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There are some things that are hard to anticipate. Anita has learned this lesson time and time again throughout the years. Her ability to adapt to whatever insane and shocking situation she's thrown into is one she prides herself in.
For example, the insane and shocking presence of Robin. At her school. Hundreds of miles away from Gotham. Or any place, really, that the two would more likely be meeting.
Her days at school are typically spent just going through the motions. Watching the clock tick-tick-tick away until the bell rings and she'd free to do what she really wants to do. Whether that be honing her skills, training her body for combat, hanging out with her Dad if he's home, or (don't tell her Dad, but it's a personal favorite as of late) fighting crime with Young Justice.
She's a bit lacking in the friend department, she won't deny that. It's not like she's a total loner! She knows her classmates and isn't afraid to talk to them or anything. She just has more important things to do. Before she started training, she'd been growing close with some of the girls, but the thing about being entirely self-taught in all things heroism is that it takes a lot of self discipline and sacrifice.
Her night job aside, it didn't help that her childhood was vastly different from the rest of these girls. She couldn't relate to the kids at this public school like she could with the kids back at the Bayou.
Anita missed the Bayou.
She didn't regret growing apart. She wasn't thrilled about it, but this was more important. Anita could make sacrifices. It wasn't something she didn't mind all that much.
She had new friends anyways. Ones that didn't judge her or pressure her and who, while a little strange, were more fun than anyone she'd ever met before. And who were way cool.
For example, the "Paris transfer student" in sunglasses and a red letterman making his way over to her with such a nonchalant, uninterested expression that she almost considered that it wasn't him at all. The only form of acknowledgement she recieved was a small smirk as he passed her that was gone as soon as it had come.
Robin settled down in the desk behind her and Anita could feel his eyes boring into the back of her skull. There were about a million different questions rattling around her head. For example, what the hell is he doing here? Did he just indirectly give her his secret identity? Surely not. Alvin Draper didn't sound like a real name. More like some movie star's pen name to cover up that he's actually named something totally lame like Bernard or Winston.
So what was the point of all this? Didn't he have school himself? Was he some kind of dropout? How did—
She was rudely jolted out of her thoughts by a kick to her chair from behind. A calloused hand reached around and dropped a note on her desk before quickly retracting.
Okay. Mysterious.
Anita unfolded the paper as discreetly as possible. Not that the teacher would notice a thing either way. His old age was certainly getting to him these days...
"Lunchtime. Follow me."
If she thought his sneaky note-passing was ominous, she clearly hadn't considered his vague note-writing. He couldn't have given a little bit more detail? Seriously? This is a highschool. Not some undercover co-op mission. Jeez. And did he have to wait 'til lunch to give her details?! Why not just tell her now...
No. Don't get impatient. Too much impatience leads to people like Bart and, as much as Anita loves Bart, he isn't exactly the kinda kid you want to make your role model. She can be patient. She can wait 'til lunch. Adaptation and self-discipline, remember?
This didn't, of course, stop her from glaring at the all-too-slow clock as it seemed to tick and tick and tick at an even slower rate than before. She'd never jumped out of her seat so quickly after the bell had rung, ready to get the hell out of that room and to whatever mysterious location Robin decided to hold their conversation.
"For... fun?"
The red tint on Robin's cheeks could've been read as anywhere between mildly bashful and majorly self-aware. The two had snuck off around to the far end of the football field, sitting together in the grass underneath the bleachers. It was a good spot for hiding, if a bit cliche.
Robin was fiddling with the zipper on his jacket. It was a strange sight to see. Robin fiddling, that is.
"Well— kind of? I mean, I'm here on an active investigation with Nightwing, but I'm at your school and visiting you for fun. We're gonna be here a couple weeks; thought I may as well keep myself entertained and accompanied while NW hit the streets, yaknow?" He grinned the most boyish grin any boy had ever grinned. His teeth were perfectly pearly, and caught some light from the sun beaming down on them through the metal seats above.
Anita couldn't help but laugh. It's unfortunate how endearing her teammates can be; even when it comes to their stoic "fearless leader" over here.
She took a bite of her school-issued sandwich, chewing quickly before answering (she didn't like speaking with her mouth full unlike some people. Cough, Bart and Lil' Lobo, cough). "So, what? You're just gonna dip once your investigation's over?"
Robin nodded.
Right. She ignored the slight disappointment that followed the confirmation.
"In the mean time, though, I thought it'd be a good opportunity to get to know you better. Outside of, well. Y'know. Our little part-time."
"Of course," she snickered, "I mean, you've pretty much already got the ghist of my life though, mon. What more is there?"
Robin hummed, silent for a moment. Studying her, perhaps? Coming up with a question? He was certainly good at raising questions himself. Couldn't be too hard to come up with a couple.
He tilted his head to the side in such a bird-like fasion, Anita was close to believing it was part of the whole Robin schtick. "All I know is you live with your dad, you fight crime, and you were inspired by Cissie. Among other details, of course, but I don't know about your favorite movies or music you jam out to. What your hobbies are or what your friends are like. What about all that stuff? Y'know, friend stuff?"
A little crease appeared in his forehead, as if he were raising an eyebrow behind those reflective shades. Anita thought for a moment. Friend stuff.
"I guess that makes sense..." She pondered for another beat. "My favorite movie is probably Killer Klowns From Outer Space. A little silly, but it makes me laugh. My dad loves it too. I don't really listen to a lot of music, but I like some Lauryn Hill and Gwen Stefani. I..."
She realized she didn't exactly have many hobbies outside of being a hero or honing her skills, which she eventually utilized as a hero. She danced and spent time with her grandmother back before, but she hadn't done much of either since... Well, since she died. Nowadays, she was either going through the motions or defeating villains. What was she outside of The Empress?
"What about you, Robbie? I'm out here rattling about myself, what do you do outside of fighting crime with the big ol' Bat?" Okay, a bit harsh. Definitely deflecting. But she didn't sign up for some weird self-reflection game!
Robin shifted. It's weird how hard his face is to read even though most of it stays uncovered.
"I skate. I like Oasis and Goo Fighters. I've got a few friends back at school and a girlfriend. Sorta. The girlfriend's just in-costume, and my school friends only know me as— My school friends only know me outside of the cape." His forehead did the crease-thing again, "Have you got any friends outside of Empress? As Anita Fite?"
Okay. Ouch.
The bell to end lunch rang, but Anita made no move to get up. Neither did Robin.
"I've... I know people as Anita Fite. It's just— Y'know, it's not easy to maintain this life and a school life and a social life and— I mean, I've got all the friends I need in you lot." Her neck burned and she raised an arm to rub it. A nervous habit stemming from a old, warm hand attached to a blurred faced in her distant memories.
Robin nodded solemnly. She assumed it was solemn, at least.
"I get it," he said, finally, "More than anyone else, I get it. It sucks having to lie to my friends and family. And it's hard."
His gaze seemed to move elsewhere, the reflection of Anita's face in his sunglasses shifting to the backlit treeline some yards away.
"But, I think it's important to at least give a shot at a normal life. Even if it's difficult, I would hate to end up like Batman. Devoting my entire existence into vigilantism and giving up any hope of normalcy just sounds crappy. The trouble's worth it, to me." Robin turned back to Anita, a more genuine smile than before plastered onto his face. She noticed, this time, how chapped his lips were and the little sliver of something leafy stuck in his hardly perfect teeth.
Alright, maybe he had a point.
She sighed. "I guess, when you put it like that..."
A warm, ungloved hand took hers, gently pulling it away from her neck.
"I can't stop you if you want to put your all into this hero biz, and I totally get that sometimes life-or-death situations can be way easier than navigating a social life, but you should try anyways. If it bites, it bites." Robin squeezed her hand reassuringly.
She flashed a smile of her own in response.
"I knew there was a reason you're our fearless leader."
Robin's cheeks flared red and she snickered, happy to not be the only one embarrassed here.
Robin left just as promised a week later. She spent most of those days leading up hanging out with him, but now that he was gone, she began to feel a bit of that sinking loneliness she'd try to ignore before.
So, repeating their initial conversation underneath the bleachers over and over again in her head like a mantra to hype herself up, she decided to go up to a pink-haired girl in her third period.
"Uh, hey?" She tapped the girl on her shoulder, and she swiveled around dramatically, pulling out an earbud with music loud enough that Anita could hesr it from where she stood. "I just wanted to say I really like your hair, mon. How'd you get it so bright?"
The girl's face split into a wide, excited smile. "You think so?! Eek!! I'm so glad somebody noticed!! I can tell you all the brands I use if you'd like? Hey, do you have lunch right now? You should totally sit with me and my girls!!!"
The girl grabbed Anita's wrist without waiting for an answer and dragged her off. Anita herself was caught a bit off-guard, but hey? This wasn't so bad. She could give this whole double-life thing a shot.