"What happened with you and Kaldur?"

Wally didn't jump at the sudden question, feet kicking and splashing through the water of the Cave's pool. It was peaceful here, even if it made some panic stir in his chest. Drowning, must've happened in the before of his life. His ear flicked, head turning just slightly towards the voice. A raspy, savory-sweet alto. The girl in green. Artemis.

"We talked." He said simply, reaching out to brush water off his bare knees.

Maybe he should've been more embarrassed about just being in his boxers and a t-shirt, pajama pants tossed to the back of the room. But he wasn't, and Artemis made no comment, so.

"Some talk. I'm surprised you didn't wake the whole mountain with your yelling."

"I got some memories back, he helped me process them." Wally rolled his eyes. "Sorry, except I'm really not."

Artemis was quiet for a moment before she threw her head back and laughed, sitting down and settling in beside him. Her hair brushed against his arm and it tickled.

"Ah, there's the Baywatch I know and might have a soft spot for." She shook her head. "I've missed you. Sooo, y'wanna tell me what you found out?"

"Not really. I don't want to think about it at all."

"That bad, huh?"

"That bad."

They were quiet for a long moment, and it was nice, being able to be around someone and not having to deal with the concerned looks and questions. Like he was still hurt.

He didn't feel like anything was wrong with him, he just… couldn't remember much. But that's not how Robin and Barry and everyone else felt. It didn't feel like anything was wrong with him; he felt like he was wrong as a whole.

"Bet it's pretty weird for you." She started, seemingly nonchalant.

"What?"

"This whole situation." She leaned back on her hair, tossing her hair over one shoulder with just a flick of the head. Impressive. "Sure, it's frustrating and worrying for us, but for you?" She whistled. "It must be fucking awful."

He blinked, surprised, before frowning. "It's… whatever."

"Just whatever?" She scoffed. "Look, we don't need to have a feel-sy chat, Kidiot. But give me something. Get mad! C'mon, none have this has been fair to you. You've got to be fed up, so let it out! You don't have to coddle me or my feelings, Baywatch."

"I don't want to yell at you." He leaned away, scowling at his knees. "I don't-"

"You don't want to what?"

"I- I'm tired, Artemis. Okay? I'm tired of pretending to be someone I'm not anymore! I don't know who I was before the accident and I don't want to know. I don't like him! I don't want to be him! I just want to be me, but no one has wanted me to be me, they want me to be him. I'm sick of it."

He stopped, breathing heavily as his eyes burned, throat tight. Two freakouts in one day, great job, Wally. He shook himself, making to get up and go, but Artemis' arms wrapped around his shoulders and he was being pulled in quite suddenly.

"Wally." She stopped, paused, and just started petting his hair.

And he was… confused, to say the least. Then it clicked, and he laughed, the sound only a little hysterical.

"You don't even know what to say."

"Shut up. I talk with my arrows. And fists."

"We could… spar? Or something."

"Nah, I think the Flash would be pretty pissed off if we got caught." She snorted, scratching the base of his neck with blunt nails. It felt good.

"A damn shame." He sighed, relaxing against her. "We can… sit here. This is fine."

Artemis hummed noncommittally, fingers pushing through his ruffled hair, back and forth, back and forth, back… and… forth…

so i know the ending to this and i know part of the middle but i just have to get to it. im working on it guys!

ps: please leave comments if you like the chapter or the story or if you have anything you'd like to say, suggest, or discuss! comments always make my day and get me in a writing mood :)