Burned

2.02: The Reuniting

WITH THE FLAMES IN HER EYES, SHE BURNED.

Artemis returns the phone to Abigail. She thanks her, wishes her good luck with her drunk friend and finally leaves the dirty bathrooms. Once she's opened the door, loud music fills her ears. She walks into the direction of the loud noise, only to arrive in a big warm room. The smell of sweat, the hot temperature and the just too many people in one place makes it hard to believe that people actually enjoyed parties like these.

Harley sits at the bar. He puts his phone in his pocket, then decides to motion towards the bartender. The man walks over to the teenager. His name tag says S. Lee. Harley asks him for a alcohol free beer, knowing that if he ordered alcohol he would have to show his ID which he forgot and wouldn't be valid anyway, as he was under the age of 21. The bartender gives him his drink for a few dollars in return.

Artemis looks over all the heads, standing on the very tip of her toes. She could see the long bar. She moves through the very concentrated crowd with many apologies. Once she has finally reached the bar, she sees that Harley is seated on the other side of the bar. With a deep sigh, the brunette makes her way to the other side. She thinks of a good thing to say. The moment she stands just two feet away from Harley, she decides to say the first that comes to her mind.

'Steve told me you had your graduation ceremony today,' Artemis says with her usual British like accent. Harley turns around, eyes widening at the sight of the Witch. 'Congratulations!'

'No way,' Harley simply tells Artemis with a surprised look on his face.

Artemis goes to sit down on the stool next to the mechanic's. 'I don't know what the protocol is for these things, so, surprise?'

'Artemis?' Harley realises, recognising the posh accent that had only grown stronger the past two years. 'Is it really you?'

'It better be, or I'm having a really weird dream,' Artemis jokes. Even though she's acting really lightly and bubbly, inside she feels like the butterflies in her stomach are eating her alive.

'You- You left for two years,' Harley utters, still not processing the situation.

Artemis sighs. The butterflies don't really help her to stop worry. 'I'm sorry, but if I wouldn't have, I would have put the three of you in danger.'

It's the truth. If Artemis would have stayed on Earth with Harley, Peter and Morgan, it would only be a matter of time for the Witches to find them. Loki wouldn't have been able to protect them all of the time. Artemis didn't have the knowledge to do it herself back then. Steve and Wanda weren't strong enough. The only solution was to go somewhere the Witches wouldn't. Or, in other words, go from planet to planet, become friends with the powerful and never, never let down your guard.

'We missed you,' the boy in front of Artemis informs her after which he gives her an unexpected hug. 'You should come and see Pete and Morgan!'

'Do you think she'll want to meet with me?' Artemis asks Harley as they pull back from the embrace, insecurity visible in her eyes.

Harley lets out a laugh. 'Artemis, why on Earth would you think she wouldn't? The least you can do is explain how that stupid bow of yours works. She's been taking lessons from Hawkeye and she's actually grown really good with archery, it's just your bow she can't use.'

'Well, the price of magic,' Artemis chuckles, feeling more eased by these words.

'C'mon, let's go and find Peter. He's probably outside with Morgan. I'll distract her so you can surprise both of them separately,' Harley tells Artemis with a kind look on his face.

The newly graduated mechanic grabs Artemis's hand and pulls her with him through the crowd, totally forgetting his drink. A few people try to stop Harley because they wanted to dance with him, talk to him or congratulate him, but he doesn't even so much spare them a glance. Once the pair is outside, Artemis inhales and exhales deeply. She realises how she missed the fresh air inside. She still can't imagine people actually liking these kind of parties.

'There they are,' Harley says, pointing at two people sitting on a picnic table. 'I'm going to get Morgan, you should talk to Peter first. The best things for the last, right?'

Before Artemis can answer, Harley has already made his way over to the two talking people. She sees Harley and Morgan going inside. She inhales deeply, as if the action will gain her more courage. Then she decides that standing there any longer would just be procrastinating, an action that would get nobody anywhere. So she walks over to the picnic table, unsure of what to say to the boy.

'Morgan, I know you're trying to read my texts over my shoulder,' Peter chuckles out of the blue, confusing Artemis a little. 'Spidey sense, remember? Just give it up already, you won't get MJ's number.'

'Who's MJ?' Artemis just asks, waiting for the blond to realise it isn't Morgan who is talking to him.

'The girl I like, remember?' Peter responds, turning around. His eyes widen at the sight of the young Witch.

Artemis has to chuckle at the look on the boy's face. 'Hello, Peter. How have you been?'

'Holy shit,' Peter simply says, but he regains his sanity rather quickly. 'I-I'm fine. I'm going on this school-trip to Europe with school in a week, so that's fun.'

'With the girl you like?' Artemis smirks. Peter lets out a laugh, but can't stop himself from blushing. Surprising Artemis, he hugs her tightly.

Peter is nothing but pure gold, something Artemis had noticed a while ago already. He isn't only good, but then again, nobody is. But Peter is simply the most kind-hearted and true person Artemis knows. Sure, she knows some pretty great people, such as Morgan and Harley, but nobody is as pure as Peter. He's a true superhero, even without his powers or suit. Peter would always find a way to make the world a better place, it being fighting villains or helping elderly cross the streets.

'What's up?' Peter then asks with a smile, releasing the Witch.

'Loki thinks that I know enough to visit Earth more regularly,' Artemis reveals to the blond. 'He says that I still need to learn a lot, but I can at least protect myself and you for if the Witches will find me here. I'm able to see you more often, now.'

Peter's face lights up, even more than it already was. 'That's amazing, Artemis!'

'It is.'