The Hunt ⋆ Young Justice (o.h.)

two : crushing reality

( CHAPTER TWO : CRUSHING REALITY )

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STANDING THERE, HEARNE COULD FEEL THE TENSION IN THE AIR. She knew of the other members and the newest addition that would arrive the same day as her. What she didn't know was that they weren't too fond of newcomers.

Robin looked thoroughly uncomfortable with the entire situation, more surprised than anyone else in the room. Clearly, the members of the League had known of Hearne and Artemis joining, but the members of The Team hadn't. Hearne almost found it funny how hurt Robin was at her appearing beside his mentor. Was he that insecure about his position that her appearance startled him that much?

After a tense few minutes following a very brief explanation to calm Robin down, the Zeta-Tube announced Kid Flash's arrival. Hearne expected the hero to be in his typical attire of red and yellow, but instead, he burst into the Cave in similar swimming shorts, arms full of beach supplies.

"The Wallman is here! Now let's get this party star--" 

Promptly, the umbrella he was carrying caught on the ground, sending him tipping forward, sliding against the cement floor in a way that brought back unpleasant memories. His items slid beside him, the beach ball bouncing past until Hearne had to step out of the way for it to hit the wall behind her.

"...ted."

"Wallman, huh?" Artemis said, her tone filled with sarcastic amusement. "I love the uniform. What exactly are your powers?"

"Uh, who's this?" Wally said, walking forward. "And who's the other one?"

"Artemis, your new teammate," the blonde greeted, a smug smile threatening to split across her lips.

"Olympian."

"Kid flash," he said, a false smile on his face, "never heard of you."

"Um, she's my new protege," Green Arrow said, stepping forward to put an arm around Artemis' shoulder.

"What happened to your old one?" Wally said, apparently still hurt about Speedy's absence. 

Recognized, Speedy, B06.

Everyone turned to look at the Zeta-Tube, but not before Robin gave Batman a pointed look. Hearne was hoping her introduction could wait, the explanation of "a friend of a friend" didn't sound any less suspicious than it was.

"Well, for starters," Speedy said as soon as he appeared, now donning a new suit, "he doesn't go by Speedy anymore." He certainly didn't look like Speedy. "Call me Red Arrow."

"Roy," Green Arrow said, surprised, "you look--"

"Replaceable," he said, stepping forward.

"It's not like that," his former mentor tried, attempting to reason with him. "You told me you were going solo."

"So why waste time finding a sub? Can she even use that bow?"

"Yes," Artemis said, stepping forward to stare up at the older teenager, "she can."

"Who are you?" Kid Flash asked, throwing his hands out. "And who's she? You still haven't answered that."

"I'm his niece," Artemis answered, at the same time Green Arrow supplied 'she's my niece.'

"Another niece?" Robin said, a smile on his face. "And what about her? Who's she?"

"This is Olympian," Batman offered, putting his hand on her shoulder. "She's a friend of a friend, and now your teammate."