February 14, 2011

Recognized Artemis B07.

"Hi Artemis," Zatanna called in greeting as the archer entered the common room of the Mountain.

"Hey Zatanna," Artemis smiled before looking around in confusion. "Where is everyone?"

"M'Gann and Conner went out on a date and I think Kaldur's in hiding," Zatanna explained.

"And Raquel?"

"She was here for a little while then decided that she'd rather spend Valentine's Day patrolling with Icon. Better than sitting around for Kaldur to wake up," Zatanna said dryly, the tone of her voice clearly stating what she thought of their 'fearless leader'.

"He's still hurting over Tula dating Garth?" Artemis grimaced.

"Probably. Just like he probably thinks its better to spend his time moping rather than getting to know Raquel."

"He'll get over it," Artemis insisted. Zatanna sighed, some of her anger receding.

"I know, I know. I just hate seeing the two of them miserable on Valentine's Day. Hey, what's that?" Zatanna asked, her focus quickly switching from their friends' problems to the envelope in Artemis's hands. The archer turned a delicate pink at her gift being noticed.

"It's nothing, just a card and some candy," she insisted.

"From Wally?" the magician asked eagerly.

"No! It's…it's nothing," Artemis insisted.

"Do I need to put a truth spell on you again?"

"Seriously Zee, it's nothing."

"Ekam simetrA llet em – "

"Okay, okay, no need! It's just a stupid Valentine's gift that I got for Wally, sheesh," Artemis grumbled, crossing her arms uneasily.

"Cute," Zee cooed before a frown marred her features. "Hey, why is it that you're only honest when I threaten you?"

"Because I'm trained to only respond to threats," Artemis answered simply.

"Then how do you explain taking orders from Batman?"

"He's threatening."

"Good point. So you got a Valentine's Day gift for Wally? That's sweet," Zatanna smiled at her friend, changing the subject.

"It's not that big of a deal. I didn't want to spend too much money since technically we're not…you know. Of course knowing Baywatch he's got something totally elaborate planned and will never let me hear the end of it," Artemis rolled her eyes sarcastically, but the sweet smile on her face told her friend that she didn't really care. She was just happy to be with the stupid speedster.

"Well normally I'd love to hang out with you, but I've actually got plans myself for this evening."

"Boy Wonder?"

"Yeah, although the wonder is that I've been able to keep my gift for him a secret," Zatanna admitted.

"What makes you think it's a secret Zee?" the 13-year-old in question asked, suddenly appearing in the doorway, grinning at his two teammates.

"GAH!" Artemis and Zatanna screamed, leaping halfway into the air in surprise.

"Robin where did you come from?" Artemis demanded while Zatanna clutched at her chest, checking to see if she still had a heartbeat.

"Well geez Artemis, you're two years older than me. I'd have thought by now you knew all about the birds and the bats," Robin winked cheekily.

"Very funny bird boy," Artemis said, rolling her eyes.

"Fine, fine sorry. I've been here a while actually," Robin admitted.

"Plotting to take over the world again?" Zatanna asked.

"No not today, mostly just making sure everything's set for tonight," Robin smiled sweetly, all of his usual cockiness instantly fading away as he locked eyes with his ebony-haired Valentine.

"Why, did you get a special gift for someone?" Zatanna asked, faking innocence. The Boy Wonder flushed, horrified for a moment even as he nodded dumbly.

"Me?" Zatanna examined her fingernails with feigned noninterest.

"Well…"

"Good," Zee grinned giving Robin a mild heart attack. "Because I got you a gift too."

Robin's answering smile was practically blinding.

"Feel like a night out in Gotham?"

"I expect to be impressed," Zatanna teased taking his arm and leading him to the Zeta Tube. "And you'd better not have peeked at my present," she warned.

"Wouldn't dream of it Zee," Robin said sincerely.

"I'll see you later Artemis," Zatanna said, glancing back over her shoulder.

"Have a chalant night," Artemis called to them as she watched them leave the cave. Robin shot her a thumbs-up as Zatanna waved goodbye.

Artemis smiled as she watched her friends leave, only to just realize that she had been left completely alone in the Mountain. Well except for Red Tornado, but whoever knew where that robot was?

"And then there was one," she muttered. A quick glance at one of the clocks in the cave told her that she still had some time before Central City High would be finished. Satisfying herself with having to wait she went to the kitchen, dropping her bag and the gift on a countertop as she scrounged up something to eat.

Two hours later Wally still hadn't shown up at the Mountain and Artemis was beginning to feel like an idiot.

"I mean really, what was I expecting?" Artemis complained as she flopped back on the couch in the den. Wolf looked dolefully at her.

"Would roses have been nice? Sure, never mind that they'd die in a few days even if I did stick them in water or knowing my luck Poison Ivy would come by to see Mom again and accuse me of being a flower killer and then they'd get in a huge fight and wreck the apartment!" Artemis threw her arms up in air over her head as she continued to stretch out on the couch. Flipping over to her stomach she leaned onto her elbows and made eye contact with Wolf.

"Would candy have been nice? Yes! Although he'd probably end up eating most of it and I'd have to increase my workout to make up for the one or two pieces that I would end up eating. That's why I figured he'd be smart and wouldn't bother getting me any candy, so I thought it'd be sweet if I got him some. And that stupid card," Artemis moaned dropping her head down.

"Ugh, I should destroy that card while I still have the chance," Artemis complained glancing away from Wolf over to the kitchen counter where her gift of candy and card continued to sit innocently. She deflated slightly looking at the innocuous item and returned her gaze to Wolf.

"A card would have been nice," she admitted softly.

"Something stupid and cheesy that I'd be embarrassed by but would never throw out and years from now I could pull it out of a shoebox or whatever and remember…I'd have that memory of the stupid speedster that forgot our first fucking Valentine's Day!" Artemis shouted. Wolf huffed and licked her face.

"Thanks for listening Wolf. It really helped," Artemis smiled at the large canine. "Especially since none of my teammates have answered my texts," Artemis glared at her phone. Messages had been sent to M'Gann, Raquel, and Zatanna and there wasn't a single word of response. Well M'Gann and Zatanna hadn't really surprised her, but she thought Raquel of all people would be up for helping another girl out with a failed Valentine's Day.

Just as she finished that thought, Artemis's phone began to vibrate.

"Hey Zee," Artemis sighed as she answered the call.

"I'm in the middle of the most beautiful date I could ever imagine having a great time, and your negative vibes are killing my mood. So should I incapacitate that speedster for you or what because I'd like to get back to my evening?"

"Sorry Zee…Wally didn't show up."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm here alone. Well no, I just finished a therapy session with Wolf, he's a great listener," Artemis reached out to scratch the top of the tame wolf's head earning a happy tail thump.

"The hell do you mean he's not at the Mountain! Oh no…ekam yllaW raeppa txen ot simetrA won!

"Whoa!" Wally yelped flopping onto the ground next to Artemis.

"Is he there in one piece?" Zatanna asked impatiently.

"Yeah. Enjoy the rest of your night Zee."

"Don't completely destroy him, I want a turn too," Zee ordered.

"We'll see. Get back to bird boy."

"Gladly. Night Artemis."

"Night," Artemis clicked her phone off and turned to regard Wally who was only just starting to sit up.

"Dude…head rush. Wait. I'm in the Mountain. How'd I get here?" Wally asked Artemis with a look of utter confusion.

"Magic."

"Magic isn't –"

"Then how did you get here?" Artemis interrupted him flatly.

"Science that I do not yet understand," Wally insisted firmly.

"We'll talk about your denial later. For now…hi."

"Hey," Wally smiled as he moved to take the seat next to Artemis. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, hugging her to his side. "While unexpected, it's good to see you."

"You too. So…how was your day?" Artemis asked, carefully watching Wally.

"Fine. Same old, same old. Yours?"

"Fine."

"So we're both fine. And Zee used some crazy new form of Zeta technology or something to transport me to the Mountain. Would you happen to know why?" Wally arched an eyebrow expectantly.

"Probably has something to do with the date…"

"Why? What's today's date?" Wally frowned. Artemis looked at him blankly for a moment then stood roughly, shoving his hand away from her.

"Artemis?" Wally only barely got his hands up in time to catch the object she lobbed at his head. "Babe, what is this?"

"For you," Artemis said stiffly. She hadn't come back to the couch, instead remaining near the kitchen. At the moment she didn't fully trust herself to be within arms reach of Wally.

"Can I open it now?" Wally asked hopefully.

"Kinda the point there, Baywatch."

"Baywatch, huh? I am in trouble," Wally muttered to himself, concerned by Artemis's tone and the whole situation in general. It really had been just another day at school, albeit some of the girls had seemed a little more giggly than usual. He quickly pushed aside the tissue paper before gently pulling out the card. He set it aside only for his eyes to widen at the sight of all the candy Artemis had managed to shove into such a small gift bag.

"Babe! It's not my birthday so what's the occasion?" Wally exclaimed, almost delirious with excitement.

"Read the card," Artemis ordered her hands subconsciously clenching into fists.

"Cute," Wally grinned as he opened the envelope and saw the plain red heart on the front. His smile dropped immediately when he opened the card and read Be my Valentine in fancy script. Or whatever, was added to the bottom in Artemis's strong handwriting as well as her signature.

Valentine's Day. February 14th. And he had completely forgotten about it.

Artemis waited quietly as Wally slowly (especially for a speedster) processed this new information.

"I…I…I'm an idiot," Wally finally admitted.

"Typically yes, although this seems exceptional even for you Wall-man."

"Artemis, I swear I…oh man we've barely been us for more than a month and I'm already screwing up," Wally moaned looking mournfully at the candy.

" 'We've barely been us'," Artemis quoted with a smirk.

"You know what I mean. Us. You. Me. Kissing and whatever and spending time because you're really cool and I like you a ton and I'm pretty sure you like me a lot too and we like hanging out except now I've completely ruined it because I'm an idiot who forgot the date and I wouldn't have even known what to get you because I've never dated a girl before and what the heck do you get someone that you're dating but you're not really dating because we've never really labeled what it is that we are which is really confusing and not normal for me because I'm a scientist and we label shit!" Wally finished, almost yelling in his frenzied panic.

"What?"

Wally turned his large green eyes on Artemis and the sincerity in them had her moving towards him before she even realized it.

"I wasn't sure if you were my girlfriend or not so I didn't think to plan for today. Despite how smooth I am…I've never had a girlfriend before. I…I just forgot and completely screwed up. I've never been in a situation like this before. I…I don't really know what I'm doing," Wally mumbled with embarrassment.

"You are such a dork," Artemis shook her head slowly, finally coming back to sit down on the couch.

"But that's one of the things I happen to like about you. And I accept your explanation."

"Explanation? What about my apology?" Wally protested.

"I didn't catch all of the speedster babble, but I'm pretty sure there wasn't an apology in there," Artemis gave Wally one of her patented looks. The speedster quickly reviewed what he had said and flushed.

"You're right. Artemis, I'm really sorry for forgetting about Valentine's Day. And even though I don't have anything planned whatsoever, I would love to spend the rest of today with you," Wally smiled warmly at the blonde archer.

"Are you saying this just so I'll call off Zatanna from kicking your butt later?"

"Why would she…never mind. No. I am saying this because I sincerely want to be with you and if it's not pushing my luck I would like to officially call you my girlfriend," Wally stated firmly, even if somewhat nervously. He watched Artemis closely, trying to read her facial expressions as she considered his offer. No luck there.

"I have conditions," she finally replied.

"Let's have 'em Beautiful."

"For starters, I pick the movie we're staying in to watch," Artemis ticked off one of her fingers.

"Deal."

"Second, I do not want to come to the Cave any time in the next few days and find out that you tried to pull some huge, overly emotional make-up for Valentine's Day nonsense."

"Are you sure? Because –"

"I'm sure," Artemis stated firmly. "You were right about us not officially being a couple, even if we have been…hanging out a lot," she finished lamely. "This is year is your one Get Out of Jail free card."

"I will never need it again," Wally vowed.

"And final condition, we're sharing the candy," Artemis reached for the bag of individually wrapped pieces, tearing it open and selecting for herself a chocolate.

"You drive a hard bargain, babe. It's a good thing you're so beautiful," Wally teased. Artemis gave him a look.

"And talented, and smart, and can kick ass, and have great hair, and you know tons of stuff about physics and you're a great archer and have I mentioned how glad I am that you're are my amazing and forgiving girlfriend?"

"Nice save."

"Thanks," Wally sighed, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend. He grinned at the word. As Artemis selected an action comedy for the two of them to watch, Wally realized that he could definitely get used to nights like this. As the opening credits played, he vowed to go above and beyond for Valentine's Day next year.

A/N...I'll just let Wally keep dreaming for now. But consider this the start to a countdown to Valentine's Day with my OTP Spitfire! I'm going to try and get a chapter up a day with the final one showing up on Valentine's Day. Ambitious, considering that everything's not completely written and edited yet, but it'll be fun either way! Thank you so much Fairy Dell for editing this chapter for me last minute! Good editors can be hard to find, but amazing friends are irreplaceable!