Well, I hope you were impressed by Artemis and Slade. The plot is well on its way now, all aboard. I shouldn't probably type when I'm tired, so I'll just let you go on.

The wind whipped Artemis' hair across her face, despite her attempts to wrangle it into a controlled ponytail. A day had passed, and Artemis found herself on the rooftop of the same warehouse the Arrow had taken her at midnight once again.

In one hand, she had the device Oliver had given her to contact him. Red for emergency, green for partnership. In her other hand, she held a forged threat Slade had given her, to make it seem as though the Triad was targeting her. After her outburst against working with Oliver last night, it would seem too suspicious if she changed her mind suddenly from 'the goodness of her heart'.

Her thumb brushed over the buttons, being careful not to push them. Mom, Jade, Cissie… the three people she cared about where the three she had put in danger by her careless actions. If she had just said no to Slade the moment he entered her door, she would be in her bed right now, worrying about the events of the next day.

Even if she did nothing, she doomed them all. Maybe this was why Slade had approached her. She was easy to manipulate.

Before she could think about it, she let herself push the green button. Nothing happened to show she had done anything; no light went off, no sound was made – nada. However, a sound was made behind her as someone said, "I was wondering when you were going to push it."

Artemis spun around to see Oliver standing there, not dressed in his Arrow costume but dressed similarly to her: leather jacket, jeans and a good pair of boots. Probably to try to make me feel more comfortable she observed.

"I was wondering when you were going to say something," Artemis replied, hinting that she had known he was there the whole time but in all actuality he had surprised her – again, damn it. Oliver smirked, as if he knew she was bluffing but he let it go.

"So, one night you're telling me off, and the next you want to team up? What made you change your mind?" he asked her, walking closer but not menacingly like Slade would do. Artemis noticed that he was genuinely curious as to her 'change of heart' and that he seemed like he wanted to help her – which didn't mean anything to her. But it was interesting to note the differences between the two men and their methods.

"I need your help," Artemis said, looking down to show her hurt pride. Gripping the note tighter, she continued. "My… my cover's blown. The Triad will be after me if they didn't already send someone."

"And I can help you how?" Oliver asked, though Artemis sensed he knew what she was going to say.

"I'll help you on your crusade or whatever if you make sure I don't die," Artemis said, simply. "You're my best option."

"Is that all it really is?" Oliver asked. Artemis paled slightly, wondering if he knew her motives. "Or are you just coming up with an excuse? You don't seem like the person to suck up her pride and move on with someone you… dislike. I'm having trouble believing it's just for that reason." Artemis stood there as Oliver studied her. There's no way he can know. Please, please don't let him know she thought.

"Look, if you don't believe me then believe my need of saving my own skin, and being willing to do whatever it takes," Artemis said. "Besides, I've already kept your secret this long, and saved your ass last night. I think I've earned your help, if not your trust." Please say yes she thought. She handed him the unspecific threat note, hoping it might help convince him.

As he looked at the note, Oliver studied the girl in front of him again. She looked scared, which made sense with her story. But he got the feeling that something was off with her, though what it was he couldn't place. But her points were valid, and since she showed more fear than she thought, Oliver couldn't let her go face what she was about to alone.

"Alright, you've made your point," Oliver said, standing up straighter and crossing his arms. "Although, I do have one question for you. You've made it clear that not turning me in ruined your chance with the Triad. But why did you do it?"

Artemis looked down. She had wondered that many times too. Looking up, she shrugged. "Maybe I was just tired of working for my dad," she said, though it was more like a suggestion. "But… I also remembered you have a sister. And I couldn't take you away from her. Not after she just got you back." As she said it, she realized it was true. Going through what had happened with her own sister, she knew the pain of losing an older sibling.

Oliver sat there for a moment, studying her. His face gave away nothing to Artemis. She didn't know whether he would fall for her ruse. Maybe that little bit of truth at the end would be enough to secure her position.

"Alright," Oliver said. Artemis tilted her head slightly. "I don't have much of a choice of letting you know who I am." Well, he could kill me, Artemis thought. She knew the same thought had crossed his mind as well. "But I can't let you meet the others and know who they are without their permission."

Others? Artemis had suspected that he had to have some help, but how many people would he trust with his secret?

Well, she was about to become one of them.

"So…?" Artemis led on. A slow grin spread on Oliver's face as he grabbed a swatch of fabric from his pocket.

"You want me to trust you? First you have to trust me," he said, giving it to her.

"No. No way am I letting you blindfold me to take me who knows where," Artemis protested, not taking the blindfold from him.

"Then no deal," Oliver said, shrugging simply. "Trust is a two way street." Of course, neither of them really trusted the other. Oliver didn't trust anyone, really, especially a teenage girl who used to be a part of the Triad. And Artemis didn't trust anyone, especially an insane hood-wearing man who could try to kill her. Maybe that was why fate had thrown them together.

Artemis stared at the blindfold in Oliver's hand. Slowly, she reached out and grabbed it, tying it around her eyes. "If you kill me, I'll come back and haunt your ass," she grumbled.

"If you haunt me, I'll call the Ghostbusters," Oliver muttered right back to her, surprising Artemis. Who would have thought he'd have a sense of humor?

Ooooh. So... what do you think?

I don't know how long it will be until the next update. Next week my computer goes in the shop for repair, plus there's exams and stuff which will definitely delay posting of the next chapter. I hope you'll all stick around for it though!