Chapter Fourteen
'So what you're trying to tell me Nightwing, is that you've been going strange since meeting June: an example is clearly the amount of trust you put into her. Am I correct?' Bruce sounded calm as always. Nightwing nodded.
"Yes."
'Sounds like you need a psychologist.'
"Mm..."
'Or I could talk to you and sort things out in person.'
"Yeah, if you don't mind. I don't feel right. Like I'm walking through a fog."
Dick hung up, sighing as he perched on the edge of his bed. He felt like he was on a roller coaster of weird moody highs and lows. He knew that came with the whole teenager package, but this felt like something... different.
Nightwing closed his eyes. And somewhere in the depths of his murky dwellings, he managed to fall asleep.
In the kitchen...
June looked at the food in the cupboard, chewing her lip. After having spent approximately three quarters of an hour in search of food, she wasn't sure she felt like eating. The way she saw it, she didn't deserve to. She had drugged, tied up and hit Nightwing. What had he done? Rescued her from pain and befriended her. Mind you, the latter was mostly for the drugs she had fed him.
June was numb, starving but unable to eat. She had come here with the intention of becoming another one of their collecting moles, and yet now... She wasn't sure. Then she remembered the reason. The way Selena had lit up every time June had pleased her. How her idol and devoted trainer felt she needed to return a favour to her friends; all killers and thieves, but nevertheless, all June's adopted family. She had to do this. It wouldn't take much longer. A few more days and she could be gone, free as the wind, close as skin to her precious feline friend.
"A few more days, June. That's all..." 72 hours being June. The irony of it. June Jones. Such a fake, innocent name. Made her sound like she was a character from one of the James Bond movies! She laughed bitterly, grabbing a glass from the cupboard and pouring herself a glass of water.
Not too far away...
She could sense him. He was certain. Still. He was concealed from view, and as long as he stayed there she would carry on playing his little game. What was it for? June was suspicious, he was sure of it. Muttering, laughing wildly and staring into space for ages? It was either suspicious or insane. He cursed silently, wishing he had advanced telepathy as well as hearing. If she had realized he was there, she wouldn't let anything slip.
As ironic as the metal itself the glass slipped from her hands. Her fist came down on the table as she panted with an emotion he was all too familiar with.
Anger.
He watched as she let the furious release of raging energy pulse through her for a minute, her muscles tensing until they looked like they might snap. She paused. Her breathing slowed, her muscles relaxed and she began picking up the shards of glass, tutting to herself.
Well, no questioning it. She was definitely suspicious. And angry. He didn't know why, but he was going to find out.
Close by...
She was suspicious. Conner was right about that. But why the worry? Why the spying?
"Says the invisible martian breathing down his neck." She thought.
Still. His latest obsession was making her uncomfortable, and the weather was too sunny for that.
She heard him curse quietly. A few minutes passed while he stayed, fixed on the new girl. The sound of a glass shattering. Followed by panting.
"M'gann?" Conner whispered.
"Yes?" She breathed back. He relaxed instantly.
"Could you.. um.. do me a favour?"
"Sure."
"Would you read her mind for me?" She gasped.
"But-"
"Please." His blue eyes latched onto hers, her breath catching in her throat.
"Later."
"M'gann-"
"Later." She said defiantly. He looked disappointed for a moment, and M'gann wanted more than anything to embrace his confused, angry figure. However, the time was not right. If she hugged him now it would seem strange and awkward; to him, at least. A potential to be labelled a bizarre martian custom. He sighed.
"Fine." Before she could compromise, he turned away and walked towards the girl.
In one of the many dorms...
She gritted her teeth, sharpening her arrows fiercely. Her mouth was twisted into a frown, her figure hunched as she sat on the edge of the bed. Out of her mouth every so often tumbled a string of vicious curses, swear words and a soft hissing noise. Things like, "Messed up life.", "f""""d up parents." and "Friends I don't deserve.", could be heard over a background of angry and random breathing patterns.
It was one of those days.
She glanced at the clock on the wall. She launched into another stream of bad language. She pummeled her pillow. She paused. She huffed. She practiced smiling. Then she called Wally.
At the college...
"Hey, Artemis." He grinned.
"Hey, Wally." He frowned slightly; she sounded troubled.
"S'up?"
"Nothing much..."
"Just one of those days, huh?"
"Yep." He heard her sigh. There was a brief silence.
"You're lucky this time. You caught me in between classes."
"I thought phones weren't allowed in school?"
"That was school. This is college." Wally waved it off.
"Right." A lengthy pause.
"Artemis? Are- Are you okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine. Only wanted to say hi... Or something..." He smiled at her awkwardness.
"See you later, then."
"Yeah." He was reluctantly about to end the call when Artemis began speaking again.
"Wally?"
"Yeah?"
"Run extra fast for me, will you?" By this point his grin was reaching his ears.
"Sure thing."