Heres the second part to the two shot! hope you enjoy! Rate and Review!
Artemis took more shifts than any other dancer. Partially for the cash, partially to get away from home, but mostly to be able to see him. He had become her favorite bartender over the past few months she had been working at Burlesque and she loved every moment she got to spend with him. His calm demeanor and sly humor always made her feel comfortable around him. It was also a bonus that he was seriously attractive.
Roy was, luckily, oblivious to her attraction to his best friend but she knew Dinah was not as easily fooled. Dinah gave her little knowing looks whenever she went out of the dressing room and into the bar. She usually tried to ignore them.
As she entered the bar, the last customers were just filing out. Artemis had washed off her makeup and changed into sweatpants and an oversized shirt she had found back stage. She saw Kaldur finishing his last jobs so she went to sit beside him. He was putting a box of bottle into the back room as she approached so she waited for him to come back out into the bar area before announcing her arrival. He returned, running his hands over his light hair and over his face. Artemis didn't miss the exhaustion in his eyes, nor the way he looked adorable in the half-lights. She smiled as he noticed her and came to lean on the bar beside her.
"Hey Kal." She smiled at him, looking into his light blue eyes steadily. He looked back without flinching.
"Hello Artemis." He said.
"How was work tonight? Make any good tips?" She rested her face in her palm and leaned on the bar.
"The regular Mr. West gave me a rather nice tip, yes. Overall tonight was… a very good night. How was your night? Are you tired?" She smiled at him.
"Always the gentleman. Tonight was good though I did mess up a few lyrics in the last song."
"No one knew." He replied smoothly, immediately reassuring her few risen doubts.
"That's good. And yes I am completely exhausted. I have a day off tomorrow though which I'm happy about." Kaldur smiled at her as she checked her phone. She groaned and Kaldur cocked an eyebrow at her. "Ugh. I'm gonna have to call a cab tonight. My friend bailed on me to spend the night with her boyfriend." Megan can be so stupid sometimes…
"There is no need for a cab. I can drive you home." Artemis whipped her head up quickly staring into his eyes, searching for the falsehood she knew he didn't possess.
"It's okay Kal. I can take a cab it's no big deal." Kaldur half smiled at her determinedly.
"It is no trouble. I would be glad to. Besides, Raquel can finish locking up." Artemis still looked doubtful. Kaldur sighed slightly and took her hand before bringing it close to his lips. "I am not taking no for an answer." He whispered before kissing her hand. Artemis flushed slightly and nodded her consent, not trusting her voice. He smiled in satisfaction. He grabbed his coat from behind the bar and Artemis could see the faint outline of goose-bumps along the line of skin between his vest and the waistband of his jeans. He pulled on his coat and took her hand before calling out a goodbye to Raquel and leading her to a navy blue car in the parking lot behind the bar. He unlocked the car and opened her door for her. Artemis smirked as she sat down. He got in the driver's seat beside her, rubbing his hands and breathing warm air on them. He saw her doing the same. He took both of her hands in his and rubbed them for heat, breathing warm air on them at the same time. Artemis didn't respond besides a slight smile on the corners of her lips. He smiled back before letting go and starting the car. He cranked the heat and she smiled in contentment as the warm air flowed around her.
"Where am I going?" Kaldur asked after getting onto the main street. Artemis thought for a minute.
"You're gonna want to head north to 30th then turn right to 23rd then left to 4th. It's the blue apartment building. I'll tell you when we see it." She responded. Kaldur nodded and took off. They drove for a few minutes in companionable silence before Artemis decided to seize the opportunity.
"Where do you live Kal?" She asked after a while. He smiled slightly.
"Evergreen." Artemis' eyes widened. That was on the other side of town.
"Then why are you driving me?! It would take you long enough to get home by yourself, let alone bringing me to the other side of town!" His smile grew bigger.
"I am driving you because I want to." Kaldur responded lightly. Artemis didn't have anything to say to that so she leaned back in her chair. She could still see Kaldur out of the corner of her eyes though, and every once in a while she saw him looking at her.
"How long have you been working at the club then? That drive must suck." Artemis said to him. He chuckled slightly and butterflies erupted in Artemis' stomach.
"I have been working at the club since it opened. Roy wanted me to be a part of it and so I have been."
"Do you like working there?" She asked.
"It pays the bills and is a good time to see Roy and Dinah. They are like family."
"Yeah, but do you like it?" His eyes stayed on her longer then they should have.
"Yes I do." He said, quieter than the rest. "Do you like working at the club?" Artemis didn't have to think about it but she still took her time answering.
"Yeah, I do." They smiled at each other as they turned a corner. "There it is." Artemis said, pointing at the large blue apartment building. Kaldur parked in front of the main door and cut the engine. He got out of his seat and went around to her side of the car. Opening her door, he helped her out and smiled at her as he followed her up the walkway to her apartment.
"Well, this is me." She said. It was probably the most awkward thing she had ever said to him. Kaldur nodded.
"Have a good night Artemis." He turned with his hands in his pockets.
"Wait!" Kaldur turned again to look at her. "Do you want to come in for a bit? Maybe have some tea?" Kaldur smiled and nodded, walking back the few steps to join her.
Somehow, they both knew he was coming in for more than just tea.
The reached her floor in silence again and walked over the threshold with murmured conversation. They took off their jackets and went into the kitchen, Artemis filling the kettle, Kaldur leaning against the counter.
"Your home is lovely." Kaldur said as he watched her putter around.
"It's a house, but I don't think its home. Not yet." She smiled slightly.
"What would it take to make you consider it a home?" He asked softly.
"Someone around to make it feel worth coming back to." She said just as softly. She was pointedly not looking at him. The kettle whistled and Artemis poured the scalding water into two mugs sitting on the counter. After leaving the tea to steep she pointed at Kaldur's chest.
"Do you want a more comfortable shirt?" He nodded soundlessly and followed her down the hallway to her bedroom. She hesitated for a split second before opening the door and letting him follow her in. She bit her lip nervously as he followed her in; Artemis went through her closet and found a navy over-sized shirt she thought would fit him. She chucked it at him and he caught it with ease. "That should fit ya. Let me know if you need something bigger." He nodded again and Artemis left the room, feeling his eyes on her back as she did so.
She went back to the kitchen and sat on the counter top. She dragged the elastic out of her long hair and threw her head around to loosen up the locks. Kaldur came back in wearing the navy shirt. It was a little tight on him and accentuated his muscles while displaying the black snaking tattoo's on his arms that she had studied many times over. He walked over to her and put his vest on the counter beside where she was sitting. Kaldur hesitated before doing anything else but after a few seconds, he put his hands on either side of her hips. They stared into each other's eyes again, like they had done many times before, but this felt… different. More intimate. When he spoke she felt his breath on her face.
"Artemis?"
"Yes Kaldur?"
"Did you really invite me in for tea?" His voice had taken on a husky quality Artemis found herself liking.
"I might've." She responded, her voice falling at the end of her words. Their faces were inches apart. Artemis wasn't sure who moved first. All she knew was that his lips were on hers. Artemis' hands went onto his shoulders and around his neck. He grabbed her hips and dragged her forward over the counter, eventually bringing her completely over so he held her bottom and supported her weight. She held onto the back of his neck with one hand and ran her other down his arm. He groaned into her lips and she pushed her mouth harder against his is response. Somehow they had ended up in her bedroom again and before she knew it her back was against the sheets. She ran her hands under his shirt and over his chest. As she felt his lips against her neck she groaned and knew she didn't want this to end.
Artemis woke in the morning to the feeling of Kaldur's chest under her head. His arm was around her waist, holding her hip and he was snoring lightly. The chest she was using as a pillow rose and fell with each breath he took causing Artemis to smile. She looked at the clock on Kaldur's side of the bed and groaned. It was noon. She had to get up and get food.
Artemis slowly disentangled herself from Kaldur's sleeping form and smiled as he readjusted. She left him a quick note.
Went to get food. Will be back soon. Call me if you need me. –A
Artemis left her apartment quickly and quietly. The corner store had milk and bread and that was all she really needed. She walked slowly though, taking time in the bright winter sun to think over the previous night's events. She didn't regret it; no of course not. She just worried he might. Artemis knew Kaldur had been with very few women before they had met and she started wondering if she was worth it; if she was worthy of his gentleman nature and kind hands and soothing voice. The longer she thought about it, the more awkward she started to feel. When she reached the store, her phone went off.
It was Kaldur.
Artemis bit her lip, turned the ringer off and put the phone back in her pocket. She waited until she felt it stop vibrating before going around and buying her food. As she was walking home she took out her phone and checked her voicemail; one from Kaldur.
Artemis, I have the two thirty shift to get ready for tonight at the club. Enjoy your day off. We will talk tomorrow. Bye.
Artemis listened to it a few times just to hear his voice. Then she remembered her thoughts from earlier. Maybe she should put of that talk…
A few days past Artemis by and she managed to avoid Kaldur during every single one of them. She took cabs home, and hung out backstage during her off times. On the third day of avoiding him though, Dinah caught her trying to sneak away as he approached.
"You can't ignore him forever." Dinah said. Her arms were crossed.
"I can try." Artemis tried to walk past Dinah but she caught her shoulder and turned Artemis to face her.
"What you're doing isn't fair to him. If you are going to behave like this, he deserves better. Just talk to him Artemis. It won't go as badly as you think." Kaldur had caught up to them and looked between Artemis and the club owner with a concerned look on his face.
"Am I interrupting?"
"No Kal. She's all yours." Dinah said before walking away. Artemis crossed her arms protectively in front of her chest and looked at her glittering shoes. Kaldur turned to face her with his hands in his pockets.
"You've been avoiding me." He said simply. Artemis didn't reply. He put his knuckle under her chin and lifted it gently so he could look into her eyes. "I don't regret it Artemis. I know that is what is bothering you, but I don't. I don't know if you do and have been avoiding me because of that…"
"Kaldur no! I don't regret it at all!" Kaldur smiled at her but kept his hand under her chin.
"Then there is no need to avoid me anymore is there?" Artemis smiled slowly.
"Kaldur I'm sorry."
"I have a condition for accepting your apology." Artemis laughed. Kaldur removed his hand from its place under her chin and moved it to her hip.
"You have to let me drive you home." Both knew what he was asking. He pulled her closer by her hip until her cheek was against his shoulder. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed as he started drawing circles with is fingers on her hip.
"Okay Kal." She put her arms around his waist and brought her eyes up to meet his.
"And you have to let me do one more thing." Artemis drew her eyebrows in in confusion.
"What's that?" He moved his lips down to meet hers.
"That." They smiled at each other before Artemis was called on stage. "I will see you after work."
"Bye Kal." Artemis leaned up and kissed him again. He smiled into her lips before he broke away. She smiled at him again and sauntered off.
"Bye Artemis."
Artemis woke up with her head on Kaldur's chest. He was holding her close with the small of her back. She smiled and snuggled in closer and began falling back into the release of sleep. Even if she had realized that they were both late for work, feeling his chest expand beneath her cheek and feeling his breath on her hair, made her realize she didn't want to leave.