Set in season 1- I don't own them.
Ch. 1 The King of Rhetorical Questions
"What is the weakness of the Justice League? We need... leverage." The voice was breathy, whether with laughter, pain, or something else, it was hard to tell, but it alone was enough to send shivers down the spine.
"The Justice League would be too good of a weapon to waste by destroying it, so we have made... preparations." The hiss of the 's' was foreboding in a way- like the sound of gas escaping from a pipeline or a cobra preparing to strike. Dangerous. "So tell me now, what is the weakness of the Justice League? Where are they most... vulnerable?"
There was silence as those in the room glanced back and forth to see if anyone had an answer. Masked faces held no answers.
The Light continued. "What do we need to push them past their breaking points, to convince them that sometimes doing the 'good' thing can be just as harmful as 'breaking a few rules'?"
The silence grew lengthy.
The Light sighed. "Young Justice. Batman and Robin, Flash and Kid Flash, and, no matter how hard he pretends not to care, Superman has Superboy. Shall I continue? Aquaman and AquaLad. Martian Manhunter and M'gann. Green Arrow and Artemis. It is these relationships, the very ones we have been carefully cultivating, that we must exploit." The whisper of an exhale in the words had clearly become an undertone of laughter, as if the idea of meddling with some of the world's greatest heroes was a source of undying humor.
"These are their weakest links. For months now we have prepared, sending our minions, the League of Shadows, to provide missions for the young heroes. It was all arranged carefully," there was some muttering at this, "to build up the League's confidence in Young Justice so that they will grow to appreciate them and entrust them with more independence, a fault that will lead to their downfall." The lecturing Light's tone grew disinterested, "It was also arranged that, had there been any mistakes, the League would feel a great deal of guilt, a plan B for leverage, you might say." Disdain colored the word. What use did the Light have for a Plan B? "Why do you think we arranged the creation of Superboy and gave him the powers we did? He is weak enough not to threaten Superman, but strong enough to replace him, designed to reach that unreachable stone-cold heart in a way neither his adopted parents nor Lois Lane could ever accomplish. Fool." The chuckle was once more audible beneath the words.
"We have also... 'influenced'... the Young Justice Team's emotions, creating certain bonds and certain hints of discord that will be helpful now, when our plan comes to fruition. They will walk into our traps, and they will do so willingly..."
"And how, may I ask, do you plan on capturing them?"
The Light's laugh was cold, feral. "What hero could ever resist a cry for help?"
They had been on the stake out for twelve hours now and Wally was exhausted. Not because of the stakeout itself. He had plenty of food in his compartments and his cell had Angry Birds on it, so there was no way he'd get bored. No, the part that exhausted him was about 5'7" and green with a chaotic cascade of blond hair. It was hard enough to know that she had taken Roy's place on the team, but it was much worse to try to talk to her. It was like taking a walk in a hail-storm, banging his head against the wall repeatedly, and listening to Dick sing. Actually, all of those sounded better than a twelve hour stakeout next to Artemis: a stake-out which he had volunteered for, only to find out too late who would accompany him.
"Wow," her voice came now. "I would say you looked lost in thought, but you thinking would be like Kaldur moving to the Sahara."
"He probably wouldn't like it there, but the weather might remind you of home." Wally retorted, anger flaring up and fists clenching.
"Ouch. That burns, legit, Baywatch. You of all people talking about someone's home life..."
That stung. Wally felt like she'd slapped him and he squeezed his eyes shut as all the hard-edged memories rushed back to him. "I'm not the only one with 'Daddy' issues," he snarled. "What happened to that ninja boyfriend of yours?"
Artemis's eyes snapped like live coals. "Just because we're on the same team does not make me on your side, are we clear?" She growled menacingly. "Next time, you'll wish I killed you back when I had the chance."
She looked like she was seriously contemplating slaughtering Wally, her incredible eyes narrowed in a way that made him nervous. He looked around their spot by the harbor in the warehouse district in case he needed a weapon. "Well, no matter how hard you deny it, you are, at the moment, on my left side, Beautiful."
"Are you really that excited about getting dismembered? Believe me, it'll be a bloody mess." Wally relaxed slightly. Her tone was softer, back to the sarcastic tones it usually had without any of the cold, hard fury. A part of him argued that he needed that fury, that rage, something to rail against, the memories of his father still all too clear.
Artemis laughed, so suddenly and abruptly that Wally almost fell over. "Dismembered. Ha! Robin would have a field day with that one."
It was funny. Wally could just see his younger friend adding "-membered" to his vocabulary, somewhere between '-aster' and '-whelmed.' He joined in with Artemis's laughter before he could realize what he was doing- or rather, with whom he was doing it.
He jumped with a start as someone else joined the conversation. It took him a second before he realized the voices in his head were from the mind-link. M'gann and the others were nearby.
"Fifty-bucks says they won't make it five more minutes without arguing again."
Robin's thought came in loud and clear. Wally scowled and looked at Artemis. She had heard it, too. She raised one eyebrow, a move which Wally interpreted as 'Should we show him we could do it, cause losing fifty-bucks would be ok revenge for that comment, second-best only to dislocating his elbow and stealing his Batarangs...'
For a second he was surprised at how well he could read her masked face. He smiled savagely.
"Starting now?" he whispered. She nodded, and looked ready to 'get along' until they were interrupted by Superboy's conjecture over the telepathic link.
"I bet in five-minutes time they'll be all over each other. That's what the show Wally watches said. It's very educational. NTV or something. When guys pretend they don't like girls..."
Artemis turned to face Wally, her eyes wide. "You don't like me do you?"
Wally fumbled for words. "Of course not!" He backtracked. "Not that you're not perfectly attractive, I just don't like you. As in, I'm not attracted to you. We could be friends, I guess, but you're always so mean. Well,..."
Artemis snapped at him. "Keep digging your grave Wally because I swear that I will bury you in it."
"That would be fifty bucks." Robin's smug voice came over the link.
Wally scowled, his face bright red, grabbed Artemis and kissed her, full on the mouth. Then he shouted through the link, "There! Now everybody wins!" And ran off, leaving a surprised and shell-shocked Artemis behind at the Stakeout.
"Hello, Megan! That explains a lot!"