Chapter Text
It was 9:30 am in Star City and Artemis was struggling to find where she lastly put the book she was currently reading, and started to throw away her bed covers in hope to see the hiding book. She was almost late by now and had lost hope on finding it before leaving, she would probably not need it today anyway. She was supposed to walk to her new college building and had only a two hour class, so there was probably no reason for her to take the book with her.
She finally decided on leaving it at home before taking her crossbow and stuffing it in her bag as well as some pens, her notebook, her computer and finally a water bottle displaying an ancient Greek inspired frieze showing a huntress with a bow and harrow aiming at a deer.
The end of summer was close so the weather was still warm for the morning, but a wind from the north still made her wish she had taken her jacket. But she didn’t let that bring her down, she was just so excited to start her new year as a master degree undergrad!
She had applied in Star City a few years back at the end of high school because the English and Vietnamese language and literature department seemed much more interesting that the one proposed in Gotham, but because of a mission that lasted a few days, she had missed the inscriptions. It was a miracle she could even get to Gotham University. But now, with her degree in her pocket, she felt unstoppable and almost giddy.
She succeeded in arriving in front of her classroom at 10 am sharp while her professor was opening the door for the rest of the class. There weren’t a lot of people in this group, maybe 15 or 16, which was a nice change from some packed lecture halls.
As she was opening her laptop and setting her stuff on the table, the whole class heard someone running in the hall. A figure appeared at the door frame, orange tee shirt, blue jeans and red hair. His skin was pale where it should have been pink from the way everyone heard him run and he quickly apologized to the professor before coming into class.
He sat close to her, leaving a chair between them, before Artemis could even realize herself, the boy felt her look on him and turned his head before smiling at her, his eyes almost closing in a shy but cute smile. She took that interaction to turn her face back towards the teacher that was presenting herself.
A few minutes later a piece of paper passed around the class for the new students to write their names on, he soon handed it to her with his smile apparently still on his face, but this time, while taking the paper, she tried smiling back to him, not that she took the time to see any reactions. The paper between her hands, her eyes went without thinking towards the last name written on the list. Wally West. The name had a nice sound to it. She quickly wrote her name too and passed on the paper.
Their professor seemingly wanted to directly start the lectures so he passed around another bunch of papers with, this time, the short story Hats, written by Fiona Kidman, and told his audience to read and analyze it in the next 30 minutes before the break. The Aotearoan story was describing the thoughts of a mother whose son was about to get married and how the mother, overwhelmed by the day, freaked out and almost left her son’s wedding.
After having read the text twice and taking some notes, the professor told them they were going to take a short break between the two hours. Artemis sighed and rose to exit the class, a coffee was welcomed and she was not against the idea of stretching her legs.
She heard some of her classmates talking behind her and noticed they were talking about the text. She slowed down to better be able to hear what they were saying when a flashing shadow stepped next to her.
“So, what did you think of the story?” The boy (Man? Wally.) asked, still harboring his special smile.
“Well-written, but I could not get the mother.” Artemis quickly answered.
“Oh, why’s that.” He sounded genuine.
“I think if it was too much for her she should’ve really left.” Surprise appeared briefly on his face.
“Yeah I see why, but wasn’t it more important to stay for her son?”
“He would’ve understood if needed. But I’m pretty sure Kidman made her choose to stay more as a way to represent conformity and social pressure of women.” She left the group to go to the coffee machine, and when she came back, the group had left except for Wally.
“I think you’re right about that, he continued, but I disagree on the fact that she should’ve left.”
As they continued to disagree on their respective readings of the text, the professor overheard them and asked them to continue to explain both their points of views.
“But the mother's reaction was too much! We both read the same story. Yes? You saw how she treated her daughter who tried to help her!” Artemis said.
“But what I keep telling you, it’s that it’s not about if she’s right or wrong for doing and or saying what she does and or say! She just is! She was able to come back to a more serene state of mind at the end so it’s alright!” Wally answers.
“Well let’s not get too worked up…” The professor tried to interject before getting cut off by her students who were forgetting his presence.
“She doesn’t seem fine at the end though! She is almost described as dissociating!” Artemis argued.
Before Wally could even speak his mind one last time, the professor stopped both of them by talking louder than she had before. “What you both don’t seem to realize is that both your readings of this text are similar, I would even say that they are compatible.” The two students looked at each other with a degree of disgust at the sentence. “What I think you should do is work together.” She said more calmly.
Artemis scoffed while Wally whispered a quiet “No.” under his breath.
“That will be your work for all of you for next class in two weeks, a simple presentation on a book of your choice, with a quick analysis and everything.” She said to the whole class coming back to her white board.” I expect a four page report and a 20 minute presentation in groups of two.”
The two young adults looked at each other, but this time instead of a smile, there was a snarl on both their faces.
***
At the end of the class, Wally instantly went to their professor to ask if he could change work partner and Artemis couldn’t even be offended by the action because she was about to do the same, he just beat her to it.
“Listen, their professor started saying, I know this is not optimal in your eyes, but, if I’m not mistaken, you two just met, don’t start dumb rivalry over nothing now. Wait a few months at least, she joked. But I sincerely think you both could work well together. Give it at least a try, it’s not even a rated assignment.”
Unable to argue such an explanation from their professor pushed them to accept her decisions and they both left the room towards the exit of the building.
Outside, Artemis realized Wally was still walking next to her and when she turned her head to look at the man’s expression she saw how deep in thoughts he seemed to be. Frowning, looking at the midday sky, Artemis unwillingly took the time to observe her new partner.
Wally was not really taller than her, it was hard to say with her small heels, but he seemed to be lean, maybe even muscular under that huge orange tee shirt of his. His white skin looked like he could burn under this sun if he stayed too long, he had a few smell scars on his forehead and cheeks but they mostly seemed to be old. Artemis also noticed some freckles which she thought were too cute to be on that fucker’s face.
“So? Any ideas?” Wally finally asked as they continued walking in the same direction.
“About the book to present? No not yet. You?”
He only blew raspberries in what seemed a form of answer. That really annoyed her, everything about him seemed to annoy her, and the only good thing was that it seemed mutual. She sighed deeply to show her sentiments when they suddenly heard an explosion followed by some screams.
Instantly they stop, turn around towards the noise and look at each other.
“Can you get home alone?” Wally asked after a few seconds too much passed looking at each other.
“I wasn’t aware you were walking me home.” Artemis joked before another scream reached them.
Not caring about Wally anymore she ran towards the sound which seemed to come from a few blocks away. On the scene she finally saw what was going on. It seemed to be an attack from a villain, a truck was on its back, ice surrounding it.
Artemis quickly analyzed the rest of the area, finding a couple of civilians behind a car really close to the truck and they were seemingly too shocked to move away. But before she could even go towards them, they disappeared, only to reappear further away. The only thing she saw was like an orange light, flashing away the civilians.
She finally decided on hiding behind a dumpster, she finally was in place, taking her crossbow out of her bag when she saw who was behind the attack. Killer Frost came out of the truck with two bags in hand, probably filled with money or other valuables. Artemis raised her crossbow, hoping that no one could see her from where she was hiding still in her civilian clothes.
She shot an arrow, aiming at the woman, but right at the same time, the orange light flashed just in front of Killer Frost, punching the woman but resulting in Artemis missing her.
Killer Frost took a few steps back, dropping the bags on the ground before raising her hands in an attack position but aiming at nothing.
“Show yourself!” She shouted at her assailant.
“Don’t think so!” A voice shouted back before another punch was thrown to the woman.
Artemis took that time to shoot two arrows, one paralyzing the woman with an electric shock, and the other to deploy a net around her, just to be sure.
She had no time to savor her (their?) victory, because as soon as Killer Frost hit the ground, unconscious, someone appeared right behind her.
“Here you are!” The man said, at the same moment Artemis turned around, her crossbow raised to his head, only to see Wally standing behind the tip of her arrow.
Probably seeing her surprise written all over her face, Wally raised his hand towards her.
“Kid Flash, thanks for the help.” he smiled at her. So, he was a hero. She had heard of him and from how the fight went down she quickly made the link. “And you are…” he said, his hand still raised.
Artemis took the hand while sighting, “Tigress.” But instead of shaking it, she pulled on the man’s hand to be face to face. “But let’s be clear, if you call me anything other than my name in class, you’re dead.”
Wally exhaled, “And what’s your name?” he asked, still holding both her hand and her stare.
“Artemis.” she quickly answered, dropping his hand and grabbing her bag.
“I’m Wally, nice to meet you, properly this time.”
“Doesn’t mean we’re friends.” Artemis said walking away.
“Didn’t even think so.” She heard him say under his breath.
Artemis almost stopped to argue again, but instead decided on being the mature one since there clearly was a lack of one between the two of them. But still, what were the chances to have another super hero in her class, it wasn’t really a problem to her, the problem was that it apparently had to be Wally aka Kid Flash aka most annoying person on earth at this moment.
She couldn’t even think of anything else other than him walking home, her skin felt flushed from the anger she felt from the situation and from the man himself. She was not excited to work with him, in any field.