Chapter Text
“They’re supposed to be short,” Meagan explained in an over patient tone. She held up the cut up pair of jeans she had fashioned into shorts. “Shorts are lighter and trap less heat, so they’re ideal for physical activity in ways that pants aren’t.”
Artemis scowled at the pair of shorts like she had just been told they were the source of all cancers. “The drawbacks still outweigh the benefits. We still aren’t sure if exposure to the air helps to spread the virus,” she argued, crossing her arms against her chest stubbornly.
“Haven’t be already been over this? We proved that the virus is spread through breathing the air weeks ago,” Wally pointed out impatiently. The two had been going back and forth about it for some time now without letting anyone else get a word in edgewise. The group had other things to discuss and more pressing ways to spend their time. “As long as we don’t go outside without our masks, exposure is the least of our worries.”
“We haven’t proved that exposure doesn’t also have a hand in it,” Artemis snapped at the redhead. “With all we have to worry about, we can’t afford to take risks we aren’t sure about.”
“I have listened to both of your points of view,” Kaldur finally cut in, “but this time Artemis is right. We can’t yet rule out skin exposure as a factor in the virus’s spread. Until we are able to, we will have to play it safe; which means pants overrule shorts.”
Meagan set the pair of makeshift shorts on the table and looked down at them glumly. Wally glanced over and caught Conner giving her a sympathetic look. Wally sighed, feeling a small surge of pity for her as well. She had been eager to share her idea with the team. Fortunately for them, she tended not to dwell on glumness.
“We’re running low on food and water,” Kaldur continued as he moved on from the subject. “Artemis and Wally, you two are on hunting duty. Meagan, Conner, and I are on water duty.” He stood up, signaling that the meeting was over. “Do not leave without a radio,” he reminded them.
It had taken a while to settle on a team leader, but it was decided unanimously by the other members once they recognized Kaldur’s aptitude for leadership. The group had had more direction and operated better as a unit after he accepted the role. The whole team agreed that they had made a good choice.
Wally rolled his eyes at the reminder; no one ever forgot their radios. This was largely due to the fact that they were attached to the front door when not in use. Above them hung a large sign reading, ‘DO NOT FORGET TO BRING A RADIO.’ He stood up and took a good look around himself. It was becoming easier and easier to think of this place as home. It was only a small, one-story cabin, but it seemed to fit the team just right. There was just enough space for all of them there. The house had its issues, but all of them had their benefits. For example, most of the floorboards creaked, but you could always tell when someone was coming. The walls were too thin for secrets to go unheard, but that just brought the team closer together. His homesickness was fading as he grew fonder of the place by the day.
“It’s not my fault you were the last one to the supply closet,” Artemis said, the gas mask distorting her voice. Wally noted that while he could get used to the house, he would always find the masks strange. He ignored her and continued to mutter about the hiking boots she was wearing and how unfair it was that he was stuck with rubber rain boots. “It’s a bit ironic that you’re always the last one there. You’re supposed to be the fast one.”
“Oh, and it’s not completely ironic that you can hardly shoot a gun and you’re supposed to be the one with great aim?” He shot back, stepping around a fern as they picked their way through the forest towards the last of their traps. They’d been fortunate enough to have caught two squirrels and a rabbit already, so it wouldn’t be a big deal if the last trap turned up empty.
“Guns and arrows are two different things. You’re just bitter because it’s, what, your eighth outing in a row in those?” She replied offhandedly.
“Fifth. Meagan took pity on me last week,” Wally admitted.
Artemis scoffed. “Sounds like her.”
Static from the walky talky in his hand startled him, then Kaldur’s voice came through. “Connor, Meagan, and I are are back from water duty. Nothing to report.” Wally groaned at the reminder that they had to walk twice as far as the water duty group to get to all the traps.
They walked in silence for a few minutes.
“Speaking of Meagan,” Wally said, finally breaking the silence.
“I know what you’re going to ask, and the answer is no,” Artemis answered without having to be asked
“She would really appreciate it. She was pretty disappointed that her idea didn’t hold up with the rest of the team as well as she hoped it would,” he reasoned.
“All I did at the meeting was state facts that should have been obvious to everyone else.”
“That’s all I’m doing right now.” He looked at her hopefully.
There was another long pause as they continued their trek. She didn’t respond until they got to their first trap, where she tilted back her head and let out a long groan. “Fine. I’ll apologize.”
Wally grinned beneath his mask. He opened his mouth to respond.
“Shut up,” Artemis snapped before he could.
“I didn’t say anyth-” He was cut off again, this time by her gloved hand clamped over his mask. She pointed up towards at their trap. Trapped in the net hanging from the tree was a boy.