Chapter Text
Not everyone in the Justice League believes that Batman is human. In fact, most are skeptical. Some of his fellow heroes think he’s a cryptid, others a demon, and a few a vampire.
All of them are wrong of course, but the ones who thought he was a vampire weren’t that far off. You see, Batman, also known as Bruce Wayne, is a human in a vampire coven. In more easily understandable terms, he has a vampire family.
Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce's adoptive father and butler, had been a vampire for Bruce’s whole life, although Bruce hadn’t known this growing up. Jason Todd’s situation was much the same, because before Bruce had adopted him, Bruce hadn’t recognized Jason as a vampire. Alfred had to clue him in. Dick Grayson was his other, older adoptive son, but he was human, like Bruce.
Batman did not let any fellow heroes know about his magical family though, because magical beings aren’t as accepted everywhere as they are in Gotham. Gotham’s harbor was originally a merfolk and selkie town before it grew, and as such, the city was more accepting of magical people.
In the rest of the United States, the magical still seems unnatural and unusual. Most members of the Justice League have probably only met magical beings if they were fighting them. Therefore werewolves, demons, fae, and the like have worse connotations to these heroes.
Bruce doesn’t exactly blame them, of course, but he wouldn’t be sharing that he was close to a type of creature known for feeding on people; Alfred and Jason meant too much to him. Instead, he decided to inform the Justice League about particular magical beings whenever they came up, to educate the heroes on the true nature of magical people.
For example, Batman had told The Flash about ghosts. About how if they weren’t in a graveyard, they probably had a purpose, and if he had a problem with time wraiths, he should ask them why they were accosting him instead of running away.
At the end of his explanation, Flash was clearly embarrassed and had mumbled, “Sorry for taking up your time, Mr. Batman, sir. I guess I should have looked into ghosts sooner.” The Flash had run out of the tower to deal with his wraith problem without looking Batman in the eyes.
Bruce knew it had gone poorly, because the Flash has been avoiding him for some time now. He hadn’t meant to lecture the man, but really, who thought wraiths didn’t speak? That was common knowledge in Gotham, because when entering a graveyard or cemetery, you just ask the local poltergeist or wraith directions to the tombstone you're visiting.
Since telling people about mythical beings wasn’t working out so well, and because he wanted Flash to talk to him again, he had made it a mission to bring together some magical heroes. Thus, the first meeting of Justice League Dark was soon to take place.
The members so far are as follows: Zatanna Zatara (of course, Bruce secretly loved her shows); Deadman (so Flash could have someone to ask about ghosts); Swamp Thing (who of course would never leave Earth for a meeting in space, but had already accepted a position in the organization); Madame Xanadu (she was scary, and Bruce would be ignoring her presence once she arrived); Etrigan the Demon (who seemed to be unhappy just sitting here, so why had he come?); Detective Chimp (Bruce was interested in working some cases with him, since he seemed quite skilled in his deductions); and of course John Constantine (Bruce already disliked him and they haven’t even met yet).
Some other Justice League members are here too. There is Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Green Lantern, and obviously Batman himself. Wonder Woman has been considering joining JLD, and Batman is in the same boat.
On one hand, his spellcasting is weak, and he already has a full life with his kids, company, and vigilante life. On the other hand, it would be good to have a core member of the Justice League JLD, and it would be nice to know if Justice League Dark would fulfill his goals of informing the rest of JL on the peaceful nature of magical beings.
Right now, the heroes who have arrived are seated around a large circular table in the middle of the great hall. The normal JL members are concentrated on one end, while the JLD members are spread about the other.
Green Arrow and Black Canary were bantering loudly, with Green Lantern joining in occasionally. Batman and Wonder Woman were having a quiet conversation, mostly about what the other group was saying. Zatanna was carrying a happy conversation with Detective Chimp and what looked to be thin air, though Batman knew to be Deadman.
Batman was going to start the meeting as soon as Madame Xanadu and John Constantine arrived, though both of them seemed to be running late.
Just as Bruce’s and Diana’s conversation was coming to a close, the man known as John Constantine strutted through the hall’s doors.
Batman stood up and walked around the table to greet him, catching the attention of the table. Hal was already hiding a smile with his hand because he knew, like Batman, that his and John’s personalities would not get along.
“John Constantine.” Bruce put out his hand to shake. “I take it, you already know why I asked you here today?”
John ignored his hand, and what Batman had said too, apparently. “So it's not true, then.” John says, with a smirk and in an annoying Liverpool accent, “You're barely magical, and I was told you could be a demon!” He makes a sign with a hand, casting some sort of spell. “You are definitely a poor spellcaster, and -” John’s smirk widens. “What's this?”
Batman has lowered his hand to his side already, but now it forms a fist. So this is how it’s going to be? He’s going to be made fun of for his magical ability in front of his peers?
“You’re part of a vampire clan? Batman, are you a fucking vampire?” John’s grin is devilish. “Not a very strong one if you are, because I can’t even detect you.”
Batman’s stomach does a flip, because how could he know? He doesn’t understand how Constantine could know, because magical familial bonds are supposed to be invisible. Can John sense Alfred? Jason?
Bruce swings his fist at John’s head and growls when he misses. Constantine nearly falls over avoiding the punch, but his devilish smile has only taken on a bit of rage.
“Oh! The big bad bat didn’t like that very much.”
Both the Green Lantern and Wonder Woman get in between the angry men. Green Lantern is talking to John, and Wonder Woman is in front of Batman.
“Batman,” she said in a commanding voice, “this isn’t like you. Control yourself.” Diana took both of his hands in hers when he tried to move around her.
Batman didn’t want to listen to her. John was making insinuations about his family, like Bruce was weak and couldn’t protect them. But that isn’t what everyone else heard. They don’t know what a clan is, or how his magical bonds were telling him Constantine was a threat. They just think he blew up because he was called weak.
Bruce was suddenly feeling very stupid. He stopped fighting Wonder Woman’s grasp, and she let him go.
“It’s just,” Bruce says softly, so Diana should be the only one who can hear him. “I didn’t want you all to know about my family.”
Diana’s eyebrows crease, and her face shows an emotion too close to pity for Bruce’s liking. Bruce has seen that look too many times in his life, especially after he talks about his family.
Apparently, Green Lantern was having less luck pacifying John than Wonder Woman had had with Batman.
“Listen, I know he’s an ass,” GL was saying, “but you can’t just come into his territory and start talking shit about the Batman . You need to chill.”
Green Lantern meant the best, but he wasn’t the best at de-escalating fights. On top of that, he didn’t know the full situation. Batman had never attacked a meant-to-be ally, and GL was making a pretty bad argument on Batman’s side.
“Oh, come on.” John Constantine practically yelled. “He’s just angry I exposed him as a glorified bloodbag to some satanic monsters!” He casts a confusion spell on Green Lantern and steps around him as GL tries to keep his feet under him.
Constantine stops in front of Batman and Wonder Woman, looking unintimidated by their glares. “Listen, I know you think you're hot shit for getting protection from your vampire buddies, but that little amulet of yours doesn’t do shit. It’s a weak-as-fuck fear charm that only affects human men.”
Constantine was talking about the silver talisman Jason had made for Bruce using Jason’s own blood. At the time, Bruce had scolded him for playing with silver, but Jason had promised not to make any more magical charms if Batman always wore it under his Batsuit. Bruce didn’t even know the amulet was actually magical, and he was saddened to hear it was protection from non-magical men. Jason had had a hard life on the streets before Bruce had found him, and this was another sign of that.
Batman was roused from his thoughts when he heard whispers behind him.
“So that’s how he’s so scary! Bats has been using magic!” Green Arrow was whisper-shouting to Canary, who was now giggling. Oh, yeah. Batman and Constantine still had an audience.
“Another word out of you, and I’m sending you to a hospital.” Batman growled.
Wonder Woman took hold of his wrist next to him, silently telling him she wouldn’t be allowing him to try. Bruce looked over to her, glaring in an equally silent reprimand. Batman couldn’t get out of the demi-goddess’s hold if he tried.
“You don’t scare me. Now that I’ve found out you’re a leech’s pet , I know you’re nothing but a little bitch!”
Batman isn’t the one to hit him this time. That honor goes to the beautiful, radiant, powerful Zatanna.
“Sorry about him.” Zatanna says, “He’s just mad because so many hot vampires have turned him down.” She leans in close to Bruce and Diana, and, ever the performer, stage whispers, “It’s probably because his breath smells like garlic.”
Bruce could have laughed if he wasn’t so emotionally repressed. Instead, he does the next best thing and thanks the magician. “Thank you for handling that. Why don’t we start the meeting? Madame Xanadu has arrived.”
With that, John Constantine is pulled into a chair and unbamboozled by whatever Zatana hit him with other than that punch. He has the better sense to stay quiet while Batman gives an introductory speech.