Guess who's baaaaaaaaaack! Enjoy! Review! Repeat! Send me a message, something you would like me to write, anything (with in reason, please be nice). Keep on the look out for chapter 7 friends. Stay safe, be happy, read lots.

lil-fledgling

Chapter 6

"I'm not telling you anything." Artemis said in an absolute manner as the set down a large bowel of popcorn in front of the two boys. The three teenaged superheroes were sitting around the polished oak table where Artemis could have one eye on her friends and the other on the kids, who were happily eating their dinner in front of the massive flat screen TV, watching a Disney movie, something that the two of them could agree on.

"So, can you tell us why you're in Gotham instead of Star City?" Wally asked. Artemis went white and shook her head as if she might be sick.

"It is absolutely none of you're business. My life outside the team is my own to live. I respect you're private lives, why can't you respect mine?" Dick sighed and looked at his hands.
"I'm sorry this happened Artemis, I really am. It wasn't on purpose, I swear. I would call it a coincidence but-"

"Batman says there is no such thing." All three of them said in unison. A smile flickered across Artemis's face and Wally felt his heart jump. It meant she didn't really hate them for all of this. Knowing that made the queasy feeling in his stomach ease away.

"If," Artemis started then stopped, licking her lips nervously. "If I tell you will you promise not to tell the other? Even Batman and Ollie? Especially Ollie, there is no way he can know." Dick and Wally looked at each other apprehensively; if it was a secret so big even their mentors didn't know could they really keep it?

"For now," Dick compromised, "if starts to get more out of hand or puts people in danger, then we have to tell them." For a few seconds Artemis didn't say anything, considering Dick's proposal carefully and driving Wally crazy with anticipation.

"Fine. That's fair enough." Making sure Ronan and Amelia were happily engrossed in their movie; Artemis slowly began to open up.

"My mother is sick. I mean like, really, really sick. She's in constant pain. There's treatment for her, but it expensive. She can't work, she can barely get up in the morning." Artemis couldn't meet her friend's eyes and picked at her ruined fingernails instead. "I work night shifts at a corner store a block from me. It's a rough job. I barely make enough to pay rent, let alone medical bills and utilities. The food drive is what we live out of." Wally couldn't believe he was hearing this. Never once had it crossed his mind that Artemis might be poor, hell, he thought all of them came from wealthy families, Superboy being the obvious exception. It had never occurred to him that Artemis's fashion choices hadn't been expensive purposefully worn looking clothing. Her clothing was worn and frayed and patched because she couldn't afford it.

"I do odd jobs here and there, none of them being prostituting, although…" Wally's stomach dropped at the look of shame and defeat on his archer's face. "I've seriously considered it." She sighed and rubbed her temples. "I don't have time to sleep between school, work and hero-ing. I barely have time for school to be honest. If going to you're damn prep school didn't make mom so happy I would be back at Gotham North in no time." Artemis glanced at Dick, with a bitter smile. "Even if it is Bruce's scholarship that's paying for it all." Wally blinked hard, looking between Dick and Artemis.

"I'm not even going to bring up the fact that you're supposed to be living in Star City right now," Artemis cringed at that, "but Gotham North? You used to go to school there?" Wally gave a low whistle and looked at her with a new respect. "No wonder you're so scary." Artemis laughed.

"You have no idea Baywatch." The smile faded and was replaced once again with a look of harrowing defeat. "I don't know what to do." She said quietly. "I haven't been able to pay rent for nearly three months now and there isn't anywhere cheaper for us to live. I-I can't live on the streets again." Artemis closed her eyes in shame, not willing to look at her friends at this admission. "Mom won't survive it and honestly I don't think I could either." A tear rolled down her olive colored cheek and Wally couldn't help but reach around pull her into his side, letting her lithe frame lean into his as her shoulders shook with silent tears.

"I don't know what to do." Artemis choked out. "I'm just so tired." Wally rubbed her shoulders in a comforting way, trying to ease the feeling of distress in his girl.

His girl? She wasn't even his friend, was she?

"I'm going to call Alfred." Dick announced, pulling out his phone. "He'll come and look after the kids. We'll take you home, let you get some sleep and then we can tackle this problem in the morning, together." Artemis looked up, bloodshot eyes still leaking stray, glistening tears.

"No," she said in a weak voice. "I need the babysitting money, and if I leave now the Bakers will never have me again. Its out of the question." She straightened her self a little, although not moving from under Wally's arm, which made butterflies spring to life in both of them, and attempted to wipe away the evidence of her break down with the edge of her sleeve. "It's okay, I can do this." She sniffed and gave them an unconvincing smile. "You guys get home, don't worry about me, I'm a tough girl. I'll see you both tomorrow at the Cave." She looked at them expectantly, waiting for them to leave. Wally scoffed and grabbed a handful of popcorn.

"No way Blondie. We're in this for the long run."