The Son of Speed (Completed)

Chapter 13:

When they entered the room, Artemis limped up to the foot of the bed, and stared at the silent and still body of Black Velocity, dressed in a grey hospital gown, but with cuffs around his wrists, attached to the sides of the bed, and multiple machines, recording data and doing their jobs. She said, turning to Dick, "He's not wearing an inhibitor collar, but has cuffs on. He doesn't need the cuffs at all." The Bird replied calmly, "Batman disagrees though, Artemis. Even if you think he's good now, we still aren't sure if or how he'll react when he awakens. Batman is just covering all the bases carefully, by ensuring his safety and the League's, by having him wear cuffs, until he can be fully trusted." "Then why no inhibitor collar? Aren't those mandatory?", Artemis questioned. Dick answered, "The collar would be in the way of all the cords, keeping his heart linked to the monitor. Also, Batman is sure that Black Velocity won't be able to use his powers, as he's too weak to really even try to stand." Sighing, the blonde came up to the head of the bed, and gently touched the pale, yet strong hand she remembered. She whispered, "Wally.. you've got to make it through for me. If you were to die, I'd never forgive myself. I know I'm late in saying this, but I am in love with you, and have been since you called me 'Princess' the first time. My Team... they want you to join us. To be a hero, just like you told me you wanted." To Artemis, it hurt her heart that she couldn't be the one to see the teen's spark filled emerald eyes open, and tell him he had survived, hearing his voice calling her the popular name, like he once did. It hurt her, to see the person she now knew she loved dearly, lying out of it and unresponsive to her voice. Deciding that Artemis should sit, Dick got her a seat, for her weak ankle's sake, putting it beside the bed, and gesturing for the blonde to take it. She did so, and just sat in silence, thinking of her mistake. Suddenly, Artemis heard a deep groan from the bed, and looked down just in time to see the green eyes of the villain open. He smiled, then said weakly, yet in a joking tone, "So you do really love me, huh Princess? Took you long enough to tell me. And yes, I think it would be fun to be on the side of good, instead of on the loser's side. Thanks for asking." Artemis let a tear fall down her cheek, as she answered shakily, "You-you heard all that, Wally?" Dick said, "I'll leave you two to talk.", then he stepped out of the room. The black and red haired villain teen chuckled, turned his head back to Artemis' grey eyes, then said, "Every word, Princess. Every single word." Then without a moment's notice, Artemis felt herself leaning over, and kissing the villain. It was definitely unexpected, but totally worth it! As she pulled away a few long minutes later, Wally said, his voice raspy, "Should have done that a very long time ago, Princess Crock." The blonde answered, humor dripping from her words, "No kidding, you douche." Wally replied back, "Hey! Remember, I'm no douche. I'm the son of Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash. I'm smart, and that's got to mean something, as I outwitted those dimwit male guards, who couldn't even come close to clobbering me!" Artemis smiled, then proceeded to bend down, and kiss the villain again, making sure that all the girls on the Team knew that the charming teen was hers, and no one else's. Dick returned into the room, and said softly, "Uh, Artemis? It's time to go. Batman wants to talk with Black Velocity in person, to see if he has any motive left for his past." Artemis said, "Alright, I'm coming. And his name isn't Black Velocity. It's Wally Thawne. Try to get it right and learn his name, as he is considering your proposition. Also, if he does join, I have a very strong feeling you two will be the best of buddies." The blonde smirked, then walked out of the room, as the Bird and the young villain exchanged confused looks. Wally asked, "Is she always like that? Smirking, I mean?" Dick answered, "I have never seen that look in her eyes, and frankly, it's disturbing, heavy on the 'dis', not so much on the 'turbing'." As he left the room, he watched Batman enter the room, black cowl and all, then shut the door behind him. Dick walked away from the infirmary, and joined the rest of the Team in the kitchen, where M'gann was trying out a new cookie recipe for peanut and almond butter cookies, with raisins and chocolate chips. The concoction was a crazy mix, but it sure smelled good. Taking a seat next to Artemis, he said, "I sure hope you're right about him, Artemis." The blonde answered, "Just because he was a villain, doesn't mean he's always destined to be what he thought he was, Dick. I got the choice to be different than my parents, and I took it. I made sure that my slate was wiped clean, and I think you and the Team should trust Wally. Who knows? When you get to know him, you may actually find that he can act like a normal human. He's capable of love and kindness, just like all of us. We all had to learn to love in some way, and let go of what our pasts held. For me, it was my whole family being assassins. I had to learn to stop fighting all the time, and work together, with you all, to save lives. For you, it was losing your parents to murder, and choosing to keep going, despite feeling drowned in hatred for the man that did the horrible act. For M'gann, she was treated wrongly by society, and looked down upon, because of her true self. Kaldur's father is a villain as well, yet he stood strong and fought against him, because it was noble and what his king needed to save their city. As for Conner, he was created by the enemy, and his Kryptonian father neglected him for being his clone. His human donor is also the enemy of his father, and yet, he shows more love to him, than the major person in his self. We all have screwed up pasts, and we all are fading rapidly, but that never means we should forget that we are a Team, fighting for one cause, proving daily to our mentors, and to each other, that we can handle things. Give Wally a chance to prove himself, just like you did for me. I'm betting you'll be surprised by the outcome." Even though she knew it would be a longshot, Artemis hoped that her little speech would encourage the others to side with her, and to trust the speedster villain, that had done bad things in the past, but hoped to fix them with his try to be a hero. Bart, who had been with Flash at the Watchtower for unknown reasons, rushed into the kitchen, and said eagerly, "Wally, my cousin, accepted Flash's, Dick's, and Artemis' offer, guys! I'll finally have a family member, related by blood, on this Team, and he's gonna be a speedster! It's all so crash!" M'gann asked, surprised, yet totally thrilled inside, "When? How? Who got him to join us for real, honest truth?" Bart exclaimed, "Flash talked to him after Bats left, and that's when he told us the truth! He said he was completely unaware that the people he were fighting were actually his own flesh and blood, then said that he didn't want to do it anymore! He said he was ashamed that he didn't know all this time, then told us he wanted to correct it, if we'd let him! Of course Flash went full blown speedster talk on him! The two are having a talk now, but I was told to leave. Something about private matters that shouldn't be discussed in front of me. I don't know why though. I would never tell a secret! I mean, I've kept the one about how Flash once got a ticket while driving, for going too fast and cutting through a construction site, but he needed to do that, because he was running late for a meeting at his work!" Everyone stared at the younger speedster, shocked by what he said. Upon seeing the stares, Bart realized what he had said, then cupped his mouth shut, and reopened it slowly, saying, "Oops, spoilers! Should probably go before something happens!" Turning, the young speedster dashed out of the room, leaving the most of the Team in an uproar of laughter. The only two who weren't laughing, were Conner and Artemis. The blonde turned to the Kryptonian, and said, "Tell them I went back to the Watchtower, okay? And make sure none of them follow me. I want to just go alone, and you're probably the only one I can trust, to keep them back." Without another word, Artemis silently slipped out of the kitchen, and headed for the Zeta-tubes, being sure to remain as quiet as possible. When she arrived on the other side, in the Watchtower, she walked straight for the infirmary, and went in, with Flash greeting her with a surprised face. He asked, "Artemis, what are you doing here again?" The blonde looked at the empty bed, and asked nervously, "Where's Wally? He was here just earlier." "Artemis, listen to me very carefully. Wally's not here right now. They had to rush him into an emergency surgery, at Tarron Moore Memorial Hospital, in Central City. He had a seizure, and it looks like it may be, because of the drugs we administered to keep his powers calm and out of use for now. I'm really sorry.", Flash said solemnly, fear and worry dripping from his words.