I know, I know, it's been over a month since I updated and I am a piece of trash. I can't tell you guys how sorry I am for being so late with this. I'm in the process of trying to transfer schools, and being at college has put a lot of stress on me. I've been really depressed the last month and I haven't really had any motivation to write anything. But I promise I'm not giving up on this, or my other ongoing fics! Just hang in there and be patient with me, please :) Anyway, here's the long-awaited chapter five. Enjoy!
5.
Artemis gripped her bow tightly, craning her neck back and forth to stretch it out. Black Canary had led her into a room that seemed specifically designed for her – a bunch of different targets were set up all around the floor, spaced out at intervals. Some were close, some were far away, some were hanging from the ceiling. Artemis suspected they wanted her to shoot them all. Too easy.
But when Black Canary pressed a button and obstacles started hitting her arrows out of the way, she got mad.
Artemis knocked the dummies back with high kicks and well-aimed punches. Whenever the sole of her boot made contact with a plastic dummy, she smiled. She shot arrows this way and that, and each one hit their target true. She never missed a bulls-eye. She shot some explosive arrows to take out a couple of the dummies at once, running around the room like a whirling dervish. When her quiver was empty, she stood back to assess the damage, breathing hard. Artemis put her hands on her hips and smiled satisfactorily. She turned to grin at Black Canary and the two suits who'd been watching her performance. They were all talking in hushed tones to each other, nodding their heads.
A little annoyed, Artemis crossed her arms over her chest. "How'd I do?"
Black Canary turned to her and nodded. "Very good, Artemis. You've exceeded expectations."
"Of course," Artemis shrugged as if that should've been obvious. "What's next?"
"Next we'll test your strength." Black Canary gestured for Artemis to leave the practice room, and the two women walked down the hallway to the weight room. Artemis cracked her knuckles and stretched out her shoulders and arms, heading for the barbell without even a prompt from Black Canary.
"You're angry," Dinah said quietly as Artemis laid back on the leather seat. The older woman could see the telltale crease in between Artemis's eyes that always gave her away.
"No, I'm focused," Artemis said. "There's a difference." She put her hands on the metal bar and flexed her muscles, but before she could lift it, Black Canary put a hand on the bar and held it down.
"You're hostile towards your teammates," Black Canary said. "That isn't good, Artemis."
"I'm not hostile," she protested. "I just don't know them well enough to trust them yet."
"Trust is imperative on the battlefield."
"I know that. It's just gonna take some time." Artemis didn't trust easily. She definitely didn't trust Wally, the stupid idiot. Aqualad, sure. M'gann, maybe. Superboy seemed too closed off, and there was something about Dick that was a little iffy. But it would take a while before she trusted any of them with her life.
"If you can't handle being on this team –"
"I can handle it." Artemis cut Black Canary off before she could finish her sentence and glared at her. They couldn't kick her off the team. Even if she barely knew them, the team was the only thing she had. She didn't want to go back home.
Black Canary gazed at the young archer steadily for a few moments before Artemis closed her eyes and sighed. Her shoulders slumped.
"I can handle it," she said, her voice softer this time. "I know I'm being difficult. I'm sorry. I'm just not used to this."
Dinah smiled softly in understanding. "Just give it time. You'll warm up to each other eventually. And if you ever need anything, you can always come find me. Oliver is only a phone call away, as well."
Artemis nodded. "Thanks." It was all she could say.
Black Canary stood back. "Now," she said, nodding towards the weights. "Let's see how strong you are."