Kaldur and Artemis seem like they could-and should-be good friends. I don't ship them, but the way Artemis rags on Wally for being immature, and the way Kaldur just is, makes it seem like they'd have a lot to talk about. That, and he'd be very consistent about having her back, which she would also appreciate.
Anyway. Next oneshot, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own sticks and strings.
Make One (Friend, that is)
The Cave infirmary was quiet this time of night, the only sound the breathing of two teenagers. Both appeared to be at rest, one actually asleep, and the other calmly reading a book. The conscious one's eyes flickered up from the pages ever so often to the one on the bed, studying her carefully for a minute before drifting back to what they had been doing.
The one on the bed shifted, groaning softly, and attempted to move off the mattress.
Kaldur calmly settled his book face down over his knee, one hand reaching out to stop her. "That would not be wise," he advised gently, rubbing her shoulder until she relaxed and laid back down. "The drugs in your system would most likely prevent you from keeping your balance for long if you move quickly."
She sighed and leaned into his palm. "What time is it," she asked groggily. "How long was I out?"
"It is just after eleven at night, and you have been unconscious since at least three in the afternoon our time. M'gann called your mother on your cell phone when we returned to the Cave. Batman and Black Canary's orders are that you are to stay here for the next couple of days, at least until you are able to walk without aid."
Artemis frowned, and sat up slowly, her movements stiff. "Goddamn," she exhaled, resting her elbows on her thighs. "I feel like I got hit by a truck."
"Cheshire's poison," Kaldur supplied helpfully, his hand dropping back to his unoccupied knee. "You sustained a heavy dose. It may have managed a small amount of injury to your muscular system-we will have to keep an eye on it for a day or so to be sure."
Artemis frowned deeper and rolled her shoulders. "So I'm out...how long, then?"
"Black Canary said it is too soon to know," Kaldur said apologetically. "She speculated perhaps a week or two of rest, and then you could start back with a reduced training schedule."
"Bull," Artemis spat tiredly, moving to swing her legs over the side of the bed. "I'm fine."
"Artemis, do not do this to yourself. You need rest," Kaldur implored, laying a hand over hers. "Please, for my own worries if not yourself."
Artemis studied him carefully before scooting herself back to the headboard. Kaldur reached to adjust a pillow behind her. "Thanks," she exhaled, offering him a small apologetic smile. "Sorry about being a bitch a second ago."
"It is fine," he said dismissively. "You are in pain. I do not take it personally."
She shrugged. "Still. Why aren't you at home?"
"It was past M'gann's bedtime, and I volunteered to stay," Kaldur said simply, his lips turning upward at the mention of their green teammate. "She was quite worried for you."
"Sweetheart," Artemis accused. "It's going to get her killed one day."
Kaldur frowned, but didn't ask her meaning. "Do you need anything," he asked instead.
Her fingers twitched aimlessly, and she looked around. "Mmm, nope. Wait, actually, if you could get my backpack out of my room, my key's are in my-"
Kaldur reached beside his chair and produced the worn canvas rucksack. "Robin had a suspicion you might ask for it. He said to tell you not to shoot him for breaking in."
Artemis smiled and shook her head. "Thoughtful little bastard," she muttered, accepting the pack and resting it against her leg to rifle through it. She pulled a drawstring bag from the interior and set the pack down next to the bed, one hand pulling open the bag.
Picking up his book, Kaldur watched quietly as she fished two sticks interconnected by cords and bearing two fabric pouches on them. Strings trailed from each pouch into the bag, where two odd bulges still rested.
She glanced over and caught his curious look. "Knitting," she explained, twisting her finger around one strand of yarn and poking her right needle through a loop on the left.
"I did not know you were a knitter," he said mildly, pleasantly surprised to find her hobbies weren't all justice-related.
"Really? I thought Kid Mouth would have the whole team on my case about it by now," Artemis said, distracted by the increasing speed of her clicking needles. "If you want the whole Justice League to know something, just tell it to Wally."
Kaldur shook his head. "He means well," he said, unsure why he was trying to make excuses. She didn't appear to be in a sour mood, and was incapacitated enough so that her committing murder was unlikely. "That looks fairly complex."
She shrugged. "No more than reading Atlantean, I guess," she said, nodding to his book without slowing in her motions. "It's basically doing the same thing over and over. It's calming."
"We could all use more of that," Kaldur agreed quietly, his book forgotten in favor of watching her fingers work. "How long have you known how?"
"Since I was...about eight or nine, I guess. A neighbor taught me."
Kaldur nodded absently, not quite sure what to say. "...What are you making?"
"Socks. Testing out a new method, and I'm not sure if I like this better or the old way. I mean, this is good for 'second sock syndrome'-not wanting to knit the second sock after the first one's finished-but it takes longer than just knitting one. And you have to keep track of two strings, which is a pain."
"It would seem they both have their advantages and disadvantages," Kaldur noted.
Artemis laughed softly, her fingers never ceasing movement. "Leave it to you to make my dumb hobby sound diplomatic."
"If you enjoy it, then I doubt it can be called 'dumb'."
"Tell that to the guys on the bus. Someone asked if I was pregnant the other day just because I was knitting in pastels." She scowled and knit a little faster. "Ticks me off. I can wear pastels if I want to."
Kaldur smiled. "I am certain I would not have the aptitude for it, myself. But it is rather amazing watching you. You are very talented."
She smiled back at him, a brilliantly pleased and grateful one he'd never seen before. Briefly, he wondered at the side effects of the medication Canary had injected into the younger blonde's arm. "How on earth are you single."
Kaldur laughed, and didn't answer. "Are you knitting for yourself, or someone else," he asked instead.
"Oh, just me. Not that I need another pair of socks, I have tons. They're great quick things to keep me from going out and beating the shit out of someone." She sighed. "I'd like to have that kimono I've been working on with me, it's a little more intricate and distracting, but alas. This'll have to do."
"Perhaps Robin can be persuaded to retrieve it for you tomorrow."
Artemis smiled and shrugged. "I'm not sure I want him in my house. He'd be tempted to snoop into things."
"I believe he would respect whatever you wished him to stay out of," Kaldur suggested. "He has been known to restrain himself."
Artemis didn't answer. She performed some highly intricate maneuver with her needles and ended up on the other side of her socks, working across in the opposite direction. "I'm fine," she said suddenly, laying her knitting in her lap. "You know, if you feel like going to bed or heading home or whatever."
Kaldur shook his head dismissively. "I would rather stay, if you do not wish me to leave. For myself-I would worry endlessly if I were not here."
Artemis smiled. "Yeah, well. I'll most likely be asleep soon, because whatever Canary injected me with probably included a sedative of some kind, so you can leave as soon as I-" She was cut off by a large, sudden yawn, and blinked owlishly at the space before her. "Wow. Little sooner than I thought. Anyway, if it makes you feel better, stick around until I drift off? I don't want to keep you up."
"That sounds like a good compromise," Kaldur allowed, watching her settle down into the pillows.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, the clicking of Artemis's needles gradually slowing until it stopped altogether, and she laid it in her lap again. "Mmm, Kal?"
He looked up from his book curiously, waiting for her to continue.
"Thanks for staying," she mumbled, rolling onto her side and letting her eyes fall shut.
Kaldur stayed still until he was sure she was asleep, and then reached forward and rolled up her knitting into the drawstring bag. He placed it in the top of the rucksack leaning against the side of the bed and stood, sticking the bookmark M'gann had given him in the spine before setting it on his chair.
He wandered to the door, intent on getting something to eat and perhaps a cup of coffee-he didn't plan on going anywhere.
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