[FIC] Doesn't Matter, R, Constantine/Elektra movieverse

[roguedemonhunte.livejournal.com]

Summary: John's not ready for more demonic action anytime soon, but when full on demons start making appearances again and the legendary Elektra fights them, he reluctantly embraces his destiny once more. The only problem is, to work with her, he has to get close to her. And that's just not something he wants to do...



An original Elektra/Constantine fan fiction

Written by: Jennifer S. a.k.a. RogueDemonHunte

Disclaimer:

I do not own Elektra, Constantine (Hellblazer), or their characters. This is a fan fiction story meant only for the enjoyment of myself and other Elektra, and Constantine (Hellblazer) fans.

Title: Doesn’t Matter

Genre: Action/Adventure, Romance, Sci/Fi

Setting: This fic takes place before the Elektra movie and after the Constantine movie, although elements are borrowed from the comics these movies were based on.

Rating: Adult (For violence)
Fandoms: Constantine/Elektra movieverses
Warnings: Uh, violence possibly and language, this is John Constantine after all...
Pairings (if applicable) Constantine/Elektra
Character(s) (if applicable) Constantine/Elektra and their respectable universe characters


Author’s Note: This idea sparked from an RPG in which I played Elektra where the characters met and so on. Reviews are appreciated!

Chapter 1
To Hell With This

I am the most dangerous woman alive. Those who know my name either fear it or respect it. Don’t worry, I know who’s on my side. No one. I’m alone. There’s no other way to live for me anymore. I’m an assassin, a lone hunter in a world full of potential prey.

I wasn’t always alone. His name was Matt, and I loved him. I loved him more than I’d ever thought possible, but my death separated us. That’s right, I’ve died before. What exactly brought me back? I ask myself that every day.

And so I spend my nights quietly stalking those my clients pay me to take down and enjoying it. I’m not a softy, I can handle violence—love it in fact. Another reason I can never get close to anyone.

But life is so much more complicated than that. So when I walk into a bar and all eyes lock on me, I’m no longer bothered by it at all. You get used to it when you dress like me. When you do what I do.

I’ve been asked before why I chose the outfit I did for my assassin jobs. The reason behind the color is simple—red is the color of life, life that I have control over. I can end it or spare it as I please. The reason it’s not exactly the most covering of outfits is to remind the men, when I’m handing their ass to them, that they were bagged by a woman. But not just any woman. Elektra.

This bar was particularly full. And when I walked in, things went as usual. There was a moment of silence and then came the first and last comment.

“Hey, honey, why don’t you come over and give me some of that lovin’ I’m sure you’re so good at.” I turned my neck and faced him, a smile crossing my lips. He thought he was going to get lucky for a moment. And then he took a breath and one of my sais was stuck through his throat.

I walked over, the only sound in the bar the clicking of my boots against the wooden floor, and pulled the sai out without the struggle a normal, weaker person would have. The sickening sound of flesh tearing hit my ears, and my smile turned into a sneer. The man’s head started to lean, and then he slammed against the table, eyes still open wide in shock.

I turned and looked at the man’s friends who were all still sitting at the table his body now slumped over. Wiping the blood off of my sai by rubbing it against my skirt, I spoke very quietly. “Anyone else want to try?” They all shook their heads no and I nodded.

Turning around and heading towards the nearest barstool, I was aware of one man’s eyes upon me. They were all looking at me, of course, but this man’s gaze was different. He was not scared.

I turned my head to meet his eyes, and he answered my silent question by taking a drag of his cigarette and blowing the smoke out smoothly, his lips barely parting to let it out. His dark eyes looked me over, but he wasn’t entertaining dirty thoughts like most. He was evaluating the danger. He was deciding how dangerous I really was.

Looking away, I began to order a drink but was interrupted by the blasting of the doors. In ran a man, covered in blood. He stumbled onto the ground, trying to claw his way as if whatever he was running from was worse than death. He could not even finish the first word of his sentence he was in so much agony. “Const…”

I watched the doors and waited, and sure enough something walked through moments later. I don’t know what it was. I’ve never seen anything like it before. It had horns and grey scales instead of skin and it’s head was hollow. The thing was obviously lacking a brain.

Everyone jumped up and tried to run into the restaurant that was connected to the bar. Everyone except my mysterious observer. He merely took another breath of his cigarette and stared almost casually at the demon—if that was in fact what that thing was. Just like with me, this man was not afraid of a demon that could clearly cause human pain to an extreme.

I looked down at the bloody man who had ran in and collapsed. He was whimpering, staring at the demon then looking at me. He knew who I was, or somehow sensed what I was capable of. I know because of what he said to me.

“Help me?” I glanced at the smoker, noticed no change in his demeanor, then looked back at the bleeding victim. I’d done much worse in my day myself.

I stepped away from the bar stool I had been sitting on and faced the ugly demon. “Wanna dance?” I asked, smirking. This was the fun part—letting them attempt the first move.

The demon lunged at me with animalistic rage, and I merely stepped aside, watching it hit the floor. “You’re not even trying.” I said, pulling my sais out.

I feel like a goddess when I am holding them, because while those weapons are in my hands, I literally control life and death. The demon snarled, then stopped to sniff the bloody body of the man I’d just killed.

“You’ll be joining him soon.” I said, and the demon growled at me. “So, you can understand me? Good.” I kicked the thing’s stomach, but it caught my foot and flipped me over so that I was lying on the ground. “Okay, not liking that.” I snapped, jumping right back up to my feet.

The damn thing tried to lunge at me again, but I slammed my sais into its back, then kicked it away roughly, the blades ripping and tearing flesh as it flew across the room. Its blood looked human, which surprised me a bit, but I recovered instantly.

Though stabbed and thrown across the room, the thing didn’t seem at all weakened. Just pissed. So, yeah, I had just made the situation worse. But I was nowhere near afraid.

“Elektra.” The demon spoke, sounding like something from an Exorcist movie, and I smiled. It was going to use my thoughts, my memories against me. Or so it thought. You can’t miss what you never really had. “He would never take you back. Not after all you’ve done.”

It lashed out and I blocked its attempt with the blades of my sais, crossing them in front of my face and smiling between the tips up at the monster. “That card won’t work for me, Ace.” I snapped.

“You have secrets I can reveal.” The demon spat, obviously irritated. It lashed out again, this time one of its claws striking my arm deeply. It stung, but it was nowhere near the worst pain I could handle. “Your father.” The demon’s eyes narrowed in pride as my eyes became wide. And the silent smoker to the side, who was watching, raised an eyebrow.

“Damn you!” I screamed throwing at the demon every move I could. But it wasn’t until I got behind it that I was able to reach out, stabbing his chest while I broke his neck. When I dropped its ugly body to the ground, I was surprised to hear quiet laughter from the corner.

I glanced over and saw cigarette man, on his second cig at least. “Impressive.” Was all he said.

I walked over and glared at him, looking right into his eyes. “I am not here to impress you.” I said coldly. He blew smoke in my face. My glare intensified, but I didn’t strike out. I glanced over at the bleeding man and realized he had died while I was busy with my little hellish spat. “He was saying something.” I said.

“Constantine.” The smoker answered.

My eyes turned back to give him a sharp look. “How do you know?” I asked.

“What, you think I don’t know my own fucking name?” He gave me an emotionless look.

Author’s Note: Okay, so John’s an asshole, but Elektra’s not exactly a people person herself. This chapter is from John’s point of view…

Chapter 2
A Rogue Demon Hunter?

She wasn’t ugly, I’ll give her that. And she’d taken out a full-on demon all by herself. Woopdy-fucking-doo. Like I was supposed to be impressed? Well, okay, maybe I was. But the bitch hadn’t believed me when I’d told her. That was it. You only got one compliment from John Constantine, and then you meet the asshole in him.

“What was it?” She asked me, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.

“Demon.” I said, taking another drag. Trying to quit had been pointless. I’d not even gone one week. It was the stress, I guess, of losing three people who had actually meant something to me in my life. And then watching a fourth walk away.

“And why did that man think you could help him?” She demanded, pointing to the bloody mess that had once been a man. I glanced over at the body, then back up at her.

“It’s what I do.” I said, breathing out smoke.

“What do you mean it’s what you do?” She asked.

“Look, are we gonna play twenty questions all night, or were you going to tell me your name?” She seemed a bit surprised by my rudeness, but hey, that’s me, take it or leave it.

After her little shock wore off, her eyes narrowed and she flipped her weapons, as if trying to tell me she could kick my ass if needed. I scoffed and looked up at her, waiting for the answer.

“Elektra.” She said coldly. There was no emotion behind her voice. I’d asked her name and she’d given it.

“The assassin.” I said. It wasn’t a question; I knew who she was now. It was hard to live in LA and not have heard of Elektra. She’d moved there years back after being killed or some shit like that. I didn’t know the story, didn’t really care.

“Yes.” Her voice was still cold. “So, are you going to tell me why there are demons in LA?” Elektra asked me.

“They’re everywhere.” I informed her. “That’s the funny thing, because you see between heaven and hell is earth.” She did not look amused. Fine with me. There really was no humor in it.

I glanced around at the drunks who had just walked back into the room and were staring at the scene in horror. That was my cue to leave. Let Elektra take care of the clean up.

I stood up, put my cigarette out on my wrist, then started heading for the door. She watched me like I was the enemy, like every move I made was a danger to her. “Thanks.” I muttered. Everyone’s always assuming the worst of John Constantine.

I was about a block down the road before I stopped and looked back at her. “I don’t like people following me.” I informed her, lighting another cigarette.

“You don’t really have a choice this time.” She said, her voice just as snappy and irritated as mine. I sighed and started walking again. She caught up and fell in step.

“So, you, what? Hunt demons?” She asked me.

“If that’s what you want to call it.” I told her. “But I don’t go looking for them. They find me.” They always fucking find me…

“Why you?” Elektra asked.

“Why not?” Because I was the one who’d been given the damn ‘gift’ lady! I didn’t tell her about that though. If she truly was Elektra, she wasn’t one to be taken lightly. And I was giving her no information she didn’t all ready have on me.

“Why didn’t you help that man?” Elektra asked me.

“He was all ready dead when he ran in the door.” I told her. “You knew that just as well as I did.” She nodded, acknowledging that she had. “So I guess the question is why the hell did you help him? Not exactly your line of work.”

“I don’t know.” She admitted, and I could tell she was feeling guilt. Years of killing must have slowly eaten at her soul. Good. Lucky her. At least she was still a good person.

“You’ll die young.” Elektra informed me, looking at my cigarette.

“Thanks for the health report.” I told her. “Not really worried about it.”

“Why not?” I turned the corner heading towards the bowling alley, and she followed me. It was annoying but there really wasn’t a point to stopping her.

“Because death holds no surprises for me.” I answered darkly, sucking in more smoke as I thought of hell.

“I guess I’ll see you there.” She muttered bitterly. I raised an eyebrow and looked at her. “I’m not exactly innocent, Mr. Constantine.” She told me with a slight smile.

I gave her a tiny smile back as I looked her up and down. “I bet.” Was my reply.

“How come I’ve never seen demons like that around LA before?” Elektra asked, brushing off my provocative insinuation.

“Because they’re not usually fully demons. Only the half breeds can cross into our plane.” I told her.

“Well clearly something’s wrong then.” Elektra said, irritated at me for some damn reason. “So what are you going to do about it?”

“Me?” I laughed quietly. “Look, that thing was your problem and you took care of it. End of story.”

“It’s not ‘what I do.’” She said, mocking my voice. “This is your problem, Constantine.”

Okay, so she had a point. But I didn’t want to deal with this shit again. Mammon was probably trying to break through again, like he always fucking does, and I was going to have to bring him down again. Same shit, different day.

She was irritating, but she intrigued me nonetheless. There was something about her, like she wasn’t even really there, was just a shadow. That, of course, was part of the Elektra legend, which I was no stranger too.

“So what was a rich assassin like yourself doing drinking in a dump like that?” It was my turn to get some answers. She got quiet, looked at the sidewalk ahead.

“Needed to clear my mind.” And that was her answer. Lie.

“Right, so getting shit-faced was the answer?” Elektra’s green eyes glared at me, and I smiled. “There are easier ways, you know.” I told her, blowing out more smoke.

“Like killing demons?” She asked sarcastically.

“Hey, it may not always pay the bills, but it can be fun sometimes.” She didn’t look convinced. “Tell me that little brawl wasn’t fun.” We were a block from my place, and I was starting to wonder just how long she was going to be following me, and how far.

“That thing was hellish.” She said in return.

“Well, gee, that makes sense.” I told her, rolling my eyes.

“No, I mean, it was worse than anything I’ve ever faced. And I’ve faced some horrible things.” I didn’t ask, really didn’t want to hear her sob story. And thankfully, unlike every other woman alive, she chose to keep her life story to herself.

“Look, you killed it, it’s done.” I told her.

“It’s nowhere near over, Constantine.” Okay, using my last name like that was really starting to get on my nerves, but I’d be damned again before I let her call me John. “It’s never that simple. I’m sure you know that.”

I thought back and nodded. I did know. There wasn’t much that John Constantine hadn’t lost at one point in his life, included his sanity. I was a miserable excuse for a man, but that’s life I guess. You take what you’re given, give the finger to whoever hands it to you, then walk away and live with it.

“This is it.” I said, as I stopped walking. Wasn’t sure if she’d wanted to know when we got to my place or not, but now she did. “So I’ll see you.” I started for the door, but her voice made me stop.

“No.” She said firmly. “We’re going to find out what let that thing on earth.” I turned my head slowly and looked at her in disbelief.

“Like you give a rat’s ass what happens to the people in this town. Your job is to kill them, remember?” I told her sarcastically.

She whipped out one of her little knife things and stuck the point up to my throat, shoving me against the door. “Look, you know about this stuff. I walked into a bar and fought a demon, I’m involved. Deal with it and get moving.” Elektra snapped.

I wanted to just reach out and choke her, but there was a part of me that was sort of impressed. No one talked to me like that, yet here she was, threatening my life even. Damn.

“Fine.” I said. “You can come in.”

Author’s Note: This chapter is from Elektra’s point of view. So far, I think I’m gonna stick with the alternating chapters, but we’ll see what happens as the story develops. Thanks for all those who reviewed and for those who didn’t, let me say it the way John would “Just ignore the fact that it’s bloody pointless and review the fucking thing.” That would be John from the comics, by the way…

Chapter 3
Well, Fuck

Angels and demons, walking amongst us. I’d never thought it possible. But I guess if a girl can come back from the dead, anything is possible. That’s what bothered me about Constantine. He smelled of death.

I could tell he’d died before, even if only for a few minutes. It was all around him, in the way he carried himself, the way his dark eyes seemed to glaze over everything indifferently.

The strangest thing about this guy was his lack of caring. There was nothing he cared about, probably not even himself. The things he dealt with every day would have scared the piss out of much larger, grown men, but Constantine faced it with a ‘fuck off’ attitude. It wasn’t bravery, it was just that he didn’t care. He’d fight demons, sure, but in the end he only did it because it was something to do. Or maybe he had a hidden motive that I knew nothing about.

His place was cluttered, old books and different things having to do with the occult everywhere. I wasn’t surprised. How else would you expect a person like Constantine to live? Well, not in a bowling alley, I guess.

“So how long are you planning on being my damn shadow?” He asked, lighting another cigarette. I swear he’d already gone through five since I’d met him.

“As long as it takes.” I replied.

“Well, fuck.” Constantine muttered. “You’re never going to leave then.”

“Look, the sooner we find out what’s letting these things through, the sooner we can fight it and I can get out of your life, okay?” He looked up, thought about it, then shrugged. “So, do you have any books on this sort of thing?”

He pointed to a bookshelf in the corner, and I walked over to look at them. “Be careful with them.” He said, almost harshly. “They belonged to a friend.” Constantine’s voice, betraying him for a moment, held a trace of sadness.

I didn’t ask any questions about it though. I could sense that if he’d wanted me to know, he would have just told me straight off. And it was obviously something he wasn’t comfortable thinking about, let alone explaining.

Pulling a few of the books out, I walked over to where he sat at his table. “So what should we be looking for?” I asked, handing one of the books to him.

He snuffed his cigarette on his wrist, not even really wincing at the pain, and looked at the book as if he were considering just walking away rather than reading. But then he opened it. “Not sure.” He finally answered.

“Well that’s helps us.” I muttered sarcastically.

“I do what I can.” Was his reply.

Flipping through the pages, I soon found they held nothing useful. Not for our situation anyway. I sighed and shut the book after about an hour. “This is getting us nowhere.” He smiled. “What?”

“You honestly thought we’d just find the answer?” He asked, clearly amused. “It’s not like in the movies.” He assured me. “Real world’s not so into sharing.”

“Right.” I said. “Well, what do we do now?”

“Realize we’re fucked and walk away?” He suggested.

“You really aren’t a pleasant person to be around.” I told him, a bit irritated.

“Hey, no one said you have to be here. In fact I recall telling you I didn’t want you hanging around me.” Constantine said sharply. “If you can’t handle the bastard, don’t invite yourself into his home.” He took a drag from his cigarette and blew the smoke in my face for a second time since I’d met him.

“Do that again, and I’ll show you the pointy ends of my weapons up close.” I threatened darkly.

He smirked. “Right.”

“Come on, you must know someone who knows about these things.” I said, deciding that the demon problem was much more important than our little spat.

“Yeah.” Was all he said.

“Well, don’t just rush up and find them.” I told him sarcastically.

“It’s not that easy.” He told me, flicking some ashes onto the table.

“What do you mean?” I was almost afraid for the answer.

“Neutrality.” He said simply.

“Could ya vague that up for me just a little bit?” I asked, still being sarcastic.

“Midnite knows.” He told me. “But he’s going to be a bitch and hold back in the name of keeping peace.”

I sighed. Constantine was no help really, most because he didn’t care. “How do you do it?” I asked. “How do you live your life day by day just not giving a damn?”

He looked almost interested in what I had to say. “Easy.” He answered. “I know what happens in the end.” He looked at his cigarette, holding it up in front of his face. “Once you see the reality of it, that fictional life everyone leads just seems pointless.”

I knew exactly what he was talking about. I haven’t always been an assassin. In fact, once was a time when I was nothing more than a girl trying to grow up in the world. But tragedy and loss forced me to grow up fast.

“I’m sorry.” I said quietly, and he raised an eyebrow in question. “I’ve been a total bitch.” I admitted, and he nodded. “You’ve obviously got enough to deal with all ready, and here I am nagging you like your fucking mother or something.”

I sighed and turned to leave. “Thanks for putting up with me as long as you did.” I told him, not bothering to turn around and look at him. Constantine was a broken man, and I’d had no right to walk into his life expecting his help.

“Elektra?” I stopped walking but didn’t turn to look at him. “While I admit you’ve been a total bitch,” I turned around and glared at him, but he didn’t seem phased at all, “You were right about one thing.”

“Oh, and what was that?”

“You killed a demon, a full demon. You’re involved now.” Constantine answered. “Whether you like it or not, whether it’s fair or not, you’re a part of this.” He could have been talking about himself, and I almost think he was.

“So,” He continued, “Stick around at least for a while, and I’ll show you how to raise hell.”

“Thought we were trying to get these things back in hell.” I said, a bit confused.

He smirked. “Well yeah.” Constantine said. “But, I always like to have a little fun first.”

Chapter 4
The Cards

“Dancing skeleton.” I told the man, and he moved aside to let me into Midnite’s. I glanced back at Elektra, suddenly realizing that she probably wouldn’t be able to get in. “Oh yeah, I forgot.” I told her. “You have to be able to—”

“Gemini twins.” Elektra said to the man and he place the card on the table, face up, and moved aside to let her in. I gave her a puzzled look. “You’re not the only one with a ‘gift’ Constantine.” She told me, amused by my reaction. Well damn, and here I thought she was just a normal woman who killed while wearing Victoria’s Secret. Guess not.

So I led her to the back room, where Midnite was waiting. “I know why you’ve come.” He said before I could even say a fucking word about the situation. “Which is why I’m turning you away right now.” He looked up at me with serious eyes.

He glanced at Elektra. “Been a while.” Midnite told her, and it was my turn to be surprised again. I looked over at the assassin in disbelief.

“Been busy.” Was all she said in reply.

Hell, and she’d not known about demons? Not known, my ass. There was a lot more to this legendary assassin than satin costumes and shadowy fights. Fuck, the more I learned the more confused I got. She was definitely hiding something. Not that I really gave a damn. Secrets are secrets; I should know.

“Look, I know you’re going to say you can’t help us and all that shit, but something’s up.” I told Midnite, deciding to ask Elektra about herself later. Midnite turned his eyes back to me.

“I told you. I can not help you.” He said, and with a straight face to. The fucker.

“Is it Mammon?” I asked. “Just tell me that much.” If there was one thing John Constantine was, it was persistent. I didn’t give a damn about neutrality; I just wanted some answers.

“You all ready know the answer to that question.” Midnite said.

“Fuck, no, I don’t!” I snapped. I don’t care about much, don’t get easily upset about things, but he always has a way of irritating the hell out of me.

“It’s not Mammon.” Elektra said, her eyes locked with Midnite’s. She turned her head to look at me after a moment. “Who’s Balthazar?” She asked, and I swear my heart literally stopped beating.

“Where did you hear that name?” I hissed in anger. I glared at Midnite. “Stop playing fucking games and tell me what’s going on!”

“You all ready know, John.” He said, and I could only hope Elektra hadn’t picked up on my first name.

Angry, I turned and stormed out of the room. Once I was outside the club, I leaned against the wall, lit another cigarette, and waited for Elektra. It took her a few minutes, but she did come.

“What the fuck was that?” I demanded, pissed that she’d either lied to me or held back. Of course I had held back big time, still was, there was no fucking way she’d hear every detail of my life. But the fact that she’d held back on something that was this important to the situation pissed me off. “You can read minds?”

“No.” She answered, and I looked at her, raising an eyebrow in question. “I can see glimpses of the future; control time for a few moments.” Okay, had not been expecting that one. “I knew what card he had because I saw him put it away before he ever did.”

“So, you can’t read minds but you knew what Midnite was thinking?” Damn females and their cryptic explanations. She wasn’t making any sense so far.

“He told me after you left the room that I was right. I knew he would, so I knew what to say.” Whatever. I still didn’t fucking get it, but, whatever. “What about you?” Elektra asked, and I looked up from my cigarette.

“I get these feelings, like what people are feeling, glances of thoughts sometimes. Never what’s going to happen, always what is happening. But I pick up on things, like karma. Call it acute intuition.” I suggested casually to her. “Part of being able to see the bastards.” I muttered, sucking in some smoke.

Elektra nodded, like she had all ready suspected. “Right, well, we’d better get back to your place.” Now that was something I didn’t hear every damn day. She turned and started to walk away. After taking another drag, I followed.

“Have you ever thought about moving somewhere else?” She asked, once we were there. “I mean, you could get a nice apartment…”

“Don’t need one.” That was the truth. What the hell did I need a ‘nice’ place for? Fuck, if I got one some demon would probably pay a visit and ruin it and then I’d have a hell of a mess to clean up and explain.

“Right.” She said. “So, who’s Balthazar?”

“Long story.” Was the only answer I gave her. Fuck, I’d tell her when I was ready to. Who would have thought that B would find a way back? “Why do you care?” I asked her.

“Well, he’s the one letting them in.” Elektra said simply.

“How did you know that?”

She tapped her forehead and laughed quietly. “It’s in the future.” She replied.

“Right.”

Elektra sighed and looked around before asking, “Can I use your shower?” I raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, the image of her wet and naked instantly in my mind.

Once I got that image away, I managed to mutter something. “Sure.” Was my reply as I looked away and headed for my bed. I’d need some rest if Balthazar really was back. Fuck, he’d almost handed me my ass last time.

And yet, I had killed him. So, maybe there was hope after all. Lying on my back, I heard the water of my shower start, considered walking into the bathroom for a peek, decided against it, and closed my eyes to sleep.

What I got was a nightmare.

“You’re good.” Bullseye laughed maniacally. Yeah, I recognized the bastard from his psycho eyes. “But me…” He pulled out a playing card and looked at it, “I’m magic.” He threw the card with deadly accuracy and her throat was slit before she could even move. Elektra reached for the cut, gasping from the pain and loss of blood

Bullseye smiled at her suffering and walked over to jerk her to her feet. She was too weak to fight him, too weak to do anything but gasp.

“And for my next trick…” He lifted her sai towards her then stabbed her with her own fucking weapon. Then, Bullseye dropped her to the ground, laughing to himself.

I sat up quickly, my eyes opened wide. “Fuck.” I said. And there stood Elektra, dressed, unfortunately, looking at me with something that resembled concern.

“What is it?” She asked me.

What the hell do you say to that? I couldn’t just tell her I’d had a dream of her death, now could I? “Nightmare.” I muttered, standing up.

“Well, yeah, but when people like us have nightmares, they’re usually prophetic.” Elektra told me. People like us…? Were Elektra and I really that much alike? Well I guess if you took a step back and looked at the situation, we were both just lonely people forced to stay lonely in order to protect those we would care about.

“Nothing to worry about.” I assured her glumly.

“Okay. Fine. I’ll play along.” Elektra said. “But when you’re ready to stop lying to me, I’ll listen.” I’m sure she meant for it to sound bitchy, but it actually came out sounding concerned. Damn, no one had ever talked to me like that and lived to tell the tale.

And then, almost as if she had read my mind—and I was starting to wonder if she couldn’t do that regardless of what she told me—she commented quietly. “You’ve lost someone, haven’t you?”

“Lost lots of ‘someones’.” I muttered bitterly. Fuck, every sorry ass that had ever come in contact with John Constantine was dead or damned or both. “Not really lookin’ to recount the story, Dr. Phil.” I added sarcastically. But it was funny, because I actually kind of wanted to talk to someone about it. And that right there was a bit out of character.

“I’ve been thinking—” Elektra started to say, but I interrupted her.

“Don’t hurt yourself.”

Not amused at all, she continued, “That if Balthazar really has come back from the dead,” How the fuck did she know he’d been dead? “He’s probably made some powerful friends while in Hell.”

“No way Lu would help him after I was able to kill him so easily.” I told her. The truth was, that although there were few things that scared me, the thought of Balthazar and Lucifer working together to get revenge on me bit at my nerves a bit. I wasn’t scared, no close, but I was worried.

“I’m not talking about the Devil.” Elektra told me, and that caught my attention. “Look, Lucifer was an angel, right?” I nodded. “And he was cast down by God. Well, what if when he fell, when he landed in that pit of darkness, what if Satan wasn’t the first person there? What if there was all ready someone living in that dark?”

Now there was a fucking thought I really didn’t need on top of everything else. Something that had been before even Lu? Wow. Almost, well probably, beyond my talents completely.

“We need to find out who was there.” I told Elektra, and she nodded.

“Yes.” The assassin said in agreement. “Before he comes up here himself.” Elektra added. “Whoever—whatever—it is, it’s after you Constantine, and it’s not just out for blood.” I’m sure that would have given a normal person chills running down their spine, but as I didn’t give a damn it was just another thing to consider possible.

“Look, I know this is ‘what you do’ and all, but I think that maybe this time,” She sat down on my bed next to me, “Maybe this is beyond even your control.” Well, thanks, because I hadn’t considered that all ready. “Now, I can help you—I’m offering to help you—but I’ve never gone against anything this big. Not even The Hand is this deep into evil.”

“The Hand?” I turned my head and glanced at her, and Elektra looked away. Okay, touchy subject I guess.

“They’re a group of evil sorcerers who seek control through dark magic.” She explained. “They came after someone that was under my protection a while back, and they very nearly killed me again.” Oh that’s right, she’d died before.

“But they didn’t.” I said plainly.

“Well, it would appear so.” She said, turning to face me again with a slight grin. I smiled back—not something I do very fucking often—but I was beginning to see that I smiled more around this woman than I had my entire life.

Damn it, Constantine. Don’t even go down that road. You don’t want to ruin her life too. Yeah, my mind was speaking common sense, but luckily, I don’t always listen to my mind.

Chapter 5
This Complicates Things

He was looking at me odd. For once, I couldn’t tell what the hell he was thinking. Men like Constantine are usually easy to read in moments like that, because you all ready know they don’t give a damn. But there was something in his eyes that told me he may just give a damn after all…

“We should be looking up this thing.” I said, uncomfortable with the silence.

He pulled his eyes away from me and stared off to the left. “Right.” Was all he said. “Where?” He finally looked at me again.

“Well, a library of ancient texts would be a good place to start.” I told him sarcastically.

“Yeah, and since those are all over LA, we’re in luck.” He said back just as sarcastically.

“Actually…” He raised an eyebrow in interest. “Oh, come on, are you going to tell me that Constantine of all people didn’t know about Al’s?”

“Al’s?” He said, sounding amused. “The guy who collects ancient texts decided to name his library Al’s?”

“Well, since he is Al, I think it makes sense.” He tried to think of a come back, I could tell, but he couldn’t and finally just shrugged. I laughed quietly. “Come on.” I said, holding my hand out for him to take. He did, stood up, then let go right away.

Hell that was fine, if he wanted to give me the cold shoulder. I’d just show him where the place was and we’d do the research, kill this thing, and never see each other again. Right?

But then there’s the way my heart picked up its pace a bit when his hand touched mine, and that’s not something I’ve felt in a long time. No, not going to happen. I argue with myself. There was no need to get involved with someone—especially someone as heartless as Constantine. I was better off alone anyway, as an assassin.

The place was unusually empty when we got there. Al glanced over the rim of his glasses to acknowledge our presence. He looked Constantine over, decided he was no threat, and nodded. So, we headed over to the books.

“Always back to the fucking books.” He muttered as we started looking for something useful.

“I’m more of a hands-on girl myself.” I admitted, and he glanced over at me but said nothing. But after a while, I guess the silence got to even him, which is ironic since he lives alone and all. He was the first to speak.

“So, you came to LA a few years back.” He commented. “What for?”

“Long story.” I muttered. I didn’t want to get into it and tell him how I’d met Matt, how I’d lost my life and Matt, then how I’d picked myself up and done the one thing I was good at for good money.

I half expected Constantine to ask me to explain it, but he merely nodded in reply. I was glad. Telling him all about myself was the last thing I wanted to do.

“Hey, come look at this.” He held an opened book in his hands and was reading it avidly.

“Something useful?” I asked, but we both turned out attention away from the book at the sound of something crashing through the door. I glanced at Constantine before I took off running for the front desk. And I rounded the last bookshelf just in time to see Al ram a pencil through his ears.

I stopped cold in my tracks. That wasn’t like him. Al never would have taken his own life. Constantine walked to stand right behind me.

“Shit.” He whispered.

“What just happened?” I asked, still finding what I’d just seen impossible to believe. I turned my head to look at Constantine for an answer.

“Balthazar.” He muttered quietly. There was an angry fire in his eyes as he took in the situation. Constantine was not at all comfortable with what was about to happen.

“So you still remember my name, Johnny-Boy.” I turned to look at the man standing in the doorway. He was wearing one of the nicest suits I’ve ever seen, and his hair was slicked back. To anyone else he would have appeared to be nothing more than a suave businessman. But I saw the faint, red glow in his eyes. This man wasn’t human.

“What are you doing here?” Constantine asked Balthazar, and the two men’s eyes locked. There was a dark rage between them, something I couldn’t understand. So I took a step back to watch.

Balthazar smirked and glanced over at me. “I could ask you the same thing.” The demon turned his glowing eyes back to Constantine. “Thought you worked alone. But, makes no difference.” He said. “I can take her out too.”

I flipped my sais in warning, resting the blades against my wrists, and both men turned to look at me. Constantine’s eyes narrowed, like he had an idea, and he turned his attention back to Balthazar.

“You know a lots changed since you left, B.” Constantine told him, smirking.

“Oh, yes, you were healed.” Balthazar gave him a look of disgust. “Lu’s still a bit bitter about that whole thing.”

“I’ll have to bring that up with him.” Constantine said coldly.

“You do that.” Balthazar’s eyes glowed as he spoke, like he was amused by this all or something. “Now for the fun part.” He turned his face to look at me and I swear my heart stopped beating.

“Elektra.” He hissed my name almost. “Died once, soon to die again.”

“Your fight’s with me.” Constantine said suddenly, but Balthazar didn’t even turned to look at the exorcist.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’m not the one that kills her, Johnny-Boy.” He smirked as his eyes flashed a bright red and I felt to the ground. “You are.” He said, and those were the last words I heard until I woke up in a dream.

“It…it wasn’t supposed to happen this way.” He was looking down at me, his eyes so sad. And I wondered what could make him look that way. Then I felt it, the pain in my stomach.

I tried to sit up, gasped from the agony that move shot through my nerves, and stopped. “Don’t move.” He held me close in his arms, and I could see blood on his hands. My blood.

“Wha…what happened, John?” I asked him, tears streaming down my cheeks. “Did it work?” Every breath was a struggle, but I had to know if everything had worked out before I died. Because I knew that this time, I wasn’t coming back.

“Yeah.” He whispered, kissing my forehead. “It worked.”

“Go…good.” I whispered. “John?”

“Yes?” There were tears starting to form in his eyes too.

“Thank you.” I said, managing a smile through the pain. I reached up and touched his face with a shaky hand. “Thank you, for not giving up.”

“Elektra, I…” His words were caught in his throat as he watched me grow weaker. “Elektra?” A single tear fell down his cheek.

Then I woke up, gasping for air as if I hadn’t been able to breathe. Balthazar was laughing, and Constantine was over by me. “Hey, are you okay?” He asked, actually sounding genuinely concerned. “What did you see?” His dark eyes were locked with mine, waiting for an answer.

“Oh, you’ll know soon enough anyway.” Balthazar said. “Might want to take her home, Johnny-Boy.” He added, snickering. “She’ll be weak for quite some time.”

I watched Balthazar leave the room. “Elektra?” I turned my eyes back to Constantine. “Elektra, what did you see?” He asked me. His tone was urgent, but soft.

“I…there was…” The way he had held me in his arms, the way he had…

He blinked, and I knew instantly that he was sensing my thoughts. “No.” He said, standing up and backing away. “He does that.” Constantine told me. “Balthazar comes up here and fucks with peoples’ minds. Whatever he showed you was a complete lie.”

“But what if it wasn’t?” I asked, standing up, and he gave me a questioning look. “I mean about me dying. Not about…” I stopped talking.

“Well, no one gets out of this life alive, right?” John asked, but there was no sarcasm or joking in his tone. He was being serious, stating a fact that he witnessed every day.

I leaned against the bookshelf for support as my knees almost buckled. But Constantine caught me before I could fall and helped me stand. “He was right about one thing.”

“What’s that?” I asked as we slowly started for the door.

“You’ll need to rest.” Was his answer. Neither of us looked back at Al. There wasn’t anymore to see that we hadn’t all ready. And considering what either of us did for a living, it wasn’t exactly out of place for us either.

A bit later, I was lying in his bed while Constantine looked through his books for any more information that we may have missed. I should have been sleeping, but I couldn’t. I was too trouble by what Balthazar had shown me of the future.

“What if he was right?” I asked quietly, not even expecting Constantine to hear me. But he did. He looked up from his book at me.

“About what?”

“About the future.”

“He makes things up.” Constantine told me, looking back down at his book. “Worked for the fucking prince of lies at one point, remember?”

“There are ways to see if he was right or not.” I said, and Constantine looked up from his book again.

“What the hell are you talking about?” His tone was cold, but his eyes spoke volumes on his curiosity.

“I could concentrate and try to see it again.” I offered. Of course, I really didn’t want to feel that pain again, to see those tears in his eyes, the way he looked down at me as if…

“Okay.” He replied quietly.

“Come here.” I patted the bed beside me for him to lay on.

“What are you fucking crazy?” He asked.

“I’m weak, Constantine.” I reminded him. “I’ll need your strength to do this.” He rolled his eyes but walked over and laid down next to me, looking at me.

“Now what?” He asked dryly.

I took hold of his hand, and although he glanced down at it he said nothing about it, and I closed my eyes. “Now, you shut up for once, Constantine.” I explained.

“John.” I opened my eyes and looked at him.

“What?” I asked, wondering what he was going on about.

“It’s my name.” He said, giving me a little half smile. “It’s easier to say.” He added, almost as if he had to have a reason for finally telling me.

“Okay.” I said, smiling as I closed my eyes again. And then I concentrated, but there was nothing. Not even a glimpse of five minutes from then. It was like my power to see into the future had been taken from me completely, like I was cut off from the ability.

Since I was drawing from his strength, John noticed it. “Something’s wrong.” He said quietly, and I opened my eyes again.

“It’s not working for some reason.” I replied. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe he was just making it up to get us worried.”

“Or maybe…” He paused, looking at me, looking right into my eyes. “They’re green.” He observed, changing the subject and thus leaving me to wonder what the hell he’d been about to say.

“The future’s always dark when I see it.” I said sadly. “Doesn’t matter if a demon gave me the images or not. There’s no hope in this world.” I knew that he of all people would understand that, the utter hopelessness of the world we lived in. But he surprised me.

“No.” He said quietly, looking down at my hand, which still held his. “It’s not everywhere.” He explained. “Not everyone feels it, in fact some people don’t even know what hope is like. But then there are those who,” He looked away from our hands and back up to me, “can take a step back and see the one thing that keeps hope alive.”

“And what’s that?” I asked. If I was surprised to hear John Constantine tell me there was still hope in the world, I was in utter shock to feel his lips against mine. It was a gentle kiss, a quick one, but it was like nothing I had ever felt before.

Then he pulled away and got up off of the bed. “Get some sleep.” He said, heading for the door. “You’ll need your strength tomorrow.”

“What happens tomorrow?” I asked, playing his game in pretending that he hadn’t just kissed me. He obviously wanted to pretend it had never happened, right?

“We take down the biggest bad guy out there.” He said with a grin on his face. “Damn, I love that part.” John said, before leaving me to sleep.

Chapter 6
Deja Fucking Vu

I have this beautiful way of fucking things up more than they all ready are. It’s like the Constantine legacy or something. My dad used to do it all the time. Only when I fuck up I don’t leave a kid crying in his bedroom. But that’s a different story…

My problem? One word: Elektra. I had to be around her because I knew I needed her help in bringing down this big bad. But the more I was around her the more I…well, how do you say it? Felt human. Yeah, that’s as close to explaining the damn feeling as I can get.

Sometimes life hands you things and then backs up to see what you’ll do with them, whether you’ll use it how you should or abuse it and lose it in the end. I swear that’s what was happening to me. Almost as if God was saying “Hey, John, take a look at this one. She’s a real firecracker and I’m gonna throw her at you half naked and able to kick your ass. Oh, but don’t forget, you can’t touch her or else she’ll end up dead.” Isn’t my life grand?

And on top of this, I had an even bigger problem to worry about. Balthazar was back. Boy was I doing back flips in excitement over that one. You see, every other halfbreed ass I deported back to hell has stayed there. Every one except for Balthazar. And why he was back—not so much how, but why—was really starting to bother me. Demons like him don’t spring back from the dead for nothing.

I know he had to have pulled some seriously evil strings to get out of hell again, because Lu would not have been happy at all at him getting deported by me of all people. So what the hell was so worth pissing the Devil off again to Balthazar? I didn’t know. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to. But I’d have to eventually.

So, standing outside my place, leaning against the wall as I lit another cigarette, I glanced up at the stars for a moment. “What the fuck am I supposed to do now?” I asked the sky. God wasn’t listening. He never listens to me.

Finally, bored and a bit cold from the night air, I went back into my apartment. There she was, sleeping on my bed, looking so damn peaceful. Hell, if only I could find momentary peace in sleeping.

I watched her for a moment, wondering how she’d walked into my life to begin with, when she started twitching. It was nothing much at first, but pretty soon she was trembling in fear, tears streaming down her face. So I walked over and sat on the bed, looking at her.

“Elektra?” I didn’t know what to do. I mean, when I have nightmares I just wake myself up then roll over and go back to sleep. So, how was I supposed to comfort her?

“No…” She whispered, looking as if she were in pain. And I wondered if she was having the same dream I’d had of her murder. I imagine it would be quite a bit different from her point of view, not to mention painful. “No!” She screamed, sitting up.

The next thing I knew she had her sais resting against my neck, ready to strike out at me. Her eyes stared at me until they focused in the dark and she lowered her weapons.

“I’m sorry.” She said quietly, wiping her tears away. “I thought you were…”

“It’s okay.” I said before she could tell me anything she really didn’t want to. “Nightmare?”

“Memory.” She answered, and I knew then that she had indeed dreamed of her murder. She looked at me and our eyes locked. I think she realized that I knew what she’d dreamed, but she didn’t say anything about it. “What time is it?”

I glanced up at my clock. “Near two in the morning.”

“Shit.” Elektra muttered. Her tears were gone but she still looked like she was in distress. Her heart was probably still racing, and I’m sure the images were clear in her mind.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked, not believing what I was saying. I’m not the touchy-feely guy at all. So when she answered like she did next, I was relieved.

“No.” Her tone wasn’t cold or hostile, but it got the point across just the same. She looked at me. “Why did you kiss me?” That was a question I’d not expected her to just come right out and ask.

“Seemed like the thing to do.” Was the only answer I could really offer. And yeah, that was the asshole answer. But she didn’t seem to mind.

“Yeah.” She replied, glancing at my door. I think she considered getting up and walking out, but that thought left as others set in. “If Balthazar was really brought back by something older than the devil, this won’t be a fight we walk away from, John.” It was different hearing her say my first name, but I found that I also kind of liked it.

“I know.” I said quietly.

Her eyes focused on mine again. “And you’re willing to walk into it, knowing that?”

“Well, I’ve got nothing to lose.” Somehow though, I was starting to see that that was a complete lie. For the first time in my life I had something besides demon deporting to focus on, and I sort of liked the hope that brought. But then there was the fucking common sense. Stay away from her and she lives. Yeah, I know, sad fact of my life.

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at me. Then, ever so slowly, she reached out and touched my face. My first impulse was to pull away. My second impulse was a bit less gentlemanlike. But I was able to ignore both.

“That’s sad.” Elektra told me. “Everyone should have something to lose, as bad as it sounds.” Her hand fell away and I almost complained about the sudden cold but was able to keep my mouth shut. “And here we are, two people with nothing more to lose or gain.”

It was true, the both of us did have quite a bit in common. We were both killers, both the heroes who tended to fight their destiny in the process of saving people. There was a fucking poetic irony in how much alike Elektra and I actually were.

“You know, there were times, moments, where I’d look into their eyes and I’d stop to realize that I was the last thing they saw. No more hope, no more life. Just me.” Elektra said, and she got this far off look as she thought back on all the lives she’d taken.

“Well, at least they died happy, right?” It took her a moment to realize what I’d said. Elektra turned her head and looked at me, then smiled.

“I was trying to make a point.” She argued.

“Couldn’t help it.” I admitted shrugging.

“What I was trying to say is I’ve taken life from so many people that I’ve begun to realize that all I’ve ever wanted was my own life back. It was taken from me just like those I kill, sometimes exactly like them. And yet I still continue to kill people.” Elektra said, looking down at her sais which rested in her hands.

“I could stop.” She said. “Any time I want to I could give this life up and start new. But there would always be the memories, the guilt, the phantom blood on my hands that just won’t seem to wash away. I’d never be—”

“Forgiven.” I cut in, and she looked at me before nodding her head slowly.

“Yeah.” She agreed quietly. “But I can’t help wondering that if we actually pull this off, if that won’t be enough to repay all I’ve taken.”

Now there was an interesting idea I hadn’t even considered. Most of my life I’d spent trying to buy my way back into heaven, when maybe all I had to do in the end was take the biggest bad guy in hell.

Elektra laid back down and I tried my best to not focus on the way her costume hugged her curves for once. But it was damn hard to do with her lying there, her chest moving slightly as she breathed…

“You asked me why I was in that bar to begin with that night.” Elektra said. “Well, that night, I was supposed to kill a man. And for the first time in my life, I couldn’t. I tried, I struck at him in every way I could, but each time it came to that final blow I stopped myself.” Well, well, a confession from the legendary assassin Elektra. Interesting.

“I didn’t understand it, and I didn’t want to.” She continued. “So I found the worst place I could.” Elektra looked up at me. “The men in that bar were just as horrible as any others, and I went there hoping I’d find someone to kill and have a reason to do it.” So that’s what was up with the over reaction to the comment that had been made.

“They all looked at me like I was a prize to be won. All except for you.” Oh boy, here it comes. “You knew who I was—or at least guessed what I was capable of—as soon as I walked in. You weren’t afraid.”

“Nothing much scares me.” I admitted. “Having visited Hell and all, everything else just seems dull.”

“No one’s looked at me like that for a very long time.” Elektra said quietly, looking up at the ceiling. “Looked at me like I was a person.” I looked at her face, trying to find some hint of what she was trying to tell me. But there was none. Fucking women and their cryptic comments.

“Anyway, my point in telling you all of this was that I wanted to say thank you.” Elektra said, turning over onto her side to look at me. I don’t do things very often that earn me thanks, let alone from a beautiful, scantily clad female.

It was funny, because in telling me that I’d made her feel like a person, she was making me feel like one. Funny how things work, isn’t it? And she probably had no idea how much her words meant to me.

“Look, Elektra,” Her green eyes didn’t leave me, “If you want to walk away right now, I can handle this on my own.” That was a big fucking lie.

“No.” She said quietly. “No, you can’t. But even if you could, I wouldn’t walk away.” She slipping her hand along the bed and rested it on mine. I looked at her, considered kissing her again, then turned away and stood up, moving out of her reach.

“You don’t want to invest much in me.” I informed her. “You’d be gambling with your fucking life.” I added, lighting a cigarette and glancing down at her. “It would never work out. And even if it could…”

“All I’m asking for is the chance to find out.” She said quietly. I wanted it. Damn did I want it. But when I start wanting something, or someone, that’s when the danger creeps in and ruins things. So, no, I wasn’t going to do that to her.

“Try to get some sleep.” I said, masking my voice with a cold, emotionless tone.