Teacher, Not Hero (femPercy Jackson X YJ)

Sixty: So How Was Hell? Pretty Shit Actually, 0/10

Batman lifted his hand in the direction of the strange man, opening his mouth to introduce him, but Percy beat him to it.

"Constantine?" She exclaimed, incredulity dripping from her words as she whirled around to fully face him, spinning across the concrete in her fuzzy socks. A similar look of shock passed over the blonde man, his mouth falling open slightly before splitting into a grin.

"Holy shit, Jackson? I heard you died, you asshole."

"I got better." Percy replied, excitement and disbelief coloring her words. Batman interjected before the two could continue.

"You two know each other?" He asked despite the obviously familiarity the two had.

"Hell yeah, Johnny here and I go way back." Percy began uncrossing her arms and walking toward the British man.

"I wouldn't say 'way back', we've just had brief moments where our separate interests intersected," the man now dubbed Constantine began.

"Oh shut up you bastard,you know you like me." Percy said with the same pestering tone she often took with the team, lightly smacking Constantine on the shoulder.

"What kind of interests?" Batman pressed, eyes narrowing is suspicion. The team stayed silent through the exchange, unsure of whether or not they should interject, but still curious as to how the scene would play out.

"I've had a couple quests to retrieve various godly artifacts. Blondie here would occasionally be after the same ones. After some brief misunderstandings, where I totally kicked his ass by the way-"

"You absolutely did not!" Constantine argued. Percy continued as if she hadn't been interrupted.

"He conceded that godly artifacts belong under the watch of demigods. We ran into each other enough that we eventually just kept tabs on each other and helped when we could."

"I still don't know how you beat those demons in poker. I couldn't beat them."

"That's just cause you suck at poker."

"You were 13!"

"Yeah, and still better at poker than you."

"Just tell me how you cheated, I've been dying to figure out for, what, 3 years?"

"4 actually."

"Oh you're 17 now? Happy birthday."

"Thank you I pride myself on making it this far."

"Completely understandable given your track record, congratulations."

"Okay!" Batman cut into their babbling chatter. The pair turned to him with identically looks of annoyance.

"Look, dark and gloomy, just because you can't make friends doesn't mean you get to be a sour puss when other people do," Constantine snipped in a tone so similar to Percy that the team couldn't help but wonder who learned it from who.

"Hey now, he and I just had an emotional breakthrough don't go destroying my progress." Percy stated, giving Constantine another small smack on the arm.

"Whatever you say, love. How did it go with the whole dying thing? I haven't heard much from the grapevine, something about a war?"

"Yeah, you know how it goes. Fucking gods, man. I'm not celebrating Earth day anytime soon, I'll tell you that much," Percy quipped.

"So how was Hell? Asking for a friend."

"Is the friend you?" Percy asked with a raised eyebrow. Constantine balked.

"Well that's where everyone tells me I'm going, excuse me for trying to scout out some prime real estate!" Percy gave him a considering glance, crossing her arms and looking him up and down as if she was appraising him. 

"Stay away from the fire water."

"Noted."

"Can we please get back on track?" Batman practically begged, a long suffering tone drenching his words. Percy waved him off, her attention remaining on the Brit. The tram shuffled awkwardly but no less amused as they saw Percy banter with her old friend and Batman falling into further states of exasperation.

"Real talk though, why the fuck are you here? It's not that I don't enjoy your company but I never thought I'd see the day where you were willingly working with the Justice League." Percy asked, hands falling to her hips as she looked Constantine up and down. He scoffed.

"I could say the same for you, kiddie. What are you doing hanging around Justice League Junior?"

"Diana bribed me." Percy replied with a noncommittal shrug.

"Batman blackmailed me. We ended up working together with Boston and Zatanna to stop some Hellspawn a while back. Jason even showed up."

"Z willingly teamed up with you?" Percy asked, as if the idea was unheard of.

"Yes she did, in fact." Constantine replied snuggly.

"Bet she hated that." Percy snarked.

"Hey!" Constantine retorted, offense in his voice. Percy pushed on before he could protest farther.

"Boston's still kicking?"

"Unfortunately."

"And how is Jason?"

"Still fused with Etrigan."

"I've always liked Etrigan, you know." Percy said. Constantine rolled his eyes.

"You would like Etrigan."

"Are you kidding me? He's an ancient yellow demon warrior that breathes fire and speaks exclusively in limericks. He's a fucking riot."

"Your favor to his worse half is probably why Jason hates you."

"As if I care what fucking Jason Blood  thinks of me. I could kick his ass any day of the week and you can quote me on that."

"I'm gonna tell him you said that," Constantine teased. Percy threw up her hands.

"Do it! He's a fucking poser, what is he gonna do, fight me? The worst thing he can do is summon Etrigan and we've established Etrigan and I are besties." Constantine looked at her as she continued with her familiar snarky comments. His face dropping into something serious as he looked at the girl (the friend) he thought he lost. A snot-nosed brat of a kid he met when she was 12 (and a half, I'm twelve and a half you bastard and don't you forget it). Scrawny legs and a sword too big for her (don't test me asshole, I'll run you through if you keep talking shit). A kid who became his friend, one of the few people he trusted. Someone who he checked up on and called and cared for. (If I didn't know any better I'd say you've gone soft, blondie. I'm just trying to look out for you, kiddie. I don't need your concern. I've made it this far with out any, haven't I? You shouldn't have had to). The grin fell away from Percy's face and the team watched as sadness filled both of their eyes.

"I'm so glad you're alive..." Constantine breathed out, voice barely above a whisper. Percy looked at him with damp eyes, looked at one of the only adults to ever care. To ever try. She let out a breathy chuckle and sniffed, whipping her eyes.

"You know what, John? I am too."