Sorry this chapter is so short, but I really didn't have anything that needed to happen in it, and I wanted to do a chapter with the team at Spitfire's new place. Also, I would really appreciate some reviews! I could use the pick-me-up this week, and I kind of think the chapters have been slipping in quality a little, so I need some feedback on how to fix that. Anyway, hope you like it the chapter, please review.
"Is this the address?" Megan asked, standing in front of an apartment house.
Dick checked the number against something on his wrist computer and nodded, looking at his companions. "Yeah, this is the one. It's on the second floor," he said.
Mallory, Zatanna, Raquel, and Conner followed Megan and Dick up the outside steps and waited as Megan knocked on the door.
"Just a minute," someone said from within. The door swung open a second later and Artemis grinned. "Hey, guys," she said, stepping to the side, "come on in."
The old team went into the small apartment and started to make themselves comfortable. "Where's Wally?" Mallory asked.
"Oh, he'll be back soon. He went to get some chips for the nachos," she replied.
"Well, what movie are we watching?" Dick asked, grabbing the remote.
"I don't care," Megan said.
Artemis brought out all of their usual movie night snacks and sat down with her friends. "I'm glad all of you could come," the former archer said.
"Hey, are you kidding? We weren't about to miss the first movie night in your new place," Zatanna said.
"How've things been going?" Dick asked. It was the first time the team had been to the new apartment, and one of the first times that he'd hung out with the team without a mask or his sunglasses on, which was another thing to celebrate as far as Mallory was concerned.
"It's been great. We've still got a month before school starts, so we're just using the time to get settled and everything," she said.
"The place is great," Raquel said.
"Thanks. It's a little small, but we don't need a lot of space," Artemis replied.
The door opened and Wally said, "They only had one bag, but that should be enough, right?" He closed the door and put down a little white puppy on a leash.
"You guys replaced me already?" Mallory asked jokingly.
Wally turned around and broke into a smile. "Hey, I didn't think you guys would be here already," he said. He walked over and gave Mallory a hug and Dick their signature handshake.
"Who's this?" Conner asked, nodding to the puppy, who had followed Wally over to the group and was now pulling on Conner's boot strings. Wally scooped the puppy up and sat down between Artemis and Mallory.
"This is Brucely. We got him the other day," he said.
Mallory stroked the little white pit bull's head, and the puppy turned and wagged his tail at her. "I can't believe you got a dog already," she said.
"Oh, he's Wally's dog. I told him we shouldn't get him, but Wally insisted, so now he's going to take care of him."
Wally shook his head and smiled at Artemis. "You love him as much as I do, and you know it," he said.
Her face broke into a smile and she rolled her eyes, not answering. "So, how're things on the team?" she asked after a moment.
The team exchanged a look, and Dick said, "Good. Fine. We got a new member, an Atlantean named Lagaan. He's Aquaman's new partner."
"There's another Alqualad already?" Wally asked, his tone every bit as offended as Malory's had been when she'd first met Lagaan.
"No, not exactly. He goes by Lagoon Boy," Zatanna said.
Raquel scoffed. "It should be Buffoon Boy. He's the most irritating person I've ever had to put up with."
"He's not that bad," Megan said.
Mallory rolled her eyes. "Yes, he is, Megan. I don't know how you can put up with him flirting with you all the time."
"Well, don't forget, she's had practice with that," Artemis said, glancing at her boyfriend pointedly. Wally shook his head and smiled, not saying anything.
"Hey, let's not get all worked up. We're here to have fun. What movie do you guys want?" Dick asked.
"Whatever you want, dude," Wally replied, settling back into the sofa cushions, Brucely curled up in his lap. Dick put a movie on, and the original team spent the night joking, bickering, and talking, just like old times.