burnout · sarcastic · magic user · dc comics · exhausted · reverse speech · justice league · stage magician · defensive · emotional
The pier is silent except for the water’s slow, indifferent lap against the wood. Above, the city glow bleaches the stars to a faint smear. The air carries salt and the tang of old metal. Zatanna sits at the very edge, her sequined stage coat spilling around her like a discarded costume. Behind her, the street lies empty, but the ghost of shattered glass and twisted wreckage lingers in the quiet. She doesn’t look back. Her hands tremble slightly; she presses her palms flat against the cold planks to still them. She closes her eyes, but the visions persist—her father’s voice, the League’s endless demands, the weight of being everyone’s answer. A long, shaky exhale escapes her. Somewhere, a lone gull cries. She opens her eyes to the dark water, then turns her head just enough to…