A Magician's Gift

Justice League

(This chapter's quite long, just a head's up)

"Luv, I'm never going anywhere. Swear by the devil. I promise," he told me. "I told you that things would be like this, didn't I? I told you that there would be times where my life would be threatened, and you just need to keep your head in the game and stay on mission, right?"

"Doesn't make it any easier, John. Words don't make it any easier. When you're being held by a demon with a dagger against your throat, words don't help."

"I know, Luv. I know."

"How can you promise that you'll never go away, but yet, you've made traveling to Hell and dealing with the goddamn Devil a regular thing, and for what, John?"

"Might I remind you that I got my ass dragged through the portal? I didn't want to go there. Hell, if I could, I wouldn't even step within that place. I swear, though... I'm not going anywhere. Not on my watch, alright, Luv?" I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. "John, you don't know how terrified I was. I was so, so, scared... you don't-you don't know how fucking scared I was. I was so scared..."

"I'm sorry for scaring you, Zatanna."

"When I saw that dagger pressed to your throat, I... all I thought was about what I would do without you... I was goddamn terrified..." He hugged me tightly, comforting me. "I'm sorry, Luv."

"Thank-thank you, John." The door opened, and Chas stood there. I wiped my runny makeup away, fixing it quickly and then facing him. "Hel-hello, Chas..." I said, my arms crossed over my chest.

"Where'd the two of you go? And why is Zee crying? What'd you do this time, John?"

"Anne called Zatanna and me in to help with a demon. I ended up getting dragged into Hell, and she met Luci for the first time."

"Oh, Jesus. That's a little traumatic..."

"Yeah. He threatened to kill me and pressed a dagger to my neck." Chas scoffed. "Like the git would ever. Killing you would mean having to deal with you for the rest of eternity, cause mate, you and I both know your arse ain't goin' to Heaven."

"Chas, still, it really scared Zee."

"Yeah, I can imagine that much. Sorry you had to go through that, Zee."

"Thank you. I need to use the bathroom," I told them, stepping out of John's room and into the bathroom, like I've done every day. "Foorpdnuos," I whispered. I started to cry again. Oh, God... My friend's dead... Karen's dead... and she's not coming back. Got to put on a mask for everyone... act like I'm fine... can't crack. Ever... you took that on when you decided to become a celebrity. Don't let them see you crack... don't let them see...

I hugged my knees and held myself up against the door. I hate this... please, bring Karen back. Bring her back. Please... I'll do anything at this point... just please... please. Bring Karen back... please...

Someone knocked on the door. Shit. I wiped my tears away and opened the door. "J-John..."

"Were you crying?"

"N-no," I lied. "Why-why would you think that?"

"You didn't soundproof the room. I could hear you crying through the door." I sighed. "Yeah, I was..."

"Luv, why?"

"It's-it's Karen... you wouldn't understand, John. My best friend's dead. She's been my best friend since we were six. And I'm the reason she died. It should've been me... it should've been me."

"Hey, Zee, don't tell yourself that. You couldn't have done anything. Listen, okay? There was nothing you could've done."

"Like shit there wasn't! Instead of standing over her body like some sort of sensitive, stupid girl, I could've saved her!"