Hey guys, Kate(GettingTraught) Here, this is my first story so I'm hoping for some good advice on how I can improve. No flames please and I hope you enjoy!

This takes place before Paula Crock is paralyzed so the Crock adults are still out on Missions, so Jason teams up with the other 'baddy' kids to pay rent for their houses and such. I just see the four of them being bros.

I know the ages may not all be accurate to each other, but this is what I was thinking.

Jade: 13

Artemis: 9

Jason: 7

Cassandra: 3

I do not own Young Justice.


Jason sighed, playing with some weeds growing through the concrete of the warehouse floor. he looked at his cracked watch with a frown, Artemis was supposed to be here by now. 9 o'clock was the planned time, they'd agreed to it and Artemis was never late. Ever. Just as the boy was getting really worried, he heard the almost silent patter footsteps. Jason was about to uncover turn on his flashlight, but he stopped when he noticed something strange about the footsteps.

Tap-tap-tapssssssh-Tap-tap-tapssssssh-Tap-tap-tapssssssh-

Jason crawled back into the shadows even more, those weren't Artemis's footsteps, Artemis never made that much noise and always walked in a pattern of two or four, never that awkward three that was going on. He clutched the handle of his flip knife in one hand while the other slowly drug his cup of collections and wallets back with him.

"Jay, Jay-bird you here yet?" came the familiar rasp of his friend and accomplice, it really was Artemis. Jason sprung forward, flipping on his flashlight. He was about to hug his friend, but stopped. Artemis was holding a young girl with short black hair and dragging a sack behind her, that would explain the awkward footsteps.

" 'Mis, you're back...and you brought a friend..." stated the red head, a hint of dejection in his voice. He watched her plop her sack no the table and grab the cable to the lights he was just too short to be able to pull. "Why did you bring a friend?"

Artemis shrugged some, adjusting the girl so she was resting easier on her hip. "This is Cass, or Cassandra, but you know, that's long and not really good for a little girl. She's like us, you know...she's like us..." Jason nodded, relaxing. Cass was sleeping as far as he could tell, her small arms wrapped limply around Artemis's neck.

The oldest of the three pulled a chair over to the rickety table they'd dragged to their warehouse base. "Com on Jay, we gotta count the haul for the night before we can go to bed." Jason nodded, pulling his crate up to the table and putting his cup and stack of wallets on the table.

"I got about twenty in begging and two fiftyish not counting credit cards out of wallets...I didn't have time to go to more than my first three spots, but..." he trailed off, glancing at his lap.

Artemis smiled at him, patting his shoulder. "Don't trip out, I only hit my first two after I picked up Cass from Dad.. I just got about four hundred from wallets, Cass came with about ten from begging...so that's what.. two seventy, six seventy, six eighty for the day.."

Jason frowned slightly. "That enough for both rents this month, they're due tomorrow..." Artemis sighed, adjusting how she was holding Cass again. "Maybe I could go to north side and pick up a big spender's wallet on our way back..."

If he wanted to continue his thought, he didn't have the chance. Jade burst into the warehouse, a grin plastered on her face. "Guess who got dinner and a big haul~" the young teen practically skipped in, scooting their stuff to the side and dropping a multitude of wallets and jewelry on the table. "seven fifty even. What about you two and a half-pint?"

Artemis sighed. " Only six eighty, so fourteen thirty? Is that enough for both houses rent tomoro-"

Jade cut her sister off. "Rent and groceries Arty, chill. it'll work. Now, let's eat before we go home." She tossed a bag of cheep Chinese takeout onto the table along with a few pairs of breakable chop sticks. "Wake up half-pint, she needs to eat still."

The other two nodded, gently prodding Cass awake. Jason couldn't help but smile when the young girl stretched and rubbed her eyes. It was in fact, adorable.

Cass blinked, glancing at Jason first, then Jade, then the food. The young girl picked up a pair of chopsticks and broke them apart, poking at the bag of assorted take out boxes. Artemis propped open a few boxes, and all four dug into the food. When it was all done, Jade dumped the trash into one of the empty crates, and collected the money.

"Home?" question Jason before he stifled a yawn. Artemis nodded in agreement, Cass was already out on the blonde's arms. Jade smiled, picking Jason up piggy-back style.

"Home it is, let's roll." the four set out, sticking to the shadows until they reached the Crock's apartments, neither of the Crock parents were home so the kids set their prizes on the counter and headed to the girl'd duel bedroom.

"Jason pull out the tru-" started Artemis but the redhead was already pulling out the trundle bed he often used when staying with the Crocks.

"On it Arty.." Jade flipped off the lights, ending any conversations that would have taken place, soon, all four children were asleep and unaware of any noise in the house that may have been there. For once, all was peaceful.