Chapter 28: Opportunity
He held her close, clearly reluctant to let go as the morning sun entered the room. But she sighed, pulling back gently.
"I have to get ready for school," she said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair out of his face. "Bruce gave you the day off. My injuries don't warrant a day in bed, apparently."
Jason smirked, though his eyes betrayed a hint of worry.
"You sure you're good to go?"
She nodded with a small, reassuring smile. "I'll survive. Plus, finals are coming up. And guess who's responsible for picking up your homework?"
Jason rolled his eyes. "Can't believe I'm saying this, but… thanks."
"Don't get too used to it," she teased.
As Maggie walked through the hallways of Gotham Prep, she could feel the stares and hear the whispers following her. News about her and Jason getting ambushed by a gang last night had already spread like wildfire. She wasn't surprised—Gotham always had a way of taking every event and twisting it into a spectacle.
"Did you hear? Maggie Wayne got into a fight last night," she overheard someone murmur as she passed.
"Yeah, with Jason Todd too," another voice chimed in. "I heard they took on a whole gang!"
Maggie kept her eyes forward, determined not to let the rumors get to her. Her mind flickered to Jason, resting back at the manor, while she was here facing the aftermath. She knew he'd hate this—the attention, the gossip. But she didn't have the luxury to skip, not with finals looming. Just as she reached her locker, her friend Stephanie appeared beside her, eyes wide.
"Mags! Why didn't you text me? Are you okay?"
Maggie gave a small smile.
"I'm fine, Steph. It's not as dramatic as everyone's making it out to be."
"Alright, fine, maybe you're okay," Emily said, her voice laced with curiosity. "But what about Jason? He's not here. You two are kind of, you know, Gotham Prep's newest couple," she teased with a smirk.
Maggie felt her cheeks heat up, doing her best to play it off with an eye roll. "He's recovering," she said, trying to sound casual. "Besides, we're not a 'couple.' Not… officially."
Her friends exchanged amused glances, clearly not buying it.
"Right, right. Because people totally risk their lives together and get cozy just as friends," Emily teased, raising an eyebrow. "You two may not have put a label on it, but everyone knows it's official."
Maggie sighed, fiddling with the edge of her notebook.
"I mean, sure, we're… close," she mumbled, glancing away. "But can we not make a big deal out of it? I already have enough to deal with."
Stephanie just grinned, nudging her. "Fine, fine. But you know, you're still going to have a crowd waiting for the 'other half' of Gotham Prep's new power couple when he's back."
Maggie rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
"You guys are impossible."
As the final bell rang, Maggie went through her usual end-of-day routine, gathering up her things and making a quick round to Jason's teachers to collect his homework. She was stuffing the last of his assignments into her bag when a voice crackled over the school intercom.
"Miss Wayne, please report to the principal's office."
Maggie's heart skipped a beat. She had a sinking feeling, knowing that trips to the principal's office never meant good news, especially after the events of last night. Ignoring the curious glances from her classmates, she adjusted her bag and made her way down the hall, her mind racing through possible reasons she'd be called in. As she reached the principal's door, she took a deep breath before stepping inside. The principal, Mr. Hargrove, looked up from his desk, giving her a measured look.
"Miss Wayne," he said, gesturing for her to take a seat. "I'm sure you have an idea why you're here."
Maggie sat down, schooling her expression into one of polite curiosity. "I'm not sure, sir," she replied carefully.
Mr. Hargrove folded his hands, leaning forward slightly.
"The altercation that occurred last night involving you and Mr. Todd—it's already caused quite a stir. I've had parents calling in all morning, concerned about the safety of their children."
Maggie clenched her fists in her lap, keeping her face neutral.
"Sir, that was outside of school, and we were only defending ourselves."
Mr. Hargrove sighed. "I understand, Miss Wayne, but incidents like these inevitably affect the school environment. I just want to make sure we won't have a repeat of last night's events—or anything similar—spilling over here."
She nodded, her voice steady. "You won't, sir."
Just as Maggie turned to leave, Principal Hargrove cleared his throat.
"One more thing, Miss Wayne. In fact, I've called you here to share some exciting news."
Curiosity piqued; Maggie watched as he slid an envelope across the desk. She picked it up and unfolded the letter inside, her eyes widening as she read the words *"Summer Abroad Young Scholars Program" * and *"Eton College." * She looked up, blinking in surprise. Principal Hargrove chuckled at her reaction.
"Congratulations, Maggie. You've been selected as the student to represent Gotham Prep in the Young Scholars Summer Abroad Program. This year, it will be held at Eton College in England."
Maggie's jaw dropped slightly. "Wait, I actually got selected?"
She could hardly believe it. Eton College was one of the most prestigious schools in the world, and a chance to study abroad wasn't something she'd even thought possible, let alone in England.
"Yes, indeed," he replied warmly. "Your academic achievements and extracurricular involvement made you the ideal choice. This is a remarkable opportunity, Maggie—one that could open doors for your future. And, if you accept, you'll spend a part of your summer immersed in a challenging academic environment, surrounded by some of the brightest young minds from around the globe."
Maggie glanced down at the letter again, excitement mixed with uncertainty. She could already hear dad's voice urging her to seize the opportunity. But her mind also flickered to Jason.
"Thank you, Principal Hargrove," she said, forcing a smile as she folded the letter and slipped it into her bag. "I'll… definitely think about it."
"Take your time, but don't wait too long," he advised. "We'll need an answer soon."
When Maggie got home, she found Jason sprawled on the couch, his eyes half-focused on whatever was playing on the TV. Smiling to herself, she decided to have a little fun and tiptoed up behind him. Before he could react, she leaned down and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Jason jumped, turning to see her with a half-annoyed, half-amused expression.
"Real cute, Wayne," he muttered, but the slight smirk on his face betrayed him.
She laughed and plopped down beside him, nudging his arm playfully.
"Well, somebody's grumpy," she teased. "Maybe you'd be in a better mood if you didn't skip all the action today."
"Oh yeah?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "What could be so interesting at school?"
"Turns out everyone already knows about our little run-in last night," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're not even there, and you're still the talk of the school."
Jason snorted. "Great. Can't wait to hear the rumors when I go back."
"That's just the warm-up," Maggie said, a bit more seriously. She pulled out the letter from her bag and held it up. "I also got this."
He looked at her, curiosity replacing the sarcasm. "What's that?"
She handed him the letter, and he scanned it, his eyes widening when he saw *"Young Scholars Summer Abroad Program"* at Eton College."*
"Whoa," he said, looking up at her. "England? This is… huge, Mags."
"Yeah," she replied, biting her lip.
"Apparently, I was chosen to represent Gotham Prep. It's a chance to study at Eton for the summer with other students from around the world."
Jason gave a low whistle. "That's… a big deal. You thinking of going?"
Maggie hesitated, glancing down.
"I mean, it's an amazing opportunity, but… I don't know. It's a whole summer away from Gotham. Away from you, too."
Jason looked away, trying to play it cool.
"Hey, you should do what's best for you. Don't let some messed-up city—or me—keep you from something like this."
As Maggie and Jason settled comfortably on the couch, watching the TV in silence, they heard footsteps approaching. Bruce entered the room, his usual composed demeanor softened slightly as he took in the sight of the two of them together.
"Glad to see you're both taking it easy," he said, crossing his arms as he looked between them. His gaze lingered on Jason.
"How are you feeling?"
Jason shrugged, trying to downplay it.
"Better. Nothing I can't handle."
Bruce nodded, a faint hint of approval in his eyes.
"Good. But you're not going back out there until you're fully healed. Understood?"
Jason rolled his eyes but nodded.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it."
Bruce then turned his attention to Maggie, his expression softening even more.
"I heard the school called you to the principal's office today. Anything I should know about?"
Maggie sat up a bit straighter, the letter she'd been holding catching his eye. She handed it over, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Actually, yeah. I got some… surprising news."
Bruce took the letter, his brows lifting as he read. "Eton College. The Young Scholars Summer Abroad Program?" His gaze returned to Maggie, clearly impressed. "This is incredible."
She nodded, trying to keep her excitement in check.
"I know, it's a huge opportunity. But… it's also a whole summer away."
Bruce placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Maggie, opportunities like this don't come often. And if this is something you want, you shouldn't hesitate. Gotham will still be here when you get back."
She glanced at Jason, who gave her a subtle nod of encouragement. Bruce noticed the exchange, understanding the unspoken bond between them.
"Well," he said, with a faint smile. "It seems you've got a lot to think about."
Maggie smiled, she hadn't made up her mind yet, but with them beside her, she knew she'd make the right choice, whatever it ended up being.
The morning Jason returned to Gotham Prep, he walked through the doors with his usual confident swagger, but he couldn't shake the edge of tension that came with all the whispers he knew would follow. As he strolled down the hall, heads turned, whispers floated around him, and a few nods of admiration were tossed in his direction. He ignored them all, keeping his eyes forward, trying to keep his cool. But as he rounded the corner to his locker, he couldn't help but relax a little when he saw Maggie waiting there, a smirk on her face.
"Look who's back," she teased as he approached, just loud enough for nearby students to hear. Jason shot her a playful glare.
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, Princess," he muttered, opening his locker.
"Feels like I missed an entire soap opera while I was gone."
"Oh, you did," she replied, crossing her arms.
"Everyone's been dying to know if 'the Jason Todd' would make it back in one piece after fighting 300 thugs."
Jason rolled his eyes.
"I didn't sign up to be the school's newest legend."
Maggie nudged him, grinning.
"Hey, comes with the territory when you're the other half of Gotham Prep's 'newest couple.'"
Jason smirked, trying to play it cool despite the hint of color rising to his cheeks.
"Couple, huh?" he said, raising an eyebrow at her. "Didn't realize I signed up for that title."
Maggie rolled her eyes but smiled back.
"Well, you're stuck with it now. Like it or not, people are talking."
Jason leaned in a little closer, his smirk turning into a soft grin.
"Guess there are worse things than being Gotham Prep's 'cutest couple,' as long as you're the other half."
He gave her a playful nudge, and Maggie just shook her head, fighting back a smile. Just then, Kyle and Mark approached, both grinning as they gave him friendly shoulder punches.
"Dude, Todd," Kyle said, half in awe, "you're all anyone's talking about. Thought you'd at least text us about it."
Mark laughed, nodding. "Yeah, leave it to you to make a comeback like this."
Jason shrugged, putting on a casual smile.
"You know me. Gotta keep things interesting."
In study hall, Maggie sat with her friends Stephanie and Emily, still mulling over the summer program offer. Across the table, Jason was chatting with Kyle and Mark, but she could tell he was half-listening to her conversation. The prospect of a summer at Eton College was still swirling in her mind, and she needed to talk it over with her friends.
"So," Stephanie said, leaning in, "have you made up your mind yet? England sounds amazing."
Maggie sighed, glancing down at her hands.
"I know, but… it's the whole summer..."
Emily gave her a gentle nudge.
"Yeah, but think about the opportunities, Maggie. You'd be at Eton. I mean, that's huge!"
Across the table, Jason glanced over, clearly listening now.
"She'd be missing out on Gotham's summer charm, though," he teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "Or whatever we have that counts as charm."
Stephanie rolled her eyes at him.
"This is a big deal, Jason. Imagine the experiences she could gain there."
Maggie looked between him and her friends, the weight of the decision pressing on her.
"I know it's a big deal. But it's just… complicated."
Kyle jumped in, grinning. "You ask me, I'd get out of Gotham in a heartbeat. No gangs, no drama. Just a summer of new stuff."
Mark nodded. "Plus, Jason can survive without you for a couple of months. He'll just have to find a way."
In the Batcave's training area, Maggie moved through a series of calculated punches and blocks as Barbara guided her through each technique. They were working on refining her form, and Barbara was watching her with a sharp eye, stepping in occasionally to adjust Maggie's stance. As they paused to catch their breath, Maggie's mind wandered back to the offer from Eton, and she couldn't hold back her thoughts any longer.
"Hey, Babs?" Maggie asked, glancing up at her.
"Do you think I should go? To England, I mean. For the summer program?"
Barbara adjusted her gloves, considering the question before nodding.
"It sounds like an incredible opportunity, Mags. Not many people get a chance like that. But… it sounds like you're unsure."
Maggie exhaled, lowering her fists.
"I am. I know it would look great, and I'd learn so much. But it feels like I'd be leaving a lot behind you know?"
Barbara gave her a sympathetic smile, taking a step back to give her some space.
"I get it. I can see why you'd hesitate. But what's really making you thinking about not going?"
Maggie hesitated, her gaze dropping.
"Jason, mostly. Things have just started to get good between us. And if I go, it's like… I'm missing out on all that time with him. And then there's dad and, well, everything here. I don't want to feel like I'm abandoning you all."
Barbara nodded, stepping back into her stance and motioning for Maggie to follow.
"Look, I get it. You've got a lot of reasons to stay. But here's the thing—going away for a summer doesn't mean you're abandoning anyone. It just means you're exploring another part of your life, something that could help you in ways Gotham can't."
They resumed sparring, Barbara moving in to throw light punches that Maggie blocked.
"You don't have to decide right now," Barbara continued. "But think about what this could mean for you in the long run. A summer away could be a chance to learn, to grow, and to come back even stronger."
Maggie absorbed her words, her focus split between blocking Barbara's punches and sorting out her feelings. "Yeah," she said finally, her voice steady. "You're right."
The next morning, Maggie joined Jason, Bruce, and Alfred in the kitchen for breakfast. She glanced around the table, gathering her thoughts. She knew that what she was about to say would probably come as a surprise, especially to Bruce, but she felt confident in her decision. After a few moments, she cleared her throat.
"So… I've decided to go to England. For the summer program at Eton."
Jason looked up from his plate, a hint of surprise in his eyes, while Bruce and Alfred exchanged a quick look. Bruce set down his coffee, his face as unreadable as ever.
"It's a big decision, Maggie," Bruce said, studying her. "I'm proud of you for choosing something that's best for your future."
Maggie nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and nerves.
"I know it might delay things with training and going out on patrol," she continued, meeting Bruce's gaze. "But I feel like this program would be a huge asset for my college applications, especially for GCU. I'll be applying next fall, so… this is probably the best chance I'll have to stand out."
Alfred, standing by with the teapot, gave her an approving nod.
"A wise choice, Miss Maggie. Eton is renowned for fostering excellence, and I've no doubt you'll leave quite the impression."
Jason, who had been quiet up until now, gave her a small smile, though she could see the faint disappointment in his eyes.
"So, England, huh?" he said, attempting to sound casual.
"Guess I'll have to hold down the fort without you."
She nudged his arm, smiling.
"Think you can manage?"
"Please," he scoffed, though the corners of his mouth turned up.
"Gotham's got nothing on me."
Bruce watched their exchange, then turned back to Maggie.
"You're making the right choice," he said, a faint smile crossing his face. "This program will challenge you in ways you wouldn't get here, and those experiences will stay with you. We'll pick up where we left off with your training when you get back."
Maggie exhaled, feeling a wave of gratitude.
"Thanks, Dad. I know it won't be easy to leave, but… I think this is what's best."
They continued with breakfast, the air filled with a mix of excitement and a tinge of sadness at the thought of her departure. As Maggie glanced around the table, she felt ready to face the summer ahead, knowing Gotham—and the people she cared about—would be there when she returned.
Weekly Power Status
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