My Sunshine

Part 5, Hunger Pains

The sun is in his face. It's hot and bright and god, he's so glad to feel it on his skin. Wally cracks an eye open. Which isn't smart because his retina burns immediately. Water wells up in the crest of his eyes. A tear drops. It falls on Artemis' cheek. She awakes, startled by the sudden cold splash. Blinking, she looks up at Wally. Artemis frowns.

" The sun burned my eyes," Wally pouted as the woman reaches up to touch a finger along the wet trail. A shiver runs down his spines as Artemis chuckles. It's light and throaty and it's one of his favourites. He had missed it.

" You poor baby," She teases, lifting up from the mattress to press a kiss against his eye. Wally wraps an arm around her waist as Artemis leans herself against him. She kisses his cheek. His jaw line. Down to his neck. Nips his collar bone. Wally knows where this is leading. But instead of indulging, he wraps his arms tight around his girlfriend(which is hardly a suitable title). He buries his head in her hair, and breathes in. God, he had missed her so much. His arms bring her in further.

" Wally?" Artemis' breath tickles his ear. Her hands have found his hair, fingers playing with the red strands. His hair has grown." Where did you...go?"

" ...Speed Heaven," He mumbles into her hair.

The speedster groaned unhappily as Artemis pulled back from him. She looks into his eyes, confused and her eyes gleaming that 'explain before I kick your ass' shine. He had missed that too.

" An energy field." Wally said. His eyes drops to her lips. They're pouty without meaning to be and he really wants to kiss her." Where I get my powers from, or so that's the theory. Guess it's not really a theory anymore."

" What was it like?" Artemis asked.

" It was silvery, flowy." His voice got deeper." It was timeless and lonely and a hell I never want to go back to." His voice cracks.

Artemis places a hand on his cheek. It's warm and calloused and so much smaller than his. Wally placed his overs, never breaking his gaze as he kisses her palm.

He had missed her hands.

Then he flips her hand, threading their fingers and he kisses the back of her hand.

He had missed all of her.

Finally, he kisses her. Wally doesn't let go of her hand. It's an awkward position but they make it work. They make anything work. He deepens the kiss. Artemis is pushing him down against the mattress.

Wally's stomach growls like thunder.

Artemis laughs into his mouth, pulling away so that he can flop back on to the bed with a groan.

" Babe, I'm hungry." He says as he puts an arm over his eyes.

" Well, there's no food in the house." Artemis said as she traces a pattern over his stomach.

" When do we never have food?" Wally looks at her from beneath his arm. And it's true, because when Wally raids the fridge, it's refilled almost immediately.

" When you leave for two weeks." Artemis snaps, and then winces.

Wally frowned, moving his arm from his face completely." I had to save the world, babe."

" I know, I know," Artemis growls." Save the world. Right. Didn't we retire for a reason?"

" Hey, we both agreed we had to do this," Wally glares at her." Besides, you died. Twice."

" But we both knew I was coming back." Tears come to her eyes but she rubs them away angrily." You, I didn't-"

" But I did." Wally reaches up to grab her hands." I came back."

" You did." Artemis' lips twitch." You didn't leave me."

" Never, babe," Wally smiles." You're stuck with me."

His stomach growls again. The speedster groans dramatically, as if in great pain. He probably is. Too bad his girlfriend(still unacceptable) finds it amusing.

" Way to ruin a moment." The blonde snickers, poking his stomach.

" Whatever," Wally suddenly lunges up, using his super speed to throw Artemis over her shoulder as he stands up. The woman shrieks.

" Let's get me foooodeh- woah."

He wavers, nearly falling forward. He feels light-headed, faint. But Wally doesn't let go of Artemis.

" Wally, put me down before you drop," Artemis hissed. She does not appreciate being treated like a sack of potatoes. It does not matter that neither are wearing clothes.

" Nnnnh," is all he says as he sits back down on the bed. Artemis crawls off his shoulder, walking towards the dresser.

" Should we try going out or just order in?" She says as she searches for something to wear.

" Order in." Wally says as he flops back down on the bed." Everything."

Artemis rolls her eyes. But she's smiling too as she throws a shirt and some sweats at her boyfriend(which sounds weird to her).

" Put some clothes on, pale face," She said. Artemis pulled on a plaid shirt(Wally's) and some shorts. Her hair stays down. Wally takes an almost painstakingly long time to put on clothes so she goes a head and orders.

Meanwhile, Wally is relishing in the fact that what he's putting on is not some sort of mix of spandex/latex. It's flannel and cotton and comfy as hell. Now all he needs to do is crawl into the kitchen.

" I found a can of beans," Artemis calls." Should I bother?"

" Pleeeeaase." Wally moans loudly.

Artemis snickers.

Slowly, and after nearly hitting the wall, the speedster manages to drag himself into the kitchen. His stomach growls painfully as he catches the whiff of beans. It hurts enough that Wally nearly doubles over.

Meanwhile, Artemis is stirring the beans...about as far away from the stove as she can be. Her arm is stretched tight, wrist turning as the long spoon turns the beans. She looks a little pale, a little green, with her face molded into something that could only be repulsed by a stench. But the beans smell delicious. Wally drops himself down into a chair. His arms flops across the table top and his head hits the wood.

" Babe, what's with the face?" He says slowly.

" I just don't really like the smell," Artemis wrinkles her nose further." Maybe it's because I haven't really eaten anything."

Wally frowns. He's not happy with that news at all.

The archer lifts the pot from the stove, sets it on a pad in front of Wally and puts a spoon down next to it. She sees no point in a bowl. Wally's done as soon as he picked up the spoon. There's sauce around his mouth, because he's a sloppy eater, and suddenly Artemis feels like hurling. She throws a napkin at his face, covering her mouth and nose with a hand. Then the door bell rings and Nelson starts barking.

There's a jar in the living room, filled with cash meant for emergencies like bills and food shortage. It's mostly used for food. Wally's still a blob in a chair, and Artemis can't stand the smell any longer. She's grateful to get some space between her and the smell as she gets the door.

" Hey, Billy." She greets the first delivery boy. There's another coming up the stairs.

" Hey, Miss Crock." He grins, because the West-Crock household tip good and Artemis is hot. Teenage dreams right here.

Artemis pays, Billy drops the food on the coffee table. The next boy is the same, and process is repeated several more times. The smell of food lures zombie-Wally from the kitchen into the living room. He goes right in for the target, tearing away wrappers and forgetting the words manners and utensils all together. It's quite a sight. Over the years, Artemis has grown a certain immunity. She is able to watch, even at Wally's worst. But for some reason, she can't take it now. Artemis tries to pick at some of the food, because yes, Wally shares with her, but nothing is appealing. Actually, it's sickening. Her stomach is turning despite the fact that the last thing she ate was...well, she can't remember.

Wally gets through Chinese and Indian and Thai and moves onto Western. There's a cheeseburger and fries stuffed in his mouth. The smells are overwhelming; fried and greasy. Artemis can't take it anymore; she runs to the bathroom.

The toilet seat goes up and she wretches. There's hardly anything more than water but she needs to throw up. It hurts enough that she feels like crying. Hot tears spill over in thin streams. Familiar hands pull her hair back, wrapping the threads round and round.

" I always knew I was too good looking for you to handle," Wally jokes lightly. She wants to growl and hiss at him instead of laugh, though. However, she's too busy dry heaving to retort. When she's done, Wally has braided her hair. Artemis washes out her mouth and quickly brushes her teeth. She feels gross. Wally catches her eye in the mirror.

" Artemis," He puts his hands on her hips." Are you sick?"

" Maybe." She mumbles around her toothbrush before spitting out the foamy paste." I don't know."

" Should I call the doc?" Wally asks.

" I think..." She rinsed out her mouth with tap water. When she's done, Artemis turns around in his hands." That you should call Dick. He quit the team."

" What?" Wally blinks, eyes wide as saucers.

" You need to tell him your alive. You need to let them all know." Artemis said quietly. She almost regrets saying these words. A part of her wants him all to herself a little longer. She doesn't want to share her Wally with the world.

" I should call Dick." Wally says after a beat.

" No," Artemis shakes her head." You should go see him, Wally. He needs to see you, breathing and all."

" Proof." Wally breathed.

She nods her head this time.

" Come with me?" He asks as he knocks foreheads with her.

" ...Okay." Artemis says. Then she wrinkles her nose, greening again." But brush your teeth first. And a shower. Definitely a shower."

" Wanna share?" Wally grins impishly.

Artemis smiles right back.

Spitfire love

Ugh. I dislike this chapter. I would greatly appreciate any constructive criticism.