Name Drop

[Zatanna Zatara]

NYC was expensive, even for superheroes. 

People thought heroes made the bank, but unfortunately that wasn't the case.

Most of the heroes didn't even get paid, especially if they weren't affiliated with the government.

Now, the Justice League was a whole different story, and one couldn't help but wonder how they managed it.

"I mean, there were two possibilities, right?" The blackette wondered.

Either they were secretly working with the government, which seemed pretty unlikely, or they had some kind of sponsor.

Unfortunately, Zatanna didn't have either. Her own principles prevented her from getting involved with the government, and the sponsors out there? Well, they all wanted something in return.

One couldn't really call them sponsors, more like sugar daddies... It just wasn't her style.

She wasn't about to sell her body for some cash. She came from a lineage of greatness, it wasn't worthy of her name. 

But no matter how much she was related to Leonardo da Vinci and Nicolas Flamel, or how much of a hero or magician she was, it didn't guarantee wealth or success.

Sometimes, she really questioned her own morals. Like, why did she even have them if they only made her suffer? She could totally use her magic to make herself rich.

But she didn't because her father taught her magic was supposed to make others happy, not themselves.

But this didn't help her to fill her stomach.

Living at the center of NYC was burning a hole through her pocket, but thankfully a friend of hers was able to point her towards The Bronx, which had a few affordable houses to live in.

And so, with a little bit of hope, which she knew she should not have given her luck –she ended up coming there.

Co-Op City was where she was at as she did see a few housing ads on the internet.

The Bronx.

It definitely had its own vibe. If you were on a tight budget, it was a good option. Just be ready for the constant noise and the reality of crime that came with it.

Every corner she turned, there were vendors shouting their heads off, trying to hook you with their sweet deals. And the storefronts? They cranked up the volume, competing for attention with their blasting music. It was a wild mix, from hip-hop to salsa, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere. But you couldn't ignore the fact that the streets could be tough, and you needed to keep your wits about you.

Now, strolling through the residential blocks, one would catch a symphony of everyday sounds. Kids running around, their laughter echoing through the tight alleys. Neighbors chatting away, their voices carrying through open windows, spreading news and gossip like wildfire. But amidst the hustle and bustle, there was also an undercurrent of caution. It was a neighborhood where you had to be aware of your surroundings, and crime was a reality that you couldn't ignore.

Crime not commited by supervillains, but rather your average humans.

Because people forget, villains didn't always have to have power to be a criminal.

Bronx was loud.

But hey, amidst all the noise and the challenges, there was a certain charm to it. It was a melting pot of cultures, where different voices blended together, creating a tapestry of life in vivid colors. Sure, the Bronx might be easy on the wallet, but it was a neighborhood that demanded your attention and street smarts. It was a lively symphony that wrapped you up and made you feel alive, even in the midst of all that clamor and caution.

And finally, the house she looked at was right in front of them. It wasn't necessarily the biggest or even the prettiest, but it did look comfortable enough.

But as she walked near, she saw a certain man.

A certain handsome man standing right in front of the house with an ad about the house…

Shit…

He was handsome, like really handsome.

She didn't even know gingers could be that good looking.

But…

She needed the house no matter how good-looking he was.

…

…

Damn.

Having to go from house to house looking for rent was annoying. Especially when the owner had a personality that repelled any and all customers.

But as I stood there waiting, I was approached by a woman who most certainly was a model or an actress.

Midnight black hair that fell around her shoulder, sapphire eyes that shone brighter than my luck, long legs that were barely hidden by the fish nets that she wore and a figure that would easily feature in a playboy magazine.

If they were still being printed.

Moral of the story was, she was stunning.

"Hey…"

The woman said, making me quite curious about her.

"Hi?" 

I wasn't certain if it was me that she was talking to, but then again there wasn't anyone else around us. 

However, there was something that I noticed right off the bat.

She was staring at the pamphlet in my hand.

"Err… Are you trying to get a rent here?"

Guessed so.

Putting on a smile, I nodded. "I am."

"Ah, darn it!"

Her expression changed real quick.

"I thought I was the first to notice the ad."

I could understand her frustration. Searching for places to rent can be hectic and just when you think you have found a decent place, someone else seems to have booked it.

But well, she wasn't totally out of luck yet.

"I haven't booked the place yet," I said, "And theren't isn't any surety that I will like the place enough to book it. So, if you want… You can go through the place too. But well I hope you know I will have the first dibs since I got here first?"

I didn't have to do any of this, but I didn't like seeing people suffering from the same issues as me. Especially when I personally wanted to get out of that issue real soon.

Then again, this kindness was directly proportional to my mood.

"Ah? Are you sure?"

She was a little taken aback by my sudden proposal, but I could see it in her eyes that she had been going around for this just as much as me if not more. So, despite the shock, she agreed immediately after seeing me nod.

"Then… I will gladly take you up on this offer."

She smiled and I would be damned if I said she didn't look pretty.

She looked like she worked out, not the bulky muscle build but rather the slim gymnast body.

Now, I liked my fair share of muscled women but there was a charm in women with a slim feminine yet strong body that the former didn't.

As we were waiting outside, a fat man walked out towards us.

He was the man that posted the ad, the owner of the house and apparently he lived nearby so he was able to show us the house himself. 

Which saved us the trouble of having to pay a brokerage.

But well…

"This place sucks."

She whispered next to my ear, and in all honesty…

I couldn't deny it.

"It does," I said, feeling a sigh leaving me from the disappointment, "Makes sense that it was cheap."

By cheap I mean hella cheap. I thought it was suspicious that the place was listed for this low price but it made sense after witnessing the condition.

The paint of the rooms were coming off, the pipes were rusted, the kitchen sink wasn't working and the bathroom…

Let's not even go there.

The owner did say that he would fix those issues for us but how long will it take? I didn't have the time or the patience to wait till he fixed the issues.

"We can find better places," She said and I wasn't sure if she was trying to comfort me or herself.

Because she seemed far more frustrated than me.

"You aren't from around here, are you?" She asked.

"I am from Bristol, England," I said, "But I decided to move to the US."

"Oh?" She sounded amused, "What made you move here?"

I chuckled, "Nothing grand to be honest, just exploring my options."

"That's interesting." She smiled, "So, have you discovered your options yet?"

"Going through them, but well turns out it is more difficult than I expected."

She chuckled, "Of course, it is."

We walked around looking for places to rent.

I am not sure why we were walking around together, but we did. 

Turns out she needs a cheap place to rent because she won't be at home most of the time because of her work and it is a waste to pay a lot if you aren't even going to stay at that place for most of your hours. 

Of course, that didn't mean she would settle for any run down house, everyone wanted a decent house.

"To be fair, you don't sound much British. So, I wouldn't have been able to figure it out if you didn't tell me."

I raised an eyebrow, "Why? Because I don't go '"Oi, mate! Gimme a Bo'oh'o'wa'er?"'

She choked and almost burst out laughing, but she controlled as she knew it might be rude.

"No no, I mean-"

"I was kidding," I said, "I get that a lot as I don't have the typical accent."

Mostly because I wasn't British.

"We have been walking around for a long time now but I haven't gotten your name yet."

Hearing this, I paused. 

I indeed haven't given her my name yet.

"Oh… I am sorry about that." 

I felt awkward, aware that I didn't know her name either.

"I am Jasper Hughes, twenty three if you want to know."

She chuckled hearing me say this.

"I am Zatanna, Zatanna Zatara. I am twenty two."

And that right there was cue for me to be more aware of my surroundings.

Cause the one in front of me was 'THE Zatanna Zatara, the fucking mistress of magic!'

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