AN: This story came around by accident. I was complaining to my friend about the whole Roy/Jade ship. I've never liked it in the comics, but it only really started to bug me when I started watching Young Justice and fell head over heals for the Roy Harper. Finally sick of my complaining, my friend told me to shut up and write my own story for my own ship. This is the result. I hope you enjoy it. Review, comment, whatever you wanna do. I don't own any characters that belong to Cartoon Network and DC Comics.
Chapter 1
Some people say that I'm too nosy. I say it comes with the journalistic territory.
I was in "the lab," a.k.a headquarters for the school newspaper, Star City High Eagle. The deadline for my story on the latest Justice League save in Star City was at 3:15. Since Mr. Samuels kept the class after school for a silly paper ball fight (that I may or may not have participated in), I only had ten minutes to review and edit my story.
I was quite proud of my story. It had a "young heroes" angle, specifically on Red Arrow since he was the only hero left at the scene who wasn't surrounded by paparazzi. Thinking about it made me blush.
I definitely looked like a high school reporter with my shorts, low-top converse, and a gray, loose, off-the-shoulder blouse and holding a pen and notebook paper. I had dropped my tape recorder in a puddle the week before and I was too poor to by a new one. I felt out of place among the professionals I hoped to be like one day.
While those same professionals surrounded Green Arrow and Black Canary with their cameras and recorders, I noticed Red Arrow standing, well, more like brooding, apart from the crowd. His well toned arms were crossed, resting on his chest and his face gave no hint to a smile.
I squared my shoulders and walked up to him.
"Excuse me, Red–"
"Red?" Red Arrow's eyebrow raised and a smile crept up, only barely.
"Sorry. I have a tendency to shorten names. For time's sake, know you?"
"It's okay. You can call me 'Red.'"
I felt like it was implied that if anyone else tried to call him "Red" they would be going home black and blue.
I cleared my throat. "So, um," great, now I'm tripping on my words. So unprofessional. I really need to get on with it. "Who, ah, who was the villain of the day?"
"Parasite," he says as-a-matter-of-factly. If he saw my discomfort, he didn't show it. "That's why the whole league and the team were called in."
"The team?" I asked.
"The young protégés of league members."
I scrawled down the team - sidekicks.
"Not sidekicks, Miss Reporter."
"It's Erin, actually. Absolutely no 'miss.' And sorry. I'll scratch that."
Red chuckled. I actually made the stoic hero chuckle. I chose to ignore it.
With great difficulty.
"So," I continued, "why so many supers for one villain?"
"Parasite has the ability to drain a… 'super' of their powers. We had to have several strategies lined up in case someone went down unexpectedly."
"Parasite? I thought he was in Belle Reve?"
"He escaped. Obviously."
I kept writing, letting my brain go on autopilot. "How did he escape?"
"Team's working on it."
"Red Arrow!" Green Arrow called. "Time to go!"
"Alright!" Red yelled back. He turned to me, "Looks like the interview's over."
"Yeah, it does," I sighed.
"I'll see you around," he smiled.
I smiled back, "Definitely."
He ran off after the others, leaving me with a longing for another meeting.
But I certainly could mention that in my story. I typed away at the keyboard, being careful not to reveal my new crush in the article.
"Whatcha up to, Shortie?"
I groaned, "Roy, I'm not really up for your antics today. I'm on a major deadline."
Roy Harper was an annoying senior who seemed to take delight in torturing me. And only me.
He leaned over my shoulder, reading. "Focusing on Red Arrow, huh?"
"He's the only I could get a personal interview with."
"Sure," he laughed, "that's why."
"Shut up and go away."
"Aw, come on. You know you like having me around."
I angrily typed my last correction and saved it to the drive.
As I stomped out of the room, Roy called out, "I'll see ya around, Shortie."