Chapter 4: Amazo the Android
Nat dropped to the ground holding her ears as a Canary cry was used on her. It was as powerful as Dinah's rendering Nat immobile. Ollie shot a shocker arrow hitting the Android in the chest. Dinah moved forward and attacked while the Android was preoccupied and Nat sprung to her feet.
Nat ran forward as the Android studied her. "Access Black Canary," Nat heard as she jumped as high as she could; throwing a handstand on top of the androids head. She used her momentum to swing her feet as she let go of the Android's head. Her feet made contact with his back, and by kicking out she made the Android fall down on his face. Moving with her momentum Nat managed to roll forward and back to her feet.
"We need back up. There's some kind of android attacking," Ollie said into his com and Nat's eyes widened.
"Don't!" Nat called hurrying forward just as Green Arrow finished talking. "What have you done? He replicates powers," Nat yelled as Dinah got thrown into Ollie knocking the com from his ear.
Nat lurched forward grabbing it until the Android picked her up by her boot and threw her against her parents stepping on the communicator. Nat groaned as she got off Dinah and Oliver looking back at the Android who was about to release another Canary cry when a blur of Red and Yellow hit it. The hit from The Flash sent the Android spiraling back.
"Access Flash," the Android said. Nat immediately jerked Barry out of the way and cried out as the Android's hand curled around her throat. She gasped as the Android lifted her up into the air; her nails clawing at the metal trying to get it to loosen up.
"Blue Jay," she heard Ollie scream somewhere from the back of her mind, but her attention was on the Android choking the life from her. She didn't even notice the Blue and Red blur that hit the Android because black spots were dancing in her vision. It wasn't until she was on the ground gasping for air did she realize Superman had shown up.
'This fight just got a lot harder,' she thought with a grimace pushing herself to her feet as Dinah ran to her. "I'm fine Canary," she promised loading up the new and improved Jay guns. "He's an android so we should be able to use the electromagnetic pulse arrowheads, but I doubt it'll only take one."
"You think if I hit his back and you get his front that it should work?" Ollie asked looking at her while Superman faced off against the Android. Nat nodded and groaned as Martian Man Hunter appeared with Captain Atom. She watched as the Android started spinning Superman and effectively taking out any leaguer who came near him. He even used Superman's heat vision to destroy the three bat-a-rangs Batman sent flying at him.
"Try and get the back of his head and chest, and I'll do the same. The moment the arrow heads make contact hit your detonator and I'll hit mine," Nat told Ollie and looked at Canary. "Be careful."
Canary nodded and kissed Nat's head gently before launching forward to join the fray just as the Android conquered J'onn's ability to become intangible. Jay circled around waiting for her opening while the Android adopted more powers. He was kicking everyone's ass, and Nat had the bruises forming around her throat to be a testament to his power. The moment Flash cleared Nat shot her Jay guns; one of the Electromagnetic pulse arrowheads hitting the Android right where a human's heart would be, and the other dead between his eyes. Before the Android had a chance to go intangible Ollie's hit and the two hit their detonators filling the android with the pulses and causing him to shut down completely.
"Take him apart," Nat called running to the stiff hunk of metal. The pulses wouldn't last for long, they were mainly used to make quick escapes in well-lit rooms. Batman and Flash immediately took her advice and started disassembling the android while Nat sat on the ground holding her throat. She looked up meeting the familiar blue eyes of a certain Kryptonian who smiled down at her.
"You did well, I have to say if your team is anything like you I'm impressed," Superman said kindly while Nat raised an eyebrow standing up.
"No offense, but why are you telling me? You'd be better served to tell my team. Well really one member in particular. I know Superboy scares you, but he needs your praise more than I do, and more than he'd like to admit," Nat said honestly.
Superman looked at her shocked and crossed his arms, "Children shouldn't speak of things they don't understand," he said after a moment of their silent stare down.
"Yeah and adults shouldn't take out their anger on innocent kids who didn't ask to be born. He's an awesome person with some issues, but we all have issues. Although that's all you can see when you look at him. The fact of the matter is if you can't see my friend for who he is; then you don't deserve to be in his life, and I hope he figures that out before you figure out how stupid you're being," Nat said not backing down. She didn't realize that everyone was looking at her now. Oliver looked slightly mortified, and Dinah kept her face into a carefully composed mask. Batman almost had an actual smirk on his face.
Not everyone would stand up to the man in blue. Usually that was a job for Wonder Woman, Batman, or even Flash. Which did explain why Flash was looking at the girl with a certain fond smirk. Superman glared down at Nat, and still she refused to look away.
"I'm not going to defend myself to you. Superboy isn't controlled; he acts rashly, and he lets his anger control him. He's also a clone that I don't know if we should trust," Superman said stating thoughts that had gone through every leaguers head when the clone was first announced as part of the Sidekick's team.
Nat put her hands on her hips and her face hardened beneath the domino mask. "Superboy is like a child who was grown in a lab for 16 weeks. During his time in Cadmus, nobody treated him like a person because he was their secret weapon. He's so much more than anyone has ever given him credit for. He's not just some clone made from your DNA; he's a living breathing person who is suffering from an identity crisis. He wants to be like you, but you can't give him one single reason why he should be. You treat him like he doesn't matter, and like he isn't smart enough to know you don't like him. He deserves so much more than you for a Father," Nat finished and walked away while she felt the heated stare of Superman on her back. "Oh and by the way thanks for saving me," she called over her shoulder.
"Ready to go?" Dinah asked and Nat shook her head.
"I'm going to help make sure this thing is boxed away and transported safely. It's too dangerous and I'm sure I can be of some assistance," Nat told Dinah while Batman walked up and nodded.
"Don't worry she'll be working with the team later," he told Dinah who nodded and walked off Martian Man Hunter soon joining her. Nat looked up at Batman and she nodded her thanks before walking down to Oliver and Barry.
"You scared the shit out of me," Oliver told her as he pulled her into a tight hug. Nat laughed and hugged him back.
"Oh please I'm fine, and you guys would've saved me eventually," Nat said confidently. She grabbed the Android's now disassembled leg moving it to the side.
Barry hugged her tightly the moment she set the heavy metal down. Nat laughed and hugged the man back. "You're kind of amazing kiddo, I can see why Kid Flash likes you," Barry grinned at her wolfishly.
"Yeah I wish he thought that, he's just my friend, I'm pretty sure he doesn't even know I'm a girl," Nat said with a shrug. It hurt a bit when she remembered that Kid would probably never like her the way she wanted him too.
"Oh trust me I think he's realized you're a girl," Barry told her with a laugh while Oliver groaned.
"For his sake let's hope he hasn't because not only will I kill him; Roy will resurrect him and kill him again," Oliver said with a laugh.
"I can take care of myself," Nat pouted slightly causing Ollie to laugh even harder. "Besides I'm like a potato. I'm pretty sure you don't have to worry about guys coming around me until I stop looking like said potato."
Barry shook his head and laughed. "Oh please, tons of people like potatoes. Kid for instance eats some form of potato at every meal."
"Flash I think you need to learn that food is Kid's one true love… Well that and Robin," Nat laughed.
Oliver snorted as he disassembled more of the android. Nat just grinned, and walked over to Batman. He looked down at her with his usual scowl, and Nat rubbed the back of her neck. "Are you going to assign the team to keep the android safe?" she asked.
Batman looked down at her his cowl covering the surprise that registered in his eyes. "That was the plan, do you have a different one?" he asked curious to hear her answer.
"No sir, I was thinking that the team needs this," she said with a shrug. Batman nodded his agreement while Nat nervously straightened her unmoving wig.
"Earlier with Superman, you did well. Not many people would stand up for their friends, and you did," Batman told her and Nat looked up at him. She had to fight the smile at the praise. It was uncommon. "But next time try and be a bit more respectful to senior members of the league," he told her.
"Yes sir," Nat said and walked back over to Barry and the others while Batman called in the team and six trucks arrived to pick up the disassembled android. She rubbed her face and looked up at Barry who was watching her worriedly.
"Hey Jay, thanks for knocking me out of the way," Barry said to her and Nat just laughed.
"Flash you're an actual leaguer, you're more important than I am. People need you; they know who you guys are. Most adults don't even know who I am, or who Kid is. They won't ever think about us dying, or us dropping out of the game. You though, well you guys keep hope alive."
Flash frowned at Nat and shook his head, "Yeah well the public is stupid, you guys are what keep us going. Without you Jay, or Kid, or any other sidekick out there we'd be nothing. So don't die for one of us because heroes die all the time; it's you guys the world needs," Barry told her and laughed softly.
Nat smiled up at the speedster and looked at Batman who walked forward. "You'll be in the back of Truck A. Robin and Superboy will be behind you. Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Miss Martian will have Truck B. Are you okay with that?" Batman asked giving her a look that clearly meant she had no room to argue.
"Yes sir," Nat said and hopped up into the truck Batman told her to get into. The top half of the Android was loaded up into a box, and placed in the back with her. Looking at Batman she held out her hand for the communicator she knew he'd give her. Smiling softly Nat put it in her ear gave a thumbs up and sat down against the opposite side of the truck. Batman allowed the armed guards inside after her and then shut the door. Instantly the truck took off while Nat sat with the guards in silence.
Nat closed her eyes against the darkness and slipped her com into her ear. "Anyone connected?" she asked.
"Jay, babe I missed you," Wally's voice answered and Nat laughed slightly.
"Hey Jay if dislike is the opposite of like; is disaster the opposite of Aster? You see instead of things going wrong they go right," he told her through the Com.
"I don't know Rob, but if anyone can figure it out it's you," Nat replied. She sighed as things went silent on their end. "Everything should be going good," Nat told the guards who nodded at her in understanding.
The drive was long, and Nat was bored out of her mind. She didn't know what to say to the guards so she sat in silence. That was until she heard the dull thuds of something landing on the truck. Loading up two foam arrowheads into her Jay guns she also combined her escrima sticks into a Bo Staff.
"What's going on?" Nat radioed to her partners.
"Monkey robots," Robin answered. Nat shook her head as she heard demented laughter and another thud. Nat looked at the Guards as she saw hot orange tracks breaking into the metal. Firing the foam at the hole just as the metal fell down. She gulped as she saw more lasers breaking through.
It wasn't long before the lasers penetrated the foam, and this time three monkeys got inside before she was able to seal the hole up again. Taking her Bo Staff she knocked the robots away while the guards opened fire. Breathing a sigh of relief when the three were down.
That relief didn't last long as the truck started swerving, and ended up rolling throwing Nat like a ragdoll through the back doors. Robin looked back at the truck as more Monkeys filed in and then flew back out with the box of parts beside them. He frowned when he saw the truck fly forward and Superboy get up.
The back of Nat's head was throbbing, and she realized she had lost her com. Although she was lucky a bump on the head and a lost communicator was all she'd gotten. Moving to stand she watched Superboy as he glared at the monkey's. "Supes!" she called with a frown.
He looked back at her and then back to the monkey's and bounded after them. Nat frowned rubbing the back of her head and she looked over at Robin who was talking on his Com. She looked at the broken robots watching as Robin grabbed one and started hacking. "We'd have heard by now if the decoys had been attacked," he said in the com and looked at Nat.
Nat looked over and frowned. "The parts have GPS," Robin said excitedly as he started hacking. "The parts are converging on Gotham," he said into the com.
Nat frowned and moved forward. "What's going on?" she asked Robin who typed into the hologram.
"Kid's coming to meet us, we're going to intercept the parts in Gotham," he told her as his R cycle came up. "I'm going to change first though."
Nat laughed and shook her head, "This has been a disaster," she told him looking away.
"Heavy on the Dis," Robin called back moving forward after a moment in his Robin suit with a monkey over his shoulder. He swung himself onto the R-cycle while Nat got on behind him uncomfortably. She wrapped her arms around his waist and Robin sped off heading straight to his home.
Kid appeared beside them when they were in Gotham's city limits. "So you changed too?" Robin asked looking at Kid.
"You kidding? I feel naked in civvies," he told Robin with a laugh. Nat laughed slightly and moved to where she was standing crouched slightly. Kid looked at her and moved so she could hop on his back with ease.
"Sorry Rob, I couldn't move, besides my added weight was throwing your cycle off balance," Nat said holding onto Wally tight. Robin laughed and checked the coordinates.
"Guys we have a problem. The parts were going through Gotham, now they've changed directions and are going to," Robin stopped and looked at them his eyes wide. "My school," he said.
Wally frowned slightly. He and Nat had been to Dick's school a few times like when Alfred allowed them to go with him to pick Dick up for his birthday. Gotham Academy had both middle school and high school grades housed in two buildings right beside each other. "It shouldn't take us long to get there," Kid called and Robin nodded his confirmation.
The moment the three got to the school Nat radioed in their coordinates to Aqualad. She watched as Kid and Robin took off to the gym where explosions and lights could be seen and heard. After filling Kaldur in she took off after them. Climbing up into a tree she jumped onto the roof, and carefully pushed open a window with her foot. Silently sliding her body into the stands.
She looked across to the other side of the gym seeing a girl in an all-black outfit with a bow and arrows. Looking down she watched the Android who had Wally in his arms turn intangible as an arrow flew threw him. Wally who was being crushed in what resembled a bear hug was able to slide through his arms and run past. She made a mental note to find the girl and thank her for saving her best friend.
She was behind Ivo and his demented monkeys. With a slight grin she loaded up two electromagnetic pulse arrowheads into the Jay guns and shot one at each monkey. The pulse short circuited their hardware and caused them to crash.
Ivo looked back at Nat and his eyes widened as she pulled out her escrima sticks. "Wanna play?" she asked grinning at the sniveling genius.
"Amazo protect your maker priority Alpha," Ivo called his voice quivering as Nat launched herself at the man. Two good hits with her Escrima sticks and Ivo was out just as Amazo's heat vision came into play. Jumping from the bleachers she aimed herself so that her boots would hit Amazo's chest.
"Access Martian Man Hunter," Amazo's automated voice said and Nat sailed right past. Frowning Nat shifted to a front roll directly behind the Android. Reaching back for another arrowhead she frowned as she realized that she had only packed four electromagnetic pulses. Holding her escrima sticks she moved as Amazo turned to her.
"Access Flash."
Nat's eyes widened as she used every bit of training to block as many of the hits as possible. The Android was just too fast for her to comprehend and she got hit hard enough to leave bruises more often than not.
"Hey you big hunk of rust!" Kid yelled sailing forward and punching the android sending him back a few feet.
Superboy had Ivo who had woken up quickly and was whimpering. Amazo heard the sound and turned toward its creator while Superboy threw Ivo to the gym floor. "Access Captain Atom," he said holding out his hand and blasting Superboy into a crater.
"Kid catch," Nat called pushing Ivo forward and Kid grinned but tripped rolling forward when Amazo used Superman's strength to destroy the floor. Nat ran forward and jumped about to kick when Amazo caught her leg.
"Black Canary," he said throwing her into Robin who had launched three bird-a-rangs at the android. "Martian Man Hunter," the android said becoming intangible so they sailed through him. Superboy jumped down and landed in front of the android putting his arm through his intangible head right as Amazo was saying "Superman…"
The result was instant as Amazo's head exploded and his body fell to the floor. "Way to go Supes!" Nat grinned cheering as she got up and ran forward with Robin.
"Help me get him disassembled," Robin said to KF who looked at him like he was crazy.
"Dude he has no head," Kid said crossing his arms while Robin and Jay worked at his limbs.
"Don't take any chances," Aqualad ordered as he walked into the gym with M'gann the two running over to help.
"Superboy are you okay?" M'gann asked with a frown as she looked at the somewhat battered form of Supes.
"Yeah, feeling the aster," Superboy said with a smirk at Robin and Nat snorted.
"Uhm guys where's Ivo?" Wally asked looking around and Nat frowned as she noticed the rat had vanished. She should've shot a net at him to keep him from escaping. This was her fault.
*Happy Harbor
Mount Justice*
"The Amazo Android is in pieces, and is currently being examined at the two separate Star labs; however, Professor Ivo escaped and seeing as he is the one that made the technology he is arguably more dangerous," Kaldur told their mentors as all the young heroes stood in the mission room.
"It was my fault; I should've captured him in a net launcher. I underestimated him, and he could've hurt one of us because of that. I'm sorry," Nat said looking down slightly as Canary and Arrow looked over at her with identical frowns.
"Professor Ivo's capture is now a league priority," Dinah said softly looking at Nat calmly.
"But we understand your mission encountered other complications," J'onn said crossing his arms as he looked at the group. Who all shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.
"Complications come with the job," Batman said calmly. "Your ability to handle them has impressed the league."
"The whole league?" Superboy asked with a frown while Nat hip checked him.
"Given time yes; Kryptonians as you know have very hard heads," Batman said and Superboy's lips curled up into a small smile as he looked away. Nat looked up at the single most terrifying member of the league and gave him a smile to express her gratitude for helping her friend.
Batman looked away from her and Supes back to the other members. "Of course there is no shame in asking for help. That's why the league exists because there are some problems we can't handle individually."
"Please, if we needed help we'd never get the chance to ask," Robin said in annoyance pulling out the arrow that had saved Wally. "Look familiar?" he asked, and Nat frowned as GA took the arrow in his own hand. "You were following us, babysitting. You still don't trust us."
"Robin that's not his arrow," Nat said while GA pulled out his own.
"Then that means," Robin said excitedly looking at the team.
"Speedy!" Kid exclaimed.
"He has our backs," Kaldur confirmed.
Kid shot forward and grabbed the arrow, "Souvenir!" he said excitedly.
"Guys that's not... Ooph," Nat started only to get elbowed in the ribs by GA. She looked at him with a frown and he shook his head slightly meeting Batman's eyes.
Superboy walked towards Black Canary and cleared his throat uncomfortably. She looked at him and he looked down slightly embarrassed. "I'm ready," he said softly.
"Good, because I'm here," Canary told the young Kryptonian with a smile. Superboy smiled softly, and Nat was happy that her friend was finally finding some peace.
Nat looked at Ollie who was about to leave and she crossed her arms. "Hey Arrow can I come with you?" she asked. Wally looked over at her and pouted slightly. "Sorry Kid I have got to talk with him," she explained.
Oliver nodded and walked with her over to the Zeta Tube putting in the coordinates to the cave. The moment they were back home Nat crossed her arms. "Who was she?" Nat immediately asked and Oliver sighed.
"How do you know it's a she?" Ollie asked quirking his eyebrow. "In fact how do you know it's not Roy?" he asked again throwing her some toner, which she caught one handed as she pulled off her wig.
"Oh please don't insult my intelligence; there is a reason why Roy goes by Red Arrow now. I mean maybe everyone else is colorblind but that arrow was definitely green. Not to mention I saw her lurking in the shadows. So spill," Nat said crossing her arms over her chest.
"Damn, you're way too smart for you own good Nat. I think you would've made a damn good bat if Bruce had found you in Gotham," Oliver said with a laugh.
"Stop changing the subject Oliver," Nat said in annoyance while Ollie sighed.
"Alright, just let me get my mask off first so I can look you in the eyes," Oliver said and used the toner carefully to peel off the mask. Nat did the same and looked at Oliver expectantly. "What do you want to know?"
"Everything Ollie," Nat said in a duh voice.
"Well you know her to start it all off. Her name is Artemis Crock daughter of Lance Crock otherwise known as…"
"Sportsmaster," Nat said softly in realization. She shook her head in disbelief. "Artemis never wanted to live the life her Father had set up for her, not even as a kid," she told Ollie in defense of her old friend.
"Trust me I know, I haven't officially met her yet. Although she's been on Bruce's radar for a while now; tonight wasn't the first time she's tried to help from the shadows," Oliver explained and Nat rubbed her face.
"When Shiva would leave me to train with the Crock's Sportsmaster would always make me fight against Jade and Artemis. Jade used to leave me bleeding on the ground, but Artemis would show mercy. So when I got better I'd show mercy to her as well. Sportsmaster used to yell at both of us, for not finishing the fight.
He would lock us up without any food or water for days as punishment, or sometimes he'd make us fight him so he could break a bone or two, but Artemis never stopped, so neither did I.
"Huntress was more appreciative of Artemis's compassion, and my own. Jade used to call us weak, but even she was kind in her own way. When Lance would lock us up Jade and Paula would sneak us food, or even water.
"When Shiva decided it was time for me to kill someone I turned to Artemis who in turn went to Huntress. Paula was the one who made me realize I had a choice. I remember she snuck to my room in the dead of night. She unlocked the door and just sat beside me on the bed. She told me 'You always have a choice, it doesn't matter what is taken from you or what the threat is. There is a choice in everything, and our choices will define us until we die.'
"She was an amazing criminal, but she made an even better Mom. I guess what I'm saying is that Artemis doesn't deserve that life, and if you can help her then you need to. Even Paula wasn't evil, and I'm sure she'd be supportive of Artemis as a hero," Nat said softly.
"I know, and I'm going to ask her to be my new protégé, Roy definitely doesn't want to be anymore. I am curious about whether or not you think she'd make a good addition to the team," Oliver said after a moment and looked at Nat with a slight frown.
"Ollie, I haven't seen Artemis since I was 7, but if she's still the person she was then I think she'll fit in nicely," Nat said with a nod.
"We can't tell the team about her past Nat, if anyone asks she's my niece, and that's how the two of you know each other," Oliver said crossing his arms. Nat nodded her agreement and rubbed her face.
"Trust me I'll make sure she fits in with the team after all I kind of owe it to her and Paula. I mean after Paula talked to me she was caught in a heist a year or two later and she was shot through the spine. She spent six years in prison for that and Artemis was left with her father," Nat said while she grabbed her civilian clothes and went to the bathroom in the back to change.
Oliver changed behind a screen and rubbed his face slightly. When he walked out he saw Nat tying her converse and he smiled softly. "Would you like to come with me tomorrow when we talk to her Nat?" he asked and Nat looked up at him in surprise.
"Yeah, but I don't want to go in costume. I think it'd be better if I was just me."
"Nat you're always you, even in your suit, but I see what you mean," Oliver said softly as he wrapped his arm around Nat's shoulder and walked out of the cave.
YJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJ
Nat was standing beside Oliver in her civies. Batman had promised to meet the two of them in Gotham, and Nat was excited to see her old friend again. The moment Batman landed beside them on the roof Nat held onto Green Arrow as he zip lined them down to Artemis's front door. Batman right beside them. Hanging back a little Nat allowed the two heroes to knock on the door first.
A girl who was Nat's age if not a bit younger answered the door. She had an olive complexion and blonde hair. She was lithe and athletic, and her face was hard. "Can I help you?" she asked the two heroes with slight disdain.
"C'mon Mis, can't an old friend just stop by?" Nat asked as she moved forward. The moment Artemis saw her she staggered back slightly. Her apartment was in the bad side of Gotham; Nat remembered Bruce calling it the Narrows. Everything outside was dingy, but inside of Artemis's home it was clean and warm.
"Artemis who's there?" an accented female voice asked from inside. Nat smiled softly as Paula rolled up to the front door and she waved at the woman.
"Hi Mrs. Crock," Nat said with a kind smile. Paula Crock may have been a criminal, but there was a time when her words affected Nat so strongly she gave up everything to make sure she followed them.
""Hoa nhỏ?" Paula asked in disbelief as she reached out and grabbed the teens hand firmly in her own. Nat smiled warmly and nodded slightly as she squeezed the elder woman's hand gently. "Come in," Paula said wheeling out of the way not giving Artemis a chance to argue. Nat followed her and smiled softly as she walked into the living room.
"What do you all want?" Artemis asked crossing her arms as she looked at the two heroes. "Last I heard about you Nat was that you were dead in a ditch in Star City," Artemis said with a frown.
"Half dead, GA here saved me took me in," Nat said softly as she looked at the blonde. "I'm sorry I haven't been around," she added with a frown.
"Why would you be? You moved on, if your hanging around Green Arrow must mean your Canary's sidekick right? What's your name again?" Artemis asked.
"Blue Jay," Nat said crossing her arms and she frowned. "It's not like I moved off to something bigger and better. It's not like I forgot about you Artemis, you were my closest friend, and Mrs. Crock you were the reason I chose not to kill Canary that night. Everything I am I owe to both of you," Nat said looking at Artemis with a frown.
Paula took Nat's hand in hers again and looked at the other two heroes. "You two didn't come here to sit by quietly while my little flower made up with my daughter," she said her voice strong. "Why are both of you here?"
"We are here Mrs. Crock to offer your daughter a spot as a hero," Oliver said in a slightly uncomfortable way. "Nat is known as the sidekick Blue Jay, she's part of a team that operates under covert missions for Batman. I'd like for Artemis to be my protégé, and serve on this team with Nat."
"We'd make sure to keep her safe, and I know that she would fit in well with the rest of the team. We'd give her a few days to get used to working with Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Blue Jay then we plan to introduce her to the rest of the team," Batman said.
Nat looked at the two and back at Artemis she smiled slightly. "Mis, trust me I get the whole solo thing, but I saw you at the gym last night. You saved Kid Flash's butt, and well we need an archer. Right now our attacks are solely based on up close hand to hand, I mean I have my Jay guns, but I'm not the best with them, and I can't reload them nearly as quickly as you can notch an arrow. Besides this time we'll be working together to help people, not learning how to hurt them."
"What about when they find out about my past? Or about my blood?" Artemis asked crossing her arms while Paula looked at her daughter in shame at leaving her children her own reputation to live with.
"You'll be introduced as GA's niece, I won't blow your cover and neither will any of the leaguers. When you're comfortable you can tell the team who you are," Nat said and Batman nodded.
"Artemis, this is not my decision to make. It's up to you," Paula told her daughter softly. "You have always trusted hoa nhỏ, ever since you were a little girl. I think it would be wise of you to trust her now as well."
"If I say yes what are you going to expect of me?" Artemis asked with a frown looking at the two heroes.
"You'll come stay at my home for the next few days, and prove you're skilled enough for field work. After that you will be able to come home, and we will work together as often as possible. You will work with the team on all missions unless you can't, and have a good reason for it. I also want you to work hard, and trust your teammates, including Canary and myself," Oliver said.
"You can't kill, or leave anyone for dead. You don't commit any petty crimes. You follow orders, and you help keep the streets clean," Batman said looking at the blonde. "I also don't want any trouble with my team, you make it work."
Nat rolled her eyes at the two and looked at the girl who'd gone easy on her. The kid who despite being in a hostile household was so innocent. She knew that it had taken years to turn Artemis so hard, and untrusting. Nat just hoped she'd be able to forgive her for her desertion.
"Hey, I know you're probably nervous, but trust me I'll have your back," Nat promised and Artemis looked at her nodding slightly.
"I'll just go pack," Artemis said and walked back to her room. Nat watched her and looked at Paula. She got to her knees and hugged the woman gently.
"I'm so sorry that this happened," Nat said softly and looked down.
"Hoa nhỏ this was part of my choice, and I told you our choices define us. Well now mine is a permanent definition. Just make sure my Artemis doesn't make the same mistakes or the same choices," Paula said softly and Nat nodded.
"I promise I'll keep her safe no matter what," Nat said and smiled softly standing up and moving to Oliver.
"We'll keep her safe Mrs. Crock," Batman said while Oliver nodded his agreement.
Artemis came back out with a bag over her shoulders. She hugged her mom tightly and bit her lip. "Don't worry Mom, I'm going to make you proud."
"You already do," Paula smiled softly as she placed her hands on Artemis's cheeks.
A few minutes later Paula was following the group to the door waving at Artemis, and Nat. Nat smiled softly and looked at Oliver who was ushering them to the nearest Zeta tube. Batman looked at the three of them and shot his grappling line leaving them alone.
"So have you really been in Star City all this time?" Artemis asked Nat.
"Yeah I have a good home, and family. You'll meet them all soon, I promise." Nat said with a laugh as Oliver walked to the abandoned telephone booth.
Oliver typed something in and pulled Artemis in beside him. "Overide 08 Green Arrow, new member B-07 Artemis, input," Oliver informed the computer while it scanned both him and Artemis and confirmed the input before sending them both to the Arrowcave. Nat grinned slightly and got in.
"Recognized Blue Jay B-00," the voice announced as Nat stepped out into the cave. She grinned at Artemis who looked completely freaked out.
"Zeta tubes, they allow us to get anywhere fast, well anywhere that has another Zeta tube," Nat explained with a laugh. "You know Arrow she's going to need a suit…"
"A suit?" Aretmis asked and looked at Olivers crinkling her nose. "Uhm I'm good."
"You can't fight crime in your civvies Artemis. I mean I doubt you want to be known as something like Blue Jay, but we have to protect your identity to an extent," Nat tried to explain as she walked to the back. "I kind of went through a phase where I wanted to be GA's partner about a year ago, and I think we're the same size so this should work," Nat informed Artemis as she pulled out a Green outfit complete with a mask. "I unfortunately suck with a bow, so I was told my dreams would never be a reality, but I kept the costume."
Artemis took it carefully and bit her lip. "I'm going to try this on first," she told them and Nat pointed her towards the bathroom. Looking at Ollie she smiled at him happily.
"What?" Oliver asked suspiciously.
"I'm just happy to see her, I'm happy to know that she'll be alright now," Nat tried to explain with a smile as she put her own costume up a little neater.
When Artemis walked out Nat was happy to see that the costume was a perfect fit. She grinned happily and gave her friend a thumbs up. "Awesome, I'm glad it fits," Nat laughed.
Artemis smiled and nodded. "Alright I'm changing back, and then can we go to your place so I can sleep?"
"Sure thing," Nat said with a laugh and looked at Oliver.
"I'm going to change," Ollie answered and walked to his designated changing area. A few minutes later Oliver walked out with jeans on, and a leather jacket over a black shirt, and Artemis walked out in her jeans, boots, and a blue tshirt.
She looked at Oliver in shock and then back at Nat. "Is he seriously already trusting me with his Secret I.D.?" she asked in shock.
"Well you will be living with us, he doesn't have much of a choice," Nat answered with a laugh.
"I'm Oliver Queen," Ollie said holding out his hand. Artemis's eyes widened further and she looked at Nat again.
"You're rich now?" she asked and shook her head. "I knew this was a bad idea."
"Chill Artemis, honestly you're so not whelmed. I promise Ollie is just a normal dude, and we're a normal family. Now can we go now?"
Artemis nodded and sighed pulling her hair back up and looked at Nat raising an eyebrow. "Whelmed?" she asked.
"Yeah a friend of mine likes to play with words, you'll meet him soon," Nat laughed.
"He sounds annoying," Artemis said stubbornly as the three of them walked out. Oliver just started laughing unable to help it.
'If she thinks Dick was annoying wait until she meets Wally,' he thought and looked at Nat who seemingly read his mind and snorted.
"C'mon Artemis, I think you might like him," Nat said with a smile and the two walked forward with Oliver to his car. Nat was just excited to have her friend on the good side; things seemed to be going the right way for once. 'Definitely feeling the Aster,' Nat thought.
Hello! Okay so "Hoa nhỏ" means little flower in Vietnamese. Also I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and since I forgot to add answers last time I'll do that right now.
PrettyKitty Luvs U- I'm really glad you're liking the story. I'm trying to make M'gann better, and I hope you noticed that. Sorry there wasn't much of her in this chapter. I love your reviews, and please keep it up, I feel like you really help me better my story.
Fangirl7287- If you liked Superboy getting told off then I hope you like Superman getting told off. I'm really happy you're enjoying my story, and thank you so much for the reviews.
Guest- I understand what you're saying. Trust me I'm really enjoying writing their dynamic, but I also feel like if I pair them, which still might be a possibility then Tula is going to get in the way. I think that will happen with all of my pairings with Kaldur. I mean Tula's death is one of Awualad's given reasons for going darkside. Even though we know it wasn't real. I hope you're enjoying the story!
Laurette M- Thank you so much for your review. Yeah I like Nat's ability to stand back and analyze, and I think that's what makes her such a great leader. I also like that everyone else realizes this, but she refuses the possibility of it. As for Wally and Dick, I know I messaged you about it, but I'm going to say it here for anyone curious. I think Wally already knew Dick as well. Thank you so much for your awesome review, and I hope you're enjoying the story.
Fangirl7287- thank you again for your review.
Alright so as usual please follow/favorite. Your reviews are also appreciated because they help me understand what needs to be changed. I'm sorry that this chapter was shorter than the others. Please forgive my grammar, and I don't own Young Justice.