I told you it would be late, and I was true to my word. Thank you all for the kind words and the patience as I rip my hair out over midterms.
Now, please enjoy :D
Artemis wasn't sure if it was the slight pounding in her head or the faint scent of coffee in the air that woke her up, but which ever one it was, she would have appreciated one more hour of sleep. She wiped the sleep from her eyes as they opened and scanned the room. It was one of those organized messes where everything had a place, but that place was just on the floor. The dresser across the room was covered in books and medals. Posters and pictures littered the walls, the central once being the image of Einstein that makes its way to all dorm rooms. Her eyes closed once more as she willed her headache away. That was when she shot up.
This wasn't her room. Her room faced a different direction and was clean. Her room had a poster of Mark Nutt and one of Jeremy Renner on her ceiling. Her room was in a different side of campus.
She looked down and found that she wasn't even wearing her own shirt, unless she completely forgot about running track in high school. At least I'm not naked this time. That's a first!
Raising her arms above her head, she got out bed. Artemis really wanted to know what had happened to her pants. Or where she could find some of that coffee and...was that bacon? Her stomach let out a surprisingly loud growl which alerted her to just how hungry she was. She ran her fingers through her hair and walked out the door, her nose for her guide.
Her feet padded along the carpeted hallway as she made her way to what she hopped was the kitchen, but really, where else would bacon be? As she turned a final corner her nose was greeted with a fresh wave of delicious breakfast. In the corner near the sizzling bacon stood Wally on his phone. Artemis's eyes flicked between the shirtless figure and cooking food. She really wasn't sure which was a more pleasant sight and the moment. It was right when her eyes started to linger on Wally that her thoughts were interrupted.
"Mornin', Sleepin' Beauty," he said without looking up from his phone. He typed out a few more words before setting it down and returning to the bacon. "Hope you're not a vegetarian because I literally made 2 packs of bacon." He turned around to give her a quick grin before quickly turning back around. "And you're not wearing pants."
"And you're not wearing a shirt."
"That's completely different," he responded. Artemis couldn't help but smile. He gave off such an air of lady-killer the night before, but by himself? Wally was...courteous? Thoughtful? Normal.
"So," he started again. He moved the bacon off the heat and onto a paper towel. "how drunk were you last night?"
"Not very. I remember all the guts I spilled last night. Took me a sec to remember where I was when I woke up, though," she chuckled. "You have enough nerd gear in that room?"
"One. You should see my room at home. Two," he put a cup of coffee down in front of her before feigned shock. "How dare you? My bed is incredibly comfy. I don't let just any girl sleep in there. Cream or sugar?"
She shook her head as she took a sip. "So where did you sleep?"
"In my bed."
Artemis struggled to not spit out the coffee she had been about to swallow. It wasn't a repulsive idea, she just figured she would remember...that.
Wally immediately sprung up to get her a napkin. "I'm kidding I'm kidding. It was a joke I was in Dick's room. I figured you would beat me up if pulled a move like that."
She wiped the hair from her eyes. "So we didn't...?"
"No, no. I mean it had crossed my mind, I am a guy, but after everything you said about your dad, and that one guy...It just really wasn't the right time."
A wave of relief washed over after hearing that they hadn't done anything, but hearing mention of her father completely dampened the mood. "Yeah. He tends to ruin everything."
"Ok...Never have I ever...been in jail," Megan said as she strained for a situation.
"Like sentenced to prison or just been in one? Because I've been taken downtown for carrying these guns without a license." Raquel finished the sentence by flexing her arms and giving each bicep a kiss. The group laughed as she continued to flex her lean arms.
"Um both? I've never even been near a prison."
Dick shrugged as he put down a finger, bringing his total down to five. "Shadowed once last summer. Criminology. You know how it is." He took a drink and threw his can out for another one.
Slowly Artemis brought her finger down, also leaving five left. She took a drink. Then another. And another until it was empty.
"That sounds like a story to me." Dick joked as he tossed her another can.
"My dad put my mom in jail," she said bluntly. She popped the tab and took a swig. Don't get mad. It's not their fault. You promised not to hold anything back with them.
"May I ask what she did?"Megan asked. Her timidness seemed to resonate throughout the room. It was nice of her to ask if she was even allowed to talk about it. Most people just assumed her mother was a criminal or that they could ask her as many questions as they wished. Just the politeness of it all made her more willing to share. She sighed.
"My mother didn't actually do anything wrong. My dad owned a sport shop that was mildly successful for a local place. Mom didn't work much because she was too busy with my sister and me, but sometimes she'd work the register. Dad mostly stayed in the back or the basement, working invetory, or at least that's what I was told. I wasn't allowed back there." She stopped to take a drink. How'd she get in this mess? Was she really going to spill it all? Yes. The last time you waited too long, and they were untrusting. And they told you their secrets. She continued.
"Turns out my dad was smuggling weapons with the shop as front. There was a lot of gang and mob activity where I was from, so it was very easy for him to find a market. Eventually one of the mobs found out he was selling to everyone, not just his family. Apparently he didn't understand the concept of an arms dealer. So essentially a turf war breaks out in my dad's shop. Cops are called, dad makes like a bat out of hell, and mom gets shot in the middle of it all. Being the clever man my dad is, his name isn't on any of the papers for building, just my mom's. Long story short, she goes away for the time he should have served, and dad came back like nothing ever happened. I visited her every day I could. And that's...my family."
All eyes were on her, but this wasn't what she expected. No one looked horrified or shocked. They looked sad, but supportive. Sympathetic. She looked down when she felt a hand on her leg and up to its owner. Wally gave a small squeeze and smiled.
"My dad and I fought so much that I eventually just moved in with my aunt and uncle. Almost killed my mom, but she couldn't stand the fights." Artemis's eyes met Wally's and she knew he was telling the truth. The green eyes that seemed to sparkle like the Emerald City had clouded with resentment. His hand was still on her leg, maintaining its comforting squeeze.
"I was a bastard. My dad barely talked to me when we finally met," Conner remarked. Artemis found his eyes as well as Megan's, and gave them both appreciative smiles.
"I was cut off," Dick added. He seemed to sense Barbara's scowl from his statement. "Ok, so I had my title as heir taken away, but still."
"When did that happen?" Wall asked. His thumb was now drawing small circles on Artemis's leg. She tried not to tense from the affection.
"Senior year. Apparently only Ivy League business men can take the reigns, not world famous detectives." He shrugged. Clearly this was eating him up inside.
"See?" Wally turned back to Artemis. "We all have our difficulties."
Her eyes swept the room, momentarily meeting each of their eyes before returning to Wally's. She struggled to keep her smile from growing any larger that it already was.
"Thank you for not freaking out last night by the way. Most people get uncomfortable when they find my mom was...incarcerated." She spat the final word out. Her mother in no way deserved it.
"Like I said. We all have baggage. It's no biggie." He placed the cooled plate of bacon between them. It seemed like it was an effort for him to not inhale the whole thing.
"Speaking of baggage..." Artemis set her cup down gingerly. This was either going to be an easy conversation or a terrible one. Probably the latter. "I should tell you that I'm not exactly looking to dive right into a relationship or anything." She studied his face before continuing. He didn't look upset or anything, just drinking everything in. "It's not that I don't like you or I'm not interested or anything. I just...well you heard everything last night. I've had about negative one thousand respectable dudes in my life. I just need to get used to this, before it can be a thing..."
She searched for a sign. Any sign. Any sign that she should look for her pants and go. Instead he smiled and stuffed a handful of bacon in his mouth.
"Stop freaking out, will you?" He stood up and grabbed his mug and the bacon and headed for another room. "Do you play video games? There's a Borderlands DLC that I haven't gotten around to."
Artemis sat staring at Wally's now vacant seat, a mystified look plastered across her face. She followed him to the next room, taking her confusion with her.
"What just happened?"
Awwww snap! We got deep! Any Rooster Teeth fans will recognize a famous athlete I referenced. I mean, why not, right?
For anyone who hasn't visited my profile whatever (so all of you), I have a poll up concerning with whom Dick will be permanently pared off - Babs or Zatanna. I'll give it at least...1 week? If there's not a clear winner Imma toss a coin or eeny meeny miny moe it. So if you have strong feelings, VOICE THEM! I gotta develop that thing quickly before it gets too messy to change anything.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and as always, have a great week. Feel free to review that shit or even drop by to say hi.