[season one]

"I saw what you did last night," Robin starts, his hands in fists, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He examines his shoes, trying to muster up the courage to look Artemis in the eyes. She sits across from him in an identical green arm chair. She is leaning back in her chair, trying to appear nonchalant. But her reserve is slowly slipping with each word the younger boy speaks. "And the amazing thing is, not one of them will ever know."

Artemis' arms are crossed. She narrows her steel eyes, "know what?"

He lets out his signature cackle, but it seems forced. He lifts his head. Artemis can feel his gaze on her, even behind his shades. She's never felt so exposed in her life. Vulnerability is weakness and slip ups - for example, her real identity. "How much harder it is for the rest of us. You see, my friends get more and more powerful… Powerful, all of them." She knows who he is talking about. Kaldur, Wally, Conner, Megan. All metas. All more powerful than she and Robin could ever dream of being. This whole time she thought he was talking about her lineage, but instead he was going for something she never saw coming - something she would have never imagined the Boy Wonder confiding to her. "They'll never know how tough it is. To be the one who isn't chosen. To live so near to the spotlight, but never step in it."

Artemis looks down, her hand now in a clenched fist, but she says nothing. Robin had never been this open to her before; and she wouldn't even tell him her real blood lines.

"But I know. I see more than anybody realizes," he pauses, a sad smile on his face, "because nobody's watching me." Artemis starts to speak, but Robin continues. "I saw you last night. You thought you were so special, and the minute you realized you weren't, you handed the crown off without a moment's pause."

Artemis doesn't argue. He's right and she knows it.

Red Arrow.

Central City Warehouse last night. She had a perfect shot on Deathstroke, but she gave it to Roy. She had second guessed herself. Roy was a better archer after all, he had been doing it longer. He had more experience. She was just the Replacement.

"I saw you last night," Robin swallows hard and looks up at Artemis again, meeting her eyes with his. His glasses are gone. Her eyes widen as he continues. "You're not special. You're extraordinary." He stands to leave, stuffing his hand in his pockets, his brilliant blue eyes return to the floor, refusing to look into Artemis' charcoal gray ones.

She doesn't move. She sits in her seat, stunned. "Maybe that's your power," Artemis manages once the Boy Wonder reaches the door. He pauses, patiently waiting for her to continue. "Seeing. Knowing."

A grin flashes across his face as he turns to her. "Maybe it is."

You may recognize the dialogue - if not it's from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

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