Sportsmaster's hands clenched the desk. This was too much pressure, even for him.

"Well, your girl has just about ruined everything."

"Maybe I could have arranged something if you hadn't been so eager to find my replacement." His voice was dry, and after the words left his mouth, his lips returned to the thin line that had become second nature to him.

"I warned you, we are on a tight time table. If you don't think of something soon, we will not hesitate to send Death Stroke."

"I'm doing everything I can."

"No," Vandal Savage examined his finger nails. "I don't think you are. You see, I happen to know something about that girl of yours, something that could be an asset in our plan to make the Boy Wonder slip up."

"I do not want you messing with my daughter!" Sportmaster bellowed, but he already knew what Savage was thinking, already knew that if the plan had been formed in his mind, it was too late to stop him. Just the same he protested. "Keep her out of it, Savage!"

"Don't get excited," Savage replied cooly. "I think you will agree with this proposition."

"I don't think I will," he growled. "She's in enough trouble as it is."

"Oh, I know." The leader of the Light looked some what put out. "But something good could come of this yet."

"Give it time and it will work itself out. She'll forget about her little crush, and she'll realize the benefits of staying on our side."

"I have reason to believe otherwise," his companion raised an eyebrow.

"Listen, no one in the Light should be concerned with my family!"

"While concerning herself with the Justice League, she has made it necessary."

"I don't care! I'm not agreeing to this!"

There was a silent beat as Artemis' father cooled down. Vandal gave him a hard look.

"Sportsmaster," he paused, "how badly do you wish to keep your job?"

oOo

Artemis gazed at the city below from the roof of Wayne Enterprises, entranced. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the glittering sea of lights. From up here, Gotham was no filthy city of criminals, but a beautiful, breath-taking ocean to be admired and gazed at, like a gem behind glass.
She could hardly believe this was the city she had been so terrified of. She had thought one look, one breath of its foul air would poison her forever, but it was almost completely contrary. With each breath she felt more free; with each sweep of her eyes over the scene came an involuntary smile.

The one thing that finally brought her away from the beauty she was soaking in like a sponge, was Nightwing's arm on her shoulder. She was suddenly reminded of his presence, and leaned back contentedly, giving him a brilliant, grateful smile.

"Do you like what you see?" He asked quietly, as if a louder tone would shatter the atmosphere.

She nodded in response, still too elated to speak. He suddenly rose, taking her hand and helping her to her feet.

"It's beautiful, really." He sighed as he turned to look at the inky sky. Artemis wished beyond anything that she could see the look in his eyes- but they were hidden behind the mask, and a maddening urge came over her to take it off. Did she dare?

He turned back to her and took her other hand. They faced each other, positioned not unlike that of a bride and groom at the alter. Each one of her hands slid slowly, cautiously, from his fingers and up his chest, finally settling on either side of his neck. He brought his left hand to her cheek, and she closed her eyes at the touch. She could feel his breath come closer, and her eyes opened again to see him now just inches away.

He suddenly took a startled step back when her fingers lightly touched the mask. His face was drawn, and she was uncertain whether this was a reflex, or if he truly didn't want to reveal to her the emotions he so closely guarded. The thought pained her.

A moment later, however, his arms fell limp at his sides and he took a step, a much slower, cautious step, towards her. His look was resigned, and he was peacefully still as Artemis tried once again, reaching her thin fingers towards the mask, and this time, gently pulling it from his eyes.

His eyes. Oh, his eyes! She almost squealed at the sight of them. How many other people had experienced such a sight? She doubted that few in the entire world had felt what she was feeling in that moment. They were beautiful, entrancing, and once she looked into them, she never wanted to look away.

"Do you like what you see?" He asked again, this time in a whisper.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come out.

His lips curved in a small, bashful smile. "That's how I feel about you every day."

An exhale escaped Artemis' lips before they were caught in his. All at once his eyes disappeared from her sight, and the world itself disappeared along with them. All consciousness left her, and in that moment she was lost in something she didn't quite understand. It was he, the man melting his lips into hers, pulling her waist closer to him, holding every bit of her being and never wishing to give her up. She couldn't stop if she wanted to; in that moment she was solely his, and no one else's; not even her own.

His lips left hers then met them again, then spoke her name in the gentlest of whispers, then joined with hers once more. It was so short yet felt so long; an eternity, in fact. But when he released her and slid his hand into hers, she knew it had only been but a moment. A lovely, exhilarating moment however, leaving her with a wish for many more like it.

"Artemis," he spoke quietly. She looked up to see his gaze fixed over the city. "What do you see?"

She hardly trusted her voice, but managed to say, "I see loveliness. A black cloth encrusted with diamonds, each twinkling in a unique way."

She was surprised when Nightwing closed his eyes almost painfully. "I see... I see the same. But what I cannot ignore is what I hear. I hear millions of people crying out, crying out for a savior, for someone who they can trust to lead them and bring them hope. Someone who can be a symbol for them to lift up their eyes to and be comforted by. Someone who devotes themselves fully to their care."

In that moment, Artemis realized everything. The pressure, the responsibility, the weight of other's dependence on him. It was why he kept the mask on, and kept his distance from others. To reveal himself, to share the weight with someone else could be dangerous. It could cause him to falter, to let down the people under his care. Sharing his life with her could weaken him.

"You're one of those people, Artemis. The only difference is that the people down there," he gestured with the hand that was clasped over hers, "they are as precious as diamonds. You, you are more valuable to me than anything on this earth, or any earth for that matter." He smiled a bit. "I'm willing to take the risk," he started, but faltered. "I'm willing to take the risk of-"

"No," she whispered, putting her hand to his cheek. "I could never ask for that. You can't compromise for me. I will come second, I'm satisfied with that. As long as I can be with you."

His eyes -she was joyful to be able to read them again- spoke a deep appreciation, and something else she couldn't place. He took her hand and placed it over his heart. "You will always be first in here."

She lay her head against his chest, his arms wrapped around her waist, and a few soft kisses were planted on her neck. "We should go back inside," he murmured into her hair. "It's dangerous out here."

She couldn't help but lift her eyes up to his. "You're one of the greatest heroes alive, Nightwing. You could protect us from anyone."

"Not all danger comes in the form of villains," he replied as he took a grappling hook from his belt and replaced his mask. "You are tempting, and I am too weak a man."

oOo

Artemis was elated for the rest of the night. It was a difficult task to act like a prisoner in her father's office when he returned, but it was convincing enough, and he seemed satisfied with the thought that she had been there the whole time.

Nightwing had left her with the promise that he would immediately go take care of Cameron, possibly sending him to the Justice League for questioning. Sportsmaster wouldn't miss him, and from the sound of it, neither would his father.

She went to bed late that evening, but not to sleep. She had been holding in all her excitement for the past hour while she waited to be taken back to the apartment, and now she felt as if she would burst. There was no way to get out of her apartment, however, and she had to settle for jittering around her carpet and doing handstands against the wall. By the time she felt even remotely sleepy, it was 4 AM, and she didn't wake until 11 the next morning.

Nightwing had dropped her off at Sportsmaster's office as soon as they had returned. He was surprised, and his suspicions were aroused when he was called back to his office several hours later. After being admitted, he walked in to the office on his guard, thinking he was prepared for anything. He was wrong.

"Ah, Nightwing. We really haven't spoked since you left all that time ago." He gestured to the chair across from him. "Have a seat."

Nightwing thanked him and sat down, still ready to defend himself against an attack. Sportsmaster seemed to sense this, and gave him an amused smile. "Relax, boy. It's just you and I in here."

Nightwing narrowed his eyes, showing he planned on doing no such thing. Lawrence shrugged and proceeded.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush here. Frankly, the Shadows are being threatened by some pretty sinister crooks; you know that. They're trying to turn my men against me. They've already sent a mercenary who wants to take my place. Of course I want to protect the Shadows from him, but I just don't see how I can. I mean, I'm already trying to keep this team together, which is difficult enough-"

"You want me to take care of him?" Nightwing cut to the chase.

"In a way," Lawrence nodded, barely flinching at his forwardness. "He's already named his terms. He's settled in Gotham and doesn't plan to leave until he's faced our best champion. If he wins, he takes my place in the Shadows, and we loose the whole bid to the dogs trying to run us out of town. If we win, he'll scram, and we get to keep our place, in addition to winning back the loyalty of any doubting members in the Shadows."

"I'm flattered, really," Nightwing replied with a hint of sarcasm. "But as the head of the League of Shadows, and probably the person this mercenary had in mind when he asked for our champion, I'd say you should be the one to face him."

Sportsmaster smiled, but the teen got the feeling it wasn't displaying how he felt. "I've never known you to run from a fight."

"It certainly isn't running. The Shadows are your responsibility."

"And there's where you come in. You see, like I said, I'm busy here, and it would be difficult for me to accept this terrorist's demands while I am busy working on a solution so that this never happens again. And besides," he seemed satisfied with himself. "I think I have something you may want."

"What are you getting at?"

"I think you know." The harshness that came with Lawrence's voice changed the mood of the conversation entirely. "Don't think that it is unknown to me what you've been doing with Artemis. As her father and leader of the League of Shadows I do not approve. But..."

The pause was painstakingly long.

"If you take your place as the protector of the League, I will give her to you. That is, if you make it through the battle."

Nightwing was furious at first. "Artemis is not a prize to be won! How can you even consider offering her as one?!"

His companion was unaffected. "I know how much she wants you, needs you. Imagine her as a prisoner of Deathstroke, her father dead, with no one to take care of her. It's not about giving her as a prize. It's about me giving my approval of you, and my blessing to your-" he barely kept himself from scoffing. "-relationship."

Nightwing leaned forward across the desk, his voice barely above a hoarse whisper. "If you break this deal, I will not hesitate to turn you in. I already have enough evidence against you. All I have to do is make the call."

"So why haven't you already?" Sportsmaster hissed, and the tense atmosphere returned. "You know why, Boy. Artemis matters more to you than you'd like to admit. You want her? Do what I tell you. Don't care enough? That's fine with me. But I can't promise she'll be safe here."

In that moment all Nightwing wanted to do was leave the presence of this vile man. He knew that facing Deathstroke would be near suicide. The odds were against him in every way. And even if he won, Sportmaster was sure to resume leadership and turn over the Shadows to the Ra's al Ghul and the others. He didn't care about keeping them out of the Light. He only cared about keeping his job. He was manipulating him to do the work he was too damn scared to do himself. He was a coward.

Then Nightwing thought about what he had just promised Artemis. He had meant every word. She was his most valuable possession, though she could not be owned, no matter what Sportsmaster said. He couldn't leave her in his hands. She had to be protected. She had to be with someone trustworthy. In the Shadows, that didn't leave him a lot of options.

That was the moment he knew what he had to do. No matter what, he was going to keep her safe. The only way he would fail was if he died trying. It might just happen, but he would do it for her.

"Your word?" He asked through gritted teeth, although there was not much point in clarifying.

Sportsmaster held his hand out across the table. Although Nightwing never felt more disgusted with himself than in that moment, he reached across and shook the hand of his betrayer.

One thought echoed in his mind as he left the office that night.

For Artemis.

oOo

Yay- finally (: I just love them. Make sure to tell me what you think!

I decided I'm going to make a sequel to this, so be prepared- it's going to end in a sort of cliff-hanger!

Random Justice League Fact: The name Bruce Wayne came from Robert Bruce, the Scottish patriot, and Mad Anthony Wayne, the Revolutionary War general.