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Robin really—really—liked seeing his archer teammate with her hair down. It was so long, so luscious, and so golden that he couldn’t help but think she should wear it down more often. Ever since their mission in Europe, all he could think about was when he’d get to see Artemis with her hair loose again.
He grinned to himself as his mind began formulating a plan to ensure Artemis would wear her hair down every day for the rest of her life. As the scenario played out in his head, he let out a loud cackle. This is going to be good!
.
Artemis stared at the drawer full of her hair products, but one crucial item was missing.
Where the hell are my hair ties? she thought, bewildered. She distinctly remembered buying a new set from Walgreens the other night—$2.30 well spent. She knew her mom didn’t use hair ties—her hair was too short—and she was certain her mom wouldn’t touch her things. Ever.
Well… Jade used to, but she didn’t even live in the Crock apartment anymore.
"Artemis, you’re going to be late for school!"
She cursed under her breath as she slammed the drawer shut and glared at herself in the mirror. Well, shit. Artemis didn’t like wearing her hair down most of the time because it always got in her way. She’d considered cutting it, but she’d worked so hard to grow it out this long. She loved having long hair—she just hated letting it loose. Was that weird?
Artemis sighed heavily as she left the bathroom and headed to the living room to grab her bag. "Bye, Mom. I’m staying at the cave tonight. There’s a mission, so I’ll see you tomorrow."
"Be safe, and—honey, you should wear your hair down more often! You look beautiful!" Paula crooned, running her fingers through her daughter’s long, golden mane.
"Mooooom~" Artemis whined, pouting slightly. "Did you take my hair ties?"
"Of course not, honey. You know I’d never touch your things."
"I know, I know. It’s just… they’re all gone." Artemis watched as her mom wheeled over to the table and rummaged through her bag. Her eyes widened when her mom pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it to her.
"Go buy some after school. Don’t worry—keep the change and treat yourself or your friends."
"But Mom—"
"No buts. Now shoo! You’re going to miss your bus!"
Artemis quickly pulled her mom into a tight hug and kissed her cheek before pulling away. "Thanks, Mom. You’re the best."
.
By the time she arrived at Gotham Academy, Artemis couldn’t help but feel self-conscious with her hair flowing freely behind her. She was so used to having it tied up securely that she didn’t have to worry about it getting in the way.
Now, she was receiving stares from everyone. Uh, is there something on my face or something?
She ignored the looks and decided to meet up with her friends before the bell rang. She easily spotted her best friends, Bette Kane and Barbara Gordon, and greeted them. "Hey, guys. Bette, did you do the French homework?"
Bette turned to greet her, but her eyes did a double take. "Artemis~" Bette grabbed a handful of Artemis’s golden hair and began running her fingers through it. "Oh my god, where have you been hiding this hair? Babs, you’ve got to feel this. It’s so soft."
"Guys—"
"Whoa. Crock, tell me what products you use for your hair right now!" Barbara demanded, joining in on stroking Artemis’s hair.
"Gu—"
"Ohh~ is it ‘Touch Artemis’s Hair Day’ today?"
"Dick, you’ve got to feel her hair right now!" Bette ordered the freshman, and Artemis felt another hand running through her hair.
Great. Just great. This was exactly why she never wore her hair down. Everyone always wanted to touch it. She quickly swatted their hands away and glared at her friends. "Stop violating my hair!"
"Calm your tits, girl," Bette replied, placing a hand on her hip. "We can’t help it. This is the first time we’ve seen you with your hair down since you got here."
"You look good with your hair down," Dick said with a cheeky grin. "You should wear it like this more often."
"I agree. And more importantly, ‘Mis, tell me your secrets for such silky hair," Barbara demanded again. Artemis could only groan in response. She needed to buy a hair tie ASAP.
.
"Don’t you have a Mathletes meeting to go to, Dick?"
"It got canceled."
"So you decided to stalk me around Gotham while I look for hair ties?"
"Why not? We’re going to have fun."
Artemis shot the freshman a suspicious look before entering Walgreens. She quickly strode to the hair products aisle, her heart pounding. I need that hair tie!
But her heart sank as she stared at the empty shelf where the hair ties should have been. No way. They’re out? Walgreens is never out of stock!
"Did you find it yet?" Dick appeared beside her, and Artemis sighed heavily.
"Let’s go to CVS."
.
At CVS
Once again, Artemis found herself staring at an empty aisle where the hair ties should have been. Again. What the hell is going on?
"Why the hell are they out of hair ties?" she muttered under her breath. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Dick examining the hairbrushes with fascination. Artemis walked over to him and declared, "Let’s go."
"Did you get your hair tie?"
"No!"
.
At Gotham City Mall; Claire's
"Do—do you guys have any hair ties?" Artemis asked the cashier desperately. As soon as she’d entered the store, she’d scanned the aisles for hair ties—even the girly ones with ribbons—only to find none.
The cashier gave her an apologetic look. "I’m sorry. Some crazy kid came in last night and bought everything. Even our stock is gone."
"Seriously?" Artemis said incredulously.
"Yes. You could try Forever 21 or H&M."
Artemis nodded automatically. "Thanks."
.
At Forever 21
"All of our accessories are missing—"
At H&M
"—we’re still trying to figure out where they all went."
At every single store in the mall
"All our stock is missing. I’m sorry, miss."
.
At 7-11
"We don’t even sell those here, ma’am."
"Seriously? What kind of convenience store doesn’t sell hair ties?"
"Ma’am, maybe you could—"
"And stop calling me ma’am! Do I look old to you?!"
Crash!
"Get out of my store!"
"Screw you and your stupid store!"
By this point, Artemis was ready to burn Gotham to the ground. There was no freaking way all the hair ties in the city were gone. Not even a single person seemed to have one. It felt like there was a conspiracy against her.
"Are you okay, ‘Mis?"
She slowly turned her gray eyes to meet his innocent electric-blue ones and stared at him in horror. "Dick, what the hell is wrong with this city? There isn’t a single hair tie left. Not in any store, not with anyone!"
Artemis almost wanted to cry. She didn’t want to go on the mission tonight with her hair down. It would just get in the way!
She dejectedly walked down the street, depressed over the fact that not a single hair tie seemed to exist in Gotham anymore. She was startled when she felt a hand on her back, gently caressing her.
"You don’t need a hair tie, Artemis," Dick said, smiling at her when she stopped to look at him. He grabbed a strand of her hair and continued, "You look beautiful with your hair down."
Artemis felt her face heat up. She bit her lower lip, wondering if the kid was always this charmingly sweet. She coughed and muttered a quiet "Thanks," missing the grin plastered on the freshman’s face.
.
Robin grinned as the zeta beam activated, revealing the blonde he’d seen an hour earlier. He had to admit—Artemis, in her uniform and with her hair down, truly looked like the Goddess of the Moon.
"You went through all that trouble to buy every hair tie in Gotham City just so you could see her with her hair down," Red Arrow remarked.
Robin grinned. "It was worth it."
Red Arrow scoffed, looking smug. "Seeing Artemis in my old Speedy costume was worth it."
The Boy Wonder’s grin faltered as the words processed in his brain. Wait… "What?! When did that happen?"