FudoTwin17: Hey, readers! Okay, I know that a lot of people like the conversation thing at the top, but I'm not really planning on it this time. Just don't feel that good. Anyway, I love you guys and I hope that you guys enjoy this chapter. Love you! And I'm really sorry for what's about to happen. I love Zee and Rocket, but they're gonna be bad. And there's gonna be a love triangle (I love them to death!). I don't own Young Justice!

Chapter 3

Barbara slowly walked up to the two of them, wondering silently to herself why the alien prince was talking to her friend. She paused, eying him. Not only that, but why he had on sunglasses, tight-fitting clothes (those distracting skinny jeans), and why she couldn't see his wings.

In the back of her mind, a small voice screamed at her to walk away and call Megan to tell her that she caught a cold or something and couldn't go out with them today. She didn't know why she suddenly felt nervous, but seeing the prince there wasn't doing her queasy stomach any favors.

She could do it. Right now. Just turn around and they would never know the difference-

Megan connected eyes with her and smiled, waving her over. Barbara sighed, making her way over a bit slower than she needed to go.

"Hey!" Barbara greeted slightly more enthusiastically than she felt. "Uh, hi, Prince Richard?"

The boy blinked behind his dark glasses and looked around as if someone were listening in on them before he turned back to her, smiling sheepishly. "Hi. Uh, Dick is fine. I'm trying to stay, um, inconspicuous." Barbara felt the heat rise to her cheeks. Of course he was. "You must be Barbara." She nodded, still completely embarrassed. She noted that he saw the blush and ignored it. At least he was a nice guy. "It's nice to meet you."

"Uh, yeah. You, too." He smiled and they shook hands a bit awkwardly (as most teens didn't shake hands as a greeting and the prince was new to the Earthen custom).

Megan beamed at her. Barbara didn't know whether to be annoyed or embarrassed. "Great! Now we only have four more people to go!"

Barbara nodded, although she looked over at Dick, a curious frown on her face. Why was he here?

He noticed her stare almost immediately. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't explain my presence. My apologies. I came here to see what your culture is like and I met Megan."

Barbara's close friend nodded in agreement. "Yes! And I invited him to join our group. After all, it's dangerous out here. Who knows who might attack him! He looks like an ordinary kid after all. Besides, he could be recognized and people are already talking about ridiculous conspiracy stories!"

"I see." Just as she said it, she noted Conner walking up from the direction of his house. His eyes went immediately to the boy standing between the two girls.

"Hey." He greeted, still watching the boy curiously.

"Hi, Conner!" Exclaimed his freckled friend happily. "This is Prince Richard. He's going to hang out with us today. He's going by Dick."

And just like that, Conner nodded and had no more questions. He was always like that. Once he knew a little, he didn't need to know any more (although he would still listen if one told him) and he would just watch them for any opinions.

"Hey!" Called Artemis as she jogged over. She looked at the prince, frowning. "Um . . . ."

As the entire introduction was starting to get boring for Barbara, she sighed and counted down her friends. After Arty, was Kaldur. Naturally, then was Wally. Naturally, Wally had a huge reaction that made Barbara feel bad for Princ-Dick, but eventually, they made it out to hang out.

Which just so happened to mean going to the mall.

Barbara really didn't mind. She was a girl. She enjoyed trying things on and joking with her friends. But occasionally she found herself watching Dick curiously. He would watch them laugh and then a sad look would cross his face that he would cover with fake laughs only a second later when he noticed her or anyone else watching him.

It was during one of those times that Wally stopped in the middle of walking and everyone had to stop and go back. He had a weird look on his face as if he just realized something. His eyes went to the prince. "You have never been to a circus or a carnival or anything before. You've probably never tasted cotton candy before!"

To Barbara's "trained" eye, his face went completely blank, as if he wasn't thinking about anything. Her eyes narrowed. She stored the information in the back of her mind as he spoke. "No, I don't think I have."

Wally clapped a hand on his back. "I know what we are going to do tomorrow."

Barbara blinked. Tomorrow?

She frowned. He was a permanent part of their group then. At least, until his species found a new home. Barbara sighed.

It was then that everyone hid in a clothing store as a group of teens walked past. Dick frowned. "What are we hiding from?"

"Them." Wally stated, gesturing to the group. "They're a bunch of rich kids who think they're all that. Although all the babes are hot and want me, they think we're nothing because of our social status."

Dick frowned, catching on quickly that he was using Earth-slang and that none of the girls wanted Wally. However, he could easily tell by looking at them that they were from richer families than the group that he was hanging out with. But he didn't think that that gave them a right to mess with this group.

An image of his "mother" suddenly attacked his mind. He flinched, remembering the plan and the necessary actions and steps that would go along with them.

It was then that the group noticed them. The teens made a sharp turn just to meet them, a horrifying idea that was about to cause trouble. In the lead was none other than Zatanna Zatarra. On her left was Raquel, who went by Rocket. On her right was Roy Harper. Then were the "terror twins" (as the group called them), Tommy and Tuppence, although Tuppence went by Tup.

All this was fed to Dick by Wally within the time it took the other group to take two steps. Dick noted faintly that Dick could talk fast.

And then they were there.

"Hey, what's up, Barb?" Greeted Zatanna, eyes twinkling mischievously.

"What do you want?" Barbara answered immediately.

"Just to say hey." Zatanna replied, her eyes moving over to Dick. "And meet your new friend. I don't think we've met. Wanna introduce us?"

Barbara stared at the girl. "No. Why don't you just go along spending daddy's money, okay?"

Zatanna glared at her before she turned to the prince. "You really want to spend your time with these losers?"

"Uh," Prince Richard began, but was cut off quickly.

"Because we could really have some fun. You know you wanna." Dick looked between them and the girl in front of him before clearing his throat and getting cut off again, although his time by a tall red-head.

"Kid, we can show you how to really have fun." Roy put his arm around the prince's shoulders and began steering him off.

"Actually-"

"Trust me, you'll be thanking us later." Tup said, her accent differentiating her voice from the rest of the group, who all (except Rocket) also happened to start reassuring him at the same time. Unable to politely escape Roy's grasp, he looked back at them worriedly, a silent plea for help in his eyes.

Barbara didn't know why, but it made her abnormally happy when his eyes went to hers for help. She strutted over and slid her arm under Roy's, removing the prince from his firm grasp almost immediately. "Sorry, but he's ours. We called him."

Zatanna crossed her arms. "Can't he choose for himself?"

"Oh, you were going to let him choose?" Barbara asked in mock shock. "I thought you were going to drug him and then tell him his opinions or something. You know, I figured that would be right up your alley."

Roy scowled at her. "You-"

"I am sorry, but we'll be going now. Nice seeing you all again." Kaldur started to steer their group away, but Zatanna grasped Dick's wrist and pulled him from Barbara's grip, causing the group to stop again.

"Why can't we let him choose? His choice." Zatanna made a point of playing with his jacket sleeve and sliding down so that she could "fix" it all while moving into his personal space. Barbara felt a growl die in her throat at Dick's reaction.

He politely stepped away and smiled at her. "Sorry, but I don't want to ditch my friends for a group I've just met. Maybe another time?"

She pouted. "Okay. See you then." She kissed him on the cheek and handed him a card with her number on it before sending Barbara a satisfied glare and went back to her group. Barbara felt a new growl in her throat ready to be unleashed.

"Come on." Zatanna commanded her group. Before they all started walking, Rocket glanced at Kaldur, whom Dick also noticed stared back for a moment. It was as if for that one second, it was just them. He felt a little bad for them.

Barbara glared at them before the group went back to walking again. It was then that Wally began to fill him in. "Roy and Rocket used to be in our inner group. But Roy started arguing and getting into some bad stuff, so we're not friends anymore." There was a sadness in his eyes that once again hit Dick. "We couldn't do it. And, you see, Rocket's dad wants her with a safe group. He knows Roy's guardian, so he trusts Roy. Since Roy's no longer in our group, Rocket is no longer in our group." He frowned. "We used to be the best of friends. But I guess those days are long gone."

At the sad, disconnected look in Wally's eyes, Dick frowned. "I hope not."

Wally smiled at him. "Okay, enough of that sad stuff. Show me the card!" Before Dick realized what happened, Wally snatched the card from his hand and examined it. He smirked. "Ooh! Listen to this! "Call me, Zee." And there's a kiss on here! Lipstick and all!" Wally burst into hysterics, and Dick found himself rolling his eyes behind his glasses.

Abruptly, Barbara snatched the card, ripped it in half, and threw it in the trash with a glare for good measure. She crossed her arms.

It was then that the teasing erupted and, somehow, Wally ended up being thrown into the trashcan by a very scary girl.

. . .

Wally yawned when he got home. He ate, got a shower, and turned on the television, watching the time since he was not going to be late tomorrow. Finding nothing better on, he flipped on the news. Of course, there was stuff on the aliens, but it also mentioned some killer on the loose.

There had been a body found completely drained of blood without any physical wounds.

Wally might have thought about how odd it was had he not looked at the time and gone to bed, hoping that he would actually wake up the next morning.

Tomorrow was going to be great.

. . .

FudoTwin17: I'm feeling better. I'm satisfied for now. I hope you all like it! Review! Bye!