Summary: The first time he grudgingly accepted her help she was surprised.
AN: LJ community 5-fics. #05/2 What & #07/2 Hex
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"What are you doing?"
Mr Wayne stiffened but he didn't turn around. He was more interested in whatever he was doing than answering Luna. Curious she looked at the charts and lists of numbers and jumbled letters, the lines of text being displayed on the flat glass panels before repeating the question. "What are you doing?"
He ignored her and shifted to re-examine the data being displayed on another flatscreen panel on the other side of the primary over-sized work station.
Luna was not put off by his silence and off-putting demeanour. She'd faced worse and he would not harm her. Not if he wanted to remain on Uncle Alfred's good side!
Humming cheerfully she proceeded to cast several diagnostic spells on her patient, being very careful not to affect the expensive electronics close by. She was very pleased by his progress. It had become a habit to stop by every week he had been poisoned by Circe, just to confirm there were no undesirable side-effects from his experience. For the usual man or wizard it wouldn't matter but someone near constantly being subject to high-stress situations and intense physical exertions would have to recover perfectly.
He glared at her and dodged half-heartedly, trying to avoid her wand, the range of her diagnostic spells.
"What are you doing?" he growled though he already knew the answer.
She grinned inwardly as she answered, just like she always did.
"Diagnosis charm. Just making sure there are no traces of the poison. It should be completely clear of your system in another three weeks."
"So will you stop dropping by uninvited?" he asked snidely.
She put her wand away and ignored him in favour of examining the data displayed on the screens.
"What is that?" she asked curious, her eyes tracing the lines on the graph display.
"None of your business," he grumbled turning away from her.
She watched as he manipulated the data, recalculating the numbers with small variations and then redisplaying the data. She waited until his focus had returned to what he had been doing when she arrived. Then she stepped close and spoke softly.
"What are you doing?"
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It had taken all of his training not to jump when she had first spoken. Batman was furious. He made people jump, not the other way around.
She did not respond to his attempts to drive her away either. Very much like her uncle.
He did not reveal any of these thoughts as he turned around to face Luna Lovegood. He studied her in silence trying to figure out just how she managed to evade his trained senses. He had fought and tracked down magic users before but none had managed to evade and fool his senses like before.
If she had been an enemy… but she wasn't. Her expression was open and oddly earnest as she repeated her question.
"What are you doing?"
He stared at her noting her placid unyielding expression. Definitely like Alfred.
Begrudgingly he gave in and began explaining his latest case. She listened without comment or prejudice, occasionally interrupting for a clarification. At her request, he pulled up the medical files for the victims and watched as she re-examined the medical MRI data.
After five minutes she turned to him and made an unexpected announcement.
"This looks like a hex."
Batman blinked. "A what?"
"A Hex. A type of spell typically meant to cause a degree of pain and discomfort. It's a minor kind of dark magic, darker than a jinx but less than a curse," she explained. "They also tend to have lasting persistent effects."
Batman tamped down on the urge to scoff. He had fought aliens, demons, and magic wielding villains in addition to the run-of-the-mill metas and regular lunatics.
As though sensing he was giving the explanation serious consideration, Luna Lovegood continued.
"You said it yourself, you could not find a reasonable scientific explanation for the repeated incidents of 'bad luck' being experienced by the victims. But you did record traces of atypical energies at each victim's home and workplaces. Just ask one of your magical colleagues to check the scene for you. They should be able to dissipate the magic as well."
He leaned back in his chair and studied the silvery-haired blonde witch.
"You aren't offering to do it yourself?" He wasn't quite sure why he taunted her like that.
She merely smiled, not indicating any offence taken. "You don't trust me, at least not for criminal cases. And you are right because I'm not trained for criminal investigations. If you need magical help I can introduce you to Hermione; she is an investigator for the DMLE, a magical equivalent for a CSI."
He stared at her. She did not break and look away first.
"I might take you up on that," was the only thing he said before looking away.
Luna smiled inwardly and walked away. He was getting used to her! She was certain he would be more agreeable to letting her help soon enough! She almost skipped towards the set of stairs leading up to the Manor. She wanted to talk to Uncle Alfred before leaving. She hoped he had made jam tarts for tea today.
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TBC...