'What am I doing? Roy joining the team made some problems.. But this is my job too. I'll do my duty, leave that moron to do his own,' Artemis thought when she was safe in her room, lying on her full length on the bed. She breathed deeply, letting the tension slip away from her body, and shut her eyes. 'Really has been something.'

...

When Robin returned to the others, not much change could be seen, though the agitation in the room had melted away a good bit. He headed over to the kitchen, where Zatanna and M'gann were clumsily mixing batter. Kaldur was nowhere to be seen, and Dick didn't feel particularly inclined to join Roy and Wally in their deep conversation or watch static with Conner.

"Did you find her?" Zatanna exclaimed as soon as she saw him. "We tried looking... Wasn't in her room."

"Don't stress," He forced a grin. "She's good, but," he paused uncertainly, then added, "this can't let this keep going. Hopefully, they'll smooth it out later."

"Wally and Artemis?" M'gann furrowed her eyebrows.

Dick nodded.

"Hey, Rob! C'mere!" Wally called out from the other room.

Dick let out a soft whistle. "Gotta run. Oh, and Zatanna?"

"Yes?" She asked.

"You're dropping egg whites everywhere." Dick shot her a wink and strolled out loftily. Zatanna blushed profusely.

...

Tension, however, seemed to be Artemis' faithful companion during these painful, slow days. When she returned home, she was once again greeted by her father in her own room. 'Two visits in a week,' she thought bitterly after he had gone. 'Hit up Jade. Let's have a freaking family reunion after this.'

Once again, he returned with proposals for her. Proposals to join him, to help him. To help "your dad" as he called himself several times, urging her to accept. This time, though, his words were not as forceful as they were endeavoring. Something tugged inside her. Artemis, confused and almost outcast, was fearful that she would accept her father's suggestions, help him with the Shadows' corrupt schemes.

"It's where you belong, Artemis." He had told her. "You'll never be a part of their little group. Once an assassin, always an assassin."

Artemis had clenched her fist, felt a strange emotion boil up inside of her, but she said with gritted teeth, "Get out."

Sportsmaster was never one to easily let go of something, and his daughter was half afraid he really would bring Paula into this. Her mother was hardly stable herself and had barely moved on from the terrors of the past. Artemis herself was still scarred by them. But he only laughed, gave her a soft smile, then slipped out of the window again. Too soft. Artemis shuddered.

Later that same night, Artemis left her room for a glass of water and found her mother sobbing in the hallway.

"We won't be able to pay for the bills," She said between cries. "Artemis, there isn't enough. What am I going to do?"

"Mom-"

"I'm sorry I can't give you everything you deserve. I am so sorry, Artemis.."

"No, no, Mom.. don't cry. I'll - I'll do something about it, okay? I'll get another side-job, I'll work after school. We'll be fine," The words slipped out of her mouth quickly, but while she wrapped her arms around her shaking mother, Artemis couldn't swallow the lump that lodged itself in her throat.

...

Yes, the days that followed were indeed painful and neverending. Schoolwork piled on, heaps of physics and math taunted her even before she stepped into their apartment, worn out by the jobs she was doing, one last vain attempt to keep the only thing she had left from crumbling apart. Paula was on edge.

The situation at the Cave was no better. While the arguments seemed to have decreased, pressure hung about the air at all times.

Artemis wiped the sweat off her forehead with a towel.

"Artemis, you're on in five!" Black Canary called from the training ring, where she stood fighting Kaldur. Artemis forced a nod. Her arms throbbed, her legs ached, her head hurt from the stress building up inside.

Dick frowned at her but said nothing. A firm expression set itself on the archer's face.

Approaching her, Roy rose his eyebrows. "You don't plan to fight in that state, do you? You'll make it too easy for us."

Dick clenched his teeth.

Artemis' gaze didn't falter. "Say that again after I kick your as-"

"Artemis!" Dinah called. "You're up against Wally next."

And now the grey orbs did. After a split second of hesitation, she pushed herself up and headed for the fighting area, ignoring how the sudden exertion caused her to feel a sudden pang of pain.

"Prepare to be crushed, Harpy," Wally smirked, and Artemis could almost believe they were back to normal if she wasn't sure that nothing would go back to normal. His own expression told her otherwise. She swallowed.

The two were well matched for each other. Artemis' fighting skills against his speed. She was second to none when it came to hand-to-hand combat, even Kaldur could admit that, but now, she found it harder to fight him as it went on.

Kick. It missed.

Punch. Into nothing.

"Gonna give me something better than that?" He taunted.

"Thought I'd give you the glory of winning for once," She shot back. "Strange feeling, huh?"

Wally snarled. Her every blow continued to pound only the air as he easily slipped away and shoved her down from behind, knocking the wind clear out of her; Artemis really felt as though she would never breathe again. She forced herself up again, though visibly weaker.

"Foul!" Dinah warned sharply from the side. "Use proper attacks, Wally!"

"Run back to Oliver if the boo-boos hurt too much," Wally continued mocking her. "Your supposed uncle might just have your back."

Artemis' eyes flashed. "You seem to have plenty of experience," She growled.

"At least someone cares enough to support me once in a while."

That's when something snapped inside Artemis. The fury broke free of its chains, and she moved forward to strike him again. But pain truly spread across her body then, filling every bit of her, shattering inside, and before her foot could hit him, Wally reached forward and flipped her over.

Thud.

The sound caused everyone to turn around.

Artemis tasted a surge of coppery blood as she lay on the floor, gasping.

Dinah's eyes widened. "Wally! Verbal attacks are not included!" Anger was very evident in her tone.

Wally shrugged sheepishly. "Whatever, sorry, I guess."

To him, it was a normal fight. To her, weakness was taking over. Dick jogged forward and held out a hand. Artemis stopped breathing heavily, and after a moment allowed him to help her up.

Dick looked at her nervously. "Are you-"

"I'm fine." Artemis cut him off and left the room without another word. Dick couldn't help but notice the pace she walked, and it infuriated him to think that he was the only one who saw it. Roy was nearby but too occupied with laughter to mind. Indeed, Dick might have been the only one, but Wally happened to glance at Artemis before she disappeared around the corner, and he felt a pang of guilt tug at his heart.


Big wave of boredom hit me. As did an even mightier one of extreme cringe. So.. I guess I'm editing this old story, hah. Still a sucker for spitfire.