#hellstarweek2020

Hellstar Week Day 7: Free Choice

Summary:

John Constantine is a traveling exorcist who finds himself in Paris among a group of bohemians seeking a writer. In order to investigate demonic activity at the Moulin Rouge, John goes undercover and pretends to be a writer, which leads him to the infamous nightclub where he meets its star courtesan, Zari Tarazi. The two of them form an instant connection and soon begin a secret love affair. But she is already promised to Nate Heywood, the son of the club's patron, the Duke of Monroth. A dangerous love triangle ensues as John and Zari fight against all odds to stay together. Come what may, will their love persevere?

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: DC's Legends of Tomorrow (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: John Constantine/Zari Tomaz | Zari Tarazi Characters: John Constantine, Zari Tomaz | Zari Tarazi Additional Tags: Utopia Falls AU, Hellstar Week Day 7 Summary:

John follows Zari into the woods and discovers the Archive, which just confirms his suspicions that their society is not as alone as they thought.

Zari Tarazi was used to shitty guys.

There was the boyfriend who cheated on her with her best friend/assistant, the multitude of guys who dated her for the fame and status and couldn’t give a flying fuck about her actual feelings, and of course, DJ S’more Money.

He was also in the second category.

But she had long since gotten used to it. Being one half of a power couple was great for keeping up her image, no matter how much she hated it. She’d made a handful of shitty decisions as well when the public wasn’t watching, hooking up with guys or gals she shouldn’t have. 

John wasn’t that at all, though.

He could be, in his words, a nasty piece of work, and he was very much not what she considered when she thought about ‘her type’. She had always thought her type was the self-absorbed fuckboy, against her better judgement.

A demonologist with a snarky attitude and a strong preference for trench coats (designer or not) was not the image Zari conjured when asked about her type.

Yet the moment he’d played the Romeo to her Juliet, that image slowly started to creep in.

Maybe it was the fact that despite how he looked and how he acted, he wasn’t a shitty guy. He didn’t care about her fame, didn’t even own a phone. It was humbling at the same time that it was uplifting. She never felt like she had to pretend around him the same way she pretended around everyone else.

When she had told that to the other her, when she had asked about her and John, it had felt stupid. He could be sweet and funny and a great kisser when he didn’t taste like cigarette smoke, but it was that one thing that her love him the most. He loved her for who she was, under all the walls she hid behind. 

John hesitated before he knocked on Zari’s door. “You alright in there, love?” he asked. “Everyone’s getting ready to leave, with or without ya.”

Going to the Hole had been Charlie’s idea, when all of them had needed a pick-me-up after saying goodbye to the other Zari. He’d been absent for her send-off, but he couldn’t blame the others for needing something to numb the pain.  

The door slid open, revealing Zari, his Zari sitting at her vanity. He’d half expected her to still be getting ready, pretending everything was fine for one night, or forever. But she was already ready, fiddling with the eyeliner in her hands as she said, “Come in,” without looking over at him.