"What are you doing here?" She hissed from under her green hood, her bow positioned at the ready. Robbery in process, 5 hostages, 3 robbers, 1 bomb in the center of the room. She sat perched on the roof next to the bank, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And here comes Flash-boy out of nowhere to get in the way.
"This is my city Arrow." He retorted, his own face disguised under the red and yellow cowl.
"Yeah well this is my robbery Flash-boy."
"It's The Flash now, and you know it; you were there Arrow." Wally surveyed the scene below them and eyed the bomb. "Any idea how to defuse a pipe bomb blondie?"
"Yes. You cut the green wire."
"Yeah if you want it to explode; you need me here, because without me that things going to blow and take the lives of those innocent people." Artemis glared at him from behind her mask but nodded, and trained her arrow on the thug closest to the bomb.
"On my signal Flash, I'll take him out and you get in there and take care of the bomb."
"Agreed, on three?"
"One," she aimed her bow, "two," she took a deep breath, "three," she released. The arrow struck him right in shoulder of his left arm, and he was down. Flash was gone the second the arrow left her string, running down the fire-escape and vibrating through the wall of the bank, he kicks the down guy in the balls to make sure he stays and she allows herself a smile at that.
She notices the second thug emerging from the vault, gun first, before he does and fires off another arrow, hitting him in the upper thigh. Artemis keeps her eyes trained on the vault while Flash works; she only draws her eyes away when she hears his whoop of glee as the bomb fizzes out. She watches happily as he takes out the last guy with an elbow to the throat and a foot in the gut and helps the hostages out the front door.
And that's it.
That's her first day in Keystone City, slightly more exciting than she was expecting, but still no Gotham. She re-collapses her bow and places it in the quiver on her back and climbs down the eight story fire-escape to the alley below. Flash is waiting there for her.
"Good job Blondie. We don't make too bad of a team."She can't see his eyes behind the goggles but she assumes they reflect the smile on his face.
"I'll agree with you there Flash, but I work alone."
"You're on the Justice League, how is that working alone!?" He asks throwing his hands up in exasperation.
"It means I help if I'm needed, but other than that I work alone." She turns on her heal and heads down the alley to the adjacent one that runs towards her apartment. He doesn't follow, only watches the sashay of her hips as she walks away.
The next day Artemis headed back to the gym to pick of the converse she had left in her haste to get to the bank. Her black shoes sat parked outside the classroom with a piece of folded up paper in the left shoe. In neat block print it read "Give Wally a chance," underneath was his phone number and a smiley face. She grins and pulls her cell phone out and dials the number. He picked up after three rings.
"Keystone Mechanics, Wally West here, how can I help you?"
"Wally West? Wow your parents must have really hated you."
"I'll have you know lady that my parents love me very much and I had a healthy upbringing!"
"Settle down there Wally, I was just kidding. I actually called to take you up on your offer."
"My offer? Wait, who is this?"
"It's Artemis," she heard choking on the other end, "from self defense."
"Yeah I remember, frankly I don't think I could ever forget you. You threatened to kill me." Artemis let out a shaky laugh and picked up her shoes and headed for the doors. Outside it was clear and warm, the sky full of big white fluffy clouds.
"I'm sorry about that; I've been told I have anger issues." She carried her shoes in one hand and heads towards where she was almost positive she had seen a mechanic on her drive into the city.
"No, it's totally okay." He smiled and looked out the office window at the police car he had abandoned. "So this offer, what were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that I'm here at the shop, its noon, and I'm pretty hungry." Artemis could see him in the little office running his hand through his hair, a smile playing at his lips.
"I know a really great place around the corner, best sandwiches in Kansas." He flipped on the sink in the corner and washed the black grease off freckled hands.
"That sounds nice."
"Well then I'll be out in a flash."
