Behind the Curtain - Heathers

Lifeboat

Zee was sat in her bed the night after the gala, still trying to figure out who Robin was. She had danced with all the cast members that he might have been, so at least she can say she's danced with him. She hoped. She pulled her hair up into a loose bun as she headed out of her room. A thought had just occurred to her, she could always find out who Robin was through magic. Her father had been teaching her about finding spells, so she should be able to cover one up now that she knew how to track them. She opened the door to her training room and headed over to her books, but she had only just opened up to the first page as the doors opened again and her father walked in.

"Hi dad," She said, closing the book again, "Why aren't you in bed?"

"Zee, I have to tell you something," He said as he came over to her, taking a seat on the floor beside her, "I have taught you all I have time to teach you. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"What?" Zee asked, confusion and fear settling in her stomach, "All you have time to?"

"A few years ago I met a man, Kent Nelson, he is the current host for Doctor Fate," Zatara explained, "And he wasn't going to last for much longer. I made a deal to save Kent's life and stop Klarion, and the time has come for me to uphold my side of the bargain. I have to put on the helmet."

"But that means I'll never see you again," Zatanna said, "You won't be able to come back."

"I understand," He said, "I always thought that maybe the day wouldn't come, or at least, not so soon. But you understand how magical contracts work. I can't not do this."

"You can," Zee said as tears began to fall, "You can say no, they can't do anything if they can't find you. You can stay here, we can cast a protective spell. We can find a way."

He placed a hand on her shoulder and she instinctively leant into the touch,
"There is no way around this, baby girl. I've taught you how to track down the origin of spells, that way, you can always find me."

"You mean find him," Zee said, "Not you, he'll never let you free again."

"Sometimes, the price of peace is high, but it has to be paid," He reasoned, "I leave in the morning. I just want to spend one last night with my daughter."

"What's going to happen when you go?" She asked.

"You're going to be moving into the mountain," He said, "With M'gann, Conner and Kaldur. You won't be alone."

Zee didn't have anything to say, so she just leant into him, wrapping her arms around her dad for what could be the last time.

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Zee stood at the entrance of the mountain, box in hand and tears still streaming down her face. She hadn't seen her father leave, he had waited until she'd fallen asleep and she didn't know if that hurt more. But it was done now. She was helpless to stop it. You couldn't change the past, but you could write your own future. Even if it didn't feel like it.

"Zee, hey," M'gann was the first to approach her, "You're going to be okay. I promise you, you'll be okay."

"Will I?" She asked because she really didn't feel like she would.

"I promise," M'gann said, "Come on, I'll show you your room."

Zee followed the martian through the corridors to her new room. I was just opposite M'gann's, where she normally stayed when she slept over. It was just as she had left it, a few bits of hers that she left behind still on the sides and the bed made without a single crease. She put down her box on the floor and didn't turn to face her friend.

"If you want any help, I'll be just opposite," And she left.

Zee just stood there for a while, she didn't know what to do. Her life couldn't possibly get any worse then it was. She pulled out a book from her box, one of the spellbooks her father hadn't taken her through, lessons that she was meant to have but never got around to. She opened the book to a random page and a spark of hope came to her. A love spell. If nothing else, she could get Robin. She quickly read through the ingredients. Not that difficult, all she needed were a few herbs, boiling water and her hair. Then she just had to get Robin to drink it. She quickly moved in the rest of her boxes and rummaged through until she found her cauldron and began to mix the potion. At least she could have one thing working for her, she only wished her father were there to help her.

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That evening, after rehearsals, the team all met up in the living room of the mountain, trying to comfort Zee as best they could.

"I thought we could all do a send-off," Zee said as they finished their movie, "My dad always had a glass of Bibens Aquam, I thought we could all share a glass tonight," And she called in the glasses, distributing them out to the team, making sure Robin got his special one.

"Of course," Kaldur said, "To Zatara, loving father and loved hero," And they all downed their drinks.

Zatanna watched as Robin finished his glass and for a moment his features became confused, before clearing again, as if nothing had happened. Though Zee knew different.

"Thank you for tonight," She said as she stood up, "I think I need to get some sleep now though," And she headed off to her room.

She smiled to herself as she heard Robin get up and follow her back to her room, closing the door behind him once they were alone.

"Robin," She started but he cut her off.

"I didn't think you should be alone right now," He said, "I thought you might like it if I stay the night."

"I'd like that," She said as she pulled her jumper over her head, "I'd like that a lot."

"Awesome," He said, "I'll sleep over here, yeah?"

"You can sleep in the bed with me if you want," Zee said, trying not to sound too excited.

"If that's what you want," He said as he slipped off his shoes and headed over to her.

"Of course I do," She breathed as they stood there, just looking at each other.

Robin moved first, leaning up to her and placing their lips together. Soft at first, hesitant, and when she didn't resist it became more passionate. They fell onto the bed together and Robin moved to take off her top, but she stopped him.

"Not tonight," She whispered, "I just want to hold you for tonight."

He nodded as he relaxed into the bed, and they both fell asleep there.