Curate, connect, and discover
Zatana smiled softly at the sight before her. She was at the Watchtower, looking for an item she misplaced a day or two ago (and to check on John), when she stumbled on the most precious thing she had ever seen. On a bed in the medical wing layed John, fast asleep.
Zee couldn't help herself coo as she heard the softest purr from Danny. It didn't matter that he was technically an adult, it was adorable. And from the looks of it, he had his guard dropped almost completely. There was no stirring as she crept closer, no twitch or care of who entered or where he was. He was well and truly in a deep sleep. It hurt her heart a bit to think that this may be the best sleep he's had in a while. Something was definitely up.
Constantine began to stir a few minutes after Zee arrived. He blinked a few times and looked around in confusion, wondering who was on him. His face softened just a bit as he realized Danny hadn't moved. Then, he noticed Zatana, by then having taken a few photos of the two.
John grumbled a bit as Zee laughed quietly. After a few seconds of silently staring, he asked as quietly as he could, “How long have you been here?”
“Only a few minutes,” Zee replied softly as she looked through her photos and settled down next to the two, “What happened?”
John began moving the young man off him, who, despite still being asleep, immediately tried to fight to stay on him. John just gave up after a few tries, too tired to fight him. “Had a fight, some childhood trauma popped up while doing so,” Zatana could see how haunted John was, despite his best to stay as neutral as possible. She calmly and carefully moved closer to Danny. What got her a bit worried was what John said next. “He did something incredibly dangerous to himself to save my life.”
“Hm,” Zee hummed as she softly scratched Danny’s scalp. She brought her attention to John's wounds. “What happened to your attacker?”
“The bastard deserved what happened to him,” John said with a little hollow tone. He smiled just a bit. “In any case, it's over now. We won’t be seeing him anytime soon.” John’s eyes dropped. “But I found out why the kid was so secretive about his ‘other’ half. And you’re not gonna like it.”
“And that is?” Zee asked, carefully placing a silent spell.
He continued, clearly angry, “The US Government placed a law that says ghosts and liminals are non sentient or sapient and aren’t considered people. That law also put into place a branch specifically to hunt them down and study them. What makes it worse, his parents are the ones supplying and making the weapons to hunt them.”
“John,” Zee began.
John ignored her, beginning to vent, “I had some ideas of it, but that?!” His voice was beginning to raise. “Who in God's name would be so bold as to claim an entire species, older than the fibers of the universe -”
“John-” Zatana tried to interrupt calmly.
“-as non sentient or sapient! How do you prove something that is clearly wrong!”
“John-”
“Do you know what things they might be doing to the ghosts they had already caught? And the kid kept this to himself and didn’t tell us.”
“John Constantine!” Zatana yelled through gritted teeth. She was incredibly thankful for the privacy of a silent spell. As she yelled, Danny’s sleepful face twitched. He was mumbling something, clearly stirring, though still drifting in and out of sleep. “It’s okay darling,” Zee hummed sweetfully, scratching his scalp, “You’re safe.” Danny settled down again, drifting back into his slumber. She looked back at John. Constantine stopped and finally turned to the magician. She was giving him such a hard look.
After a brief stare off, Constantine’s eyes grew wide. “You knew.”
“Long before I even met Danny, in fact, but yes, I knew.” Zee said quietly, looking away. She sighed, “The law was placed when I was a girl, and I only knew about it because my father tried and failed to fight it. It was his mission to, if nothing else, protect the ghosts that can’t escape. And I do too.”
John held back a stutter. “Who else knows?”
“Dr. Fate came to me about a year ago about how much me and my father knew about it, and I’m pretty sure the Big Three know, but I’m pretty sure they’re keeping it on the down low until they figure out a way to repeal the law and organization,” Zee’s eyes looked at John softly. “I’m sorry I-”
“It’s fine. Really, I get it,” John sighed, clearly defeated. “I would have certainly made a fool of myself if you did tell me.” He looked at Danny sadly then back at her. “For now, I’ll try to keep my mouth shut about it. But if that fucking organization goes for you or the kid, I will raise hell and make them wish they were never born.”
“It’s only fair,” Zee said with a soft smile.