Operation Magic- Part I

Barbara was new to this, new to the hero thing, new to the Team (not yet, but hey a girl can dream) and new to the secret I.D. deal. But she was not too new at this gig to know when her best pal was totally crushing on someone. It was one of her many talents, she could spot a crush a mile away and she would immediately start planning how to get the crusher and crush-ee together.

It wasn't like she had a book about every single person she's ever helped out secretly, no.

That would be absurd.

The story of once upon a time started a few weeks ago, she had noticed Dick spacing out in class, and not with his usual 'this-is-so-boring' look, this time he was sporting rosy pink cheeks, an actual smile- not a smirk, and his eyes were softened in that disgusting lovesick way. That was when she, Barbara Gordon, found out that her best friend, Dick Grayson, had a crush.

They grow up so fast.

The only problem was, she knew he was crushing on someone. She just didn't know who. But she knew for a fact it wasn't a girl from Gotham Academy, because he always complained about how soft all the girls were here, to quote him, 'I don't want a girlfriend that's going to worry about her face half the time when we hang out, or fixes her hair every second of everyday.'

So that killed the idea of his crush going to Gotham Academy, the only girls he hung out with anyway were her and their friend Artemis.

The next idea Barbara had about who the crush may be was a random girl he had met a function. It wasn't the best idea, but it wasn't stupid either. Bruce, Batman, held functions at the manor every time there was something to be celebrated, and many, many people came just so see inside the manor.

She could have met her already and not know it, there were many girls at the age of fifteen that went to the functions, Bette Kane for example, although Dick said they were basically family so that was a bit weird. There were a few people that lived around the other side of town that always came and they had twins, Hayley and Harley. But Dick thought they were a bit out of it.

Then it hit her while she was grappling through Gotham, it could be someone part of the Team. It was perfect, Dick (or Robin) would see the person all the time and she doesn't know the Team, because she has to 'get used to working here first before you can join or meet the team', well, according to Batman anyway.

The only problem in her match making was she had no way to meet or get to the Team.

Dammit.

The thing was Dick was like- fifteen, nearly sixteen, and hadn't had one single girlfriend. Sure she's seen many, many girls come and go, one time kisses and a handful of crushes, but he's never had a solid relationship with someone his age that he is actually interested in.

This was her one chance to actually get him to get past his stubbornness and get with someone for more than a day or night. She just needed to ask him more and more about it.

Then she would swoop in like a bat and sprinkle her magic over the peasants beneath her.

Oh yeah, that was totally happening.

The second time Dick had been caught out daydreaming was in training; she and him were sparring together again. This time she knew she could take him, all the times they had sparred he had always beaten her with a fair ease, but this time he was off- she could tell. His hits were sloppy and poorly landed, he was doing a lot more flips and acrobatics, and he wore an unbearable smile that made him look like he had been gassed by the Joker- seriously creepy.

In ten minutes she had him pinned and in a headlock. Batman, or Bruce as his cowl was down, frowned and looked at his ward with worry, but did look to her in pride.

"Dick," he growled, "What's wrong?"

The teen snapped to attention, blinking for a few seconds before properly comprehending what had been asked of him, "Oh, nothing."

"There is so something wrong." Barbara chuckled, "You've have that look for weeks now, who is it?"

Caught.

Dick was caught, how did she know? She's your best friend that's how she knows, idiot! He didn't think Babs would use her skill to pry into his personal life. Okay, so maybe there was someone, and maybe he did spend a majority of his time thinking about her, and maybe he liked her enough to have it affect his training and work.

"What?" He lied, "Babs I think your head is on too tight, your seeing things that aren't there." Taking a swig of his water he flashed her a sloppy smirk and looked to Bruce to continue the training.

"Dick," Bruce said, in his father tone, "I don't think you can pull a lie off if more than one person is witness." He smirked, it was one of his favourite past times to catch Dick off guard because it strung the funniest reactions out of the fifteen year old, "you've been out of it for weeks and it's getting worse now. From the scans Alfred regularly takes of your vitals, increase in heart rate and breathing at times, I'd say you've got a secret girlfriend or a crush." Bruce rattled on, "Who is she?" Giving Dick his smile for the Gotham public.

Dick just looked away guiltily; he honestly didn't think Bruce of all people would notice. But then again, he was the Batman. Just because his vital signs went a bit haywire at times didn't mean he had a crush.

"You take my vital signs?" He asked, in a bid to change the subject.

"Yes Dick, Alfred monitors our vitals every time we leave the cave in uniform. You know that, it's been protocol since you were ten." Bruce reminded, hoping that he was just trying to change the subject and hadn't actually forgot.

"Oh, right." Dick said, drawling out the 'i' in the word. He didn't have a plan B, although Bruce highly recommended having more than two plans after plan A failed he moved onto plan B, and then if plan B failed he winged the mission.

"So Dickie-bird," Barbara laughed slightly, "who's the goddess that has caught your heart?"

From what she had read up, at this point in time there were about five possible candidates, or if you will, five female heroes on the team. There was the Martian, Miss Martian, the archer, Artemis, the magician, Zatanna, the tech-chick, Rocket, and the Atlantian, Aquagirl. She had no idea if they were already in a relationship with some other person because the files don't contain martial status or who they may be in a relationship with.

"No one, okay, you guys really need to drop it." Dick said before getting up and leaving.

"When can I join the team?" Barbara rushed out, as soon as she was sure Dick was out of earshot.

Bruce sighed, he had been over this with her already, she would join when she had more experience here in Gotham. "You join when I think you're ready." He repeated for the thousandth time.

"But, Bruce!" She cried, "I have a good reason for joining this time, and I don't even have to join the Team on missions." Barbara bargained, yes- she really wanted this, yes- it was probably hopeless, but Bruce (or Batman) always had a soft spot for Dick (or Robin), this time she could use that to her advantage.

"Motive?" He gruffed out, obviously seeing her desperately try to get him to let her, at least, meet the team.

"My motive?" She laughed, "Find out who little Dickie-birds got a crush on, maybe if I find out and then put them together Dick will stop being all mushy at the weirdest times."

Bruce stopped, he hadn't thought about that. But then again, "Dick doesn't need a girlfriend, he's too young, and too busy."

Barbara just raised an eyebrow, "Ah huh."

"What?"

"When did you first have a girlfriend?"

Bruce thought back, now that she mentioned it, he didn't really have girlfriends- more like flings. "I don't think I ever had a girlfriend when I was younger, people just came and then left."

"Oh my god." Barbara cried, "you were a player when you were his age." Somehow it wasn't at all surprising, "Father like son." She grumbled under her breath, but Bruce still heard it.

"What?" He sharply said, immediately on the fence about that comment.

"Oh nothing," she chirped, "just that Dick's never had a girlfriend and all he does is have one-timers."

Before Bruce could reply a voice cut through, "Master Bruce, Miss Barbara, are you really discussing Master Dick's love life?"

"Hey Alfred!" Barbara sang, "Do you think I should be able to meet the Team?"

"Of course, now, do you wish for some tea? Or shall I just bring the hot beverage upstairs?" He said, balancing the dish on one hand.

"Upstairs, Alfred." Bruce grumbled, still thinking about how he could avoid conflict.

"Alright." With that the graceful Alfred Pennyworth left.

Barbara looked at him with expectance, "Well?"

He huffed, "You can meet the Team." He relented, she was just going to get more reckless about the Team, and he didn't need that- no, Gotham City didn't need that.

"Yes!" She cried, jumping up to leave,

"Barbara," he called out before she disappeared round the corner, "I will see you tomorrow here, you'll meet the Team for training."

A laugh and whoops of joy could be heard echoing through the cave, and Batman was sure that the bats were scared of her.

"You what?" Dick cried, nearly falling off his bed, which he was previously using a trampoline.

"She wanted to meet the Team, so I let her meet the Team." He shrugged, sitting himself at the desk chair.

"But she- and- but- huh?" He stuttered, unable to form coherent sentences, he hadn't even told the Team about her.

"Dick, she will be meeting the Team, not joining the Team. She'll have her trial run soon enough, but for now, she's just being introduced to them."

"But, she'll try something. I know Barbara- she has a motive, and so do you if you're letting her meet the Team." Dick accused, "Does this have anything to do with what happened in the cave?"

"And what happened in the cave?" The older man smirked,

"Bruce," Dick whined, stuffing his face in the pillows.

"Get some sleep, Dick," Bruce chuckled, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"G'night Bruce." He mumbled into the pillow again, letting the thoughts around his head swirl and soar freely, some more prominent that others.

"Goodnight, Dick." Bruce smiled, before shutting the door and flicking off the light.

The next day at school Dick couldn't help but notice Barbara was in an awfully good mood. She was smiling all the time, actually paying attention in the classes she hated the most, helping random students out in the halls and most of all she kept giving him looks that told him it had something to do with her Batgirl identity.

It was nearly all too much for him, honestly, she needed to get a life or something. But by the time their last member of their small trio of friends came along he couldn't take it.

"Okay," he hissed at her, "What's up with you today?"

"Dick!" Artemis cried- yes, the same Artemis Crock that was Artemis the hero, and no, she didn't know that Dick Grayson was Robin, or Barbara Gordon was Batgirl.

"What?" He defended, "She's had that- that look on her face the whole day, she's out of character and she keeps giving me looks. It's unnerving."

"What has she done that has annoyed you so much?" The blonde said, defending one of her only friends as Artemis Crock.

"What has she done?" Dick cried, "She laughed when Ms. Bufnard told a joke, she doesn't like Ms. Bufnard, she helped Jesse Harmard after he tripped, he's been her bully since she moved here, and she payed attention in History. Even I don't do that!"

"Doesn't mean something's up, she could have just had a change of heart." Artemis scoffed, cutting off Barbara, who was about to defend herself.

"Babs doesn't have a change of heart." He laughed, "I've known her for six years, and all that time she's been the same."

"I'm in a good mood today, okay?" She finally got in, "Can't I just have a good day? I've been invited to something at dad's work I've been wanting to go to for months."

"That's great Babs," Artemis cried, "Given, I don't know what it is, but that's great!"

"Thanks Artemis, see Dick," she smirked, "you should be happy for me."

He just gave her a suspicious glare and continued eating his lunch.

The Team was standing around the training mat, or floor, waiting for Robin to arrive. They had no idea what was taking so long, everyone was in uniform already and ready to train, and Robin was never late- never. So they had absolutely no idea why he was late.

"Where is he?" Wally whined, running out of snacks to eat or entertain himself with, his free hand draped over Artemis' shoulder as she rolled his eyes.

"He'll get here when he does." She sighed, shifting her weight onto her other leg.

"But it's ten minutes past training time, we should have started already. Even Black Canary is getting anxious." Wally groaned, pointing out the fact that the senior hero was typing away furiously on the computer.

Just when it was getting unbearable the zeta tubes started up and the computer system announced the arrival of three people.

Recognised Batman 02- Robin B 01- Batgirl B 16

Everyone froze at the last designation and turned to look at the zeta tube that was just beginning to outline the heroes, including a very feminine shaped bat.

'Batgirl?' Wally mouthed to Aqualad, who was standing with Tula. Kaldur just shrugged and turned to the tube himself.

Then out of the light three graceful creatures walked out of the tube, one trailing behind the others. Batman walked straight up to a wide-eyed Black Canary, "Batgirl will be joining you for training."

"I can see that," she said,

"She's on trial run, see if and when she joins this team." Batman said, basically ordering Black Canary not to put the team on last minute missions.

"Fine," She said, "is that all?"

"Yes, remember the League meeting tonight." He said before flying out of the room, his cape trailing him in a flourish.

"Team, we can start training." Black Canary announced. Much to the delight on the Team and Batgirl, who were bored already. But they couldn't help feel a bit in awe of Batgirl; Artemis, who had been the only non-powered female on the Team, finally had someone to relate to.

"This is Batgirl." She introduced, "she will be joining us for training today and probably from now on."

Batgirl just smirked, and gave a small wave. Playing the cool and chill card, it worked for Batman, it could work for her, "Hi," she said. Raking her eyes over everyone and taking note of possible candidates for Robin's crush.

The blonde, Artemis, was definitely Artemis Crock from school, there was no mistake. She wasn't extremely surprised, but it still came as a shock. She was obviously with Kid Flash, who was eating and had his arm around the archer, so she was off the list.

Aquagirl looked like she had a past history with Aqualad, so she was off the list. Rocket kept looking at Aqualad with a longing look- so she was off the cards.

Miss Martian was basically glued to Superboy's side, so she guessed that was happening.

The last person left that she could cross off or leave on was Zatanna, the magician. Who looked at her with a smile and waved slightly in a friendly gesture. Batgirl looked to Robin with a smirk, who wasn't paying any attention to her what-so-ever, but was stealing glances over the group to Zatanna- who looked totally oblivious to the attention she was receiving.

Bingo. Barbara thought.

Robin, or more importantly, Dick Grayson, was crushing on Zatanna Zatara, resident magician of the covert operations team working for the Justice League.

Ok, so I finally decided to start working on this story, as the idea had been in the works for a while now. This will be a three-shot, or I hope it will be because I don't want to drag it on longer than it needs to be. This story idea was one of the most popular on my fic- Stories, where people reviewed in what story they would want me to write. I'm kind of trying to get this one done because it is supposed to be shorter than the others because it will only have three chapters.

I hope you guys like the first chapter, review your thoughts or just wait for the next chapter to come up, which will probably be in a weeks time. :)

-The Missing X