She told him she was ready for anything, that she would do anything, all he needed was to tell her. She was determined, and with him by her side, his natural confidence seemed to seep into her too.

But he wasn't by her side this time.

Not this time.

He told her, that he would come with her if she wanted, but she refused. He told her it wouldn't be any problem at all to arrange an easy transfer for either of them, although almost painfully, she turned that down too.

She didn't want him to miss things for her, sacrifice for her, because he had down so much already in her opinion.

But if only she knew that Robin thought he hadn't done enough, that he hadn't done enough for her, to protect her.

It was hard for him to accept her request, but like always, he could never say no to something she had already set her mind too.

And so Zatanna adjusted her backpack strap, checking to see if the unlikely event that her clothes had wrinkled during the ride inside her fiancee's limo. She fixed her hair, a long, smooth black braid on her shoulder. She studied her choice of attire, black shorts with a matching black vest, a red tank that Robin had gifted her on a random day of the year (he told her red was somehow his color, and that it looked good on her) black ballet flats and the 'ever so present' engagement ring hanging on a silver necklace around her neck, next to a charm that read 'R'.

Years ago, Robin had given her that too, on her birthday to be exact. He told her that it would protect her, that he would protect her, and so she believed it did. His own charm, a silver 'Z' was hidden under his white button up school shirt, and yet the silver chain could be seen hanging loosely around his neck. She studied him, stared really, transfixed by his appearance for a brief moment. He was wearing a private school uniform. White button up with a black shirt jacket and pants, black converse on his feet. He looked casual and yet classy, blue eyes alluringly pronounced by the long black bangs hanging freely on his forehead. (He told her it was a bother to always gel them up, they had grown way too long nowadays anyway.)

He was wearing his own ring on his finger, clear for everyone and anyone to see.

"You look fine Zee, stop fidgeting" he said as he smirked at her, suppressed laughter somehow clear in his voice.

She smiled crookedly. "I look okay?" she wanted to clarify.

He sighed, shaking his head while his silent chuckle escaped through his mouth. "Ya look fabulous darling" he said blandly.

He smiled as he watched her laugh, sounding so carefree and without worry. He absently wished to always make her laugh like that, a fleeting thought that he wouldn't give anymore concern to until tonight, when in the land of dreams and sleep his mind was vulnerable and open. There he would think and dream of her, and in the morning he would wonder as to why. But he still would find no answer, at-least, no answer he chose to accept.

And then he looked at her.

He really looked at her, and he seemed to think about something serious, what with the solemn look cast upon his deep blue eyes. He didn't smile this time, a blank expression present on his handsome face.

But then his voice cleared through the empty space, bright and honest towards her. "Beautiful"

It was such a simple word really, so very simple and common and mundane.

But the effect it had on her wasn't so simple, wasn't so common, wasn't so mundane.

Oh, she had heard that before. She had boys call her cute, pretty, hot. Beautiful even. But it had never meant anything.

So why did it mean something when he said it?

She had almost said the question out-loud, and if she did, Robin would have surely heard her. He would have understood immediately then, and would ask her the same question in return. She would have no answer, no answer she could tell him, because she had no answers for herself. Robin would then tell her what he thought, or at least what he thought was already happening to them. With that revelation, they surely, without a doubt, would have skipped all their classes together, but they would come back the next day.

They would come back the next day, holding hands.

And not letting go.

In truth, if she had said that question out loud, then it would have saved a lot of trouble for her.

But sadly, life is never that easy.

Life has a cruel sense of humor, doesn't it?

And so Zatanna kept her mouth shut and let Robin open the door for her, stepping out before her to help her get out of the limo. Holding her hand in the one he helped her with, he laced their fingers together and smiled.

Oh, she could already feel their eyes all on her. Some jealous, some envious, some awed, and most stupidly shocked.

She could hear the whispers, the gossip, the talk. She could hear her name and his name pass fleetingly through sentences and hushed questions., and as she looked at him, she knew he could too.

"What is he doing here with her?"

"Lucky bitch, isn't she?"

"Saw them on The Story last night, did you?"

She saw his stoic expression, calm and yet cold at the same time, shoulders rigid with suppressed fury, eyes darkening into a blue storm.

He was angry.

He was angry at them.

For her.

She took his face in her hands and on pure instinct, kissed his forehead as she leaned up towards him. He was shocked to receive such a gesture from her, because she rarely did kiss him there. But as he loosely wrapped his protective arms around her petite waist, she could see the dark storm clouds start to lessen, leaving behind a gray stillness in his eyes.

He smiled slowly, almost hesitantly, and kissed the roots of her hair, trailing soft kisses down her hairline, her cheek and down to her jaw. He kissed her finally on both of her hands as he held them in his larger ones, eyes half lidded in silent contentment.

Robin looked up to find her blushing furiously at his tender show of affection, and he had the audacity to chuckle. Zatanna smiled and slapped him playfully on the chest for laughing at her, but this only made him laugh more. She had always been a fair skinned girl, Robin loved as to how her reddening cheeks would always be so obvious.

But in the backgrounds, the two life long friends were aware of what were being said about them. Words of this morning event would spread like wildfire in a dry forest, and the paparazzi would surely come for her, if not for him. He felt a sudden flare of intense anxiety at the thought of leaving her here alone with no defense.

"Ignore them" he whispered as he took her face in his hands almost desperately, running his thumbs over her cheeks soothingly.

She shook her head in his grip, bringing her hands to cling to his own. "I cant" she smiled crookedly "What do I do?"

He kissed her forehead slowly, his warm breath washing over her face in calming waves. "I'll come for you, I promise"

Zatanna smiled at him, steeping away with one final kiss to his cheek before walking to the entrance doors, waving goodbye with no words said. Robin leaned against the limo doors, hands thrown casually in his pockets as he watched her walk away. Hips swaying almost seductively as her shoes clicked on the hard concrete floor. He sighed, sad really, that school had started for them both. Things would be much harder from here on out. They would have demons to face there, and now they couldn't face them together.

He opened the car doors, not missing the lingering stares of almost all the students in the courtyard ( some staring dumbly with their mouths agape), and stepped gracefully inside to signal to the driver it was time to go.

He was determined now more than ever, to stay as close to her side as possible.

But first, he would have a few papers to arrange.

Authors Note: Just a filler chapter, really. But lots of fluff for you to choke on to make up for it.

Now guys, I would a love a review if you guys think I deserve one, dont forget to add your favorite part though!

Cheers,

Syrenia