A/N: So this has been a little thought bubble for a long time. Set very much past the Batman Beyond series.

Another afterschool day spent in the Wayne State University library, reading whatever e-books she had access to. Silence buzzed and chirped in the young woman's ears and disappeared to the sound of approaching footsteps. She didn't look up, hoping they would just pass her by. She just wanted to be left alone.

"Kendra?" Her name wasn't said. It was asked by a male voice. She looked up from her tablet to see an unfamiliar face and immediately frowned.

In front of her stood a young, African-American man, not too much older than Kendra herself, who was also at least a head taller than her. She could tell by his letterman jacket that he was on the football team. Though she then paid closer attention and saw how worn it was and quickly realized it wasn't from the football team of this university.

"You are Kendra Saunders right?" He asked.

Kendra looked back down at her tablet, uninterested in what this person had to say. "Who wants to know?" she asked back, her voice dull and monotone. "Did those idiotic jocks send you over here? If they did I'm not interested at all in a date for the fifteenth time."

The young man looked confused as he raised an eyebrow, "Jocks? No, I'm here to ask for help studying. Though I guess I should introduce myself first. I'm Hector Hall. I just transferred from Wayne County Community College. I've been here for about a month now."

Kendra gave him a light glare as her frown grew. Hector had to admit to himself that he found her piercing gaze to be quite intimidating despite her small frame. Though at the same time he found that her green eyes were rather...pretty. He had never seen eyes that shade of green before. Hell he had never seen eyes as expressive as hers before.

Hector stuck out his hand but Kendra didn't reciprocate and continued to look at him in disinterest. He then sighed as he dropped his hand back to his side. "You're one of the best students I know so I figured I should approach you for some tutoring. I'm barely keeping a 2.8 GPA."

At that Kendra raised an eyebrow and looked at Hector. "Why in the hell are you still enrolled then?" She asked, adding a heavy drop of venom to her words. Maybe this would keep Hector away, make him see that she wasn't worth bothering.

Instead, Hector lightly chuckled, which irritated her further, "You're right. I should've flunked out by now. It's a miracle I haven't. Partly I'm struggling on my time management. That and some of this stuff just doesn't make much sense to me. Could you tutor me in History and Calculus?"

Kendra scoffed at the polar opposites of his request. She didn't believe him for a second. There was no way this was all this Hector wanted from her. "No because I don't get anything out of this tutoring shit you're offering me." She tucked a loose strand of her red hair behind her ear. "It's not like you'd do any better just because I'm helping you. You just have to memorize dates and formulas. That's all so suck it up lightweight."

Hector chuckled once more at her response, "You're a bright ray of sunshine I see. You're right though. I need to offer something in exchange to make it worth your while." He scrounged around in his bookbag and took out his cell phone. "Exchange numbers with me so we can work out some kind of deal."

Kendra immediately narrowed her eyes and scowled, "I knew it. I'm not stupid enough to give my number to some total stranger you asshole."

She stood up, dusting off her jeans. The tablet she had been using was placed back on the end of the charging rack it came from and she quickly left the library with her bag, not bothering with so much as a "bye" to Hector. A quick getaway usually dissuaded even the most persistent of students from bothering her any further and this proved to be no different to her instant relief.

Walking straight off of the campus grounds, Kendra made her way as quickly as possible to the hole-in-the-wall Chinese takeout place she regularly patroned. She couldn't even recall what she was doing in order to stumble upon the little restaurant but all she knew was that something told her to go eat there the first time she spotted it. Ever since then she ate there at least two times a week.

As she got settled into her usual seat, the sliding door rattled open and in walked another university student. Kendra froze when Hector's brown eyes met hers. She internally screamed as Hector approached with a smirk.

"What a coincidence we're both eating at the same Chinese restaurant," Hector said, pulling over a chair to sit across from Kendra. "Though this place does have the best food in all of Detroit. They've had the best food for over a hundred years now."

"Did you follow me here?" Kendra whispered in a harsh tone, her nails digging into the table. "Just as a fair warning, I will kick your ass if you are stalking me."

"What? No!" Hector looked offended by the accusation. He picked up the tablet and scrolled through the selections. "I literally live down the street and I like to have dinner here before going home every so often."

Kendra did not believe Hector but decided it wasn't worth the trouble to move tables at this point.

Hector waved over a waiter instead of using his tablet to order like everyone else. "My usual," he stated before looking over to Kendra. "Sorry I like doing things the old school way."

Kendra felt irritated that Hector had a usual order. Sure, she had one too but it was different. This was her spot to eat, no one else's.

"So," Hector began casually. "How long have you been at Wayne State University?"

Kendra frowned, "None of your damn business."

For the first time Hector frowned and crossed his arms over his chest, "Listen I'm just trying to be polite and start a conversation here."

"So it's polite to ask a random girl her phone number by pretending you need tutoring?" She sarcastically asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I wasn't pretending," Hector insisted. "I do need tutoring. I mean we're in a lot of the same classes and you always seem to know everything that's being taught. That's why I came to you first. I had this gut feeling that you were the right person to ask."

Kendra tilted her head slightly in curiosity, "I don't remember seeing you in any of my classes."

"Well maybe if you got your damn head out of those tablets and paid attention to the people around you then you would notice," he suggested.

Kendra scoffed at that, "I pay attention."

"Hardly," he replied with an eye roll. "But you didn't answer my question earlier."

Kendra let out an exasperated sigh, "Alright fine, since you just won't let up. I've been going there since I graduated high school last year."

Hector raised an eyebrow, "How young are you?"

She glared at him lightly before answering, "Nineteen why?"

He shrugged, "No reason really, just you handle yourself pretty well for being so young."

Kendra graced him with a small smirk, "I don't take shit from anyone no matter who they are. I might as well ask you the same then. How old are you?"

"Twenty-four," Hector readily answered. "Tried to work a few jobs right out of high school. Nothing really seemed to click so I decided to go back to school instead."

"Smart move," she conceded. "I only went to college since it was expected of me to go like everyone else."

"Your parents made you go?"

She lightly shook her head, "No they've been gone since I was kid. Just societal expectations and all that, you know?"

Hector paused for a moment before nodding, "Yeah I get that. My parents have been gone for a while now too. I thought I might try to go against the tide but that didn't work out too well."

Kendra remained quiet as she studied Hector. She didn't know what it was but something about him both irritated her and made her feel at peace at the very same time. She just didn't know how to explain it. Normally she felt uncomfortable talking to a person like this but, for whatever reason, it felt like she was catching up with an old friend she hadn't seen in years.

Not long after the food arrived and silence collapsed upon them once more.

After ten minutes, Hector broke the silence between them, "So what's your major?"

"Criminal Justice," she stated with her mouth full.

"Charming," Hector sarcastically muttered. "Ironically that's my major too."

Kendra smirked at him, "Well we seem to be more alike than I would have given us credit for. Favorite movie?"

"Oh that's easy, really old movie. You've probably never seen it before," he waved her off.

"Lay it on me."

"The Notebook."

"I've seen it before. Not a bad movie honestly. It is rather touching and I like watching it from time to time."

"Your favorite movie?"

Kendra lightly chuckled, "My favorite movie is way older than yours."

"Try me," Hector replied with a smirk.

"It's a bit embarrassing but it's Old Yeller."

"That's about the old west and that dog right?"

"Yeah," she lightly nodded. "I don't know why but the first time I ever watched it something drew me to it."

"Funny that's the same with me and The Notebook. I saw it and something just clicked."

"Funny how movies can do that," she then glanced away as she deeply inhaled. "Look you're not as bad as I thought you were. I thought you were just another guy trying to hit on me."

"I'm not that rude. I'd at least ask you out formally without all of the games."

"I can tell."

"How about this?" Hector began as Kendra tilted her head. "You tutor me and I buy you dinner that same night. Sound fair?"

"Fine, I'll tutor you but on one condition," Kendra stated. "I'll only tutor you for a month. After that, you'll have to pay me again, either with more food or money. Meet me in the library after class, the same spot and time you found me at today."

"That works for me, Kendra."

The redhead still felt slightly irked by Hector's overly friendly demeanor towards her. Though something within her desired to see him again.

Abruptly, Hector slid his phone towards her, "Can I have your number now?"

"Yeah I guess at this point you can," Kendra relented. She typed in her phone number and received a confirmation text from him. "And don't give it out to anybody or I'll kick your ass into next Thursday."

Hector chuckled at the threat, unfazed by the chill in Kendra's words.

"I wouldn't dream of it." he replied. "Would you like to go on a date some time?" Noticing her obvious discomfort, Hector changed tactics. "Or we don't have to. I'm sure I'm not good enough for a girl like you after all."

Kendra wanted to say otherwise, to reject this fact. But to do so would invite herself to an open invitation for a date and she was much too prideful. She instead smirked, "How about this? If you make it onto the Dean's List, by midterms, I'll go on a date with you." Hector's eyes sparked with determination at that proposal. "Don't get your hopes up. It'll be very difficult to get there with how low your GPA currently is. Honestly, I doubt you'll make it there by the end of next year."

After an hour of idle chitchatting, the two left the restaurant and Kendra checked the time, lightly growling in frustration. She had to get going now or else she wouldn't get back to the dorms at a decent hour. Hector noticed Kendra fidgeting and looking unsure of how to escape this social situation.

"Can I walk you back to the dorms? You shouldn't walk there alone. It's starting to get late," he offered, adjusting the collar of his jacket as the wind picked up. "I don't mind if I get home late."

"I don't need an escort," she gruffly replied. "I can take care of myself."

"I'm sure you can do so very well but it would give me peace of mind knowing you got back safe."

Kendra sighed, "Alright fine let's get moving."

They walked in silence, Hector occasionally rubbed his hands over his arms and visibly shivered. Kendra raised an eyebrow at this, "You need to wear more clothes if this little bit of cold is making you shiver like that. Next thing you know you get sick."

"What are you, my mom?" Hector taunted.

Kendra narrowed her eyes at him but it only made him laugh. She in turn then smirked, "Don't laugh at me you smartass."

"Let me guess, you'll drop kick my ass into the next county?"

Kendra rolled her eyes but in good nature as she continued to smirk, "You are a real smartass Hector Hall."

Hector returned her smirk with one of his own, "You're one to talk Kendra Saunders."