GOTHAM CITY
BRUCE RESIDENCE 3:00 AM
Robin cackled out loud and did an air flip in the deserted Hallway of the mansion enjoying his victory for hacking into the encrypted hardware they have salvaged from shadows in the recent mission. Piece of cake…so feeling the aster right now, he thought but paused right away and took a few steps backward. The door of the guest room was slightly open.
He raised an eyebrow at that since he knew that no one was in the mansion except him, Bruce and Alfred. So who was in here? …C-O-O-L…Detective time, Dick grinned and took out the grapple hook. Within seconds he was hanging upside down from the fan of ceiling observing everything in the room from higher point of view, bed sheet disturbed…someone slept here…No condom in dustbin…Bruce didn't feel the aster last night…that leave the Alfred (the image of Alfred having sex in the room came to his mind, he made a disgusted face)… mentally died by choking on his own saliva. He jumped down and more closely observed the bed, the long blond hair was twinkling in the moon light coming from the window and he grinned again and said out loud, "Got you", while pocketing it in.
BRUCE RESIDENCE 8:00 AM
"Where is Richard?", Bruce asked as he was about to sit down on his seat on the dining table for breakfast.
"Master Richard is in the bat cave Master Bruce. He seems rather sprightly this morning... was performing a victory chicken dance on your favorite chair…the last time I checked on him", Alfred explained sophisticatedly while Bruce just rubbed his temple in response. "I will get him".
Bruce was surprised to see Artemis file been opened on the bat computer as he entered into the cave. He just couldn't stop to amuse me; Bruce inwardly smiled but kept a tough exterior preferred playing dumb. "Who is she?", he asked in a casual tone as Richard spins the chair around to face him.
"Playing dumb …so asterous", he got up and explained, "You see I found the room on right corner on East wing of the mansion used by a mystery person. I investigated and found this long beautiful golden hair lying over there enjoying the fluffy pillow. My first hypothesis was that Alfred is having aster behind our back", Bruce had to stop the urge of laugh on that, "but then I thought if he did it then I shouldn't find this evidence on the first place…trust me that guy is a cleaning freak…he would kill us in our sleep and no one will be able to find a trace of DNA of us in our bed rooms".
"Agreed to you on that account", Bruce answered with a straight face.
"So I decide to run the DNA scan on this hair and imagine my surprise when the bins of our bat cave also contained blood soaked bandages with the same DNA as of that girl", Bruce smiled and wait for him to finish his argument, "Hence I deduced…which is 100% true because I deduced it...that you brought an injured Sportsmaster's daughter here in the cave, treated her and then….. let her sleep in one of the mansion's room which is totally unnatural for you because you are Batman and you just don't do that…So settle my curiosity and tell me if Am I right or Am I right?"
"You are right Sherlock… can we have the breakfast now", Bruce said to dismiss the matter but Robin just did a flip over his head and blocked his path.
"She is definitely someone you trust because you wouldn't have let her in the mansion if you don't. So why not tell me about it….don't you trust me", Robin gave a puppy dog eyes look to Bruce.
Bruce sighed and mentally cursed Wally for teaching him that, only wally knows how to make faces like that, "Let's talk about it on the breakfast table", Robin grinned couldn't be much wider on that, " and you are spending way much time with Wally apparently side effects like ranting has started to make their presence known", while Robin simply cackled on that.
They both entered in the dining hall where Alfred was waiting for them. Instantly the image of Alfred having sex came into their mind as they gave one look to him then to each other and then again at Alfred. "Is there something you want to share Master Bruce…Master Richard?", Alfred asked with a raised eyebrow. They again looked at each other and Richard dropped on the floor while clenching his stomach laughing his heart out and Bruce also couldn't help but to smile on that.
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GOTHAM CITY
GOTHAM NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
"so let me get this straight, you had an awful limp because you twisted your ankle yesterday…. totally natural …. your hand got broken when you fell from the stairs today…...it could also happen…then you leave the house to get to school and you get mobbed…hence the black eye and the broken nose…Seriously A… either you are the worst liar in the history of the mankind …or karma has really opened its blessing showers over you and has completely forgot to close it afterwards", Sam said skeptically as everyone from the group observed me from head to toe again as I nervously smiled hoping that this interrogation session ends soon.
"I go with the option B…it could happen", Eddy presented his opinion and get the book slap from everyone else. I mentally kissed Eddy on the cheek for taking my side and smiled at him.
"Girl! You are starting to worry us now… I don't remember any weekend when you hadn't come back with the busted nose or a black eye", Marry asked concernedly as everyone nodded agreeing with her, "how will you keep up your grade with all of this breaking stuff policy", Yes please worry about my study not me please shift the focus there, I screamed in my head. This time it was her turn to get book slapped. Eddy book slapped her twice and high five with me.
"Can't we just give her a break…and get something to eat", Four books to you again Eddy as the course of NO echoed in the Cafeteria.
"Enough everyone…we are hereby passing a referendum that you will be under the strict observation from now on...I will personally make sure that you don't get mobbed during your way to and back to the school while these soldiers…", he patted Marry and Vicky on the back and they saluted. Drama queens, I thought while snickering as Sam continues "will make sure that you remain okay in the school…Agreed".
"Whatever", I said while folding my hands in front of me.
"Hey…why don't I get to be a soldier?", Eddy whined and again get book slapped from Vicky.
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"You don't have to do this…Sam", I complained once again as he snatched my backpack from me and sling it over his shoulder.
"I am doing it…get over it", Sam said sincerely and I also dropped the matter knowing way too well that he is not gonna listen to me anymore. Thus I decided to use it as an opportunity to ask the question that was bugging me for some time now.
"So...Why did you come back from Star City not that I am complaining or something but after what happened to your father… I thought the last thing you will want to do is to come back here in Gotham", I mentally cursed myself for bringing up the topic of his father reminiscing that my dad was the one who probably took his life I mean who else stabbed a person 19 times before they kill them and the fact that I had failed to kill him that night also a strong point to my suspicion, good thing I changed the color of my arrows… black always remind me of the past.
"I had tried running away from Gotham and it doesn't work well for me…then there came a man…all clothed in black…. to my door step saying he could help me find the killer of my father…help me avenge him…All I had to do was to come back and take these injections..i took it Arty ", he said in an emotionless voice looking straight ahead while I gulped because dude I wasn't expecting that…Ten mental book slaps for me, " ….and it gave me these perfect abs.. and my dream broke and I knew I had to come back so I talked to mom she said she had the same dream instead he gave flowers to mom instead of injections and here we are…tada", Sam ended his rant with a smile.
And I for once was speechless, "you are weird…troll", I pushed him away with my uninjured hand, "you really had me thinking for a moment that you came back with some reveng-y agenda"
"it will be an aveng-y agenda rather than reveng-y agenda, A ….but I can't keep up with this bull shit…I had to move on…I only came back because mom wanted me here. She has gotten a job in the multi-national company here in Gotham. She wants me to go to Gotham Academy too…from next semester…but I am warning you I might just don't stay in Gotham long"
"Good for you… BTW anything is better than this junk shit we call High School", I replied evenly.
"Come on it's not that bad"
"Define bad…"
"You are here so it's okay for me", Sam said quickly and took a few steps forward leaving a stunned me behind.
After a while I catch up with him, "Did you just hit on me?", I asked with a smirk.
"Does it work?", he said with the cheeky smile of his which I so wanted to knock out of his face right now.
"Take a hint genius…Am i looked swooned out of my feet to you?", oh we two could play this game, I thought brazenly and again smirked at him.
"NO…trust me you only just looked like you were run over by a car last night", he had to destroy the moment… damn I was enjoying it, I groaned in response, "You can tell me you know…we are friends"
"As much as I love you probing into my business, that's my cue to leave", I said while gesturing towards my house, Oh my house matches the description of the haunted house…I didn't notice that before, I cringed at my thoughts and decided to take my backpack from Sam.
"I meant it", he said while slightly brushing his rough hand against mine sending a chills down my spine ….in a good way of course
"I know…", I said while instantly removing my hand from his touch, " Sam...thanks … and for what it's worth…I am glad you are back"
"Me too", he answered while shrugging and walked away, "See you soon, A"
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GOTHAM CITY
GOTHAM MUSEUM
Don't know why I am still doing this? , Artemis thought while looking towards the sky; don't know what I am trying to prove…. She was on the rooftop patrolling hoping to stretch her muscles. Three weeks had been passed after his Father's visit and her hand was out of the sling so here she was playing hero again except for the fact that she couldn't find a single crime. It was like all the bad guys were having a day off leaving her to think about the past yet again. Or maybe I know …I have just become accustomed to lying to myself too. Her trail of thoughts turned towards Sam's father. Artemis first solo take down…in the words of my hideous father. It was a mission from Lex Luther and I was nominated by my dad for this. Mr. Osborne, a known rapist and black-mailer in the league of shadows gone rouge and now had a price on his head apparently did the mistake of messing with the Luther.
That night was the first night that I actually wanted to kill some person; Shiva did three hours of telling about his audacities under the name of getting to know your target and of course I didn't take it well. I remember having him on his knees begging for his life; telling me that he has changed while crying his heart out….I remember my arrow landing the inches away from his face...and I bolted from there like it was my life which is on line…I didn't understand why I did that not for days but deep down I knew… what stopped me from killing was neither his cries or begging…I hear it every day …it was the scary look on his face, the look that told me that he is looking into some kind of monster, a monster that is ruthlessly going to tore him away from his life…the same look I have accustomed to see on the faces of the victims my father killed was now being used for me…irony huh…and I couldn't take it… at that moment…I knew that no matter what… I am never going to be the monster my father is…I am never gonna be like him….Maybe that's what I am trying to prove by doing all of this…maybe that's what kept me going all this time…Sure mom did helped but actually it's my dad who made me who I am, Artemis sighed deeply and cursed the gloomy darkness that has engulfed the whole Gotham into his hold. The coldness of the night and stillness in the air, it was like Gotham is doomed to be a place of tragedy and evil.
Couldn't even find a crime to fight today….Can you believe this… couldn't find a crime to fight in freaking Gotham, Artemis snorted bitterly, some hero I am…. The flick of the light turned on in the building opposite to the museum catching her attention, a small girl of probably eight was crying hysterically after having a nightmare as her parents rushed in the room. The man instantly wrapped her in a tight hug while woman also come to sit beside them and gently stroked her hair trying to sooth her. A small smile found its way to Artemis's lips as she envied the girl which soon turned into a frown as she remembered her own father. She instantly jumped down from the roof unable to take it anymore and decided to call it a night; I literally had enough reminders of him for the day.
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ARTEMIS'S RESIDENCE
"Artemis Could you come out here please?", Artemis was halfway through the window as her mother called her out. She jerked up immediately hitting her head on the top, Ouch could this day get any worse…I mean come on...did I seriously needed a banging on the head too, she thought angrily.
"Umm….Sure Mom", Artemis answered, "Just a sec…" and grabbed the night clock and wear it over hiding her uniform and moved out of the room. Batman was standing glaring at her while Green Arrow was sitting on the sofa calmly yet wore a serious expression on his face too while her mom who was in wheel chair; was looking expectedly at her. Artemis first thought was that her mother had done something horrible again or they are here to take her away again. I only got her back, Artemis nearly shouted at her mother in desperation, "Mom…What did you do?"
She is definitely paranoid… what's with all the Gothamians being Goth as its some kind of religion to them, Oliver though not liking her action a bit while Bruce answered her query in an authoritative tone silencing her in a moment, "We are here to see you".
"Artemis we know what you have been up to?", Oliver also said in the same tone as Bruce. Take that…Mr. Static …he really need to learn punch lines from me…, Oliver thought smirking internally.
The last encounter with Bruce came in to Artemis mind and she took the defensive position immediately, "Well if you come here to stop me, you could just forget….", Artemis announced in the high yet respectable pitch while glaring Batman but was cut off by her Mom.
"No…hear them out will you?", Paula requested to her. She is not afraid of batsy…good…I like this kid already, Oliver though while observing her too, but why isn't she glaring me too…Damn bats always steal the spotlight
"The justice league has formed a covert team of young heroes…as I believe you already know", Bruce said in a monotone voice.
Oh God he knows…I am so busted, Artemis pretended to look disinterested and answered while folding her arms in front of her protectively, "if you want an apology for saving kid flash's life…".
This time it was Bruce who cut her off to avoid any further misunderstanding, "We would like you to join the team".
"Wait….What?", Artemis become shocked and asked in perplexed tone. The girl is way too pessimistic for her own good, Oliver thought as he got up from sofa and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder getting her attention.
"We think that you would make great addition to the team…", Oliver said with a smile and mentally congratulated himself as he found her demeanor shifting from stiff to relax. He then turned towards Paula and said, "If it's alright with your mother of course"
"You have my permission…", Paula answered almost too quickly, her eyes twinkling with pride which Oliver recognized immediately and returned her smile.
Artemis on the other hand was smiling but Oliver could feel another emotion in there which he couldn't pinpoint but he didn't have to wait long enough. She gave a one quick glance to her mother as she was apologizing for what she is about to say and turned towards him with the straight face, "one condition…you don't tell the team who I am…who my family is". Paula quickly looks away from them not wanting to see the tears that have to her eyes without her permission.
"Your private life is your business…it will have nothing to do with the team", Bruce clarified. She is repulsed by her family that much he could clearly see...maybe Bruce was right after all ... that her family doesn't define her, Oliver may not trust her right now but he sure become convinced that she worth a chance…So, he decided to lighten the mood .
"Not like you will be the first hero with a secret identity", Oliver said with a smile and explained further, "We will introduce you as my new protégé….my niece…hey we are both blond".
"I am in….I am so in", Artemis said excitedly. Oliver could have sworn her eyes become brighter when she smiled and her smile was enough to let liver know that she really meant it.
"How is tomorrow for the intro's we will bond afterwards", Oliver announced with the smile.
CHAPTER END
Points to be noted: Artemis doesn't know Arrow's identity now and the next chapter will start after the episode of infiltrator.
REVIEW, FOLLOW AND FAVOURITE ….IF YOU LIKE THE STORY AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT SO FAR...
Coming up next…WALLY
