This story is drama-wama, so I think it's high time that everyone (the characters, you guys, and me) had a breather for once. The next chapter is fun (can you tell that love is in the air?), and it was fun to write too. I hope you enjoy!

That's How You Survive: Chapter 9

An hour after M'gann had found out who the victim was, Aqualad found himself at a festival of some sort. He was dressed in his normal civvies, which consisted of a navy blue zip-up jacket and simple black pants. Clean white shoes covered his webbed feet, making him seem like an average human having a nice time. And he was…except maybe for the part when Roy had insisted he bring over the two icy frappuccinos they had ordered, only to spill one all over Kaldur's lap.

Aqualad sighed, and reached for a napkin. Roy stifled a laugh and sat down with his own creamy drink. The two teammates sat in a coffee booth in the corner of the park, a warm sun and gentle breeze floating above them.

"Would you like me to get you another, Kal?" Red Arrow asked, his blue eyes glinting with trickery.

"No thank you, Roy," Aqualad smiled while wiping his lap. "You must obviously be in a good mood, and I do not wish to ruin that."

Red Arrow grunted. "Well, yeah. It's nice not having to worry about Artemis, The League of Shadows, or Cheshire for one day."

"Hmmm," Kaldur'ahm leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful. "So…Cheshire huh? I do remember M'gann mentioning something about team bonding today, and by the looks of it…there is more to your hero/enemy relationship than I know of."

Roy turned bright red. The Atlantean grinned.

"If I am correct, I believe the expression is 'spill the beans?'"


A blond girl, two raven-haired companions, and a redhead sat on the stone wall overlooking the park, gazing at the various booths and licking their ice cream cones. As the speedster and the acrobat chatted away animatedly, Zatanna scooted over to join Artemis.

"So Artemis, what's crackin'?" Zatanna said goofily.

The archer smiled and lowered her cone. "I could ask the same to you. Since when have you and bird-boy over there spent so much time together? Alone?"

Zatanna smiled at Artemis' wiggling eyebrows. "Oh you know…since I found out he was charming and innocent, just like me."

Artemis laughed and playfully shoved Zatanna, who pouted with her large blue eyes. "That is the biggest lie I've ever heard! I mean you two have become the ultimate pranksters around the cave…you even outbeat Wally!"

"I dunno, Artemis, Wally is pretty good," Zatanna replied promptly. "But speaking of Wally…" the magician smiled mischievously.

"Oh no, kiddo. There is nothing going on between me and the Wallman, and there never will be. We've already talked about this." Artemis went back to licking her cone, ignoring Zatanna's grin.

"Oh, please! Now that's the biggest lie I've ever heard," Zatanna said. "You guys have totally gotten past the 'argue-at-everything' phase which is, by the way, step one to becoming lovers. And every time both of you are in a room together, the obvious attraction just grows and grows! I could cut it with a freaking knife if you let me."

"Zee, you know I wouldn't let you, even if there was something there," Artemis said with a smirk.

"Well…would you let me put a spell on you both? Sure it wouldn't last long, but it'd be the catalyst for you both!" Zatanna clapped her hands.

"Hey! I thought you had a deal with the team that you'd never use your magic powers for your own benefit?"

"But this is for your benefit!" the magician exclaimed. "Come on Arty…give it a chance."

Artemis grew quiet. Her ice cream began to drip down the sticky cone.

"Artemis, I know this is hard for you." Zatanna placed her hand on the archer's shoulder. "But I think you should loosen up a little…especially around your favorite speedster." She gave her a small smile.

And because the girls knew each other so well, Zatanna didn't need to tell Artemis about how genuine and sweet Wally was behind all his idiotic goofiness. Artemis already knew for herself. The archer, of course, wasn't worried about whether Wally would treat her right, or any other trivial matter of the sort.

I'm just worried because the kid has a death sentence over his head.


After the cold treats were gone, Zatanna and Robin claimed they both wanted matching Superman tattoos on their arms.

It's a good think Supey isn't here, Artemis thought as the young pair ran off towards the airbrush station. Probably in the Tunnel of Love with Megan for all I know.

Wally, who noticed that he was alone with the blond, nudged her with his elbow.

"Come on Arty. I've got an idea."


"A cakewalk?" Artemis said incredulously. "You, Wally West, bring a girl to a cakewalk?"

"Well, you're not any kind of girl," Wally said with a wink. "Besides, I'm hungry. And I bet you I'll win something good."

Artemis rolled her eyes. Wally just shook his head, grabbed her wrist, and dragged her to the event.


The two stood in line with money in their hands, ready to pay for tickets. As they waited for their turns, they talked about various topics, including school subjects, music tastes, and movie preferences. The blond archer and the redheaded speedster found out they had a lot in common-almost as much as they didn't have in common.

Artemis sighed as Wally protested against her favorite band. "You cannot seriously like Massive Attack, I mean come on! Their music is like…like creepy dubstep!" Wally said, a sickened expression on his face.

Artemis shook her head, her ponytail swishing. "You know Baywatch, it sure beats being a fangirl of Coldplay; do you even know how many songs they rip off of other artists?"

Wally sputtered. "Hey! I'm not that big of a fan! And I am not definitely not a girl! Plus who cares? They're music is good, and that's all that matters."

Just as she was about to retort, the lady at the ticket booth handed Artemis and Wally two passes for a round of cakewalk. Wally's eyes brightened, and he ran to his spot in the circle to begin the fun.


As Artemis circled the cakewalk's center, matching her steps to the beat of the music, she couldn't help but stare at Wally. His laughing face, his geeky dance moves, and his fiery red hair made him seem like some kind of animated troll doll. But as his emerald eyes locked on hers, she knew he was much more than just that.

Wally had a pure heart and soul, and was always the one to bring everyone's moods up, always the one to crack jokes and lighten the air around them.

Always the one who made her feel something special.

Running through Wally's head were similar thoughts. Artemis' normally grey eyes were now an icy blue, glinting in the sunlight. Even though the archer got on his last nerve and argued about practically everything, she was a determined and loyal friend, daughter, and teammate. Nothing could make Artemis Crock back down, and Wally knew that was what he liked about her the most.

Plus, once you get to crackin' her hard shell, she becomes a whole lot more…pleasant. He smirked at the thought.

Artemis merely smiled at Wally's grin. As the breeze blew through the park and the music floated towards the cakewalk, the two continued to circle around each other: their eyes locked, smiles bright, and hearts beating at something new.