WARNING: Sexual Assault, not too graphic, but still. Strong T.
Sorry I took so long. This last chunk has been on my computer half-finished for ages. I'll try to post/edit/finish the rest of the story this summer!
Plz R&R to let me know who's all still interested!
"Hey, Crock."
Artemis turned, raising her eyebrows at the senior. She wasn't going to lie, he was unbelievably handsome, and a quarterback, and for some reason talking to her.
"Hi," she put simply, feeling stupid already. She was out of practice. She and Wally had broken up…again, and she just felt empty. Now Brian freaking Levitt was standing right in front of her.
"Hey, so the bonfire's tonight, and I was wondering if you maybe wanted to go with me." His green eyes sparkled.
"Tonight?" She had training with Canary at 8:00, but… "Um, I—"
There was a blur of school colors and then Dick was standing next to her. "Who's this?"
She glared at him. "Brian. Now get lost."
He didn't even hear her. "I'm sure she'd love to go with you, but…we have plans tonight," he said, shrugging at the taller man.
Brian looked really confused.
"Uh, no, we don't," she stressed, trying her best to burn holes into Dick's face with her eyes.
"I didn't realize you two were…"
"We aren't," they both answered, Artemis infuriated and Dick simply honest.
"Then?"
Artemis gave him a 'one sec' gesture and dragged Dick to the side, by his collar. "Why are you getting involved in my personal life?"
His troll smile wavered. "Brian isn't a good guy, Artemis. I'm serious. He has a history with—"
"And you don't think I can handle myself. Well you'd be surprised, Dick."
The harshness of her voice made him wince. "I just don't think it's a good idea. I'm worried about you."
"Well news flash, you aren't the one making my decisions. So butt out of my life, would you?!" she hissed, causing a few people to glance their way. Dick cast his eyes to the ground and left without another word.
"You look great," Brian said, smiling at her charmingly. She was wearing a white skirt, despite her loathing for them, and a denim jacket over a green blouse. Nothing super special, but definitely not her usual attire.
"Thanks," she muttered, and he grinned.
The bonfire was already lit in the vacant field behind the school, and it was packed with seniors and a few lower classmen. Several parked cars had the same radio station blasting, and the air smelled of smoke and barbeque sauce.
Brian led her to his friends, introducing her to people she'd seen in the hallways but always regarded as preppy and not her type.
He was funny, and his laugh made her laugh. There was something about him that was different.
They socialized for about an hour, then watched the flames lick the sky. Brian had been drinking a lot of soda; she kept wondering if he'd ever want to ditch to take a whizz.
Okay, so maybe she just wanted an excuse to leave. Parties weren't really her thing, especially around people she didn't know…or like.
"Come on," he whispered in her ear, and he took her by the hand and led her towards the baseball field. They were finally away from everybody, from the traffic of noise and girls giggling. He sat down on the empty bleachers, patting the spot beside him for her to join him.
For a moment she thought about Dick and felt bad for snapping at him. It just bugged her when others underestimated her, even if they just wanted to keep her safe. She didn't need that. She'd never had anyone to protect her; she didn't know why it had to start now.
Brian looked at her. "You're beautiful."
She blinked. "Thanks….so are you?"
He laughed. "No really. I've had this major crush on you for like two years, and I never said anything."
Artemis scooted closer to him. "Well, I think I like you too, Brian."
"You think?"
She smiled.
Abruptly, he moved in on her, stealing a soft kiss on the mouth. Artemis was surprised at how much she had missed human touch for the last couple months. She had been lonely, even with her teammates.
Brian's hand cupped the back of her head to apply more pressure. His other hand pressed down on her knee as he deepened the kiss. She pulled back, but not just because of how forward he was being.
He tasted like alcohol.
She grabbed the soda can out of his hands and smelled the contents. That was definitely not Dr. Pepper. "Are you drunk?"
He frowned. "Of course not." But she didn't believe him. She got up to leave when he grabbed her hand. "Stay. I really do like you Artemis…I feel like I can be myself around you…you can help me be...a better me."
That made her pause. He stood up and placed his hand on her cheek affectionately. Then he kissed her again, while his hand traveled down her waist. She thought he'd stop at her hip, but he didn't, and he was suddenly up her skirt.
She pushed him off of her, furious now. What a freaking pervert. "Look Brian, I think I should just go home." And that you should get a life, jackass.
He snagged her wrist again, tightly, and approached her menacingly. "But I don't want you to leave."
She retreated a little, suddenly thinking back to what Dick had said. He isn't a good guy.
He walked toward her until she hit the fence. Now she was cornered, and she couldn't go all ninja on him or she'd risk her identity being blown.
She really needed a new alter ego name.
"Don't touch me," she growled.
"You were just giving me tongue a few seconds ago, and now you've changed your mind? Are you a slut?" he jeered.
Before she could think, he came down like a viper. When she tried to get away, he just slammed her harder into the wires, cutting her skin. His mouth was over hers to muffle her screams, and he pinned her arms above her head. He was pulling off her jacket, wrestling training reflecting in his incredible strength. He threw her onto the dirt, straddling her like he'd done this plenty of times.
It all happened too fast.
His hands were groping and reaching. She squirmed and fought and bit, but for nothing. She attempted a move Canary had taught her, but he grabbed her leg and bent it painfully before she could complete the maneuver. Then she heard fabric tear and knew that it was her blouse, hands traveling south. His weight on top of her prevented her from kneeing him in really sensitive areas.
That was when a terrible epiphany hit her.
She was going to be raped.
Tears were already forming, and she begged for him to stop, but as soon as she opened her mouth, he punched her across the face, shutting her up momentarily. Stars danced across her vision. Her skirt was off; there was the sound of a zipper. Oh Gods. Oh Gods. Oh Gods.
And then it all stopped.
After regaining her senses, she sat up, sliding the strap of her bra back into place. Dick Grayson was standing there, watching her with a sad, almost ghostly expression. An expression she swore she'd seen before. Brian was gone, and blood was dripping from her rescuer's hands.
She swallowed, and then she brought her knees up to her chest and cried.
Dick crouched next to her. His thumb wiped a tear from her cheek, and he seemed to be observing the throbbing red welt on her face. When her eyes dried, he offered her his jacket.
She wiped her hand over her face and wrapped the warm sweatshirt around her, letting him zip it for her silently. He didn't speak, but she could see it in his eyes. Too close.
He helped her to her feet, and she swayed numbly. She'd almost been raped. She was a superhero, and she had almost fallen victim to the very crimes she fought to stop.
She didn't take her skirt, she'd never be able to wear it again, and was glad that the coat was ridiculously long on her to make up for it. As soon as she got home, she'd take a long, hot shower, and pray that it erased the scars from tonight.
Dick walked with her to his motorcycle, and she noticed how his hair wasn't gelled back like usual. It was loose and tangled, like it came out of perfection during the fight.
She halted; something was gnawing at her insides. A fight. A ridiculously short fight, with tiny, mathlete Grayson and a quarterback who could lift his own weight.
Dick looked back at her, worry etched into his bright blue eyes.
She'd seen those eyes before. Well obviously; she'd been in classes with Dick for years. But she'd seen them glistening somewhere else, on one specific occasion. It finally hit her, and she blanched.
"Robin?" she asked, but she said it more like a statement, because she was slowly growing positive.
Dick stiffened, confirming her discovery.
Holy hell.
Holy freaking hell.
She stared at him, watching the pieces fall into place.
Of course it was Robin. It all made so much sense. Bruce Wayne was Batman, a guy who could without a doubt afford all the fancy gadgets and technology in the Cave. His ward became Robin, who attended Gotham Academy. Same age. Same face. Same person. She was an idiot. How could she not have recognized him? Freaking Robin had been trolling her all this time.
No, something in her head reminded her, protecting you. And you didn't even know it.
She was glaring at him, angry for being lied to, and yet…extremely grateful. Her glower morphed into a small smile, and not surprisingly, Dick returned it.
