Spitfire/Hospitalized AU

Chapter 3 (Artemis's POV)

Artemis sat awkwardly in Dinah's office, tapping a finger on the black, plastic armchair. Dinah was staring at her.
"How do you feel?"
"Uncomfortable."
"Why do you feel uncomfortable?"
"I'm not used to people asking how I'm feeling." Dinah nodded twice.
"What tune is that? I feel like I've heard it before," she said, motioning to Artemis's finger, it instantly stopped moving.
"It's a lullaby. My mom used to sing it to me, I forgot the words," Artemis says, her eyes downcast, staring at her fingers as if they'd betrayed her.
"Artemis, I want you to know that I am here for you. Everyone is here for you, you shouldn't feel ashamed of anything."
"I'm not ashamed," Artemis said, now looking at Dinah Lance. "I'm not proud, but I'm not ashamed either."
"Okay, good."
"This feels like one of those crappy television shows where the main character's sanity is being questioned."
"First time I've heard that one."
"Really? Is this your first time as a shrink?"
"Actually, yes."
"Are you involved with anybody?"
"I thought I was the shrink."
"You're avoiding the question."
"No, I'm not."
"Answer it then."
"No, I'm not seeing anyone."
"Do you want to see someone?"
"Why are you asking me questions?"
"I like to have information about the person before I let them ask me stuff. Just a personal kink," Artemis said twisting a large portion of her hair around her finger, she felt out of place in the Zatanna's outfit which was a white button up shirt with black shorts, it was a normal enough outfit from every else in her closet, but it was made of a weird material, like some hybrid silk thing. She was still holding on to her crappy tennis shoes though, just because she didn't want to wear flats or the heels Megan and Zatanna had.
Dinah was silent for almost 40 seconds before saying.
"We're going shopping today, I thought you might want to know, instead of being surprised."
"Okay, when are we going?" Normally if this was anyone besides Dinah she would have said no, but since Artemis had developed a friendship with the blonde woman she would go.
"In an hour, you can go eat lunch now, we'll have dinner there."
"Is anyone else going?"
"Um...Zatanna and Wally," Dinah remembered.
"Not Megan?"
"Her uncle has come to take her to lunch, she hopes you have a good time." Artemis had hoped Megan would be coming, she and the red head had become fast friends. Probably not because of Artemis's social abilities, probably because of Megan's kindness (that almost bordered on creepy, like seriously! How can anyone be so happy?) but she legit liked Megan, much more than anyone else here.
"Okay, when do we go?" Artemis hoped Dinah didn't notice her lapse in talking.
"In an hour, you might want to go now before Wally eats all the sandwiches."
"I have a feeling he already did," Dinah smiled at that.
"Shue!" She exclaimed gesturing wildly to go. Artemis grinned sarcastically and walked out of the older woman's office. Artemis had the floor memorized by now. She was always good at memorizing layouts of buildings. First was the elevator, it came up to the second through fourth floor. The third was the one patients stayed. The elevator doors opened into a large space filled with beanbags and modern living room stuff. Through the next hallway were rooms. Six on each side. Three for the girls, three for the boys. Each were made to fit two but only one actually did. Then behind was the kitchen/dining hallway which had seven (previously six) seats, besides it was room dedicated to art and music. There was access to YouTube to find music they didn't own it on the iPods. There was a weirdly placed staircase at the window to climb down to do P.E and crap like that. Dinah's office was right behind the dining hall which was fortunate because most people would need food after they just poured out their souls.
"Hey Wally," she said as she sat next to the red head.
"Hello Arty," he said through at least a pound of steak. "So," he said swallowing. "We're going to the mall."
"In about an hour."
"Do you have any stores you like to go to?"
"I don't know, ever really hung out at malls."
"Yeah, that's understandable, you don't seem the type."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Artemis said, pitching her eyebrow at a ridiculous height.
"You just don't seem like the kind of girl who hangs out at the mall. Nothing wrong with that."
"Yeah okay, did you eat all the orange chicken."
"There's like three scoops left," he muttered, annoyed with her incredulous tone.
"And the steamed rice?"
"I ate that," he mumbled.
"White rice?"
"Ate it."
"So basically you eat everything in sight, how are you not three hundred pounds?"
"Dunno, lot of running, maybe." Artemis nodded and stood to get the orange chicken. When she completed the task she sat back down and started shoveling it into her mouth.
"So, why are you here?" he asked staring at wall, avoiding her stare.
"Vertigo."
"Isn't that gone?"
"Not if you knew where to get it. What about you? You, Wally West have been a mystery."
"A good one or a bad?"
"Difference?" she asked, tilting her head to the right, before chewing a piece of chicken. "A mystery's a mystery, it's the opinion of the person, not the writing."
"Your opinion of the mystery?"
"It's...mysterious."
"Anything else?" He asked looking at her now.
"Dunno yet," she said smiling as he grinned like a five year.
"I am a complete open book, I have no secrets," he said placing a hand over his eyes.
"Everyone has secrets."
"Not Wally West! The red headed genius!"
"Funny, I pegged Dick as the genius."
"No!" he squeaked. "Why does everyone assume that? He's good at computers, not science. He's a hacker!" Eyebrow was pitched again, before chewing another piece of the chicken.
"So you're going to tell me why you're here?"
"That part is not in the book. It's in the special edition known only to the author," he said, smiling still. Artemis could tell it was feigned, 'oh well, guess that's all I'll get out of him today' she thought.
"It's possible for the author to release it, right?"
"Only if the author wants to," he said twirling his imaginary beard.
"Tell the author he's funny."
"Will do, will do," Wally said nodding. "The author says he likes this one." Artemis smiled downward, finishing her food.
"I haven't gotten a choice to look at the music, what kind is there?"
"There's classical to punk to Disney soundtracks."
"Do everything?"
"Anything with words that say go kill yourself are banned."
"Understandable."
"Sometimes Oliver makes sure certain songs aren't played because he's worried we'll be dumbified."
"I am fifty percent sure that is not word," a long and lengthy conversation ensued, until Zatanna and Dinah said it was time to go. Wally grabbed a chocolate bar before leaving with the women.