Shadowflame

Artemis zipped up her duffle bag, trying to hide her nervous energy as she said goodbye to her mom at the front door.

"Don't forget to text me when you get there," her mom reminded her, giving her a pointed look.

"I will, I will," Artemis promised, forcing a smile. "It's just one night. I'll be back tomorrow, no big deal."

Her mom nodded but didn't look entirely convinced. "Alright. Be safe, Arty."

"Always," Artemis said, turning on her heel before her mom could ask too many questions. She didn't exactly love lying, but telling her mom the truth—that she was heading off to meet Batman and a mysterious team of young heroes—didn't feel like a good idea. Not yet, anyway.

She made her way through the streets of Gotham, her duffle bag slung over one shoulder. The city was quieter than usual, but the low hum of activity still buzzed in the air. Artemis knew the drill—Gotham never really slept. Stopping by an old, abandoned gym she'd used before, she slipped inside and quickly changed into her vigilante gear. Her hoodie and jeans were swapped for her sleek green-and-black suit, complete with her bow and quiver. Pulling her hood up, she adjusted the mask over her face and stuffed her civilian clothes back into the duffle bag.

Time to meet the Bat.

She followed the directions Batman had given her, heading to an industrial lot on the edge of the city. The whole area felt like the setting of a spy movie—quiet, empty, and just a little too perfect for a secret rendezvous. Her boots crunched softly against the gravel as she approached the spot Batman had marked on her map.

And then she saw them.

Batman, of course, was easy to spot. Tall, intimidating, and radiating that "don't mess with me" energy that no one dared to question. But it was the figure standing next to him that stopped Artemis in her tracks.

Shadowflame.

Holy crap.

The glowing Crimson Gem on his chest was the first thing that caught her eye, pulsing faintly like it had its own heartbeat. His Black, Red, and Gold armor looked even more impressive up close than it did in the news footage. The design was sleeker now, somehow both regal and deadly. The golden mask covered most of his face, but his posture was confident, his Red Cloak and Hood billowing slightly in the breeze. Oh, and the fire wings sprouting from his back? Yeah, those were real, and they made him look like some kind of mythological warrior straight out of an epic fantasy novel.

Artemis tried to keep her jaw from dropping. Play it cool, she told herself. Don't fangirl. Do not fangirl.

"Right on time," Batman said, his voice breaking through her inner monologue. "Artemis, meet Shadowflame."

Shadowflame stepped forward, tilting his head slightly as if sizing her up. "Nice to meet you, Artemis," he said, his voice smooth and calm but carrying an unmistakable power. "I've read your file. You've got potential."

He's read my file? Artemis blinked, momentarily stunned. Wait, focus. Don't just stand there like an idiot.

"Uh, thanks," she managed, trying to sound casual. "Big fan, by the way. Loved the part where you punched Black Adam in the face. That was… cool."

Was she babbling? She might be babbling. Great start.

To her relief, Shadowflame chuckled softly. "Glad you approved. Black Adam didn't."

Batman cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. "Artemis, Shadowflame will be the leader of the team you're joining. He's already proven himself in the field, and he'll be responsible for guiding and training the team."

Leader of the team? Artemis's brain did a double take. She'd expected Batman to lead, or maybe some other older hero she hadn't met yet. But Shadowflame? A hero her age?

"Wait, he's in charge?" she blurted out before she could stop herself. Then, realizing how that sounded, she quickly added, "I mean, not that I'm questioning it or anything. Just… surprised."

Shadowflame didn't seem offended. In fact, he looked amused. "Don't worry," he said, his tone light but confident. "I can handle it. And you'll see soon enough that this team isn't like anything you've been part of before."

Batman nodded, his expression unreadable. "This is your chance to prove yourself, Artemis. Work with Shadowflame. Learn from him. And remember, this isn't about following orders—it's about being part of something bigger."

Artemis nodded, still trying to process everything. She'd gone from patrolling the streets of Gotham alone to joining a team led by one of the most talked-about young heroes in the world. It was overwhelming, sure, but it was also… exciting.

"I'm in," she said, squaring her shoulders. "Let's do this."

Shadowflame gave her a nod, his golden mask catching the light. "Welcome to the team, Artemis. It's going to be a wild ride."

And somehow, she knew he wasn't exaggerating.

—

As Batman disappeared into the shadows, as he often did (seriously, Artemis wondered if it was in the Bat-contract to always leave dramatically), Shadowflame turned to her. "Now that he's gone, we can get started," he said, his voice as calm and composed as ever.

Before Artemis could ask what "getting started" meant, someone stepped out of the shadows nearby—a smaller figure, but just as intimidating in their own way. It was Robin. The Robin.

"About time," Robin said, adjusting his green-and-yellow cape with a smirk. "Thought I'd be lurking in the shadows all night."

Artemis raised an eyebrow. "You were just… standing there the whole time?"

Robin shrugged. "Gotta stay on brand."

Shadowflame, unfazed, gestured to Robin. "Artemis, meet Robin. He's also part of the team."

Artemis blinked. "Wait, the Robin? Like, Gotham's most famous sidekick?"

"I prefer 'partner,'" Robin corrected, crossing his arms. "Sidekick makes me sound like I hold his cape or something."

Shadowflame chuckled softly. "Robin's been with the team for a while now. He's… an acquired taste, but you'll get used to him."

"I'm right here, you know," Robin said, raising a hand.

Shadowflame ignored him and turned back to Artemis. "We're heading to Mount Justice. That's the team's headquarters. You'll meet the rest of the crew there."

"Mount Justice?" Artemis repeated. "Like, the old Justice League hideout?"

Shadowflame nodded. "It's ours now."

Robin leaned toward her, stage-whispering, "They gave it to us because the League realized teenagers don't do well with curfews."

Artemis smirked despite herself. "Alright. So, how are we getting there? Bat-jet? Some kind of invisible plane?"

Robin burst out laughing. "Oh, this is going to be good."

Artemis frowned, glancing between the two of them. "What's so funny?"

Shadowflame extended his hand toward Robin. "Hold on," he said simply. Robin grabbed it with a practiced ease, like this was totally normal for him. Then Shadowflame held his other hand out to Artemis.

She stared at it for a moment. "What are we doing? A trust fall?"

"Just take my hand," Shadowflame said, the faintest hint of amusement in his voice.

Artemis hesitated but eventually took his hand. "If this is some kind of prank—"

Before she could finish her sentence, the world around her twisted and vanished in a rush of wind and light. For a split second, it felt like she was being squeezed through a very tiny tube, and then—pop!—they were somewhere else entirely.

She stumbled slightly as they landed on solid ground, her boots scuffing against polished floors. "What the—where are we?" she managed, looking around.

Robin was already chuckling. "Welcome to Mount Justice," he said, gesturing to the cavernous interior around them. "Shadowflame's personal magic express. No boarding pass required."

Shadowflame's lips twitched under his golden mask. "It's called Apparition. Comes in handy."

Artemis blinked, still trying to wrap her head around what just happened. "You teleported us? Like, actual magic?"

Robin leaned casually against a nearby wall. "Yup. Pretty neat, huh? Makes the Batplane feel like a fossil."

Artemis looked at Shadowflame, her respect for him skyrocketing to new levels. Not only was he leading a superhero team at his age, but he was also casually pulling off wizard stuff.

"That… was awesome," she admitted. "A little disorienting, but awesome."

Shadowflame gave her a nod. "You'll get used to it. Come on, the rest of the team's waiting."

With that, he led the way deeper into the headquarters, his crimson cloak billowing behind him like something out of an epic fantasy movie. Robin followed, still smirking. And Artemis? She squared her shoulders and hurried to keep up, ready to see what this team was all about.

—

As they entered the heart of Mount Justice, the place seemed to hum with energy. The sleek, modern design contrasted with the natural stone walls, giving it the vibe of a top-secret superhero lair—which, of course, it was. Artemis was still wrapping her head around the fact that she was now a part of it.

Shadowflame, leading the way, stopped near a central console. He turned toward her, reaching up to pull back his hood. His golden mask shimmered for a moment before disappearing entirely, leaving behind a strikingly familiar face.

"Hi," he said, a faint grin playing on his lips. "I'm Harry."

Artemis blinked, her brain short-circuiting. "Wait… what?"

She knew who he was—or at least, she thought she did. Shadowflame was Charis Peverell, son of Wonder Woman, heir to Peverell Industries, and the hero who'd made headlines last month by decking Black Adam so hard it became a meme. She'd read the Daily Planet article like everyone else, marveling at how someone her age had stepped into the spotlight so effortlessly.

"But… you're Charis Peverell," she said, pointing at him like he might deny it.

Harry—Charis?—gave a small shrug. "Technically, yeah. But Charis is kind of a tongue twister, don't you think? Harry's easier. And… let's just say my real identity is a bit complicated. That's a story for another time."

Artemis stared at him, trying to process the layers of confusion. "So, you're telling me the son of Wonder Woman—the Wonder Woman—goes by Harry?"

"Yep," he said, clearly amused by her reaction. "Welcome to the team."

Before she could fully recover, Robin stepped forward. "Since we're sharing secrets," he said, pulling off his mask with a dramatic flourish. "Surprise."

Artemis's jaw dropped. "You've got to be kidding me."

Standing there, completely unmasked, was none other than Dick Grayson—her friend, her classmate, the guy who'd borrowed her notes for history last week.

"Dick?!"

"The one and only," he said with a grin, clearly enjoying her shock. "Nice to see you again, Artemis."

"You're Robin?" she asked, her voice pitching higher. "You've been Robin this whole time?"

"Guilty," he admitted. "But in my defense, I couldn't exactly tell you. Secret identity and all."

Artemis threw her hands up. "This is insane. You're Robin, he's Wonder Woman's kid, and I'm just…" She trailed off, suddenly feeling out of her depth. "...some kid with a bow."

Harry stepped forward, his expression softening. "Hey. You're here because you earned it. You've got skills. Don't sell yourself short."

Robin nodded. "Yeah, we've all seen what you can do. Batman doesn't invite just anyone to join a team like this."

Artemis looked between them, still overwhelmed but starting to feel the tiniest spark of pride. "So… this is real. I'm part of this team."

"Absolutely," Harry said with a grin. "And trust me, once you meet the others, you'll realize we're all just figuring it out as we go."

Robin snorted. "Speak for yourself. I've been figuring it out for years."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Anyway, let's get you settled. The rest of the team's waiting."

As they headed deeper into the base, Artemis felt the weight of her bow in the duffle bag slung over her shoulder. For the first time, it didn't feel like something she had to prove herself with—it felt like a badge of honor. She was here, part of something bigger, and despite the crazy start, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement.

Even if her teammates were ridiculously famous.

—

As they continued into the depths of Mount Justice, Artemis tried to tamp down the whirlwind of emotions threatening to take over. She was still reeling from the double whammy of Harry being Shadowflame and Dick being Robin. And now? Apparently, there were more surprises waiting.

"Alright," Robin said, glancing over his shoulder as they approached another room. "Time to meet some of the others."

"I'm almost afraid to ask," Artemis muttered.

Robin smirked. "Oh, you should be."

The doors slid open to reveal a spacious lounge area filled with state-of-the-art tech, a massive holographic display, and—of course—more heroes. Two women were waiting for them. One was tall and elegant, exuding a mysterious, almost otherworldly vibe with jet-black hair and piercing silver eyes that seemed to see right through Artemis. The other was familiar, too familiar.

"Artemis," Harry said, gesturing toward the raven-haired woman first. "This is Deedee. She's, uh… well, let's just say she's special."

"Special?" Artemis repeated, raising an eyebrow.

Deedee stepped forward with an enigmatic smile. "I'm the literal personification of Death."

Artemis blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Death," Deedee repeated, as if explaining the weather. "End of the line, Grim Reaper, final curtain call. But you can just call me Deedee."

"Sure," Artemis said weakly, glancing at Harry, who had the decency to look sheepish.

"And," Deedee added with a small smirk, "I'm also Harry's fiancée."

"Wait, what?!" Artemis yelped.

Harry cleared his throat awkwardly. "Yeah, about that. Deedee and I… we're betrothed. It's, uh, complicated."

"And she's part of his harem," Robin added helpfully, because of course he would.

Artemis gawked. "Harem? Like, actual harem?"

Harry sighed. "It's not as bad as it sounds."

Deedee shot him a sideways look. "I'm not sure that's entirely true, love."

"And who's in this harem?" Artemis asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Deedee ticked off on her fingers. "Well, there's me, Starfire, Supergirl, and Galatea."

"Galatea?" Artemis echoed.

"Clone of Supergirl," Robin supplied. "Curvier version."

Artemis opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again. "I'm starting to think I'm the only normal person here."

"Oh, don't worry," Robin said with a grin. "We're just getting started."

The second woman stepped forward then, and Artemis froze.

"Hey, Artemis," the redhead said with a smile. "Long time no see."

"Barbara?" Artemis asked, her voice an octave higher than usual.

Barbara Gordon—her friend, her study buddy, the girl she'd been working on a science project with just last week—gave a small wave.

"Surprise," Barbara said. "I'm Batgirl."

"Of course, you are," Artemis said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why wouldn't you be?"

Barbara laughed. "Don't worry. You'll get used to it."

"Doubtful," Artemis muttered.

Harry clapped his hands together, cutting through the chaos. "Alright, now that introductions are out of the way, let's move on. There's a lot to cover, and you'll meet the rest of the team soon enough."

Artemis followed them deeper into Mount Justice, her mind spinning. She'd signed up to be a hero, not step into the middle of what felt like the world's weirdest soap opera. But despite the insanity, she couldn't deny the flicker of excitement.

This was her life now—death personified, harem dynamics, and all.

—

As they made their way deeper into Mount Justice, Artemis tried to process everything she'd just learned. Harry was Shadowflame, Barbara was Batgirl, Death was apparently real and engaged to Harry, and he had a harem. Her life had officially gone off the rails, and it wasn't even lunchtime.

Before she could untangle her thoughts, the sound of rapid footsteps approached. A blur of red and yellow zipped into the room, stopping just inches from Artemis with a dramatic skid.

"Hey there, gorgeous!" said the blur, now revealed to be Kid Flash. He flashed her a toothy grin, striking what he clearly thought was a suave pose. "Name's Wally West, aka Kid Flash, fastest man alive. And you are?"

"Uninterested," Artemis replied flatly, crossing her arms.

"Oh, feisty," Wally said, winking at her. "I like that."

Before Artemis could respond with something sharp, Deedee cut in. "Don't mind him. Kid Flash will flirt with anything female and with a pulse. It's like a reflex."

"Hey!" Wally protested, looking offended. Then he paused, reconsidering. "Okay, yeah, fair. But can you blame me? Look at her!"

Artemis rolled her eyes. "Do you have an off switch?"

"Nope," Wally said, popping the "p" with a grin. "But don't worry. You'll come around eventually. Everyone does."

"Doubtful," Artemis muttered, already marking him as someone to avoid.

Another voice cut through the banter, sharp and irritated. "Great, another archer. Just what this team needed."

Artemis turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered boy in red and black, with a bow slung over his shoulder and a scowl firmly in place.

"Speedy," he said, giving her a once-over like he was appraising her worth and finding her lacking. "Though you probably already knew that."

"Actually, I didn't," Artemis shot back, meeting his glare with one of her own. "But thanks for the intro, Speedy."

The irritation in her voice was obvious, but Speedy didn't seem to care. "Let me guess—you're another wannabe archer trying to prove you're good enough to hang with the big leagues?"

"Nope," Artemis said, her tone sweet but laced with venom. "Just here to prove I'm better than you."

Speedy scoffed. "Yeah, good luck with that."

Wally, clearly delighted by the tension, leaned toward Harry. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."

Artemis ignored him, keeping her eyes on Speedy. She wasn't about to let some smug jerk act like he was the end-all, be-all of archery. She'd spent years perfecting her skills, and she wasn't going to let him undermine her.

"Alright, that's enough posturing," Harry said, stepping between them. His voice was calm but firm, with an undertone that made it clear he wasn't in the mood for nonsense. "Speedy, Artemis is part of the team now. Deal with it. Artemis, don't let him get under your skin. He does this with everyone."

Artemis took a deep breath, forcing herself to step back. "Fine. But he'd better stay out of my way."

"Ditto," Speedy muttered, though his glare softened slightly under Harry's gaze.

"Great," Harry said, clapping his hands together. "Now that we've established some ground rules, let's move on."

As they continued through the base, Artemis could feel Speedy's eyes on her, and she knew this wasn't over. But if he thought she was going to back down, he was in for a rude awakening. Let the archery rivalry begin.

—

Artemis followed the group into what looked like the main hub of the base, still reeling from the onslaught of revelations. She barely had time to gather her thoughts before a group of people entered the room, each radiating their own brand of superhuman charisma.

First, there was a stunning blonde in a blue-and-red suit with the iconic "S" emblem. Supergirl. She was practically glowing—literally, with the way her golden hair seemed to catch the light just right.

Next to her was a tall, impossibly beautiful redhead with glowing green eyes. Starfire. Her outfit looked like it had been painted on, and her whole vibe screamed "alien goddess of destruction" (emphasis on the "goddess").

And then there was Galatea, a walking powerhouse with curves for days. She wore a white-and-gold version of Supergirl's suit, but it somehow managed to be even more revealing. Her confident smirk suggested she knew exactly the kind of attention she drew.

"Artemis, meet Supergirl, Starfire, and Galatea," Harry said, gesturing to each of them.

"Hi!" Supergirl said brightly, giving Artemis a warm smile. "It's so great to meet you!"

Starfire floated over and clasped Artemis's hands in her own. "Glorious new friend! I welcome you with joy and exuberance!"

"Uh, thanks?" Artemis said, blinking at the enthusiastic alien.

Galatea didn't bother with formalities. She gave Artemis a quick once-over, then turned to Harry. "You've been busy," she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.

Harry gave her a look. "Behave."

Before Artemis could fully process the trio, her attention was drawn to another figure entering the room—a broad-shouldered boy with dark hair and a serious expression.

"This is Superboy," Harry said. "Or Connor, if you prefer."

Connor gave her a polite nod. "Hey."

Artemis nodded back, surprised by his calm demeanor. Compared to the over-the-top energy of the others, he seemed almost...normal.

Then came the next wave: Zatanna, the magician, looking like she'd just stepped off a stage; Miss Martian, green-skinned and ridiculously adorable; and Mareena, who had an aquatic, otherworldly beauty that made it clear she was from Atlantis.

"Hey, new girl," Zatanna greeted, tipping her hat. "Welcome to the madness."

"Hi!" Miss Martian said with a cheery wave.

Mareena gave a subtle nod, her piercing blue eyes locked on Harry.

It was then that Artemis noticed something strange—or maybe not so strange, considering everything she'd learned today. Zatanna, Miss Martian, and Mareena weren't exactly subtle about their interest in Harry. Their gazes lingered on him, filled with a mixture of admiration and, well, hunger.

Artemis leaned toward Deedee, lowering her voice. "Are they...?"

Deedee didn't even look up from her nails. "Eye-fucking him? Oh, absolutely. Happens all the time."

Artemis blinked. "What?"

"They're prospective members," Deedee explained, still casual.

"Members of what?"

Deedee smirked. "The Harem."

Artemis almost choked. "Excuse me?"

"Yep. Harry's harem," Deedee said, as if she were discussing the weather. "Don't look so shocked. Have you seen him?"

Artemis had no idea how to respond to that, so she didn't. Instead, she just watched as Harry greeted each of the girls with an ease that made it clear this was all perfectly normal for him.

"So," Harry said, turning back to Artemis after the introductions were done. "What do you think?"

"I think I need a drink," Artemis muttered.

Wally, who had been lurking nearby, snorted. "Welcome to the club."

Shadowflame clapped his hands together, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Alright, team. Let's give Artemis the grand tour and get her settled in. We've got a lot to cover."

As the group started to move, Artemis couldn't help but feel like she'd just stepped into the middle of a soap opera—one with superpowers, alien princesses, and way too many people lusting after her new team leader.

This was going to be interesting.

—

Artemis tried not to let her jaw drop as she followed the group into the massive common room. If the sleek, high-tech corridors of Mount Justice hadn't already screamed "next level", the common room confirmed it. It was a perfect blend of cozy hangout space and futuristic superhero base—plush couches, massive screens, and a kitchen area that looked more advanced than her school's computer lab.

What threw her off wasn't the room, though. It was the crowd.

"Artemis," Harry—no, Shadowflame, no, Harry—said, motioning to the group of people lounging around the space. "Meet the rest of the team."

She barely had time to brace herself as a whirlwind of introductions began.

There was Hermione, a bushy-haired girl sitting with a stack of books and a look that screamed I'm smarter than everyone here. Ron, a lanky redhead with a cheeky grin, gave her an easy "Hey," while Ginny—Firebolt, she reminded herself—offered a nod that felt more like a you'll have to earn my respect vibe.

Fred and George, identical twins with matching mischievous smirks, waved in unison. "Don't worry, we're the charming ones," Fred said.

"Speak for yourself," George added. "I'm the good-looking one."

There was Luna, who greeted her with a dreamy "Welcome, Artemis. Have you ever seen a Crumple-Horned Snorkack?" She wasn't sure if Luna was joking or serious, but something about her offbeat energy was endearing.

Then came Katie, Alicia, and Angelina—the Flying Foxes, as they apparently called themselves. They looked like they could take down a supervillain and win a dance-off in the same afternoon.

Neville seemed sweet but nervous, muttering a quiet hello, while Daphne, Susan, Tracey, and Hannah exuded an effortless coolness that made Artemis feel a little underdressed in her vigilante gear.

Dean and Seamus rounded out the group with easy camaraderie. "Don't let all these posh accents fool you," Seamus said. "We're the fun ones."

"Speak for yourself," Dean shot back.

As the introductions wrapped up, Artemis tried to keep track of everyone's names, but her mind snagged on one glaring detail. "Wait," she said, looking around. "Are none of you working under superhero names?"

"Still workshopping them," Ron admitted, shrugging.

"Not all of us are as clever as Firebolt or the Flying Foxes," Hermione added, shooting Ginny a sly smile.

"Clever?" Ginny raised an eyebrow. "It's literally the name of my broomstick."

"Yeah, but it's still better than just being 'Artemis,'" Ron quipped, clearly amused.

"Artemis is a badass name," Harry interjected, coming to her defense.

"Yeah, well," Artemis muttered, crossing her arms. "At least I'm not calling myself Fred 2.0 or something."

Fred gasped theatrically. "How dare you!"

Before the banter could escalate, Kid Flash—who had apparently been eavesdropping—darted in. "Hold up, hold up. I have a more important question." He pointed dramatically at Hermione, who had just conjured a book out of thin air. "How are you doing that?"

Hermione blinked at him. "Magic."

Kid Flash let out a laugh so loud it echoed. "Magic? Yeah, right. What is it, some kind of tech? Holograms? Nanobots?"

"It's magic," Hermione said, her tone patient but firm.

"It's real," Harry added, crossing his arms.

Kid Flash rolled his eyes. "Please. There's no such thing as—"

To make her point, Hermione flicked her wand, and suddenly, Kid Flash was hovering six inches off the ground, his legs kicking wildly.

"Put me down!" he yelped.

"Magic," Hermione said sweetly, letting him drop unceremoniously to the floor.

Artemis stared at her, then at Harry. "Okay, back up. Magic? Like, spells and wands and all that other stuff?"

Harry coughed awkwardly. "Funny you should mention that…"

He quickly launched into an explanation, dropping a bombshell that made her head spin. He wasn't just Charis Peverell, son of Wonder Woman. He was also Harry Potter—a wizard from another dimension. After falling through something called the Veil of Death, he'd landed in this world, unconscious, and been scooped up by LexCorp.

"They thought I was a metahuman," he said. "So they experimented on me. Spliced my DNA with Wonder Woman's. That's how I ended up with…well, this." He gestured vaguely at his armor.

"Don't forget the part where you broke out and punched Lex Luthor into next week," Fred chimed in.

Harry shot him a look. "I was getting to that."

He went on to explain how he'd been rescued by the Justice League and eventually became Shadowflame. Oh, and Peverell Industries? Just a front for the Wizarding World refugees who had followed him here. Apparently, Mount Justice wasn't just a superhero base—it was sitting on top of a literal mountain of gold.

"Wait, literal gold?" Artemis asked, her brain struggling to keep up.

"Yep," George said cheerfully. "A mountain of it. Best way to funnel wizarding wealth into the local economy."

Artemis glanced down, as if expecting to see gold spilling out from under the floor. "This is…a lot."

"Welcome to the team," Harry said with a grin.

"Yeah," she muttered. "I'm definitely going to need that drink now."

—

Artemis stepped off the Zeta-Tube, her duffle bag slung over her shoulder, and took a deep breath. The familiar skyline of Gotham loomed in the distance, a comforting yet oppressive reminder of the city she called home. After spending a whirlwind night at Mount Justice, meeting what felt like an entire league of new people (and getting her mind blown repeatedly), the sight of Gotham's grungy streets felt oddly grounding.

She ducked into a nearby alley to change out of her vigilante gear and into her normal clothes. A quick glance around ensured no one was watching, and in a few minutes, she emerged looking like any other teenager on her way home. She tossed her duffle bag over her shoulder and made her way to her family's modest apartment.

---

The familiar creak of the door greeted her as she stepped inside. Her mom, Paula, was seated in her wheelchair at the dining table, a cup of tea in hand. She looked up with a warm smile.

"Welcome home, Artemis. Did you have a good time at Barbara's?"

Artemis hesitated for half a second before nodding. "Yeah, it was great. A bit… eventful."

Paula tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "Eventful? What happened? Did you girls get into trouble?"

"Nothing like that," Artemis said quickly, dropping her bag by the couch and plopping down in a chair. She thought about how to phrase her explanation. Technically, everything she was about to say would be true—she just had to avoid the superhero-sized details.

"Well, we hung out, got to know some of Barbara's other friends," she began.

"Oh?" Paula said, sipping her tea. "I didn't know Barbara had so many friends."

"Yeah, me neither," Artemis admitted with a grin. "Turns out she has this whole group. Kind of like a club. They're… let's just say, unique."

Paula chuckled. "Unique how?"

"Uh, one of them is ridiculously smart, another's got the whole rebellious thing going on, and there's this guy—total flirt, but you'd think he's never talked to a girl before." She paused, thinking about Kid Flash's terrible pick-up lines.

Her mom smirked knowingly. "Sounds like an interesting mix."

"Oh, it is. And there's this one guy—he's kind of the leader of the group. Charismatic, but not in an annoying way. He's, uh, intense, but also… kind of inspiring?" Artemis found herself fumbling for words. How exactly did one describe Harry/Charis/Shadowflame without giving away the whole son of Wonder Woman, wizard from another dimension thing?

Paula's expression softened. "It sounds like you had a good time, Artemis. I'm glad."

Artemis relaxed, the tension in her shoulders easing. "Yeah, it was nice. A change of pace, you know?"

Paula nodded but gave her a knowing look. "And you're sure that's all? You seem… distracted. Like there's something else on your mind."

Artemis froze for a moment before shaking her head. "No, nothing. Just… processing. You know how it is when you meet new people. It takes time to get a read on them."

Her mom didn't press further, but her gaze lingered for a moment, searching. Then she smiled gently. "Well, I'm glad you got out of the house. You deserve to have fun."

"Thanks, Mom," Artemis said, standing up and stretching. "I think I'm gonna crash for a bit. Last night was… exhausting."

Paula laughed softly. "Go ahead. You've earned it."

As Artemis headed to her room, she couldn't help but smile. It wasn't exactly the truth, but it was close enough. And as much as she hated keeping secrets from her mom, this one—her new role in Shadowflame's team, her growing connection to Mount Justice, and the people who called it home—felt worth it.

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Hey fellow fanfic enthusiasts!

I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Whether you loved it, hated it, or have some constructive criticism, your feedback is super important to me. Feel free to drop a comment or send me a message with your thoughts. Can't wait to hear from you!

If you're passionate about fanfiction and love discussing stories, characters, and plot twists, then you're in the right place! I've created a Discord server dedicated to diving deep into the world of fanfiction, especially my own stories. Whether you're a reader, a writer, or just someone who enjoys a good tale, I welcome you to join us for lively discussions, feedback sessions, and maybe even some sneak peeks into upcoming chapters, along with artwork related to the stories. Let's nerd out together over our favorite fandoms and explore the endless possibilities of storytelling!

Click the link below to join the conversation:

https://discord.com/invite/HHHwRsB6wd

Can't wait to see you there!

If you appreciate my work and want to support me, consider buying me a cup of coffee. Your support helps me keep writing and bringing more stories to you. You can do so via PayPal here:

https://www.paypal.me/VikrantUtekar007

Or through my Buy Me a Coffee page:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/vikired001s

Thank you for your support!