Football Games
When Artemis rolled over to snuggle into her boyfriend she rolled into a cold empty spot. She groaned and opened her eyes, he wasn't in the bedroom, and it didn't sound like he was in the bathroom. She sat up and stretched, getting out of her big comfy bed and headed towards the bathroom where she brushed her hair and put it into a ponytail. When she walked into the hallway of her apartment the smell of pancakes and eggs hit her nose, she smiled and headed towards the kitchen. Dick must have woken up early like usual and got bored waiting for her to wake up and decided to make her breakfast. When she got to the end of the hallway Dick was standing in the kitchen wearing a pair of black of sweat pants with no shirt, his back was to her so she could see his muscled back and shoulders. She could also see the scars that he had accumulated over the long years of fighting crime. Even though she's known Dick since she was fifteen and she's seen him shirtless plenty of times especially in the last six months she still winced inwardly when she saw all his scars. She knew she had scars and that almost their entire super hero friends did but it seemed that even at thirteen Dick was the one with the most.
Quietly she walked behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist resting her hands on the bottom of his stomach so she could his toned stomach, she kissed his shoulder and said "Morning babe".
Dick flipped the pancakes he was making and sat the spatula down so that he turn around and face his girlfriend. He smiled at her and placed his hands on her waist "Morning 'Mis. What are you doing up so early?" he asked kissing her forehead.
"I rolled over to cuddle into you but you weren't there so I just woke up" She said making a slightly pouty face up at him.
Dick bent down and kissed her nose "I'm sorry 'Mis. Damian called me, it's his last football game today, and he really wants us to come. I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep and that I would have to do something to try and convince you to go with me so I got up and started to make breakfast". Dick kissed her on the forehead again before he turned around to take the pancakes and scrambled eggs off the stove.
Artemis opened the fridge and grabbed some orange juice "What time is his game?"
"Eleven thirty" Dick said grabbing the syrup and setting it on the counter.
"That's in two hours. It's cold windy, and raining out, so what are you going to do for me once the game is over?" Artemis asked sitting down at the island eating her breakfast.
Dick smiled and sat down next to her "Well I'm sure that we'll end up going to the mansion after the game so I can warm you up in the car and then we can have an amazing dinner that Alfred will surely make. And if you want I'm sure I can make you a big bubble bath in my old bathroom, the tub there is much bigger than yours. Or we can wait until we get back here and I can make a bath for you here, where I can join you, and show you some highlights from last night" Dick said giving her that boyish grin he knew made her agree to anything.
Artemis took a drink of her orange juice "Well as long as you promise to show me some highlights I'll go with you".
Dick smiled and grabbed her face kissing her on the lips "It's a deal" he said laughing.
Artemis laughed and finished her breakfast kissed Dick on the check and said "I'm getting in the shower, so we can leave soon".
"Okay I'll clean up and then get ready. I already took a shower" Dick said with a mouth full of pancakes. Artemis wasn't even sure exactly she said she shook her head and headed towards the shower.
Fourty five minutes later they were in Dick's Audi heading towards Gotham. Artemis was dressed in dark jeans with rubber boots, she made sure she had extra shoes and pants she was wearing a long sleeve shirt with a big rain jacket that she hasn't worn since high school. She really hated being stuck in the rain and the cold, but she knew it meant a lot to Damian, and he and Dick were pretty close so it would mean the world to him to have his big brother there.
His game was at Gotham Academy where he went to school but it wasn't were the high school football team played it was on their practice field. Dick pulled up next to all of the other expensive cars and turned off the engine. "You ready 'Mis?" Dick asked.
"If you mean to freeze my ass off, than yes I am" Artemis said.
Dick smiled and grabbed her hand kissing it "Come on 'Mis I told you I'd make it up to you, and it means a lot to Damian to have us here. That kid adores you babe".
"You mean he adores you. He has a crush on me" Artemis said.
Dick laughed and said "Well I'll let him have a crush on you as long as he doesn't try to take you from me, I know how you like younger men" Dick said with a teasing smirk.
Artemis slapped his arm and said "Jerk, your two years younger than I am. Damian's like fifteen years younger than me, that's a lot of waiting".
Dick laughed and said "It might only be two years but I still get to brag to my friends that I'm dating an older woman".
Artemis crossed her arms pretending to be mad even though she wasn't "Oh so is that all I am to you bragging rights".
Dick immediately stopped laughing and said "No, of course not babe, you mean so much more than that to me. That's not what I meant, I was only teasing you" Dick said slightly panicking.
Artemis smiled and grabbed his face in her hands, she kissed him on the lips after pulling away she said "I know you were babe, and I was teasing you right back. I love you to" she opened the car door and got out into the cold wind and slight drizzling rain.
Dick quickly got out of the car as well locking his car and running to catch up with her. When he reached her he grabbed her arm and pulled her into a hug his mouth was right next to her ear she could feel his warm breath on her ear "That's the first time you've said that. I love you to Artemis".
Artemis smiled and wrapped her arms and his neck bringing his lips to meet hers, in their first kiss after finally saying the three words that they both have wanted to say for so long but were too scared to actually say first. When they pulled away Dick put his forehead against hers kissing her nose which was already cold "I have never been happier in my life than when you just said that".
Artemis smiled and said "Neither have I. I love you Dick Grayson".
"I love you to Artemis Crock, and you'd better know that I never plan to let you go now" Dick said.
"Good because I don't plan on letting you go either" Artemis said. "Now come on it sounds like the game is getting ready to start".
Dick wrapped his arm around her shoulder and the two walked towards the bleachers looking for the Wayne/Bat family. In the bleachers they found Bruce, Alfred, Barbara and Tim. Artemis sat down next to Barbara so Dick sat down behind her next to Tim and pulled her back so that she was sitting between his legs.
Damian was number 32 and whenever he stepped onto the field all them would scream and cheer at the top of their lungs. By the end of the game Artemis was completely frozen but really proud of Damian, he managed to go the entire game without completely losing his temper and seriously hurting one of the other players. He made ten tackles three of them on the quarterback and recovered two fumbles from the other team. After the game everyone walked down onto the field to wait for Damian. Dick stood behind Artemis with his hands on her stomach and his head on her shoulder telling her all of the things he planned to do to her when they got back to her apartment. Artemis was very grateful for the cold weather so that it hid the blush that Dick was now forcing onto her cheeks.
Dick was still telling her inappropriate things when Bette Kane walked up to them. "Artemis Crock what are you doing here?"
Artemis smiled "Hello Bette, Dick's little brother played today so I came along for support".
Bette looked at Dick who looked slightly uncomfortable and said "I didn't know you two were dating".
Artemis smiled and intertwined her fingers with Dick's which were still on her stomach "Yeah we've been together for six months now" Artemis said sweetly, she knew Dick had a little fling with Bette but it meant nothing just something to distract himself while she was still with Wally and he and Zatanna were on a break.
Bette looked a little shocked but quickly pulled it together and smiled tightly and said "Wow congratulations".
Dick smiled sweetly and said "Thank you Bette, but I see my brother so we should go. It was nice seeing you again".
Artemis smiled and allowed Dick to push her towards the Wayne family who was all standing around Damian. "Well talk about that later babe" Artemis said smiling at Dick.
Dick frowned and asked "Am I in trouble?".
Artemis smiled and lightly slapped his cheek "You're always in trouble babe".
Dick laughed and walked behind Damian picking him up and throwing him over his shoulder spinning him around causing Damian to hit his back and yell "Put me down Richard".
Dick stopped and sat the little kid down on the ground slapping his shoulder "Great job Damian, you didn't send anyone to the hospital this time".
Damian scowled and punched Dick in the stomach making Dick laugh "Hey now play nice you to" Artemis said.
Immediately Damian stopped and blushed "Hi Artemis".
Artemis laughed and ruffled the little boy's hair "Good job Damian. But try not to send my boyfriend to the hospital alright".
Damian smiled and said "Okay Arty".
Bruce came up and put his hands on his two sons shoulders "Come on let's head back to the house so everyone can warm up".
Dick wrapped his arm around her shoulders and the two walked towards his car. Once inside and on their way to the house Artemis started talking "So it was kind of awkward running into Bette back there".
Dick grabbed her hand and said "That stupid little fling I had with her was like two years ago babe. You know it meant nothing. It was more like being able to say that I got the girl who turned me down in high school because I was a nerd. I'm with you now and nothing is going to change that" he kissed her hand and gave her his boyish smile.
"It's always fun to make you feel like you're in trouble, you're a very good at trying to apologize" Artemis said smiling.
Dick scowled at her and said "You are by far one of the meanest girls I've ever meet Artemis Crock".
"Yeah and you know you love it" She said.
Dick laughed and said "You know I do babe".
After having a big loud crazy dinner at the mansion Dick and Artemis said good bye to everyone and made their long drive home. Once at the apartment Dick made true to his promise and showed her the highlights from the previous night along with some new ones.