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John blows a slow stream of smoke into the cowl and replies in a calm whisper.
"Get your gorilla mitts off me, Bat-Bugger, and keep in mind I'm not doing this as a favor to YOU. You're lucky I'm even dealing with this, you bringing a complete stranger into my home. I'll have to put the veil back up no-"
"He could see the House from the road."
"MY house?"
Batman simply stares and John eventually starts pulling his own tie free. Turning to inspect you.
"Where'd you fish him up?"
"Gotham."
"Course you did." He mumbles, kneeling down and wiping a finger across your shoes. You pull back.
"Hey, can you not treat me like an antique?"
"Calm yourself, handsome. Was just checking for some things.." He looks over his shoulder at Batman. "He isn't natural, like you. He has the same stink."
"Stink?"
"Mhmm." He hums, chiefing on his cig. "That Arkham stink. Dark aura and all."
"Arkham? As in Arkham Asylum?" You ask.
"Does that mean he's under the same effect as I am in Gotham?"
"Could be. But he's something else, more than a git in a uniform like you, he meta?"
"I'm here. You could just ask me." You follow up.
"Quiet, son. Mummy and Daddy are talking." John mumbles as he leans in close to stare into your eyes.
"Alright, enough!" You shove John back and hold up your hands. "Explain what is going on here. From the start."
John glances at Batman and motions to him.
"This is your bit, I reckon." He takes a step back and places his elbow on the mantle of the fireplace. Watching with faux-interest.
"As you've seen." Batman begins. "John is acquainted with the mystic arts."
John scoffs but a sharp look keeps it at that.
"Not too long ago I began experiencing some of the same issues as you. Restless sleep, vivid and intense dreams, dreams that shifted to being more prophetic."
"About the destruction of Gotham." You whisper. He nods.
"I reached out to John through a league contact, until I knew exactly what was going on here I wanted to play my cards close to the vest, he's been looking into what could be the root of this for a while now and I'm hoping he's learned some things."
"And I haven't learned much.. But meeting you now gives me a thought. I'm thinking maybe YOU could help me." John says, gazing at you.
"John.." Batman warns softly.
"How so?" You ask suspiciously.
"Nothing invasive.." He says, sticking a hand in his coat, pulling out a small deck of cards. "Just let me read your tarot. I've got a hunch that I'm keen to confirm.."
He fans out the cards and you watch as one slowly raises itself from the fan. The magician.
"One round of cards and then I tell you the little I've managed to pick up."
You glance at Batman, he holds your gaze steady and reads the question in your eyes: What do I say?
"He doesn't do anything without a reason. Even if it helps us, it may just help him more."
"Is that bad? Is he not one of the good guys?"
John suppresses a snort, making more of a sneeze sound. Smoke puffs out each nostril.
