Artemis found Becca sitting above the cave's entrance, a foot dangling over the ledge. She sat down beside her as Becca stared out at the sunset.
“Whatever Wally told you, Becca...don't listen to him.”
“It's not him Artemis. In fact it's everybody but wewe and Robin.”
“What did everyone else do?”
“Nothing. But they have this...I don't know. This way about them. Kinda like they're better because they've got powers.”
“Well, Megan is really sweet when wewe get to know her. Connor and Kaldur have to be...convinced before they give wewe respect. And Wally will remain an idiot.”
“He's the worst.”
Artemis laughed a little and Becca looked at her.
“Yeah. He gave me a hard time when I first came too.”
“Is that what made wewe interested in him? That he didn't react like other boys have?”
“What?! No! I do NOT like Wally!”
Becca looked down, a smile on her face. She laughed a little.
“It's funny how you're talking to someone wewe know nothing about but I know everything about you.”
“How?”
“Just my own skills; things I learned. But no worries, I haven't told anyone and I won't. I respect you.”
“You're nothing like Robin are you?”
Becca looked up, smiling still.
“Only intellectually. But it's nice being compared to the Boy Wonder.”
Artemis tilted her head as a thought entered her mind.
“Do wewe like him? Robin I mean?”
Becca looked away, a blush on her cheeks.
“Yeah. He's sweet, caring. Playful but very loyal to.”
“Sounds like you're talking about a dog.”
Becca laughed. It kinda did sound like a dog.
“No. But he was raised to be loyal and caring. He was always playful and I can see how that fits into the Robin profile. He's just so...opposite of me.”
“How so?” Artemis asked.
“Well, I'm violent for one thing. I react purely on thought. Emotions aren't really my thing. I tend to do my own thing, for another. I also can be...disloyal. I've never had a mentor before, just my instructor.”
“Isn't that kinda the same thing?”
“Not to me. To me, a mentor is someone who cares for wewe and encourages wewe to do better.”
“You've never had that?”
“No. wewe see, my parents are dead, I'm a convicted criminal, and I have been training to survive.”
“You're a criminal?”
“Not really. Someone I was very close to is on the police force wewe could say. I was charged for crimes I didn't commit. I thought she would see that, but she just...betrayed me. Broke my family apart and, zaidi importantly, sent me into hiding.”
“Sounds like my own 'family' situation.”
“Yeah.”
It was silent for awhile as the wind whistled against the mountain.
“Why don't wewe just go back and defend yourself?” Artemis asked.
“Because if I do, I'll be killed. She's got assassins after me.”
“She wants wewe dead?”
“No. She wants my soul.”
“Who is this person anyway?”
“Serepta Alvers. My dear own sister.”
“She wants wewe dead?”
“Yep. In fact, she's got powers of black magic. I only have my skill.”
“Well, wewe have me now too. I promise Becca; no matter what happens, I will not desert you.”
“And I you. wewe have my trust and respect Artemis.”
“And wewe have mine Becca. Besides, I'm sure if we work together we'll be an unstoppable pair.”
Becca smiled, turning so she could hug the archer.
“Thank wewe Artemis. wewe have no idea what you've done.”
The dark mist faded away. She sat on her kiti cha enzi lazily, legs dangling off the arm of the chair. A wicked laugh tore from her red lips, echoing throughout her dark kingdom. Dark shadows moved at the sound, creeping away from her malicious enjoyment. She played with the little sword pendant hanging from her neck. Her black boots showed through her black dress, a slit in the side that just barely covered her hip. The inside of her dress was red and her juu exposed her breasts with it's wide neck line, which met an her stomach. Her black hair flowed around her, bangs hitting her blood red eyes. She grabbed the cane kwa her throne, inspecting the sharp sword tip. Her black gloves protected her hand and wrist from cuts, but the rest of her white skin was not shielded.
“Oh my darling Becca. How wewe entertain me.”
She laughed again, snapping a little orb of blue light into the dark.
“Do wewe really think befriending THEM is going to stop me? No no no. wewe are very close to this little bird. And I swore to kill wewe every way possible. Devin was killed kwa your hands little sister. So kwa my hands, Robin shall be...clipped of his wings.”
Becca awoke with a sickening feeling in her stomach. She wasn't going to be able to sleep now. Looking at the clock, Becca groaned when it read three o'clock in the morning. She got out of kitanda and dressed in the outfit Artemis had helped her with. She slipped the black leggings on and pulled the purple-almost-black juu over her head. It stopped at her elbows and was skin tight. Her stomach just barley showed as it almost perfectly mirrored Artemis' own top. She secured the black utility ukanda around her hips, noticing it slip on one side just a little. Long black boots that reached the middle of her thighs completed the outfit; she left weapons and mask off.
She creeped out slowly, but stood straight when a light illuminated from another room. She walked along quietly, peeking around the door frame. She sighed when she only saw Robin working at his laptop. She approached, leaning over his shoulder.
“Can't sleep?” she asked.
“Nope. You?”
“Not anymore. What wewe working on?”
“Just upgrading security.”
“Never stop working, huh? How long wewe been up?”
“Since...eleven.”
“You've been working for five hours with no sleep and after that intense training I happened to give us for hitting Wally?”
“Yep.”
Robin pulled away from the computer, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Sore?” Becca asked.
“A little.”
Becca pushed his hand away, gently rubbing his neck.
“Why do wewe push yourself?”
“Part of being Robin.”
“Then, for one night, just be Dick Grayson. Batman is pushing wewe too hard.”
“No he's not.”
“Dick...”
Robin bit his lip. Becca watched him as her hands continued to massage his neck and shoulders. She heard him release a sigh.
“I just want to prove to him that I'm not a kid. I can do things he can.”
“But do wewe really have to loose sleep trying to prove yourself? It's not healthy.”
“It doesn't matter.”
“Yes it does. wewe know it does. And wewe also know that wewe can break some of his rules, right? I'm starting to worry about wewe Dick.”
“Why?” Robin asked, turning to look at her and causing her to stop working the knot in his neck.
“Why? Is that really all wewe have to say? Dick, have wewe really forgotten what it's like to be cared for?”
“No. I just tend to ignore it.”
“You shouldn't.”
Becca stopped speaking ad started working hen Robin turned back to his computer.
“Tell wewe what, Dick. If wewe start getting zaidi sleep, I'll start giving wewe massages whenever wewe want. What do wewe think?”
“Deal. But what about you? Why are wewe up?”
“Restless. Living on the run hasn't been the most peaceful thing.”
“Maybe wewe should tell me what's going on.”
“Later. wewe need sleep. And I'll even go back to kitanda if wewe go to bed.”
Robin groaned, shutting off his computer.
“You're like a mother,” he teased as he made his way to his room. Becca kicked him lightly.
“Just go to bed.”
“Night...mom,” Robin alisema with a chuckle.
Becca shook her head as he closed his door. But it opened again.
“Nice costume kwa the way.”
As he shut the door, Becca blushed. She quickly entered her own room and reminded herself to thank Artemis for the present.
“Whatever Wally told you, Becca...don't listen to him.”
“It's not him Artemis. In fact it's everybody but wewe and Robin.”
“What did everyone else do?”
“Nothing. But they have this...I don't know. This way about them. Kinda like they're better because they've got powers.”
“Well, Megan is really sweet when wewe get to know her. Connor and Kaldur have to be...convinced before they give wewe respect. And Wally will remain an idiot.”
“He's the worst.”
Artemis laughed a little and Becca looked at her.
“Yeah. He gave me a hard time when I first came too.”
“Is that what made wewe interested in him? That he didn't react like other boys have?”
“What?! No! I do NOT like Wally!”
Becca looked down, a smile on her face. She laughed a little.
“It's funny how you're talking to someone wewe know nothing about but I know everything about you.”
“How?”
“Just my own skills; things I learned. But no worries, I haven't told anyone and I won't. I respect you.”
“You're nothing like Robin are you?”
Becca looked up, smiling still.
“Only intellectually. But it's nice being compared to the Boy Wonder.”
Artemis tilted her head as a thought entered her mind.
“Do wewe like him? Robin I mean?”
Becca looked away, a blush on her cheeks.
“Yeah. He's sweet, caring. Playful but very loyal to.”
“Sounds like you're talking about a dog.”
Becca laughed. It kinda did sound like a dog.
“No. But he was raised to be loyal and caring. He was always playful and I can see how that fits into the Robin profile. He's just so...opposite of me.”
“How so?” Artemis asked.
“Well, I'm violent for one thing. I react purely on thought. Emotions aren't really my thing. I tend to do my own thing, for another. I also can be...disloyal. I've never had a mentor before, just my instructor.”
“Isn't that kinda the same thing?”
“Not to me. To me, a mentor is someone who cares for wewe and encourages wewe to do better.”
“You've never had that?”
“No. wewe see, my parents are dead, I'm a convicted criminal, and I have been training to survive.”
“You're a criminal?”
“Not really. Someone I was very close to is on the police force wewe could say. I was charged for crimes I didn't commit. I thought she would see that, but she just...betrayed me. Broke my family apart and, zaidi importantly, sent me into hiding.”
“Sounds like my own 'family' situation.”
“Yeah.”
It was silent for awhile as the wind whistled against the mountain.
“Why don't wewe just go back and defend yourself?” Artemis asked.
“Because if I do, I'll be killed. She's got assassins after me.”
“She wants wewe dead?”
“No. She wants my soul.”
“Who is this person anyway?”
“Serepta Alvers. My dear own sister.”
“She wants wewe dead?”
“Yep. In fact, she's got powers of black magic. I only have my skill.”
“Well, wewe have me now too. I promise Becca; no matter what happens, I will not desert you.”
“And I you. wewe have my trust and respect Artemis.”
“And wewe have mine Becca. Besides, I'm sure if we work together we'll be an unstoppable pair.”
Becca smiled, turning so she could hug the archer.
“Thank wewe Artemis. wewe have no idea what you've done.”
The dark mist faded away. She sat on her kiti cha enzi lazily, legs dangling off the arm of the chair. A wicked laugh tore from her red lips, echoing throughout her dark kingdom. Dark shadows moved at the sound, creeping away from her malicious enjoyment. She played with the little sword pendant hanging from her neck. Her black boots showed through her black dress, a slit in the side that just barely covered her hip. The inside of her dress was red and her juu exposed her breasts with it's wide neck line, which met an her stomach. Her black hair flowed around her, bangs hitting her blood red eyes. She grabbed the cane kwa her throne, inspecting the sharp sword tip. Her black gloves protected her hand and wrist from cuts, but the rest of her white skin was not shielded.
“Oh my darling Becca. How wewe entertain me.”
She laughed again, snapping a little orb of blue light into the dark.
“Do wewe really think befriending THEM is going to stop me? No no no. wewe are very close to this little bird. And I swore to kill wewe every way possible. Devin was killed kwa your hands little sister. So kwa my hands, Robin shall be...clipped of his wings.”
Becca awoke with a sickening feeling in her stomach. She wasn't going to be able to sleep now. Looking at the clock, Becca groaned when it read three o'clock in the morning. She got out of kitanda and dressed in the outfit Artemis had helped her with. She slipped the black leggings on and pulled the purple-almost-black juu over her head. It stopped at her elbows and was skin tight. Her stomach just barley showed as it almost perfectly mirrored Artemis' own top. She secured the black utility ukanda around her hips, noticing it slip on one side just a little. Long black boots that reached the middle of her thighs completed the outfit; she left weapons and mask off.
She creeped out slowly, but stood straight when a light illuminated from another room. She walked along quietly, peeking around the door frame. She sighed when she only saw Robin working at his laptop. She approached, leaning over his shoulder.
“Can't sleep?” she asked.
“Nope. You?”
“Not anymore. What wewe working on?”
“Just upgrading security.”
“Never stop working, huh? How long wewe been up?”
“Since...eleven.”
“You've been working for five hours with no sleep and after that intense training I happened to give us for hitting Wally?”
“Yep.”
Robin pulled away from the computer, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Sore?” Becca asked.
“A little.”
Becca pushed his hand away, gently rubbing his neck.
“Why do wewe push yourself?”
“Part of being Robin.”
“Then, for one night, just be Dick Grayson. Batman is pushing wewe too hard.”
“No he's not.”
“Dick...”
Robin bit his lip. Becca watched him as her hands continued to massage his neck and shoulders. She heard him release a sigh.
“I just want to prove to him that I'm not a kid. I can do things he can.”
“But do wewe really have to loose sleep trying to prove yourself? It's not healthy.”
“It doesn't matter.”
“Yes it does. wewe know it does. And wewe also know that wewe can break some of his rules, right? I'm starting to worry about wewe Dick.”
“Why?” Robin asked, turning to look at her and causing her to stop working the knot in his neck.
“Why? Is that really all wewe have to say? Dick, have wewe really forgotten what it's like to be cared for?”
“No. I just tend to ignore it.”
“You shouldn't.”
Becca stopped speaking ad started working hen Robin turned back to his computer.
“Tell wewe what, Dick. If wewe start getting zaidi sleep, I'll start giving wewe massages whenever wewe want. What do wewe think?”
“Deal. But what about you? Why are wewe up?”
“Restless. Living on the run hasn't been the most peaceful thing.”
“Maybe wewe should tell me what's going on.”
“Later. wewe need sleep. And I'll even go back to kitanda if wewe go to bed.”
Robin groaned, shutting off his computer.
“You're like a mother,” he teased as he made his way to his room. Becca kicked him lightly.
“Just go to bed.”
“Night...mom,” Robin alisema with a chuckle.
Becca shook her head as he closed his door. But it opened again.
“Nice costume kwa the way.”
As he shut the door, Becca blushed. She quickly entered her own room and reminded herself to thank Artemis for the present.