From Robin to Nightwing
I do not own anything. In this story Dick is eighteen and Artemis is nineteen, Artemis and Wally broke up, and Artemis lives in Gotham again, in her own apartment and is going to college, along with being on the team again. Dick and Artemis are really close but are still friends. Dick is a senior at Gotham Academy and getting ready to graduate.
Sighing Artemis stepped into her apartment closing the door behind her. It was past midnight which was early for a mission to end but Artemis wasn't going to complain, she had been up since five studying for her English Lit final which was at eight. Then during the middle of her exam she got a message from Nightwing saying they had an emergency meeting and she needed to be there. So as quickly as possible she finished her exam and sprinted out of the building towards the nearest zeta tube.
Thankfully the mission didn't take that long, but she was exhausted and absolutely filthy. Stuffing her bow and quiver of arrows into her closet she headed towards her bathroom stepping into her amazing shower. By the time she was showered and relaxed it was one thirty, smiling at the thought of her soft comfortable bed she walked through her apartment making sure all the lights were shut off and the front door was locked. Sighing contently she laid down in her bed turning off the light and pulling the covers underneath her chin.
Tap…..Tap
Rolling over Artemis tried to ignore the annoying tapping noise.
Tap…Tap..Tap. Groaning Artemis rolled over flicking her light on to look around the room. Right when she looked at the window the tapping started again, narrowing her eyes Artemis could make out the shape of someone crouched down on her fire escape.
Grabbing the cross bow attached to the side of her nightstand she stood up crossing over to the window, sighing with relief she opened the window.
"What are you doing here Robin it's two thirty in the morning?" Artemis asked setting her hands on her hips.
Robin shrugged "I may have had a fight with Batman".
Artemis sighed stepping away from the window so he could come inside "You know I have a front door right and that I no longer live with my mother so you could use it anytime, even in the middle of the night".
Robin grinned "But the window is like a tradition, I get in a fight with Batman or just need to talk so I show up at your window".
Artemis rolled her eyes closing the window "Has anyone told you that your absolutely crazy?"
"Not in the last five hours no" Robin said.
Artemis smiled shaking her head, she turned around to face him but only to find him right in front of her, they were only inches apart. Artemis gulped looking at him, puberty had diffidently done the boy wonder wonders, he was now a head taller than her, he had a broad chest and shoulders and large muscles that clearly showed in his Robin uniform.
Stepping back Artemis moved to her bedroom door turning on the main light "So what did you and Batman fight about?" Artemis asked sitting down on her bed resting her back against her headboard.
"The same as usual, he still treats me like a kid even though I'm eighteen, doesn't let me do anything dangerous even though I'm the most experienced person on the team" Robin said pacing the room "I feel like I need to do my own thing ya know".
Artemis frowned "You mean breaking away from Batman and being a solo super hero".
Robin stopped pacing her floor looking her in the eye "That's exactly what I mean. I don't want to completely leave Batman, he's my family, but I feel like he's not letting me grow and experience things on my own".
Artemis nodded her head "I think every kid feels like that especially now when they're getting ready to graduate and go out on their own".
Robin sighed flopping himself onto her bed "I don't know what to do Arty?"
"I think you need to sit down and have an adult conversation with him, tell him how you feel, tell him that you love and respect him but you need to find yourself" Artemis said.
Robin smiled rolling onto his side to look at her "When did you get so philosophical?"
Artemis shrugged "I had to do the same thing with my mom when I decided to move to a completely different time zone with Wally, it was hard but it's what needed to be done she had to see me as an adult".
Robin sighed "I'm sorry about you and Wally".
Artemis shrugged "You don't have to apologize Rob, you've done it enough already. Wally and I just weren't meant to be in a serious relationship".
Robin sat up smiling at her "Let's go do something, cheer us both up".
Artemis shook her head "It's three in the morning Rob and I have class in the morning".
Robin stood up "Alright, maybe some other time. Thanks for listening me complain it really helped".
Artemis smiled standing up as well "It's what friends are for boy wonder".
Robin gave a small smile "I'll see you later Arty" he said opening the window, once he was on the fire escape her turned around smiling at her before he jumped off disappearing into the darkness. Artemis shook her head at the boy wonder's antics and closed the widow turning off the lights and climbing back into bed.
Three months later Artemis attended Gotham Academy's graduation only because Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson begged her to go. Throughout the entire ceremony Artemis thought about Robin. She had barely spoken to him since that night, he barely ever showed up for training, and only showed up for missions. Not even Wally had heard from him just the occasional text every now and then.
After the ceremony Artemis met up with Barbara and Dick, "So what are you two going to do know that you're done with high school?"
Barbara shrugged "I'm gonna hang out around here until school starts".
"I'm traveling Europe and then I'm coming back to work for Wayne enterprises in Bludhaven" Dick said shrugging.
"Wow what are you going to do in Europe?" Artemis asked.
Dick shrugged "Bruce has me traveling to each Wayne enterprises to learn about foreign policy, along with some fun time. It's pretty much an educational and fun filled trip all in one".
Artemis nodded her head "Well aren't you lucky Grayson, so it looks like it's just me and you left to tear up this town Barbara".
Barbara smiled "Sounds perfect".
Dick smiled "Well ladies it was nice but I leave tomorrow and I need to finish packing" he said hugging each of them "I'll text you when I land tomorrow Babs" he said before walking off towards a black limo.
Artemis watched him go "What's up with him?"
Barbara shrugged "He's been like that for a while now, he isn't himself, he isn't as annoying as normal, I'm worried about him".
Artemis smiled "I'm sure he's fine, maybe traveling Europe will be good for him. Come on let's go get some food".
Barbara nodded her head and together the two girls left to get pizza.
Later that night Artemis sat in her apartment watching TV when someone knocked on her front door.
Leaning against her door frame was Robin dressed in his civies. He was wearing black jeans with a blue t-shirt and his normal dark sunglasses. "What are you doing here Robin?"
Robin smiled "I came to see you".
Artemis stood in the door her arms crossed against her chest "I've barely heard from you in three months, you hardly ever come to training and you leave directly after missions".
Robin lowered his head "I know and I'm sorry "Mis, but I've been taking your advice. I talked with Batman he finally agreed; I've been helping him train a new Robin. And I'm taking a vacation of shorts to help me".
"You couldn't have told me that from the beginning?" Artemis asked letting the anger slip into her voice.
Robin winced at the tone of her voice "I'm sorry Artemis, but Batman asked me not to".
"So you just let me think that your mad at me that I did something wrong, you could have told me that you were doing something with Batman and couldn't talk about it" Artemis said.
"I don't know what to say Artemis, except that I'm sorry. We're introducing the new Robin tomorrow, and then I leave later that night. I just wanted to tell you" Robin said turning around to leave.
Artemis sighed "Robin wait". Robin turned around smiling; Artemis rolled her eyes "Come on, at least hang out with me before you leave for who knows how long".
Robin smiled pulling Artemis into a tight hug, kissing her cheek he said "Thank you Artemis".
Artemis punched his arm "Come on boy wonder I'll make some popcorn".
Together the two friends sat on the couch sharing a bowl of popcorn and watching cheesy movies until they both fell asleep.
The next morning Artemis woke up tangled on the couch with Robin. Robin was lying on his back so Artemis was practically on top of him with her head on top of his muscular chest. Their legs were intertwined together making it even more difficult for Artemis to remove herself from Robin's strong warm comforting grasp. His arm tightly holding her waist was also a major part of it.
Artemis gave up trying to remove herself from the couch and decided to go back to sleep. That's when her phone started ringing. Lifting her head she looked around the room shit her phone was in the kitchen on the counter.
"Rob, wake up" Artemis said nudging Robin's shoulder.
"Mhm" Robin muttered turning his head so that his face was buried into her hair.
Artemis narrowed her eyes, okay fine if he wanted to be like that then so could Artemis. Taking a deep breath Artemis put her hands on Robin's side and pushed with everything she had. Finally she was able to push him off the couch but what she didn't expect was for him to grab her waist and pull her down with him.
With a thug, a groan, and a girly shriek that Artemis would deny later they landed on the floor with Artemis completely on top of Robin.
"No matter how much I enjoy having a beautiful girl on top of me I'd rather not have her knee in my crouch" Robin said smirking.
Artemis narrowed her eyes slightly shifting her knee causing Robin to yelp in pain "That's what ya get bird brain" Artemis said standing up and heading towards her phone. She had a missed call from Green Arrow along with five text messages. "Shit, were late for the revealing of the new Robin" Artemis said turning around to face the current Robin who was currently sitting up on her floor running his hand through his hair and looking at his phone.
"Yeah Batman called like a dozen times, come on we need to get going" he said standing up.
Artemis nodded her head quickly putting her hair up into a ponytail and running into her bedroom to change her shirt and put on a pair of jeans. "So what do I call you now that you're no longer Robin?" Artemis asked on their way towards the zeta tube,
Robin shrugged "I think I like the name Nightwing".
"Are you ever going to tell me who you really are?" Artemis asked.
Robin smirked "Maybe, maybe not" he said stepping into the zeta tube.
Artemis groaned following after him.
Three hours later Artemis and the previous Robin who told his team to call him Nightwing walked towards her apartment. Outside her door Nightwing stopped "I have to get ready for my flight, I'll try and keep in touch".
Artemis nodded her head "I'll miss you to; just try not to get into too much trouble boy wonder".
Nightwing grinned "I'll try but I can't promise anything 'Mis" Nightwing stepped closer pulling her into a tight hug "You have to promise me you'll be careful I don't want anything happening to you".
"I'll try" Artemis said hugging him just as tightly.
When they pulled apart Nightwing moved so that their faces were inches apart "I need to do this before I leave" he said barely above a whisper. Before Artemis could respond his lips were on hers. His lips were soft and warm but demanding at the same time. Artemis eagerly responded to the kiss wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning further into him.
When they pulled away Artemis kept her eyes closed trying to process what just happened "Nightwing" she started but he cut her off.
"I know, I'm sorry I just needed to do it before I left. You don't have to tell me how you feel right now it can wait until I get back. I needed you to know how I felt, I'll see you soon 'Mis" Nightwing said kissing her cheek and smiling sadly at her before he turned around leaving her in her hallway completely shocked and utterly confused.