Red Wizard: Book 2 (A Zatanna Zatara/OC Love Story)

Bloodlines

A young, bald, skinny Caucasian man was walking in a world that had dark clouds and ash rain falling down. The man was in prison clothes, and was wearing an inhibitor collar. He walked over to a brown haired boy, who was working on a machine.

"How's it coming?" The man asked the boy.

"Almost finished." The boy told him.

"Wish I could go along." The man said.

The boy turned to the man, showing his green eyes that seemed to have flashes of orange in them. "Sorry. Only seats one." The boy told the man.

The boy then pulled out an old picture. He looked at it tearfully. The picture was of his honorary auntie and uncle who had raised him. His uncle had bright orange eyes and black hair. His aunt had long, wavy hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a silver necklace around her neck that his uncle had given her for Valentine's Day years ago. He also saw his other aunties. One had them had brown hair and brown eyes. The other, had black hair and brown eyes.

Next to him was another boy. He was caucasian. He had dark, wavy hair, and orange eyes. The hair he got from mom, and the eyes he got from his dad. They all looked so happy together.

"At least I will be able to my uncle and aunties young." The boy thought to himself as he smiled at the picture.

Mount Justice: February 28: 10:07 EST

Nick and Nightwing were in the Mission Room, going over the data from Malina Island.

Today was Jay and Joan wedding anniversary. Nick was going to go with Zatanna to celebrate Jay and Joan being married for 70 years. He had also gotten them each a little gift as well.

"Decryption completed. Translation completed." The computer announced as Tim and Garfield approached them.

"Is that the Krolotean intel?" Tim asked

Nick nodded. "Yeah, it is." He said in confirmation.

"What Krolotean intel?" Garfield asked in confusion.

"The data files M'gann and J'onn recovered on Malina Island before it was destroyed." Nightwing said gravely.

"Ah. Noted." Garfield said in understanding as he smiled, while Tim started to look thoughtful.

"Apparently, the Kroloteans were snatching humans to use as guinea pigs. They were hoping to find something. Something inside us." Nightwing explained.

"That's probably what they planned to do to me." Nick added.

The trio looked at Nick, who just pulled his hood up and looked down, avoiding their looks.

"Nick, just be glad that they never got the chance." Phoenix told Nick telepathically.

Nick just gave a mental nod. "Yeah." He said. He and Phoenix both still felt bad for what happened to the Kroloteans.

Nick looked up at the trio with a small smile. "But luckily, they did not capture me." He reminded them as he pulled his hood back down.

The trio shared a look. They knew that Nick was feeling gulty for what happened to the Kroloteans.

"What?" Tim asked Nightwing, getting back on topic.

"There's no English word for it. The nearest translation is Meta-Gene." Nightwing explained in confusion.

"What's a Meta-Gene?" Tim asked in confusion.

"Never met a gene I didn't like." Garfield joked as he nudged Tim.