Fic: Cry Little Sister [6/?]
Title: Cry, Little Sister [6/?]
Characters: Artemis, M'gann, ensemble
Pairings: Some Artemis/Wally and Megan/Conner
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: References to illegal genetic experimentation, assassins, violence, spoilers for entire series (so far). Also follows the assumption that Megan is a white Martian.
Summary: A series AU. Artemis is another Cadmus experiment, released by Dubbilex into M'gann's care.
Part 6: Artemis faces the Justice League.
August 6th
As far as interrogation rooms went, this wasn’t a bad one. The walls were concrete enforced by metal, each surface 90 percent covered in one-way mirrors. It was an unsettling effect to know that outside these walls, the most powerful people in the world could be watching.
That was, the most powerful people besides Cadmus.
Batman stood brooding in the corner, clearly playing bad cop. It didn’t surprise her, what with his reputation. She ignored him, focusing on the man in front of her.
Green Arrow was similar to Batman, cut from a different cloth. He was just as intense, maybe even just as brilliant, but he didn’t have that cold aura or frightening rage. He was warmer, flawed and honest. Human.
She liked that. If she pretended hard enough, sometimes she felt human too.
“More food?” the hero offered, pushing a plate with yet another hot dog. Artemis took it, confident that these men would never poison a lonely orphan girl. They were, after all, masked vigilantes trampling the thin line between justice and retribution. If they didn’t keep on the high moral ground, they were worthless.
Batman was watching her with narrowed eyes but the archer looked pleased. He was smiling at her and she relished it.
“So where are you from?” Green Arrow asked. His tone was casual but she could sense the underlying tension.
“Around,” she said through a mouthful of hotdog, just as forcedly casual. “I go where crime leads me, you know?”
“Ah, the everlasting road trip.” Green Arrow grinned. “Always a good time.”
“Guess so,” Artemis shrugged. She smiled coyly and kept a careful eye on Batman. “It’s not so great when you can’t take a break from it.”
“No civilian life?”
“Nope.” She leaned back, taking another bite of her hotdog. “I’m a free agent.”
She looked directly at Batman and added, “And you’re welcome for saving those kids.”
Batman’s scowl, if possible, grew even deeper. She pretended not to notice, smiling widely and checking her reflection on one of the walls.
“That was some smooth going there,” she snarked. “Robin was decent, but Kid Flash is like a disaster on speed.”
Green Arrow’s lips pinched into the ghost of a smile. She grinned.
“And what’s with Superboy?” Here she went for mocking ignorance. “Is he like, Superman’s son?”
Batman’s jaw twitched.
“How long are you going to keep me here anyway?” she continued. “I mean, it’s not illegal for me to be heroing on your turf.”
“You’re fifteen,” Green Arrow reminded her.
Weeks, she mentally added, a little amused that they assumed it was years. She shrugged.
“I can take care of myself,” she declared. “Not like I need a team to keep an eye on me.”
There it was, the perfect suggestion. She could practically see the light go on in Green Arrow’s masked eyes, his eyebrows raising and his forehead smoothing with thought.
He’d lost his partner she knew, not to death or injury but to petty squabbles. What it was about she didn’t know or care, but she had enough knowledge regarding Green Arrow to deem him a fine fit for a mentor. He was much more indulgent, much more trusting than the other heroes. It obviously doubled as a fault since he was missing a sidekick, but they were qualities that would make him complementary to her.
It meant he wouldn’t pry into her business. This was the most important factor, something she had to feign ignorance toward. The superheroes had to think she was just a child, a pathetic street kid in desperate need of companionship and a little therapy. Besides, if the League wedged her into their little sidekick group, there would be no need for them to dig into her origins. Win-win.
Batman was still frowning, but it was more thoughtful than suspicious. Good. Now for the final straw.
“I can take care of myself,” she said with just a tiny hint of childish insistence. “It’s not like I’ve run into the Joker yet.”
“Yet?” Batman finally spoke. Yes, she’d hit the target right on the mark. Batman would never let this go. She smirked inwardly but displayed a petulant frown.
“I’m saving him for next week.”
Characters: Artemis, M'gann, ensemble
Pairings: Some Artemis/Wally and Megan/Conner
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: References to illegal genetic experimentation, assassins, violence, spoilers for entire series (so far). Also follows the assumption that Megan is a white Martian.
Summary: A series AU. Artemis is another Cadmus experiment, released by Dubbilex into M'gann's care.
Part 6: Artemis faces the Justice League.
August 6th
As far as interrogation rooms went, this wasn’t a bad one. The walls were concrete enforced by metal, each surface 90 percent covered in one-way mirrors. It was an unsettling effect to know that outside these walls, the most powerful people in the world could be watching.
That was, the most powerful people besides Cadmus.
Batman stood brooding in the corner, clearly playing bad cop. It didn’t surprise her, what with his reputation. She ignored him, focusing on the man in front of her.
Green Arrow was similar to Batman, cut from a different cloth. He was just as intense, maybe even just as brilliant, but he didn’t have that cold aura or frightening rage. He was warmer, flawed and honest. Human.
She liked that. If she pretended hard enough, sometimes she felt human too.
“More food?” the hero offered, pushing a plate with yet another hot dog. Artemis took it, confident that these men would never poison a lonely orphan girl. They were, after all, masked vigilantes trampling the thin line between justice and retribution. If they didn’t keep on the high moral ground, they were worthless.
Batman was watching her with narrowed eyes but the archer looked pleased. He was smiling at her and she relished it.
“So where are you from?” Green Arrow asked. His tone was casual but she could sense the underlying tension.
“Around,” she said through a mouthful of hotdog, just as forcedly casual. “I go where crime leads me, you know?”
“Ah, the everlasting road trip.” Green Arrow grinned. “Always a good time.”
“Guess so,” Artemis shrugged. She smiled coyly and kept a careful eye on Batman. “It’s not so great when you can’t take a break from it.”
“No civilian life?”
“Nope.” She leaned back, taking another bite of her hotdog. “I’m a free agent.”
She looked directly at Batman and added, “And you’re welcome for saving those kids.”
Batman’s scowl, if possible, grew even deeper. She pretended not to notice, smiling widely and checking her reflection on one of the walls.
“That was some smooth going there,” she snarked. “Robin was decent, but Kid Flash is like a disaster on speed.”
Green Arrow’s lips pinched into the ghost of a smile. She grinned.
“And what’s with Superboy?” Here she went for mocking ignorance. “Is he like, Superman’s son?”
Batman’s jaw twitched.
“How long are you going to keep me here anyway?” she continued. “I mean, it’s not illegal for me to be heroing on your turf.”
“You’re fifteen,” Green Arrow reminded her.
Weeks, she mentally added, a little amused that they assumed it was years. She shrugged.
“I can take care of myself,” she declared. “Not like I need a team to keep an eye on me.”
There it was, the perfect suggestion. She could practically see the light go on in Green Arrow’s masked eyes, his eyebrows raising and his forehead smoothing with thought.
He’d lost his partner she knew, not to death or injury but to petty squabbles. What it was about she didn’t know or care, but she had enough knowledge regarding Green Arrow to deem him a fine fit for a mentor. He was much more indulgent, much more trusting than the other heroes. It obviously doubled as a fault since he was missing a sidekick, but they were qualities that would make him complementary to her.
It meant he wouldn’t pry into her business. This was the most important factor, something she had to feign ignorance toward. The superheroes had to think she was just a child, a pathetic street kid in desperate need of companionship and a little therapy. Besides, if the League wedged her into their little sidekick group, there would be no need for them to dig into her origins. Win-win.
Batman was still frowning, but it was more thoughtful than suspicious. Good. Now for the final straw.
“I can take care of myself,” she said with just a tiny hint of childish insistence. “It’s not like I’ve run into the Joker yet.”
“Yet?” Batman finally spoke. Yes, she’d hit the target right on the mark. Batman would never let this go. She smirked inwardly but displayed a petulant frown.
“I’m saving him for next week.”