A/N:

The good news? I've written most of the rest of the story.

The bad news? It's in present-tense shorthand in a notebook, so I have to figure out what I wrote.

Here's chapter eleven, in the meantime.

Also, there's fake tech-speak in here. I don't understand technology, so it's all made up. Sorry if that offends someone.

PS- timeline update! This is somewhere between "agendas" and "insecurity", according to my notes.
This information probably helps you more so than me.

Breaking Light: Chapter 11:
~Artemis' POV~

"After all, damn it, what does being in love mean if you can't trust a person."
―Evelyn Waugh, Vile Bodies

I instantly regretted snapping at Wally. Before I had turned away, I had caught a glimpse of his heartbroken expression, and it made my gut twist painfully.

But I forced it to the back of my mind and kept walking, in the direction that Renee had just went. Somewhere down the hall, a siren went off. Then a muffled shout.

I started running as fast as I could.

A breeze whipped past me, almost knocking me off my feet.

"What's going on?" I said a little breathlessly, sliding into the room and nearly barreling into my speedster.

"We have development!" Renee exclaimed in a sing-song voice, quite obviously proud of Robin. Why can't you be like that with Wally? But no, you have to hide everything from him.

"Yeah. The good thing about our friendly Zeta hacker is that he has a unique signature. I've traced it back to not only the transmitted message, but also to the chip that was on Zatanna." My jaw slackened a little. Everything up until this point had been connected, and we hadn't even caught on.

Wally's voice brought me out of my stupor, "So do we know where to find this guy or what?" He demanded. To our dismay, Robin shook his head.

"Sorry, I haven't gotten that far yet. But can you spread the word to the others, KF? I still have work to do." Wally mock-saluted the ebony-haired boy and sped away.

"Hey, Artemis, why don't you and I go and leave Rob be?" Renee stated more than asked once the papers in the room had stopped ruffling. I followed the younger girl out the door and down the long hallway to the girl's wing. When we reached a door with a picture of the moon taped to it – Renee's room, how clever – she twisted the knob and all but shoved me inside.

I let out a grunt as I fell back against the bed, my hands gripping the violet duvet in an attempt not to fall flat on my back.

"Okay, what was that for?" I snarled, glaring up at Renee, who was now standing before me with her arms crossed over her chest, midnight blue eyes boring into me.

"You're really hurting Wally. And since you seem to want to avoid any and all confrontation regarding the matter, I decided that force would be necessary. So fess up, Artemis. Something's plaguing your mind, and it's affecting your relationship." I blinked in shock. I had seen this side to Renee before, but I couldn't recall ever being on the receiving end.

You can't tell her, Artemis. It'll make a mess of everything.

"Nothing's wrong, Renee." I stated defiantly, standing up myself so that I towered over her. She didn't flinch.

"Well, Wally seems to think otherwise. So I'd clear things up if I were you." The girl was eerily calm.

She's treating you like one of the bad guys, I thought with a jolt. How did I end up a bad guy?

I didn't understand why Renee was being this forward and intrusive on Wally and I's relationship. Either Wally asked her to intervene, or she's worried herself into this state.

"I've already done that." I finally responded. Renee's eyes softened, her stance slowly losing its rigidness. She ran a delicate hand through her brown hair.

"I don't think that shutting Wally out further clears things up." She said with a small sigh. I felt my shoulders tense, and I saw Renee fight to hide her flinch before she regained her stony appearance.

She's not as strong as she makes herself to be.

"Artemis, you know I'm just trying to help. You've done a lot for me, so has Wally. I'm just trying to help." Even though the Shadow's body was still cold, her eyes betrayed her. They stared up into mine, pleading. I shook my head, stepping around her and reached the door in two long strides.

"It's more complicated than you think, Renee." I muttered, wrenching open the door. I felt more than heard Renee's sharp intake of breath, felt the tension snap. I had struck a chord, and we both knew it.

"You're not the only one with secrets!" she shouted at me, "you think you are, but you're not! Take a look at the people around you, Artemis! We all have skeletons in our closet!"

I purposely ignored her, and instead started down the corridor, head high and chin jutted out.

I just barely caught her whispered words before I turned the corner, "We trust our loved ones with those secrets. Or else we'll drown in them."

My chest constricted painfully, but I kept walking. I walked straight passed the kitchen, past the den, straight into the training room and planted myself directly between Roy and Kaldur.

"I want in on this." I practically barked, and Kaldur stepped out graciously, allowing Roy and I to size each other up.

I disregarded Roy's pointed look behind my shoulder and his muttered, "You sure you don't wanna spar with Wally?" and instead threw a punch square at his jaw. I could feel Wally's emerald green orbs staring at me, following my every move as I exerted my frustration into force.

Why can't you just tell him? You're going crazy trying to keep everything in, Artemis. If anyone's going to understand, it'll be Baywatch.

I shoved aside my thoughts, successfully decking Roy in the process.

"Kaldur? You game?" I called over my shoulder, but the Atlantean's response was cut off by a computerized voice.

"Recognized: Batman, 02." The Dark Knight stepped out of the flare of golden light and quickly glanced around the room. I saw Renee trail in last, half-hidden behind Robin's cape as the Boy Wonder strode up to his mentor and whispered something. I tried to catch my young friend's eye, but she looked away and kept her head down.

Great, Artemis. Now two people are upset with you. You really screwed up this time.

"Team, you have a mission." Batman announced, stoic as ever. I felt my heart plummet as Wally went to stand by Renee and Robin, on the other side of the room.

I have to fix this.

Fast.

Wow. Vid + overwhelmingness in life + frustration at chapter and other things = screwed over angstyish Artemis.

Sorry I'm not at my best form, guys.

Anyway, review if you so please, they kinda-sorta motivate me.

Already starting on the next chapter, so hopefully marching band/life has calmed down enough that I can get something back on track.

Word Counts:
This Chapter: 1,062
Total: 21,519

SAHW,
Vid.