Hey everyone, sorry for the lack of fluff in these opening chapters but I'm trying to keep Artemis and Wally in character. I'm a sucker for romance though so I promise it will come later on.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy and if you have any questions or suggestions feel free to pm me :)

Artemis couldn't sleep, the whole 'hero' thing was so new to her. Although glad to escape the maltreatment of the league of shadows, she was finding it so difficult to move on.

At times like these, she took refuge by laying on the couch by the fire in the cave's lounge room. The crackling was soothing and drowned out the sound of rain falling outside.

But just as she entered this zen-like state a disturbing noise interrupted her, "da-da-da-da chhhhh" it was a horrible version of some sort of drum solo performed by none other than Wally West.

"Do you mind," she sat up and moaned.

"wow talk about waking the dead, we do have our own beds you know," Wally said.

"Hilarious, and I assume you're out here to raid the cupboard of all it has?"

"Possibly," he smirked.

"Why do you eat so much? it's off-putting."

"I have a high metabolism okay, I need to replenish my fuels."

Artemis smiled, "ah and i guess that's why Homer Simpson eats so many donuts."

Wally hesitated, he clearly had no reply so he frowned and walked down the hall back to his room.

Artemis layed back down satisfied with her victory over the speedster.

The next morning Wally walked right to the end of the cave's main corridor, turned left and entered the gym. Robin, who was already inside, saw him come in, "finally, I've been waiting for an hour," he yelled.

Wally smiled, aware of dick's routine of hitting the gym at 6:00 am every morning, "hey I'm here, aren't I?"

"I guess so," Robin laughed, "hey did you hear the news about training tonight?"

Wally started jogging on the treadmill, "nope what's happening?"

"Apparently we're having a sparring lesson."

"Wait so we actually get to fight each other?"

"Pretty much," Robin responded.

"hell yeah what a way to kick off the summer," Wally exclaimed.

"I know right, I finally get to kick your ass, with permission anyway," robin laughed.

"You wish."

After a good 15 minutes on the treadmill at jogging pace, Wally walked to the gym's exit.

"Hey, I don't call that a quality gym session," Robin yelled out.

"Hey It's all I need," Wally yelled back.

After a suspenseful day, the team watched as the clock finally ticked over to 5:30 pm. Right on cue, black canary entered the combat room.

"I assume you all know what we're doing today so we may as well get into it, I'm going to put you into pairs, this person will be your sparring partner for the session. The pairs will take turns sparring on the combat floor and the rest of you will analyze their technique and performance, got it?"

Everyone nodded. "Okay let's see here, Robin you're with Aqualad, m'gann you're with Zatanna and superboy you can spar with me."

"Everybody got that?"

Robin intervened, "aah I think you forget a pair," he chuckled to himself.

"Aah, how could I forget, Artemis and Wally you guys can spar last," Canary added.

Everyone looked at each other grinning, there was clearly tension between Artemis and Wally and it seemed like this lesson would play an important role in bragging rights for the two. But beyond the surface, Robin and Zatanna had a hunch that the two may have been hiding their true feelings towards each other.

"Oh and don't forget, this is strictly hand to hand combat so no powers," canary reminded them.

Aqualad and Robin were up first, although Robin was quick and accurate with his attacks, Kaldur ultimately overpowered him with a range of precise moves courtesy of his Atlantean background.

Next was m'gann and Zatanna who seemed evenly matched in their lack of experience in hand to hand combat. However, with Black Canary's expertise, they improved drastically.

After that was superboy and Black Canary. Canary had started to give Connor some personal training after she embarrassed him a few weeks before, this meant that they primarily worked on some routine moves.

Lastly was the contest everyone had been waiting for. Artemis looked determined as she walked into the circle, this was her chance to shut up Baywatch for good. Contrary to Artemis, Wally walked into the circle looking calm and collected.

Canary instructed the two to begin, they circled each other until Artemis suddenly started throwing punches one after the other, only for Wally to block each and every one. This continued for several minutes, Artemis would kick or punch and Wally would lift his forearm to deflect it. The rest of the team were confused, Wally had numerous chances to counter-attack but firmly stood his ground.

In an attempt to take the battle to a climax, Black Canary approached the two, "it doesn't look like this is going anywhere so I have a proposition, Wally can use his powers if Artemis has access to a battle staff." Artemis felt like she was the aggressor at the time so she agreed, so did Wally.

The fight restarted with Artemis continuing her previous intensity, swinging at Wally with the staff. This time Wally was getting dangerously close to being struck. Just as he looked as though he'd started to tire, the speedster moved into a blur for a second or two before returning to a still position, oblivious to what had happened Artemis tried a high kick.

Wally blocked it again but this time when Artemis' ankle hit his forearm it was repelled by some sort of force and she was sent flying to the floor while kid remained almost untouched. Now even more infuriated, Artemis got up and turned to her most advanced attack. She took a step then sprung into a double horizontal twist in the air until one of her legs shot out and looked as if it was about to connect with Wally's face. Everyone gasped, black canary definitely didn't teach them that. However Wally simply raised his arm again, unbelievably the same thing happened. An electrical sound could be heard and Artemis was catapulted away from Wally, falling to the ground 10 feet away.

Little did they know but everyone's jaw dropped, even some justice league members had heard the commotion and made their way into the combat room.

After a second or two Artemis got up and walked to her room, she felt humiliated.

On the other hand, Batman approached Wally, "come with me." The redhead had a guilty look on his face as he watched Artemis walk away before Following Batman to the meeting room.