This Is My Future

Chapter 35

Dick's P.O.V

After the normal morning routine, with a small difference of Arty subtly slipping in reasons not to quit the Team; Tim, Arty and I were on our way to the base.

Tim was unusually quiet and Arty was very uneasy.

"What's wrong with you guys?" I muttered glancing at Tim in the rearview.

Tim shook his head. Arty shrugged, "My stomach is in knots for some reason..."

"Why?" I asked.

"No idea," she sighed.

"Could it have been the Kaldur thing?"

"If it was I thought it would have stopped by now..."

I shrugged, "It's probably nothing, kitty."

"Oh yeah..." She muttered. She pulled out the charm and clipped it around her neck.

"Why are you wearing that around the base?" Tim asked. "It's like past you and Robin don't know."

Tigress and I were silent.

"Oh my God," Tim groaned. "They don't know...Why don't they know?"

"Because it's easier to explain an assassin than an Artemis," I said flatly.

He was silent a second then shrugged, "...Fair enough."

I smirked at him. Tigress snickered, "Tiny goes along with crap better than you ever did."

"That's why he's one of the two best little brothers ever," I chuckled.

"Then Jason magically appears just to kick your butt for calling him 'little'," Tim chuckled.

All of us started to laugh, because it would be true if Jason was still around.

"Turn Dick," Tigress said slapping my arm.

"Ow, bitch," I chuckled, rubbing my arm and turned into the base's parking lot.

"Hell yeah I am," she laughed obviously feeling better.

I parked and we climbed out of the car.

When we got inside we found Artemis messing with her bandages and Robin going through the computer, again.

"Need the wrap changed?" Tigress asked walking to Artemis.

"Probably wouldn't be a bad idea," Artemis muttered.

Tigress nodded and grabbed the first-aid wraps and disinfectant. I walked to the two as Tigress started unwrapping the bandages. I grabbed and opened the disinfectant.

When the wraps came off we saw that her arm was healing slowly, but the scar was long and raw.

I heard Artemis whimper. Robin looked at us.

"It's okay, sweety," Tigress said in a gentle tone. "Believe it or not it actually looks like it's healing well."

Artemis nodded. I handed Tigress the disinfectant bottle and grabbed Artemis's hand. She frowned at me.

"Believe me...you'll understand in a second," I told Artemis.

Tigress poured the disinfectant on Artemis's arm. Artemis yelped and squeezed my hand as the formula did it's job.

To make her at least forget the pain a little, I faked a howl of pain and crumbled to my knees. I heard her stifle laughter and I chuckled.

"You're an idiot, Dick," Tigress laughed as she wrapped Artemis's arm in new bandages.

"But ya love me," I laughed. Tigress scoffed. Artemis laughed.

"Older Kaldur showed up last night after you guys left," Robin said blankly.

Tigress and I froze.

"What did he say...?" I asked standing up.

"Nothing," he shrugged. "He was only muttering to himself, I don't think he even noticed us. We stayed quiet, we didn't even know who he was for a minute."

I nodded, "So he didn't talk to you?"

"No," he grunted. He looked at me, "I could hear him muttering...Why would you even consider quitting?"

Tim frowned, "Quitting what?"

"The Team," Robin muttered.

"You can't quit the Team!" Tim shouted.

"I've been thinking about it. Calm down, I thought about staying too."

"Then stay," Tim said grabbing my arm.

I sighed, "I'm thinking about it."

Tim looked down nodding.

"If I do quit," I said looking at him. "I promise I'll visit you."

"That was your promise when you took your leave!" Tim spat releasing my arm, "And I haven't seen you since you started your stupid leave! Now you're quitting!"

"I'm not quitting...yet," I sighed pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Tim," Tigress said. "Where are you going?"

I looked up at Tim he was in his suit.

"Dude!" Robin laughed, "Awesome uniform!"

"Thanks," Tim muttered heading towards the door.

"Tim?" I asked, "Where are you going?"

"Nowhere," he growled.

"Don't you dare leave this base!" I snapped as he got closer to the door.

He grabbed the knob.

"Tim," I sighed. He opened the door, "Timothy!"

I went to grab him, "Timothy Jackson Drake!"

He swung around, I saw his bowstaff, felt a couple fast volts of electricity and blacked out.