She had been watching him, as stalker-ish as it sounded. But it was part of the job. You watched the people who watched you, especially people who worked with the Bat. Plus, it was kinda hard not to notice the bright blue bird on his chest. It stood out against the dark skies of Blüdhaven.
It was easy to sneak up on him, despite his training. He didn't even hear her footsteps as she landed on the rooftop he was perched on. Maybe he was faking it or she was just that skilled? She didn't really care. More than one could pull that brooding ninja gig.
"What does a cat call a hummingbird?" The young woman asked the hero. She could've sworn that the bird jumped slightly at the sound of her voice, but he turned around slowly. A baton was tight in his grasp. She smirked at his eagerness, "A friend."
"Who are you?" He asked her, narrowing his glare at her. Perhaps her hunter insists should have kicked in, but Artemis was never the one to stop.
"Now that's a deep question," She chuckled, "You tell me, hummingbird."
"It's Nightwing. Now answer the question," Nightwing leaned farther back into his fighting position. Artemis' rolled her eyes playfully as she walked towards him. She noticed how his eyes stayed on her hips and scoffed with the same flirty attitude.
"Please, I know a secret admirer when I see one. Almost got me caught by that Cobblepot. Thanks for that, hummingbird," She stopped in front of him and dropped her smirk, "Got a bullet to my knee, however."
"Saw you out the next day. You're either a sadistic or just weird," The raven haired man said as he tucked his baton back. Afterwards, he dropped his stance.
"Take your pick," The blonde shrugged, "Pay for my medical bills?"
She couldn't see his eyes but she could tell that he rolled them, "The only people spotted with Cobblebot are pieces of skum just like him."
"Trust me. I'm no bad guy. I want pieces of trash like him locked up," Artemis assured the detective, "I was gaining intel. He has my favorite undead buddy with him. I tried to do it the ninja way but I was sick of going nowhere. Took the direct approach instead."
Nightwing snorted, "Probably why you got a bullet to the knee. And I wouldn't think you would be the one for necrophilia."
"Catch me hitting up the local cemetery every weekend," The blonde rolled her eyes, but his went wide, "Oh my god, I'm kidding."
"Definitely weird," He facepalmed, "And makes really bad jokes. Now tell me about that undead friend of yours. I don't need a corpse running around with Penguin."
"Name's Red Hood, likes shiny things that can shoot bullets. Real sweetheart, but you didn't hear that from me. He visisted Cobblepot to take care of some personal matters. The next day I didn't hear from him," Artemis explained as Nightwing started to walk. He was probably heading towards Penguin's camp. The Gotham local never quite liked changing locations during a longtime stay.
Nightwing pulled out his grappling hook and raised a brow at her. The blonde was already on it. She pulled out her compact bow and a grappling arrow. He looked at her orange bow for a few seconds before he began zipping towards the other building. She was hot on his trail.
"Buddy or boyfriend?" The former boy wonder asked when they landed on another rooftop.
"Stripper or detective?"
"How did you know about my other profession?" He looked at her and gave her his own smirk. Her eyes grew wide this time.
"I'll stop talking now."
"I'm starting to think Blüdhaven has a bird fetish."
"Shh," Nightwing shushed the archer. The two were watchig the building Penguin was operating in. His men were carrying boxes and loading them into different trucks. In the distance Artemis could hear sparks of electricity and a male yelling in pain.
"Red," She breathed, one hand clenching around her bow.
Nightwing tapped her shoulder, "One snipper at the top and another one to the left. Can you make the shot?" She nodded as she pulled out a arrow with a small dart as the arrowhead. Nothing dangerous was in the dart. It was just general anesthesia. It only took a few seconds for her to notch the bow and release it. And of course it hit her intended targets.
"Good. I'll take care of Cobblepot and his goons. You go find your friend," Nightwing stood up from the roof they were on and leaped down. Artemis didn't need to see what he had done to know he sent a building kick to Penguin's jaw. His Gotham accented voice ran out in the open air. Oh how she hated his voice.
The archer notched another grappling arrow and released it at an open window. She pulled it tightly before she let the tool pull her through the window.
The moment she landed on the ground, she was met with goons. One charged straight at her, but she gave him a roundhouse kick to the face. He was down for the count. Two more came straight at her with their fists drawn. She dodged one, but the other's fist came in contact with her injured knee cap. Artemis hissed in pain before grabbing the man's neck and quickly choking him out. The last man standing went to kick her but her forearm met his calf. She grabbed hold on his leg and flipped him onto his stomach. Then she crouched down and banged his head against the cemented floor.
"Not a moment too soon, Crock," Jason Todd groaned as Artemis stood up and ran over to him. The blonde gave him a one shoulder shrug before she pulled his wrists free. He had been strapped into a electric chair. The volts were strong enough to kill a normal person, but a normal person hadn't been brought back by the lazarus pit.
"I had some help from the oldest bat-kid," The blonde picked him up. Jason immediately leaned on her for support.
"Not the time for a robin reunion. Just get me somewhere he can't see me," The former robin ordered.
After a few minutes she had Jason hidden and had walked back into the room she had pull him out of. It was full of wooden boxes that were ready for transport. Now she knew why hummingbird had been on Cobblepot's trail. She had heard from Jason that the penguin was expecting illegal weapons from some European dealers. That's what got him kidnapped in the first place. No wonder another bat-kid was already on the mess.
"Archer lady?" Nightwing called out as he walked into the building. She smirked at him when he noticed how beat up he was.
"Looks like Penguin and his goons got a few good shots, huh?" Artemis chuckled, "Well, I got my pal and you got your weapons."
"How did you know I was here for the weapons?" The bird raised an eyebrow at.
"A little birdie told me," Her smirk only got bigger, "It's been fun, hummingbird."
"Can't say it was the same for me, kitten," He rolled his covered eyes once more as he started to walk away from her.
"Another time then ... Maybe you can show me some things from your other part-time profession?" The blonde said, which immediately made him turn around.
"And you're not even there anymore," Nightwing muttered to himself when he realized she was gone. So much for not doing things the ninja way.
Artemis smacked Jason's chest when he moved for what felt like the hundredth time, "Stay still," She demanded as she attempted to stitch his cuts. Penguin hadn't hurt him too bad, but roughed him up just enough.
"You're constantly stabbing my skin with a damn needle," The outlaw hissed, "Ow!"
"Shut the hell up or I will stab you with a kitchen knife," The blonde said through clenched teeth. Jason huffed before he let her finish the final stitches.
"Hearing you flirt with Nightwing was absolutely disgusting."
"Why? Mad because I wasn't giving all my love to you, Jaybird?" She rolled her eyes before pushing his hair back. Jason rolled his own green eyes back at her.
"He's my brother."
"WHAT!?"
A/N: Wasn't the long chapter I was planning (or done writing) but this one is pretty long lol. :)
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Always Traught Part II
FanfictionNo matter their relationship, they were always each other's second half. Second collection. Always Traught collection: #1 and #9 in Traught on 8/22/19 Always Traught Part II: #2 in Traught on 12/28/19