Author's Note: So sorry about the late update! I know I told most of you that this chapter would be up by like… last week. So thanks for sticking with me. School, dance and a social life are getting all up in my grille. I'm going to try and set a weekly update day so for the time being it'll be around Friday. Anyways, please R&R and thanks so much to those who have!

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice, or there would be an episode this week and I wouldn't make the fandom wait TWO ENTIRE WEEKS for a new episode…

Beta: sweetandunknowns

Artemis

The next Friday after Artemis arrived at Mount Justice from the hell hole she called school, she set herself and her homework up at the kitchen table, only to be plagued by Wally a few moments later. He jumped onto the table, clasping his hands together and waited for her to look up from her textbook. She didn't. And instead asked,

"What do you want, West? I'm busy," while scribbling an equation onto a sheet of paper in dull pencil.

"I don't know," Wally mused. "I'm bored." Artemis raised an eyebrow, but still didn't look up, checking her work carefully, then circling her answer.

"Why don't you do your homework?" She suggested .Wally let out a breath.

"Oh yeah. A three-page essay on the French and Indian War. Real fun." Artemis finally looked up, resting her elbows on the table.

"And this concerns me how…?" There was a pause.

"So much snark in such a little girl," Wally teased, feigning hurt. Artemis grinned.

"Someone has to put you in your place," she said, poking him with her mechanical pencil. He offered her a smile, just as they heard the transporter whir and distribute several of their teammates.

"Next time just politely tell him that we have to leave," they heard Megan's exasperated voice say to who Artemis presumed was Superboy. "You didn't have to be a jerk to him. He was only talking to me." The couple stepped into the kitchen and stared at Artemis and Wally awkwardly, not expecting spectators for their fighting.

"What's the problem, beautiful?" Wally asked, jumping at the chance to flirt with something moving with breasts. The blonde couldn't hide her groan and eye roll at her teammate's antics.

"Oh, give me a break!" Artemis cried before Megan could answer. When everyone turned to her curiously, she blushed and realized she shouldn't have said that out loud. "She's taken, Wally. Get that through that thick head of yours!" Artemis added quickly in an attempt to redeem herself.

"Wow," Wally sneered. "Jealous much?" Artemis could feel herself blushing; it wasn't because she was actually into Kid Mouth, but because he was accusing her of exactly that. The blonde stood up from her chair and faced the redhead, hands on her hips.

"No," she elongated the word. "I just think that it's really pathetic of you to continue flirting with her when she isn't even remotely interested in you, and never was!" Artemis hear door close and knew without looking that Megan and Superboy had extracted themselves from the room to avoid more arguing. Wally rolled his eyes and hopped off the table.

"Well sooooorry that I'm trying to leave myself open in case she and Supey don't work out!" Wally said sharply, like it was the easiest thing in the world, crossing his arms. Artemis rolled her eyes at his pettiness and opened her mouth to reply when he added, "And why do you care so much, anyway?" Artemis blushed and turned away.

"I don't," she snapped. "I just find your constant attempts, key word: attempts, annoying." Wally rolled his eyes.

"Well I know for a fact that I'm not the only one that flirts around," he retorted, uncrossing his arms. Artemis whipped around.

"Excuse me?" She asked her voice full of malice. In one swift motion, the speedster had reached into his wallet and pulled out a folded photograph, unfolding it and trusting it in Artemis' direction.

"Look familiar?" She caught her breath. It was the picture of her and Justin that Wally had stolen from her room. Artemis' eyes narrowed.

"Why do you still have that, you troll?" She exclaimed. It was Wally's turn to blush, which made the archer smile.

"I just… I… uhh…" In his frenzied state, Artemis got an idea. She sauntered closer to him slowly and drove him backwards until his back and the counter made contact. "What are you…?" The speedster looked extremely flustered.

"Shhh…" Artemis cut him off seductively, placing one foot on either side of him and leaning in. "There's no need to talk." She whispered and gently pushed his shoulders down so that his elbows rested on the counter behind him and was looking at Artemis with a mixture of bewilderment and lust. Artemis smirked; this was exactly what she was hoping for.

"What are you doing?" Wally asked softly, obviously pleased to be getting this kind of attention from someone of the opposite sex, even if he was just arguing with her twenty seconds ago. Artemis didn't answer, only traced her hand down Wally's stomach, feeling the outline of his abs under his shirt and snorting at an unmistakable purr from him. His hands went to her hips and he pulled her in closer, practically moaning. Artemis' hand moved to his shoulder.

"This'll teach you to imply I'm easy," she whispered, her lips brushing his ear.

"Mmmm," Wally murmured. Artemis was sure that he didn't comprehend a word she said. Without uttering another one, she twisted out of his grasp and used her foot to kick his out from under him. He yelped as he flew through the air, but stopped himself right before he hit the tiled floor. "Hey!" Wally exclaimed as she brought her hand down on his collarbone and twisted quickly so his back was to her. She grabbed his arm and twisted again, smirking as he hit the floor with a crash and put her foot on his form, still holding his arm for good measure. "You… You… Ugh!" Wally fumed, ripping his arm from the grinning archer's grasp. "I can't believe you!"

"It's not my fault that you flirt with anything that walks," Artemis mused. Wally made a face.

"Ha-ha, real funny. Now help me up. And don't worry," he added, accepting her hand as she pulled him up. "I won't tell Justin that you're madly in love with me." Artemis' face dropped and she wished that he would just quit mentioning the boy.

"There's no need," she said coolly, brushing past him as she tried to exit the kitchen.

"Wait! Artemis!" Wally shouted as she marched away. When she didn't even stop, he grabbed her hand and yanked her back.

"Let me go, Kid Obnoxious!" Artemis snapped. She squirmed and twisted, trying to get him to loosen his hold, but the speedster wouldn't budge.

"Is it something I said?" He asked with a sad, puppy dog-eyed expression on his face. His grip on her wrist loosened and Artemis took advantage of the opportunity, yanking from his grip before continuing her trek out of the kitchen. "No! Ar. Te. Mis!" Wally yelled, enunciating every syllable of her name and lunging for her. HE grabbed both of her wrists and pushed her gently against the counter. She wiggled until she fell into the indenting lip where the two sides of the counter met to form a corner. She tried struggling against him, but he continued to hold her wrists and leaned his hips against hers so she couldn't move. Her struggling ceased when she realized that it wouldn't change anything. "Now, tell me what I did that pissed you off so much," Wally commanded as he released Artemis' wrists and instead, rested his hands on the countertop on either side of her. Artemis shook her head and crossed her arms.

"Besides breathing?" Wally groaned at her answer.

"Did something happen at school?" Artemis stared at him and rolled her eyes.

"I am not playing this game of hot-and-cold with you," she sneered. Wally rolled his eyes.

"Yes you are. Unless you want to stay here forever. I can wait all day," Wally taunted, checking an imaginary watch. "For someone with super-speed, I'm incredibly patient."

"Then get comfortable, because I'm not telling you," Artemis smirked.

"What? You don't trust me?" Wally challenged, leaning in closer. "I thought teammates were supposed to trust one another." Artemis let out a breath. "Was it because I brought up your boyfriend?" Artemis froze, her eyes locked on the floor and her hands resting beside Wally's.

"No," she said quickly, then felt herself flush and looked into the eyes of her teammate. His hand slipped and made her heart skip a beat. Good Lord… Why am I so excited? Calm down, Artemis. This is Wally. He needs to go away and stop touching me. Ugh. I wonder if his hands are bigger then mine… What am I saying? I don't care about the size of his hands… Well, you know what they say, the bigger the hands the bigger the- Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Shut up, shut up, shut up!

"So it is Justin," he said and Artemis didn't agree or disagree, leaving Wally to make his own assumptions. "What? Trouble in paradise?"

"It wasn't really paradise," Artemis mumbled. Wally leaned in closer to hear her words. Artemis noticed that he smelled like clean laundry and cake batter, a smell she had always loved.

"Relationship troubles?" Wally asked. "I get it, they suck."

"You got dumped?" Artemis inquired sarcastically. "How surprising!" There was a moment of silence as Wally thought.

"Ummm… Yeah, I did," he finally said, biting hip lip, a habit Artemis had always found sexy, even when done by someone as annoying as Wally. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did I just call him sexy? God no. What is the world coming to? He's definitely not sexy. Maybe cute and that might be pushing it. No, it's not. He's definitely a good-looking guy. But when he opens his mouth he ruins it. Oh my God. What am I saying? Stop talking. Be quiet, Artemis.

"What was her name?" Artemis asked, her eyes rising to his and she swore she could feel the heat from them entering her soul. Oh my God. Did I just say that his eyes were 'entering my soul'? That sounds like a sentence from a bad romance novel that Megan would read… Good Lord. Get a grip Artemis. His eyes are nice though… Not like any I've ever seen before. Kind of warm and inviting... Like cinnamon cake! Oh my god. Artemis. What the hell are you saying? Get a grip.

"Nadia," he answered distantly, the chuckled almost absently and continued. "We were together for a little over a year when she dumped me for another guy. I was a mess for a week." Artemis quickly drew the parallel from Wally's breakup to her own. "I loved her… Or at least I thought I did… We were young, and pretty stupid. Anyways, it just… it's not fair, you know?"

"Yeah," Artemis answered immediately. "I'm sorry Baywatch," she said, shocked at her sincerity. Wally's face echoed the sentiment and looked pleasantly surprised.

"Wow… Ummm… Thanks," he replied, giving her a small smile. They stared at each other and Artemis thought the moment seemed frozen. "Your turn," Wally said, breaking the silence.

"Hm?"

"It's your turn," Wally repeated. "Tell me about Mr. Perfect, Justin." Artemis noted with a smirk that Wally sounded slightly resentful.

"Whoa. Jealous much?" She grinned. Wally gave her a sour look and his expression hardened.

"Shut up and tell me about 'Jus-Jus'," Wally taunted, his hand slipping on the counter (again) and smacking into Artemis'.

"'Jus-Jus'?" She asked mockingly. "That's the best you could come up with? Do I seem like the kind of girl who would call anyone 'Jus-Jus', 'Wall-Wall'?"

"Stop trying to change the subject or I'll be forced to believe you made up 'Justin' to fill the void in your barren love life," Wally threatened menacingly. Artemis glared, at him with silent defiance, until finally deciding that she wouldn't be able to escape Wally's clutches unless she told her story. She sighed and began.

"Okay… Well, his name is Justin, which you already know because you're a snoop. We met in school… where we were in almost every class together. We started hanging out all the time… so we ended up getting together… It just happened," Artemis broke off, smiling at several memories surfaced of her ex. boyfriend. She looked up at Wally and found him holding back a smirk. "What?" She asked.

"You're just being a real girl right now," he chuckled. Artemis gave him a sour look.

"Ha-ha and that's something you don't understand, right?" The grin fell off of Wally's face.

"Touché." The duo stared at each other a moment, and just then, Artemis realized that he was leaning on her and her fingers were touching his.

"Will you get off of me?" She asked crossly, trying to push Wally away from her.

"Not until you finish the story," Wally said, annoyingly pushing her harder into the counter. Artemis groaned and rolled her eyes.

"Just get off of me."

"No."

"Wally, move."

"No."
"Wally!"

"Tell me about Justin!"

"I did!"

"Not about your breakup!" Wally said, holding her, motionless, against the counter. Artemis froze. Should I tell him? No. He'd just make fun of me.

"It's none of your business!"

"Hey!" Wally exclaimed. "I told you about mine!"

"Just get off of me!"

"Tell me!"

"No!"

"Then I'm not moving."

"Fine! You want to know what happened? On our sixth-month anniversary, I found out he was cheating on me… with a guy! Are you happy?" The accompanying silence was tense as hell.

"So he's… gay?" Wally inquired tentatively. Artemis nodded.

"I guess he decided he played for the other team, but didn't feel the need to fill me in on that or anything. Idiot… Thought dating someone else would make the situation better," Artemis admitted, whilst fiddling with her feet, but kept her eyes locked on Wally's.

"When did you guys break up?" Wally asked, his pointer finger tapping restlessly against the granite. Artemis thought a moment.

"A month ago."

"So that Red Arrow comment might have struck a nerve?" He asked sheepishly. Artemis nodded, her eyes closed.

"Yeah… Thanks for that." She opened her eyes to see Wally's guilty face in front of her own. His arms found their way around her, tentatively at first, then ensconced her with a gently hug around her entire form, her arms included. Artemis found the action itself awkward, but she was touched by the gesture and decided to help the speedster out.

Her arms, pinned to her sides by Wally's, circled his waist and she breathed in his scent of laundry and cake batter, now noticing a hint of-was that lemongrass?-mixed in as well. It was a combination that the archer didn't think should have worked, but did, and she found the smell deliciously intoxicating; alluring almost. Oh God. I'm reading way too into this. Good Lord. Let me go. But he cares… So? It's… Wally. Arrogant, annoying Wally. But he smells good… STOP BEING SUCH A GIRL. Despite her internal conflict, Artemis felt safe while she was enveloped in Wally's arms. All too soon, the speedster pulled away and leaned beside her on the counter, his head resting casually on the overhead cupboards. Artemis was pleased to note that his ears were bright red as she mimicked Wally's position.

"Is that what hormonal teenage boys do nowadays?" She teased, glancing sideways at the boy, who rolled his eyes.

"I seem to recall s certain teenage girl whole-heartedly responding," Wally retorted with a grin. Artemis opened her mouth to reply, when someone did for her.

"I hope I'm not… interrupting anything," Dick snickered, entering the kitchen and smirking at the duo propped against the counter, so close that their shoulders were almost touching. Artemis could feel herself blushing and hoped it wasn't noticeable. She hated being caught with members of the opposite sex and having others awkwardly making it seem like they were a hot-and-heavy item.

"Absolutely not," Artemis coughed. "Kid Flash here was just telling me a gripping story of how his first serious relationship went horribly wrong."

"Funny," Dick said with a glance at Wally. "Kid Flash never me that." He feigned surprise and Wally snorted.

"I didn't think you'd be able to relate since you've never been in a relationship before," he said with a typical Wally-snarky-grin.

"Well this has been fun," Artemis interrupted. "But, I'm not really in the mood to spend any more time in the company of a prepubescent computer hacker and," she paused while looking Wally up and down. "That," she decreed, smirking inwardly. The two boys grinned to each other and Artemis rolled her eyes. "I have homework to do. Later!" She said, grabbing a pear from the porcelain fruit bowl on her exit from the kitchen.

"I'm allergic to those, you know!" Dick called to her back, and she only snorted in response, taking a bite of the fruit.

Wally

"Here, have three of 'em, then," Wally challenged as he plucked several pears from the fruit bowl and rolled them across the counter towards Dick. He cringed while making a face and plucked a peach up instead.

"Kill me and you won't have any friends left." The boy bit into his peach and peered at Wally over the lenses of his sunglasses. "You're just bitter over the fact that I walked in on you putting the moves on Artemis." Wally choked on the pear he had begun to eat following Dick's rejection of the fruit. He coughed and swallowed ungracefully.

"Moves? Oh yeah, practically holding a girl captive until she tells you all the ugly details about her last breakup. That's the way to her heart," he replied sarcastically, nudging one of the pears closer to Dick. The younger boy ignored the allergen and pulled himself onto the countertop with a grin.

"So… you admit to holding her, then?" Wally's could feel his neck reddening, and the speedster fumbled with a reply. Dick's familiar laugh filled the nearly-empty cave and Wally considered shoving a pear down his throat. If his allergies didn't finish him first, the lack of oxygen would.

"D-dude!"

"When I said to get a room, I didn't mean our kitchen, Wall-man!"

"It's not like that!" Wally groaned as Dick's giggles ceased to stop. "I mean, it's Artemis." The Boy Wonder's amusement finally died down and his breathing became even. "Yes, and you're an idiot. Are we really stating the obvious?" Dick sighed.

"But it's Artemis!"

"Again with the observations."

"I mean- I- Dude! We hate each other!"

"You didn't seem to hate cuddling up to her against the counter a few minutes ago."

"Oh, what do you even know about relationships? The most game with the ladies you have is Animal Crossing!"

Dick smirked. "I didn't know you and Artemis had a relationship."

"We don't!" Wally sighed, rubbing his temple, frustrated. "I—," Wally's argument was interrupted by Dick's cell phone vibrating. He flipped open the phone, scanned the message and slid from the counter.

"I'd love to continue—and win—this enthralling debate, but I've got a study date with Zee to make before training tonight."

"Look at the pot calling the kettle black," Wally chided.

Dick turned from the exit of the kitchen. "Yes; but unlike you, I'm not blatantly lying to myself." And with that, the boy disappeared from the room.

Wally frowned and leaned on top of the counter as a discarded pear rolled into his elbow lightly.

Author's Note: I know that not much happened; it was kind of a filler chapter to set up for Chapter 5 (fluff galore). So just stick with me for Chapter 5, which I promise will be magical. Anyways, please R&R and you'll be my best friend. :D For future reference: I have a song fic, a oneshot and another multi-chapter fic in the works all about our favorite YJ couple. But if you're looking for cute Spitfire stories, check out sweetandunknown and keep an eye out for a multi-chapter from loveHP47. Both are amazing authors and would love to get reviews from awesome fans like you guys :D