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Artemis couldn’t deny it. In that moment, Dick Grayson was nothing short of breathtaking.
Usually, she didn’t pay much attention to him. He was two years younger, which meant they didn’t share many classes except for her math and language courses—where he not only kept up but also outperformed students a year ahead, including her. And he seemed to do it with little to no effort, if any.
He always wore this bright, flashing smile that was on the cover of every gossip magazine in their city. Prince of Gotham, they called him. Artemis thought it was a bit too much. Then again, she wasn’t the heir to the Wayne fortune. His looks probably only reinforced his popularity. He was way too handsome for a 14-year-old boy. He would probably grow up to be a rich, spoiled, know-it-all fuckboy.
She kind of didn’t like him, if she was honest.
However, all her annoyance and judgment vanished the moment she saw him perform. If it had been any other sports team, no one would have cared, but because Richard Wayne was on the gymnastics team, the entire school had the day off to accompany them to Metropolis for the championship. So there she was, sitting on an uncomfortable high school bench in a gym, surrounded by the press from not only Gotham but Metropolis as well. Their flashlights had been annoying the hell out of her since they arrived, but it had only gotten worse once Dick Grayson was announced next.
Annoyed by the press, she turned her head away, but Bebe, sitting right next to her, nudged her hard with her elbow. Artemis stifled a surprised gasp and looked at her friend, but the fellow blonde didn’t look at her. Instead, her eyes sparkled as she nodded toward the center mat of the gym where the contestants had showcased their skills over the last 3 hours. Artemis rolled her eyes but followed suit.
Then her eyes fell on him, and Artemis forgot how to breathe for a moment. In the back of her head, she remembered that Dick Grayson came from the circus. She didn’t know if he’d performed before he was taken in by Bruce Wayne, but she wouldn’t be surprised if he had. It wasn’t just how he moved—it was the confidence in his posture, the precise control of every limb, and the sparkle in his eyes that challenged the world to look at him.
He didn’t merely perform. He commanded the room.
Artemis should’ve been mad that she had to add insanely agile and stupidly well-trained to the list of talents Dick Grayson seemed to be graced with, but she didn’t have it in her to be angry or jealous. A little voice in her head reminded her that she was a vigilante and therefore knew firsthand how hard some of these moves Grayson did back down there were and how many hours of pain and practice they demanded. Heck, she’d even once asked Robin to teach her some of his tricks and then had promptly admitted defeat after the longest afternoon of her life. Wally had had a blast watching her fall over and collapse under her own weight.
“Looks like you can’t keep up with our Boy Wonder, Arty.”
“Don’t be mean, Wally,” he defended her after she had yet again tripped over her own feet, not able to keep up with Robin’s speed. “It really is a hard maneuver.”
“Dude, I’ve seen you do this move since you were ten. How hard can it be then?”
Robin just chuckled as he helped her up. “Don’t get cocky, KF. I’ve been doing this longer than you two combined. Hence, the practice.” He shrugged. “I just make it look effortless.”
And that was exactly what Grayson was doing down there. Throughout his entire performance, all the twists and turns, he smiled the brightest smile and held himself as high as possible. He made it seem effortless. Mesmerizing, even. When Grayson’s turn was over, the whole gym cheered. Artemis felt bad for the other kids who hadn’t received as much praise. And while she was sure some of the reporters only clapped because this was the Wayne heir, she felt like he deserved it anyway. Then Grayson bowed and gave the crowd the cockiest grin she had ever seen.
Artemis huffed. He was such a prick.
Photographers jostled for the best angle of the three kids on the podium. Logan Young, a kid from Central City, was smiling like an idiot on the third-place step. Artemis could have sworn there were even some tears in the kid’s eyes. Second place went to Donald Baker, apparently Metropolis’s star athlete. He seemed less happy but made a brave face for the press. No one was surprised Dick Grayson landed first place. He flashed the cameras a winning smile and held up the trophy proudly, as if there had never been any doubt in his mind that he would win. Bete cheered beside her, and she spotted Barbara Gordon clapping like a maniac a few benches below. Artemis rolled her eyes but clapped anyway. She could appreciate talent.
There was more posing and even more annoying clicking noises from the cameras, but eventually, it all died down, and the crowd started to move. Bebe stood up and stretched.
“Well, that was way more entertaining than geometry.”
Artemis huffed but smiled. “I guess.”
“Man, the Wayne kid is crazy flexible. You think he would join the cheer squad?” she babbled away cheerfully as she packed up her things. Artemis snorted and got up as well. “I doubt it. Also, isn’t the team already full?”
Bebe just waved her off. “We can get rid of Jackson. I mean, have you seen this kid?!”. She pointed towards the stage, where Grayson now stood chatting with Bruce Wayne. The press had made sure to snap as many pictures of the billionaire as possible. As far as Artemis knew, it wasn’t often that Bruce Wayne showed up to an event like this - something more public, something related to his ward. Suddenly, she felt a bit sad for the kid. She knew exactly how it felt when parents couldn’t attend certain events, even if it was just something silly like her daughter getting second place in a grade school spelling contest. She shook the thought off as quickly as it had come. There was no point in dwelling on the past. She looked again at Grayson and Wayne. His smile was softer than when he was with the press. Good for him, Artemis thought. Then Wally appeared behind Bruce Wayne and high-fived Grayson. He pointed at the trophy and said something that made both boys burst out laughing and -
Wait, what?!
Artemis nearly tripped over the bench in an attempt to get a better look. Her mind couldn’t fully understand what she was witnessing right now, but she was certain. Even though she was only a few feet away, she could recognize Wally West anywhere. His hair, his stature, the goofy, colorful shirts he always wore, and his obnoxious laugh. She knew Wally West inside and out.
Which didn’t mean anything, okay? He was her teammate, so she had to be familiar with all these details. Stature, weight, hair color, his cute freckles… It was essential to be able to work together in the field and not mistake him for the enemy in a rush of adrenaline. It was practical. Professional. She could do this with all her teammates.
Probably.
“Artemis?” Bete called out, though Artemis hardly heard her. She was focused on her teammate, joking with Dick Grayson like they were lifelong friends as they headed to the changing rooms. She was ready to chase after them when Bebe grabbed her arm.
“Artemis, are you okay?” she asked, following her gaze. A shark-like smile spread across her face when she spotted the two boys. “Artemi~s,” she sang, “don’t tell me a boy finally caught your attention.”
“What?! No!” she defended herself immediately, but it was no use. Bete already had this crazy spark in her eyes she always got when the topic of boys was on the table. “I was just…” Artemis started, but couldn’t come up with an explanation quickly enough that wouldn’t risk her secret identity.
“You should go after him. Introduce yourself," Bebe said with a wink. “I’ll cover for you with Miss Dawling.”
“I don’t-“ she tried again, but shut up when she realized this was her only chance. Principal Dawling was probably waiting outside, clipboard in hand, guiding students toward the bus. If Artemis didn’t follow them now, she'd have to confront Wally at the mountain, where he would refuse to admit anything. If he hadn’t mentioned his connection to Grayson to impress M’gann a few weeks ago when she was thirsting over the whole Wayne Family on TV, he surely wouldn’t explain this to her. She couldn’t risk that. Why did they seem so familiar with each other? How did Wally even know the rich prat? And why hasn’t he mentioned it yet?
It was so unlike him and so different from the image she had of him in her head that it made her very suspicious. And she wanted answers.
Bebe would think she had a crush on Wally anyway now. Which, for the record, she didn’t. She took a deep breath. “Yeah, Bebe, thanks!” she shouted over her shoulder, already sprinting down the stairs. She could hear Bebe giggle after her, “Go get him, girl!” but she didn’t pay it any mind.
Artemis sprinted through the gym halls. She took a wrong turn at first, but thankfully her cardio had never been better, so it mattered little. When she finally reached the boys' changing room, she probably should have paused to knock or announce her presence in any way. But honestly, her life as a vigilante had made her numb to silly things like shame and boundaries. All too often, she had to attend to gruesome open wounds or shower with the boys in cramped facilities. So, without hesitation, she barged into the locker room. The door crashed into the wall with a loud bang.
She didn’t know what she had expected. Naked bodies and horrified screams, maybe. Shameful looks and hurried explanations, preferably. She hadn’t expected to see two boys sitting across from each other, leaning against the lockers, with Grayson tossing Wally’s beloved Chicken Wheezes into the speedster’s mouth. They both stared at her, Wally mid-chew.
“Hello?” Grayson offered. He had already changed out of his gym gear and was wearing dark jeans and a blue hoodie. His hair was no longer slicked back like he usually wore it in school, but was falling into his face freely. Artemis had never seen him this casual. Crystal-blue eyes looked at her.
“Hey, Artemis!” Wally said quickly, jumping to his feet once his snack was gone. “What are you doing here?”
Artemis didn’t answer. She was staring at Grayson.
Somehow, this felt all too familiar to Artemis. Her mind drifted to Wally and Robin, who had made it a habit of hanging around the cave, playing video games, and just relaxing in the common room. They frequently occupied the couch, tossing food at Wally and, occasionally, at Connor as well. It drove Kaldur crazy; even if the Atlantean would never admit it.
“You know Artemis?” Grayson asked, glancing at Wally.
“I do!” he almost shouted. “We are friends, right, Arty?”
He threw an arm around her and smiled that bright grin that usually made her roll her eyes (and lift up the corners of her mouth just a little). But his shoulders were tense, and his hands fidgeted. His whole body buzzed with nervous energy. She recognized the signs; he was anxious.
“What a funny coincidence," Grayson replied, smiling. “Artemis goes to my school. We even share a few classes.” She looked from Wally to Grayson. Her gaze lingered on the blue hoodie. His dark hair almost covered his eyes.
“Arty, are you all right?” Wally asked beside her. She turned to him and suddenly became very aware of their bodies still touching and his hand lingering on her waist. She quickly pulled away and put some space between herself and the speedster. Wally took a few steps back as well and landed beside Grayson on the bench again. And then, when the two boys sat side by side, it made click in Artemis’ head.
In the end, Wally West had only one best friend.
She didn’t feel her expression change, but her face must have given her away because the next time she locked eyes with Grayson, there was no worry left. Only cold, calculating suspicion.
And then Artemis knew for sure. She had often wondered what Robin's eyes looked like, and now she knew. This analytical stare could only belong to the Boy Wonder.
Grayson sighed. “We can stop, Walls. We’re busted.” Wally’s eyes grew comically wide. He looked from Grayson to her and back to Grayson.
“Oh, man!” he smacked his head, similar to what M’gann did when upset, and sank deeper into the bench. “The B-Man is gonna kill me!”
B-Man?
Grayson just chuckled. “Yeah. He told you not to come.”
“But I wanted to see you perform!” the Speedster exclaimed. “You always look so cool when you –“ and he continued to mimic some flying motions and tried to bend his body in ways purely unnatural unless your name was Richard Grayson. Wally just produced a rather ungraceful breaking sound from his back. “Ouch!”
“Thanks, man,” Grayson said, beaming at Wally through his laughter. Then his eyes darted to her.
Artemis still hadn’t moved.
“You want to sit down for a minute, Artemis?” he asked. His cocky grin made it look like a challenge, but his eyes were gentle.
“I’m-“ she took a deep breath. “I am fine.”
“Really?” Wally asked, eyebrow raised. “Because you don’t look fine. You actually look like you’re about to faint any second, Arty.”
That snapped her out of it. No way in hell was Wally West ever going to see her lose her cool.
“I am perfectly fine, Wally, Thanks.” Then her gaze snapped to Grayson. Her eyes narrowed. “Robin.”
Grayson didn’t flinch. For a moment, Artemis feared she had read this whole situation wrong and reached the absolutely dumbest conclusion one could ever make. How were Grayson and Robin supposed to be—
But then, Grayson responded to the name. “Artemis.”
Her throat tightened. Yet, she spoke.“We go to the same school.”
“Yep,” he said, popping the P with obnoxious satisfaction, raising a smug eyebrow. It made her furious.
“How dare you-“ she began her rampage, but was quickly cut off by a loud coughing sound behind her. She turned around and froze. There stood none other than Bruce Wayne: billionaire, philanthropist, legal guardian of Dick Grayson. Robin. Watching everything.
“Hey, B, look who decided to join our little party,” Grayson all but cackled.
The man was twice her size, so she had to look up at him. She was greeted with a warm smile that closely resembled the one that frequently appeared in magazines.
“Miss Crock. What a pleasure to see you here.” Artemis didn’t make out any real pleasure in his features, if she was honest. “What brought you to this… rather private gathering?”
“I- uhm,” she stuttered and helplessly turned to the two boys, who, as expected, weren’t of any help. Wally just looked around sheepishly, avoiding Mr. Wayne’s gaze at all costs, and Grayson looked like he was struggling not to fall off the bench from laughter. Apparently, she looked so miserable that Grayson took pitty on her.
“She spotted Wally and wanted to say hi.”
“Dude!” Wally hissed, looking in panic at Mr. Wayne. “Not cool.”
Artemis had rarely felt so out of her depth as she did in this moment. The Wayne Foundation funded her education, so she didn’t want to make an enemy of Mr. Wayne or his ward. His ward, who turned out to be her teammate - the kid vigilante that roamed the streets of Gotham by night and battled with crazy psychopaths on a nightly basis. Did Bruce Wayne know what Grayson was up to? Did he know Batman?
“I am sorry,” Wally then said, looking even more apologetic. “I just wanted to cheer for my friend.”
Mr. Wayne gave Wally a quick once-over before his eyes locked with Grayson’s, who also wore an apologetic smile. They stared at each other for a second, sharing some kind of silent conversation while Wally looked like he had to physically restrain his feet from literally running away.
“Come on, B,” Grayson then said softly, and Artemis had another sickening feeling of déjà vu.
“It was a tough call, but B and I managed.”
“Gotham is as crazy as it gets. No wonder B acts bonkers sometimes.”
“Come on, B. We know the drill. In and out. Stealthy as a Bat.”
Suddenly, the room tilted.
“Oh my god.” Although she whispered it, three pairs of eyes were immediately on her. She almost didn’t dare, but she also could not not do it. She turned around to face Bruce Wayne. Firm posture, warm eyes, welcoming smile. It reminded her all too much of Grayson’s features when he apparently played not only her but the whole world. It was just like with the Boy Wonder. Whatever Bruce Wayne found in her eyes made him drop the act and give up on this charade. Instead, he made the deepest sigh she had ever heard.
“It’s alright, Wally. You are a good friend.”
Then he addressed Artemis. “You, Miss Crock, are now part of a small group of carefully selected people. A proper briefing is non-debatable, I’m afraid.”
With each word, Artemis’ eyes got bigger. He didn’t need the cowl; she had sat through enough briefings of this man to know. Standing in front of her was, without a doubt, the Batman.
“I-“ she stuttered, “I need to sit down.”