Burned

2.01: The Party

WITH THE FLAMES IN HER EYES, SHE BURNED.

'You should visit Morgan,' Steve tells Artemis, not looking up from her file, which he's currently proofreading.

Artemis sighs, looking out of the window. 'Was my report acceptable?'

'I mean it, Artemis,' Steve continues on a serious tone. He isn't accepting Artemis's change of subject. 'She was really devastated when you left. She'll appreciate it.'

Steve knows what it's like to lose a loved one. The difference between him and Artemis, however, is that he has no possibility to spend his life with the woman he loves. Artemis does and she doesn't take the chance simply because she's scared. It annoys Steve. Right now she's being selfish. She cares more about he fears than she does about how hurt Morgan is by her actions. 

'She won't,' Artemis chuckles sadly. She turns her gaze away from the world outside. 'I've really hurt her. I shouldn't have departed for two years without notifying her.'

Steve now puts down the file. He spins in his office chair. His blue eyes meet Artemis's enchanting green eyes. Her hair had grown a little longer in the time they haven't seen each other and the freckles in the area on her nose and cheekbones have faded a lot. Though the bags under her eyes are now a little darker, the girl hasn't lost her beauty in the slightest. Steve feels sorry for the girl, knowing she doesn't deserve any of the difficulties that have been in her way.

'It was a stupid move, I'll give you that,' Steve chuckles lightly, seeing a small smile appearing on Artemis's face. 'But she truly cared about you, you know? She still does, maybe even more now. I could take you to her. I think she's at Harley's graduation, big chance that Peter's there, too.'

'No offense, Steve, but I think I'm faster than you. I can teleport now,' Artemis chuckles.

'I'm serious, Artemis. You should visit her. Might wanna change first, though,' Steve says, pointing out Artemis's dirty clothes.

'Right,' Artemis agrees after she sees the filthy outfit she's wearing.

Artemis doesn't even move as a green line of light goes over her body, appearing as some sort of scan. But her clothes changes with the green light into a simple long black dress. Her hair braids itself into two waterfall braids around her head. Her lips now have a soft red colour, not much more intense than they normally are. Her lashes are a little darker, but not noticeably dark. The silver necklace around her neck reflects light from the lamp in the room.

'I've never been to a graduation ceremony,' Artemis notices, looking down at her simple dress. 'Do you think I'll blend in with these clothes?'

'Well, given the time,' Steve responds while he reads the time from the watch on his wrist, 'they might be at a party, actually. I'm not really sure what they're wearing at those parties.'

'Oh, maybe I should just-' Artemis begins, the green line hovering over her body again. Now her shoulders were exposed, the sleeves only starting on her upper arms. The skirt was now on knee-length and a little wider to maintain the playful appearance.

Steve nods, smiling at how Artemis was not even the littlest bit insecure about her magic anymore like she was two years ago. 'Perfect. Now, do you need an address or something?'

'No, I'll manage, but thank you,' Artemis smiles.

'Do you mind coming back here before you return to Sakaar again? I need to ask you a few standard questions before I can give this to Fury,' Steve asks Artemis who responds with a nod.

'I will,' Artemis clarifies. She inhales deeply. 'Bye, Steve. Thank you for listening.'

Steve laughs, a sound Artemis has missed. 'Only because I had to.'

'Of course,' Artemis smiles with closed eyes, after which she feels the familiar feeling of falling into an abyss.

The second Artemis's feet touch solid ground again, she opens her eyes and see that she had landed in a bathroom stall. On the walls are various writings, all very purposeless. A gross smell fills her nose. She feels a need to wash her hands by just being there. To maintain the illusion she had been there the whole time, she flushes the toilet and walks over to the sink where she washes her hands. Next to her stands a girl who's intensely typing on her phone.

'Excuse me,' Artemis begins in a fake American accent, something she had learned from a friend she had made in space with the name Peter Quill. 'Do you maybe know someone named Harley? I'm here to surprise him. You see, I'm an old friend from his hometown.'

'Oh, Harley Keener! Want to call him?' the girl responds with a kind smile, kinder than Artemis expected.

Artemis nods, returning the smile. 'If it's not too much trouble.'

'I'm gonna be here for a while anyway,' the girl explains Artemis. She gives her the phone. 'My friend is currently very drunk and throwing up.'

Artemis looks at the screen and sees that the device is already calling her friend. She quickly puts the phone against her ear. After one long beep, she hears Harley's familiar voice. The moment the warm and cheerful sound reaches her ear, she feels the sudden urge to cry. She never realised how badly she had missed her friends. She doesn't cry, though. Not now and certainly not in front of a girl she doesn't know.

'Abigail? You still there?' Harley gets Artemis out of her thoughts.

'Yeah, sorry,' Artemis chuckles, pretending to be the girl whose phone she was calling with. 'Where are you?'

The background is very noisy. But then again, they are at a party, parties are always noisy. 'Ehm, I believe Mason dragged me onto the dance floor and immediately ditched me after. Why? You need anything?'

'Is there somewhere we could meet up?' Artemis avoids his question smoothly.

'I could wait for you at the bar,' Harley suggests, unaware it isn't Abigail he's talking to. 'You sure you're okay?'

'Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, thanks. See you in a minute,' Artemis just tells Harley, quickly hanging up with a big smile on her face.