Archer knows an archer

Grant Park, Gotham city

November 3, 01.04 EST

It would be nice to see the stars properly. Of course that is impossible with city's lights right next to you, you can barely come to conclusion that it's night.

Artemis had finally found safe and quiet place where she could think.

She had climbed a high tree. A Basswood to be exact. It wasn't the easiest to climb. the lowest branches were around 2 meters from ground. But it wasn't like it was her first tree she had climbed. She had spent most of her childhood in a tree, partly because it was part of her training, partly because she enjoyed it. It was one of the only things in the training that wasn't only full of suffering.

In Gotham city there was far too much city for her liking. The parks were small and there were only low trees. She couldn't escape the skyscrapers that dominated the view even if she climbed on the treetop.

"So Robin has known probably from the start. Now come to think of it. It actually makes sense. The boy has been trained by the goddamn Batman. I guess it was a little naive to think only I know his secrets. Kaldur is disappointed but probably accepts me back. Megan is still my earth sister. I'm sure of it. She's just kind of girl who cries at times like these", she assured to herself. "And Superboy needs just time and a conversation with Megan. She can convince him to almost anything. Like the time she convinced him to have dinner with Superman, of course Superman didn't agree but it was a milestone for him to even reply on the invitation."

"Wally's reaction was just odd. Like he had been okay with everything I just told them. Like there hadn't been nothing to worry about."

She huffed in frustration and she had every right to be frustrated 'It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.'

The branch she was sitting on suddenly jolted. She instantly went to battle mode. She had her bow aimed for the possible attacker under two nanoseconds.

"Speedy? What are you doing up here?"

"It's Red Arrow. And you. Are. Not. Allowed. To blame your flimsy memory. I was never introduced to you as Speedy." He obviously hated that name more than she had imagined.

"So you own this tree or something? Yeeesh. If you want to keep it all to yourself you should put 'Private area' sign up."

Artemis growled.

"Thing is the team is looking for you."

"And you are here because..?"

"I owe Aqualad. Now would you stop pointing me with that?" He said in annoyance (or in anRoyance as Artemis liked to call it) pointing at her arrow.

Green archer relaxed her arm and put her bow back and slumped back to her original position. Looking other way.

"How much did they tell you?"

"You are daughter of Sportsmaster and Huntress." "Ex-Huntress." "Like that would make a difference. And Cheshire is your sister.. Is there more to know?"

Of course there was! 'That's nothing to what I could say if I chose.'

"Nope. That pretty much covers it all." She wasn't going to tell him about her own criminal record which was pretty long too. Her only hope was that Kaldur hadn't told him anything more than he claimed he knew.

"So why are you here?" Roy trailed.

This time she decided to go with honest approach. It seemed to work better with Roy than general politeness or.. well anything. It had been proven many times. The older archer was impossible to work nor get along with. "I just needed some air to breath. and alone time to think."

"I see. So where are you gonna go from here?"

"I dunno. Home?"

"Haw-haw. Very funny. I meant the bigger picture."

He glanced up at the stars.

"How long you really think you can hide from the team?"

"I'm not hiding.." He gave her a questioning look "OK maybe I am but it's only temporary."

"OK then." He said and stood up. He began to climb down

"Hey, aren't you gonna turn me in?"

"Nah. I don't really understand why we are looking for you. You clearly are not in danger. We are only putting ourselves in danger. Trying to find a timid girl with a bow that she barely can use sounds like a suicide to me."

Yeah 'We are all mad here'. She mentally quoted but replied with rolling her eyes. "Oh please" Then she narrowed her eyes "FYI I practiced archery long before you even knew what crossbow was."

"Whatever you say Blondie."

She soon found herself hoping he would have turned her in. It would have been easier to return if she had been forced to. Act like she really didn't want to come back. Now I will surely have to growl back and beg for the membership.

Gotham city

November 3, 01.45 EST

Roy contacted the team as soon as he was sure her location wasn't easily inferred from his.

He took a deep breath predicting what was about to come.

"I found her. She was OK." Roy said to the communicator and waited for "Where is she?" reaction. Which for his surprise came from Wally's mouth.

"It doesn't matter." Roy said coolly but for the rest of the team it sounded cold.

"How can you say that? Of course it matters!" Megan cried out loud.

"Our mission was to convince her to stay in the team." Conner said mentally questioning the statement he had just made.

"Hey don't you BASH ME! I found her and reported back to you! Just like I was TOLD TO DO!" Roy shouted facing Wally.

"Good job, my friend. You have been the most helpful." Kaldur said trying to calm the oldest but obviously the worst tempered boy. "I believe it is time for us to return to the cave." He said like he had only heard what Roy said first.

"WHAT? NO!" Wally was knocked down with a feather.

"We need to find her. I'm not leaving my sister out ." Megan sobbed

"We did and that's enough for now. Her pride wont allow her to proceed any longer with this tonight." The Atlantean said with rugged voice.

They all knew that what he said was true. Artemis needed to sleep on it. They all needed. Green girl nodded in defeat turning to lean on her boyfriend but Wall-man wasn't going to quit that easily.

"Fine. I will find her by myself."

"No, you're not. I'm coming with you. You need a voice of reason with you." Robin gave him a everything's-gonna-be-OK smile.

Wally had digged the arrow rock from his pocket and fingered the rock "Thanks Bro but I already have a reason that has a voice." Wally said grinning at the acrobat.

'Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction.' Wally memorized as he dashed to meet his reason face to face.

I so should have predicted this. The boy wonder sighed rotating his head.

"So how long have Kid Quick-at-everything-but-thinking-things-through and blondie been together?" Roy asked pointing the dust cloud behind him with his thumb. "Why am I the last to know?"

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