Chapter Text
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Throwing off the remains of her red dress, Artemis kicked off the matching heels and stretched her arms up. She needed to wash off the blood and grime from the evening’s firefight, but tomorrow she was officially free from the shadows. Twirling a little before the open curtains, the heady relief of finally getting out rides the wave of adrenaline flooding her system. She feels invincible. And it’s only ten in the evening.
Humming she danced into the bathroom and laughed at the mess her face had become. Miraculously she’d suffered only a few bruises and none of those were in places anyone was likely to see but her face had smears of not only makeup but also someones blood. While she removed it all, a sharp rap at the door sent her into high alert. Consciously forcing herself to relax, Artemis scrubbed at her face with a towel and peeked out the peep hole. Someone dressed as a hotel employee stood outside, a letter and flat, black object in hand.
Opening the door a cautious amount, she belatedly remembered the fact that she was barely dressed. Holding the towel to her chest Artemis leaned around so they couldn’t find out for themselves.
“Miss Crock? The Master requests his necklace back and sends you this note.” Artemis accepted the envelope and with a curt nod stepped behind the door to remove the necklace. Dropping the ornament into the opened velvet case the shadow bowed slightly and scurried off. Tigress locked the door behind him.
Ra’s has sent her a small envelope and a note, requesting that she deliver it personally to someone named Klarion at some club. Tonight. Part of Tigress is annoyed, the other part whispers that it’s easy and she’d have the chance for a little reckless celebration. Tossing the envelope and note on the bed, she rushes to the bathroom with her lipstick stained towel. There was time for a quick shower.
Wally hung up the hotel lobby phone, his head dropping back in defeat. Grayson had dropped him off here with a room key but no word on his luggage. Dragging a hand through his hair, he winced slightly as the movement stretched his back. The bulletproof vest had shielded him from death but bullets still had enough force to bruise, especially the ones aimed at others.
Right now what he really wanted was to get cleaned up and have a good nights sleep. Slumping to the elevator, Agent West removed his hole ridden jacket and shook it out, wafting the scent of gunpowder and something sweeter through the air. A smudge of red lipstick got on his hand and he looked down at his shirt to see at least two more staining the white fabric. The whole outfit was a write off, and he was glad it wasn’t a rental.
In the hallway to his room He heard her before he saw her. She was on the way out, a door swinging open behind her and heels clicking even through the plush carpet. Red gown gone in favour of a dark little cocktail dress. Their eyes meet and hold until she vanishes around the corner, her dress flashing green in the light.
West jumps forward and catches her door just before it shuts, glad the hotel had thought to install door closers. Slipping inside, he paused and let the door close behind him. When he heard nothing, West continued in with one hand on his gun. All the bullets had been spent in the fight earlier but the sight would work for a deterrent.
A quick sweep of the rooms proved there was no one else. West ran to his room, using the remains of his jacket to keep her door from closing. He could call someone, get them to drop some equipment off, from the privacy of his own room. He didn’t think that she’d bug her own room but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Dashing into his room, right next door, he tripped over his suitcase. Scrambling on the floor, he threw it open and tossed his clothes aside to grab to the small stash of bugs tucked in with his headphones. Hurrying back into her room, he set up the bugs. A camera on the decorative mirror, a mike in the bathroom light fixture and another under the coffee table.
A note on the coffee table had scribbled directions to an address West assumed she’d gone to. He’d also gone through a her things a little and found enough weaponry to take out everyone in the building alongside her designer brands.
Wally took the directions back to his room. He took them into the bathroom while he showered, and reread them over and over when he lay in bed.
Making his mind up, he changed again and hid a small caliber gun into his ankle holster. Tucking the sheet into his pocket with his room key, he left.
The bass pounded through her body from a block away. Inside the club, it was much worse. Less a club and more a rave which was steadily getting out of control. The drinks at the bar were literally half filled everything was vibrating so much.
Tigress ordered something sweet and watched from a bar stool. People crowded around the dance floor and a multi colored strobe light flickered over them. Ra’s hadn’t put a picture of this “Klarion” in his letter, and she didn’t recognise the name. Hopefully, she’d recognise his face even in the dim light of the club.
When she went to order her third drink the bartender paused before taking her money.
“Have you been waiting for someone?” Hesitation gripped her mind while it ran through the pros and cons of telling this stranger and she ran with her gut feeling that this person would forget before the night was out.
“Yeah, some kid called Klarion. Know where they are?”
The bartender paled, then took her glasses, rubbing at the lipstick marks with a spare cloth. “Yeah, he’s upstairs.” Their voice dropped to a whisper she could barely pick up over the music, “whenever he comes, this place goes crazy. Last time, three people broke bones.” Right then someone started shouting and black shirted security rushed into the crowd. Shaking their head, the bartender pointed out a staircase hidden off to the side. With a nod, Artemis went up it.
Klarion, as it turned out, was an underaged kid with some kind of dead animal draped around his neck and a gothic flair. Pasting on a smile, Tigress moved towards him only to stop at his black manicured hand.
“Hey kitty,” Cringing at his high pitch which carried even over the loud music Artemis pulled back a little more. “Come here kitty cat.” When Artemis didn’t move at his purr, Klarion snapped out, “Stupid cat! I said come here!”
Stepping forward, Tigress felt her balance tip slightly. Weird. She’d never had a problem with these shoes before. Shaking her head slightly, she retrieved the envelope in her clutch and handed it over. Klarion took it without taking his eyes off her.
Unnerved, Artemis averted her eyes. He lightly touched her arm with cold fingers, dragging them up and around her back. She felt him shift her hair, lifting most of it up off her back and neck then letting it fall back.
He stepped back in front of her and lifted her chin. Child like, he tilted his head. Artemis stepped back and he turned away, seemingly bored. “You can go now,” he told her with a dismissive flick of his hand.
Downstairs, Artemis went straight back to the bar for a good strong drink. she needed to settle her nerves and regain her bearings. A drink, tiny umbrella sticking out, was set before her. The bartender pointed out a man leaning against the counter.
Alarmed, Artemis left the drink, instead diving into the crowd. Which had gotten exponentially worse, security were pulling the worst offenders out all around her but as soon as one went two more went berserk. Shoved from all sides, she found herself next to one of the speakers.
A tap on the shoulder alerted her to the man from the bar who had followed her. He smiled at her, teeth bright in the dark room and she focused on his lips since she couldn’t hear anything beyond the booming music. Frowning she gestured to the speaker and he offered his hand, pointing to the exit. Nodding, she let him pull her out of the crowd where he speed up until they were standing outside.
“Hey,” was all he said while trying to flag down a taxi. Tigress tried to shake off his hand. he tightened his grip.
“Hey, let go!” Jerking out of his grasp, she slipped a small blade from her clutch. He just looked at her impatiently.
“Look, lady, you can take a cab home now or go back in there and lose a limb.”
“What are you, security or something? I don’t need your help.”
“Or something, I just care that you’re getting back safe okay?”
“Why do you even care?”
Instead a taxi came and he opened the door for her. When she tried to leave instead, he caught her and caged her between getting in the taxi and himself. for a moment, she contemplated killing him but then she’d need to get rid of the taxi driver as well and didn’t this country start implementing cameras in taxis?
Getting in, he followed her and gave instructions to the driver to her hotel. Gripping her knife, Artemis resolved to ignore him.
“You know, I was hoping you’d remember me.” He put both hands behind his head and frowned at the ceiling. “I mean, the sex was pretty good.” He turned his head slightly towards her and she noted that he had bright green eyes.
Artemis bit her lip. She hadn’t have many partners who fit this guy’s description. Actually, only one with eyes that green. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He leaned right into her space and she was sure he was going to kiss her but instead he lifted her hand off her clutch and tangled their fingers together. Smiling, he opened the door behind him and pulled her out, paying the driver without letting go of her.
Looking up at her hotel, Artemis felt him step closer and she didn’t feel the urge to pull away. “But I don’t even know you.” She murmured, so quiet she could barely hear herself.
“But I want to know you.” And he brushed his mouth on hers, teasingly light. With a gasp, she stepped back their hands still connected. He dragged his other hand through his hair with a frustrated sigh. “Look, maybe this is too much. Do you want to get some tea and we could talk.”
Biting down hard on her tongue, Artemis pulled away and briskly walked through the reception to the elevator.
He caught up easily and cornered her inside the elevator. “Hey, are you cold? you could borrow my jacket or I have a hoodie here, it’s way more comfortable.”
Hurt, anger, fear rushed through her as she swung at him with her blade. He caught her wrist easily so she slammed her clutch into his chest, running past him into her hallway. He kept following her until a cry tore through her throat. “What do you want from me!?” Choking down a sob, she hurtled through the doorway of her room.
“Artemis, wait!” Even with her throwing her weight behind it, the door allowed him to get a foot in.
“You knew, all this time you knew?” Sliding down against the door, Artemis dropped her things and tucked her knees under her chin.
“Artemis please. Let me in and I’ll tell you everything.” She felt the thunk of something hitting the door and he continued in a softer voice. “Artemis, I know you’ll never want to see me again. And you have every right to that but please, let me in.” She waited for sixteen long heartbeats until he sighed and pushed on the door. Scrambling for her weapon, he withdrew his foot and the door closed with a soft click.
Holding her breath, Artemis held the blade flat against herself as she strained to hear what he was doing on the otherside. Hearing nothing, she stood and opened the door slightly. He’d been in the process of opening the room next to hers.
“Hey.” She called out, fingers clenched around her knife.
He started, fumbling and dropping his key. “Hey?’
A flush of heat spread across her face when she looked him in the eye. “So, I don’t even know your name.”
“Wally. Wally West.” He made as if to step towards her then thought the better of it.
“Your name’s really Wally?” Artemis bit her lip, watching his ears turn red. “Well, Wally, I think you owe me an explanation.”
Wally stepped towards her eagerly, “really?” A blindingly bright grin spread across his face at her nod.
“But if what you have to say isn’t good enough, I will kill you.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything else, Beautiful.” He slid in past her and left a faint whiff of cologne in his trail. Swallowing hard, Artemis locked the door.
“Wait, before you start, take off your weapons.” Wally shrugged at her and removed a single pistol from an ankle holster. “All of them.”
“This is all I have.” He waved the gun by it’s butt then set it on the coffee table. Artemis herded him towards the bed.
“Then strip.” He paused, then slid off his jacket and dropped it to the ground. The rest of his clothes followed until he stood there in just his boxers. Closing her mouth, Artemis started to remove her heels and he knelt to slip them off for her. Staring up at her from his kneeling position, Wally tilted his head slightly. “How?” Artemis finally whispered.
“First time we met I thought it was luck. Didn’t look into it. Second, coincidence. But the third time…” His voice was low and velvety soft in a way that made her heart ache with longing.
“You didn’t.” But she hadn’t been careful that time.
“Believe it, babe. The third time I ran your DNA, Artemis.” He exhaled, hard, and it hit her bare legs. “And the fourth time, you were married.” His eyes closed at the bitter quirk of his lips. “Cameron’s doing well, by the way.”
“Wally… who are you?”
“Thought you would’ve guessed by now. Agent Wallace West of the US Government, at your service.” He rose to his feet, all while looking her straight in the eye. Her next question was smothered by his mouth on hers. “I’m the guy who’s still stupidly in love with you.”
Recklessly, effortlessly, they come together with the kind of slow, lazy movements of two people with all the time in the world. His fingers ease the zip of her dress down like he’d done it a thousand times before and when she pulls back to breathe she sees that he has in a way. It’s the way he looks at her like she’s made of everything he’s sure about and everything he wants to know. The slight flicker of his eyes, like he’s trying to memorise every detail in the moment.
The slip of her dress falling woke her from the haze. Placing both hands on his exposed chest she pushed, enough to have him step back. Lipstick had smeared across his skin. His fingers curled around her own while the knife gleamed from the carpet beside them. Shaking her head, Artemis pulled away even though the drag of her fingertips on his skin ran shivers up her arms.
Shutting herself in the bathroom, she grabbed her makeup remover and automatically began scrubbing at the mess she’d become. She wanted this. She didn’t. He’d lied. He’d told the truth.
Peeking out the door she saw him lying on the bed, arms crossed beneath his head. The bedside light softly illuminated the contours of his muscles and the slight movement of his torso as he breathed.
She really wanted this.
Entering the suite, Artemis went around the hotel room, turning off the lights until only the bedside lamp cast a pool of light over him. Getting on the bed beside him, he watched as she settled astride him.
“This is a really bad idea,” she told him, her voice pitched intimately low. He helped her remove her dress, smoothing her hair back down while she tossed it away. Stretching over him, she peeled off her bra deliberately taking her time. Bending down and kissing him the same way Artemis smiled at how very aware of her he was.
Lapping at his mouth she relaxed herself on top of him. Wally’s hands tangled in her hair, spilling blonde strands over her shoulders to pool on him and the bed. Shifting down she licked at his jaw, then his neck the soft groan vibrating through her lips.
“Artemis, are you sure?” Wally looked at her with drowsy green eyes. Pulling away, Artemis traced his profile with her fingertips.
“I want this, do you?” Catching her hand, he pressed it to his mouth then his heart.
“Of course I do,” Pulling her towards himself, Wally kissed her open mouthed and sloppy. Rolling off him Artemis tugged down her panties. She’d just put her hands on the elastic of his shorts when he stopped her. “Wait, wait, do you have a condom?”
Artemis flopped on her back with a sigh, and Wally quickly mounted her. “I don’t have anything you need to worry about,” she growled through the shower of kisses he rained down on her. A harsh nip to his earlobe and he retreated to her breasts, pointedly making a bright hickey on the left.
She’d been using her thigh to remove his boxers when he slid down and out of reach. Sitting up she watch as he dipped his head and licked her clit. Tossing her head back, Artemis moaned out loud as his tongue worked. Legs wrapped around his head and hips pressing closer until on a drawn out whine of his name she came.
Eyes fluttering open at his breathy chuckle, Artemis forced her jellied muscles into frowning. “I’ve had better lovers,” she rolled on her side uncomfortably noting how wet she still was.
A freckled arm settled across her waist and an erection against her back. “What are their names and social security numbers?” He breathed into her ear. His hand slid down her abdomen, “I could coax them out of you,” he laughed again, pressing it against her shoulder.
“No you couldn’t,” with a twist of her hips she’s got a leg around him and her hand guiding his erection into her. He groans once he’s inside and Artemis relishes this decadent feeling.
Wally bucks into her over and over, his fingers exploring her body. Artemis busies her own with tangling in his hair as they make out. His thrusts get erratic and a thumb starts massaging her clit as he comes inducing her own orgasm.
Stroking his jawline, she smiles when she realises he’s been repeatedly whispering her name. He nuzzles into her and whines when she gets up to get a washcloth. For two orgasms she’d do the cleaning up. Settling back into bed, she cuddles close to him and closes her eyes.
Wally wakes to the empty space in his arms. The dried out washcloth on the bedside table reminds him that the night before had really happened and rolling over he draped an arm over Artemis. Humming to himself, he didn’t bother to hide the smirk as she stirred from the noise. Smoothing over the silky sheets covering her naked form, he hummed even louder lightly tapping on the highest curve.
Blearily she squinted at him. One hand cupped his face and she pecked his lips, immediately ceasing the sound in favour of kissing her properly. Lightly tickling her, he swallowed her giggles eagerly. Rolling onto his back he dragged her on top, still tickling.
There was a slight pause where her eyes went blank then she got up stiffly. Wally sat up and watched her dig mechanically through her suitcase. Whatever sixth sense he had murmured that something was very wrong and he scrambled for the bedside table where a semiautomatic was hidden behind the bible. Quickly he hid it under the sheet when she turned back to him holding a lighter. Flipping the lid and igniting it, she looked straight at him with empty eyes. Then she tossed it onto the bed setting the sheets ablaze. Wally stared first at the flames then at her retreating back. Aiming the gun at her, she turned at the sound of the safety being release expression still vacant. He fired.