Chapter Text
A Few Years Ago
“Surrender! You don’t stand a chance against us!” Deathstroke exclaims as he and his teammate point their swords towards the heroes. Donna, Robin, Garth, Artemis and Zatanna got in fighting stance.
“What did you do to him?!” Zee screams at Deathstroke. And she didn’t fail to notice that Dick changed his stance for a second upon hearing her voice.
“Who? Me? I did nothing to my apprentice…he saw the Light for himself” Next time Deathstroke, there was a man wearing the same armour as him, he was just a little bit smaller and didn’t had the ponytail that Slade had.
“Nightwing! Snap out of it. It’s me Robin!” Jason tries to reach to his older brother. In the other hand neither Slade nor his apprentice flinched.
“This is bad. I need to get him away from the magician, he did not responded to Robin but to the girl…I wonder if she had some kind of spell over him…” Slade thought to himself. “There’s no Nightwing and soon there’s not going to be a Team that keeps spoiling our plans. Time to die kids!”
Zatanna was about to launch herself to Dick. Their plan was to distract Deathstroke enough so Z could work her magic on her boyfriend but Slade was one step ahead and attacked the magician first.
“You deal with the Amazon, the archer and Robin! I’ll deal with the sorceress and the Atlantean” Dick nodded before easily dodging an attack from the hot heat of Jason. Robin kept his attack and Grayson was easily dodging them. He could see his attack as if it was a choreography and with a punch on the guts, Dick managed to knock the wind out of Robin.
“Zatanna would have to forgive me after I bruise that smug face of yours Bird Boy” Artemis aims her arrows at Dick and starts shooting at him. At first, Dick was having problems dodging them but after a couple of shoot he got the hand of it and even caught a couple of arrows mid air. “Shit! What did Deathstroke even taught you!” Before the Amazon of the archer could answer something else. Grayson grabbed the reeling body of Jason and thrown him at Artemis.
“Alright. You better forgive me because I’m not going to hurt you but this ain’t going to tickle either” It was Donna’s turn to engage Grayson. Donna was actually getting some good hits on Dick before he pulled his sword and cut her cheek. “I guess that friendship is over!” While mad, Donna was still trying to banter with him, in an attempt to reach her friend.
“Surrender. You stand no chance against us. Move away and let us get what we came for…” Dick spoke for the first time since the Team encounter them.
“No can do. We are here to get our friend and Zatanna’s husband back” Even if he was wearing a mask, Donna could tell that Dick demeanour changed for a second. Grayson and Donna engaged in another exchange with Grayson using the Amazon strength against her. “I guess a better knock you out an-AGGHH” Donna felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and notice that Dick was trying to stab her. Out of reflex Donna hit Dick a lot harder sending him flying to a wall and bounce from the impact and making him falling to his knees.
Donna pulled the knife out of her abdomen. “Look! I was trying to be nice but I guess that option is out of the table”
“ZATANNA!” Dick, Donna, Jason and Artemis turns their gaze towards Garth that was screaming Z’s name. The Atlantean was trying to hold Jason while Z was choking on a gas that Deathstroke threw at her.
“NO!” Dick runs to Zee’s aid and the Team was about to do the same but while exchanging blows, Dick placed a small bomb on Donna’s back and went off. Seeing that Robin and Artemis was following him, he threw flash grenade at them.
“Quick! Breath!” Dick took of his Deathstroke like mask and put on Zee so she could breath again.
“What do you think you are doing?!” Slade shouts at him. Grayson ignores and keeps taking care of Zee while the rest of the Team keeps their fight against Deathstroke. “KID!”
“Stay down” Dick tells Zatanna before engaging his former teammates. It didn’t take long for Z to get back on her feet and aid her friends on their battle.
“Gnillik Seniv!” Vines starts emerging from the ground and attack Slade. Fiercely, Slade cuts through them all and makes his way towards the magician who was sweating and reaching her limit.
“I have enough of you!” Before he could land an attack on the magician, Dick blindside Slade with a kick to the ribs.
“Don’t you dare to touch her. She’s out of limits”
“What are you taking about kid?! She’s the enemy”
“No. Let’s finish the rest and get over our mission but she doesn’t get hurt”
“You follow my orders…”
“Not this one”
“Then I guess I’ll have to give you a correction course” No more words were needed between the two as both of them got in fighting stance. Dick flinched feeling a couple of broken ribs, probably from Donna’s attack. Artemis made a signal of not interfering, that was the opportunity they needed to get Grayson back.
Their blades collided with one another, it was clear that Slade had the upper hand over Dick in every regard from speed and power to skill. Just like with the rest of his ex teammates, the villain was toying with him. Hitting him just enough to knock some sense into him.
“You cannot beat me, kid. And why are you doing this? I have do nothing but give you my best”
“I know but there’s something about her. I don’t know her, I just know that I need to protect her”
“Pathetic. I guess the mission failed already. Kill the rest of them and I’ll let you comeback to me”
“As if we are letting you go-“ Artemis and Garth launch their attack to him but Dick throw them smoke bomb, allowing Deathstroke to escape. “You have to be kidding me! I thought you were on our side”
“Why would I be on your side? You are the enemy” Once again, Grayson takes a fighting stance.
“Dammed it! I guess we will have to go the hard way…”
“No. Lower your arms everyone”
“But Zat-“ Robin tries to object.
“I said stay down” Zee slowly walks towards Grayson who keeps aiming his bow staff at them.
“Stay back. I’m warning you”
“Why did you protected me?”
“I don’t know”
“Yes, yes, you do” She was finally at his reach and she put his weapon down slowly with her hand.
“I don’t even know who you are” Dick flinches as Zee’s hands start to move closer to him.
“Then let me help you to remember. I don’t know what he did to you but I can help” Dick was mesmerised by her eyes and were in a lock. She was so familiar but he didn’t know why. She felt like home. Finally, he allows her to touch him.
“Rebmemer su!” A huge headache came to Dick and made him fall on his knees. “Dick! How do you feel?”
“Feeling the aster, Z” The magician couldn’t hold herself anymore and embraced her boyfriend in a heated kiss.
Present
“Good morning gorgeous”
“Morning handsome” For the couple, there was not better feeling than to wake up and see their lover’s face first thing in the morning.
“Sleep well?” Dick takes one stray of hair away from her face and tucks it behind her ear.
“I can sleep some more…” She snuggles closer to him, taking a good sniff of his scent.
“As nice as that sounds we need to make breakfast for the twins” Usually, that would do the trick and Z would groan or ask him to do it while she gets ready for the day but she didn’t flinch.
“About that…John and Mary aren’t home…”
“What? Did they move out? I knew that they had potential but getting a new house this early is just crazy…”
“I’m not kidding. My dad came early and took them for the whole day and Damian is with them”
“What?! Why didn’t I knew about It?”
“I ask my dad to take care of the twins so I can take care of you”
“Wow. I know that you dad knows that we do it but that is a little bit too straightforward, don’t ya think?”
“You have been under a lot of stress lately…while I love being with you 24/7 you reduce your training and other activities so you could escort me everywhere and stay there with me during my rehearsal for my last show”
“Me being with you is like the less stressing thing in my life Zee”
“The reason is the problem”
“The reason is because I love you”
“I know but it’s also because you are afraid”
“How can I not be when you were attacked?! And we are being targeted by the guy that has a lot of people in his pocket AND is running for mayor”
“But we will find a way. We always do” Zatanna sits on Dick’s lap facing him and rubbing his shoulder. “Although, we won’t find a way until I do something with all this pent up energy that you have…”
“I don’t know Z…I don’t think my head is on the game an-“ Dick’s brain stopped working as soon as his wife started biting and sucking his earlobe and at the same time she was grinding on him.
“We have popcorn, melted chocolate, strawberries, grapes, chips, fries, pizza…are we missing something?” After their marathon, the marriage opted for having a chilling day with a movie date in their living room. Dick was shirtless but wearing his pijamas bottoms while Z was only wearing the top of his pijamas, covering barely just below her butt.
“Noup…although I’m craving some anchovies” Dick froze in his place, he hated anchovies but he couldn’t deny Z’s cravings and was dreadful of kissing her after eating those things. The magician smiled at her husband’s face before giggling. “I’m joking. We are ready to go”
“Don’t that to me Z”
“Don’t be such a baby…I have to carry our babies in my belly for 9 months and you can’t stand me eating anchovies?”
“You can eat ‘em but I’m not kissing you afterwards” Dick pecked her nose before making his way towards their living room with his hands full of the bowls of food.
“How dare you Mister…” Z huffed before bringing the wiped cream and m&m’s.
“What are we watching? Something scary? Something funny? Something romantic?” The couch was L shaped and was big enough for Dick to fully stretch himself. Z made appear a blanket with her magic and placed herself between his legs with her back on his chest and covered them both.
“Mmm…I love Joe Black but we’ve seen it too many times and I don’t want to burn out that movie…what about Mr. and Mrs. Smith?”
“That’s a good choice, Mrs. Grayson”
“Why? Thank you Mr. Grayson”
“Although if we are like them I have to say that I’m hotter than Brad Pitt”
“That you are”
“…”
“This is the part where you say that I’m hotter than Angelina Jolie…”
“Yeah…about that” Zee faked being offended.
“Then why don’t you ask her to come and watch a movie with you?”
“Do you think she will?” Dick’s goofy smile earned him a smack on his chest from his wife. “I’m joking, you know that you are the most gorgeous woman in the universe” Z didn’t need to heard those words just by the way Dick was holding her tight, she knew that she was all he wanted and needed.
“Alright wise guy…but movie?”
“I know! Let’s watch ‘About time’” Zee nodded, she loved the movie.
Over halfway through the movie almost all the snacks were gone. “What would you change if you could travel in time like in the movie?” Dick was deep into the movie and his brain took a moment to get the question.
“What?”
“Yeah. Travel time powers…what would you change?”
“I don’t know…nothing, I guess”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I mean…you saw what happened to him what if I change something and instead of having Johnny and Mary we have two girls, or two boys, or just one? I’m not taking that risk” She smiled with his answer.
“How much do you think it’d affect if I go back in time and prevent myself from throwing up during that kids shows with Oscar the Grouch?”
“You’ll break the thread that holds this universe and reality together. It’s a cannon event if you disrupt it then this world and every world would cease to exist…” Zee blinked a couple of times after Dick’s words, she couldn’t believe how he managed to say those words with a straight face.
“You are the worst”
The Next Day
“I’m going to miss you so much Lena” Miranda, Haly’s Circus animal tamer, pets the white tiger.
“You know that you can visit her whenever you want but let’s see if Lena can handle the twins” After some back and forth, Dick and Zee decided to bring Lena home to live with them. The couple were worried for Lena’s safety.
“I’m sure that she would be fine. It’s not the first time she is with them or with kids although if your kids are as half as chaotic as you were when you were a kid then maybe Lena and the world isn’t ready for that kind of chaotic energy”
“Aww! C’mon! I wasn’t that bad…you were just too calm for your own good” Dick excuse himself as they both keep petting Lena.
“If you say so”
“Aight. Time to go Lena”
“Where’s your truck?”
“We are zeta tubing back to Bludhaven and walk a couple of blocks…faster and way more comfier for her”
“I thought you lost all your Justice League benefits after retiring”
“Not all of them. Sorry girl. I know that you can behave but I need to put you this collar so the police won’t stop us and to prevent some people from panicking” Dick put Lena her collard but decided to leave the chain off until they arrived to Blud.
“See later Miranda”
“See ya Dickie Boy and you better behave…remember that Zatanna is pregnant and she doesn’t have the energy to pull out with your Dickiness”
“If you should know…I’m a stellar husband and dad”
“I know” The friends parted ways but Dick wasn’t that far from the circus before hearing screaming.
“HELP! FIRE!” Dick turned on his heels and saw the Haly’s Circus’ tent bursting in flames.
“Oh no!” Without a second thought Dick sprinted back to the circus and saw his friends trying to out out the fire.
“Dick! The Mauler twins and Haly are still inside” Miranda screamed at Grayson. Dick signals Lena to wait for him as he enters the tent.
“HALY! MAULERS!” Dick looks around and couldn’t find his friends. The structure was about give up.
Bang* Dick felt a sharp pain on his shoulder. He got shoot by someone by he didn’t have were to take cover.
Smack* Grayson received a kick on the back sending him flying.
“Just like the boss told us. Time to break some bones” Dick quickly recognised the man known as Nite-Wing.
“When did you go out from Bludhaven’s Prison?”
“I got a new benefactor that help me out as long as I break as many of your bones as possible. A win-win situation if you ask me” Dick knew that he could take him out easily but there was still the shooter and Haly and the Maulers.
“And who’s your date?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know…but don’t worry this is between you and me” Nite-mite pull out his bat, ready to bash Dick’s head.
Dick’s mind wasn’t on the top of his game. He couldn’t trust his enemy word.
“I see that you upper up your game” While his street fighter brawl style was still there, there was some technique behind his attacks. Still, Dick has dealt with far stronger and skilled fighters. He could say that he was a lite version of Jason’s fighting style. They keep exchanging blows but didn’t take long for Dick to put him on his knees.
“This cannot be possible. You are not longer a hero”
“Once a hero always a hero. Why don’t you tell me who’s with you and then made your way back to your cell?”
“If I can’t take you down in a fight I’m taking you with me” That’s when Dick’s mind clicked, he knew that he couldn’t beat him in a hand to hand, he was there just stalling.
“Dick! Kick that asshole ass!” Dick turns around and sees Miranda, Lena and the strongman pulling Haly and the twins out of the tent.
“You bet”
“Are you okay Sir?”
“Yes. Thank you”
“Did you saw anyone else besides this guy?” The police, fire and health department were outside of Haly Circus picking up the clues and helping the injuried people. Haly was out and was taken to the hospital but thankfully, he would recover after cleaning his lungs from all the smoke, the Maulers were in a much worse state but no life threatening, the were other injured but luckily, no one was on the death’s door.
“There was a shooter but I couldn’t see him…my guess is that he was the one that started the fire and this guy was just here to cover for him…”
“Alright. Call us if you remember anything else. Do you want us to call somebody?”
“No. I’m okay. Can I go now?” The officer nodded before letting Grayson go. He went to check on Lena and she was safe and sound as well just cover in dirt.
“Let’s go home girl and we better arrived before Z hears about this”
“Dick!” Zee jumped to his man’s arms as soon as she saw him. He was cover in dirt, with some bruises and a blank expression on his face. “What happened?”
“Desmond. That’s what happened. He set the circus on fire” While happy of seeing him alright and see Lena in her house. Zee couldn’t lose her grip on him.
“Is everyone?”
“Yeah. Haly is in a bad shape but he’ll make it, no one is dead…”
“Thank god”
“…yet”
“Huh? What was that?”
“I came to see you before you heard it from someone else or the news. I’m fine but I’m going to do something that I should’ve done since the day he decided to look at you the wrong way”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m showing him why he shouldn’t have messed up with my family” Zee could see all the pent up rage inside him.
“No. We need to-“
“I need to put a stop to this” Dick gently push Z to the side and makes his way to the door.
“Are you going to the Nest? I know that you don’t want to expose me but let’s call some back up-“
“No. Nightwing isn’t taking care of him. Dick Grayson is”
“Please Dick don’t. It’s a mistake” Grayson didn’t turn around and she shout her eyes.
“I’m sorry. Pots!”
“Z?! What are you doing?”
“Protecting my family…you can march like this. It’s a trap-“
“And I’m protecting my family by going there. Don’t you get it. If I wait a little bit more he could hurt this time or the twins…I cannot let that happen”
“I cannot let you go on a suicide mission. WE NEED YOU. I NEED YOU”
“Zatanna, stop the spell now!” Her heart sink hearing him calling her by her full name.
“No until you promise me that you won’t go”
“Just like you promise not using your power like this on me?!” Tears were about to run through the magician’s eyes and that broke Grayson apart. “Fine. I won’t go. I promise” Feeling in her heart that he was telling the truth, she let go off him but he was still to angry to do anything else and brush past her and went to the garden to think. She opted to give him some space and clean Lena and check on the sleeping twins.
After having half day to himself, Dick went to check on the sleeping twins and smiled seeing them so peacefully sleeping with both Pocus and Lena resting in their room like some kind of protection. Then he made his way towards his room and see that Zatanna was sleeping on their bed, he could sense her distress.
“Can we talk? We don’t do this, y’know? Go to bed mad…” The magician asks as she sees her husband getting out of their closet with his pijamas.
Sigh* “There’s nothing to talk about Z” As expected, she was just lying on the bed and not actually sleeping, deep down he was grateful for that.
“I-“ She tries to reach for him but he sits on their bed and takes her hands.
“I was about to make a mistake and you stopped me from doing so. I’m sorry that I made you break your promise but it was necessary…I shouldn’t have acted like that, I need to be smart, now more than ever”
“No, it’s not your fault…is his” Zee was reaching her breaking point with Desmond’s situation as well.
“I cannot control his actions, only mine and if it weren’t for you I could be were he wants me to be. He knows me so well, he knows where to cut to make me bleed but he’s missing the most vital key”
“That Nightwing is the best hero?” She cups his face with her hands and looks straight in her eyes. Fully believing her own words.
“No. That I have the best partner in the world” Dick softly smiles at Z.
“Well…a good hero is just as good as her sidekick and you are a pretty good assistant” They both smiled at her comment. “So…are we good?”
“Better than that. We are invincible together” They shared a tender kiss as they laid down on the bed and Z quickly cuddles her man.
“That we are”
“He might cut my wings but he forgot that I can fly without them thanks to my lovely magician” She snuggles further more until an idea crosses her mind.
“You made me pretty upset early, y’know?” Judging by her tone, he could notice that she was scheming something.
“I think I did, didn’t I?” Zee hums in response. “What can I do to make it up to you?”
“Can you put your oversized shirt?” They didn’t want to let go of their comfortable position but Z knew that the reward was worthy. Dick went to the closet again and came back with a shirt a couple sizes bigger.
Back on the bed, Zee got inside the shirt with Dick, feeling their closeness and his warmth. “I can’t still get why is this better than just cuddling me shirtless?”
“Because we are closer, the shirt is hugging us both plus your arms holding me and your warm stays here with me” Dick tenderly kisses her forehead and the couple starts dozing off to dreamland.