Another rainy day in Gotham, though this one was slightly different. When the road, freshly touched by sunlight, was soaked by rain again, it still retained the warmth of noon. Even through the soles of one's shoes, it felt different from the usual chill and mud.
Zatanna, standing by the roadside packing up her magic box, looked up at the gathering clouds and sighed worriedly. Then she felt someone pat her on the back.
The boss of the newsstand beside her handed her an umbrella and said with a smile, "Times really have changed. Someone actually goes out in Gotham without an umbrella?"
Zatanna did not take it. She merely smiled and said, "I live in the apartment building right next door. I only came out to perform street magic during the two hours of sunshine. I'll be home after running a few steps."
With that, the young magician swiftly packed away her props, grabbed the heavy box, and ran into the nearby stairwell.
After running all the way up to the sixth floor, Zatanna let out a long breath. But recalling the smiling face of the newsstand boss, she still said wistfully, "Sunshine gives people an excess of kindness. No one would have expected someone here to lend an umbrella to a stranger. This is the City of Crime, and it's not so bad, right?"
Just as Zatanna took out her key to open the door, she heard a strange commotion inside. She immediately took two wary steps back. Just as she thought she was about to overturn her earlier conclusion, a somewhat familiar cry of pain came from within.
Zatanna immediately opened the door and rushed inside, exclaiming, "Thomas Constantine?! What are you doing in my house?!"
"I'm not Thomas..." The man lying on the living room floor,