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cipheress-to-k-pop · 26 days

Text

academic rivals d.g.

Pairing: Dick Grayson as Robin x Reader

Warnings: Some injuries.

Word Count: 4.3K

A/N: Full discretion this idea was given to me by an anon and even though I said I wasn't taking requests I just couldn't resist.

Also @writing2sirvive I hope you find this offer acceptable after not writing for our baby for so long 😭😭

There was always a slight pinch of anxiety when your teacher went around the class, handing back your test papers after grading them and you waited with slightly bated breath, a fist clutching the fabric of your uniform.

Even though you knew you had done well on the exam, you were particularly unnerved by her declaration before distributing the stack of papers that only one person had managed to get a perfect score.

You kept your eyes trained on your desk, waiting for someone behind you to exclaim that they had gotten a 100% but it never came. Not until your teacher had placed your paper in front of you with a soft 'Good job'.

You beamed, barely able to contain your excitement as you waited for the bell to ring.

Of course, you were over the moon that you got a 100. And that you were the only person in the entire class that managed to get one.

But secretly, you were more elated by the fact that someone else didn't.

"Aw, what's wrong Grayson? Your daddy finally run out of money to bribe your teachers with?" You snarked as soon as you caught a glance of the 93 written in red at the top of his paper.

"Sub-par insult, (L/N)." He said flatly.

"I disagree, nothing about me is sub-par, as you can clearly see." A sly grin on your face as you waved your paper with '100' in his face. He rolled his eyes so far back you couldn't resist making a comment, "Roll your eyes as hard as you want, Grayson, you won't be able to find a brain back there."

His friend, Barbara, who was sitting beside him chuckled at this and he turned to her with an irritated glare, "Can I help you?"

She gave him a teasing smile, unnerved by his annoyance toward her, "Oh, nothing, I'm just eagerly waiting for the day you both stop pretending you hate each other and start dating."

It seemed like her comment had just the effect she had wanted when Dick choked on his spit in his haste to argue that even if you were the last person on Earth, he wouldn't go near you with a 10-foot-pole.

"I'm not too happy to agree with you, Grayson but I, very fortunately, have a boyfriend."

His face twisted, "Gross, who'd wanna date you?"

You gave him a fake smile, "Hopefully, not you."

***

"Recognized: Domino, B-08."

You squealed in joy the second the light faded from your eyes, gaze landing on your boyfriend who stood right outside the zeta tube with a giant smile on his face.

You threw your arms around Robin's neck with a giggle, peppering his lips with smiley kisses that he so enthusiastically returned, his arms snug around your waist.

"Do you guys have to do this every time?" Came Conner's unimpressed voice as he shuffled uncomfortably around the two of you making out, "Can you at least stop doing it in the middle of the entrance? People are trying to get places."

You pulled away with a soft blush, smiling at the sight of your sparkly lip gloss on Robin's mouth and his slightly dazed expression. There was nothing like your kisses that was able to knock the vigilante's world off its axis and it had been this way ever since you started dating 10 months ago.

The pair of you were still very much in the honeymoon phase, much to the chagrin of your teammates, who have walked in on you many times while your lips were practically glued to each other.

"How was your day?" Robin finally asked when you had each gotten your fair share of kisses, leading you to the kitchen for a snack before the mission briefing and you beamed, "Amazing! I got a perfect score on that test from last week!"

He raised a brow, "The one that you skipped a date to study for?"

Smiling, you nodded, "The very one."

He sighed, taking a box out of the fridge, "See? I told you that you'd do great! You probably didn't even need to skip our date."

You rolled your eyes, giggling at his pout that you were all too quick to kiss away, "Hey now, I made it up to you, didn't I?"

Nodding, he pushed the box further toward you with a smile, "You did. Which is why I got you this, but I guess it could be for a job well done too."

You gasped when you saw the squiggles of the familiar logo of your favourite bakery on the top of the box and eagerly opened it up, completely missing the fact that it had been sealed with tape and nearly ripping the carboard to shreds in order to get to the treats inside.

The smell of the strawberry shortcake and red velvet cupcake had you salivating, and you wasted to time before digging in.

"Ugh, I love you." You moaned, nearly dissolving into the symphony of flavours and Robin chuckled swiping some of the cream cheese frosting off your cheek before licking it off his thumb, "Are you talking to me or the cupcake?"

You paused, glancing up at him from the cupcake wrapper, "I can love more than one thing."

His affectionate gaze had you melting, forgetting the delicious treat for a second, "Thank you for the gift, I really love it."

Robin happily accepted the sugary kiss you had given him, "Well, I figured, since it had been a while since we had a date in Gotham, you'd be craving it."

You only took another bite of the cupcake to hide your guilty wince. While the list of details you didn't know about your boyfriend was limitless, starting with his name and ending with literally anything else, you felt guilty that he somehow knew even less about you.

At least you knew what city he lived in while he was under the impression that you lived in Star City with Dinah, your mentor. You really thought he wouldn't buy it, especially after he didn't believe Artemis the first time.

But nearly a year after joining the team it would seem that he was still blissfully unaware, and you were planning to reveal your identity to him soon enough. You were firm that you wouldn't be celebrating your one-year anniversary without knowing each other's names at least.

At least once he found out you were living in the same city, you'd be able to have more frequent dates.

"Team to mission room." You heard over the PA, and you grabbed the box with you to the meet Batman and Canary along with the team, unwilling to leave your precious strawberry shortcake at the hands of Wally. This way you'd be able to dislocate his shoulder the second he put his hands on your things.

When you entered the room to find a face that you recognized on the holoscreen, you paused and glanced at Artemis who shrugged in response.

"Leo 'The Lion' Stark, the leader of the cult that was kidnapping young girls was officially incarcerated this morning."

Cheers erupted around the room, and you passed the box in your hands to your boyfriend to high-five Artemis and bring her into a hug. Black Canary patted the both of you on the shoulder, "Job well done on this mission, you two."

The mission that led to his arrest had been an undercover op with both you and Artemis posing as the girls from the private school that was being targeted. Eventually, you were able to find the leader and put a stop to his entire organization.

You had never seen Robin more fearful for your life than during this mission and it was after it that you had said your first I love you's.

"Today's mission is a covert op. For stealth, I will only be sending two members of the team: Robin and Domino."

Robin sent you a smile and you squeezed your interlocked fingers underneath the table.

"If they can stop kissing long enough to actually get the mission done." Conner grumbled underneath his breath and was rewarded with a swift kick to the knee.

***

It happened too quickly.

Everything was going fine. The mission was well underway, and you had observed them long enough to know where they were keeping their illegal servers. All that was left was to input your program that would upload all their data wirelessly so it could be accessed by the league.

Then it all went wrong, all at once.

You don't even remember much of what happened. All you knew is that when you had least expected it, someone had snuck up on you and you had felt your stomach squeeze with a painful terror that you hadn't experienced in a long time upon being caught off-guard.

"The Lion sends his greetings."

What followed was a series of excruciating shocks up your body that had your heartbeat ceasing in your chest and the movement of every single muscle came to a standstill such that you couldn't even make a sound come out of your throat.

You didn't even have the time to think about anything before you lost consciousness, the last thought flashing through your head being your worry for Robin.

And then every single pulse in your head came to an abrupt end.

“Come on hero, come on!” Robin panted as he continued to pump his hands against your chest, counting down the beats in his head to the compressions, “Baby please, please wake up!”

He was in tears, even though he tried to control them, but he had been looking at your unconscious face for the last 30 minutes as he continuously tried to revive you. His stomach was in knots and his chest felt like it was on fire, but he still didn’t quit, he wouldn’t until he passed out himself.

Before he could even stop himself, he was sobbing and the wails he let out erased the count he was keeping in his head, “Someone please help! Please help.”

His communicator lay discarded only a couple of feet beside him, but he couldn’t take his hands off you for a second, he couldn’t mess up the beat, he couldn’t stop the chest compressions because you’d die; and he’d die right alongside you.

“Robin, come in. Robin, can you hear me?”

His chest collapsed in a fit of sobs as soon as he heard the sound of his mentor come through from the communicator. The device beeped with the sound that alerted him of an override indicating that his mentor could now listen in.

“Batman help! She’s not breathing! I don't think she has a pulse! I’m trying to do CPR but she’s not awaking up! Please help!”

“Hang in there, Robin. Someone will be there in five.”

***

"She's alive but her brain was deprived of oxygen for a while so we can't accurately put a time frame on when she could wake up." Batman explained, his voice as stiff as concrete like always but the hand he placed on his ward's shoulder was warm and comforting.

There were so many questions rushing through Robin's head, but he kept silent because a part of him already knew the answer. This wasn't the first time he had seen something like this, while being Robin he had seen countless families, parents, spouses, receive the same news.

The distraught questions would usually follow: would take months? years? is there a chance that she could never wake up? is there anything he could do?

He wanted to ask Batman anyway, he wanted Batman to lie and say that everything would be okay, that the girl he loved would wake up soon and he just had to wait but he knew better than anyone that was all it would be. Lies.

There were those that were fortunate enough for their loved one to eventually wake up. Others would be forced to watch life go by while their loved ones were imprisoned to a bed with the empty hope that one day they'd wake up.

So, he swallowed down all his questions, Adam's apple bobbing painfully in his throat, "Can I see her?"

His father nodded, leading him to the med-bay with one hand on his back. Robin felt his stomach sink with every step he took, staring sullenly at his sock-clad feet. In his rush to change after the mission so he could get to you as soon as possible, he had thrown on anything he could find.

Which resulted in him being dressed in your sweatpants and his hoodie that you had stolen so often it smelt like you; a combination that both comforted him and broke his heart all at once.

When he saw you from the door, a rush of epiphanies struck through him like lightning to a metal rod. Although, first and foremost, he was just relieved to see you. Even though it hurt him to see you unconscious, and he knew that there was a chance he'd never get to see you awake again, a part of him forgot all about that as soon as he saw you.

He took quick steps toward you, wanting nothing more than to feel your skin against his when he stopped in his tracks once again with wide eyes, realizing you were without your mask.

"Robin?"

"I-I know her. (Y/N) (L/N), s-she's in my class." He stammered, staring at your relaxed features with his mouth hanging open. As odd as it sounded, this was the first time he had ever seen you, as (Y/N), so relaxed.

Whether it was a scowl or even just a grimace, you always seemed to be frowning at him and he never bothered to pay any attention to you outside of classes, when you were talking with your friends. He was sure you'd have a mesmerizing grin, one that would reach your beautiful eyes.

Batman stayed silent behind him, and Dick wondered just how many times Bruce had heard him talking shit about the love of his life, having to keep silent to respect your privacy. His cheeks coloured, remembering the conversation from this morning, where he had claimed that he would never touch you even with a 10-foot pole.

If only he had known that he had been pressed against the same girl so many nights prior.

"Does it matter?" Batman asked, snapping him out of his mortified state where he remembered every single insult he had ever directed at you, either to your face or behind your back.

To anyone else, it would have sounded like a shallow question, but Dick knew his father was concerned about whether his feelings would have changed, whether your identity did matter to him more than your relationship or his love for you.

He swallowed, walking up to your bedside, and gently brushing a strand of hair away from your face and for the first time in his life, he took in all your features. It was startling how quickly his worst enemy became the most beautiful person in the world.

"No, it doesn't."

***

You could see the bright light even though your eyes were shut. There was nothing more you wanted than to slip back into your deep slumber but for some reason your consciousness began trickling back into your head in a gentle stream.

You squirmed, brows pinching together in a frown as you murmured something unintelligible, features twitching until finally your eyes began to flutter open.

"(Y/N)?" You heard and your hand was squeezed by someone you couldn't quite place. Your vision was still quite blurry, and you were extremely disoriented. Still, you tried to blink through the hazy shapes in your sight and you managed to recognize a familiar head of black hair.

"Baby?" You breathed out, sighing in relief when he pressed a kiss to your knuckles, "Thank goodness you're okay."

Right before you had lost consciousness, a thought had flashed into your head. Robin would never abandon you there, no matter what had happened to you, if you had died or just lost consciousness.

You worried that in his effort to stick by you, he'd be hurt or worse.

"Me? (Y/N), you were unconscious for two days! Do you have any idea how worried I've been?!"

If you had been any more conscious, you probably would've been concerned over the way his voice broke in grief and his heartbroken words but in your exhaustion, all you could do was give him a silly smile, wishing your eyes could focus long enough for you to see his beautiful face.

"I'm okay now, I'm okay."

"I didn't think you would be." He confessed, pressing another kiss to your fingertips, holding your hand gingerly but still in a firm grip in between both of his. Like he was scared you'd evaporate and disappear before his eyes.

"I'm okay, baby. Just a little sleepy." You told him, feeling your consciousness slip further and further away as your blinks began to get longer and longer and your strength began to disappear, "You'll be here when I wake up, right?"

He nodded, voice thick with unshed tears even though you couldn't see him, "Yeah. I'll be right here."

***

This time when you woke, you felt much more refreshed than you had before. Your head didn't feel like it was nailed to the pillow anymore, but it felt like you had lead in your veins which was expected considering you had been unconscious for days.

Despite his promise, Robin was nowhere to be found when you finally sat up, stretching your arms as much as you could, careful of the IV in your hand. Your eyes darted around the familiar med-bay, trying to catch a glance of the clock by craning your neck but was ultimately unsuccessful.

Was it a weekday? Was it school hours? Was that why Robin wasn't at your side like you had asked him? What about you? What excuse had Batman given the school to explain your sudden absence? Were your parents aware that you had been injured?

The endless barrage of questions was silenced to a mum when you heard the door slide open and you sighed in relief, noticing the head of black hair first, "I believe you promised to be here when I wo—!"

Dick Grayson was beaming at you and in certain angles of the light, his blue eyes almost looked glossy with tears, but you shook your head unconsciously. Why would he be crying at the sight of you?

'Because you're so ugly the sight is making my eyes water.' Would have been his classic response and you practically rolled your eyes at the thought.

"(Y/N), you're awake!" He took a step closer, and you flinched.

"Stop right there!" He quite literally froze in his steps, he might as well have been encased in ice at the receiving end of your cold glare, "What the hell are you doing here, Grayson?"

He paused and somehow you were annoyed by the dumbfounded look on his face while multiple scenarios ran through your head. A concussion, brain injury or something along that likeness. Perhaps the part of your brain responsible for recognizing faces was damaged and this wasn't actually Dick Grayson. Amnesia, possibly? Maybe you were actually good friends with him but managed to forget it all? Of course, there was always the possibility this was a dream.

Your brow twitched at his lack of response, "I asked you a question."

At your terse tone, it seemed like he was finally able to snap himself out of his stupor, "(Y/N), baby, it's me."

You scowled, "Don't call me that and speak clearly; the hell do you mean by 'me'?"

"Baby," He said again, so firmly that you were silenced in your effort to snap at him again, "It's me."

Dick watched as your face melted from an expression of disgruntled bewilderment to the smallest sliver of recognition. Your eyes raked over his body, only now noticing that he was in short sleeves, and you were able to see the familiar scar on his forearm that belonged to your boyfriend. The little patch of freckles near his elbow that you had traced with your finger so many times before.

Your voice was small when you called him again, "Rob?"

He nodded and your eyes went wide, not quite able to believe it. Your boyfriend stood stiffly, berating himself for not handling this better. He had very quickly gotten over the fact that his girlfriend was his greatest rival in high school while he watched your unconscious face for the past couple of days, waiting for you to wake up.

It had completely slipped his mind that you were still unaware of his identity, and he swallowed nervously. Sure, it was something he could easily put past him but were you the same?

Robin knew you inside and out, he knew how much you loved him, but he didn't know how just much you hated Dick Grayson. Was that hate enough to overpower your love for him?

You stared at him in surprise for only a minute, but it felt like hours to him before you closed your eyes and leaned your head back, "Wow."

"This-This doesn't change anything right?" He began, feeling the lump in his throat grow three sizes larger when you turned to him with an expression that was not a reassuring smile like he had wanted.

"Are you kidding? This changes everything! Barbara is never going to let us hear the end of this. And my friends? Oh, they've hated you ever since that incident during our group presentations." You exclaimed, fingers twitching, and Dick knew it was because you wanted to flail your arms around but couldn't because of the IV.

He bit his lip. You weren't outright rejecting him or anything, but he needed to hear you say it and he needed to hear it as soon as possible.

"No—(Y/N), does this change anything between us?"

You paused, stopping in the middle of your tangent to give him a confused glance, "Between us? No. Why would it?"

And just like that, the tension in his muscles evaporated away and he relaxed, approaching to your side like he wanted to and interlacing your fingers, "I love you."

You finally smiled at him, leaning to kiss his lips, "I love you more, even though you said I was gross and that no one would ever want to date me."

"Well, to be fair you said you'd hope I never did, so I guess we're even."

***

"Hey, stranger." It really didn't make sense that after almost a year of dating, your boyfriend's voice still managed to send shivers down your spine. You closed your locker shut before turning to meet the beautiful blue eyes that you grew to love.

It was scary how quickly you completely rewired your brain into loving every single feature belonging to Dick Grayson.

"Hi, Grayson."

His eyes dipped to your lips for a second, mentally scolding himself for turning to putty the second you said his last name. It was weird how the last time you both were in school together, he thought that the sound of his name coming from your mouth was like nails on a chalkboard.

Now, he felt like he had been blessed just by being in your presence.

"I have all the assignments and notes that you missed the past week." You had been ordered bed rest and some physiotherapy to regain complete mobility after being unconscious for a couple of days. Under your boyfriend's watchful care, he had dutifully nursed you back to health.

You smiled when he handed you the stack of papers even though the heft of it made you want to cry. All this work from just a week? All the AP classes you had been taking in order to compete with your own boyfriend had come back to bite you in the ass.

"Thank you. Can I come over later so you can help me out with it?"

It was really a formality that you were asking because you both knew he was obviously going to say yes. But you figured you'd do the polite thing and ask the first time. After today though his room would practically be yours, just as your room would now be his personal hideout.

"Of course, baby. I've been dying to introduce you to Alfred. We can go back to mine together after school."

You nodded, starting when you heard the bell, "I have Physics." You bemoaned, it being the only class Dick didn't take with you. He had opted for a language instead, which you were beginning to think was more useful than whatever you learnt anyway.

He gave you a smile, eyes twinkling when he slanted his lips over yours in a soft kiss and you had to pull away quickly before you forgot just where you were.

His disappointed pout was all too quick to disappear when you reminded him that you'd be going home with him that day, "I'll see you later."

The two of you parted ways with delirious smiles, feeling too much like you were wafting on cloud nine, completely unbeknownst to the small crowd of people that watching your entire interaction with wide eyes.

Barbara, who was stood at the centre of the flock, smirked, and held out her hand, "Pay up bitches."

***

Bonus:

"I'm surprised you didn't figure out her identity earlier, Dick. Aren't you supposed to be a great detective?" Wally teased and your boyfriend rolled his eyes.

"It's not that I couldn't find out, I just didn't try."

"How come?"

He spared you a glance and shrugged, "She asked me not to."

"I don't remember you offering me the same consideration." Artemis sniped but he knew it was all in good nature.

"You aren't nearly as pretty." He replied coolly, making you blush.

***

Forever Taglist:

@simonsbluee

@notslaybabes

@superheroesaremyjam113263

@writers-whirlwind

DC Taglist:

@emmacata

@p--e--a--c--h--e--s

@sometimeseverythingsucks

@sokkas-honour

@unstable1902

@lostgirlheart

@missdisapear

@tadpole-san

@isawachickeninatree

@uxavity

@battlenix

@capricorn-stark

@evermoore580

@dumbbitchgalore

@fuckingjinkies

@some-lovely-day

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your-local-simp-writers · 9 months

Text

Stepping Outside the Box

Word Count: 1218

Warnings: None

Dick Grayson x Fem!Reader ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Happy Harbor High School buzzed with excitement as the final performance – a culmination of months of hard work – approached. Among the students, you stood out as a star dancer in the drama department, your graceful movements and captivating performances earning you a well-deserved reputation.

Dick Grayson, equally well-known, exuded an infectious energy that attracted attention wherever he went. With a sanguine personality, he easily charmed his peers with his humor and charisma. While not particularly known for his dancing skills, Dick's willingness to take on challenges and his ability to turn any situation into a memorable one made him endearing in his own way.

On an ordinary day, you found yourself in class, focusing on your notes as the teacher called your name, along with Dick's. You had been paired up for the final class project, a performance that held immense weight in your final grades. The task was to create a performance that masterfully blended dance and drama, leaving the rest of the class to watch and learn.

"You and Dick are up first," the teacher announced, her voice cutting through the chatter.

Your heart raced as you and Dick made your way to the front of the class. This project marked a new level of collaboration, and a mixture of excitement and apprehension coursed through you.

As the teacher explained the project, you exchanged a surprised glance with Dick. This was an opportunity for both of you to showcase your strengths and create something unique together.

"You're the star dancer, Y/N," Dick whispered, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"And you're the charismatic charmer," you replied with a small smile. "Together, we've got this."

With the explanation over, the two of you got to work. Brainstorming sessions and rehearsals became part of your routine, and it was during these moments that the dynamics of your partnership truly began to emerge.

"I'm thinking we start with a graceful ballet routine," you suggested one day, your enthusiasm evident. "Then, we transition into a contemporary dance that captures the emotions of the scene."

Dick leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "How about this? We start with a jaw-dropping acrobatic sequence, something that instantly grabs everyone's attention. Then, we transition into a dance routine that's a mix of humor and heartfelt moments."

You blinked, taken aback by his suggestion. "Wait, seriously? You want to start with acrobatics?"

Dick's grin widened, his eyes alight with excitement. "Absolutely. Acrobatics, then dance. Trust me, Y/N, this will be unforgettable."

You hesitated, not entirely convinced. "I'm not sure, Dick. Acrobatics aren't exactly my strong suit."

He leaned in playfully. "Come on, Y/N, you're an incredible performer. And I promise I'll help you nail the acrobatic part."

With a sigh, you realized that Dick's enthusiasm was hard to resist. "Alright, fine. But remember, if this backfires, we're both in trouble."

Dick laughed, his laughter infectious. "Deal. But I promise you won't regret it."

As the days turned into weeks, you found yourself navigating the challenges of blending acrobatics and dance with Dick's vibrant energy. Your grace clashed with his audacity, leading to moments of missteps and laughter-filled attempts that echoed through the school's gymnasium.

"I swear, if I have to attempt one more somersault, I might lose it," you declared one afternoon, collapsing onto a gym mat with a mock sigh.

Dick plopped down beside you, his shoulders shaking with laughter. "Hey, it's all part of the process, right?"

You rolled your eyes, a reluctant smile tugging at your lips. "I suppose so."

As the performance date drew near, the most critical decision you faced was the transition from acrobatics to dance. This moment held the potential to elevate or derail the entire performance.

"I still think we should start with ballet," you insisted, your voice full of conviction. "It's a classic way to set the tone."

Dick shook his head, his grin playful. "And I still believe a jaw-dropping acrobatic display is the way to go. Trust me, Y/N, it'll be a showstopper."

You stared at him incredulously, your competitive spirit ignited. "Are you trying to out-charm me into submission?"

He laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, maybe a little. But seriously, Y/N, we need a strong start to capture everyone's attention."

With a sigh, you begrudgingly agreed, acknowledging the strength in his argument. "Fine, but you better deliver on your promise."

Dick's grin widened, his eyes brimming with confidence. "I promise, you won't regret it."

The day of the performance arrived, bringing with it a mixture of excitement and nerves. Backstage, you and Dick stood side by side, dressed in your performance attire, your hearts racing.

"Dick, are you sure about this?" you asked, a hint of apprehension in your voice.

He turned to you, his blue eyes unwavering. "Absolutely. Trust me, Y/N."

And so, the moment arrived. As the lights dimmed and the music began, you and Dick took the stage. The acrobatics and dance flowed seamlessly, a mesmerizing blend of skill and charisma that left the audience captivated.

The performance reached its climax, and as the final note hung in the air, the crowd erupted in applause. You and Dick stood side by side, breathless but triumphant, sharing a knowing smile that spoke of the shared journey and success.

Backstage, amidst the cheers and congratulations, Dick turned to you with a grin that radiated pride. "Y/N, that was incredible!"

You laughed, a mixture of relief and exhilaration coursing through you. "You were right, Dick. It worked."

As the celebrations continued, you realized that your journey with Dick had been about more than just a performance. It had been a lesson in collaboration, in embracing differences, and in forming connections that transcended expectations. But above all, it had been a lesson in friendship – a friendship that had been born from challenges, laughter, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zones.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the horizon, you found yourselves on the school's rooftop – a place that had become a symbol of your journey.

"Who would've thought that the popular dancer and the charismatic charmer could make such a great team?" Dick mused, his tone light.

You smiled, leaning against the railing. "Funny how things turn out, right?"

He turned to you, his blue eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and sincerity. "Thank you, Y/N. This whole experience... it meant a lot."

You met his gaze, warmth spreading through your chest. "You're welcome, Dick. And thank you, too. You reminded me that sometimes, stepping outside our comfort zones leads to the most amazing discoveries."

He grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. "Who knows? Maybe next time, we'll tackle the trapeze!"

You laughed, shaking your head. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, you realized that your journey with Dick Grayson had been about more than just a dance performance. It had been a lesson in collaboration, in embracing the unexpected, and in forming connections that defied stereotypes and expectations. But above all, it had been a lesson in the power of friendship – a friendship that had blossomed in the most unexpected of places and had left an indelible mark on both your hearts.

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kybee1497 · 6 months

Text

Supergirl aka Kara Kal-El aka Cara Kent

They let her go, and she zips down the hall and tears into the living room, feeling brightness and lightness and like she leaves a streak of color in the air behind her, after-images of gorgeous light. She doesn’t, she knows, but she feels it.

Okay so I read blondes really do have more fun by @suzukiblu today and it blew me away! It was beautiful and heartbreaking and bubbly and sweet and so, so many things.

I knew as soon as I finished reading that I wanted to make a moodboard. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go with a fic or character focused moodboard. Ultimately, the imagery and emotions that supergirl wrestles with are so vivid and gorgeously written I just wanted to put something together that kind of looks the way she feels as herself, that light, floaty happiness.

Gender swap AU’s are such a good opportunity for exploring gender identity that don’t get used often enough. Blondes is probably the best I’ve ever read and I’m already looking forward to my next time through.

Anyways that’s a long way of saying thank you suzukiblu for writing such an incredible fic!! 💜

#I literally can not shut up enough about this fic #I love it so fucking much #DCU #DCU fic #young justice #kon el #conner kent #young justice fic #kiwis fic moodboards #DCU fic rec #fic rec #kiwis fic recs

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youngjusticeslut · 4 months

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A Heart That Yearns is Never Lonely

Fandom: Young Justice Links: AO3 // FF.net Characters: Dick Grayson, Zatanna Zatara Ships: Chalant Disclaimer: I know Chalant is not my usual bread and butter, but when it's your Roomie's favorite ship and she asks for a fic for her birthday/Christmas, how can you say no? So I tried my best! Rating: T+ (Implications of sex and one-night stands) Word Count: 3,837 words Summary: “The impressive trick is how you got something so specific from Zatanna, without revealing who or what it was for.”

“We have a history.”

How Dick convinced Zatanna to make him a Glamour Charm.

When Kaldur brings up the notion of how they’re going to disguise Artemis and fold her into their ruse, Dick knows that he has to recruit Zatanna— to an extent, at least.

Kaldur is against the idea, initially. There are other routes they could take, like the traditional one. Dye her hair and slap a few prosthetics on her. Except Artemis makes a face at the prospect of dying her hair, which admittedly is hilarious. Faking her own death and lying to everyone she loves? Didn’t even take a moment to convince her. Dying her hair? Now that was a line she wasn’t enthusiastic about crossing. Plus, with her cosmetic skills, Dick isn’t exactly optimistic about her ability to apply prosthetics on the daily.

(He made the mistake of mentioning that last part out loud. It earned him a jab to the ribs so hard it left a bruise that didn’t heal for weeks.)

Besides, Dick likes to be thorough. Why go the simple route and open up a can of worms, when there were other, more proficient, ways to go about this that were less likely to lead to discovery. Hence, how Zatanna comes into play. Granted, he isn’t quite sure how she comes into play quite yet, but with her knowledge and expertise, he’s sure there’s a solution to their problem that doesn’t involve three hours of Artemis complaining and more bruises in his future.

Plus, wheedling a favor out of Zatanna always has its merits. So really, it’s a win-win situation.

The real challenge here is finding time to fit in her busy schedule. Between League duties, her three night a week gig at the Magic Shack, not to mention her natural elusiveness, tracking her down always proves to be more cumbersome than need be. But Dick is persistent, and so he finds himself waiting by the stage door at the Magic Shack at exactly 11:04pm, four minutes after Zatanna’s set ends and right as she’s making her exit.

The door flies open two minutes later. Zatanna steps outside, having changed out of her stage costume and wearing a simple dress that, to Dick’s disappointment, leaves far more to the imagination than her performance costume. Dick pushes himself off the wall he’d been leaning on, throwing up a hand in greeting. If Zatanna’s surprised to see him, she doesn’t let on. She just mimics the hand gesture and closes the distance between them.

“What an honor. My second-favorite bat has come to pay me a visit.”

Dick raises a brow. “Second-favorite?”

“Tim makes a mean cup of coffee.”

Ah. There’s that playfulness that he missed. Unlike Barbara, where jabs were a contest to come out victorious, or Artemis, where banter could easily turn violent, Zatanna is different. There’s a looseness there, a sense of casual enjoyment that didn’t last longer than you needed it to. No strings, no commitment. Not if you didn’t want there to be. Dick’s missed that.

“That he does. Afraid I didn’t make it to the show, though. Was it good?”

“Three standing ovations, six bouquets, and only one marriage proposal,” Zatanna says, the corner of her mouth tilting upwards, suggesting a coyness to her smile.

A strand of her hair has come loose from her ponytail. Dick tucks it behind her ear, letting his fingers glide underneath her chin as he brings his hand back. “So, slow night.”

“I’d say.” Zatanna brings her hand up to his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’s good to see you. Haven’t seen you at the Watchtower in a while.”

“We just keep—”

“—missing each other,” she finishes for him, removing her hand. “Bats says that you’ve been working on something behind the scenes.”

Dick grins. “Been keeping tabs on me, have you?”

“Feeling seems mutual. How many tries did it take you to find me on my free night?”

“Far too many,” he muses, drinking in her features. She looks good. Better than good, really. Performing suits her, it brings a light to her eyes that’s been missing for far too long. He means to tell her that, one day. “Hoped that I’d get to catch a glimpse of you in your stage costume.”

“No free shows, I’m afraid.” Zatanna removes her bag from her shoulder and Dick instinctually holds his hand out. After she’s removed her compact and lipstick, she gives him the bag to hold while she touches up her makeup. Once she’s re-applied, she holds the mirror up to check for any flaws. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company tonight?”

Dick hands her bag back once she’s done, then shrugs. “Maybe I just wanted to see you.”

Zatanna laughs, shakes her head. “As much as I’d like to believe that’s true, I think you’d be doing us both a favor if you got to the point. I’m a busy woman, and now you’re cutting into my evening.”

“Already a step ahead of you, Zee.” He nods to his car, a shitty Toyota that’s far too old and yet his pride and joy, because it’s all his. “Let me take you to dinner.”

“Tempting.” Zatanna takes a step towards the car, and then sits on the hood. “Nice ride. Bats getting cheap on you?”

The opposite, actually. Bruce had offered him any car he wanted for his eighteenth, but Dick refused them all. He had a meager amount saved up over the years, and he spent every penny of it on this car. Not even the top of the line could compare to the feeling when he earned the keys himself.

“Does it meet your approval?”

“Afraid not. You know my standards.”

“That I do.” But even Dick knows that Zatanna can’t pass up a free meal. She wouldn’t be working so many shows if she didn’t need the money. He opens the car door and holds his hand out for her. “You have the night free, and I missed you. It’ll be like old times.”

Zatanna takes his hand, but doesn’t yet move from the hood of his car. “Getting warmer.”

“Alright, you dragged it out of me. I have something planned.”

This piqued her interest, just like Dick knew it would. Zatanna plucks herself from her perch, gracefully standing again. “Ding, ding ding. We have a winner. Should I change?”

Dick unzips his jacket, revealing a blue button-up, ironed to perfection. “Naturally.” He’s pleased with himself that he’s thought this far ahead. She was always a sucker for big gestures. He’s happy to see that still hasn’t changed.

“A moment, please.” Zatanna lets go of his hand, and he gives her room to work her magic. “Rennid rof ydaer teg!”

A cloud of smoke envelops her, and a moment later her casual dress changes to a satin blue halter, the exact shade as his shirt. Her hair is now down, freshly styled, and the air around her smells like cherries, almost like the perfume he’d bought her for her sixteenth birthday.

Dick is unable to tear his eyes away from her, which isn’t great, considering there’s a lot he still needs to get done tonight. For a moment, and only a moment, he wishes that he could forgo the whole mission and give in to his most selfish of desires. The same desires that beg him to reconcile, to try them again, foolish and illogical as it would be. But instead, he just holds out his hand again, nodding to the car door. “Your quick-changes have gotten better.”

Zatanna takes his hand and enters the car. “You’d be surprised what extra training can do for a woman.”

“Oh, of that I have absolutely no doubts.”

—

To her credit, Zatanna only asks Dick three times what sort of plans he has in store for them that evening. It’s cute, really, and it gives him a chance to quiet her with kisses on her hand as he drives and tells her she’ll see soon.

Just after midnight, he parks in front of a warehouse and cuts the ignition. Unable to help himself, she casts a a quick look at Zatanna, whose palpable confusion is worth every second it took to set this up.

“When you said dinner…” She doesn’t finish the sentence, but Dick can only imagine what he pictured. Manhattan, maybe. Somewhere smoky and exclusive where she could order a dry martini made with top shelf liquor. Or a cozy Italian joint, where the owner would obviously know him and serve them a menu de jour.

“Where’s your sense of excitement, Zee?” Dick steps out of the car and opens the door for her, pleased that she readily gives him her hand when he offers his. “Don’t you trust me?”

“Less by the minute. Tick-tock, Grayson.”

Dick laughs, light and airy in a way it hadn’t been in a while. He closes the door and tucks the keys in his pocket before leading her to the warehouse and ushering her inside.

Once inside, Zatanna’s eyes crinkle, the confusion melting into annoyance. The warehouse contains the makings of an acrobatic escape, trapezes and platforms all around. Nothing too impressive, at least not to the ordinary eye. “Really? You brought me all the way here to.. What, watch you train?”

“Disappointed?” Dick asks, trying to hide his smirk as he takes off her purse and sets it to the side. He doesn’t give her time to respond. Instead, he hits a light switch on the wall, and turns a dial beside it. The halogen lights cut off, and for a moment, they’re in total darkness. Then, the room lights up with hundreds of tiny silver lights, glittering in a way that could only resemble a clear, starry night. “Would have pegged you better than to jump the gun,” he finishes, only a hint of a simper in his voice.

Zatanna can’t hide her awe, especially not as the room becomes aglow with soft colors. She’s obviously impressed, but crosses her arms over her chest and tilts her head towards him. “I still don’t see dinner.”

“You really can’t be patient, can you?” Dick rolls up his sleeves and kicks his socks and shoes to the side. “Dinner’s going to take a bit more effort to get to.”

It takes her a few seconds to understand what he means, but when she sees him chalk up his hands and walk over to a trapeze bar, her eyes go wide. “You can’t honestly expect me to—”

“Wow, Zee. Didn’t realize you’d become such a chicken.”

“Those are fighting words, Grayson. I can just levitate myself to wherever we need to go.”

Right. He’d forgotten about that. Still, not easily dissuaded, he hoists himself up onto the bar, and maneuvers himself so he’s hanging upside-down by his legs. He swings towards her, holding his arms out. “Don’t worry. If you fall, I’ll catch you.”

Zatanna scoffs. “I won’t fall.”

Hook, line and sinker.

“Prove it.”

She shoots him a look that’s somewhere between annoyance and determination before slipping off her heels. “If you tear this dress, I’ll kill you,” Zatanna warns, taking a breath to steady herself before taking his hands. “You’re lucky I’m hungry.”

“Atta girl.” Before she can change her mind, Dick holds tight to her hands and propels his body so the trapeze bar swings in motion. Zatanna’s involuntary shriek is like music to his ears, but he’s a professional, so he controls the bar and focuses on holding her up. Dinner is three platforms above them, so they have some work to do. “You see that platform on the left?”

Zatanna tilts her neck, just barely, and nods. “The one that’s way too far for my liking?”

“That’s the one. When I give you the signal, you’re going to jump onto it.”

“Are you insane? Only one of us is a professional acrobat and I can promise you, it’s not me!”

Dick laughs again. She could easily levitate her way out of the situation, but he likes that she’s been thrown off her guard and he temporarily has the upper hand— that so rarely happens. He swings a bit harder, and they get closer to the platform. “On the count of three. Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

“One… two…”

“You’re going to be paying for my weekly therapy sessions with Canary for months, Grasyon!”

“Three!” They hover just over the first platform, and Zatanna obediently jumps and lands on her feet, only barely sticking the landing. Dick follows suite a minute later, grinning from ear to ear. “A bit more practice and you’ll be ready for a gig at Haly’s.”

The adrenaline must have hit her, because Zatanna just grins back, a little breathless but otherwise unharmed.

“Ready to go again?” Dick nods upwards to another trapeze. “We’ll do a duet this time.”

Zatanna seems weary about having to go about this again, but she seems to have resigned herself to her fate, so she wraps her arms around his waist and nods.

Dick brings one arm around her for support, and then jumps up to catch the next trapeze. He kicks them off and swings through the air, making sure her grip on him is tight before letting go and holding onto the bar with both hands. “You doing good?”

“Oh yeah, peachy. Just another day in the life.”

“Then hang on!” When her arms grow tighter around him, he swings his legs up hard so they soar through the air. The lights twinkle all around them, and if you didn’t know any better, it almost seemed as if they were flying through the night sky. Dick sneaks a look down at Zatanna, and the fear has all but abated and instead been replaced with genuine joy.

“I want to try something!” She yells, her voice shaky with excitement. “Etativel!” Zatanna lets go of Dick’s waist and floats in the sky beside him. “That’s better.”

“That’s cheating.” Dick raises himself so his torso is resting on the trapeze, his arms hanging over the bar. “This is the real magic.”

“Potato, potahto. The real question is, can you keep up?” She flies higher, and Dick has to scramble to put his hands back on the bar and spring close enough to jump to the next one. The higher ground was nice while it lasted.

Zatanna spins through the air, clearly much more comfortable, the skirt of her dress billowing around her. She’s fast, but Dick’s experience allows him to catch up quickly, leaping from trapeze to trapeze as he ascends. Zatanna meets Dick after he’d leapt to the third trapeze, floating so their faces are inches apart.

“Now this, I can get with.”

Dick catches his breath before lifting a hand to swipe his bangs from his eyes “Well sure, you make it look so easy. But skill,” he pauses, doing a single handed pull up from the bar. “Can be expressed in a number of ways.”

“Wow, the acrobat has arm-strength. Who would have thought?”

“Sarcasm duly noted.” He inches closer, watching how the lights reflect off the satin of her dress. It gives her a glow, one that suits her, and he has half a mind to tell her to consider finding a spell to give her a permanent shine that follows her every move. Instead, he says, “Nice dress, by the way. You look beautiful.”

Zatanna’s smile falls, only a little, but Dick knows her well enough to recognize the change. “Thank you. It was a birthday gift from… Zatarra.”

That is information he didn’t know. “Didn’t take Doctor Fate for a huge shopper.”

“He isn’t.” She plays with a tendril of her hair, avoiding his eyes. “He’s decided on giving me an hour a year with him. Zatarra, I mean.”

“You saw your dad? Zee—”

“It’s fine, Dick. I’m fine, I—”

Before she can finish, the magical glow around her suddenly vanishes, and she falls.

Dick’s reflexes are fast, he immediately drops down after her and grabs her by the waist, then hooks a leg on a trapeze and maneuvers them so they land on a platform. Unfortunately, he doesn’t quite stick the landing, and they both tumble to the ground. He does have the decency to force the fall so she lands atop of him; the last thing he needs is to crush her, she’d never let him live it down.

The fall knocks the wind out of them, but Dick doesn’t feel anything broken, so he calls that a success. Zatanna’s laying on top of him, but there’s no moaning or screaming, so there’s no red flags as of yet.

“Zatanna?”

“I’m fine. Just need to catch my breath.”

Dick rests a hand on her head before he can remind himself that he shouldn’t. It’s instinct. “Zee, you fell.”

“Happens from time to time.” She sits up, gets her bearings. “Flying takes a lot of concentration, and when you break it…”

“Down goes Zee. Got it.” Talking about her father must have triggered her. He’s naturally curious, he wants to know more about the how and why. Now isn’t the time, though. He’ll ask Artemis soon enough. The air feels a little too heavy, so he nudges her lightly. “Told you I’d catch you, though, didn’t I?”

It works, and the spell is back once more. Zatanna smiles and nudges him right back. “So you did. I owe you one.” She turns her gaze towards the ceiling, watching as the lights glimmer. “How did you find this place?”

“It’s back from my old Haly days.” He sits up so his knees are in front of him. “Can you keep a secret?”

Zatanna shoots him a look, as if the answer isn’t overwhelmingly obvious. “Depends how interesting it is.”

“I’m thinking about going back. I’ve been training here, a few times a month, when I have spare time. That’s what I’ve been working on, behind the scenes.” Not completely untrue. But it’s enough to bait the next part of his story.

Sure enough, Zatanna is thrilled. She’s grinning from ear to ear, that impish little smile that drives him crazy and used to garner him to do much of her bidding. “That’s amazing. Of course I’ll want front-row tickets to your opening night.”

“Granted. There’s just one issue.” He pauses, looks up at the ceiling. “I wish I didn’t have to join as… myself. A Grayson, going back to Haly’s circus, it’s a lot of pressure.”

Dick doesn’t enjoy lying to her. He feels Zatanna’s eyes on him, and does his best to keep his face neutral. Most days she can read him like her favorite book, and he’s been laying the facade on thick. If she buys it and helps, he’ll consider it a success and another step forward in the mission. If she calls him out, he risks losing a friend forever.

“Dick Grayson wants to moonlight as an average Joe… sounds like you need a Glamour Charm.”

Bingo.

He turns so he’s facing her, cocking his head to the side in question. “A Glamour Charm?”

“I’ve seen it in one of Zatara’s old magic books. It’s supposed to be a charm that hides the wearer from those he chooses. Or.. something of the sort. I could look into it more, if you want?”

In his excitement, Dick reaches for her immediately, wrapping his arms tight around her shoulders. “It’s perfect, Zee!” It is perfect. A better outcome than he could have ever hoped for. “Thank you,” he says into her hair, allowing himself just a moment to reminisce in the scent of her shampoo before pulling away.

Zatanna holds her hands up, a warning. “I make no promises, but I can try. This is powerful magic, challenging to make and if it falls into the wrong hands, if something bad were to happen…”

“It won’t. Scouts honor.”

“Promise me, Dick.”

Dick tries to take her hands, to calm the steel in her voice, but Zatanna won’t allow it. Instead, she grabs his chin with her fingers, staring him down. “And say it backwards.”

The words shoot a pang of nostalgia through him. Silly as it was, that’s what they used to say to each other, back when they were younger and in love with the idea of love. If you said a promise backwards, it sealed it into existence. He hates making this promise, because he truly doesn’t know, but he needs to do this. For Kaldur. For the mission.

“I promise. Esimorp I.” He’s probably butchered the pronunciation, but it’s enough for Zatanna. She lets go of his chin and instead rests her hand on his cheek, cupping it gently.

“Now it’s a lock.”

They both grin at each other, but the feeling doesn’t settle like it usually does for Dick. It courses through him, burning, and she’s so beautiful with the lights all around her that he throws caution to the wind and closes the distance between them. His mouth is on hers in an instant, and she reciprocates hungrily, settling her arms around his neck to bring him in closer.

Dick’s mind is full of plans for the mission. The Glamour Charm will take a few weeks, which is enough time for him and Kaldur to figure out how exactly they’re going to kill Artemis. There are so many plans to make, so many thoughts, but at the moment, he doesn’t care to entertain them. Instead, he decides to clear his head and slips his tongue into Zatanna’s mouth when she grants him entrance.

Even though her hands are on him, grasping at his shirt, he pulls away, breaking the kiss. Dick catches his breath, making sure she’s looking at him. “This okay?”

“Yeah.” Zatanna’s just as breathless, her curls beginning to fall in her face.

“You don’t want to eat first?”

She shakes her head. Her hands don’t leave Dick’s shirt, and since he’s still hesitating, she slides her hands around his chest, moving to gently nip at his ear. “I’m hungry for something else,” she whispers right in his ear, sending a course of shivers down his spine.

It’s exactly the invitation he needs. Dick carefully unlaces the halter strap from her dress, bringing it loose before sliding it down. They have an unspoken agreement. One night, no less than three months apart. Time stands still, and for a moment they’re both teenagers again, catching up as if the future plays no purpose. They’re both lonely, hungry for something that only the other knows how to satiate.

Later, he’ll carry her off the platform and take her to the room in the back. He’ll grab her a proper dinner, and spend the better part of an hour running his fingers through her curls while she warns him not to get it tangles. He’ll marvel at the way she looks draped in only a sheet, and pretend not to notice as she starts to gather her belongings to leave before daybreak.

For now, this is fine. More than fine.

It’s perfect.

#young justice #yj #chalant #dick grayson #zatanna zatara #young justice fic #ariel's writing

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dazieswrites · 9 months

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A/n: so, in advance, there are oc characters. The names are: Ryan, Tyler, Aurora, and ofc [Name]

even in other universes, i'll love you

"Dude, why are there so many butterflies today?" Stepping inside Mount Justice, Wally was bombarded by colorful butterflies. He swatted at them, trying to get the winged creatures away from his face.

Artemis popped out her head from around the corner, waving the redhead over, which he reluctantly followed.

"What's all of this abo-" The blonde puts a hand over his mouth. "You never stop talking, do you?" She hisses at him.

With a roll of his eyes, Wally averts his attention to a few other teenagers who were conversing with his friends. One person catches his attention.

A girl surrounded by butterflies.

Curiously, she observes everyone, taking an extreme interest in Kaldur, but quickly looks at the speedster with butterflies attached to his body.

He watches her eyes widen. "Oh my goodness!" She races over to him, lightly shoving past her friends, and walks over to Wally. "I'm so sorry. They don't usually act this way." Carefully she guides the creature off his body and onto hers. "I don't know what's gotten into them."

"It's, uhm, it's alright." He took in the scene, ignoring Artemis's smirk, thinking the girl before he looked like a princess straight from the movies. "I'm Wally."

"[Name]." She smiles at him, eyes crinkling, making his heart race faster than usual. "It's nice to finally meet you, Wally. Your friends speak highly of you."

"Really?" He only receives a head nod.

Wally's caught off guard when a butterfly lands on his nose. "She really likes you." [Name] can see how Miss Claudina latched onto him, almost as though she was hugging him. "Would you like to keep her?"

"[Name]! You can't just give them away!" Your team leader, Ryan, yells at her.

She gives a shrug to the boy. "If it will make Miss Claudina happy, I will."

"I don't know." Wally responses while [Name] gets dragged away. "Butterflies don't live that long. A month max."

"Not mine." You pull away to share with him. Placing your hand before your mouth so the others couldn't see, forening a secret. "They only die if you don't feed them. They die in action, or if anything happens to me. Miss Claudina should live a long life if handled correctly."

"I don't know..."

"I trust you with her."

"How will we get home?" [Name] asked, looking at the Justice League members. Her team members nodded in agreement.

"Yeah," Tyler looks at the older superheroes. "We've missed so much school."

"If Aurora got you all here in the first place," Batman looks at the girl asleep on the medical bed. "She should be able to get you back. We've tried letting her come to on her own, but we may need to try and wake her up."

[Name] and Ryan shared a look, then glanced down at their injured friend. "That will cause her more pain, yes?"

"She has already suffered enough. Can we not wait for her to wake up on her own?" The butterfly user questions, swinging her arms in protest. "She isn't in the best condition. How do we know she'll be able to use her powers?"

"You kids have been here for over two months." Canary tries to reason. "You all need to get back to your world."

"We aren't risking Aurora!"

Outside the med bay, the young justice team listens, hearing the pained voices trying to defend their friend. As much as they knew it was logical to send the group of four home, the thought of risking the youngest of the group weighed heavily.

"Hey, KF," Robin nudges Wally, knocking him out of his trance. "You gonna miss her when she leaves?"

"Who?"

"Name and probably Miss Claudina," Rob answers nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders at his friend's now sad expression. "The butterfly will probably choose her handler over you in the end, so ya know."

"Yeah, I get it, jerk."

The door to the med bay swings open, and Ryan bursts out, followed closely by [Name] and her 'friends' fluttering close behind. Ryan looks furious, his purple eyes shining with his anger.

"Ryan! Come on!" [Name] calls out chasing the brunette through the hall, to the room the leader had temporarily claimed, only to have the door closed in her face.

In front of the door, she places her forehead on the metal material as an exhausted sigh escapes her lips. This wasn't the time for them to be angry at one another; they had to keep their cools and stick together. It seemed as though others had different plans.

"You okay?"

Still with her forehead against the door, a smile stretches across her lips. One of the highlights of [Name]'s time here. "I'm fine, but the others aren't." Turning around, she met the green eyes she'd grown to adore in her time here. "You wanna watch another one of the movies from here?"

"Yeah, I'd like that." Not wanting to waste time, Wally uses his speed to get her to the couch in less than 2 seconds. "Here you are, madam."

"Aw, such a gentleman." The smile remains on her face, watching as the speedster fiddles with the remote trying to find a good movie to play. "I'm gonna miss this."

"Huh?"

"When we leave. I'm going to miss you, Wally." [Name] provides a giggle to occupy the awkward silence from her words. "Sorry for dampening the mood. It's just- it's just, the time I've spent here, with you, I'm really going to miss it."

"I'll miss it too." He puts the remote on the small table beside him, taking her hand.

Looking down at their connected hands, [Name] heart races. The excitement she feels shows in the butterflies lingering around Mount Justice. "I really like you, Wally."

"I really like you too." The speedster looks into her eyes, feeling the nervousness radiating off [Name]. "I think I fell in love with you these last few months you've been here."

"I think I'm falling."

Wally softly smiles at [Name]. "Can I kiss you?"

Nodding her head, [Name]'s eyes practically sparkle when Wally's lips contact hers. It was a quick peck, but it made the two happy. Wally practically vibrates with happiness while multiple red butterflies land on [Name]'s hair.

"Even in other universes, I'll love you, [Name]."

#wally west x reader #wally west imagine #kid flash x reader #kid flash imagine #wally west fluff #dc comics #the flash #young justice #young justice fic #wally west x y/n #wally west x you

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superspookyjanelle · 9 months

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OC AESTHETIC: Emelia Ryuko

❝ Could you maybe just like… stab me… right in the gut. Just REALLY twist it in there. ‘Cause that honestly seems less painful than this conversation. ❞

TAGGING: @witchofinterest @fiercefray @sweetenemyfire @eddysocs @arrthurpendragon @villanele @bookstorebunny @roseygirl203 @valdrinors

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zeequicks · 11 months

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Excuse me, is someone bothering you?

conner kent & zatanna zatara, young justice fic. (they are besties)

I realised I never posted this one on tumblr, and it's one of my favourites still, so here it is. T-rated, 1.8k words | read on ao3

Summary:

When Zatanna first joins the team as an insecure teenage girl, Conner has her back. When they're both adults and Conner is still struggling with daddy issues, Zatanna returns the favour. Every good friendship needs a healthy dose of magic and muscle.

It’s difficult enough trying to save the world on a daily basis; it’s even more difficult when you’re dealing with a group of rowdy teenagers.

Zatanna has friends, sure. But she keeps her distance at school, because well—her powers tend to be unstable. Her dad can get pretty protective of her, too, so when he finally agreed that she could join the team, she was ecstatic.

(And not at all prepared for what being in a team with no boundaries, no privacy and no place to hide, meant.)

It’s only her second week with them and everyone’s having an argument on the Bio-Ship over no-one-remembers what. She’s sitting next to Conner, both of whom have been watching the scene unfold in front of them.

“You just can’t help yourself, can you? You just have to be the center of attention all the time!” Wally yells at Dick.

Dick jumps out of his seat, ready to try to drag Wally out of his and wrestle him into the ground, probably. “Me? Oh, that’s rich, coming from the guy who screwed up every part of the plan!”

“Dick, will you listen to us for once? Wally was trying to save your ass,” Artemis cuts in, huffing. “Just admit it. You miscalculated. I tried to tell you that the warehouse was sealed from behind!”

“That’s what she sai—”

“Shut UP, Wally,” everyone says.

M’gann rubs her temples together and says, “Right, no more yelling. It’s not good for the ship. If you want to talk, we talk like adults on my mind-link. I’ll kick you out if you can’t be civil about it.”

“Maybe if you stop with these avoidance techniques and actually try to have a conversation with us instead of retreating into your mind fortress, we’d be a better team,” Kaldur says.

M’gann flares up. Conner jumps out of his seat to try to comfort her, but stops in his tracks as they look at each other.

Zatanna knows that look. Everyone in the room is silent for the next minute. Expressions twist and change, arms start flailing around.

“You guys are having a telepathic conversation without me again, are you,” she says, flatly.

What was she thinking? Joining this band of spoiled, legacy brats, none of whom can make a single decision without imploding on each other? And she has nothing to contribute, not because she doesn’t want to be involved in the fight, but because she can’t even focus on anything but the spells she messed up during the mission.

No one’s chosen to pick a fight with her over it, or scold her for screwing up. Is she not even worth taking seriously?

She’s not one of them. She can never be. Maybe she should just go home to her dad, tell her that he was right and that she isn’t ready for this.

Everyone turns towards her all of a sudden.

“What?” Zatanna says, and M’gann gives her a sympathetic look. Oh. “I was on the line, wasn’t I? You guys were listening.”

Yeah, we heard you, Dick replies, dropping his gaze.

She runs off to the back of the ship and lets out a little cry.

To her surprise, she feels a heavy hand on her shoulder as she’s wiping her tears away. She sees the shadow of a rather large someone sitting down next to her.

“Hey,” Conner says. “You okay?”

“Sraet og yawa,” she says in barely a whisper. She takes a breath and nods.

Conner frowns. “You don’t have to do that. Not around me. Or any of us.”

Zatanna lets out a weak laugh. “Yes, I do. Everyone already knows I’m not—my dad thinks I’m not ready for this. Batman, too, apparently.”

“Batman has ridiculously high standards,” Conner smiles. “I’m pretty sure Dick doesn’t meet them, either. And I’m the same way with, you know, the big guy.”

“Oh. Superman?”

He nods. “He always seems disappointed, whenever he looks at me. But none of that matters to anyone here. You know, we’re always impressed by you.”

“Me? I haven’t even done—I still don’t feel like I’m not pulling my weight. You guys always have these new ideas, new ways of looking at things or trying to come up with strategies for our missions. Every second I spend off the field I’m practicing spells in my head.”

Conner shrugs. “Everyone has their strengths. Look at me, I’m just the muscle guy.”

It’s nice, actually, talking to someone levelheaded, who’s not trying to pry into her mind or ask her a million questions about her life. She's always thought of Conner as brooding and intimidating. Now she realizes that he’s probably a lot like her, just wanting to get by without people crossing boundaries.

“Besides, the reason why no one yelled at you was because we had nothing to yell at you for. You were the only one who did what you were supposed to on this mission. Sure, it took you a while to break those chains, but you stayed focused on what you had to do and you kept trying until you did it. Better than the rest of us.”

“That’s—that’s really nice of you to say, Conner,” she smiles, for the first time tonight. “Thanks.”

“If you’re ready, they’re all waiting for you back in there. We all owe you an apology.”

He stands up and pulls her up to her feet.

“Oh, no, you guys don’t owe me anything.”

“Zatanna.”

“Okay, maybe an apology would be nice. And some peace and quiet for the rest of the flight. I really do need to meditate and practice a couple of spells in here,” she points to the side of her temple, as Conner chuckles and nods.

He cracks his knuckles like they’re about to go into a fight.

Judging by the way he’s standing next to her like a guard dog ready to attack in front of the rest of the team, he might actually be.

“Listen up, everyone,” he starts, and okay, Zatanna’s never actually heard Conner address the room like this. She forgets, because of his usually quiet demeanor, that he can break people with two fingers.

“You’re going to apologize to Zatanna. She deserves a little more respect, and team members she can rely on. Not just to watch her back on the field, but to listen to her. And we all know we suck at doing that.”

Zatanna’s probably blushing ten shades of red right now, but someone in the room had to say it. She thinks she’ll be able to stay on the team for a little longer, if this keeps up.

Years later, Zatanna gets promoted to join the League.

She celebrates with the team at Barry’s place, where everyone’s toasting to her and Raquel, their newest members.

Zatanna’s been sitting on Dick’s lap for the past twenty minutes as the two of them share a slice of cake. Dick licks off a bit of frosting from her nose and she has to push his face away the second she sees Barry and Iris walking past.

Drinks are flying around, Artemis and Wally are cornering Bart in the kitchen for something he did last night, Kaldur is trying to make sure L’gann doesn’t embarrass the Atlantean crest, while M’gann is quietly sitting in the corner of the room, absentmindedly watching the door.

“Hey, I’ll be right back,” Zatanna says, patting Dick on the head as she walks over to M’gann.

She’s thinking about the fact that Conner isn’t here. They broke up a couple of weeks ago and it’s been hard on all of them. Conner told them he’d come, but he had to head to Metropolis for an important conversation with Clark.

He’s been getting worked up about it all week.

“If you know so much about how he’s feeling, will you go check on him for me?” M’gann asks. “He gets sensitive when it comes to him and Clark. I know it’s not my place anymore—and he’s always relaxed around you.”

Zatanna nods. “Of course, I’ll see how he’s doing.”

She teleports herself to him and winds up in an office in Metropolis, where Conner punches through the wall inches away from her face.

His eyes go wide when he notices she’s there. “Zatanna? What are you doing here?”

Zatanna looks to the other side of the room and sees Clark, taking off his glasses and looking frustrated.

“I was just checking to see if you were okay,” she says, deciding to keep M’gann’s name out of it. “We’re celebrating at Barry’s now, if you’re still up for joining.”

Conner places a hand on his forehead. “I promised I’d be there. I’m sorry, Zatanna, I just got caught up in—” he looks at Clark, who’s giving him a look that looks almost like a warning.

What the hell is going on?

“Right,” she says, walking over to Clark and planting her feet down. “I don’t know what it is you think he’s done to besmirch your name this time, but I’ve had enough. He deserves better. And every single time Conner does something good, not even for himself—because it’s never about himself—it’s just never enough for you.”

Clark stares at her, wordlessly, as does Conner.

He finally settles on, “Zatanna, I apologize if I’ve done anything to offend you.”

At the lack of a response, offers something perhaps a little more honest in, “I am trying.”

“Then do better,” she replies, without missing a beat. “It's not me you need to apologize to. Conner has always made sure to let me know that I was never alone. You, of all people, should know how important that is.”

She wants to go on, but she knows this isn’t her fight. She turns around and finds Conner standing next to her.

“I think I’ll go with you now.” Conner glowers at Clark, “Don’t follow us.”

“At your command,” she replies, trying to maintain a lighthearted tone. Clark takes a step towards them, which results in Conner flinching slightly.

Zatanna raises her hand up towards him and says: “Yats dednuorg thginot.”

When they return to the party, everyone starts crowding around her to ask her if she really did take away Superman’s powers of flight for the night. She's never been very good at escaping attention, no matter where she went or what she did. Judging by the satisfied grin on Conner's face, she has a green light to take the floor.

Barry raises an eyebrow when she tells them. “I didn’t even think that was possible. Be careful around Batsy with that. He might start coming to you for favours.”

“Upping your game already, Zee?” Raquel asks. Her eyes are sparkling with the possibilities of what they'll achieve when they start playing with the adults. Raquel's already poised to make a bold entrance, and if Zatanna already taking on Superman before day one then they're both as well-positioned as rookies can be.

“Oh, you know. Just a little practice, that’s all,” she says, smiling at Conner. “Magic is a little bit like muscle sometimes—you never know how strong you are until you push a little harder. Or take on someone twice your size.”

He laughs, and she happily takes that as an agreement.

#conner kent #kon el #young justice #zatanna zatara #clark kent #dick grayson #m'gann m'orzz #fic #young justice fic #fanfic #zeequicks writing #kon and zee #background chalant

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