Hey! I'd like to thank all of you who were very prompt in submitting a review to the last chapter.
MyLittleAngelxxx, pathtales, batman-defeats-all, arbrick, Solaria daughter of Apollo, and HopelessNevermore, GeekyGirl911, and candi711 have my gratitude for reviewing and/or sending in an OC.
Oh, and before I forget, I have a poll up on my profile page concerning the story. I know some of you have already found it, but I'd really appreciate it if more of you answered it so I could properly gauge it.
Just a reminder, I NEED more VILLAINS. FEMALE villains would be preferable, but it doesn't really matter. Feel free to send in more superheroes, if you really want to.
Here's what I have so far:
Villains: Stake
Blast
Lilac
Midnight Prowler
Shadow
MockingJay
Heroes: Sin
Jeta
Halfte
Insight
Night Bird
Shadow Tamer
Mystery
There's only TWO episodes left of season one. Season two is due to come out at the end of April. I'm afraid that it's most likely that the OC's will have to be in the sequel. (I'm not going to even bother asking if you WANT a sequel, because I feel that I owe it to those of you who took their time to make OC's.)
This is the Buried Secrets Version of Insecurity.
Warning: Characters are OOC for the most part, and profanity is used at certain points.
Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice, or else the episodes would have come out a lot faster.
Gotham City
December 2, 20:36 EDT
"Your ankle's gotten better really fast," Artemis commented to Alice as they headed back to their room.
The girl had been staying with the Crocks, and Artemis constantly urged her mother to adopt Alice; she could be company to Paula whenever Artemis was out on her "extracurriculars". Not to mention, Alice already had practically become part of the family.
"Yeah," Alice beamed, "and soon I won't need help walking around anymore."
Soon, they reached their room, and Alice gently reclined on the bed. Artemis plopped down on the bed across from her.
"I've been meaning to ask you something, Artemis," Alice looked down, deliberately avoiding looking at Artemis.
"And what would that be?" Artemis leaned forward.
"W-what are the 'extracurricular activities' that you and Mom always talk about?"
"Umm…" Artemis wasn't sure how to answer this. Alice was still in the dark about the Team and what Artemis really did in the night.
Alice seemed embarrassed for asking such a question, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"No! I mean, that's okay," Artemis fumbled. Alice was naïve and trusting and would listen to anything Artemis had to say. People like that always deserved the truth…unfortunately, it was best if Alice didn't know about it.
"It's like training," Artemis lied, "Me and some kids from school gather to, um, train for the Olympics."
Upon Alice's confused look, Artemis rushed to explain, "Not real Olympics. It's…..kinda like the Olympics in the way that we do the events. We gather with other teams and compete every year."
"So what do you do on your team?" Alice asked.
Finally. A part where the truth actually fits.
"I'm the archer on the team." Artemis actually smiled with pride.
"Oh," Alice was clearly fascinated. "That figures. What do your other teammates do?"
"Well," Artemis listed them off, "Wally runs marathons, Conner does uh, weight lifting, one guy does acrobatics, and another swims competitively."
"You're the only girl?" Alice was incredulous, but believed what had been told to her previously. People always tended to believe lies when you added details.
"No," Artemis frowned, "of course not. There are other girls, they're just….." She trailed off. She had no idea what M'gann and Zatanna would fall under.
"It's okay," Alice cut in, smiling. "I was just curious."
They sat there in silence for a few moments.
"Hey, Alice?" Artemis finally voiced.
"Hm?" the girl looked up.
Artemis wrinkled her nose in confusion, "Just how old are you? I thought you were nine or ten years old, or something."
Alice shrugged, "I've never really celebrated my birthday, so I don't really know. I'm eleven or twelve, maybe?"
It was odd. Artemis had been busy lately, but she had just realized that Alice looked….older. Almost as if she had aged into a young teenager.
Alice's brown eyes still held its innocence, but it seemed as if her face had matured and her body had lengthened. She didn't remember Alice being that tall.
"Is there something wrong?" Alice asked, clearly concerned. Artemis must have been staring at her for too long.
"No," she shook her head, "Everything's fine. Just go to bed."
Gotham City
December 2, 22:15 EDT
"Artemis?" she whispered, as she turned over to look at her from the bed.
Artemis froze.
Shit, I hope it's too dark for her to see.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm, uh, just going out for some fresh air out on the fire escape."
There was some silence before she heard an "Oh. Okay."
Artemis had just barely pushed the window open when Alice spoke again.
"I'm having nightmares again. Could you tell me about a good memory with your dad?"
Artemis hesitated. Did she have any fondness towards her father?
He did emotionally abuse her. But he also taught her how to shoot. And she loved using that bow more than anything. Besides, she wasn't exactly one to talk about his flaws, anyhow.
"I'm sorry," Artemis whispered, "But I'll have to get back to you on that one."
Yup, I'm going to have to think really hard on that one.
Once Artemis was free on the rooftops, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank God that Alice didn't see me in my hero getup. That would have triggered her suspicions for sure.
"Hey, I'm here." Artemis pressed into her ear com.
"Finally. Took you long enough."
"I'm sorry," Artemis huffed sarcastically, "I'm so sorry that I have my own life."
"Besides," she added, "This is Gotham City. Don't tell me that you had nothing to do."
"Eh. A few robberies, nothing unusual. The Dynamic Duo seem to take most of the heat. There's a reason why we archers stick to Star City."
"Okay," Artemis yawned. "If you don't need me, then I'll be heading off to sleep now. I've got to cram my studying for mid-terms tomorrow."
"Are you frickin' serious? You barely got out here five minutes ago!"
"Aw, are you going to miss me, Speedy?" Artemis teased.
"Hell no. In your dreams, Blondie."
"You know," Artemis paused, "You downright suck at spying."
"What the hell are you talking about, Replacement?"
She turned towards the silhouette on the rooftop diagonal from her, "I can totally see you, Roy."
"Whatever. Are we going to patrol or what?"
"Hmm…..'or what' is looking pretty good right now."
"Don't you get sassy with me, Blondie."
Artemis laughed, "Okay, Grandpa."
Gotham City
December 4, 19:46 EDT
Almost there. She was almost out of her room. Then she'd be free to zeta-beam to Star City to patrol with Green Arrow.
"Artemis?"
Nearly scared out of her wits, Artemis whirled around.
It was Alice. Somehow, she managed to sneak up on Artemis. Her stealth could actually rival the Boy Wonder's if she trained.
"I thought you were-" Artemis started in defense.
"Asleep?" Alice finished.
This was it. Alice had caught her in a lie. She could either keep on going, or she could just tell her the truth.
Alice smiled in the dark, "Are you sneaking off to a late-night practice with your Olympic friends?"
Of course. Alice would have obviously spotted the bow and the quiver slung over her back. But she must have not spotted her costume.
"Actually, yeah."
"Cool!" Alice beamed, "Could I come with you? To watch, I mean. I've always wanted to see you do archery."
"No! I mean, yeah, you can watch me shoot an arrow sometime, but you can't come to practice. We've got, uh, strict rules on no outsiders."
"Are you lying to me? Please tell me the truth." Alice looked at her with somewhat sad and disappointed eyes.
"Of course I'm telling you the truth!" Indignation entered Artemis. The last part had been completely, 100% true.
"I'm sorry," Alice apologized quickly. "I heard Mom wondering out loud if you possibly liked a guy. She said something about you being really happy lately. I thought that maybe you were sneaking out to see this guy."
Seeing Artemis's WTF face, Alice tried to take back what she had said. "Never mind."
Alice actually began to push her to the window. The very window that Artemis had been trying to exit from before Alice confronted her. "Forget what I said. Go to your practice."
Star City
December 4, 22:06 EDT
"You been watching long?" Green Arrow turned towards him.
"Long enough to see that she's definitely improving." At this point, it was all he could say. Trashing Artemis to their mentor would be totally uncalled for. Especially when there wasn't exactly anything to trash.
Still, jealousy entered his heart when he watched them work together. That had been his job. Roy had been Oliver's partner, and it still stung to know that he had been replaced so quickly and easily.
"What did you want to talk about?" He changed the subject. If they kept on this path, Roy was sure he was going to blow a fuse and end up setting back his relationship with both Oliver and Artemis back.
"All units, armed robbery in progress. Corner of Weisinger and Papp."
Green Arrow smiled, "For old time's sake?"
It was easy. A few arrows shot from the opposite building of "Save-Big", and the crooks were all ready, dangling unconscious for the police.
As they watched the police arrive, Red Arrow felt nostalgic. A year ago, he would have been in that same shitty medieval costume. treated like a good-for-nothing-sidekick nonetheless, but still somewhat close to Oliver and his other fellow sidekicks.
He'd be lying if he said he didn't feel left out. Even Wally, who had been quick to protest Artemis becoming Green Arrow's protégé, no longer complained. They no longer cared about whether he was on the Team or not. He had waited too long. The Team had probably thrown their hands up long ago saying, "To hell with him! We don't need him!"
The only thing that stopped him from joining every time was his pride. He wasn't going to give in easily. That would have defeated the whole purpose of him storming out of the Hall of Justice. Not to mention, it'd show that he was intimidated by the competition. Hell no. As if that blonde could outshoot him!
"Congratulations," Green Arrow turned to him, "You've made the cut. By year's end, you'll be in the Justice League."
He stood there stoically, not quite sure how to react. Brush it off lightly with a smirk? Cheer wildly while pumping his fists in the air? Somehow, those things seemed more of a Robin and Kid Flash kind of thing.
" But please," Green Arrow put a hand on Red Arrow's shoulder, "Do me a favor. Set a good example and join the team first."
Red Arrow frowned from beneath his domino mask.
Looks like I'm eating my own words. I've got to join the kiddies' club and play the Justice League's game before I can prove myself.
Gotham City
December 4, 23:54 EDT
SLAM!
Rage, fury, and indignation overcame Artemis.
Mom had begged, begged for them to let me join. So now I'm some kind of pity case?
"Artemis?" Alice sleepily sat up from her bed.
Shoot. I woke her up.
"Sorry." Artemis plopped down on her own bed, "I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's fine," Alice rubbed her eyes, "eight hours of sleep is overrated anyway."
Angrily, Artemis threw herself against her pillow, not even bothering to change to her pajamas.
"Did you get into a fight with Mom?" Alice asked worriedly.
Paula had stayed up late for Artemis and decided to chat with her over warm cups of tea. Alice had been sound asleep still in Artemis's bedroom.
Then, while they were talking, Paula accidentally let it slip that Green Arrow and Batman had visited her in jail. Of course, Artemis demanded to know what happened, and Paula had said "I already lost one daughter. I couldn't bear to lose another so I begged them to help keep you on the straight and narrow."
Well, that's not something you should mention to Artemis; her temper flared and she stormed off.
"Well," Artemis huffed, "I just found out that Mom had practically pleaded for the, um, coaches of my Olympics team to help me before I had joined."
"Oh." Alice whispered, "That bites."
"Tell me about it." Artemis growled.
Alice crossed over in the dark and reached out to put a reassuring hand on Artemis's shoulder, "I'm sure your skills got you onto the team. Your team sounds serious enough that they don't take pity cases and people below their expectations."
Artemis relaxed, "You're right."
"Besides," Alice added, "If they didn't treat you that way before, it's not like it's going to change just because you found out about Mom talking to them."
"Thanks, Ally," Artemis smiled and hugged the girl. Alice was officially not a child; she had stopped looking like one and certainly didn't act like one.
"Ally?" Alice blinked, "No one's ever given me a nickname before."
"Well now you've got one. You're part of the family." Artemis ruffled Alice's hair affectionately.
Mount Justice
December 5, 17:04 EDT
Recognized. Artemis B07.
"Artemis!" Green Arrow smiled, "Just in time. Look who's agreed to join the Team!"
At that moment, Red Arrow turned around.
Great. Just great. Now he decides to join.
"Finally!" Wally pumped his fist in the air. The others all around him grinned.
"Sure," Artemis sarcastically commented, "the Team's needed a real archer."
Red Arrow raised his eyebrow behind his domino mask.
Artemis felt like snorting.
Oh, not everybody's overjoyed with you joining, Speedy.
"Okay," Green Arrow cleared his throat. "The Dynamic Duo is on a case in Gotham, but Batman gave me a heads-up."
He brought up a picture of Sportsmaster.
Both of the archers' eyes widened then narrowed. If it was one thing that they had in common, it was that they both had a score to settle with him.
Green Arrow continued, "Sportsmaster was spotted coming through Louis Armstrong, New Orleans International Airport."
"In full costume?" Zatanna was incredulous, "Nervy."
"No," Green Arrow shook his head, "in street clothes. Facial recognition software picked up the ID. Find out what he's up to."
As more pictures of him popped up, Artemis felt a pair of eyes on her. She looked up to see Roy's narrowed eyes looking at her.
Wow. Déjà vu all over again.
Green Arrow had said that only Kaldur, Wally, and Roy were necessary for the mission.
Artemis caught a glimpse of satisfaction on Roy's face.
Despite not having patched up with Kaldur, Artemis was willing to volunteer for this mission. There was no way in hell that she was going to miss the chance to show Daddy Dearest how much she improved. That, and to prove that she could totally whip Red Arrow's butt.
"Artemis, are you sure?" Red Arrow asked.
Does he think I can't handle this? I'll show him…..
"Absolutely." There. She said it. No hesitation, no fear.
Bio Ship
December 5, 17: 35 EDT
"You okay, Replacement?" Red Arrow turned to her.
"Fine. I'm just peachy." She growled, attempting to focus all her attention on piloting.
They stayed in silence for awhile, waiting for Kaldur and Kid Flash to return from loading the motorcycles in the back.
"Why does Kaldur not trust me, anyways?" Artemis finally asked.
He shrugged in response, "I dunno. He's gone through a lot as both a leader and a person. It might not be anything against you personally."
"Besides," he added, frowning, "Kaldur does trust you."
"Yeah," Artemis retorted, "You can really feel the confidence he feels in me based on how angry he was when I accidentally shot you."
"Well, gee, Blondie," Red Arrow responded, "You lied to him about your identity. Then you shot his best friend in the arm. Kaldur's no hippie. You just needed to give him time to think and cool off."
Artemis mock gasped, "Wow. Someone's managed to find good company behind your cold and snarky attitude."
"Shut up." Red Arrow scowled, "as if you don't act that way either."
They both glared at each other in silence before bursting out in laughter.
Orleans Parish
December 5, 21:27 EDT
"He's stopped. Hold your positions. I'm going in for a closer look."
Artemis frowned from the bio ship.
He's going to accidentally alert Sportsmaster with his horrible spying skills. And why does he get to go closer, anyway? You know what? Screw it. I'm going in too.
Artemis had just barely hid behind a tree when a low purr came out behind her.
"Hey sis," Cheshire grinned from the treetops, "Long time no reveal who you really are to all your friends."
Cheshire dropped down from the treetops with her sword at the same time that Artemis shot an arrow.
She deflected the arrow easily with her sword and swung at Artemis's bow. Artemis used her bow to hold Cheshire off long enough to low kick her away.
"Nice," Cheshire purred, "Canary teach you that?"
Artemis instinctively reloaded and aimed an arrow at her sister.
Cheshire smirked, "Bet you run out of arrows before I run out of sword. Unless, you plan on breaking out the pointy ones to use against your own sister."
"Why shouldn't I?" Artemis demanded, "You're working with Sportsmaster!"
She had thought that since Jade had fled to escape Dad, they'd have some unspoken rule to never team up with him. But Artemis should've known. There was a reason why Jade became a member of the League of Shadows.
Looks like we're a family full of liars.
"Sorry," Cheshire's voice was dripped with sarcasm and viciousness, "Just because I know all of your secrets, doesn't mean I tell you mine."
At that moment, an arrow was shot and a net came out, effectively pinning Cheshire to a tree.
But it wasn't Artemis's arrow….
"Why, Arrow," Cheshire flirted, "If you wanted another date, you only had to ask."
Artemis whirled around to look at him in shock. His expression was unreadable behind those sunglasses.
"You two are dating?" was all that came out of Artemis's mouth.
What the hell? Why do I care? They're two people who aren't exactly on my favorite people list.
"What? No!" Red Arrow denied.
"Why deny the attraction? After all, Arrow, you're here."
Artemis turned back and forth between them, unsure.
"And you had the nerve to accuse me of not shooting straight!" Artemis cried out angrily at him.
Cheshire grinned as she suddenly cut herself out of the net, "Oh my. It seems we've got a love triangle here. Only, little archer girl is the third wheel."
Sportsmaster sped off in his boat. Red Arrow could only look after him in horror.
Cheshire managed to tackle him in his distraction.
"Oh, too bad Lover Boy." She leaned in.
Artemis gaped in shock. Then fury set in.
"Get. the. hell. off. of . him," Artemis growled as she shoved Cheshire over.
"Oooh, Someone getting a little bit jealous," Cheshire teased as she tossed and caught her sai in a way that Artemis knew was to show off.
Artemis readied an arrow to shoot, when a sudden blur knocked Cheshire to the ground.
"Sweet!" Kid Flash whooped as he caught the weapon, "A souvenir!"
"Artemis!" Red Arrow shouted, "Tracer arrow on Sportsmaster now!"
She whirled around and readied a different arrow. Too late. He was out of her range.
"He's out of range," she confessed.
"Move," Red Arrow ordered as he came towards her for the shot. His arrow hit, and Artemis narrowed her eyes in disappointment of herself.
I should have made that shot. Why couldn't I? Why did I have to choke?
"Wait. You're abandoning?" Artemis yelled after Red Arrow as he jumped onto his ski jet.
"I'm prioritizing." He snapped over his shoulder.
"Oh, that's got to sting." Cheshire purred, "He makes the shot that you were afraid to even try."
Wow. What a family we are. Why did I want her to stay when I was eight years old again?
Orleans Parish
December 5, 21:58 EDT
"We threw the fight as ordered. After Artemis planted the tracer." Wally was saying to Kaldur and Red Arrow as Artemis walked into the clearing.
"Cheshire's heading north," Artemis declared, holding up the PDA linked up to her tracers.
"But Sportsmaster was heading south," Red Arrow growled, "Kind of like this mission."
Ouch. That actually kind of stung.
"Maybe he'll double back. Maybe she will," Artemis argued, trying to keep her cool.
"Sportsmaster acquired a case. We need to learn what it contained. If you had stayed aboard the bio ship-" Kaldur began.
Artemis cut him off, "I saw Cheshire sneaking up on him." She pointed at Red Arrow accusingly.
"Then you radio a warning." Red Arrow was obviously pissed off with her.
"And if she found you by hacking our frequency?" Artemis demanded.
"It is true," Kaldur intervened, "We have depended on M'gann's telepathy over our radios."
Artemis smiled in gratitude at him.
Okay, maybe Roy was right. Kaldur doesn't hate me or distrust me.
It was such an opposite of the last mission she had been on with Kaldur.
"So let's stop looking to place blame, and start looking for Cheshire!" Wally declared.
New Orleans
December 5, 22:18 EDT
Artemis pushed the window of the warehouse open and dropped down on the floor. She was about to ready an arrow when one of her tracker slid across into her boot.
Cheshire came out of the shadows, "Pulled it off of my sword about a minute after you put it there."
Artemis aimed an arrow at her sister without hesitation.
"Thought you might want it back," Cheshire grinned, "since it goes so nicely with the one that Red Arrow gave you."
Artemis almost reeled back in shock at the red tracer on her quiver.
He-he couldn't have. I-I thought I proved myself to him.
"Someone on your team doesn't trust you," Cheshire sang mockingly as she held out a screen.
Artemis narrowed her eyes. Roy was out there scouting for a way into the warehouse.
So he really did put a tracer on me. He didn't trust me and followed me here.
"Oh, but that's not all," Cheshire smiled, "Daddy doesn't exactly approve of him either."
She zoomed in 135% to show Sportsmaster above him, ready to send a spear straight through Red Arrow's head.
Artemis's eyes widened before she swiftly sent an explosive arrow at the very door that Red Arrow was trying to get in through on the other side.
Artemis could tell that both she and Jade were relieved when Red Arrow was knocked backwards, and the spear narrowly avoided him. But that didn't mean that they had formed a pact of any kind, so they started to swing at each other.
Cheshire loomed over her menacingly with her sword when an arrow exploded near Cheshire's arm, knocking her back.
"Arrow to Aqualad. Located Cheshire and Sportsmaster. Rendezvous at my coordinates."
"Acknowledged. Sending Kid ahead." Kaldur responded.
Soon Artemis and Red Arrow were back to back, fighting both Cheshire and Sportsmaster.
"So you're pretty much allergic to radioing a warning?" Red Arrow snapped, referring to her blowing up the door a few moments ago.
"Artemis to Arrow. Look out." Artemis mocked.
It wasn't long before they were separated, though, and fighting the same battle again.
Kid Flash came in suddenly, knocking Cheshire to the side.
"Aqualad and I found the tracer on a caboose," Kid Flash exclaimed to her, "And I don't mean Cheshire's."
"She must have ditched it." Artemis lied.
"Yeah," KF agreed, "I figured."
Then he realized something, "Wait. Then how did you and Red end up here?"
Luckily, they were interrupted by a red flash.
"GO!" he shouted to her as Cheshire tackled him.
Mount Justice
December 6, 03:21 EDT
"Let me be clear," Kaldur narrowed his eyes in disappointment, "We failed. And we have learned nothing of their plans."
"Gee," Red Arrow commented sarcastically, "I wonder why."
"Hey!" Artemis pointed at him defensively, "Who found out that Sportsmaster was working for Brain, Klarion, and Ivo?"
"Yeah, great intel," Red Arrow argued, "Except Ivo's been in Belle Reve the whole time!"
Wally stared at her in silence and disappointment. Red Arrow had been quick to fill him and Kaldur in on Artemis and the tracers.
"So how are you going to betray us next time?" Red Arrow shouted at her angrily.
"Enough." Kaldur put his hand on Red Arrow's shoulder to prevent another fight. "If making a mistake was a betrayal, we'd all be traitors."
Kaldur went off to report to Batman after commanding the others to get some sleep.
"Why?" Artemis asked when they were alone. What was with his sudden distrust of her?
"You're not who you say you are," Red Arrow snorted, as if that was the most obvious answer.
"If you didn't trust me at all, why did you ask me to help you track down Mirage? Why not Kaldur, Wally, or Robin?" Artemis demanded.
Red Arrow shrugged but his eyes remained hard, "I wanted to keep an eye on you. You know what they say, 'Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer,' And you're the prime suspect for the mole on the Team."
"So you used me," Artemis choked out. All of those conversations they had, they were all tests for him to see what kind of a monster she was.
I trusted you. But I guess you're nothing but a sick bastard. I regret letting you into my home and letting you see my mom! I regret wearing a frickin' dress for you!
Nothing could stop the tears threatening to spill out from her eyes. She was shocked, hurt, and betrayed.
She whirled around quickly to exit before he could see.
"Not so fast," he reached out to grab her by the shoulders. "This isn't over, not by a long shot."
Artemis roughly wrenched her shoulder out of his grip, "It is if I say so."
Recognized. Artemis B07.
The blonde archer was gone just like that.
Damn.
Roy massaged his temples. Why had he suddenly exploded like that? All of a sudden, as soon as he saw Sportsmaster, he felt this uncontrollable rage. Of course, he just had to choose to let it all out on Artemis.
True, she had done some really stupid things tonight, but so had he in his lifetime.
I can't believe I'm saying this…..but I've got to apologize.
Gotham City
December 6, 3:04 EDT
"Artemis?" Paula wheeled herself behind her daughter, "Is everything-"
"Fine, Mom. " Artemis cut in, attempting to wipe away tears without her mother noticing.
When she opened the door, she was shocked to see her father on her bed. The window was opened, and Alice was still asleep on the other bed.
"Shhh!" Lawrence Crock held a finger up to his lips, "Wouldn't want to upset your mother or wake up the little girl."
"What," Artemis hissed, "Are you doing here?"
"Just curious to see how your little team took their defeat." He took off his mask. "Blamed you, didn't they?"
Artemis visibly stiffened.
"Will they keep you around now that Red Arrow's joined up?" he continued, getting up from the bed. "And what if they learn the truth about the family ties that you've worked so hard to hide?"
"Will they ever trust you again?" he questioned with a smirk on his face as Artemis looked away.
"Thanks for the pep talk, Dad. We should have these family reunions more often," Artemis responded sarcastically.
"You tried, baby girl. You can fight Jade, you can even fight me. But you can't fight who. you. are." He poked her in the chest.
"Time to switch sides, Artemis. You'll never be one of them. You belong with us." He watched in satisfaction as Artemis sighed, clearly conflicted.
A sudden knock brought them to attention.
"Artemis?" Paula called.
"Looks like I'll have to go, baby girl. See you next pep talk," he climbed out the window, closing it behind him.
Artemis watched him go before opening the door. "Yeah, Mom?"
Paula frowned, "Did something happen with that arrow boy?"
"No. Why?" Artemis lied as she froze in shock. Maybe that thing about mothers having ESP was true.
"Well," Paula smiled wryly, "He did come by a few moments ago saying that he had to talk to you about something."
"What?" Artemis's jaw dropped. How dare he!
"Don't worry. I sent him off. Sorry sight he was." Paula shook her head. "Go to sleep, sweetheart."
With that, she wheeled herself out.
Artemis had just settled into bed when a soft whisper rang out.
"Yeah, Alice?" Artemis turned to her.
"I heard you sniffling as if you were crying," Alice told her. "Are you alright?"
Well, telling her the simplified version wouldn't hurt.
Artemis sighed, "My team got another archer today."
"The more, the merrier, right?" Alice asked naively.
"No," Artemis shook her head, "He's better than me, and I'm afraid that he's …"
"Taking your place?" Alice finished. "Artemis, I'm sure that's not the case. Besides, it's no fun being the replacement."
Don't I know that.
"But it's not great knowing you could be replaced either. You've got to keep an open mind about these things." Alice continued.
This is pathetic. I'm taking advice from a girl who looks like- er used to look like a ten year old.
"The thing is," Artemis said looking down, "Is that he used me to, uh…."
"Get on the team?" Alice supplied.
Well, that's not true, but I'll just roll with it….
"Yeah," Artemis nodded.
"Oh." Alice looked up at the ceiling. "I'm not experienced with these kinds of things, but you should try to, um, move on I think?"
Artemis laughed, "That's okay. It's strange asking these things of a person your age anyways."
Blood. Blood was everywhere. The dark crimson stained everything in her sight, and the smell was too much to bear. Worst of all was the dying person in front of her.
"You've got to find him," he murmured as his chest struggled to heave out what was probably one of his last breaths.
"No!" she found herself frantically grabbing his hand, clinging on to his every word. "You can't die!"
It was as if she was the one dying rather than him.
"Promise me….." his words were barely audible at that point.
Her tears poured down from her eyes onto his face.
He continued, unfazed, "Don't let this haunt you. Find him."
"I know," she choked out.
His eyes began to fix themselves at a certain spot on the ceiling.
She gently put his hands on her face, "I promise that I'll do everything you ask of me."
He smiled, "One more thing,"
"Yes?"
At that point, he came into a severe coughing fit.
When it finally subsided, he gasped out, "I'm sure he'll love you as much as I do."
Her eyes widened at the confession. He loved her?
"I- I love-" she began. But her vision started to blur.
"Don't cry," his thumb attempted to wipe away her tears. It seemed that it was all he was focusing on at that point.
She closed her eyes, wishing, hoping, that this wasn't real. That this confession was happening, but not as the way it was unfolding currently.
She only opened her eyes again when she felt his hand slip away from hers.
He was dead.
"I love you," she sobbed. Why could she only say that when he was gone?
Artemis startled from her bed.
It wasn't real. It was all just a dream. A really bad dream.
But she couldn't deny that she was shaken. All of the late night counsel sessions with Artemis must have taken a toll on Alice, because she didn't wake up this time.
The whole seemed freakishly real. Everything. Down to the emotions and the senses.
Tears silently streamed out of her eyes as she curled herself into a ball and started rocking herself back and forth.
The worst part? A fraction of her was saddened by the fact that it wasn't reality. The part that wanted him to love her.
Whew! That chapter took a long time to write. I'm kind of on a deadline, so I apologize if this seemed rushed. Feel free to PM me or send me a review about grammatical mistakes, because I didn't even bother so much as glancing over it.
First thing's first. Roy, well, in nice terms, SUCKS at stealth and subtlety.
I've realized that Kaldur really hasn't been in Buried Secrets lately (although it probably has to do with the fact that he's barely in the episodes anymore.).
I know that the RoyArt fans probably either hate my guts or love me to bits and pieces right now, but I HAD to make Roy the jerk he is in the episodes in order to pave way to Performance.
I put Alice a little bit more to give Artemis more of a confidence boost and put an emphasis on their new sisterly relationship. Not to mention, I thought it'd be fun to put someone unaware of Artemis's activities in the same household. Honestly, Artemis isn't exactly the best liar. Some of you have mentioned an interest in Alice. Well, I'll tell you right now that the really good stuff on her won't come until the sequel, but pay attention to what Artemis says about her.
Again, there WILL be a sequel and a chapter flashbacking to the time in between the chapters (because YJ totally skips a LOT in between episodes)
The last part was, yes, a dream. But it's a bit of foreshadowing, if you catch my drift. ;)
Please give me your comments, opinions, and suggestions!