After Locke went to enormous lengths, he finally managed to explain the Hound in the mist and the trip to San Francisco.
"I see." Dio folded his arms, suddenly enlightened. "You ran into a magical monster in a field, got teleported to the West Coast by this half-baked magician, couldn't get back, and finally had to rely on a LuthorCorp helicopter to fly home."
"Kid, I'm not some half-baked magi—"
Zatanna had just started to retort.
Stare—
The strange looks from father and son made her shut her mouth.
"Then tell me, Dad!"
Ignoring Zatanna, Dio tugged at Locke's clothes and said irritably, "What's with this beach tourist outfit?!"
"The helicopter ran low on fuel halfway through."
Locke blinked innocently. "We had to make an emergency landing on a beach in Metropolis. And I happened to be hungry."
"."
Dio shoved Saraphiel into Locke's arms in annoyance, then turned and headed into the house.
"Where are you going?"
"Going back to sleep!" the boy replied without looking back.
Watching his son's huffy retreating figure, Locke shook his head with a smile.
"Remember to get up for lunch later!"
"Sorry, Miss Magician."
Holding Saraphiel, Locke turned around and chuckled. "This kid's a little clingy. He didn't see me for one night, so he—"
"?"
Zatanna did not seem interested in responding to his explanation. Her gaze seemed drawn by a magnet, fixed unwaveringly on Saraphiel. Deep within those emerald eyes, strange specks of starlight seemed to drift quietly, carrying a trace of inquiry and an indescribable focus.
"Miss Magician?"
Locke called out again, with an almost imperceptible note of caution in his voice.
"Ah! Sorry."
The girl seemed to snap out of some absorbed perception. Embarrassed, she stuck out the tip of her small tongue. "I—I just sensed a very... special