I know this is a week late but with my bros wedding, a graduation and another today and finals next week and the two presentations and another final project I surprised I even had time for this. It feels like my school is the only one not out for summer yet, so sorry for the wait hope no one's too mad :)
Disclaimer: nothing but the plot is mine
It was bound to happen sooner or later but that didn't make it any easier to deal with. All of Gotham's social elites already knew about the newest addition to the Wayne household, it's hard to keep secrets like that when you attend school with all their children, but the general public had just found out that morning. It was pure chaos news reporters, journalist, and camera crews surrounded the estate in hopes of getting the first big scoop of this story or even better an interview or quote. Bruce knew in order for everything to begin to calm down he needed to give the people what they wanted and that meant answers, so he scheduled a press conference in front of Wayne corp. at seven that afternoon.
Artemis rested her head on her arms as she sat on the couch watching the news that was all about her "do I really need to go to the press conference"
"You do realize that it's because of you there even needs to be one" Dick said as he jumped on to the recliner hanging his feet off the arm rest
"They shouldn't even care what we do, don't they have lives of their own" Artemis said obviously frustrated with how things are going
"Gotham's playboy billionaire has adopted not one but now two kids practically off the streets; no matter where you are that's news"
"News that we were expecting and can be handled, you were a Wayne Foundation scholarship recipient so it's not like there was no connection with our civilian identities, however I can't stress it more that even though Batman and Robin are well known it's imperative that Batgirl stays ambiguous" Bruce stated as he walked into the room and muted the television
When Artemis was first given the Bat themed costume it came with a long speech about staying out of the lime light, that batgirl should only be a rumor between the criminals and the police. She was told that if she wanted to be on camera it should be done as Green Arrow's protégé in Star City. As far as the team would be concerned, if or when they found out, batgirl does not exist and Bruce and Dick are just civilians who took her in. Of course certain key members of the Justice League knew the truth, but not many.
"I know, you've said it like 20 times already" Artemis replied trying not to sound frustrated but failing
Bruce looked towards her giving her a look that said 'and I'll tell you twenty more times if necessary' then looked at the clock "were leaving in ten" and walked out of the room
Even though the conference was in the evening it felt like it was 90 degrees under all of those camera's and spot lights, Artemis stood next to Dick several feet behind Bruce. She absolutely hated every moment of it hated how they asked personal questions, hated how they saw her as a charity case, hated how some gave sympathetic looks when they learned her wheelchair mother was killed in front of her by a drive-by. The conference was only 30 minutes but felt far too long by her standards. The only thing that helped was the thought of what she'd be doing in only a few hours.
It was a little after seven and the team minus Artemis and Robin were just hanging around the cave. Me'gan and Zatanna were baking cookies, Kaldur was reading, Connor petted Wolf on the couch while Wally flipped through the channels. Everything was calm until Wally suddenly jumped up nocking his bag of popcorn onto the floor and pointing at the screen with his mouth hanging open as he tried to speak "wha… wah… arte… why"
The team ran over to the speedster to see what caused him to break down like that and they soon found out that reason. The tv was on Gotham's local news and currently they were broadcasting a news conference sponsored by Wayne Corp. however that's not what bothered them, but the fact that they were talking about Artemis being adopted by Bruce Wayne did.
"Why is Artemis on the tv being adopted? Shouldn't she already be with GA" Connor said confused
With all the commotion no one heard the commuter announce the arrival of the resident boy wonder or even noticed he had walked in the room
"I too thought she was staying with Green Arrow, however, that does not seem to be the case" Aqua lad added
"Well did anyone actually ever ask her where she was staying?" Zatanna asked
The young hero's looked at one another and then at the ground "I guess we all just assumed she'd be with her mentor because she was not staying at the cave" Me'gan said lifting her head
"How does she even know Bruce Wayne in the first place?" Wally asked looking almost upset that he was unaware of this
"Artemis had lived her whole life in Gotham and she's a Wayne Foundation scholar ship recipient so there's your connection and it's not even the first time Mr. Wayne has adopted a kid after the tragic loss of family" and for the first time that day the team finally noticed Robin in the room
"How long have you been there? Wait no, if you knew all this why didn't you tell us" Wally asked still a little flustered about finding out that the girl he had a crush on now lived with his best friend
"Well I still have my secrets so what right would I have about sharing others"
Just as Wally was about to speak the commuter announced the arrival of the teams archer; Artemis did not get far until she felt a gush of wind and came face to face to a very upset looking Wally "uhh can I help you" Artemis asked confused at the greeting she received
"Maybe you could start by sharing why you didn't tell us you were adopted by a billionaire"
"So I'm guessing you watched the press conference"
"Yep, I guess that's the only way I can find out what's going on with my friends"
"What's your problem! I don't need to tell you about every detail of my life you know" What Artemis isn't aware of is that Wally knows Robin's identity and that he's hurt his best friend would keep such a thing from him
"Come on Wally give her a break a lot has happened in the last few weeks it's only natural to try and get used to a situation before trying to talk about it" Robin tried to reason as he and the rest of the team walked into the room followed be a pregnant Canary
"All right team I hope you didn't think I would forget that we're testing you on those new moves just because I'm in my second trimester" BC said as she stopped beside Artemis and Wally ushering them into the training room
It was now ten and most of the caves inhabitants were in their own rooms getting ready for the mission Batman was to give them the next night except for Artemis who was heading to the zeta tubes to meet Zatanna for their usual girls night out.
"Where are you going" Robin asked as he was walking down the hall
"Well unlike some people I have a life and that means hanging out with friends" Artemis replied remembering what robin had said to her a few days earlier
"At this time of night? Who are you going with and where will you be"
"And why should I tell you any of that?" Artemis questioned back sarcastically knowing if he found out he would want to follow them
"Because I'm your big brother" Artemis couldn't help but to laugh at that "I was adopted first and fought crime first so that gives me the duty to look after you" Robin added
"I don't need to be looked after" still smirking at the thought of Robin being a big brother "and besides in order to be a big brother you have to be older and probably taller and you are neither so good night" and with that Artemis walked towards the zeta tubes
"If she thinks that's going to stop me she is sorely mistaken"
Two pairs of eyes watched from a top a building at how quickly and easily two female teens took out a whole drug ring just for fun. It had been a little over two hours since Robin and Kid Flash started following them and during that time had seen them get in and out of more trouble than most people should be able to find.
"What is it with those two and finding something to fight" KF spoke aloud to no one in particular
"What worries me more is the fact that we've been following them this whole time and they have yet to notice" Robin said as he watched them ride down another alleyway and quickly followed them
"Why are we following them again?" KF asked Robin
"As I recall you were the one who was practically crying over the fact you were kept out of the loop and besides were just here to make sure those two don't get in over their heads" Robin answered back
"Ya try and make this about me, but I know you have a huge crush on Zee, and I know your probably more concerned about Artemis telling her an embarrassing story about you that she might of heard from Alfred" Robins cheeks flush a little at that "yep got it right huh"
Robin looked back to the alley the two girls used to be in "think whatever you want but they've been in that building for too long come on were going in"
The building was not what either of them expected it was loud and bustling with activity, people in costumes and props walked to and fro, stage hands were gathering people, lining them up, and communicating through head phones. They were in the back stage of some sort of theater. The place smelled like an attic that hasn't been opened in years and by the sound of it there seemed to be a big crowd on the other side of the curtain.
"Why in the world are Artemis and Zatanna coming here" Wally asked as he hid next to Robin in the shadows behind some crates
"Where is my Robin and Kid Flash they are on next" a man who seemed to be in charge said as he walked close to the hiding hero's
"Rob what is that guy taking about?" KF ask worriedly
Robin looks around and found a program for a play on the floor, he quickly scanned it and replied "it looks like their doing a play about the justice league and there sidekicks but it looks like a comedy were there making fun of us"
"Tel eht thgil enihs no meht"
Suddenly there hiding spot was illuminated by a bright light allowing the man to find his Robin and Kid Flash. Almost as if they were unable to disobey the man's commands they were led to center stage as the curtain was rising.
"ecand" music began to play and their bodies began to dance along as if things could not get any worse they were able to see in the rafter above the audience two girls laughing their butts off holding a camera and high fiving.
"I can't believe you got the producer to allow this and help us with this plan of our" Artemis said while laughing and filming the two hero's performance
"Well he was a really good friend of my dad's" Zatanna looks down for a second before continuing "and he really loved the idea of those two dancing like idiots, I guess it fits perfectly in his play"
"I hope Robin likes this payback for all those pranks he pulled on us" said Artemis
"and maybe they'll learn that following people is rude and creepy" Zatanna added
They both continued to laugh until the four minute song ended; they were then met outside by two really angry teen hero's
Early the next morning as the team still slept in their beds a bat and bird were up discussing the teams' latest mission. Batman sat at the caves monitor typing in data and figures that the team would need to be briefed on before carrying out the mission. Black Canary stood behind him watching as he typed away.
"I thought we were going to try and solve this problem without the kids" BC asked batman without really expecting him to answer
"It's a simple enough mission, plus Artemis was the one to find the flash drive and she knows it has something to do with the shadows if we do not give the team a mission on this they'll go anyways and probably make it more dangerous than it needs to be" Batman reasoned with her
"I just don't like it" Canary said after sighing
A/N: So tired need sleep :) omg did anyone else jump and cheer when Artemis ended up being alive :) I have to say that was one of the hardest episodes for me to watch but after the end it's definitely my favorite the writers are pure geniuses. My thanks goes out to XxSlayerChickxX, SpritelyGryffindor, Yuka Muntou, SuperGLEEK97, and Pink Guns and Sunfl0wer S33ds for reviewing the last chapter :) again sorry for the late update