A/N: New story I started on a lark. It's going to be pretty short, probably five chapters at the most. Hope you guys like it! Please tell me what you think!

Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice.

"Stay away from them," a voice hisses, and suddenly Kid Flash is aware of a figure stepping out of the shadows.

"Who the hell are you?" He shoots in response, looking at the "them" in question—a boy in a mask and cape, younger than Robin; a tiny Asian girl with a domino mask and a baby in a sling over her back, dozing peacefully; a girl in a purple cape and hood; a girl with white hair and a sword; and a boy in a black jumpsuit that looks far too expensive to belong to him.

"Artemis," the girl said, stepping out into the light. She wore a skin-tight black suit and a cowl with white lenses for eyes. Her hair was short and blonde, held back by a silver hair band, and her mouth was scowling as she aimed an arrow at him. "You?"

"Kid Flash, never heard of you," he shot back. The kids shifted, exchanging looks.

"We're not so careless as that," a voice whispered in his ear, and Wally jumped and let out an undignified yelp. The kids giggled.

Behind him was a girl in a green kimono, with wild black hair and a mask with a massive smile.

"Cheshire," Robin called, dropping down. "What are you guys doing here?"

"This is our gig," Artemis said, lowering her weapon somewhat, although she kept it out.

"Your gig?" Wally scoffed. "You and a bunch of kids?"

Robin winced, as though he had said something tactless again.

Cheshire, if that was mask-girl's name, grabbed him and pulled him close to her face. "We have been hunting the Shadows long before you, Kid. Shut up and stay out of our way, and maybe you won't get hurt." She released him and shoved him away. He stumbled before regaining his balance, trying to decide which of the girls he should glare at.

"This is our hunt," Artemis added. "The Shadows are our business, not the Leagues, and certainly not your precious Team's."

"Who are you guys?" Kid Flash demanded, eyes narrow.

"We're the Hunters," Cheshire said.

Kid Flash's eyebrow rose. "And here I was, thinking you guys were a myth."

"Don't the badguys wish," the boy with a cape laughed, exchanging a fist bump with Jump-Suit.

"Hush," Domino-Mask said. "Wake Daymie."

"Sorry Cass," Cape-Kid looked ashamed.

"We'll keep it down," Purple Hood said, placing a gloved hand on 'Daymie's' head. "Right boys?"

"You guys brought a baby along?" Robin asked Cheshire.

"Can't leave him behind in the hotel," Cheshire said with a shrug.

"Couldn't someone have stayed behind?" Wally asked, slightly incredulous.

Wally was suddenly on the receiving end of five withering glares.

"Don't be stupid," Swordette said reproachfully.

"It takes all of us to handle him," Cape-Kid said. "One wouldn't be enough."

Six Years Earlier

"Jade!" Paula Crock yelled, throwing open the door into their apartment, still in full costume. "Artemis!"

"Mom?" The two girls looked up from their dinners, eyes wide. "I thought you said you had a job tonight—" Jade began, looking confused.

"Grab what you need girls," Paula cut them off. "I'm sorry, but your father's been caught by the police. Batman might be here any minute now, and we need to be gone."

"Why would Batman come for you?" Artemis said, scrambling. "He's never found you before?"

"Because I was unmasked during the fight," Paula said, wrenching open a cupboard, revealing a safe. "Jade, get the weapons. Artemis, clothes for both of you. Both of you, any valuables you have."

"Yes Mom," they chorused, running; Jade to the weapons closet, Artemis for their bedroom.

"Pack light!" She called, grabbing the fistful of travel documents and fake IDs from the safe, along with a large amount of cash.

"All the weapons, Mom?" Jade yelled.

"Leave your father's," Paula responded, heading for her room. "None of us use baseball bats. But make sure you get your shrikes, and Artemis's bow."

Paula shed her Huntress outfit, dumping it on the floor unceremoniously. Batman had probably placed tracers on it, and she couldn't risk bringing it. She grabbed an ordinary change of clothes, and quickly put them on. Three more outfits went into a duffle bag that was always kept under the bed, followed by the documents and the cash. She grabbed her wedding photograph, along with the ones of Artemis and Jade as children, and placed them in the bag as well. Her jewelry case followed.

Now she had to hurry. Batman would be on his way, and maybe even the police.

She grabbed an envelope, and inside it shoved a key to a train station locker, and a piece of paper with coordinates to one of Lawrence's safe-houses in it. The locker contained some of Lawrence's spare things, and it would make it seem like she had expected him to escape custody and then meet her at the safe-house.

She opened the door to her bedside table, lifted the false bottom, and deposited it there. It wouldn't take Batman long to find it, and it would buy her time. They would think she ran for one of the safe-houses. Their next guess would probably be back to the Shadows.

Paula's mouth twisted into a scowl. If they thought they would bring her girls to Ra's al Ghul, and into the Life, they were sadly mistaken. If it hadn't been for the enemies she had made, she would never have even allowed Crusher to train them. But she would not see her girls be like her.

It was time to leave the Life.

Paula left her room, pausing only to grab the battered copy of Alice in Wonderland from her bedside table for her girls.

Her daughters were waiting for her, eyes wide and scared. Their bags were slung over their shoulders, and Artemis clung to her teddy-bear tightly.

"Where are we going?" Artemis asked.

"I don't know," Paula answered honestly. "But remember girls; in this family, we stick together, no matter what."

Then they left the apartment.

A/N: Hope you guys liked it! Tell me what you think, please!

Hinn-Raven