𝚆𝚊𝚢𝚗𝚎 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚛, 𝙶𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚖 𝙲𝚒𝚝𝚢
𝙳𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟺𝚝𝚑, 𝟷𝟺:𝟸𝟹 𝙴𝚂𝚃

Wayne Manor was fucking huge. I'd seen it before on TV and stuff, but standing before it now as I shut the door of Barbara's dad's car I started feeling like an ant from the grandness of it.

Barbara said goodbye to her dad as I gawked at the sheer existence of the building. It might as well be Gotham Academy for how big it was. No, no– bigger than Gotham Academy! The old Victorian-style building had to be twice as big as our school and that was only an estimation from looking at it out front. Large ornate window frames brightened up the walls of faded bricks and in the classic architecture of that era, the light blue roofs that had also faded with time wrapped around the corners. That didn't even mention the pure white sandstone that covered the house. Well, at least, I think it was sandstone. I wouldn't be surprised if Bruce Wayne's house was covered in something like quartz or marble. I'm no architect.

The garden in front of the house was nothing to scoff at either. It was immaculately cared for with cleanly cut grass, bushes, trees, and flowers. The driveway looped around the front yard like a circle, leaving a path in the middle that held a gated-off statue.

"Just let me know when I have to pick you two up, okay?" Mr. Gordon called out as he leaned an arm over the roof of his car, the driver's side door still open behind him. Barbara turned back to him, red hair swooped over the left side of her face, obscuring her eyes from me as she responded to him.

"Yeah, thanks, Dad." She chuckled lightly, holding Dick's birthday present tight to her chest as she used her hand to wave at him as he smiled at both of us, preparing to get back into the car. I clutched the present I had for Dick in my hand, feeling the rectangular plastic bend slightly due to my grip which I relaxed immediately.

I hesitated for a moment before calling out, "Thanks again for driving me, Mr. Gordon!"

From inside the car, he gave me a thumbs-up as he closed the car door. It looked like he was waiting to see us enter the 'house' before he left. I turned back to it, craning my head up to look at it. It blocked the sun from my view.

"I mean, can you even call this a house?"

Barbara turned to me and I saw her eyes twinkle with clever amusement. "What else would you call it?"

"A museum? The white house? The goddamn Pennsylvania state house or something? I don't know! But I wouldn't call this a house. It looks more like a set from TV." I looked her in the eye as I waved at the building. Briefly, I wondered what it must look like for Barbara's dad. But the thought quickly passed.

Barbara snorted. "I think this is why Dick has never invited us over before."

The redhead started walking toward the door as I blinked owlishly, catching up to her as she rang the doorbell. "You've never been to his house either? Really?"

She raised an eyebrow at my baffled state, "Not unless my dad dragged me to one of Bruce Wayne's banquets. Why? Is that so hard to believe?"

I scratched the back of my neck, awkwardly replying, "I mean, kinda? Going to a banquet is different from being invited. And it's just you two seem so close– you've known each other a long time– longer than you both have known me– so I just assumed he and you hung out a lot."

Barbara shrugged, turning her attention back to the door as there was a noise from inside. "Well, even if you haven't known us as long you fit right in. You and Dick have sure gotten super close in a short amount of time."

Her mouth shifted into a smirk that I knew was meant for me. I lightly slapped her arm right before the door opened, revealing an old, well-dressed gentleman. Barbara greeted him happily and with respect. "Good afternoon, Alfred."

"Good afternoon, Ms. Gordon. Have you been doing well?" He inquired, slightly bowing as he greeted her.

So this was Alfred Pennyworth? Dick had talked about him before, a lot. He had more stories of this man than he did of his Dad most of the time.

"I've been great, thank you." She responded. As soon as she did, the butler, Alfred, noticed me.

"Oh, pardon my rudeness. You must be Ms. (L/n), correct? Welcome to Wayne Manor, I've heard much about you." It took all I had to stop my mouth from gaping open as he said that. I felt my cheeks flush in embarrassment and Barbara seemed to take that as more evidence that she would surely use as ammunition later.

But I could tell what he really meant. It was hidden behind his experienced eyes. His poker face was well-practiced, and I'm sure he could've fouled me if he wanted to. But he didn't. The man was teasing me about my 'club activities.'

I had forgotten that by entering this house I was entering the home of The Bat, and all that it entailed.

"Oh? Nice to meet you, Mr. Alfred," Instinctually I found my hand moving to offer him a handshake, he was a bit tense, but he took my hand and gave me a firm shake as I smiled. "It's nice to know Dick talks about me. I've heard a bit about you too– he really seems to love you, sir."

The best way to tackle something was to take it in stride and approach it how only I would do it. That was my way; Unending confidence until I bullshit my way into a solution.

I ignored the flustered blush that crept up on my face, hoping that if I ignored it— it would fade. Alfred welcomed us inside, waiting for us to take off our shoes, before leading us through the house. It was so much bigger inside than I could've ever imagined. But I tried not to gawk as he led us up the stairs and through multiple hallways. The room we finally stopped at was low lit but for good reason.

It was covered wall to wall with cabinets containing every kind of game possible. Consoles were everywhere along with some of the biggest TV's I've seen in my life. Inside, there was already a gaggle of people gathered. Dick was among them, laughing at something Wally said. There were faces I've only ever seen Dick talk to in the hallways and in classes. They were his friends from different classes I'd just never gotten the time to meet. I was surprised to see Lexi and Gabriel here too. I didn't think Dick knew them.

Alfred left us alone as we entered the room, saying something about getting more refreshments. Barbara placed her present down on a table in the back, where other wrapped things and cards were laid. I hesitated for a moment, I wanted to give Dick my present personally. I didn't have a bag to store it in though, and it would look pretty weird if I was just holding his gift the whole time, so I set it down.

I turned back toward the party, feeling myself relax. The house was intimidating, but at the end of the day, it was just Dick's house. And we were at a party celebrating him with friends. There was no better time to act dumb than now.

So I exclaimed loudly, taking Barbara's hand as I pulled her forward to join the group. "What's up, party people? The entertainment has arrived!"

Wally leaned on the back of the couch, a smug smirk on his face as he teased me, "What? The clowns here? Finally!"

Dick piped up, tilting his head back from his seat on the couch to get a look at me and Barbara, smiling cooly. "I thought you were the clown?"

"Dude!"

A mischievous giggle escaped my lips and Barbara and I walked over to the couch where everyone was huddled around, playing Mario Kart. Barbara joined Lexi on the end of the couch, but I draped myself on the back of it, between Dick and Wally.

"Yo," I greeted them, bringing my fist up to fist-bump Wally before doing the same for Dick. "But seriously, how's it going?"

"Good," Dick smiled softly, gazing at me. "Even better because Wally hasn't eaten all the food yet."

"Hey!" Wally hissed, glaring at him. The ginger slumped onto the nice leather couch, saying, "My day was going pretty fine too, until you both decided to gang up on me."

I snickered, turning to look at him smugly. Holding up my index finger before rolling it and pointing at him, I claimed, "Technically, I haven't said anything yet. Dick is the one making the shots."

The speedster huffed, quirking his lip, and crossed his arms, "You're setting him up."

I shrugged, stepping away from the couch. "Maybe you shouldn't be so easy to make fun of then."

Dick snickered, which turned into a chuckle that made me smile. I walked over to the other side of the couch, plopping down beside Lexi and Gabriel. Lexi and Barbara were mid-conversation and I didn't want to interrupt them, and the other side of the couch was full of Dick's friends that I didn't know enough to try and make conversation with on my own. So the only free spot left was between Dick and Gabriel.

"How's Frog?" I asked Gabriel as Dick and Wally started bantering into a new conversation. It had been a while since I talked to him, since Halloween when we met, so it was a bit awkward. The dog was the only thing I could think of to bring up.

Gabriel stared down at me, a slight smile on his thin lips. "Frog's doing well. It's nice to see you again, (Y/n). How you been?"

I slumped into the nice leather couch cushions, surprised he even remembered my name before I realized that we technically only met a month ago. Wow, time flies. It feels like it's been so much longer. This superhero thing is really messing with my perception of time. My lips quirked up. I loved it.

"I've been pretty good, actually. How about you, Gabe?"

"Good." He replied. I paused, averting my eyes and pressing my lips together. This was getting awkward now that we had nothing else to talk about. The silence was going to kill me.

Thankfully, we weren't stuck in the silence of this awkward hell for long. Lexi and Barbara brought both of us into their conversation after bickering about what game to play on the console first. Gabe suggested that we watch a movie, perhaps a comedy, instead. They shot him down at the same time, so quickly, that I had to laugh.

We talked and ate together as a group. I mostly spoke to Dick, Wally, Barbara, and Lexi. Gabriel too, but I found that he only talked when he had something to say. He was quiet, but the silence that came with him became less and less awkward the more I spent with him. The friends of Dick I didn't know were pretty fun too. I liked them. To the point that if I saw them around at school after this I was probably going to say hi. I might even talk to them if we have the same class. It was fun. It was comfortable.

Dick looked really happy. Surrounded by people our age that he liked in his civilian identity. I'm glad he got to experience it. As both Dick Grayson and Robin, he always had to hold a part of himself back. It's something I didn't have to deal with because I was me when I was a civilian and when Failsafe and I were partners on the field. It's something I would never understand. But, something was still bugging me. I could see it in him. He was holding himself back even here. I could see it in the way his shoulders were tense, how his eyes darted across everyone– as if trying to determine if everyone else was having fun, not thinking of his own fun. At his own birthday gathering– and at the way his smile twitched at the corners.

And I wasn't going to let whatever overthinking bullshit going on in that big, smart brain of his ruin this good time for himself.

"I'm just surprised I've never been to your house before, is all." I started, trying to be casual. I took a sip from the fruit punch again and watched Lexi and Barbara rope Gabriel into a Smash Bros. Brawl match. He picked Peach. "Since we've been hanging out after school so much, what with the club and helping each other with homework."

Dick grimaced, turning his attention away from the TV just in time to shield his eyes from Lexi picking Sonic. "I don't like inviting people over."

"Barbara told me." A snort left my mouth as Barbara chose Kirby. It was going to be an interesting match. Behind her, Wally called next match.

"I mean, I get it. Must be a pretty big house to clean every time you have guests over." Emphasizing my point without meaning too, I found myself looking around at the decor of the place. It's not every day you walk into someone's personal game room. Every inch that wasn't covered in technology just designed for entertainment had some other fancy decoration. "I can see not wanting to have to do all that work before your friends over. Must be a bitch to help clean."

I found myself side-eying him, shrugging. "If you help clean."

He gave me a look, shaking off what I said with a heavy sigh. "This is why I don't like inviting people over."

I raised a brow, giving my best guess. "Why? Because people judge you and the house? So what? Fuck 'em."

Dick shook his head and I saw his shoulders go rigid at the profanity. "It's not that, but it's not–not that either."

I tilted my head, my psychoanalysis ending with that one guess. I was in luck though, because he continued without any more prompting after taking a glance in my direction again. I could see him playing with his hands in his hoodie pocket.

"Back when I was first adopted– people thought it would be easy to become my friend, and then get all the benefits of the Wayne money because of it. Then there were the people who resented me for coming into all this money for a multitude of reasons. So, at one point, I just tried my best to distance myself from being the 'Adopted Wayne Kid.'" He leaned away from the glass cabinet containing the PS3 games.

There was something behind his eyes that was uncomfortable to see. It made me sad to know Dick would make a look like that. I know it's impossible to wish for a world where he never had to make that look again. There would always be hardship where life was concerned. But if I could be there to cheer him up if only sometimes, that would be great. He looked like a kicked puppy. And those were never fun to see.

"Well," I let out a puff of air, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly at Dick's admission. "This makes me feel like crap. The first thing I thought of when I saw your house was how much space it would allow for escape rooms. Guess I'm part of the problem now."

A loud snort came from Dick before a genuine laugh came from him, and I was happy to see that my attempt at humor—and half-truth—worked.

"This is why I like having you around, (Y/n)," Dick admitted, looking me in the eyes as his blinding smile came into my vision. He turned to look at his friends who were all making a ruckus that drowned out our conversation over the match. Lexi had long since been defeated which meant it was down to Barbara and Gabriel, both on their last stock. "And everyone here. They don't see me like that. And I'm grateful for that, truly."

I nudged him on the shoulder with my elbow, "Is this the 'you're my true friends' moral of the episode? C'mon. I get that friendship shouldn't be taken for granted or whatever but I think you're being melodramatic."

The black-haired boy shoved back, "Of course not. But thanks for ruining the moment."

I smirked, replying smugly. "It's what I do best."

There was a beat of silence between us that seemed to last longer than it was. And when Dick spoke again, I almost laughed. "Hey, if we took multi off of multitude what would tude by itself mean?"

"Attitude."

"What?" He asked incredulously.

"'Tude is slang for attitude," I explained with a few more words, loving the way his face morphed into disgust at the word slang. I'd learned over the months that Dick hated English slang. Very different from Romanian slang, it made no sense.

Nothing beat when he tried making sense of the English language in terms of humor though. I don't think I would give up that comedy for the world.

"Slang. I hate slang." He muttered, defeated.

I looped my arm with his— pulling him closer as I pushed off the cabinets. "Now that we're done with that. C'mon, I wanna piss people off by pretending to be bad at Smash."

He smiled smugly, a devious look on his face, "But you are bad at Smash."

"Ohoh!" I exclaimed, practically jumping as he challenged my skill. "Is that a challenge, sir?"

"Sure is!"

___________________

Mr. Gordon was late picking us up. Apparently, something came up while on the job and he had to be held back for a bit. So me and Barbara ended up being the last ones at Dick's house. Everyone else had already long since gone home, even Wally.

Barbara said goodbye to Dick and piled into her father's car. But I stayed back, asking Barbara if she could tell her father to wait for a minute or two. She gave me a teasing grin but didn't say anything about it. If the thumbs-up didn't count, that is.

Out on the front steps of Wayne Manor, I handed Dick the wrapped gift. The sun was setting, creating a hue of oranges, reds, and yellows. A few puffy clouds dotted the sky. I huffed out an amused breath as I held my hands behind my back. This sort of time and setting was something straight out of a romance movie or something.

"Just, watch it when you're alone. Alright?"

I waited patiently as the black-haired boy inspected the small, rectangular present suspiciously after my words. Dick met my eye, raising his eyebrow as he silently asked me if he could open it now. I smiled, nodding as I urged him to do so.

He tore the wrapping paper off, his face immediately morphing into confusion as he held the DVD cover in one and balled up the paper in the other.

"How To Train Your Dragon?" He questioned, looking at me suspiciously. "You didn't want me to open How To Train Your Dragon?"

I frowned, correcting him. "I didn't want you to watch How To Train Your Dragon, but I do want you to open it."

"...Why?" He asked again, scrutinizing me and my gift with his gaze. I puffed out my cheeks, rocking on my heels.

"Just open it."

"Fine, fine," He let out a breathy laugh, popping open the DVD case. Immediately his face contorted in surprise before it shifted toward disbelief, then amusement. He held it up, open, for me to see.

Inside the How To Train Your Dragon case was a DVD for Shrek. I smiled mischievously, making jazz hands for him. "...Surprise!"

"You seriously bought two movies just for this?" He asked me, popping the case closed. A genuine delighted smile was on his face. It nearly blinded me as the sun reflected off his pearly whites. His smile could kill, probably.

I scoffed obnoxiously, putting my hands on my hips as I declared confidently, 'The fact that you doubt I wouldn't do that..."

I shook my head as if I were disappointed in him, and we both chuckled. He held up the case to me, "I'm assuming I'm getting the other half later? Or is this really your gift and you keep the better, cooler movie?"

I gasped dramatically, placing a hand on my chest. "Alright, first, fuck you. Second, that is actually your gift. And it is way cooler than that stupid dragon movie you're so obsessed with."

He shook his head, his smile turning into an amused grin at my antics. "And third– watch it alone, okay?"

He raised an eyebrow as I reiterated that. For the third time. "Why?"

"You'll see when you watch it." I snapped back defensively, though it had no bite to it. "A masterpiece like this has to be soaked in and experienced."

Dick's lip quirked up and he nodded, smacking his forehead jokingly as he responded. "Ah, I see. My bad."

"Yes, your bad." I nodded along with him, deliberately taking his sarcasm as literal. There was a pause before I stared up at him from where he was on the step a couple above me. Bright baby blue eyes and dark black hair that for once wasn't slicked back. "Hey, Dick?"

He'd been looking at the case when I called out his name. His gaze flicked up to me, "Yeah?"

Hesitantly, and a bit nervous, I hopped up the steps and kissed him on the cheek. "Toate Urǎrile De Bine."

I backed away, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. "I probably butchered that... but, yeah. That's how you say it–"

"...You spoke Romanian." He said, shocked. His eyes were wide and his face was stunned as he looked at me. He brought his hand up to his cheek, the one I kissed. And it hit me that maybe he hadn't heard anyone speak Romanian in a while. Maybe at all, since being adopted.

My cheeks flushed and I shifted my weight, "...Right."

I shook my head, jolting myself out of it as I realized another thing. My little kiss on the cheek probably didn't make much sense to him either. "Oh, so, yeah– uhm, in my family we have this little tradition to wish someone good luck on their birthday."

I poked both my cheeks. "The other two kiss the birthday person on the cheek to wish them well for the rest of the year. It only works if you do it back on their birthdays too, otherwise, the good luck fades."

Dick's eyes were still wide, but as he blinked they went back to normal. He relaxed, and a humored breath left his lips. "Then I guess I'll have to repay you on your birthday."

A giggle left my lips and I closed my eyes as I smiled up at him from my place on the lower steps. "Yeah. You better."

A car horn honked from behind us and I craned my head to look back, seeing a very smug Barbara staring at me as she leaned over from the backseat to place her hand on the wheel. I could see her father complaining to her about that, the embarrassment plain on his face from his daughter's impatient antics.

I turned back to Dick, smiling at him as I waved him goodbye. "That's my ride, gotta go. See ya, Dickie!"

"Ah, yeah, see you!" He scrambled to say as I hopped down the steps and made my way toward the car. I slipped into the backseat with a smile, happy that the interaction went well.

Barbara gave me a smug grin, nudging me with her elbow as she sat beside me. "What was that all about, hm? Smooching when I wasn't looking, huh? Dating Dick yet, eh?"

A light blush found its way onto my cheeks as I huffed, swatting her continued nudging away. "Shut up, Babs."

Smooching? It was just a kiss on the cheek. And dating? Dick? Never. He's my best friend for crying out loud! I puckered my lips, shoving her again for her teasing. Barbara was something else sometimes.

As the setting sun glinted, I caught sight of Dick still on the top steps, my gift in his hand. He waved goodbye to us, and I waved back. Barbara leaned over, waving too as her father drove us away.

____________________
𝙼𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚎, 𝚁𝚑𝚘𝚍𝚎 𝙸𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍
𝙳𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟻𝚝𝚑, 𝟷𝟻:𝟸𝟽 𝙴𝚂𝚃

"Yeah, I mean, I could probably do that." Zatanna mused lowly as she sat next to me on the couch, picking at a used cupcake wrapper in her hand as she folded it into triangles and mushed it into a little ball.

She flicked it onto the coffee table, which was covered in other snacks and drinks as we celebrated Robin's 'birthday' as a team.

I leaned over in shock, tilting my head as far as it could go for maximum exaggeration. My mouth gaped open as I inhaled in admiration and excitement.

"Zatanna," I said breathlessly, "I need to see this!"

I jumped off the couch, not waiting for her answer as I took the controller from Wally's hand. He yelped at the suddenness of having the remote stolen from him as he and Robin were choosing the next songs to queue up. Robin laughed in his friend's face.

"We can sing Disney songs later!" I half-heartedly explained as I flit through the different songs on the karaoke machines list. "Zatanna's going to sing a song backward."

I found the song Zatanna and I had been talking about, clicked on it, and tossed her one of the four microphones we had. Gracefully, she rose from the couch and stood in front of the TV, not even looking at the lyrics on the screen.

Zatanna sighed as the first couple of bars came up on the song, ignoring Jay-V's lyrics. I plopped down on the couch between Kaldur and Artemis, passing by Connor and Megan, who were practically cuddling. Wally and Dick sat next to Roy, our newest member of the team, as Zatanna began with a deep breath.

"Ouy evah ym traeh. Dna ll'ew reven eb sdlrow trapa, ebyam ni senizagam, tub ll'uoy llits eb ym rats. Ybab, 'esuac ni eht krad, uoy t'nac ees ynihs srac. Dna s'taht nehw uoy deen em ereht, htiw uoy ll'I syawla erahs. Esuaceb..." Because that wasn't the way the lyrics were supposed to be said, the tone of the song was way off and obviously made no sense. And because the pronunciations of the words were different than if said forwards, she wasn't in time with the music either. But still, watching her masterfully sing the song backward was stunning.

I practically had stars in my eyes by the time she was finished and out of breath. Dick was the first to start clapping for her, but I think I was the most enthusiastic, which got me a stunning smile from the backward singer.

Zatanna came to sit beside me, and I turned to her as the boys went back to determining the song they wanted to sing for the turn I stole from them. "Marry me."

Maybe I came off too strong, but it got a laugh out of the spellcaster, so I call that a win. "I don't think I'm ready for that, yet. But I can give you a kiss, instead."

I gasped, "Yes, please!"

A dorky smile was on my face for sure as she leaned in and took my hand, placing something in my palm. I looked down at it and beamed at the Hershey kiss in my hand. "Yay, chocolate. But I thought you meant a real kiss."

"Not too much of that, alright?" Failsafe poked her head out from next to Kaldur, which caused me to blow my cheeks out and argue.

"Oh, come on, Failsafe! Let's live a little!"

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and legs and leaning back on the couch as Dick and Wally picked a song. Zatanna snickered, "That is a real kiss. But..."

She trailed off, leaning closer. "If you really want, I can give you another kiss."

I knew she was just teasing me, and I was sure to end up with another Hershey in my hand. But I nodded anyway, "I do."

She leaned closer and gave me a very soft, quick peck on the cheek. I felt myself flush, pure joy coursing through me as I tried not to make any noises. I wasn't expecting that and I was happy to have the surprise.

I smiled, laughing a little at the friendly exchange. These past few months haven't felt real, they've made me so happy. I'm glad to have a friend like Zatanna, and all the rest of the team here from Megan to Artemis, to Connor and Wally, Kaldur, Failsafe, and of course Robin. Hell, even Roy.

And Barbara too, even if she wasn't here.

"So why'd you learn how to do that, anyway?" I asked Zatanna about her backward singing as we watched the two boys try to sing. It started genuine, I think maybe Dick wanted to impress Zatanna, but as Wally kept egging the bird-themed hero on, they started seeing who could sing the stupidest. It may not have been graceful, but they were having fun. And we were sure having fun watching them.

Zatanna shrugged, offering her explanation. "It was a popular song when it came out. I liked it, memorized it– then I got creative."

"Cool," I said, ending that stellar conversation as their song ended, launching up from the sofa and grabbing a mic from the table.

"I wanna do a song with you two, too!" I practically jumped into Wally's arms as I tried to grab the remote again, but he'd learned my tricks from last time and tilted it away from where I could reach.

But what he wasn't counting on was that Dick would take the remote from his hands, snickering to himself as he loaded up a song as Wally complained that we were 'partners in crime.' Robin scoffed and ignored him as he loaded up a song and quickly shot it up to the next in the queue.

The first few bars started, and I immediately knew what song he had chosen. I inhaled deeply, ready to sing my heart out with the two. There's only one rule when doing karaoke, and that's never half-ass a song. You commit, or you don't sing.

"Let's get down to business, to defeat the Huns!" We all sang together. I saw Dick trying to hold back his laughter as we began the next lyric. Our singing was funny.

"Did they send me daughters, when I asked for sons?" I liked Dick's laugh. And I wanted to keep it going, hoping that if I made him laugh enough he'd keel over and turn as red as his costume.

So I kept making funny faces as we sang the lyrics, knocking into Wally and getting him into it too. The whole point of karaoke was to have fun and act like loons if we wanted to. It was time for this team to loosen up. I think we sorely needed it– and after everything we definitely deserved it. The last party we had ended with me almost getting frostbite for the Good Place's sake!

"Mister," I jabbed a finger into Wally's chest, happy that he was playing along with me. We both leaned in close, going strong on the next lyric. "I'll make a man out of you."

Dick tried to join in the best he could, but considering we were trying to make him laugh, he was only managing every fifth word between breaths.

"Tranquil as a forest," I sang, "But on fire within!"

Wally followed me up as we switched between lyrics, "Once you find your center, you are sure to win."

I turned to our team, pointing my accusatory finger. "You're a spineless, pale, pathetic lot. And you haven't got a clue! Somehow, I'll," Wally backed me up to emphasize the next line. And I caught a look at Dick, losing his mind over my performance.

"Make a man out of you!"

We kept singing, and as we did so I looked over the room. Reminiscing over how far we've come as a team. Five months ago, I didn't know any of them. I'd looked up to Robin and thought Kid Flash was cool. I had thought 'Speedy' was a dumb name for Red Arrow. And had barely heard of Aqualad. Now, I was friends with all of them, a Martian, a Kryptonian, and Artemis. Not only that, but me and Failsafe were in a much better place too. I'd never been closer to my best friend in almost three years.

I locked eyes with her as I sang the next lyric, smiling because I thought it fit her so well. "Mysterious as the dark side of the moon."

"Time is racing toward us," I got excited, encouraging her to come up and sing with us as Faislafe mouthed along. But she waved her hand, declining.

I'll definitely get her next time.

"'Til the Huns arrive," I shrugged in response to Failsafe, going back to sing with Wally and Dick. "Heed my every order, And you might survive!"

"You're unsuited for the rage of war." Dick sang, looking at us as me and Wally traded glances, knowing exactly how to enunciate the next line.

"So pack up," I started as we went back and forth.

"Go home," Wally picked up where I left off.

"You're through!" I finished.

Dick delivered the next line, with us joining at the name of the song. "How could I make
a man out of you?"

We all laughed as we terribly finished off the song. Wally jumped on Robin, wrapping his arm around Robin's neck and ruffling his hair. I shoved my hand in Wally's face, pulling Robin away from the ginger. It was then that the next song started playing, and I knew immediately which one it was based on the opening bars.

My eyes widened and a gasp left my lips. I stopped in my tracks, looking at Robin. Wally was no longer on my mind as I gripped the microphone and dropped the hand that had been in Wally's face.

"...Is that?"

"You know it." He smirked, bringing the microphone to his face. Wally backed off with a chuckle. As the first lyrics started, me and Robin began to sing our hearts out.

"You can dance, you can jive. Having the time of your life...!"

We sang the entire song together, actually trying to sing the karaoke legitimately. And we were pretty good. When I wasn't giggling at seeing Dick's face, or the little dance movements we did together as the song went on. I tried copying their accents and everything, just to make him laugh. By the time we were done, my throat hurt and I had to sit down for a bit.

Zatanna chuckled as I sat next to her. I was sweating a bit and out of breath. "You and Robin really went hard with ABBA, huh?"

"You can't not sing and dance to Dancing Queen. I think it's like, a crime if you don't." I claimed, waving my index finger.

Robin popped in over my shoulder to reaffirm my claim, "It is."

I snapped my finger and pointed to him, "There. See?"

At our little bit, Zatanna laughed. A chuckle escaped my lips and I heard Robin's iconic laugh next to my ear. We hung out as everyone else had a turn with the karaoke. Artemis and Megan did a song together, we managed to force Kaldur to sing. Couldn't get Connor or Failsafe to budge on it, though. And Roy joined in when Wally and Robin forced him and Kaldur to sing. Artemis, Megan, and Zatanna sang together too, some pop song from this year. I kept waiting for Billy to show up, but I guess he couldn't make it after all.

As the night was winding down, we hit the last song. I hopped up, stealing the remote from Wally again as I looked up the name of the song while the ginger protested. I shushed him loudly, placing my pointer finger over his lips.

"Shh, sh, shut it, Wally. There's only one song that can end tonight and it's certainly not anything you're putting on." I told him firmly, grabbing the microphone and flipping it in my hand. My gaze went over all my friends as a smirk came onto my lips.

"Alright, kiddies. Find a microphone buddy, you're gonna wanna sing this masterpiece." I announced, smiling widely as the first few bars of the piano began, becoming louder and louder.

Immediately, I saw Connor's head perk up, recognizing the music. I nodded in confirmation as he looked at me to see if he was right. Then I began to sing as the karaoke directed. "Where have all the good men gone? And where are all the gods?"

I swept my arm across the room, waving at my friends to join me. I came over to Connor, hopping onto him and looping our arms as I sang, making the line goofier on purpose. "Where's the street-wise Hercules to fight the rising odds?"

"Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?" Dick joined in, roping Kaldur and Wally in. The ginger stopped his protest as soon as he heard the song start and realized what I'd put on. Our team leader had been hesitant to sing with us, I could see it on his face.

"Late at night I toss and I turn– and I dream of what I need..." Wally's hand reached out to Artemis, pulling her in to share his microphone and sing with us. She took his hand with an amused scoff, and Megan immediately began sharing a microphone with Connor.

A smile broke its way onto my lips as we continued to sing, seeing Dick share his microphone with Zatanna and Kaldur offering to share his microphone with a reluctant Roy. To my surprise, the archer who usually had a stick up his ass actually put in an effort to join us.

There was only one person left now. And I reached out my hand to her.

"I need a hero!"

I saw my own eyes peering back at me, sparkling as Failsafe's normally expressionless face buffered. Her lips parted just slightly before a slight smile came onto them and she took my hand. I pulled her onto her feet and off the couch, letting her hold the microphone too. "I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night."

"He's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fast, and he's gotta be fresh from the fight!" My gaze found my friends as we all sang. Seeing them all smile happily, amusing themselves on the last song of the night made me really happy that we did this. If only moments like this could last forever, right?

"I need a hero," I found Failsafe's eyes as we sang, and she gave me a subtle smile as she sang the lyrics. I met her with the chorus. "Hero."

"I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light," I danced with her, spinning around to see everyone interacting. How Dick tried to get closer to Zatanna, how Roy and Kaldur seemed to relax into the singing with encouragement from each other, and how Artemis and Wally were trying to seem casual with each other. "Hero 'til the morning light, 'till the morning light..."

And, of course, how the lovebirds seemed to be lost in their own world. When I turned back to Failsafe, I realized how similar me and her were to them. Their connection and ours transcended most. I don't know who I'd be without Failsafe. And I never want to know. "He's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon, and he's gotta be larger than life."

"And he's gotta be larger than life," I giggled, deciding to make some mischief. I hopped my way over to Artemis, pushing her slightly into Wally. "Larger than life."

Did I see the glare she gave me? Yes. Did I see the way she went with it to stand closer to him? Also yes.

"Somewhere after midnight, in my wildest fantasy..." I leaned against Zatanna's back, peaking over to sing with her and Dick as Failsafe migrated over to Kaldur and Roy. I snickered, nudging my head in Zatanna's direction as I tried to not-so-subtly hint to Dick it might be a good time to make a move soon; probably after the song was over. Or during, depending on how bold he wanted to be.

"Somewhere just beyond my reach, there's someone reaching back for me," I paused for a moment, smiling even wider when I heard Failsafe's voice cut through everyone else's for a moment. She was singing even when I wasn't making her. She was having fun, getting into it!

So I did too. I put everything I had into the last song of the night. "Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat. It's gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feet!"

I heard Megan's shocked gasp followed by giddy laughter as Connor picked her up and held her in one arm. I chuckled too, jumping over and hanging on his other arm. He scoffed, but the smirk he gave and the way he adjusted his arm for my comfort proved he didn't mind.

"Up where the mountains meet the heavens above. Out where the lightning splits the sea. I could swear that there's someone somewhere, watching me!" I heard my voice, doubly as loud as all the others. Failsafe was giving her effort to sing, and since it was still my voice, it hit twice as hard. I couldn't help but laugh at it.

"Through the wind and the chill and the rain. And the storm and the flood– I can feel his approach like the fire in my blood..!" We all had fun singing the lyrics, but some of us got a little goofy with the repetitive chorus, Dick, Zatanna, Artemis, Megan, and I all tried to copy the echoing as it repeated four times over.

"Hero!" There was a lull in the song before the lyrics started up again. Me and Failsafe reconvened together to share our mic again. The smile on my face matched hers as she sang the lyrics and I did the chorus. "I need a hero."

"Hero."

"I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light," The Cadmus boys all shared a look with each other, a proud smirk or a smile making its way onto their faces; as if they were all remembering the same thing. "Hero 'til the morning light... 'til the morning light."

"And he's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon, and he's gotta be larger than life," I saw Artemis and Megan give each other a glance too. As if sharing the same feeling. "I need a hero."

"I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night," My gaze found Zatanna as she let out a little laugh, looking so much more comfortable with all of us since that first day we met. When we shut her out, we were too concerned about Tornado than meeting the newbie. Now she was part of the Team. Even if the circumstances weren't ideal, at least she could laugh and smile and have a good time again. Even after all she's been through.

"And he's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fast, and he's gotta be fresh from the fight," Unconsciously, I found myself trailing off to look at Roy. Despite him being kind of an asshole and incredibly suspicious, I couldn't help but respect him, maybe not like him, because I knew all the antagonism came from a place of true warmth. He clearly cared about the Team and about his friends. And although he may say otherwise, I had a feeling he cared deeply about Green Arrow and the League too.

"I need a hero!" Again, Failsafe caught my eye and I turned to her. We smiled at each other as the song ended and I heaved, out of breath but finding that my laughter wouldn't stop. All around me, my closest friends and allies joyously celebrated Robin and each other as the last song of the night came to an end. I knew the party would continue for a little longer, but there was this melancholic sense in the air. This Team had barely been around less than six months but in less than a month we'd be ending year zero, and the entire freaking decade, together.

I'm getting sentimental now. I chuckled, just cooling myself off when Failsafe spoke. "That was fun."

"Isn't it?" I agreed, flipping the microphone in my hand before shutting it off. "I'm glad you got into the spirit, 'Safe."

She nodded, and I put the mic with the rest of the karaoke supplies. Wally was collecting them to put back in their box so he could take them home later. "Yes. I'm lamenting the fact I didn't try it earlier."

I smiled at her reassuringly, facing my best friend again. "There's always next time, Failsafe."

A doleful smile came onto her face and the look in her eyes reminded me of someone gazing longingly at something nostalgic. I didn't understand why she would look that way, but before I could ask, Failsafe responded.

"Always next time."