How Does Young Justice Fanfiction Explore Wally And Artemis'S Love-Hate Dynamic Post-Mission Failures?

Young Justice fanfics love dissecting Wally and Artemis’s tension after botched missions. Their banter shifts from playful jabs to sharp critiques when ops go south—Wally’s impulsiveness clashing with Artemis’s meticulousness makes for explosive chemistry. I’ve seen fics where mission failures force them into mandatory therapy sessions, dissecting trust issues under Black Canary’s watch. Others pit them against each other in training sims, turning frustration into grudging respect. A recurring theme is Artemis weaponizing Wally’s guilt over collateral damage, only to later apologize over burnt coffee at 3 AM. The best stories layer their rivalry with vulnerability, like Wally admitting he slows down just to hear her strategize, or Artemis secretly keeping his melted goggles as a reminder to stay sharp.

The post-mission friction between Wally and Artemis in 'Young Justice' fanfiction often becomes a crucible for their relationship. Writers excel at turning their arguments into pivotal moments—like a failed stealth op leading to Artemis duct-taping Wally to a medbay cot while ranting about his reckless speed. One standout fic had them stranded in Bialya after a miscommunication, forced to share a single thermal blanket while debating whether trust requires blind faith or earned proof. Their dynamic thrives on asymmetrical growth; Artemis might master vulnerability by confessing she fears becoming like her father, while Wally learns restraint after seeing her injured from his careless charge.

Some fics dive into alternate outcomes, like Wally temporarily losing his speed from mission-related injuries, forcing Artemis to protect him despite their feud. The tension often escalates into physicality—sparring sessions that end with pinned wrists and heavy breathing, or Wally vibrating through her arrow traps just to prove a point. A surprising trend I’ve noticed is fics where Artemis teaches him archery as penance for failed teamwork, their hands lingering on the bowstring. The most nuanced portrayals show them weaponizing each other’s flaws: Artemis mocks Wally’s need for validation, only to later use it to push him during a critical fight, while he needles her about control issues until she unleashes a perfect, unplanned shot.

Wally and Artemis’s post-failure interactions in fanfiction reveal how competition and care intertwine. I’ve read fics where their debriefs turn into shouting matches that shock the Team, only for them to later share a silent rooftop stare, acknowledging mutual guilt. One story had Artemis sabotaging Wally’s protein bars after he ignored her intel, leading to him ‘accidentally’ freezing her uniform in the laundry. The humor masks deeper layers—their prank wars often end with Wally leaving her favorite Thai food in the fridge, or Artemis covering his monitor with sticky notes detailing mission analytics.

Longer fics explore how failure reshapes their roles—Artemis becoming Wally’s contingency planner, or him developing code phrases to calm her post-mission adrenaline crashes. A memorable AU depicted them as rival agents on opposite sides, their fights charged with unresolved tension until a truce forged over shared scars. What fascinates me is how writers balance their sharp tongues with quiet moments, like Wally reprogramming her trick arrows after a malfunction, or Artemis stitching his costume while grumbling about speedster recklessness.