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Disclaimer: ...not gonna say it.
Day Five: Cold
Snow
Artemis hated the cold. She hated the frigidness in her joints. The sting of the freezing wind against her cheeks. But most of all, she hated the memories. Memories of her father. Memories of when he would decide to test her endurance. To drain her of weakness. Make her a Shadow.
Snow days, for most seven-year-olds, were joyous occasions. For Artemis, they were anything but. Every winter she was glued to the weather forecast, praying that this year would be warmer. That the snow wouldn't stick. Sometimes she got her wish. Sometimes Mother Nature was kind.
But other times she wasn't. Other times the snow would fall, bringing all the beauty and splendor for the children with normal families, and tears to Artemis.
Her father would look outside and smile at her, and point her towards the closet. She would reach for the handle, open the door, and then grab the bag stashed there for this occasion. She would look up at him, her blue eyes pleading with him to spare her this time. He would simply smile, and lead her to the car, telling her mother they were going camping.
This wasn't a complete lie. There would be camping, only he wouldn't be there. He would drop her off in the middle of the woods with her small bag of supplies, smile cruelly, and drive away, congratulating himself on his genius in character building.
She pitched her tent, praying once more that it wouldn't snow that night. That she would be able to keep a fire going. That no animals would come after this easy target. That she would live through this.
It was always cold. She would huddle next to the fire, trying desperately to keep warm. She kept her bow next to her at all times, just in case. The temperature would drop, having no mercy on the little girl left in the woods until morning.
Artemis hated the cold.
Artemis sat down on the couch at Mount Justice, sighing with relief. It was snowing in Gotham again, and the terror was always too much for the archer to handle. Even though she hadn't been abandoned in the woods since she was thirteen, she still dreaded the snow. Dreaded the cold.
"Afternoon, Beautiful."
She smiled wryly at the voice.
"Hey, Wally," she sighed as her boyfriend of six months came and sat next to her. She tried to regulate her breathing, the adrenaline in her blood lowering as her panic and desperation to get away from Gotham began to dissipate. Of course, this did not go unnoticed by the boy sitting next to her.
He looked at her, concern written all over his face.
"You okay?" he asked warmly. She shrugged, smiling nervously.
"I-it's nothing," she murmured, her voice shaking.
"Try again, Arty." He turned toward her, brushing his hand against her cheek. She shook her head.
"Nothing serious," she said quietly. "It's snowing in Gotham, that's all."
His eyes widened, remembering the tear filled conversation they had had after a mission in Siberia. Wally put his arm around her, letting her head rest on his chest.
She knew Wally would keep her warm.
Another angsty story. Yay angst! Wow I'm tired...Hope you enjoy!