Chapter Twenty-Nine

The Question...

For the first time in what felt like forever, some of the male members of both the team and League were at Artemis's place for poker night. The last time this had happened was prior to the Reach invasion. Yet there was one thing that was different for normally the other members of the original team would show up. But unfortunately Kaldur wasn't able to come do to an emergency in Atlantis so the last person that any of them expected showed up as the fifth player. As the five males sat down to play, it was Kara that asked one question that caused a slight debate for a few minutes.

"Are they sure Mr. Wayne knows how to play?" the young girl had asked looking at her mother.

"Trust us, Kara, Bruce knows how to play." Roy said glancing at his niece.

"From what I've heard, he doesn't play that often because everyone usually tries to make him lose." Conner stated.

"You also suck at this game." Roy muttered under his breathe.

"Say's the man that can't figure out the Crock family tell and is MARRIED to a Crock." Wally said with a smirk.

"Oh and you can?" Roy asked looking at the speedster.

"Nope," Wally said as he smiled while looking at the redheaded archer, "Trying to figure it out is half the fun."

"Good answer, Wally." Artemis said from where she and Kara were sitting in the living room.

"Why don't you join us for a hand, Artemis?" Bruce asked.

"Thanks, but no thanks Bruce," she said looking over at him, "It wouldn't be fair if I played."

"Sounds like someone is afraid that her family's tell will be found out." Roy said with smug smile.

"Maybe you should let Kara play to see whether or not she's inherited it." M'gann joked.

"There's an idea," he said looking over at his sister in-law, "How about you let Kara play and show off what she's learned from Jade so far?"

"My kid is too young to be playing poker, let alone to be betting." Wally said glaring at his friend.

"Only if she wants to sit in on a hand," Artemis said.

"See, even Artemis agr-wait, what?" the speedster said surprised, "You're actually agreeing to this?"

"As long as no one places a single bet…I don't see a problem with letting her play at least one hand," she said looking over at him, "But only if she wants to play and she's allowed to deal."

"I think it would be fun." Kara said quietly.

"I think I'm going to sit this hand out." Conner said getting up.

"What's wrong Con, afraid of getting your butt kicked by a little girl?" Dick teased.

The Kryptonian clone looked over at his friend and said, "Robin, Barbara and I have played cards with her before, Dick….while waiting on Artemis to arrive. They couldn't read her. The only three people that can read that little girl are her mother, aunt, and her grandmother. So this isn't about me getting my butt kicked; it's about me wanting to record her kicking your head in for posterity."

"I'm going to want a copy of this." Wally said laughingly.

"I think we all will." Zatanna said.

"She's not going to beat me." Dick said confidently.

"Is that so?" Bruce asked looking at his former ward, "Sorry to say this Dick, but I think she might be able to claim the bounty that's on your head."

"What bounty?" Wally asked.

"Dick's got a bounty on his head after winning thirty-two poker games in a row," Zatanna said Kara sat at the kitchen table, "Nobody has been able to figure out how he keeps winning."

"I think I know how he's been winning so much." Kara said as she started shuffling the cards.

"Oh really," Dick said looking at the young girl, "So how do you think I've been winning so much?"

"You'll see." she said. She continued to shuffle the cards for another minute before dealing each person five. After the last card was dealt, she straightened her cards up so they were in a small stack and covered them with her hands.

"You're not going to look at your hand?" Roy asked watching his niece.

"Nope." she said with a straight face looking.

"Oh I know that look." Wally said looking up from his cards.

"Oh yeah," Roy said in agreement.

"Unless you want her to reveal exactly how you keep winning, I suggest you fold Dick." Conner said as M'gann and the others came over to watch.

"He won't fold," Kara said looking at the former team leader, "Because if he does, then he knows I'm right."

"That's because no one is going to fold or ask for a new card." Artemis said with a smile.

"If I can prove how Less has been winning, then dad has to ask the question." Kara said.

"You haven't asked that yet?" Roy asked looking at the speedster in shock.

"Been a little busy, Roy." Wally said.

"Doing what, Wally?" the archer asked.

"Being a dad and working," Kara said turning her gaze towards Dick, "You're move, Less."

"Someone's confident." he said watching her.

"You're an easy read." she said showing no emotion.

"And what makes you say that?" he asked.

"You let your sunglasses slide down your nose slightly after each deal and push them up when someone gets new cards," she stated evenly, "From there you smirk if you have a good hand, but fold if it's not. The reason you've been winning is that the back of each card has been marked with ink that can only be seen using either a black light or if someone has special lenses."

"You sure about that, Kara?" he asked.

"I can smell the ink and it's making me a little sick." she replied.

"Make that the two of us." M'gann said looking a little greener than usual.

"If you think I'm wrong, then put your cards down and see if your hand can beat mine." Kara said.

"Before you do that; how about we up the odds a little?" Bruce asked as his gaze shifted to each person playing, "If Kara's right; not only will she get the bounty, but I'll multiple it by her age."

"What's the bounty at now?" Artemis asked.

"It's two grand times the number of games he's won," Bruce replied, placing his cards face up on the table to reveal a full house, sevens over eights, "And I call." Wally and Roy placed their hands on the table to reveal each had a full house as well.

"Oh this is interesting," Zatanna said looking at the cards, "Three full houses; Bruce's is sevens over eights, Wally's is sixes over fives, and Roy has ten's over jacks."

All eyes focused on Grayson as he placed his hand on the table: queens over jacks.

"I'm right, aren't I?" Kara asked.

Dick was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Yeah, you are. How did you know?"

She turned her hand over to reveal a ten of hearts saying, "The smell from the ink. Robin showed it to me a few days ago and I about lost my lunch from that smell."

"Sorry. Didn't know," he said taking his sunglasses off, "So do you think you beat me?"

"Aunt Jade says hi." she said with a smile as she slid her hand to the side revealing four aces.

"Jade taught you how to play." he said sighing.

"Good hustle, Kara." Bruce said as he started laughing.

"Thank you," she said sinking in her seat a little.

"Wait a minute, I thought you said she wasn't supposed to hustle anymore." Dick said looking at his former mentor.

"My house, my rules, Grayson;" Artemis said standing behind her daughter, "The only time she is allowed to do this if she is allowed to play cards like this. Now…Wally, what question is our daughter talking about?"

"One I should've asked long ago," Wally said before speeding from the room for a brief second before returning. M'gann let out a small gasp as the group watched the speedster go down on one knee and take his girlfriend's hand in his. "Artemis Lian Crock, will you marry me?" he asked holding up a ring box.

"Took you long enough," the blonde said before wiping a tear from her eyes, "And yes, I will marry you." He quickly slipped a ring on her finger and pulled her into a hug as he stood up while everyone started clapping.

"About time you asked her Wally." Conner said as M'gann gave the newly engaged couple of hug.

"And I think I know something Kara could use that bounty for." Roy said with a slight smile.

"Actually, it will be going toward her college education," Bruce said with a smile, "The wedding is on me. Consider it my wedding gift to you two."

"Please tell me that it's not because you got hustled." Artemis said looking at the billionaire.

"More like Lucius' request," he replied holding his hands up, "He also invited you all to lunch next Saturday. He said he had something for you."