Frosty
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or any of it's characters
Artemis was cold. Strange, for she was running swiftly through a deserted street. Artemis could hear the heavy pounding of footsteps behind her, but she didn't dare looking back behind her. Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she sprinted down the dark road. There were no cars, no streetlights, and no people. Artemis could hear the footsteps behind her increase in speed. Artemis was terrified, and even though she didn't look behind her she knew it was trying to get to her. Suddenly, Artemis could feel a liquid beneath her bare feet, and she slipped to the ground, skinning her knees and making her hands sting. Artemis looked down to see blood coating the street, running down the gutters and turning everything crimson. Artemis whipped around to what was chasing her. It was a large man, eyes glowing with hatred and amusement. In his hand was a wickedly sharp blade. Artemis scrambled back in terror as the beast of a man advanced, grinning, his teeth coated in blood. The man spoke as he stood in front of her, looking down at her on the ground.
"You are mine," He hisses and brings the knife up over his head as he prepares to bring it down. Artemis screamed.
"Artemis!" Artemis was woken by a voice shouting her name and two ice cold hands gripping at her arms and shaking her gently. Artemis tear stained eyes flew opened and she gasped, sweat running down her neck. Artemis was trembling with fear from the nightmare, and it took a second before she realized who was in front of her.
"Cam?" She whimpered, eyes meeting his worry filled ones. Artemis couldn't hold back the choked sob that shook her chest. She couldn't help the second one or the third one either. Cam held her against his chest as she sobbed against him, drenching his shirt with her tears. When she finally stopped, she sat there for a minute before pulling away and looking around. She was in a small room on a queen-sized mattress in the middle of the baby blue room. There were no windows, only a door in the corner of the room. Artemis was sitting in the bed, fluffy sheets pulled up to her waist. Artemis looked down to see her torso covered in white bandages, along with her chest, arms, and legs. She looked back up to Cameron. "Where am I?" Artemis frowned.
"A safe house I own in Gotham" Cameron replied. "After I found you I took you here and patched you up. You've been sleeping for three days." Artemis' eyes widened in shock.
"Three days!" She shouted, and struggled to get up. "I've been here for three freakin days!" She shouted again. As she struggled to get up, a new wave of pain hit her and made her moan in pain. Cam quickly pushed her back down to the bed, eyes full with worry.
"Whoa whoa whoa!" Cam pinned her down. "Artemis you'll take a lot of time to heal, especially in your condition" Artemis didn't respond, only squeezed her eyes shut against the pain, lying there with Cameron's steady heartbeat lulling her heavy eyes to sleep.
When Artemis awoke, she found herself snuggled deep into the covers of the bed. Cameron wasn't in the room. Gently, Artemis drew back the covers, shivering as the cool air hit her exposed body. Artemis frowned when she realized that over the tight bandages around her legs were baggy sweatpants that had magically appeared. There were most likely Cameron's. Artemis stood up and on wobbly legs, staggered to the door. As she opened the door into the next room, an icy breeze hit her in the face and she shivered and wished she had a sweatshirt to curl up in. She peered into the room, squinting as the sunlight from a nearby window blinded her. Her eyes slowly adjusting, Artemis looked around the room. In the corner was a sink, a stove, a fridge and a pantry. Next to them there was a brown couch with a figure sitting up watching the news on a tiny TV screen sitting a few feet away. Artemis slowly inched forward. As she moved her foot, it landed on a squeaky wooden board and Artemis froze as the figure whipped around, eyes wide. After a moment Cam grinned.
"You're up!" He said, delighted. He stood up and walked to her. He stopped a few feet away from where she was standing and looked at her awkwardly, scratching at his head. The two stared at each other nervously after seeing each other for the first time in years. Cameron spoke first. "So you're a hero," He said. Artemis nodded.
"Obviously" Her voice was scratchy and quiet from the lack of use. Cam looked at her, his eyes filled with concern. "You still under your dad's control?" Cam's eyes darkened and Artemis didn't bother waiting for an answer.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"I've been better"
"Yeah…" They sat there in uncomfortable silence. Finally Cameron gathered up his courage and stepped forward, putting his arms around the archer. There was a hesitant pause, but Cameron felt her arms circle around his waist. "I've missed you" He breathed, trying not to stick his nose in her hair. A few weeks without washing one's hair, especially when mixed with blood and sweat and dirt, didn't make hair smell good. He grimaced as he pulled back, gripping her shoulders and looking at her head to toe. Artemis frowned at him.
"What?" She demanded, hand on her hip. Cameron frowned back at her.
"Artemis this may be hard to believe, but…" Cam trailed off, and Artemis cocked her head to the side, waiting impatiently for the answer. Cam grinned. "You smell" Artemis scowled and hit him on the side of the head.
"Cam" Her voice was serious. "I need to go home" Her voice raised. "Half the League is probably looking for me!" Cam blinked. Of course he had forgotten the League! He mentally cursed himself for forgetting the most important thing there. Of course Artemis had a bunch of superheroes looking for her. Cam looked down at her.
"You're right," He murmured. "You need to get home before you're pronounced dead," Artemis nodded, looking up warily. Cam turned around and walked to the door where a slightly too large coat lay in a crumpled heap. He bent down and picked up the rumpled leather ball. He shook it out and gave it to Artemis, his eyes meeting hers. "Your apartment is only a few blocks away," She took the coat and shrugged it on.
"See you again sometime?" He called out as she opened the door. She looked back and smirked.
"I hope not, unless it's kicking your butt in the battle field," And with that, she threw on her hood and stumbled out of the door and out to the windy streets of Gotham.