A/N: Thanks for the reviews!
Chapter Three - Homework
Diana waved from her seat with a cheery smile. "Hey, Zatanna."
"Um...hi."
To her credit, the magician didn't start laughing until her eyes met Bruce's. In the batsuit, the glare was enough to send most people running and hiding. But coming from a boy in a Power Rangers t-shirt, Zatanna couldn't stand it. She burst out laughing.
Bruce crossed his arms and attempted to wait patiently until it was over. It took some time. Dinner and dessert had been consumed by the time she could breathe properly, and even then the occasional giggle still slipped out. "Wh-Who was it?"
"Morgaine Le Fay," he glowered. "She transformed us into children to deal with her son, then refused to change us back."
Zatanna nodded. "I see. Well, I can try. But I can't promise anything."
"Because?"
"Magic's like wine - it gets better with age. And Morgaine Le Fay's been a sorceress for at least a thousand years, if not more. I doubt my magic will be a match for hers," she explained. "However, the enchantment to keep you as children shouldn't be too strong. And if her attention is elsewhere-"
"She said she was looking for a way to restore her son's eternal youth," Diana put in.
Zatanna nodded. "Then hopefully I'll be able to help."
"Good. Get on with it."
Zatanna looked doubtfully around. "In Alfred's kitchen? I don't think so."
Bruce rolled his eyes, preparing to tell Zatanna she was being stupid - until he caught Alfred's eye. "Right. Cave it is."
Once assembled in the Batcave, Zatanna had them stand in a circle, and join hands. John eyed Diana's hand with unconcealed horror. "But I'll get cooties!"
"Oh for-" With an impatient sigh, Diana grabbed GL's hand. "Stop being stupid," she told him firmly. Then she smiled sweetly at the woman once again trying hard not to laugh. "When you're ready, Zatanna."
"Right." She adjusted her hat and lifted her wand into the air. "Yb eht srewop fo cigam taht ediug em, egnahc kcab ot ruoy eurt smrof!"
Golden sparkles erupted from the end of her wand, swooping around the child-Leaguers, weaving in and out of their clasped hand. But nothing happened after the breeze and warm light had dissipated. They were all still eight years old.
"What went wrong?" Clark asked, frowning.
Zatanna frowned, then rolled her sleeves up. "I'll try a different spell, hold on." She took a deep breath. "Nerdlihc dnats erofeb em, stluda nihtiw. Tel eht sraey fo doohdlihc ltem yawa won!"
More sparks this time, but violet in colour this time. The result was the same. "Sorry," she said. "I guess my powers run a distant second to those of Merlin's greatest enemy."
"There must be something else you can do," Bruce growled.
"There isn't, at least for now! I'll be able to do more with more research, but there are at least a hundred different spells she could have used to do this to you, and without narrowing down the field, there's nothing. So don't get snippy with me, Bruce."
Bruce opened his mouth, eyes narrowed, to argue some more, before Diana laid a calming hand on his forearm. More arguing wouldn't help; if Zatanna's magic wasn't enough without more specific knowledge, then she couldn't help that. "Zatanna," the princess said, sounding much more like her adult-self, "are there any books we could look through for you, to try and research? I'm sure with the League and your show you're very busy. We'd be happy to help."
John leaned toward Clark, speaking in a whisper that carried easily in the cavern. "Did she just volunteer us for homework?"
"Think so."
"That blows."
Zatanna was nodding. "Yes. I've got several in my apartment, so I can magic them here. Hang on." She cleared her throat. "Cigam skoob, emoc ot em!"
A window of white opened up in the air about ten feet above their heads; a dozen enormous books followed it, one narrowly missing John's head but landing on his foot instead. "Ow!"
"Oops, sorry," Zatanna said. "Anyway, those are the only ones that I think might be helpful. I've got to get going, you guys. Sorry again!"
With that, she disappeared as swiftly as she'd appeared. Diana sighed, looking down at the books. "Well, we should get started now I guess."
"Now?" Clark asked, dismayed. "But, Diana, we haven't even had one go on Tim's X-Box yet-"
"Do you want to be stuck as a kid forever, Kal?" she demanded, hands on her hips again.
Bruce didn't bother trying to hide his smirk at the cowed and defeated expression that appeared on Clark's face. "No, I guess not..."
"There you are then." Without a noise of effort, Diana piled six of the books into Superboy's arms, transferring another three to John. He opted to carry them upstairs in a huge green book-bag rather than strain himself. Diana took two of the books, offering a winning smile to Batboy over her shoulder. "You can take the last one, can't you, Bruce?"
Bruce regarded the book doubtfully. It was as big as his entire torso; covered in dust with heavy leather bindings and jewelled metal clasps. It took a lot of puffing and panting, and a lot of muttering creative expletives that were not appropriate for a boy his age, but eventually he got to the elevator, and took it up to the library. To find the three of them already in there, with only Diana looking like she was putting any effort into what she was doing. Clark and John were sat behind her, making rude gestures and giggling silently. Next step would no doubt be making paper airplanes out of torn book pages.
Bruce put the book down on the table, then moved toward the door. "You aren't staying?" Diana's voice asked in concern.
He looked at her impassively. "Patrol."
All three of them stared at him incredulously. "Patrol?"
"Yes. Gotham's criminals aren't going to take the night off just because I'm like this."
"But... Bruce, you're...a kid!"
He glared. "I had become aware of that, actually."
"Then why are you going patrolling?" Diana asked.
"I think I already answered that question."
"Well, do you...want some help?"
"Have I ever before?"
"No."
"Then no."
"But-"
"I said no, Diana!"
Hearing her impatient and disappointed huff of a sigh, Bruce turned and left.
"What time is it?"
"Thirty seconds since you last asked, Diana..."
"So...?"
"Ten past eleven."
"And high time the three of you went to bed, children," Alfred said, just coming in. He was balancing a tray on one hand, three glasses of warm milk on it. "Miss Diana, the baby is asleep in his crib, and - as requested - in your bedroom."
She beamed. "Thank you, Alfred."
"A pleasure, my dear. Now come on, all of you. Off to bed."
After drinking the warm milk and snuggling into the electrically-heated bed, Diana expected to drift off to sleep quickly, and sleep well. But she didn't. Her brain couldn't shut down - and she knew exactly why. Bruce, being his infuriating self. He was eight, for Hera's sake! How on Earth did he expect to do anything in the city? He must need help, surely. Surely.
She'd just sneak down to the Cave and look. One look couldn't hurt, right? She'd just take a look at the readouts of his suit, make sure he was okay and then come back to bed. And then she'd talk to him about it in the morning. And demand that she'd come with him tomorrow night then.
She tiptoed past Etrigan's cot carefully so as not to wake him, the floated down the hallway, feeling that Alfred would hear even the lightest footstep on the marble floor. She couldn't hold back a soft chuckle as she passed Clark's room though - his snores were audible even through the door.
She managed to get down to the Batcave without waking or alerting anyone, though she had to remain floating to reach the keys on the massive computer. "Come on, Bruce, where are you...?"
She typed until she brought up the little beeping marker that showed Batboy's position in the city, as well as all his vitals. All strong and fine. She smiled in satisfaction at the pulsing yellow dot. He was fine. Then she frowned. And not moving. And according to this, he hadn't moved for the last ten minutes. Was he hurt?
No, he can't be. The suit shows he's fine... But what if it was wrong? Diana bit her lip, debating inwardly. If she went into the city after he'd told her not to, then he'd be angry - but then she could definitely ascertain he was okay. Weighing her options, she finally decided on the best course of action. She'd go. She'd make sure he was alright, and then she'd leave again.
When she arrived at Batboy's location, fifteen minutes later, Diana actually fell out of the sky. "What in Athena's name do you think you're doing?!" she yelled.
A/N: Review please!
