Grading Expectations

Maggie Wayne sat at the grand dining table, tapping her fingers lightly against the polished wood. Across from her, Jason Todd slouched in his chair, glancing every so often at the large manila envelopes from Gotham Prep that Bruce had just handed to each of them.

"Alright, you two," Bruce said, standing with his arms crossed. He looked more like Batman than Bruce at that moment, his face as stoic as ever. "Report cards. Fall semester. Let's see how you've done."

Maggie sighed and flipped open her envelope. Jason reluctantly did the same, holding it like it might explode.

Maggie's eyes scanned the paper quickly. *A* in Calculus. *A* in Literature. *A* in History. *A-minus* in Biology. She frowned slightly at the A-minus.

Jason was silent, still staring at his. Maggie glanced at him, catching a flash of his grades. *B-minus* in History. *C-minus* in Literature. *D* in Biology. *C-plus* in Algebra. Jasons folded the paper in half, crumpling it slightly in his grip.

Bruce noticed. "Jason, care to explain?"

Jason gave a half-shrug. "School's not exactly my thing."

"I know you're capable of more than this." Bruce's voice was naturing but firm.

Jason scowled, flicking his eyes to Maggie's report card. "Yeah, well, not all of us are perfect geniuses like her."

Maggie bit her lip, unsure whether to defend herself or let it slide. She didn't want to rub it in his face. "You just need to put in the effort. You barely studied for the finals Jay."

Jason shot her a look. "I have *other* things to do. Not everyone has time to sit in their room with a book for hours on end."

Bruce's brow furrowed. "You have to learn how to balance both responsibilities."

"Whatever. "Jason stood abruptly, crumpling the envelope in his hand. "I'm done here," he muttered, heading for the door.

"Jason!" Bruce called after him, but Jason ignored it, disappearing down the hall.

Maggie sighed, sinking back into her chair. "He's not going to change, is he?"

Bruce looked down at her, his expression softening slightly. "He'll come around eventually. But it might take some time."

Maggie nodded, her thoughts drifting back to Jason's report card. She wondered if there was something else bothering him that he wasn't saying.

"I hope so," she murmured, staring down at her report card, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

Later that night. Maggie hesitated at the door to Jason's room, her hand hovering just above the wood. She could hear faint sounds of movement inside—Jason probably pacing like he usually did when he was upset. She knocked softly, hoping he wouldn't brush her off like earlier.

"Go away," Jason called from inside, his voice muffled but sharp.

Maggie rolled her eyes but opened the door anyway.

Jason was sitting on the edge of his bed, one knee pulled up, staring at the floor. He didn't look up as she walked in, but he didn't tell her to leave again either. His crumpled report card was lying next to him, half hanging off the bed.

Maggie walking over and sitting in the chair by his desk. "I just… wanted to check on you."

"I'm fine," Jason muttered, still not meeting her eyes. His tone was rough, but there was an edge to it that made Maggie think otherwise.

Maggie sighed, leaning forward slightly. "You know, you don't always have to act like everything's fine when it's not. It's okay to be upset, Jason."

He scoffed, finally looking at her with a tired glare. "What, are you my therapist now?"

She crossed her arms, matching his glare with a calm expression. "No, I'm... like your sister."

Jason snorted. "Sister. Right."

Maggie frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Jason finally stood up, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "It means you don't get it, Mags. You've got everything handed to you—good grades, Bruce's approval."

Maggie blinked in surprise, then softened. "Is that what this is about?"

Jason scowled, pacing the length of the room now. "Maybe. I mean, it's not just the grades. It's everything. This place. Bruce. You. I've been here for months and still don't fit in here."

"You think I don't feel like that sometimes?" Maggie said quietly. Jason stopped pacing and looked at her in disbelief. "I'm serious. I know I have it easier in some ways, but… fitting in isn't always easy for me either."

Jason raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

Maggie took a breath. "I'm always trying to live up to these impossible expectations. Hoping one day dad tells me, you're ready, suit like you get to as Robin...Just because I get good grades doesn't mean everything's great."

Jason was quiet for a moment, processing what she said. "Yeah, but…I'm just the kid Bruce picked off the streets."

Maggie stood up, walking over to him. "Jason, that's not why my dad brought you here. He doesn't expect you to be anyone but you. Sure, he gets tough about things like school, but he believes in you. And so do I."

Jason looked at her, his tough exterior cracking just a little. "You do?"

"Yeah." Maggie smiled slightly. "And you don't have to do it alone. If you need help—I'm here. Or talk. ...Or whatever."

Jason glanced at the crumpled report card on his bed. He didn't say anything for a moment, but eventually, he sighed and sat back down.

There was a beat of silence, then Jason looked up at her with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood. "You're still a nerd, though."

Maggie rolled her eyes, but her smile stayed. "And you're still a jerk."

As she smacks him in the face with his own pillow.