Chapter 14- You blew it
"Nice job Artemis, you blew it, you were so desperate to prove yourself that you blew the whole mission" The archer stared at the sai at her feet. The night started off, so well her and Green Arrow stopped Black Spider from abducting a man. She admired her mentor, she was always ready to kick butt with him. Him agreeing to take her on as his protegee was the greatest day of her life. All that was tainted by the thought of her mother begging them to take her.
If that wasn't bad enough she completely blew the mission, of course it had to be Sportsmaster and Cheshire. Red Arrow joined the team and that was a complete middle finger, she had to prove she was the better archer. The better choice for the team, but all she ended up doing was making a fool of herself. No wonder Green Arrow, wanted Red back as his partner, she was just a replacement.
The blonde pulled off her mask as she entered her apartment.
"Artemis? Is everything alright?" Paula called out to her daughter, the young archer ignored her mother's calls and entered her room, slamming the door shut.
"Fine mom I just want to go to….." her grey eyes widen seeing the masked man seated on her bed.
"Shhhhh, wouldn't want to upset your mother" the man said in a cocky voice, Artemis pulled up her bow, she quickly pulled out an arrow and lines it up, pulling back the drawstring. She quickly aimed it at Sportsmaster, she glared daggers at the criminal.
"What are you doing here" she said through clenched teeth.
"Curious to hear, how your team took their defeat, blamed you didn't they" he pulled off his mask, revealing a sadistic smirk plastered on his face. She lowered the bow, realizing he doesn't intend on attacking her.
"Will they keep you around?, now that they have Red Arrow, and what if they learn the truth, about the family ties you tried so hard to hide. Will they ever trust you again" He stood up towering over his youngest daughter.
"Nice pep talk dad we should do this more often" she rolled her eyes looking away from him. He got closer to his daughter a disappointed look on his face.
"You tried baby girl, you can fight Jade, you can fight me but you can't fight who you are" He said poking her chest, he gripped her chin.
"Time to switch sides Artemis, you'll never be one of them, you're one of us" she looked down at the ground, a discouraged look on her face. Sportsmaster exited the room through an open window. Artemis glared at her bow, throwing the object across the room. It crashed against the wall on the far side of her bedroom and clattered to the ground with a loud thud.
*Wayne Manor*
"She did what?" Dick asked eyes wide. He held the phone against his ear.
"You heard me, she completely lied and deceived us, so she could go after Sportsmaster and Cheshire alone, all because she is jealous of Roy on the team. She had me and Kaldur following a train, thank god Roy actually had a tracker on her" Wally ranted over the phone. Dick understood why his boyfriend was upset. Artemis was not right in any regard, her actions on this mission brings her character into question. On the other hand, he also understands why Artemis did what she did. She went to extreme measures to protect her secret identity, can't say he hasn't done similar things.
"That's messed up Wally, but maybe talk to her when you calmed down" Dick tried to persuade the speedster.
"Whatever, anyway enough about Fartemis what are you wearing?" Wally asked seductively.
"Fartemis, seriously? That's low even for you" Dick shook his head at the insult.
"Whatever Dick" Wally scoffed.
"Are you saying my name or insulting me?" Dick asked slightly confused by the comment.
"Yes" Wally chuckled, Dick let out an annoyed groan.
"You suck today" Dick glared at the phone.
"No, I sucked 5 days ago" That statement caused Dick to blush.
"In all honesty, you should've been on the mission with us instead of her, it would've been all the original sidekicks working together" Wally dreamt of the team up with stargazed eyes.
"Yea, I would've if you didn't get me in trouble" Dick glared at the cellular device, he rubbed his neck, a large hickey formed over the soft skin.
"I'm only allowed to go home and on patrol, no team no fun, I just got my phone back today" Dick complained, Wally let out a short chuckle.
"Look, I'm sorry about that okay, I got a little outta hand, but you have to admit you loved it" Wally smiled, Dick couldn't help but get hard at the memory.
"Yea, just like you'll love when Alfred comes at you with his shotgun" Wally's blood ran cold as he remembered how menacing the butler could be.
"He wouldn't actually kill me would he" Wally nervously asked. Dick let out his signature Robin cackle and hung up the phone.
"Fucking Troll" Wally tossed the phone on his bed annoyed.
*Artemis Apartment*
The Archer laid on the bed, a look of deep concentration on her face. She now wore a t-shirt and sweatpants with her hair out of the ponytail. She stared at her ceiling, considering if she should really leave the team and join up with her father and sister. Her mother would be very disappointed in her, heck she's disappointed in herself for considering it.
She grabbed her phone as it began to buzz.
"Hey, soooo I heard what happened, look if you need to talk I am here for you. Idk why you did what you did but I'm sure you have your reasons anyway ttyl xoxo" Artemis read the text sent to her by Zatanna. The archer's heart skipped a beat after reading that statement.
"Hey, I've gotta get out of the house meet me at the piers?" Artemis texted back hoping she'd get a reply. She let out a relieved breath as the phone rang again.
"Sure thing, be there in 10" Zatanna texted back with a winky face. Artemis quickly pulled on a leather jacket and a pair of jeans and boots. She climbed out her window and down the fire escape.
*Mount Justice*
"So what do you think of Red Arrow joining the team?" M'gann asked, she sat on the couch next to Conner and Wolf. He wrapped an arm around her, taking a handful of popcorn from the bowl in her lap.
"I don't know, I mean it's cool I guess our roster is expanding but I don't know much about the guy" Conner shrugged at the ordeal.
"True, I know he is good friends with Robin, Wally and Kaldur and that he refused to join the team until now" M'gann thought out loud. Aside from Aqualad, Kid Flash and Robin nobody else on the team really knows Red Arrow personally. He has been an ally, at times but, for the majority it seems he prefers to go solo. The two turn, seeing Zatanna heading towards the zeta beams.
"Hey, where are you going so late?" M'gann asked the younger teen.
"Meeting up with Artemis" Zatanna pulled on a jacket.
"Oh my god, is this it!? Is this a date!?" M'gann asked enthusiastically.
"What? No Meg, she had a rough say so I'm going to keep her company" Zatanna said confidently.
"Is that why your heart racing" Conner asked in a monotone voice. Zatanna's pale cheeks began to turn a light pink color.
"Stupid Kryptonian hearing" she grumbled to herself stomping to the zeta tube.
"Recognize Zatanna B08" the computer announced her departure.
*Piers*
Artemis stared at the water, a troubled look on her face.
"Penny for your thoughts" she turned to the young sorceress a look of surprise on her features.
"Oh, hey Z" Artemis smiled, Zatanna leaned over the wooden wall to get a better view of the ocean. They stood there for a few minutes in a comfortable silence. They enjoyed each other's company.
"You know, it's not your fault" Zatanna turned to the blonde, she scoffed crossing her arms.
"I'm serious" Zatanna stood straight, retreating from her leaning position. She turned to face the archer completely.
"Z, I blew it I deceived Wally and Kaldur because I was jealous of Red Arrow, I wouldn't blame them if they kicked me off the team" she pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"They won't, Artemis your not disposable, yea you and Red are both archers but that's where the similarities end, you're your own person, you earned your place on the team, you have nothing to prove" Zatanna placed a hand over Artemis's. The two stared into each other's eyes, blue eyes met grey ones. The moonlight shined over both of the females, the cool air caused them to get closer. They were slowly leaning into each other, hot breath hitting each other's face until their lips met in a passionate kiss.
*Mount Justice*
"RECOGNIZE RED ARROW B06" the computer announced Roy's arrival at the cave.
"You called?" The redhead looked at his dark skinned best friend. The atlantean stood in the middle of the hanger bay, his muscular arms crossed.
"I am, the leader of this team, I know you are use to being Solo, I know you are trying to earn respect, you were not on the moral high ground" Kaldur glared at his longtime companion.
"Kal look, I'm just trying to protect you guys, I don't know these people that you've allied yourselves with I'm trying to help" Roy said getting closer to the atlantean.
"By tracking a fellow teammate?" Kaldur asked a stern look over his features.
"If, I didn't track her we never would've" Kaldur raised a hand to dismiss Roy's defense.
"You, will not be doing this again, do I make myself clear" Kaldur stated in a stern tone, his pale green eyes narrowed at the archer, The white of Roy's masked eyes glared back at Aqualad.
"Crystal"