Robin/Artemis got the most votes, but don't fret because Wally/Conner will be next chapter. WARNING: I do have a very small soft spot for RobArt so if that gives you the oogies its ok cause it's not overt, hopefully it comes off as a lot more subtle. So without further ado...
Artemis was trying very hard to keep her eyes on the road. Admittedly she was also failing very hard.
At the pit stop she had watched Wally walk away towards the car with Conner and felt oddly angry. No not angry, something else, that she couldn't quite place; but she definitely didn't like it. She couldn't possibly have bugged him that much, in fact she sang for him; and now she was in the car with Robin.
It wasn't like Robin was doing anything strange. He occasionally fiddled with the radio, keeping the volume much lower than Wally had; stared out the window and didn't even look her way.
Maybe that was what had her checking on him, feeling unnerved. Between the boy wonder and her there seemed to be something left unspoken, ever since the Reds and the air vents. Ever since relying almost completely on him till she'd snapped out of her pessimism.
He was nothing like a 13 year old that day, he was a leader, a natural born one; it was like instinct to follow him. That day she thought Robin looked straight through to the core of her; past the arrows and the bravado.
And all along he had known who she really was and treated her no different. It astounded her that Robin was the way he was at his age; she really couldn't wrap her mind around it, how his brain worked. She would pay all of the pennies in the world for his thoughts.
When Wally had asked, no pleaded, with him to get in the car with Artemis, it seemed very strange. Sure they argued, but never to the point where Wally had to get away from her. In fact Robin had an inclining that Wally liked it much more than he was letting on.
But at the rest stop, he could tell Wally was verging on desperate, so he had agreed. What Robin had not counted on was on how confused he would end up. He hadn't been alone with Artemis since the Reds and the air vents. Since before Zatanna.
Now, alone in a car with her, without the threat of death, or Zatanna to flirt with; Robin wasn't sure of much.
He was sure of Zee, he knew he thought she was pretty and strong and fun. He knew that together they were a bundle of laughs and jokes; they could troll anyone they wanted and get away unscathed.
But, Artemis was like a puzzle he kept finding pieces to and he wasn't sure what the puzzle was supposed to look like.
That and the fact that she seemed to be the only person who could truly unnerve Wally made her interesting. And the fact that she was interesting and different made Robin unsure where his feelings lay. Right now he placed them as a very small, barely there crush.
So Robin stared out the window and changed the radio station and generally tried to ignore her. But, out of the corner of his eye he could see that she kept looking at him, half concerned, half confused.
He knew she was wondering what he was thinking; he had gotten that good at reading her between missions and school.
He figured he should probably start a conversation before she really got worried. He thought quickly of a subject and almost instantly regretted it.
"So how's Gotham Academy?" he almost groaned after the words left his mouth.
"You stalking me Boy Wonder?" she smirked. Yup, he knew she would answer with that snark.
"I'm a detective." It came out more like a question than a defense.
"Uh huh" She nodded, obviously not believing his flimsy excuse. "Do you even go to school or does the Bat tutor you in the ways of the night?" the sarcasm oozing through her voice.
"No, I go to school." He shifted his gaze back out the window but of course, that didn't deter the archer.
"In Gotham?" he nodded. "Oh I bet you've got all the girls." So this is what she was getting at; his love life. If Robin hadn't gotten so confused a couple of hours ago he would have laughed.
"Well, there is this girl, she doesn't go to my school, but I think she's pretty great." He started not sure where this was headed. Which for him was a very new feeling.
"Does this girl happen to be tiny brunette and have a certain, oh I don't know, magical quality to her?" She smirked in his direction.
"I suppose you could say that" He replied refusing to give in completely.
"How's that going?" she asked. Behind the silly facade they had, Robin could detect honest concern; she was friends with both of them.
"Pretty well; I had thought" He was going to regret continuing, but something seemed to compelled him. "But, I can't seem to get this other girl out of my mind"
"Really?" her voice didn't hint at knowing what he meant. "Is she in one of your classes?"
"Nope, she's older than me" he quickly amended, "but not by much."
"What's she like?" Artemis continued obviously clueless to who he was talking about.
"She's really smart and she's got that mysterious ninja thing going for her." She laughed at his description.
"So I assume you didn't meet this girl at school" Artemis asked.
"You could assume that" Robin weaseled his way around the question.
"Oh and what does she think of you?" by her voice Robin thought she was catching on.
"I think she's got a thing for my buddy" he smirked at her in return. Artemis practically sputtered.
"I doubt that...whoever your buddy is. Who could pass up a catch like you?" she smiled genuinely.
"I know it's incredible, especially since he's kind of a nerd." Robin had to resist the urge to snicker.
"So what; I don't suppose it matters if your buddies not paying attention to her" Her voice betrayed her interest in this particular subject.
"Actually I'm pretty sure my buddy's really got the hots for her, and I am a detective so I would know" She gave him an incredulous look so he continued.
"He's just a little...slow" She laughed again and he joined in.
"You can say that again...I mean most boys are" she swiftly covered. But Robin continued to smirk.
Artemis drove them in comfortable silence, each thinking, sneaking glances at each other but, in a much less worried way than earlier. Artemis suddenly spoke very softly.
"You know, if the circumstances were different, this girl, whoever she is, would probably pick you over your buddy." Her eyes stayed safely on the road but, he was sure she could feel the stare he couldn't help giving her.
To tell the truth; Artemis and Robin didn't have to change at all, just the circumstances. They could have been a Gotham power couple, like Batman and Catwoman; if the circumstances were different.
But, there was Wally to consider and Zatanna; who really was perfect for him.
Artemis would always be his favorite 'what if'. As he pondered the revelation she had helped him with, he saw that Artemis was pulling up to their hotel for the night. They were the first ones there.
She turned off the ignition but, made no move to get out of the car. Instead she turned to face him more fully and he followed.
"Zatanna is a really good friend of mine Rob, so you treat her well" she had her 'serious look' on, so no more spunk or sarcasm
"I have no idea what you're talking about" he feigned innocence before adding "But, Wally is a really good friend of mine-"
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about" she didn't pull off nonchalance as well as he did; she sounded more defensive than anything. He smirked and was about to turn to get out of the car, when she surprised him.
Lighter than any touch he thought she could manage, she cupped his cheek and kissed his other cheek, soft as butterfly wings.
"Thanks, Rob" she whispered like a secret, as she pulled away from him and got out of the car.
Artemis strode across the parking lot, while a still stunned Robin, sat gaping in the passenger seat.
Phew! I hope that came off as a small thing like I wanted it to. You know, just a crush for Rob like M'gann was to Wally. Speaking of Wally next chapter is Wally/Conner bro time, whoo! Anyways who can't get over that Kaldurs evil because that's crazy; as always your all free to message me on tumblr: nessayay93(dot)tumblr(dot)com.
