[31st January 2011]
[Bunker, Beneath the Temple of the Shrouded Lord, Tropico]
Artemis Nyugen, not Crock anymore, lounged back on the bed resting after a long, stressful, day followed by a needed training session. Pretty intense, but she'd given Big Sis a well deserved trashing and it had helped burn off the anger and worry after what happened in the Mountain. Everything had fallen apart and Skulls...God she seen him die...or almost die, and it was just...and then she'd seen him, and...
'Too much' she thought with a groan, bringing her hands up to her face in embarrassment. Seeing him alive again had been really confusing, and emotions had got the better of her. Oh sure they'd managed to get through the training despite the awkwardness, but now she had to go and repeat the whole damned mess of the Connor incident if he decided against dating. Why couldn't she think before she acted sometimes?
'Arrrghhhh...dumbass" she growled at the empty room, slamming her hands off the mattress in frustration before huffing and folding them across her chest to stop fidgeting him. Staring at the ceiling helped, there wasn't exactly much to do right in the secret military base in...wherever it was...she'd managed to allow Mom to bring her too. She couldn't even contact the others to tell them that Skulls was alive...because he, and Mom, and their sorta-not-secret-government organisation didn't really trust the Justice League to know. That was...bad, not unexpected but bad in some way she couldn't fully explain.
'Oh, relax Arty, good news after all. Just smile and be affectionate, he kissed back so everything will be awesome just you see. Be pretty, be seductive like Mom said' she reminded herself, then closing her eyes at the thought of taking dating advice from her Mom of all people. She just needed to relax, unwind her aching muscles, and just think of how to brooch this whole situation with her back-from-the-dead friend-maybe-boyfriend to the end she wanted. Just focus on your breath, nice and calm, relax and think happy thoughts, it'll all be...
Snnooorrrrrr
"Uhnh? Huh?" she snorted startling at the clicking noise, looking through blurry eyes...then idly swatting at the drool that had seemingly formed when she'd dozed off. Blinking and rubbing at her eyes she made out the form off Skulls standing there in the darkness of his room at the door, looking at her. She could already feel her cheeks starting to burn at her the fact she'd not only dozed off waiting for him, but had sprawled out on his bed snoring and drooling in what was probably a less than attractive manner. Moving quickly she pushed herself, propping up on her elbows, pulling the leg that had slid off the bed up and tried to get back into a position that might give a better impression than 'I'm a lazy slob crashing on your bed' to him.
"Um...Hey Skulls! I...uhh, was waiting for you!" she started mouth moving rapidly and giving what should be winning smile despite the feeling of an embarrassed flush on her face as the lights came on. Confidence, that was the key yeah...she just had to power through to victory like always "Thought you'd...uhh...like a pretty girl on your bed after rising from the dead! Heh heh...heh"
John cocked his head to the side studying her, arms folded across his chest and an odd look upon his face "Umm...Hi?"
"Hi...Skulls, um, you want...umm...jo...ta..alk?" she managed to squeak out feeling really awkward as she fidgeted, moving her legs, and then rolling unto her side. John sighed, hand coming up to the bridge of his nose, eyes closing a moment and muttering some soft gibberish. Artemis rested her head on her hand, trying to shift her position so she looked attractive, and not like an idiot as her friend muttered to himself a moment before sighing again and strolling over to her. For a moment she thought he was going to lean over and kiss her, but instead he moved towards the bottom of the bed, swatting at her legs and feet so she lifted them and allowed him sit down, back against the wall to the other side of the bed.
"Stop that, Please...Stop...just let's talk okay?" he stated calmly, and she found herself nodding and slowly, awkwardly, moving to sit beside him, bare feet on the blankets, knees up against her chest and arms hugging around them. She bit her lip as he rested his head back against the wall, gazing up at the ceiling as they both sat in silence a moment.
"You're very beautiful you know?" he said after an eternity and she found herself blushing again as he looked at her "...but, don't be..." he sighed "...the kiss surprised me, ya'know?"
Artemis couldn't help but grunt softly at that, chin on knees and staring straight ahead as things seemed to be going the wrong direction "Me too, I...mean, uh, I didn't think...you...ugh...I wanted too but didn't think...but now I, uh..."
She gave him a gentle, slightly nervous, punch on the shoulder "God! Don't you think it's obvious! Aren't you going to say anything else? It Surprised you? Is that all you can say?"
"Well, I'm a bit slow, and tired after a very long meeting about me nearly dying and fighting crazy drunken gods" he replied not responding to her touch or look, then brought his hand over to rest on hers "...but, No, there's more I want to say. Sure there is. Do I want to just kiss you know and say damn it all, let's have some fun..."
She flushed at that, taking his hand and expecting the 'But' with misery "...But...there's things you need to consider Artemis before you say you want a relationship with me. Since, your...well"
"Yes, that's what I want. Pretty obvious don't you think?" she whispered back, almost to herself and he nodded, hand gripping hand.
"Artemis...I'm not going to lie, I would, I will...you're smart, and strong, and gorgeous..." he started listing off, then sighing "...and there's things you...secrets I have to keep, things I can't tell you, might never be able to tell you. And that's not fair on you ya'know? You want to be...YOU ARE...a hero, and I'm...in a different role in life"
She considered that in silence for a second, a few seconds, then a minute as they sat in silence before smiling sadly "Oh, I kinda knew that already Skulls with the secret doom army, hidden base we're now in, and magic not dying thing for starters. I think...I can live with that..." she paused, frowning at him "...not unless you've some secret girlfriend, or secret boyfriend...or girlfriend AND boyfriend?"
He startled "What? No...No, and NO"
Artemis grinned "That's fine then. I'm not an idiot Skulls, I kind of guessed the secret stuff since you've got MY MOM and MY CRAZY SISTER serving you somehow, and attacked Hell, and now crazy magic not being dead that scared the hell outta me. And I still want to go out with you. Maybe I'm as big an idiot as you are, eh?"
"Hmmm...well, the other thing is...I'm, well, you're only just turned sixteen and..."
She rolled her eyes at that "Oh my God Skulls, you're only a year and a bit older than me! If you call me jailbait I'll bloody break your damned nose"
"Yeah...but I'm serious here Artemis..." he replied nodding at her and then the room "...this? Not really acceptable yet...I'd...haaaa...if you want to have a relationship, then we'd have to take it slow you know. You okay with that? Because you could have anyone you want, and you deserve to be happy and have a relationship that makes you happy...and I'm just afraid I can't give that too you"
"OMG you're a prude!" she giggled, allowing herself to slide to the side and rest her head on his shoulder...smiling even more as he shifted his arm to crook it around her shoulder "Aww, isn't that cute? I'm going to have fun corrupting you my skull faced supervillain"
"Heh, heh, heh...heh" he laughed "if you say so my love. Also, I am not a supervillain!"
"Hmmm...say that again"
"I'm not a supervillain?"
"No..." she groaned, irritated by his bemused tone as she closed her eyes allowing herself relax and bask in the feeling of victory "...the other part?"
"Hmmm...if you say so my love"
--
[01st February 2011]
[Bunker, Beneath the Temple of the Shrouded Lord, Tropico]
Amanda Waller was determined to get this magical teleportation that her British and Irish colleagues had created expanded to the United States. It was far too useful for movement, seemingly secure movement at that, hidden from the ever watchful eyes of the Justice League to not be taken advantage. Another item to add to the list of things to be traded for, or recreated by her own sources, now she'd managed to push what was the 'US Branch' of SHIELD through Congress alongside the rest of the alphabet soup. It had worked for the British clearly, and it had allowed some many black projects to be amalgamated and further funded to not be considered a logical step to take.
With her as Department Head of course, Belle Reve disaster or no she had clawed her way back to the top in only a few months by nuking hell, acquiring weapons capable of challenging the Justice League, and even strengthening bonds with global allies. Now, if this new crisis could be resolved to her satisfaction it would only strengthen the hands of the military and intelligence services for increased funds with Congress and the President in chaos. Unsurprising their foreign allies had called them in, more supernatural things needing a good spanking but too much in the power range of the Justice League...she resisted growling in frustration that they had overlooked such dangers, and powers, over the years.
"Ma'am, General, Colonel, this way please" a soldier, Irish special forces judging from the masked face and accent, stated motioning her, General Lane, and Colonel Flagg out of the 'teleportation circle' weapons still holstered. Even from a cursory inspection as she followed behind their guide it was clear there was an air of tension about this facility; unsurprising, she had read the report on what had happened at the Justice League facility. Between carefully hidden activity at the 'ritual sites' in the British Isles and 'military drills' of their British allies it was apparent they were one step short of a war footing, but hesitating to step over that line due to recent efforts and perceived costs.
'The fact that that so many formerly hidden powers are attempting to destroy this organisation shows that it is both needed, and that is succeeding in some small way' she reminded herself as she stepped into large conference room with wall screens. Mostly standard to all those she was so used to attending meetings in, save for the large magical symbols and odd metal ornaments fixed to walls amidst high tech equipment. Satellite Maps, of the British Isles, the Mediterranean, Santa Prisca, and what was known to be Themsycira were currently upon the screens. A neat trick on the Amazon's part, hiding an island with their magic, but now they had a rough idea thanks to US satellites and UK/Irish wizards working on the problem; crude, barely acceptable by WW2 standards...but visible for the first time ever.
"Welcome..." Nabu, Doctor Fate, greeted them as they entered. The woman this time beneath the Helmet as the aged Kent Nelson sat beside him/her at the table. A regrettable loss to the United States, but developing the international organisation would enable her to bring such assets back within the US sphere of influence. Something badly needed with matters as they were with so much destruction post-invasion, and the costumed lunatics cropping up like weeds "...I trust you have been brought up to speed"
Amanda nodded for herself and her companions "Yes, including the approach made to the Justice League through Wonder Woman, and of her divided loyalties"
"It is unfortunate, and do believe Diana's principles will win out in such a clash, but they cannot be relied upon when so much is at stake. Negotiating with the Olympians then is considered the best option available, should they be reasonable of course. The attack upon our young charge, within a Justice League facility and nearly resulting in the death of one of our better trained young mages, cannot go unanswered. I, and two of this organisation's allied divine entities, have guaranteed the child's safety"
"Making it a direct challenge to SHIELD's primary magic support after demons the attack, abduction, and rape, of our agent Constantine...and then our successful retaliation against the guilty parties. It's a power play taking advantage of one of the beings being supposedly inebriated and filled with rage. They cannot be allowed succeed as it would diminish our organisational goals..." she stated calmly. Sure the man wasn't strictly speaking her agent, nor SHIELD under her control, but 'ours' was a good term to keep using to firm up this alliance "...we've rattled a few beings cages that we aren't easy prey anymore"
Training the young ward herself was a useful coup by her allies, perhaps overly ambitious considering the attack that had occurred but a good one. It seemed she would be as powerful as Wonder Woman when she grew into an adult, and a girl that would look favourably upon the governments that had bought her up. She herself had been forced to work with dregs such as the Suicide Squad till now, and creating an actually loyal taskforce of metahumans and magic users would be far more palatable.
"Unfortunate, but perhaps true..." the British General, formerly retired but now recalled from her information "...but avoiding a conflict at the moment maybe in our interest if favourable terms reached. Still, we must prepare for a clash as these entities have proven impulsive when they have not bound themselves by a Magical Oath"
"We shall need to beware that the Amazons could be rallied against us also..." the red haired man who was also apparently a demonic knight stated highlighting that 'warded' island "...for the Gods of Olympus may wish to avoid a direct clash themselves, but instead order the warriors of paradise island to battle in their stead"
"We've already alerted the Greek and Turkish governments of such a possibility, and the Turks have requested a meeting between a SHIELD representative and one of their local magic using heroes by the name of Janissary. Or perhaps she had requested it of them, but military forces there have increased readiness status and ..."
--