Ch4 Missing You
A/N: Hey guys, sorry for taking so long, but I'm trying to write this, college essays, and other YJ fic challenges. Plus I miss my inspiration, YJ. But it's coming on next week, and for those that are interested they have released the synopses for the next 2 episodes after Targets.
Some story information: Robin will come off as OOC, this is done on purpose because his mystery situation is forcing him to be serious and gloomy. Also I did mention on in the first chapter about Robin being Nightwing. He is still Nightwing in this story, but I figured the team would just call him Rob, because that's how they know him/ it's his nickname. Anyways, on to the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own YJ, because if I did we'd already have new episodes.
Since they still had time before meeting Rob, or now Nightwing, Wally and Artemis decided to swing by Artemis's apartment to get a bow and some more arrows. Her house was still in a shabby part of Gotham, not where she used to live but in another rundown neighborhood of Gotham. Hey, being a hero doesn't necessarily pay that well, and Artemis wasn't even a famous one at that. They rode up a rickety elevator to apartment 4E. Artemis sighed and Wally raised an eyebrow in her direction. It's not that she hated where she lived. It just wasn't a fancy happenin place. It was just a place where she lived, and that's all it was. It was a place to eat, sleep, and be sheltered from the natural elements. It wasn't home.
Truth be told, she hadn't had a home for the past couple of years. Her last one was with her mom in their old apartment, the other was at the Young Justice HQ. She didn't have a chance to settle down while chasing her dad. She always had to be on the move, and she was used to living on only the bare necessities. That why, when they stepped into apartment 4E, all that greeted them was a simple bed pushed into the far corner across from a small TV on a rickety end table. There was a doorway leading to a bathroom on the other side of the room. By the door there was a simple kitchen set up, sink oven, small fridge and microwave. Except for the green sheets covering the bed, some suitcases, and briefcases pushed against the far wall, the room was devoid of anything personal.
"Didn't get a chance to unpack?" Wally asked taking in the room.
"Nothing to unpack."
"I thought you were in town for a couple of weeks."
"I was. I'm just- not used to staying in one place."
Silence filled the room. "How long are you staying now?" He asked, seriousness leaking into his voice.
"I-I don't know. As long as Rob needs me, after that it's up in the air." She said and strolled over to the briefcases and picked two up.
"You're going to hit the bad guys with a briefcase?" he snickered and she scowled.
"No Idiot! It holds my bow and arrows. Didn't Roy ever tell you that?"
"So that's why he had an obsession with suits and suitcases." (Note: Roy should wear suits more often XD)
"Yep Ollie taught us."
"So I have my cool color changing super suit, and you have your special hidden arrows bow thing whatever…" (Note: don't know if Flash's suit can change color, but let's just pretend.)
"Exactly."
"My color changing suit is still better than a briefcase" Wally flashed a grin at her."
She scoffed, "Whatever. You ready to finally go?"
"Yeah."
Artemis turned and climbed out the sole window onto the fire escape.
"Something against doors, Arty?"
She huffed at the name "This is just funner. Less traveled, you know?"
"Whatever you say, beautiful."
She blushed and looked away but lost balance on a step and almost fell off the fires escape. Strong hands gripped her arm, steadying her. Her eyes traveled up from the hand on her arm, to his stronger shoulder, jaw, soft lips twisted in a slight smirk, cheeks with a smattering of freckles, to his vibrant green eyes, the outer corners crinkled from years of smiles and laughs. "You ok?"
"I'm fine" she replied. "Just missed a step."
"You don't have to be embarrassed you know, I tend to have that type of affect on women."
"Ugh!" she ripped her arm away and continued to descend until she reached the ground and checked her phone for the time "4:15"
"Crap! We're going to be late. Let's go! Rob'll have my head." He turned around and started walking quickly, or quickly for normal human. Artemis followed him at a leisurely pace. "Aren't you coming?" he asked spinning around and waiting for her.
"Relax Baywatch. We'll get there on time." He snorted and started to fast walk again when she grabbed his hand, slowing him down. "Just Relax." She said as she noticed his startled expression. " I used to go to this park as a kid, and trust me when I say we'll get there in time."
He looked at her for a second before giving off a sigh and he relaxed, letting her lead him through the city. When they got to the park it was 4:34 so they sat on a bench across from a couple. The red headed girl was chatting animatedly while her raven-haired boyfriend just smiled and laughed, a deep rumbling laugh. A laugh Wally and Artemis only heard several times before; their eyes met for a split second and they turned to look at the couple across from them. Wally shot up, but Artemis yanked him back down with her hand. "Don't blow our cover to everyone at the park" she hissed as he rolled his eyes. Wally stood up again, slowly this time and with Artemis in tow. They slowly made their way to the pair. Artemis cleared her throat and two pairs of eyes met them.
"Wally! Artemis!" The girl gushed and leapt up to hug both of them. "It's so great to see you guys!"
"It's nice to see you too Megan," Artemis said as her and Wally hugged her back.
"Sup."
"That's it Conner? 5 years and all you can manage is 'Sup'?" Wally said looking at Superboy.
"Long time no see."
Artemis laughed and hugged Supey. "So what have you guys been up to?"
Conner glanced around. "Maybe we should talk about that later." Megan eyed the two. "Talking is definitely necessary." The group looked up they noticed a fairly young looking man walking toward them confidently, wearing a dark pair of jeans, button up shirt, black blazer, and black glasses covering his eyes.
"R-" Megan started, but shut her mouth when he gave her a look. He smiled at them but then walked through them toward the other side of the park, where a limo waited. The 'Let's go' went unsaid, but was obvious. The team followed the mysterious Robin to the limo and got in. The limo drove off and the former Young Justice team sat in the back in silence.
Wally was the first to break it, and he got right to the point. "Rob. What's going on? You said you needed our help."
"yeah is everything okay? I was so worried about you. You can ask anybody at the Watchtower, I was totally freaking out. I didn't know what was wrong. Please tell us. If you don't, I don't think-" Megan babbled and Conner put a hand on her shoulder, calming her.
"Yes, I'm fine. But as I mentioned I need your help. I may be in over my head." Robin answered. The team waited for an elaboration.
"Well?" Artemis asked .
"There's a villain, bigger than any other we've faced so far. He's strong, has advanced healing abilities."
"I don't get it. We've fought bigger and tougher guys."
"He's not just hard to fight physically. He's a genius. He seems to know my every move and thought, I can't surprise him. He-he may be even smarter than Batman. Bats couldn't even take him by himself. I was hoping that by bringing you guys in, I might catch him off guard and we could overpower him together."
"Wait, wait. So you basically want us to help you take down someone smarter that the Batman?" Wally exclaimed from his seat by the window.
Rob nodded slowly. "Listen, I know it's a lot to ask. It's not going to be easy. And I can't guarantee that everything is going to work out just fine but-"
"Rob."
Robin looked over at Artemis. "Don't worry about it. You're our friend, our teammate. Of course we're going to help you. "
Megan nodded. "Yeah. We're with you. Guys! It'll be just like old times! We totally got this."
Conner nodded and crossed his arms. "This guy is going down."
Wally smiled at his old time friend reassuringly. "This guy won't know what him."
Robin smiled, the first smile in a while since dealing with this criminal, "Thanks guys."
"So who is this all-powerful bad guy anyway?" Wally asked.
"His name is Slade."
A/N: Dun Dun dun! I hope this chapter makes up for it. Now be honest…. Did you guys see Slade coming? Okay, so let's be clear. This is not a crossover. I mean yeah I'll basically be using the Slade from Teen Titans, but that's only because he was so freaking awesome in it, and it's the only show I've seen Slade in. Plus, no one can get a rise out of Robin like Slade can. I do not plan to use any of the other TT characters at this moment. If I do, they'll probably only make small cameos, just for fun. And according to Wikipedia, Slade did beat Batman in a fight. So if that's not correct, well don't use Wikipedia for homework assignments. ;D So I hope you guys enjoyed it! Please review and let me know what you guys think.