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[real_archer]

It's Artemis. Leave a message.

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[performance]

Wait wait wait!

[ Robin grins and holds his own sunglasses out for Artemis to try on. ]

Can you get one with both of us?

[real_archer]

[A picture of her and Robin, the Boy Wonder? Somehow she never imagined this happening when she decided to put on a mask and start super hero-ing.]

Both of us? Okay, sure.

[She puts on the sunglasses and moves in next to him, holding the comm at arm's length.]

Say cheese.

[Artemis pulls what she thinks is a Robin-y kind of face--you know, all mysterious looking. It kind of looks like she's posing for a mugshot.

Snap. Now preserved in digital history.]

[performance]

[ And Dick gives his brightest, widest, cheesiest grin as the camera snaps.

THEY'LL LAUGH ABOUT THIS SOMEDAY. ]

Perfect. You think I should buy these and let you hang onto mine?

[real_archer]

I don't know, how do they look on me?

[She turns the comm around to look at the picture and wrinkles her nose.]

No way, I look like I'm in the Matrix! And you...

[Okay, SHE IS LAUGHING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW.]

... You have to get them. Oh my god...

[performance]

I don't think I have a choice.

[ HE ALREADY HAS HIS WALLET OUT. He doesn't care if he looks like an idiot — he's just beyond thrilled that she's laughing. $12.99 later, Robin is looking extra sparkly in his new shades, taking a victorious sip of his lemonade. ]

Well, that was worthwhile. Where to now?

[real_archer]

[$12.99 for terrible sunglasses?! If Artemis knew, she would disagree very much about it being worthwhile. Luckily, she's not paying attention while he pays, too busy still snickering over the snapshot.]

Oh, umm... How about the beach?

[performance]

[ He might be working for minimum wage right now, but years with Bruce Wayne haven't exactly given him good money management skills. And anyway, they're dazzling. ]

Sounds great. Let's go get our feet wet.

[real_archer]

[Artemis continues to wear Robin's shades, even if they do make her look like an extra in the Matrix.

They head over to the beach and Artemis sits down on some wooden steps to take off her shoes and wiggle her toes in the sand.

... The sand is scorching.

Artemis swears loudly and jerks her foot back]

[performance]

... So much for fun in the sun.

[ He almost makes a crack about carrying her down to the shore, but, wisely, dodges that speeding bullet. ]

Come on, it's shady under the boardwalk. We can get down to the water that way, and we won't get sand in our shoes. I might have to sing the song, though. Fair warning.

[real_archer]

[Good save, Robin.

Artemis gets up-totally not putting her shoes back on because she is going to tough it out and also now she has sand between her toes]

He sings too? Is there anything the Boy Wonder can't do?

[She's teasing, but if she sounds a little grumpy it's because she keeps having to pick up her feet to keep from burning the soles off.]

[performance]

[ Well, Dick's keeping his shoes on, even if it means sand in them later. He'll have time to regret this, but that time isn't now. At least he's not gonna tease her about it. ]

Funny you should ask. I'm apparently a terrible cook.

[real_archer]

Really? [She glances over at him.] Can't be worse than M'gann's burnt cookies.

[performance]

Yes. Yes it can.

[real_archer]

[Having politely tasted her fair share of M'gann's cookies, Artemis winces sympathetically.]

That bad? I could teach you. I mean... I don't know how to cook a lot of things, but I'm pretty good.

[performance]

Wally already—

[ oh crap oh crap he said the W word and he was about to spill the very secret secret he'd promised not to and almost admitted that he was baking for Wally on top of everything else, ABORT ]

—uh, confirmed I'm terrible at it. Which... is saying a lot... for him.

[ THAT WAS WORSE, ABORT ABORT ABORT ]

[performance]

[ He clears his throat awkwardly, folding his hands behind his head as they walk, trying for an air of nonchalance. It's a lot more chalant than he wants it to be. ]

So I could probably learn a thing or two hundred from you!

[real_archer]

[Artemis scowls--that was not a good save, Robin.]

Jesus, I'm not going to freak out if you talk about Wally. You guys are best bros, I get it. Whatever.

[performance]

"Freak out" is a strong word...

[ Appropriately chastised. Robin's shoulders slump a bit, and he glances out over the water so he doesn't have to see her scowling. ]

I'm sorry. I just— I keep almost bringing him up, and then I stop myself, so then I'm extra conscious of it, and it happens even more...

... I know it's a sore spot, that's all.

[real_archer]

[Artemis's jaw sets stubbornly.]

Look, I told him everything. [Did you really, Arty?] It's not like I can change anything, so if he can't get over it then it's his problem. I'm going to have fun at the beach.

[She stomps down to the water' s edge, definitely looking like someone having fun at the beach.]

[performance]

[ ... sigh.

Robin gives her a minute before following her down to the water, keeping a polite few feet of distance. He watches her out of the corner of his eye as he stoops to pick up a worn, pink piece of sea glass, and tosses it back out across the waves.

He keeps his eye on it until it disappears, and then looks back over to her, apology written all over his face. ]

Dates. Apparently that's another thing the Boy Wonder can't do.

[real_archer]

[She watches the sea glass plonk into the waves and her shoulders sort of slump with a sigh. Robin's the last person she should be taking this out on--he's at least still trying to be her friend, even after what she did.]

This isn't really a date, Robin. But... thanks. For trying.

[In an embarrassed grumble, she adds] Sorry I freaked out...

[performance]

It was my fault, too. Don't apologize.

[ She's done more than enough of that, as far as he's concerned. ]

And I know it's not really a date, but it was kind of fun pretending, anyway. I don't mean— it's not that I'm trying to—

[ Robin shrugs stiffly, just as embarrassed, and stuffs his hands in his pockets. ]

... I've never been on a real one.

[real_archer]

You? [She turns and looks at him and... he's still wearing those goofy sunglasses, so it's really hard to stay mad. She scoffs, but not too harshly] Well you're only, like, what, a freshman?

[Hark the wise old sophomore, here.]

[performance]

[ He laughs, but there's an unusually self-conscious edge to it. ]

Hah. Good guess. But it's more than just that, you know? It's like—

... nah, you don't wanna hear about all that dumb stuff.

[real_archer]

... You can tell me, if you want.

[Awkward Artemis is awkward.]

It's not like I go out on a ton of dates, either. Kinda busy being a superhero.

[Or trying to be, anyway.]