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“Hey guys, look what I found!” The door slipping open was heard only a second before Flash zoomed into the meeting waving around an old book and a battered piece of parchment. It flapped open to what appeared a star chart. “Some sort of cult or whatever was trying to summon a death god.” The book thumped into the table and Constantine, chair tilted back and feet up on the table, much to Batman and Wonder Woman’s disapproval, craned his neck to glance at it.
“Death god, huh?” He squinted at the book, head tilted. From the corner, Batman loomed over his fellow Gohamites and oozed irritation. Red Hood, sans helmet but never without a mask, snorted and Robin rolled his eyes, muttering ‘incompetent’ under his breath. Constantine’s chair legs hit the floor and he near sprawled across the table to lunge for the book. “Wait a bloody—"
“Ow papercut,” Flash hissed, dropping the star chart, red blotting the edge. Constantine laid on the table, hands extended towards the book, but frozen as he watched the parchment flutter to rest on the table.
“Uh… you, uh, you good? Constan—" The star chart burst into neon green flame and the temperature of the conference room dropped noticeably. Flash leaped back, halfway across the room in a blink and everyone else followed, save the Hellblazer still splayed on the table, staring in horror as the green flames devoured the star chart. Once it hit the slice of blood, it retracted to barely a half inch in height before exploding in purple, raising high up towards the ceiling. It settled there, a mockery of a borealis, purple and green swaying above their heads and washing everything in color. Where the flames had died, a round circle made up of smaller, concentric circles, shapes, and a scrawl of letters none could read was burned into the table, glowing the same toxic green and giving off a rolling green smoke that slipped to the ground.
“Fuck,” Constantine whispered, hands trembling.
“Constantine,” Batman growled from the shadows.
“Don’t you start with me, you CLEARLY saw this was not— “
A crash echoed in the room, not unlike the sound of glass, but deeper, something that froze the blood and sent everyone adjusting their footing in preparation.
“It’s a summoning,” Constantine hissed, staring as the circle glowed brighter. “Much as I hate to believe someone in Central was actually competent—” Flash muttered something rude under his breath, but Constantine ignored him, too focused on the smoke still dripping towards the floor, “They might’ve bloody been on the up and up.”
“You can’t seriously expect us to believe it summons—"
“Yeah,” Constantine snarled, finally adjusting to sit on the table and shaking, “Yes, I bloody well do. Even I don’t fuck with the Infinite Realms, Bats, and that? That is bringing out something even worse.” Constantine slid off the table and backed away from it, watching as the lights near cut out and almost all that remained to light the room was the borealis above them. The sound of glass shattering echoed in the room once more, crashing against itself and Constantine closed his eyes when the lights finally cut. “Do not fight it, if they’re not provoked, we can still make it out alive,” he warned, voice a solemn plea.
The smoke hovered half a foot to cover the floor like fog and from the circle, transparent green rose at a slow steady pace. It didn’t look that different from the Green Lanterns’ constructions, which made the ancient pillars all the stranger to see grow and shift to settle in the open space between the table and the wall. A dais rose from the fog next, then, piece by piece slotting together, a throne.
Wide enough to seat two comfortably, the back reaching high up to disappear into the darkness of the ceiling, but the seat itself settling well above their heads forcing everyone to look up. Constantine skirted around the table, his every step reluctant, before he stopped before the throne making it very clear he would be their unwilling representative in this matter and for everyone else to kindly stay the fuck back and let him handle it for the love of all that’s holy.
A small, glowing green orb came to life in a swirl above the throne and Constantine fell to one knee, head bowed. “Our sincere greetings to The Keeper of Balance,” Constantine murmured and all noise stopped, everything unnaturally muffled.
The orb grew, shifting and shimmering as it expanded before it split into two. The larger portion dripped down and grew to take on a vaguely humanoid shape lounging across the width of the throne, one leg thrown over the opposite arm while the smaller piece hovered above its head.
“The Veil Between the Realms,”
The green shifted to black, then the color swirled, pulling down to form the being’s clothes, a high-necked suit not too dissimilar to many of the League’s own with a cape pooling around them, the lining the same bright toxic green. What looked like a utility belt bearing only two pouches was wrapped around their waist. The smaller orb that hovered above their head splayed flat like a disc before spikes rose from it and the middle hollowed out.
“The One Who Defeated The Sleeping Tyrant,”
The black that formed their head faded to show sharp fae features and blue tinged skin. Toxic, glowing green eyes watched them all, one white gloved hand propping up their cheek from the arm of the throne. Sharply pointed ears were half hidden under blinding white hair. The crown of floating, jagged green ice hovered above their head by several inches, mist circling the points and twinkling in the light of the borealis above them.
“And The Protecter of Life And Death. We welcome the High King of the Infinite Realm.”
“I accept your greeting,” the god stated, voice the soft thump of snow. “So why bring me here?”
Constantine sucked down a deep breath. “Our greatest apologies,” he grit out and the king quirked up an amused brow. “There… was an incident we were… discussing, when your sigil was activated.”
The king’s lips curved up in a grin showing off sharp fangs. “You didn’t mean to bring me here,” he summarized, voice distinctly amused. His eyes continued to glow bright green, made all the brighter by the shadow of the throne.
“Yes,” Constantine bit out.
“Yeah, that was my bad,” Flash waved and the king’s sight immediately focused on him. Constantine whirled to his feet, trench coat snapping against his legs as he tried to step between the two. “Papercut. I didn’t think that cult actually knew what they were doing.”
The king stared, then his gaze shifted to take in the room around him. Constantine froze, remaining still and preparing himself to step between the King of the Dead and those of the Living Realm.
“My apologies for the disrespect,” Constantine was quick to tack on.
“No need, I remember well my own days as a hero,” the king mused and the room shifted in interest. His gaze took them all in, then focused on the dark group from Gotham. He tilted his head to the side curiously.
Constantine deliberately shifted to try and block his gaze. “Your Highness? What do we need to do to dissolve the circle?”
“Dissolve?” The king blinked at him, then at the still glowing circle. “Oh.” He snapped his fingers and it faded with a wisp of green smoke. “Well, Hellblazer,” the king intoned and Constantine dropped once more to his knee, sweat beading at the back of his neck. He’d never given his name. “You’ve treated me with courtesy and grace, very different from the reputation I’ve heard,” he grinned and Constantine stiffened. “We’ll call this a greeting between worlds and claim nothing more.” The breath Constantine released was almost strong enough to send him to the floor in relief. The king laughed and Constantine straightened up, ears red at the tips. “Your emotions are clear to me, Laughing Magician! What a hero, to set forward to guard those at your back! I like you, John Constantine!”
The king slid off the throne and floated down. His features brightened before he shifted to floated cross-legged in the air, cape discarded on the throne. Without the cape, and much closer now, he was smaller than originally thought and appeared not so much older than some of Batman’s brood. The dark hero twitched.
“Let’s stop with all the formal stuff, it’s starting to make my teeth itch. Just call me Phantom.” Constantine blinked rapidly at the king, who beamed back at him. “Yeah?”
“If—that’s what you want,” the magician hedged and Phantom nodded. “Then. Phantom. Welcome to the Justice league,” he straightened up awkwardly and Phantom peered around the heroes slowly shifting forward.
“Neat!”
Robin scoffed but Nightwing was quick to pull him close and half behind his back. “So nice to meet a fellow hero!” Nightwing beamed at the king, who tilted to stare back at them.
Then, the king’s cheeks flushed violet and he stared, jaw dropped and eyes glowing at the clustered group of vigilantes. Nightwing blinked.
“Uh, you good? Phantom?”
“Holy shit you’re hot,” the king whispered and Nightwing choked. Robin immediately shoved himself forward, drawing a knife protectively, eyes narrowed and lips pulled back in a snarl exposing his teeth.
Constantine was staring at the wall with a blank expression, looking as if the world was ending before his eyes.
Batman stepped forward, deliberately blocking the sight of his children and staring down the king. “Your Majesty,” he growled and Phantom straightened up, feet touching down on the Watchtower’s floor. “That’s inappropriate for your standing.”
“I can’t compliment a guy?” Phantom blinked and Batman twitched. “Wait, wait wait, ooohhhh oohhh, you’re his dad, aren’t you? Oh, oh my bad, sir.” Phantom raised a hand in apology and Constantine starting laughing, first a low chuckle, but it quickly grew louder the longer it went on. “So do I need your permission to ask him out, or are we chill with personal choice and independence?”
Constantine’s laughter grew hysterical.
Batman stared him down, then shifted his gaze to the rest of the League. Wonder Woman blinked sedately back at him with a brow quirked up while Superman’s gaze was narrowed in warning. “He can make his own choices,” Batman ground out, stepping aside. Nightwing watched the king approach, smile strained and hands clutching heavily at Robin’s shoulders.
Except, Phantom zipped over to stand before Red Hood and took up his hand, kissing the back of his fingers while he gazed adoringly up at the former crime lord from under his lashes.
Red Robin wheezed beside them before collapsing against the wall laughing.
“So,” Phantom purred and Red Hood stared down the king kneeled before him, cheeks violently red. Batman straightened up to his full, towering height and Nightwing immediately leaped at him to curl on his shoulders to weigh him down. Robin tackled his legs and clung while Red Robin was completely useless on the floor, still wheezing. “Know any good burger places?”
“Are you serious right now?”
The king bounced up and everyone stared at the laughable height difference. Red Robin curled a little further in on himself, hiccupping. “Absolutely, you’re the hottest guy I’ve ever seen, please go out with me!” Nightwing made an oddly strangled noise, half laughter and half indignation.
“What’s wrong with you?” Jason asked bluntly and Phantom beamed up at him.
“A lot of things, but I just know you’re perfect,” his voice echoed on the last word and a shiver went down Jason’s spine.
“You don’t know anything about me,” he muttered and Phantom continued to stare up at him. “What makes you think I wanna go out with the king of the dead?”
“Oh? Aren’t you just like me?” Phantom asked and Jason bristled, teal eyes flashing green. “That’s fine, we can take it slow.” Phantom stepped back and bowed low, one arm curled across his stomach the other spreading out to the side. Two bright white circles started at his waist and moved, one up and one down. With a flash of light that almost hid the king from their eyes, stood a man not much younger than Jason with black hair, blue eyes, and scars trailing up his neck from under his blue hoodie, thin branching lines that just barely reached up past his jaw.
Constantine stopped laughing.
The man smiled up at Jason, who stared back at him. “So. Nice to meet you, I’m Danny. Retired hero, part time Ghost King, and currently majoring in aerospace engineering. You free Thursday for dinner, sweetheart?”
Jason blushed violently and Batman growled low in his throat.
“Oh god, he’s s halfa,” Constantine moaned in horror, sinking to his knees. Danny shot him finger guns and a wink. “Oh, bloody hell, the king’s a brat.”
“Legal adult, thanks,” Danny shot back.
“Just a bloody kid?” Constantine repeated.
“Twenty in February, but go off I guess,” Danny mused and Constantine whimpered, reaching frantically for his flask and chugging. “I still like you though, sad trench coat man, even if your coping methods are questionable.”
“You’re human?” Superman asked cautiously.
“Give or take,” Danny wiggled his hand in the air, a so-so motion. Constantine keened and Superman shot him a concerned look. “But anyway, dinner?” Danny stared up at Jason, who stared back down at him, then to his father gearing up to tackle the king of the underworld, then back to the twink who boldly declared him perfect. Jason grinned.
“Sure. Why not. What’s the worst that could happen?” Jason decided with an airy chuckle.
Batman snarled and Danny beamed before leaping forward and easily lifting the vigilante who easily had half a foot and 80 pounds on him in a hug and spinning him around. Jason flushed at the easy display of power and Nightwing was having a heck of a time holding their esteemed leader back, even with Red Robin finally helping out. “You won’t regret it, I promise! Oh man,” Danny stopped spinning and let him down and Jason blinked dazedly down at him. “Holy shit you’re perfect,” Danny breathed, reaching up to cup Jason’s cheeks, smile dreamy. Jason was pink, staring back down at him and lips wobbling into a crooked smile. “I’m gonna date the fuck out of you.”
“Looking forward to it,” Jason whispered and Danny swooned, falling back into Jason’s fast reflexes.
“How romantic?” Flash whispered to Martian Manhunter, who stoically nodded.
“Absolutely not,” Batman snarled, Robin picked up and held under one arm, Red Robin under the other, and Nightwing curled awkwardly on his shoulders. Their attempts at slowing him down had failed pitifully.
“Shut up, old man, you’re not gonna ruin my date, this is for politics or whatever.” Jason hissed, Danny still in his arms.
“Yeah, diplomacy and all that!” Danny piped up. Batman frowned and Danny popped up to kiss Jason’s cheek before skipping away, the circles returning to split him in half before his Ghost King appearance returned. Toxic green eyes met Jason’s and Danny winked before he raised one hand and flexed his fingers, nails lengthening to claws before he ripped his hand through the air. The slashes bled green before growing to become large, oval portal. “See ya Thursday,” he crooned, then stepped inside the green. It hovered there for a long moment, the pillars and throne slowly dissolving and seeping towards it, slipping in after the king.
“Guys, I just met the hottest guy in the universe and his dad already hates me! What are my chances of marrying the love of my life?!” Echoed from the portal and the Justice League immediately stepped forward to hold Batman back from his first murder.
“Oof, gone ten minutes and already proposing. Lame. 0 out of 10 and I’m not consoling you when he dumps your pathetic ass,” a man answered back, voice bored.
“Don’t say that, I’ll cry! He’s perfect!” Danny whined.
“Please, we know your type, strong enough to break you and emotionally repressed. You fall too fast and they don’t fall at all. Back me up Sam?”
“Sorry, Danny, but you definitely have a type,” a woman noted. “I bet 50 bucks he’ll try to kill you like all the rest of your exes in three months.”
“Ooh, I’ll take that bet,” the man cackled and Danny wailed wordlessly. “One month before he—"
and the portal swirled shut.
Red Robin reached out to paw at Jason’s arm from where he was still bustled under Batman’s arm. “Should we let Agent A know about the upcoming wedding, or wait for the proposal?” Batman dropped him and Robin to stride over to grip at Jason’s shoulders, a scowl pulling his lips down into a deep frown. “Rude,” Red Robin said into the metal floor.
“Red Hood—”
“Fuck you, I’ve got a date to plan,” Jason batted the hands away, grin wide and crooked.
“Listen—” Batman tried again, but Jason swatted at his hands once again.
“For peace and whatever,” Jason told him brightly and Batman let out a low grunt, turning to look at his fellow League members for support. Wonder Woman stepped forward, expression pleasantly neutral. Batman perked up in hope.
“Red Hood, while peace between realms is always at the forefront, we look forward to your own joy,” she declared and while Jason beamed back at her, Batman fell back half a step in betrayal. “He seemed quite taken with you. I expect such devotion to bring much happiness in the coming days.”
“Thanks, Diana, at-least someone’s happy for me,” Jason shot a hard look to his father, whose hands twitched up like he was planning on trying to grab him again. “Well, I gotta bounce, big plans and all,” Jason breezed before near skipping out of the meeting room. “See you at home!”
“Well, at-least Hood chose well in royalty for a paramour,” Robin noted, voice tinged with disdain. Batman let out a low sound of distress. “Though he seems like an idiot.”
“That’s not very nice, Baby Bat,” Nightwing scolded and Robin turned his head to the side and clicked his tongue. “It definitely made Hood’s day! People usually don’t take to him so quick!”
“Just like one of his romance books he thinks we don’t know he reads,” Red Robin noted from the floor, where he decided to sprawl and have one arm raised to swipe on the interface of his gauntlet. “What a nerd.”
“I think it’s cute! Don’t you want someone to come and sweep you off your feet at-least once?” Nightwing questioned, voice dreamy and Batman immediately swooped to lift Red Robin and heft him up under the arms like a kitten. “Uh, B?”
“You’re not dating until you’re at-least thirty,” he growled and Red Robin blinked back at him in surprise before his expression fell to distaste. Nightwing squawked out a laugh and Robin smirked. “You too, Robin.”
“You’re acting like I’m gonna go get married next week and leave the house—which, may I remind you! I have my own apartment! I don’t even live with you anymore!” Red Robin huffed and crossed his arms, comfortably dangling in the air. “Dial back the overprotectiveness, jeez.”
“You’re too young,” Batman growled back and Red Robin quirked a brow back at him.
“B, I really hate to break this to you, but I’m actually 18 and already dating.” Red Robin slipped from his grasp while he froze at the news and skipped back before lunging for the doors. “Okayseeyoubye!”
Batman twitched, like he debated chasing after him, then whirled on Nightwing, cape flaring dramatically. Nightwing raised his hands palm up. “Did you know about this?”
“News to me!” Nightwing chirped back and Batman snarled.
“He’s obviously dating the clone,” Robin noted calmly and everyone froze. “What? They’re disgustingly obvious. It wasn’t hard to put together. Really, Father, I expected better. Drake’s been pathetically pining for years.”
Batman tilted, one narrowed eye zeroing in on Superman, who blinked back at him. Superman shook himself and pasted on a smile. “Wow, small world, who woulda guessed! And, look at the time, I really should be, you know, leaving,” and disappeared down the hall.
“B, you’re starting to scare me,” Nightwing stepped forward, hands still raised. “Let’s talk about this, huh? Isn’t this exciting and such. Good. News?” he grit out, smile strained.
“My children are dating,” Batman sneered, low voice and Nightwing nodded agreeably.
“They sure are! And one of them a King at that—B, B, put down the batarang, B, I was joking, B, wait, come back! Oracle, Code Red, Batman’s gone feral, grab Agent A, we need the tranq! Quick Robin, after him, don’t let him escape!”