You sat on a rooftop in Happy Harbour, the cool breeze playing with your hair as you gazed out over the darkened cityscape. It was peaceful here, away from the chaos of missions and the constant hum of activity inside. But peace wasn't something you found often—especially with your past.
"Mind if I join you?" A familiar voice broke the silence, and you turned to see Artemis standing at the edge of the rooftop. She had her bow slung over her shoulder, her expression soft but cautious, like she wasn't sure if she was intruding.
"Sure," you said, scooting over to give her room. Artemis sat beside you, her legs dangling over the edge of the roof.
For a moment, neither of you spoke. The quiet between you was comfortable, a mutual understanding without the need for words. You'd both lived lives that weren't exactly easy—past shadows that sometimes felt impossible to escape.
"I heard you talking to Robin earlier," Artemis finally said, her voice careful. "About your mom… and her being… you know."
"A criminal?" You finished for her, your tone a mix of resignation and bitterness. "Yeah. She still is, too. It's complicated."
Artemis nodded slowly, her gaze distant. "I get it. My dad… he's Sportsmaster. My sister's Cheshire. We're not exactly the picture-perfect family, either."
You glanced at her, surprised by the openness in her voice. You'd known about her family, of course—everyone on the team did—but Artemis rarely talked about it so freely. Then again, maybe that was why she sought you out tonight. There was an unspoken connection, a bond forged through shared pain and complicated loyalties.
"It's hard, isn't it?" you said softly. "Trying to be better than them. Trying to prove you're not like them, even when it feels like their shadow is always right there."
Artemis sighed, leaning back on her hands and looking up at the stars. "Yeah. It's like no matter what you do, you're always wondering if you'll end up like them. Or if people are just waiting for you to mess up so they can say, 'See? I knew you were just like them.'"
You nodded, feeling the weight of her words settle in your chest. "Exactly. It feels like no matter how hard you try, you're never going to escape who you are… or where you came from."
The silence returned, but it was different now—heavier, more contemplative. You both sat there, lost in your own thoughts, until Artemis spoke again.
"But… I guess it also makes us stronger," she said quietly. "We've seen the worst of what our families are capable of. We've seen where the wrong choices can lead. And we've chosen a different path. That takes guts."
You turned to look at her, seeing the determination in her eyes. She was right. You both had every reason to give in to the darkness, to let your pasts define you. But you hadn't. You were here, fighting for something better, something more.
"Yeah," you agreed, a small smile tugging at your lips. "It does take guts."
Artemis returned your smile, a spark of camaraderie passing between you. In that moment, you realized that you weren't alone in this. Your pasts might be filled with shadows, but you were stronger for it. And maybe, just maybe, you could help each other keep those shadows at bay.
"Thanks, Artemis," you said after a while. "For talking with me. It… helps."
"Anytime," she replied, her voice warm. "We're in this together, right? No matter where we came from."
You nodded, feeling a sense of peace settle over you for the first time in a long while.
As the night deepened, the city lights flickering below like scattered stars, you and Artemis remained on the rooftop, both content with the shared silence. It was a rare moment of tranquility in your chaotic lives. You knew it wouldn’t last long, but you were determined to savor it while it did.
“So,” Artemis began after a while, her tone lighter, almost teasing. “You’re pretty good with all those gadgets and tech stuff. Where’d you learn that?”
You chuckled softly, appreciating the attempt to steer the conversation away from heavier topics. “Well, when your mom is a world-class thief, you pick up a few things. She always made sure I knew how to handle myself—especially when it came to breaking into places or outsmarting security systems. I guess I just… adapted those skills for the right side of the law.”
Artemis raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. “Sounds like you’ve got a lot more in common with Robin than I thought. You guys should have a tech-off or something.”
You laughed, shaking your head. “I’m not sure I’d win that one, but it would be fun to try.”
The conversation continued to flow, moving away from your shared pain and focusing on lighter topics—missions, teammates, and the absurdity of some of the villains you’d faced. You found yourself relaxing more with each passing minute, the weight of your past feeling a little less heavy with someone like Artemis by your side.
But eventually, the conversation circled back to the one thing that had always been hard to talk about.
“Do you ever wonder… if they can change?” Artemis asked suddenly, her voice softer now, almost hesitant. “Your mom, I mean. Do you think she could ever walk away from it all?”
You frowned, considering the question. It was something you’d asked yourself countless times, but you’d never come to a satisfying answer. “I want to believe she can. That she could see that there’s more to life than… whatever it is she’s chasing. But I don’t know. She’s been in this game for so long. It’s all she knows.”
Artemis nodded slowly. “It’s the same with my dad. He’s too deep in it to ever stop. But sometimes, I think… maybe my sister could. Maybe there’s still hope for her.”
You didn’t know much about Cheshire beyond what the team had encountered, but you could hear the longing in Artemis’ voice—the desperate hope that her sister wasn’t completely lost. You felt the same way about your mom, even if you’d never admit it out loud.
“Maybe,” you said softly, offering her a small smile. “I guess we can’t give up on them completely, right? Even if it feels impossible.”
“Yeah,” Artemis agreed, her voice determined. “We can’t.”
The two of you sat in silence again, but this time it was filled with a sense of resolve. You knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy—for either of you. Your pasts would always be a part of you, and the shadows would always be there, lurking at the edges. But you also knew that you didn’t have to face them alone.
“Hey,” Artemis said suddenly, her voice breaking through your thoughts. “What do you say we get out of here? Maybe grab some late-night food or something? I think we’ve both earned it.”
You grinned, appreciating the change in mood. “That sounds like a plan.”
You both stood up, stretching out the stiffness from sitting so long. As you made your way to the edge of the rooftop, ready to jump down and head out, you paused for a moment, looking back at Artemis.
“Thanks, Artemis,” you said quietly. “For everything.”
She gave you a small smile, one that held more emotion than words ever could. “Anytime, Y/N. Anytime.”
With that, the two of you leaped off the roof, diving into the night together. The shadows of your past might never fully disappear, but with friends like Artemis by your side, you knew you could face whatever came next.
