Author's Note: This is my first Young Justice fanfic, and I must say that some parts could be considered AU. I was quite generous with Robin's age and liberal with Barbara's tomboy personality. So please forgive me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice, naturally.

"What do you mean you can't go?" Barbara Gordon exclaimed, almost dropping her books.

Dick sighed in mild annoyance. "Look, Barb. I'm already over the top of my head with schoolwork; add swing dance lessons on top of that, and you get one royally pissed off Dick Grayson that means disaster for everyone. Heavy on the dis and the aster."

The term "swing dance lessons" was created by the both of them in order to keep their alter egos a secret within the campus.

"But Wally is a great guy!" Barb defended her fellow redhead. "Where are you gonna get another guy with gorgeous eyes and a hot body-"

Grayson faltered in his fumbling with the locker and went pink in the face.

"Not to mention that he's probably more loyal than a guard dog when it comes to you, and that smile is to die for." The girl attacked verbally, shoving her books in along with Dick's even though it clearly says 'Richard J. Grayson' on the locker door.

Dick gave her a suspicious look. "…He paid you to do this, didn't he?"

Barbara crossed her arms. "I don't know that you're talking about."

"Ha!" The boy cackled and slammed his locker shut. "How much, Barb?"

"That's not the point."

"How much, Barb?" Grayson pressed her for answers as they walked to the cafeteria.

"…Two tickets for my dad and me to go see Silver Mist at the horse race. I don't even know how he got hold of them." She mumbled as she got in line for a salad. "But that's really not the point here! I know you like Wally, and he's crazy about you too. You guys would be great together and you know it! Just give him a chance. I'm sure you can fit just one date into your oh-so-busy rich boy schedule."

Dick started to waver. "I just can't afford to be distracted right now."

The ginger scooped vast amounts of black olives on top her plate. "Distraction is good!" She persuaded, picking up a few olives with her hands and munching on them. "Quite frankly, you don't get distracted enough."

Dick Grayson fell silent as he walked outside with his chicken parmesan and with Barbara in tow. He just wanted to make Bruce proud of having a son like him, so that's why he's been pushing himself to produce good results in school, out on the field with his comrades, and even during training. Richard loves Bruce like a father, but being a non-biological son is difficult; he feels like there are boundaries that a relative could cross but he couldn't.

Like making Bruce Wayne angry for example; his son probably could act like a brat once in a while and get away with it, but that's because it's the offspring of Bruce Wayne. But for someone like Richard Grayson, the son of John Grayson and adoptive child of the millionaire, making Bruce angry was a no-no in his book. They weren't...close.

However, at the same time, Dick also likes Wally West. And even though he's been nothing but respectable and obedient towards Bruce, Dick Grayson needed to be his own person, to have his own life. He's sixteen now, it's time to take a few spontaneous turns off the road which Bruce Wayne and Richard Grayson already laid out.

"You're right. I'll go. For Wally…and for me." Dick decided and ate a piece of chicken; cafeteria lunch at Gotham Academy is like fine dining. But then again, there is a reason why the place is known as the richest and most prestigious institution in Gotham City.

Barbara fist pumped the air. "That's what I'm talking about!" She then punched her best friend on the arm with surprising strength coming from a lithe teenage girl. "Like I said, you just have to take this chance. You'll hate yourself if you don't. And besides…" The redhead wiggled her eyebrows. "Wally's worth the stress, if you know what I mean, champ."

Grayson cackled. "Ah shut up, Barb." The pretty girl snickered and munched on a piece of tomato.

"Oh wait, here." He then fished out twenty bucks from his pocket. "Put me down for Silver Mist. Bet twenty that she'll win." Truthfully, Dick would've put down a wee little bit more money, but Commissioner Gordon disproved of careless gambling, so Dick and Barbara made sure they stayed within reasonable boundaries.

"You got it, short stuff." Dick hated being called short.

"Don't call me 'short stuff', Ms. Speckled." Barbara downright despised her freckles.

As they bickered about the usual stuff, the sun shined through the dome-like glass ceiling of the cafeteria. For Gotham City, it was an extremely beautiful day overall.

To Be Continued...