UPDATE 2021: DISCONTINUED.

A/N 2021: I wrote updates for this way back in 2015 but never got around to editing those chapters because of real life stuff. I'm no longer part of the YJ fandom (haven't even seen season 3 yet) but I'm updating because I've been wanting to get back into writing for years now, but have always felt weird about leaving this on the wayside, especially since I had the chapters written out for it. So for my own sense of closure, I'm posting the new chapters as well as a quick summary of how it was supposed to end. One can also note that I made changes to the existing chapters (1-4), I had planned to overhaul this entire thing in 2016 but once again, real life got in the way. That's all! Thanks to anyone who kept up with this, and I am sorry if I left you hanging.

A/N (Original): Hello guys, it's me again. So I've decided to dig my own grave via a new story, a multi-chaptered story. Problem is, I haven't written out the general outline of this fic, so updates will probably come and go depending on my lazy-ass brain. I do have a general idea of what's going to happen so let's just hope that this doesn't get kicked off to the Hiatus bootcamp XD On the plus side, I have two updates right at the beginning, so I do hope you enjoy. As usual reviews, kudos, bookmarks are most certainly welcome ^^

Things of note: Wally doesn't know Dick's secret identity here

Disclaimer: I don't own anything ._.

PROLOGUE

It started off as a game of sorts.

In his sixteen years of existence, Richard John Grayson-Wayne never thought himself vain. He knew he was no ugly duckling but that was it. He didn't spend every waking moment fussing over his appearance, in fact, he was rather blasé about it all. If he were to make an educated guess, he'd say, at the risk of sounding slightly narcissistic, that he inherited a good set of genes; ones which set him above average in the looks department.

Overall however, Dick prioritized the values his parents taught him. While John and Mary Grayson had both been attractive, they had emphasized that looks weren't everything, that what truly mattered was character.

Nevertheless, Dick had the company of such a diverse group of good-looking people that he had a pretty good sense of beauty.

Bruce was handsome in an austere and brooding fashion. His adoptive father had looks that could and had stopped onlookers. Babs was also quite the beauty. The young miss Gordon had fox-like features that matched her quick wit. M'gann was pretty in a classic girl-next-door kind of way and Artemis was stunning exoticism, with her sharp gray eyes and light blonde hair. Zatanna was a dead ringer for Snow White but with a mile-long mischievous streak. Conner had that whole bad-boy-pouty-face thing going and Kaldur was every bit a respectable gentleman. Even Wally was attractive—in a dorky kind of way. To say nothing of the likes of Superman and Wonder Woman. He had so many family, friends and mentors who were within the spectrum of the visually appealing.

He could have rated himself accordingly amongst his peers but had done no such thing. Dick just didn't put much stock into his appearance. He was a circus brat at heart and the limits to his narcissism were drawn in perfectly executed flips and somersaults. Besides, he had other things to worry about and for the most part, people were indifferent.

But then came puberty.

All of a sudden it was as if he had his own personal spotlight. As a former-performer and current-vigilante, Dick was used to attention, but the looks and comments thrown his way were different. He had zero experience in dealing with the flirtatious and sometimes, downright dirty interest. Often, he chalked it up to his relation with Bruce and his nearing bachelorhood. After all, Gotham had its share of money-grubbing social climbers. So Dick shrugged off the attention with offhand humility and masterful deflection. He would've continued on in ignorant disbelieving bliss if it weren't for one snarky blonde archer.

The not-so-subtle looks from Artemis had a way of making him feel like a piece of meat on display. She had a penetrating stare, gray eyes searching and noting every detail, every move and muscle twitch. At first, he thought he had wronged her somehow; whenever she wanted to pick a fight with Wally, she would get the same hawk-eyed stare. He figured, Artemis would prefer to work through her issues via fists, so he had asked her to spar.

Minutes on the mats and Dick was beginning to doubt his assumption. Earlier on, the fight had been equally matched but as it dragged on, Artemis kept getting more and more distracted. He didn't know why she was unfocused and his own outfit hardly helped matters. He had gone through a growth spurt and had outgrown several of his clothes. Now, they clung to him like second skin, restricting his movement with his sweat acting as some kind of bonding agent.

Redirecting his attention from how gross he felt—puberty was such a magical process—he quietly snarked about his predicament.

'Come one, come all! See the Boy Wonder and his amazingly warm, sticky fluids!'

On second thought, best leave that train of thought untouched.

Lunging forward, Dick feinted a kick to the left and followed it up with a jab to the right. Artemis unsteadily dodged out of the way. He stepped up with a high kick and as predicted, the blonde took a step back. Her arms reached out instinctively to regain some balance. Quick as lightning, Robin grabbed her outstretched hand and spun around, hooking his foot around her knee. They fell to the mat. On impact, he scrabbled up to immobilize her, straddling her legs and holding her wrists. Dick leaned up to brag and Artemis… well, it wasn't a groan exactly but it was… something.

His words caught in his throat. Wisps of blonde hair had escaped the tight ponytail she often wore as sweat trickled down her temple, to her collar bone, her chest. Dick noticed her eyes then, black with a ring of gray.

'No way… she wasn't—towards him!'

Dick's face heated up at the sudden realization and he scrambled off. All those looks from the archer pieced together an idea that should have been unthinkable.

"Well," he cleared his throat, "that was a… strenuous session."

Dick winced at the breathiness of his voice. When he was met with silence, he began to fidget. Never before had he felt so self-conscious. Finally, "yeah, it was."

Her voice came off in an exhale that sent tingles down his spine.

"I gotta go. See ya."

Dick made a beeline for the exit. Heading straight for his room, he entered, closed the door and sank to the floor.

'Did that really just happen? Artemis was… she was...'

He didn't know how to feel. On one hand, that was one hell of an ego-booster but on the other, Artemis was like a sister and that was just weird as all hell. Even stranger was the possibility that was beginning to creep up on him, that he was attractive, or at least attractive enough to warrant the interest of one Artemis Crock.

The idea tore at his self image. It made him rethink all other advances towards him. Somehow, he could no longer shrug off the attention, thinking it a ploy for his adopted by a billionaire status.

Dick stood up to look himself in the mirror.

It was with some hesitation that he reached for his shades. His mind unhelpfully replayed a scene from one of those afternoon shows Alfred vehemently denied watching, the one where the girl took off her glasses and was transformed through the power of television and makeup into some impressive beauty.

With a manic chuckle he pulled it off quick. Familiar dark blue eyes greeted him and…

Nothing.

That was it.

He looked the same as always! He didn't understand.

Dick fell back on his bed with a snort. What the hell was he thinking?

Perhaps he was mistaken?

He remembered then, Artemis' glazed over eyes, lips temptingly plump and red, face flushed and chest heaving in labored breaths, and—okay, okay enough of that. Dick might be facing an identity crisis of sorts but he was still a teenage boy and thinking of Artemis in that way was just… eww.

What was he supposed to do though?

He still didn't see himself as anything special. Was he supposed to ignore it?

Or maybe flirt back?

Yeah, no.

That would introduce a new set of complications, not to mention, wasn't that a violation of the Bro Code or something? Even though Wally and Artemis' relationship fizzled out in mutual agreement, Dick had no intention of dating the archer. Speaking of Wally, maybe he could ask the redhead?

Haha!

No.

Monumentally bad idea.

The speedster would probably laugh at his predicament and think it a joke. Wally would never let him live it down and—wait a second, a joke! Or more accurately, a prank!

Dick laughed aloud.

He had idea on how to handle the extra looks but that didn't mean he couldn't have a little bit of fun with it, right? People stared, made side comments and took invasive pictures of him all the time. This was his chance to take control of the situation, to use his assets instead of have them used against him. Surely there was nothing wrong in making the most out of a frustrating situation. Besides, this way, he could figure out whether or not the extra attention was really meant for him. It also didn't hurt that the more he thought about it, the more excited he got by the prospect of playing a game with his friends as the unsuspecting victims—test subjects—err...quest givers.

Plus, Bruce always encouraged him to challenge his limits and train even the most obscure of talents. Dick had clearly neglected to develop an important social skill and now was the time to fix that little oversight. And what better way to do so than with live targets?

And so it began.