Kintsugi
A Young Justice Fanfic
[All standard disclaimers apply.]
Artemis drank her coffee as she checked email on her laptop. She was alone in the kitchen for once. Violet had taken Lian outside to play. Will was out running errands.
She frowned as she saw an ad for a new apartment complex that would begin leasing nearby. She clicked the link, feeling a little guilty. The complex was offering 2- and 3-bedroom apartments at reasonable rates.
She leaned back in her chair as she stared that the pictures. Why was she even looking at this? It wasn't like she was going to leave Will and Lian.
Was she?
"Hey, Artemis."
"Will!" Artemis almost spilled her coffee as she rushed to slam her laptop close. "You're back!"
"So, you're looking at apartments?"
"What? No!" she said quickly. "It's nothing. Really. Just spam."
Will set the groceries on the counter and sat down across from Artemis. "It's okay if you were, Artemis."
"What?"
"It's been great having you here," Will said. "And I'll always be grateful. But I'm an idiot if I expect you to stay forever."
"But you and L-l-lian and V-violet," Artemis said, sputtering in her protest.
"Will be just fine," he assured her, squeezing her hand, "if you're ready to move on. This was always meant to be a temporary thing, Artemis. I was in a tailspin after Jade left. You had lost Wally. We both used Lian as a reason to shut the world away for a while.
"But Lian is going to start pre-school soon. Violet's going off to college. And Forager's already moved to New Geranium City. Everyone's moving on to the next step in their lives. It's time we do the same."
"I feel like I'm abandoning you guys," she admitted.
"You're planning not to visit us?"
"Of course not!" She saw the amused look on his face and laughed. "Okay, you're right. I'm being ridiculous."
"No, you care," Will said. "And it's okay to be overwhelmed. But just so you know, whatever you decide, stay or go, Lian and Violet and even me are going to fine."
"Thanks, Will."
"You're welcome." He stood up from the table. "Now, can you give me a hand with groceries?"
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Dick frowned as he studied Artemis. "Hey, you're pretty quiet tonight?" The others at the table groaned. "What?"
"Subtle, Dick," M'gann said. "You don't have to say anything if you don't want to," she told Artemis.
"No, it's okay," Artemis assured her. "I just have a lot on my mind right now."
"Like what?" Conner asked, earning a stern look from M'gann. "What?"
"Boys," Barbara said, getting a look from Dick.
"It's really okay," Artemis said. "I'm thinking of moving out."
"Wait, like moving out, moving out?" Dick asked.
"Dick!" M'gann admonished.
"Yes, like moving out, moving out," Artemis answered.
"Does Will know?" Conner asked.
"Conner!"
"M'gann, it's fine," Artemis said. "Yes, Will knows. He kinda found me looking at apartments. Anyway we had a talk and he's okay with it. I think he's been expecting it."
"Well, this should be a good thing," M'gann said. "I mean you should have your own place."
"Yeah, I guess."
"But?"
"I don't know," Artemis said. "I guess it would be a lot of changes at once. I don't know if I'm ready for that."
The table was silent for a moment before Barbara said, "But what if you are?"
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"So this is one of our 2-bedroom units," the real estate agent said as she unlocked the door. "It comes with one full bath, standard kitchen and laundry hook-ups. First month, last month as well as a security deposit will be required. Do you have any pets?"
"A dog," Artemis said as she followed the agent through the apartment.
"A separate pet deposit will be required," she explained. She looked at Artemis and Will. "Do you two have any children?"
"Artemis is my sister-in-law," Will said. "She recently lost her partner."
"Oh, my goodness! I'm so sorry!" the agent cried. "And so young, too."
After an embarrassed silence, the agent ushered them to the unit's kitchen. "I'll let you two explore for a minute. Just call out if you have any questions."
Artemis was grateful as the woman wondered off. "Thanks, Will."
"I hope it was okay to step in."
She nodded. "It's fine."
Will glanced around at the kitchen. "It's not a bad kitchen as far as apartments go."
"I'll have to get a microwave," Artemis said, "but it seems to have everything else."
"Let's check out the rest of the place."
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"Why isn't Conner helping with this?" Dick grumbled as he and Will carried a couch upstairs to Artemis's new apartment. Feeling everyone's glare, he gave a shaky laugh. "Not that this is too heavy."
M'gann sighed as she shifted the box she was carrying. "He's away right now. Otherwise he would be here."
"It's okay, M'gann," Artemis said. "I know that he'd be here to help if could."
"Still it would be nice," Will said, "to have a Kryptonian around."
"We're almost done, guys," Artemis said. "And there's pizza."
"I do like pizza," Dick said.
"Pizza's great," Will agreed.
They soon finished moving the rest of Artemis's stuff into the apartment. They congregated in her new living room to eat the promised pizza. They chatted about M'gann's upcoming wedding, Dick's latest adventures, Will's business, and Artemis's research.
"You okay?" Will asked her quietly during a pause in the conversation.
She nodded. "I think I'm going to like it here."