Hello! Nexa here! Thank you for visiting my story. For those of you who haven't read any of my stories before: This story is already finished! So I will be uploading a new chapter every few days. And there is no chance of me abandoning it!
"Why don't you upload it all at once?" You might ask. Well because I'm selfish and know that I'll get more reviews if I leave it up unfinished for awhile.

Enjoy!

"Stupid Kid Doofus!" Artemis breathed as she ran.

Batman gave them a simple mission. Observe and report on suspicious activity taking place at an abandoned summer kid's camp in Virginia. Everything was going well until Kid Idiot took a corner too fast and knocked some junk over. Yes, there were goons, but everything was fine because they didn't know they were being watched. Well, there were a lot of goons. Cobra venom enhanced goons. The team might have been able to handle them; however Sportsmaster was there as well. Artemis took a sliding turn, trying to get to Kid Flash as fast as she could. The alarms were flashing. There were too many for them to take on if they had to fight Sportsmaster as well.

"Artemis, what is your plan? What are you doing?" Aqualad thought in her head as she rushed to beat any guards to Wally.

"I'm improvising, don't attack. We aren't compromised yet!" Artemis thought back through the telepathic link. Kid Flash seemed to have hit his head in his crash; everyone was hoping he hadn't been found yet. Artemis knew she had precious few moments before someone got to the source of the noise.

"We're all heading to Kid Flash's location now. Everyone stay in the shadows!" Robin thought out to the team. Artemis dropped down from her hidden path to find Wally's unconscious form.

"I found him. He's unconscious. I'll hide him." Artemis sighed in relief as she sent the message to the team. She watched her back as she drug him around a corner to hide him behind some boxes. He seemed to have tripped a sensor monitoring some product in the crates he ran into.

"Is he injured?" M'gann asked, "I can call the bioship."

"No he's fine, just a bump on the head." Artemis reported as she ran her hands through his fiery hair to check for blood; blushing at how soft his hair was.

"Almost there." Superboy thought, "I hear some lackeys, they're getting close." He informed everyone. Artemis looked up, considering the situation.

Thinking to herself, she reasoned out her options. There are way too many thugs for us to manage with them all drugged up like they are, especially with Wally knocked out and Sportsmaster here. The archer frowned. They're bound to find us just sitting here…Artemis sighed, resigning herself to the only option that didn't end up with a beaten and/or captured team.

"Augmnngghhh" Wally moaned as he began to stir. Artemis slapped her hand over his mouth and his eyes shot open, ready to attack.

"Shhhhh," She quieted him, "Stay here, and be quiet." He nodded, remembering where he was. Artemis stood up and started walking out to meet the thugs she knew where coming, preparing her poker face.

"Kid klutz is awake, sort of. I have a plan, please don't interfere or reveal yourselves." Artemis quickly explained as she made eye contact with some very confused lackeys. She heard the team confirm and they named off their hidden locations nearby.

"What's going on?" Kid Flash thought, wanting to know what had happened while he was out.

"Got your back Arte- What are you doing?" Robin shrieked as Artemis pulled off her mask for the goons to see her face.

"Artemis? Whatcha doin' here?" One of the goons spoke up. Artemis pulled up her courage and continued with her plan.

"Don't ask questions, take me to Sportsmaster." Artemis spoke haughtily to the two men.

"Artemis? What?" M'gann tried to voice her confusion telepathically.

"Uhh, I'm not sure he's expectin' you so-"

"Don't you talk down to me!" Artemis grit out threateningly. "I'm your superior. Now take me to him! It's bad enough that I made it this far inside without running into anyone already!" She spoke angrily.

"Yes ma'am!" The first one spoke again, turning to lead the way. Artemis tightened her lips in a thin line, steeling her nerves.

"Would you care to explain how they know you Artemis?" Aqualad's disappointed voice entered her mind. Artemis thought carefully before deciding what to say. The rest of the team seemed to be waiting in suspense for her answer.

"I'll explain everything later, please trust me for now. Kid Flash was going to get caught from the commotion he caused. I'm doing the only thing I could think of to keep the team hidden. Besides, I was going to tell everyone soon anyway." Artemis explained vaguely.

"Trust you? Now?" Superboy growled through his thoughts. Artemis frowned at his reaction.

"I think we should trust her, at least for now." Robin thought casually.

"I could have handled it!" Kid Flash grumbled.

"No you could not. This situation would be too much for us to handle should we be revealed." Aqualad explained.

"We're still following you Artemis. We have your back." M'gann voiced.

"Thank you, but whatever you do, don't be seen." Artemis sent back to the team.

"He's in 'ere" The goon spoke humbly as they walked her through open double doors to a large room where lackey's seemed to be bundling up the crates of cobra-venom for shipment. Artemis reminded herself to breath naturally. "Boss, we found someone lookin' fer ya when we was checkin' out the alarms" He called out to the buff man in the center of the room overlooking progress. Sportsmaster turned to eye the archer.

"Ah, Artemis," He spoke with false happiness, beckoning her over. Artemis obeyed.

"Dad," Artemis grit out. She could practically hear the teams shock through the link.

"What brings you here, girl? That mother of yours needs my money?" He grinned. Artemis tried to bite back her rage at her father.

"Mom and I are doing fine. We don't need money to be happy," Artemis knew it was a poor thing to say the moment it left her lips.

SMACK. Sportsmaster backhanded her like he was swatting a fly. Artemis made sure not to make any noise as she was hit.

"Artemis! Are you okay?" M'gann's voice cried out.

"I didn't raise you to talk back to me!" He growled. Artemis was silent as she swiped a hand at her new split lip.

"I'm fine. Stay back." Was all she thought in return.

"So why are you here? And why did you set off the alarms?" Sportsmaster asked curiously.

"You said I needed to report back to you every two weeks, I know it's early but I'm busy this weekend," Artemis replied, "And I was just looking, I didn't know there was a sensor on the boxes," She gulped, hoping he would believe her.

"And?" His response was quick, "Have you figured out the justice league's identities yet?" His voice releasing a bit of his anxiousness. Artemis shook her head, relieved he seemed not to care about the alarms.

"No, but-" Artemis started speaking but was cut off by a punch to her gut.

"Useless!" Sportsmaster yelled at Artemis as she bent over to hold her torso.

"Black Canary and Green Arrow are dating," Artemis choked out, expecting another hit. Sportsmaster growled at grabbed her face in his hand, forcing her to look him in the eyes and bruising her skin.

"This is common knowledge gossip!" He spat back at her, narrowing his eyes. Artemis tried to look sincere. He grabbed her by her arm and twisted it behind her back. Artemis grunted in pain. "You aren't holding back information are you?" He spat again.

"N-no," Artemis gasped, she was pretty sure he was going to dislocate her harm, "They are all very careful, they talk to each other just like they do on TV!" Sportsmaster didn't say anything, but he let go of her arm. Artemis dropped to her knees, thankful her arm was still in place.

"Let us help! We have the element of surprise!" Kid Flash thought; anxious to do something.

"No! It would make things worse." Artemis tried to explain.

"Worse than getting beat up! Watching sucks!" Kid Flash shot back angrily.

"Yes. This could get much worse, I'm lucky he didn't dislocate my arm." Artemis revealed this information, trying to get him to understand.

"Fine! But only for now!" He replied.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Superboy thought.

"I'm fine. I've had worse." Artemis thought back quickly as she stood up to face her father again.

"What about that silly team of yours?" He smirked through his hockey mask.

"What about it?" Artemis replied, trying not to sound haughty.

"What about their identities. Do you know them?" He questioned the threat of violence obvious.

"Oh! Oh! Tell them my name is Xavier! That's an awesome name!" Kid Flash spoke excitedly.

"I've told you before, the only two I know are the Martian's and the Atlantian. Everyone wears their masks or a cover all the time. Superboy doesn't have a secret identity; you should know that." Artemis explained coolly. Holding her shoulder as it throbbed. "They say it's for the safety of the team. Since there are mind readers on earth," Sportsmaster looked wary, but Artemis was relieved when he seemed to believe her still.

"What are two names you do know?" He asked, face unchanging.

"What good would that do? They don't eve-UGH" Artemis grunted out as Sportsmaster kicked her in the chest, throwing her backwards onto the concrete floor. He walked to her and leered at her.

"Their. Names," He spoke slowly. Artemis coughed, trying to get air flowing correctly again.

"K-Keegan. The Atlantian's name is Keegan," Artemis stopped to try and breathe again. Sportsmaster took this as insubordination and kicked her in her ribs. Artemis started coughing again but managed to speak, "Meryl" Sportsmaster paused to mull this over. Artemis sat up.

"Last names," He ordered. Artemis shook her head. Sportsmaster took her by the throat and lifted her up, cutting off most of her air, "When I ask you a question, you give me an answer,"

"D-don" Artemis tried to speak, clawing at the fingers around her throat, "Ha-h" She frowned and kicked Sportsmaster in the chest, pushing herself away. He frowned at her, ready to strike again. Artemis held up a palm and he stopped, confused. "They- They don't have last names!" She growled at him; getting bolder despite the escalating violence. Artemis didn't hear anything from the team and worried that they had cut her off from the link to plan something, she regretted not having told them her secrets now.

"Guys? You still there?" Artemis reached out with her mind; relieved when she got an answer.

"Of course we are! We just thought it best to not distract you." Robin answered.

"Thanks." Artemis replied. It helped strengthen her will knowing that she had her friends backing her up.

"Why wouldn't they have last names?" Sportsmaster questioned. Artemis tried to shrug but ended up just flinching.

"How would I know, am I supposed to learn about their culture too?" She replied sarcastically, and then bit her cheek. Bad move. She thought to herself. Sportsmaster scowled.

"Don't you get snarky with me. If you've forgotten, your actions determine the health of that pitiful woman you call a mother," He spoke calmly. Artemis let her eyes fall to the floor. "Now, have you told me all you know?"

"Yes," Artemis answered confidently. Her father frowned.

"Then you may go," He said. Artemis turned and he grasped her ponytail as it flew, yanking the archer back towards him, "After, I teach you a lesson to remind you to try harder. You have barely given us any information!" He growled as he pulled on her scalp.

"But I send you-"

"Sending a few snitched documents here and there will not redeem you for your poor performance!" He raised his voice as he used Artemis's ponytail to throw her to the ground, her head hitting the concrete floor with a loud THUNK.

"Ugnn," Artemis groaned, keeping her face against the cool floor for relief. However Sportsmaster had other ideas and he pulled her back up by her bad arm, making her clench her teeth.

"Think of me as you go home to that pathetic little apartment with that pathetic little woman," He whispered in her ear before he pulled her arm back as he had done before, but farther.

"AUGH!" Artemis yelled out as her father dislocated her arm and let go to let her drop to her knees.

"Artemis! Can we help now!" Kid Flash nearly shouted in her head.

"Are you okay? Do you need assistance?" Aqualad spoke at the same time. Artemis grit her teeth and stood up, ignoring her teammates to focus on her situation.

"You may leave now," Was all Sportsmaster said as he pointed to the nearest exit.

"I'm fine, don't help! Everyone needs to get out now, he'll be sending out a full search of the building now to be sure I wasn't followed." Artemis sent the orders as she made her way slowly out of the building and to the woods where the bioship was hidden. "No one cross paths with me until we reach the bioship. I'm being watched." She explained.

As she walked Artemis thought about the events that just took place. I was going to tell them eventually, better late than never. I hope they don't hate me. It would be a miracle if they even still trust me. M'gann said she did, but anyone could have changed their mind by now. Wow, my head really hurts. Well, this is nothing compared to what could have happened if Wally got caught. They would have no reason to keep him alive other than ransom. Artemis thought as she held her arm as best she could without jostling it, hopefully someone knew how to relocate it. She hated doing it herself.

Suddenly the bioship was in view, as well as the whole team. Everyone but M'gann had unreadable faces. The Martian's eyes were full of pity. Artemis looked to the ground in shame, but spoke none the less.

"I'm fully willing to explain everything," She started, "But can someone please put my arm back in its socket first?" Wally zipped forward immediately, holding his hands out to take her arm. Artemis gently gave her arm to Wally, who handled it just as gently. Artemis was immediately grateful that he had decided to hold off the insults for now. The rest of the team sans Robin was now boarding the bioship. Robin came to her other side and held her shoulders. Wally gripped her arm.

"Okay Beautiful, in three, two, o-"

"NGGH!" Artemis grit a yelp through her teeth as Wally reset her arm. Black dots invaded her vision as the pain of all her injuries exploded. She had no qualms with letting them take over.

"Whoa!" Wally exclaimed as Artemis passed out.

"Looks like she got hit in the head harder than she let on," Robin frowned. Wally nodded.

"I'll get her," He spoke, scooping the blonde into his arms. Robin led the way into the bioship.

"Artemis!" M'gann gasped as Wally walked in with an unconscious archer.

"She'll be okay," Robin explain quickly, calming the Martian. She nodded.

"M'gann can you make a bed for her?" Wally asked, knowing the situation was too serious to make jokes about how heavy Artemis was. M'gann nodded and closed her eyes. Wally headed to the back of the ship and found a newly made stretcher to lay his teammate on. He felt the bioship take off as he got some ice for the bump on her head. "So that's what you've been hiding," He mumbled as he wrapped her arm in a sling, "That's one hell of a secret," He whispered as he swiped some stray bangs out of her eyes before heading to his seat in the front.

The team was quiet and the air was tense. So, of course, Wally broke the silence.

"I knew she was hiding something from us," He said, trying to sound angry like he should, but failing.

"I knew what she was hiding," Robin confessed.

"What? You knew?" Superboy growled, turning to face the boy wonder.

"I found the information by accident when I was in the batcave," He explained.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Kaldur asked calmly. Robin frowned.

"It wasn't my secret to share, and Batman said to trust her and he knew," Robin shot back, getting defensive, "And I trust Batman," He said simply.

"Her father wasn't very nice to her," M'gann spoke up, confused.

"Not all parents are wonderful," Kaldur explained cautiously, knowing M'gann based her knowledge of Earth families off of sitcoms. "Nor are they all accepting of their children's choices." M'gann frowned.

"Do you think we can still trust her?" Superboy asked the obvious question. It was silent for a moment and everyone sifted through their own minds.

"She isn't telling him anything important," Wally spoke up, being quieter for a change.

"That is true, she knows all of our identities besides Robin," Kaldur spoke.

"But apparently she hasn't told him." Robin finished.

"She knows the Flash's identity too," Wally voiced, "I'm terrible at keeping it a secret," He frowned, "Y'know, from you guys," He quickly amended, smiling sheepishly.

"I think we should save our judgment until we hear from Artemis herself," Kaldur spoke with finality. Gestures of confirmation were given throughout the ship and the rest of the trip was quiet.

What did you think? I'll be uploading the next chapter here in a few mintutes. But the third will come in few days.

Please leave a review!

-Nexa