november 7

As Frostbite explained, it appeared a day on the outside world was about a week inside the manor. It helped not just the boys to heal safely, but also help the family bond beyond the nightly surveillance of the Gotham streets. Of course that didn't stop them from still working on cases. One would be a fool to not take advantage of the extra time given to them to catch up on schoolwork and old cases that had been waiting for a rainy day to arrive.

Dick made sure Bruce got to work on updating the Batcomputer hardware before setting him up with the monumental task of finding what and where to update things in Mount Justice while also adding the reboot and diagnostic run of the entire Watchtower on top of it.

Karma for leaving them behind without a warning.

Bruce didn't mind, however. It gave him a chance to get a hold of the saved file from the unofficial emergency broadcast the kids had made. It would be a lie to say he wasn't proud to see his boys handle themselves so well even with everything that was going on. If somebody asked if he made it his Bat-phone background, he totally did.

Given the extreme nature of what Danny and Frostbite had finally shared, there were a handful of other more minor revelations made. As minor as Danny admitting to purposely eroding his soul to prevent the thing from being too strong should his inhibitor collar plan fail could be.

Dick had not taken kindly to that information, threatening Danny with a pillow as he still didn't dare actually hit his brother. Electric scars still marred his skin, barely fading as time went on. They were less prominent in his human form, but he hadn't yet dared to try turning back into Phantom. Not only since a lot of his wounds were body specific, but also not finding it in him to brave the extensive scars and just how badly they may have affected him. If simply moving around and attempting to get out of bed was still so painful, who knew just how much more intense the pain would be in his ghost form.

Zatanna had tried to help where she could, but her magic had no effect on Danny. Dick, on the other hand, was already well into his healing journey. Frostbite didn't want to make any assumptions, and Dick wasn't too keen to visit their favorite human doctor with this particular issue, but Alfred assured he was well ahead of schedule. Of course, that didn't stop the man from banning him from outright walking on it, even with his custom made snowy boot and icy cast.

Though she would never say it to their face, it would be a lie to say that seeing them all be a happy little family stung. Zatanna hated how it made her feel like a horrible friend. Danny got hurt trying to get her dad back to her, Dick gave up his secret identity, Bruce opened his home. And here she was, resentment festering like a mold because they gained what she lost.

She could see they were trying to include her in things, make her not feel left out. But that was exactly what hurt even more. Family dinners or movie nights she won't get to have with her own dad anymore. All because she made a choice that got everybody hurt in the process.

Naturally she felt responsible, guilt eating her up every time Danny winced or Dick tried to argue against using crutches. Every slowed movement Bruce made as his arm still healed from summoning Frostbite. The blame lay on her shoulders. No amount of trying to heal Dick's broken ankle or offering to help Bruce's arm heal would stop her from the guilt eating at her.

On one of the nights when Selina mentioned to go check on her cats, the young magi offered to come along. Sensing something was up, Selina didn't hesitate to agree.

Ignoring the mildly inquisitive looks from Bruce and Alfred, Selina helped Zatanna piece together an outfit that wouldn't get her noticed in the streets of Gotham. Taking the more lax route, and a borrowed undercover car from Bruce, they made it to her apartment in no time.

Zatanna hadn't said a word the whole ride over, fidgeting with the hem of her hoodie. As they walked up the stairs, cats greeted and followed them up. The closer to the door, the more notable the soft welcoming melodies became. Either Selina had some serious soundproofing, or her cats knew how to be quiet to avoid neighbor complaints.

Zatanna didn't know which one was more impressive, but the likely answer was both.

Entering the apartment felt like a cozy breath of air. Not that the Manor wasn't cozy, but the sheer amount of casual luxury in that place made it hard to truly relax in there. At least for her, Dick and Danny didn't have an issue trying to turn the whole thing into a jungle gym from what Alfred had told her during tea time.

There was a clear split in the occupants of the place. A group of cats, varying in size and age circled Selina as the other half ignored her presence. A rather fat British Shorthair with heterochromia walked up to her, pawing at the air until she picked him up with a grunt. "Bono, did you go looting all the food bowls again?" She laughed as Bono pressed his forehead into her cheek, softly headbutting her for pets.

With her arms full of cat, she weaved between the others. They were a well behaved bunch, making sure the visiting cats didn't cause too many problems. Zatanna watched as the woman blended in like she never left. Like they hadn't just spend a week and a half at the Manor with only Nanaki and Shiro around.

Following Selina's gesture, she took a seat on the couch. A grey little tabby wandered over to her, yellow eyes scanning her over. Offering a hand, she felt the soft breaths on her skin before silky fur was pressed between her fingers. Climbing onto her lap, the little tabby got comfortable.

"I see you made a new friend." Selina remarked as she filled up the various bowls around the room, still holding onto Bono. "No, you greedy chub of lard. Quit trying to steal everybody's food." She poked his fluffy cheek, making him look at her. Mouthing no again, Bono pressed his forehead into her chest and relented to stay in air jail.

"Isn't that a little mean? He's just really fluffy." Zatanna smiled at the pouty cat.

Selina chuckled as she finally set Bono down, watching his majestic self take his exit through the window to scavenge for food where Selina can't stop him from gorging himself. "Oh, don't worry. Poor little guy is deaf so it's not like he can hear me. Plus he knows I've tried putting him on a diet, but he charms the neighbors into feeding him." Mrs. Franklin three buildings over likely already had more than enough for an army of 5 Bono's set out for him.

"And you let him go outside?" Zatanna worried, wanting to go get Bono off the streets but being unable to as the little tabby in her lap refused to move.

Selina waved between feline and furniture, refreshing the water bowls as well. "Trust me, he'd chew his way out if I didn't let him. He's surprisingly well adapted." The unspoken rule of not messing with Crime Alley cats went unsaid, not something she had to remind the young girl of.

Letting silence fall over them as Selina finished up her little tasks, Zatanna looked down at the purring warmth on her lap, softly scratched the tabby's cheek. "What's her name?" The little tabby rolled over, kneading the air as she enjoyed the attention.

Glancing over at the couch, Selina washed her hands and let the faucet run softly for those of her little gremlins that liked drinking from it. "Well, I was going to ask you that."

"She doesn't have one?" Zatanna looked up, eyes scanning over every cat in the room and wondering just how many are hiding in other parts of the apartment. "I thought you cared for all your cats." It came out harsher than she meant, but the woman chuckled it off.

"I do," Selina defended, settling down next to her as her favorite chonky calico came for cuddles. "But only those who call this their home get a name, if they didn't have one already like Luna over here did when an elderly neighbor surrendered her to my care." Petting her walking pillow, she lifted Luna up just to help the darling settle easier. "Not everyone who wanders these halls are here to stay. Sometimes they just accompany a friend until it's their time to find their own space to call home."

Zatanna stiffened, fighting the urge to jump up as to not disturb the tabby. "You-you knew?" Running a hand through the girl's hair, Selina helped calm her down. It was something her mother used to do as well, the gesture fueling comfort even years later. Unfortunately, it also reminded her of how her dad tried to do the same, only to then fail at braiding her hair and causing more tangles than he got out.

Not Selina, though. Her hands worked like she had done it a million times. Slowly brushing through small tangles as she made her way through the section she had picked out. "I wasn't sure, until you just confirmed it." She smiled, raking fingers through the bit she liked and splitting it into three. "The others probably didn't. The only one you might have to worry about is Alfred. Nothing gets passed that man."

Zatanna slumped back, hand pausing the scratches. "I just-" She let her thoughts run freely as the tabby kneaded her stomach. "It just hurts, you know?" Selina hummed, making sure the girl knew she was paying attention as she braided down the middle section. "I don't want to sound ungrateful for letting me stay, for giving out their identities like that."

"But staying would only hurt more than it helps to heal."

Zatanna nodded, careful to not mess up what Selina was doing. "How do I tell them? I don't want them to blame themselves either, or think it was a mistake to trust me. It was my fault we got into this mess."

Zatanna blinked as Selina flicked her nose. "The only fault lies with that witch boy. You did what you had to do, and so did they." Carefully she braided the other two strands around the braid she just finished, making an intricate design out of something so simple. "They'll understand. It's not the same, but they know what it's like to lose a parent. Not everybody grieves nor heals the same, and you've toughed it out for longer than you had to."

Zatanna looked down, leaning into Selina's touch as she mulled it over. It's not like she was just leaving for ever, just a little distance to piece herself back together again. Shoulders fully relaxing as she let go of the tension hiding in her muscles, the little tabby shifted in her hold, trying to get comfortable in the fold of her hoodie.

Smiling as she lifted up the cat, Selina stopped her from trying to hand the tabby over. Letting the tabby nestle back on the girl, Selina returned to her little project. "Keep her." She gently tied off the braid. "Well, after you name her, of course."

"Me?"

Running her hand over the finished braid, Selina smiled as she laid it over Zatanna's shoulder. "She's picked her new home, and you're going to need a friend." Zatanna looked down at the little gray tabby. Yellow eyes blown wide as she looked up expectantly. If she didn't know any better, she'd be sure Selina had a way of bridging the language barrier with the felines in her care.

Still, she looked into those twinkling little moons, finding it hard to not love her to bits. "Cicci." She fluffed Cicci's cheeks before turning to Selina. "Her name is Cicci." She beamed as Cicci chirped happily, crawling into the kangaroo pouch of her hoodie and settling once more.

Patting the side of the couch, Luna got the message and got off of Selina's lap as well. "Well then," she got up, halfheartedly brushing off the fur from her clothes. "Let's stock up on everything Cicci will need, shall we." Grabbing the keys, Selina spun them around her finger as Zatanna looked up at her with a small smirk.

"You planned this, didn't you? Is that why you took the car instead of a bike?"

Selina shrugged, smile betraying her glee. "What can I say, you learn to be prepared in a family like this." In true Wayne funded shopping, Selina made sure to get everything Cicci's little heart desired. Zatanna let her pick out her own bedding and tower, constantly assured Bruce wouldn't even notice the money out of his account. Egged on by the woman, Zatanna ended up picking a few things out for herself as well.

She did feel a little self-conscious walking back inside the Manor. Grateful for the woman's help, she made sure to thank her in private after she took it upon herself to explain the situation to Bruce and Alfred. Bruce had done his best to assure her that she was always welcome in the Manor, free to stay for however long she wanted. He also emphasized that the trust her home was in was in her name, waiting for her to turn of age before it'll be transferred to her stead. Everything would be handled by the books, ensuring the memories left in there would stay safe.

The boys took it better than she thought, insisting on helping her move her new things into her room at Mount Justice. After pleading with Alfred to let them go outside, that is.

Even Frostbite stayed for long enough to see her off, promising he holds no ill will to her and wishing her the best. His words weighed heavy, given how personally involved he was with the man who paraded around in her father's body. The previous distrust between the two having fully melted in their time spent together.

It gave her hope. Hope that maybe the relation between ghosts and other magi stood a chance at overcoming the millennia worth of slander Nabu brought. Maybe that was a job for her, if only just to get back at the lord of order. She might even be tempted enough to ask any of the other Ancients for their help, should they be willing to do so. Danny did mention Lady Dorathea was in charge of everything historical.

Perhaps she would be the best to reach out to once she managed to take some time for herself.

The team had gathered to help Zatanna move her things in. The copious amount of boxes took more than a few trips to get moved into the room. "My room is right next door if you need anything." M'gann reassured her as she sat down one of the last remaining boxes.

Towers of boxes were stacked around, Cicci already trying to find a comfortable spot on the bed. "Have you heard anything of Robin and Phantom?" Conner asked softly as he brought in the final two boxes. Though well intended, it brought an awkward tone to the room. Neither boy had reached out afterwards, leaving any messages from the team unread while they recovered on their own.

"They, uh." Zatanna tried hard to not look over to the far corner of her new room, knowing the pair was hiding. "They're fine. Catwoman didn't want them carrying anything so they stayed home." It was the lie everybody agreed on, but it still felt wrong to put the blame on her.

Awkward silence filled the room as nobody knew what to follow it up with. "I could, ah, use a little alone time." Zatanna looked to the ground, not quite finding the courage to look at the others. "You know..."

"Of course." Artemis reassured softly, dragging Conner out as he looked back at the lone girl. Only after everybody filed out, and the door closed behind M'gann, did Danny drop the invisibility.

Slowly walking over, Dick reached into his pocket and held out a little jewelry box. In it laid a rose gold necklace, the soft hum of power brightening it's shine. "It's an Algiz rune." Danny explained, pulling out his own identical one from is hoodie as Dick did the same.

"We asked Frostbite to ask a friend of his to make them for us." His thumb traced over the rune, shrugging as he explained. "He said it's for protection and defense, but it's also a compass to the others. You just have to think about which one of us to find and it will guide your way."

Danny took over the box as Dick helped secure it around Zatanna's neck. "No matter where, or when, you are, we'll always be able to find each other. Even if you just need somebody to talk to." The ghost assured, his words laying heavy on her heart as she held the charm gently.

"Thank you." She whispered, biting her lip to keep the tears at bay. Taking it as their sign to take their exit, they each hugged her goodbye.

"Alfie said you're always welcome for Sunday dinners, if you'd like." Dick muttered over his shoulder into the barren room. Feeling odd at how cold and unwelcoming it felt. He knew Zatanna would spruce it up with no problem, but it still felt odd leaving her alone with the empty gray walls boxing her in.

Only after they left, and she was left alone with only Cicci to comfort her as she finally let the dam break down, letting the sobs wreck through her frame.

art by me, first posted on tumblr jan 19th 2026

In loving memory of Luna (†2015, no pic available) and Bono (†2019)