THIS IS PERSONAL | yj next gen

Ⅱ

17:06
12 JULY, 2041
MOUNT JUSTICE RUINS aka 'CRATER OF JUSTICE'

◈ ❂ ◈

It was so unlike Zac to be rude or angry that everyone, even the adults, had to do a literal double-take. The hostility was obvious, hanging in the air like a bad smell. The seventeen year old's hands hung loosely at his sides, but they were flexing as if they would curl into fists at any second, and some could swear red and black sparks were weaving between his long fingers. With a brief look of panic, Zatanna stepped forwards and tried to take his hands in her own, but he jerked backwards, suddenly self-conscious in the midst of the attention. She bit her lip resignedly, as if she had been expecting the worst and it had come to pass. The female magician glanced at the man, the subject of Zac's bitterness (the team noted he was tall, blond, wearing a trench coat, and a total stranger to them), then looked back at her son.

"Zac, if you'd just let me explain-"

"No, mom," he said, cutting her off. His voice was almost trembling with emotion. "Why is he here? I deserve to know!" The stranger studied Zac silently with a forced blank expression as Zatanna turned to Nightwing, a plead for help in her desperate, pained eyes.

"Stand down, Zatara," the blue-clad hero commanded, knowledge and pity flashing in his keen eyes. "Constantine is only here out of necessity." Zac briefly considered defiance, but reluctantly backed away at the sight of his mother's face to stand with the rest of the team (who'd formed a loose audience behind him). His furious gaze remained on the blond man, distrust apparent, with only a weak attempt to conceal the bitter anger. Though he was lost in his own emotions, Zac registered a hand squeeze his shoulder as a comfort. It was Mar'i, her strength supporting him and holding him steady when all he wanted was to rage. She was the anchor stopping him and the only person on the team to understand the reason for his animosity. He reached up and put his hand on top of hers, gratefully squeezing back.

Nightwing cleared his throat loudly for attention, then introduced the man in the trench coat more formally. "This is John Constantine, an ally of sorts to the Justice League." Constantine gave a slightly contemptuous smile to the assembled group of teens and pre-teens, looking as if he was seriously doubting their abilities. "He came to us with a matter that obviously needs to be treated with great urgency and care. Magic artefacts aren't really my area of expertise, so I'll let him explain." Nightwing gestured a go ahead to the blond magician.

"Hi kids," he condescended in a thick English accent, speaking for the first time since the team had arrived. Zac crossed his arms over his chest, attempting to stay impartial, while Mar'i shamelessly stared Constantine down. She caught his eye with ease and he uncomfortably cleared his throat, looking away. Just behind the man, Nightwing smirked openly, satisfied with his daughter's righteous intimidation, an act worthy of Batman.

"Right," Constantine restarted, loosening his shirt collar surreptitiously. "Something was stolen from me a few days ago, a powerful magic artefact of Chaos." He glanced across the members of the team, hesitating on the stoic Zac for a brief moment before continuing. "To control its incredible strength it was forged into a black blade, a mystical object so strong it could send ripples across time and reality. The thief is a Lord of Chaos you know well, I hear, Klarion the Witch Boy." At that, Zac went pale, blood draining from his face faster than the plunge his stomach was taking and the dive his heart was performing. This caused the trench coated man a second of pause in which he looked at the cold Zatanna almost apologetically. "Uh, what he intends to do with the weapon is give it to the Light, a group of super villains, from when your parents were still kiddies to destroy them before you're born." Irey let out a little gasp, glancing at her own parents. Green Arrow gave her a reassuring smile, just to let her know it was okay. Apollo put an arm around her shoulder gently at the same time Constantine announced, "Basically, you need to go back in time and get it back."