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“I’ve often said destiny’s overrated. I’d rather create my future one day at a time.”

Zatanna (2010) #1

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Take Me Back || Zee & Diana

@wndwmn

In her dressing room, Zatanna settled into her chair, snapping her fingers to conjure a bottle of wine in her hand. The sounds of applause from the stage had started to fade as they egressed out of the theater. A heavy sigh slipped past her lips. Looking at the cork, she removed the object with a wave of her hand, setting it aside and reaching for her glass. 

When she poured the contents, she thought back to Zach. The last they spoke, he told her he had something to share, but recanted, saying “it can wait.” Her lips twitched into a grimace. The sense of not knowing what he wanted to tell her left her baffled and perhaps a bit uneasy. Maybe he didn’t want to tell her and set her up on purpose. Maybe there was nothing to say. 

She pulled herself mid-thought when the wine almost reached the top of her glass. She immediately set the bottle aside. Her lips touched the brim of her aforementioned glass, taking a few sips to avoid spillage. Even after all this time, she could barely pull herself out of her trance. 

If only she had been there.

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johnconstantine-hellblazer​:

Magic doesn’t have to be flashy.  It doesn’t have to be loud or bright, unless you specifically want it to be.  Magic was, at its core, a reflection of the magician, and Zatanna’s magic was beautiful.

John felt the spell before it manifested, like the pressure of a breeze against his back.  He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, taking in the first scent of jasmine as mystical energies acted to reshape this little corner of the World.  The sensation lasted barely a fraction of one second, but it was enough to transport John back to a time in his mind when they’d both been happy and in love.  Learning together and laughing, her magic always feeling like warm summer nights in jasmine gardens, while his stubbornly felt like a drunken fumble behind a nightclub followed by a cheeky doner kebab on the way home.

His magic was effective but grimy, while Zatanna’s was classic elegance personified.  They should never have worked as a couple…

“‘Ello, Zee.”  John turned at the sound of her voice, accepting her barbed comment about his behaviour with a slight nod of acknowledgement.  He wanted to say that he hadn’t been walking away, but that he’d let her know he was here so she could find him anytime she wanted, whenever she was ready.

But this wasn’t the time or place for that.  Instead, John uncharacteristically kept his mouth shut, walked towards her and took gentle hold of her arms, his thumbs stroking the nighted fabric of her sweater.

“I just heard ‘bout what happened, Zee,” he said quietly, leaning closer to be sure that she heard him, squeezing her arms as he spoke.  “I know Bruce was a good friend of yours.  I’m… really sorry.”

Not one other person in the universe, in her mind, could ever comprehend her connection to John. Though their romance burnt out, she still thought about him. Underneath the occasional stench of alcohol, there was a man with heart, for lack of a better term. 

She outstretched a hand towards the entrance of the alleyway, drawing an invisible arching barrier around them. Their appearances soon faded to the naked eye and the distant sounds of commotions on the streets fell under deaf ears. 

Her expression softened upon hearing the familiar deep British intonation greet her without hostility. The way he uttered his words elicited a light quiver from her bottom lip, chewing it softly. Feeling the gentle touch of his hands against her arms, she did not hesitate to go for the familiar embrace that once gave her comfort during her darkest days.

“I’ve lost too many people in my life, John,” she uttered in a graveled whisper. “It’s not just my father and Bruce. Zach’s been acting strange around me when he’s been nudging me aside for years now. And then we’ve been out of touch for a while, as well.”

The tears slipped from the corners of her eyelids, forcing her to squeeze them shut while listening to the man offer his condolences. She couldn’t turn him away. Shaky breaths slipping past her lips, almost in a shudder. 

“You may not believe it, but I’m glad you’re here. I missed having you around.”

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magic is as easy as counting to three!

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mostpopularmagi​:

-

Despite what a lot of people probably thought, Zach was a pretty good observer; he needed to be to pull off half the more mundane tricks he did on stage. Watching Zatanna pick up Alice he could tell from her aura she’d recently cast a spell of two on herself. He’d guess one to tidy up her appearance.

In the past he’d likely not have cared and barged on with whatever he wanted but more recently he was trying to be better… Most likely Eddie’s influence. And while he’d had little interesting in building bridges via decorating a damn theatre, this was something no doubt grief-related.

He’d known Zatanna was close to Batman, but clearly it went deeper than he’d thought.

‘I’m fine’ well there was a bald-faced lie. Zach knew that version of ‘fine’ just as well as he knew that smile the moment they sat down. His gaze flicked to Alice for a moment; the bunny looked as concerned as a bunny could manage. “You know what, it can wait.” he said, sticking his hands inside his pockets and pulling the ring off that way; it would only say something more about how off she was if Zatanna didn’t notice.

“I am quite thirsty though, how about I make us both some tea?” he asked, rising to his feet he didn’t wait for a response before heading to look for the kitchen, “Alice can show me the way. And then I think we’ll have something else to talk about.” Like the fact that Zatanna reminded him of himself post his own resurrection.

To say this was nothing like her cousin’s usual attitude was a gross understatement. She struggled to hide her confounding expression. ‘It can wait,’ he says. Not even a moment later, he decided he would prepare tea for them, which only furthered her suspicions. 

“Wai-”

Her protests would be uttered without acknowledgement. 

Alice shot one back glance at her master before carefully hopping off her lap, landing carefully on both feet with a soft thump. She made her way towards Zachary, wrinkling her nose. A small grunt alerted the other to follow her towards the kitchen, a decent distance away from Zatanna’s sights. 

In a brief moment’s pause, she placed her fists against her thighs, tensing and relaxing against the grip on the black fabric. Soft breaths helped little when the tears threatened to mar her clear expression. Her mouth trembled, forcing her to raise a haste hand over it. Eyelids snapped shut, she mumbled the incantation without another moment’s hesitation.

“lluP ti rehtegot. esaelP. lluP ti rehtegoT.”

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@johnconstantine-hellblazer

if zee ever went on an exorcism with john it would probably go like this

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aurification​:

Realization smacks him in the face knowing that his daughter will grow up. The last four years have gone by so fast already and Michael feels his chest ache at the thought of her being an adult and not needing him anymore. While he’ll always be her dad … it’s still going to be difficult watching her move out one day. Rani is only thirteen right now so there’s many years before that happens. Will Michael be ready with all this time to prepare? He’s doubting it. This is a feeling the blond didn’t understand until becoming a parent. “They grow up fast even if you don’t want them to.” He gives his friend a knowing look.

He feels bad for unloading his drama on Zatanna but Michael needs someone right now. He finally looks up, a sigh leaving his lips while trying to wrap his head around all of this. It makes him feel better finally getting it off his chest. How long has it been since they’ve spoken to each other?

“I’ve lost track … it’s been many, many, many weeks. He’s avoiding me. Which I understand but I miss him. I miss his laugh.” Michael wishes that his time travel device still worked so it would be possible to go back and try again. What the blond wouldn’t do for one more adventure. “Needing space like this is normal? Do you think we’ll be okay eventually? You know both of us so I trust you to be honest.”

He cites ‘weeks,’ though the exact amount was unclear. Zatanna outstretched a hand, reaching the side of his right shoulder, stroking in gentle motions. She tilted her head downwards to find his gaze, offering a softened smile. Michael was a good man, though prone to being a bit too harsh on himself in certain situations. 

“While I appreciate your faith in me,” she started, coaxing a light chuckle in between, “I wouldn’t say I’m the best person to ask about this kind of situation, considering my questionable history with certain men.”

Oh Zatanna, she thought. Quite the timing to think about another blonde you were well-acquainted with. She held her tongue in regards to sharing her own experiences. There was a child present and she was not in the mood to spill obscenities about this particular man. 

“You two are a dynamic duo. You can’t have one without the other. Just have faith that he’ll come around. He can’t avoid you forever.” 

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what CAN’T she do??

Supergirl #7

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johnconstantine-hellblazer​:

The night was turning cold. Shallow puddles from earlier rain reflected the passing traffic, made up almost entirely of taxi cabs. The patrons of theatres and clubs in this district were spilling out onto the street, chattering about their evenings and looking for a way home. This was probably the busiest the place had been all day, and in a few minutes it’d be a wasteland again; at least until the next performance and the next Happy Hour in the bars.

John Constantine wasn’t sure how long he’d been leaning against the wall, watching the alley way opposite, but it was long enough for the cold to seep into his bones and threaten to make him shiver… Well, at least he’d come prepared.

Unscrewing the lid of the hip flask, John lifted it to his lips, enjoying the spiced molasses flavour of the liquor as it burned his throat on its way to warming his belly. And after the whiskey, came the obligatory cigarettes; the tip flaring brightly as he inhales the smoke deep into his lungs, then sighing contentedly on the exhale. ‘A flask of Johnnie Walker an’ a pack of knock-off Silk Cut, an’ suddenly everything’s right with th’ World,’ John thought to himself with a wry smile, taking another drag as a small group started to gather in the alley way.

Since Batman’s death, Zatanna had consistently struggled to return to the normal routine she was most familiar with. A few people came by to visit but they never stayed. She never asked them to. Her solitude was understandably chided by her younger cousin, Zach, an action she did not anticipate in the slightest.

Time passed and still, her recovery proved more difficult with each passing day. She needed to work again because it was all she knew. Surely, Zach would have protested but in her mind, she had her priorities. This would lead to her return to the theater to perform her shows for the day.

On the final show of the evening, she noticed the presence of someone she hadn’t seen in years. That wasn’t enough to distract her during her performance but it was hard not to cast a few glances at the man. He did not stay long, from what she noticed. Something told her he was still around, though. She changed quickly and made a start towards the stage door, only to remember she needed to greet her fans.

For what felt like an eternity, she signed several autographs and took pictures with fans. Still, she presented her usual friendly presence at the door, smiling and accepting all requests for pictures. Whether intentional or not, her eyes flickered back to the alleyway that was across the street from her. Even behind the cloak of darkness, she could see the thin line of cigarette smoking hovering upwards.

What started as dull cinders, small specks of amber keeping her soul intact, suddenly felt like a flame ignited when John came into her life. She never denied the chemistry, no matter of any hints of persistence in the back of her mind. Her attraction to John at that time was unmatched. Even Nick was able to pick up on the connection.

She accepted what little comforting words he had provided her, even long after Nick left the two of them to their own vices. She relished him, consequences and all. His confession that he wasn’t a perfect man felt like the start of something she thought she needed. It didn’t hurt that she found the man quite attractive.

The scruffiness of John’s blonde-locks paired surprisingly well with the shadow of facial hair around his ears, mouth and chin. The huskiness of his accent, though some bits sounded like a product of his drinking and smoking, two habits she indulged in around the same time. It was his limpid blue eyes, reminiscent of celestite, that entranced her as much as every other quality about him. Her passion for him burned in the back of her throat. She needed to let it out.

So she let him in.

The crowds began to die down when she caught sight of the familiar man once again. He was hard to make out from where she was standing. She hummed in confirmation before turning back to the open stage door. To the last of her fans, she signed the last few autographs and bid them a good night. The remnants of her smile faded when she turned back towards the door.

Once she was back inside, she conjured another door in front of her with the snap of her fingers. If he was still there, she could catch him, lest he walk away while possibly puffing away on another cigarette. Walking through the conjured door, she stepped into the alleyway where she potentially spotted her fellow sorcerer. It was, literally, a shot in the dark, but she was not about to turn back without confirmation.

“Hello, John.” She kept her tone firm but not harsh enough to sound hostile or even upset. She did not step out of the shadows, but her eyes gazed over at the other’s backside, lips pursed in anticipation. The silence left her little time to contemplate her words. Although he came to watch her show, his intentions never seemed clear. She took only a step or two forward, stopping at the second click from her black pumps.

“I see you haven’t changed that familiar habit of walking away. Not that I’m in the mood to chastise you for that this time around.”

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kryptoniansteel​:

“I wondered if you could use some company,” he offered as he heard her through the door, hoping she’d recognize his voice. He could use company, preferably somewhere besides his house, and not the kind who’d come there to offer him pity or tell him that something wasn’t his fault. Hearing that a hundred times had not really made it feel less like something he was responsible for. 

“I can go,” he added just a moment later, “if you’d prefer.” The last thing he wanted to do was impose himself on anyone right then. Still, he waited long enough to let her answer. 

Since the incident, she hadn’t heard from anyone else. Not from the team he was involved with. Not from her cousin. Hearing the voice of a familiar friend and former colleague left a slight tightness in her chest. With a quick snap of her fingers, she changed into her regular magician’s uniform, sans her usual black top hat. 

After a few encouraging steps forward, she reached her hand out and opened the door, eliciting a grin upon seeing Clark on the other end. A softened brow coaxed a hum between her closed lips. 

“You know you are always welcome in my home,” she said, stepping back to open the door all the way. A warm hand gestured towards her parlor, mustering enough energy to crack a slight smile. “I don’t mind the company right now. Please come in. Could I offer you something to drink while you’re here?”

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In Her Grief

Zatanna has experienced a lot of loss in her life. So how does she cope?

Spoiler alert: She doesn’t.

Bruce’s death is a bitter reminder of that.

Disclaimer: Mention of her father’s death. Implied self-sacrifice (disputed).

In the comics, she has shown several times that she can hardly cope with her father’s death. She’s been fooled by countless dreams that involve her dearest papa (a few comic sources [x] [x] [x]), only to discover he’s not really there. It’s her own mind trying to manifest his spirit so he can be with her again. Every single time, she’s left sobbing with the cruel realization. 

It’s not just death where she felt like she ‘lost’ someone important. When it came to her ex, Nick Necros, she lost (most) of her ability to trust someone on a more deeper intimate level. When she started developing feelings for John, Nick made his thoughts very clear (liketheassholeheis). From there, things would be better, right? 

WRONG. 

I won’t go into too many details but long story short: their dynamic became a bit too much for her to handle. 

I won’t touch on Bruce’s death since my Zatanna was not involved, nor did she witness it. What hurts her most was that she wasn’t there to help him. Bruce was a close family friend. And she feels like she betrayed her family. While I don’t acknowledge her death in JLDAW in my canon, the feelings are the same. She’d rather go instead of someone she cares for. If the situation is too much for her and someone else to handle, she prioritizes them before trying to save herself. In most cases, it’s not so much a sacrifice as it is a demonstration of her selflessness. She is aware of the risks and if someone is a disadvantage, she is willing to take a few hits in order to make a difference.

It’s what her father would have done. 

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Zatanna Zatara - Art by Marco Takara

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mostpopularmagi​:

Zach may not have been on Zatanna’s level of spellcraft, but he was probably much better than the other suspected; it wasn’t like they’d had time for her to see his abilities but… now he came to think of it, Zach wasn’t sure if Zatanna had ever seen him perform, both for an audience or using real magic.

Either way he knew enough to tell she was casting spells in there and if he were a betting man he’d wager she was either tidying up her house or tidying up herself, maybe both. It was the sort of thing he’d done on more than a few occasions; Zatara’s always needed to look perfect after all.

“No issue Cousin, Alice kept me company while I guess you tided up the place.” he smirked, “I can just feel the recent spell casting.” Unlike usual, there was a definite lack of bite in his words as he stepped inside, being careful to mind Alice of course. “Apologies for the intrusion, I doubt you’re at your best so soon after Batman’s death.”

He’d been out of the city with Eddie, celebrating their engagement… Something he needed to inform Zatanna about but was worried it would come off as boasting, especially now. He walked into the parlour and elegantly reclined on an armchair, resting his chin against his fingers.

“I’m actually here because I have some news but it can wait.” He was trying to be a better person after all, “How are you holding up?”  

She gestured a welcoming hand towards her parlor while opening the door all the way. Looking back at Alice, she reached down to scoop up the soft white rabbit. With a gentle nod, she shut her front door, turning back towards Zach by the time he made his way towards her parlor. 

The initiative to come see her was rare, but not unusual in the slightest. Hearing about Bruce’s death could have been his reasoning, noted by the mention alone, but even then, the disconnect between the cousins in recent years was left to be desired. She hadn’t spoken with Bruce since his brief visit to watch her decorate the theater for the holidays. 

Now he was gone. 

It wasn’t enough to say that her dearest friend left this Earth with unspoken words of gratitude. She wanted to ask for his advice at the time, mostly concerning how she can reconnect with Zach. Instead, she held her tongue. She’ll never know what he would have said. The thought left a burning twinge of guilt in the pit of her stomach.

“I’m fine,” she said, her vague reassurance betraying the smile she forced across her lips. In truth, her focus only caught wind of some of what he was telling her, save for him saying he had news to share. She finally took a seat across from Zach, Alice settled carefully across her lap. “Never mind that. I know you’re here for a different reason and I can tell you’re eager to share. Please, feel free to share this news with me.”

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maximoff-kaplan​:

If someone had asked him why he was nervous, exactly, he wouldn’t have had a good answer for them. Zatanna was intimidating, but not on purpose. Or at least…he was fairly sure it wasn’t on purpose. Billy had always been the type of person to idolize heroes, even after he technically became one himself. It always made him feel like he never quite belonged on teams with them, or working beside them, even though it kept happening. It was much the same as he stepped into Zatanna’s house.

“Oh, that’s really nice. Should I have-” he cleared his throat. “Should I brought something?” He’d just sort of shown up with himself and some anxiety, which wasn’t exactly a great gift. He stepped through the door without hesitation. He’d long since had to give up being concerned about magic. 

Possessing magical abilities was a feat that required more than just physical and emotional discipline. She was no exception. Young people gifted with magical abilities were often misinterpreted as “chaotic,” as though they intended to hurt someone. Only few knew the secrets underneath.  

“No, there’s no need,” chuckled Zatanna, turning back to Billy and reaching over to place a gentle hand on his shoulders. A gracious smile emerged with her lips with little restrain. She could almost see and hear the previous anxieties her cousin once carried. In turn, she remembered her reassuring and gentle approach to being the mentor. 

“I appreciate the thought,” she added. “Your company alone is more than enough, as I would tell all of my friends and acquaintances. Think of this more as a meeting with an old friend. That might help with any discomfort you might be feeling.”