Chapter Four: "Thanksgiving"

Minnesota

November 26, 04:35 CDT

"Huntress."

Artemis groaned and rolled over in the bed, bumping into Wally who merely shifted the pitch of his snoring. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock. Half past four in the morning. What could be so important Dick would wake her up for?

Fumbling in the dark for her comlink, Artemis accidentally hit her hand on the edge of the nightstand and cursed silently. She finally found the earpiece and slid it in.

"Huntress. What is so important you had to wake me up at four in the morning?" Artemis asked.

"We need you and Flash at the Cave now." Batman's gruff voice came over her com. "Static's lost his powers and you two are needed."

"I'm coming, but Wally needs to stay here with Suzanne." Artemis said, hauling herself out of bed.

"Suzanne is a sixteen year old girl. She can take care of herself." Batman replied.

"Wally is staying." Artemis said. She mustered so much authority, Batman complied.

Mount Justice

November 26, 05:47 EST

"Recognized, Huntress: 21." Huntress sleepily walked into the Cave. Static Shock, Robin, Batgirl, Batman, Kid Flash, and Black Lightning were all gathered there.

"Really." Static muttered. "You didn't need to bring all this attention to me."

"Its not about you." Batman said, not looking towards the junior hero. "Its about the safety of the citizens of Dakota."

Virgil crossed his arms and looked away crossly.

"Huntress. " Batman said. "About time."

"It was less than fifteen minutes." Artemis replied, still hugging herself to warm up from the bitter weather outside. "So what do you need me and Flash for?"

"As everyone knows, Static lost his powers somehow training yesterday morning. All attempts to get them back or determine how he lost them have failed so we're moving to Plan B."

Virgil huffed again and muttered something about the plan not working.

"Dakota City has seen an increase in crime during the time Static Shock was with the Teen Titans. With Static out of commission, Dakota needs super-powered protectors of its own. That's where Huntress and Black Lighting come in."

"My powers are extremely similar to Static's." Lightning said. "But I can't do all the work by myself. I need someone by my side. That's where Batman decided to use Huntress and Flash. Speaking of which-"

"None of your business." Artemis replied.

Lightning respectfully fell silent.

"Batman." Artemis said. "I need to speak with you. In private."

Batman nodded and Artemis followed him to a corner of the room.

"Today is Thanksgiving. I just spent all week preparing a very nice dinner for Suzanne. Today was supposed to be a family day. It still is. You're not going to ruin today for us."

Batman didn't reply. He kept the same poker-face as his predecessor.

"Are you listening?" Artemis asked. "I will go tomorrow, but today is off limits."

Artemis walked off towards the zeta-tubes. Batman didn't move. Robin raised an eyebrow and Batgirl looked as if she were going to burst from laughter.

The kitchen and dining room had merged into one somehow or another. The bar looking out at the living room on the diagonal wall seemed like the normal place to put food for a large meal, but Artemis found herself walking over the smooth cream-colored tile with a turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce towards a table situated several feet away from the refrigerator.

The table she was heading towards was a large, oak table stained to a cherry color. The table itself was very heavy. It weighed almost three hundred pounds and looked like an object from the days of Anglo-Saxons and William the Conqueror. The large bouquet of white flowers on the table only heightened the sense that this table was for a king and his feast.

The feast itself was grand. A large stuffed turkey, two helpings of home-made dressing, three bowls of cranberry sauce, two dozen rolls, and several other helpings of Thanksgiving traditional food.

The family was dressed in professional garments. Wally was dressed in the usual semi-casual clothes of the Flash family, Artemis was wearing a flowing green-white shirt and dark pants. Suzanne had mustered the best clothes she could find from her backpack and the stash Artemis had bought her. It was a simple arrangement of blue jeans, a nice top and her hair tied back in a ponytail, but she managed to make it look regal.

Artemis said blessing and the family ate. Wally managed to contain himself from devouring everything at an astonishing speed. At last, desert was served. Pumpkin pie, cherry pie, banana pudding, and several other delicacies were served. At last, the three lay down on the couch for an afternoon nap.

Wally turned on a football game, but by the time the first quarter was half over Suzanne was curled up next to Artemis, her head on her chest while Artemis herself was half asleep, her head flopping over on top of Suzanne's. Wally was laying on the couch length-wise snoring.

Minnesota

November 26, 18:46 CDT

"Batman insists I head to Dakota to take Static's place with Lightning," Artemis said, tugging on her jacket. "But Wally is going to train you—somehow today. "

Suzanne nodded and Artemis kissed Wally good-bye before heading off into the cold winter.

"So, Wally." Suzanne asked, grinning devilishly and turning around. "What are we going to do?"

Wally frowned. "I don't like that grin."

Suzanne's grin only increased as Wally scratched the back of his head.

"Umm.."

"Martial Arts it is then." Suzanne grinned.

"Uh oh." Wally said as Suzanne ran off to grab the gear Artemis stored.

"Are you sure this is going to protect me from your kicks and punches?" Wally asked.

"Supposed to." Suzanne shrugged, backing up into the snow. "Artemis was going to test them tomorrow."

"She was going to test them tomorrow?" Wally exclaimed.

Suzanne leaped and kicked Wally right in the middle of the pad, knocking him backwards. Wally tripped and fell in the snow.

"Ouch." Wally muttered. Suzanne walked over and held out her hand. Wally took it.

"Supposed to?" Wally asked.

"Considering where I placed that kick, I think it protects you." Suzanne said, grinning again.

Wally looked down and saw a bootmark right where his stomach was. "Ah."

Suzanne continued the drill for about half an hour before Wally quit.

"That's enough beating up on the Flash today." He said.

Suzanne grinned. "Well if you go inside, you'll miss your turn." Suzanne called after him.

"I'll risk it." Wally said.

"I'll call Artemis if you quit now!" Suzanne called.

Wally froze and looked left and right before slowly turning around.

"Fine." He said.

Suzanne grinned. "Hand-eye coordination."

"Well how do we do that?" Wally asked.

"Fighting." Suzanne replied simply, raising her fists.

"Don't we need gloves so we don't hurt each other really bad?" Wally asked.

"Badly." Suzanne corrected. "And no. Its just a touch/slap basis. Not actual punches."

Wally groaned. "Slaps in this cold?"

"Stop whining." Suzanne said, leaping at Wally. The red-head instinctively blocked her strike. Suzanne went for the right side this time. Wally blocked again. The two kept up the game for a while before Wally got out of his unease and began attacking Suzanne.

Suzanne dodged and blocked most of his attempts to get at her. She raised up one hand aiming for his right side and Wally went to block it. She raised her other hand and went for his left side; she slipped at the last moment however and managed to punch him in the cheek. She pushed off of Wally to steady herself and Wally fell down.

"OHMYGOD!" Suzanne exclaimed, realizing what she had done and covering her mouth in shock with her gloves.

Wally groaned and rolled over.

"Are you okay?" Suzanne asked, running over and trying to help him up.

"Slap/Touch basis. Huh?" Wally asked.

"Hot Chocolate break?" Suzanne asked.

"Nah-uh. Let's finish training." Wally said, a determined look on his face.

Suzanne grinned uneasily and nodded.

"Where's the little boy in his tights?" the mugger asked as Huntress tossed him to the ground and placed her boot on his neck.

At that precise moment, a garbage can nearby glowed with electricity and dumped itself on him.

"STATIC!" the mugger yelled. "I'm coming for you you little-!"

Huntress silenced him with a slap to the face and handcuffed him, tossing him on the sidewalk near a group of officers.

Upon seeing Huntress, the officers saluted and began hauling the man up. Huntress nodded and disappeared into the shadows.

Minnesota

November 27, 21:43 CDT

"I think I broke your husband." Was Suzanne's greeting to Artemis at the doorway.

"What did you do?" Artemis asked, grinning and walking in. Wally was laying on the couch groaning and holding an icepack up to his jaw.

"You leave me home with that—that—whatever it is again, I'm leaving." Wally said. "She punched me!"

"On accident!" Suzanne exclaimed. "I slipped and went to push off of him and accidentally punched him."

"Don't worry." Artemis whispered. "Here's twenty for giving him his worth."

Suzanne grinned. She was liking this here.