Star City was unusually calm for a Saturday. Street musicians strummed lazy chords, food vendors shouted about fresh pretzels, and the air carried the chatter of weekend crowds.
Zane adjusted his hoodie and nodded to himself. "Ah, yes. A perfect day for boring civilian activities. No rooftop chases, no explosions, just… living life."
Artemis side-eyed him. "You're weirdly proud of being boring."
"Not boring—balanced," Zane corrected. "You? You're all work, no play. If someone checked your calendar, it'd just be training, training, glowering, training."
She kicked a pebble down the path. "And yet here you are, stuck hanging out with me."
"Exactly. Which is why I'm trying to save you from turning into a hermit."
Artemis smirked. "I'll have you know I do have a social life. At school, I'm actually pretty popular."
Zane stopped, looking at her with exaggerated disbelief. Then he snapped his fingers. "Of course! I can see it now." His voice took on a dramatic narrator's tone. "The camera pans across the school hallway. Lockers slamming, kids gossiping, music blasting—then bam, slow motion. Artemis Crock struts in, hair catching the light like she's in a shampoo commercial. Cheerleaders stop mid-giggle, football players drop their books, the nerdy kid pushes his glasses up and whispers, 'That's her.'"
Artemis groaned, shoving him lightly. "That is not what it's like."
"Oh, no, no, no," Zane went on, grinning wider. "Then we cut to the cafeteria. You walk in with your tray—entire room freezes. Someone drops a milk carton in slow motion, splashing everywhere. Everyone's eyes on you. Popular Artemis, queen of the teenage jungle."
She laughed despite herself, shaking her head. "You've watched way too many movies."
"And I loved them, although Cringe worthy sometimes."
"And where do you fit into this little movie?"
"Oh, easy," Zane said. "I'm the mysterious transfer student who shows up halfway through the semester and ruins your carefully crafted social standing."
"More like the weird kid people avoid at lunch."
"Harsh, but… fair," he admitted with a grin.
As they rounded a bend, a small commotion caught their attention. A woman in black athletic clothes was tossing a ball for a golden retriever, whose enthusiasm made the dog practically rocket across the grass. When the dog saw Zane and Artemis, it bolted straight at them.
"Hey! Easy—whoa!" Zane dropped to one knee, catching the dog mid-leap. Artemis doubled over laughing as the retriever wiggled happily against Zane.
"He's friendly," the woman called out, jogging toward them. "Sorry, he doesn't usually jump on strangers….he's usually well behaved."
Zane laughed, holding the dog at arm's length. "I think he just likes us. What's his name?"
"Bingo," she said, panting slightly. Her voice carried a melodic confidence, casual but sharp. "I'm Dinah."
Artemis tilted her head, studying the blonde woman. "Dinah?" she repeated. "Do I know you?"
Dinah shook her head with a polite smile. "Don't think so. But Bingo seems to think you're worth saying hi to."
The dog wagged harder, pressing against Artemis's leg now. She crouched to scratch his head, laughing. "Well, he's friendly."
"Friendly, but picky," Dinah said. "He usually ignores people."
Zane watched quietly, recognition flickering in his eyes for just a second before he masked it with a grin. "Guess we passed the sniff test."
Artemis rolled her eyes at him. "Barely."
Dinah chuckled and straightened. "So, what brings you two out here? Just enjoying the morning? Or a date?"
"Fresh air!" Artemis quickly replied, a blush on her face.
"Date!," Zane added instantly.
Artemis elbowed him annoyed, but a small smile on her face.
Dinah's smile lingered, though her gaze sharpened briefly. There was something about the way they carried themselves—balanced on their feet, eyes always tracking movement around them. Trained, though not the kind of thing you say out loud.
"Nice day for both," she said instead." But we should get going. Gotta get to work soon."
She called for her dog, as she walked away. Waving goodbye at them.
Watching her go, Artemis and Zane walked further into the Park.
Artemis nudged Zane with her shoulder. "We should sit," she said, pointing to a quiet grassy hill that overlooked the city skyline.
Zane agreed, and they sank onto the grass. He pulled a small backpack from behind him, revealing snacks he had prepared earlier: sandwiches, fruit, and surprisingly fresh dumplings. Artemis groaned with delight.
"Dumplings again?" she asked, picking one up.
"They're the perfect meal," Zane said, offering her one. "Trust me. Science."
They ate together in comfortable silence, letting the soft hum of the city fade into the background. The grass beneath them was cool, the skyline stretched out in the distance, and for a few moments, the world felt unusually still.
Zane watched her, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "You know… you're fun like this," he said quietly, letting the words hang between them.
Artemis raised an eyebrow, teasing but warm. "Careful, Zane. Compliments like that might go straight to my head."
He chuckled. "That's fine. I can handle a little ego boost."
She smirked, but the playful glint in her eyes softened as she studied him for a moment. And then, before either of them could overthink it, Zane leaned closer.
The kiss was gentle at first, tentative, a brush of lips that lingered just long enough to carry the weight of what neither had said aloud. Artemis froze for a heartbeat, surprised, before letting herself relax into it. Her hand lifted instinctively to brush against his cheek, grounding the moment.
The city noises around them seemed to fade, leaving only the quiet warmth of the shared space between them.
When they pulled back just slightly, Artemis's lips curled into a small, amused smile, and she tilted her head. "Yeah… that went straight to my head."
Zane laughed softly, a mixture of triumph and affection in his voice. "Guess I'll have to be careful then."
Artemis rolled her eyes but didn't pull away. "Or maybe you should do it again."
Jus as Zane leanded in for seconds, a shadow shifted at the edge of the park.
"Ahhh, what's this?" a voice drawled, cutting through the moment.
Both of them turned sharply. There, stepping from the darkened trees, was a young woman in civilian clothes—hood pulled low, eyes glinting with sharp intent.
Zane didn't recognize this women, but he noticed how Artemis tensed up almost instantly.
Cheshire.
Artemis tensed. Zane blinked, startled, his mind racing as he gently pulled back from the kiss. "Uh… hi," he said, sheepishly.