Artemis & Apollo

Chapter Eight

"Yay!" Megan called, flying over to the twins. "You're here!"

"Yes, we sure are," Apollo said with a smile. 

Megan gave Artemis a hug and explained the plans. "So, basically we'll just hang out, same as normal, do some truth or dare," Artemis groaned at that, she hated that game. "And then maybe get in some sleep. Boys are in Conner's room, Artemis and I are in mine."

"Coolio," Artemis said. 

A few minutes later, Apollo pulled Megan aside. "Hey, Megs,"He said.

"What?" Megan asked with a smile.

"So today I discovered that Art has been self-harming for a year and didn't tell me. I took away her razors and pocket knives and stuff, but I was wondering if you could keep an eye on her anyway."

Megan smiled. "Of course I can,  Apollo. Anything else?"

"She's used to being able to cut and make the thoughts that come with her depression go away, but now she can't do that, so she might freak out. If that happens try to get her to calm down and get me, ok?"

"Ok."

-A couple hours later-

"Artemis, truth or dare?"

"None."

"Arty, you know that's not the way that the game works," Robin said.

"Yeah. But I don't wanna play."

"Oh, c'mon, Artemis," Wally said. "It'll be fun."

"No it won't. I hate this game. I'm going to my room." Wally opened his mouth to object, but Artemis covered her ears with her hands and walked away. Megan got up to follow her, but Apollo stopped her.

"She'll throw a fit if you make her play this. I'm not even kidding. This game makes her uncomfortable, and she either explodes or freaks out when someone tries to make her do something that makes her uncomfortable. Do you like it when people make you uncomfortable? No. So don't make her play this."

They all nodded. "But why does this game make her uncomfortable?" Robin asked. 

"A lot of times the questions and dares are embarrassing to her. She doesn't wanna tell you who her first boyfriend was or why they broke up and she doesn't wanna do something stupid. She doesn't like this game because it makes her do things that she doesn't wanna do. That's why it makes her uncomfortable."

Rob nodded again. "Gotcha."

Artemis' phone rang while she was walking to her room. She would've just ignored it, but she saw the caller ID. Star City Prison. That could only be one person. 

"Hey, Art," Icicle Junior said.

"Hey Cam. Why'd you call me?"

Cameron laughed. "What just cuz you're my ex I can't call you?" He joking asked; the two were still close friends despite their history. "I know, I know. I usually call Apollo, but I felt like calling you today."

"Why? Having a rough day and wanna insult my boyfriend?" Cam, like Paula, Andy, Emily, Apollo, and pretty much everyone, was unaware that Ronnie was abusive. But Cam hated Ronnie; he always had, even when they were little. And Ronnie hated him back.

"Look, 'Mis, I'm just saying that I don't trust him. And, honestly, your boyfriend track record is not good. Ronnie's your fourth one since sixth grade, and I was literally the only one of the three before him that wasn't abusive. I'm assuming that you remember why you broke up with those other jerks."

Artemis shuddered at the memories. "How could I forget?"

Cam sighed. "You let that second dude go way farther than the first. I don't want you to let someone go any farther."

"What, are you expecting Ronnie to try to rape me or something?"

"Honestly? It wouldn't surprise me."

"You just hate him."

"I also don't trust him. You're like a sister to me, Art. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

Artemis couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Cam."

"No prob. Just promise me  that if he tries to, you know, you'll start screaming and won't stop until he makes you and you can't scream anymore."

Artemis nodded absentmindedly. "Of course I will, Cam."

"Good." A voice recording said that Cam only had five minutes left. 

"You wanna talk to Polly before you have to go?"

"Like, duh. Of course I do."

Artemis grinned and yelled, "Apollo! Get your butt over here!"

"I'm coming!" She heard her twin yell back. "What?" He asked when he got there.

"Cam," Artemis said simply, handing her phone to her brother and entering her room. 

-While Arty was talking to Cam-

"Ok, so Apollo," Wally said. "Truth or dare."

Apollo thought about it for a minute and then nodded decisively. "Truth."

"What's it like to have a twin of the opposite gender?"

"That's kinda complicated, actually. Sometimes it's awesome, but other times... it's just awkward."

Robin snickered. "Especially awkward with  puberty, I assume."

Apollo groaned. "Don't you start with that. But yeah, that's without a doubt the single most awkward part."

"I can certaintly see why," Kaldur commented. 

"Yeah, just wait until it's that time of the month. You think Arty's bad now? I'm telling you, I know from experience, you ain't seen nothing yet."

Wally's eyes widened. "Oh, god." He looked terrified. 

"Yeah, our brother avoids her like she's the plague then. She likes me, so I'm not as fortunate."

"My best friend from school is a girl, so I understand where you're coming from. Babs is pretty terrifying on hers, too." Robin said.

"We don't have that on Mars. I've never seen Artemis look so jealous about anything before when I told her." M'gann said.

"Oh, I'll bet she did. She'd kill for that. Possibly literally. Ok, I think that we can be done with that now. Kaldur, truth or dare?" Apollo said, choosing his closest non-sibling friend on the team.

Kaldur thought about it for a minute. "Truth." 

Before Apollo could ask him his question, Artemis' voice yelled, "Apollo, get your butt over here!" 

"I better go handle that," Apollo said, getting up and heading to his twin sister's room.