Title: Speedy and his Jelly Beans

Author: mahlia

Summary: We finally figure out why Speedy is always so darn cranky. Once he gets what he needs, he's MUCH more fun to be around.

Author's Notes: I decided to throw my hat into the ring, so to speak, and attempt a challenge. Grim Lullaby and shintas1st assigned me the prompt of "Jelly Beans" and the character of Roy/Speedy from their Sugar Sweet Challenge at the Young Justice forums. You should really check it out. .

Disclaimer: I don't write for profit, blah blah blah. I write for my own amusement. I just like to share my toys.

Speedy waited impatiently, his boot softly tapping the concrete beneath it.

"Ok, guys. Enough is enough," he muttered, glancing to his left and then to his right. The park was nearly deserted, the last rays of the sun disappearing behind the treeline. The wrought-iron bench upon which he was currently sitting wasn't exactly comfortable.

As the minutes ticked by, he grew more and more agitated. The arrows in the quiver strapped to his back rattled together as he opened and closed his fists, then scrubbed his hands through his hair. He breathed in deeply, held it a moment, then let it out slowly. It helped relieve some of the tension, anyway.

He was about to give up and head home when he heard a chuckle behind him.

"Desperate, much?"

Speedy whipped his head around, a scowl on his face at being caught off-guard.

"What the hell took you so long?"

Robin was leaning against the large oak, slender arms crossed at his chest, that annoying smirk spread across his face. Speedy grit his teeth, the muscles in his jaw tensing almost painfully.

"You got them?"

Robin nodded. He held up a plastic bag.

"You don't really seem the type, Speedy. I never would have pegged you for a .."

Speedy cut him off, ripping the bag from Robin's hand.

"You have no idea what 'type' I am, Robin. So just leave it alone." He glanced down at the bag in his hand, making sure they were all there. As he turned to leave, Robin posed an interesting solution.

"You know, we have tons of them back at our HQ. Superman has them flown in once a week. If you'd come back and join the team, you'd have a steady supply."

Speedy ignored him and walked briskly in the opposite direction, the bag tightly clenched in his fist.

"Thanks for this," he called over his shoulder, holding up the bag. "But I'm not coming back."

Robin shrugged and turned to leave, the smirk still stuck firmly in place.

Speedy waited until he was in the safety of his apartment before taking a second glance at the bag. Taking a seat at the kitchen table, he emptied the bag and watched as the jelly beans rolled across the table top.

With nimble fingers, he began to sort them by color. Bright red, blue, yellow with brown spots, orange, yellow, dark green, white, purple, bright green and black. When they were all sorted into their respective color groups, he started counting. After removing the extras he had 13 colors of jelly beans with 20 beans in each group.

It was then, and only then, could he start eating them.

He sat at that table for over an hour, mixing colors and trying different flavor combinations. Most of the combinations tasted pretty good, like the cherry and vanilla ice cream flavors. Others, like the buttered popcorn and blueberry, were downright disgusting.

When all was said and done, he'd devoured an entire pound of them. He started feeling the sugar rush a few minutes after that, and with a content smile on his face Speedy retrieved his bow and quiver of arrows and took off on patrol.

Although he'd never admit it, there was nothing better than hunting down bad guys when you're hopped up on sugar.

This was actually a LOT of fun! I was worried I wouldn't be able to come with something on the fly. Thanks for reading!