The light was off and Wally was tangled in the sheets, his bare torso exposed. Artemis knew he was sleeping now so he could go to Central City and patrol with his uncle that night, and that he really needed to grab sleep when he could, it was the same for her. But she found his chest too tempting and dropped her books at the kitchen table before heading down the hall to their bedroom. She slipped off her shoes quietly before crawling up next to him and sliding into the crook his arm made that seemed to fit her body perfectly. He moaned at the sudden increase in pressure but only draped his arm over her shoulder before hugging her close to him. "You do know I have to sleep right?" He mumbled in a half-yawn.

She cringed and looked up, "Sorry, Babe. You just looked too tempting."

"You say that every time."

"Because it's true," he then opened his eyes and winked down at her.

She kissed his chest before snuggling back in, "I didn't mean to wake you up."

"I know." She could tell he was already falling back asleep and she felt her eyes get too heavy as well.

When she opened them again it was only the yellow streetlight shining through the blinds. 'Dammit' she thought. She couldn't afford taking such a long nap on a Wednesday. Wally didn't have class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and could afford to sleep in once he got back from patrolling sometime before Barry had to head to work, but Artemis still had an early class. She wasn't going to get any sleep soon so she made her way to the kitchen to start the piles of homework she had to get started on. She heard clinking and the sounds of her boyfriend trying to muffle the pans as he pulled them from their place under the stove.

"What are you still doing here?" She asked him.

He jumped and she could only see the blur of him catching the frying pan with his super speed before it hit the ground. "Morning, Alice, how was your trip to Wonderland?" He teased with a wink.

"Oh, you know. Made out with this crazy red-head." She came up behind him and kissed his neck, "what're you making?"

"Breakfast. We've got a long night, Babe."

"We?"

"Nightwing called, we're expected at the cave in two hours for a mission." For once he didn't sound very pleased about the idea of them teaming up on the same mission. A rare occurrence in recent months.

"I'm not on duty tonight," she said, partly curious why her boyfriend was acting like he was, and more than a little frustrated at the change of plans. Part of the agreement from the beginning of their starting college was that they would only be called on missions when they were on duty. When they were in high school she was sure it was some sort of law. But now, it was more of a stipulation for them to be able to handle a full course load AND extra curricular activities.

Wally looked at the piles of boxes they still had to unpack, stacked in the living room. "He thought you might want in on this one." He ran a hand through his hair and she raised a skeptical eyebrow. "It's your dad."

"Oh." She looked around the kitchen, looked for anything to distract her.

"I can tell him you didn't-"

"No. You know I can't miss an opportunity to show him whose side I choose." Wally didn't say anything, knowing it was a useless argument on his part.

He sighed and nodded, "Yea, I know that." At his cold voice, Artemis walked out of the kitchen and into the bedroom without a word. It was an argument they both hated to have. But one they seemed to always come to. It had gotten to the point that when one of them said a snide comment about it, the other would just turn and leave, conversation dropped, mood ruined for at least a day. As though instead of wasting breath on fighting, they already knew the outcome would be the silent treatment. But when Artemis came back out with her uniform stuffed in its duffle bag and her bow in her hand. With that, Wally couldn't let it drop. She never let him get away with his bullshit, and he wasn't going to watch her fall into her father's hands. "I don't want you to go."

It was obvious Artemis didn't expect him to say anything about it. Her eyes bulged, "you don't exactly get a say, Wally." She said indigently.

"I don't, but I get an opinion, and as your boyfriend I get the right to worry about you." He ran a hand through his hair, "He wants this, Artemis. Sportsmaster wants you to go out there, and fight him, and show him up because that's what he taught you to do. Every single time you fight him on our side, he knows your using what HE taught you."

"I'm using what Green Arrow taught me too! And the hand-to-hand combat Black Canary taught me! I'm not just a product of my dad!" He knew he was loosing quick

"DAMMIT ARTEMIS I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU!"

"WELL YOU'RE MAKING ME FEEL LIKE SHIT, SO YOU'RE NOT DOING A VERY GOOD JOB ARE YOU?" They were both breathing hard as they glared at each other across the kitchen. "You seem worked up, maybe you should sit this one out, Kid." Her voice was barely a whisper as she picked up her duffle from the floor and turned to leave the apartment.

Wally ran his fingers through his hair and huffed. He looked to the stovetop, where his omelet was still cooking, and at the door his girlfriend was now walking out of. He moved the pan off the burner and clicked it off at super speed before zipping to stand in her way. She walked right into him before she even saw him.

"Dammit," she cursed as she tried to steady herself, but he grabbed her arms and held her close.

"I know what it does to you every time, and I hate seeing it. You're not him, you know I know that. But every time you fight him you know what he sees. He's just biding his time, waiting for the day you turn sides and hand us over."

"Do you think I'd do that?"

"You know I don't."

"Then why is this such a big deal?!"

"Because every fucking time we fight him you- you go into this shell! You hide away for days and when you come back you pretend like nothing happened. Fighting him does something to you, and I hate seeing you like that! I love you, Artemis, I hate seeing it destroy you."

Artemis just looked away. They both knew he was right. "I can't be put out of commission just because my dad's the villain the week." She sounded defeated and determined at the same time.

He leaned down and kissed her, "I don't expect you to. But you can't keep doing this every time we fight him, either."

She looked up at him, "It's been four years. You'd think I'd be used to it. But he's my dad."

"I don't think its something you should ever have to get used to. It's messed up. But you don't have to be alone. I'm here. Zee is here, M'gann is here, we're ALL here for you." He kissed her again, "but mainly I'm here." They both laughed and deepened their kiss. "We better go, we'll be late."

"You still have to eat, Wall-man." She poked his stomach and chuckled when it growled in return. "You're going to break me one of these days." He slung his arm over her shoulders and they walked back to the kitchen. "And you're making me an omelet as an apology."

He winked, "that's fair."