~ Switch to Batman's pov ~

Upon first leaving the portal he tightened his muscles in discomfort. Portals to him felt like what a normal person would consider walking into a brick wall. John knew this and remarked just like how he will in three seconds. "You'll get used to them soon."

Hmph. Constantine, the mediator between life and death. The man who's walked a dark line through death. He was a knife, and not a dull one. The smell of fluothane was in the air. Knockout gas. Except it was different, something to analyse later. John kept still, knowing the regular scene, letting 'me' analyse the crime scene before he taints it with magic. That's the one problem with magic, sometimes the energy could alter and dissipate key elemental compounds. Transmogrify them. A quick scan of the immediate surroundings revealed three important information. Multiple vehicles, all the same make, judging by the tire tracks and the depth of their imprint. Security cameras can probably back that up. Officially this is a cold case, 72 hours has passed. However, information can still be pried from the crime scene. There were also empty bullet cases. Which shows a fight, however these bullets were all supplied by the penguin. Point 42, loaded rounds with a fish imprint on the bud of the bullet. Not enough to convict him, but a possible lead if it turns fruitless. The third and last piece of evidence was a particular bullet mark, it was different from the regular ones. A warning shot stating that it's a trap. Not many would be bold enough to make that shot, preferring to shoot at the targets themselves. Odd. Especially considering the distance. They'd have to be on Nightwing's apartment block itself considering the drop off.

Batman nodded at John telling him to only do the spell in this portion for now. John handed him a chalk. "Lay out the circle of effect you want the spell to take place." It was better if he didn't argue Batman thought. These things were specific and by looks of things John needed to focus, meditate. The circle was crafted perfectly to fit in the 3 trucks, the people attacking Nightwing as well as the warning shot. John spoke a dialect, rough Celtic and osgweligar. Except it had less mutations, must've been an older form of the Welsh language. Some words could still be made out. "Eyes", "Angel," and "time." But that was all which he could translate. John held out his hand, reaching for a hand. Batman complied. A wave of blue aura radiated from the two of them. A bubble of what could only be described as ethereal water with lightning trails was now in an orb where the circle was drawn. A blue ghost like figure was present, multiple were. The back of the trucks. The goons, plus Two-Face. And Nightwing. With the twist of the John's hands, the scene started playing. Nightwing was dominating, is winning the fight. Almost done, until a bullet goes right past him, grazing his ear. The sniper. Maybe not a warning, hard to rule out. The trucks, odd. They're doors are not opened, nobody's inside them. But the sniper causes Nightwing to retreat, to inside the building. Makes sense, gives a reprieve from the sniper, all the goons can be dealt with and backup can be called to take care of the sniper if not sneak out the back into the water. It's not adding up, it wasn't a traditional trap.

The trucks weren't full of more goons, the sniper was perfectly placed. But not anyone can pull that shot of. Either Two-Face has gotten smarter or someone else is behind this.

The next place to examine is inside.

Upon opening the door more fluothane could be smelled, stronger than before but it was still feint. However there were canisters still left behind. It was knockout gas. Yet to activate it would be risking everything as it's common knowledge that Nightwing carries a small rebreather in a hidden compartment. Constantine looked at Batman, he just nodded. Constantine began the spell again. He began to understand, John wasn't here as a friend. He made a deal. An angel deal. To gain the power of their timeless eyes. John noticed this revelation. "Look I had to, he's a good kid. The best of us. So what if I gave up my bargaining chip just for this one spell for today." Bruce looked away, and talked for the first time in an hour. "Thank you. And John, I'm sorry." John just gave a smile, half empty but still content with hearing the words. The playback began again. "Ready?" John asked, Bruce nodded "ready." The scene began with Nightwing closing the door and trying to radio help. Subconsciously drawing his ecrimas, then a blast was aimed at him. Nightwing backflipped away from it. Lex Luthor glided down in his mechanical suit. Bruce silently panicked, john's jaw dropped but he wasn't looking at lex. He was looking at the Joker. But he's in Arkham, unless Hugo Strange released them. Unease glided momentarily upon Nightwing, dicks face. But it turned different, confident. However this was not the end of it, both lex and joker Nightwing can probably take, until Ra's Al Ghul appeared. Followed by Eobard Thwane, the reverse flash. Nightwing swung at the air 3 times. Eobard had a bloody lip. Training with both flashes paid of it seemed. However. The rest rushed at him. Nightwing jumped over Lex pushing him into joker, drawing in a lock with Ra's except another hand lay across his neck. Choking him. All of a sudden, probably Eobard, there was a chair. Nightwing was hooked up to it, with a mask on to make him unconscious. The knockout gas. The joker was laughing. There was no sound but he knew the laugh well enough. A tear formed in Bruce's eye. Anger and desperation. Then the trucks were backed into the warehouse. They put him in one and the drivers, whose face couldn't be made, out drove away.