Sorry it took me a while to update. Had a lot going on lately (insert lame excuse here). Anyway here's the next part, I would have included one about Rocket but in the first season she was only in the last two episodes, so it was hard to get a feel for her personality. I'll try to include her in some other ones- these all take place at random times during/between Season 1 and the 5 year break before Season 2, so I might go back and forth with the timeline a bit. If you have any scenarios you would like to see feel free to suggest.
I do not now nor have I ever owned Young Justice or anything related to DC Comics.
Read. Review. Enjoy.
Dark Knight and the 7 Mood Swings (Part 2):
Horny (Kaldur):
The Team had just completed a training exercise that Batman was supervising. The Bat noticed that the Team's leader seemed a little distracted during the activity.
"That's enough for today, training dismissed." Batman excused everyone. "Aqualad, a word." He quietly requested to avoid drawing attention from the others who were leaving.
"Is there something wrong, Batman?" Kaldur asked as he approached the man.
"You tell me. I've noticed you were distracted during today's training. Is something on your mind?" The older male asked.
"I am afraid so." The aquatic teen said avoiding eye contact with The Bat.
"You said that you made up your mind about Atlantis. As I told you before, you cannot efficiently lead this team if your mind isn't here 100%." The man explained.
"I am at peace with the decision I have made about leaving Atlantis; that is not what is distracting me." The Atlantean confirmed.
"Then what is distracting you?" The mentor asked.
"My people have this saying: 'You can take the boy out of Atlantis; but you cannot take the Atlantis out of the boy.'" Aqualad stalled.
"I thought you said you weren't distracted by Atlantis." Batman countered.
"It is not Atlantis itself that is troubling me. I can live on land for the rest of my natural born life; however, I cannot escape my heritage." The adolescent male explained.
"You've lost me." The Bat started to grow impatient with the teen's excuse.
Kaldur sighed before he explained, "It is like this: when my people reach a certain point of physical maturity, our most primal instinct is activated between the spring and autumn solstice."
"So what you are telling me is that you were distracted because you're… amorous?" Batman asked, trying to find the appropriate word.
Batman was aware of the Atlantean mating season from what Aquaman had told him once before about Atlantean culture; after he confronted the sea king about his regularly requested leaves from the League during the summer.
"In a manner of speaking, yes." The aquatic adolescent confirmed. "During today's training exercise I could not control the suggestive thoughts I had about my female teammates; particularly our newest member, Rocket."
"I get the picture." The older male established, knowing from experience how easy it could be to get distracted when working with members of the opposite sex.
"If you feel my current condition renders me unfit for the position as team leader, I understand." Aqualad implied, knowing that Batman wanted someone who was focus to lead the Team.
"Do you feel that's best?" The Dark Knight questioned.
"My only concern is what is right for the Team." Kaldur proclaimed. "I do not believe it is appropriate for a leader to have anything more than platonic thoughts about their teammates."
"Exactly how long does the 'Atlantean mating season' last?" The Caped Crusader asked to refresh his memory.
"Typically from April through mid-August, although my king has told me it could be longer or shorter; as it depends on the individual." Aquaman's protégé answered, "My king has also informed me before that once the mating ritual has been completed the symptoms may decrease sooner."
"It's one thing to have… physical needs, but it is an entirely different thing to act on those needs, especially with a teammate." The Justice League leader tried to explain to the Team leader.
"Please, do not misunderstand." Aqualad apologized "I was not implying that I needed to act on these 'physical needs'. I understand that there are some lines that a leader must not cross. I assure you that my will is stronger than my instincts."
"Seemingly so, since you've apparently been able to subdue these urges for the last three months." The vigilante considered. "But will you be able to keep it up for another month or so?"
"The urges are getting stronger, but I am trying my best to manage." Kaldur admitted. "As I have said: if you believe it is best for the Team that I not lead it during this time, I understand."
"We'll play it by ear, for now." The older leader stated. "I just need you to be honest with me about whether you are able to participate in missions with your… condition. There is no shame in taking a day off, especially if it will affect your concentration in combat."
"I will be honest about my ability to lead the Team." The young leader promised.
"Good to hear." The mentor said as he was about to leave to avoid embarrassing either of them any further.
"Batman, before you go, may I ask you a question?" Aqualad requested.
The Dark Knight froze. The last time a teenager asked him questions regarding this nature, it didn't go very well. However, Bruce knew that 17-year-old Kaldur was much more mature than 14-year-old Dick.
"Go ahead." The man offered as he turned around to face the inquiring teen.
"I know that humans and Atlanteans are not 100% the same; on the other hand we do have many similar physiologies, as well as similar... instincts." The Atlantean stalled, before cutting to the chase. "Do you have any advice on how to help suppress these unwanted thoughts?"
"Normally, I would say to take cold showers." The older male suggested. "But seeing as you're used to the ocean's cold water, I'm not sure how well that would work. The only other thing I can suggest is trying to think of something that you find repulsive or distracting when those thoughts occur."
"I will keep that in mind. Thank you for your time and advice, Batman." The Atlantean thanked the human and went to catch up with the rest of the team, while Batman headed towards the Zeta Beam; which was set for The Batcave.
Once he was alone in The Batcave, he started thinking to himself: 'Am I the only mentor that actually talks to the Team? I think I need to have a talk with the other mentors about upping their game.'
Angsty (Artemis):
The mentors switched protégés for patrol again. This time Batman switched with Green Arrow. Batman knew that Artemis was having a difficult time adjusting to both the Team and Gotham Academy, as well as keeping her secret.
"So how is school?" Batman inquired.
"Ugh, I don't want to talk about that right now." Artemis said. "I don't even want to think about it."
"Why not?" The man asked.
"I have so many assignments due this week at my new school, it's not even funny." The archer sighed. "I have a 12 page English essay due Wednesday, a French report due Thursday, and a health project due Friday. Plus I have to prepare for a math quiz and a biology exam tomorrow, and I still have to make up that cross-country mile in gym class from when I had to leave school early last week for that mission in Star City."
"Juggling missions and a normal life can be rather difficult." The Bat recognized.
"'Difficult'?" The teen mocked, "School was pretty easy when I was at Gotham North, the teachers barely knew you were there and didn't bother handing out difficult assignments."
"It's also one of the worst preforming schools in the country from what I've heard." The vigilante reminded the teenager.
"True, you could pretty much make honor roll just by turning in a grocery list with your name on it." Artemis chuckled. "The sad thing is I'm not even exaggerating, one of my friend's older sisters did that all four years and was class valedictorian."
"I can see why you would miss an institution that cares so much about the future of America." The Caped Crusader stated sarcastically.
"It's not the school I miss; it's my friends." Artemis clarified. "I haven't seen them since I joined the Team and switched schools."
"You can always hang out with them on your days off." the Dark Knight assured her. "No one said you couldn't keep your old friends."
"Except my mom." The blonde corrected. "Well, she's not actually forbidding me from hanging out with them or anything, but I know she never approved of my friends from my old school. Plus, they aren't exactly making an effort to see me either; I haven't talked to any of them since I transferred to Gotham Academy."
"What about the Team?" Batman inquired.
"Don't get me wrong, they are all really cool and nice… Well, except for Kid Flash, who's had it out for me from day one." Artemis noted before continuing. "But sometimes I feel like they're only my friends because we're teammates. I can't help but think that if it weren't for the fact that we were on the same team none of them would give me the time of day, especially if they knew about my family."
"I'm sure that's not true." The Dark Knight proclaimed, after a few seconds of an awkward silence he continued. "What about school? Have you made any new friends there?" He asked trying to sound as if he didn't already know the answer.
"Well, there is this one freshman: Dick Grayson." Artemis said. "He's really friendly… and forward. On my first day of school the kid just walked up and randomly took a selfie with me on his phone. I mean, who does that?"
"He's not harassing you, is he?" The man asked, wondering if Bruce should have a talk with Dick.
"No, he's a bit eccentric at times; but he's mostly harmless." The blonde archer proclaimed "We're actually pretty good friends now. It turns out his dad, well adopted dad, is Bruce Wayne: the billionaire who is the head of the foundation that gave me my scholarship."
"Interesting." The Bat said trying to act casually. "So do you and Dick ever hang out?" He added to keep the subject off his alter ego.
"Yeah, I've gone over to Dick's house a few times to study. His dad is pretty cool, but mostly keeps to himself. They live in a really nice mansion, with a butler and everything. And sometimes we hang out at lunch with his girlfriend Barbara-"
"He has a girlfriend?" The confused vigilante raised an eyebrow.
"Well, they say there's nothing going on between them; but I think they like each other. Barbara didn't seem to like me much at first, especially after the selfie incident; but, now that she knows I'm not interested in him like that, she's been friendlier to me."
"Hmmm…" Was all The Bat could say, Bruce might just have to give Dick a lecture after all.
After a few moments of silence Artemis spoke again. "Thanks by the way."
"For what?" The vigilante asked.
"For everything." Artemis generalized before she clarified "Letting me join the Team despite my family's past… and present affiliations, for not telling the others about my family's past, and for somehow convincing Bruce Wayne to give me a full ride scholarship to the best school in Gotham."
"I'm not sure what you're talking about." The Caped Crusader proclaimed.
"You're not the only one with detective skills, you know." The blonde informed the ebony "It's a bit odd that shortly after I join the Team that I get accepted to a private school on a scholarship I never applied for."
"I thought you didn't like you're new school." The masked man tried to change the subject; he's never been good at accepting gratitude for something he didn't see as a big deal.
"Granted, the school work is more challenging and it does make balancing my life a little more difficult; but my mom is happy that I'm getting the opportunities that she's never had." Artemis said thoughtfully." And I'm happy that she's happy."
"That's good to know." Was all the Bat could think to say.
He honestly didn't think much about giving her the scholarship; even if Robin hadn't ask him to. Though he did often try to hide it, Batman saw the Justice League and the Team as an extended family and wanted the best for all of them.
'Wow, Robin was right.' Artemis thought to herself, 'Batman's not very good with emotions.'
Mopey (Kid Flash):
It was time for the mentors to switch protégés for patrol again. This time The Batman switched protégés with The Flash; much to The Bats disliking. It's not that Batman had anything personal against Kid Flash. In fact, since Wally was his ward's best friend, as well as the nephew of one of his best friends; Bruce knew Wally better than he knew any other member on the newly formed team of young heroes (aside from his own protégé, of course). But Batman has noticed that Kid Flash has been really mopey lately and he found it very annoying.
"How much longer?" Kid Flash asked, in his black stealth mode uniform.
"We just started patrolling 8 minutes ago." Batman informed the impatient protégé while staring ahead into the dark city of Gotham.
"Why are we up here?" Wally questioned.
"So we can have a view of the whole city." The Bat replied.
"Can't we just drive around town in the Batmobile?" The speedster suggested.
"No. We need to stay hidden." The Dark Knight informed the young man.
"Well, can I at least drive the Batmobile when we go back to the Batcave?" The gingered teen asked.
"No." The vigilante stated firmly.
"But you let Robin drive the Batmobile..." The speedster whined "When he was 11."
"That was one time and it was only because my legs were temporarily paralyzed from a sedative." Batman informed the mopey teen.
"Stupid Robin; gets to have all the fun." The ginger mumbled under his breath; Batman heard him, but chose to ignore it before Wally started up again. "So while we're waiting for something to happen, can I listen to music?"
"No." Said The Dark Knight.
"Can we take a break to get ice cream?" The red-headed adolescent requested.
"No." The man said.
"How about Pizza?" The younger male asked.
"No, we need to be ready to spring into action at all times." The older male stated.
"But Flash lets me listen to music during patrols and we always take breaks to get something to eat because of our high metabolisms." the redhead informed the ebony.
"I'm not The Flash." The Bat mentally thanked the heavens for that.
"Obviously." The fastest boy alive muttered.
"Why must you complain about everything?" The Caped Crusader sighed, still staring into the dark city.
"Hey, I don't complain." The teen whined.
"Yes, you do." The mentor claimed frankly, "As a matter of fact, that's all you've done since Green Arrow's niece joined the Team."
"About that, Bats; you can drop the act. I think we all know she isn't really Green Arrow's niece." The young male stated, "Roy has known GA for years and says that he's never once mentioned having a niece, especially not one named Artemis."
"What's your point?" The vigilante questioned.
"My point is: She's lying to everyone and she took Roy's spot on the Team!" The ginger practically shouted, which earned him a Batglare before he lowered his voice to continue, "Red Arrow and I think she's hiding something. I want to know what she hiding and why she's even on the Team?"
"First of all, there are no limited spots on the Team and Roy has rejected multiple invitations to join." The Dark Knight reminded the copper-haired teen as he looked back to the city he wanted to protect. "Second, everyone has secrets and some things are none of your business. Lastly, she's on the Team because she wants to fight for justice, just like the rest of you."
"'Fight for justice'? She sabotaged a mission to take on a villain by herself." Kid Flash said trying to refrain from shouting to avoid earning another Batglare.
"From what I've heard you and Red Arrow had, on multiple occasions, been trying to convince everyone that she was incompetent. She was trying to prove herself to the two of you; something Flash has told me you've done multiple times when you first started." The Bat reminded the young speedster. "In fact, if I had a penny for every time I've heard of a protégé messing up a mission trying to prove their skills and loyalty, I'd be a billionaire."
"You don't say." Kid Flash mumbled while rolling his eyes, thinking The Bat couldn't see it.
"You can stop pretending, Wally. We both know that you know who I am." Batman stated still staring into the city.
The boy still tried to act nonchalantly. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
"I said you can cut the act." The Bat said "Also, your comments around the Team about it are as obvious as the fact that you only continue to flirt with Miss Martian to keep your real love interest a secret."
"How did you know that?" The gingered teen asked.
"World's greatest detective…" The vigilante reminded the ginger "Seriously, what part of 'Batman' does no one on the Team seem to understand?"
"Trust me, no one on the Team understands Batman... except maybe Robin." Wally joshed. "So what else do you know about me?"
"You mean other than the obvious sexual tension between you and Artemis?" Batman asked, teasing the teen.
"What?!" Wally shouted in a shocked tone, before he got another Batglare for being too loud.