[28th January 2011]

[Saint Columba's College, Ballyvourey, Co Cork, Republic of Ireland]

Zatanna was pouting at me, arms folded across her chest as she sat at the back of the classroom. I suspected it was meant to be a glare, but that wasn't how it was coming across to me as the children left the room, chatting amongst themselves. Probably off to get something to eat, or just to relax before heading home for the weekend I imagined as the evening sun drifted down in the sky, illuminating the classroom in soft shadows and golden hues over the white of the interior lighting. Winter days always got dark so fast I found, even at this hour of the afternoon, and it had been a bit more apparent to me this week now that I'd actually had something closer to a regular working day, well, week, for once.

Funny how that worked, but it was rather pleasant, and I'd actually had time to study in the evenings. Off duty actually meaning something for once;- least now that there were actually other people with magic knowledge and abilities working for the government. That and the fact I was now rich, something that would allow me to buy and invest in things if I ever got a chance. Sure I was largely out of my lovely Tropico but it wasn't like either Ireland or the UK were going to let me lord it over the place once they got boots on the ground. Still my 'finders fee' of a fraction of a percent on all that legally seized bad guy money, finally sorted through official channels, was a nice little return on investment in my own humble opinion.

Tapping at the off button on the laptop, and the projector it was connected too, I looked up at my teammate as she stood up now the others had filtered out "Hmmm?"

Another pout as she sauntered forward, sitting to the side of me on the desk I'd been using "I thought maybe you'd be teaching something awesome, but booriiing!"

I rolled my eyes "Oh come on, they're children, and we're still only starting to work out everyone's level so I don't think I'd get away with 'Hey Kids, its time to learn to cast Fireball!' in fairness. Think their parents might object when the sitting room gets set ablaze. I did warn it'd be kiddie stuff before you sat in on it didn't I?"

She folded her arms across chest and continued the pouting session "Yeah you did John, hmpht, but thought maybe...it'd bit less, I dunno...your using computer slides and pictures to teach magic! Your taking all the mysticism and coolness out of magic you know, you're worse than Dad!"

"I am not!" I muttered as the thing pinged its little shutdown song. Honestly I missed Windows, or Linux, from the memories of a life long since passed. Or maybe it just false memories, always hard to tell...and didn't really matter I supposed. Still, alternate superhero Earth's version was just super clunky compared to it and had taken seemingly ages to get it to work in a format I liked "...I'm trying to be respectable, and serious, and hold off on the whole destruction and summoning thing till we wouldn't be caught in the immediate blast radius"

"Fine, but library next"

I made a face "No, coffee next, and then library. Some of us have been working ya'know?"

She punched my shoulder "And some of us were nearly out to sleep by Mr. Teacher so maybe I need some too huh? Maybe I should have gone with Kid Flash or Rocket, hmm?"

"Oh shush you, you were pretty talkative about those protective charms"

"Somebody had to give the right answer, it's not multiple choice Evil Skull Wizard"

"Hmmm...not everyone's a born sorceress from an arcane bloodline magical backwards talk girl..." I mused back placing the laptop into its bag "...so, sometimes, it is oddly enough. Eventually we'll get it down to the most efficient I guess, but that sort of tradition takes time to evolve..." I returned a gentle punch back on her shoulder "...hey, just remind yourself you'll be one of those helping create it by writing the books, probably get spells named after you"

"Pot. Kettle. Mr. Got a Pagan God to give me magic powers and forbidden knowledge"

"Touché"

"Uh-huh, but still a bit weird see you in a suit and teaching simple stuff like that, what with..."

I gave a snort of amusement "No skull mask and dark threatening and, more importantly bulletproof mind you, robes?"

"You didn't even pull a..." she spread out her arms out and up in front of her "...NOW LET ME SHOW YOU MY GREAT AND TERRIBLE POWERS MY NEW MINIONS! BWAHAHAHAHA!"

"You've really got the evil laugh down pat" I replied giving her a mock thumbs-up gesture. Zatanna grinned at that, fancy stage bow to the 'audience' as we paused our walk out of the room.

"Why, thank you! Thank You! Oh, but how could I not learned but from You, Oh Great and Terrible TIM!"

I paused, looking at her with irritation "Robin's been showing you those damned videos again hasn't he?"

"No~pe, was talking to Gemma earlier. You made her promise not to show the other students but said nothing about to the Team or, more specifically, to me~ee" she chirped back happily before pouting again "Robin's been too busy to see me since Christmas outside training and missions"

"Well Gotham has been devastated, theirs vampires running about there, him being mini-Batman, that kinda got in the way I guess" I answered, quickly sensing it was the wrong answer before sighing "...but I'm guessing he's going to regret that later when he arrives, am I right?"

"Oh No, me and Gemma were talking about spells and who can cast the best sleep spell. I'm volunteering Rob as our test subject...a little competition if you will, it'll be good practice for in how to deal with angry magicians and their friends I expect"

"Uh-huh...hmmm...I have I ever told you what a pretty, intelligent, and skilled magician you are Zatanna? And how much you and Gemma plotting together against anybody other than me is super-awesome in my humble opinion"

"Not nearly enough, but I'm sure buying me coffee and lunch will make up for that, followed by talking about the magical traditions like you promised. Since you're a Teacher now, so should I call you Sensei?" she teased back as we exited the classroom. I chuckled at that, rolling my eyes at it "Gemma was telling about your lessons after all, or the little she's allowed to hmph"

"Not unless you want your Da grounding you honestly, and your helping me write up our little guide for beginning magic users AND discuss ritual work for the next few hours till Artemis and the others arrive. That not enough for you?"

"You healed Red Arrows...well I mean, original not-clone Speedy's...arm, and the spells you taught Gemma are different to what I've seen..." she replied, giving a huff of annoyance towards the end "...and Dad won't teach me any new things till I'm ready he says"

I groaned "Oh boy are you trying to get my in trouble. I'm sure he's trying his best, teaching responsible magic usage to his daughter"

"That's like the hundredth time you've said responsible in the last hour! Daddy is just being over-protective like usual"

"Yeah that too" I agreed with a shrug earning a surprised glance from her as we walked along the hallway, and I shrugged again "...I'm not blind, he is. But has reason to be, and I like the words 'responsible magic use' together since my magic teachers have been irresponsible, destructive, or verging on being dark wizards at times since I started learning. Your Da cares, meaning it's both a blessing and a curse when your Father-Daughter as well as Master-Apprentice"

"It's a curse" Zatanna complained back motioning at the relative empty hallway, and more than likely the feel of magic humming about the place "...I want to learn, it's not fair, and there's a magic school right here now! Oh, and one of teammates already helps teach two other apprentices. Who might be ever so fond of me to help teach this fair sorceress his magical ways and spells"

"Laying it on a bit thick aren't we? Hmm?" I answered back to faux innocence and what was probably an attempt at puppy dog eyes "A; already got apprentices like you mentioned, B: I value my life and Dad Wizards might be bad for that, and C: if I request it let's be honest;- you'll be shoot down and locked in your room till your thirty"

I ignored her glare a moment, before sighing and resting a hand on her shoulder as we walked "My advice if you're really intent on taking the risk, talk to Black Canary first, ask about a day or two 'helping teach' or something to that effect. You're a skilled -age aside- and known, magic user with a good reputation and I'll definitely say we need the help if asked on our side..." because we did "...so that's an in, of sorts, as a teaching assistant/student. Again, your Da will go ballistic, though Constantine is not allowed near this place so that issue shouldn't exist. S'why you were allowed here today I guess, magical promise not to let my own mentor turn up within a hundred miles of you. Not that he minds, Kit being pissed off at him, and him needing family time with his daughter"

That and Justice League wanted their own little spy mission on this place I suspected, or maybe just a recruitment officer for the Junior Justice League that was the Team. It was hard to know, but my own government seemed to like the idea so who was I to complain, much, about it. SHIELD was to work with them after all, so it was only fair our recruiting pool was their recruiting pool...and other nonsense like that. I'd been kicked out, dragged back, left, dragged back, and now I was still on the 'reserve member' list of a group that still didn't have clear operating parameters.

Apparently the Justice League was getting there, so Artemis and Connor seemed to think there were changes for the Team coming down the line; hence why she at least had focused more on being a vigilante and stayed in the Mountain till the end of the school term at least. Paula probably behind that in part...because it seemed the Boss had seen fit to MAKE HER HIS CLERIC without warning me, and she wanted time to adjust and deal with Jade first. Sure Lawful Evil was a potential alignment for the priesthood, but I figured I'd get to pick rather than dreams and divine I told so's after the fact. Keeping that a secret like she wanted, from Artemis for the moment, was just another on the problem pile. Zatanna nodded, seemingly thinking on the matter, before deciding to change the subject and looking a little uncomfortable as she did.

"Uh, you own Master, are we...going to meet this daughter at some point?"

"You? Maybe never if your Da has anything to say about it" I chuckled back before let out a breath and taking a more serious tone "...but I don't know, she's mulling things over, and unleashing her upon society is nearly as bad as unleashing him. Also your Dad's a bit silly telling you"

She huffed softly "Only to warn me to never talk to her, or see her, and that demon blood and evil, be careful things like that"

"Well, that's like telling you to keep off the grass ain't it?" I muttered "But no, as I explained to Gemma she's half-demon..." probably more honestly "...and don't give that look, you asked. Whole lot of us are under lock down after the incident"

Zatanna began to rub at her upper arm awkwardly, arms folded just under her chest "Yeah...I, you were in...H...I mean, you know John...and..."

"Hush now, secrets..." I quietly interjected to end that line of enquiry. I'd also like to figure out who told her, because I doubt it was her Father, or Artemis, so many Donna Troy? "...not here. We'll be in the Mountain tomorrow and we can discuss...theology and such things, or later under a privacy spell"

Entering the cafeteria a firm, friendly, look from Jinx and Wallace indicated we were not to join them in their cosy little spot in the corner. Apparently they'd arrived before the rush as the place was fairly full, but thankfully my two loyal apprentices had room at their table so we had somewhere to sit despite that busy state of affairs around us. Of course Cassandra was excited, got to 'play' with Wonder Woman's merry little apprentice later, and so as Gemma at getting to see Mount Justice [and 'our' workshop therein] tomorrow evening. That and talking shop with Zatanna, plotting their dastardly campaign of terror upon the unsuspecting mini-Batman for whatever reason...

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