Hey ya'll! So I know I haven't updated in forever, so sorry. But now I'm making an effort to become less lazy. And it helps that I'm completely alone for an entire week, so no one can interrupt. Anywho, here's the chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice, or the Miss Star Image Southern Regionals beauty pageant.

The team had assembled for another mission.

"You have all heard of the presidential candidate Bryan Watson, I presume?" Batman asked. The team nodded, wondering where he was going with this. "An assassin who calls herself Kitty is targeting his family, in particular his oldest daughter, Isabelle. Isabelle is going to be in the Miss Star Image Southern Regionals beauty pageant. The pageant is located in Waco, Texas. We will have a smaller team this time, although the others will be waiting in the bioship as back up. Megan will be the judges' assistant. Artemis will be a contestant. Wally will be an audience member." Batman walked out of the room before any protests could be made.

"Great. Megan, I need your help with the dress," Artemis groaned. Megan's reply was an eardrum bursting shriek.

Three Hours Later

Artemis glided across the stage in a long black dress with a halter top with her hair half up, half down, stopping and smiling at the judges in the center. Meanwhile, Wally had found a kindred spirit. The teenage boy was his age, and had been dragged along to support his little sister.

"So why are you here?" the boy (his name was Josh) asked.

"Um, erm, girlfriend!" Wally stumbled, then decided on the excuse for last time.

"Which one?"

"The one on the stage," Wally said, gesturing at Artemis.

Josh let out a low whistle. "Man, she's smoking!"

Wally frowned. "Yeah. Look, I gotta go, I told her I would help her prep for interview." He walked off seething. "Who did Josh think he was, talking about Artemis like that? Wait. Why do I care? I hate her!" As Wally continued this internal debate, the judges announced a fifteen minute break. Heading over to Artemis to check in, Wally noticed a very familiar person talking to her. It was Josh. And from the looks of it, he was flirting. Wally growled, and stormed over. Wrapping his arm possessively around Artemis's shoulders, he frowned at Josh. "Dude, were you flirting with my girlfriend?"

"Well why'd she want to be with a loser like you when she could be getting some of this?"

"You knew I had a boyfriend?" Artemis asked, frowning.

"Yeah."

"Well, I like Wally because he's ten times sweeter, funnier, and hotter than you could ever hope to be." Artemis snapped.

"Whatever," Josh snorted as he walked off.

"Boyfriend?" Artemis hissed as she turned back to Wally.
"He asked why I was here, and it was the first thing I thought of!" Wally said, raising his hands defensively.

"The break is about to be over. Contestants, please make your way backstage to get ready for the interview portion," the MC announced.

Artemis narrowed her eyes. "You got lucky Baywatch," she said, and rushed backstage. Artemis watched as Isabelle took the stage.

"Ms. Bryan," the MC started, "how do you feel about women's rights and beauty pageants?" As Isabelle started to answer, Artemis's attention wandered. She noticed someone going through a door marked "Do Not Enter." Frowning, she followed them. Inside was a girl wearing tight black pants and a leopard print shirt.

"Hello…Artemis," the girl said. "The Light says hello," she grinned, and sprayed Artemis with knockout gas.

"Wally, Artemis just went offline," Megan said through the link.

"I'll go look for her. You be ready to protect Isabelle." Cautiously, Wally walked backstage. Looking around, he saw a girl in a leopard print shirt come out of a door marked "Do Not Enter." "Wasn't the assassin's name Kitty? " he wondered. Checking to make sure no one was watching, he entered the door. Artemis was lying on the ground. Hurriedly, he checked her pulse. She was alive, thank goodness. He scooped her up bridal style.

"Wally, did you find Artemis? I just knocked out Kitty," came Megan's voice. Wally was suddenly aware of the screams coming from outside the door.

"Yeah, she's fine, just unconscious. I'm going to take her back to the bioship."

One Hour Later

Artemis woke up in the med bay. Next to her was Wally, holding her hand, which he dropped as soon as he noticed she was awake.

"What happened? Is Isabelle safe?" Artemis asked.

"She's fine. Kitty tried to get her, but Megan got to Kitty first. Kitty knocked you out with some spray."

"Gah! Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Artemis mumbled, hitting herself on the head.

"Hey stop it," Wally said gently, grabbing her arm. "You have to be pretty smart to tell off Josh like that."

"Thanks."

"Speaking of which," Wally said with a wry grin, "did you really mean what you said?"

"Of course not," Artemis scoffed.

"Well then I guess you don't want to grab a pizza with me."

"It's always about food isn't it, Kid Stomach? Give me five minutes to change."

So here's another chapter! Maybe in the next one I'll have them kiss. As always, send in your ideas!