Disclaimer: Young Justice is owned by DC Comics, Cartoon Network, and Warner Bros. Not me. Damn.
Chapter 4: The Speedster
Recognized: Aqualad. B-02.
The zeta tube entrance emitted a flash of light and Kaldur strode into the central mission control room. His team was grouped around the holographic computer, staring intently at the same window in the top corner of the screen.
"Any news from the League?" asked Superboy, not once tearing his eyes away.
"We are to wait for further instructions. Nothing more," Kaldur followed their gazes to watch the surveillance feed. "How is he doing?"
"It's…hard to say," Megan replied. Her delicate arms were settled on her hips and she squinted at the screen as though trying to decipher the scene before them.
Sound from the cameras had been enabled, but the room was completely silent. Kid Flash was slouching in the large armchair with a scowl that matched Artemis's in terms of intensity. Their mutual distaste for each other was so palpable it was unnerving to watch.
On the occasions where they actually made eye contact, both of their frowns would deepen in tandem, and they both looked away furiously. The rest of the time was spent adamantly staring into space.
"How long have they been glaring at each other?" Kaldur asked.
"Almost five minutes," said Robin, who was also squinting at the screen.
Superboy raised an eyebrow. "Have any of you ever seen him go this long without talking?"
"Are you kidding?" Robin shook his head. "He doesn't even stop to breathe while eating."
The rest of the team grimaced at their separate recollections of Wally eating. It was never a pretty sight.
Kaldur sighed. "M'gann, link us up."
Wally had always kept a habit of keeping his nails microscopically short, but he was digging them so hard into his folded arms that he could actually see red half-moon shaped marks forming on his skin. He didn't know what to say, and the blonde villainess across from him wasn't giving any sign of speaking. If anything, she looked more reluctant than he did.
Aqualad's voice popped into his head. Megan had activated the psychic link. Wally, he said. Your silence does not aid our mission. You must initiate a rapport. Ask her something.
Like what?!
Anything, so long as she actually responds. Robin chipped in.
He thought for a moment. Anything, huh?
Wally cleared his throat. "Isn't it kinda dumb to use your real name as your alias?" He didn't need the psychic link to hear his teammates' groans. "I mean, wouldn't it be really easy to make that connection? I thought you Shadows were all about staying hidden."
Artemis narrowed her eyes. "Doesn't it kinda suck being called 'Kid' all the time?" she shot back. "It doesn't exactly scream maturity. Just the opposite, in fact."
Ouch. Walked right into that one.
"How are your hands?" he decided to ask. "You scraped them when you fell, right?" Her knuckles tightened in response. "Y'know, I would think that, as an archer, you'd take better care of them."
Instead of rising to his rudeness, she straightened in her seat and gave him a haughty smile. "How's your face? It's looking a bit purple."
He frowned. In spite of his accelerated healing, he still sported the fading outlines of a purplish green bruise. "Just great, thanks to you."
"You were asking for it."
Both teens lapsed back into silence. Less than one minute of conversation and they had already reached a stalemate.
Wally could hear his teammates vaguely through the psychic link, supplying him with advice and conversation topics and the occasional groan of frustration when he refused to acknowledge them. He knew perfectly well how childish he was being, and he didn't care.
This whole thing was screwed up. Ever since childhood, Wally had idolized the heroes he saw on the news, flying around saving people, smiling and waving at news cameras, or else refusing the adoration and insisting it was their sacred duty to the world. Especially the Flash. When he found out the Flash was his uncle, words couldn't describe how happy he'd been. Even if they were only related through marriage to his Aunt Iris, he liked to think it meant there was heroism in his blood. Like he was meant to become a hero.
To him, heroes were born knowing how to use their powers to protect people, and fighting for the greater good. But villains were different. Fine, most of them weren't born that way. They were usually products of their own environment driven to crime by the dark card life had dealt them. But no one could go against their own blood so easily. Even if this Artemis girl did turn over a new leaf, Wally didn't think he could ever trust her.
It's almost a shame, Wally thought. He had always been partial to blondes. And this one did have a pretty killer body.
Now that he thought about it, this was the first time he had gotten a proper look at her since the museum. Dressed in civilian clothes with freshly washed hair, she could have been anyone.
He would never admit it, but during the mission he had accidentally found his eyes straying a bit too long on her uniform, particularly the cropped green shirt with a lighter green arrow on the chest. And, he hadn't noticed before at the museum, but her voice had a hoarse, throaty quality to it, like the words rolled around in her throat as she spoke them. It was kind of…
He willed the thoughts to fly out of his head. No, no, bad thoughts! We don't think like that about violent angry girls who kick people in the face. Think about something else. Think about Megan, or Black Canary, or Wonder Woman, or that cute Asian reporter lady on the news, or that girl from gym class who always wears tiny athletic shorts…crap, this is getting me nowhere.
While Wally struggled to contain his teenaged mind, Artemis picked that moment to shift in her seat and rested on her propped up elbow so that a few strands of damp blonde hair swung across her face. The smell of scented shampoo and detergent formed an inescapable bubble around her.
Wally ruffled his bright red hair in frustration. He could not stay in this room any longer. "Aaah, I'm no good at this. Okay, here's the deal. You should join us."
Immediately, the voices of his teammates clamored around inside his head in varying degrees of shock and frustration.
WALLY!
Dude!
What are you doing!?
This is not part of the plan.
"Oh, shove it, you guys!" he exclaimed at the mirror. "There's no point in beating around the bush, we might as well tell her up front." There was a bit more telepathic shouting. "Well, I warned you sending me was a bad idea!"
Artemis waved a hand to get his attention. "I'm sorry, could you stop arguing with the wall and repeat that last part? You want me to what?"
"Join us."
"Us, meaning...?"
"Our team."
"As in you, Boy Wonder, Aqualad...?"
"Plus Miss Martian and Superboy. The team."
She settled back into her chair, looking him up and down suspiciously. "So…you want me to quit the Shadows? Give up crime? Walk the path of righteousness?"
"Yup."
"And this…this is your master plan? This is why you guys brought me here?"
"That about covers it."
There was a moment of silence where she stared at him, waiting for the punch line, and, when it didn't come, she burst into laughter.
"You…you can't be serious!" She wiped a tear from her eye, clutching her stomach from laughing.
His frown grew deeper. "Believe me, I think it's a stupid idea too."
"It is! That is, without a doubt, the dumbest idea I've ever heard!"
He waited for her laughter to die down before pointing out, "Well, unless you want to spend the next ten years in Belle Reve, it's kind of your only option."
She wiped a tear from her eye. "Really? My only option? When was that decided?"
"Well, it's not like the Shadows are going to take you back." He noticed her lips purse at this and wondered if he had touched a nerve. "Oh yeah, we know how you guys operate. Do you really think Ra's al Ghul is going to let you back in the club once he finds out we captured you? And even if they did send people to retrieve you, as long as that collar's on, you're not going anywhere."
Score. Wall-man: one. Blondie: zip.
Her mouth compressed into a thin line. All traces of humor were gone. "Whatever the Shadows are planning, it's none of my business and it's definitely none of yours."
"Why shouldn't it be your business? Aren't they your teammates, or business partners, or whatever you bad guys call each other?"
"My associates and I don't share information so easily," she said. "You know, on the off chance one of us is captured and tortured. So far you guys have gotten a head start on the capturing part, but not so much with the torturing. Not that I'm complaining."
On looking back at the situation, it may have been smarter to let the subject drop and try again later. But Wally West was not one to mince words. A smaller, more vengeful part of him just wanted an edge over the young villainess, and if that meant pushing her buttons so be it.
"Yeah, sorry 'bout the lack of torture," he said carelessly. "We're good guys and all. Kind of violates the moral code."
"You must be so disappointed."
"Not really. There probably wouldn't be much challenge in it." He relaxed and put his hands behind his head, talking casually to the ceiling. "I don't know why they wanted you specifically. In terms of hostage value, you're not even on our watch list. I bet if I pulled up the database I'd fine your name under a footnote listed as 'harmless' or 'not a threat.'"
Artemis gave a short, humorless laugh. "Take this collar off and I'll show you a threat."
He ignored her. "I've got a better idea. Let's take bets on how long it'll take the Shadows to realize you're gone."
The jumping muscle in Artemis's forehead became more pronounced, though she said nothing to betray her anger.
A bit harsh, man, said Robin.
Wally, be careful, I think you might be going too far, said Megan's voice sounding all concerned in his head. How adorable.
No worries, Megalicious, I've got this. He grinned. "I guess it was pretty cool of Cheshire to sell you out like that," he gave a fake little gasp. "Sorry, is that a touchy subject? Is the pain still fresh? Do you still feel betrayed, double-crossed, the need to restore your honor?"
Her hands began to visibly shake from the strength being put into clenching them. All her pretenses of levelheadedness were beginning to crumble, and he heard her mutter, "God, just shut up and go away."
But he wasn't done by a long shot. "Makes me wonder who come out on top in a fight between you two. Then again, she is a big name villain and you're, what, the back-up sniper? What percentage do you get? Do they even pay you or are you more of a volunteer villain? Are you really a –?"
"SHUT UP!"
Before his brain could fully comprehend what was going on, the archer had lunged forward. A taut, muscled arm swatted out at his face. He closed his eyes. There was no way to avoid the incoming blow.
Luckily for Wally, the collar around her neck activated immediately and the promised electrical shock shot right through her body like a strike of lightning. She contorted slightly with wracking pain and fell against the armchair, just barely able to stand.
He relaxed and lowered his hands, which happened to be the opening Artemis needed to swipe at him again. Before he could react, she managed to scratch his cheek before a second shock brought her down. She fell to the floor, breathing raggedly against the carpet. Sparks of energy popped and spit in a veritable halo around her.
A drop of liquid rolled down Wally's cheek. He touched a hand to his face and it came back smeared with blood. His eyes widened in shock. That girl had actually managed to draw blood while being driven by nothing but cold fury. It was lucky he had moved when he did or else he could have ended with something more like a broken nose.
He noticed her watching him and quickly wiped the shock off his face, but it was too late. She had won this round. They both knew it.
Wally felt the cut again. It was surprisingly deep.
Through shallow gasps for breath she managed to give a ruthless smile and whispered, "Souvenir," before passing out cold.
Final score. Blondie: two. Wall-man: zero.
Another drop of blood dripped onto his hand and run down his elbow.
Make that Wall-man: negative five.
Wally West was in the worst mood of his life when he left the cell. A mood that only worsened when he found his friends waiting for him with despairing expressions on their faces. He immediately jumped on the defensive.
"What?" he demanded. "I got her to talk!"
"You also got your butt kicked. Again," Superboy pointed out, unhelpfully.
"Your actions endangered the mission," said Kaldur with something bordering on actual anger.
Wally groaned and ran a hand through his hair. "Okay, I hate to be the one to point this out..."
"No, you don't," said Robin.
"But I said right from the start this plan was going to crash and burn," he finished with an irritated look at his best friend.
"Kid…" Kaldur began.
"Hey, you guys were all like, 'Let's bring her in, what could go wrong, we can help her,' and I was like, "No way, that's a horrible idea, she's evil,' but you all were like, "No, no, Wally, we're the good guys, we have to do good things.' And now we're in a lose-lose situation so all I can say is I told you so." He folded his arms, daring them to contradict him.
Robin rolled his eyes. "You're just holding a grudge."
"She. Attacked. Me!" he exclaimed with added emphasis.
His teammates frowned, silently reminding him it was his fault for goading her. He ignored them. "Look, we gave it a shot. Tomorrow, we cart her off to jail, maybe do some memory wiping, and that's that, problem solved." He wiped his hands together as though brushing off the entire situation. "So, if you guys don't mind, I'm gonna tend to my injury." And he stomped away.
The room was significantly less tense when Wally left. None of them even felt it necessary to point out that with Wally's accelerated healing, the scratch would be gone in a matter of minutes.
Robin rubbed his hands together. "So, while KF goes to deal with his loss of dignity…" he turned to Kaldur. "Wanna give it a shot?"
Kaldur nodded gravely. "I will try to salvage the situation."
"You definitely couldn't hurt," said Superboy.
Artemis awoke to the sour taste of metal in her mouth and, even more bitter, a feeling of unparalleled shame. The memories floated around in her head like fuzzy echoes, but her most recent accomplishments sprang to mind easily and with absolute clarity.
Bile rose in the back of her throat when she remembered Kid Flash's smug face and his infuriating words. No matter what lines he might have crossed, she still felt like an idiot, losing her temper to the Flash's glorified fanboy.
She was too busy drowning in self-pity to notice she had a visitor. Aqualad was sitting motionless in the armchair, still as a statue. His hands were folded in his lap and his legs were crossed. All he needed was a goatee and glasses and he would've resembled a blonde, dark-skinned Freud. She covered up her surprise with some well-timed sarcasm.
"My next therapist is Fishboy? Right. It's been a long day so I'll cut to the chase. I won't turn myself in and I'm not signing up for your team of 'sidekicks'," she said, complete with finger quotes. "End of discussion. Have a nice day."
"I suppose I no longer need to explain why you are here."
"Yeah, Flash Jr. kinda spilled the beans."
Aqualad tactfully decided against mentioning their little spat. "In any case, this is the situation. You are our responsibility, and what happens next depends on you."
"I get a choice?" Artemis pushed herself up from the bed, biting her lip against the pain that flared in her cramped muscles, and fell lazily into the empty armchair. "You good guys aren't too clear on the whole 'taking a hostage' concept, are you?"
He ignored the comment. "These are your options. Either we personally escort you to the custody of Belle Reve prison to carry out your sentence…or you can join our team. Fight against those you once fought alongside, and protect those you once scorned."
Artemis considered him for a long moment. The Atlantean's face was solid as stone etched with determination. This guy was serious as a grave, but she was still waiting for someone to say the punch line to this joke of a day.
"I don't suppose doing neither is an option?" she asked in a deadpan tone.
"It is not."
"And you really think me joining the good guys is a viable option?"
"I do."
There was really no getting through to these guys. She kicked a leg over one knee and leaned forward to speak. "Come on, what do you think is going to happen here? You send in your teammates one by one until I 'see the light' and reform my evil ways? Well, I've got news for you. Not gonna happen."
"I expected as much. You have plenty of time to make a decision. But you might consider this a fortunate opportunity."
"Opportunity for what?" she scoffed.
"For a second chance," he pushed himself effortlessly from the chair and surveyed her with imploring green eyes.
She didn't even have the strength to give a sarcastic laugh at that. There was no humor left in her body, only cold anger. "You all think you're doing me some great service. Does it make you feel warm and fuzzy inside for offering the hand of salvation to a little lost soul like mine? Please." Her fingers tightened around the armrests. "I might as well have been born with a knife in my hands. My parents –"
"We are aware of your background."
"Then what makes you think I'd roll over on command for you people?"
Aqualad's eyes narrowed, finally displaying some semblance of emotion. "You are not the first to suffer from unfortunate parentage. It is how you allow those blood ties to define you that separates you from countless others."
For a moment, she couldn't retaliate. No quick-witted jape or insult came to mind. All she could think to say was, "I don't need your help, and I don't need saving."
"Very well," he replied evenly. "I will leave you to rest. But consider our offer. Who knows? You could turn your life around."
He left the room, leaving her alone in the stark room with her thoughts once again.
In that moment, Artemis mentally thanked her father and the Shadows for training her to withstand mind control. She didn't want to give those junior heroes the satisfaction of knowing how good a second chance really sounded.
A/N: Sorry for the delay! I'm studying abroad this semester so these past few weeks have been hectic. Not to mention the fact that I keep coming up with new ideas and lines that I just have to fit in so I've changed my outline a gazillion times. As of right now, TOS is 12 chapters (including the prologue), but there's a good chance it could get slightly longer. Who knows? Stick around next chapter for some more Wally, more Artemis, and maybe a little understanding between them.
Less than two weeks until the new episodes. Prayer circle, anyone?
