Wild cheers went up from everyone. Even Batman clapped and smiled at the group of young heroes. It didn't take long for soda and snacks to get busted out from the well stocked kitchen. Nightwing thought to use this time to speak with Jessie but every time he tried to approach her someone else would beat him there. First it was Batman who spoke in hushed tones, Jessie seemed unbothered by his usual dark demeanor. Then Cassie and Barbra came up talking very animatedly with her until Impulse came up, and seemed to ask a lot of questions. Just as Nightwing was going up to her Wally and Artemis came up and this time Nightwing was close enough to hear their conversation. Jessie addressed Wally,
"Have you been told what happened?" Her voice was soft and comforting.
Wally rubbed the back of his head.
"I was told, not sure how much of it I believe."
Jessie nodded an amused smile pulling at her lips, clearly she expected his response to be something along those lines.
"I'm afraid there is more."
Wally snorted but Nightwing noticed his friend was still paying attention as Jessie continued.
"Your lives are now connected; yours to hers. If you get killed she will feel everything as you would normally, but as long as Artemis lives you will return to life."
"Sweet. Not that I plan on trying it out."
"Good, because,"
Nightwing could have sworn he heard his friend mutter damn.
"When you are hurt, Artemis will feel it as if it is her own body being hurt, to a much lesser extent. In order for you to heal it will drain some energy from her. Thankfully your body naturally heals quickly so neither of you should be in pain for very long. Wally if your body is repeatedly killed it will eventually drain Artemis's life force. The more brutal the death the more energy it will take from her."
Wally nodded, but glanced at Artemis with a mixture of guilt and anxiety. Artemis snorted.
"Don't look at me like that. I'll hit you myself."
Wally was about to argue, but Artemis held a hand up and stopped him from speaking.
"Look, I made my choice, I do not regret it and quite frankly I rather like the consequences of this. Maybe now you won't make stupid decisions and run off into danger without me." He looked down at the floor and it seemed to Nightwing that his friend might actually be crying, Wally took Artemis's hand then looked back at Jessie there was no sign of tears.
"Is there any way to prevent her from feeling my pain?"
"So, she won't feel all of your pain, just when you are mortally wounded. It will cause a weird sort of feeling when you are in trouble or in pain, but no pain until you are in serious danger of dying. Like, say if you get shot in the arm, her arm will likely feel sore in the same place you were shot. However, get your neck snapped and she's likely going to be on the floor, holding her neck, and crying from the pain."
"Is there any way to stop that," he asked again obviously sensing that Jessie was trying to dodge the question.
"Don't get hurt."
Wally gave her a deadpan look.
"Other than that?"
Jessie bit her lip.
"No, power demands a boon. Life is the most precious form of power of all. There for, it is not something to be trifled with and that which gave life will not be forgiving of those who twist it for their own means, regardless of their motives."
Wally looked like he would say something scathing to this but Artemis elbowed him in the ribs before he could.
"I understand you will feel the temptation to try to undo this, but be warned it's no longer just your life you are gambling with-," a growl interrupted her.
Wolf approached Jessie from behind with his teeth barred. Superboy went to stop him.
"Wolf what's the matter? She's a friend."
Wolf didn't seem to hear him. But it was no longer Jessie standing there. The girl looked almost exactly like Jessie, but her hair was gold instead of copper.
"It's alright. He doesn't know what I am and does not trust me; I probably smell like another predator. Stand back please."
Superboy did so but he stayed close. Ugly snapping and popping issues from Jessie's body. Her body reshaped into a shaggy black wolf that stood a whole head taller than Wolf. The black wolf had one eye that glowed gold with menacing fire. The other eye was bright blue with human intelligence. Everyone watched with worry and fear as the two wolves growled an snapped at each other. It took a moment but the black wolf's gold eye finally turned blue and once it did Wolf bowed his head in submission. Jessie's character reshaped back into human and patted Wolf on the head.
"Good boy," she scratched behind his ears then she lifted his head and looked into his eyes. "You are a good friend. Watch over this pack of yours, I think they'll need you. Especially your pup." When the girl looked back at the more human spectators she saw the looks on their faces, "What?"
People exchanged glances then shrugged it off. Just another part of the family. Then they went back to their conversations. When Nightwing looked back to where Jessie was, she had vanished like a ghost.