I just remembered, that time at the market
snuck up behind me and jumped on my shopping cart
And rode down, aisle 5
you looked behind you to smile back at me
crashed into a rack full of magazines
they asked us
if we could leave.

Jason and Zatanna were at Whole Foods, buying groceries. He was in the produce aisle, picking out avocados. Zatanna was off in dairy, picking up mozzarella and cheddar blocks. She tossed the items into the basket, taking advantage of the fact that Jason’s attention was elsewhere. She hijacked it, hopping onto the back and coasting down the store. Jason looked up, watching as Zatanna flew down the slick floor, her head turned back in his direction. Crash! The stand that held the newspapers and gossip racks was spread across the floor, cashiers and customers in disbelief at the grown woman, extricating herself from the wreckage. A very unhappy middle aged woman, stomach bulging over her belt, came storming out of the back, demanding that Zatanna leave. Jason politely agreed, and they left the store in tears from laughter.

Can’t remember, what went wrong last September
Though I’m sure that you’d remind me, if you had to
Our love was, comfortable and
 so broken in.

“Zatanna…” Jason pleaded with her as she tossed her things into a bag at the Complex. “No, Jason. I’m through with you. You need to deal with this. I can’t wait here while you figure it out.” She shut her suitcase, placing a hand on her hip. “Deal with who you are, because I can’t do it.” Jason looked at her, tears filling his eyes. “This is who I am, Zat. I’m the Red Hood, what else can I say?” She bit her lip to stifle the insults. “Then goodbye, Jay. Good luck finding someone to accept you.” With a clicking of boots on hardwood, she was gone, leaving Jason to himself and his demons.

I sleep with this new girl i’m still getting used to
my friends all approve, say she’s gonna be good for you.
They throw me,
high fives.

Roy and Kori were at the Complex early in the morning, on a Saturday. They had skipped patrol for the night, mostly cause Jason had stayed out with a bartender he had met a few weeks earlier. Roy knocked on Jason’s bedroom door. A short woman, wearing boxers and a gray tank top, answered the door with a smile. “Hi there! I’m Lindsey. Jason is still asleep. Can I help you?” Roy was speechless. “I-Um-Hi, I’m Roy Harper. Nice to meet you?” Lindsey smiled. “Pleasure, Roy!” Kori stood a few feet away, silently watching the newcomer. Lindsey walked over to her, extending a hand. “Hello! I’ve heard so much about you! You must be Kori, right?” The princess didn’t say a word, merely nodding her head a fraction of an inch. Lindsey deflated a bit, but tried her best not to show it. “Well, I’m Lindsey. Jason speaks very highly of you.” Meanwhile, Roy was animatedly talking to Jason, raising a hand in congratulations for finding such a good looking girl. “Way to go, Jaybird! Nice!” Jason scowled. “Go away, Harper. It’s not like that.” Jason stood, walking out to make an official introduction to Koriand’r. Roy called out after him. “Whatever you say, man! She’s a ten!“

She says the Bible is all that she reads
prefers that I not use profanity.
Your mouth was,
so dirty.

Zatanna cursed loudly from the bathroom, a loud crash emanating from the tile. “Fuck, God dammit! I just broke my hair dryer.” Jason grinned from his seat at his computer, knowing how she got in times like this. “You gonna be okay there, babe?” Another stream of curses. “Screw you, Jason. I’d like to see you try this. It’s a damn shame your hair isn’t long enough to curl!” He smiled. “Yeah, what a shame.” He didn’t have to look at her to know she was flipping him the bird.

Life of the party
and she swears that she’s artsy

but you could distinguish
Miles from Coltrane
Our love was,
comfortable and

so broken in.

They had been invited to a get together at the Looper, a summer party hosted by Diego Otis himself. About a hundred people were there, and it had taken weeks to get Jason to agree to come. An hour in, Zatanna had found the stage, and a little less than sober, begun to perform unsolicited magic. The people laughed, but Jason scowled. She was always like this, this burning need to be the center of attention. A man catcalled at her, and Jason forced himself not to start a fight. Three hours in. Jazz played out over the loudspeakers, one of Jason’s favorites. Zatanna found him, loudly whispering to him about having suggested the music. She was always right about him, always. She knew him like the back of her hand, his ins and outs. You know, except for his past, or that he was the Red Hood. But she had an innate understanding of how he operated, of h is quirks and his personality. She knew that he hated crowds, and she respected his need for privacy. Never questioned his need for intel on the people she associated with. She loved him, and he her.

She’s perfect,
so flawless

or so they say, say

She thinks I can’t see the smile that she’s fakin’
 poses for pictures that aren’t being taken.

Lindsey was, as usual, unable to add anything to the conversation. Roy, Jason, and Kori sat around her in Jason’s den, drinking and exchanging stories. Theirs were ones of danger and excitement, about narrow misses and criminals that broached new levels of stupid. Hers were calmer, about the normal citizens. Roy was polite enough to listen, and of course Jason reacted as any significant other would. But Kori, distant Kori, sat in open annoyance, still refusing to warm to this stranger that knew their secrets.

I loved you

grey sweat pants,
no makeup,
so perfect
Our love was,
comfortable and

so broken in.

Zatanna was staying at the Complex full time now, and therefore had taken over a significant portion of the space for herself. She had taken to not wearing clothes when Dick wasn’t there, and Jason couldn’t complain. Even in the basest of clothes and fresh out of the shower, she was prettier than any other woman Jason had dated, and he had told her this, numerous times.

She’s perfect,
so flawless

Lindsey did everything she could to help the Outlaws, providing alibis, booze, and food whenever they needed it, never refusing to help, no matter the occasion or request. Even Kori had warmed up to her, and they had become quite the pair. Trio, if you counted Allison Brett. Jason knew all this, knew that he had found someone able to accept him for what he was, nothing less. Someone who was able to look past his profession, his flaws. Someone who wouldn’t leave him broken, like so many people had. Lindsey was the perfect woman for him, the girl that he had thought he always wanted.

I’m not impressed,
 I want you back.

Jason talked in his sleep on occasion, a habit that had driven Zatanna mad. Lindsey, however, never said a word about it, even as she fought back tears at his words. “No, she’s not the one. I still love you, Z. I still do.” She bit her lip and turned over. “It’s fine, just come back, please. I’m so alone…So lost without you. I want you to come back, please.” She got out of the bed, unable to bear his words any longer. She curled up on the couch, blanket and pillow wrapped around her. Finding a crappy movie, she prepared for a long night. Dawn came after what seemed like an eternity, and Jason awoke to find a tear stained face amongst tissues and blankets, sound asleep. It was the fourth time it had happened that month. She never told him why she cried.