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Chapter 21:
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"Come on! It's your birthday! We have to go out for a little while!" Artemis whined.
Dick sighed in frustration. "Really, Artemis! It's not that big of a deal! We don't have to go out!"
Artemis crossed her arms and popped her hip. "I'm not taking no for an answer."
"But-" Dick started to argue.
"We're going out for dinner," the archer stated defiantly.
"Why-"
"We're going out, Grayson."
"I don't-"
"Come on," Artemis commanded while grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the Zeta tubes. "You don't have a say in this."
"But it's my birthday. Why don't I have a say?" he countered.
Artemis turned to face him, lifting a quizzical eyebrow. "Because if you had a say, you'd just sit in your room full of computers all night. I got permission from Bruce. He said it'd be alright to take the night off."
"Oh? Is that his birthday present to me?" Dick asked sarcastically. Artemis rolled her eyes.
"Just come, and I promise you'll enjoy yourself."
Dick sighed and gave her a look. She shot him a pleading smile. He sighed again and shrugged, finally relenting. Artemis smiled and punched in the coordinates to Gotham. They looked at each other with a smile as the two stepped into the light.
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"Do you think he'll like it?" Scandal asked nervously.
"Yes, you decorated beautifully!" M'gann complemented cheerily. Scandal blushed.
"Well, it was mostly you," the red head obliged. Miss Martian grinned.
They went into the kitchen to check on the cake, laughing and chatting on the way. The two had become close since a month ago when they watched 17 Again with Artemis.
They spread the frosting over the cake and used colored icing to write Happy Birthday, Nightwing!
"It looks wonderful, M'gann. You did a really good job," Scandal said with a smile.
"Thank you!" the green martian chirped. "It was a lot of fun!" she looked at the cake for awhile when her smile faded.
"I usually have to make three cakes because of Wally," tears pricked her eyes as she held in a sob.
Scandal's face scrunched up in confusion. "Wally?"
M'gann wiped her tears. "No one told you?"
Scandal shook her head slowly, still not knowing what she was talking about.
M'gann led her down a flight of stairs and through a tunnel. They entered a cave with several holograms of fallen heroes, one of them being Kid Flash.
"Wally West." M'gann stated as they stepped in front of the speedster's hologram.
"How'd he...die?" Scandal asked as gently as she could.
M'gann looked to the ground. "Lex Luthor. He...blew up the building...that Wally was in."
"Didn't he have super speed? How didn't he get out in time?" Scandal questioned.
M'gann let out an audible sigh. "He had to defuse the bomb, the one in the building," the martian explained slowly, "Luthor had bombs rigged to explode all over the city...but Wally fixed that...except for one."
M'gann dropped to her knees, letting all her tears fall from her eyes to mix with the dirt floor. Scandal, not knowing what to do in this situation, bent down next to her friend, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders.
The two stayed like that for quite sometime until M'gann's sobs turned into quiet sniffles. Miss Martian stood up solemnly, wiping away her tears.
"I'm sorry for ruining a good day," M'gann apologized.
"No, it's okay! I'm sorry we lost such a fine hero," Scandal sympathized. She looked up to the statue of Kid Flash once more when her eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
"Wasn't Wally the Flash when he died?" she questioned curiously. M'gann nodded.
"Then why is his hologram Kid Flash?"
"Because Wally used to be Kid Flash. We just thought it'd be what he'd want," M'gann said with a sad smile. Scandal nodded in understanding.
"Well, Nightwing and Artemis will be back in another hour or so, so we should get everyone together soon for the surprise," M'gann said with a gleam in her eye. Scandal grinned as the two made their way up the stairs.
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"Where are we going?" Dick asked.
"Wherever you want to," Artemis answered simply.
Dick tapped his chin in thought. "We could go to Ross' Burgers?"
Artemis smiled. "Sure."
They walked down the street, avoiding any sketchy people. Dick had ditched the sunglasses since his identity wasn't at stake. They walked in silence for a few blocks until they arrived at the old burger joint.
Dick stopped in front of the building. The cheesy neon sign was barely held up by a few hinges and looked as if it might fall off at anytime.
"Ah, Ross' Burgers!" Dick exclaimed. "I haven't been here in ages."
Artemis hummed in agreement. "Neither have I. The last time I was here was when I graduated from high school and after the graduation ceremony we went to this old place."
Dick remembered that day. It was probably one of the worst days of his life.
Artemis was leaving him.
Artemis and Dick stepped into Ross' Burgers, the archer still dressed in her cap and gown. She had promised to go with Dick to their favorite burger joint on graduation day, just the two of them. No one else. Not even Wally.
The two sat down and ordered their food. Dick looked across the table. Artemis looked preoccupied and nervous.
"What's wrong?" Dick asked.
"Nothing," the blonde said quickly.
Dick gave her a stern look. She bit her lip and looked at him for a moment before sighing.
"I'm leaving."
Dick looked at her in confusion. "I know 'Mis. You're going to Stanford with-" he swallowed thickly, "-Wally. I knew that already."
Artemis shook her head quickly and looked as if she might burst into tears at any second. "No. I'm leaving. I'm leaving the team."
Time seemed to stop as Dick's world crashed around him. She's leaving? The team? Him? To live with Wally?
Dick clenched his fists in anger.
"He's making you leave, isn't he?" Dick growled.
"No! He's not making me! It's just...we're going to live together and with school we'll be really busy, so..." she trailed off. "Wally thought it'd be for the best."
"But what do you think is for the best?"
The question was rhetorical, and Artemis didn't venture an answer. Dick shut his eyes tightly, wanting this bad dream to go away. But it wouldn't. She was leaving the team.
Artemis was leaving him.
"You still blame him for making me leave...didn't you?" Artemis asked cautiously, bringing Dick back to reality.
Dick didn't answer her, instead going to their booth. Their booth.
"I haven't been here since that night," he admitted. Artemis lowered her eyes to look at her hands in her lap.
"I'm sorry I ever left," Artemis whispered. Dick looked up quickly.
"No, I'm sorry. I acted like a spoiled brat. I just didn't want to share my closest friend," he reassuringly grabbed her hand.
Artemis looked up slowly, catching his gaze. The two stared at each other for what seemed like forever when they heard a cough to the side of them. The two looked to see a waitress waiting to take their order.
"Uh...sorry," Dick pardoned. The waitress just stared at the two with a blank look. Artemis awkwardly gave Dick a raised eyebrow.
"Uh, right. I'd like a water," Dick said quickly. The woman jotted it down on her pad of paper before turing to Artemis.
"I'll have a water also," she ordered. The waitress nodded and asked, "Are you ready to order your food?"
Artemis looked to Dick and shrugged. "Yeah, I'll have a double cheeseburger, no pickles."
"I'll have the same," Dick said. The waitress wrote their order, glanced at them one last time, and turned back to the kitchen.
The two exchanged glances before they burst out laughing.
"This is why I love this place!" Artemis laughed.
Dick chuckled. "I've missed it."
The archer nodded in agreement.
The two sat in silence for a few moments.
"Um...thank you for taking me out," Dick mumbled quietly. "I mean, I guess I would have just stayed in my room all night."
Artemis smiled. "No problem."
The two chatted until their food arrived. Artemis took a bite of her burger.
"Mmmm...I don't know why I haven't come here in so long. These taste amazing!"
Dick hummed in agreement.
"So, what are we doing after this?" He asked.
"Well, I was thinking we could go to the cave and watch a movie or something," she said as tried not to laugh. When she sees his face at the surprise party...
"What's so funny?" Dick questioned, snapping Artemis back to attention.
"Uh, nothing."
Dick's face dropped, unconvinced.
"What?" Artemis asked irritably.
"I don't believe you." He stated simply. Artemis just rolled her eyes.
"I don't have to have you believe me," she said with her nose in the air.
"There's a surprise party waiting for me at the cave, isn't there?" he deadpanned.
Artemis let out an aggravated sigh. "There's just nothing I can hide from you!"
"You got that right," he said with a mischievous wink.
And Artemis rolled her eyes again.
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"Artemis just texted me. She and Nightwing are just about to go through the Zetas. Everyone hide!" M'gann announced.
Everyone concealed themselves as they heard the Zeta tubes begin to announce the arrival of the birthday boy.
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"Promise me you'll act surprised." Artemis said as she turned Dick to face her. She looked him in the eye. He just smirked and put his sunglasses on.
"Sure, 'Mis."
Artemis gave him a suspicious glare before punching in the coordinates to the cave.
"Artemis B-0-7."
"Nightwing B-0-1." The computer declared.
The two stepped out of the light and into a dark and empty looking cave. Suddenly, the lights turned on and everyone jumped out to yell, "SURPRISE!"
Artemis herself was surprised at Dick's acting skills. He legitimately looked shocked.
"Happy Birthday!" Everyone yelled in unison. M'gann flew up to him and wrapped him in a hug. Soon everyone joined in a group hug.
"Thanks, guys." Nightwing said gratefully.
"You're welcome! Now can we have cake?" Bart asked quickly. Everyone laughed and M'gann nodded. Bart raced over to the delicious looking pastry and cut into it.
Everyone dispersed into their own groups as Nightwing got in line for cake. Scandal got in line behind him.
"How do you like it?" Scandal asked from behind him, motioning to the decorated cave. Nightwing looked around with a smile on his face.
"It's great. Thank you so much," He said sincerely.
Scandal blushed and looked to the ground. "It was nothing." She mumbled.
Artemis watched the two exchange from the other side of the room. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"What's wrong?"
Artemis nearly jumped out of her skin. She turned around to face Zatanna.
"Oh, uh...nothing." She muttered as she tried to compose herself. Zatanna gave her a look and followed Artemis' gaze to Scandal and Nightwing.
"Ah!" The magician said in realization, "You're jealous!"
"Am not!" Artemis argued. Zatanna gave her, yet, another look.
"Maybe a little..." Artemis mumbled. Zatanna kept staring at her in disbelief.
"Okay! I'm jealous!" the blonde burst out. "Now will you go play match maker with someone else?!"
Zatanna shook her head defiantly. "Nope. You two are at the top of my list."
"Oh, I'm so honored." Artemis said sarcastically while rolling her eyes.
"But he's totally into you," the ebony haired girl said. Artemis perked up.
"You think?" the archer questioned, earning an eye roll from her friend.
"Of course! You said yourself; he told you he loved you!"
Artemis looked thoughtful for a moment. "Oh, yeah..."
"Yeah, oh! If that's not obvious enough then I don't know what is. Now go over there and get your man!" Zatanna encouraged as she pushed Artemis closer to Dick. The archer stood up straight and took a deep breath.
"Okay, here I go," she walked over to get in line for cake with Dick and Scandal.
"Hey," Dick greeted.
"Hey," she said back. "Um, could I talk to you?"
Dick gave her a quizzical look before shrugging. "Sure. Just let me get some of this delicious cake Scandal made." He said as he smiled at Scandal. The red head blushed and smiled softly.
"It was mostly M'gann." She said quietly. Dick nudged her playfully.
"But you made it too."
She nodded and grabbed a piece.
Artemis cleared her throat.
Dick looked up. "Right."
Artemis and Dick walked away, leaving Scandal to stand by herself. She watched sadly as her leader and the archer of the team walked off together. She was kidding herself if she thought Nightwing was interested in her.
She walked over to an unoccupied corner and stood by herself, unaware of a pair of brown eyes watching her.
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"So...what'd you want to talk about?" Dick asked curiously.
Artemis kept her gaze trained on the ground. "Um..."
Dick waited patiently as Artemis tried to find her words.
"I wanted to talk about..." she trailed off, trying to find the courage to say that she loved-
"Artemis?"
The archer looked up to meet sunglasses. She could barely see those blue eyes that she loved so much. Stupid sunglasses.
"Yes?" She asked.
"Do you want to talk about...Wally?" He guessed. She nodded but her eyes betrayed her.
"It's not Wally you want to talk about...is it?" Dick tried again. Artemis looked up again and growled. She reached up and took the sunglasses off his face. He was slightly shocked by the action, but knew no one was around.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I just need to see your eyes when I talk to you. Not...sunglasses."
Dick chuckled. "It's fine," he reassured. "So..."
"Right." Artemis took a deep breath. "Alright. Here goes...I've been thinking and-"
"Dick, Artemis! We're about to start opening presents! Get out here!" M'gann's voice entered their heads. Artemis groaned. So close...
"We can talk later?" Dick offered. Artemis nodded slowly and without looking at him, started to walk away, but he grabbed her arm and spun her around to give her a hug.
"Thank you," He whispered. She shivered as his breath tickled her face. She buried her face in his neck.
"No problem," she said, voice muffled. He pulled away and slipped his sunglasses back on. They walked back to the team, but before they joined the group, Dick said, "Thanks for the surprise, but I still expect that movie night you were talking about earlier at dinner."
She smiled and nodded.
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Scandal watched them leave and waited for them to come back, for him to come back. Right now, she didn't mind if the archer stayed where she was...Okay, so she didn't hate Artemis, but she was jealous of her. Nightwing was obviously into her.
"Hey," someone said from behind her. She turned around quickly to face Blue Beetle.
"Hey," she returned.
"I couldn't help but notice that you were standing by yourself. You okay?" he asked cautiously. She nodded absentmindedly. He looked at her in disbelief.
"I'm fine," she reassured.
"Look, I know this is all very new and intimidating, but someday...you'll get used to watching Bart eat."
The two heroes looked to Impulse to see him stuffing his face with cake. Scandal laughed. Jaime smiled, knowing he made her laugh.
"Your smile," he said quietly. "Hermosa."
Scandal blushed.
"Thank you," she said. "No one's ever told me that before."
"Then you must not smile enough."
Scandal smiled again. Maybe he's right.
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So, this whole Scandal and Jaime thing happened and yeah...I kinda needed her to have someone since obviously Artemis is going to be with Dick. Duh.
I know what you're thinking...WHY DIDN'T ARTEMIS CONFESS HER LOVE FOR DICK?
I KNOW! I KNOW! It's coming soon! I promise! BUT ONLY IF YOU GIVE ME MANY REVIEWS! Please and thank you. ;)