I'll Be Here

Expressing Feelings

October 12, Mount Justice
Zatanna's POV

"Wake up," I heard someone say to me.
"Wake up, wake up," they said now jumping on my bed.
I opened my eyes to see Robin.
"What are you doing?" I groaned.
"Wally and Artemis are awake!"
"But... It's three in the morning," I said pointing to my clock. "Plus, my dad is gonna yell at us."
"He left. The only people left is the team and Black Canary."
"Uhhh!! Fine," I complained.
We went down to the medical bay in complete silence dressed in our pajamas.
"Artemis!!!" I hollered.
"Hey," she replied casually.
"How do you like being stuck in here with Wally?" I asked. She immediately blushed.
"Um," she hesitated, "he's actually staying quiet for once."
We looked over to see Robin and Wally whispering to each other.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Artemis asked.
"Probably how we, as in Robin and I, kicked Bane's ass," I boasted
"Oh my god, you have been hanging around Robin too much," she laughed. "Plus, me and Wally gave you guys a head start," she explained.
"Totally," I sarcastically said (in a nice/fun way).
There was a peaceful silence for a while.
"You know, I'm really glad that we are now friends. I may not be officially be part of the team, but it feels like it," I smoothly interjected.
"I'm glad too," she smiled.

Robin's POV

"Wally? Are you okay?" I asked looking at all his bruises and cuts.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me, dude. Worry about Batman," he spoke in the most calming tone.
"Don't bring him up right now," I requested.
"I know right now it's a rough topic but-"
"Wally, don't, please" I paused then changed the subject. "So, what did Bane do to you?"
"Hurt Artemis," he replied in a furious, raspy voice.
"About Artemis, how was working with her?"
He blushed instantly, "Umm... She was great."
"Woah... Are you sure this is the really Wally? Last time we talked about her, you said she was bitchy."
He laughed and then muttered something quietly under his breath.
"What did you say, KF?"
He said it again barely clearer.
"What?" I asked again.
"Come here," he said annoyed.
I went over to him and put my ear next to his face.
"Artemis kissed me and I kissed her back," he whispered.
"WHAT?!?!?!" I whispered back louder.
He put his finger up to his lips signaling me to keep quiet.
I backed up, paused, then I thought about it for a few minute and started laughing.
"Hey, it's not funny," Wally yelled loudly at me annoyed.
Black Canary walked in. "What's not funny," she said with a hand on her hip.
"Robin told me a really bad pun," Wally said.
I glared at him and I'm pretty sure he got my signal that that was the lamest excuse ever.
Black Canary shook her head. "Why are you guys down here? It's almost four. Robin and Zatanna, you guys should be in your rooms sleeping."
"We just wanted to check up on our friends," I explained, "is that a crime?"
She sat down in a chair and said,"You guys are lucky that it is just me." Black Canary is the best.
Wally sat up,"Ow Ow Ow Ow OW!"
"Wally! Lay back down. You can't keep getting up," she warned with concern.
Wally did as he was told.
"So how's life?" he asked casually.
"Well, my boyfriend, Ol- Green Arrow, is going to purpose to me," she said excited.
"Yay! Congratulations! Wait... doesn't that mean he didn't but you know he will? It's not gonna be a surprise?" Zatanna asked confused.
"Let's just say, that he's not so good at keeping a secrets from me," she laughed.
"Someday, we will all be married and have children," I spoke up.
"And you will realize what pain Batman and Zatara are going through," Black Canary said.
"Don't," I said through my teeth.
"You just need to understand in their perspective," she answered back.
"I can't! It's Batman! He doesn't show his emotions," I yelled.
"Maybe not Batman, but your dad, his alter ego, can," she said.
Water started forming in my eyes. I didn't want to look like a baby so I sneakily vanished out of the room into mine nearly started crying.
A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. I opened it revealing Zatanna.
"Robin, can I come in," she asked.
"Yeah," I guided her in and closed the door. We both sat down on my bed.
"Wally said in all the years knowing you, he's never seen you cry."
"That's because I don't."
"But Robin your about to do it now."
"No, I won't. I need to learn to be expressionless and-"
"No, no you don't."
"The last time I cried was when my real parents died," I admitted.
She looked down at her feet. "Wasn't that when you were nine?" she asked.
"Yeah."
"Your thirteen now, that's been four years! That's unhealthy."
"Well I was trained not to cry by Bat-"
"No! How do you even express your feelings?"
"I don't"
"Yes you do Robin," she said softer, "When you're happy you smile, laugh, have fun."
Out of nowhere I gave her a hug. What am I doing? I was surprised when she started hugging back.
"What about your mom?" I asked. Then I immediately realized that was a wrong question, wrong time.
Zatanna slightly flinched back.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to bring that up"
"No, it's okay. She died giving birth to me, so I never got to meet her."
There was a few minutes of silence between us.
"Zatanna, I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Well, then I'll never leave you," she whispered in my ear with a smile. She then left.
I looked at my clock and it was five o'clock in the morning. I have gotten no sleep at all yet, so I went to sleep.