Hello! I knew this sort of took a long time, but I was kind of busy. No matter; spring break started, so I'll have plenty of time to give you more chapters.
I'd like to thank Little Karma and nequam-tenshi for sending in an OC. And as usual, MidnightRoulette, batman-defeats-all, Jedi Ani Unduli, and candi711 have my gratitude for reviewing.
As it is now April, those of you who have already submitted an OC may submit another one. If you ever change your mind, private message me or submit another review under anonymous review with your username typed in. Again, I emphasize the need for MALE superheroes and FEMALE villains.
Here's what I have so far:
Villains: Stake
Blast
Lilac
Midnight Prowler
Heroes: Sin
Jeta
Halfte
Insight
Night Bird
Gentil
This chapter is the Buried Secrets version of Coldhearted.
Warning(s): Characters for the most part of OOC, and there is profanity in some parts of the story.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Young Justice.
Mount Justice
November 11, 14:36 EDT
Recognized. Artemis B07.
"Artemis!" M'gann flew to her eagerly. "You're here!"
Artemis noticed that Zatanna hung back in the meanwhile, clearly still upset over her father.
"So it's Wally's sixteenth birthday today?" Artemis looked around the room. So far, it seemed pretty empty of any decorations.
"Yup!" M'gann beamed. "Wally's going to be so surprised when he comes here later!"
"Great. Is there, um, anything I can do to help?" Artemis still felt a tad bit uncomfortable around the Martian. Artemis discovering M'gann and Connor's relationship had put a seriously big dent in their friendship; the Martian seemed blissfully unaware of this, though
"Well, you could help put up these streamers!" M'gann held up reels of orange, purple, and yellow.
"Um, okay then." She took the rolls and M'gann flew back to the kitchen.
Mount Justice
November 11, 14: 45 EDT
Artemis had been putting up the decorations for quite some time now. Unfortunately, there were some places that she could not reach, despite using a ladder.
Recognized. Red Arrow B06.
She didn't bother turning around. They weren't friends just because they had toned down their rivalry.
"You need help?"
She continued hanging up the streamers, "Nope."
Roy sighed, and ran his hand through his hair.
He's not walking away…..Why isn't he-
"So you're here for Wally's birthday?" Artemis asked, attempting conversation.
"Gee, Artemis," Roy said sarcastically, "What do you think?"
She whirled around to give him a snappy comment, forgetting that she was high up on the ladder.
Okay, you know how in those sappy, cheesy romance flicks, the girl always falls and the guy catches her? Well…let's just say that there was no difference for Artemis.
"You alright?" Roy was grinning.
Why that cocky little…..
Artemis cleared her throat, "You can put me down now."
When her feet finally touched the floor again, Artemis huffed indignantly, "I didn't need your help, you know."
"Hmmm," his smirk grew wider, "That's not what I thought a few moments ago."
Artemis's face became an unsettling shade of red. Instead of saying anything, she turned around again to the ladder.
"Oh no, you don't," Roy grabbed her shoulder.
"Why not?" she hissed.
He pointed at the ladder, "One of the rungs is broken, and the rest looks kind of unstable."
Damn. He's right. I hate it when he's right.
She looked over at him, "So what are we supposed to do now, Speedy?"
Zatanna walked in to make sure Artemis and Red Arrow hadn't killed each other yet.
She was surprised to hear laughter as the two worked together to hang the streamers up. Careful not to interrupt them, Zatanna quietly watched from the corner.
Artemis was notably laughing the loudest as she tossed the roll into the air. As it unraveled, Red Arrow shot an arrow, pinning it against the wall. The rest of the roll severed from the pinned piece and fell back into Artemis's hands.
"Nice shot," Artemis smiled, "but I can do better."
She moved towards him, shoving the roll into his hands and picking up her bow.
Red Arrow rolled his eyes but nonetheless, complied.
"Hey," Artemis called out as she readied her arrow, "You don't think that they'll mind that our arrows are in the wall, right?"
Red Arrow shrugged, "Doesn't matter how we do it, as long as we do it."
"It's about time they get along," Zatanna thought as she moved back to the kitchen to help M'gann.
Mount Justice
November 11, 16:20 EDT
"So Wally's into M'gann?" Roy asked, furrowing his brow.
Artemis rolled her eyes, "No shit, Sherlock."
Roy ignored her last comment, "And M'gann's into Superboy?"
"She's in a relationship with Superboy," Artemis corrected somewhat bitterly.
"Awww, is Artemis jealous?" Roy teased.
She folded her arms, "Yeah, right."
For a while, there was silence between them.
"Someone should tell Wally then," Roy finally said.
"I'll tell him," Artemis volunteered.
Roy raised his brow, "You seem a bit eager to break Wally,"
"It's only because it's getting really annoying hearing Wally's lame ass pick-up lines," Artemis retorted.
Roy grinned, "You probably only think that because no one's bothered to use those corny pick-up lines on you."
Artemis's eyes twitched, "Asshole."
The truth was, only one person used pick-up lines on her: Cameron, aka Icicle Jr. Of course, that had been before he realized that it was her he was looking at. It could have been because she seemed too tough and would likely slug you for making comments like those, but still…
Well, Artemis decided Might as well break it to Wally right now.
Before she left, Roy called out, "Artemis?"
"Yeah?" She turned towards him.
He smirked, "Every time I see you, my eyes break."
Artemis blinked rapidly. Did he just use a pick-up line on me?
He continued, "I swear, every single time, my eyes burn."
Every good feeling evaporated. Artemis flashed him her middle finger before walking away.
She swore she heard his laughter ring out above the din of the room.
Montana {Bio Ship}
November 11, 17:09 EDT
Tension was in the air. Awkwardness, too.
Zatanna was upset over her father, and would not speak unless prompted to.
Artemis only silently stared out the window, which meant that conversation was left up to the Martian.
"So," M'gann started from the pilot's seat.
"Hmmm?" Artemis made the mistake of actually looking at the Martian.
"Artemis," M'gann said brightly, "I'm so glad you're back on the Team."
"I am?" Artemis was confused.
"Well, you're here, aren't you?" M'gann responded.
"I-" Artemis began, but then she stopped. What if M'gann was right? Batman hadn't officially let her back on the Team, but he hadn't officially kicked her out either.
Zatanna decided to jump into the conversation, "Is anyone else excited that we're working with the League?"
M'gann beamed, "Yeah! I bet we're really earning their respect. It's too bad that Wally can't join us."
Artemis snorted, "Are you kidding? He gets his own solo mission saving the life of a little girl. Police across the country are helping."
"Oh, I just remembered something," Zatanna snapped her fingers.
"What?" Both Artemis and M'gann turned towards her inquisitively.
"I've been meaning to ask you something Artemis," Zatanna smiled, "What's going on between you and Red Arrow?"
"You and Red Arrow are together?" An ecstatic M'gann clapped her hands together.
"N-no," Artemis spluttered, "It's nothing like that, trust me."
"Oh," M'gann's happy disposition faded.
Zatanna, in the meanwhile, raised her eyebrow skeptically, "Really? That's not what I thought earlier."
"Artemis," M'gann's voice rang out through Artemis's mind. She was contacting her telepathically.
Artemis cast a glance at Zatanna to see if she was linked too (though she didn't know why she checked. The three were the only ones in the bio ship). Zatanna was looking back out at the window.
"You can tell me anything," M'gann smiled as her thoughts were broadcasted to Artemis.
"Okay," Artemis replied evenly in her head, "What's going on between you and Superboy, then?"
M'gann's green cheeks grew a rosy pink, but she didn't say anything.
"I have something to tell you guys," M'gann confessed out loud a few minutes later.
Both turned to her, waiting.
"I-I've been secretly dating Conner. We've been together ever since our undercover mission at Belle Reve,"
"I know," Artemis said quietly.
Zatanna chimed in, "We all did."
M'gann was surprised, "H-how?"
"You were kind of obvious," Zatanna told her gently.
M'gann blinked, "But Wally still hits on me. It didn't seem like he knew."
Artemis snorted, "That's because he's a dumb, oblivious idiot."
"But Artemis told him earlier, so he won't be bothering you anymore," Zatanna added.
M'gann shook her head, "Wow."
Then something occurred to her.
"Artemis," she said meekly, "you aren't angry, are you?"
Artemis shrugged, "I dunno. I was…kinda mad at first. Not because I was jealous, but because you didn't bother telling me."
M'gann ducked her head in shame, "I'm sorry. I never meant to upset you, it's just-"
"It's okay," Artemis interrupted. Now she felt guilty. It wasn't like the Martian tried to hide her relationship from her. Artemis had her own secrets too; ones that she never told M'gann either.
M'gann shook her head, "I've been so wrapped up in my relationship with Conner and being part of the Bumblebees that I haven't really been talking to you guys."
"Well, nothing new has happened in my life," Zatanna offered.
"Really?" Artemis asked incredulous, "Nothing between you and Robin?"
"Well…." Zatanna started. Then she frowned, "Hey! What about you and Red Arrow?"
Okay, Artemis, do what those Gotham Academy girls do when they're disinterested: look at your nails.
"I already told you: nothing," as she pretended to examine her nails.
"C'mon," Zatanna leaned forward, "you don't honestly expect us to fall for that, do you?"
M'gann smiled, "I can always read her mind to find out, Zatanna."
"Ohh," Zatanna's eyes sparkled with mischief, "and I recently learned a persuasion spell, M'gann."
"No fair," Artemis muttered as she shifted away from them (as if that'd help her). What could she do to them? Shoot them with magical arrows that forced them to tell the truth?
Actually, that'd be pretty cool.
Artemis's eyes narrowed, "M'gann!"
Sorry!
Gotham City
November 12, 3:18 EDT
They'd done it. Both the Team and the Justice League had taken down all five of the ice fortresses together. As Artemis guessed, Wally's mission had more than meets the eye. The little girl Wally saved turned out to be the young Queen Perdita of Vlatava. A sudden scream brought her out of her somewhat celebratory thoughts.
She quickly pushed her room's window up and clambered onto the fire escape.
A small girl continued to scream as a big thug swung his fist into her repeatedly.
"Shut up, ya little squirt!" he grunted.
The little girl fell, and her cries began to get muffled in her throat.
How could no one hear her?
Artemis didn't have enough time to change or grab her bow.
The thug started to kick her roughly in the sides.
The girl's going to die if I don't do something soon. She's so petite and fragile and that brute is like two times Dad's size.
"Please! Someone help me!" the girl cried weakly as she attempted to scramble upwards.
"SHUT THE HELL UP!" he roared as he grabbed her neck roughly. He was going to choke her if Artemis didn't come in quickly.
At this Artemis jumped in, swiftly knocking the man off to the side.
The man, though surprised, got up quickly, yelling, "This is family business, ya hear?"
The little girl besides her gasped for breath in the meanwhile, struggling to control her breathing.
"You're her father?" Artemis's eyes narrowed.
God, the last thing she needed was a repeat of her own life. Only difference, though, was that her father, no matter how much of a douchebag he was, would never physically abuse his children.
"Yes," he jeered, "Is that enough for you, ya little busybody?"
Artemis low kicked him, knocking him back down to the ground with a grunt.
Apparently that knocked him unconscious.
"Assholes like you don't deserve to even live," Artemis spat out, kicking him in the side for a good measure.
Artemis turned towards the little girl. She looked to be about nine or ten. Her clothes were tattered and grimy, and bruises were all over her body. There were gashes as well, some dried up, but several still gushing out blood. Her black hair looked like it had been pulled roughly, and the way she stood suggested that she sprained her right ankle.
"W-who are you?" the girl trembled and swayed, evidently fatigued.
Artemis stooped down to her level, "My name's Artemis, and I'm going to help you."
The girl's eyes widened, "Daddy always said that I was too dumb to meet a real goddess."
"Oh no," Artemis began, "I'm not a-"
She was cut off by the girl falling onto her.
Gotham City
November 12, 7:43 EDT
"Mom?" Artemis called out as she entered her apartment.
"Artemis!" Paula scolded as she wheeled herself towards the door, "Why did you leave the apartment?"
"It's because of her," she gestured to the little girl limping in behind her.
Paula's eyes widened, "What happened?"
"She was being beaten up by her own father," Artemis replied quietly, "I took her to the hospital."
"The hospital let you check her out?" Paula demanded.
"No," Artemis confessed, "but she was fine. The doctor even said so. They just wanted to send her off to the orphanage."
"And you couldn't have it, could you?" Paula finished.
"Please don't get mad at her, Hera!" the girl cried out.
"Hera?" Paula seemed amused.
"She thinks that we're Greek goddesses," Artemis explained.
"And you don't think she should remain in the hospital because of that?"
"Look at her!" Artemis shouted, "She needs me."
"There's an extra bed in your room, Artemis," Paula said finally, "and I'm sure that I have some of your old clothes that could fit her."
"Thanks, Mom!" Artemis beamed as she hugged her.
"Okay, okay," Paula pushed Artemis off of her.
Paula began to wheel herself down the hallway. "Come along now-" she hesitated.
"Alice," the girl whispered, "my name's Alice."
"I don't get it," Artemis huffed to Paula.
"Get what?" Paula seemed mystified.
"How anyone could be so heartless to their own daughter."
"Oh, Artemis," Paula murmured to herself, "You of all people should know what that feels like."
The chapter was named "Heartless" to match with "Coldhearted". The reason for this is the whole last part on Alice. Her name came out of inspiration from the Alice in Wonderland poster in Artemis's room.
The pick-up line that Roy used? I made it up, which would explain why it sucked. (I'm not good at that kind of stuff)
Keep in mind that the Team does not know of Roy and Artemis's mission to track down Mirage, and therefore, are unaware that Roy and Artemis put aside their rivalry.
Okay, I thought there were some gaps in Coldhearted that I SHOULD have been filled.
Artemis is pretty confrontational, so I was wondering why the show never showed her talking to M'gann about her relationship with Conner. I mean, I know that their friendship was kind of ruined, but Artemis probably would have asked her anyway.
Roy is friends with Wally. I know he doesn't want to join the Team as of yet, but who exactly turns down a birthday party of a friend? Roy SO should have been at Wally's party.
Just a question, though. How many of you thought that when Roy and Artemis were going to hang up the streamers, Artemis was going to sit on Roy's shoulders to do it?
I know what I put instead was kinda weird, but I thought that the Arrow clan might go a bit overboard with the arrows, and Artemis and Roy aren't quite close yet.
For those who have already seen Insecurity, I know it is a HUGE gap from where I am at the story. But don't worry, I'll fill it in for the next chapter (I will skip Image simply because Artemis and Roy are absent in that episode. I'll probably do a flashback of what happened in that time slot for a later chapter, though).
Please give me your comments, opinions, and suggestions!