Artemis sighed as she settled on the damp grass in the shadow provided by a statue of a man, too young and too alive to have a statue of his own. She looked up at the smiling face and openly happy gaze and supposed that if the rumors were true and Bruce Wayne did, in fact, give as much as to the school as it claimed, then the statue made a modicum of sense.

Still, though, a statue?

Artemis frowned. Statues, in her mind at least, always seemed like something of a monument to the dead not a way to honor the living. No matter how philanthropic they were.

Shaking her head of those thoughts, she leaned against the stand and decided to spend her lunch break how she'd originally intended to. Looking for Robin. Artemis wasn't stupid. She knew that there was probably a million Mr. Rands in the Gotham area, but this was the most prestigious school. And Bruce Wayne was known to donate copious amounts of money to the League. And he was rumored to be involved with Wonder Woman…

Artemis grimaced. Wasn't Wonder Woman supposed to be with Superman? And what was with this shipping Wonder Woman with men thing, the media was doing these days? Wonder Woman was an Amazon, and while Artemis had never outright met her face-to-face, she knew enough about her to know that the woman likely didn't appreciate the speculation. She'd always seemed self-righteous, too. Artemis admired the heroine, though. She stood with the best of them. A solid member of the trinity. Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman. That's what they were called, right?

Shaking her head again, Artemis let her gaze drift down to the watch on her wrist. Lunch was already half-over. No more getting distracted. She had a job to do. She wanted to know who Robin was. The most well-kept secret in the League were Batman and Robin's identities. She was sure that Kid Flash even knew who Robin was. Artemis tried not to let it get to her that the Boy Wonder didn't trust anyone else on the Team enough to reveal his identity to them all-together. Besides, Kid Flash? Really? How could he possibly keep the secret?

No. It didn't matter. Artemis didn't need Robin to tell her, she'd figure it out herself. Robin had complained of a mid-semester test with Mr. Rand. Mr. Rand was an English teacher here—

"What're you doing?"

Artemis nearly cried out in surprise and her lunch paid the price for it. She groaned as she saw it littered on the grass beside her. She was Artemis for crying out loud. A member of the Team. How could she let someone sneak up on her like that? She turned, ready to lash out at the owner of that infuriating voice before looking up and meeting his mischievous but slightly apologetic gaze. But that wasn't what held her tongue. He was familiar.

And then Artemis was frowning at him for a whole different reason, as she watched him step around her to take a seat on the other side of her away from the food she'd spilled. She could only stare at it helplessly. Until a lunch box was shoved in her face.

She rounded her glare on the boy instead. "What's your problem?"

The boy shrugged. His blue eyes filled with remorse as the mischievous glint dissipated. "I just… Sorry for making you spill your food. We can share mine. Alfred always packs me extra anyways."

Artemis swallowed, suddenly feeling contrite and even stupid. She coughed. "I'm sorry. I'm not… I'm not trying to be a bitch."

The boy, who she still didn't know the name of or why he looked so familiar to her smiled at her once again. It was a bright, pearly white infused grin. His olive skin glinted in the sunlight. She picked her food up off the lawn and put it into her knapsack and scooted over. "You can move into the shade."

The boy nodded his thanks, and opened his lunch, setting it between them. "So, if you don't mind my asking, what's got you so focused?"

Artemis reached in for a slice of the sandwich and couldn't help the way her mouth watered when she bit into it. This was good. Way too good for a simple school lunch. She let her gaze flit back over to him. Slicked back, black hair. A school uniform that didn't look overly washed like hers was, and it looked like it'd been tailored specifically for him. She narrowed her gaze. "Who are you?"

The boy started. Surprise warring with humor in his eyes. She couldn't tell what won, at least not until he spoke. "You mean, you don't know who I am?"

Didn't he have an inflated sense of self-worth. If he thought she knew who he was… Her gaze narrowed even more. "You didn't exactly offer me your name before you offered to share your lunch with me."

The boy shrugged. "I dunno. I guess I figured you're sitting underneath Bruce Wayne's statue and all, it'd make sense."

"Why would it make sense for me to know you, even if you are somewhat familiar, just because I'm sitting underneath a statue of a man too young and too alive to even have a statue of himself?" Artemis shut her mouth. She replayed the words she'd just spoken in her mind. She was sure that had to make some amount of sense. But by the time she'd realized she'd lost her train of thought she was in too deep.

She caught the boy's wide-eyed, confused gaze with her own resigned one. "I have no idea what you just said."

Artemis sighed, already feeling a headache coming on. And it was a strong one. "You know what, never mind. If you don't want to tell me who you are or why you look familiar, I don't care. It's not like I've never had a friend who refused to tell me his name." Robin. She took another bite out of the sandwich and tried to forget that it was the boy's sandwich. It didn't work.

The boy's smile only intensified if that was even possible. "I'll tell you a secret, Bruce Wayne doesn't like the statue either, but the school had no better idea on how to honor him. And he outright refused to have a building, hall, or the entire school named after him." He let his gaze drift up to the statue's face. "So… Now he has this." He recentered his gaze on Artemis.

Artemis frowned and looked up at the statue before looking back over at the boy. "Who are you?" And just as she asked the question, she realized who he was with a start. "You're the one that took that picture of me on the first day!"

The boy shrugged, but his cheeks still reddened at the reminder. "I-uh. Yeah. That's me." He laughed. And before she could come back at him and ask him why he did that, he held out his hand. "Dick Grayson, by the way. Bruce Wayne's my guardian."

And all the pieces slotted into place. She had seen this boy before. With Bruce Wayne when he handed her a big check to a roar of an applauding audience. Another act of charity from charitable Bruce Wayne. Artemis tried not to get too salty about it in front of her present company. But something must've shown on her features because Dick retracted his hand—oops she'd forgotten she'd left him hanging—and he asked her what was wrong.

"I just don't like pictures of myself." She muttered. Taking another bite of the sandwich. More charity. From the Wayne Foundation… From Bruce Wayne. She tried to reign in her anger, though. It wasn't like Dick knew anything how she was feeling. Bruce Wayne was probably doing it as a favor to Ollie. So maybe she should be mad at Oliver more than anyone. If only he would reveal to her how he got Bruce Wayne to pay her any mind. And it's not like it wasn't generous.

Artemis exhaled, trying to let out all the inert anger she felt. She didn't even know why she was so mad. She just was. Finally, she looked over at Dick, something else coming unbidden to her mind. "What're you doing here anyways?"

Dick tilted his head. "You seemed lonely."

Artemis bit her lip. That was kind of altruistic and selfless. She suddenly felt bad. "Sorry for snapping at you just now. I'm just… I dunno. But you don't have to sit with me if you don't want to."

He had friends, surely. Being the son of Bruce Wayne and all.

Dick just shrugged. "I was lonely, too."

"Why?" Artemis mentally smacked herself for her bluntness. "I mean, you must have friends."

"Not really."

Artemis could only stare. "You're Bruce Wayne's son—"

"I'm not his son." And, oh boy, did she step on something she wasn't supposed to with that one. With the way his eyes darkened ever so slightly. His body tensed up… He then released the tension, though. Something contrite and apologetic coming over his features. "I'm his ward. There's a difference."

"Is there?" Artemis didn't mean that question to come out as blunt as it did, but with the way that he'd eyed the statue and spoke about him earlier… She could almost see the reverence in his gaze.

Dick shrugged. "I dunno. But everyone else seems to think so. So, I get bullied by the rich kids because they see me as a charity case and get ostracized by those here on scholarship because they see me as rich."

How sad. Surely Bruce Wayne didn't know how Dick was being treated. If he had… Well, maybe he did, and he just didn't care. She'd only met the man once, and while sure he seemed nice enough, he also seemed too absent-minded. A little unaware. She had a feeling that unlike Lex Luthor, Bruce Wayne meant well and was likely even genuine, but clearly it was his name and his signature that got him all his money and status in the world. She suddenly felt sympathetic for the boy beside her. What must it be like to grow up under the care of someone like that?

"I'm sorry."

Dick shrugged. "It's not your fault."

"I know." Because what else could she say. What else was there to say?

"… So, uhm… What're you doing out here on your own?"

Artemis bit the inside of her cheek. She supposed there was no outright harm done in letting Dick know she was searching for someone. She just wouldn't tell him any details. Besides, he was her friend. Her only friend. It felt weird, but she knew that maybe he might need the distraction. And it'd be nice to have a friend that wasn't a cape. She could just be herself. Without all the superheroine stuff. "Looking for a friend of mine."

This seemed to perk him up a bit. "Oh?"

Artemis nodded. "Yeah. I think he might go here."

"What's his name."

"I… I don't know."

"How do you not know his name? You said you were friends, right?"

Artemis frowned. "I just don't, okay? He's-it's complicated. The club is a secret club. We all use codenames and wear disguises."

"Oh. Well, how do you know who to search for then?"

Artemis groaned and leaned her head back against the base of the statue. "I just know, okay?"

Dick raised both his hands in surrender. "Okay. Okay. Sorry. I just think it sounds a little crazy."

And didn't she know that… Especially after saying it out loud to another human being. To another person. It was crazy. She was crazy. Artemis looked back out at the courtyard filled with all the other Gotham Academy students. "Do you want to help me or not?"

So many micro expressions appeared on Dick's face just then. She couldn't hope to name them all, instead she just hopped to her feet. "Where're you going?"

"Away from here."

"No, please. I'm sorry. I'll help you. I wasn't laughing at you. I promise."

Artemis hesitantly resettled. "… Okay. Well, if you want to help, he has black hair and is young and short and handsome." She caught Dick's throat clearing with a side glare. He better not be laughing at her. "Well, shorter than me."

"What color are his eyes?"

"I dunno. He never takes his mask off."

Dick frowned. "Well, what's his codename?"

Artemis suddenly had a horrifying thought of an eager-to-please or too-mischievous prankster Dick Grayson running around the school screaming Robin at anyone that even remotely matched her description. Allowing everyone and their mom to be in on the fact that Robin, protégé to Batman, attended Gotham Academy. She had a much more terrifying thought of an irate Batman glaring down at her. She cleared her throat. "I can't tell you that, sorry."

Dick frowned, but he didn't press the issue, instead he looked out at the school population.

And that's how they sat. Silently. Watching students as they ate. Eliciting awkward glances their way when they stared too long. Artemis wondered if she was in over her head, but then she realized that she might've been thinking of this all wrong. While, sure, most boys in the younger grades could fit the description, how many of them were close to a man that might fit Batman's height and weight description? Not many, she'd wager.

No, she needed to attack this from a two-sided front. Maybe Dick could even focus on looking for Robin and she could figure it out based on Batman's likely alter ego candidates? She—

"I could be him, you know?"

Artemis's eyes went wide. "What?"

Dick shrugged. "I could be that super-secret friend."

"I don't think so." That would mean, Bruce Wayne as Batman, and yeah… No. Artemis wasn't about to agree with a tabloid or conspiracy theorist. It was hard to even imagine. The guy would have to have like a split personality or something.

Dick shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Artemis rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe she was going to entertain his musings. "If you were him, you'd know who I was. He knows my identity outside of the club—"

"And this is a friend of yours?" The words were threaded with the carelessness of a casual question, but underneath it. Laced into the tone and the way it was said… She for some reason felt like there was a right answer to this.

"He figured it out. We don't reveal it to each other." Well, Robin didn't. "But we have to figure it out for ourselves. And I'm sure that you wouldn't talk to me if it was you, so..."

She tried not to put too much meaning in the way his features relaxed and looked all relieved.

"Oh, okay." Dick shrugged. "But maybe so we can talk about him easier, since I can't know his codename, we could call him something. Just the two of us. Like handsome or something."

Artemis choked and nearly missed the way Dick's lips twitched at the suggested code name the two of them could use. No. Absolutely not. The last thing she needed was for the world's greatest troll to find out about one of her adjectives to describe him. "Yeah, maybe, but not that."

Dick's eyes glinted suspiciously, but he didn't press it. His lips still twitched, though. He did have Robin's talent for trolling, though. That was for sure.

And when the bell rang, indicating the end of lunch period, she inwardly cheered. She'd get to restart a whole new conversation tomorrow. She looked over at Dick as he packed away the remnants of his lunch. "I've got to get to class. Same time tomorrow? Same place?"

Artemis nodded and watched him go before packing her own stuff into her bag.

"You ready for history?"

Artemis had to suppress another surprised jump. What was it with her today? Why was she allowing everyone to surprise her all of a sudden? And she inwardly repressed a smart remark. Bette couldn't sit with her for lunch but she could find her after. But then again, Artemis supposed she wasn't being fair. Bette had never outright banned her and she hung out with Barbara some days. Barbara was also a scholarship recipient. No, Artemis was just a loner. Her hero job had cultivated that tendency within her. It didn't leave her a lot of time to make friends. She idly wondered how long it would be before Dick grew tired of her for her secrets, too. He seemed eager enough now, but…

Artemis sighed. She wouldn't dwell on it. A friend was a friend. And she knew her mother wanted her to make friends.

Walking into the building alongside Bette—her friend—she paused to let her eyes adjust. The hallway was so dark. She had to give her eyes a moment to adjust. And she saw Bette blink just as rapidly as she was. Artemis huffed. "I can't believe how bright it was."

Bette laughs. "Yeah. You ready?"

Artemis groaned. No, no she wasn't ready. History was a bitch of a class. She just knew that she'd get called on for the pop quiz. There was always a pop quiz the day of test review. And she was always the one called. She was usually the one who crammed to study the night before not any earlier. Mrs. Lockwood just loved watching her squirm.

Bette just laughed as though hearing her inner monologue. "It'll be okay. Come on."

Artemis shuffled alongside Bette, making her way to the classroom in question when she heard it. And she could even see Bette's eyes darken at the sound when she turned a curious gaze down the hall the way they'd come. And she was so close. So close to the classroom. But then another pounding on the locker. Metal resounding. And another grunt. And Artemis couldn't ignore it.

"I'll meet you inside."

Bette gave her a knowing look. "Come on. It's not your problem."

Except, yeah, it kinda was. Artems was… Artemis was, well, Artemis. The heroine. A member of the Team. Heroism didn't just stop when she took her mask off. And she looked at Bette. "I still have a couple minutes. I'll be right back."

Bette frowned, but she shook her head. "Just hurry. You don't like being called, but Mrs. Lockwood will call on you if you're late."

Didn't Artemis know that… And while inwardly she was groaning at the fate she was sure to incur on herself, outwardly, she revealed nothing but resolve. Resolve to help whoever that was. "I'll be right there."

And Bette just left her there. In the hallway alone. And no matter how much Artemis wanted to judge her for it. She couldn't bring herself to do so. She'd wanted to do the same thing, hadn't she? But she wasn't. Instead, she was stepping lithely down the hallway, intent on catching and stopping whoever the bully was.

And what she saw made her blood boil. Three on one. Three on one! That wasn't fair. Cowards. She was marching across the hallway, fists clenched at her sides bellowing pejoratives at them before she could stop herself. "Hey. Pick on someone your own size."

With one final shove, the kid they were throwing around landed against the wall lockers with a grunt, is hair askew atop his head and his clothing ruffled as he slid against the lockers to the tiled floor. The same floor that people spit on and trampled on and threw gum on… She saw red. Her fist making contact with the nearest one's nose before she could think better of it.

And when the bully crumpled, hands covering his bleeding nose, she felt some inkling of satisfaction worm through her. She disposed of the other two with a quick kick to the nards, making them both double over in pain. And just as she was about to offer her hand to the victim on the ground, who was trying to get to his feet, she saw his face.

She had no time, though, to say anything to Dick because it was at that moment, that her name was called across the hall. "Ms. Crock!"

Artemis grimaced, but that didn't stop her from helping Dick up. Once he was on her feet, though, she turned, hearing the click-clack of the principal's shoes as he made his way to her. She looked up at his reddened face. "My office. Now." He pointed as though she didn't already know the way.

Her mother was going to be so disappointed in her.