A/N: Okay, I lied. I thought it was this chapter we get two Young Justice faces, but it's just one. This one is introducing one of my favorite DC characters ever who tragically wasn't in Young Justice. But, she was in Teen Titans. I'm looking forward to her role in this story, hope you guys enjoy having the character here! Next chapter we'll the two Young Justice faces I was referencing, for now it's just one cameo and an introduction to a new face.

Summary: Artemis Crock, sister to the notorious assassin Cheshire, daughter of the ruthless Sportsmaster and merciless Huntress. She was raised in the League of Shadows, groomed to become the killers like her relatives, but she didn't want that, not really. When the Justice League catches her, the Green Arrow offers her something she can't refuse. A chance at freedom. AU

Chapter Seventeen

Artemis couldn't say she was having a great day, but certainly wasn't a horrible one either. She managed to help Oliver with some villain this morning, though she had a bit of trouble explaining why she was late for history test, but luckily the teacher likes her and her new last name had some perks. It used to annoy Artemis how people could get away with stuff because of their name or power or money. Truth be told it still bothered her, but sometimes even she had to admit it helped her get out of some sticky spots.

It had been two months since Roy's death or disappearance as Oliver continued to insist that's what it was. Deep down, surface level, Artemis hoped that Roy was alive, that she would see him again. Yet on the other hand, as horrible as it was, she hoped he had died from injuries and that Luther had just dumped him somewhere.

If Roy was alive in Luther's care, then that meant he was likely suffering and that killed her inside. The very thought that he was alive, suffering God knew what while she was sitting in her math class? It was the worst thing for her. She'd already lost one brother some years ago, it sucked that he lost another one. Artemis never thought death was something close to her or that could really, really, affect her considering that was part of the job. Yet, when she lost her first friend and older brother Kal, it hurt a lot. Then the loss of some shadows who had more or less looked out for her. Her mom dying, slipping into a coma and then somehow waking up. Now losing Roy. It hurt so much.

"Hey, you okay?"

Artemis lifted her head to look at her friend, Rae, "What?"

Rae pointed to her pale cheeks, "Tears?"

"Huh," Artemis replied, but when she touched her cheeks, she felt them, "Oh."

Artemis quickly wiped them away, but didn't say anything else. A few weeks ago Rae had arrived to the school, when some kids were giving her rough time Artemis decided to stand up for her. The two became fast friends. To the world Oliver Queen's adopted son was off some spirit quest, traveling the world and having the time of his life. To Artemis he was dead or being tortured.

Rae frowned, but brought her attention back to her notes. Something was really bothering her friend and she had no idea how she was supposed to help her. After all the whole emotions and comfort thing was not something Rae knew how to do, especially considering her upbringing that no one knew about. The rest of class droned on for Rae. She kept glancing her friend, debating whether or not she should try to use one of her… gifts to see what was realling bothering her. However she decided against it since it was a pretty big invasion of privacy. As soon as the final bell rang, her friend Thea practically bolted out of the room.

"Hey," Rae called and rushed after her, pushing her way through the other students. "Thea come back!"

Her friend stopped at the end of the hall reluctantly, a pained expression on her face, "What?"

Rae spoke when she caught up to her, "What's going on with you? Maybe I can help if you told me."

Thea looked away, she shook her head, "You can't help me with this. I'm sorry, but I really have to go now."

Rae released a sigh, "Okay. Just know, I'm here."

"I know," Thea said with a weak smile, her eyes slightly red, "I'll see you at the Poem Slayer Friday."

Without another word, Thea took off leaving Rae to herself in the busy hallway wondering she could do to help her only friend here. Rae wrapped her arms around her stomach as she left the school to wander around the city until she inevitably had to make her way to the abandoned building she called home. It was far from glamorous, but it kept her hidden and that was good enough for her.

It was dangerous for her to stay in one place for long, she knew eventually she would have to leave this place and go somewhere else. Normally that was something that didn't really affect her, she never stayed long enough to make connections and people tended to avoid or her make her life harder so it was better that she just keep moving. Especially when she was being hunted by a monster.

Rae continued to wander around the city until the sunset and she knew it was better she had back to her 'home' since it would be safer there than out here. At least she hoped so anyway. Unfortunately the universe had other plans for her. Soon enough she had gotten a tail or two, guys following her. Though she was almost certain they weren't human at all and if they weren't human, that meant she was in far greater danger than before. Doing her best to remain calm, she used the only parting gift her mother left her and that was breathing. If she lost control then that would hurt others nearby and be the worst possible beacon.

As she made her way through the dark streets, she could feel her anxiety begin to rise and she paid attention to the feeling, the lights nearby went out. That was really bad. She picked up the pace and started to half walk, half jog, hoping to lose them without having to use her powers. However in her haste to get away, she miscalculated and slammed into someone. The contact told her that it wasn't someone human. Terror rushed through her before she could stamp it away.

"Hello Raven, pleasure," said the distored voice.

Rae, Raven, forced herself to breath evenly, "Not really. Just, just leave me alone."

The man tsked, "I'm afraid I can't do that. Your father asked me to bring you home. I'd hate to disappoint him."

Raven clenched her hands into fists, the dark magic swirled at her feet, "That's too bad. I love disappointing him."

She shut her mind and in her mind said the same phrase that her mother taught her in place of lullabies. Azarath metrion zinthos! The call of her abilities worked, forcing her attackers to fly back away from her giving her a few seconds to make her escape. As fast as she could, she raced through the streets hoping to stay away from and get her powers back under control. Letting them out for even a moment was dangerous.

"You can't hide forever Raven," called the distorted voice.

Raven took a breath as she turned sharply down a different back alley, hoping to make a clean getaway. However she soon realized she made a mistake when she came up to a fence. A dead end, she couldn't see anything for her to grab on so she could climb over it or any holes to tell her what was on the other side. Frantically she looked around to see if there was any spot for her to hide. The crevice behind the dumpster was her best bet and as she moved over there, the three 'men' who were following her stood at the end of the alley she had come into.

"It doesn't have to be this way," said the distorted voice.

Raven gritted her teeth, "I won't go back. I'll never go back!"

The center man tsked again, "Hate to break it to you, but it is exactly where you belong. Where your destiny awaits."

"No," Raven shouted, her anger rising, "Azarath metrion zinthos!"

A dark aura surrounded her feet and swirling behind her as her violet eyes started to glow white from the power she held. They would not take her back, nothing could take her back to him. The men attacked her and Raven did her best to fend them off. She knew how to fight, but when she was afraid of letting her powers go haywire her fighting was not very good. Soon enough she knew her magic would escape, her control would be lost and all she would be able to do was watch as he wreaked havoc. When she ducked under one trying to grab her, she almost got away until the main man grabbed her purple jacket and raised her off the ground.

"Let go of me," Raven screamed at him.

The man hissed, his strange face and glowing eyes focused on her, "Afraid I can't do that."

"You might want to reconsider that."

Raven and the 'man' looked up at the sound of a new voice before they were covered in smoke followed by an ear splitting scream. The man dropped Raven, giving her a chance to scramble away from him. Moments later she made it out of the alleyway only to run into the Green Arrow's second sidekick. Artemis.

"Hey, hey you're alright," she told her reassuringly, "I won't hurt you. Arrow and Canary got this, we need to get out of here."

Raven visibly swallowed, "No, no they'll get hurt, I'll, I'll hurt you too."

Artemis smiled at her, her eyes bright against the dark mask she wore, "You won't hurt me Raven, it's okay. Come with me."

Raven didn't say anything. Instead she just nodded once. Artemis grabbed her took her forearm and the two young girls raced away from the fight until they made it a few blocks away. Artemis made her way into a small opening between building, Raven hesitantly followed. Once the cost was clear, Artemis faced her friend with a kind look.

"I know this is going to sound crazy, but you see this beat up telephone booth," Artemis said gesturing to the broken machine, "Well it will teleport us somewhere safe."

Raven looked at the booth with a disbelieving look. If not for the fact that she had freaky powers, she would have said it was impossible and couldn't be true, but she knew better. Without saying a word, she followed Artemis into the booth and waited. The green clad sidekick hit a few buttons and in a flash of white light, the two were no longer in a dark alleyway, but in a forest near a road. Artemis let out a sigh of relief.

"Where are we," Raven asked with a frown.

"Just outside my home," Artemis told her grinning, "Come on. You've been here before so you know you aren't walking into a trap."

Raven shook her head, "How, how have I been here before?"

"Oh right, I'm still wearing the mask," Artemis said laughing softly.

Artemis brought her head down and removed the mask with ease. When Raven saw her only friend at school, she was more than surprised.

"Thea," Raven said incredulously, "What? How are you?"

"I know you have a million questions and I'll answer them all soon," Artemis, Thea, told her softly.

Raven ran her fingers through her hair, "Not what I was expecting."

Artemis smirked, "I'm sure."

"Hey, you two alright," called a different voice in the distance.

Raven jumped in surprise, not expecting someone else to be here. She wasn't sure who it was and hoped it wasn't someone hunting her, she wasn't certain she could control herself long enough for everyone to be alright. A black teenage boy dressed in red and black made his way over to them, he wore a concerned and kind expression on his face.

Artemis nodded to him once, "We're alright Aqualad, no injuries to report. Arrow and Canary are still there fighting."

The teen nodded once, "Understood. We should get you two inside. I imagine your friend could use some rest."

Artemis threw her arm around Raven's shoulders, "Don't worry Rae. You're safe with us and those guys won't hurt you."

Raven didn't look very convinced. So she opted to stay silent as Artemis lead her back to the Queen manor with the teen, Aqualad, leading them through the dark. While Artemis knew that her friend had been having one hell of a day, Artemis herself had been on a non-stop roller coaster since she left school. For the past two weeks there had been strange activity going on in the city. Black Canary had been monitoring it closely since there was no telling what dangers it could possibly hold.

Today Artemis was meant to investigate it with another junior leaguer she hadn't met yet. On the one hand she had been nervous to meet someone else in the league, but on the other hand she was kind of excited. The only other people in her position as a sidekick that she knew personally was Robin and Roy. Meeting someone else was a good thing. However when she met this new person, she had been for the surprise of a lifetime. It had been Kal, Black Manta's son, the first brother she lost.

"I can't believe it," Artemis whispered, her eyes burning.

His smile was still the kindest one she knew, "It is good to see you again little sister."

It had been a miracle at best, she really couldn't believe it despite him standing right in front of her. He still hadn't told her the story as to how he was alive, what he was doing with the league and everything in between the years they had been apart. He intended to tell her on their patrol, but were cut short when the strange activity flared to life on their screens. They had work to do and that lead them to her friend, Rae.

The day had certainly been an interesting one and it wasn't over yet.