The bird and the cat (conversation)

Chapter 4:private securtiy

Dick immediately woke up. So that was a dream right? He's in his bed atleast. Artemis looks like she's about to wake up, so that's a good sign. As she stirs awake, Dick begins to say "Good morning" but the blonde immediately puts her hand up. "Eh, coffee first, then talk." She rasps. He begins to wonder. Maybe she's had a long night. Maybe it wasn't a dream. But it had to be, right? I mean, they couldn't of ACTUALLY went to markovia and... and... But suddenly, the ebony haired boy noticed his roommate had left, so he follows in her footsteps. Of course, like he's subconsciously expected, there is a girl on his couch, sleeping. As he sips his coffee, and Artemis gives Brucely his good, he begins to worry. Taking care of a stray was most certainly not the mission, they cannot be in this situation! They just can't! "You still have the thing today?" He asks, reluctantly. "I can't cancel. And besides, I think it might be helpful for uhm... Halo?" Artemis answers, taking a sip of her own coffee. "Speaking of our house guest and what should be done with her..." Dick let's on, though he knows he shouldn't have this argument with Artemis. "I know." The blonde sighs. "Taking care of strays isn't the mission." Dick presses. "I know!" Artemis is beginning to get annoyed at this point.

"Absolutely. We'll be there. We'll be ready." Will says as Dick and 2 other redheads enter. They are none other than Jim and Roy Harper, Will puts up a Finger for them to be quiet. "That's right ma'am, at bow hunter security, we're always on point." Will smiles, pointing at the trio causing Jim to chuckle and Roy to do an eye roll. Will chuckled as well, but to the lady on the phone. "It's my pleasure. We'll see you soon." He finishes a he puts up the phone. He puts his hands behind his back and looks at them. "Lemme guess, you fellas are in need of some top of the line security. Am I right?" Will assumes. "Not exactly. I know Artemis probably brought you up to speed on Markovia, we lost a shipment of trafficked meta teens in a boom tube, they're probably being deployed in deep space by now." Dick explained. "Oh, of course." Will sarcastically answers. "Look, the leagues been informed, I'm not happy about this, but I need to move on." Dick frowns. "Yeah. You moved on so much you completely neglected to mention Brion Markov, Dr Jace, and that Halo girl." Will scoffed. "This is a higher priority. I have a solid lead on a meta human trafficking ring right here in star city. Look, Roy and Jim are on board, but y'know, I figured we could make it an all Harper mission." Dick changed the subject. "All Harper and one Grayson." Will raised an eyebrow. "Are you in or not?" Dick frowned once more. "Hmm." Will began as he grabbed a clip board and focused on it, flipping the page. "I know your doing that on purpose." Dick squinted angrily. "Hmm. I guess I could make the time." Will smirked. "Great! So here's the plan—" Dick began by t was cut off by Will. "BUT only if you guys help me with something first." Will quickly added in. "I'm game." Him smiled. "Whatever bro." Roy shrugged. "What are we talking about here?" Dick asked suspiciously.

Artemis and the girl who they've been referring to as Halo were walking in star city. People were running past with "Goode Goggles" which are augmented reality devices worn by wearers to play games and live reality. Suddenly one of them fell right in front of them, and Artemis helped him up. "Sorry, I uh, got a little carried away there." He apologized, rubbing the back of his neck, moving between the girls and continuing his adventure. "Thank you. For me... staying in your home. Or uh, sorry." Halo apologized, looking away, making Artemis laugh a little. "Well, we had to do something with you." She sighed, getting lost in memory.Suddenly, she snapped back to reality and realized Halo was flying behind her as she gasped. She pulled the girl down by the leg carefully "Uh, try not to fly unless your doing it on purpose." Artemis said. "Unless I'm doing it on purpose." Halo nodded. "Yeah. Hey, your English is getting better." She complemented the girl. "I remember more words now!" Halo excitedly cheered. "How about your name?" Artemis tried. "Halo?" The girl responded causing Artemis to sigh, "Anything about your life?" The girl looked down again. "Sorry." Artemis suddenly had a question come to mind that needed to be answered. "So um... if you... don't remember anything, why the hijab?" She asked feeling slightly awkward. "It... feels right. Okay?" "Of course" Artemis have a reassuring smile. "Of course!" Halo repeated. "Don't worry. Nightwings running a background check, and once he figures out who you are, we can get you back home to your family." Artemis quickly explained, beginning to walk faster. "Now? We go there now?" Halo asked in a confused tone. "Oh... no. I had a previous appointment I need to keep, but, it might help you too." Artemis explained, looking at a wilting willow. They walked towards, and then through the leaves and suddenly a bright yellow light surrounded the area. "Where is she?" Doctor Fate hissed. "I'm sure she'll be here any second. Since we're waiting, this is Halo. She's lost her memory, I figured you could give her a mystic once over or something?" Artemis asked. Doctor Fate floated to the ground as the same bright yellow light surrounded Halo. "I sense a very old soul in this very young body! But who is Fate to judge such things?" Doctor Fate described, almost fascinated. "Wait, what?" Artemis asked, extremely confused at this point. "Uh... Hi." Zatanna said from the corner. "Oh! Zatanna! I was just—" Artemis was suddenly cut off by Fate. "Child of magic. Do you understand the terms of our agreement?" Doctor Fate asked. "Yes. One hour. Just like last year, and the year before that, and the year before that..." Zatanna said, not going on. "Be grateful Nabu Grant you this boon at all." Fate said. But now it sounded more like Zatara as he took off the helmet. Zatanna has pushed aside his bangs to look at his eyes, then hugged him. "Daddy." She whispered as he hugged back. "Zatanna." He returned.

"Don't know if you've heard, but you have a girl sleeping over—" Will began but Dick finished, "Over at my place, I know." , making Will laugh. "Over your couch. Two feet over your couch." Dick looked over with a stern look in his eye, "So, your saying she's a conversation piece?". "I'm saying somebody needs to have a conversation about what to do with her long term." Will emphasizes.

"An old soul in a very young body," Artemis repeated, sighing, "Does that mean anything to you?". Halo just shrugged in return making Artemis sigh again. "Do you remember anything, anything at all, from before we met in the cemetery?" Artemis asked. "I..." Halo began, her eyes suddenly widening. She had to be thinking of something, right?! She had too! Artemis had made herself too hopeful though, because the response was "Nothing." But then Halo changed her answer to "Darkness". Artemis thought about this for awhile. It had to be something, anything.

"You were right." Dick sighed. "Of course I am. I'm older and wiser." Will said in a matter of fact tone. "Your a clone, your the youngest guy here." Dick quickly reminded. "Hey! I'm older than Jim!" Will said, pouting to Jim who yelled "But I'm prettier!". Dick looked down, than back up to Will. "I'll step up. I'll make it right with Halo, Brion, and Dr Jace." Dick decided. "Never doubted it for a moment." Will smiled at him.

It's the next day, and Dick, Artemis, and Halo have just arrived to Happy Harbor. Halo walked over to the scanner and saw herself. "Is this halo? Is this me?" She asked, prompting Dick to walk over and start typing. "As much as we know, which isn't much yet. But I'll run a match search comparing your zeta tube recognition file with every world data base to help us find out your true identity." Dick explained. "I thought you were already on this!" Artemis scoffed. "I am now." Dick laughed sheepishly, and lets be honest, who could be mad at that? "Right, we're all together, now what?" Brion asked.Brion and Halo were outside, and Dick had just taken a seat on the window seal. "Dr Jace would've liked to have been here today." Jefferson complained. "Forgive me If I don't want the mad scientist to know where I live." Connor said in a passive aggressive tone. "She's not like that. I think she really cares about those kids." Jefferson defended. "They both have meta powers, why not put them on the team?" Lucas suggested. "Uh, meta powers aren't required for that." Artemis frowned, pointing at herself. "And they aren't a free ticket to join either. Everybody on the team WANTS to be a hero. I'm not sure Brion or Halo does." Dick explained. "Plus we don't want another red arrow accident. Can't give watchtower access to a girl with no memory, she could be brainwashed to let the bad guys in!" Connor added on. "Uh, brainwashing isn't required for that. I kinda sorta accidentally led the joker to mount justice when I was their age." Lucas admitted.Of course, after the conversation went on for less than a minute, they heard an explosion. It was Brion testing out his powers which quickly went haywire and he became... nude. Which prompted many things, like Lucas giving him a jacket to cover himself, and Artemis covering Halos eyes. Then, it was Halos turn. "The idea is to switch between your auras to protect yourself." Jefferson explained. "And, if you need to stop at any time, just let me know." Artemis quickly added in before getting in a fighting stance. After attacking for a little while, Halo's halo suddenly turned yellow. "Woah! Okay, that's new." Artemis said. "Is there something wrong? Am I broken now too?" Halo asked. "No, you just... found a new color. So let's test it out. Carefully." Artemis emphasized.Halo had hit a tree with a yellow ball that had sent her flying back as Artemis and Dick both ran over. As Dick picked her up she had begun to turn purple, clearly still alive. "She's... healing herself. It's like a reflex." Artemis took note of. At night, right before Dick went to bed, Artemis made sure to talk to him. "You need to be on top of these things more." She stressed. "I know. Look Arty, I promise I'll be a better father for... Halo." Dick sighed. "You need too. Don't just say you'll do it, actually do it." Artemis responded.