With June
She hacked into the Batcave, downloading all information on Deadshot. Then, she deleted it. Let's see, Bart would be out of it for a good few hours, and the others were probably so occupied they wouldn't notice she was gone until Bart got up.
She knew what she was going to do. She knew the consequences. She knew what happened last time she tried to do it to Joker. Needless to say, that time, it didn't work out.
But now, she wasn't a little kid anymore. She wasn't the angry little girl she was. This time, June was going to make sure it worked. Deadshot may be her 'DNA donor', but he wasn't her father. Her father was long gone.
She knew she needed to do this and no one was going to stop her. But she needed a disguise outfit that the team wouldn't notice her in. She looked down at her uniform and saw that she could be easily spotted with all the colors on. She then looked around to see what she could use.
Then she remembered her old acrobat costume. That was perfect! Modify it a little and she wouldn't be seen in the shadows. She then walked to the zeta tubes and headed home. Once she got to the Batcave, she found her costume and started to darken it. Once that was done she tried it on to see if it still fit her and good thing it did. She then headed out to find Deadshot.
She briefly wondered how the costume still fit her. She decided against telling the others she still fit an outfit from when she was nine. She'd never hear the end of it.
The now black and dark red outfit practically melted in the shadows, but she had torn off the letter A on the top. For her mask, she used one that covered her entire face. A voice modifier adjusted her voice and tone. June really didn't want to take any risks.
She knew she wouldn't hear the end of that. But she also needed to do this. Once she reached the city part of Gotham she started to look for any traces left by Deadshot. She then jumped from a building and ended up in an ally way.
She activated her night vision goggles and started to check out the ally. After about what seemed like an hour, she finally found some bike tracks that beloved to Deadshot's bike, since that's what her goggles said as they scanned the tracks.
She began to follow them when they lead her towards an old warehouse. It looked somehow familiar.
June frowned as she cautiously entered the warehouse. She looked around before paling. The place was creepily familiar. The doors suddenly shut, and the lights flickered off. June narrowed her eyes, fingers tightening on her bow.
"I see you take after me with that bow," A voice said.
June turned around, arrow notched still, and growled, "I am nothing like you,"
Deadshot appeared out of the shadows. "Oh really? It seems you are, child."
June was so distracted, she didn't wonder how Deadshot knew why she was there, or even how he saw through the disguise.
"If you're looking for your cousin, she's long gone." Deadshot continued.
June lowered her bow slightly. "What do you mean?"
"I mean I know you took her back to your little HQ for questioning and medical attention, but I guess you left before she ran away."
June's jaw clenched. Anger towards both Deadshot and Caitilin erupted. It was just like her! She was always running from people.
"She isn't running away you know," Deadshot said. "She wants payback for coming after you."
"Well, Caitilin's not going to get it. Not this time." June glared. "By the time she gets here it'll be too late."
Deadshot sneered. "So much like your old man, aren't you?"
Behind her mask, June's eyes blazed. "I am NOTHING like you! You are NOT my dad!" June fired an arrow. Deadshot side stepped before lunging at her. He held June at a threatening grip on her neck as her feet dangled a few inches from the ground.
"Like it or not, Juniper, I'm your father. Just look at how many times you've aimed to kill. A little training from me, and you wouldn't fail. Killing is in your genes." Deadshot tightened his grip.
June kicked him in the chest, sending the assassin flying backwards. June landed on her feet, gasping for breath as Deadshot's words rang in her head.
She needed to fight those words out of her head. But the harder she tried, the louder the words got in her head. June noticed that he was out cold. She knew it was her chance, but she couldn't do it. As she started to back away, she turned and ran. Not knowing where she was going, she just ran. She ran out of the building and just started to run south.
Soon enough she got to the "now leaving Gotham city" sign. But she just kept running. After what seemed about forever, she noticed that she was really far from Gotham. She didn't even know where she was.
June entered the woods and shrunk down, sitting underneath a tree. She caught her breath, shaking deeply.
"June?" June flinched and looked up to see Artemis.
"A-Artemis?" She asked with wide eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"I was talking with your brother, you're near Bludhaven you know," June was so upset she didn't ask why she was speaking with Dick. "Why're you in the woods than?"
"Zeta Tubes are hidden here," Artemis answered, and helped June stand up. The entered a tree Zeta Tube and reappeared a block from her and Wally's house. "What's up with you?"
June stayed quiet before asking, "How did you ever manage not joining your dad whenever he tried to sway you to his side?" Artemis looked taken aback. Artemis then gave her sly smile.
"Why don't I get you inside first, okay?" She said as her and June started to walk to her and Wally's house. Once they got inside, Artemis opened the door and June saw Wally sitting on the couch watching TV. He looked over and smiled.
"Hey June I haven't seen you in awhile."
"Hey Wally." She said.
Wally raised an eyebrow. "What're you doing here?"
"Girl talk." Artemis answered for her, pushing June to a bedroom.
"More like daughters-of-villains talk." June muttered.
Wally then gave Artemis a look and she gave him one back. He continued watching TV, pretending he didn't hear what she said. Artemis brought June into the room. They both sat down on the bed.
"So you want to know this why?"
"Because my dad is actually Deadshot."
Artemis frowned deeply. "Why are you suddenly having a problem with this?"
June took a shuddering breath. "He escaped Belle Reve recently."
Artemis' eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed. "Oh, June... did he confront you?"
She nodded. "In the backyard a couple days ago, did Dick tell you about the whole Caitilin ordeal?"
"Yeah."
"Well, she's probably long gone by now. She and Deadshot had a deal that if she swore complete loyalty to Ra's al Ghul, he'd leave me alone, and Ra's ordered her to attack me. The team and League stepped in before either of us could do much damage though. I-I didn't want to fight her, and I thought that-"
"If you 'confronted'," Artemis strained the last word, and June knew that she really meant 'killed', "Deadshot the deal would technically be broken."
"Yeah it would but I just don't care. He made me do horrible things to others." June said. Artemis knew where she was coming from. Her dad was still trying to get her to join him and Jade. Plus Artemis remembered when she first began on the team, and hated fighting Jade. Hell, she still hates it!
"I know what you feel about this, June." Artemis said as June looked at her.
"My sister is an assassin like Caitlin, and there was times that I had to fight her. I know it's hard, but I had to try and beat her. She looked at it like a little game, and I sorta did too." She smiled at June and she smiled back.
"Does that help a little?"
"Yeah it does, thanks, Arty." June said as she hugged her.
"No problem, shortie!" Artemis smiled. Growing up, she had been the younger sister. It was nice to be a bit different here.
"I'm not short! I'm vertically challenged." Artemis couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?" June whined.
"Sorry, but you sounded JUST like your brother." Artemis grinned.
"Great, that's perfect." June said dryly.
"Yep, just like Dick. Though, you're much more like Caitilin."
"Even better," She replied sulkily. How was she just like Caitlin? Caitlin is an assassin who killed people without a reason. While June does everything she can to save them.
"So why don't we go make some dinner. Wally is probably dying right now." Artemis said as she got up and started to walk over to the door. She stopped and turned around.
"If you want to change I have some old clothes in the closet." She then opened the door and walked out, leaving June still sitting on the bed.
June got up and walked over to the closet. She opened it and saw on the floor, a pile of folded clothes. She grabbed a shirt and pair of jeans she saw looked nice. After she put them on, she walked to the kitchen and saw Artemis and Wally cooking together. They were having a pretend argument on how to make rice properly.
June saw Artemis lean forward and press her lips against Wally's.
June gagged. "Get a room! There's an innocent thirteen year old in here!"
The two separated, blushing. June shuddered before continuing. "I could have gone my entire life without seeing that."
Wally ruffled her hair as he passed her to the table, putting out three plates and sets of silverware. June walked towards Artemis. "Need any help, Arty? Alfred never lets us cook, always insists on doing it himself because it isn't 'proper'." She said with air quotes.
"Sure, Junie."
June made a face. "Is this some new thing? Why is everyone calling me Junie now?" Artemis then gave her a playful smile.
"It's just cute." She continued cooking with June's assistance while Wally went to take the dog out in the back yard for a couple minutes.
"So are you and Wally still in college?"
"Yeah we are almost done though. Thank goodness." Artemis joked. They heard the back door open along with the pitter patter of dog paws. A second later the short little bulldog scampered in with Wally shortly behind.
"Awww," June grinned, stroking the dog happily. "Wolf just isn't that small anymore." She sighed.
"I wanted a beagle, but Arty insisted on a bulldog." Wally said, sitting himself down.
"I like him." June decided before sitting next to him. Artemis gave Wally a smug look before putting a large plate of pasta on the table. That's when June remembered something.
"Artemis, what were you talking to Dick about?" Artemis then looked at Wally, who gave her a look. Artemis then turned to June.
"He always comes by and checks up on us. He just wants to know how things are going here and gives us an update on what's going in with the team." Artemis said, trying to sound convincing. June looked at her.
"Oh ok. Does he come by often?" Artemis nodded.
"Usually he comes by twice a day just to hang out with Wally." She said as Wally walked over to her.
June smiled, though doubt lingered in her eyes. "What-What should I do about Caitilin? I have no idea where she is,"
Artemis smiled sadly, remembering herself as a nine year old when Jade ran away. She remembered when she was thirteen, learning that Jade had joined the League of Shadows.
"That's for you to find out where June." Artemis said as she ruffled her hair.
"Now lets eat you must be starving from that wait." She then walked over to the table with Wally and sat down. June then followed them and sat down.
June fell silent and fiddled with the food on her plate absentmindedly. What would she do? Even if she were to decide to find Caitilin, where would she be anyways? Back to Ra's al Ghul? It made sense; the only reason she swore loyalty to Ra's was to protect her from... June's eyes widened and she stood up abruptly.
"June?" Wally asked.
Her face pale, she said, "I have to go, thanks for the dinner." She rushed to get her boots on and fled to the Zeta Tube. If she could track down Deadshot to easily, why not Caitilin?
The only difference was that she was able to stop herself from crossing the line. Caitilin crossed the line years ago. She wouldn't have any problem doing it again, only this time, with a larger motive.
She needed to find her and stop her. Who knows what Caitlin was actually capable of. She rushed and rushed until she found the zeta tube and transported to Gotham. She was deciding or not to tell the team or the league. Both needed to know, but they also didn't need to know. Once she got to Gotham, she just stood there standing in the ally.
No. She NEEDED to do this on her own. No League. No Team. June took the ear comm out of her ear and dropped it on the ground, stomping and crushing it. Much to her own amusement, her first thought was 'Must be the eighth time this week I crushed my comm, and it's only Tuesday... Nightwing's gonna be pissed.'
Once she pushed that thought out of her mind, she kept moving. She needed to find a way to find Caitlin. But she started to think about the one place she could be. She then started to move again. She ran towards a certain ally way, she could be.
Once she got to the ally, she slowly walked into the dark ally. She remembered when Caitlin told her about that one night that changed her. She even told her where it happened. June started to get deeper and deeper in the ally.
She got the feeling that someone was watching her. She quickly turned around and saw no one.
June frowned and slowly glanced around. Imaginary figures of her nine year old self, tears running down her face as she stumbled into the old building. June walked inside, still watching her imaginary memory. She re-watched twelve year old Caitilin beat up the kidnappers, her promise to her, before the two ran away. June couldn't help but smile.
Her fingers touched the bow on her. She pulled it out, and strapped the utility belt in place. 'Never leave home without it,' was Bruce's first lesson to her all those years ago. She remembered it with slight amusement.
June recalled her frequent sugar rushes around the cave, Mountain, and Watchtower as a grin rolled on her face. A noise interrupted her thoughts. June spun around, her arrow notched in place as her eyes scanned the dark room.
The noise sounded again in another direction. She couldn't tell where the noise was coming from. She then put her guard up. She did her best to remain calm when all of a sudden, someone put there ham on her shoulder. She screamed and flipped the person. When she looked up after she flipped the attacker, she noticed that familiar color of light brown hair.
"Caitlin?" Caitlin then let out a groan.
"God you haven't lost your touch kid. Man that hurt." Caitlin then struggled to get up and once she did, Caitlin put her hand on her shoulder. June didn't know if she should let her guard down or keep it up.
"Err, hi..." June mumbled, her fingers still gripping the bow.
"June..." Caitilin murmured, looking conflicted. What could she possibly have to say to her? June glared at her cousin. "I knew you would flip me but not that hard." Caitlin said as she rubbed her shoulder. June gave her a glare. Caitlin then noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing it's just..."
"Just what?" June didn't know why she was holding back but she was.
"Nothing." June turned to leave, but was stopped by Caitilin putting an arm on her shoulder.
"June, I'm sorry." She whispered.
June didn't speak. Her hair flew into her face as the wind blew through the open door. She glared at her cousin before disappearing again.
She couldn't say what she wanted to say. She never realized that Caitlin did mean what she said. As she was walking down the ally, a shuriken appeared out of nowhere and it had a note attached to it. She took the note off the shuriken and opened it.
When she read it, she could understand now, her cousin did feel sorry for what she did. She truly meant it too. June pushed that out of her thoughts and kept on walking. Either way, she had to stop Caitlin one way or another.
