Obviously, if Artemis chose to tease Nightwing about Ari, that did concern Ari. It made Ari a third party, and in a way, a second recipient. She had every excuse to notice.
However, she knew herself. Watching someone else get ribbed about her, of all people, made her ridiculously uncomfortable. Why on earth couldn't she turn her attention elsewhere? What was so intriguing about their reactions?
"Don't mind her," Nightwing said as they finished up their impromptu glaring session.
"Don't mind him," Artemis retorted. "Who's the one hiding behind a mask?"
There it was again! It wasn't even worth looking up from the apple to see the archer's confusion. She'd meant that Nightwing's identity was hidden from his teammates while Artemis's wasn't, but both of them were currently wearing masks. It wasn't a mistake Artemis would make around a stranger.
"Huh," said Artemis.
Ari took another bite out of the apple and tried to avoid meeting anyone's eyes. Unfortunately, she ran out of fruit before the superheroes ran out of awkward silence. "Look," she admitted. "If anyone's wearing a mask, it's me. I'm the one who's hiding. I'm the one who needs to say something I don't want to say."
This story is a whole 10,000 words long! Barring a few, of course. Not a big achievement, but I think it's funny.
Think I should offer something special for 100 reviews? Maybe some sort of bonus content? I already answer most questions, but if you guys want to address the characters, I suppose I'm game. I don't really have any fun ideas. Suggestions?
Thanks, reviewers past and present! Specifically, supercrazFangirl (Don't worry, fire never includes suggestions for improvement. I don't know if you kept reading, and if so, if your opinion changed at all, but as time goes on, it gets a tad more descriptive. The 200-word limit is still there, but each chapter continues from the previous one. They don't really separate anything. I will take your comments to heart and try to improve. One day, perhaps, I'll go back and make this a full-length fic. Until then, I'll keep trying at this drabble format. If you see this, thanks for reading this far!) and Jessica Jayme Bell (Good point. I knew I should have edited before posting. Evidence removed). I'd like to thank those of you who have followed and fav'd, too.
Heh, this little project is 50 chapters long. Thanks for sticking with me, guys! I think the current chapters are boring, but better times are ahead. Still lots to explain and expound upon.
~1.06.16
