The winter chill lingered in the air as students shuffled back into the halls of Gotham Prep. Snow still clung to the edges of the courtyard, but the warmth inside the school was deceptive. Spring semester had just started, and with it came the usual drama and stress of high school life. Maggie Wayne walked through the hallway, lost in thought, flipping through her notes for Biology. She barely noticed when she bumped into Emily, who was huddled with a couple of their friends by the lockers, her eyes red from crying.
"Hey, Emily, you, okay?" Maggie asked, concern flashing across her face.
Emily wiped her eyes quickly, trying to put on a brave front. "Yeah, fine. Just… had a really crappy morning."
Maggie frowned, glancing around. "Where's Jason? I thought you two were—"
Emily cut her off, her voice sharp with frustration. "We broke up."
Maggie blinked, surprised. "Wait, what? When did this happen?"
"This morning." Emily sniffled and crossed her arms, clearly still upset. "I got tired of him constantly canceling on me. Every time we had plans, he had some 'emergency' or just disappeared without an explanation."
Maggie bit her lip, understanding exactly what was going on but unable to say anything.
"Emily, I'm sure Jason didn't mean to—"
"He didn't even try to explain, Maggie!" Emily snapped, cutting her off again. "I can't be with someone who's always bailing on me. I need someone who's present, you know? Not someone who treats me like an afterthought."
Maggie sighed, feeling torn. She wanted to defend Jason, but she also understood where Emily was coming from. "I get it. But Jason's got..."
Emily shook her head, her voice cold. "I don't care. It's over. I'm done with him."
With that, Emily turned and walked away along with the rest of their friends on the cheerleading team, leaving Maggie standing there with a sinking feeling in her stomach.
Later that Day - Gotham Prep Cafeteria*
Maggie sat with her tray, picking at her food. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease after hearing about Jason and Emily. She made a mental note to check on him later. As she sat, staring off into space, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Well, if it isn't little Wayne," a cold, mocking voice rang out.
Maggie looked up to see Alexis, a girl with a cruel reputation, standing over her. Alexis was flanked by two other upperclassmen girls, both smirking. Alexis had her arms crossed, looking down at Maggie like a predator sizing up its prey.
"What do you want, Alexis?" Maggie asked coolly, trying to keep her composure. She had heard enough stories about Alexis to know that this wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation.
"Oh, nothing. Just wondering how the *princess* of Gotham City is doing." Alexis' voice dripped with sarcasm. "I mean, it must be so hard being a Wayne. All that money, the fancy cars, and the fact that everyone just worships your dad."
Maggie clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay calm. "I'm not looking for trouble, Alexis. Can you just leave me alone?"
"Oh, I'm not here to cause trouble," Alexis said, smirking as she leaned closer. "I just thought it was funny; you know. For someone who's part of Gotham's royal family—."
"You don't know anything about me," Maggie said quietly, her hands tightening into fists under the table.
"Oh, please." Alexis rolled her eyes. "You think everyone here doesn't see it? We all know why you get special treatment. You're just Bruce Wayne's brat."
Maggie's chest tightened. She didn't need this today—not after everything with Jason and Emily, and now this.
Alexis wasn't done. She leaned in even closer, her voice low and venomous. "Face it, Wayne. You're nothing without your last name. And pretty soon, everyone's going to realize your nothing."
Without another word, Alexis turned on her heel and walked away with her friends, leaving Maggie sitting there alone, her stomach in knots. She hated how people like Alexis could get under her skin so easily. She didn't care what they thought—at least, she told herself she didn't. But it still stung, knowing that no matter how hard she worked, there would always be people who only saw her as "Bruce Wayne's daughter."
After School - Wayne Manor*
Back at the manor, Maggie found Jason sitting in the Batcave, throwing a tennis ball repeatedly against the wall and catching it. His usual scowl was deeper today, and Maggie knew why.
"Hey," she said softly, walking over to him.
Jason didn't look up. "What do you want?"
Maggie sat down on the steps beside him. "I heard about you and Emily."
Jason threw the ball harder. "Yeah. That's over."
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice gentle. "I know you liked her."
Jason finally looked at her, his expression hard. "Doesn't matter... I knew it was coming."
Maggie bit her lip. "It's not your fault, you know. It's hard keeping all this secret from people you care about."
Jason scoffed. "Yeah, well, it's easier not to care."
Maggie was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "I had a bad day too if that helps."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "You?"
Maggie huffed, giving him a look. "There's this girl, Alexis. She's a known bully. Picks on me or other people once in a while in me a hard time today. Says I'm only liked because of my last name."
Jason frowned. "She actually said that?"
Maggie nodded, feeling her frustration rise again. "Yeah. It sucks. But I guess it's just part of the deal when you're a Wayne."
Jason threw the ball against the wall again, catching it mid-air. "You want me to deal with her?"
Maggie gave a half-smile. "No, I've got it handled. But… thanks for the offer."
For a brief moment, they both sat in silence, a rare moment of mutual understanding passing between them.
Gotham Prep - 2 weeks later*
Maggie walked down the hallway, clutching her books a little tighter than usual. Her Last couple of run-ins with Alexis these past few weeks had left her with anxiety. As she reached her locker, she heard the dreaded voice behind her she heard the familiar voice that made her stomach churn.
"Well, if it isn't Gotham Prep's ugliest freshman," Alexis said, her voice laced with venom.
Maggie sighed, tired from training with Barbara last night. She closed her locker and turned to face Alexis, who was flanked by her usual entourage of mean-spirited upperclassmen.
"What do you want, Alexis?" Maggie asked, trying to sound as disinterested as possible. Maybe if she didn't react, Alexis would get bored and move on.
"Oh, nothing," Alexis said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Just wondering how your *going out* with Roy Harper is going. You know, it's kind of cute. The rich ugly girl and the troublemaker. Bet your *daddy* wasn't too thrilled about that."
Maggie's face flushed, but she kept her expression neutral. "That's none of your business."
"Oh, I think it is. You like playing in the dirt with boys like Roy, don't you? Trying to feel like you're not some spoiled princess living in a mansion."
Maggie's patience was wearing thin. "Alexis. Just leave me alone."
Alexis' smirk widened. "Oh, tough girl, huh? You think people like Roy actually like you for *you*? Please. Have you seen yourself in the mirror? You look like a Twilight reject with your pasty ass skin, dark hair and those freaky green eyes. You're just a name, Maggie. Without your dad, you're nothing. And let's face it, you're just a sad little girl pretending to be hot."
Maggie's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm. She didn't want to give Alexis the satisfaction of knowing her words were getting to her.
"And speaking of pretending," Alexis continued, her voice turning colder, "where's your mom in all this? Oh, right. You don't have one. She probably ran away once she saw how ugly you are."
Maggie felt like she'd been punched in the stomach. Her vision blurred as tears welled up, and she blinked rapidly, trying to hold them back. She turned to leave, wanting to get away.
But Alexis wasn't done. As Maggie started to walk away, Alexis reached out and shoved her hard, slamming her back into the locker.
"Where do you think you're going?" Alexis sneered; her eyes gleaming with cruelty. "We're not done here."
Maggie's books fell from her arms as she hit the locker, pain shooting through her back. She tried to push past Alexis again, but Alexis and her friends stood their ground, shoving her back once more.
"Just a spoiled brat who thinks she's better than everyone else."
Maggie's tears were falling freely now, and she felt utterly trapped, the humiliation washing over her in waves. She was trying to breathe, trying to keep it together, but the weight of Alexis' words and the physical pain was too much. Just as Alexis moved to shove her again, a voice rang out, sharp and furious.
"Back off!"
Jason Todd came barreling down the hallway, his eyes blazing with anger. Roy Harper was right behind him, both of them looking ready to tear Alexis apart. Alexis froze, her smug expression faltering as Jason stormed up to her, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. Roy's normally laid-back demeanor was gone, replaced with cold, protective rage.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Jason growled, stepping between Alexis and Maggie. He didn't even bother hiding the fury in his voice.
Alexis straightened, trying to regain her composure, but Jason's presence clearly shook her. "Just having a conversation, Jason. No need to get all worked up."
Roy's eyes narrowed. "Shoving someone into a locker doesn't look like a 'conversation' to me." As he put a protective arm around Maggie.
Jason's fists tightened at his sides, and for a second, Maggie thought he was going to punch Alexis right there in the middle of the hallway. She could see the barely contained rage in his eyes, and it was clear Alexis had pushed him too far.
"Let her go," Jason said, his voice deadly calm now. "Before you regret it."
Alexis hesitated, but the icy look in Jason's eyes told her he wasn't bluffing. Slowly, she backed off, raising her hands in mock surrender.
"Fine," Alexis said, her voice dripping with fake innocence.
Jason didn't take his eyes off her.
Alexis turned on her heel and walked away, her friends following close behind. The hallway was still, the tension thick in the air.
As soon as Alexis was gone, Maggie felt the tears coming even harder. She tried to turn away, but Jason & Roy noticed, his expression softening immediately.
"Maggie…" Jason started, but she shook her head, too embarrassed to look at him.
"I… I need to go," she muttered, her voice cracking.
She pushed past him and Roy, running down the hallway before either he or Roy could say anything more. Jason watched her go, guilt settling into his chest. Roy put a hand on his shoulder, frowning as he looked down the hall where Maggie had disappeared.
"We should go after her," Roy said quietly.
Jason clenched his jaw, shaking his head. "Give her a minute. She needs space."
Roy nodded, though the concern was still clear on his face. "Alexis better hope I don't see her again."
Jason didn't respond. As the hallways buzzed back to life around them, Jason's resolve hardened. He didn't know how yet, but Alexis was going to pay for this.
Gotham Prep - Gym Class*
Gym class had never been Maggie's favorite, but today, she felt a little more on edge than usual. After the encounter with Alexis in the hallway earlier, she had been trying to shake off the lingering anxiety. She wasn't sure if she was more embarrassed by how she had broken down in front of Jason and Roy or angry at herself for letting Alexis get to her. The gym was buzzing with activity as students changed into their athletic clothes and gathered in groups, preparing for the day's workout. Maggie stood with her friends, Stephanie and Emily, near the bleachers. Jason and Roy were across the room, messing around with a basketball. The air was thick with chatter, sneakers squeaking against the floor, and the occasional sound of laughter. Maggie tried to focus on her friends' conversation, but her mind kept drifting back to Alexis, who stood on the opposite side of the gym with her clique, laughing and glancing in Maggie's direction. It made her skin crawl.
Stephanie, noticing Maggie's distraction, gave her a nudge. "Hey, you good?"
Maggie nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah. Just tired."
Emily raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but didn't push it. "Well, at least we're in here together. We can just survive this class and then get out of here."
"Exactly," Stephanie said with a grin. "Besides, it's just dodgeball today. It'll be fun."
Maggie appreciated their attempts to cheer her up, but her mind was elsewhere. She glanced at Jason, who caught her eye from across the gym and gave her a small, reassuring nod. Even though they hadn't talked much since she'd run off, she knew he was watching out for her. That brought her a little comfort. As the coach blew the whistle to start, students began to scatter across the gym. Maggie was separated from her group as everyone grabbed dodgeballs and lined up for the game. She found herself near the far corner of the court, just out of earshot of her friends. And that's when Alexis made her move.
"OH, Hello Wayne," Alexis called out, walking over to where Maggie stood alone. Her voice was dripping with sarcasm, and her group of friends snickered behind her.
Maggie immediately stiffened, her heart rate picking up. She hadn't wanted another confrontation, especially not now. Not here.
Alexis stepped closer, her smug smile widening. "What's wrong, Maggie? You're not still crying from earlier, are you?"
Maggie clenched her fists at her sides, trying to stay calm, trying to remind herself not to let Alexis get under her skin. But it was hard. Too hard.
Alexis wasn't done. "Oh, I forgot," she said, her voice mocking. "You can't go running to Mommy, can you? Because you don't even have one."
Maggie's heart dropped, and a sick feeling twisted in her stomach. Alexis had hit her weakest spot, the one she tried so hard to keep buried. Her breath quickened as the familiar sting of tears burned behind her eyes, but this time, something else bubbled up too—anger. Hot, raw, and uncontrollable.
"Back the fuck off," Maggie said, her voice low, trembling with the effort to keep it together.
But Alexis only smiled wider. "Or what? You'll cry again? Poor little crybaby Maggie Wayne."
That was the final straw. Without thinking, Maggie lunged at Alexis, grabbing her by the shirt and shoving her back, hard. Alexis staggered, her eyes wide with shock, but Maggie didn't stop. Her fist shot out, landing squarely across Alexis' jaw with a sickening thud. The gym seemed to freeze. Maggie's vision was a blur of red as she swung again, and Alexis stumbled backward, falling to the floor. Maggie didn't let up. She tackled Alexis to the ground, her fists raining down in a flurry of punches fueled by every ounce of hurt and anger she'd been bottling up for so long. Alexis screamed, her hands coming up to shield her face, but Maggie was relentless. Her training kicked in like second nature, each hit precise and brutal, as if she were in a fight for survival. She didn't hear the shocked gasps from the other students or the sound of footsteps rushing toward them. All she could feel was the adrenaline coursing through her, the need to make Alexis pay for every cruel word she'd ever said. It wasn't until she felt strong arms pulling her back that Maggie snapped out of it. Jason had rushed over and grabbed her, dragging her off Alexis before she could do any more damage.
"Maggie! Stop!" Roy's voice was sharp, but there was concern in it too.
"Maggie, that's enough," Jason said again, holding her back as she struggled to get loose from his grip. Her fists were still clenched, shaking, but the fury was starting to ebb, leaving behind a cold emptiness.
Across the gym, Alexis' friends stood frozen, too stunned to do anything. The rest of the students were silent, watching in disbelief at what had just unfolded.
"Maggie…" Stephanie's voice came from behind, shaky with shock. "What… what happened?"
Maggie didn't respond. She was still breathing hard, her mind racing. She looked down at her hands, at the blood on her knuckles, and suddenly felt a wave of guilt wash over her. What had she done?
Jason released his grip slightly, sensing she had calmed down, but his face was tight with concern. "Maggie… are you okay?"
She shook her head, blinking back the tears that were threatening to spill again. Her body trembled, adrenaline still coursing through her veins, but now it wasn't anger—it was regret.
"I… I didn't mean to…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Gotham Prep - Principal's Office*
Maggie sat in the uncomfortable chair; her eyes fixed on the floor as she fiddled nervously with the hem of her sweater. Her knuckles still ached from the fight, though the blood had long since been cleaned away. She didn't want to be here—didn't want to face the consequences of what she'd done. But the worst part wasn't the principal or the impending punishment. It was the man sitting next to her. Bruce Wayne, her father, sat with a stony expression, his hands resting on his knees. His posture was rigid, his jaw clenched tight. He hadn't said a word to her since they arrived, but the disappointment radiating from him was palpable. It stung more than anything Alexis had said or done. The door to the principal's office creaked open, and Principal Michaels, an older man with graying hair and stern eyes, entered the room. He took a seat behind his desk, setting a folder down in front of him. He glanced at Maggie, then at Bruce, before clearing his throat.
"Mr. Wayne, thank you for coming in on such short notice," Principal Michaels began, his voice formal but not unkind. He opened the folder, reviewing the notes inside. "This is… a serious matter."
Maggie's stomach twisted. She knew what was coming, but hearing it laid out so officially made it all the more real.
Bruce nodded; his expression unreadable. "I understand," he said, his voice calm but laced with tension. He glanced at Maggie briefly, then back to the principal. "What happened?"
Principal Michaels sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Earlier today, there was an altercation between Maggie and another student, Alexis Kayle. It started as verbal harassment, but it quickly escalated into physical violence. Alexis is currently being treated for a broken nose, fractured skull and some bruising. Multiple students witnessed the fight."
Bruce's eyes flickered, and Maggie could feel the weight of his stare, but she kept her gaze down, unable to look at him.
"I'm aware of some of the context," Principal Michaels continued, "regarding Alexis' behavior. Several reports have come in about her bullying other students. But that doesn't excuse what happened today. Maggie's actions… well, they crossed a line."
Maggie swallowed hard, her throat tight. She knew she had crossed the line—knew she had let her anger take over. But hearing it framed so bluntly made the guilt settle deeper in her chest.
Bruce finally spoke, his voice low and steady. "What's the school's course of action?"
"We're still considering it," Principal Michaels said, glancing at Maggie. "Under normal circumstances, something this severe would result in expulsion."
Maggie's heart raced at the word "expulsion." She hadn't even considered that as a possibility. Her hands balled into fists, her mind spinning with panic.
Principal Michaels sighed, his expression softening slightly. "That said, we're also aware of the… unique circumstances surrounding the situation. It seems Alexis has been targeting Maggie for a while now. We've already spoken to Alexis' parents, and they've been made aware of their daughter's behavior. But still, Maggie's response was excessive."
Bruce's voice, still calm but carrying an edge now, cut through the tension. "Maggie has been through a lot. But that doesn't excuse violence." He finally turned to look at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Maggie?"
She felt the weight of his gaze, the disappointment she had been dreading all day. Slowly, she lifted her head, forcing herself to meet his eyes. The look on his face wasn't one of anger, but of quiet disapproval, and that was so much worse.
"I… I didn't mean for it to go that far," Maggie said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just… I couldn't take it anymore—" She stopped, her throat tightening, her vision blurring as tears threatened to fall.
Bruce's expression softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. "Maggie, I know it's hard, but that's not how we deal with things. You know that."
She nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks now. She did know that. Bruce had always taught her restraint, control—everything she had thrown out the window in that moment with Alexis. And now, she was paying for it.
Principal Michaels cleared his throat again, looking between father and daughter. "Given the circumstances, I'm willing to consider a lesser punishment. Maggie will be suspended for 2 weeks, and we'll set up mandatory counseling sessions for her to help manage her emotions. But if anything like this happens again, we will have to take more serious action."
Maggie's heart sank, but she nodded, wiping at her tears. She had expected worse, and in a way, this felt like a small mercy.
Bruce nodded as well, though his expression was still grim. "Thank you. We'll take care of it from here."
The principal stood, offering a sympathetic look to Maggie. "I understand, Maggie. But I hope you'll use this time to reflect on how to better handle situations like this in the future."
Maggie nodded again, unable to speak. She just wanted to leave, to get out of this room and away from the crushing guilt that weighed her down. As they stood to leave, Bruce placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, guiding her out of the office and into the hallway. The silence between them was heavy, but as soon as they stepped outside the school building, Bruce stopped and turned to her.
"You're better than this," he said quietly, his voice soft but firm. " You can't let people like Alexis get the better of you. Not like this."
Maggie bit her lip, her tears returning. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I didn't mean to lose control. I just… After the first swing... I couldn't stop. ...I was so angry."
Bruce sighed, his eyes softening as he pulled her into a hug. "I know, Maggie. I know." He held her for a moment, letting her cry into his chest. "But we have to do better."
Maggie nodded into his chest, the warmth of his embrace a small comfort in the midst of the chaos. "I'll do better," she whispered. "I promise."
Bruce kissed the top of her head before pulling back to look her in the eyes. "We'll figure this out. Together. But you have to learn to control that anger, okay? It's important."
Maggie sniffed, wiping her face and nodding. "Okay."
With that, Bruce led her to the car, the weight of the day still heavy on her shoulders.
Wayne Manor – Maggie's Room, Evening*
Maggie sat curled up on her bed, knees pulled tight to her chest, the events of the day still heavy on her mind. The bruises on her knuckles had faded a little since the fight, but they were a painful reminder of what she'd done. She felt awful, but there was something deeper that gnawed at her—a feeling she hadn't been able to shake. A soft knock at her door made her look up.
"Mags, it's me," Jason's voice came through.
She hesitated, then called out, "Come in."
Jason stepped in, followed by Roy, who gave her a sheepish smile. "Hey, sweetie," Roy said, his usual cocky attitude subdued for once. "We figured you could use some company."
Maggie tried to smile, but it barely touched her face. "Hey," she said quietly, her voice thin.
Jason and Roy exchanged a glance before Jason sat down at the foot of her bed. Roy leaned against the door, his arms crossed, looking more serious than usual.
"You okay?" Jason asked, his voice soft.
Maggie shrugged, pulling her knees closer. "I don't know," she admitted. "I just… everything feels wrong."
Jason sighed, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "I get it, Mags. What happened today was rough. Alexis really pushed you."
Roy nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and it's not like she's innocent in all this. She's been asking for it for awhile. Hell, It was about time she got what she deserved."
Maggie winced at Roy's words, a knot of guilt tightening in her chest. "But I didn't just deck her, Roy," she said quietly. "I beat the shit out of her... Bad."
Jason watched her closely, his eyes narrowing as he picked up on something deeper. "Maggie, what's going on? There's something else, isn't there?"
Maggie stared down at her hands, her fingers still trembling slightly. She wanted to push it all down, to pretend it was just about losing control in the moment. But it wasn't. It was more than that, and the truth scared her.
"I… I don't know how to say this," she whispered, her voice cracking. "But… what scares me isn't just that I hurt her."
Jason frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"
Maggie swallowed hard, her eyes filling with tears again. "What scares me is how *good* it felt. Hurting her...I kind of enjoyed it."
The words hung in the air, heavy and raw, as Jason and Roy both stared at her, shocked. Jason opened his mouth to say something, then closed it, clearly struggling to process what she'd just confessed. Roy pushed off the doorframe, his arms uncrossing, a more serious look settling on his face.
"Maggie," Jason finally said, his voice quieter now, more careful. "What do you mean?"
Maggie wiped at her eyes, her voice trembling. "When Alexis said all those things about me… something snapped inside me. I didn't even think, I just reacted. And when I hit her, when I saw her face—" She paused, choking on the words. "It felt good. Like… like I was finally in control. Like I was getting back at her pay."
Roy glanced at Jason, his face unreadable, then back at Maggie. "Mags… that doesn't make you a bad person," Roy said slowly, though he sounded uncertain. "Sometimes people deserve what's coming to them."
Jason shot Roy a look. "That's not the point Roy."
Roy stepped forward, sitting down in the chair by Maggie's desk. "Look, we've all been there—well, maybe not to the same extent," he admitted, running a hand through his hair. "But everyone has moments where they lose control."
Maggie, her voice still small. "But what if I can't stop it next time?"
Jason placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. "You're stronger than was a fluke. You were pushed to your limit, and yeah, you lost it for a second. But that doesn't mean you'll lose it again."
Maggie looked between Jason and Roy, her heart heavy with guilt but also feeling a glimmer of hope from their words. "You really think so?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jason nodded firmly. "I know so."
Roy leaned forward, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, and next time Alexis tries anything, we'll make sure she thinks twice before opening her big mouth again."
Maggie managed a small smile at that, though the weight of the day still lingered. She was grateful to have Jason and Roy there, reminding her that she wasn't alone. But deep down, the fear remained—the fear of what she could become if she ever let herself lose control again.
"Thanks, guys," she said softly. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Jason stood up, offering her a reassuring smile. "You don't have to find out. We've got your back, no matter what."
Roy nodded, standing as well. "Yeah, and don't worry—if anyone at school gives you crap, they'll have to deal with us first."
Maggie laughed lightly, feeling the tension in her chest ease just a bit. "I'm glad I've got you guys."