Chapter 7
"Hello sleepy head."
Artemis sprang out of bed socking whoever was just above her in the jaw on her way up. As soon as her feet hit the ground the intruder got a front kick to the rib cage. Snap. That was one rib broken.
"Artemis, stop!" yelled Zatanna from the floor.
Artemis stopped moving. "Why did you do that, why are you at my apartment, and why do you look like that?" Artemis asked exasperated.
"Well, I wanted to surprise you since I knew you would be done with school, but apparently that was misguided. Give me a sec to heal these."
Artemis went to get dressed. Dinner two days before had gone well. They all agreed to do it again. William actually texted her yesterday about getting together and going to see a play and look at Christmas lights. She wasn't entirely certain where their relationship was going, but she figured she'd enjoy it a bit more before finding out. Now she just had to keep said relationship as far away from Zatanna as possible.
With Artemis dressed in jeans and a turtle-neck she now turned to Zatanna to explain why she was dressed as the man from posters reading "Stranger Danger" long coat, fedora and all.
"So do you wanna explain now or what?" Artemis asked as Zatanna rose from the floor.
"The look is called purposefully suspicious for a mission like forty-five minutes away and I surprised you like that, because that is what I do to M'gann, but she laughs and you punch people. Note taken."
Artemis began heading for the kitchen. "Hungry?"
"Absolutely. What are you making?"
"Cereal."
"Gotcha, gotcha. So do you have holiday plans?"
"There's always a catch to you guy's visits." Artemis got out bowls, milk, cereal, and spoons while Zatanna made herself comfortable at the island.
"You never come to gatherings anymore. We just want to see more of you."
"Well you guys cancel plans like no tomorrow and I already have a New Year's party I'm attending that Sarah's hosting." Artemis poured her coffee. "Besides, I'm no longer part of the team and was never part of the league, so it doesn't make sense for me to attend."
"Artemis," Zatanna huffed, "you still have friends on both the team and the league. People miss you."
"And I miss them Z, but I try to make time for you guys and I keep getting blown off. I even made time at two in the morning so I could see you guys, but I am trying to move away from this and it's hard when your friends are still in it."
Zatanna finished her cereal and checked her watch. "I have a league meeting in five. Can we talk later?"
Artemis laughed through her nose while beginning to clean up, "Sure Z. Later."
Zatanna seemed upset that nothing really got accomplished or talked about with the visit, but duty called and would keep calling. She got up and pausing at the door left the apartment. At the same time, Artemis got a text from Sarah about going to a museum opening downtown. Artemis did miss her super friends, but right now they all seemed unsure of the best way to move forward and maintain their friendship while maintaining certain boundaries.