Pt. 1
Artemis' pov:
I sat in the back of Dick's dark blue convertible waiting for Wally and Barbara. I stared at the entrance of the building waiting for our red headed friends. Dick was wearing a red button up with the first three buttons undone, jeans, and sunglasses. After this morning Barbara left with a frown on her face and we didn't talk. I fiddled with my orange cardigan over my white tank top, my light jeans with shredded knees were in fact from wearing them out, and instead of my combat boots I ached to wear I had on heeled boots. Dick pointed out that I'm going to wear my boots for the other Artemis and I should stop wearing them so they can't be traced back to me. I growled at the idea, but switched into the boots he gave me. Two red blurbs exited the large doors. I stood on the car and waved to them, attracting more than our friends. I sent a hard glare to the boy checking me out. Wally had on a white tank top, green short, and white shoes speckled with dirt. Barbara was worshipping Batman with his hoodie, white jeans, sunglasses, and black boots like me. Barbara barely glanced at me and sat next to Dick.
"Hey Babs." He nodded to her. Wally jumped into the back with me. I rested against the door and placed my feet on Wally. I moved my sunglasses from my head to my eyes and closed my eyes. I heard the rumble of the engine and Dick slammed on the gas emitting a screech from the tires and a laugh from Barbara.
Wally's pov:
I let the wind blast through my hair and I let out a small laugh. I glanced at the archer and saw a ghost smile grazing her lips, her plump, soft lips. I shook my head and paid attention to the two friends in front of me.
"What do you think happened to Artemis?" I called out. Dick slowed down ending the rush of wind to a lower key. Artemis let out a sigh from her sleep, her head turning to the front.
"Well it sounds like she was trained hard and got a lot on injuries." Barbara said in a bitter voice.
"You have a bone with Artemis?" Dick raised an eyebrow beneath his shades. Barbara let out a frustrating sigh.
"This morning Rocky said Artemis didn't have a cast on her ankle." I looked down and gave a small squeeze to her broken ankle, she didn't move. "So I went over and I tried to make a splint, but she left. I tried to catch her, but we got in a fight and she locked herself in her room." Dick laid a hand on her knee.
"She isn't one to accept help. With everything that happened and her independent nature I don't blame her for snapping." I reasoned. Barbara rested her head in her hand on the edge of the car.
"I know I just want her to accept us." I looked at Barbara's reflection through the side mirror. "She needs to learn she isn't alone anymore."
"We all do." Dick mumbled. We were quiet for the rest of the ride.
I exited the million dollar car and walked to my door. I opened it with my key and the smell of cookies filled my nostrils. I went to the kitchen and wrapped my arms around my mom who was putting down a batch of cookies.
"Wally I didn't hear you come in." My mom turned around and wrapped me in her arms. I leaned back and kissed her cheek. I gave a big smile. She was in a purple blouse, white skirt, and an apron protected her clothing from the food.
"Can I have a cookie?" She laughed and handed me a cookie. I put the crumbly warm round goodness in my mouth and chewed it.
"Wally stop making a mess." She used a dish rag to wipe my mouth.
"Sorry." I made out between bites, spraying crumbs at her. The door opened and closed with a click. "Dad!" I called out after swallowing the food. I ran out and tackled my dad in a hug.
"Hey Wally." He ruffled my hair as soon as I let go of him. "How's the new school?" He was in a brown suit with a blue tie around his neck.
"Great!" I gave him a big smile and rambled on about the new school. "And we met some new people Rocky, Conner and Megan." I finished.
"Good to know my nephew is enjoying collage." Barry chuckled as he walked in wearing a light blue button up, black slacks, and shoes.
"Uncle Barry, Aunt Iris!" I walk over and give each of them a hug.
"Hey Wally, sounds like your first week of collage is going well." Iris smiled. She was in a green blouse, white skirt, and matching heels.
"Yeah." I talk to them some more and learned Iris was pregnant, with twins.
"Well all this talk is getting me hungry." Barry announced.
"You're always hungry." Iris mumbled. Barry flashed a grin and pecked her lips. We drove over to a diner and chatted there.
Artemis' pov:
Shortly after Wally was dropped off we arrived at Ollie's mansion. I opened the door and inhaled the cold scent on the building. My heels echoed on the marble floor and my fingers brushed the walls. I walked slowly to back door through the kitchen. I stared at the giant tree and jumped on the branch hoisting myself up. At the top I rested on the tree and enjoyed the light breeze I could only get here. I sat for a while until I heard a car drive by. Turning around I spied a silver sports car over the brown roof pull into the garage. I hopped down with ease in heels and weaved out to the main hall. Oliver in a suit with a blue tie picked me up from the floor. Over his shoulder I saw Dinah in a black mini skirt, blue blouse, and a coach bag next to her. When Oliver let me down I was embraced by her. Once I was separated from the blondes I smiled at then
"How's the school?" Dinah asked. We walked to the kitchen for lunch.
"Big, and we made some new friends." Ollie looked at me with his mouth open.
"Honey close your mouth." Dinah whispered as she pushed his jaw up.
"You never let people in your group!" Ollie broke out with a big smile. He slung an arm over my shoulder. "Who are they?"
"Raquel Ervin, Megan Morse, and Conner Kent." I told him. Dinah offered us some leftover sandwiches. I took one in sync with Ollie.
"That's great, right Ollie." Dinah gave a stern stare at Ollie who had some worry in his eyes.
"Oh yeah it is. So tell me about your classes." I did.
Barbara's pov:
I glanced back at Dick and gave him a small wave and a smile. He returned the gesture and zoomed off in his favorite car. I turned back to the door and placed the key in and I turned it with a satisfying click. I shuffled in the doorway and kicked my shoes off next to my dad's. I let out a small sigh of relief and passed the living room to the kitchen. Piles of dished and takeout food littered the sink and counters. I shook my head at my dad's mess. I started with the containers and threw them into the overflowing garbage. And then I placed each dish into the dish washer and started it up. By then my dad came around the corner and had his gun trailing my chest.
"Freeze!" He shouted. I pretended to jump, but I heard him coming down the stairs.
"Dad!" I didn't pretend to miss him.
"Barbara." He embraced me for what was about a minute and pulled away. "You've grown up so much." I laughed at him.
"You always say that." I backed up and looked at his appearance. His hair is disheveled and greasy as if he hasn't showered for a while, his tie is hanging loose from his neck, the white button up was not buttoned up and showed off his semi-fit body (comes from being a cop), and his pants were color coated with stains. Just now I noticed the stench of unwashed come off him. "Dad are you only heveled when I'm around? Go take a shower."
"Heveled?" He asked.
"Opposite of disheveled, now go shower and we can go to lunch." My dad mumbled something about Dick while he walked to his bathroom. I rolled my eyes and decided on our favorite family bakery for lunch. I waited for my dad to get done by flipping through old photo albums. Most of the pictures are of Dick and I, some were of the fantastic five, and the rest were my dad and I. My gaze lingered on the picture of my family, the day before the car crash at the family bakery I love.
"That's my favorite picture, you know we met there." My dad commented.
"Yes dad I've heard this a thousand times. And the owners knew mom by heart." I closed the album and walked out to my dad's car. It still hurt, just I didn't end up crying every time. Time heals.
Dick's pov:
I lived the farthest from Gotham University so I dropped off everyone before I was able to pull into the garage filled with cars and motorcycles. Every vehicle here was so clean it was probably just polished. I shut down the engine and sighed, rubbing a hand across my face. I knew Bruce wouldn't be home until a couple hours or not at all, so why did I come.
"Master Dick is that you?" Alfred peeked around the woodened door frame.
"Yeah Al it's me." I replied. I pulled out my keys and got out of the car. I entered the kitchen where a familiar smell hit me. "Cookies!" I dashed to the counter letting out my inner child that made Alfred let out a breathy chuckle.
"I made sure to bake some for your arrival." Alfred was in a suit with a red tie.
"Don't you get tired of wearing suits?"
"No I have learned to enjoy the comfort of them." Alfred returned to the kitchen counter where a bowl of mixture stood. "I am preparing some more for the other masters and mistresses." Alfred added his mixture of chocolates. "Is there something in particular you would like for lunch?"
"Muf fhees foocies." Some crumbs trickled out of my mouth that was promptly dusted away. (He said, or tried to say 'Just these cookies')
"Master Dick I told you not to talk with food in your mouth." Alfred lightly scolded. I mumbled an apology and ate another cookie.
"So, ah is Bruce home." I try to nonchalantly ask. Though I'm sure that was really chalantly.
"Master Bruce will not be home for another two hours." Alfred placed dough on the cookie sheet. "I'm afraid you will have to entertain yourself until then. And I did, I walked around the manor reminisce in memories for the two hours (it's a big house). Until Bruce came home.
"Dick you home?" He called out. I went to the kitchen to intercept him.
"Hey Bruce." He was in a suit with an unbutton at the collar pressed white shirt.
"Come on Dick we're going out to lunch." I smiled and followed him to the car where Alfred was waiting.
I almost forgot to update. It's a good thing I remembered or I might forget about my volunteering tomorrow.
