Short Chapter 1: New Team Member.
He was running, faster than he knew he could, his chest stung and he could taste bile in his throat. He would not dare look back, because the things chasing him would catch him if he did. His trench coat fluttered in the wind as he ran, look straight ahead. He turns into an ally, those bastards had killed so many, now his mother and sister. They were gone, dead, and all because he was related to his father. He had gone out and come home, to get fucking milk, that was the reason they were dead, he couldn't protect them. His eyes stung, damn, it was cold out. He could hear them coming, gaining on him and he turns to check his back. In this moment of foolishness Max runs into a body, hard and lean, almost like a brick. His eyes wander up, black boots, black pants, bat insignia, a set of cold eyes stare down at him. He swallows and Batman simply grabs him by his shirt collar and tosses him into the Batmobile, the Batman vaulting into the seat beside him and punching the gas, the whole car lurching forward and speeding off, the shrieks and cries of dark and stoic creatures filling the air.
Silence, that was it, the hum of the engine and Max staring down batman. He wasn't speechless, he honestly didn't know what he could say. Batman was gripping the steering wheel tight, his eyes staring ahead and piercing the air, the whole mood of the car somber and dark. Batman was the first to break the silence.
"Your father told me where to find you" he says flatly. Max sneers and looks away, he hated his father, the bastard left him to chase skirts.
"Why should I care?" He says sourly, his tone bitter. Batman remains silent, obviously thinking.
"Because John has fought hard for you, he cares for you, he's a good man". Max snorts at the remark.
"There isn't anything good about that man" Max says. Batman remains silent, and then speaks, the words leaving his lips soft and calm.
"Then why are you wearing his coat?" Max filled with rage as he slams his fist down on his own knee, the impact shaking his body.
"Where are you taking me?!" He asks with rage. Batman simply remains silent and looks up, they were underground now, overhead lights keeping the strip well lit. The car stops slowly and slowly lifts up on the hydronic elevator, entering a large room, with a large computer. Max jumps out of the car, his blond hair a mess, and his green eyes scanning the room. He swallows and rubs his jaw, looking at batman.
"Where are we?" He asks impatiently, his movements nervous and tense.
"Somewhere safe, Robin!" Batman replies and yells, the young masked man he called for vaults down and lands. Robin stands and eyes Max, the stare like daggers, scanning and scrutinizing. Max turns to talk to batman, trying to get some answers, but to his surprise and disbelief Batman was gone. Gone and leaving Max alone with Robin. Robin chuckles and takes out a collapsible staff, the metal clicking and locking together, Robin rushing forward.
"So where are we you big red bird" Max says as he turns to face Robin, then a blur of metal and a slam into his gut. Max gasps and sputters as he feels the pole slam into his gut, the feeling worse than a punch. Saliva drips out of his mouth as Max crumples to his knees and hugs his gut, taking in deep, sharp breaths. Robin takes the pole and slings it across his back, allowing his arms to drape over it. Robin gives a small smirk and looks down at Max.
"This all? I figured you would put up a fight, Batman told me to test you, too bad it ended so soon"
These words, calling Max weak, they lit a fire in him. His chest was burning, his vision went into a tunnel. Seeing only the grin of Robin, it made him enraged. Blood pumped in his ears, and max slowly rises to his feet, a low growl leaving his chest. Robins expression turns from a smirk into more serious look, realizing it wouldn't be as easy as it appeared. Max inhales to steady his breaths and looks at Robin, taking a loose fighting stance.
"Come at me, you red fucking bird" He spits, his eyes intense with emotion and drive, Max was in no mood to be shown up by a kid in a costume.
Max lurches forward, throwing a quick jab at Robins jaw, but Robin simply swings the rod over his shoulder and whacks the fist aside, the crack of fingers breaking loud and clear in the air. The red hot pain shooting through Max's hand, causing him to yelp and retreat abit. Robin grins and moves in, thrusting with the pole, aiming for Max's jaw. Max was too quick, ducking and punching Robin's gut, but Max put all of his body into the punch. He twists his fist as the punch meets and Robin sputters softly, turning the tide of the fight slightly in Max's favor.
Robin grabs onto Max's wrist with an iron grip, he then twists his body and throws Max over his shoulder, sensing Max into the ground with a tumble. Max rolls and stands, covered now in dust. Max sees a boot, well, the bottom of one and it meets his face in a fierce kick, his nose giving way and releasing blood onto robins boot.
Max landed on his back, slowly getting up and wiping his bloody nose on his sleeve, panting hard and staring down a grinning Robin. He mutters a few profanities as he takes a fighting stance, glaring at Robin. This egotistical jerk was kicking his ass, and he knew it. Max's expression turns into a sly grin and he points a finger gun at Robin. Cocking his head slightly to the side as he stares down the length of the arm and Robin.
"EMALF!" He shouts loud and clear and a small silver spark appears at his finger tip, followed by the smell of ozone in the air. The hair on the back of Max's neck stood up, it felt like he was in a sauna now, and a bright yellow flame shoots out of his finger tip, heading straight for Robin.
The fire stopped, almost instantly, as if it were hitting a wall of some sort. Max spins to face the being that would be rude enough to halt his magic and he is met with the mad glare of M'gann, aka "Miss Martian".
"What is going on here?!" She shouts as she approaches both Max and Robin, her eyes starting both of them down, Max felt immediately smaller in strength and size compared to the green and angry Martian. Robin would calmly approach the computer and place his hand in the hand recognition system and speak clearly.
"Max Constantine." The screen would flicker, and reveal multiple mug shots, photos and documents on Max. His bio, his parents, his entire life was reduced down to a file on the computer. Robin looks at M'gann, then at Max, then back to M'gann.
"Welcome our newest team member, Max Constantine...and before you as Megan, this was Batmans idea, not mine." Robin says as he sighs softly, walking up the stair leading into the main room.
Max avoids M'ganns line of sight and walks over to the computer. He would look at his right hand and observe it, then press it firmly into the slot. He would wait for a second, building up the courage to do this, not caring if "Miss Martian" was here to witness this.
"Computer...give me info on...John Constantine." Max says, a lump forming in his throat as he stares at the screen, fear and anticipation making a pain in his gut.
"John Constantine, age 32, hometown: Liverpool, England. Current status, Missing..."
Max's heart dropped, missing?
"Children, one file found." The computer says, M'ganns curiosity building as she approaches from behind Max, he didn't realize she was so close to him, but that didn't matter at the moment.
She spoke before he could.
"Computer, open file." She says and the computer reroutes to the file on Max, posing both pictures of John and Max side by side. Her eyes widened as she looked at Max, who was walking to sit alone by the cave wall. They look striking similar, M'gann thought.
The curled lip, the sunken cheeks, the jaw, the hair. Even the look in their eyes were the same, but Max had these deep, and dark green eyes. While his father had bright and alive electric blue ones. It's what set them apart, that and John had an ugly scar that ran down his left eye and towards his cheek, while Max's face was mark-less.
Max was sitting alone against the cave wall, fiddling with the hem of his coat, he would examine the trench coat and sighs softly. M'gann approaching him slowly and frowning, he was alone, and the thoughts that ran through his head weren't that positive either.
"So your father is John Constantine?" She asks, hoping to get him talking and lighten the dark mood.
"Yeah...I'm the son of the biggest bastard on Earth, fun.." He mutters softly, avoiding M'ganns line of sight.
She would sit next to Max and smile at him softly. "Everyone at the tower talks about him whenever something magic related happens, they say he's one of the best mages."
Max scoffs and looks at her. "Never play poker."
M'gann cocks her head in confusion and looks at Max, gripping her skirt tight.
"Cause you suck at lying." He says as he walks away, and into the main room. If he was going to be in this club, he might as well get to know the team.
She frowns as he leaves, only because she wasn't lying, and he knew that. She sighs and follows him, staying behind a certain distance, feeling the tension within him.
END OF CHAPTER : Please leave comments and suggestions bellow.