Reverse Rebirth Series Book 2 : So I'm A West {COMPLETED}

Chapter 19: One Loving, Jealous Archer -

Waking up the next morning, around ten, Artemis rolled onto her side, and stretched, then sat up. Her room was silent and no speedster was beside her, sleeping. Standing up, the blonde went to the door, and opened it, heading down the hall to see why the Watchtower was so silent for once. When she reached the kitchen, she found M'gann mixing a batch of pancake batter, and talking with Conner. Not seeing Wally anywhere in the kitchen, where he used to love to be, Artemis asked, "Guys, do you know where my husband is?" M'gann looked towards her, and said softly, "Dick went with him this morning to go to talk to Izzie again. They left just a bit ago, if you want to know." Artemis gave a single nod, then replied, "Thanks." She began to head for the training room, since she was sure neither Dick nor Wally had wanted her to go with them. When she got there, Artemis found the room was already preoccupied by a certain young archer. Speedy was seated on one of the side seats, replacing her bow string, and muttering words that sounded like she was cussing. Coming over to Speedy, Artemis took a seat beside her, and said, "You're up earlier than the other teens your age. Did you just feel the need to hit something?" The dark haired girl turned her head away, then stood up abruptly, and went to the punching bag, without a word, which she immediately began to hit the bag with brute force. Artemis said again, "Speedy, I know you're angry, because you aren't talking. Please, talk to me. I'm here to listen. What happened this morning? You were fine last night, especially while we were on patrol." For the first time, the young archer turned to face Artemis, tears on the brim of her cheeks, as she stuttered, "I-I don't know... B-bart was asked earlier if he wanted to do something by Supergirl, and he said yes. I couldn't take it. I just can't take it! Why am I even crying over that buzz of energy?! He's an idiot! He can't stop moving and he is just a pig when it comes to food! I mean, have you seen the kitchen snack supply lately?! It's empty, if you didn't know and ---." The girl stopped, then came to sit beside Artemis glumly. Looking at the younger archer, Artemis could see the similarity more than ever, and it all started with how she spoke of a speedster. Calmly taking a breath, the blonde put her hand on Speedy's back, and asked, "Thea, are you sure what you're saying isn't the beginning of a crush on Bart? I know what a crush looks like, mainly because I had one too, and I acted the same exact way, even going as far, as to call him names in public. What I'm trying to say is, just like I know your past is kind of like mine, this is another similarity. That person I had a crush on, and called him names in public is now my husband today. We put those teasing things behind us, when we realized just how important we were to each other." Speedy opened her mouth, then closed it, and stayed silent, letting the words sink in, while Artemis kept her grey eyes fixed on the girl. Finally, the girl mumbled, "Well, maybe I do sorta like Bart...- not in a lovey dovey kind of way, cause that would be stupid!" Artemis closed her eyes, then repeated the words she had heard from Black Canary so long ago, but with a small twist at the end, "Thea, it's not a sign of weakness to open up to your friends...or to me. I'm supposed to be here to support you. I'm supposed to be your mentor. And I used to think it was a weakness to admit how I feel, but now, it's made me a better person. If you feel like you like Bart, in a 'nonlovey' kind of way, then tell him. Secrets kept long, aren't good to have hidden in you. I learned that too, when I was still just a team member with no status as a full-fletched League member. They hurt far worse than if you had admitted the truth straight up." Speedy rose to her feet, then stalked to the door, anger in her tone, "No one tells me what to do, alright? I have nothing to prove. Nothing to you, to this Team, to Bart, or to anyone. And no, I don't have any secrets..." Artemis watched as Speedy left the room, and quickly rising, out of concern for her protégée's state of mind, she followed the girl to the Watchtower's center, where the rest of the young Team, along with Nightwing, Wally, and Bart were. The younger speedster was leaning on a pair of crutches, but his right hand was not on the handbar. Instead, it was located in Jaime's hand! (a little Bluepulse for the fans) Coming into the room, Artemis stopped when she saw Speedy stop mid center of the room. Coming over to stand by Wally, she worriedly looked at the young archer, as she was staring, tears in her eyes, at Bart and Jaime. For a second, there was a pause, then the moment ended, with Speedy coming up to Bart, and slapping loudly him across the face, which became red from the stinging pain. She whispered, irritatedly and disgustedly, before stomping away, "That's for making me think you were straight, Allen. I didn't know you were...this." All around, eyes went wide at the sound of the loud slap, and the disgust in the whisper. Artemis watched Speedy leave, then she looked back at Nightwing, who said, "Maybe you should go talk to her. She'll listen to you about the rules, Artemis." The blonde shrugged her shoulders, and replied, "I can try, but she's like me, as you and GA said." Heading back out of the room, while Wally went to his cousin to make sure he wasn't internally hurt by the act of violence from Speedy, Artemis went to the young girl's dorm room, and knocked on the door, saying, "Can I come in, please?". The dark haired girl muttered, "I guess." As soon as Artemis entered, she came to sit by the young archer, a pained look in her eyes. Thea asked, obviously still upset, "What do you want? To criticize me for hitting a boy? To kick me off the Team because I didn't agree with his idea of a romantic relationship with another guy?" Artemis calmly replied, "No Thea...I'm not going to do that. What I am going to make you do, however, is apologize sincerely to both Bart and Jaime for your ignorance to understand them and their beliefs. Even though you are teammates, and you do not all share the same ideas or beliefs, you have to honor theirs, just like you would want them to honor yours. Being a part of a team, is learning to deal with people who aren't like you, and learning when it's not okay to criticize someone over what they do, and when it is okay to do so." Thea frowned and crossed her arms, saying, "But they were holding hands, Artemis! And you know I love Bart, so why did it have to be when I walked in the room, that they were doing that?!" Hearing the words coming out of her mouth, and the embarrassment of them, Thea's eyes went wide, and her hand shot over her mouth. She uttered, "Did I just say that last part out loud?" Artemis nodded, as Thea shouted, "I love Bart Allen!", then shot back down, when she realized her error. She said, "If I love him, I have to let him go, right? He doesn't feel the same way, obviously." Artemis replied, "Then just apologize to him, and tell him the truth, even if he doesn't agree." Standing up again, this time with a smile, the young archer ran out of the room, and came back into the now nearly empty front room of the Watchtower, with both speedsters and Nightwing in exception, while Artemis followed close behind, just to be safe.

Sidenote: I have nothing against gay or lesbian relationships. To be honest, one of my favorite TV show ships with such, is in Grey's Anatomy, and it is 'Calzona'. I also find that I like the ship 'Klaine' in Glee. One of my coworkers is lesbian as well, but she's pretty awesome, and I don't judge her. In fact, we've spoken a lot and she's very kind. I personally am straight, but with all the hate going out about these kinds of relationships, I feel that love needs to come in from people who are straight, to those who aren't. People shouldn't be judged on who they like or dislike. And it's okay to have your own flow. So, don't blow up the comments with hate, but just let this fly. Let's keep the peace. (Also, I would never in a million years consider hitting or making fun of someone who is any part of this kind of community. It's just that Speedy's character is feisty and her temper tends to get the better of her, when she loses it.) No one report me, okay? Please?