Number 8

Maggie was standing at her locker, arranging her textbooks for her next class, when she noticed Mark and Kyle approaching. She didn't know them well—they were part of Jason's new group and had mostly kept to themselves. She glanced over, expecting them to pass by without a word, but instead, they slowed as they came up to her.

"Hey, number 8," Mark greeted her with a smirk.

Kyle gave her a mocking salute. "See you around, 8."

They both laughed as they walked past, leaving Maggie standing there, completely baffled. She blinked, watching them disappear around the corner, still trying to make sense of what they'd said.

*Number 8?* She frowned, replaying the interaction in her head, but it only left her more confused. It wasn't a school rank, as far as she knew, and it definitely wasn't her locker number. She had no clue what they meant, but she could still hear them laughing down the hall, and it left a weird feeling in her chest.

When she saw Jason in the hallway later, she made a beeline for him, determined to get some answers. "Hey, what's with your friends calling me 'number 8'?" she asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.

Jason's face turned redder than she'd ever seen, and he looked away, mumbling under his breath, "It's… it's nothing. Just ignore them."

"Oh, no," she said, her curiosity piqued even more. "They wouldn't just randomly call me 'number 8' for nothing. Spill it."

Jason rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed. "Look, they were just messing around, alright? They… they have this dumb ranking thing, ranking the girls looks at school."

"Wait," she said, her tone turning cold. "So your friends… ranked me? Like some kind of object?"

Jason winced, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, Maggie, it's just this dumb thing they do. It doesn't mean anything—"

"It doesn't mean anything?" she interrupted, anger flashing in her eyes. "Being treated like I'm some… number on a list?"

Jason looked down, clearly uncomfortable. "They're idiots, okay? Just ignore them."

Maggie clenched her fists, feeling her face heat with anger and hurt. "Ignore it? Jason, your part of this too, aren't you."

Jason opened his mouth to respond, but she held up a hand, stopping him.

"No, forget it."

She turned and walked away, her heart pounding as she headed down the hall. The excitement of the day was gone, replaced by a feeling of betrayal. She'd thought Jason understood her better than that, but this… this felt like a slap in the face. Being "ranked" by his friends, reduced to a number, left a bitter taste she couldn't shake.

Maggie met up with Stephanie and Emily in the cafeteria later that day, still fuming from her conversation with Jason. She took a seat across from her friends, her expression stormy.

"What's up, Mags?" Emily asked, raising an eyebrow. "You look like you're about to punch someone."

"Jason and his new friends," Maggie replied, crossing her arms. "Did you know they're ranking the girls at school? Like, literally giving us numbers."

Emily and Stephanie exchanged a look, one that was less surprised and more resigned.

"Oh, that?" Stephanie shrugged, looking slightly miffed. "Yeah, we heard about it. Jason's friends gave me a six, and Emily's a seven."

Emily rolled her eyes, though she seemed more annoyed than upset. "Can you believe that? A seven? As if I'm not at least an nine, minimum."

Maggie blinked, taken aback by their reactions. "Wait… so you already knew? And you're… okay with it?"

Stephanie let out a sigh, poking at her salad. "It's not like we're 'okay' with it. It's stupid, yeah, but what can we do? Guys rank girls all the time; it's just how it is."

"Besides," Emily chimed in, glancing at Maggie with a smirk, "it's kind of insulting they put you at an eight. I mean, come on—those green eyes alone should be a ten."

She leaned in a bit closer, nudging Maggie playfully. "And have you even looked in the mirror lately? You're definitely not the same scrawny string bean from last year. You've got curves now, girl! Someone needs to tell them you're working with the whole package."

Maggie blushed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, please. You're exaggerating."

Emily laughed, crossing her arms. "Trust me, Mags. I know what I'm talking about."

Maggie's frustration only deepened. "It's not about the number. It's about the fact that they're ranking us at all, like we're just… things for them to judge."

Stephanie gave her a sympathetic look but shrugged. "I get it, Maggie. I really do. But this is Gotham Prep. Half the guys here think they're entitled to do whatever they want. Jason's friends are just more vocal about it."

Emily added with a sigh, "Look, it sucks, but we're not gonna let a couple of guys with no taste get to us. If they want to play their dumb game, whatever."

Maggie shook her head, disappointed. "But doesn't it bother you? That they look at us like we're just… objects? Something to be rated on a scale?"

Her friends exchanged another look, this time with a hint of discomfort. Stephanie finally shrugged. "It does, but we're used to it. This is just high school, right?"

Maggie felt a knot of frustration twist in her chest. She had hoped her friends would share her anger, that they'd want to stand up against being treated this way. But their resigned acceptance only made her feel more alone in her frustration.

She looked down, clenching her fists under the table. "Well, I don't like it. And I don't think we should have to just 'get used to it.'"

Her friends gave her sympathetic smiles but didn't say much more. For the rest of lunch, Maggie felt the sting of their indifference, her frustration simmering quietly.

Maggie was in the training room at Wayne Manor, throwing a series of punches at the heavy bag, her movements sharper and more intense than usual. Barbara Gordon watched her closely, hands on her hips, noticing the frustration fueling each hit.

"Alright, spill it," Barbara said, stepping forward. "You're punching like you've got a score to settle. What's going on?"

Maggie paused, catching her breath, and shook her head, trying to calm down. "It's… it's Jason and his friends. They've been ranking the girls at school, like giving us numbers, as if we're some kind of checklist."

Barbara's expression darkened, and she crossed her arms. "You're kidding. And Jason's just… going along with it?"

"Yeah," Maggie muttered, throwing another punch. " I found out today that I'm an eight. Stephanie's a six, and Emily's a seven. They know about it too, but they just shrugged it off. They're more annoyed about their ranks than the whole idea of being treated like that."

Barbara nodded slowly, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "Sounds like you're not just mad. You want to do something about it."

"Exactly," Maggie said, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I want to get even with those guys. Show them how it feels to be judged and treated like objects."

A small smile crept onto Barbara's face. "I think I can help with that. How about we turn the tables a bit?"

Maggie raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I'm listening."

Barbara grabbed her tablet from a nearby table and pulled up a notepad app, quickly typing a few things. "Alright, here's what we're going to do. We'll create a 'Gotham Prep Boys' Rating List'—but not in the way they're expecting."

Maggie's eyes widened, a smirk beginning to form. "You mean… rank them? Like they did to us?"

Barbara shook her head. "No, not exactly. We're going to hit them where it really hurts. Instead of reducing them to looks, we'll rate them on things that actually matter—their behavior, how they treat others, respect, maturity. Basically, everything they lack when they think it's okay to rank people."

Maggie grinned. "I like it. So, things like 'empathy,' 'integrity,' 'brains.'"

"Exactly," Barbara replied, her smile growing. "We'll give each of guys at school a score based on how well they measure up in categories that *actually* count. And we'll share the list in a way that everyone at school sees it."

Maggie chuckled, already feeling a rush of satisfaction at the thought. "They'll be furious."

"Oh, absolutely," Barbara said with a wink. "But they'll also be forced to see how it feels to be judged for things they can't control or that don't live up to some impossible standard."

Maggie's grin turned mischievous. "So, who gets what score?"

Barbara handed her the tablet. "You know them best. I'll let you do the honors."

As Maggie started typing, assigning each boy a rating in categories like "Smartest," "Most Dateable," and "Personal Growth Potential," she felt her anger slowly transform into satisfaction. This was more than just revenge—it was a way to show them that people weren't objects to be rated, that value wasn't about appearances but about character.

Once she'd finished, she handed the tablet back to Barbara. "And… done."

Barbara glanced over the list, nodding approvingly. "Perfect. Now we just need to get this out there."

Maggie's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Social media?"

Barbara nodded. "I have a few anonymous accounts I can use to spread it. By tomorrow morning, the whole school will have seen it. And just for fun, I'll make sure they know it's based on the criteria they seem to think don't matter."

Maggie couldn't stop smiling. "They'll never see it coming."

Barbara placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her an approving nod. "Consider this a lesson in how to fight back without stooping to their level. Sometimes, the best way to get even is to teach a lesson they'll never forget."

The next day at Gotham Prep, the hallways buzzed with chatter, laughter, and a few pointed stares. Maggie could feel the shift in energy the moment she walked in—students huddled in groups, some whispering, others giggling, all of them seemingly glued to their phones. She bit back a smile, knowing exactly what had sparked the commotion.

As she walked to her locker, she overheard snippets of conversations.

"Did you see the list? The 'Gotham Prep Boys' Rankings'?" a girl said, laughing as she nudged her friend. "Mark scored a one in 'Smarts'—sounds about right."

"Right? And Kyle got, what, a two in 'Dateable'? Not surprising. He's always talking down to everyone."

Maggie suppressed a grin, feeling a sense of satisfaction knowing that Barbara's plan had worked. The boys' ranking list had been distributed across school social media accounts overnight, and from the looks of things, nearly everyone had seen it.

As she rounded the corner, she spotted Jason and his friends standing by the lockers, their faces a mix of irritation and embarrassment. Mark was furiously scrolling through his phone, muttering under his breath.

"This is ridiculous," he said, glaring at his screen. "A three in 'Personal Growth Potential'? Who even comes up with this garbage?"

Kyle snorted, shoving his phone in his pocket. "Someone who clearly has it out for us."

Jason stood a bit apart from them, arms crossed, looking annoyed but also strangely quiet, as if he wasn't entirely surprised. His gaze drifted around the hall, and for a split second, he caught Maggie's eye. She could tell he knew exactly where this was coming from.

Maggie couldn't help herself; she walked over, her face composed, though her eyes sparkled with a bit of mischief. "Oh, hey, Jason, Mark, Kyle," she said, feigning innocence. "Rough morning?"

Mark glared at her, crossing his arms. "Don't play innocent, Wayne. We know this has something to do with you."

"Me?" Maggie raised an eyebrow, pretending to be shocked. "I had nothing to do with it. But hey, maybe you should think twice next time before ranking the girls in school. Seems like a lot of people didn't appreciate it."

Kyle scoffed. "Like we care what some list says about us."

"Oh, really?" Maggie said, smirking. "So you don't care that half the school thinks you're all not date material?"

Mark opened his mouth to retort, but one of the girls nearby cut in, clearly unimpressed. "Honestly, I think the scores were generous. We've been putting up with your attitudes for years. Maybe it's time someone held up a mirror."

A few other students nearby nodded, murmuring their agreement. The embarrassment on Mark and Kyle's faces deepened, and even Jason looked slightly uncomfortable as he watched the scene unfold.

Maggie held back a grin as she continued down the hall, leaving them to deal with the fallout. The tables had turned, and now the boys were getting a taste of what it felt like to be judged, categorized, and reduced to a number. And it wasn't nearly as fun when they were on the receiving end.

As she passed a group of girls laughing about the rankings, one of them gave her a knowing smile. "Whoever made that list is a hero," the girl said, and Maggie just shrugged with a sly smile.

Later that day, as Maggie was heading to her last class, she felt a hand grab her arm, pulling her to the side of the hallway. She looked up, startled, to see Jason, his face clouded with anger and something else she couldn't quite place.

"Really, Maggie?" he hissed, his voice low but sharp. "You had to rank me that low? After everything?"

Maggie blinked, taken aback by the intensity in his gaze. "Jason, it was just—"

"A way to get even?" he interrupted, his eyes flashing. "Well, congratulations. You've officially made it clear you think I'm a zero."

"That's not what I meant at all," she said, trying to stay calm, even as her chest tightened. "I don't have a low opinion of you. I just wanted you and your friends to understand what it feels like to be treated like we're nothing more than a number."

Jason's jaw clenched. "Well, congratulations, because you nailed it. I thought we were friends, but I guess I'm just some low-life street rat in your eyes."

Maggie shook her head, exasperated. "Jason, you know that's not true! You don't get it. I did this because of the way you and your friends ranked *me* and every other girl at this school. You called me an *eight,* Jason. How was that supposed to make me feel?"

Jason looked away, rubbing the back of his neck as if he hadn't expected her to call him out. "That wasn't me," he muttered. "I didn't even want to rank you in the first place."

"But you didn't stop them, did you?" Maggie shot back, feeling a mix of anger and hurt. "You let them put me and my friends on some scale like we're just… objects. And when they called me an eight, you didn't say anything."

Jason's face softened, a flicker of something vulnerable crossing his expression. "That's because I wanted to rank you a ten."

Maggie froze, her heart skipping a beat as the words settled between them. She hadn't expected that. "Wait… what?"

Maggie froze, staring at Jason in shock. "Wait... what?"

Jason's face turned bright red, and he immediately started fumbling for words. "I mean… you're, you know, like… really smart and, uh, kind of intimidating? But in a good way! And, like, you're… well, you're pretty, too. Really pretty. And not just like regular pretty, but… like, you know, the kind of pretty where… uh…"

Maggie just blinked, watching him spiral, her own cheeks starting to heat up.

And before she could say another word, he turned on his heel and walked off, his shoulders hunched like he'd just let out a state secret. Maggie stood there, speechless, a slow smile creeping across her face as she watched him disappear down the hall, clearly mortified.

Who would've thought Jason Todd could be so adorably awkward?

Maggie and Jason stood side by side on the training mat, facing off against Dick and Barbara. The exercise was straightforward: a two-on-two sparring match. But the tension between Maggie and Jason was anything but simple, and both Dick and Barbara could see it.

"Alright, you two," Dick called out, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. "Let's see how well you work together. Ready?"

Jason gave a stiff nod, his gaze flicking briefly to Maggie before looking away. Maggie, meanwhile, felt a strange mix of nerves and distraction. Jason's words from earlier—*I wanted to rank you a ten*—kept echoing in her mind, and she wasn't sure what to make of it. Did he… like her?

Barbara took a step forward, snapping Maggie back to the present. Maggie focused, throwing herself into the fight, but her mind wasn't fully there.

They moved into action, but their teamwork was rough, their movements out of sync. Jason dodged a kick from Barbara, stepping to the left just as Maggie launched forward, causing her to stumble.

"Watch it!" she hissed, frustration bubbling up as she regained her balance.

"Maybe if you'd focus," Jason muttered back, sidestepping a strike from Dick. He threw a quick punch but missed, his concentration obviously shaken.

Barbara's voice cut through the training room. "You two need to coordinate. You're not fighting each other—pay attention!"

But Maggie and Jason weren't hearing it. Jason was still convinced Maggie thought he was just a "zero," despite everything she'd said. And Maggie was equally distracted, trying to wrap her head around Jason's earlier confession. It was throwing them both off, and it was obvious.

Maggie moved to kick at Dick, but Jason stepped forward at the same time, intercepting Dick's strike from the wrong angle. Maggie had to pull back abruptly to avoid colliding with him, leaving her open for a sweep from Barbara, who knocked her off balance.

"Come on, Jason!" Maggie snapped, pushing herself up. "I thought you were supposed to be on my side!"

"Oh, now I'm supposed to be on your side?" Jason shot back, blocking a jab from Barbara. "I thought you just saw me as some nobody."

Maggie's eyes narrowed. "I told you, that's not what I think! You're the one who keeps assuming things!"

The momentary distraction was enough for Dick to sweep in, delivering a well-placed strike that knocked Jason backward, sending him off balance and into Maggie, who stumbled back into the wall.

Dick crossed his arms, looking at them with a raised eyebrow. "If you two keep fighting each other, you're not going to make it past us. You're supposed to be partners, remember?"

Maggie clenched her jaw, her face flushed with both frustration and embarrassment. Jason sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, avoiding her gaze. Barbara stepped in, looking at them both with that knowing look of hers.

"Whatever's going on between you two," she said, her voice firm but kind, "you need to work it out. Otherwise, you're just a liability to each other."

Maggie took a deep breath, glancing at Jason, who looked equally uncomfortable. She forced herself to speak. "Look, Jason… I don't think you're a zero. I never have. You know that."

Jason finally looked at her, his expression softening, though he still seemed uncertain. "Then what am I, Maggie? Because it doesn't feel like we're even on the same page here."

Maggie hesitated, her heart pounding as she tried to find the right words. "You're… you're one of the strongest people I know. And yeah, you're stubborn, and sometimes you drive me nuts, but I've never thought of you as anything less than… well, amazing. And about the 'ten' thing…"

Jason swallowed, looking away briefly, clearly flustered.

Maggie hesitated, her heart pounding as she looked at him. "Do you… like me or something?" she asked, her voice soft but steady.

Jason's face flushed deep red, and he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing away. "Look, I didn't… I didn't mean to let all that slip, alright? But yeah, maybe I do." He paused, giving a half-hearted chuckle. "Not that I'd, you know, actually date you or anything. That'd be… weird, right?"

Maggie felt a pang in her chest, but she forced herself to nod, keeping her expression neutral. "Yeah. Totally weird. I mean, it's probably better this way."

Jason laughed, clearly relieved. "Exactly. I mean, we're just… different, you know?"

"Right," Maggie replied, managing a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She looked away quickly, focusing on anything but Jason, trying to ignore the flicker of disappointment that had crept up despite herself.

They both fell silent, the tension between them shifting yet again.

Dick cleared his throat, breaking the moment. "So, you two ready to focus now?"

They both looked at him, embarrassed but more in sync than before. Maggie took a steadying breath, nodding at Jason. "Let's try this again. Together?"

Jason nodded, a small, genuine smile breaking through. "Yeah. Together."

This time, Maggie and Jason moved in sync, each anticipating the other's movements. Maggie led with a feint toward Barbara, her fist aimed low, and Jason followed seamlessly, darting in with a quick strike from the opposite side, forcing Barbara to block.

Barbara stepped back, impressed, and threw a high kick, but Jason anticipated it, blocking her just in time, allowing Maggie the opening to pivot and go after Dick. She threw a quick series of punches, pushing Dick onto the defensive. Jason was there a second later, moving in to support her with a low kick that forced Dick to hop back.

"Much better," Dick said with a grin, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "You two are finally on the same page."

They didn't have time to respond; Barbara lunged toward Maggie, attempting a grapple. Maggie ducked and spun, instinctively reaching out to tag Jason, who reacted instantly, blocking Barbara's advance and countering with a well-timed jab.

They moved like a well-oiled machine, each movement naturally flowing into the next. The tension that had clouded their partnership earlier was gone, replaced with a sharp, mutual understanding. Maggie and Jason traded glances, each of them more attuned to the other's movements, reading each other's cues without hesitation.

"Now this is teamwork," Barbara said, nodding approvingly as she blocked Jason's strike, only for Maggie to slip in from the side and throw a quick punch that nearly caught her off-guard.

They sparred intensely for a few more minutes, and even though Dick and Barbara still had the edge in experience, Maggie and Jason managed to hold their own in a way they hadn't before. Their strikes were coordinated, their movements perfectly timed, each of them stepping in when the other faltered, filling in each other's gaps effortlessly.

Finally, Dick raised a hand, calling an end to the session. "Alright, that's enough for today. You two finally figured it out."

Maggie and Jason stepped back, breathing heavily but with small, triumphant smiles on their faces. They glanced at each other, both silently acknowledging the breakthrough they'd just made.

"Nice work, you two," Barbara said, her tone genuinely impressed. "You showed a lot of improvement."

As they walked off the mat, side by side, Maggie felt the slightest brush of Jason's shoulder against hers. She glanced over, catching his small, genuine smile, and returned it with one of her own.