Aqualad woke up later than usual the next day after all he had been up later. He couldn't hear anyone else walking about so he guessed they were probably still sleeping. This was confirmed by the sounds of snores coming from both Red Arrow and Sportsmaster. Kaldur covered his ears and wondered how he'd actually gotten to sleep in the first place. He remained in the covers not wanting to wake anyone up unnecessarily.
About fifteen minutes later, she spotted a pair of bare feet from the floor. He looked up to see Artemis staring at the sleeping boys. She spotted his open silver eyes and smiled warmly. Kaldur got up quietly and followed her to the window. She stared down at the street below, a few people were walking along and the traffic was already building. It was pretty cold so they didn't open the window, the apartment's heating was unreliable to say the least.
"How did you sleep?" Whispered Artemis
"Very well thank you..." There was a louder than usual snore from one of the sleepers "Do I snore like that?"
"No... You're a very quiet sleeper Kal." She reassured him
"Thank you..." Said Aqualad
"For what?" Artemis was puzzled
"For telling my parents I was here. It meant a lot to me to see them again."
"Oh it was nothing..." Said Artemis "Hey, what do say to going for a walk later?"
"I would enjoy that. We should probably wait until the others wake up however."
"I've got an idea..." Said Artemis
She walked over to a small machine with speakers next to it. Kaldur looked confused, what was she doing? She picked up a CD and put it in the machine. The sound that came out made Aqualad jump out of his skin. He had never heard a sound like it before in his life. Artemis then seemed to be moving oddly.
"What are you doing?" He asked confused
"Dancing."
"Dancing?" Aqualad's eyes widened
"Yeah, come on don't tell me you've never heard music before!"
"I- Not a lot..."
"Well have a go at dancing then!"
Kaldur listened to the song. There was a rhythm of sorts to it. He looked at Artemis who nodded to encourage him. He shook his head but decided to humour her anyway. He tapped his foot once to the beat and found himself doing it again. He imitated Artemis' other gestures. Both laughed before Kaldur heard something whistling towards them. A kitchen knife flew straight between them and landed in the wall.
"Will you keep it down!" Yelled Paula holding another knife
"It worked..." Artemis whispered to Kaldur who was a bit worried by Paula's aggression
"I'm all for teaching Aqualad how to dance but not when the rest of us are trying to sleep!"
"Mom calm down!" Said Jade coming in, only just getting out of the way of a knife
"Oups... Sorry honey you know how I can get a little bit carried away."
"I believe today's lesson is 'do not wake up a house full of sleeping assassins'" Said Kaldur quietly to Artemis
"You two since you've got so much energy can go jogging for the next five hours" Said Lawrence getting up from the couch
"Oh no... Not that again." Said Artemis as Black Manta and Sha'lain'a came in
"It'll teach you some discipline Kaldur." Said Black Manta to his son who wasn't very eager
"I am not sure that this is..." Aqualad tried to get out of it
"Oh no you don't... You wake us up to dance, you get to run off all that turkey!" Said Paula "You have three minutes to get changed before Lawrence gets to use you as targets for his javelin throwing."
Kaldur and Artemis' eyes widened and both rushed to change into their normal clothes. Before rushing out the door, they ran down the steps trying to put some distance between themselves and the assassins. Once outside Artemis checked the window, sure enough her mother was looking out the window to see if they were still running. Both teens started to jog round the block.
"Is this a usual occurrence?" Asked Aqualad
"Unfortunately... Dad used to make me run around when I misbehaved..." Laughed Artemis "I haven't done it in a while though..."
"Well, this is a first for me."
The teens ran once around the apparent block. Because of the fact that they were used to running in their... Hobby. Neither was tired the first time round and Kaldur sensed that he wouldn't get tired for quite some time yet. The idea of having to run for the next five hours didn't thrill him though; he wondered how Artemis had coped with this all her life. Then again, it wasn't that different to Atlantean military service, something else he had dreaded.
After four hours and fifty eight minutes, both Kaldur and Artemis were exhausted but still running. Seeing one of their parents, Jude or Roy looking out the window waiting to see if they'd stopped so that some form of sharp object could be thrown at them was an incentive to keep going. There had been a few people starring at them but nobody else seemed to care. At least it was nearing it's end...
"There go my plans for the day..." Said Artemis breathlessly "I'm not going to be able to move after this."
"If that is the case how are you going to manage the stairs?" Kaldur asked jokingly
"You get to carry me!" She laughed
"Really?" Kaldur nudged her playfully
"Look it's dad!" Said Artemis "Do you like living life on the edge Kal?"
"Considering out pass time I do not believe I have much choice in the matter..."
"OK, then on three follow me."
"Wh... What?"
"One..." Said Artemis watching her father "Two... THREE!"
Without warning Artemis took off at speed away from the apartment. Kaldur stopped dead and stared at the girl who was running away. He glanced behind him as both Sportsmaster and his mother and father came running towards him. "They are going to hate me for this..." he thought to himself before sprinting after his friend. The adults didn't bother chasing them, Artemis had to big a head start and nobody could be bothered going after Kaldur.
"Teenagers..." Sighed Black Manta
Kaldur was winded yet the archer still seemed so far away... His legs were all ready aching from the earlier run and he was starving from not having any breakfast. He was beginning to wonder if going after Artemis had been the right choice... Without a doubt their parents would be furious when they got back, it didn't really bare thinking about. Artemis slowed down to run next to the exhausted atlantean.
"Come on slow poke!" She teased him
Aqualad watched as she sped off again. This time heading towards the harbour, he shook his head and tried to keep up. He didn't understand how she couldn't be tired. He ran deep into the docks until he could see the river. He stood infront of a grassy verge leading to the water and scanned the area... No sign of Artemis, slightly worried Kaldur called out :
"Artemis!" He yelled as loud as his lungs would permit it "Artemis! This is not amusing! Show yourself!"
He felt something suddenly crash into his back. Panicked Kaldur thought he was under attack. Whatever it was it was gripping onto him very tightly. Using all of the remaining strength in his legs Aqualad jumped into the air in an attempt to knock off his attacker. To no avail, he was too tired to fight... Had the running been some ploy from Sportsmaster to get him too tired to fight?
"Come on Kal surely it takes more than little old me to beat you..." A voice he knew all to well said to him
"Artemis do not do that it worries me." He paused "Besides, I let you hold on."
"As if, come on admit it I'm a way better fighter than you."
"With all due respect I do not believe that you are..." Said Kaldur'ahm trying to shake her off but failing
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah..."
The teens laughed as Kaldur tried to shake Artemis off of his back but to no avail. She had gripped him round the neck tightly but not so tight as to strangle him and was determined to beat the atlantean. Aqualad stumbled and fell down the verge, only then did Artemis let go. He stopped rolling a few feet away from the water with Artemis on top of him. They spent a few seconds starring into each others eyes before Artemis rolled off of him and lay by his side.
Both were by now so tired they could barely move. The sky opened up and it started to rain, Kaldur had been waiting for the rain since they'd started running it cooled him down. Artemis however was less happy, unlike her atlantean friend she didn't really like getting wet. It came as a pleasant surprise when Kaldur offered her his jacket. She used it as a cover to keep herself warm. She noticed that Aqualad was making his tattoos glow.
"What are you doing?" She asked
"Sorry... It just feels nice to be wet again. I was seeing if I could still channel magic, it would appear I can."
"Of course, you can't control water without your water-bearers can you?"
"No... I left the conservatory too soon... I wonder if I had stayed there, if things would be any different."
"How did Orin even find out?"
"I believe his brother Orm told him but I cannot understand how he could have gained that information other than a few people, it was kept secret."
"Odd... Well, I sure beat you eh?"
"You did no-" Kaldur paused it was pointless to argue with her "Yes, you beat me..."
"There no damage done..." She said "Kal how do Atlantean's show affection for each other?"
"Do you mean like girlfriends and boyfriends? Well, I am not very well placed to say... I just told a girl once and she well, turned me down."
"Ooh, harsh. Why?"
"Well, she was with my best friend Garth and I believe she still is but between me and her it was more of a crush sort of thing... Not real love now that I think about it."
"Well, this girl didn't know what she was missing." Said Artemis rolling over to look him in the eye.
"Neither does Wally..."
"What does that mean?" Asked Artemis
"Nothing I just assumed that you and him liked each other."
"Ew! No! I can't stand the guy!"
"I guessed that by the way that you are constantly fighting... Perhaps it is a brother-sister thing."
"Kaldur'ahm"
"Hum?"
"Shut up..." She said softly
Roy and Jade stared at the couple on the bank through the bushes. Red Arrow wasn't exactly Romeo or a match maker but even he could see that there was something going on. He guessed that Jade could as well due to the grin on her face.
"There's defiantly something there..." She concluded
"Yeah and I didn't think that those two had that much in common..."
"Never tell my sister this but... She is an unusually kind and generous person she just hides it a lot." Said Jade
"Where as Kaldur broadcasts it to the whole world..." Said Roy "I think they'd make a great couple."
"Hm... Have I ever told you that I love you?" Asked Cheshire
Roy smiled and kissed the assassin while keeping an eye on the two love birds who were cooling off. It was almost six o'clock by the time that Artemis and Kaldur came home both soaking. They had gone and gotten something to eat and then walked about Gotham some more. They arrived just as the rest of the group was preparing to depart to some sort of diner party. Cheshire was leaving with Roy to go to Star City apparently she couldn't spend to much time in one place. Jade gave her family a hug where as Roy shook everyone's hand.
"I'm going to miss you..." Cheshire admitted to her sister.
"So will I..." Said Artemis
"Hey Aqualad." said Roy quietly to the teen "Take my advice... When there's a ray of sunshine in your life don't let it die."
"I will not..." Said Aqualad confused by his words, he shook Red Arrow's hand
"You better look out for my little sis!" Cheshire said to him
"I believe she is more than capable of doing that herself..." Aqualad said glancing at an amused Artemis
"Well we better be off there's a whole lot of people who want me dead..." Said Cheshire "And I wouldn't want them to follow me here..."
"Good luck." Said Lawrence as they left the door
"And please be careful!" Said Paula
"Hey, it's me and Red what's the worst that could happen?"
"Do you want the sort list or the long?" Asked Artemis
Red and Jade left. There was a sudden feeling of loneliness about despite the fact that they'd only lost two out of the six people present. Perhaps it was because of the danger that the duo were now in on their own. Without the protection of their family and friends. Kaldur and Artemis agreed that telling their friends about Roy Harper's girlfriend might not be the best move...
"Now are you two sure you'll be all right?" Asked Sha'lain'a
"We'll be fine, the League's keeping track of me and Kal if they see us with you their going to figure out who you are!" Said Artemis "And that's something best avoided..."
"There's food in the fridge." Said Paula "And..."
"No funny business?" The teens already knew
"Come on or we'll be late!" Said Lawrence
Aqualad and Artemis watched the door closed before getting used to the silence around them. They were alone, well that was if Batman wasn't watching them like Robin had told them he was doing. Artemis walked around the flat once, then stopped at a window to see the car with their parents driving off.
"Well, they're gone..." She stated "You think they'll be ok?"
"They are two assassins, my mother and Black Manta Artemis it would have to be a very stupid person to attack them."
"You're right. So time to put the plan into action."
"Yes. But..."
"No buts Kal or else you'll make us have second thoughts."
"Right."
Kaldur walked over to the window and held onto the gutter. He hoped it would take his weight. Summoning his courage he jumped out the window and slid down the gutter onto the pavement below. Artemis followed landing slightly more gracefully than he did. They exchanged a smile before setting off down the road. Kaldur'ahm took Artemis' arm as he had seen in a film that Artemis had shown him, called "Pride and Prejudice." .
They stopped at a small Italian restaurant down a side street. The smell of hot food attracted them. The restaurant it's self was deserted. Despite the chilly weather they chose to sit down outside. Beneath the starry skies. There was only a small candle to light the table. A waiter came out. Artemis ordered them some Spaghetti bolognaise as Kaldur was unsure of what most of the things on the menu were.
"I hope that our parents do not arrive home early." Said Kaldur
"You worry too much..." Said Artemis "Don't you want to enjoy yourself?"
"I do." He said "I do not believe that I have ever had so much fun as I have these past few weeks."
"Well, that's nice to know, fish-boy." Said Artemis using a nickname that she had developed for her
"Indeed, Archery-girl."
"Oh look here it is!"
The largest plate of spaghetti that Artemis had ever seen was carried in front of them and put down. Kaldur'ahm stared at the food in confusion and awe. He had never known that string was edible... Paula had always cautioned him against eating it. Artemis smiled and showed Kaldur how to use his fork to eat the spaghetti. After a few tries he got it right. Aqualad decided that he quite liked Italian food. Almost as much as he has grown to like his archer friend.
Unlike how she pretended to be during missions, Aqualad had come to see that Artemis was kinder and gentler than she pretended to be. Not aggressive at all, well... He still would rather not annoy her. Artemis was coming to the same conclusion about Kaldur. He wasn't just the stoic and calm leader of the team. There was a joking and playful side to him as well that he let show every now and again. Both teens eyes widened as they're lips connected after eating the same piece of Spaghetti. They spent a split second staring at each other before pulling away. Both blushed furiously and they let an awkward silence settle in.
"That was like something out of Lady and the Tramp..." Said Artemis
"What?" Asked Kaldur
"You know a Walt Disney film about two dogs..."
"Who is Walt Disney?"
"Movie time when we get in Kaldur!"
About an hour later, back in the flat Artemis foraged through her closet trying to find a video tape while Aqualad struggled with the heating before eventually conceding defeat. Artemis put on the video before sitting down on the couch. She gestured at Kaldur to sit down which he did. This time sitting slightly closer to the archer than he usually would he guessed it was for warmth.
Kaldur watched the film in awe. Half way through the film he found his arm wrapping itself around Artemis' shoulders. She snuggled a little closer to him. At the end of the film, both fell asleep on the couch comfortable and warm.
