HURTS SO GOOD
Replacement.
That's what he had called her. That's what they all thought she was.
She was just some just some poor excuse of a copy. A shadow of the original that would never be good enough. Sure, the team said that they accepted her and that they loved her but she knew the truth; she knew they wanted him.
Green Arrow would take her out on patrol, would teach her the ropes and train her but she knew what was in the back of his mind. Every time she missed a target or every time she ignored one of his silent cues she could see the disappoint in his face beneath the mask he wore. He was thinking that Roy would have never missed that shot. Roy would have known what Green Arrow wanted without the older man ever having to say a word. After all, they had been partners for years and they had a connection that was born only through pain and suffering together.
She would never have that.
She would never really be his partner.
Her fist slammed against the hard brick wall and as soon as flesh met brick she felt a burst of pain shoot through her arm making her curse silently in the dark. It hurt so bad as she clutched her hand but she couldn't keep the quiet chuckle from spilling forth as she cradled her hand to her chest flexing her fingers to make sure nothing was broken.
It hurt but she craved the pain. Craved the way it made her feel alive instead of the numbness that had become a constant companion in the past few months.
Pain was better than nothing. Pain was better than feeling like some terrible disappointment that no one would ever respect or love. For too long the numbness had been seeping into her very being. Into her heart and soul ingraining itself into everything she was until she couldn't even recognize the person in the mirror anymore. She couldn't see the determined young woman who had impressed the Batman and Green Arrow. The girl who had taken down countless villains and become an integral member of the team.
Now, all she could see was a hallow replacement and it was all because of him.
"Bastard." Artemis muttered through clenched teeth. If he were here she would have loved nothing more than to feel the connection of her fist against his face wiping away that stupid smirk once and for all.
"You wouldn't be talking about me now; would you?" She didn't even have to see him to hear the condescending smile that always seemed to be painted on his face whenever he looked at her. As if she were just some insignificant little bug that was beneath him.
"What do you want?" The blonde growled, turning to face him as he jumped gracefully from the rooftop and landed in front of her. Mentally, Artemis cursed herself for not realizing that Red Arrow had been there all along. A real hero would have known when they were being watched and would have never let themselves get so started.
"I thought I'd take a little walk." The redhead's lips turned up in his trademark smirk as he stepped closer towards her. The alley was completely empty and dark save for the trashcans lining the walls overflowing with garbage and little clouds of flies happy to pick on the remains of what used to be someone's meal.
"In Gotham? Fat chance." She snorted, her hands crossed over her chest defensively as she watched him. He was only a few inches away from her now but Artemis refused to move back no matter how much her body was urging her to. She wouldn't let Arrow know that he intimidated her. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction.
"Maybe I was checking up on you, Replacement."
God, she wanted to hit him, to hurt him, anything to get him to stop talking to her like that. It was as if he could see into her very core and see just what he needed to say to make her hurt. Even Wally couldn't push her buttons like he could but the speedster didn't have the archer's deadly accuracy with weapons and words.
"Yeah well I'm fine so why don't you do us both a favor and go away." That wasn't a request and as Artemis moved to sidestep him she found her way blocked by a finely toned arm. Gray eyes turned up to glare at him but he didn't move.
"I don't think so." He replied as he moved his body closer forcing the younger girl to step back until she found herself pressed up against the wall. Artemis felt trapped like an animal that was facing a predator twice her size. Whatever Roy wanted, he wasn't leaving here without getting.
"You're still lying and I don't like that." She could feel his hot breath against her cheek as he spoke and all she could smell was the scent of his cologne mixed in with a faint trace of sweat. It was deep, dark and probably expensive and Artemis found herself unconsciously taking another whiff pulling it deep into her lungs.
His body was pressed up against her own and she could feel her smaller form cowering beneath his muscled frame. There was nothing soft about Red Arrow, his body long since becoming a collection of hard muscle formed together after years of intense training. Her hand pressed up against his chest but she knew it was useless. He wouldn't be moving until he wanted to.
"That's none of your business." She shot back, her voice wavering slightly belaying the fear she was trying so desperately to hide. She couldn't even meet his eyes without feeling a small shudder pass down her back.
"That's where you're wrong." He hissed, his gloved hand reaching out and catching her chin as she felt calloused fingers pressing against smooth flesh. Artemis jerked her head away trying to get out of his grip but she couldn't; he was just too strong.
For a moment there was only silence as he stared at her and she could feel the intensity of his eyes even beneath the mask he wore. At that she felt helpless, scared and oh so very alive. It was like she could hear her heart beating a million miles a minute and she was almost sure he could hear it too. The blood was flowing through her veins and every part of her was on high alert as this predator leaned closer still wanting to devour her.
When she felt his lips on her own her mind completely froze and all she could think about was the kiss if you could really call it that. There was nothing tender or sweet about their kiss; it was all about domination and power. His lips were crushing against her's and his hands were now gripping her shoulders tightly keeping her in place and no doubt leaving a bruise for later.
She couldn't even think as she felt herself kissing back, his lips pressing insistently against her wanting something more.
His body was pressed tightly against her own and she could feel herself being squished against the brick wall, being held into place as he all but devoured her in that bruising kiss. It hurt but a part of her, deep in the pit of her stomach, relished in it. He was dominating her, proving that he was better than she ever would be and laying all her questions to rest.
She could never beat him. He would always win.
That realization struck her and she recoiled back, her teeth biting down on his lip trying to get him off of her. Artemis could taste the cooper blood in her mouth; his blood as he pulled back with a growl but refusing to release her as his fingers dug into her skin.
She expected him to be angry, to hell at her or even hit her but when she looked up all she could see was that same stupid smirk that had been plaguing her since the day they met.
"I'll see you around, Replacement." It was a taunt, a threat and a promise all wrapped up in one sentence as she watched him disappear just as quickly as he had first popped up.
Alone, she crumbled to the dirty, cement floor clutching her head in her hands as she gasped out for breath. She was scared and marked. The bruises would be on her skin for days to come reminding her of what had happened and she could still taste him on her lips. His scent clung to her refusing to let her go and forget.
The girl looked up, her eyes on the moon above her and she realized that, for the first time in a very long time, she didn't feel numb.
A/N: Wow, this is so not what I had in mind when I first started writing this. I thought this would end up being a bit of a rivalry fic but it ended up darker than I had planned. I love Spitfire but there's just something about ArtemisxRed Arrow that's so tantalizing.
Right now, this is pretty much a one-shot but I may possibly add more if people actually like it. So please review and give me some feedback on what I can do to improve.
