Ah, I haven't watched Denial in a while (hey, that rhymed, I think), sorry if I got loads wrong! I changed some things, though, since this is an AU.
Hey, guys, look, its the second chapter! I'm doing some more writing! Yes! I have school tomorrow (bleh two more weeks until the holidays. I will survive this!) so don't expect me to be uploading much, since, y'know, homework. -.-
Title: Welcome to the team
Characters/Relationships: Artemis, Wally, Spitfire, the team (kinda)
Summary: AU. Artemis joined the team before Wally. Follow the two team mates as they try their best to deny their feelings for as long as they can.
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice, or any of it's characters.
Artemis strolled into the mission room of Mount Justice, wearing her emerald costume and holding her bow. She felt her eyes dropping slightly and yawned, adjusting her cowl and scanning the room. She couldn't believe how little sleep she had gotten last night. She blamed her Mom. She had found out that she spent three hours in the living room with a guy and freaked out. If Artemis remembered correctly, her exact words were 'Oh, I'm so proud! My daughter is dating!' Seriously? She had only just met him! Sure, he's nice, good looking and stuff, but still, she has to actually know someone to date them.
Artemis stopped beside M'gann, she was sending Superboy some pretty admiring looks from the corner of her eye. On her other side, Kaldur and Robin stood, Robin tapping his foot impatiently. Batman stood in front of them all, his expression showing that they had all been waiting for a while. She started to yawn and disguised it as her clearing her throat. "Uh, where's Wally?"
"He's late." Superboy grumbled, crossing his arms and turning his head away. Almost as soon as he said this, there was a blinding flash of red and yellow and Wally was in the gap between Artemis and Kaldur, probably too close to Artemis than she would usually be comfortable with, but she didn't mention it, only frowning.
"Wow," She said sarcastically, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at him. "Only your first mission and you're late for the briefing." Wally smirked and raised his hands in mock defense.
"Your sarcasm wounds me." He snorted, before lowering his hands. She rolled her eyes, but she smirked at his antics. She elbowed him and he elbowed back, letting out a small laugh.
"If we could continue," Batman snapped impatiently, and immediately the two fell into silence, muttering apologies. "Thank you. This is Doctor Fate." He told them, pressing some buttons so that a photo of a hero in a gold helmet and a blue and gold costume appeared before them. "His helmet, the Helmet of Fate, is dangerous. If in the wrong hands, the holder could turn this world into their own personal playground. You must go to the Tower of Fate and make sure that the helmet is safe."
"We will." Kaldur spoke up, stepping forward. "But how will we find it?"
"You don't need to go far. All you'll need is this." Batman reached into his belt and pulled out a small object. They soon saw it was a golden key. It glinted, reflecting the light, as he passed it to Aqualad, who held it tight. "This is the key. It will open the tower for you."
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
The team nodded, and started to walk to the bio ship, Kaldur leading. Wally walked a bit faster to get next to M'gann. He slipped his hands into his pockets as to look more casual and grinned at her.
"So... M'gann, do you believe in magic?"
Artemis scoffed from behind him and walked a bit faster also, so that she could walk past him and thump him on the back of the head as she did so.
"Flirt."
"Hey! I'm just trying to start conversation!"
"No! No, no!"
Wally stared at Kent Nelson in horror as the old man sent him one last, kind smile, before his body went limp in the boy's arms. His head flopped and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. His hand uncurled to reveal a golden locket with a long, shiny chain. Inside was a small, black and white photo of a woman with braided hair tied up, a ruffled dress and a polite smile. 'Inza.' Wally reached out and took it, holding it carefully in his hand.
Wally's head snapped up when a bang echoed through his protective bubble. Klarion shot spell after spell at him, slowly breaking down his protection. "Give me the helmet, you little brat!" Klarion screamed, rage filling his voice as he used everything he knew against him.
Wally's eyes widened. He needed to do something. He looked downwards and noticed something. The helmet. An idea formed in his mind, and before he could consider the consequences of what he was about to do, he cupped it in his hands and held it over his head. With a gulp of slight nervousness, he slid it onto his head.
Then, everything was black.
Well, not everything.
Wally stood, eyes wide, in the center of a spotlight that seemed to come from nowhere, in his costume, with the locket, just as he had been a second ago. Except, at the same time, he wasn't. Almost as soon as he opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings (he had done that in about two seconds - there wasn't much to scan), he felt an immense pain in his side, and cried out with the force of it. "What the hell?" he exclaimed, clutching his side and struggling to stay upright.
"Language." He heard someone chuckle, their deep and comforting voice familiar. Wally turned to his left in surprise, just to see none other than Kent Nelson emerging from the surrounding shadows. Wally's mouth fell agape. "Surprised?"
"B-but... you're dead... right?" Wally stuttered uncertainly, still staring at the man in disbelief. He chuckled, taking one more step forward so that Wally could see him properly.
"Oh, yeah, dead as dust, I am." He laughed, shaking his head. "But, I guess I spent so long in this stupid helmet that I'm stuck with it. Oh well, at least I can keep ol' Nabu company."
"Nabu?"
"The Lord of Order. He's the one that lives in the helmet. Hey, couldn't help but notice you got my locket. Could I have it?" He smiled, holding out his hand. Wally nodded, placing the object in his wrinkled hand. The familiar cold feeling of the metal was comforting to Kent, and his hand closed around it. "Thanks, Kid."
"So..." Wally started, rubbing that back of his neck. "Where am I exactly?"
"Why, inside the helmet, of course! I thought it was obvious." The man chuckled. "But three's gonna be a bit of a crowd."
"Wait!" Wally exclaimed suddenly, throwing up his hands. "I'm staying? You're staying? What happened to seeing Inza?"
Kent shook his head. "That's the thing about eternity. She'll wait for me as long as she has to. And I don't think Nabu intends on letting you go."
"How can you tell?" Wally asked angrily, crossing his arms and balling his fists. Kent smiled with undstanding and waved his cane in a circular motion in the air. Soon, it was like a round TV screen appeared out of no where, showing them what was happening.
"Let him go!" Artemis screeched, taking half a step forward and balling her fists, glaring at the flying Lord of Order. The rest of the team stood behind her, staring up at him in disbelief and horror. Artemis seemed to be the only one generating anger, which was surprising. Wally would have thought that this would be Supey's time to shine.
"No. I have been waiting too long for a host body." Nabu's voice boomed - it actually sounded like lots of different voices put together, just to make it sound creepier. "This non-believer will have to do."
"Nabu, your supposed to be the good one!" She screamed in return. At this, Kent shook his head and chuckled beside Wally.
"Feisty, isn't she?"
"Yeah." Wally mumbled in response, still slightly shocked by the emotion in Artemis's voice. When Artemis realized that Nabu was not going to answer, she continued.
"Listen, just... If you let him go..." Her voice grew quieter, and she looked off into the distance, thinking. "If you let him go, I'll... I'll take his place!"
"What?" Wally exclaimed taking a step towards the portal-like thing he was watching through. "You can't do that!"
"She can't hear you, you know." Kent told him sadly, placing a hand on his shoulder. Wally whirled to him, face livid.
"What the hell is she doing?" He shouted, throwing his arms up in frustration. "She's known me for a day!"
Kent was very tempted to mention love at first site. He knew it when he saw it, and he definitely saw it, even if they didn't.
"I think you should carry on watching." He said, gesturing towards the floating TV screen. Wally narrowed his eyes and turned back to it. M'gann was rushing up to Artemis and grabbing her arm, and the rest of the team gazed at her in shock.
"No, Artemis, don't!" M'gann begged, shaking the blonde's arm. Artemis tried to shake her of and frowned at the Martian.
"Stop it, M'gann. I need to do this."
"No, you don't!" Wally screeched from inside the helmet. She didn't hear of course. Though, she did look up when Nabu spoke.
"Are you sure of this, child?"
Artemis swallowed. "Yes."
"Artemis, stop this!" Wally screamed, and was surprised to find that Artemis's eyes widened. M'gann let go of her arm in shock and the whole team suddenly looked very, very confused. Artemis took some more steps towards him and smiled slightly, hopefully.
"Wally?" She muttered. "Is that you?"
Wally blinked, and realized that Nabu was letting him speak, broadcasting his voice so that his friends could hear him. "I...I think so. Listen, Artemis, don't take my place. I swear, I will kill you if you do!"
Artemis frowned. "I can't let you get stuck in there!"
"Let me get stuck in here!" He shouted, but Artemis didn't react. She was still watching Doctor Fate closley, waiting for an answer. Wally heart sunk when he realized that he had missed his chance to change her mind. Nabu had stopped listening. "Damnit!" He shouted, stomping his foot. "He didn't even let me speak properly!"
"I've had enough of this." Kent frowned and waved his cane. To Wally's disappointment, the flying TV screen closed. "Nabu, listen to me!" He shouted, and his voice was so commanding that soon a small version of the helmet appeared in front of them.
"What is it, Kent Nelson?" Nabu's voice came from it, echoing through the shadows.
"Let the boy go." He commanded, his voice firm. "He has his own life to live, and a fixed place on this world. He is not meant to be trapped in here. He is a free spirit that should not be contained."
Nabu paused. "All these years with you, Kent Nelson, has softened me. I shall free the boy. But this is the last time I show mercy. I need a host body, and I do intend to find one." The helmet disappeared before Wally could thank him, and Kent turned to Wally, smiling.
"See ya, Kid. And, remember, find your own little spitfire, one that won't let you get away with nothing. Like that Artemis, for example." Wally's mouth fell agape, and before he could correct the old man (because Artemis couldn't be his spitfire, he just met her! Honestly, did no one get that?), there was a blinding white light and, next thing he knew, he was standing in front of the team, holding the helmet over his head and blinking in confusion.
"Uh...hi?"
Wally sat in the living room of the Cave, in front of a turned off TV, a bag of chips in hand, deep in thought. He stuffed some more chips into his mouth and thought about what Kent Nelson had said. 'Find your own little spitfire, one that won't let you get away with nothing. Like that Artemis, for example.' He was really confused. Why did he say Artemis? There was nothing going on between them, nothing at all. Sadly, no one seemed to notice that, and instead noticed some romantic relationship that wasn't there.
"Hey." He jumped as Artemis walked in, smiling slightly at him and taking a seat on the couch. "Want to watch another movie? It was... kinda fun yesterday."
Wally was about to say yes, but found that he suddenly felt very, very awkward and that, at that moment in time, wanted to avoid Artemis. So, like a jerk, he stood up and started walking out. "No, no thanks."
Artemis frowned after him, and literally a second later she heard the computer announcing his departure. She slumped in her seat, sighing, one word floating through her head; 'Great.'