Hello friends! I hope you enjoy this update and leave a review for me and maybe some suggestions of what you would like to see next! I'll be working on chapter 4 for next week. Stay safe, happy and read on! - lil-fledgling
Chapter 3
"I don't understand, what's wrong with her?" The team had gathered in the living room after the mission briefing. Their archer was the only one missing. Artemis had hurried off to her room the minute Batman had rundown the mission with them (No civilian casualties or injury's. All money stolen was successfully returned. Both Captain Cold and Killer Frost escaped), dismissed them, reappearing soon after, hair hanging dripping wet and shoving her uniform into her backpack. She called out a mumbled apology and a goodbye as the zeta beam took her home. Wally watched her leave, opening his mouth to say something, then snapping it shut, as if deciding against what ever he was going to say.
"Undoubtedly there is something going on in her life outside of the team that is causing this tiredness and her earlier lash out. What her cause of distress is, I do not know." Kaldur said with an anxious look of unrest. "But her attitude is effecting our missions and the team. Something must be done."
Wally was turning one of Artemis's arrows over in his hand, she had forgotten them in her hast to leave. Artemis never forgot her bow and arrows; she valued them before almost anything.
"Maybe…" Wally looked apprehensively at Robin, who crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, as if to say; "I dare you."
"Maybe Robin could do some digging around," Wally said slowly, gaging the reactions of his teammates, so far so good. Not even Kaldur was shutting down his idea yet. "I mean, nothing huge or super into her past and stuff, just enough to give us an idea as to what might be making the Ice Queen so, frosty."
For a moment nobody said anything. M'gann nodded with hesitant agreement and Superboy grunted, which could have been a yes or a no either way but Wally took it as a good sign. Robin stayed tight-lipped, not voicing his opinion and Wally could see the cogs moving in his mind and the inner struggle he was currently having.
Kaldur steepled his fingers and his brow furrowed in thought. After several minutes thick with silent debate he shook his head and sighed.
"We cannot betray our trust of Artemis like that. If her behavior continues I shall speak with Batman and he shall make a decision on the matter. But it is not for us to decide." The only person who did not react to this decision was Robin, whose face was kept impassive. M'gann looked defeated and floated away dejectedly. Superboy's body tensed in disapproval and he stalked to the television, cranking the static till it was a dull roar, a subtle way of showing his displeasure, but still better than throwing his fist through a wall.
Wally shot daggers at Kaldur, who stared evenly back at the speedster. For a few tense moments the two heroes' didn't break the tense eye contact. Finally, Wally's eyes flicked to the side, showing defeat to his leader and bit back a growl disappearing in a rush of air.
Kaldur hung his head for and looked over at Robin, who stayed still where he was and his face still void of any emotion.
"You of all people understand my decision, do you not?" Kaldur asked quietly. Robin nodded.
"You did the responsible thing. You did what any good leader would do." He fidgeted with the sides of his sunglasses. "I need to get home. I'll see you latter tomorrow." Robin moved past his leader, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't beat you're self up Kaldur." Robin said firmly. "Sometimes the right decsison isn't always the popular one." The Boy Wonder disappeared through the Zeta Beams and left Aqua Lad wondering if the pubescent troll should have been made the leader.