Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice.

Author's Note: This one is a bit short, but I hope you enjoy nonetheless! ^^

Drabble: Mulan

When Wally was drafted to the Union army, he wasn't stupid enough to not expect the death, the disease, and the blinding gunfire. War was war, no matter how sunny some of the other fellows in his camp tried to make it out to be.

What he didn't expect was for his bunkmate to actually be a girl.

Or to walk in on her naked.

They were staring at each other in horror now- she at him coming in early from his watch, and he at catching her changing into some fresh clothes after a late bath. He tried his hardest not to stare. Or say something stupid.

"This certainly is a welcome surprise."

Evidently he wasn't trying hard enough.

She scowled and rushed at him before he could say another word. Next thing he knew he was flat on his stomach as she sat on his back, the butt of a rifle aimed at his eye.

"Say another word and I won't hesitate to use this," the girl threatened. One hand was twisting his arm behind his back, the other arm trapped underneath his body. "Now you will forget everything you just saw and not breathe a word to anyone, or else."

"Sorry babe, it's hard to forget a sight such as you." He winced when she twisted his arm further.

"I'm not one of your public women, West, so quit with the sweet talk. If I were you I'd be more worried about whether or not I'd walk out of this tent alive."

He snorted at that. "If that's your plan, I'm more worried about you. How do you think you'll explain your bunkmate being shot or bludgeoned to death in your own tent?"

There was a beat of silence. It was obvious that she hadn't really thought of that.

After a couple of wriggles, he managed to turn his head, blinking up one eye at this gray-eyed girl with the hacked blond hair.

"I won't say anything...Apollo." That probably wasn't her real name, but whatever. "So how about we just talk this all out like good Connecticut men?"

"So you're doing this because your dad bailed and you and your mom had no means of support?"

Apollo-no, her name was Artemis- nodded as they sat together on the floor. Thankfully, she was clothed. "It was the only thing I could think of doing. Well, besides serving at a brothel."

Wally stared at her for a moment, taking in her downcast eyes and the way she fidgeted with the dirtied cuffs of her trousers. What would it have been like for this girl if she had enrolled in a brothel instead of the army?

"It probably would have been safer," he half-heartedly suggested, and she whipped her head up to glare at him.

"Safer?" She gritted her teeth. "I'll tell you this, West- I've seen plenty of my friends die more painfully from the brothels than in this entire regiment. Women are just as capable of dying as men are. At least here I'd get more money for my troubles."

He felt a painful twist in his heart at that. This girl really was willing to do anything possible to support her family. She had way more integrity than all those deserting men put together.

It wasn't a hard thing to admire, in fact.

"Then it's a good thing you happen to have the perfect bunkmate." He grinned as she raised a brow in confusion. "Don't worry your pretty little head, Artemis- I mean Crock. I'm gonna make a man out of you for sure."

A/N: Please review!