A/N: So, yeah, I enjoyed the season 1 finale but so far I have not been too happy with season 2. The 5 yr time skip was stupid and I hate that they added so many new characters then didn't even tell us/show us HOW they ended up on the Team. However, I was SO happy when they finally showed Wally and Artemis in today's episode (S2ep4 Salvage)! That's been driving me crazy! I was so worried Artemis was dead :( I'm still disappointed that it doesn't look like our fav Spitfire couple will be utilized much if at all this season, but I'll gladly take the fact that they are safe and happily attending college/living together over nothing. Wally looked exactly the same lol but Artemis got even prettier :)

Okay, I'm done ranting lol Anyway, I was surprised by the lack of comments on the kiss last chapter considering everyone had been waiting for it. I totally agonized over the writing for that scene, so I really appreciate those who took a moment to leave their thoughts on it. I can't believe TW is over 200 reviews! So exciting! 50 more and it will break my record :)

Disclaimer: "I don't own Young Justice, DC Comics, Warner Brothers, and Cartoon Network have the rights to it. I'm just having some fun :)"

Rated T for some language, suggestive themes, and descriptive violence.

Italics mean thoughts

"Italics within quotes" mean telepathy

The greatest Lie is the one you tell yourself . . .

Tangled Web

Chapter 12: A Standalone Complex

Gotham Academy

October 18, 14:48 EDT

"The battle with the largest number of causalities throughout the entirety of the Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg is considered . . ."

Artemis's American history teacher droned on but she paid little attention to what was being said. It was Tuesday, but her mind continued to reflect on Saturday. She absentmindedly placed two of her fingertips to her lips, remembering the feel of Wally's against her own. It wasn't her first kiss by any means, but it was the only one that took her breath away. It'd been powerful and hot, like a bolt of lightning, and it'd struck her very core. She felt her pulse quicken just thinking about it.

It was devastating.

This wasn't supposed to happen; it wasn't part of the plan. Of all the people on the Team, she'd originally thought that Wally would be the least of her worries. He'd regarded her with such disdain when she first joined up that she immediately wrote off the possibility of him becoming attached to her. Now, it seemed like he'd come to care for her more than anyone else on the Team; more than anyone else ever had, period. She didn't really know how to process that. Worse yet was that she had become attached to him. She cared about all of her teammates, was willing to lay her life down for any of them, but Wally . . . well, she didn't really know what to think. She just knew it was different with him.

Artemis let out a disheartened sigh and rested her chin in the palm of her hand. She felt like she was tight rope walking and a gentle breeze was all it'd take to knock her off. And when it did she was going to fall hard. She couldn't let that happen. No matter how caring Wally got, no matter what she saw reflected in his virile green orbs after he kissed her, she could not fall in love with him. The kiss was just that: simply a kiss, nothing more. And even though that was a complete lie, she figured if she told herself that enough times, it'd eventually be the truth.

A sharp knock at the door brought her attention back to her last period of the day. A male student walked in, handed the teacher a yellow slip of paper, then let himself out just as quickly. The teacher scanned the note before looking up, her eyes landing on Artemis.

"Ms. Crock, please see the headmaster after class," she ordered before delving right back into her lecture as though she'd never been interrupted.

Artemis dropped her head onto the desk with a groan.

x x x

As soon as the bell rang, Artemis collected her things and made her way to the main office. The elderly secretary led her down a back hall that ended at the headmaster's office. She knocked once before pushing the door open a crack.

"Headmaster Berke? Ms. Crock is here to see you."

"Send her in, Deloris," Artemis heard him say.

Deloris turned to her with a smile. "The headmaster will see you now."

Artemis walked in, the door shutting behind her. A middle aged man with black hair that was just beginning to grey sat behind a massive desk made of oak.

"Please, have a seat," he said, motioning to one of the two chairs stationed across his desk.

Artemis did as she was instructed. She waited for him to speak, but he continued to silently stare at her, fingers laced in front of his chin. Growing increasingly uncomfortable under his sharp gaze, Artemis finally spoke.

"Well? Are you gonna tell me why I was called in here?" she asked bluntly. She didn't care if it was rude. The headmaster had been less than welcoming when she enrolled.

"I summoned you here," he began; the slight accent he had making him sounding like the elitist snob she knew he was, "to discuss your involvement in the Homecoming fiasco Saturday evening."

Artemis barely managed to keep her face impassive. "I don't know what you're talking about," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.

The headmaster picked up a remote that had been sitting on the desk and aimed it at a flat screen tv mounted on the wall. "Oh, but you do." He pressed a button and the screen immediately buzzed to life, displaying footage from the dance Saturday night. "I had security cameras installed after the gym was vandalized back in August," he explained, unaware that Artemis knew exactly what he was talking about since she'd technically been present that time too.

She watched as Evan smashed her between his back and the wall before he proceeded to toss her over his shoulder and into a table. Wally appeared on the screen a split second later, and as he helped her up, Artemis felt her stomach drop. Her masquerade mask was missing, her face clearly exposed.

"And there's your pretty face," Headmaster Berke said with a triumphant grin. "You put up quite a fight, didn't you? I don't suppose you'll tell me what exactly happened?" Artemis wordlessly stared at him, her face a mask of neutrality. "Or the identities of the two boys who'd been with you?" When she still didn't speak he said, "I figured as much." His oversized chair groaned as he rose from it. He languidly paced behind Artemis as he spoke. "No matter. I still have more than enough material to expel you, possibly get you a stint in juvenile hall for causing so much damage."

Artemis clenched her fists in anger but remained quiet, keeping her gaze on his now empty chair. What could she really say?

"Of course," he went on, "it doesn't have to come to that." He stopped directly behind her, his hands coming to rest firmly on her shoulders.

Artemis's level of discomfort shot up exponentially at the unwanted contact.

"I'm sure we can find some . . . other way for you to pay for the damages . . ." he trailed his hands down her arms suggestively and Artemis went ridged in response. "After all, girls from your side of town are usually pretty mature for their age. And with a figure like yours, well, I'll bet you have plenty of experience . . ."

Artemis bolted straight up and whirled around, eyes crackling with rage. Before another word was spoken, she had the headmaster bent over his desk face first, his right arm twisted behind his back. If she applied any more pressure his shoulder would pop from its socket.

"I should snap your arm in two for touching me," she growled.

"If you do, you'd just be proving me right, that you were nothing but worthless trash all along," Headmaster Berke ground out against the pain shooting through his arm.

"Go fuck yourself."

Artemis shoved him away and he slid from the desk to the floor, clutching his throbbing arm to his chest. She stalked to the door and yanked it open.

"It doesn't matter where you go or what you do, it'll never change where you come from. You'll never amount to anything," he taunted.

"Don't bother expelling me, I quit." She stepped through the door and slammed it shut.

The hallways were mostly deserted as she rushed for the exit. She couldn't believe she'd just been sexually harassed by the headmaster of an elite private school. As if she didn't have enough problems. It was like some otherworldly force wouldn't let her catch a break. She turned the last corner to see Dick heading her way.

"There you are. I've been looking all over for you. Computer club was cancelled so I can give you a ride home," he said with a smile, but his smile morphed into a frown when she blew right past him.

"Hey, wait up!" he called after her, rushing to catch up. He immediately realized something was wrong from the way she was carrying herself. She was livid. "What's wrong?"

"I'm done."

"Done with what?"

"This place, these people, all of it. I'm going back to Gotham North."

Dick stopped in his tracks, her words catching him by surprise. "Say what?!" he questioned as he scurried after her retreating form.

x x x

Mount Justice

October 18, 17:02 EDT

"Recogonized, Kid Flash, B03."

Wally walked out of the zeta tube. As the whirling of the mechanism died down, two distinct voices carried from down the hall, raising in volume as he grew closer.

"Leave it alone, Robin!"

"No! What he did was wrong! You shouldn't have to leave school because of the incident at Homecoming or the fact that the headmaster is a sleazy perv!"

"I never wanted to go to the academy in the first place."

Wally reached the common room where Robin and Artemis were already suited up for practice. They were standing across from each other in front of the green sofa, locked in a heated debate.

"What's going on?" he asked as he approached the two non-meta heroes. Artemis turned to look at the intrusion. A pained look filtered over her features when her eyes landed on him. She didn't look happy to see him and it made his heart clench unexpectedly.

"Nothing," she answered, turning back to the Boy Wonder.

"Doesn't sound like nothing."

"It's not," Robin supplied. "After our fight with Amazo, the headmaster apparently installed cameras in the gym. He saw Artemis's face when we were trying to stop Evan. He knows she was involved and he threatened to expel her for the damages."

It only took a second for Wally to think back to Saturday night. He remembered helping Artemis up after Evan threw her into a table. She'd been okay, but her sequined butterfly mask had been missing, knocked off from the force of the collision. They'd been too busy dealing with Evan to even think about it then.

"Shit," was all Wally could utter.

"That's not even the worst of it."

"Robin," Artemis warned, not wanting him to continue.

He carried on, undeterred by her threatening tone. "He made a pass at her."

"When you say 'pass'-"

"He basically offered to drop the expulsion and keep her involvement a secret if she would sleep with him."

"Wally's eyes looked ready to pop out of their sockets. "What the hell kind of school are you two attending!?" he asked incredulously. He could feel his face flushing in anger, and he turned his gaze on Artemis. "Did he touch you?"

"I can take ca-"

"Did. He. Touch. You." Wally reiterated, punctuating each word with venom. He hadn't known he could sound so malicious. From the looks on his teammates' faces, neither did they.

"He only touched my arms and then I almost broke one of his," Artemis said pointedly.

"He still completely crossed a line. We need to-"

"We don't need to do anything!" Artemis exclaimed, cutting Robin off. "I'm just gonna transfer back to Gotham North. Case closed."

"But you deserve to go to a better school than that."

"It doesn't matter; it's my word against his. Nobody's going to believe a kid from the slums over some successful rich guy."

"They would if you had a successful, rich guy backing you. Batman would make sure you weren't punished for something that wasn't your fault-"

"But it was my fault!" Artemis cried. "Don't you get that?"

"Artemis," Wally began.

"Just drop it, both of you. This is my problem, I'll deal with it. Both of you need to stop poking around where you shouldn't." She turned on her heel and stormed out in a huff.

Wally knew from her tone that she wasn't just talking about the incident with the Gotham Academy headmaster. One glance at Robin and he was sure the younger boy got the same impression.

"Man does she have a standalone complex," Robin complained.

"We aren't really gonna drop this, are we?" Wally questioned.

"Nope."

"Glad we're on the same page," the speedster replied before he dashed after the blonde. "Artemis, wait!" he called after her as he approached her retreating figure.

"Wally, I swear to God-" she whirled around to face him, but he interrupted her.

"We need to talk about what happened on Saturday. Between us, I mean."

Artemis looked away. "There's nothing to talk about."

"Uh, yeah there is. We kissed."

"We shouldn't have."

"Yeah, well we did." Wally took a step closer. "And don't even try telling me it meant nothing."

"It didn't," Artemis replied, still refusing to look at him.

Wally shook his head. "That's a lie." He reached out and took hold of her chin, forcing her dark gaze to meet his lighter one. "There's no way you didn't feel what I did."

"It doesn't matter what I felt. It was a mistake," she stated, voice cold and unfeeling.

"Don't say that."

Artemis pulled her face from his grip and Wally let his now empty fingers drop limply to his side. She backed away a step. "It shouldn't have happened and it won't happen again."

The redhead stepped towards her again, wanting to reclose the distance she created, but she held her hand up palm out to stop him.

"Don't, please. It's for your own good," she pleaded, her eyes begging him to understand.

He moved forward again anyway, his chest pressing against the palm of her outstretched hand, warmth spreading through his skin at the contact.

"Why? Because of what happened to Evan? Because the Shadows are targeting you?" He covered her small hand with his own larger one. "I don't care if you think being involved with you is risky. You're worth it."

A look of anguish entered Artemis's eyes and she removed her hand from beneath Wally's. "Trust me I'm not." She turned away from him. "Just stay away from me."

She walked out of the room, her impossibly long ponytail trailing behind her. Wally sighed and ran a hand through his messy red locks. Having a crush on Megan had been a lot easier than having one on Artemis.

"What was all that about?"

Wally jumped and spun around to see Robin standing there.

"How much did you hear?" he demanded.

Robin shrugged. "Enough to know something's going on between you and Artemis."

"Man, I hate it when you do the ninja thing," Wally grumbled.

"So?" Robin asked expectantly. "You know I'll find out eventually one way or another."

Wally let out another sigh. "Fine. Saturday night, after we left the briefing room, we maybe, sorta, kinda . . . kissed."

Even with his domino mask hiding his blue eyes, Wally could tell his friend was surprised.

"You kissed Artemis and you're actually alive to talk about it?"

Wally ignored Robin's joke. "It wasn't just a kiss. It was . . . I don't even know how to explain it. It was definitely the most amazing kiss I've ever had."

"And that puts it at the top of a list of, what, two?" Robin teased. Wally glared at the younger boy. "So where does that leave you two?"

"No where apparently," he replied, voice full of disappointment.

Robin raised a confused eyebrow, but Wally didn't elaborate. Instead he said, "We need to get to the training room for practice."

He walked down the hall and Robin followed, his worried gaze trained on his best friend's back. He knew Wally had been nursing a crush on the blonde for some time now. He knew before the speedster himself realized it. But the look in Wally's eyes when he talked about kissing Artemis told Robin his friend was harboring more than a simple crush for the archer now, and that made him worry. He knew Artemis was involved in something dangerous, that much was certain. And if something happened to her, what would that do to Wally?

Robin hoped he never had to find out, for both their sakes.

x x x

Infinity Island

October 18, 20:00 ECT

Artemis walked down a desolate hallway in the largest building on Infinity Island, her sister silently leading the way. Today she was meeting with him. Her skin crawled just thinking about the leader of the Shadows. She hadn't yet experienced the discomfort of being in the Demon Head's presence. That was about to change though. She had information and he wanted it firsthand. The two siblings rounded a corner and a pair of wide ornate wooden doors stood before them. A pretty young woman with long, dark hair in a low ponytail similar to Artemis's was waiting in front of them. She wore a tight full body suit of black and green and looked to be a mix of Arabic and Asian descent. Jade approached the other woman.

"Artemis is here, as requested."

The woman moved aside. "Enter," was her simple order. Jade moved forward, but was halted by an outward palm. "Not you. Only her," the woman said, looking at the blonde.

"Whatever you say, Talia."

Jade looked back at her sister and jerked her head towards the looming doors. Artemis moved forward and Talia ushered her in, closing the door once they'd entered. The room was large and filled with expensive looking black lacquer furniture. Deep red and gold curtains were draped around the room. An older gentleman, hair equal parts grey and black, sat in a big red arm chair across the room indulging in a cup of what Artemis could only assume was tea based on the handless mug he held to his lips, which were outlined in a long white mustache. Talia strode further into the room, feet soundlessly gliding over the mahogany wood floor, and addressed the man in the chair.

"Father, the archer is here to see you," she informed him, head bowed in respect.

The man set his mug down on a small table next to his chair and rose from his seat, the green robe-like cape he wore rustling with the movement. Ra's al Ghul, leader of the League of Shadows, approached Artemis, eyes scrutinizing her from head to toe.

"So you're the young one we have on the inside. My apologies for not meeting with you when you first joined up. I've been rather busy," he said vaguely. He circled her slowly and Artemis stood stock still. "I've heard all about your special gift from your father." Ra's stopped directly behind her. "Show me," he ordered.

Artemis wordlessly lifted her low ponytail, revealing the faded butterfly that adorned the base of her neck.

"Fascinating . . ." he whispered and a chill oozed down her spine as his rough fingers traced along the intricate lines. "I need my Lazarus pools to rise from the dead and I have to use them shortly after dying. With this mark you can die anywhere for any amount of time and still resurrect. How convenient."

It wasn't the word Artemis would have used.

"It is my theory that this mark somehow ties your soul to your body, while my method calls my soul back from the underworld," he mused out loud. "But that's neither here nor there," he said and Artemis felt her body sag in relief when he finally pulled his fingers away.

"Down to business," Ra's said. "What intel have you gathered?"

Artemis took a deep breath and steeled herself for what she was about say. "I know the civilian alias of both Batman and Robin."

"Do you now?" he asked, his expression filled with amusement. Neither he nor his daughter looked particularly excited, however. "Well?"

Artemis swallowed, this was it. "Batman is Gotham City's multi-millionaire business tycoon Bruce Wayne. Robin is his ward, Richard Grayson."

"We already know," Talia revealed, a hint of irritation in her voice.

Artemis did her best to look surprised.

"Yes, we do," Ra's confirmed. "However, the fact that you managed to uncover that is a most impressive feat. Excellent work. Continue your attempt to damask the members of the Justice League, but do not share their identities with anyone but myself and my daughter. I trust you can find your way out?"

She gave a swift nod.

"Then you're dismissed," he said with a flourish of his hand.

Artemis had to make a conscious effort to keep herself from breaking into a sprint as she casually walked to the door. She couldn't get out of there soon enough. As soon as the heavy wooden door clicked shut behind her she let out the breath she'd been holding, relieved that Batman's plan seemed to have worked.

2 hours earlier . . .

Mount Justice

October 18, 16:16 EDT

With practice over for the day, Artemis gathered her things and headed to the briefing room. Batman was already waiting to meet with her.

The door was hardly shut when Artemis spoke. "The Shadows have requested my presence at Infinity Island for an update on my progress tonight. They're gonna be pissed that I've got nothing useful to tell them. I'm worried they're going to become suspicious."

Batman was silent for a moment, contemplating the situation. Finally he said, "Tell them my identity. Robin's too."

Artemis's deep, bluish grey eyes widened in shock. "Are you crazy? I can't do that."

"Yes you can. The leader of the Shadows, Ra's al Ghul, already knows. His daughter Taila does as well." (1)

Curiosity welled in Artemis. "What about the other members of the Shadows?"

Batman shook his head. "He doesn't want others to know."

"Why?"

"Because there's power in being privy to knowledge that other's don't have access to. Knowing him, any identities that you uncover will be for his ears only, so we won't have to worry about anyone else learning about Robin or myself, and it will make it look as though you really are making progress as their mole," he explained.

Artemis looked uncertain but agreed to do as the Dark Knight instructed.

x x x

Finally collecting herself, Artemis scurried down the hallway, eager to get out of the veritable den of evil she was currently in. She came across a T intersection. Looking left then right, she sighed in relief when she saw the exit at end of the hallway on her right. She hurried in that direction.

"I thought you were on board!"

The shout made her jump and she reflexively pressed her body against the wall. Down the hall in the opposite direction, she could see a sliver of light coming from a door that was ajar. She was torn between leaving and listening. Her curiosity outweighed her fear and she slinked closer, purposely staying against the wall.

"You know I'm all about this, I live for chaos, but even my techno sorcery can't power it solo."

Artemis recognized that whiny voice. She moved just close enough to see whatever was directly in front of the crack. She wasn't disappointed. Klarion the Witch Boy, owner of the familiar voice, was standing there, his creepy cat sitting on his shoulders. Across from him was Lex Luthor, owner of the first voice she'd heard. She couldn't fathom for the life of her what the two were doing at the Shadows' base.

Klarion continued. "You want it to run? Then stock up on diamonds. Perfect ones," he ordered, sounding like a spoiled brat.

"Oh, you'll get your diamonds," a female voice, deep and commanding, said from a corner of the room that Artemis couldn't see.

"We wouldn't even need diamonds if you hadn't let those sidekicks get away with the Helmet of Fate," Luthor complained.

"It was indeed a setback, but it does not matter," the female said. "It will not stop the Light."

The Light? Artemis blinked in confusion. She wanted to keep listening, but she was beginning to feel like she was pushing her luck, so she quietly started to walk backwards, eyes trained on the cracked door.

"You lost?"

She instantly froze, mid-step. Pivoting around on one heel she locked eyes with a familiar face. The person in front of her widened his eyes in surprise.

"Artemis?"

"C-Cameron. Uh, wha-what are you doing here? I would have thought you'd be in Belle Reve by now," she stuttered, trying to act surprised to see him when she was really relived it wasn't someone more important. (2)

"Well, that was the plan, but it changed."

"Why?"

"The higher ups realized they needed to keep at least one ice user on hand."

"For what?" Artemis asked, trying to get as much information out of the gullible teen as she could.

Cameron shook his head. "I don't know yet. All I know is that they originally wanted all of the ice users in Belle Reve to orchestrate a takeover, which was why I petitioned to be tried as an adult."

Artemis's eyes widened in realization. "That's why all the ice villains attacked at the same time on Independence Day. You all wanted to get arrested."

He nodded. "I was supposed to join them, but they sent Cheshire and Sportsmaster to bust me out when I was in route to Belle Reve. I've been helping the Shadows ever since," he explained. "I even went on a mission with Cheshire to Chicago to gather some data on cutting edge technology." He gave a cruel laugh. "The sidekicks showed up and we owned them."

Artemis felt anger rising at his words, but she pushed it back down. She needed to keep her cool.

"So, what are you doing here?"

"The Shadows broke me out too," she lied. "I'm working for them now as well."

"Doesn't surprise me considering who your family is."

Don't remind me, Artemis thought bitterly. "You said the 'higher ups' needed you for something. Who are they? Who's pulling the strings in all this?"

Cameron shrugged. "Beats me. I'm not told much."

Artemis sighed, knowing she'd learned all she was going to from her old friend. "Same here."

He suddenly sidled up to her and put his arm around her.

"That's pretty cool we're working together though. It's just like old times," he said as his eyes drank in her slim figure and curves.

Artemis glared. "I told you not to be gross," she reminded him as she pushed his arm off her shoulders and headed for the exit.

"Oh yeah, she wants me," Cameron said to himself as he followed after her.

To be continued . . .

(1) In issue 11 of the tie-in comic Robin reveals in his case files (basically his case files are just a way to give the reader info without trying to work it into conversation between two characters) that Ra's al Ghul is the only one of Batman's enemies to know their secret identities (he doesn't elaborate as to how).

(2) In issue 13 of the tie-in comic, Artemis is placed under arrest as a ruse to have her encounter Icicle Jr., who is being detained in a Star City prison for his involvement in the July 4th ice attack, in the hope that she can get some intel out of him based on the fact that they know each other through their fathers. When she says she's going to end up in juvenile hall, he tells her to petition to be tried as an adult (which is what he's doing). She says with her family background she'll end up in Belle Reve for sure (which would be worse than juvey) and he just smiles, indicating that that's the goal.

A/N: So, no action in this chapter, but I hope the drama, the angsty Spitfire scene, and the plot revelations made for a good enough update :) If you can spare a moment, leave me your thoughts, I love reading them!

SakuraJade