Always Traught

Two Months

"I think I'm in love with you."
"Who isn't?" Artemis chuckled as she wiped the cut on his cheek. She looked into his eyes and expected to the see that joking shine he always got when he said something goofy. Her smile dropped when she saw nothing but seriousness. They were dark and looked like he would start crying at any second.
"I love you, Artemis."
She let go of the towel she was holding and let it fall into his lap. A million thoughts filled her head and she felt her heartbeat quicken. What did I do? Did I lead him on? What would everyone think? I can't be with him. I don't love him like that. I can't love my best friend. What would Wally think?
"Please say something," Dick pleaded. He grabbed her hand and laced his his fingers in between hers. He frowned when she didn't hold his hand back.
He was Wally's best friend! No, he was his brother! How could he do this to him!? Wally trusted him with his life. He trusted him with my life! I can't do that to Wally. I can't.
"You can't love me," Artemis said as she pulled her hand away from his. It never felt wrong before, but it made her feel absolutely disgusting now.
Dick shook his head, "No, Mai, I can. And I think that I do. I know that I do." She noticed how he held his hand like he was injured.
I hurt him. Artemis quickly dismissed the thought. "Don't call me that," She shook her head, "Not right now."
"I know you don't love me the way, but I want to try."
No, I can't! I will never do that to Wally!
"And I don't care if you hate me afterwards, but at least I'll know that I tried," He was on the verge of tears. She knew he was defeated by the way he held himself. Dick's shoulders were inwards and he was slouched. Artemis hated it when he looked like that, but she couldn't help him this time.
"What about W-
"He's been gone for almost three years, Artemis. He's not coming back. And I know that you still love him, and that you always will, but he's dead."
"You were his brother!" Artemis snapped at him.
"And I feel terrible!" Dick snapped back, "I feel terrible for even sending him on that mission! And loving my dead best friend's fucking girlfriend, who I nearly killed too, by the way, makes the pain ten times worse!"
Artemis shook her head and balled her fists. She wanted to lash out at him, but she couldn't. His face was stricken with grief, pain, and guilt. It was hard to look at him.
"Even if I did love you, I would just be some rebound girlfriend."
"No you wouldn't. I never felt this way about Barbara," He exclaimed as he threw his arms up into the air. She shook her head.
"You're still vulnerable, Dick. And you only like me because I've been there for you," She sighed and ran one hand through her hair.
The raven sighed too before he stood up. He walked over to her and grabbed both of her hands. This time she let him. "You mean more to me than that, Mai. I know you know that. I'm just asking for a chance."
"I can't love you."
"Let me try for at least two months. I promise that if you don't want to see me, I'll leave you alone." She didn't want to say yes, but he looked so hurt. Artemis didn't want him to be hurt because she did care about him.
"Fine, but only for two months."

A/N: I'm visiting my family in Puerto Rico so chapters for both my traught stories are going to be slow. Talking about both my traught stories, you should check out my new story Protect if you haven't. Shameless self promo? Absolutely. ',:)