Work Text:
It was a quiet day at Mount Justice. Quiet in the sense that they didn't have any missions and so the team where relaxing in their civvies. In reality the cave was filled with the chatter and giggles of the group, who where sat around the kitchen counter attempting to do homework.
"M'gann, babe, you know I love you, but why would you make us spend our day off studying!" Wally groaned, earning a smack on the head from Artemis.
"Because, kid genius, not all of us have the super speed to get our homework done in five minutes"
A familiar cackle broke behind the group, informing them the youngest member had arrived
"Oh please, he gets his science done in five minutes but you should see him try do his English homework!" Robin laughed
"Dude not cool!" Wally protested
Artemis turned to face the boy who had just entered and realized two things, Robin had his sunglasses off and Zatanna was standing behind him
"Zatanna!" Artemis beamed at her, "Robin why didn't you say you where bringing Z down here!"
She paused "oh wait no sunglasses, should I call you Richard Grayson?" She said in a playful mocking tone
The boy laughed, "so perceptive Arty, and please, I prefer Dick."
"Don't we all" the blonde responded before she could stop herself and the group burst into laughter, except for Connor who was staring disdainfully at his poetry book, and Kaldur who just smiled and shook his head.
"Alright study group!" M'gann said cheerfully, "If we all help each other with our worst subjects then we can finish all our work in time for a movie night. How's that sound?"
There was a chorus of tired cheers.
M'gann sat biting her lip trying to figure out the poem her and Connor where assigned in English class with help from the notes Dick had leant her.
Wally was "testing Connor's Kadmus knowledge" for help with his history homework. Zatanna, who had done her homework already was immersed in conversation with Kaldur about his sorcery research in Atlantis. Dick had sped through his math homework at a pace impressive to even Wally and had started making sandwiches for the team.
Artemis groaned, leaning back in her chair "I hate stupid private school. I did not get this much homework in Gotham North!" She turned to Dick who was buttering slices of brown bread "yo, boy wonder! You speak like every language right? You gotta help me with my French."
Dick smirked, putting the knife back in the butter "Oh, tu as besoin de mon aide?" He spoke with perfect pronunciation. Artemis groaned again. "quelle? Tu as dit que tu voulais de l'aide avec le Français"
Artemis dropped her head on the table with a thud, "Dick, the only word I understood of that was Français. I need actual help"
"Okay fine" Dick laughed "just give me a minute. And for the record I don't speak every language. Just English, French, Russian, a few Romani dialects, Italian, Arabic, basic Japanese and some American Sign Language."
"I hate you." Artemis deadpaned,
"нет ты любишь меня"
"Hey I need help with French!"
"Okay okay, sorry. Let me finish the sandwiches. Hey Wall can you pass me the, em," he clicked his fingers as the word failed him "the... the efink!" He said exasperated.
"The WHAT?" Wally asked, trying not to laugh, unlike Artemis who was overjoyed at the boy wonders language downfall.
"Here you go" Zatanna said, passing a knife to a blushing Dick Grayson.
"That's what you wanted?!" Wally asked
"I was using so many languages I got confused!" He protested, as he cut sandwiches.
"And you forgot the word for knife!" Artemis laughed loudly "what even was the word you used! And how did Z know it?"
"Wait I didn't even realize he said it weird!" Zatanna said, a little shocked. "did you say it backwards?!"
Dick was still blushing a bit as he plated the sandwiches "maybe"
"Dude! You remembered the word backwards?"
"It's a Polari word! My baby sitter when I was younger was a knife thrower and used it all the time" he shrugged casually, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
M'gann, Connor and Kaldur put their work away, gratefully accepting the sandwiches Dick prepared.
"Wow, everything I find out about your childhood is so different to what I thought earth children where like" M'gann said between bites of her sandwich.
"I mean that's not that weird" Artemis shrugged, taking a bite of her own meal "my baby sitter threw knives too. At people. Oh you know what? She was definitely an assassin"
The team all looked at each other awkwardly before they burst into laughter again.
"Hey Dick?" Zatanna broke the comfortable silence that had fallen over the group as they ate the sandwiches Dick had prepared "Woh llew od uoy dnatsrednu gnalskcab?" She said, a devilish smile on her face
Dick grinned, to the dismay of his other teammates "I dnatsrednu ytterp llew"
"Zatanna I feel so betrayed right now!" Artemis said, crossing her arms.
"Kaldur make them stop!" Wally whined
"What? How is that my job?" Kaldur asked tiredly fingers on the bridge of his nose
"You're leader! And their... their being un-inclusive!"
Another round of laughter broke out amongst the group at Wally's indignation.
"Okay, okay" M'gann started cleaning up the plates, "I think it's time for movie night. We've done enough work for today. Artemis are you fine with finishing your French later?"
"No complaints here" the blonde replied
"And oh no Connor! I guess we'll have to leave that poetry assignment until later. What ever will we do"
"Oh no. What a shame." Connor responded in monotone
Dick laughed "M'gann, Connor, your sarcasm is improving wonderfully. And don't worry, I think you'll actually enjoy some of the poetry. I saw some Robert Frost in that book. He's pretty good"
"Nerd" Wally coughed, earning another smack on the head.
The team took their spots on the couch, text books gladly forgotten.
"Okay," M'gann said, plopping herself down in Connor's lap, "who's picking the movie tonight?"
"Ooh, ooh me!" Wally ran to the DVD player before anyone else could, "tonight we're watching Big Hero 6!"
"Ha, and you called me the nerd" Dick sat down in the armchair, and Wally squeezed in next to him.
"Right sorry, I meant to say dern." Wally gave a triumphant smile before faultering, "wait is it dren? Ugh I hate backslang!"
"Don't worry Wally," Zatanna smiled "ll'uoy teg eht gnah fo ti"