A COMINT !!

A COMINT !!

MEETING THE PARENTS

Constantine was freaking out in the watchtower meeting room. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner that your kids are dating a Denizen of the Infinite Realms?!”

“What is a Denizen of the Infinite Realms?” “Do you mean Ellie? She’s a sweet girl.” Both Batman and Superman spoke at the same time.

“Ellie? Is that her name or her Name?” Constantine asked, leaning forward.

“That…you just said the same thing twice.” Flash said in confusion.

“No. A name is what you call someone. In the Infinite Realms spirits Name is significant. It has Power.”

“That reminds me of my grandma’s old stories about fairies and Fae folk.” Green Lantern leaned back in his seat. “All that ‘giving your true name’ stuff

“Your grandma told you stories about fairies?” Flash raised an eyebrow.

“She was a hippy.” He shrugged. His cheeks just faintly pink.

“Are these beings Fae?” Flash turned back to Constantine.

“They are both Fae and Spirits. Sorta. The word is interchangeable depending on the specific being you are referring to.” Zatanna said. “For example, Banshees are a type of fae that originate from spirits or ghosts. Banshees can be apart of the Infinite Realms. The Realms are the bridge between our reality and any ‘fae realm’ that exists.” John looked exhausted, despite his leg bouncing agitatedly under the table.

“Can we refocus?” Wonder Woman interrupted. “Constantine. What are the Infinite Realms?”

“It’s the glue that both connects and divides the different plans of reality.”

“You’re talking multiverse.” Green Lantern said looking more alert.

“Not just the Multiverse, mate. Everything and Everyone who dies in Any planet, galaxy, or Universe must pass through the Infinite Realms to reach their afterlife. Which all exist under the command of the Ancient High King.”

“Hades?” Wonder Woman asked.

“Saint Peter?” Green Lantern asked.

“Or the Devil?” Flash guessed.

Constantine shook his head again. “No. All of those beings hold Dominion over a single kind of afterlife. Think of them like Lords to a King.”

“Who is the High King?” Batman had his hands posed to record the information on a monitor.

“Well, it used to be The Tyrant King. Pariah Dark, The Imperator of Fear. The Father of Despair. The Great Conqueror of the Dead, Undying, and Never Born. During the height of his rule there was a gathering of Seven Ancients who with all of their power were only able to bind him to sleep. A sleep that lasted for centuries. Unfortunately, he woke up and began to take vengeance on the whole realm. Until another spirit rose up to challenge him. A single Ancient who defeated Pariah Dark in single combat and with his victory, claimed the Throne of the Infinite Realms.” Constantine said all of this in a bored tone. Like he was retelling the drama of a soap opera he watched a hundred times.

“So the Last King was a Tyrant. What about the new guy?” Superman asked curiously.

“All I know are his Epitaphs. The Great Ancient of Balance. The Patriarch of the Wilds. Eminence of Justice. The High King Phantom.” Constantine gruffed.

“When did the transfer of power happen?” Batman asked.

“Time isn’t the same between here and the Infinite. To us it was less than five years ago. In the Infinite it could have been centuries or even millennia ago.” Zatanna shrugged. “Don’t get too strung up on timelines. The Infinite Realm exists outside of typical timelines.”

Superman shrugged. “Well, Ellie wants us to meet her parents. And Three Denizens of the Infinite Realms want to meet Robin and Superboy. Along with Batman and Superman.”

“Four.” Batman corrected.

Green Lantern looked confused. “Four?”

“Yeah. Ellie, her Dad, her Mom, and her Pops.” Superman nodded as he remembered the specifics of what Superboy had said.

Flash took a sip of a mango smoothie he hadn’t had a second ago. “Are her parents divorced?” He asked around the straw.

Green Lantern smirked nonchalantly. “‘Can spirits divorce?’ Sounds like a joke start up.”

Superman shrugged nonchalantly, “They’re a polycule. She’s got two dads and a mom according to the boys.”

“Oh.”

Constantine flicked open his pack of smokes and put one between his lips. Leaving it unlit at Batman’s glare, “Don’t expect a traditional relationship dynamic from the Infinite Realms, Mate.”

Batman tapped relentlessly on, “What are the Denizens of the Infinite Realms like?”

Zatanna hesitated, “They are...It’s hard to explain. They are emotions, obsessions, ideals, even aspects of reality given physical form. Like…gods who don’t need worship to increase their power and influence. Some are technically ghosts; the reflected personalities of former mortals from different realities, but that’s more irregular than what you might expect.” She winced at the withering stare she felt coming from Batman at her vague explanation.

Wonder Woman turned to Superman “So, what about Ellie? What kind of girl is she?”

Constantine spoke up before Superman could start, “More importantly, what kind of spirit is she?”

“Superboy said she was something called a Mirror-Born but he didn’t know what that meant.” Superman admitted. “I didn’t know either when he asked me.”

“A mirror-born? What is that?” Zatanna looked over at Constantine in confusion.

The British man shook his head, “I have no bloody idea, love. I’ve never heard of the phrase. But spirits and Others tend to be a mix of extremely literal and annoying obtuse with their terminology.” Constantine chewed on the unlit cigarette in his mouth thoughtfully. “Mirror…mirror…a reflection… A likeness. An afterimage maybe?” Constantine began to mutter to himself as he scribbled on a scrap of paper from his coat. “I’ll look up some things at the house later. Maybe see what I can dig up.”

Wonder Woman then took the lead. “In the meantime, let us discuss the logistics of meeting with these Infinite Realm Denizens.”

Zatanna took over the meeting. “Thankfully, the barrier dividing us from the Infinite Realm is hard to transverse. Natural portals are the main way they come over. Natural portals are random and dissipate quickly. Some can track and anticipate the portals appearance and cross over temporarily.”

“This ‘Ellie’ is probably a weaker but clever spirit who figured out how to access this world with some degree of certainty.” Constantine flicked the chewed up cigarette away and pulled out a new one. “But don’t underestimate her. ‘Weaker’ does not mean weak. Infinite Realms beings thrive on battle. Fighting is their main form of communication.”

“Fighting?” Batman grunted, fingers pausing in their typing.

“Everything from play fighting, friendly sparing, to actual ‘trying to end your existence’ fighting. These beings love fighting so much it’s practically coded into them.” Zatanna shrugged. “It’s as common to them as shaking hands is to us.”

“So, her parents will likely want to spar. To gauge Robin and Superboys’ worthiness for their child.” Constantine sighed. “Like a Fae version of the shovel talk. Heads or tails on if they actually try to bury them though.”

“Probably best to have the meeting here on the Watchtower or somewhere similarly isolated than on earth. Safer.” Superman glanced out of the watchtower windows. “Probably not here though.”

Wonder Woman nodded, “Noted. Should there be others included in the meeting?”

“Yes. I’d say so. Obviously, the boy, Superman, and Batman. Constantine and myself.” Zatanna listed out the individuals, counting on her fingers.

“Pass.” Constantine grunted.

Zatanna glared up at him. “No passing. If we need to restrain them, both of us might be needed. Should we invite Captain Marvel too?”

The Laughing Magician pulled out another cigarette.

suddenly struck with thoughts about the devastating concept of Jason Todd

because he was good. because he had a bleeding heart despite every reason not to. he loved school and was good at it. he was the first to be adopted, with little pretense of guardianship. he did everything he could to be a perfect Robin and live up to an impossible ideal. he only ever wanted Bruce and Dick to like him.

because he met Bruce in the same place and on the same day that Bruce's parents died--the single defining moment of Batman's existence. and he made Batman laugh. he hit the Dark Knight, Terror of Gotham, with a tire iron. he wasn't afraid of the man who turned fear into a weapon.

because he couldn't save his mother from herself, but he tried. because he was too good not to try and save the woman who gave him up. too good to play the Joker's game. the crowbar didn't kill him, the bomb did. he died knowing he wouldn't make it and tried anyway. he died a hero.

because other Robins have died, but none of them put an irrevocable tear in the mythos of Batman. because Jason Todd always dies, in every universe. he dies for the sins of his father. he was put to death by popular vote, sacrificed by the crowd. doomed by the narrative and doomed by the audience. the boy who only ever tried to prove he was good enough--wasn't good enough.

because he has every reason to be angry. because he didn't ask to be murdered, didn't ask to be brought back, and when he did everyone acted like he was better off dead. Bruce tried to kill him and nearly succeeded. he's blamed for his own death and blamed for his resurrection. he can never come home because the house is haunted by his own ghost.

because he's been the hero, the victim, and the villain. because his family and his writers and his universe don't know what to make of him. they don't know how to look his tragedy in the eye. and how can you?

it hurts to look at the hero who cannot be good enough, the victim who will only ever be angry, the villain who can sometimes be right. the audience hates to feel complicit and, in this exceptional case, they are.

If King Charles dies on or before March 25th, 2024, he will technically be the shortest-reigning king in English history.

Anyway, like to charge, reblog to cast.

rb to explode a terf ^_^ nonrefundable ^_^

Hey, wake up, new update just dropped-

PLEASE CHECK THE NEW TAGS AND RATING BEFORE PROCEEDING. As always, check the beginning A/N for chapter-specific warnings.