Young Justice Season 4 - The Red X Factor

Episode/Chapter 3 - Cupid's Day Part 3

"So what'd you get Artemis for Valentine's Day? Huh?" Impulse asked Kid Flash as they waited at their posts later that night.

"I bought her that new house she wanted. Well...we BOTH wanted." KF smirked, "and what are you getting Alacrity?"

"Maybe just a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers. I don't think we're at that level to buy a house, but, it's a start." Impulse shrugged.

"I feel you, Man." KF nodded.

"Are you guys ready? He should be there in a few." Artemis said over their comm.

"Yeah, we're right here, our eyes on the rubies." Impulse replied as they watched the bright display of three rubies shaped like arrowheads. They scanned the dark and silent jewelers shop they were sitting in. They hid behind a different display case and waited.

"Wait, sh. I hear something." KF shushed Impulse. They looked around cautiously, then they heard something fall onto the wooden floor of the shop. They peeked out slowly, then saw a dark figure peeking into the room. The figure moved briskly and silently towards the rubies. He opened the case and picked up one of them, smiling to himself as he felt the jewel between his fingertips. That's when Kid Flash and Impulse ran in and held the thief's arms behind his back.

"Okay, Thief! Drop the rubies! Then we'll take you down to the department." Kid Flash yelled as the held the struggling man...until they removed the person's hood.

"Sorry boys. Can't let you do that." A hot redhead girl said. She stared into their eyes, her intent look piercing through them. Then she took the two ruby arrowheads and pierced them into each speedster's leg. They both screamed out in pain and fell to the ground. Before KF or Impulse could say anything, she hit them with her red bow, then left without another word, leaving the rubies.

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"Ack! Careful!" Bart said as Miss Martian carefully removed the ruby from his leg in the Bioship

"Ow, sorry..." M'gann apologized.

"What happened?!" Artemis asked as she worked on Wally's leg.

"The archer...is a girl..." Wally said as he rubbed his head.

"So she didn't take the rubies?" Blue Beetle asked.

"I really don't think she's after the rubies." Wally said as he rubbed his eyelids, "man, but that look...it was as if she was...controlling me..."

"We need to make sure she doesn't do that next time..." M'gann said, then she turned to Superboy and Blue Beetle, "you two, gear up. Get ready. We're going to put together a little meeting with this archer. Wally and Bart, stay here and coordinate with Oracle."

"But--"

"No buts." M'gann interrupted Bart, who just pursed his lips and stepped back.

"So, how do we attract her?" Artemis asked.

"Well, Mr. Irons had an idea that sparked my memory." M'gann said, "that picture of Superman." Then she turned to Superboy.

"Are you serious?! She's trying to get to this guy! And your first motive is to send him out there?!" Wally asked.

"Yeah, bad idea." Bart agreed.

"He'll be fine. I promise." M'gann assured them.

"Fine then. Let's go." Artemis nodded, and M'gann led her, Superboy, and Blue Beetle out of the Bioship and into action.

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"You sure this'll work?" Superboy asked M'gann through the comm.

"Positive." M'gann answered, "just stand there and wait. She'll know it's you." Superboy looked around and waited. Suddenly, a red figure jumped off the high roof about 12 feet above him, and landed gracefully in front of him. She stood up and pushed her hood back, revealing her perfect face.

"Hello, there..." the archer drawled.

"Why are you wreaking havoc here?" Superboy asked.

"Why, only to be with you." the archer answered.

"Do you even know who I am?" Superboy asked. The archer scoffed and started taking slow steps up to him.

"Well, not Superman, apparently. But his clone will do." she smiled.

"Who are you?" Superboy asked.

"Where I'm from, I go by Cupid." the archer answered.

"And the only reason you choose to cause all this destruction, is to be with Superman?!" Superboy asked in disbelief.

"Of course!" Cupid answered.

Guys, name's Cupid. Superboy said telepathically as he started multitasking.

Already on it. Oracle said. Real name is Carrie Cutter, was originally in a mental correction facility for having killed her husband. She's from...Star City. Oracle said.

Star City?! As in, Green Arrow's city?! Artemis gasped.

Yep. That's the one. Oracle answered. But she gains an obsession with someone, and she doesn't let go of that obsession until he dies...I guess Superman saved her life in an instance, and now she's looking for him.

Anytime would be great. She's getting a little handsy... Superboy warned.

"ON IT!" M'gann shouted as she, Artemis, and Blue Beetle fell into the scene. Cupid turned around, and she saw that M'gann was holding her hand out, eyes green, and she used her mind to hold Cupid, back against the wall.

"NO ONE touches my boyfriend. Especially not on Valentine's Day." M'gann locked her gaze on Cupid.

"Funny...today's my day." Cupid said, then in three seconds, she took an arrow from her quiver, then she drew it back, aiming at the roof above her, and she shot it. The arrow exploded and the roof collapsed on top of M'gann, and Cupid jumped out of the way.

"Oh no you don't!" Blue Beetle shouted as he ran up to her to punch her, but she nimbly jumped out of the way and he ran into the wall. She held his neck so that he won't move. Then she stroked his head,

"Why don't you just give up now?" she drawled, then Blue fell onto the ground, somehow unconscious, and she never laid an arrow on him. Superboy shouted out in anger and threw his clenched fist at her head, but she quickly ducked out of the way, tumbled and flipped at least five feet away, giving herself enough room to shoot an arrow. She reached into her quiver and pulled out an arrow...a red ruby that glowed green,

"Got this one especially for you." Cupid smiled sweetly as she drew back the arrow and shot it, straight into Superboy's shoulder. He screamed out in pain as the heart-shaped ruby arrow, covered in Kryptonite, stuck into his shoulder.

"Oh, no, lady. You're not the only archer in this house." Artemis yelled as she held three green arrows up and ready to shoot. Cupid turned to her and chuckled.

"Oh please, you amateurs." She yawned mockingly, making Artemis clench her teeth in anger. Then she released the arrows, aiming at Cupid. But she used her bow and hit each arrow out of the way, "what a disappointment. Good thing I never pursued Green Arrow if he taught his sidekicks to be this poor." She shrugged.

"G.A. Is a GREAT mentor!!" Artemis yelled as she ran up to Cupid and slammed her bow across Cupid's face, knocking her out cold, "that's also for stabbing my boyfriend."

- To be Continued! -