Disclaimer- We do not own Young Justice or any of it's characters. Or anything from the 20s, for that matter!
Okay, first of all... um, my SINCERST apologies for the time it took to write this and ALSO THE LENGTH. 8,227 words including the vocab list! Jesus we went crazy with this! Rest assured most chapters WON'T be this long, this is just a fluke! Ack! Kind of embarrassing like woah. XD
Once again: This fic WILL be changed to an M rating with CHAPTER 4.
Hope you enjoy! And also thanks for all the reviews so far, you guys are awesome! :)
o.o.o.o
Written by IronicVeghead, Chaneldancegrl, Dottoraqn, and TheRantDragon.
o.o.o.o
Gotham City: August 1, 1923
o.o.o.o
Wallace outwardly groaned as he attempted to scope out the shirt he was looking for.
"I could have sworn it was here just yesterday!" he cursed, riffling through his chest of drawers in frustration and flinching from the squeaks of the wood, the drawers having become sticky from the heat. The redhead had found the perfect bow tie to wear on his date, but it looked best with one of his favorite button-ups. He had a few extra shirts that would work, but when it came to Artemis, second best just wasn't going to cut it.
If he was going to impress this dame, he was going to need to pull out all the stops. And boy howdy did he want to impress her; Wally had even scrubbed the windshield of the Speedster that afternoon in preparation.
He grumbled into his sock drawer as his hand groped around for the burgundy suspenders he remembered he'd stuffed in there last weekend.
Normally Wally wouldn't have bothered searching for coordinating clothes. His usual routine for nights on the town included finding a hot spot, picking up a dame, and driving her back to his apartment. Sometimes he'd even remember the girls name and could find them again the next weekend, as was the case with gals like Fiona and Linda.
It was strange for the redhead to go to such lengths as he was for Artemis, to ask her out before even knowing if she would be a decent flop. But while he was most certainly attracted sexually to the blonde, what sparked his interest the most was just her personality, her way of handling things.
A personality like Artemis' was hard to come by, maybe once in a million dames. Not many skirts would—or could— punch the lights out of a big, beefy, obnoxious bruno like Logan and simply walk away like it was nothing; or call Wally out on his flirting before he even got the chance to start; or down two Mint Juleps in a matter of seconds. He admired the way her intellect kept him on his toes, and her refusal to let any man walk all over her kept him coming back for more like a rummy coming back for a skee—which at least explained the sudden loss of control of his legs back at the diner. He felt like a rummy too, always bumbling and losing his moxie around her.
How was it possible that just one dame could turn him, a self declared cake-eater, into a Dumb Dora?
He sighed and shook his head, yanking his suspenders on and shoving the drawer to his dresser closed so hard it knocked his alarm clock off. Wally couldn't stifle another angry groan and reached down exasperatedly to pick up the clock, his eyes widening almost comically as he registered the time; 6:40. It took fifteen minutes to get to the Star Company Offices and he wasn't even finished putting his face on.
Wally scrambled around the room, searching for the rest of his attire. He tripped over a sheet lying haphazardly off the bed, pulling the other blankets to the ground. When he reached to yank off the fabric covering his face, he was rewarded with the very shirt he was looking for.
"Attaboy!" he shouted to himself, despite being the only soul in the room.
He hurriedly stood up and put his arms through the sleeves and buttoned up. Wally quickly added his bow tie to the look, tying it expertly thanks to many nights out on the town. He also laced up the new shoes he had gotten specifically for tonight; the shop owner had reassured him that they were the latest and best style for a night of dragging. He glanced in the mirror, checking out his look and being almost satisfied.
Wally searched the room, his tapping foot clicking against the hardwood floor. Finally, his sight landed on his trademark fedora and he grinned, flipping it on to his head and letting it lay at an angle. He briefly considered wearing a jacket so he could pop his collar and look ritzy while dragging, before he quickly shrugged into it.
Wally tried to brush off his anxiety, and shook his head. "Relax, relax. Just don't futz this up, Wall-man."
He looked at his reflection and gave a winning smile, his hands becoming imaginary pistols that he fake shot at the mirror, but it didn't have the same effect it usually did. He quickly stole a glance at the clock again and swore, grabbing his wallet and keys before racing out his apartment door in a flurry.
He jumped into the Speedster, grabbing his hat that almost flew off in his rush. The engine came alive at the twist of his keys and Wally tightly gripped the steering wheel.
"Come on, ole gal, remind me how fast you really are."
o.o.o.o
"What am I doing?" Artemis asked the mirror as she finished the smoky look to her eyes, "This isn't that big of deal," she spoke, exasperated. And yet the flutterings in her stomach wouldn't go away. She tsked briefly at her hair before running a brush through it forcefully, softening and separating the ringlets she'd painstakingly curled an hour ago.
"That dress better still be on the hanger or Jade is going to be in for a nasty surprise," Artemis grumbled, shoving the closet door aside to search for the article, one hand flipping through the wire hangers, the other situating the slip that had shifted on her hips. Thankfully the deep emerald dress was still there, and it only held a few wrinkles that weren't supposed to be there.
The blonde turned her lips in to protect the fabric from her lipstick as she shimmied the dress over her head, turning experimentally to face the mirror in contemplation. The dark green dress had wide straps which Artemis thought suited nicely for dancing. Excess fabric in the skirt was bunched up below her hip, the seams holding it hidden by a few roses, and the uneven hem swung freely around Artemis's knees.
Artemis hummed to herself before walking briskly back to her vanity and snatching up a barrette to hold back the loose tendrils of her recently curled hair, securing it under the trilby that she had snitched off of that bruno sap. One pair of well-loved black dance shoes later, and Artemis was ready for the date.
She glanced at the clock and rolled her eyes. She was ready almost fifteen minutes early.
Artemis momentarily entertained the idea of arriving to their meeting destination early, but swiftly dismissed it in case it made her look too eager. Because she wasn't.
She wasn't excited and she should stand the cat up in favor of making a few rounds to keep watch on the shipments. But no. Artemis had said yes to some cake-eater that made her stomach turn, so she was going to bear it.
Artemis told herself that she wasn't going to get upset either. That when Wally frowned at her biting remarks and daring moves that put him second, just like the rest of them, she was going to suck it up and last it out. And when he got sick of her mighty attitude and independent mind, because they always did, she would move on and find another man who would humor her for a few hours.
Because that's all they ever lasted. A few hours of gracious leniency, and then they were at your throat, hammering you to be complacent and demure like the rest of them. They laugh, show you off to their friend, call you cute, and when they realize that you're serious, they leave you high and dry. Running like they've come in contact with some sort of fatal disease.
The blonde sighed and ran a hand through her hair before standing up, deciding to head over to meet Wally a bit early. She didn't feel like reveling in self pity any longer, it wasn't like anything was ever going to change.
Sometimes she wished that she was like them, the thoughtless tail chasers that hung onto a cat's arm like the prospect of being candy to a man's ego was an honor. Artemis just wanted to find someone that would respect her independence, that would see her boldness as an admirable quality like her mother had. And not as a nuisance like her father saw it. She loved being brash and outspoken; but sometimes, sometimes she wished that she wasn't. Because, although it would be degrading, those women did seem... Happy.
She smiled a bit as she caught site of the stolen trilby topping her blonde hair. A small victory from the world of men that continued to try and place her in a neatly wrapped position on their shelves.
Artemis grit her teeth as she left her apartment. She was taking a chance with Wally. There were better, more useful things she could be doing tonight. But he had grinned at her like she was amazing, and had pursued her after witnessing her topple a man. And her damn stomach was still all a flutter.
So she would take a chance.
o.o.o.o
Wally wove around cars and sped through yellow lights to get to Star Co. in time to pick up his dame. He heard multiple people shout at him from behind the wheels of their own crates as he sped down the street towards the Big O's offices building. He slid smoothly into a space by the entrance of the building and hopped over the door and out of his breezer.
The redhead observed the sidewalk both ways, people hustling and bustling back and forth even in the heat of the muggy Gotham night, seemingly oblivious that they were living in one of the most notoriously crime ridden cities in the world. Most nights, a cat could hardly escort his girl one block without witnessing a caper or hearing the telltale sound of Chicago lightning echoing from somewhere downtown.
Still, life had to go on, and dames had to be dated.
Wallace checked his watch and frowned, examining the block again. He chuckled at the sight of a bum's rush being swiftly executed on a hapless mug at a hash house to the right of the Star Co. building. The man's slurred—he was obviously splifficated—cry of indignation pierced through the night, and those that were walking passed him sped up their pace, not wanting to be caught near an intoxicated individual in case the fuzz were close by.
Wally couldn't help but wince with embarrassment and turn away; had he been that loud and obvious and stupid when Dick escorted him home last night? He would have to remember to properly apologize to his bo when next he got the chance.
But for now, he had more pressing matters to attend.
"Hmm," Wally murmured, turning his attention back to the towering skyscraper Artemis had told him to pick her up at. He pulled his fedora off and scratched his noodle. "Did that bearcat want me to meet her outside or inside?"
He wracked his mind, recalling the memory of his fumbling proposal to take her out dancing, trying to remember if she'd been a little more specific about the location. He couldn't remember, and suddenly the horrible thought that she'd stood him up crossed into his mind. His heart sank horribly into his gut, making him sick. He checked his watch and saw that it was still one minute to seven.
Be a man, Wally. Even if she does stand you up, it's not like it's never happened to you before. Just shrug it off and go home and completely forget about it in the morning. This time is no different... is it?
He was having a hard time convincing himself. He started to bring his watch up to look at the time again, but he was interrupted by a light, husky voice from behind.
"Excuse me, dewdropper. Might you generously point a young woman in the right direction?" the voice crooned sweetly. "I'm looking for a freckly bo about your height, probably standin' around thinking he's the cat's meow for getting a date with me on this fine evening... probably thinks he's gonna get lucky tonight, too."
Wallace's face turned rubicund at that last statement and he had to mentally restrain his hand from snaking around to check his back pocket where he knew he'd tucked a condom in before walking out the door— you know, just in case.
His face scrunched up indignantly as he whirled to make a retort—that no he was not a dewdropper, he was a scientist, and so what if he happened to have protection in his back pocket?— but he came up short at the very sight before him.
Artemis was leaning against his car with mischievously hooded eyes, observing him from beneath the brim of her trilby, a wide smirk playing on her face. And she looked beautiful. Her long blonde hair was curled elegantly, playing around her bare shoulders as a breeze kicked up and Wally would swear the wind held her perfume. Her long, lean legs were crossed, and various parts of her thighs peeked out at him, taunting him from between the cut folds in her emerald dress.
Wally was momentarily rendered speechless. He was sure he must've looked like a gaping fish, because Artemis let loose a raspy laugh and took a few steps toward him, tilting her prize trilby over at an angle so that she was leering playfully at him through one, darkened eye.
"What's the matter, cake-eater? Don't tell me this is the first time you've been slack jawed by the sight of a dolled up dame. I'm sure more than a few of your previous nookie partners have left you at a loss for words... and a little tight in the slacks." Her eye darted down pointedly to his—thankfully—still slack slacks. She smirked ruefully.
But Wallace was still too busy staring at her to be embarrassed or offended by her words. The truth was that none of his... er, nookie partners ever had made him screech to a complete stop like this. It both frightened and enthralled him.
Then again, Artemis wasn't just some nookie partner he'd picked up on a Saturday evening for a fun time, either. She was much more than that.
"I... um..." he at last choked, clearing his throat and replacing his gray fedora back on top of his mussed up locks. "You... you look—"
"Why don't we skip punching the bag and just get a wiggle on? I'm fine, you look well so I'm assuming that you're fine, if you weren't you wouldn't have shown up," Artemis said, stepping back to get a better look at the car. "I'm also assuming this is your car, judging by the fact that you're loitering next to it. Slick crate, Wall-man."
Wally's ears began to heat, and he was dumbfounded again by the sight of Artemis hopping into his car the same way he had vacated the vehicle. She took off her hat and placed it in her lap so that it would not get blown away. This revealed more of her meticulously curled blonde locks, which she shook out and ran her fingers through a little grumpily before looking at him expectantly from the passenger seat.
"Well, what are we waiting for, Wallace?" she asked, red lips quirking. "Let's get this show on the road!"
o.o.o.o
Artemis wasn't sure what she had been expecting. She had been entertaining herself—partly to calm her nerves—with the amusing idea of Wally pulling up to some teen hangout of a place like the Happy Harbor Hop, stuttering nervously that it was the best he could come up with at such short notice and that he hoped she liked coca-cola.
Obviously she wasn't giving the cat enough credit, because the little dancing shindig he brought her to was nothing short of impressive. It was a far cry from the images she had conjured up during the ride in his souped up crate; it was large, bright, and expensive looking, full to the brim with dames and their boys trying to get in for dinner and some serious dragging. The Atlantis Ballroom was the bee's knees, the talk of the town, and Artemis had never even dreamed of getting into it.
It was the place for a night of cutting a rug in Gotham.
"Wow," Artemis breathed, smiling as she looked up at the building. She heard the sound of Wally vaulting over the door of his breezer, the soft footfalls of his dance shoes against the pavement as he scurried over to jerk the passenger door open for her. Normally she would've protested, but she figured she'd let it slide this time. Typically she hated when her dates played the nice gentleman role because, in her experience, that usually meant they thought they'd be getting a little nookie later that night for sure. They never really meant the elbows they offered or the doors they opened or the compliments on her appearance, and it made the lollygaggers think they controlled the night and her.
However, Wally's actions seemed heartfelt enough; she could sense no ulterior motive besides him wanting to be nice and wanting to take care of her, even though she didn't need it. And despite herself, she couldn't help but find it endearing.
"I'm impressed, Wall-man. Very impressed. How'd you get us into a place like this?" she asked, still busy taking in his awe-inspiring choice of a date spot.
Artemis stepped out, and she was at least glad to see he wasn't holding his hand out for her. She thought she saw his digits twitch with the desire to, but he remained stoic, shutting the door behind her while she placed her trilby back on her hair delicately. Once they were a few steps away from his red heap, however, he made it a point to catch up to her stride and offer her an elbow. She smirked and took it, linking them together as they neared the line.
Wally grinned.
"I have connections," he stated, winking slyly at her. Somehow, his freckles seemed brighter and more noticeable than she remembered. Artemis's eyebrows shot up in surprise and he gave her a wicked grin. "Not too bad for some sap you met at a bar, now is it?"
She merely rolled her eyes.
"Quit beatin' your gums and get a move on. Your connections won't matter if you make us stand around all night."
Artemis pulled on his arm, eagerness coursing through her veins at the prospect of swinging the night away in the ritzy joint. She kept her expression calm, determined not to give away her emotions just yet to this cake-eater. Still, she couldn't hide her surprise once more as Wally led her passed the long winding line of other guys and girls, their shoes thudding on the sidewalk all the way to the entrance.
Guarding the doors was a big surly bruno wearing a scowl and dark cheaters that reflected the lights of the club as the young couple approached. Wally didn't seem fazed at all as he proudly spoke.
"We're pals of Grayson. West and his dame."
The man turned to the side and let them pass amidst cries of protest from the others who had been waiting impatiently in the line. When they had entered the long hallway leading to the main room, Wally yelped from the sharp pain in his side as Artemis dug her elbow into his ribs with a smirk.
"So Grayson's your connection? Shoud've known."
Wally shrugged unabashedly as two gentlemen in tuxes opened the doors to the main room for them. Sweet jazz tunes poured through the air and the radiant colors of the other dancers swirling around the room greeted them. Artemis stepped in before her gigolo, mouth slightly agape as her deep grey eyes were drawn up to an exquisite crystal chandelier raised high above the heads of the dancers, sparkling and shining in the lights.
Wally left her side, walking over to one of the doormen. The two whispered together for a moment, then the doorman walked towards a cluster of small tables by the bar. Wally offered Artemis his arm again, however this time she rejected it, opting to push ahead of her date and follow the doorman to their reserved table.
Outwardly Artemis looked mildly impressed, inwardly the child she'd hidden away long ago squealed with excitement from being taken to such a beautiful place. Her head whipped around in every direction, eyes trying and failing to drink in every miniscule detail of the place, all of its aqua and blue hues. It was a quietly elegant place, much like one might imagine that famed underwater city for which it was named. She felt the light pressure of Wally's fingers on her back when she halted a bit too long to gape up at an exquisite painting of sea life just above the dance floor. His chuckle ghosted into her ear as they approached their seating arrangement.
The two sat down across from each other at the table and told the waiter that showed up their drink orders. Artemis smirked when Wally had to scoot his chair to the side in order to view her from across the table, the extravagant coral centerpiece having blocked the way. She managed to keep a relatively straight face, however, even when the redhead cleared his throat to try and cover up the noise from the screeching feet of the chair as it slid. The coughing didn't work and the noise drew scowls of attention from the nearby table. The blonde mentally cursed herself when she caught herself thinking him cute as he awkwardly waved in apology with a sheepish smile stuck to his face.
When their disappointingly soft drinks arrived, Artemis knocked hers back as if she were a rummy craving her favorite hair of the dog, and imagined the carbonation sizzling down her throat was the familiar sting of alcohol. Wally marveled at the dame sitting in front of him, his mouth falling open. He snapped it shut when Artemis slammed her glass on the table and looked up at him just as the song changed to a lively, exotic rhythm.
"So, Wall-man," she said over the din. "Tell me a bit about yourself. Got any family in Gotham?"
Artemis didn't even know why she was asking him such a question. Normally she didn't care enough to delve into the life and times of any man that took her out on a date, but she reasoned that in this case she was doing it as a distraction.
But a distraction from what? her mind asked curiously, and when she saw his quick smile at the mention of his family she got a hint of an answer.
"Nah, Gotham's a little too busy for my family's taste. They live in a, I guess what you'd call a more pleasant town in the Midwest known as Central City."
"And you wanted to be an egg and live the high life in Gotham," she guessed, thinking of his breezer, supposed cake eating ways, and friendship with Grayson.
Wally shrugged. "It's a change in pace. Plus, the company's better here," he said with a smile and meaningful look in her direction that made her heart clench a little. His eyes weren't filled with the cockiness and self importance she had become so accustomed to; his expression was genuine, as if he really enjoyed being in her company despite her brazen and hotheaded personality. She stopped herself from biting her lip and looking like all the other Dumb Doras who probably fell for that line.
Instead, she reverted back to her usual guarded self and rolled her eyes. "I'm sure all the little skirts you bring home provide plenty of it."
"Not all the dames. Some barely seem to be able to sit at a table with me for five minutes," his teasing tone allowed Artemis to grin a bit, thinking about the night they first met.
"I only bother giving the time of day to people who deserve it," she retorted with a challenging smirk.
"Well, I guess I've done a ducky job so far," answered Wally. "So what about you? Do you have family hanging around the city?"
At this question, Artemis felt herself shut down a bit and cursed herself for taking the conversation down this road. Most fellas never bothered, but she should've just learned to avoid the whole topic in the first place. She almost gave him a typical vague answer about no family worth mentioning or that she was on her own, but when she looked at him again and saw his true curiosity and encouraging expression, she couldn't help herself.
"Just my mom," tumbled out of her before she could stop it. Damn, what was this man doing to her? She turned her attention away from him and to the table, playing with the smooth tablecloth instead.
"What's she like?" murmured Wally.
Artemis shrugged, now especially conscious of her traitorous tongue. "Just like any mom. Takes care of me."
Or rather, I take care of her, she corrected bitterly in her head.
She took a breath, trying to strategize a way to avoid divulging anything more family related. That was a topic she didn't even want to dwell on, let alone tell him about. Artemis looked up at the dance floor and watched the twirling couples hopping around to the band's latest tune, not a care in the world. She quickly looked back at the bo across the table and decided to take charge. After all, they had come to the Atlantis Ballroom to dance, hadn't they?
"C'mon, Cake-eater," Artemis said, standing up so abruptly that she nearly knocked her chair over and offering Wally her hand. "Let's shake a leg!"
Wally took Artemis' hand and gasped when she swung him onto the dance floor. The dame's mouth pulled up at one corner, digging a dimple into her cheek. Outwardly, she was amused and confident, but on the inside she was rigid and ready for the worst. This would be it, the moment when she started to take control of things and the man would quickly realize how much he hated it, how he should be the one leading their dance and that perhaps this whole night out dancing had been a bad idea.
A slip of the tongue.
The jazz music was swelling to a crescendo, indicating that it was about to end, but she figured it was enough time to let him know just what exactly he would be dealing with all night long.
Artemis tried to force him into a basic step, but Wally just grinned widely, suddenly flipping her. Artemis reacted, finishing the step with a flourish of her hat. The pair glared at each other, vying for dominance on the dance floor. They heard the song drawing to a close, and with sudden, graceful force Wallace spun Artemis, catching her off guard. She tried to regain her balance, but slipped, losing her footing entirely. As the band came to a big finish, Wally caught Artemis by her arm, lowering her into a dip gracefully.
Her world was upside down, literally; from her dipped position in Wally's arms she could see the other dancers laughing and pulling away from their gigolos with flushed skin and white teeth. With a huff to blow a strand of loose hair away from her visage, she jerked her head back up to narrow her eyes at him. He still had that completely goofy grin on his face, arm latched firmly around her middle.
"And here I was thinking you'd be a heeler," Artemis admitted, removing herself from his grasp. She bent low to retrieve the trilby that had fallen to the floor with that last move. Wally scoffed.
"Babe, please! I'm a great hoofer!" he said jovially. He took his fedora off and held it in one hand as he did a rather fancy jig with his feet to prove his point, his shined shoes moving so frantically under the light that she had a hard time seeing them; she heard some people around them make noises of appreciation and point to him. "A real Oliver Twist, you might say."
Artemis put a hand on her hip, shaking her head and smiling. This Wallace West was really surprising her at every turn. But still... she had to test the waters first, slip her toes in before her entire foot, so to speak.
The musicians started to play again and Artemis stepped back and looked at Wally sensually, her toes dragging across the floor as she approached him. She thrust her hand out to him, curling her fingers and drawing him forward, willing him to step towards her. The two circled each other, she placing her hand on his chest to stabilize their movement, he keeping his jacket hooked over his shoulder. They separated and he flung the article away, staring at Artemis, waiting for her to make the first move.
They met suddenly, both leaning forward on his and her left legs, the right drawn back; their arms locked at the elbows and her head tilted back, her eyes hooded. Artemis pulled away, holding on to Wally's arm as she countered and felt him counter, the pair's gaze still fixated. He spun her, catching her deftly, pulling her closer to his body. She resisted for a moment, but let him pull her in close, start a basic. They slid dexterously across the floor, but Artemis was not about to let Wally lead for the entire dance; she hooked her leg around his hip, leaning to her right, forcing Wally to turn to keep the pair on balance. Artemis looked for distress in his eyes at her assertion of dominance, but found none, only his emerald eyes staring back at her with the same look he had at the café.
She abruptly unhooked her leg and flung the upper half of her body back, coming back up to meet a different emotion in the redhead's eyes. With the way his lip pulled up when she looked at him, she realized that her eyes must display the same sentiment. She nudged his foot, breaking his gaze, starting a skilled zigzag across the floor with her feet. Wally caught on quickly, but when Artemis looked at him, his eyes flashed and he put his foot out to stop her. She countered, he spun her to shift her weight and keep her from tripping over his outstretched leg.
He caught her again, her back to his front, and lead her sideways across the floor. Artemis stopped them with a kick of her leg, a shift in gravity, and spun herself, only to be caught for a third time in Wally's arms. She reprised her zigzaging from earlier, leading him around in a circle, never breaking eye contact.
She noticed when his eyes slipped to her hips, twisting back and forth, continuing to lead him in a circle. She twirled away from him, her hand reaching out, this time asking to be stopped. He responded as she desired, grabbing her fingers at the last possible second, halting the pair exactly where she wanted them. She freed herself and spun around and brushed his outstretched fingers, propelling him into a spin of his own.
o.o.o
This bearcat's a smudger!
Wally stayed still as the thought ran through his mind, wanting desperately to look over his shoulder but fearing the consequences. He suddenly felt her arms around his torso, her hands splayed out across his pectorals; there was an slight tightening in his groin at the action, but he reigned himself in quickly. He looked back at her and followed her sight line down to where her leg was subtly snaking up to his hip. He placed his hand on her knee and squeezed lightly, causing her to jerk away and skip backwards across the hardwood, her hands slowly running up her body.
He reached up to snatch her hand, but she evaded him, sinking to one knee, and putting her hand up. Wally reached down and took her by her shoulder blade, drawing her up his body and into a spin. She twisted again, trying to regain control, but he had caught on to her trick by now. He put his hand on her waist and continued her trajectory into a dip against his hip and pulled her up abruptly, grabbing her waist to stop her from twirling away once more.
He was very surprised when she ran her hands down her throat and sighed lightly into his ear, continuing her hands' course down her body, ghosting lightly over his own. Artemis used this distraction to try and get away again, but he stopped her short, reaching out and grabbing her elbows. She continued as far as she could go, getting right into the face of a suspiciously familiar looking mug that reminded Wally of the one she'd flat faced at Dick's speakeasy.
He pulled her back and she nimbly spun across the floor towards him, relaxing into his grasp when he refused to move any further. She tilted her head back, letting her torso follow as Wally ran a hand down her side, eliciting a gasp from the blonde. The two pulled up, Artemis spinning away again, but this time giving Wally a wink on her way out. She spun back in and wrapped her arms around his neck. He used her momentum to pick her up and balance her on his hip, leaning to the left to allow her free movement. Artemis kicked out towards a necking couple nearby and jumped off of Wally's hip, his strong arms guiding her down to one knee on the floor.
The two stared at each other, a fraction of an inch apart, breathless. Wally desperately wanted to close the distance between their lips, but instead he pulled her up, setting her on two feet and backing away slightly.
o.o.o
The two stood in silence for a moment, flushed and sweating and catching their breath, before Artemis spoke.
"So... what? You're just going to pretend we didn't battle it out for dominance there? You aren't going to tell me to let you be the one in control and that I should just scat because you made a big mistake?"
Bluntness. That seemed to be her forte right now, though she hadn't been able to hide the slight crack in her voice.
Wally's eyes darted up to her in concern and confusion.
"Uh... do you want me to do those things?"
The two seemed unaware of the new song that was about to begin, the first few violin notes floating out to the floor.
"Most men do," Artemis grumbled, looking away from him bitterly. Why did this whole situation matter so damn much to her? What was it that was making Wallace West feel so different?
It frustrated her—he frustrated her—to no end.
"Well, bearcat, I think it's safe to say you're not the typical dame," he began, stepping closer to her. She opened her mouth, stung by his words, but he continued. "And I'm sure not your typical fella, so what say you forget about all those cats that left you high and dry and we'll dance ourselves into a stupor, 'cause I'm not going anywhere."
She felt like there was a lump in her throat, but she didn't get a chance to respond with another dimple carving smirk or a snarky retort, because the hot thrum of a hundred other dancers around them suddenly became oppressive, drawing her closer to him for fear she might get trampled—or worse, get caught between a goofy couple lost in each others eyes as they twirled languidly to the slow song.
He guided her hand to his shoulder and placed his own on her back, pulling her flush to his body to avoid the other couples filing onto the hardwood. Artemis let Wally lead, reeling at the fact that he had not abandoned her, left her cold on the dance floor. The musky evergreen aroma that resonated off of him clouded her vision like the effect of some sort of dope, and that combined with the realization that she might be coming to care about him(in whatever bizarre way) made her head spin.
"Artemis?" Wally asked, pulling her out of her reverie. "Are you alright? You look kind of... foggy..."
He insisted quietly that they return to their table for air while they waited for the floor to be a bit less crowded, and she let him lead her to the edge of the dance floor, weaving their way in and out of mesmerized couples. She was so out of it that she even let him pull out her chair for her. She sat down and placed her hat on the table, only to be confronted with a meaty mitt reaching down to snatch it from the surface.
"West, you had better keep your moll in line!" Logan the Bruno snarled. It seemed the mug that Artemis had spun out in front of while they danced, the one that had looked so similar to Logan, was Logan, and he was looking livid. He had appeared at their table seemingly out of nowhere, and the arm that was not lifting the trilby was around that of a redhead that looked suspiciously like Meg. Wally shoved his chair back to confront the bruno, but he was blocked with a mass of blonde hair in his face.
"First off, asshole, that's the last time you get to call me a whore. Second, I won that hat, fair and square. Third, how did you even get into this place?" Artemis demanded, taking full advantage of Logan's rather squat stature to get closer to his face. Logan grinned, his breath smelling of hard liquor and onions. Artemis' face twisted in response to the rancid smell; it was a far cry from the hypnotic scent Wally was harboring. Logan merely laughed harshly and put the trilby on his head, walking passed Artemis toward the exit with a roguish wink.
"You'll learn very quickly, chippy," he leered hotly in her ear, his putrid, fishy breath ghosting across the shell,"That I can get anywhere I want, and get anything I want. Ya follow?"
She followed alright. Logan was the biggest creep she'd ever had the misfortune of crossing, and she sure as hell wasn't missing the not-so-subtle sexual threats his words carried, either.
Or the sudden squeeze to her derriere.
Artemis gave a startled yelp, immediately feeling her face heat with barely contained rage at being groped by this complete asshole, and embarrassment for the way she heard a few guys at the table across from theirs laughing at her. Wally had been preoccupied with staring intently at the redhead clinging to the rube's arm like a prize, as if maybe he thought he knew her from somewhere, but the moment the cry had tumbled unbidden passed Artemis' ruby lips he'd snapped to full attention, his mouth dropping open.
Artemis was about to go in for the kill when Wally yelled, "Hey! Get your mitts off her!" and strode up to the taller man, landing a punch square on his jaw. Logan spun around with the force of impact almost comically, regaining his footing at the last second. He found himself facing a very angry blonde and an even angrier redhead.
"You've got a lot to learn about respecting women, Futz," Wally lifted his fist again, a grimace engraved into his features as his eyes flashed in loathing. Logan scrambled into a fighting stance, his hands clenching.
"Wally," Artemis spoke up lightly, placing her hand gently over the redhead's fist to withhold the imminent throw. She didn't need Wally picking her fights for her, and she certainly didn't need this cat thinking she couldn't handle herself. Artemis hoped Wally thought she didn't want to continue the conflict so that she could throw a punch or two in before her date dragged her off for being a menace.
The blonde's gigolo turned in surprise to question her actions, when he saw the glint in her eyes.
"You know Logan," Wally smirked at the bruno, his fist dropping in favor of wrapping it affectionately around Artemis's waist. "I think I'll let the lady teach you a thing or two."
Artemis nearly felt her anger at Logan dissipate as she glanced at Wally in disbelief. He had guessed what she wanted to do... and was standing back to let her?
Well. She could deal with that.
"LINCOLN'S BEARD!" Logan exclaimed, dropping like a sack of rocks as his hands flew up to hold his face where Artemis had landed a hit square on his nose. Blood spurted from between his digits, spattering across the previously clean floor. His ginger haired sheba had fled the scene, leaving him bleeding on the ballroom floor and murmuring to himself.
Wallace yanked the trilby off his fat head and handed it back to Artemis, who in turn grinned and winked at him as she looped her arm with his. They turned on their heels, heading for the exit.
"Crazy quiff," Logan muttered murderously behind them, beginning to pick himself up. His voice was nasally because he was pinching his schnozzle with a thumb and forefinger. "You better run. Cause the moment your sugar daddy's not around to protect you, I'll be playing chin music on your face, you bitch!"
Artemis started to react, but before she could do more than turn, Wally spun around and walked calmly back to Logan as if he were merely taking a stroll in the park.. Artemis furrowed her brow, wondering what he was doing. Suddenly, Wallace was upon Logan, kicking viciously, aiming for any part of the fallen man's body that would cause permanent damage. Artemis stood dumbfounded, silently observing the—mostly—considerate man she had met at the speakeasy go to town on the inhibited bouncer lying on the floor.
Wally gave Logan one final kick to the ribs, and quickly walked back to Artemis, drawing her out of the hall and into the stifling Gotham night air as people stared after them, stricken by the violence.
Artemis felt her heartbeat slow from the raging pulse it had garnered from her anger, her mind easing as she found herself leaning into the arm around her waist.
"Where'd you learn to play chin music like that, Artemis?" Wally inquired when they were a sufficient amount of steps away from the glowing lights of The Atlantis Ballroom. She felt his body jerk with a laugh, and he cast her this sideways smile that nearly outshined the streetlights as they passed. "That was music to my ears, babe!"
She rolled her eyes and dug her elbow into his side, but otherwise ignored the question entirely. She couldn't answer that question... not now, not ever. She cleared her throat and turned the spotlight onto him instead.
"Why'd you give him The Broderick like that?" she voiced, her eyes trained away from Wally's face, not wanting to see his expression. He was silent for a moment in thought, beginning to walk towards the pier as he mulled it over.
"Because of what he said," Wally's voice was tight, but his words were simple, full of conviction. "No woman deserves to be insulted like that."
Artemis felt her heart clench with a strange, warm feeling for the man at her side. But when she sucked in a deep breath to clear her mind, she was overwhelmed with the smell of his cologne. Or maybe it wasn't cologne. The scent that surrounded the redhead seemed to be a mix of soft spices and fresh air, and Artemis was certain that colonge only came in 'rich money' and 'sharp vodka'.
Her eyelids drooped in comfort as she melted into the leisurely gait and Wally's snug hold. She nearly didn't notice when they stepped upon the boardwalk but the chill wind and moonlit sky informed her.
"I'm sorry we didn't get much dancing in," Wally spoke up, and Artemis could tell out of the corner of her eye that he was blushing, "But I can make it up to you!" He turned his head to face her, grinning sheepishly, "How about Tuesday? You free Tuesday?"
Artemis would have stumbled had Wally not been holding her around the waist. He was asking her on another date? After the mess this one had turned into? It was safe to say that she was shocked. Totally and thoroughly.
Wally's hopeful face slowly fell as Artemis let his offer sink in, taking her silence as a rejection.
"But, I mean, I did kind of coax you into this and I underst-"
"Tuesday sounds good," the blonde responded quickly, cutting him off before his frown drooped any lower, a small smile settling on her lips and excitement budding in her chest.
Was this what it felt like to take a chance?
"Yeah?" Wally perked up immediately, his grin stretching wide.
And he looked so damn handsome framed against the yellow moon with his freckles stretched across his face by that stupid grin that she had to do something. So Artemis made a sudden decision—and probably a dumb one, at that—and swiftly reached her hands up to entwine with his wild red hair, pulling his face down to her height and crushing her lips to his own.
Wally responded after only a minor hesitation, the hand around her waist tightening its purchase as his free hand slipped up to cradle Artemis's jaw. She smiled as she pressed her lips more firmly against his, releasing the tight grip on his bright tufts of hair in favor of spreading her fingers out to weave along his scalp.
The redhead swept his tongue across her bottom lip teasingly, testing for permission. Artemis relented and opened her mouth, sighing in delight as their tongues curled against each other, dancing and flitting around to explore each other fully. She felt him breathe harshly out through his nose in yearning as his grip grew stronger and he pulled her flush against his chest.
And Artemis's heart fluttered against her bosom with such a new and unusual feeling that she had to pull back, her mouth agape as she met Wally's vibrant eyes. She wondered if he'd felt it, too.
But that was a stupid question. Maybe it was something she'd eaten? Because surely that strange lightness wasn't Wally's doing.
"We'll save some for the second date?" Wally joked, pressing a chaste kiss to her cheek and pulling her once more to his side.
"If you're lucky," Artemis quipped, wrapping her arm around his back to slip a hand in his rear trouser pocket. She grinned when he looked momentarily stunned, half of her berating herself for doing yet another stupid thing that would push him away. But Wally laughed and took it in stride, looking proud at the idea that she had staked her claim on him.
She was never going to understand him, much less herself.
Artemis bit her lip in confusion when he wasn't looking, contemplating the strange lightheartedness that became inspired by Wally.
No, he certainly wasn't a typical fella.
o.o.o.o
Vocab used:
skirt- an attractive woman
bruno- bouncer; enforcer; tough guy
flop- to go to bed
rummy- drunken bum
skee- scotch whiskey
moxie- courage, nerve, or vigour
cake-eater- a ladies man
Dumb Dora- an absolute idiot, a dumbbell
'Attaboy!- well done
dragging- dancing
sap- a fool; an idiot; a dumb guy
futz- euphemism for fuck (as in "Don't futz around.")
crate- car
breezer- convertible
caper- a criminal act or robbery
Chicago lightning- gunfire
bum's rush- ejection by force from an establishment
mug- men (especially refers to dumb ones)
hash house- a cheap restaurant
splifficated- drunk
fuzz- the police
bo- pal, fella, buddy, friend
bearcat- a hot-blooded or fiery girl
noodle- head
dewdropper- a young man who sleeps all day and doesn't have a job
cat's meow- a highly admired person or thing
dolled up- dressed up
nookie- sex
punch the bag- small talk
get a wiggle on- get a move on, get going
hop- teen party or dance
bee's knees- same as cat's meow
cutting a rug- energetic dancing; to dance really well and impress others
heap- car
lollygagger- a young man who enjoys making out; an idle person
cheaters- sunglasses
gigolo- dancing partner
hair of the dog- a shot of liquor/alcohol
egg- a person who lives the big life
ducky- very good
heeler- a bad dancer
hoofer- dancer
Oliver Twist- a skilled dancer
smudger- a close dancer
neck- to kiss passionately; what today would be called "French kissing"
goofy- in love
dope- drug
moll- a gangster's female companion; a prostitute
chippy- a woman of easy virtue; a whore
Reuben/rube- an unsophisticated country bumpkin
mitts- hands
sheba- a girlfriend; a woman with sex appeal
quiff- a slut or prostitute
schnozzle- nose
sugar daddy- older boyfriend who showers his girlfriend with gifts in exchange for sex
Broderick, The- a thorough beating