“Finally! Another girl. Only God knows we need more around here.” You say as you shake the blondes hand. “I’m Y/N.” She nods as before introducing herself. “Artemis.” The name sounds familiar. Possibly something Wonder Woman has mentioned.
“As in the Greek Goddess?” A soft smile appears across her face. “Something like that.” The rest of the team begins to disperse, heading to do their own things. “What about you? What’s your super cool hero name?” She says in a somewhat sarcastic tone. “I go by DS.” I say as she raises an eyebrow. “DS?.” She repeats, much slower. She stares at me for a few seconds so I give in. “Short for DarkStar, Robin over here thought it’d be a cool name.” I say pointing to small boy. “Hey, not my fault you lost the bet.” He smirks as he folds his arms. “DarkStar?” She repeats my words once again.
“Awful, I know. But It’s just something that got stuck with me for a while and I’ve kept it because I guess you could sort of say I’ve found some sort of comfort in it after having it for so long. I feel like it’s be weird to change it now, you know?” You say as you take a seat on the table behind you. “Doesn’t sound too bad. I like it.” She says not sounding too believable. I pause, staring at her for a few seconds. “Sure.” I say walking off, hearing her footsteps trail behind me. “No, I mean it, it’s great.” She stammers, her words sounding more sincere. “I didn’t say I didn’t believe you, did I?” I respond to which she raises her eyebrows. “Come on dude, I’m not stupid.” “Never said you were.” She groans in response which causes a smile to form on my lips.
“Ready for your first mission?” I ask to which she nods. “I’ve been ready.” ‘I’ve mind linked us all so we can’t be intercepted’ Mganns voice comes through to which Artemis squints, her hand shooting up to her head. “You good?” I turn to her, placing a hand on her arm. She nods, “Yeah, it just feels weird.” She remarks standing up straight, regaining her composure. “You’ll get used to it soon.” You say as she follows you. She doesn’t respond aloud. Her voice comes through inside my head. ‘Yeah I hope so.’
“Artemis! Watch out!” I yell running towards her as someone tries to attack her from behind. Fortunately I’m able to get there in time, and use the rubble from the building to knock him down. “Thanks.” Artemis breathes out as she looks down at the man. ‘Target acquired. Team, move out.’ Kaldurs voice comes through and we go back to the bio-ship.
The silence of mount justice is deafening as we get off the ship. We all say our good nights before heading off to our room. As I’m brushing my teeth a knock on the door pulls my attention. “Come in.” The door is now slightly opened with Artemis peeking in. “Uh, hey Y/N.” She says opening the door. “Oh hey, what’s up?” I ask glancing at the time. Concern clouds my mind as we came back from the mission an hour ago. “I just wanted to thank you for saving me back there Y/N.” A wave of relief rushes over me. “No problem. We’re a team, it’s what we do. We look out for each other.” I respond to which she nods, staring at the floor for a few moments. “Is that all?” I ask grabbing her attention. “Shit sorry yeah. Kinda spaced out. Thank you again though. Seriously.” She says walking back to the door. “Goodnight Artemis.” I say as she goes through. “Goodnight Y/N.” She responds before shutting the door.
“So you’re coming to Gotham Academy?” I ask making sure I heard correctly. “Unfortunately.” She sighs. “Why now though, you’ve been on the team for like 3 months already. I feel like it should’ve been sooner.” I say to which she groans. “I don’t know and to be honest I don’t care. I really don’t wanna go.” She responds as she puts her face in her hands. “If you’re so depressed about getting to spend more time with me you can leave my room.” I say to which she perks up. “You go to Gotham?” She asks taking a seat on my bed. “Yes ma’am. Ever since 3rd grade?” I question, not fully sure. “Actually I think it was 2nd. End of 2nd grade.” I confirm to which she nods. “How is it?” She asks, her elbows on her knees as she leans into her hands. “It’s whatever, strict but the rules are easy to follow. It’s got an extraordinary education, that’s for sure, but since it is built by Bruce Wayne you would have to expect that.” She hums in understanding.
“The people are nice, sure there are some shitty ones here and there but overall much better than other places. Downside is everyone is so smart, can make you feel a bit stupid.” I say as I sit on the chair by my desk. “So what, you’re like a genius then?” She smirks making me laugh. “Oh God no, far from it. I don’t really focus much on school, I just go because I have to. I pass, which is matters.” She nods. “However I guess you’re the genius since you did get into the school.” I say to which she shakes her head. “I didn’t even apply.” “Yeah me too. Hey, at least we’re twinning.” She laughs as she raises her eyebrow at me. “You are so weird.” I smile. “So when’s your first day?” I question to which she groans to. “Tomorrow.” I wince. “That is so sad.” I say to which she just nods in agreement to. “Very.” “Don’t worry though, I’ll give you a tour.” I say to which she thanks me for.
“So over here is the field. Most people just chill out here with friends and stuff, obviously. If you want to do homework go to the library or something cause it’s noisy and you might get a ball to the face if you’re not aware of your surroundings. It’s happened to me multiple times, and it’s not like I was even studying. Anyways her is the-”
Out of the corner of my eye I see Dick running up to us with his phone out. Aware of his plans as he told me the night before, I smile for the photo as he lifts his phone snapping a picture before calling out “We’ll laugh about this someday” as he runs off. “Who was that?” Artemis looks back, trying to find where he ran off to. “Just some freshman.” I respond so which she eyes me suspiciously obviously not believing me. “Which is why you were prepared to smile for the camera?” She asks an eyebrow raised. “Not my fault you’re too slow.” I laugh. “Come on, let me show you your classes.” I continue in attempts to change the subject.
“What a great way to end the year!” Wally cheers as he stretches before speeding off to the kitchen. “I think a new years kiss is needed, right Dick?” I ask not so subtly nodding towards Zatanna. She notices and shakes her head. “Yeah, you’re right Y/N, I agree.” He says before Zatanna chuckles before pulling him in. I smile as I look at Dick melt into the kiss with Zatanna, hearing footsteps approach I turn my head. “Happy New Years Artemis.” I say as she walks up to me. “Happy new years Y/N.” She hesitates before going in for a hug. I welcome it. She holds me tight for a few seconds before slowly releasing her grip on me. “Come with me.” She says as she pulls my hand not really giving me as she drags me to the top of Mount Justice.
“So what are we doing here?” I ask as she nervously smiles. “I wanted to give you something.” She pulls out a book with the words, ‘US’ in bold letters. I open look back at her. A confused smile taking over my features. “I saw the way you helped the kids with their scrap books on the mission. So I thought I’d make one for you. It was meant to be for Christmas but it wasn’t ready yet.” She says as I flip through the pages filled with selfies of us taken at school and a few taken on missions. Some with the team and others just the two of us. There’s a few solo photos of me which I didn’t even know were taken. I keep flipping through the book and find words beside a few images. Some mentioning the date and what was going on the moment they were taken.
‘Y/N before failing her exam.’ With a picture of me and her smiling, my hands wrapped around my stationery as I hold my thumbs up. And the next image is a screenshot from a video I remember quite vividly. Her writing beside the picture saying ‘Y/N after failing her exam.’ With me at the desk looking up Artemis shocked as there’s a 53% circled on the paper. I flip the page to see a picture of me with my face in my hands as there’s books upon books around me. ‘Tutoring Y/N cause she might stay back a year.’ With a sad face drawn beside it. The next image is of me pouting as her hand is in the corner frame waving at me. ‘Justice League forcing Y/N to study by not letting her on a mission.’
Flipping through the pages I see snapshots of our lives together over the past 8 months. I see the way our friendship has bloomed as so obviously shown between our interactions in videos and photos. You can see in our body language, the first photos more separated and shy to the recent ones of us hugging or unable to be separated, even in team photos we were side by side. I continue to flip through them before stopping on a page. A recent one.
‘SHE PASSED!’ It’s a screenshot of a video too, a selfie as I kiss her cheek. That was one of the most stressful days of my life, and that says a lot considering I’m risking my life on the daily. “That was a good day.” Artemis speaks up as she notices my interest in the page. “One of the best days. I can’t believe I not only passed, but with flying colours too.”
“Found it.” The teacher says as she picks up the paper from her desk and walking towards the back in the now empty classroom. “Are you scared?” Artemis asks pointing her phone at me as the teacher puts the exam face down and walks away. I smile nervously as I look down at the paper, scared to flip it and look at the result. “Obviously. It’s the make it or break it. Am I coming with you or am I staying behind?” I say before she puts her hand on mine. “Hey, you studied for this and did your best, so no matter what happens it means nothing.” She says softly, I nod, taking in her words. A silence sits between us for seconds before she speaks again sounding more like usual. “But I know that’s absolutely enough. Now look at it!” Artemis says nervously but unable to contain her excitement as it slips through.
“Okay, okay.” I say as I grab the paper, slowly flipping it as she leans back, attempting to get the result and my face as I look at the front page. My jaw drops. “Oh my God.” I whisper as I slowly turn to her. “What, what is it? I can’t see the paper.” She looks over her phone as I turn the paper towards her. “I GOT 98% I PASSED!” I scream and she instantly cheers, flipping the camera to selfie mode, now on both of us as we scream with excitement. “I knew it! I knew you could do it!” She says and I can’t control myself as I grab her face pulling her face towards me and kissing her cheek. “YOU ARE AMAZING!” I say as I pull away, she smiles unable to speak as I stand up, unable to sit still.
I smile at the image, only now realising how red she was, she’s got this sort of bashful smile on face too. I think I need access to her camera roll cause she’s got all these moments capturing things I didn’t notice. Another perspective of our lives.
I peel my eyes away from the book to look at Artemis. Her eyes already on mine. The moon shined on her so perfectly you could mistake her for the Goddess instead. “This is so beautiful. Thank you. Truly.” I say to which she smiles softly. “You know I’d do anything for you right?” She says, her voice barely above a whisper. “And I’d do the same for you.” She smiles. “I know. But I feel like I haven’t said it or shown you enough, so I wanted to remind you because you mean everything to me Y/N. You’re my best friend.”
“Y/N, it’s been years, you need to tell how you feel.” Dick says as we walk through the gymnasium of the school. “It hasn’t been that long.” You respond as you take a seat on the bleachers. “You met when I was 13, I am turning 19 this year, you guys have been dancing around it for too long.” He takes a seat beside me. You pause as his words sink in, you can remember meeting her like it was yesterday. Everything with her is memorable, it feels fresh, as if it all just happened. You forget that you’ve quite literally grown up with her.
“Okay, but that doesn’t mean I liked her the whole time.” You lean back, laying on the seats behind you. “But you did and I know that.” Dick says as he copies your move. “Thinking she’s pretty and having a crush on her is 2 different things.” You respond, denying his words. “Okay yeah, sure, let’s say you’re right. Maybe not from the day you met, but you can’t lie and say it didn’t take you long before you fell for her. What was it? 6 months.” You sigh in defeat. He’s right.
“I don’t know Dick.” I say as I look towards her, the kids laughing as she struggles make the bracelet. “Dude she’s literally in love with you. Just go for it.” He says following your eyes. As if she has a sixth sense she looks up to you. Smiling as your eyes meet and giving a wave before putting her attention back on the kids. You stare at her for a few more seconds before looking back at Dick. “But what if I lose it all.” “And what if you don’t.” He says on a level that competes with the flash.
“Just trust me Y/N. She’s into you, and I don’t want you to wait too long and lose out on her because you’re perfect for each other. You both know that and everyone around you knows that. And as much as I love Artemis I love you more, and I’m not ready to see your heart get broken if she can’t hold out for you any longer.” He grabs my hands, his relaxed persona no longer there as he now faces me, pleading with me to believe him. I take in his words, gathering my thoughts before looking back at her as she laughs with the kids. “I’d break my own heart if it means not losing her.” He sighs, but nods, understanding my words. “Well then, I hope for all our sakes she tells you how she feels.”