Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice.
Hey guys! So I know this is really different from my other Spitfire fanfic (Chained) but I recently got back into YJ and wanted to give it a shot.
I anticipate it to be about 15 chapters, give or take, but full of action. Keep in mind that this is an AU so some things will be different than the canon YJ storyline.
Hope you like it! :)
Chapter One
But with all my education
I can't seem to command it
And the words are escaping
And come back all damaged
Mount Justice. September 1st 2015. 10:03 A.M.
Wally West sighed happily as he consumed his 20th pancake, laying back in his chair happily as M'Gann bustled around in the kitchen before him. Next to her, Superboy was covered in batter, which M'Gann was playfully licking it off.
"That was the best ever!" Wally declared, licking the syrup happily off of his fingers, "What can I say Megalicious, you make the best pancakes,"
"Nah," Nightwing, sitting right next to him, disagreed, "I'm gonna have to say that's Alfred's title. Right Robin?" He asked, addressing his younger brother.
The newest Robin looked up at the two, "Yeah but Alfred has the best everything when it comes to the food department,"
The speedster had to pause and consider this for a moment. Robin and Nightwing had a point. Alfred had awesome pancakes and well… awesome everything, "Eh. You have a point-"
Just then their debate was cut off as an announcement went through the cave, quickly catching everybody's attention. God, Wally hoped it was a mission. He hadn't had one in weeks and it was making him seriously restless.
"Aqualad, Nightwing, Kid Flash, Miss Martian, and Superboy report to the control room,"
Yes! That definitely meant a mission, "Finally!" He responded, sitting up and running into the control room, "A mission!"
The screen lit up before him as the rest of the team walked into the room, Batman's stoic expression illuminating the television, "Team. We have a mission for you. Recently it has come to the league's attention that Cadmus designed a biotech chip that, when planted, offers an outside source remote control of your mind. Although it's unclear exactly who is in possession of it, we received an anonymous tip that it's located in a small town in Wisconsin, called Farmer's Grove," A picture of the town popped up on the screen. It was cute, small, and quaint, with a few people milling around on the sidewalks outside the shops, "We need two of you to go undercover, find whoever has it, arrest them, and retrieve it. The rest of you can stay here and help with the mission from abroad-"
"I'll go!" Wally volunteered quickly. He'd be damned if he had to stay here another week. It was summer break and he personally wanted to live it up before he had to go back to Stanford in the fall.
"So will I," Nightwing volunteered, much to Wally's surprise… Undercover missions weren't really Dick's style. Sensing his best friend's wonderment, the former boy wonder shrugged, "What? Someone's gotta keep you in line…" He smirked at Wally, who only responded with an eyeroll.
"The rest of you can stay here," Batman finished, "I need to talk to Kid Flash and Nightwing alone. I'll discuss your part of the mission with the rest of you later,"
Realizing their dismissal, the rest of the team disbanded, going off in their own directions. Nightwing and Wally exchanged a devious grin. While the mission was still just that- a mission, it was going to be a lot of fun for the pair of best friends, who hadn't gone on a mission together for the past year.
Turning towards his best friend, Wally taunted him with a smirk, "I'm going to totally find the Cadmus chips before you!"
Farmer's Grove, Wisconsin. September 1st 2015. 10:03 A.M.
"Shit!" Artemis Crock exclaimed as she glanced at the clock, "Shit! Shit! Shit!"
"What is it?" Her roommate, Zatanna Zatara asked from the other room, "Artemis?"
"I'm late for work!" She groaned, rolling out of the bed. 10:03… Had she really slept all the way to 10:03?, "I was supposed to be there at 9:45!"
"Crap," Zatanna said, walking over to the doorway of Artemis's room. The entire bedroom was a mess, boxes of the blonde's belongings strewn across it haphazardly, "Have you seriously not unpacked all the way yet? You've been living here for like a month,"
"Don't have time," Artemis responded simply as she tied her blonde hair back in a ponytail, "I've been working day and night,"
The brunette in the doorway furrowed her brow worriedly, "I don't charge that much for rent, do I?"
"No, it's not that. It's…" Artemis sighed, the words escaping her, "How about this? I'll unpack tonight,"
"Sounds good," The magician responded, a small smile on her lips, "And hey, tell your boss it was my fault. That I locked you in or something,"
"Honestly, I doubt that would work on him but thanks," She responded, walking into her room and grabbing a white apron that read "Rocket's" on it, "I'll text you, okay?"
"Sure," Zatanna said, "See you later?"
"Definitely," The archer agreed, smiling at her roommate before heading out, "See you soon!"
Artemis all but bolted out of the apartment, down the stairs, and around the corner to Rocket's. Crap. 30 minutes of work lost. At this point, Artemis needed all of the money that she could get. She was supposed to pick up her new fake ID today and needed to get her bow restrung if she wanted to use it tonight.
For the past year, Artemis had grown accustomed to life on the run, staying in places three weeks to six months at the max. She couldn't stay in one place for too long, that made the possibility of her father tracking her all the more probable and if he found her, that meant that he would find the suitcase. If her father got ahold of the technology within that suitcase… Well... Things would not be looking good for the archer… Or the rest of the the world.
She sprinted into the bar, clocking in quickly, "Hey Augustus,"
Augustus owned the bar but regularly came into work. He didn't trust anyone else with managing it, saying that he knew how to work it best. Her boss was a tall, built man with dark skin. His black hair was short and cropped. Artemis had never seen his eyes, for he was always hiding it behind sunglasses.
"Good morning, Artemis," He responded, "You're late,"
"I know," She responded, sliding into the bar, "I overslept. I'm sorry. It won't happen again,"
Augustus didn't give any sign of forgiveness and simply responded with, "Racquel is taking inventory. Switch with her in about an hour,"
Artemis nodded and sighed as he walked away. God, she hated dong inventory. It was hours upon hours of counting the types of beers, whiskeys, wines, and various other liquors they had, among the types of foods the Rocket's offered.
"Hello," She said, turning to regard the bars first patron, "Welcome to Rocket's. What can I get you?"
Farmer's Grove, Wisconsin. September 1st 2015. 9:43 P.M.
As Wally took a bite into his third burger, he decided that he liked Farmer's Grove already.
The speedster had arrived a few hours ago, by travel of the bioship, and quickly migrated to the first restaurant (Small towns always had the best food) he could find: a tiny joint named Rocket's and it was ah-mazing.
"Enjoying yourself?" His waitress, a young, dark skinned girl with a short haircut asked him.
"You bet!" Wally responded, grinning at her, "Any chance I could get a fourth?"
She laughed, "Sure. I'm about to head out actually but that girl..." She pointed towards a girl with a thick, blonde ponytail who was bringing someone food, "... Can take the rest of your order for you,"
"Sounds good, thanks," He responded, winking at her. It was understandable that she'd leave, the redhead had been here for quite some time.
"No problem," His waitress, Racquel, responded, walking off into the back. A few moments later, the blonde he had seen earlier appeared in front of him.
"Welcome to Rocket's," She greeted eagerly, "I'm Artemis. I'll be taking over for Racquel, she had a previous arrangement. Is there anything else I can get you?"
Wally surveyed her carefully. She had thick, long blonde hair that was pulled into a ponytail. Her eyes were brown but had tiny specs of green littered within them. As he took a good look at her face, he concluded that she was probably of some sort of Asian descent. Wally had to hand it to her, she was pretty good looking.
"Not unless you're on the menu," He responded suavely, taking a sip of his drink.
However, instead of inciting the normal giggle it would have, all he got was a huff and, "Are you serious?"
"What?" He asked innocently, "It was a joke. And a pretty bomb pick up line,"
The waitress, Artemis, huffed and crossed her arm, glaring down at him, "Yeah, well, I didn't think it was funny,"
He glared up at her. Geez, what was with this chick? All of his pick up lines were jokes and if she wasn't interested, she could have very easily have just said so and carried on. She didn't have to be so mean about it, "You don't have to be so rude about it-"
"I'm being rude about it?" She said incredulously, "You're the one who used one of the crappiest pick up lines ever on it!"
"Yeah, well, you're the one being a total bitch about it!"
"Oh, that's it-"
She was cut off a large, built man put his hand on Artemis's shoulder, "Artemis," He reminded gently, "Linda just came in. You've worked overtime three days this week. You should head home today," His tone had a finality to it of a superior. This must have been her boss.
Suddenly, Wally felt a pang of guilt. Sure, she was obnoxious but he hadn't meant to get in trouble.
"Of course, Augustus," Artemis said, turning and heading towards the back.
"Now," The man said, turning towards Wally, "What can I get you?"
Madison, Wisconsin. September 1st 2015. 11:30 P.M.
"You should have seen him, Z!" Artemis snapped as she pulled her arrow back and aimed it at the robber, trapping him in a cloud of black solid, "He was so obnoxious! And so ungh, so annoying!"
"Tel mih nwod!" Zatanna chanted, releasing the robber safely to the ground, "Eit mih!" With a flick of the wrist, the robber was tied down to the ground, unable to move, "Sounds like it. What did you say his name was?"
"I don't even know," Artemis said as the two made their way to the nearest rooftop, "Do you see his partner anywhere?" She asked, quickly changing the subject and motioning towards the robber on the ground below them.
The two roommates regularly patrolled Madison, a large city about half an hour from Farmer's Grove, for criminal activity. That was how the two met. Artemis had been patrolling on her own as Tigress and saved from attack by Zatanna. The two immediately started patrolling together and became fast friends. Zatanna lived a vagabond lifestyle too and, in that way, the two understood each other. They didn't ask the other questions about the past or get curious. There was a silent agreement between them not to dwell into that territory, an agreement that Artemis appreciated.
"No. Damn it! He probably got away," Zatanna answered, biting her lip, "Here. We'll track him down. He can't be that hard to find… I'll go North and you go South,"
"Sounds good. We can rendezvous here once we've caught him," Artemis said, adjusting her Tigress mask, "I'll see you soon," She sprinted off towards the South, bow and arrow raised as she slowly patrolled. God, she loved this, she loved the rush, the thrill, of being on patrol, of being a good guy. It was the highest high that she could possibly get. Doing good and helping people, even if it was from the shadows, was so rewarding and so definitely worth it.
She crept to edge of the roof and leaned down, peering into the street. All clear. No one here. Delicately, she tip toed over to the next building. Nothing there too…
Maybe Z's having more luck-
"Freeze!"
The voice boomed into her ear, making Artemis stop in her tracks. She turned slowly, hands in the air. The police weren't behind her but rather a man in a hockey mask watching her every move.
Ah. The accomplice.
He was covered from head to toe in black and was aiming a gun at her. His hand was steady, which was the most dangerous part. This man was no stranger to shooting a gun, or shooting it in the field.
"I'd put that down if I were you," The archer bluffed, "Now,"
"I don't plan to," He responded, "Now, I'm going to give you two options. Either you turn around and I put a bullet in your back or you keep facing me and I put a bullet in your chest. Which one would you prefer?"
"Neither-" Before Artemis could finish her sentence, she was swept up in the air by someone. She blinked and was on the opposite rooftop, a yellow and red mask hovering in front of her- Wait.
Did Kid Flash just save my ass?
"You okay?" He asked, "It seemed like-"
"I had it under control," Artemis countered, in no good mood after her bad night at Rocket's.
"Didn't look like it," The speedster smirked, which irritated Artemis to no end, "You know, a thank you might be nice-"
As he spoke, Artemis scanned the area, freezing when she noticed a bomb, headed straight for them, "Move!"
She acted instantly, leaping onto him and pushing him to the side. They landed with her sprawled out on top of him. Thankfully, Kid Flash had noticed the bomb and jumped up, speeding away with Artemis in his arms as the bomb detonated, taking out a the top floor of a building. Luckily, it looked like a storage unit and was devoid of any human life.
"Holy shit!" He exclaimed, "What was that?"
"I don't know…" Artemis responded, "That doesn't happen here. Like at all,"
"Well, I'm glad you spotted it and pushed me out of the way," He winked at her, "Nice landing by the way,"
"Oh shut up,"
He pretended to be hurt, "Sharp tongue you got there, blondie…." He suddenly trailed off, looking at her carefully, "You got a name?"
Artemis paused. Crap. She had to handle this carefully. She doubted that anyone associated with the League would be fans of her, given her upbringing, "Sorry Kid," She said, beginning to back away. There was a balcony four stories down. If she made the jump, she'd be gold, "I don't do names," With that, she turned and ran for the edge, jumping down and landing on the roof. Knowing that she wouldn't be able to outrun Kid Flash, she settled for pressing herself up against the building and hiding in the darkness. She waited until she was absolutely sure that he was gone and crept out, walking towards the rendezvous point with a smile on her face.
Farmer's Grove. September 2nd 2015. 1:00 A.M.
"Hey KF," Dick greeted as Wally walked into their now shared apartment, "How'd the patrolling go?"
"Interesting…" Wally mused, flopping down onto the couch. He couldn't get that archer girl out of his mind. For some reason, the scene of her jumping off the rooftop, fearless and ready for anything, kept replaying over and over in his mind. If only he had gotten her name…
"Interesting?" Dick inquired, not once looking up from his research on the computer screen, "How so?"
"You know, Dick," Wally said, grinning at the ceiling, "I think I'm gonna like it here,"
There we go! Our first actual chapter :P
Please review and tell me what you think? I get hella inspired when I see reviews, so I should update faster if I get some reviews.
Anything that is different or changed in this story as opposed to the canon YJ story will be explained in later chapters, so just hang on tight, bc we're about to go on a wild ride.