Chapter Text
Zatanna had come here after an “official reprimand”.
The guy had been plaguing the League for months. He had killed countless people, taken joy in doing it, and she was the bad guy for realising that the best solution was killing him. So, instead of accepting their punishment, she quit and came to London. At least if she killed someone who needed to die here, she didn’t get lectured and disapproved of.
In fact, John did it too.
It’d taken her a little while to get used to all the blood and guts that went flying when exorcisms went beyond the spiritual.
But…Zatanna lived for days like this.
She laid on the bed, head pillowed on the small of John’s back as he lightly dozed. She was in a nice light dress. He was wearing nothing but sweat pants. The TV was on across the apartment, some cheesy soap opera neither was paying attention to. She contentedly read through a magic book.
She turned a page, wincing slightly as her skin itched.
‘You all right, love?’ John asked softly.
‘Hm. Tattoo’s just itching.’
‘Ah. Kiss it better?’
‘You prepared to move for that?’
‘…Too comfy.’
Zatanna smiled and trailed her fingers along his spine. The tattoos were John’s idea. As he’d said the night they first met, being the child of a human and a homo magi limited her powers to word magic. He was trying to see if he could get non-vocal magic working for her. In the meantime, tattooing magic sigils to her skin – the way he had done – would protect her. Already she had an anti-possession tattoo on her back. The new one was a mind protection ward.
Zatanna laid her book down on her lap and pressed her head into his skin. ‘Me too. I don’t even feel like getting up for dinner.’
‘Don’ have to get up, Zee.’
‘You know what I mean,’ she said. ‘What have we got in the flat anyway?’
‘Fucked if I know.’
‘Hm.’ Pushing her book aside, she stretched her arms out above her. ‘We should get takeout. What are you in the mood for?’
‘Hmm…Chinese.’
Zatanna put a hand out and her phone floated over to her.
‘Thanks, baby.’
‘Hm…’
***
It was almost unbearably mundane.
John stood at the bathroom basin, cleaning a cut he’d gotten from his latest exorcism. Behind him, Zee was relaxing in a bath overflowing with bubbles. He’d never really used that tub before she basically moved in. And he’d never thought he could be so close to a naked woman without wanting to at least peek.
But he’d memorised every inch of Zee’s body by now.
It more amazed him that she knew exactly what kind of a bastard he was and she still wanted him. Usually, women wanted to be clear of him within the first week. But Zatanna not only still wanted him even after seeing the gorier aspects of his lifestyle, but she adapted with him and even started spending most of her time with him.
‘You know,’ he said. ‘The old lady down the hall thinks we’re married.’
‘Whatever gave her that idea?’ Zatanna lifted a leg out of the water and began inspecting her toenails.
John watched in the mirror, admiring the shape of her calves. ‘I think she saw you carrying the groceries in. Wanted to know if we were planning…children.’ He cringed.
Zatanna glanced at him. ‘What do I need children for? I’ve got you.’
‘Ouch.’
‘And I mean that in the best possible way.’
John chuckled, relieved.
***
There was a knock on the door.
John groaned and burrowed under the covers. Zatanna felt tempted to do the same. John was not a man-flu type, probably because of his upbringing, but this bug they’d both picked up was murder. She rubbed her fingers through his hair and reluctantly dragged herself out of bed. She tiredly rubbed her throbbing head and trudged to the front door.
She pulled open the door to find two uniformed officers there. And her mood soured further.
‘Excuse me, ma’am,’ one officer said. ‘We’re looking for a John Constantine.’
Zatanna yawned. Then she blinked at them blearily. ‘Sdaot.’
Immediately, both officers transformed into toads. Rubbing at her temples, she kicked their badges inside. ‘We’re not in the mood.’ She closed the door on the newly-created animals and locked it, being sure to chain it as well.
Then she turned, dropping her bathrobe and crawled back into the bed and snuggling under the covers. Her body was wracked with another set of coughs as a result of being exposed to the cold air. John muttered in discontent and shifted, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing her back. She snuggled into his chest.
‘Such a sweet man,’ she mumbled.
‘Only to you, my love,’ he murmured. ‘Only to you.’
***
‘I don’t like him.’
Zatanna’s cousin, Zachary, had known Zatanna didn’t settle in one place. She moved around. So finding out she’d been in London for six months had raised his suspicions. He’d come and he’d met John Constantine. And he’d seen the way his younger cousin looked at the chain-smoking alcoholic.
‘I know,’ she said.
‘No, you don’t understand, Zatanna!’ Zachary insisted. ‘His aura…it’s…it’s black! This is a man already slated for the deepest pits of Hell.’
‘Yeah, I know. He told me early on,’ Zatanna said. ‘And I know why.’
‘Why?’ Zachary asked urgently. ‘What did he do?’
Zatanna shook her head at her cousin. ‘No, Zachary. That’s not your business and it’s none of your concern.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘Besides, what business have you got making critique about my dating choices?’
‘I don’t date.’
‘No, you don’t. Aren’t you due for a check-up soon though?’
Zachary blanched.
He left England again within an hour.
***
Once upon a time, John had said he would ask Zatanna to dance.
There was no music and there wasn’t a party, but he spun her around a deserted street. She let out whoops of joy as he twirled and dipped her until they were both short of breath. The high from their recent fight was enough to get them both happily dancing down the street and, when he pulled her up again, he kissed her.
‘Did I ever tell you how dazzling you are, darlin’?’ John asked after he broke the kiss.
‘I could stand to hear it a bit more.’
John pressed his forehead to hers. ‘You know, I used to think…I’m gonna spend me whole life alone. I walk alone, cause who’d be crazy enough to walk it with me?’
Zatanna smiled and cupped his cheeks in her hands. ‘I am, baby. Always.’
‘Even when I lie to you?’ he asked. ‘Even when I drag you headfirst into things that could kill you.’ His eyes glistened. ‘I got you now, Zee. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you cause I went and miscalculated.’
‘Shh.’ Zatanna brushed a kiss across his lips. ‘John, you operate this way because it’s how you have to operate. The demons you fight will stop at nothing, so you can’t give them an inch. I understand that. It may infuriate me at times, but I understand the consequences if they win. And I understand that very few people also understand it, so you have to lie and manipulate people to do what you need to do.’
John closed his eyes and let a breath out. ‘I don’t deserve you, Zee.’
Zatanna smiled and slid her hand into his. ‘I’ll be the judge of that. Let’s go home.’