AN: Hello all! As usual, thank you for all reviews, favorites and follows! Unfortunately, Robin wasn't involved in any of the fight scenes in this episode (too busy neutralizing the fog) so this chapter focuses on Kid Flash and the debut of Artemis! Enjoy! :) I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING.

Season 1, Episode 6: "Infiltrator"

Kid Flash
Happy Harbor
August 8, 22:16 EDT

As he casually leaned on a wall beside a set of lockers, Kid Flash fought to keep his negative thoughts to himself. This was proving to be incredibly difficult – predominantly because several other people had access to his thoughts, including the subject of his negativity.

Kid Flash clenched his jaw. Who was she? Why did she think she could just show up unannounced, uninvited, and unwanted? Red Arrow was opposed to the team to begin with, and now – thanks to her – he might never join.

Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he saw movement. His senses went into high alert, momentarily distracting him from his brooding. He rushed forward to investigate, and rounded a corner in time to see a shadow disappear down a hallway. Preoccupied with following it, he didn't notice the marbles spread out on the floor as he ran through a pair of doors,

"WHOOOA!"

He instantly lost his footing, stumbling backwards and landing hard on his back. With the wind knocked out of him, he had no chance to react before a foot appeared out of nowhere and landed a kick straight to his head, sending him plummeting into darkness.

Wally West
Central City
August 9, 13:00 CDT

The gym teacher glared at Wally West as he sauntered across the gymnasium,

"West! Get your backside into the locker room and change into your uniform now or so help me I'll have you re-taking this course in summer school!"

Wally procured a yellow excusal slip from his pocket and waved it flamboyantly in the gym teacher's face,

"Sorry, coach, no-can-do! Doctor's orders."

The gym teacher grabbed the note and read it quickly, a vein in his forehead starting to throb as his eyes traveled down the paper,

"Good gravy, West! It's the second day of school!"

Wally shrugged,

"My brain needs time to heal, and it's kind of hard for it to do that when it's being pegged with dodgeballs."

The gym teacher crushed the slip in his fist,

"You're more sickly than my mother – and she's 92! What have you done to yourself his time?!"

"I have a mild concussion," Wally said as he rubbed the side of his head.

"How?" The gym teacher asked through his teeth.

"I, uh, slipped after my mom mopped the kitchen floor," Wally replied sheepishly.

"Good gosh," the gym teacher muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Yeah, it was pretty bad. I was on my way to the fridge but I fell back and slammed my head on the linoleum."

The gym teacher exhaled sharply through his nose,

"Fine," he glanced at the crumpled excusal slip, "No physical activity for fourteen days? Write me a fourteen page paper on the rules and regulations of dodgeball."

Wally's face fell,

"What?!"

The gym teacher put his whistle between his lips and blew hard,

"Due in two weeks! No excuses!"

Artemis
Happy Harbor
August 8, 23:05 EDT

Artemis jumped onto the roof, her eyes on the assassin. She notched an arrow in her bow and approached the lifeless body cautiously. The gas ought to have knocked her out cold, and she shouldn't be regaining consciousness anytime soon – but when you're dealing with the Shadows it's better to stay on the side of caution.

She was right. When she was within arm's reach the assassin kicked her leg out and swept Artemis's feet out from beneath her. She fell back, landing hard on her backside and then smacking her head on the concrete. Her vision went black for a few seconds, and she saw white dots explode behind her closed eyelids.

"Mask has built-in filters." The assassin said shrewdly.

Ignoring the sharp pain at the back of her head, Artemis slowly opened her eyes and aimed at kick at the assassin, but she grabbed her foot and twisted her around, seizing her wrist and holding her arm behind her back.

"Better luck next time, kid," the assassin hissed in her ear before elbowing her in the back and sending her tumbling off the roof.

Artemis Crock
Gotham City
August 9, 01:24 EDT

Artemis Crock hurried home, her hands shoved deep into her jacket pockets. She'd quickly changed into her civvies after her confrontation with Red Arrow, and now she kept her head down and walked fast, eager to reach her apartment complex after that disastrous first mission.

Of all of the assassins the Shadows could have sent, it just had to be her. And after all this time she still knew exactly what to say to get Artemis to do whatever she wanted.

"I wonder if your position's secure enough to survive them learning everything I know."

Artemis grit her teeth. How is it that she can still find a way to manipulate her – even when they're on different sides of the fight?

It's how she was raised, said a voice in the back of her head, how we both were raised. Artemis shook her head, well at least it wasn't Sportsmaster.

She shuddered at the thought and then quickened her pace. Her spirits rose as her apartment came into view – she was just blocks away from a nice, warm bath. However, her spirits were dampened when she arrived and found her crooked old neighbor perched on the stoop outside, smoking a cigar. Artemis avoided his gaze as she made her way to the door, but as she fumbled with the keys he chuckled softly,

"What happened to your head?"

"What?"

The man pointed to the back of her head with his cigar,

"You've got blood in your hair."

Artemis reached back and ran her hand through her hair, mildly surprised when it got caught on thick, congealed blood.

"It's nothing."

"Talk back to your old man again?" her neighbor asked.

Artemis' hands curled into a fist around her key,

"No."

The man chuckled again,

"Is your sister in town, then?"

Artemis felt the blood rush to her face, and she turned to look him in the eye,

"No."

The man took a long drag on his cigar and stared at her, expectantly. Artemis grimaced, thinking fast,

"I – I hit my head when I was getting out of my friend's car… She has a convertible and she was putting the top down as I was getting out."

"Ah," he grinned, exposing yellow and stained teeth, "never knew you had a friend with a convertible."

Artemis scowled at him, firmly shoving her key into the lock,

"Well there's a lot you don't know about me."

She swung open the door and quickly stepped inside, letting the door slam shut behind her.

"Artemis? Is that you?"

Her mom wheeled her way out of living room and Artemis hitched on a smile,

"Yeah, mom, I'm home."

Her mom smiled and beckoned her over,

"Come, sit down! Tell me everything about your new team!"

AN: I really like this chapter! It was a lot of fun writing Artemis and I've been waiting to use the gym teacher for one of Wally's excuses! What do you think? Please review! :)