The bird and the cat (conversation)

Chapter 2:second chances

It's been about a year and a half since Wally... died. Obviously, Artemis and Dick have both changed in their own respective ways. Artemis has gotten more social, but only with people she knows. She's not very social out in public, though. Zatanna, M'gann, Oliver, and Dinah all come over about once a month to check on Artemis, who seems to be doing better every time. Dick is also doing well, he spent a lot of his time creating "Dark wear" which is like a stealth suit with some bonus'. He tries to keep busy with the newest growing threat. Meta human trafficking. People are abducting children and activating their meta gene, giving them powers against their will. The league would get involved, but thanks to restrictions placed on the league, they can't investigate. So the team does have a purpose. Except they haven't gathered any intel, except that meta human trafficking is but a myth at the moment.
Artemis was just on a very tough mission. A team consisting of her, Blue Beetle, Wonder Girl, Superboy, and Static were sent to Gotham City to investigate. They didn't find a trafficking ring, but they did find another court of owls station. The court is a highly sophisticated group of the entitled rich who also happen to enjoy criminal activity. They're enemies of the batfamily, and even now still considered one of Gotham's "Urban myths". Artemis suddenly remembers something from her childhood...

"Beware the court of owls," Her sister would sing to her at night with creepy smile, "That watches all the time. Ruling Gotham from a shadowed perch behind granite and lime!" She would always tend to jump on the bed to add to the effect, "They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed, speak not a whispered word of them, or they'll send a talon for your head!" At the end her sister was always in her face, with a Cheshire grin, booping her sisters nose before skipping backwards and falling onto her bed. The idea of the court scared Artemis. Not a lot of things did that. It's the main reason she never trusted the rich. She hated the idea that the court would always be watching, always taunting you with their mythical talon.

Oh yeah, The Talon. That's who the team fought. There was only one, but it was like it couldn't die. They'd heard these creatures were immortal, Batman wasn't entirely sure if they were even human, but it beat the crap out of the team. Blue beetle had passed out first, his scarab unable to comprehend the talons existence. Wonder girl had been thrown back into Static, knocking the wind out of both of them. At one point, Superboy even had to pop Artemis' shoulder back into place which H U R T.

After Artemis got back to the house she was entirely exhausted. Dick was ready to bash her for not getting home in time to take Brucely on a walk until he realized how tired she was. She was on the couch with her legs out and head thrown back breathing heavily. Dick took the liberty of carrying her back to her bed and giving her some first aid that she was in no condition to give herself. He took note of her concussion of course, putting some bandages around her head and taking off some of her accessories, such as belt, mask, boots, gloves, but overall keeping her suit on.
He put medicine on some wounds to help them heal, even hearing her wince at one point. "Sorry." He apologized, but He could tell she was barely even awake. Her eyes were hooded and her bags were obvious. Her timed out breaths represented that of a sleeping child. He was even pretty sure she fell asleep, and his suspicions were correct. He had gotten up and tucked her in, putting the first aid kid away as he suddenly heard her groan. He looked away to see her hands moving, looking for something to hold. He ran over and hugged her waking her up. "What's wrong?" He asked, cradling her back and fourth unintentionally. "Nothing. Just a bad dream." She sighed, hugging him back. They had stayed like this for about 8 minutes before Dick had decided Artemis was asleep. He tucked her in again and went to his own bed.
Artemis had woken up past her alarm at 9 AM. She chuckled a little, realizing Dick must've turned it off. Good thing she didn't have a job, just online school which... Arguably is worse. Then, suddenly, she realized how much pain her head was in. She felt it and noticed the bandages. Okay, something was wrong. Guess she'll figure out what. After putting on a tank top and sweatpants she wallowed over to the kitchen where she saw Dick sipping his coffee and noticed Brucely running around outside. Dick got up and helped Artemis to a seat, getting her water. "So, you have a concussion..." He began and Artemis laughed a little. "I know." He brought water over, patting her back and sitting back in his seat. "And with most things I insist on a catch," He started, "You have a moderate concussion, so I insist on you not going on any missions for... A week. 10 days of you don't get better." Artemis looked up from taking a sip of her water. "What?!". Dick came up behind, hugging her from the back, "Artemis. We both know you need this time anyway. I'll stay home with you."
After a second, Artemis leaned back into the hug. "It won't be that bad." He smiles, though she can't see it. She sighs. It can't be that bad? Whatever you say... Whatever you say... Artemis kept passing out about twice an hour for around 5 minutes before waking up and being disorientated. Dick would usually have to explain exactly what was going on. She also had a very minor case of amnesia, like sometimes she would forget that Brucely was in the room sleeping, or what TV show she just watched. She would be confused a lot, which Dick would try not to laugh at. But it's alright, because within the week she was fine. But then she had come home crying. Dick was very confused. "What's wrong?" He asked her, holding her shoulders. She had suddenly lunged into him with a hug that he laughed at, but hugged back. They stayed like this for about 3 minutes before Artemis took Dick over to the couch.
"There's something I need to tell you," she sniffled, "Something happened to Barbara.". After telling him, he was mostly in shock. He'd gone to see Barbara, hoping Artemis would understand why he left her, and she did. She had cried herself to sleep at night. She had it been on the mission of course, but she was in the commotion. She didn't even really understand what had happened to be completely honest.

"Hey, Grayson." Barbara weakly said as he sat in the chair. "Artemis told me what happened," Dick sighed, holding her hand, "I am so sorry." "Guess I can't be batgirl anymore, can I?" Barbara weakly laughed. "Don't joke about that!" Dick said in a... Begging tone. and that begging tone... Barbara's never heard it from him. He sounds so weak using it. So sad, so desperate. She didn't like it. "Dick..." was the only thing she could think to say. "Barbara." He returned. He began rubbing his thumb on the back of her hand. They both used this time to just stare in each other's eyes. It was strange. It may have only been 2 minutes, but it had seemed like forever. He'd gotten up from his seat and hugged her. He pulled back and rested his hands on her shoulders.

When he got back it was about 3 am which was literally nothing to a batboy. He saw Artemis crying in her sleep and had nudged her until she gasped. Then she saw him. They hugged for awhile. After letting go and looking at each other, Artemis pulled herself back into the hug. "I... I'm gonna quit the team again." She sobbed into Dick's shirt. "You don't have to do that." Dick insisted, putting his hand in her hair, pulling her close to give the illusion that she was safer.
"I know, but I want to," she said looking up at him, "I... I don't want to end up like that." She continued sobbing, burying her face back into Dick's chest. They stayed like this for awhile, until both became exhausted and Dick went back to his bed. He didn't understand how or why it happened to Barbara. Why anything happens to anyone. Barbara didn't have to get shot, Wally didn't have to die... god parents didn't have to fall to their deaths... When Artemis woke up, she noticed Dick was crying in his sleep aswell. She had gone over and held him, not realizing he woke up until he suddenly grasped her and held her tighter. It was now his turn to sob into her shirt.