Behind the Curtain - Heathers

Seventeen

Artemis didn't sleep that night, what she had seen just kept replaying in her head. How Robin had just broken all of those peoples legs and they still kept going as if they didn't feel a thing. As he carried them out, one by one and they were still trying to kill him. As Pyg had taken them apart and put them back together again. She's just glad she wasn't the one to find the parts he hadn't wanted. That had been Robin as if he had known exactly where to look as if he had been there before despite what he said. Artemis was glad when the sun had risen and the shadows didn't all look like the Dolltrons. Sunday, the only day off from practice, and she wasn't entirely sure if that relieved her or not; on one hand, it is exhausting on the other it can offer a distraction from last night. She didn't bother with a shower, that had been done last night to try and wash away the horror, which evidently failed, and headed straight downstairs to grab a bowl of cereal. She couldn't even hear her mum up yet, but she was going to let her sleep, she deserved it. Artemis headed back upstairs and picked up her phone, dialling Wally without even thinking about it. But he didn't pick up either, so she left him a text asking if he wanted to meet up. And then she got on with some homework, it's not like she had anything else to be doing.

It was an hour later before Artemis' phone pinged and she leapt on the chance of anything interesting happening, and it was Wally. He wanted to meet up at the park again in an hour. A smile graced her lips as she decided to get into some casual wear, ripped jeans and a green tank top with boots, leaving her hair down to flow to my hips. A touch of lip gloss, eyeliner and mascara, the most make-up to ever touch her face, and then headed out with a shouted goodbye to her mum who was doing some of her stitching. She took the zeta tubes and walked the final stretch to find the ginger already seated on the bench. The park was alive with people out for a midday stroll or here with their children, but every gaze was unwelcoming, they knew that at any moment a gun-wielding lunatic could come around the corner and shoot them all. Dead. But let's not focus on that truth now.

"Hey Baywatch," She said as she took the seat next to him.

"You got here quick." He commented, "Zeta tubes?"

"Like our own like superhero bonus pay," She chuckled.

"So, what did you want to do?" Wally asked, "Apart from sit and talk of course."

"I don't really know," Artemis replied, "Just wanted to get out fo the house really. I couldn't help remembering last night."

"I know exactly what you mean," Wally said, "The pure sadisticness of it. I knew that Gotham was full of Joker-like people, but that makes me wonder if Joker really is the worst."

"He knows he's crazy," Artemis mused aloud, "I don't think Pyg did. That's the difference."

"Anyway, let's talk about something else," Wally said, "Have you met any of the set team yet, I think I know one of them. I think she's called Jade," Artemis seized up and looked over at him then as he continued, "She looks like someone I've met before but I just can't place her."

"I've not actually met any of them actually," Artemis lied, "Maybe I'll see them tomorrow."

"Or they might be there tonight for the gala," Wally said, "Didn't Bruce invite everyone?"

"Bruce? You on a first name basis now?" Artemis asked, glad to get the conversation away from Jade.

"It's just easier to say then, Mister Wayne. I'm lazy that way," Wally said, "Plus why shouldn't we be on first-name basis, he funds the JL doesn't he?"

"True, true," Artemis agreed, "Bruce it shall be. Can't wait to see his face this evening, 'Oi, Bruce my g, how is you this fine evening?'"

"Please don't do that," Wally chuckled, "He'll cut off funds straight away."