~Chapter Two~
Disclaimer: Once again, don't own YJ. Still wish I did.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS IN ARTEMIS' PERSPECTIVE! My friend was really confused when she read it because she didn't realize the perspective change! I wanted to show the different sides of the story so the chapters alternate between Dick and Artemis. Just wanted to make sure everyone knew!
Artemis' POV
I sit in the small cage that acts as a jail in the Security Station in Gotham Mall. I'd done my best to wipe away the tears but the tracks they'd carved on my cheeks were harder to mask. I rest my elbows on my knees and make a bridge with my fingers as I watch the guards smoke and play cards at the desk only a few feet away from the steel bars. I frown and cough as the smoke drifts into my nose. No wonder Gotham was so full of criminals: the smoke that everyone inhaled constantly must be messing with their minds.
The fatter security guard with a thick moustache throws his cards down on the table, cursing in colourful language while his thinner partner laughs and pulls the bills and coins in the center towards him, grinning from ear to ear. The fat guard mumbles something about cheating before throwing more of his money into the middle. He grabs a pink cardboard box from the ground and proceeds to shove a jelly doughnut into his mouth. I turn away, disgusted. He almost ate with fewer manners than Wally.
Wally.
Kid Flash.
Robin.
Oh my God Robin!
I leap from my seat. The thin guard raises an eyebrow but says nothing. He starts to deal the cards as I began to pace. At that moment I was thankful not to have super-speed like Wally, as I was already wearing a path in the carpet simply at a normal speed. M'gann's telepathic powers would've come in handy right now though.
I guess the information hasn't completely set in yet. Dick Grayson is Robin. The super-dweeb, Mathlete Dick Grayson is the amazingly-cool Robin, the freaking Boy Wonder? I kept repeating it in my head, trying to get it to stick. My brain refused to accept the information. But it made sense. All the times he's had so many extra-curricular activities, all the parties that I've invited him to that he couldn't attend, I now understood why. He had been out on patrol with Batman. Dick Grayson is Robin.
Batman.
God I know who Batman is too!
I've been graced all of a sudden with so much information that most people don't—and never will—know. Bruce Wayne had to be Batman. Dick was Bruce Wayne's adopted son, after all. It would only be logical that his son had answered to call and became his partner. At least I understood why I of all people had gotten a Wayne Scholarship to Gotham Academy. I groaned and pulled my hand down my face. No wonder Batman—Bruce made Dick keep his secret ID from the rest of the team: Dick must have so many enemies, both as Robin and as the son of Bruce Wayne. Imagine if any one of us slipped up and a villain found out. If I could piece this mystery together so fast there was no doubt in my mind that someone like the Joker would be able to as well, and a villain with information like that was not good for the Justice League. Or for Bruce and Dick, for that matter.
I return to my sitting position and tap my foot anxiously on the floor. I wonder how long Wally has known. I wonder if Batman knows he knows. I buried my face in my hands. What would Batman do to me when he discovered I knew? I was certain he'd find out sooner or later. After all, it wasn't exactly a secret that he was the world's greatest detective.
Dick must be so disappointed with me. I couldn't control myself. The second I saw those glasses on his face and recognized him as Robin I just got so angry. Was this how Superboy felt all the time? I'd thought I'd taught myself that violence was not the answer but who was I kidding. I shot arrows at people in my free time. That's not exactly a humanitarian approach to things. Still, I thought I could control myself when I was around my friends. Maybe it was his face. He looked so sad and sorry that I couldn't take it. I needed to wipe that expression off his face. I didn't need a pity party.
The worst part is that he took it. He just laid there and took it. No fighting back, no crying, no nothing. Even when I'd almost exposed his secret ID in the middle of Gotham Mall he tried desperately to keep it hidden. If he had gone Robin on me I'm sure he would've kicked my ass into next week. Instead, he told me to stay whelmed. He comforted me when I cried and embarrassed myself. He even tried to call for the guards to stop as they were taking me away. I cursed myself for beating him up so much. I'd been rash and impulsive. I regret it so much now.
I glance at the clock on the eggshell-white walls. Quarter after five. My Mom would be expecting me home in fifteen minutes. The guards seem engrossed in their card game. The fat one is onto what I think is his sixth doughnut. Ugh, could he be any more stereotypical? I wait for them to finish their game (the fat one lost once again) before I scowl and say, "How much longer do I have to be here?"
The thin guard narrows his eyes at me. "Until we say you can leave."
"I have to be home in fifteen minutes or else my Mom's going to kill me."
He shrugs and smirks at me, looking me up and down as if I was a bird desperately trying to escape the confines of his cage. "Doesn't matter to us if you're in a shitload of trouble when you get home. We're security guards. We can do what we want." He jerks his head towards the door. The fat guard nods and he presses a few buttons one the security pad beside the door. He then picks up the keys to my cage and tosses them to the thin guard before licking the pink jelly off his fingers. I notice the guard's have nametags: the fat one is Pete and the thin one is Bruce. I shudder. Bruce is not a name I want to be thinking about right now.
Bruce slowly pushes the key into the lock and turns it, opening my cell with a satisfying click. Surprised, I stand and I wait for him to open the door to let me go. He doesn't. Instead, he slips inside the cell with me. I furrow my eyebrows. I didn't have to be the Boy Wonder to figure out that something wasn't quite right, and, before I know it I am pinned against the wall with Bruce's body.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I yell, trying to push him off me. "Get off me!"
He smiles and leans in closer, nibbling at my earlobe. "You know, for a teenager, you are quite good looking." he whispers. I gasp and start to punch him in the chest, trying to put all my might into the punches. He just presses closer as my fists slam into him. Fatigue washes over me only a few moments later. Dammit. If only I hadn't beat up Dick so much. Desperately, I try to knee him where the sun doesn't shine but he's pressed my legs against the wall so hard that I can't move them.
I start to panic. If only I had my arrows with me. I'd be able to take this guy down in a few seconds. But this time, I don't. I start to scream. Bruce simply covers my mouth with his hand. Today, I'm the helpless girl that's going to get raped. I squeeze my eyes shut as he licks his way down my neck.
Please, I beg internally as Bruce starts to fumble with my belt. Please, Dick! Come save me!
Someone pounds out the door. Bruce and Pete freeze. I try to wriggle free but he is still pressing hard against me. "Excuse me?" a familiar voice calls. I almost cry in relief. "I'm looking for my friend Artemis. She needs to get home or else her Mom's going to be worried." When no answer came, the tone of his voice changes, "Artemis, are you in there?"
I shake my head quickly to remove Bruce's hand from my mouth and scream, "Dick! Dick, help me! He's trying to rape me! Please, Di—" My screams are muffled as Bruce's hands cover my mouth once again. The door handle shakes. Something slams against the door, followed by a grunt. He must've tried to kick the door down. I hear the pound of footsteps on tile. Then there's nothing. Tears roll down my face. He… left?
"Now you've done it, you little shit!" he growls and backhands me across the face. Stars dance across my vision. My cheek howls in pain as he does it over and over again. A whimper escapes my lips. When Bruce is satisfied that I'm in enough pain he stops before glaring at Pete. "What do you think you're doing? Go after hi—"
The door swings open. Dick is dressed in his Robin costume, the red, black and yellow shining like a beacon of hope. I've never been happier to see someone wearing tights and a cape in my life. The holographic computer hovering over his wrist signals that he hacked the door's lock. He grins his signature Robin grin. "Someone order a hero?"
Pete charges towards him. Robin laughs as only he can and easily does a front flip over the lumbering man, kneeing him in the head on the way up and kicking him hard in the ass when he lands. Pete skids across the floor into the middle of the hall and crashes into one of the couches outside. People scream and leap out of the way. I'm happy to see that he doesn't move. Did he really get knocked out so fast? Some customers gasp and freeze in their tracks, while others yell, "Hey look! It's Robin, the Boy Wonder!" I snort and roll my eyes. No wonder Dick was such an attention hog.
Robin turns his attention to Bruce, still pinning me to the wall. I can imagine his azure eyes narrowing under his domino mask. "You are so not going to be feeling the aster after this." he says. With that, he rushes forward kicks open the cell door. Bruce relinquishes his position on me to face Robin. I slide with my back still on the wall to the floor and quickly re-buckle my belt. Maybe, just this once, I'll let Robin do all the work. I pull my knees to my chest and watch as Robin dodges Bruce's sloppy punches and returns one in his gut. Bruce grunts and bowls over, clutching his stomach. Robin swiftly swipes his leg under Bruce. He loses his footing and goes tumbling to the floor on his back, moaning. I can't help noticing how graceful he is when he fights. Robin stands about Bruce and places his left food hard on Bruce's chest.
"Huh," he says, testing his weight on the man. He groans. "Now I get why all the villains like to step on me. Makes you feel kinda powerful." He looks my way and smirks. "You alright there, Miss Damsel-in-Distress?" I snort.
"Shut up and finish your job, Boy Blunder." Robin laughs and kicks Bruce across the face. That knocks Bruce out cold.
Robin offers his hand to me, his face suddenly serious. "Seriously though. Are you sure you're okay, Artemis? That didn't look like it was asterous." I take his hand graciously and he pulls me to my feet.
"Yeah," I mumble. "I'm alright. He didn't really do anything to me. Just slapped me and tried to take off my pants. What about you?" I say suddenly worried. "I beat the shit out of you not an hour ago. How did you still have the energy?"
I could imagine him winking under his mask as he says, "I have my secrets." When he stops I notice he's bending slightly at the waist. He's still hurting. "Now, what do ya say we blow this popsicle stand?" I smile.
"Sounds like a plan." With that, we race out of the room and disappear through the doors of the mall.
A/N: Nakama no otaku kon'nichiwa! Hello fellow geeks! Thanks for all the reviews and all the people who've added this story to their Favourites and/or Watch List. I really appreciate all the love! :D So I know I've said this on my profile already (does anyone actually read that?) but I'm going to my grandparents in another province from Sunday to Wednesday so I won't be able to post my chapter of this on Wednesday. To make it up to you guys, I'm posting it today! Yay! :D Thanks again! Review! Happy reading and stay asterous! ;)
