Chapter Text
FANFIC DICK AND ZEE!
The Cave was humming with the usual post-mission energy—clanking weights, the sizzle of the bio-ship’s engines cooling down, and the sharp thwip of arrows hitting targets.
Dick Grayson, now operating as Nightwing, was currently centered in the training ring. He wasn't the scrawny kid in the pixie boots anymore. At twenty-one, he was a lean, walking anatomical chart of muscle and scar tissue. He had that "grown-up leader" energy—the kind that carried the weight of the world on his shoulders but still managed to move with the fluid, effortless grace of a circus performer.
He was currently shirtless, sweat glistening off his chest and back as he moved through a high-intensity acrobatic calisthenics routine. He was showing off, and he knew it.
Wally was on the sidelines, inhaling a box of pizza.
"You're going to pull a muscle trying to impress the air, Nightwing,"
Wally quipped, his mouth half-full.
"Just maintaining the physique,
Wall-man, you should try it sometimes”
Dick shot back, catching himself in a one-handed handstand, his abs rippling as he shifted his center of gravity.
"Leadership requires peak performance."
Suddenly, the Zeta-Tubes chimed, the mechanical voice echoing through the mountain.
RECOGNIZED: ZATARA: 0-8.
RECOGNIZED: ZATANNA ZATARA B08
The team gathered. Kaldur’ahm stepped forward, ever the stoic commander, alongside M’gann, Conner, and the younger generation—Tim Drake and Cassie Sandsmark.
Giovanni Zatara stepped out of the light, looking as dignified as ever. Beside him stood a girl who seemed to radiate a quiet, shimmering power.
She had raven hair, piercing blue eyes, and a confident smirk that suggested she knew exactly how much chaos she was capable of causing.
"Team,"
Zatara announced, his voice booming.
"I would like to introduce my daughter. This is Zatanna."
The Glitch in the System.
Nightwing, who had been in the middle of a triple-backflip dismount to stick a "cool" landing, saw her.
Time didn't just slow down; it broke.
Dick landed, but his usual Olympic-level grace deserted him. He stumbled, his heels clipping the edge of the padded mat. He stood up quickly, his face instantly transitioning from "stoic leader" to a shade of crimson that rivaled Wally’s suit.
"Hi,"
Zatanna said, her voice smooth and melodic.
“I’ve heard... a lot about you guys."
Her eyes drifted to Dick. Specifically, Dick without a shirt on. She raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes… clearly eyeing him up and down and enjoying it..
"Is the shirtless welcoming committee a standard protocol, or am I just lucky?"
Dick opened his mouth. Usually, he was the king of snark, the master of the "Whelmed" philosophy. But looking at her—at the way the light caught her hair—his brain felt like it had been hit by one of Canary’s screams.
"I—uh—I’m N-Nightwing,"
he stuttered, his voice cracking slightly.
"I mean, I’m the... leader. Of the stuff. The team stuff. I exercise. Clearly."
Wally choked on his pizza. Tim Drake put his face in his hands, second-hand embarrassment radiating off him in waves.
"Nice to meet you, 'Leader of the Stuff,'"
Zatanna teased, her smile widening.
"I’m Zatanna. I do magic. Clearly."
—
The tension was broken as the rest of the team moved in.
M’gann flew over, beaming.
“It’s so wonderful to have another girl on the team! I’m M’gann."
Cassie gave a thumbs up.
"Hey! If you can handle Grayson’s ego, you’ll fit right in."
Kaldur stepped forward with a respectful nod.
"Welcome, Zatanna. Your father’s reputation precedes you. We are honored to have your strength among us."
Tim offered a polite, slightly awkward wave, already analyzing her power levels in his head like a true Robin.
Zatanna handled the introductions with a grace that made her seem years older than she was. She was sweet, yes, but there was a weight to her presence. When she spoke, the air around her seemed to vibrate with latent mystical energy. She wasn't just a guest; she was a powerhouse.
—
As the team moved toward the briefing room, Dick finally managed to scramble into a tactical hoodie, though his face was still warm. The "grown-up" persona snapped back into place—mostly.
"Alright, everyone,"
Dick said, his voice regaining its authority, though he pointedly avoided looking Zatanna directly in the eye.
"We have a situation in Gotham. Low-level magic signatures detected near the docks. Zatara suggested Zatanna join us for the field test."
He looked at the holographic map, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Kaldur, you take point on the perimeter. M'gann, aerial surveillance. Tim, Cassie, you’re on extraction. Zatanna... you’re with me. I need someone who knows how to counter... whatever this is."
Zatanna stepped up beside him, her shoulder brushing his.
"Try to keep up, Nightwing. I'd hate for you to get distracted."
Dick cleared his throat, staring intensely at the map…
"I'm a professional, Zee. I don't get distracted."
"Right,"
She whispered, leaning in closer.
"That's why you're wearing your hoodie inside out."
Dick looked down. He was. Shit..
"Tactical choice,"
“Mhm..”
As the team headed for the Bio-ship,
Wally stopped dick. Oh he was grinning…
“So…”
“So what?”
“Well.. I think we all noticed you were glaring at the map…. you know.. to avoid zatanna..”
Wally says laughing. Dick rolls his eyes and elbows wally.
“Shut up wal.. I was not.. I was just focused on the mission”
“Right, that’s why you were red and your heart beating so damn fast..”
Dick looks away annoyed.. wally smiles and taps his best friend’s shoulder..
“Cmon the team’s waiting.. oh and by the way? She totally noticed you staring.. y-youuuu are dooooomeddd”
Wally singed the rest laughing as he walked toward the bioship. Dick took a breath.. because yes.. wally was right.. he was doomed..
🤍 chapter one end!
Guys this is basically a try so im writing this to see if people like it so please leave a review🤍