Avoiding Past And Future

(76) Misplaced 9

WARNINGS

* dehumanisation ('it' instead of pronouns, 'demon' in a literal sense) - Zatara

* hightened panic/anxiety, panic attack - Captain Marvel

* semi unreliable narrator - Captain Marvel

November 5

Recognized Captain Marvel 5 1

Captain Marvel flew through the halls of Mount Justice, hoping, wishing the others would be there. "You're back!" Glee and relief filled his entire being as he saw Batman and Zatara quietly arguing in the debriefing room. "Is it over? Where's the team?" He rushed forward, foregoing personal space and engulfing the two men in a bear hug, effortlessly lifting them off the ground.

The moment his feet touched the ground, Zatara pushed Marvel off of him. "What is wrong with you?" The magician growled out, glare so strong it rivaled the one Batman was sending over. "We have been trying to reach you for hours! Even Constantine answered his summons before you did!"

Marvel felt his blood run cold. Being compared to the John Constantine was never fun, but this had to be the highest level of not fun he had personally experienced. "I-I didn't-" Oh uncle Dudley was going to be so upset he messed up.

"Haven't you heard?" The man angrily sneered, hands shaking as he yelled at his colleague. "Every child in the world has dis-" Batman cut the angry Italian off with a firm hand on his shoulder. Though the two men did anything but see eye to eye at the moment, that break was what Giovanni needed to see the stress Marvel was under.

Turning his gaze to the red and white clad hero, Batman forewent his usual grit. "Captain, where have you been?" The minute change had a bigger impact than expected. Going from being on the verge of a panic attack, Marvel took a steading breath.

Well, as steadying as he could given the circumstances. Hands finding their way into his hair, he looked at the two. "In a world without grown-ups." He breathed out as the pieces finally started to click. "Oh gods, there are two worlds!"

"Two dimensions," Batman corrected, already typing away to alert the others. "One for all the adults."

"And one for kids!" Marvel finished, wisdom of Solomon slowly kicking in as he realized just how long he let his fear dominate his actions. What a hero he was turning out to be.

"Run down the steps until you got here. Tell us everything you know." Batman prompted, file already opened and ready to note down anything and everything of use.

Marvel thought for a moment, trying to think about how everything started. "Well I was on the couch watching Tv with uncle Dudley, I think. And then he just...poof." He recounted, trying hard to not mentally rewatch his uncle literally disappearing before his eyes. "It was a mix of gold and red though, the magic I mean. And there was this weird taste like breathing in really thick smog but in my mouth."

Zatara's eyes widened, surprise he hadn't noticed it himself. "Klarion." The mage hissed in displeasure at having to utter the brat's name. "But he couldn't have done this alone. Not even a lord of chaos has this much power."

Flash was the first to arrive, zooming in as Zatara was speaking. With one look from the dark knight, he knew to simply stand by for now. Batman noted everything down before giving a nod to Marvel to continue. "There was screaming from outside too. Kids calling out for their parents and the tv lady was gone too." He fought the nervous shudder that ran up his spine. "Figured if all the adults vanished, I-well, Captain Marvel, would too."