(A/N): Hello there!

Thanks for your patience and continued support, I apologize for the delay in getting this chapter up but I've been extremely busy in recent weeks.

This chapter marks the beginning of the couple I have planned to take place between seasons 3 and 4. And yes the long awaited wedding will be coming soon, but it's not something I want to rush so I'm taking my time with that chapter.

I'll answer any questions you may have about upcoming chapters the best I can without spoiling anything.

Thanks again, you guys are amazing.

- MattFromWii

—————————————————————————

3rd Person POV:

February 11th

Sirens blared as red and blue flashing lights chased away the darkness. A swarm of police cars converged on the Italian National Museum in Rome.

Within minutes dozens of police officers swarmed the museum, rushing in with their weapons drawn.

As they moved through the exhibits they found them to be entirely intact and nothing out of place.

As they searched the building they eventually came across a small exhibit tucked in the corner of the building, far away from the expensive historical relics and valuable items.

The exhibit contained what were believed to be magical and religious items from the Dark Age.

Glass was shattered all across the small exhibit, every item was taken and nothing else was touched.

The police quickly secured the room as the investigators arrived. The team of detectives were completely dumbfounded. Whoever broke into the museum had expertly disabled the cameras without being seen and bypassed all but one of the alarms.

The final alarm only being tripped when the most expensive item missing, a small totem, carved out of stone by gothic tribes that lived in the alps, was removed from its stand without the proper security code being entered.

Despite the incredibly rare nature of the totem, it was far less valuable than many other items in the museum.

Detective: "I don't get it, they go through all the trouble to break in, and don't even take the expensive stuff."

Police Officer: "It's a museum, isn't it all expensive?"

Detective: "Well, yes. But why not raid the jewelry of the old royal family? It's a few rooms over and worth far more than anything else in the building. They could've robbed any small local museum in the country and made out with far more in terms of value. Why pick this place? It's one of the most secure museums in the country."

Police Officer: "Well, like you said, there was easier stuff to take that's worth a whole lot more, so it can't be about the money. Maybe they were looking for something specific?"

Detective: "Maybe.... But why would they want anything from here?"

———————————————————————

The seatbelt light in the plane turned on with a ding. The former agent groaned as he woke up and tried to stretch his legs out the best he could. Most of the other passengers were doing the same as the flight attendants prepared for landing.

(Y/n) smiled as he looked over to his right, Zatanna was still sound asleep, leaning on his shoulder with a small amount of sunlight casting a warm glow over the magician's body.

After slightly shaking Zatanna, the magician woke up with a similar groan to her fiancé. The plane landed smoothly soon after and the pair grabbed their bags before following the crowd off the plane.

After several minutes of waiting the lovers received their luggage and made their way to the exit. They quickly flagged down a taxi and gave the driver the hotel address.

Naples is a beautiful city. The entire trip the pair of lovers were looking out the windows at the various stone buildings built throughout the ages.

After just under an hour they arrived at the hotel. The beautiful stone building was incredibly tall and a warm light projected through the thick glass, making the surrounding sidewalk seem incredibly warm despite the winter breeze.

(Y/n) carried the suitcases as Zatanna led him up the stone steps and into the lobby. The dark marble floor was lined with cracks of gold and reflected the bright decorative lights overhead.

A few minutes later, the pair had checked in and were walking towards their room on the 4th floor.

The hotel room was beautiful but small, the king size bed and coffee table took up most of the room with a small bar fridge and dresser taking up what was left.

Zatanna: "Well, it's small but at least it's nice."

(Y/n): "With our last minute booking, I'm glad we were able to get a room at all. I'll start unpacking, what time are we heading out tomorrow?"

Zatanna: "We have an appointment at 10:30, it takes about an hour to tour the entire venue and they walk us through the layout and what the ceremony will look like."

The former agent felt his nerves spike at the mention of their wedding day. His heart pounded against his chest and seemed to go unnoticed by Zatanna as she opened her laptop and started typing.

Eventually (Y/n) got over his nervousness enough to continue working before Zatanna asked what was wrong.

(Y/n): "How long of a drive is it tomorrow?"

Zatanna: "Well, apparently they're sending a car for us. I guess they really want our business."

(Y/n): "How much is this going to cost? I mean we have money... but that place looked pretty big online. What exactly are we booking?"

Zatanna: "Well... it's a villa that was originally built in the 1910's and then rebuilt in the late 50's after World War Two. It's been remodeled and even has a wine tasting area in the barn. The place is really big though."

(Y/n): "Zee, how much is this going to cost us?"

The magician pretended that she didn't hear the question and bit her lower lip. She kept her gaze glued to the laptop and felt her cheeks heat up as the former agent glared at her.

(Y/n): "Zee.... How much?"

Zatanna: "Well... did I ever tell you how much I love you?"

The former agent was unamused as Zatanna started to internally panic. She forced out an awkward smile as (Y/n) gently pushed the laptop closed and stared into the magician's beautiful blue eyes.

(Y/n): "Zee, quit stalling and just tell me."

Zatanna: "H-how much would be too much?"

The former agent groaned as he climbed into bed and laid down, letting out a stressful sigh as Zatanna continued to awkwardly scratch her head.

Zatanna: "The venue itself would cost around $200,000."

Zatanna closed her eyes and braced for impact, holding her breath as (Y/n) slowly comprehended what he was getting himself into financially.

(Y/n): "$200,000?! For just the venue?! Zee, I love you but this is going to cost an insane amount of-Mhmmmm!"

The magician had turned around and pounced on her lover, smashing her lips against his and muffling his sentence.

The former agent simply sighed and let Zatanna finish the kiss before continuing his sentence.

(Y/n): "You can't kiss your way out of this one. $200,000 for a venue?"

Zatanna: "That's a matter of opinion and I think I could kiss my way out of any trouble with you."

(Y/n): "I'm going to ignore that because I know it's true and get back to the venue that costs as much as our penthouse."

Zatanna: "We get it for a week and it has bedrooms for everyone, all the food is included and it's fully staffed during the day."

(Y/n): "For $200,000 it better be."

Zatanna: "That's not a "no". So are you open to considering it?"

(Y/n): "It's not a "yes" either. But, yes I am open to considering it."

The magician kissed her fiancé as a reward and snuggled into his chest. Several minutes later the pair got ready for bed and climbed under the covers, (Y/n)'s head still ringing from the outrageous price tag.

The muffled sound of the city slowly grew quieter as the night dragged on and eventually the pair passed out.

———————————————————————

*Warehouse District, Rome*

Several men in expensive suits casually walk into a warehouse. Large crates are stacked all the rough out the room and give the impression that the building serves as a shipping hub.

One of the men is carrying a large briefcase and leads the group into the center of the building.

Standing in the center of the room was a man in a bright white suit with a black tie.

Mafia Lieutenant: "The job was a complete success boss, we had a small issue with a secret alarm on the way out but we managed to get everything on your list without being seen."

Brother Night: "Excellent work gentlemen, you've earned your bonus."

The man in the white suit turned around as the mafia Lieutenant placed the suitcase on the table and opened it up. Brother Night's skin was still dark red and looked like burnt leather. His eyes were blood red and carefully examined everything in the suitcase.

Brother Night: "The moneys been transferred to your accounts, we've got one last job and then we're done in Italy."

Mafia Lieutenant: "What's our next target?"

Brother Night: "I've emailed you all the details, I'll meet you in Naples."

———————————————————————

*Watchtower*

Tigress arrived through the zeta tube and made her way to the edge of the observation deck. Nightwing, Black Lightning and Black Canary were studying a list of recent thefts at high level museums.

Nightwing: "Congratulations on your promotion to Team leader."

Tigress: "Thanks. Is this what you wanted to talk about?"

Black Canary: "Yes, several high level museums across Europe have been broken into in recent weeks. Each time the criminals have remained undetected and only stolen items that supposedly have magical properties."

Tigress: "Okay, why call me? Why not Zatanna or Dr. Fate? Magic isn't really my specialty."

Black Lightning: "We can't reach Dr. Fate and Zatanna is on a vacation. Given that these items only had mystical powers in myths, it isn't really something that warrants interrupting her vacation. Not to mention the agent and I aren't on the best terms and I thought I would be best to rock the boat."

Nightwing: "We we're hoping you could assign a team to watch the few high level museums that haven't been hit yet. Interpol is monitoring the situation, but given how these criminals have moved across Western Europe and remained undetected, I think they could use the Team's help."

Tigress: "Well, there are a lot of museums in Europe and they've only hit five in total, one in the U.K, two in France, then one in Austria and Italy. Assuming they don't double back to a country they've already been to, that's still a lot of ground to cover."

Nightwing: "Agreed, which is why I've been trying to narrow down items of interest to these criminals, but so far I've got nothing. The only thing in common is these items were once rumored to have mystical powers. But that same thing applies to dozens more items in almost every single country."

Tigress: "I say we let it sit, wait and see what else they take so we can hopefully narrow down what specifically they're after. Right now there's too many possible locations, even if I send one person to each museum, I can only cover about half the possible targets."

Black Lightning: "It's worth keeping an eye on, but museum theft isn't our first priority. We have more pressing matters closer to home. Gotham is about to burst into a gang war."

Nightwing: "I'll keep an eye on the updates coming out of Europe and let you know if I can narrow down the list of possible targets."

————————————————————————

Manager: "As you can see, our rooms contain everything your guests may need."

Zatanna and (Y/n) carefully looked into one of the many guest rooms. A large bed took up most of the room with a tv sitting on a dresser in front of the bed. A large glass sliding door led out to a small balcony and the bathroom was a decent size with a walk in shower.

(Y/n): "Looks good."

Manager: "Of course we have a master suite for the bride and groom, though the bride will occupy the room herself until after the ceremony. The groom will be in one of the guest rooms such as this."

The middle aged manager closed the door and led the pair further down the hall. The man looked like a stereotypical Italian businessman. His black hair was pushed back and slicked down to his head and he wore a black suit and tie.

The hallway looked just as expensive as the rest of the building. They eventually arrived at the master suite and the lovers were starstruck. The room was massive with a king size bed in the center. A few couches surrounded a coffee table with a tv mounted to the wall. A large balcony overlooked the ocean with a glass sliding door.

After touring the room the manager waved the pair back over to him.

Manager: "Well, this concludes the formal tour. If you'll follow me back to the main lobby, we can discuss price and payment options."

The man smiled as he led them out of the room and (Y/n) suddenly got an uneasy feeling about the middle aged man. Zatanna for her part got a slight throbbing sensation in her head that disappeared after a minute. She wasn't sure what to think of it so she kept her attention on the tour.

After a short walk the group arrived back in the main lobby, (Y/n) and Zatanna stood in silence as the man typed on his computer.

Zatanna: "Is everything alright?"

Manager: "I'm afraid not, you see, given your... occupations, and your tendency to draw a crowd, we've been forced to add on several security deposits and fees to your total."

(Y/n): "I'm sorry, what?"

Manager: "It's no secret that you two leave a trail of destruction and disruption wherever you go, so in order to ensure profit for our enterprise we must increase the price accordingly."

The former agent narrowed his gaze at the man and crossed his arms. Zatanna was stunned and about to boil over with anger when she heard dress shoes clicking on the expensive tile floor.

(Y/n): "You've got to be kidding me, how much are we talking about?"

"Well, isn't this interesting."

The former agent spun around and immediately stepped in front of Zatanna, shielding her from the man's gaze.

Luthor: "When I received word that you were attempting to book my villa, I just had to come see it for myself."

Zatanna: "What?! Your villa?! Since when do you own this place?"

Luthor: "I own the vast majority of high end villas in the country. I found it best to diversify my holdings during my time as Secretary General."

(Y/n): "How convenient."

The former agent looked like he was about to punch a hole through Luthor's smug face and Zatanna's heart was racing.

Luthor: "Hmm, what did we set the additional fees at?"

Manager: "All together, with security fees and money designated to keep the press away, you're looking at $1.5 million."

(Y/n): "WHAT?! That's absurd!"

Luthor: "Well young man, how bad do you want to get married?"

(Y/n): "This is unbelievably petty, even for you! We don't have to put up with this! We're leaving!"

The former agent grabbed Zatanna's hand and quickly rushed out the main lobby. They stopped on the steps leading down to the driveway and were met with a small army of reporters.

Before either had a chance to react the reporters started bombarding them with questions and snapping photos as fast as they could.

The reporters sensed weakness like any wild animal and pounced as the lovers hesitated. They advanced up the steps and immediately surrounded the pair.

"Ms Zatara, are you supporting Luthor's business with approval from the League and is this an attempt to mend fences with the former U.N Secretary General?"

"What do you think of Ambassador Troia being selected as the next Secretary General?"

"Are you planning on having a public wedding?"

"How long have you two been engaged?"

"Are you worried about the League's public opinion given your young age? Do you think your marriage could be sending the wrong message to young people?"

(Y/n) took hold of Zatanna shaking hand and guided her through the crowd. The reporters continued to bombard them with questions as (Y/n) helped Zatanna into the small taxi that awaited them.

The reporters continued to snap photographs as the taxi slowly drove down the stone driveway towards the main road.

Zatanna was silent the entire trip, finally letting her rage out when the pair got to the steps of their hotel.

Zatanna: "Where does that prick get off!"

(Y/n) immediately noticed that people were starting to look at them and he quickly pulled Zatanna inside.

(Y/n): "He's just trying to get some sort of petty revenge on us. We can find another venue, Italy's a massive country and he can't possibly own them all."

Zatanna: "Didn't you hear him?! He owns almost everything!"

The magician was on the verge of tears, realizing the location she'd been dreaming about ever since visiting Italy with her mother was now further out of reach than ever before.

(Y/n) wrapped his arms around Zatanna and she let out a muffled sob. She gripped his light jacket as tightly as she could while burying her face into his neck.

(Y/n): "It's going to be okay. We can find another place. Luthor can't own every venue, we've just got to keep looking."

The magician let out a shaky breath before finally breaking the hug. The pair quickly left the lobby and the curious looks of the hotel staff without paying them any attention.

Zatanna had calmed down by the time they arrived back at their room. (Y/n) felt his heart sink as he opened the door and caught a glimpse of Zatanna's face when she walked by.

She looked broken, defeated and about to give up. The sad look on her face was a sight the former agent never wanted to see. As his fiancée slumped down on their bed in defeat he resolved to cheer her up any way he could.

(Y/n): "Zee, I promise you, we'll find another place. It'll be okay."

Zatanna: "B-but where? A-anywhere we go to tour he's just going to follow."

(Y/n): "No, he won't. We're going to find a beautiful place that isn't owned by someone who's tried to kill us, we just need to look a little harder."

Zatanna: "Are you sure? W-we can look for places closer to home..."

(Y/n): "No. You've dreamt of this day since you toured this country with your mother and I'm going to make sure we find a place that's perfect."

The magician's eyes sparkled with hope for the firsts time since leaving the villa and (Y/n) felt his heart fill with joy.

(Y/n): "You've had a long day and deserve some rest. How about we go out to a nice restaurant for dinner and then come back here to watch a movie?"

Zatanna: "That sounds wonderful."

———————————————————————

Several hours later Zatanna and (Y/n) stepped into a high society gala. The pair moved through the crowd of extremely well dressed people and were seated at an empty table near the back of the room.

Soon the charity auction began, the crowd largely turning their attention to the front stage and allowing the pair to enjoy their dinner unbothered.

Zatanna wore a stunning backless red dress with a split down the left side showing her leg. (Y/n) wore an expensive suit with a little orange phoenix pin.

Dinner seemed to pass by in an instant and soon the pair were finishing their wine while watching the auction.

Zatanna: "Going to buy anything?"

The former agent laughed while looking up at the auction. He watched as the auctioneer rambled on about several paintings and artifacts that were on display.

(Y/n): "Even though it's going to a good cause, I can't see myself buying any of this stuff. It all looks like junk. Not to mention I have a wedding to save for."

Zatanna: "Maybe some collectors will value the stuff up there."

The former agent shrugged his shoulders as he turned his attention back to the auction. Zatanna smiled as she took a drink from her wine and stretched her legs out under the table, trying to bug (Y/n) by lightly tapping his legs with her feet.

Auctioneer: "This next piece is a beautiful stone carving of an angle. Despite its small size this, 10lbs carving is exceptionally detailed and would make a great addition to one's study or private collection."

The man held the small stone statue up for the crowd and bidding instantly began.

"I'm not one for Dark Age art but they do have some interesting paintings here."

The former agent immediately grabbed his steak knife and jumped up, spinning around and pointing the knife at the feminine voice. Zatanna was right behind her fiancé and got into a fighting stance.

The pair were facing down Queen Bee who was flanked by two very large body guards on either side. The absolute monarch smiled as she crossed her arms and stared down the lovers.

Queen Bee: "I must say dear, I love that dress."

(Y/n): "Wow the Light just can't leave us alone can they? First Luthor and now the Queen of Greater Bialya herself."

A confused look quickly formed on Queen Bee's face as she realized (Y/n) was being serious.

Queen Bee: "I assure you I'm not here to bother you. I happen to fancy art and am here to see if any piece peaks music interest. But I am the only member of the Light in Italy, Luthor hasn't left the United States since his removal from office."

Zatanna: "That's a straight up lie. We talked to him today, just outside of town."

Queen Bee: "No, you didn't. I don't know who you spoke with but it wasn't Lex Luthor."

(Y/n): "I wish I could believe you, but we don't have the best track record."

Queen Bee: "I'd be very careful if I were you. If someone's going out of their way to impersonate Luthor, they clearly have exceptional resources."

Zatanna: "Llet su eht hturt."

The monarch simply frowned and crossed her arms as Zatanna took a step back in shock.

Queen Bee: "I am. Though I thought your spell would have a bit more flair..."

Zatanna: "The spell didn't work. I-I can't use magic!"

Queen Bee/(Y/n): "What?!"

Zatanna: "It's like something's blocking my magic.... The statue."

The group turned their gaze to the auction and saw the stone angel's eyes glowing red as the statue blocked the spell.

Suddenly a small explosion rang out from the far wall. Masked men in suits rushed forward and quickly shot the only security guard for the auction and the auctioneer.

Queen Bee's guards pulled her away as (Y/n) rushed forward, steak knife in hand. Zatanna was right behind him despite not being able to use her magic.

Two of the masked men kept the crowd away from the stage while a third stuffed the stone artifact into a bag along with several small items and cash donations.

(Y/n) managed to get to the front of the crowd and quickly threw his knife at the closest criminal. The masked man crumbled instantly and dropped his gun, seconds later (Y/n) picked it up and shot the man with the backpack.

The final criminal retreated towards the door and fired at the former agent as he grabbed the backpack off the dead man.

Bullets slammed into the wooden podium as the criminal emptied his magazine. (Y/n) made himself as small as possible in the hopes that he'd avoid a bullet.

When the man went to reload (Y/n) peaked around the corner and saw Zatanna smash a small fire extinguisher off the man's head.

Suddenly the emergancy exit door broke open and four more men rushed inside. (Y/n) quickly opened fire, forcing the men to dive for cover while he ran towards Zatanna and led her out of the large dining hall.

Zatanna: "We need to get that thing to the Watchtower!"

(Y/n): "I was thinking we could just smash it!"

The pair rushed down the steps of the restaurant and saw a group of empty taxis parked in a row on the curb. The drivers were standing some distance away smoking in a small group.

(Y/n): "Let's go!"

(Y/n) raced over to the closest taxi and jumped in the driver's seat as Zatanna got in the passenger seat. The taxi's owner yelled at them as he started running but quickly dove for cover as several gunmen arrived from inside the restaurant and started shooting.

Zatanna: "We're really stealing a taxi?!"

(Y/n): "You can walk if you want!"

The former agent started the taxi and instantly floored it. The vehicle sped down the street as bullets bounced off the car.

Zatanna: "Three SUV's are following us! Who are these guys?!"

(Y/n): "I really don't want to find out. Keep trying your magic, I'll head for the zeta tube!"

The back window shattered as a bullet flew through it and narrowly missed Zatanna's neck. (Y/n) cursed and made a sharp turn down a small street.

Another black SUV abruptly pulled to a stop at the intersection ahead, attempting to block the street while the men inside shot at the small taxi.

(Y/n) grabbed Zatanna's head and forced her down below the console as he sped up and rammed the SUV. The windshield shattered but the small taxi managed to slowly rumble on.

Smoke bellowed out from the engine as the accelerator gave out and the taxi came to a halt.

Zatanna and (Y/n) carefully climbed out of the now burning taxi, their dress clothes a mangled mess as smoke filled the air.

Zatanna: "Run!"

The taxi exploded as the pair limped down the street. The SUV's rolled to a stop and multiple men in suits and masks chased after them. Gunshots rang out and bullets slammed against nearby buildings as the pair ducked into an alley.

Zatanna: "We're five blocks from the zeta tube! We'll never make it!"

The pair rounded the corner and continued down the street as the sound of gunfire filled the night.

(Y/n): "Get to the train station!"

The masked criminals exited the alley just in time to see (Y/n) and Zatanna enter the local train station.

The lovers slowed their pace to a casual walk so they wouldn't cause a panic in the station. Large crowds of people moved back and forth through the platform as a luxury train prepared to exit the station.

(Y/n) quickly bought tickets with what little money he had left and the pair joined the line of extremely well dressed guests.

Despite their dress clothes they still would stand out if anyone took a long look at the line. The ragged backpack gave (Y/n) away and Zatanna's hair was partially disheveled and her dress had a small cut next to her leg slit.

Zatanna: "I swear if I have to run in heels again I'm going to lose it."

(Y/n): "I could carry you."

Zatanna: "As much as I love that idea, I don't think you'd fare very well in a fight with me on your back."

(Y/n): "Is that a challenge?"

The magician rolled her eyes as the former agent handed their tickets to the conductor and stepped aboard the luxury dining car.

Zatanna and (Y/n) were the last to board. As they sat down at the bar the train started moving. Soon they had cleared the station and were rumbling down the tracks at a steady pace.

The dining car was incredibly luxurious and the crowd inside was high society to say the least.

As (Y/n) ordered drinks for the two of them, Zatanna let out a sigh of relief. Her heart had been racing since leaving the auction.

Zatanna: "Is this what you feel like during missions? The adrenaline rushing through your veins, constantly looking over your shoulder..."

(Y/n): "No... not really, not for me anyway. I'm trained to be calm in battle. Why? Are you alright?"

Zatanna: "Well, I've never been in a fight where I couldn't use my magic... it was a little nerve racking."

(Y/n) smiled and reassured Zatanna that they'd be fine. He gently took hold of Zatanna's hand and held it as the bartender brought them their drinks.

Zatanna: "So... where's this train going?"

(Y/n): "Taranto I think... I wasn't exactly concerned with the destination, I just picked the first train that was leaving."

The magician smiled and lightly giggled as her fiancé shrugged his shoulders before grabbing his drink.

———————————————————————

*Watchtower*

Tigress: "You've got to be kidding me."

The archer was stuffing spare arrows into her quiver as a live news broadcast of the auction robbery in Naples played on the monitor. The camera followed (Y/n) and Zatanna as they climbed into the taxi and drove off with the criminals in close pursuit.

Tigress: "Those two can't go anywhere without blowing something up."

Nightwing: "You know, I think I remember someone saying that about Kelso and (Y/n)..."

Tigress: "As long as it includes (Y/n), the statement's true."

Nightwing: "Are you sure you don't need my help?"

Tigress: "I'm sure I'll be fine, you need to get to the Team and help with the Gotham gang war before it gets out of hand. I'll track down those two and be back by tomorrow morning."

The pair were silent for a moment as Tigress continued to gear up and Nightwing kept his attention focused on the news broadcast.

Nightwing: "Something doesn't seem right, Zatanna could've easily handled a few thugs with guns, and I've seen (Y/n) tear through Reach soldiers with his bare hands... why'd they run?"

Tigress: "I don't know, maybe they wanted to take the fight outside and away from the crowded auction. You can ask them when I bring them back."

Nightwing: "Alright, call me if you need my help and good luck."

————————————————————————

The luxury train cars rumbled down the tracks as (Y/n) and Zatanna enjoyed their drinks in the dining car.

The brown backpack was sitting by Zatanna's feet, she was fighting the urge to open it and examine everything the criminals took from the auction.

Zatanna: "That totem... it blocked my magic, I don't know how."

(Y/n): "Well, Circe had something that blocked your magic, didn't she?"

Zatanna: "Yeah, but that was an amulet created by Circe herself... a goddess. This is a stone carving the size of a cellphone, and it hasn't shown any magical power before."

The magician reached down and pulled the backpack up onto her lap as (Y/n) casually surveyed the small crowd in the dining car.

Zatanna: "Maybe if I send a picture of it to the Watchtower they can get Dr. Fate to examine it..."

(Y/n): "I'd hold off on that..."

Zatanna: "Why? Is something wrong?"

The former agent leaned over and whispered into his fiancée's ear.

(Y/n): "Three tables, each exit and right behind us. Six men in total, not a single one of them has touched their drink in half an hour. We're being watched. Giggle at something I said."

Zatanna let out a natural light laugh as (Y/n) leaned back and took a sip of his drink.

The former agent shifted his seat over a little more so they could talk without being overheard.

(Y/n): "You're a natural."

Zatanna simply smiled in response. The two looked into eachothers eyes for a brief moment before their gaze was pulled to the entrance as the door slid open.

A middle aged white man stepped through the door. He wore a bright white suit with a black tie. The white suit seemed to glow as he stepped into the dining car and sat down beside Zatanna.

Two large men in Black suits entered right behind him. The men looked like they could be linebackers. Each was well over 6 feet tall and close to 300 pounds.

???: "Such a beautiful country."

Zatanna: "I'm sorry?"

???: "Italy, it's my first time visiting and I can safely say it's beautiful."

Zatanna: "Yes it is. My mother and I toured the country when I was younger, she loved the mountains."

???: "I love the art. It's always so amazing to see the evolution of it. May I see the piece you have on you?"

Zatanna: "I'm sorry, you must have us confused with someone else."

(Y/n): "Who are you?"

???: "I know you have the totem, so let's cut the pleasantries and get down to business. My name is Eldon Peck but you may call me Brother Night."

The man stood up and the lovers watched in horror as his skin seemed to burn. The caucasian skin burned away and was replaced by a mangled and burnt face.

His red eyes glared at the lovers as he smiled at them. All around the cabin, the men in suits stood up and moved to surround the stunned heroes.

Brother Night: "If you give me the totem, you can both walk away."

Zatanna: "Why do you want it?"

Brother Night: "My dear, you really don't want to know. But let's just say I have a connection to it. You've no doubt found out that your magic doesn't work in its vicinity, well mine does."

Brother Night held out his hand and waves of dark red magic danced between his fingers. The man suddenly snapped his fingers and the wave of red magic shot out, wrapping around Zatanna and (Y/n).

The heroes instantly crumbled to the ground in pain, the red magic gripping their bodies and violently shocking them.

The attack was over as quickly as it started and the red magic dissipated as Brother Night picked up the backpack.

Brother Night: "I gave you a chance to walk away, you should've taken it."

(Y/n) grabbed the leg of the closest bar stool and jumped up, swinging the wooden stool with an impressive speed and smashing it off Brother Night. The man stumbled back as the stool shattered but was somehow mostly unharmed.

Brother Night simply backed up towards the door and ordered his men to deal with the heroes. The fight began not even a second later. (Y/n) smashed a small piece of the stool off one of the massive guards and the wooden leg snapped in two without hurting the man.

The massive criminal smiled at the former agent as (Y/n) backed up with an annoyed expression forming on his face.

(Y/n): "You've got to be fucking kidding me."

The largest criminal threw a punch at (Y/n), the former agent ducking just in time and uppercutting the man with everything he had. The massive criminal was lifted up and crashed down on a nearby table, shattering everything on it and sending the cowering guest scrambling out of the dining car.

(Y/n): "Alright, now with your giant out of the way, does anyone else want to fuck with us?"

The remaining criminals charged at once. (Y/n) held them off for a few seconds but was simply overwhelmed by the number of opponents and such a small space for fighting.

Zatanna was still picking herself up and tried a few spells before she was grabbed and had a hand clamped over her mouth.

The magician tried to elbow her attacker but the man easily absorbed each hit. (Y/n) was pinned against the bar by four men as a fifth attempted to stab him in the neck with a knife.

The former agent suddenly kicked the man with the knife between the legs and the criminal crumbled instantly.

As (Y/n) began to throw off his attackers one by one, Zatanna decided to play possum after being unable to free herself. She pretended to faint so the man would release her and join the fight.

Her plan worked and she was let go as the man slipped past her and punched (Y/n) across the face, sending the former agent stumbling back towards the emergency exit.

Zatanna dropped down, still pretending to be unconscious. She tried to whisper a few spells but found that she still couldn't use her magic. After silently cursing and looking around for any way to be useful, her eyes landed on a stake knife that had been knocked to the floor during the fight. She quickly grabbed it and hid it in the belt of her dress the best she could.

One of the remaining criminals pulled out a knife and charged at (Y/n). The former agent ducked under the first swing without issue before punching the man across the face then throwing him out the emergency door.

Cold air blasted in as the door swung open. The sound of the train rumbling down the track filled the cabin and momentarily stopped the fight.

Zatanna: "AHHHH!"

The scream sent a chill down (Y/n)'s back and he froze in place. Brother Night had entered the cabin once again. He had grabbed Zatanna and was holding her from the back of her head. Red magic swirled around Zatanna's head and she had her hands up behind her head, attempting to pull Brother Night's hand off her head.

Brother Night: "This fight is over."

Brother Night's other hand held the totem, the stone carving was glowing the same bright red as the man's eyes.

Zatanna suddenly grabbed the totem and ripped it out of Brother Night's hand. She quickly tossed it across the room and (Y/n) caught it. The former agent held the totem out the emergency exit and smiled.

(Y/n): "Let her go, or I drop this."

Brother Night's eyes glowed as he screamed in rage. He threw Zatanna to the ground as his hands started glowing bright red. Before (Y/n) had a chance to react, Brother Night shot a powerful blast of magic towards him.

The red lightning and waves of magic wrapped around the former agent's body as the force of the blast sent him flying out of the train car.

(Y/n) crashed into several bushes which managed to slow his fall and rolled to a stop just short of a large tree.

By the time he managed to pick himself up, the train was already gone.

————————————————————————

Brother Night: "That was a mistake."

Zatanna: "Fuck you!"

The magician pushed herself up as Brother Night and his men moved to surround her.

Brother Night: "Bring her to my cabin, we'll use her as bait to get the totem back. Her powers will be returning any minute, make sure she's gagged."

Zatanna tried to fight back but was easily overwhelmed. Despite being captured she managed to punch several of the criminals in the face before being subdued.

————————————————————————

(Y/n) wandered through the dark countryside, making his way down the small hill to a farm in the distance.

The path was uneven and had rocks scattered across it, making it almost impossible to move at a steady pace in the darkness.

His body ached from the blast of magic, even after everything he's seen, this magic felt different. Sure he was far from a professional in the field of magic, but this magic burned. It stung in a way that was unfamiliar. His body was drained of energy and for a brief moment after the blast hit him, it felt like he was on fire.

He eventually made it to the farm and stumbled up the front porch. (Y/n) wiped the dust and dirt off his face the best he could before stepping up to the front door.

Before he had a chance to knock on the front door he heard the racking of a shotgun. He froze instantly and put up his hands, slowly turning around to face the source of the sound.

???: "Keep your hands up. If you flinch in a way I don't like, I'll take your head off."

(Y/n): "You speak surprisingly good English for an Italian farmer."

The man stepped up onto the porch after motioning for (Y/n) to back up. The overhead light illuminated the farmer.

The man wore an old Multicam boonie hat, a dark brown leather coat and jeans. His boots were old combat boots and were partially covered in dirt. A strange beard and mustache covered most of his face, with his chin being trimmed down while the rest of his beard was long.

???: "That's because I'm not Italian."

(Y/n): "Yeah, I've gathered that. Look, I'm just looking to borrow your telephone. If you let me call my friends I'll be out of your hair by morning."

???: "Where's your better half?"

The former agent was caught off guard and narrowed his gaze at the older man.

???: "The Leaguer you're always with. What's her name? She's the magic one, wears the outfit that could be worn in some... other professions."

(Y/n): "Choose your next words carefully, I've killed far more powerful people than you."

???: "Oh relax lad, Alfred did say you were protective of her. I wanted to see how easy it was to push your buttons."

(Y/n): "Alfred? Who are you?"

Price: "The names Price, Captain Price. I've worked with Alfred a few times. As for why I'm here, that's none of your business. What are you dining here, agent?"

(Y/n): "I'm not an agent and I wish I knew what I was doing."

Price: "Being an agent isn't something you can walk away from, your intervention in Markovia and at the auction prove that. Come on in and tell me all about it."

(Y/n): "I don't have time! I need to catch the train I was just thrown off."

Price: "The train will stop two miles down the track at a small town. The guests disembark for dinner so you'll have a few hours to catch up."

(Y/n): "How could you possibly know that?"

Price: "That same luxury train runs the same route every single week. Now let's get inside."

————————————————————————

The train rolled to a stop in the small town and the large number of guests quickly exited the train cars. Within minutes the train was basically deserted, leaving Brother Night and his men alone to set their trap.

Zatanna was placed in the cargo car, tied to a wooden chair amongst the rows of suitcases and crates. She grumbled in annoyance though the cloth gag made it little more than a muffled groan.

She could feel the steak knife still tucked into her belt and was working to grab onto it so she could cut the ropes.

The magician had almost reached the knife when Brother Night and a few of his men stormed into the room. She quickly stopped her struggling before they noticed and glared up at her captors.

Brother Night: "Oh don't be so upset my dear. Once I have what I want, you and your beloved can leave this country."

Zatanna simply rolled her eyes and looked away, not believing a word that came out of the man's mouth.

Brother Night: "I want you to triple the security on the train and use lethal force against the agent on sight. I'm not even going to bother offering to trade the totem for Ms. Zatara, I know he'll attempt to double cross us."

The men nodded their heads and went their separate ways, leaving Brother Night alone with Zatanna. The deformed man grabbed Zatanna's chin and forced her to look up into his blood red eyes. The magician tried to bite his thumb but the gag made it a futile attempt.

Brother Night: "Your fiancé has no idea what he's in possession of, I have powerful friends who will stop at nothing to get that artifact."

The magician swung her head forward in an attempt to headbutt the man. She barely missed and Brother Night backed up while laughing.

Suddenly the man slapped Zatanna across the face. Undeterred, the magician glared back at Brother Night who started grinding his teeth as rage filled his body.

His hand formed a fist and the next second he punched Zatanna across the face. The punch was far weaker compared to some of the other criminals and monsters Zatanna had come across and she quickly recovered.

Brother Night: "Enjoy the darkness, your fiancé will be here soon and I'll kill you both."

The second she was left alone she began working on the restraints, hoping to free herself if she could just grab the knife.

————————————————————————

(Y/n): "And that's pretty much the whole story. I don't know anything about this totem, but I know that guy was after it."

Price was sitting in a large reclining chair and examining the stone totem. He shrugged his shoulders before setting the relic down on a coffee table.

Price: "I don't know a thing about magic, but I do know how to catch a train."

The former SAS captain pushed himself up and moved towards the back door, motioning for (Y/n) to follow.

The agent jumped up off the couch and made his way through the small farm house. Price gave the agent a change of clothes, he now wore light brown pants with work boots and a khaki collared shirt. Price handed him a brown leather jacket similar to what he was wearing when the agent arrived at the back door.

(Y/n): "I appreciate the change of clothes, but I need to get going."

Price: "I know, I'm going to help you."

The SAS captain led the agent out into a large barn where he slowly pushed the door open.

The pair made their way inside where (Y/n) saw a large armory and horse stables. Price grabbed a handgun and spare magazines of ammunition before returning to the agent and handing it to him.

(Y/n): "I appreciate your help, but don't you think I should take something with a little more firepower?"

Price: "It'll be difficult to ride and shoot a rifle, trust me I've tried."

(Y/n): "Ride?"

Price smiled and moved over to the closest stable. He opened the gate and a horse slowly stepped out. The massive animal stomped on the ground as it approached.

(Y/n): "I've never ridden a horse before."

Price: "You look like a fast learner."

Before (Y/n) had a chance to protest, Price had secured a saddle on the black and brown horse.

The former agent was handed a holster and he quickly attached it to his leg. He jumped up onto the horse and pulled himself into the proper position a few seconds later.

(Y/n): "Are you coming with me?"

Price: "No. I've got my own business to attend to, and I'm in no shape to be fighting anyone or anything with magical powers."

(Y/n): "And you think I am? Look at me, I've got a handgun and I'm dressed like Indiana Jones."

Price: "You don't have to win, you just have to get your girl and then get this totem someplace safe. For a man of your talents, that shouldn't be too difficult."

(Y/n): "Does he or she have a name?"

The former agent awkwardly patted the horse's head and Price smiled.

Price: "I named him after a friend from my SAS days... Ghost."