Oh, She's Nobody
chapter eleven: Love to Hate Him
"Young Justice, I presume?" a warm English accent asked to the side of the team. Though it seemed strange to attack such a genial voice, the team immediately pointed weapons and got into battle stances at the sound. Megan had just landed the bio ship on the empty London property, and so far from home, they weren't taking any chances.
Before them was a metal motorcycle in the shape of a horse, its rider to the side of it, under a tree's shadow. The waning light from the sunset showed his hands held up in the classic surrender stance as he calmly stepped into the light.
"You are Squire?" Kaldur asked though it sounded like a statement. At the youths nod the team relaxed and lowered their weapons.
"Apologies," Kaldur said being the first to recover. Squire's mentor,Knight, had asked the League for back up and Batman had decided that Young Justice could handle it.
Squire was as tall as Conner and lean as Wally, he wore black pants tucked into dark green boots, with dark green and red trimmed sleeveless doublet over a yellow long sleeved shirt tucked into his pants with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. On his back was a black shield shape with hammers crossing in an X and around his waist was black leather belts holding a sheathed sword and leather pouches. Even with his almost black green mask and tousled dirty blond hair he just exuded warmth and good humour.
"No offence was taken I assure you. You are in a different country, I would be more startled if you hadn't tried to attack me," he said flashing a smile that made everyone feel all at ease, a sudden feeling of safety and warmth enveloping them.
"Introductions are due, yes? I, am Squire," he said while bowing gallantly. Kaldur introduced each of them and Squire shook hands with the men while Megan giggled after he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it politely. As he did the same to Artemis, their eyes made contact and she couldn't help but feel like they knew each other. He must've felt the same because he lingered on her hand until someone(KF) coughed to snap them out of it.
"Yes, well," he struggled as he stepped away from the blonde, "It's a pleasure to meet you all."
"Some more than others I bet," Robin muttered to Wally mischievously and received a glare for his troubles, which BW immediatly shrugged off.
"Knight is waiting for us at HQ, if you will follow me?" Squire said stepping aside, politely waiting for them to move before he walked away.
"Hope you haven't waited long..." Megan said following eagerly.
"Not at all, I was more afraid you would be waiting on me," at Megan's tilted head he continued, "I just arrived from abroad myself."
"Oh, what perfect timing, then!" she said eagerly, before commencing a multitude of questions about the country, it's history and the whether or not he was in fact a "real Squire?"
Squire answered smiling and chuckling warmly, his eyes twinkling with mirth from behind the mask, causing Megan to giggle again. Artemis saw the minute tenseness in Conner's back and smirked at it.
"Oh brother..." Wally mumbled under his breath as he reluctantly followed the Englishman. Artemis rolled her eyes at the snide comment, but acknowledged that she felt... something odd about this Squire too.
"This is our onliest chance to inexorably lambaste Jonathan Kellor," Knight exclaimed passionately, his proper English accent adding a certain flair to the statement. Jonathan Kellor was the British crime lord and Batman sent the team to England to help Knight nab Kellor once and for all.
"Wait, I thought this info would take down Bocor..." Wally said dimly looking at the picture of the big Caribbean mob enforcer.
"Yea, Bocor is Kellor's right hand. Beggared him, the ne'er-do-well will be child's play to conquer," Knight clarified politely. Artemis sighed aloud at her teammates idiocy and the crazy way Knight answered(she half expected him to throw in a couple of ha-HA's at any moment).
"You don't expect us to go in there, guns blazing though, do you?" she asked, eyeing the layout of the mansion. "From what Bats told us, some of us are going to go undercover."
"Most assuredly! My Squire is in need of a companion to the charity auction, and the two will be there to assist or alarm at the first sight of distress. Whilst the rest of you shall pussyfoot into the manor and unearth the information. I shall be on the obverse of the capital to divert his sentience and lower his guard. For, who is he to suspect a foist upon his own domain?" Knight explained his gallantly simple plan. Artemis studied the layout, the simple plans were often the hardest.
"But I must away! I will leave you in the very capable hands of my Squire. Godspeed my young allies!" Knight announced, interrupting her thoughts, as he left with a dramatic swish of his cape.
Artemis looked down the line of her team and saw a mixture of reactions. Megan looked delighted to have met an "actual" knight. Wally and Conner looked like they couldn't quite comprehend what just happened. Kaldur was impassive as ever and Robin bore his ever present smirk. The archer was wavering between being annoyed and entertained at the hero's antics.
Feeling a presence behind her, she turned around and caught sight of Squire and an impeccably dressed elegant woman with white blond hair and a kind smile walking in. Great... what does that woman want?
"Oh I can get used to this," Artemis stated checking herself out in the mirror, grateful that the team chose her to go undercover.
Turned out the woman was Maeve Mistral, the famous designer, model and actress(Megan was a fan) who's super power was dressing up a girl in under an hour. Okay, so it wasn't exactly a "super power," but when she said "dressing up" it wasn't just a dress.
Maeve designed an elegant flowing v neck gown a shade darker and more golden than Artemis' skin with real silver thread embroidered into almost playful flowery vines with actual diamonds to accent the flowery designs. The gown fit her perfectly, accentuating her figure with tasteful slits to show off her legs, with a pair of gold designer heels raising her a total of four inches. She did Artemis' make up to be tastefully dramatic, got her hair to be perfectly straight with teardrops of jewels woven in careless patterns in her hair, and manicured her nails and paint them a shimmering gold that was some how already dry.
See? Super power.
"Yes, you look beautiful, dear. I just know my boy will make a wonderful accessory for you," Maeve said as she fussed with some of her hair. From what she'd gathered from their quick talks between tasks, Squire was her son and she was married to Knight(Maeve said he only acted "extravagant" when he was in his costume). The fact that she called her son an accessory only made Artemis like her more.
"Shall we show your teammates?" Maeve asked smiling in the way that a woman does when she knows she's done a good job.
Wally was bored. He didn't know if he got impatient easily because he was a speedster or because it was simply in his nature, but he was bored. And antsy.
Contrary to popular belief, Wally was smart, he memorized every inch of the maps in front of him in about 10 minutes and there was only so much to discuss when all of it was susceptible to change when they got to the site.
Squire and Knight's digs were nice, if you were into elegant English antiques tastefully mixed with modern stuff... And they'd put out some great snacks, so that was good...
The speedster was ready to run to the spot and report back when Megan gasped loudly. He turned his attentions to the open door. Artemis walked into the room and he was actually speechless. Under the bright overhead light, she looked like she was glowing, the (were those diamonds!) rocks on her dress and hair made the effect greater as they winked and reflected light all around her.
"You look great, Art," Robin complimented, smiling up at her since she was easily a head taller than him. They shared a smirk and she patted his head, she looked about to say something, but Conner did a wolf whistle as he openly checked her out. He didn't say anything but they did that thing where they both waggled their eyebrows a couple times at each other, nodding a little in an appreciative way.
Wally frowned and turned to Megan to say something, but she was too busy talking to Maeve. He looked at Kaldur but he put in his compliment as well. He couldn't take it any more!
"Isn–"
"Cyrill?" Artemis exclaimed as Squire walked in wearing an expensive looking light cream silk suit with gold pinstripes that made him seem like he were glowing as well. Wally frowned as she stormed up to the guy. How did he know that nam-oh... he was one of the boys he had met at her school. He watched Robin's reaction and saw nothing but his smirk.
"A-Artemis? Wait.. you're 'Artemis?'" Cyrill asked confusing himself a little towards the end. Artemis looked like she was going to be angry with him, but her rage was immediately softened by his ignorance. Geez... she always got angrier at him when he didn't know things...
"Isn't all this a bit much? I mean, you look like you're glowing!" Wally burst at the absurdity of it all.
"It would seem like it, wouldn't it?" Maeve asked gently as though she saw where he was coming from, "But the Sheldrake family here in London is the equivalent to.. the Wayne family of Gotham or the Queen family of Star City–"
"What she means to say is that if the great Sheldrake heir," she gave a flourish to Squire, "was seen with someone not up to par, it would ruin their name and blah blah blah. Hey, I'm not complaining," she finished, admiring her shiny bracelet.
"That too, and by the by, I will be testing you on that later, Arty dear," she said, winking at her before continuing while fussing with her son's platinum and yellow diamond cuff links,"but also, since this particular silent auction is for our clothing, the more extravagant the better, especially as all the proceedings will go to charity. Hence the use of precious stones and metals."
"Geez, didn't you review anything while I was gone?" Artemis asked glaring at Wally.
"I so did," he answered petulantly, "but why would I need to know about the stupid theme of your stupid party?" In their anger, the two were unconsciously inching towards one another until they were standing toe to toe.
"Uhhh, I don't know.. maybe because one of your teammates and a new ally are going to be undercover there?" Artemis retorted about ready to claw the freckles off his face. Wally glared at her and she glared back, at an impasse.
"I must say, it's strange to see you act so... open, Artemis," Cyrill said, his accent still present as he smiled warmly to her. Not used to their harmless bickering, he took the first opportunity to stop the argument. Wally suddenly realized he didn't remember any of those motorcycle loving academy students having an accent...
"And, I must say, it's strange to hear an accent from you," she said mimicking his accent perfectly, making him laugh heartily. Just like that, their argument was done. Wally didn't know why he felt cheated somehow.
Wally wanted to hate him for having one of those laughs that make you want to join in as well. He wanted to hate him for being so... rich and... perfect, but... Wally held in a sigh. Cyrill Sheldrake was one of those people that you would love to hate, but just couldn't because he didn't do anything to you. Squire stared at Wally for a moment then looked surprised.
"Wait... Are you, by chance, Wally?" he asked gently, Kid Flash's face told him all, and he looked flustered, "I apologize, I hope you don't mind my taking out your girlfriend..?"
Urgh, Wally would love to hate him.
"Oh, Artemis, are you dating this young fellow?" Maeve asked pleasantly. The speedster watched as all of their teammates attention came to the conversation like a wave.
"Ew no!" Artemis denied laughing, Cyrill looked confused and she answered, "We're just using each other as a cover. Me to keep some bullies off Wally's back and him to–"
"Keep little twerps off hers," Wally added, sneering at said little twerp.
"I know you didn't just insult my best school friend," she stated standing threateningly, her stance looked like she was about to pounce.
"Wait..." Megan stopped the launch, as she continued sounding confused, "so you're saying that Wally West and Artemis Crock are dating, but Kid Flash and Artemis...aren't?" Megan asked confusing herself a bit.
"Yes," Wally and Artemis answered at the same time turning to glare at one another then looking away at the same time. Maeve laughed daintily behind her hand.
"Puzzling as this all is, we best be off. Perhaps we can clear this up in the car ride?" Cyrill asked holding his arm out to Artemis while smiling his charming smile. Yeah... Wally would really love to hate him.
"Where are they?" Wally demanded impatiently earning him a scolding look from Kaldur. The team was on top of the roof looking down at all the posh British folk with all of their glitzy outfits, each more extravagant than the last, enter the classy London estate. Their ritzy cars were lined up as each of them had to get unloaded one at a time to walk down the cliché red carpet.
"Why...?" Conner asked next to him genuinely perplexed. Wally chuckled at the couple that confused Supey, wearing what looked to be solid gold armour, before turning his attention to the security detail. With so many rich people showing off their most expensive outfits, the security at the estate was off the charts.
"Rich humans are weird," Megan stated as if to answer Conner. Robin chuckled at that and the speedster would have as well, but he was in "mission mode."
Geez, Knight sure knew how to pick em... "pussyfooting" in here was going to be hard. There was guards everywhere and their rotation seemed to be at near random, not that they couldn't do it, but even with Robin there to hack into the system, it was just going to be difficult.
He sighed as the car Artemis and Squire were in finally pulled up. He watched as Squire climbed out and offered his hand to help Artemis out, when she took his hand and accepted his help, the paparazzi exploded and, once again, he saw his teammate and her date glow.
Kid Flash wasn't by any means a fashion expert, but they were the first couple to look... normal, extravagant and ethereal, yes... but it looked like they weren't trying hard to be and it made them even more stunning to him.
Wally had always planned to be rich. Anyone with his IQ was bound to be, but he didn't think he'd be that rich... Artemis looked perfect in this setting, like she belonged there... Wally didn't think he could ever give her that...
"Miss Martian, link us up," Kaldur commanded. Kid Flash shook his head to knock out the almost sad revelation and started to get upset.
'You sure we can even trust this Squire guy?' he asked looking to his best friend.
'Even if we can't, Artemis will have our backs,' Robin replied smirking through his monitor.
'Um... I can hear you...?' came Cyrill's puzzled accent. Wally's eyes widened.
'We both can,' Artemis reminded, sounding amused, 'and you're damn right I do, Robin. Besides, Squire's good people.'
As she thought that, Wally watched as Artemis leaned her glowing face up to Cyrill's gleaming one as the paparazzi coaxed them to kiss for the camera. He wouldn't think it, but he felt like he was really starting to hate this guy.
'There's going to be an opening in the guard at sector 3,' Robin said back to business as he read something off his wrist comp.
"Alright! Let's get this mission over with!" Kid Flash said putting his goggles on.
Ohhhh, Artemis missed this. The mansions, the fancy food, the gorgeous decorations, the beautiful people surrounding her. The Shadows had often sent her on undercover missions where she had to get herself all dolled up. Don't get her wrong, she was all about being the top bitch and wearing pants, but what girl didn't like to get all dressed up and go to a ball? If a girl said she didn't, she was probably lying, there's no two ways about it.
Artemis loved to dance, it was one of the fun exercises that made her time with the Shadows fun. She hadn't waltzed in forever and dancing with Cyrill opened up the spark again. Sure, they were supposed to be doing a mission, but it didn't mean she couldn't enjoy herself.
Since she was telepathically connected to her team and the mission was going swimmingly, she could afford to have some fun. In the back of her mind, she kept note of where Bocor and Kellor were and made sure her purse was near her. Holding her modified costume, a cross bow, compact bow, and quiver full of arrows demanded a big bag that should've detracted from the dress, but Maeve did her magic and it seemed to match.
Cyrill was making small talk with some famous producer, and they tensed together. Artemis frowned because she didn't understand it until she felt an intimidating presence behind her. She tensed fully expecting Bocor or some other security guard to be behind her.
'Watch it Superboy, trouble coming your way,' Robin's voice sounded. Artemis would be more alarmed, but she had her own problem to worry about.
"My dear, who is this?" Maeve sternly asked Cyrill, wearing a gorgeous ruby crusted dress. No, that wasn't Maeve... Maeve was a stage name. In front of her now was Moira Sheldrake wife to the rich entrepreneur Percy Sheldrake and mother to Cyrill Sheldrake, and Artemis wouldn't be good enough for her son.
"Oh mother, this is Artemis Crock, a schoolmate from Gotham Academy," Cyrill introduced pleasantly though it looked like there was a shiver of fear in it. The boy had inherited his mother's acting ability, that was for sure. And, for once, the truth was a perfectly acceptable back story.
"... Your mom can be really terrifying," Artemis said watching Moira sip a glass of red wine with another model.
"Yes, she can..." he agreed sipping his drink.
'Hold up, I hear something,' Conner cautioned.
'Miss Martian, fly in there and check it out,' Kaldur ordered.
"...Can I ask you something?" Artemis asked nodding politely to a passing couple as she ignored the mission in her head. It was a practiced skill, but she was very versed in ignoring mission talk in her head while she was undercover.
"Of course, but I suggest we have this conversation whilst dancing else another of my father's business partners may interrupt us," he offered his arm then walked them towards the dance floor.
"You're just saying that so you can sweep me off my feet," Artemis joked smiling as he twirled her into a close hold.
'Hall clear, go on Robin,' Megan stated.
"What, you mean again? Did I manage to tell you how beautiful you look tonight?" he asked charmingly staring down as they began their slow waltz. From the looks of it, Cyrill had that same skill because, after the shock of it literally in his head, he didn't so much as blink to show he heard mission speak.
"Nope, and did I tell you what a great accessory you make?" she asked smirking.
"'Accessory?'" he repeated as he lifted her effortlessly, "Cheeky girl, you got that from me mum, didn't you?"
"Oh speak more British to me, Cyrill," Artemis fawned as he spun her around so she leaned her back against his chest.
'Kid Flash, slow down,' Kaldur called out.
He chuckled warmly then whispered "Belt up, before you throw a spanner in the works, you totty chit."
"Did you just insult me?" Artemis asked feigning offence causing him to laugh. It vibrated in his chest and she could feel it resonate down to her feet.
"Never," he said turning her so she faced him.
'You're flirting is so loud I can barely think!' Kid Flash scolded in their head.
'I'm sorry, I know how hard thinking can be for you,' she thought angrily as Cyrill answered politely, 'Apologies, please be careful, mate.'
"You had a question for me?" he asked out loud.
"Huh?" she asked her voice distracted by the prisms her diamonds flashing on his suit, "Oh yeah, yes," she shook her head to clear her thoughts of annoying red heads, "Why do you go to school in the States?"
"Ah yes, that would be the question," he said brown eyes sparkling, "Father wanted me to develop relationships with future business partners across the pond."
At her non-committal nod, he continued, "Speaking of, you are close with one Richard Grayson?"
"Yes..." she growled, eyes daring him to say something bad about her friend.
"I mean no offense, it's just that he is adopted by Bruce Wayne... of... Wayne," he said, faltering under her sudden glare,"... yes, I suppose I'll have to buck up and gain an introduction myself," he said, chuckling a bit nervously.
"I don't like to see my friends being used, Sheldrake," she said monotonously, though there was a distinct feel of a threat.
'Yeah!' Robin agreed to something. Artemis didn't know if he was listening to the conversation or if Robin had just done something 'yeah' worthy.
"Of course, I'll endeavour not to 'use' him. Father is just so persistent.." he trailed off losing some of the twinkle in his eyes. Before Artemis could comment he continued, "but let us drop the matter. It appears that the Duke is calling me.. Shall we?"
Artemis let him lead her off the dance floor but stopped, "You know... that sounds like... a ton of fun, but I think I'm going to mingle."
"Quite, listening to a Duke ramble on can be such a chore," he said into her ear then smiled his twinkling smile.
She smirked as she fixed his shimmering tie that didn't really need fixing as she encouraged, "Go get 'em tiger."
'We've secured the room,' Megan stated.
Emptying her mind of any thoughts, Artemis sighed as she watched Cyrill retreat towards the waiting duke. Weaving her way through the forest of expensive dresses and suits, she made her way towards the door, itching to see more of this place. This sudden separation from her "escort" allowed her the freedom to do what she needed.
'Robin, we're going to need you over here...' Conner called.
The archer walked down the empty hall leading to the restrooms; it was about damn time to get the mission started. Opening an empty study, she quickly leaned towards the computer and plugged in the flash drive she carried in her bra, letting it do it's business while she shimmied out of her dress and started to change.
'C'mon... this needs to download faster, red flags are popping up,' Robin warned.
'Kellor just got alerted by something,' Cyrill's voice chimed in.
Artemis needed to get her ass in gear. She crouched in full costume, while holding her weapon. She peaked out of the study just in time to see Jonathan Kellor calmly walk out of the ballroom... without his shadow.
'Watch out everyone, Bocor left Kellor's side,' she warned, "Pursuing Kellor."
By the time she got to the prey, Artemis could hear fighting going on. Before Megan lost concentration and broke their psychic connection, she gathered that Bocor had found the team. Cyrill was helping evacuate the guests, but she couldn't be bothered. She was hot on Kellor's trail.
She watched as Kellor and his bodyguards waited impatiently for(what she guessed) was their escape ride. Their getaway driver was probably being stopped up by all the panicking guests. Perfect.
Trick arrows quietly soar through the air and hit the body guards. Upon contact, the beefy men fell where they stood, asleep. Kellor immediately took out a gun to defend himself and she purred her chuckle, using the ghost technique that the Shadows taught her. To her target, her voice would be coming from all around him.
"You've been a bad boy Jonathan," she purred making her voice surround him, "Don't worry, I'm not here to kill you..."
"Shadow," Kellor astutely guessed as he lowered his gun a bit. Coincidentally, the Shadow's mission was to give Kellor a 'message.'
As per Shadow way, she appeared slowly, in a black version of her usual green costume minus the arrow symbol on her chest. Tiger-stripe cuts in the fabric showed her ribs and thighs underneath, a black mask covered her whole head and hair with a tiger striped pattern, cat ears on top. Gloves with sharp claw-like tips(similar to Cheshire's) and her black quiver and cross bow finished her ensemble.
"Tigress to be exact, and I've got a message for you," she smirked kicking a downed body guard as she passed, her crossbow trained on Keller, "Sensei sends his regards..."
He was so close, he could almost feel it. He'd rattled so many fences that she would have to be living under a rock to not know he was looking for her.
Roy glared at the semi-large map of the world with multi-colored flagged tags of where Cheshire had been previously spotted, thought to be spotted, rumored to be and thought to be now. He touched an empty spot on the map. Maybe he needed to try their–
The bowman had never really needed an alarm because his instincts were better, and that's how he was able to feel the second someone entered his flat. Snatching up his bow, which was never too far from him, he drew an arrow and aimed at the door, tensing as it opened slowly...and exhaling as a familiar gloved hand inched out.
"It's me, Roy," Ollie called out. Putting his bow down, he quickly closed the curtain to cover his map, just in time to hide it from his ex-mentor, who walked in like he owned the place, looking straight at him, as if he caught every detail on Roy's stoic face.
"...Yeah?" Roy prompted sounding very much like the moody teen that he was.
Green Arrow frowned uncharacteristically, "You haven't been in Star City for a while... What are you up to?"
"Didn't think you'd need any help there anymore, now that you've got Artemis," he spat, sounding more annoyed than he actually felt.
"Roy, we can't keep having this conversa–"
"Forget it, jus–"
"What. Are, you up to?" Ollie asked friendly enough, but there was a subtle bite to it.
"Doing a personal mission. I don't want your help–"
"Maybe you need it. What are you doing attacking heavy hitters?" Green Arrow demanded bordering on outrage.
"I'm calling her–"
"No, you're calling the Shadows Roy. Search the dark and–"
"The Shadows will find you, yes yes I'm familiar with the saying," Red Arrow finished sounding bored.
"Do you know the second half of the saying?" Ollie replied sounding as though he wanted to shake his ex-protegé.
"... yes," he answered petulantly, but didn't say it.
"Do you have a death wish, Roy? Because there's easier ways to get that done."
"I'm not going to die... She's not going to kill me."
"There are worse things than death..." Ollie warned, "and she's well versed in all of them." He placed a hand on Roy's shoulder causing him to flinch unconsciously, "Obsession is a bad thing in our line of work..."
"I'll be fine, Oliver," he snapped, using Ollie's full name as a way to distance himself from his ex-mentor. He shuffled away from the weight on his shoulder and turned, "I think it's time for you to leave."
"Sure," Green Arrow surprised him by agreeing, turning away and heading out the flat. Before he closed the door behind him though, he stopped and looked at his young friend, "Roy, if you need any hel– thing at all... I'll be there for you."
Artemis was feeling very accomplished for herself as she pressed a button in one of her belt pouches. As her Tigress outfit morphed into her regular green uniform, she changed face masks and put her hair in a ponytail. She completed two missions in one shot; Robin got the information they needed, and she'd gotten the Shadows message to Kellor. And as an added bonus, she'd figured out yet another hero's identity(not that she would use it against him, but you never know). Sure she should feel bad about having let a crime lord who'd probably killed and/or ruined a ton of people's lives go, but she just... didn't. Besides, she'd given him a very stern Shadows "handshake".
It occurred to her that the sounds of battle were over. Smirking to herself, she ran into the ballroom with her bow in her hand and mask in place.
"Artemis!" Megan called out. Floating above the crowd, Miss Martian wasn't hard to pick out, but when she did, her black eyes met tearful ruby ones. Immediately, the archer went on alert. What happened? What could she have missed?
Her false sense of accomplishment made her ignore her instincts. Her eyes instantly went from the floating martian to the circle of officers. Without acknowledging it, she was running. She tried to push her way to the middle, but just as she did, someone pushed back.
"Where were you?" Kid Flash demanded as she stumbled into a constable, "We– Robin needed you!"
"What are you talking about?" she yelled back angrily, though something fell in the pit of her stomach. Wally'd been angry with her before, but never this much... and what about Robin? He could take care of himself... right?
Wally said nothing, but stared at her with hatred burning in his green eyes. Something passed between the two and for a moment she saw that his anger was there because he didn't know what else to do. Pain flashed under the surface of those eyes before he stepped aside to let her through.
The sight in front of her almost stopped her heart...
"Robin..."
AN: aarrrgh! this chapter was SO difficult! i hope you enjoyed it because i'm just happy it's over! *passes out*
ps. i'm sorry if i totally did English(British?) wrong... please review even if i botched it? pweeese?