Artemis returns.
The Justice League hadn't seen Artemis that night but she seen them. Few people knew that her Mum had inherited several properties in Gotham. One of them, the one she was in now was old and run down but it overlooked the harbour. Artemis had always come here to think. It was peaceful. It was also a great vantage point. She watched them all go through the harbour during the night. Once or twice she had almost gone out there and said look I'm right here. But she couldn't do it.
Right now she was alone in an empty building looking at the items she grabbed from her house. There was a change of clothes and some water. Her school uniform; she still wasn't sure what had possessed her to grab that. The last item was a photograph. It was one of three that she owned but this was the only one she had grabbed.
The picture had been taken a few months ago and had quickly become her favourite. It was of her and her mother. Artemis was leaning over her mother's shoulders and hugging her. Both wore smiles reminiscent of the one's from her first family photo. It was the last picture taken of Paula Crock and it meant everything to Artemis.
Sitting here in this abandoned building with only the picture for company she could almost see her Mum. Here her scolding Artemis for what had happened at the cave. Telling her to go make the problem better. Pleading with Artemis to follow her advice. To make it right.
Just the thought of her Mum brought her back to tears. All Artemis wanted was to go back to the cave and have everything go back to normal but that was never going to happen. Their faces had told her that. Each one had been etched with fear, sadness, pity and regret. Though if Artemis was totally honest with herself there was one face that she kept coming back to. She had never imagined or thought that Conner could look so broken. It was as if he had been the personal cause of all her problems. She had wanted to hug him and tell him that it was okay but she had been so mad. At herself, the world and him. So she went to her favoured flight response instead of fight.
Feeling thoroughly worse than she had before Artemis stood and did what she had first done when she had got here. The top floor of the building had a gaping hole in one side, creating a ledge which was where she now stood. Stretching out her arms, she shut her eyes. She had performed this stunt for years. Tonight for the first time in her life Artemis hoped that she slipped. Only because she couldn't do it deliberately again. She had tried but for some reason she couldn't do it now. Artemis hadn't the courage left for that act. After a few minutes she opened her eyes and surveyed Gotham. Across the bay she could see the lights of the rich and powerful. It was a breathtaking sight.
"I'm sorry." She wasn't sure who she was apologising to anymore. She only knew that it felt right.
As she returned to more stable footing Artemis considered walking to Wayne Manor. She knew where it was. It was an idea that got a second's worth of attention from her. She was terrified of being thrown out and told to never come back. Fear of them was greater than her fear of loneliness.
So Artemis sat in her outpost and watched the sun rise over the Harbour. Lost in swirling thoughts about her Mum and Conner.