Wahoo another chapter. Progress, progress. So here is the next chapter this one is going to bridge the time between their adolescence to July 1 where season 1 begins. I considered extending this arc but I'm just so excited to begin writing Season 1 incorporating Artemis in the early episodes that I thought the best way to approach this was to do a montage of them growing up. In regards, to Wally getting his powers is discussed here but I feel like it will be something also discussed in future chapters so if you feel that section is a little lacking that's why.
So I'd like to thank the people who reviewed last chapter. You all sent me some lovely comments and I just want to show my appreciation by thanking, RebellaGrayson, Samian, j9162, angelkierra, BetterThanTheUniversity, I Dance The Merengue, The Keeper of Worlds, ItsGracyPuddin, Bookworm2700, ISCMHF, SpitfireChick, violingirl56, Dextra2, ElricKeyblade, Kamil the Awesome, and Irenerb. Again really sorry I don't have time to do my usual custom responses but feel free to PM and ask questions.
Think of this as therapy before tomorrow's episode if you don't already know about the campaign to save YJ check out yjfanvids on tumblr.
Thanks to silent reviewers.
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or its characters.
Chapter 4: Leap Years
"What's this all about?" whispered Mary opening the door for the Flash. "You just phone us out of the blue and say you have to come over. What is so urgent it couldn't wait till tomorrow?" Wearing a robe over her nightgown and bags under her eyes, Mary looked a little worse for wear and less then impressed with the interruption.
Pulling his cowl off Barry sighed running a hand through his hair as Iris, Jay and Joan followed him inside. "Are Thing 1 and Thing 2 asleep?" He asked running a tired hand down his face.
Mary huffed crossing her arms. "Of course it's midnight and it might be Halloween but tomorrow is a school day." Barry smiled a little bit at that thought, earlier that day Mary had sent him a picture of Wally in his almost-nephew's own rendition of the Flash costume.
"Mary," sighed Rudy retying his robe. "They're here for a good reason I'm sure."
"About that," continued Barry slumping into a chair and gesturing towards the sofa and surrounding furniture. "I suggest you sit down."
"Is it really that bad?" asked Iris arranging herself on his lap without reservation, her engagement ring glinting on her finger in the dim light.
"Mmmm," the blonde hummed tiredly as the others took their places. "It's…to put it bluntly in Batman's terms, a complication."
"Which means?" asked Mary watching as Barry tossed the file folder he'd been carrying onto the coffee table.
"Take a look for yourself." Mary and Rudy raised an eyebrow and reached for the folder. It was a social work case file from Gotham. "There's been a search out for a kidnapped foster child for two years."
"What?" sputtered Mary and Joan peered over her shoulder as the red haired woman inspected a picture that contained the distinct youthful features of a four-year-old Artemis. "Gotham, Fletchers, foster care," she hastily listed scanning the information. "What is this?"
"It's the case file of a little girl name Artemis Crock who was kidnapped from her foster parent's home on February 15, 1999." Rudy thumbed the photo of the little girl with the black eye contemplatively.
"What happened?" he asked seriously. Barry frowned running a hand through his hair.
"Artemis was placed in child protective services when she was four because of reported domestic abuse. This was her third foster family and she'd only been there two weeks before she was kidnapped. The Fletcher family have been searching for the little girl ever since."
"Are they 'actively' searching?" asked Jay liberally. "She's technically outside Gotham's jurisdiction."
"Which on all counts I would agree with you, if there wasn't for one small problem," said Barry and Iris shifted to look at him. "Regardless of whether Mr. Fletcher and Mrs. Fletcher want Artemis back the problem lies with her lineage."
"So her name's Crock," stated Joan. "She was scared and didn't tell us her real last name that's hardly a reason to rip her from her home and place her on the other side of the country with complete strangers."
"That's the complication."
"You mean we haven't reached it yet?" spat Mary tersely. "You've practically said we have to give Artemis up to these Fletcher people!" She slapped the folder against the table hotly.
"Artemis Crock was placed in child protective services because it was discovered that her father, Lawrence Crock aka Sportsmaster, and her mother, Paula Crock, aka Huntress were training her. She's the daughter of two high profile criminals. Her mother died a year ago but her father is on the League's watch list." A moment of silence fell upon the five adults as they contemplated that information. Artemis's past was checkered but this added a whole other dimension – clearly her parents were willing to cross lines to get her back.
"Training her?" questioned Jay. "Like training her?"
"Exactly."
"I suppose that's why Artemis attacked that child," pondered Mary recalling the blonde's first day of school. Rudy snorted. Nothing really fazed either parent anymore in regards to superheroes and villains. Artemis was Artemis so why should they care. She clearly wasn't anything like her parents.
"So what does this mean for Artemis?" inquired Iris winding her arms around Barry's neck and yawning.
"That's where Batman comes in."
"As he usually does," chuckled Jay.
"He'll overlook the fact that she legally doesn't belong here because he wants Artemis is remain in our care due to certain security benefits.
"You," stated Joan smirking.
"Why shouldn't she stay with us?" said Mary. "We're her family. She's happy. There is no reason for her to leave. Batman or no Batman." Rudolph just shook his head.
"You are a scary woman, Mary." His wife just grumbled not amused by his poor taste in jokes.
"Her father is still out there. Her father still wants her but for whatever reason he abandoned her. It's too big risk to place her elsewhere, emotional trauma aside." Barry sighed. "It's just…" he shrugged exhausted. "Trying. She's trying. We're all trying."
"The bigger question," murmured Iris soothingly. "Is do we tell her what we know? She clearly wants to forget her past. It doesn't sound like it was pleasant."
"I say we don't mention it," said Rudy contemplatively. "We know who she is now but it should be her decision to tell us."
"So we dispose of this file and go on like usual?" Mary smiled slamming the file onto the table with finality. "I am perfectly okay with that."
"Artemis," said Mary looking meaningfully at Rudy before turning to her. "There is something we'd like to ask you." Seven-year-old Artemis sat in her chair swinging her legs looking nervously at the West family. She'd been staying with them for little over a year and for the last week all three of them had been hiding something. At least she was pretty sure they were. Wally was staring at her like mad – it was creeping her out.
"Yes…"
"You've been here awhile– "
"Like forever," interrupted Wally waving his arms enthusiastically.
Mary sent Wally a look but continued. "We were wondering, and this is completely your choice, if you would like to be formally adopted." Artemis blinked at the faces of the people she now called family. Never in a million years had she ever thought that he father ditching her in a park would lead to this. She had always dreamed of belonging somewhere, of being wanted, not the runt of the litter that had to be watched and babied. It was overwhelming and she was tongue-tied unable to formulate a response in front of the people she so desperately wanted to belong to.
"Hey, hey Arty," chided Wally elbowing her in the ribs but his eyes were worried and nervous. She thought fondly that she had always wanted a brother. "Just say yes. We are totally cool people."
Apparently that was all the encouragement she needed as she nodded at them and said, "I would love to. But I have one small request."
"Shoot," said Rudolph pulling out his cell phone apparently ready to spread the good news to the extended family.
She looked down shyly at her twiddling fingers. "Can I keep my last name?"
"Of course!" exclaimed Mary. "That is your own choice to make."
"Mmmm," pondered Wally. "Artemis Nguyen-West, it doesn't sound terrible."
Artemis laughed.
When they were eight Iris and Barry (finally) got married and when they were eight and half Wally discovered Barry's secret identity – Flash. Of course, both of them were thrilled and Wally wouldn't shut up about it for weeks; pestering his Uncle at every opportunity to be his sidekick. Artemis, although a huge fan of Flash and even huger fan since she was now related to Flash, took it a bit more in stride simply trying to rein in her brother's enthusiasm.
At least until he blew himself up recreating Flash's experiment when he was nine.
That was the first time Wally had seen Artemis cry as she sat beside his hospital bed, her knuckles turning white from the force she was applying to the bedspread as it twisted between her fingers.
"You IDIOT! YOU IDIOT! IDIOT! IDIOT!" she had screamed and yelled at him, tears streaming down her face as she cried. He'd done it when their parents had taken her to karate practice – a sport she was incredibly proficient at and had taken up a year ago. She felt responsible. "If I had known you were going to blow yourself up I would have kicked your butt!" Nothing had been more horrific for parent or daughter to come home to have destroyed house and burning skin.
Wally smiled weakly at his sister patting her hand with his bandaged one. Their parents were off to the side talking with Barry and Iris who both shared looks of shocked horror and worry. "Wait till I become a hero." He grinned. "I'll be super cool." He winked and winced simultaneously as it irritated an injury.
Artemis shook her head angrily. "You always say that stupid word! You ARE SO stupid! I'd nearly kill you myself if you hadn't already done such a good job of it. You weren't supposed to copy those notes. You promised me!"
"It'll be okay Arty. I'm okay." Artemis sniffed rubbing furiously at her eyes, not having the heart to rebuke his tease. It was undeniable that the two siblings had developed an incredibly close bond over the last three years. She was his partner in crime, his best friend and one true confidant and he really wished he hadn't lied to her about his little side project – but he just wanted to be like the Flash screw the consequences.
"Umm guys," his parents turned to look at him worriedly. Probably expecting something to blow up right before their eyes. "I'm starving. I'm sooooo hungry I could eat a horse."
Wally saw Barry leaving the room with Iris and caught his shoulders tensing at his nephew's omission.
Wally wasn't allowed to be Barry's sidekick for over a year, which drove him crazy because once he got his powers all he wanted to do was run but instead he had to spend sixteen months training.
"You have no idea how boring it is." He complained while Artemis attacked a punching bag with unbridled ferocity. The basement had essentially been converted into an in-house gym as Artemis's karate (and other martial arts) training progressed and his too. "Run from that tree, to that tree, to that bush. Are you listening, Wally? You have to get this right." He mocked shoving a handful of chips into his mouth.
"Wally," stated Artemis blatantly. "I think you're missing the point. Barry isn't just going to let you run amuck, he needs to know you will listen to orders. It could be a matter of life or death." She sent a rather vicious kick to the punching bag.
"Wow, you sound lame." Artemis frowned. There were times when she sounded way more mature then any normal ten year old girl should – plus what ten year old wanted to take up archery, work out and go on early morning runs (although his mother was forcing him to go with her.)
"You shouldn't eat in here and you should be weight lifting." Wally grimaced not particularly enamored by the prospect of hard work, especially exercise. Shaking her head she gestured at the mats. "At least do some sit-ups. I'll spot you."
"Ugh, fine," groaned Wally wiping his grease stained fingers on his pants before laying down.
"See was that so hard," she smirked pressing her hands against his feet. Wally rolled his eyes as he started "exercising." "So how's class?"
Wally shrugged. "Not bad." They were still in separate years but Artemis was aiming to catch up to him – taking extra advanced classes in preparation to skip grades. "Pretty sure Miss DiNova is trying to kill me with homework."
"That's what happens when you put tacks on someone's chair just because you saw it in a movie."
"Not like she caught me." Artemis chuckled. Even she could appreciate one of Wally's pranks. As Wally finished his fiftieth sit-up he noticed, for the first time, that Artemis had breasts. They might have been incredibly small but she had honest to God breasts. He had always known she was a girl but when had she become a girl. Blushing and scrambling backwards furiously Artemis stared at him like he was crazy.
"What?"
"I, er, hear Barry calling," stammered Wally quickly getting up and bolting.
Artemis looked after her adopted brother confused. "You have super speed, not super hearing."
When Wally finally went into the field Artemis knew she just couldn't sit back and watch. Not only was it not in her nature, she clearly was the more competent; even without super powers she was still a prized fighter and a master archer. If there was one thing her father had taught her was how to hold her own in combat.
It was in her blood to fight.
Jade, mom and dad had always praised her on her archery skills (sort of) and having taken up the sport again along with her extra circulars she was a force to be reckoned with. Plus she was worried about Wally, if he didn't manage to trip over his own two feet that was a good day.
"If I could ground you I would!" yelled Wally furiously pacing back and forth in Artemis's room.
"But you can't."
"I can't believe you!" he shouted indignantly. "Our parents are going to freak when they find out!" At thirteen Wally was hardly a big a threat but he was loyal. When he had found Artemis stopping a convenience store robbery wearing a green hoodie and wielding her bow she had made him swear on the spot not to tell anyone. "What were you thinking?!"
"That I could play with the big boys."
"Artemis you're, pardon the expression, normal. It's too dangerous."
"That's rich coming from the guy who had to blow himself up to get his powers. I got mine fair and square through sweat, blood and tears."
"Low. And please do not use the word blood," said Wally paling. There had been one too many close calls with bullets today.
"I just don't get what your deal is? I saved those people."
"You almost, and I emphasis the almost, got shot! Shot with a bullet!" Artemis threw a pillow expertly at his face.
"The operative word is almost Wall-man," she said as Wally pulled the pillow away unamused. "And I have better reflexes then you. All the speed in the world and you can't even dodge a fluffy projectile."
"This isn't about that," sputtered Wally angrily vibrating as his agitation grew. "Artemis you can't do those things. You nearly gave me a heart attack. If Barry had seen you he would have flipped."
"It's ironic."
"What is?" said Wally testily trying to calm his nerves. He had never been more terrified in his life then when thug number one had pointed a gun at Artemis and taken that shot. If she had been a split second slower deflecting it with her bow then – Wally didn't want to think about it. He had known for a while that Artemis's training had taken a very serious turn but he had just thought it was for the upcoming karate tournament not because she had become a nighttime vigilante.
"That I'm getting the safety talk from 'you.'" She emphasized complete with air quotes. Wally ran his hands through his hair in utter annoyance, as he tended to do when Artemis frustrated him beyond belief. He was amazed he wasn't bald yet.
"Look you have to tell mom and dad," gulping he quelled the rapid beating of his heart and bravely said. "Or I will."
Artemis's eyes narrowed and her arms crossed. "Are you actually suggesting you will break sibling secret honor?"
Wally winced. The things they had kept secret using that pact. The things he had gotten away with. "Yes."
"Are you actually that worried?" she asked quietly, not looking at him.
Wally blinked it was one thing to think it but say it out loud. He didn't want to sound like he didn't trust her or her abilities but this was her safety they were talking about. "Yeah."
"Okay I'll tell them. But I'm not stopping. I'm twice as stubborn as you are and way better at sneaking out of the house."
Of course their parents had been thrilled that their adopted daughter now wanted to be a masked vigilante…not. They didn't necessarily have a problem with it per se, they knew she was capable of holding her own in a fight they just had a few reservations about her doing it. It had been a clear agreement that any sidekick under their roof maintained a B+ average or better – Artemis's grades were starting to slip. There also was the matter of supervision.
So a deal had to be made.
It was eventually decided that Green Arrow would take Artemis on as an apprentice much to his current protégé's annoyance. Speedy did not take kindly to someone else taking up his mentor's time especially a thirteen year old who could only weekends.
Artemis of course accepted her limited conditions in exchange for access to Green Arrow's private archery facilities so she could train. Although she was benched most of the time she did get a lot of opportunities to help out in Star City and Central City during holidays and when big capers were going down.
However, there was one small fly in the ointment.
"Artemis I'm sorry but we don't want you wearing that uniform," said Mr. West and his wife nodded in agreement as Artemis looked at both of them sourly, her midriff bearing uniform laid out on the West kitchen table like a crime victim. Wally had also clearly left her team as he placed his hand right where her bellybutton would be.
"It's too big a target," he said.
"You're kidding right? I need to be able to move!"
"Speedy and Green Arrow seem to operate just fine without showing off their abs." Wally countered sticking his tongue out at her and dodging when she attempted to punch him.
"It's not a matter of moving, Artemis," said Mary. "It's a matter of defense and decency. We're just not comfortable with you showing that much skin. You're only thirteen." Artemis arched a delicate eyebrow crossing her arms as she stared her foster family down.
"You're not going to let this go."
"Hell no!"
"Wally," hissed Mary at his swear but she didn't correct him.
"We're concerned for your safety Artemis. It's not a punishment."
"It should be illegal!" sputtered Wally.
"Wallace."
"Okay, fine." Artemis groaned jutting her hip out defiantly. She really just wanted to get this whole thing over with. "I'll wear a more conservative uniform but when I turn fifteen I get to wear it how I want." She pointed at Wally. "Whether you like it or not." Wally still objected but at least Artemis would be featured in less tween magazines. He'd figure out a way to permanently glue the body amour together long before she turned fifteen.
"So this is the Bat Cave," explained Robin as the two pre-teens were given a guided tour of the hero's equipment by his proxy Robin.
"Appropriate," snickered Wally as he stared up at the ceiling, which was coincidently covered in bats. Robin was Batman's secret protégé. Thankfully, though fourteen-year-old Artemis found she liked the younger boy a lot better then Speedy. She especially liked that he got under Wally's skin and it was nice to talk to someone who was a lot closer to their age. She could already feel that those two were going to be a dangerous duo of mayhem.
"So totally feeling the ship."
"Pardon," asked Artemis blinking at the weird turn of phrase.
"He said," groaned Wally clearly annoyed with her inability to keep up. "Friendship."
"Oh I'm sorry I happen to speak English, Vietnamese and French not gibberish." Artemis responded her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Wally just shook his head sadly. "Sisters. They just don't get it."
"On that note," said the bird. "It's been bugging me for a while now. Are you two twins?" Artemis and Wally shared a look outside their school friends and family not many people knew about the actual origins of Artemis. It wasn't that it was classified information but Wally always secretly worried that someday Artemis's real family would step forward and take her away. It was a petty thing to say but he didn't want to loose Artemis and she didn't seem to want to talk about her past either so all the more reason not to mention it at all.
"Nah," said Artemis breezily waving it off. "I'm adopted. Isn't it obvious?"
The young sidekick raised an eyebrow. "No."
"No," affirmed Artemis leaning over a railing to look at the murky waters below the Cave's main platform. "Do I look or act anything like Kid Klutz?" Wally pulled a face.
"Hey at least I have super powers!" Robin and Artemis shared a look. "Sorry." He uttered realizing his folly.
"I get it. Not related," said Robin. "Way not related. But are you sure you're the adopted one?"
It was disturbing how natural it became for the Wests to simply accept their superhero children. More often than not family movie night consisted of Wally and Artemis sprawled out on the floor designing and building new arrows while simultaneously texting Batman's protégé, Robin. Mary couldn't count the number of acid stains in her carpet – though they were not testing the rocket arrow in her house.
Morning runs, time spent in their gym-basement, and long mentor-mentee conversations around their kitchen table eventually began to occur more and more often. Conversation at dinner was less about what happened at school and more about what disaster the two had prevented on their way home from class.
Time passed and everything returned to normal – or as normal as could be considered for the West household.
Review, comment and critique. Always happy for feedback and thoughts.