TRAUGHT WEEK PART 1: Revelation
"Artemis I can't do this anymore." Dick sighed, frustration evident in his tone, as he climbed into the window of her new apartment in Gotham. Artemis looked up from her Pre-Cal homework and frowned. He was really upset this time.
"I'll make the tea." She says calmly as she walks toward her small kitchenette. The apartment wasn't much but it was better than the one her and her mom lived in. She quickly thrust away the thought of her mother by throwing herself into making the tea. Chamomile for her and Earl Grey for Dick. As she grabbed their mugs, Dick sank into the couch, exhausted. "How long have you been patrolling? Bird Brain?" She asked teasingly as the whistle blew on the kettle.
Dick ran his fingers through his deep clack hair. "A while."
Artemis scoffed. "So nonstop then?" She shook her head, grabbed the mugs, and came to sit on the couch with him.
He took his tea and she sat across from him, waiting.
"He doesn't trust me anymore. " Dick says staring into his tea.
Artemis nods understandingly, and is about to throw in her two cents when Dick says something Artemis never thought she would hear him say.
"And I don't think I trust him anymore."
Artemis sets her tea on the small coffee table.
"Rob, what are you saying?" She asks softly, trying not to upset him.
He sighs. "I'm saying I'm done. I don't want to be Robin anymore."
Artemis stares at him. "Rob, I know you're upset but-"
"Mis." He cuts her off. "I just can't work with him anymore. We're not a team. He refuses to let me get close to the action and soon he won't let me patrol at all."
Artemis nods. "Have you talked to him about it?"
Dick slams his mug down. "Don't you think I tried?! Everytime it's the same excuse. 'I just don't want you to get hurt like that again.'"
"Rob, Bats cares about you a lot; he doesn't want to lose you." Artemis says soothingly. "I don't want to lose you."
Dick stands and paces to the window and stares out into Gotham. "All of the risks, the bruises, the scars, they're part of the job. And if he thinks that he can prevent me from getting those he's sadly mistaken." Dick says darkly.
"Robin, Batman loves you and cares about you more than anything in the world. He's acting like a father. Something you're lucky to have." Artemis counters.
Dick whirls around, eyes wide. "I can't believe you're taking his side in this! Don't you think he's being ridiculous?"
Artemis rises to her feet. " I'm not taking sides! I'm simply stating the fact that he loves you, and it's not something you should forget!"
"How can I forget that? He's overbearing and over protective and he treats me like a child!" Dick shouts angryily.
"Maybe it's because you're acting like one!" Artemis retorts, raising her voice to match his. "Why would you throw away that kind of relationship over something as little as this?"
"You think it's little? It's been building for months Artemis, you know that as well as I do. This is just the final straw." Dick says, a storm in his eyes.
" Robin. What do you think you're gonna do if you leave? You're not even 18 yet! Can you even wrap your head around a life without Batman? A life without Agent A and all that goes with it?" Artemis shouts, trying to make him understand what he's throwing away.
"I am not Batman. I never was. I am my own person Artemis and I'll be fine without him! Better off even! And I'll figure it out. On. My. Own." Dick growls furiously, lowering his voice.
"Fine. Say you convince him you can handle yourself. Say you get your shit together and go. Where are you gonna go Rob?" Artemis asks, still somewhat yelling.
"Who said I was asking permission? And I found –you know what? Why should I tell you?" Dick asks bitterly. Artemis reels back as if she was slapped. "You'll probably just tell him anyway."
"Rob I would never-" Artemis starts, shocked.
"No Artemis you would. Maybe not for a while, but even you couldn't last under Bats interrogation. " Dick says matter of factly. This just infuriates Artemis.
"So you think I can't hold my own against Bats? Because you're so tough, running away from the man who cares about you most in the world?" Artemis scoff. "Yeah right Robin."
Dick glares at Artemis. "I'm not running. I'm finally getting independence and a chance to be me. Without the shadow."
"Don't talk to me about shadows." Artemis says her voice shaking.
"Why not? It isn't like you know what it's like to live under a shadow, To never get the recognition you deserve, to always be kept out of the limelight. " Dick snarls.
"Have you met my sister? She was fucking perfect. Daddy's favorite. Do you know what that meant for me Rob?" Artemis counters with quiet, controlled anger.
"That's not what I meant Artemis." Dick say softly. How had things gotten so out of hand?
Artemis laughs darkly. "Whatever helps you sleep at night Rob."
"Artemis, I'm serious. I'm leaving." Dick says, trying desperately to turn the situation around. He can't leave her like this.
Something changes in Artemis's eyes. Their usually calm grey becomes stormy, and she gives him a hard look. "Fine. Go. Walk out on Bats. On the Team. Walk out on everyone else in this world who cares about you Robin. I won't stop you."
Dick looks at her shock and opens his mouth with a fiery retort in mind but she holds out a hand to stop him.
"I'm done fighting you. Leave." She says coldly, all emotion gone from her voice.
"Artemis I-"
" I said leave."
He sighs and turns to go. He stops out on the fire escape and looks back at the blonde haired 18 year old who had been his partner in crime for what felt like a lifetime. Who didn't know his name but knew the little things. Who currently was giving him a look of such disappointment and despair, He could hardly bare it.
Artemis crossed her arms. "Jade always said looking back makes it harder." She says curtly.
Dick grimaces. " Bye 'Mis."
When Artemis is sure he's gone she throws his tea mug out the window in a rage, then slams the window shut with a cry. She sinks slowly against the wall and buries her head in her hands, her body shaking with soft sobs. Of all the people that came into her life, she never thought he'd leave her.
a/n: So I didn't expect all that angst and originally planned on a happier ending. But I think I'm relatively pleased. The revelation is for you to decide on but there is one, maybe even a couple. So. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! ;) HAPPY TRAUGHT WEEK EVERYBODY!