Authors Note:
It has come to my attention that people on FF don't seem to like the interconnected series format of Hunters & Hellblazers and are getting confused - thinking that each story is the start of a separate verse/series. For that reason I'll re-post the stories here as one long multi-chapter fic for those who were confused by my style.
I'm adding these one shots/connected stories as chapters. So if you've read them as individual stories I'm sorry! They'll be named after the story title so you can just skip past the chapters you've already read. I also suggest that you check my profile for a full list of all the stories in this 'verse. About half of the stories in this series are rated too explicit for FF and are only available on AO3.
I've also posted them in semi-chronological order. Hope that helps even with the missing explicit stories.
Important: These were written as interconnected one-shots not a multi-chapter fic. That means the there will be style and tense changes between chapters. Sorry.
I've done my best to post them chronologically but they are not written that way. Once I get to the end of the current arc then I will probably move the story to AO3 only where it can be read more flexibly.
"You son of a bitch, you hung me out to dry!" Dean wasn't quite shouting but it was close.
A few people had glanced in their direction when Dean stormed into the bar. But he just ignored them. The sort of people in a dive bar at 2:30 on a Thursday afternoon weren't going to be a problem. They weren't the sort of people who got involved in someone else's business if they could avoid it. Especially not when the someone else was as angry and well-armed as Dean Winchester.
"Hmm," Constantine scrunched up his face. "I think, technically, I used you as bait. There's a difference."
"You could've, oh I don't know… told me about it."
"Nah," John finished his drink and signalled the bartender for two more. "Wouldn't have been half as convincing. And you should've seen your face, mate. It was bloody priceless."
"I could have died?" Dean said. And why in the hell did that come out as a question?
"But you didn't!" Constantine pointed at Dean with his unlit cigarette. "You're very resourceful. I was almost certain you'd be fine. And look, here you are! No harm done."
The bartender returned with two glasses of whiskey. Constantine turned his attention to his own glass and shoved one towards Dean.
Dean sighed and took the seat next to the magus. Sure, he hated himself for it, but it had been a really bad night and an even worse day. He really needed a drink. Or ten.
Constantine lit the cigarette and they sat in silence for a while. Dean wasn't even really sure what he expected. It wasn't like the Hellblazer was going to apologize.
Did he even have a right to expect anything? What was he even thinking? Who drives thirteen hours because some guy calls and says: "Don't suppose you want'a come to Arizona and stab a few beasties in the heart for me do ja, luv?" and "I'll screw yer brains out if you do?" Dean had done more than drive to get laid. And stabbing blood sucking monsters was pretty much his job.
But that wasn't why he came when Constantine called.
He had been in Palo Alto he answered – even though he shouldn't have been anywhere near California. So yeah, he was only one state away. But it wasn't about that. Not really. It was about Sammy – who looked so happy and normal. Who didn't see Dean watching him. And would have been angry if he had. Sammy, who didn't want or need Dean anymore.
And it was about Dad too. Dad who had pretty much checked out after Sammy left. Just got even more obsessed with chasing down the thing that killed Mom. Dad, who was god knows where fighting god knows what. It was about Dean's whole shitty life. He wasn't just bored. He was just lonely. He was angry. At himself. At Dad. At the world.
There was something enticing in driving a thousand miles to screw the Hellblazer and stab some monster his dad had probably never heard of. It felt like a rebellion. Or as close to one as Dean would ever get, anyway. He wasn't like Sam. He didn't have it in him to stay gone. But maybe just a taste of freedom wouldn't hurt.
So, of course it all went to shit. John Constantine might be the Hellblazer, he might even be the best damn demon hunter on the planet, but he wasn't family. And Dean should have known better. Really the only person Dean had to blame was himself.
"I'm sorry," Constantine mumbled, more to his drink than to Dean.
"What?"
"I said, I'm sorry. For scaring you. For the whole set up. It wasn't… personal. 'S just what I do…" He glowered into his drink, "I just do whatever it takes..."
Dean stared at him. He really hadn't known what he expected storming in here to confront the Hellblazer. But it hadn't been this. Constantine really was sorry. But it also wouldn't stop him doing it again in a heartbeat. How could he live that way?
"Yeah, well. I don't usually work with people who screw me over." Dean knew he shouldn't push it even as he said it. But he couldn't help himself. It was like running his tongue over a loose tooth. Testing the edge of the pain.
"Guessing you don't normally work with people who screw you either," Constantine said and a bit of smug confidence crept back into his voice. Then he shook his head with a wry smile and signaled for another round. "It was important, you know."
"It's always important," Dean said, almost by rote.
"Nah, mate, this was really important. This wasn't just any old pair of Vetala. That thing they stole was the end of the sodding world kind of important."
Dean scoffed but Constantine just stared back impassively.
"Seriously?" Dean asked. Because, seriously?!
"There's worse out there than wolves and wendigo, Winchester. There's demons, and dragons and gods... green slimy guys in swamps... And there's some pure evil in that darkness. This thing, it's all tied up in that darkness. I've got to get it back to a guy in Louisiana before the new moon or we're talking old gods and blood rain. Armageddon."
"And that meant you had to fuck me over because?"
"Because it was the best plan. 'Cause sometimes you do a bad thing to win the good fight… Because there's always a price to playing this game, lad. And it's paid in blood, and sweat, and tears... And souls. Usually your own." Constantine moved in closer to Dean than he had been since before the show down. Right into his personal space to bring them face to face. His breath ghosting whiskey warm over Dean's skin. "Demons aren't scared of good guys, Dean. They're scared of guys like me. Because they know I'm worse than they are."
Constantine went silent and backed off when their second round arrived.
Dean realized it was the exorcist's third, at least. Maybe he should slow them down? And damn it. Dean knew himself well enough to know why he had that thought. He really was going to let the damn Hellblazer screw him as well as screw him over. Great friggin' willpower, Winchester. Fuck.
"But you know what's the very worst thing out there?" Constantine said pulling Dean's attention back into the moment. "It's us... One day you wake up and you realise that we're the thing in the dark… Men like us. We're what's worse than the worst… Because we've got to be." He lit another god-awful cigarette, "We're the righteous men, Winchester. And we're the God damned scariest thing on this God damned Earth. That's the scariest thing out in that dark. Seeing your own damned face looking back."
There was another long silence.
"Fine," Dean said. "I've got two weeks 'til I have to meet up with Dad. I'll get you to Louisiana if you help me with this possible voodoo thing I've got out that way. Sound fair?"
"Yeah," Constantine said. "You know lots of them rumours are true? I really am bad news, love."
"Yeah well," Dean said and downed his drink. "So am I."
Chapter Notes:
For those that spotted it "green slimy guys in swamps" is a reference to Swamp Thing aka Alec Holland. Swamp Thing was the comic that introduced John Constantine as a character. They're friends - as much as a morose plant man and a snippy bastard in a trench coat can be anyway.
Also, the 'voodoo thing' is meant to be the very same 'voodoo thing' case that Dean mentions having been on in the Pilot. So this first chapter occurs a few weeks before the show starts.
