Chapter Text
It was just another stupid boring day at family video, selling video tapes. "Steve! Could you help those customers while I organize these tapes?" Robin says, holding too many tapes in her hands. Steve walks over to the counter, smiling. "What can I help you with today Ma'am?". Too charming, as always. As she finishes putting the tapes away she vaults over the empty side of the counter, sure that Steve will be able to handle his defeat of yet another very pretty gal. She notices max walk in the store, she looked... absent.
Robin watches her for a moment, then walks over to her. "A nightmare on elm street huh?" she smiles. "you know, if you stare at Freddy Krueger much longer I might think you actually have a crush on him." To robins surprise she smiles for a moment. "Ew what? ugh. Gross." Max places the tape on the counter. "Isn't that a bit grown up for you, Maxine?" She teases. "Oh, fuck off." Steve is still dealing with the customer, he gives robin a look, 'SOS they won't go away.' "I've fought interdimensional monsters. I think I'll be able to handle a goddamn horror film."
Robin grins at her, before holding the movie back up. “That’ll be two dollars, Maxine.”
Max scowls, but scuffles trough her pocket and finds two crusty dollars. "You know, my mom actually really hates this film." She watches robin put the money in the register. "So, I watch it when she's passed out, or asleep. Which means, all the time." Robin looks up at her, she's worried. She has been worried for her. "You know you can always come to my place if you want to, max." She knows how bad max's living conditions are, the stuff she's been trough.
"Yeah, I know that." But she doesn't though. Robin sighs, when is this kid ever gonna realize we actually care about her?
Max lets out a small sigh, and reaches to grab the tape, her sleeve rolls down a bit. She immediately snatches the VHS tape and yanks her sleeve down, but robin has already seen.
Small, raised gashes and scars all over her beautiful freckled skin. Too parallel to be an accident, too shallow to be from interdimensional monsters. She remembered Benjamin Simons in Band who played the trumpet and the saxophone who committed suicide in senior year, who had scars exactly like that.
Robin feels her heart slowly sink into her stomach, a terrifying realization gripping her shoulders.
"Max, what was-"
"Nothing." She sways her bag over her shoulder, already moving away. Robin follows her from behind the counter, alarmed.
"was that-"
"Fuck off." Max stuffs the movie into her bag.
"Max!" Robin calls, as she hurries out the door.
"I said, fuck off!" Max shouts, flipping her off.
The door shuts behind her loudly. She grabs her skateboard and skates off, pushing her feet of on the concrete, not even watching the cars. Robin bites her lip as she watches her disappear. Engulfed in worry, staring into the distance wondering if there was anything she could do to make it any better. Steve glances over to her. "what the hell was that all about."
Robin snaps back in reality. "I'm leaving." She walks off, Nancy . she tells herself. Where the fuck is nancy, I need to talk to nancy.
"Robin!" Steve callsafter her.
"Look at me, hello?"
''Robin!"
She ignores him, walks trough the door and slams it shut.