It didnt take Artemis long to reach home at the speed she was walking. When she got there, suddenly popped up infront of her were, Kid Flash, Robin and Zatana, she was a little taken aback by their sudden appearance
"What are you doing here?" she asked still holding on to herself, But still she was a little off.
"KF wanted to see if you were ok" robin said pointing at kid flash. He nudged robin and turned red.
"yeah he did, though I have full trust in you " Zatana said leaning in smiling.
"just wanted to make sure the mission went well and that somebody didn't go all solo to screw things u-"
"im fine!" she said it quick still not ready to be with people right now. Kid flash was taken aback, and robin noticed her behavior similar like last time, something had put her guard up so high that you couldn't almost see her.
"wahoo chill." Wally said putting his hands up, in defense.
"Artemis are you ok?" Zatana asked, Taking a step forward.
"I.."saying it loud then cooled for a bit till she said. "im fine, just hum.. my mom needs me, yeah to help her with home things," she said calmly covering her almost outburst. She went on to stepping on the stairs almost reaching the door.
"we will help with," Wally said robin and Zatana looked at each other. "right guys."
"no no its alright." She said with her hands up in defense. "Besides you cant come in like that" she said pointing at there hero attire.
"I can take care of that..." and with in that second she performed a spell waving her hands also as she said the spells. "tuo morf stius ni htiw lamron setholc." (just some random words I made up on my own) just then all three turned into normal clothes,
"see, beside im hungry what do you have to eat." He asked with a glee on his face. And for a moment there she melted in his smile her problem were slowly fading, but in a way they were replaced by their own issues and bickering. She would forget where they are, or how tough she is having. She sighed in defeat and let them in. Artemis lead the way to her apartment floor.
"ok listen whatever my mom says or ask we all go to Gotham Academy, and we were studying. " they all nodded and understood. Artemis went on to open the door then Wally asked, at the same time just a sec later when the door opened.
"but what if she ask your boyfriend" Wally inquired eyebrow raised. The door opened to reveal a living room, an Asian looking woman on the wheel chair. (ok they weren't expecting that, well ok robin knew.)
"Artemis, lee called for y- oh hello," she wheeled in when she took notice of the young teens at her door entering the room.
"mom this is dick, Zatana and that there is Wally," she said introducing and holding out her hand to indicate who is who.
"nice to meet you," Zatana said, and Wally and dick just said hello or waved. (Zatana were a little taken back by her moms condition.) right there and then Wally had new found respect for Artemis.
"nice to meet you too dear." her mother said then she looked at her daughter who was now standing beside her. " do you all go to school with Artemis at Gotham academy?"
"yes mama." Wally said smiling, just then his stomach growled. They all looked at Wally embarrass,
"Artemis 's" her mom chuckled "come have dinner, or a midnight snack," she said looking at the clock.
"no mam no we ju-" robin was about but Wally interjected. Like literally now standing in front of him.
"oh why thank you, of course we would stay," he said smiling, then looking at Artemis, again he could feel something was off she hadn't let go or said something snarky back at him to make him leave.
But all in all she didn't want them to figure out, who her mom is, or more specifically was. Yet she wanted to run and breath! But that would be too week. And Artemis knows she cant be week, no.1 rule in her family.
"well then please make yourself comfortable then ill be right back… Artemis" she wheeled off in to the kitcten.
"yeah mom ill be right there" .
An hour almost passed,
They cooked eat and cleaned away, everybody took care of themselves. Artemis didn't really quite ate at all physically she was there but mentally she was elsewhere,
"Artemis" Wally clicked his fingers in front of her to snap her out of her daze as she was cleaning her plate.
"Huh… what?" she said snapping out of her daze
"where are you lost, " he was leaning by the counter that Artemis was washing her dishes at.
"no where," she retorted.
"no something is up how come your not fighting with me" then suddenly comically "why aren't you fighting with me?" he got worried and put his hand on her forehead she seemed pale " are you feeling alright?"she quickly moved from him and shoved his hand away quickly, And he just stared at her.
"you are annoying me! There now go away!" she whispered through her greeted teeth, and narrowing her eyes.
Back in the living room,
"how is Artemis doing at achool? Are the kids nice to her?" pula asked worried for her child Zatana and robin looked at eachother.
"she is doing fine "robin said
"she is a nice girl hard working but she would never tell me her problems. You see she dosnt want me to worry, but when I don't know I worry more. I cant help it she is my daughter, and the things she gave up for me, I just want her to have everything that I never did, not make the same mistake as I did" tears were forming in her eyes. Zatana took her hand in hers
"you don't have to worry, "she gave a comforting squeeze and smiled.
Till they heard Wally and Artemis bicker though they couldn't make out what they were saying.
"is Wally Artemis's boyfriend?" pula asked.
"well…" robin rubbed the back of his,
Back in the kitchen
"Wally if you don't leave god so help me I don't kill you." She said pointing the sponge at him.
"now that's the Artemis I know " he said smiling patting her in the back she cringed.
"Wally seriously!" she took a deep breath "you know what fine see if I care im going to sleep!" she threw her sponge in the sink and was heading to her room.
"Artemis? Where are you going?"her mother asked curiously as she headed to her room, and closed the door. They were all confused, just then she came out.
"ok so thank you guys for your help I think you all should be heading home its pretty late she said almost literally shoving them out of her apartment.
"Artemis!" pula wheeled at her daughter, and her actions trying to stop her.
"but?..."
"I know, its late you should all go home " she said and shut the door on them.
"well that was a... yum" robin commented awkwardly.
back inside
"Artemis! is this anyway to treat your friends?" she followed her daughter.
"mom im tired and they had to go" she said going into her room.
"Artemis is everything alright?" she asked concern in her voice. Artemis took a look at her mother, mom to tell you soo badly that i think im about to break and wanted to cry, shout scream and let it all out but not now not yet! i cant do this to you not now.
"nothing mom im just really sleepy and havnt been sleeping well because of you know….im going to bed" she went in her room and closed the door behind her. But her mom knew she was lying, but how can she help she dosnt know.
Artemis was in her room and she was just pacing, one night just one night cant I sleep without any worry, (she laughed at herself) you would think I would get use to this now.
she clenched her fist held her head and let out a frustrated sound "Arrghh".And plopped on her bed looking up at the ceiling She ran her hands on her face then put it up like touching the ceiling is it me or do my hand look thinner. She sat up looked at the Alice in wonder land poster where is my wonder land, hate you alice she sighed.
She took off her shirt then looked at herself in the mirror, she raised her tank top little so see her bruises she had bruises before but nothing made her more shameful but these bruises. "they dont look that bad, some hero i am, and even save my self from a low life insect, oh but you wait, wait till i get my hands on you you got lucky going to Belle Revve.
She the heard something in her room like something fall or someone accidently knocking it over she spun around in fright to see who or what it was, you are not scared you are ready to take who ever it is dow-
There was a very dim light in her room. She preferred the dark she she didn't make out who it was until he spoke.
"sorry didn't mean to scare you…"Wally said rubbing the back of his head and looking at the ground. "I came to app-" he looked up to see her. And for the first time he saw her in a different light, frightened girl who was angry with bruises all over her they didn't seem like battle bruises, he had enough to know of them, they were bruises of struggle. "Artemis wha=" he couldn't complete the sentence.
She got all fidgety and went back to her bed to pick up her shirt, but Wally snatched it from her hand. And looked at her more closely then before the amount of worry and hurt he felt in himself, were exploding from his eyes. He then noticed the bruises on her neck he too knew they weren't just any bruise.
Artemis tried to take her shirt back but wally didn't give it until she kept pulling at it, and he let go trying to wrap his head around it.
"omg." Was all he could say. "Artemis…?"she was putting it on quickly, but Wally stopped her he gently held her arm.
"don't you ever knock how did you get in anyway?" she said quickly trying to avoid him.
"stop! Don't tell me that lee did this to you.." Wally asked shaking…
"what ! "
"did he try to hurt you? Did he…"she knew what Wally meant.
"no! he would never do anything to hurt me, ha this is from party that had got crashed" she said flinging her hand free of him. She turned now her back was to him, he moved her long hair from back to look at the bruises more clearly. It sent shivers down her spine.
"I said stop" she spung around fire in her eyes.
"you said you wouldn't go back to that. what are you that far gone that you cant let go! Are you dating him" it was a loud whisper he didn't wanna wake her mother or worry her more then she was. "you are one fickle girl." he was tall and in her face He was totally getting the wrong idea.
"Wally its not what you think..." she said looking away trying to avoid his eye. why do i feel bad, its wally what do i care what he thinks. he is a jerk anyway!
"oh yeah then do explain this!" he made her look at the mirror and more specifically at her neck. " now I know why batman put you on this solo mission, and not Megan or Zatana, its not because you have a history with him or know him for that matter, but its because you are easy!" Artemis widened at that he spun her around to look at him in his eyes "no wait scratch that, You are a tease!" oh no you didn't! "you would seduc-" she slapped him hard. what just happened?
"when you don't know anything then don't say, then don't!" Artemis looked at him with a lot of hate anger and disbelief that HE would ever think that of her.
"yeah I don't know anything cuz you wont let anyone in, not the team not the girls not.." whisper loud angry any yet "me" he said softly, he chuckled "I mean Artemis you don't even trust your own mother. She even dosnt have any idea who or what you are" he turned away
"is that really how you feel" she asked him silently looking deep into his eyes, looking for something but didnt know what
"you know what im done here, its your life Artemis do whatever you want." He turned to walk away.
"no tell me what, is that what you truly feel?" she grabbed his arm to stop him, asked as if her life was in the balance of this answer. why am i so desperate to know?
"I don't know, beside why do you care what I think!" he said trying to get free but she wouldn't let go,
"I don't know, why do you care who im with or not!" they both went silent and stared at each other intensely Both breathing heavy with anger with in both.
"I don't," he said with a a lot of force. "I might have use to now I don't "she said cruel and yet soft.
"Artemis?" came pula's voice from outside the room. (she probably heard some shouting)
"Have a nice life Artemis" he said oh so cold, And was out of her room with in a flash. Just then her door opened
"Artemis, is everything ok?"
"no mom" was all she said.
A.N hey yall i know i have uploaded it pretty late, sorry but hey check this short chap out and leme know, this is really short so ill be uploading the next one that i have ready in a bit, need to sleep really sleepy!