Once again, I did not stick to my schedule for the story... I'm very sorry for that. But the sequel's in progress at the moment, so you won't have to wait for more than a week for it to come out. I STILL NEED STORY TITLE SUGGESTIONS THOUGH!
Special thanks to batman-defeats-all, artemisred arrow 4ever, colerfulldarkness666, Angel of Mysteries, rmsjms98, sabbs123, and meadow-music for sending a review to the last chapter. I'd also like to thank BlueBird722 for that suggestion.
I THINK that this will probably be the last chapter of Buried Secrets. I know I said that I'd do the flashbacks, and I will, but I'm doing it under a separate story.
I encourage you guys to check out Jealousy, or, as I'm later going to rename it Remember. In it, I will put the flashbacks each as its own chapter, but I first want to hit eight reviews for it before I do it. The people who send in the required reviews to the story get to choose a theme or story line that I'll try to adhere to for the memory.
Italics = thoughts, "telepathic communication"/ "radio communication"/ "on television", time stamps, flashbacks
Bold= exaggerated words
Warning: Characters are most likely OOC, and profanity is used at certain points in the story.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Young Justice.
Gotham City
January 1, 10:36 EDT
The first thing that she felt was numbness. Squinting against the rays of sunlight infiltrating the blinds of her bedroom window, Artemis slowly rises from her bed and stretches.
A quick glance to the now empty and tidily made bed to the left of her told Artemis that Alice had been up for quite a while.
She felt a slight pang of guilt towards her earlier treatment of Alice. After yesterday, Artemis had promptly ignored her younger sister. Somehow, a part of Artemis connected the sweet eleven year old to Roy's death. It wasn't fair, she knew, but it hurt too much to look at and talk to Alice. Especially because looking at her would remind her of Mirage and how the shape shifter had assumed the form of both of her sisters.
On the bright side, Alice was distracted enough with Artemis's cousin, Si Nguyen, to not notice Artemis's cold shoulder treatment.
The low sound of piano music could be heard from outside her bedroom door. The person was obviously trying to play quietly.
Wait, piano music? Since when did their apartment even have a piano?!
Out of curiosity, Artemis swings her feet over the bed, and her feet lightly bound across the wooden floor to the living room.
Alice is tinkering around on an old brown piano, while Paula and Si listen. Si sits next to her on the piano bench, watching her fingers fly across the keys, and Paula's wheelchair is stationed right next to the piano. Paula herself sips on a mug of tea and stares off into the distance with a pensive look on her face.
Artemis closes her eyes to appreciate the melody, the music speaking to her for some reason. It gave her this slightly melancholy and contemplative feeling, like it was a sad reflection on happy times.
"Since when did we get a piano?" Artemis asks, deciding to make herself known after Alice finishes playing. She also wants to ask when Alice started playing piano, but obviously it was prior to her becoming a Crock.
Si smiles, gently nudging Alice. "The land lord found it in one of his storage rooms. He thought of Alcee and decided to give it to the family for New Year's."
Paula lowers her morning earl grey tea to her lap to add, "The land lord has spoken to your sister a couple of times, and she apparently reminds him of his grand-daughter."
"I used to play piano," Alice says quietly off-topic, "you know, before…"
Before her dad began to start physically abusing his only daughter.
Artemis's first instinct is to wrap her arms around Alice comfortingly like she had used to, but an image of Mirage's cold eyes and hard smirk stopped her. It wasn't fair to Alice, but Artemis still couldn't bring herself to go close to her.
Paula reaches a hand out to squeeze the eleven year old's own petite ones. Alice's lips turn upwards into a small smile, but it rapidly begins to fade.
Alice's light brown eyes glance over at Artemis, but when Artemis stares back at her, her eyes quickly dart away.
"Let's go outside and play, Alcee." Si says suddenly, getting up and extending a hand towards her.
Artemis immediately recognizes this as an attempt to cheer Alice up, and she is sure the perceptive girl picked up on it too.
"Thanks, Si," Alice smiles softly and the two go to grab their shoes by the door.
Before Alice can unlock the door though, Si's voice stops her. "Alcee, since it's my last day here, can we try doing something new? I'm not so sure I want to play capture-the-flag with the other kids today."
"Okay," Alice gives a thoughtful nod after a few moments. "I can introduce you to Jason, then. He can be a little rough around the edges and temperamental at first, but he's been really nice to me otherwise."
She opens the door and leans back against it, waiting for Si to go first.
Si nods his head, eager to meet a decent kid who had some manners and decency towards his new cousin at the very least.
"But you might want to watch your pockets around him," Alice adds, finally walking into the hallway when it becomes clear that Si wants her to go first. He's always been such a gentleman.
"I suppose he can sometimes be a 'kleptomaniac' so to speak."
"Wait," Si's voice is barely audible as the door begins to close behind them. "What?"
Now that the apartment is empty, Paula wheels herself over to her daughter.
"How are you coping?" she asks her softly. Batman must've informed her. At least it saved Artemis the trouble of explaining why she had been so moody yesterday.
Artemis's lips tremble. "Not good," she gasps out as she sinks onto her knees in front of her mother.
Paula's fingers weave through Artemis's blonde hair comfortingly as the fifteen-year old's body begins to rack with sobs.
It saddens Paula Brooks to see her second daughter so depressed and brokenhearted. The red-headed teen had obviously meant a lot more to Artemis than she let on.
Artemis had been so happy the week before. She practically floated on cloud nine, though she tried to hide it from her mother. She protested when Paula had demanded that she invite the boy. Put up a façade about not wanting him to be around her. That she couldn't possibly care less about him.
"Artemis, answer the door for me please," Paula commanded her daughter.
The blonde, ever tending to her archery equipment in the living room, groaned good-naturedly and got up to go to the door.
Alice had been occupying herself with setting the table. Artemis had not noticed, but the girl had prepared the dinner table for four.
Paula smirked to herself as she busied herself over the stove. Her daughter would get quite the surprise when she opened the door.
A thought came across the Vietnamese woman's mind. The last time she had cooked a Christmas family meal, she had had the use of her legs…
She shook her head of that thought. How disheartening! She should not constantly live bemoaning her current living condition and the choices she had made in her life due to the lack of opportunities. She had given birth to two wonderful girls, who, despite struggling as she had herself, would no doubt make her extremely proud if they hadn't already. Not to mention, she had a do-over for any of the mistakes she had made in Jade in the form of sweet little Alice.
Paula arranged the spring rolls onto the big serving platter. What was taking Artemis so long to open the door? She should have seen the boy ("Roy" was it?) by now.
"Artemis is probably having problems with the locks," Alice says to Paula, as if she could practically tell what she was thinking. Or perhaps it was because the twelve year old wondered why Artemis was taking so long herself.
Sure enough, loud metal clicking and slightly aggravated mumbling could be heard. Artemis was most likely cussing the locks out under her breath. The numerous locks on the apartment door and Artemis never got along; she always opted to get in and out of the apartment via the fire escape.
There was small cheer of victory as Artemis presumably unlocked the final door mechanism.
3…
2…
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Artemis barely restrained her loud voice. Well, at least she hadn't shouted any profanities in earshot of the children or neighbors.
"I was invited," a low, masculine voice deadpans.
"I don't recall handing you an invitation with my forgiveness," Artemis retorts.
"Could I please come in?" the young man sounds slightly annoyed. "My arms are getting kinda tired."
The boy must have brought something. Well, at least it showed he had manners. Most would come over empty-handed, believing their presence was all that was necessary when invited.
"…fine…"Artemis gives in, letting their guest inside and closing the door behind him.
"Thank you, Ms. Crock, for inviting me," the young man nods his head respectfully at her when the duo enter the kitchen.
Paula stiffens at the use of her ex-husband (well, not quite yet in legal terms)'s last name, but relaxes before her guest could notice. It's not his fault that he doesn't know.
"Merry Christmas," Alice smiles at the redhead. She blinks before realizing that he does not know her. "I'm Alice."
The redhead looks at the twelve-year old for a moment before smiling. "Roy. Roy Harper."
Artemis takes the gifts and champagne bottle from him as Alice slinks away. The blonde casts him a weird look, though Paula can easily identify some affection in her charcoal grey eyes.
"You're not wearing those ridiculous shades," Artemis realizes after a few moments of examining him.
And indeed, the young man's blue eyes are now able to be seen by everyone.
"Why not?" Roy shrugs. "You've already seen me without them."
He hesitates, "and besides…. I trust you."
Artemis snorts, "You're getting sappy on me, Speedy."
But the blonde smiles nonetheless.
Gotham City
January 1, 15:47 EDT
"Where's Red?"
That had been the first thing that Inferno had said to her when he spotted her walking up to him.
Artemis hesitates, unsure about how to say it and unwilling to actually think about it.
"Gone." Artemis chokes out, the word barely coming out of her mouth as a hoarse whisper.
Inferno's eyes widen for a moment and then soften. "I see."
Artemis sits next to him, dangling her legs over the side of the rooftop. Stars twinkled in the sky, and if it wasn't for what had happened yesterday, Artemis would've been happy.
"How've you been holding up?" Inferno says, uncharacteristically quiet.
"Not good," Artemis murmurs, her eyes downcast. "I miss him."
"Of course you do," Inferno nudges her gently. "And I bet that in heaven, he misses you just as much."
Artemis laughs with no humor. "You don't understand. It's my fault."
"Then make me." Inferno looks straight into her eyes with a startling intensity.
When Artemis says nothing, Inferno angrily yanks his mask off. She gasps in response. Who in their right mind would just randomly reveal their secret identity? What was the point of his mask if he was just going to rip it off randomly?!
"Look, 'Mis," Inferno grabs her shoulders. "Look at me."
Artemis forces herself to look into his gold colored eyes (an odd color, but she could think of some stranger colors).
"If it is really your fault, then you certainly owe him. And I know Red wouldn't want you to wallow in guilt and misery for the rest of your life."
"Maybe not," Artemis's voice rises shakily. "But I deserve to."
"No," Inferno shakes his head. "You don't."
"Red loves you," Inferno continues when Artemis didn't reply. "I could see it as clear as day. I know you know that too."
Of course she knew. She still clung onto the memories of his last few hours. She'd daze off in the middle of thought and replay that painful scene over and over again.
Inferno laughs, "Why do you think he hated me so much at first?"
There were plenty of answers that Artemis could've given him then.
Because he didn't trust you; he trusts hardly any one.
Because you just happened to conveniently be around when we were hunting for Mirage.
Because you're clearly from the bad parts of Gotham….like me.
Because he secretly envied your powers.
When Artemis doesn't offer any of the thoughts, Inferno puts his domino mask back on, a deep chuckle emitting from his throat.
"….It's because he was jealous of me hanging out with you during your patrols with him…I bet even a fifty yard distance wouldn't have been enough for him."
"That's not true," Artemis says quietly. But the more she thinks about it, it explains his sudden blow-ups during patrols. At her. And especially at Inferno.
"Siblings?" Artemis asks, leaning forward in curiosity to catch his answer.
"Nope," Inferno laughs humorously. "I have a monkey named Toby, though."
She elbows him, "I'm sure you're brother's not that bad."
"Well," Inferno pretends to be thinking seriously. "I suppose not. If you don't mind Curious George x10 in a little boy."
Artemis laughs with him, but out of the corner of her eye, she can see Speedy scowling.
"If you're done…." Speedy growls as he pulls his binoculars away from his face.
"Nope," Inferno smirks as he pops the 'p'. "I could go on for hours talking to 'Mis."
"So now you are giving each other nicknames?" Speedy gives them a disdainful look.
Artemis is about to tell Speedy off, but Inferno sends her a look.
'Just go along with it' he mouths.
Artemis smiles and rolls her eyes, but complies anyway. "Um…..not yet."
She turns to Inferno, "How about I call you….."
Artemis pauses. To Red Arrow, it might have seemed like it was for dramatic effect, but in reality, Artemis was just trying her best to conjure up something good on the fly. And I think we all know how bad of a liar Artemis really was.
"….The burning fire and passion of your heart and soul?" Inferno cuts in cheekily, sending a wide grin to Speedy.
Artemis laughs at Inferno's outrageous response.
Speedy growls in response, but sharply turns away. "You guys are just a joke."
"Huh," Inferno's grin turns into a smirk. "Then I guess 'Mis and I have a special little joke just between us. No Reds allowed."
Artemis hadn't completely followed what Inferno was trying to do at the time. As a matter of fact, his purpose is still a little fuzzy today.
"What is your problem?!" Speedy demands angrily.
"I don't know," Inferno says albeit too innocently. "But it appears I have a tendency to be a troller."
Speedy mutters something that suspiciously sounds like 'Damn right.'
All is silent for a few moments before Inferno speaks up once more.
"Hey, 'Mis" He calls for her attention.
"Hm?" She gives it to him somewhat reluctantly.
She didn't understand why Inferno and Red Arrow couldn't get along. They both had tempers, but Inferno could be rather cool and funny.
With a snap of his fingers, Inferno has lit up a bright fire in his hands. The night is cold, so the slightly shivering Artemis pulls closer to him to get some of the warmth.
She doesn't notice Speedy's eyes narrowing behind the domino mask or how his fists clench and his mouth sets into a snarl.
While Artemis is too busy warming herself over the fire, Inferno casts Speedy a glance over his shoulder.
'Problem?' he mouths, his face the definition of a troll face.
"Man," Inferno cracks up. "I know I probably shouldn't have messed with him like that, but damn, it was too much fun."
"You're such a troll," Artemis shoves him lightly, slight comprehension coming over her as she realizes why he had been messing around with Roy.
"Problem?" Inferno gives probably what is one of the best troll faces Artemis has ever seen. Well, besides the Boy Wonder.
"Stop it!" Artemis laughs loudly, clutching her sides. Was it wrong to be smiling so soon? "You look totally ridiculous!"
Eventually, the laughter in her subsides and the aching pain of longing returns.
"I miss him," Artemis says plaintively.
"I do too," Inferno's eyes take on a mournful look. "That hot head was really growing on me."
"You'd never know it," Artemis scrunched her knees up to tuck under her chin. "But you were growing on him too."
"Yeah," Inferno weakly chuckles. "Once he realized I was only pushing his buttons to make him jealous."
"I mean," Inferno shifts so that he directly faces Artemis, "he was like the epitome of jealousy when he thought I was flirting with you."
"I guess," Artemis mumbles.
Because that's all she was really doing at this point. Guessing. She'd never be able to ask Roy himself if he had truly been jealous or anything like that back before they had gotten to know each other on a more personal level.
"How did he-" Inferno starts to ask after a long silence between them. Then he stops, clearly uncomfortable asking the question.
And even though it's really the last story she wants to repeat, Artemis tells Inferno the previous day in excruciating details.
"Mirage did it?" Inferno says weakly. He looks greatly pained.
"I-….yes…" Artemis answers, partially glad that he doesn't blame her. If it's one thing that Inferno is, it's honest.
"That…can't be…" Inferno shakes his head, disbelief on his features. "She'd never kill."
His real response causes a sinking feeling in her stomach.
"Well," Artemis says dryly. "She did."
The blonde wished that Mirage would never kill. In that case, Roy would still be beside her.
Inferno shakes his head once more. "It's not even possible 'Mis!"
"How is it not possible?!" Artemis snaps. "She injured you and did work for the League of Shadows!"
"That last time was an accident." Inferno defends. "I saw her try to stop the billboard."
The last patrol, Red Arrow, Artemis, and Inferno had managed to find Mirage at the old building where they had first met Inferno. There had been a fight, followed by a chase, and somehow Artemis and Red Arrow had fallen behind.
When they finally caught up to Inferno and Mirage, they found Inferno practically buried underneath a huge billboard promoting Lexcorp Industries. Mirage had been near the billboard (perhaps she could have felt bad and tried to help him out), but quickly disappeared into the night when it became clear that Red Arrow and Artemis were present.
Inferno was put into a full body cast (being a meta didn't mean being invincible like the Man of Steel) and was generally lucky to be alive and able to be back on the streets a month later, though Artemis secretly suspects that Inferno isn't really supposed to be suited up for crime fighting yet.
"Besides," he says, looking puzzled, "it's not possible because she was here last night with me."
Washington D.C.
January 2, 16:25 EDT
"I don't like this," Inferno scowls, his eyes hidden behind his shades. The hood of his red hoodie is pulled over his head, casting a dark shadow over the majority of his face.
"Pull down your hood," is all Artemis says, comfortable in her own costume. Inferno insisted on wearing his civvies for some reason. "It's making you look like a hoodlum."
"I am one," Inferno grumbles but reluctantly peels the hood back, revealing his black hair and moody face.
Artemis ignores his comment, still slightly put off with him for earlier. She heads up the front desk, pausing there to wait for the security guard to notice her.
"Yes?" the man asks in a voice that's familiar and causes Artemis to mentally cringe. "Can I help you?"
"My friend and I just wanted a look around the lab," Artemis tries to smile convincingly as she bluffs. "We have permission from the Justice League."
Artemis can hear Inferno attempt to cover a snort, but she manages to ignore him anyway.
The man merely stares at her, his icy blue piercing into her soul. Eventually he sighs and pulls off his golden helmet.
"Artemis, is it?" he asks once it's off.
Artemis resists the urge to gasp. The man looks basically like an older version of Roy. Inferno's eyes widen as well, clearly seeing the resemblance.
Then, remembering his question, Artemis numbly nods her head.
Seeing the strange looks being given to him, the man smiles. "I assume that you've met my nephew Roy then."
Nephew?!
"Y-you're Roy's uncle?!" Artemis stutters.
Roy's uncle nods his head. "Yes. By the way, how is he?"
Fantastic. Just freaking great. Now Artemis had to explain to Roy's uncle that the Roy he knew was really a clone, and, not to mention, was dead because of her. Just perfect.
An African-American female scientist saves Artemis from giving the bad news. Artemis briefly recognizes her as one of the scientists who assisted them in creating the cure-tech.
"Guardian," the woman impatiently pushes her glasses further up her nose. "Why are there visitors here? Remember the last time some of the children showed up?"
"Dr. Spe-" Guardian starts to explain.
"Spence." Inferno suddenly growls at the young woman. His mouth is set into a snarl, and if it wasn't for the shades, Artemis was sure she'd see an angry fire blazing in his eyes.
"I'm sorry," the woman blinks at Inferno. "but do I know you?"
"Like hell you do," Inferno scowls, "but you've must have really moved up in the world. You're not the head research aide of a small and illegal genetics project anymore, now are you?"
"Excuse me," Dr. Spence begins in slight outrage. "But just who do you think you are?!"
"I'm sure you know who I am…" Inferno hisses, "or rather, what I am…"
He's about to say more, but Artemis grabs his shoulder and gives him a meaningful look. What was he doing?!
Dr. Spence scrutinizes him a few moments before dropping the clipboard she is holding in shock. She blinks rapidly as she stares at Inferno. "P-project-?"
"Project Inferno," Inferno gives her a mock bow after ripping away from Artemis's hold. "It is such a pleasure to see you again, 'Doc."
"Y-you're alive." Dr. Spence's face is that of horror as she states the obvious.
"Yes," Inferno gives her a mocking smile. "But in no thanks to the over 100 mA shocks administered to me on a daily basis, I'm afraid."
"T-the explosion-!" Dr. Spence stammers. "the HGRA's lab was destroyed."
"Yet here both you and I stand," Inferno says wryly. "the abilities you gave me did certainly come in handy."
Dr. Spence's face begins to contort into something before her knees give out.
"Dr. Spence!" Guardian's eyes widen in alarm as he rounds around his desk to help the scientist up.
"Let's go," Inferno tugs at Artemis hand and pulls her away from the two adults…..away from the exit.
He leads her down and around several hallways before he finally stops in a darker and more secluded area. Artemis manages to display a surprising amount of patience by not exploding or firing questions at him while they're walking.
"What was that?!" Artemis demands, her voice in a harsh whisper.
"I didn't count on Amanda Spence being here," Inferno scowls, "but I guess I caused enough of a scene for us to slip away."
Inferno pinches the bridge of his nose, "Would you care to tell me now why we're even here in Cadmus? This place is suspicious and just reeks of sketchiness since Spence is here."
"We're looking for a…..friend of mine," Artemis lamely answers, rubbing her arm.
Her idea of who she thought Inferno was exactly was beginning to slip away entirely. She had no idea if she could really trust him when it came down to it.
She also had no idea whether Batman had been telling the truth when he had been under the influence of the Light. Probably not. Therefore, there was still a probability that Roy- the original one- was still somewhere in Cadmus. But who knows if Inferno was willing to take a possibility?
"That's the answer you're going to give me!?" Inferno gaps at her incredulously. "Gee 'Mis, you can just feel the trust you have for me!"
"It's for Roy, okay?!" Artemis snaps. "And why should I trust you now?! You've been fraternizing with her!"
Artemis nearly spat the pronoun out. She didn't have a problem with the pronoun (duh), but with who she was referring to... Roy's murderer.
"You don't know her," Inferno defends. "She's a good person at heart. She has an unorthodox way of showing it, that's all."
"Are you seriously defending her after what she did?!" Artemis practically screams.
Keeping her cool (or as the Boy Wonder would put it, staying traught) was never really Artemis's thing. Especially not now.
"I told you, you don't know for sure it's her!" Inferno argues. "I was talking to her on New Year's Eve."
Apparently Inferno had been running into Mirage far more than Artemis and Red Arrow had during patrols. A part of Artemis wondered whether Mirage had manipulated it so that she'd narrow out the archers and only get Inferno. He did seem to be her plaything of sorts.
Anyway, Inferno, seeing some potential good in her, and attempted to often persuade her to the good side before engaging in combat. He had seemingly run into her on the night of New Year's Eve, and the two had counted down together on the rooftop. With a slight flush, Inferno had cited 'evidence' that he hadn't imagined their encounter with the kiss on the cheek she had given him for New Year's. It wasn't real evidence, and Artemis could only take his word for it.
Gotham City
January 1, 17: 56 EDT
As Artemis frustratedly stalks back towards the apartment complex, she hears what seems to be shouting coming from near the building.
"Let her go!" an angry voice yells. The loud sound of flesh meeting pavement fills the air.
"Shut it, Todd," another voice responds. The guy sounds equally as frustrated as the first. "You're lucky I don't rat you out to the truant officer."
"Please, let's not resort to violence," a recognizable voice pleads. "Just let go of her."
Artemis picks up speed at the familiar voice. What was Si doing around kids like those?
"Don't tell me what to do, you prissy freak!" the second voice shouts.
"Vince, don't you dare lay a hand on either of them!" another aggravated voice demands. But this one is female and is eerily familiar yet….different.
Artemis quickly rounds the corner. What she sees is a slight shock to her system.
Si is surrounded by two boys, both clearly older and tougher than him, with rugged faces and cruel mischief in their eyes. Another struggling black haired boy is being held back by three others. Notably, the one that seemed to be holding on the tightest had a slight bruise forming on his jaw.
Artemis could only presume that the struggling black-haired boy had been the first voice and therefore, 'Todd'.
Finally, there is a slightly older guy with dirty blond hair, glinting green eyes, and a cheshire-like grin who is tightly holding onto….Alice
"You've been a very naughty girl, Alice," 'Vince' purrs. "Maybe I should punish you."
His hand creeps upwards, resting on her upper stomach briefly before starting to go further up.
Artemis clenches her teeth in anger and stalks forward.
"Like hell you will," the black-haired boy's arm slips out from one of the boys and punches the other guy holding his second arm. He advances forward. The guy with the slight bruise on his jaw jumps forward to tackle 'Todd' to the ground.
Vince's hand has stopped traveling upwards. "You're nothing but a street thief, Todd," he laughs. "When you're not relying on Mummy , that is."
Artemis steps in, ready to give a good pounding to the boys…..
….but not before Alice promptly steps down hard onto Vince's foot.
A somewhat sickening crack fills the air, and Artemis pauses, her eyes widening in shock.
Not even a second after stepping on his foot does Alice proceed to elbow Vince roughly in the rib cage.
The blond boy gasps as he flinches back and hops on one foot, grabbing his foot in pain. Alice takes the opportunity to slip out of his hold and run to the fallen boy.
"Let go of him." Alice commands to the guy on top of 'Todd'. "Now."
Numbly, the guy nods his head as he gets off of the boy. He rushes to help his fallen leader, Vince. The other two lackeys back away.
While Alice handles the guy, Artemis taps roughly on the shoulders of the two boys holding Si. They turn around crossly, slightly irritated at being pulled away from watching the transpiring events.
Artemis punches the living daylights out of them before they can even blink. Si smiles gratefully at Artemis and, oddly, says nothing of her rather violent method of handling the situation.
Alice helps 'Todd' up and shoots a glare at Vince that Artemis didn't even know Alice was capable of.
"Si too." Alice gestures to her foster-cousin, not quite realizing that Artemis had arrived and interfered.
Vince whistles, clearly impressed with this other side of Alice. Artemis barely knows the boy but he sickens her extremely.
"I've got to hand it to you, Ally-girl," Vince casually sticks his hands into the pockets of his ripped jeans. "You sure know how to keep a guy interested."
"Buzz off," Alice scowls, "I'm not nor ever will be interested in guys like you."
"You're almost eighteen," Todd looks at Vince disgustedly. There is a slight scrape on his chin from his rough collision with the pavement. "and you're trying to put the moves on an eleven year old. That's sickening."
That Vince guy was actually older than Artemis?! She had thought that he was just her age.
"Not to mention," Artemis steps forward, her arms folded, "it's pedophilia."
"Artemis!" Alice gasps when she sees her older foster sister. Her face flushes heavily.
"Keep out, blondie," Vince spits at her. "This is between me and Ally-girl. It's a lover's spat, ya see? She came to me first. She's always coming on to me."
Alice doesn't say anything; instead she grips onto Todd's arm tightly, squinching her eyes shut.
"Actually," Si speaks up, "as I recall, you and your 'friends' approached us and you suddenly grabbed Alice."
"I'm a gentleman!" Vince shouts angrily, his face turning a bright red. "I'm just giving the girl what she wants!"
"Then leave her alone and never come within at least a five mile radius of her ever again." Todd growls, protectively putting an arm around Alice's shoulder.
"Or I'll pummel you like I did to these guys," Artemis steps aside, revealing the two lackeys who had previously been holding Si.
Vince's eyes widen, but he still takes a step forward to Alice.
"Tell 'em, Alice," Vince demands. "Tell 'em about us, and how you're just toying with me like you always do."
"There's nothing to tell," Alice opens her eyes and looks at him coldly. "unless you really want me to send you to juvenile court for assault while you still try as a minor."
Vince's green eyes glint in disbelief, "You're joking, right?"
"Scratch that," Alice's hands wrap against her body tightly as she steps towards him, "maybe a psychiatrist for your hebephilia and false impression of us ever having a relationship."
"I DON'T HAVE HIBI-WHATEVER!" Vince explodes.
Artemis, Todd, and Si all move to pull Alice away from the seventeen year old.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Todd scoffs, his hand reaches for Alice's shoulder. "C'mon, Alice, we can play with your cousin somewhere else."
Alice ignores Todd, stepping forward until she is in arm's distance of him. Vince stares at her while her brown eyes flicker over his face. The corners of Vince's mouth tug into a smirk.
"Alice!" Artemis cries in alarm.
Then Alice's leg swings back and kicks him in between the legs. While he grunts in pain and goes to cover the area she just kicked, Alice shoves him roughly by the shoulders to the ground.
"That's for touching them," Alice stands defiantly above him, "when I warned you not to."
Gotham City
January 1, 18:32 EDT
"Bye, Jase!" Alice waves to her friend, who apparently was not named Todd.
"Farewell, Jason," Si calls out. "It was nice meeting you."
His arm extends in a casual goodbye as he walks away.
Artemis makes note of clothes so she could remember him next time he came around. She didn't give him proper thanks for defending her sister. He wore faded blue jeans, a white tee-shirt that looked to be slightly stained with grease and a wrench in his back pocket.
As the three walked back inside to the apartment, Artemis asks, "Are you guys alright?"
"Yeah," Alice responds quietly, tightly holding her body. At the same time, Si answers, "Yes, thank you."
As they reach the door, Si opens it and motions for the girls to go on in first.
"Actually, Si," Alice says almost inaudibly, "would you mind going in first? I need to talk to Artemis."
Si nods silently and walks in, only leaving the door slightly ajar.
"I'm sorry that I had to get you involved, Artemis," Alice apologizes, looking down at the dirty wooden floor. "I know that you needed your distance."
"Alice," Artemis's hands reach out for her, "you needed me, and I am more than happy to help keep you safe."
Alice's lips wobble and tears start springing into her eyes, "H-he touched me, Artemis. I just….feel so dirty."
Artemis wraps her arms around the younger girl, embracing her into a hug. What was she supposed to say? That it's going to be okay? She was pretty sure Alice would never forget the whole experience.
"He's the dirty one," Artemis strokes her hair, a similar action to what her own mother did to Artemis whenever she's upset. "I'm impressed that you were able to defend yourself against a guy bigger than you."
"I only did that with Jason and Si's help. And then you also had to interfere for me too," Alice sobs, "All I wanted to do was prove that I could be strong and brave like you."
Artemis was touched. "You are, Ally," Artemis pulls Alice away to arm's length to look her in the eyes. "You are a brave little fighter."
Alice smiles slightly, "I'm so glad that I have you as an older sister. You always protect me and know what to do."
Gotham City
January 2, 0:21 EDT
In the dark of the night, Artemis traces her fingers over a small business card. Lexcorp Industries.
Somehow, someway, she was going to infiltrate Lexcorp and get the information she needed to find Speedy.
When she and Inferno finally found what looked to be the storage room for the original DNA of cloning projects, they did not find a single human or humanoid. Artemis did, however, find the business card on the ground.
What were the chances of that? Artemis voiced the possibility to Inferno, who did agree that Lexcorp was certainly a shady enough company to be involved. It did fund Cadmus, after all.
Artemis tightens her grip on the business card.
I'll find you, Speedy. No matter what it takes.
I don't know if you guys noticed, but I tried present tense for this chapter. If you guys are still reading this, let me know whether you think the change in tense is better or not. I'm also aware that no one else from the Team was in this chapter, as well as that there was hardly any action in this chapter.
I also think that I may have put too much of Alice in there, but I just wanted to use her to sneak in the arrival of a certain character in the YJ. This chapter was also my way of showing you that Alice is a much more complex character than she seems to be. Because I'm not doing the five year jump, you'll be seeing the certain character in the sequel...eventually. Gold star sticker for whoever knows who he is! (honestly, it's not that hard though for any fans of DC comics).
Roy's death was the climax of this story, and I just kinda crammed the falling action and resolution (sorta) together in this chapter. It's still within 24 hrs of his death, so Artemis is still grieving over him. She hasn't gone to the Cave, so she's obviously not going to see them. There'll be a lot more of the Team in the sequel, as well as more bonding moments.
I kinda strayed from what I had originally planned at the beginning, and now Buried Secrets kinda seems like an ill-fitting title.
Please give me your comments, opinions, and suggestions!