Chalant Candlelight

Chapter 21

(Zatanna's POV)

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"Is this because of what everyone will think?"

"No, this is because of what you will think." He raised his starry eyes to mine,

"Dick Grayson, I have liked you since I first saw you." I cupped his face in my hands,

"You don't know who I am."

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"You don't know who I am"

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"You don't know who I am"

My mind thought of nothing but those words as I attempted to get some sleep that night, the comfort of my bed somehow unfamiliar now that I had been held in his embrace. My lips, lonely, now that I had felt his kiss.

Tirelessly I searched for the meaning behind his words. Who else was he, Ward to the prince of Gotham, on a social level known to some as a charity case, others a playboy heartbreaker, some thought he was a cold mystery, or just a circus freak, a lost kid. I knew all these things but they didn't bother me, he was more than the labels on his life, He was something beautiful, under the pressure of a million spotlights he wasn't swayed any way, he was who he was, not shaped by class or social constructs. He had an authenticity in his mystery that held my attention in ways no other man could.

(Robin's POV)

Restless was an understatement. My heartbeat wouldn't slow. I could only think of her, her legs around me, her hands in my hair, her breath like sweet peppermints. I tossed and turned until I couldn't take it, I suited up taking my frustrations to the streets,

"I thought you were going to sleep an hour or two before coming out," Batman questioned as I rolled off my line onto the rooftop, not sparing him a glance as I walked towards the ledge he had just been peering off of,

"Plans change." was all I said, looking off at the shipping yard below, "This is the drop zone?"

"Penguin and his new fish drugs or whatever you call them." We both peered down at the oblivious goons unloading freight boxes into trucks,

"Shall we," I smirk before we both jumped into action, just like old times.

We made easy work of the goons when I caught Penguin escaping out of the corner of my eye. I looked at Batman who gave me a nod to chase him, so I did. I ran between the cargo box maze I was in until I was close lined by his umbrella-cane-gun-thing,

"fffff-" I sit up rubbing my face

"Boy wonder!" He spoke excitedly only it wasn't Penguin, in fact, it never was Penguin, out of the shadows emerged a familiar bluish boy with black spiked hair like goat horns,

"Klarion." I hiss, standing up defensively,

"It's been too long." He shook his head at me, a devious smile forming on his face,

"Are you still mad about that house thing?" I tease him, reaching back for a bird-erang,

"No, but that's actually why I came here tonight because I've been doing some remodeling recently and I wanted you to come to check it out." He said while simultaneously opening a portal next to him,

"Tough, I don't have a housewarming gift." I shrug before whisking a bird-erang toward his smug face. In an instant he used a tiny portal to transport my quick gadget back behind me, luckily I saw his play and ducked. He began to open various portals making the Bird-erang travel at me from all directions as I dodged and flipped over it over and over eventually I used my arm to whack it out of cycle into the ground,

"Just get in the portal." He grew tired of my relentless attacks, when he began chanting a magic spell at me,

"You think magic scares me!" I yell at him,

"You haven't seen magic yet." He hissed before the portal opened under me and I fell into darkness,

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"Wait until you see my house of magic."

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(Wally's POV)

One month, twelve days and eight hours since Robin was reported missing. One month, twelve days and eight hours since any of us heroes have had a good night's rest. People don't just vanish without a trace.

(Zatanna's POV)

A lot can happen in a day, for instance, one month and twelve ways ago, Robin went missing, and not only that but on that fateful day my father, Zatara, became Doctor Fate.

So yeah, a lot can happen in a day. But things happen after that day too, like...you move into the cave with your teammates, you isolate yourself in your room, and when you leave your room, you don't go past the safety of the cave, because the two people who were appointed to protect me were gone and the world is a scary place when you're alone. When you gain the courage to get out of bed and head to a mission briefing it only takes one step towards the door and an anxiety attack crumples you to the floor.

I could no longer look into Robin's masked eyes during a mission and feel that assurance of safety. Because no matter how much we bickered and hated each other's guts he knew what he was doing and he always had a plan.

I could no longer go home after a long day and hug my dad before bed. I could no longer practice my magic spells with him in the comfort of his study.

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But I did keep practicing magic

When I did leave my room Mags would be waiting in the library, he would teach me new spells. He taught me spells that could slice through the air, spells that could crush objects into the ground. My magic had become darker in my depression. There was hatred and vileness lacing my spells that made them close to deadly, every day I felt my power growing and my anger with it.

Two or three more months passed, Robin, still MIA. Eventually, I gained the courage to go out on a mission.

"Look who it is." Wally smiled seeing me walk into the mission briefing area,

"Hi, guys." I waved shyly,

"I'm so glad you're back." Artemis threw her arms around me,

"I figured it was time." I shrugged.

(Wally's POV)

We hop in the bioship, and all I notice is Mag's continuously talking in Zatanna's ear. I had seen him lurking around her room, keeping her under his wing constantly. Many times Artemis had tried to visit Zatanna in her room but he had turned her away before she could even see her. I leaned over to Magan as she flew the ship,

"Have you ever tried to read Mag's mind?" I whispered,

"I tried once but there's a block, I can't get past, I think it's just his magic protecting his mind subconsciously due to his natural sensitivity towards the arcane arts," Magan answered using her mental link with just me,

"Well said." I raised a brow,

"What about Robin, did you ever try and take a quick peek?" My curiosity made me ask,

"I don't do those things."

"But you have tried right?"

"Yeah." She sighed defeatedly,

"And what did you see?"

"Nothing. He has a wall too, but instead of magic it was Britney lyrics 24/7."

"That's my boy." I was somehow very proud of that fact.

"Let's keep an eye on Mags and Zatanna, okay?" Magan looked toward me,

"Okay."