Chapter 5-

Rome, Italy
21:34 CET December 15

"Gotcha!" Wally said.

"We're on the same team, idiot." Artemis replied.

She and Wally were playing Justice League on the game console Wally had rented earlier that week. Artemis hated to admit it, but it was sorta fun.

The Flash (Wally) was zooming around, making the Joker go crazy. He was causing thêm harm than good.

Artemis on the other hand was playing Green Arrow. She calmly shot Mũi tên xanh after arrow, taking down villains one at a time.

"Funny, huh?" Wally asked.

"What's funny?" Artemis asked, shooting a couple of arrows at Wotan.

"We're both playing our uncles!" Wally said, hitting the joker at the speed of sound.

Artemis bit her lip, but Wally didn't seem to notice. They continued playing until it was about eleven. Artemis đã đưa ý kiến they needed to rest and had to wrestle Wally for the controller. She finally got it and fell asleep.

She wished she hadn't.

Artemis didn't normally dream. And when she did, it was about pleasant things. Which is why this dream worried her.

Artemis found herself in her apartment with her mom. Her mom was sitting at the bàn eating some bánh xèo, bánh kếp when the door busted down. 

Cheshire and a handful of Shadows walked in. Artemis's mom quickly pulled a stun gun out of the secret compartment in the wheelchair. She shot the shadows, but couldn't hit Cheshire.

"Hello, mother." Cheshire said, grabbing the old woman bởi the neck. "Let's go for a walk, shall we?"

Artemis woke up gasping. Wally was still sleeping peacefully. Artemis got out of giường and slid on a áo khoác before heading to the roof.

She opened the door, enjoying the crisp breeze as it blew her undone hair. She walked to the edge of the building and sat down, her legs dangling over the sides.

Artemis pulled out a communicator and opened a frequency to the Justice League. Người dơi picked up.

"Artemis." he said.

"Batman, I was wondering, um I mean, I hoped bạn could-" Artemis stumbled, trying to find the best way to address the Dark Knight.

"Get to the point." Người dơi said.

"I know it's only a dream, but I don't have dreams often and this could very likely happen and- What I'm trying to ask is if you'll check on my mom for me? The Shadows may have taken an interest in her."

Người dơi thought for a moment. "Either I hoặc Green Mũi tên xanh will check on your mother. We'll contact you." 

"Thank you." Artemis's voice was heavy with relief.

"Get some sleep." Người dơi said. "And don't worry. She'll be fine. Người dơi over and out."

Artemis slipped the communicator back in her pocket and sat, looking at the stars. She began to cry, which was very unlike her. She cried for a few moments until a hand gently touched her shoulder.

She jumped, whirling around. It was only Wally.

"How long have bạn been there?" she asked, trying to sound annoyed.

"Not long." Wally replied, sitting down tiếp theo to her. "What's wrong?"

Artemis turned away and wiped her tears off. "Nothing? Why do bạn ask?"

"You were crying."

"Was not!"

"Artemis, sometimes being strong, means admitting something is wrong."
Wally said, worry and...compassion? in his voice.

Artemis took a deep breath. "It's nothing bạn should worry about."

"Artemis..." Wally said.

Artemis choked back a few sobs before speaking again.

"It's my mom. I know this is going to sound silly, but I had a nightmare and now I'm scared something's going to happen to her without me there to protect her." Artemis said.

Wally slipped his arm around her shoulders, and Artemis leaned her head on his shoulder. "Its okay." Wally said. "Nothing's going to happen to her."

"How can bạn say that?" Artemis asked, sniffling back a few tears.

"'cause GA and Bats would never let anything happen to her." Wally said.

Artemis sniffled some more. After a few minutes, she noticed Wally's breathing grow thêm even. She looked up to see that he was asleep. She began to doze off too. 'I hope he locked the room' she thought, and fell asleep.