with me?”
“She does want to be with you. She just has the same complex most of us have in this life. We want to be the heroes in every story. And I know that the conditions aren’t ideal but do you love her?”
“Yes”
“Then I’d say that you should cling to her like you do to your trapeze to not fall down”
“Man! What did Wynde did to you? I really need to talk to him”
“And he will gladly do so and he might set a better argument for you and Zatanna”
Sigh* “I’m really an idiot for letting her go on the first place all these years ago”
“I wouldn’t dare to call you that my friend, but yes. You have been not so bright” Both men chuckled.
Zatanna’s POV
“Hey, Zee! Running a little late!” Raquel, who was with Trace, waiting for the magician in a coffee shop in New York, scolds her friend.
“Sorry, Raq. Trace. I got to busy handling some things from my show and I lost track of time” In reality, she didn’t sleep all night. After that terrible dinner with that guy, her mind traced back to her blue hero. She cursed herself how much she was daydreaming about Dick Grayson, she spent the whole night trying to imagine that it was him who she was hugging and not just her pillow.
“It’s okay, Zatanna. What’s important is that you are here” Trace smiled to her mentor.
Zatanna smiled her back. “Thank you, Trace. So…what’s today’s gossip?” She archer her eyebrow as the girls grinned. They shared quick updates about their lives before Trace dropped a bomb.
“What do you mean that you and Jaime are done for?” Raquel was the first to react.
“We’ve been wanting different things for a while and our schedule with college and stuff wasn’t working”
“Trace. Doesn’t tell me that it has to do with…” Zatanna felt horrible, Fate was ruining yet another life and it was partially her fault for dragging her student.
“No. Actually, we were breaking up by the time I started to by co-host and he didn’t wanted to leave me alone and thought that the timing was awful so we decided to push a little bit more but the spark wasn’t just there anymore” Trace took her mentor’s hand. “It was my call to be a co-host. I told you like a million times Zatanna and it’s the same with Khalid, you didn’t force us to do anything”
“Still…”
“So…are any college guys cute?” Trace flustered. There are a couple guys that were indeed cute and that were hitting on her but she didn’t want to have a relationship.
“A few but right now I don’t feel like to have a boyfriend. I want to sort some things out on my own”
“Sound awfully familiar….doesn’t it Zee?” Zatanna roll her eyes. “Yes. I don’t care that you put that face. We are doing this again”
“Doing what?” Trace couldn’t help you feel left out.
“Nothing. Just trying to teach your teacher a couple things like…I don’t know…tell the man that she obviously loves that she loves him because is clear that he loves her back but both of them are idiots”
“Oh. Dick, right.” Raquel laughed her ass off.
“I didn’t say no name and she knew exactly who I was talking about”
“I mean…it’s kinda obvious”
“Trace!”
“C’mon! Zatanna. You gotta tell us! Dick and Barbara break up like over a year ago…why hasn’t anything happened yet? Or it has and you are two keeping it under the wraps?”
“There’s nothing between Dick and I, besides a very good-“
“History? You two have major history”
“Friendship. I was going to say FRIENDship” Zee got back to drink some of her iced coffee.
“You two have been in love for so long”
“We have been in different relationships”
“Dick has only being with Barbara”
“What about you?”
“We have like 3 dates and you know why I didn’t work?”
“You told me. It was weird to date him after I dated him and you dated Kaldur”
“That wasn’t the true. Look I promise him to take this to my grave but you gave me no other choice.” Raquel took a deep breath. What she was about to tell her was something that only Dick and her knew about. “I was actually…kinda…falling for him on our third date but he called me Z by mistake” The Raquel told the story about them. They were out on a simple ice cream on the park date and Dick took her to what it was supposed to be the best ice cream on Gotham…the problem was that it was a vegetan ice cream and how he wanted to her there and Dick spaced out and call her Z.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know…” Raquel raised her hand.
“It’s not your fault. Maybe a little because you paired us up but that boy never got over you and I understood that when I notice how he call your name plus everything work out well for me. I have Amistad thanks to that.”
“Well…maybe I was wrong about you but he dated Barbara and love her”
“Yeah but he never loved her like he loves you. Both of you have been the happiest when you guys are with the other.” Zatanna was avoiding her friend’s gaze. “Or are you going to tell me that you loved your ex more and were happier with him?”
“Of course not. I don’t even know why I dated that guy”
“I know. You literally did a 180 and went to the anti-Dick Grayson and oh boy! That didn’t work out well for you”
“Nobody liked him…let alone with you. I was so happy when Dick hit him!” Trace exclaimed.
“Dick did what?” Rocket was taken aback, she never knew about that story.
“How do you know that?” Trace grow nervous after her slip.
“Tim told Cassie and Cassie told me”
“Okay. I want to hear everything about that. Is there a tape? I want to see it sooo bad”
“Tim says that there’s a tape but no one can see it but Batman and he’s not risking his life for that” Trace added. Raquel was on the edge of her sit. Zee just exhaled.
“Nightwing and Batman went on a mission with him. I just started mentoring Trace, Fate was no where to be found…left him as the only option. Long story short they both hated each other from the first moment they saw each other. The mission was rather simply but as always got complicated and you know how John is…Dick wanted no casualties and John was more about as long as the world doesn’t explode I don’t care and well Dick found a way to save everyone and got into a heated argument with him and he knock him out and Batman and the League forbid them to ever team up” Raquel keep asking for another drink as Zee tells the story.
“I don’t care what I have to do but I need that video!”
“Say Zatanna…isn’t a little bit more of that story” Zatanna was speechless. She felt both proud and betrayed about Trace cornering her like that. Maybe she was a better teacher that she gave herself credit for.
“There’s more?” Both OG members of the Team looked over to Trace.
“Spoiler told me” She said nonchalantly as she drinks.
“Ughhh. I really need to talk to those Bats. They keep everything secret but the stuff that is related to me”
“Don’t change the subject. I want answers. NOW!”
“Well…that day was the the day that I broke up thing for good with John. He wasn’t answering my texts so I knew he was on Bobo’s bar as usual so I went to see him there. He was there with a black eye, something that wouldn’t be weird for him to have but he was pissed off, like really angry, and he lash out to me about how can I be with so unprofessional people and I could do better than to be part of the League and he started calling Dick names and I lose it…I was planning on breaking up with him before that but when he exploded, I did too and we left in a bad note” The next part was hard for Zee to tell, while Trace might know something because of Spoiler knew what Barbara knew, but no one but Dick knew the whole story. “I got really mad at him and I left him at the bar and as soon as I left the bar a lit a smoke and I saw my reflection on a window and realised that I hit rock bottom…how could I be smoking when my mom died of cancer. I-I-I freak out and felt like shit…” Both girls got closer to the seasoned magician to comfort her.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to-“
“It’s okay. I didn’t feel like to call anyone. I was ready to bury myself in my misery but then he knocked on my door…and as soon as I saw him I cried my heart out. He was there with me the whole time. He was there to apologise if he caused any troubles between me and John…although he made very clear that he didn’t regret hitting him, he didn’t want to ruin our friendship” Zatanna chuckled at the memory. “In any case, I told him what happened and me breaking up with John and he told me that he didn’t deserved me and that I deserved the best. I told about the smoking thing and he was there with my when I collapsed again. We stayed together all night long. He refused to leave, put some of our favourite movies and asked for some take out. I must’ve fall asleep at some point during the movies but I wake up on my bed and he was sleeping on the couch. We had breakfast and then he left but kept checking on me”
“I’m glad that you didn’t went through that alone. But please, you know that I’m here”
“Me too”
“I know. It was hard. Then he broke up with Barbara and I wanted to try things out with him but I took to long and then he got back with her”
“I might have something to add to that part…that’s what Steph told me” Zee was curious of what Trace might have to offer. “Barbara broke up with Dick, partially because he spent the night with you. She knew that neither of you did anything wrong and truth being told, she knew he would’ve done that for any of his friends but Barbara has always being jealous of your connection with Dick even if she trusted both of you”
“I didn’t know that…”
“She tried things with Bard but there was not love with him and try things again with Dick because they didn’t leave things the best way but Dick called quits because Barbara wanted to take the next step on their relationship but Dick didn’t wanted to”
“She wanted to marry him?!”
“No. Steph and Tim told me that Barbara wanted for them to officially live together. Not just having toothbrushes in each other places. But Dick told Barbara that didn’t wanted to leave Bludhaven and that his place wasn’t the ideal for her to live and well…it was clear that they wanted different things and ended it there.”
“So that leaves a very available Dick Grayson…” Raquel teases her friend once again.
“This doesn’t change anything…”
“Can’t you give me a very good reason for you and bird boy to not be together?”
“There….hmmph…there’s the deal with Fate”
“Please. Dick won’t mind that as long as he is with you. He’ll willingly share that burden with you” Zatanna tries to thing in another excuse and couldn’t come with anything.
“Please, Zatanna. I know how much he means to you. I can see how you are when you are with him or when you two together and for what Tim, Bart, Jaime and Cassie tells he’s the same”
“Try it. Ask him out today. You two wait too long for this…” Her friend words reached out to her and she pulled her phone. And as usual, Dick was at the top of her messages.
Zee💜🐰: Hey!
The girls didn’t have to wait for long as the typing bubble showed up.
Birdie💜: Hey, Zee. How are you?
Dick’s POV
“Thank you! See you again next week Dick. Here have this, on the house!” In some part of Bludhaven, Dick Grayson, aka Nightwing, was doing his weekly grocery shopping. Dick had his route planned to get everything he needed and not forget anything, he always stopped to buy his fruit from Mr. Rogers, an old man that had been working in the market selling the best fruit for years. He would have go to the grocery store or any super market to get his fruit or any food but she taught him better. She taught him how to pick the best ingredients, the best fruits, the best vegetables.
“You shouldn’t! I can’t” Mr. Rogers insisted on man to take the extra bag of strawberries. The old man didn’t fail to notice that the young man in front of him was in love but that the lucky girl was a fan of strawberries. How did he knew? He knew because Dick had been buying extra strawberries the last few months and how he seem to be happier the days he needed some extra. He must buy strawberries for her. The old man though to himself.
Dick was happy with everything he got. He managed to get all the stuff he was looking for a something more. He bought the ingredients for a veggie lasagna in case someone decided to drop by or maybe if he gather the courage to ask her to come to his place. He was happily walking until something purple caught his eye. He was walking right outside of Krowny’s Flower shop.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s called bougainvillea. It’s a pretty beautiful flower that you can get from Mexico and some other parts of Central America.”
“It really is” His mind couldn’t help but to picture that woman that keeps him up at night just by being herself. No! You can’t think about her like that. You two are just friends! He scolds himself and frowns.
“You know. This flower represents twin flames…which means true love. It’s the bond between two people that no matter what they would share for the rest of their live. It’s someone that you find in this and every life. it’s something deeper than soul mates” The lady, Linda, explains the man as she observes how he was hypnotised by the flower. “How is she?”
“She’s the bravest person ever. She lights up a room when she’s there. There’s no one with a heart as big as her…she’s so kind, funny, intelligent, caring, talented, witty, she’s so natural at doing everything…”
“Beautiful?” She smiles at how deep in love the man was and clearly how he already found his twin flames
“Gorgeous! She has this eyes…and smile…and her hair” Then, he remembers that they were just friends…nothing more and his mood went down.
“Then you should gift this to Zatanna and tell her how you feel” The lady was no fool…or blind. She has seen Dick with Zatanna more than one time, he has bought flowers for her before. She knew true love when she sees it.
“No. We are not together and can’t…but thank you and sorry for make you lose your time” The said his goodbyes to the woman before making his way back to his apartment.
“Trevor!” The young lady ask to the other employee of the establishment.
“Yeah?”
“Let’s fix a bouquet of bougainvilleas for Dick and send it to his home. He’s going to need them” Dick keep walking home. The day was beautiful but after the conversation with Linda and the flowers, he couldn’t keep Z out of his head. Talking with Kaldur only made more What ifs creep in. It was hard already, I shouldn’t have said all those things. We are just friends…
Ring* Dick stops his train of thought as he checks on his phone.
Zee💜🐰: Hey!
Dick stops death in his tracks, when did he put that purple heart on her contact number?, purple is her favourite color, just like the flowers.
Birdie💜: Hey, Zee. How are you?
Zatanna bites her bottom lip as she ponders when the hell did she put a purple heart on his contact number.
Zee💜🐰: Great. What about you?
Birdie💜: Better now that I’m talking to you.
Zee💜🐰: Daring are we? Oh my…I thought I was talking to my Boy Wonder, not Daring Dan Danger.
They both smile to their cellphones. Dick notices how Z called him HER Boy Wonder and a smile threatens to rip his face in half.
Zee💜🐰: What are you up to? Are you busy?
Birdie💜: I’m walking back to my place. Just got some groceries…I might or might not have enough stuff for someone’s favourite lasagna and salad.
Zee💜🐰: Dan Danger is that an invitation?
He could totally imagine the smirk she was making and that teasing tone of hers. And he totally loved it.
Birdie💜: It is. Why don’t you come to my place and I treat you with a good time? Give me an hour and everything should be ready.
Zee💜🐰: Alright. But what about we cook together? I gotta make sure you do everything right. I’ll bring some wine.
Birdie💜: Is a date. See you in a minute gorgeous.
Back in Dick’s apartment, Grayson was getting everything ready for his…date…is a date? The man pondered. All the ingredients were out, Alfred’s recipe that Zee totally loved. He was making sure that everything was spotless and perfect.
Knock* knock*
He rushed to the door and fixed himself as best as he could. He was ready to meet the gorgeous brunettes but wasn’t ready for the person behind the knocking.
“Hey! Dick”
“Trevor! What brings you here? Is everything alright?”
“Better than ever. I brought you these…courtesy of Linda for that special person of yours. Zatanna if I’m not mistaken” Dick finally noticed the bouquet of bougainvilleas on the man’s hands.
“I didn’t…” Dick didn’t knew what to do.
“Please take them. She has a good eye for these kind of things and to be honest…I’m rooting for you guys. Please take them and when you see her decide if you want to give them to her or just keep them in your living room. You will know what to do when you see her. Trust me” Dick didn’t have any other choice but to thank Trevor and take the flowers before closing the door.
Knock* Knock*
Dick swore that just a second passed after he close the door. Maybe Trevor needed the bathroom or forgot to tell me something. Why does everyone care about my love life?.
“Hey! T-“ Dick froze the moment he saw his mischievous magician.
“Hello there! Am I early?” She was confused with Dick’s reaction and blushed herself with how he was seeing her. She felt like a teenager all over again.
“No. You are perfect…I mean you are right on time” She arched her eyebrow and smirk at him.
“Of course. I’m perfect.” They got lost into each other’s eyes but Zee was the first one to get out the trance because a sweet scent got to her nose and that’s when she noticed the purple flowers on his arms.
“Working in some decorations?” She bite her lip, wishing that he got those flowers for her. He knew that she loved purple flowers. It couldn’t be any coincidence, could it?
“Huh? No! I mean no…these are for you”