Gotham City- 2 AM
"This a private roof or can anyone join?"
"What are you doing here Mis?" He asked, not turning around. Artemis Crock smiled as she heard the name pass her friend's lips. She was Artemis to M'Gann or Connor or Wally. She was Crock to most of the kids at Gotham Academy. To the young man in front of her she'd always been Mis. She'd chafed at the shortening of her name when he'd first started doing it, but over time she'd grown to view it as what it was. A term of endearment from someone she'd grown to care for.
"I came to talk. It seems the only way I can get a conversation out of you."
"What are you talking about? We talked two days ago." He said, and she snorted. Then she walked over and faced him, arms crossed in front of her chest.
"No we didn't. Batman gave us a post-mission debrief, Wally acted like a moron per usual and you all but ran out of there as soon as we were done. In fact, every time I've tried to have a conversation that wasn't strictly mission related you run the other way. You've been doing that for the last three weeks. Now what the hell is going on Dick?" She asked, making the young man glare behind his mask. She glared right back, and then she started laughing.
"What's so funny?" He asked, and she laughed harder.
"I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you, or maybe I am. I don't know. It's just, you're trying to do the whole bat-glare thing and it just doesn't work for you."
"You can go. Whatever you think this is, whatever moment you think this is, it's done. Get out of my city Artemis."
He did his best to imitate his mentor. He kept his tone even but harsh. He watched as the smile fell from her face, and he forced himself to bury the hurt that caused him.
"Dick, what are you-"
"What do you want from me, Artemis? Tell me what you want. The sooner I know that, the sooner I can get back to my job."
He watched her eyes widen, then narrow as she glared at him. Had they always been that brown, or had he simply never noticed? No, now wasn't the time. There wouldn't be a time. Couldn't be.
"What I want to know is what the hell is going on? We're friends! Now get traught, and tell me what's wrong. Please. Let me help you." She said, putting her hand on his shoulder. He flinched at the contact, but he didn't break it.
"The best way you can help me is to leave. Please leave before you get hurt. Leave before you end up like her." He said quietly, and Artemis frowned.
"You're not making sense. I'm not going to get hurt. I'm fine see? Standing right here wth all body parts attached." She said with a smile.
Her smile fell when he just shook his head.
"Look I don't know who this girl is that got hurt but I promise you I-"
"Catwoman promised Bruce the same thing. Then the Joker shot her. He damn near killed her." Dick said angrily.
"Bruce loves her, maybe more than he knows. She promises him she'll be okay and then...Then this happens."
Artemis's eyes widened as she absorbed his words. He wasn't upset about Catwoman, not really. He was worried about her. He...He had said he loved her. Not in so many words, but the implication was clear.
"Please...Please go before you get hurt." He whispered, and she shook her head.
"I can't do that. I won't leave you." She said, and then she kissed him.
He froze, his mind screaming at him to push her away. But he couldn't do that. He couldn't fight the joy that was beginning to fill him, and before he knew it, he had wrapped his arms around her.
"Artemis I-"
"Grayson, shut up and kiss me again, and believe me when I say I'm not going anywhere."
A/N: So just a quick one-shot to dip my toe back into the Young Justice fandom! Let me know what you think, and if you have any traught prompts I would love to hear them!