Hello again! This weekend's been so productive. All thanks to you reviewers out there; your encouragement helped me out every step of the way.

This particular chapter was inspired by the latest episode of Young Justice: 'Downtime'. Unfortunately, for all the Aqualad fans, it's not centered around him. Superboy and Miss Martian are the stars for now. I don't really get why a lot of people don't like Miss Martian. She's a sweet girl and she turning into a great cook- okay not really, but she'll get there! So what's not to love? I've got a soft spot for Superboy 'cause his voice actor also gives life to Raphael of the 2007 TMNT movie. Hurr.

Enjoy the fic, and remember, I don't own Young Justice, I just love its characters. Reviews make me happy.

Heroes and Hormones

Food Is Not His Friend

Miss Martian had touched him. His physical contact had been, thus far, limited to brutal punches and grabbing clutches. But she'd been extremely gentle, her fingers swabbing at the mess of vinegar and cooking oil that stained his shirt. He'd been apathetic to the frenzied stream of words that left her mouth; he'd never been a big talker. The way her fingers lightly dabbed at his chest, it left him feeling... confused. Something was stirring in the pit of his stomach, but Superboy couldn't quite tell if it was a wave of annoyance or anger. So he merely stood, allowing the Martian to dust off an eggshell from his shoulder.

From there, she moved upward, one hand resting on his hard jawline, the other lighting on his shoulder. And for once, her incessant chatter stopped. There was a definite surge of unsaid feeling in Superboy, and his expression softened. The clone was puzzled. Her amber eyes were locked on his, and it felt like they both were powerless to break the spell of the moment. His artificially implanted lessons hadn't touched upon this type of situation. Superboy knew how to lay bulldoze through solid cement and when to utilize the eye roll. But this? He wasn't so sure. Should he shout at her? ...No, she looked too confused herself.

It struck him that they both were in uncharted waters. She was an alien, learning new customs and he was clone, struggling to belong.

Silently, he slid away and plopped himself before the static filled television screen. His ears detected her soft steps about the kitchen, her breathing slightly faster than normal. Then he heard the sound of wood on the counter, then the measured beats of a knife falling against the chopping board. All he could do was listen to the quick tempo of Megan slicing through vegetables as he stared at the flickering dots of black, gray and white.

XoXoXoX

A few days later, the team was out in the field. Miss Martian linked them mentally, allowing the foremost thoughts of each member to be shared between them. Aqualad and Kid Flash skimmed through and over the waters of the sea, while the other four heroes were nestled inside the bioship. Batman sent them on a dull recon mission. The team hadn't complained because this particular mission was personal to Aqualad; they were searching for the terrorists who bombed Atlantis.

Robin and Artemis shared a slightly sulky silence about having to hauled around in the ship, to which Kid gave a cheerful wave from beneath the speeding ship, moving so fast, he left a long, white wake trailing behind him.

Cocky, little- Artemis muttered, and Kid Flash cut her off, explaining pointedly that it wasn't his fault he had super awesome powers of superspeed and she didn't. Kid also made it clear that Robin's lack of powers made him no less cool. But in Artemis' case, it made her extremely less cool. The two began a heated quarrel over the mental link.

Superboy ignored them, listening to the thrum of Aqualad's worries that sounded within his head. Ever since the team had defeated the Fog, Aqualad insisted on using mental communication, so they would eliminate the possibility of hacked comms while gaining insight on each other's thoughts at the same time. Generally, Superboy couldn't detect the subtle hints of emotions, he doubted if anyone of them did, but Aqualad's inner turmoil was hard to miss.

The attack on Atlantis had shaken the young leader and, while he remained as level-headed and friendly as ever, he seemed withdrawn. Superboy only noticed because Aqualad, who had always reached out to the clone, stopped his occasional conversations with him.

Superboy? Megan whispered, the thought going unnoticed by Robin, who was listening interestedly in Artemis and Kid Flash verbally pit against each other, or Aqualad, who was searching beneath the crystal surface of the sea. Only Aqualad seemed truly devoted to searching for the assailants of Atlantis.

Slowly, Superboy turned his head, looking at Megan with one eye, acknowledging her.

I was thinking, even in thought, she was hesitant and uncertain. Superboy give no encouragement for her to continue. Her golden eyes cast downward, betraying her embarrassment. Then she steeled herself, braving a glance into his face. Superboy remained impassive, wonder why she always acted so... timid around him. It wasn't like he was the enemy. And he had long since apologized for snapping at her. He didn't understand. Maybe it was a Martian thing.

Silence between them ensued, while Wally and Artemis soundly berated each other. Robin laughed, rolling in his seat, when Wally began starting a loud barrage of LALALALA! to drown out Artemis' thoughts.

Would you like to... get a smoothie? I've never had them before and neither have you but Kid Flash said that they were really good and- her thoughts began sounding faster and louder, hurrying to reveal her thoughts before she lost her nerve. Superboy cut her off in a slightly nonplussed voice.

No.

Huh? What's happening? Wally stopped his obnoxious thinking, keen to interact with the green-skinned Martian. Fortunately, he and the rest of the team had heard the tail end of Miss Martian's question, but only comprehended Superboy's reply.

Nothing, Superboy replied, giving a deadpanned stare at his teammates within the bioship. Artemis and Robin returned their attention to the scanners. Aqualad's doubts continued the hum as an undertone of their shared minds, but the leader did not speak to his comrades.

Miss Martian's lips twitched upward, and her eyes brightened. Superboy had given her the same 'no' he had given just before they shared that silent moment amid the spilled cooking oil and egg shells.

XoXoXoX

Later that day, Superboy was giving a curly, neon green straw a cautious stare. Megan smiled at him from across the table. Against her red lips, her white, even teeth stood out. He looked dubiously down at the contents of the cup again. It was pink and sluggish looking. People drank this?

"What...is this?" he asked tentatively, taking the straw between his thumb and forefinger.

"Here, watch," she said, lifting her hand. The cup obligingly raised itself halfway between the two heroes. Grasping a separate straw, Megan demonstrated how to use it properly. Superboy nodded, then attempted to take a sip of the smoothie, stabbing the end of his straw deep into the liquid. His super breath sucked the smoothie up into to the straw. He noticed how she was watching him intently, only a few inches away from his face. Smoothie exploded from his straw and into his mouth, too much too fast. He coughed, spluttering.

Megan couldn't help herself, and she began giggling. Superboy looked up at her with that slight frown, arms held outward and slumped back in his seat. Pink was splattered on the front of his shirt. She had meant well, he was sure, but these hazardous accidents involving her and food were getting old. Superboy stood, chair flying backward as he did. Other patrons of the smoothie shop looked around with interest.

"Su- Connor!" she called, her laughter gone. Her eyes implored him to stay with her.

He didn't answer, just stalked out the door.