(Y/n) POV:

Just over a week after the Injustice League's attack the Team was training with Black Canary. We had several fights going on. Robin was locked in a fight with Artemis while Miss Martian and Aqualad dueled a small distance away. Black Canary was our 'den mother' for the week and was continuously drilling us with martial arts exercises. Nobody was allowed to use their powers so it put most of us on an equal playing field. I was about to square off against Superboy who can't exactly turn off or control his powers very well.

(Y/n): "Oh this is so not fair."

Black Canary: "You'll have to deal with it, in the field you'll fight stronger people all the time."

I let out a small laugh as I got into a fighting stance.

(Y/n): "I meant for him, he's outclassed."

Conner narrowed his gaze at me and I smiled in response. I broke our brief stare down by swiftly charging at him. As I got within a few feet I slid beside him and quickly swept him off his feet.

Conner groaned as he crashed into the floor and a big red circle lit up around him as he slowly sat up.

(Y/n): "Maybe next time."

Conner: "Next time? Right."

(Y/n): "Aw, don't be like that."

Conner walked to the side of the training field and stood silently as Black Canary approached. I can't really blame him, it must be hard focusing on the various fighting styles we were taught over the last week, while trying to restrain yourself from punching a hole through his opponent's head.

Black Canary: "Good work everyone, in fact it's been a very productive week."

Artemis: "Yeah, for everyone except Kid Malingerer."

Everyone laughed at Artemis' joke as Wally sat up in his reclining chair that he guilt tripped Captain Marvel into moving for him.

Wally: "Hey! Arm broken in combat against the Injustice League."

(Y/n): "I remember giving you a specific order not to do that."

My sarcastic remark earned a few more laughs from our group as Wally sat up.

Kid Flash: "Hey I don't take orders from you!"

Artemis: "You should. Your arm might be feeling a bit better if you did."

Wally: "That's no-"

Wally was cut off by the sound of a zeta tube activating. The team turned our attention to Zatara who emerged from the teleporter. I felt a smile form and quickly made my way over to see him.

(Y/n): "Hey Zatara how are you?"

Zatara: "I'm good (Y/n), how's the team?"

(Y/n): "We're doing alright."

Zatara typed something on the cave's computer that was connected to the zeta tube access. A figure emerged through the tube immediately after. She was around the same height as me, maybe slightly shorter. She wore a Christian school uniform that consisted of a dark blue jacket with a white shirt and blue skirt.

Zatara: "Zatanna, this is the team. Team, my daughter, Zatanna."

Zatanna has beautiful flowing black hair and her gorgeous blue eyes met mine instantly.

(Y/n): "Hey, I'm (Y/n) nice to meet you."

I immediately outstretched my hand and Zatanna awkwardly shook it. After a short moment of staring into eachothers eyes a small devilish smile formed on her face.

Zatanna: "....so, you going to introduce me to the others?"

(Y/n): "Oh yeah uhh sorry, that's Kaldur, Connor, M'gann, Artemis, Dick and the guy in the chair slacking off is Wally."

Kaldur: "Welcome to the Cave."

Zatanna: "Thanks. It's nice to meet all of you. So, are you going to show me around?"

Zatanna looked at me and I froze. I haven't ever froze like this before and I didn't know what to do. I felt my face flush red and I couldn't think of anything to say. It was such a simple question yet I had no idea what to do.

Dick (telechnetic link): "Real smooth (Y/n)."

Wally (telechnetic link): "Hey what do ya know, he can hesitate."

My facial expressions of mild frustration with Dick and Wally must have given away our telepathic conversation. A look of mild annoyance or anger suddenly snapped onto Zatanna's face and I'm not sure which is worse. She stepped past me and faced the rest of the Team while placing both her hands on her hips.

Zatanna: "Are you guys having a psychic conversation? Because I can't tell if that's cool or really rude."

Everyone was briefly shocked, Zatanna seemed fully confident in her assumption.

Connor: "Alright. Fine. We were talking about Tornado. It's been weeks since his attack, and the League hasn't told us anything!"

(Y/n): "Wait, when did we talk about, Tornado?"

Connor: "It was before we looped you in."

Zatanna: "Wait if you weren't talking about Red Tornado then what was with the facial expression?"

(Y/n): "I don't know what you're talking about."

Zatanna smirked at me as if she already knew the answer to her question. I attempted to ignore Zatanna's inquisitive gaze and focus on the conversation between Black Canary and the Team but I could feel her glaring at me.

Black Canary: "The League is searching for Tornado, as well as the other androids that invaded the cave and their creator T.O Morrow. Batman's made tracking them down our highest priority."

Robin: "But you've found none of the above."

Black Canary: "Not yet. But Tornado is Justice League. The Team is not to pursue this."

Zatanna lightly tapped my shoulder and I jumped as she whispered to me.

Zatanna: "Mind filling me in on what happened and why everyone's at eachothers throats?"

(Y/n): "Uh nothing, don't worry about it. Common, I'll show you around."

I wanted to take the Team with me on the tour but they seemed far more interested in their heated discussion with Black Canary over Tornado's betrayal.

I led Zatanna through the cave halls showing her the kitchen, library, gym and now walking through the hall that contained our sleeping quarters.

Zatanna: "So uh I've seen most of the others in action on TV occasionally, and the few that I haven't I can pretty much guess their powers from their outfits... but I haven't seen you. What's your superpower?"

(Y/n): "Well, I don't exactly have one."

Zatanna: "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

I held my hand up to stop Zatanna and reassure her that I wasn't upset in any way.

(Y/n): "It's alright, I like to think I don't need any."

Zatanna: "So... forgive me if this is too blunt, but what are you doing here... with the team I mean?"

(Y/n): "It's alright, I figured you would ask sooner or later. It might be easier just to show you."

We stopped in front of the door to my room and I pushed it open.

(Y/n): "Come on in."

Zatanna stepped through the door and I gestured to the far wall which had every SHD skill variation hanging on it as well as my rifle and handgun stored in their proper cases on the desk.

Zatanna: "What is all this?"

(Y/n): "It's tech given to me by the Strategic Homeland Division, the agency I work for. My mission was to help law enforcement counter supervillains. I went on a mission for the CIA that led me to the Team, they saved my life and my bosses figured I could do more good here, working with them."

Zatanna: "And the Justice League was just okay with you joining?"

(Y/n): "They were a little skeptical at first but I guess my boss has some history with them."

Zatanna: "Oh, well that's cool I guess. You know Zatara mentioned you the other night."

(Y/n): "Really? What did he say?"

Zatanna: "Well he said that he really appreciated your help while he was working at the cave and he mentioned the plane you called in to blow up the Injustice League's plant antenna. He also may have mentioned everything about you being a SHD agent."

(Y/n): "Wait, if you knew already then why did you ask."

Zatanna: "Well Zatara said you are very nice and honest so I wanted to see if you would tell me the truth when I asked. Think of it as a test."

Zatanna smiled at me as we made our way out the door of my room and into the hallway. I couldn't help but smile as well.

(Y/n): "Well, did I pass?"

Zatanna: "With flying colours agent Vanguard."

Zatanna mocked me with an over exaggerated salute and a cartoonishly deep voice, all with a big smile on her face.

(Y/n): "Funny."

Zatanna: "I think it is."

The rest of the Team slowly made their way to us until we all stood outside my room.

Wally: "Where did you two sneak off too?"

I completely ignored Wally's question and instantly changed the subject.

(Y/n): "How did things go with Canary?"

Connor: "She won't tell us anything!"

M'gann: "He means they haven't found him yet."

Dick: "And probably won't tell us when they do."

Wally: "So... what are we doing now?"

Conner: "We're going to hunt down those robots."

Kaldur: "Yes, we are."

Zatanna: "Oh, wow. Out loud and everything."

Artemis: "What about the new girl?"

(Y/n): "I'm sure she won't tell."

Zatanna: "I can't tell, not if you kidnap me."

(Y/n): "I'm sorry, what?"

Artemis: "Oh she's going to fit in great."

(Y/n): "Oh no. That's a terrible idea."

Zatanna: "Maybe, but you can't stop me."

Zatanna stood beside Artemis and smiled at me. I knew I wasn't going to be able to stop her but I could look out for her and try to keep her safe from whatever trouble we inevitably get into.

We grabbed our gear and made our way onto the bio-ship. I made sure to bring every type of EMP that I had. The pulse as well as a few EMP grenades. The grenades don't have as much range as the pulse but I hope this will be enough to subdue all three robots should we find them.

I sat down beside Zatanna and strapped in. She had changed out of her school uniform into a blue top with white pants and white shoes. She didn't have a bag or anything to store her clothes in so how did she do it? She must have noticed my confusion but held back from saying anything.

(Y/n): "Wait, when did you? How did you?"

Zatanna seemed to enjoy my confusion because she smiled at my bewildered state and relaxed into the chair.

Black Canary's voice rang out over the ship com system and my heart skipped a beat.

Black Canary: "M'gann the bio-ship wasn't cleared for launch. Where are you going?"

M'gann: "We're kidnapping Zatanna! Uhh to show her Happy Harbour! Be back soon!"

Black Canary: "Uhh roger that, have fun."

That was almost a disaster. I let out a large sigh of relief when Black Canary disconnected the call. I don't even want to think about how pissed Zatara is going to be.

Robin: "Where are we going?! Batman is the world's greatest detective and he and the League have searched in every logical spot, if we want to do better we need an illogical solution, a truly dumb idea."

Everyone simultaneously turned their heads towards Kid Flash as he sat towards the back.

Kid Flash: "As a matter of fact..."

*Small Time Skip*

Wally's idea was for us to go to Belle Reve prison. M'gann and Connor stopped a prison break there a month ago so as a favour the warden Hugo Strange gave us five minutes with Ivo, T.O Morrow's biggest competitor.

Superboy: "Spill Ivo, how do we find T.O. Morrow and his Reds."

Ivo: "Now why in the world would I know how to find Morrow?"

Kid Flash: "Because, and here's a truly dumb idea. Morrow's your competitor in the evil android game, so who better to keep track of him than you."

I spun a baton I had borrowed off a guard in my hand to kill time while the team interrogated Ivo. To tell the truth, this was nothing compared to how the CIA does interrogations.

Ivo: "Ah. I see your point. So let me rephrase, why in the world would I tell you how to find Morrow?"

I stepped forward to Ivo cutting off Aqualad and whispered into Ivo's ear.

(Y/n): "Spill it Ivo, Strange owes Langley more than a few favours. So after they're done I'll get my own five minutes and I'll only need one."

Ivo: "My boy, like the little heroes, would let you do that."

Zatanna seemed to get impatient as well because she cast a spell by speaking backwards and Ivo spilled out everything he knew. It happened so fast I couldn't even comprehend what she had said.

And just like that we were on our way to Yellowstone National park to find Marrow's hidden lab.

Aqualad: "Miss Martian, block out all external communications. I suspect that Batman and the League will soon learn of our visit to professor Ivo."

I am still starstruck by Zatanna's powers. I couldn't quite wrap my head around them. Like sure I've seen Zatara work and been to his magic shows but something was different about her.

(Y/n): "I'm sorry Zatanna but I think we are all trying to get a handle on your powers. What exactly can you do?"

Artemis: "Could you teleport us to, Tornado? Or Morrow to a cell, or force his bots to surrender?"

Zatanna: "Or create peace on earth for all time?Zatara couldn't even do that and I'm nowhere near my dad's level. I need to know a spell cold, or at least have time to go prepare it. Plus all magic requires energy, which usually has to come from within. I can't make the impossible happen at will.

Superboy: "What's our ETA on Yellowstone?! I'm way past ready to stuff Tornado into a trash compactor."

Aqualad: "Are you so certain he betrayed us?"

Superboy "Aren't you?!"

Aqualad: "I am not convinced."

(Y/n): "My neck is convinced."

Zatanna: "What did he do to your neck?"

(Y/n): "Choked the life out of me after I put a rebreather on to not black out when he turned on us."

Zatanna: "Oh, sounds... painful."

(Y/n): "Yep, it was."

Aqualad: "Even if he did betray us, he is only a victim of his programming. He deserves the chance to prove that he's more than the weapon others designed him to be."

This seemed to sink in with Connor as his anger subsided. I began to check my gear yet again, this was probably my fifth time doing so and I knew I had everything ready. I just hated sitting still moments before a fight. To tell the truth I'm incredibly nervous about finding the Reds. They wiped the floor with us last time and now they have Tornado with them, someone who has observed our training and knows how we fight.

Zatanna: "That's like the sixth time you've started fiddling with your gear. Nervous much?"

(Y/n): "Fifth time, and you know what, yeah I'm a little on edge."

Zatanna seemed amused by this and the rest of the Team started listening to our conversation.

Zatanna: "Oh, I thought you were a professional?"

Zatanna teased as she held back a laughter.

(Y/n): "I am, but two of the Red's wiped the floor with us and we barely survived. Now we are going to fight three of them."

Zatanna's smile faded as she realized the drastic nature of the situation.

Zatanna: "W-wait they beat you guys."

Wally: "Well yeah, but it wasn't a fair fight. We're ready this time."

M'gann: "(Y/n) can just use the EMP again right? I mean that's what saved us last time."

(Y/n): "I can try but I'll need to be close to all three at once for it to work or we'll still be stuck fighting at least one of them."

I opened up a pocket on my vest and pulled out a handful of EMP grenades. I passed them out to everyone.

(Y/n): "Here these should work against individual robots and temporarily disable them. They only pack a small punch so they may not fully disable the Reds, but it's better than nothing."

Dick: "Alright we're here."

The team made our way to the back of the bio-ship where Zatanna was waiting for us.

(Y/n): "You might want to wait on the ship."

Zatanna: "Is that an order agent?"

(Y/n): "You know what, yeah it is. Your dad will kill me... I mean us if anything happens to you."

Zatanna: "That's sweet, but you guys have taught me so much about disobeying orders I think I'm just going to disobey one more."

Aqualad: "Of course, you must do as you see fit."

Robin: "It's alright I'm sure she'll be fine."

Superboy: "Let's go already, we're wasting time."

Great, now the Team sided with her. Zatanna's smile said one thing to me 'I won' and yeah she did. There was no way I could convince her to stay on the ship, not with the entire Team backing her up.

(Y/n): "Fine, at least take these."

I handed Zatanna several EMP grenades which she gladly accepted.

Artemis: "So, you're just going to wear that or what?"

Zatanna then spoke a few words backwards and her outfit changed right in front of us. She now wore a feminine version of her dad's costume. Come to think of it, she was probably planning this since she learned about the incident with the Red's.

Zatanna: "This work?"

Artemis: "Works for me, let's go."

I loaded my rifle and exited the bio-ship. We followed Robin as we ran in a small group. The silence was interrupted by ISAC.

ISAC: "Surveillance system detected nearby."

(Y/n): "Scramble its signal."

ISAC: "Broadcasting interference....surveillance system jammed."

The team ran ahead as I looked around our surroundings. Zatanna stopped and looked back at me. I didn't notice her at first but what I did notice shocked me. A camera hidden in a nearby tree was pointed directly at us. ISAC has blocked the signal but the camera would have seen us before ISAC scrambled the signal.

Zatanna: "You coming?"

(Y/n): "They know we're here!"

Zatanna: "What?!"

Zatanna and I ran to catch up with the team who were now fighting Tornado. I was about to throw an EMP at Tornado when M'gann connected Zatanna and I with the others through her telepathic link.

(I'm using ' to represent a telepathic conversation and " will be spoken out loud.)

Miss Martian: 'No time to explain, just play dead like the rest of us.'

Zatanna looked at me and I nodded my head to her. She then rushed Tornado who had lowered himself back to the ground in order to fight us. Zatanna attempted to cast a spell when Tornado grabbed her by the neck and threw her into me. We both crashed into the ground landing a few feet away from each other and stayed down, pretending to be unconscious.

???: "That was quite a performance brother, but we both know that's all it was."

The robotic voice sounded a bit deeper than Tornado's.

???: "I have all your memories brother, plus a next-gen processor, I know your next move before you do."

With our ruse over the team got up one by one. I noticed Zatanna rubbing her neck as she stood up.

(Y/n): "Told you he has a hell of a grip."

She didn't respond, just glared at me with an annoyed look on her face. Which made me smile and laugh a little.

???: "Blowing a message into the sand."

The new red crushed the rock with Tornado's message on it before sending the pieces of it flying at us. The team began defending themselves from the incoming rocks. I rolled out of the way just in time for a massive rock to slam into the ground beside me. Another rock hit close to where Zatanna was standing.

(Y/n): 'Zatanna?!'

Zatanna: 'I'm good. But Red Tornado is getting away!'

Artemis: 'Is he abandoning us?!'

Miss Martian: 'I don't believe that!'

I turned around to finally get a look at our attacker. He looked a lot like Red Tornado but with a glowing yellow triangle in his chest and an eye shaped outline in it. He also has lava red lines across his body in various places. To top it off he is a lot bigger than the previous Reds we have fought.

Red Volcano: "You stand no chance against me humans."

Red Volcano smacked Kid Flash off to the side as Superboy and Miss Martian rushed him. They instantly got taken down by Volcano. Robin and Zatanna ran up to me.

(Y/n): "Cover me I need to get close to him for this to work!"

Robin: "Copy that, good luck!"

Robin and Zatanna rushed towards Volcano attempting to keep his attention off me. I made my way around the perimeter of the fight and hid behind a large slab of rock that stuck up into the air. This small ledge allowed me the time I needed to begin charging the EMP as well as ready the small grenade launcher I carried.

I loaded the small projectile in and took a quick look at Volcano as he threw large rocks at Aqualad and Artemis. I really need to bring the bigger grenade launcher next time. I hit the button on my watch that started charging the EMP and threw myself over the ledge before breaking into a sprint towards Red Volcano. 'Please work, please work' I thought to myself over and over as I ran.

Just as the pulse was about to release the ground opened up and I fell into a massive hole with a glow of lava at the bottom.

(Y/n): 'Need some help, LIKE NOW!!'

I just hoped someone on the team was close enough to help. The pulse shot out as I fell, having zero effect on Volcano.

Zatanna: "Hang on!"

(Y/n): "TO WHAT?!"

I was about to yell something else when I heard Zatanna's voice cast a spell. I stopped floating and began to fly back up to the fight. As soon as I cleared the hole I started crashing to the ground and fell right beside Zatanna. I laid on my back and slowly started to pick myself up.

Zatanna: "I told you to hang on."

Zatanna spoke in a light hearted attitude as if I wasn't about to be swallowed up and melted alive by lava. Zatanna spoke backwards again, this time the resulting spell blindfolded Volcano with rocks. Kid Flash ran up beside Volcano and dropped a few of the EMP grenades at his feet before fleeing back to our position.

The resulting pulse forced Volcano onto one knee, I took this opportunity to fire my grenades launcher at him. The explosion knocked him onto his back.

Just when I thought we might beat him, red lasers shout from his eyes, freeing him from the blindfold and triggering an eruption.

Kid Flash: 'He's triggering a stage 2 eruption, it gets to stage 3, kiss the hemisphere goodbye!'

Aqualad: 'Hit him from all sides!'

Volcano easily defended himself from Aqualad and Superboy before venting lava close to Miss Martian causing her to faint.

Superboy: 'M'gann!'

Zatanna cast a spell creating several clones of Kid Flash allowing him to run in and save Miss Martian from Volcano's grip.

Zatanna: "I use a scaled down version when I want to sneak out of the house!"

Before anyone could reply, water knocked Red Volcano into the small lava lake that he stood in front of.

Robin: "Nice hit!"

Aqualad: "The hit was not mine."

(Y/n): "Then who?"

Aqualad: "Look!"

The two Reds from the cave attack along with Tornado arrived and started attacking Volcano, keeping him pinned down in the lava lake. Tornado struck last, landing on Volcano keeping him submerged. Superboy jumped across the lake and pulled Tornado out of the lava before his legs became completely submerged in the lava.

When they landed we could see that Tornado had lost his legs from the kneecaps down.

Kid Flash: "Tornado listen, we are on the verge of a stage three supervolcano eruption, there's no turning back from that! We need to vent pressure fast or the ash cloud will bring on a world wide nuclear winter unless you divert it! Triangulate around the pressure locus!"

Robin: "Right...there, there and there!"

Artemis fired an arrow that broke off into several small missiles hitting all three points. Tornado flew off up out of sight. It only took a moment for us to see the ash cloud being vented up and away, into space.

Tornado landed on the ground and the entire team rushed to his aid.

*Small Time Skip*

We brought Tornado to Morrow's lab and began working to get his voice box back online. Robin did most of the work while the team stood around him waiting patiently.

Robin: "There, that should do it."

Red Tornado: "Yes, I can speak again."

Aqualad: "You were willing to sacrifice yourself to save the planet."

Red Tornado: "The planet would have survived, it was humanity that was saved, though not by me. My sister and brother were the true heroes this day."

(Y/n): "Regardless, thanks a lot."

Aqualad: "My point is this. You were never the mole, never a traitor."

Red Tornado: "No, I left to save you from further attack and to find my creator Morrow."

Kid Flash and Robin were sorting through scrap and spare parts lying around the lab.

Kid Flash: "Cool souvenir."

Robin: "Reddy, we can rebuild you, better than you were before."

Red Tornado: "I do not believe I should be repaired."

Superboy: "Why'd you volunteer to become our den mother at all!"

Red Tornado: "I was the pragmatic choice. I have no secret identity or second life and I do not require sleep."

Wally: "But you do have advanced AI programming designed to learn, adapt and evolve."

Miss Martian: "Hello Megan, you wanted to become more human."

Artemis: "And you can't do that with the league. They're stiffs."

I laughed at Artemis' joke only to get a glare of disapproval from Zatanna. I shot her a look of confusion only for her to roll her eyes at me.

Aqualad: "So the cave was not only a proving ground for us, but for you as well."

Red Tornado: "I do not know if these statements are accurate but perhaps they are true. And if I understand the term correctly, I believe I have come to... care about you all."

Superboy: "See practically a meat bag already."

Red Tornado went to find and care for Marrow while the Team went back to the Cave to face our mentors. We hadn't quite reached the Cave yet when I turned to talk to Zatanna.

(Y/n): "So, did you enjoy the kidnapping?"

Zatanna: "Actually, yeah. Best ever."

(Y/n): "You open to doing it again?"

Zatanna: "Yeah definitely! Y-you know if my dad doesn't ground me for life."

We arrived back at the Cave and went to face the music as you would put it. There is no way Zatara won't be furious about the whole, "kidnapping" Zatanna thing.

Wally: "They are going to be so pissed."

Zatanna: "Are you kidding me, my dad won't let me ever see you guys again after this."

Her voice had a hint of hurt in it as if she was genuinely fearful that she may be restricted from joining or even visiting the team. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. I really enjoyed hanging out with Zatanna in the short amount of time we spent together.

Aqualad: "I'm sure he will be forgiving after all we did a good thing today. We saved Tornado and humanity."

Zatanna: "You obviously don't know my dad very well. He is way too overprotective."

Wally: "Well (Y/n) knows Zatara pretty well, they talked almost non-stop the week he was our den-mother. Maybe he can talk to him for you and you know, maybe get you not banned from ever seeing us again."

This caught me off guard. Sure I knew Zatara better than any other member of the league but still, I'm not sure I want to face his wrath.

Zatanna: "Would you actually talk to him for me?"

Zatanna stopped walking and looked at me. Her eyes basically pleading with mine for help and I couldn't say no, not that I tried to. I agreed to help almost instantly.

(Y/n): "Yeah I'll talk to your dad and see if I can get him to understand."

Zatanna: "Thank you!"

The team split up, Robin and Aqualad went to report on the battle to Batman. Kid Flash, Artemis, Superboy and Miss Martian went to talk to Canary and apologize for blindsiding her with the "kidnapping" of Zatanna. Zatanna and I went to talk to Zatara, a conversation I was incredibly nervous for to say the least.

Zatara: "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN! DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I WAS!"

I instantly flinched and looked down at my feet to avoid Zatara's gaze. My uniform is completely covered in dust and dirt, which probably won't help us convince Zatara that everything was under control.

Zatanna: "Dad it's ok, I can take care of myself."

That was absolutely not the thing to say, at least not the thing to lead with. Zatara was on the verge of exploding in rage.

Zatara: "GOING AFTER RED TORNADO IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN HANDLE!"

(Y/n): "Zatara if I may, Zatan-"

Zatara: "You may NOT! I trusted you and you return that trust by taking my daughter on an incredibly dangerous mission, one where you all could have died!"

Zatanna: "Dad, please just listen to him!"

Zatara took a breath and began to calm down. I took the opportunity to speak and finish my comment. Despite the fact that Zatara is incredibly terrifying when he's angry.

(Y/n): "Look Zatara, I know you're concerned with her safety and the Team will take great care of her. I won't let anything happen to any of them. But you should know Zatanna handled herself excellently, she saved my life and gave the Team a fighting chance. We wouldn't have been able to find and free Red Tornado if it wasn't for her help."

Zatanna looked at me with pure happiness on her face as Zatara stared at the ground taking in my words. Well I might as well keep going if I'm on a roll.

(Y/n): "I could never understand what you are going through Zatara, I know that Zatanna is your entire world but believe me, her training with the Team will only benefit her and I- we will keep her safe. You have nothing to worry about."

Zatanna and I stood there in the empty cave training room awaiting a response from Zatara as he looked at the floor for what felt like an eternity.

Zatara: "Alright... You can train with the team. But you keep up with your school and you check in with me daily! You can stay in the Cave overnight on weekends but I still expect you to come home during weekdays until you graduate highschool at the end of the year. Understood."

Zatanna: "Yes! Thank you dad!"

Zatanna quickly lunged forward and hugged her father. I turned and began walking away, intending on giving the two some privacy.

Zatara: "(Y/n), a word please."

Oh no, what could he want? I turned around and walked back to Zatara as I passed Zatanna she smiled at me and I returned it before I arrived back to where I stood moments before.

(Y/n): "Yes?"

Zatara: "Please let me know if she struggles, I don't want to undermine the Team's efforts or for her to be a burden."

(Y/n): "Trust me Zatara she won't be, I wasn't lying when I said she helped a lot. Her magic is incredibly useful and she did save my life."

We stood in silence for a moment. I could tell he was still worried about Zatanna's safety.

(Y/n): "Zatara, the Team and I, we will keep her safe. I promise I won't let anything happen."

Zatara: "Thank you (Y/n), I won't take up any more of your time. I imagine Zatanna's already off with the Team so I'll be leaving now. Tell her I'll be waiting at home for her tomorrow."

(Y/n): "I will, goodbye Zatara."

Zatara: "Good by (Y/n)."

I watched Zatara disappear through the zeta tube before I turned to head back to my room. I made it into the hallway when I saw Zatanna waiting for me.

Zatanna: "Hey I uhh just wanted to say thanks for the help with my dad, he seems to really like you. I mean he's never listened to me about stuff like this."

(Y/n): "Zatanna, your dad loves you so much, you're his entire world that's why he's so overprotective of you. But hey, I owed you for saving my life so I'm happy to help."

Zatanna laughed at this and lightly punched my shoulder.

Zatanna: "I'm sorry, owed? No, you still owe me."

(Y/n): "Yeah no, you saved me from dying and I saved you from being grounded for life. Seems fair."

Zatanna: "Oh so that's how we are going to play it?"

(Y/n): "Yep, we are completely even. Are you hungry? I'm starving."

Zatanna rolled her eyes and smiled which made me smile even more.

Zatanna: "Yes I'm hungry, let's get something to eat."

As we made our way to the kitchen on the way there. I told her about her dad's terms for her joining the Team.

Zatanna: "My dad said we're the same age, so where do you go to school?"

(Y/n): "I don't. My education was rather forced and it wasn't enjoyable at all."

Zatanna instantly picked up on the hint of depression in my voice. I tried to hide it but she instantly saw through my facade.

Zatanna: "You want to talk about it?"

(Y/n): "Not really, it's classified."

Zatanna shot me an annoyed look and stopped walking. She crossed her arms as she stared daggers into me.

(Y/n): "Hey, I'm being serious, it is."

Zatanna: "Fine. What about your parents? Don't you leave to see them, or do you stay in the Cave all the time?"

(Y/n): "My parents haven't been in the picture for a long time. They died in a car crash when I was five."

I tried to fight the images of the car crash. Tried to stop them from flashing through my mind, but like every other time it's brought up I failed. The burning car in the snowy ditch, the rescue helicopter and a blinding surgical light.

Zatanna: "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know..."

(Y/n): "It's alright, I'm not fond of talking about my past."

We entered the kitchen to see Wally and Artemis bickering about something, which was probably pointless, and M'gann making pizza. With Connor sitting on the couch.

M'gann: "Zatanna! (Y/n)! How did it go?"

Zatanna: "My dad is letting me join the team!"

Wally: "How did you manage that?"

Wally gestured to me as the team eagerly awaited my response.

(Y/n): "I just told the truth. I said that Zatanna was very helpful and would be a great addition to the team."

Zatanna: "He also promised to protect me."

I seemed to be the only one shocked by this, but there was no way she heard me say that to Zatara she was way too far away.

(Y/n): "How-How did you hear that?"

Zatanna had an almost evil grin on her face as I realized what just happened. She had no idea what I said to Zatara; she just baited me into confirming her suspicions.

Zatanna: "I had no idea, but you just told me that's exactly what you did."

Zatanna had the biggest smile on her face as I could feel myself getting redder by the second.

(Y/n): "Well no actually I promised that the team would keep you safe."

I felt fairly confident in my answer. No need to mess this situation up further, right?

Artemis: "Mhhm sure, sure."

Artemis now had a massive smile on her face as well and Wally laughed at me.

(Y/n): "Don't you two have something pointless to be bickering about?"

Wally: "Nope we are all ears for this conversation."

(Y/n): "Oh that's great."

M'gann: "Pizza's ready!"

Oh, thank god. The Team let me escape that conversation as we made our way to the table and ate the pizza M'gann prepared for us. We talked about the mission and the upcoming training exercises where our minds would be connected in a virtual environment created by Martian Manhunter. Despite me protesting vigorously the exercise is still going forward. Apart from the fact that I don't like the thought of someone messing around in my head I have a terrible feeling that something will go wrong.

I pushed all my concerns to the back of my mind and just tried to enjoy the pizza. The night went by in a flash and before I knew it, Artemis and I were leading Zatanna to her room while the rest of the Team was heading home or to their rooms for the night.

After getting Zatanna situated in her mostly empty room I swiftly got ready for bed and passed out the second I pulled the covers up.