I've entered the 100 word list drabble thing by TheBlueFoxtrot A Samba. Because I'm an idiot. Also 'cause I totally wanted to post something on 12/12/12. So here goes, my fellow fangirls.

Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice.

aberrant: straying from the right way

"Where d'hell are you going at three thirty in the morning?" a slurred voice asks behind him, amused. "Do you, like, wait for bank robberies to happen or something?"

His hand tightens around the slip of paper he shoved into his pocket a few seconds ago. He turns around; all his usual self, casual and flippant, but he thinks something must be showing on his face because she's narrowing her eyes at him blearily. He blinks back, all innocent thirteen-year-old charm. "Couldn't sleep. I have a few errands to run tomorrow, so I decided to get started on them now. Early bird gets the worm and all that jazz."

She doesn't look impressed. In fact, Artemis looks sleepy and frazzled and out of place. She doesn't sleep many nights at the Cave. When she does, it's because they've got a mission early in the morning, which they don't. He guesses that maybe she had another fight with her mother this week, but he learned a long time ago that there are things you just don't ask. "I doubt it. The post office doesn't open for a few hours, Wonder Boy."

An exquisitely awkward silence follows.

"So what were you doing—"

"I was, uh, going to—"

Um. Well.

Artemis looks really confused and kind of suspicious now, and Robin's trying to find a quick (lie) way to explain his late-night exploits. Any way, anything to buy him enough time to get to the teleporter—

She makes her own retreat. "Well…whatever it is, don't be out too late, 'kay?"

"I won't be." He spins on his heels and makes a break for the teleporter.

"Robin?"

He turns around. "Yes?"

She bites her lip. "See you later, I guess."

He smiles faintly. "You'll see me in no time, Artemis, I promise."

She doesn't return it, and just stands there while Robin disappears in the white glow of the teleporter. Artemis goes to bed, but doesn't sleep for a very long time.

When she sees him, hours later, kicking and clawing for release from Batman's arms and yelling someone's name (Zucco? Who's Tony Zucco?), she somehow isn't all that surprised.

She still isn't surprised when she hears about what he (almost) did.