Play Hard

#1 – The Bet is On!

Author's Note: This fic is heavily inspired, by another fanfic called Heroic Surbanites, which I highly recommend you all read, especially if you end up enjoying this one. But don't worry, this is in no means a rip off, and I have plenty of fun and original ideas for this series, I've been watching a lot of sitcoms lately and have gathered a few ideas for different points in the plot of this extremely light-hearted story.
Zatanna was sitting across from Bruce Wayne, in a Denny's located near the suburbs of New Gotham City, she looked him directly in the eye and told him…

"I made a bet, and got you involved." She said calmly.

She waited for his reaction, but none came, he simply sipped his coffee and calmly asked.

"And what was that bet?"

She poured syrup on her pancakes, using a fork and knife to cut a piece (or pieces off) she was about to put in her mouth but not before telling him…

"We have to move into a penthouse near the safest part of Gotham…"

She noticed Bruce's relaxed posture begin to stiffen.

"…And live there, like a normal, non-superhero, couple, for a month." She said before eating her pancakes.

Bruce sipped some more of his coffee, put the cup down, put both hands to his temple and sighed.

"Why, would you do that?" Bruce asked trying to keep calm.

Did she seriously not take into account that he'd soon have at least 10 case files to deal with by the week's end? This is Gotham City after all!

"Because…I dunno, I'm impulsive, and Hawkgirl is annoying, ya know?

"Zee, I can't do this." Bruce replied while attempting to grab some syrup to pour on his waffles, Zatanna grabbed his hand first, and he looked at her raising an eyebrow.

"What're you doing?" He asked.

"Bruce, you're my best friend, that means my bullshit becomes your bullshit." She said in the most serious voice he'd ever seen her used.

"That's stupid."

"No it's not, do you have any idea how snarky she is?"

"That doesn't matter, I have to make sure Gotham's safe. I don't have to time to lounge around in the Suburbia's."

"Oh come on, the League will deal with the psycho of the week."

"Gotham is my-"

Zatanna was not about to listen to him blab about how Gotham was "his" city.

"You have Nightwing, Batgirl, Black Canary, Huntress, Batwoman, Red Hood,Batwing and some guy called Talon. All running around Gotham, it stopped being your city years ago."

Zatanna was surprised no one ever thought to point that out to him, seriously Gotham wasn't even thought of as Batman's city alone, it was practically a superhero community down there.

"I'm still not doing this."

"Please Bruce."

"No."

"Yes."

"I said no."

"Come on!"

"Not happening."

"*sigh* I didn't want to play this card."

She leaned over the table and whispered in his ear.

"He said that? That good for nothing, womanizing bastard had the nerve?!"

"Oh yeah, Hal flat out vented about how much of douche he thinks you are."

"Okay, we'll win your stupid bet Zee, only on one condition..."

"And what might that be?"

"I pick the area we live in, and we do this on my terms. Also I want to meet with Hal, he and I have much to discuss."

"Sounds good to me, and Bruce. I know this seems like a really frivolous ordeal, but thanks." She said with a smile, it charmed him.

If he wasn't fired up, he would have grinned back at her. She had this uncanny ability to make him smile, she was the only person who could when they were kids.

"Don't mention int." He muttered.

Zatanna noticed this and put her hand on his once more.

"Cheer up, you earned a sebatical long ago, and besides, it's you and me, it'll be fun."

"Your optimism is overwhelming."

Zee smiled brightly at him, this bet could actually be a lot of fun.

Watch Tower, later that day...

The founders had their meeting, as soon as it was adjourned, everyone left. As they were leaving Batman stopped Green Lantern.

"What's up, Bats? Finally realized how irrelevant you are on a team full of a superheroes?"

"No, I've come to tell you. I'm participating in this bet."

"Really? But you aren't even a superhero." Hal pointed out.

"I am by association, so it counts." Batman stepped a little closer to Hal "So listen up Jordan, I want to raise the stakes."

Hal raised an eyebrow.

"I'm listening."

"If I win this bet, you have to do this." Batman handed him a tiny note card. Hal took it and looked it over.

"Fine, but if I win, not only do you have to admit that you suck in front of the entire league, but you also have to convince Zatanna to finally go out with me."

"What? You can't woo her with your so called charm." Bruce taunted trying not to grin.

"Look, the only thing that's kept me from winning her heart, is, and I cannot believe I'm saying this. Some other, person."

Batman raised an eyebrow.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yeah, but you two go way back, at least that's what Clark told me."

Batman smiled.

"Fine, you have a deal." He said gesturing for a hand shake.

"And don't worry Bats, after our date, Zee will be thanking you for this." Hal replied cockily.

"Keep telling yourself that."

Gotham City – Royal Penthouse Apartments - The Next Day…

Bruce and Zatanna entered their new, and particularly beautiful home, it had a nice clean hardwood floor, beautiful blue walls, several doors for various closets and rooms, a beautiful 63 inch HD Television, nice beige colored leather sofas, a porch with a wonderful view of the complex, and a soda machine in the kitchen. Was it necessary? Hell no, but whoever said that the wealthy we're frugal?

Zatanna gawked at their beautiful home while Bruce dropped his suitcase and sat on the couch, looking quite miserable. This is horrible, he thought. He felt so out of his element, last night, he went out and hunted down 5 different gangs that resided in the "Dirty Neighborhood's of Gotham" and proceeded to give them all an ass whooping they wouldn't soon forget. But here, in the Suburbs of "New Gotham", he would no longer feel the adrenaline pump through his veins as he soared through the air, or when he was investigating a crime scene, or the feeling of a thug's teeth breaking underneath his mighty hammers of justice and…Wow, he thought. I really am a blood knight.

"Bruce, this place is incredible! You have great taste!"

Bruce stood beside her and looked at her, his charming playboy grin present on his face.

"You seem to have forgotten, I'm a snobby rich kid."

"Rich people don't always have taste, have you seen Donald Trump?"

Bruce grinned

"True."

She set down her suitcase by the couch, and looked toward Bruce.

"What?" He asked.

"Picture time." She gesturing for him to come toward her.

"Seriously?"

"Yep."

"Zee, you already have me participating in the bet, what more do you want?"

"Come on tight ass."

She just had to use his old nickname.

"Not a chance."

She raised an eyebrow, and grinned at him once more.

Bruce found himself sitting beside Zatanna, who was holding her camera phone toward them. She was making a goofy facial expression, and he was looking as mopey as usual.

Shayera recieved a text message, she checked her phone and it was a photo of Bruce and Zatanna.

"Shit..." Shayera whispered to herself.

Hal Jordan checked his Samsung Galaxy phone for a text message, the picture he recieved completely caught him off guard.

"No way, he's actually going through with it." He thought aloud.

Later that day..

Zatanna was talking with Dinah through the use of video chat, she decided she wanted to show Dinah a the new bedroom that she and Bruce would be sharing for the next month. She opened the bedroom door, and found Bruce doing handstand push ups, shirtless. His chiseled body glistening with sweat was a sight to behold. Dinah was seeing this through video chat, she had to admit, if she wasn't faithful to Ollie she wouldn't feel ashamed for enjoying the view. Dinah wasn't the only one seeing the video feed, Kara, Mari, and Diana were seeing this.

"Hera..."

"You said it, sister." Vixen agreed.

"Sure know how to pick em Zee" Dinah said.

Zatanna giggled, and Bruce heard her.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Video chat." She replied.

He got back on his feet. Zee couldn't help but let her eyes wander, eagerly exploring his Adonis like features. They were friends, best friends even, that's what they'd always been, but with a face like that, and well everything else, she couldn't help but check him out once in a while. It didn't help that he wore really tight kevlar.

"Uh Zee?" He asked.

"R-Right, I just wanted to show Dinah the room."

Bruce shrugged.

"Alright then, I'll make us some Kale smoothies in the kitchen."

"Kale?" She asked.

"It's very nutritious."

"Not to mention devoid of flavor."

She turned around and pointed the camera on her cell phone, at the various pieces of furniture located throughout the room. Bruce's gaze never left her, he may have been Batman, but he was still human. He couldn't deny that Zatanna was extremely beautiful, ridiculously even, she always had men swooning over her, even members of the Justice League. He wouldn't admit it, but he wasn't at all amused when Hal tried putting the moves on her, he knew Hal, and as her friend he wouldn't let him put his grubby little paws on her. He noticed he'd been staring for an uncomfortably long time, thankfully she hadn't noticed, so he quickly exited the room.

When he left, Zatanna began video chatting with Dinah once more...

To be Continued:

I decided to rewrite this story. Did not like the first version, not one bit. So yeah, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Anyways, thanks for reading and God Bless.