After a few moments, Batboy spoke up. Im gonna go home. He pressed a hand to his ear. Alfred, I need pickup. No, its really me. Really! Alfred, I need you to come get me. No, I cant. I, uh I cant reach the pedals on the Batmobile, ok? It was Morgan le Fey. Ill tell you more about it when I get back. Yeah, just come get me.
Wonder Girl stared at him in shock. Youre leaving us? Here? Alone? You cant do that.
Kid or not, Im still a part-time League Member. I can do what I want. Batboy shrugged.
Actually, Bruce, shes got a point. Jonn stepped beside the two of them. I, for one, dont want to go back up to the Watchtower like this. I can only imagine what everyone is saying up there, if they can see us
Flash blurred between Wonder Girl and Jonn. Does that mean we get to go to the Batcave? Huh? Id love to go to the Batcave. I bet youve got lots of neat stuff in the Batcave, stuff we could play with I bet theres food at the Batcave, too. Im awful hungry. Im always hungry. Its my metab meabo met-bol Its the way I am. I have to eat. Is anyone else hungry? Cuz I sure am.
So whatcha say, Bruce? Wonder Girl leaned over towards him, smiling winningly. Are we all going to the Batcave?
Batboy sighed dramatically, pressing a hand to his ear again. Alfred? I need pickup for seven kids and a baby.
***
Alfred arrived in a limousine within fifteen minutes. The seven piled in, finding seats quickly. Wonder Girl buckled Baby Etrigan into the car-seat Alfred had brought along.
Alfred looked back at the kids through the rear-view mirror. To the Manor, then, Master Bruce?
Batboy folded his arms and glowered. Just get me home, Alfred.
Very well, sir. Dare I ask what happened?
Superman interrupted. It was Morgan le Fey. She turned us into kids, and we saved the day! GL made this HUGE robot, and fired blasters as a diversion! It was so cool!
You know whats cool? This Limo! Look at all the buttons! Whats that do? Whats that do? Whats that do? Flash pushed buttons rapid-fire. Whoa! Can you get satellite TV in this thing? This cars way cooler than my van. I wish I had a car like this. Do you think you could let me borrow it sometime, Bats? Huh? Huh? Please? Id love to take it for a ride. Could I borrow Alfred to drive it around for me sometime, too? Please? Can you get food in this thing? Some of them have refrigerators. Does yours have a fridge? What about drinks?
Get us home, Alfred. Please. Batboys voice sounded strained.
Were already on our way, Master Bruce. Master Wally, I would ask that you cease pressing those buttons, please. The window only goes up and down, no matter how many times you push it.
Flash stopped pushing the buttons, but began drumming his fingers on the door. The high-speed vibrations sounded like a bee buzzing in the car. He waited a grand total of four seconds before asking, Are we there yet?
Across the car, Green Lantern sat next to Shayera. She stared out the window, her mace on the floor at her feet. GL folded his hands in his lap and stared at them. After a moment, he looked sideways at her, and then back at his hands. He repeated this every so often, glancing from her to his lap, from his hands to his friend. She pretended to ignore him. He looked at her again. He looked away.
Finally, she could take it no more. What is it with you?
Nothing he said, looking back at his hands and swinging his legs. Its just good to see you again. He lapsed back into silence.
Shayera only grunted in response before resuming her position at the window. GL also resumed his previous activity- staring at his hands. After a few seconds, he looked back at her again.
Arent you a cute baby, Etrigan? Whos such a cute baby? Yes you are such a sweet widdle, widdle baby Wonder Girl tickled Etrigan from her seat beside him. The baby monster giggled and cooed.
Superboy rolled his eyes. Do you really have to do that? Wonder Girl glared at him, and he held his hands up, apologetic. Sorry! Its just so I mean, thats Etrigan! Seriously, Diana! Have you even thought about it? Gross!
Hes just a baby, Clark. He cant help it. Besides, hes so cute she looked back at Etrigan. Yes you are what a cute baby
Ew. Superboy stuck out his tongue and grimaced.
Are we there yet? Flash asked for the thirtieth time. How much longer? This car is so slow. It would have been faster if I was running. I could beat you there.
Flash youre upsetting Alfred, Jonn whispered. Hes considering dropping you off on the side of the road. His eyes glowed yellow briefly. You might want to be quiet for awhile- probably for the rest of the ride.
Good idea, Batboy added. Quiet game. First one to talk loses.
Flash grinned and mimed zipping his mouth shut. He resumed drumming his fingers on the door for the remainder of the ride.
***
After fifteen minutes of such torture, Alfred pulled into the driveway of Wayne Manor. His hands, after having gripped the steering wheel tightly the entire ride, were slightly stiff when opening the door for the Justice League. Flash was the first one out of the car- and was instantly at the door to the manor. The others piled out, Wonder Girl last, carrying a yawning Etrigan.
Ill go get a bed set up for him, Miss Diana, Alfred said with a sigh, as he opened the front door. It was going to be a long day.
The seven children walked into the foyer of Wayne Manor. Flash stared around in wonder, taking it all in, and then zipped to the top of the grand staircase, from one end of the upper level to another, back down the stairs, and all around the great room and foyer area. Finally, he ended up back where he started, next to Lantern. His face was split in a huge grin. This place is so cool!
It is a nice house bit too big, though. Shayera put a hand on her hip- her other hand was occupied trying to hold her mace off the marble flooring.
Interesting layout Jonn muttered.
Alfred took Etrigan from Wonder Girl and went into a side bedroom. Ill be back momentarily. Dont run off- Ill be with you as soon as hes laid down.
Ignoring those instructions, Batboy stepped away from the group. Im off to the Batcave. Im going to work on a solution to our age problem. Dont bother me. At all. He glared around at his friends. I need quiet.
Alright, Bruce, but if you need anything, you know where we are Wonder Girl smiled at him.
Whatever. Batboy stormed off to the secret entrance to the Batcave.
Whats with him? Superboy asked no one in particular.
Hes going to save the world Wonder Girl sighed. Its so brave working on his own to find a way to make things right
Whats with you?
Lantern laughed. Dude, you are SO blind.
Is there any food in this house? Food- ya know, like hot dogs, ice cream, pizza, hamburgers, French fries, those little pastry balls with the cream filling that tastes like fruit Cuz Im starved. You know Im hungry. Im always hungry. I need some food fast. Is there a place I can get some food? Wheres the kitchen in this castle? Betcha I could find it if I ran through the whole house really, really fast! Wanna see if I can do it? Huh? Huh? I could, if you wanted me to. I could, even if you didnt want me to! Im really fast.
We know, Flash. Shayera frowned. We know youre hungry, and we know youre fast. What we dont know is if you can be quiet for a grand total of five seconds!
Flash looked at her, then at the grandfather clock Batboy had disappeared behind. His head bobbed in time with the second hand. One two three four five at six, he spoke up. Yep, I can! Now, can I get some food?