Mara sits sour-faced at the table while Diana pours some milk for her cereal. "So, you work in a museum," Mara tries with small-talk which is something she notes that needs to be stopped since it always erupts in chaos.

Diana stares down at her. "The Louvre Museum in Paris."

Mara swirls her spoon around and clinks it against the rim of the bowl. "So . . . do you fly there by jet or powers?"

"Yes."

Furrowing her brows, Mara slumps back in her seat. Diana sighs and takes a seat. "I apologize, Asta―" She pauses like someone grabbed ahold of her tongue. "Mara."

Almost being called by her could've-been-name makes Mara wince. She can't imagine a lifetime where she was raised amongst the Amazons in Themyscira. Raised as a warrior and trapped on an island. Daily repetition.

A fish in a bowl.

Perhaps life wouldn't have been much different.

"My mind is . . . elsewhere," Diana mumbles. "As you know, today will establish your identity to the world. I am plagued with doubts."

Mara looks down at her outfit. Plain leggings, tennis shoes, and a red jacket. Not her suit like she's used to. Today isn't a normal mission. Instead, it's wading into more dangerous waters.

The first day of public school.

"I don't see the big deal." The little demigod stirs the spoon around the cereal. "It's just a school in Washington, DC, which Wally told me isn't even a real state."

"This is very important," Diana rebuttals, her eyebrows clenching. Mara can tell that she's trying not to get frustrated with her. "Every move you make will fall upon me. If you cause trouble, that will reflect poorly on me. Ever since leaving Themyscira, I've built a life for myself and fear the impact of you taking on my surname."

"Oh," Mara mumbles. It can't be too late to completely change her identity and move away, can it?

"I understand that these are new territories for you, daughter, but understand how much I am counting on you. Warrior to warrior."

"Warrior to warrior," Mara whispers quietly. Unsure. She swallows thickly as her nerves suddenly catch fire. She'd been excited this morning. "Maybe all of this isn't even necessary. I've been to school. Phobos taught me―"

Diana angrily stands, her chair being shoved to the floor. "Phobos has taught you nothing but lies and deception!"

Mara's eyes widen at the outburst. "No, Mother, you're wrong. I understand your hate for my father, but my siblings―"

"You are an Amazon so act like it!" Diana snaps. "Athena would consider you a disgrace."

"I . . ." Mara's mouth dries up and the words die on the tip of her tongue. She blinks, confused. Is her mother right?

As the atmosphere thickens, Diana's rage falters. Still standing strong, she hands Mara her backpack. "Your lunch is on the counter. Meet me after for training. Do not be late."

Then she hurries off in her work clothes, seemingly using her powers to get to work as she disappears above the clouds.

.

.

.

The bus stinks of something that curled up and died. Mara's new blue contacts make her vision blurry. Boys dressed in khaki shorts and flip flops crack obnoxious jokes while throwing around a basketball. The driver blares a heavy metal song through the speakers. Every bump sends Mara flying in her seat.

Still, she tries to be optimistic. Although she has yet to have the amazing school experiences that she sees on TV, it's only the morning. There's still a whole day ahead.

Hope begins to dwindle as she steps off the bus, trying to ignore as other students mindlessly shove past her. The large brick building intimidates her. It looks like it could swallow her whole at any second. And the flag hanging from the pole, wagging freely in the slight breeze. Red, white, and blue. Her mother's colors. Maybe the stars should mean something to Mara but she only sighs and continues on.

The demigoddess hasn't had much social etiquette training, but she's not clueless to the other students quietly whispering about her.

Still, she ignores them as she stares at the school map to try and figure out where her classes are.

It's also Megan Morse (Miss Martian) and Conner Kent's (Superboy) first day of school but they're all the way in Happy Harbor. Mara wishes she'd been able to go there, instead, but her mother was adamant on her staying close to their home in DC. She'd wanted to put her in homeschooling but Batman talked her out of it. Something about needing to socialize with others.

Mara wanted to let the Dark Knight know about her previous school experience but decided against saying anything to enrage Diana again.

She'd wanted to go to school with Ella or Bennie, but they're both in high school.

So instead, she's forced into a stupid new environment with stupid new people and a stupid new teacher with a stupid American flag out front that reminds Mara of her stupid mother.

Mara throws a classroom door open, not meaning for it to be so abrupt. Everyone else is already inside, seemingly used to the schedule. They stare at her and the dent she made in the wall with the doorknob.

Great first impression, Mara scolds herself, refraining from an eye roll.

Luckily, the teacher smiles at the young girl and ushers her forward. Mara joins her in front of the classroom. She feels like a test subject as they all stare blankly at her like they want to experiment and pick her apart. Maybe this is how Superboy felt back at Cadmus.

"Hello, I'm Miss Daugherty," the teacher introduces. Her smile looks plastic. It doesn't ease Mara's nerves. "It's a pleasure to meet you!" She gushes, leaning down and pinching one of the girl's cheeks. "You look just like your mom!"

Mara swats her hand away. Her eyes turn to slits. "You know my mother?"

"Well, of course I do!" Miss Daugherty chuckles. "She regularly volunteers here."

Great, Mara deadpans. Maybe Washington, DC., not being a state doesn't mean that it isn't a big deal. If she acts out, her mother could be punished. Maybe she could be fired or even kicked out of America. Mara isn't quite sure how it works. Either way, she doesn't want to give Diana another reason to hate her.

"Go ahead and introduce yourself." Miss Daugherty nudges Mara to the front of the class and the demigoddess has to refrain from instinctively turning around and drop kicking her.

Against Mara's better judgment, she steps forward and fiddles with the rim of her gloves. Despite her mother's best effort to make Mara appear as 'normal' as possible, the gloves are a constant. The little demigoddess refused to remove them, no matter the weather.

"Hi." She briefly waves. "I'm Mara."

A boy in the back of the classroom raises his hand. "Where are you from?"

"Areopagus," Mara simply answers.

"Where's that?"

"A different dimension."

Laughter erupts from her answer. She doesn't see what's so funny as she stands there, the tips of her ears turning red as her fists clench. They start to mock and say that they're from different planets.

"No need to be mean," Miss Daugherty scolds. "We encourage imaginations to run wild in this classroom."

"It's not imaginary!" Mara barks as she angrily folds her arms to her chest. "My dad is Ares and he can disintegrate you with one look!"

She's very aware that she's starting to sound like some bratty kid but can't help it as they laugh right in her face about something so serious.

One boy starts to limp forward with a funny face. "Look at me, I'm from Mars!"

"Martians don't act like that!" Mara snaps, trying to defend M'gann's honor.

"What? Like you know Martian Manhunter?"

"Yes."

Perhaps she isn't helping her case as the students make a mockery of her while the teacher tries to calm them but only ends up saying things that make them laugh more.

This is absolutely nothing like how Mara imagined this day to go. It's only seven in the morning and she's already ruined everything. Not only is her mother going to be outraged but she's also going to have to go to school with these lowlife mortals for the rest of their pathetic lives.

Mortals, the word echoes in Mara's brain. She could easily put them down within seconds and it wouldn't matter. Their mothers would mourn until the grave. And then an entire generation will be forgotten about. Compared to her, these people are nothing.

Without thinking, Mara grabs the teacher's desk and chucks it across the room.

That silences the classroom for all of two seconds. Then everyone starts to yell that she's some sort of demon.

"I'm not a demon!" she retorts. "I'm a god!"

Mara stomps her foot on the tiles, cracking the ground all the way down to the concrete. It shakes the room and some students fall as others flee, screaming like Mara's some sort of monster.

She listens to their cries for help but doesn't care. Once she's started, she can't stop. Like a wild animal, she screams, baring her sharp teeth as her red eyes pierce through the contacts.

Control it or let it control you.

But Mara's already made a mess of things so she might as well finish what she started. But what does that entail? Killing everyone in the school? And then what? She's sent to Belle Reve or even worse―her father reclaims her?

Control it or let it control you.

She unclenches her fists.

.

.

.

Some random man in a suit talks to the police while Mara sits in the office with a dreadful look. Does she feel guilty? Yes. Will she ever admit that? Absolutely not.

Eventually, the cops leave and the man in a suit walks over with a grim look. "You've been expelled."

"Yeah, I know that Captain Sherlock." Mara winces. She doesn't think she got that right but nonetheless keeps up her tough exterior. She raises an eyebrow at the man. Slicked back black hair and bright blue eyes. "Who are you?"

"The one paying for the damages."

"Do you own this place?"

"I own a lot of money."

Mara's eyes narrow. "Sure, but why are you here?"

"I'm Bruce Wayne. I'm a friend of your mother." He pulls up a chair. "I'll stay with you until your guardian arrives."

"Go away," Mara demands, glaring at the man. "I can wait by myself."

"Can you?"

His words make Mara's composure slightly falter. It reminds her of what Wally told her back at the mall. That he wasn't worried about her but about everyone around her. It's been months since then and she hasn't improved at all. She was still willing to tear off everyone's heads.

Her father's daughter. Maybe that's all she'll ever be.

Bitter tears well in Mara's eyes that she furiously wipes away. Warriors don't cry.

Bruce's phone chimes. He stares at the bright screen. His face scrunches. "She's not coming," he responds. "I'll take you home."

"Forget it," Mara snaps. She hops to her feet and storms out of the school. Bruce doesn't follow her.

.

.

.

Being at the Cave isn't any better. Everyone heard of Mara's disastrous first day and are now trying to fondle her before she has to go in and talk to Black Canary. Bennie and Artemis offered to take her shopping. Kaldur let her beat him during training. M'gann baked a tray of cookies. Robin let her win a game of Chess. Wally offered some snacks from his stash. Even Conner gave her remote privileges.

She doesn't know how to thank them so she says nothing. Plus, that's the least of her worries.

A therapy session is the last thing she wants to participate in. All she wants to do is drown herself beneath the blankets while watching cheesy action movies.

Instead, she's forced to sit in an uncomfortable office chair while tapping her foot on the ground. Inside, she hears Wonder Woman, Black Canary, and Batman talking amongst themselves. The voices fade and the door suddenly opens.

Canary smiles at Mara. Her gaze wanders downwards. Mara follows. There's a large dent in the ground where her feet were hitting. The young girl's expression becomes unreadable as she forces herself inside.

There's two green lounge chairs. Canary sits in one and gestures for Mara to take the other one. She does, but not before debating making a run for the exit first.

Nothing happens.

Canary looks at Mara. The girl looks elsewhere.

The clock ticks.

When Canary won't stop looking at Mara with that same plastic smile everyone uses when they're treading on thin ice around her, the demigoddess angrily huffs. "Stop looking at me."

Her attitude doesn't scare the therapist away. Canary chuckles. "There's nowhere else to look."

"I don't know. The walls are pretty . . . bland."

The woman's eyes travel to the plain four walls. "I've been wanting to paint them yellow."

"Why yellow?"

"You don't like yellow?"

"I don't like a lot of things."

"You haven't experienced enough to say that." Canary regrets her choice of words because it makes Mara fold in on herself again. "What color do you think I should paint them?"

Nothing.

"Alright, then. What's your favorite color?"

"Warriors don't need favorite colors."

Canary softens. She leans forward. "Technically, no one needs a favorite color. And no one needs a favorite food, or a favorite movie, or book. But we choose to because at the end of the day, it's what makes us so uniquely human."

"I'm barely even human," Mara grumbles.

"I know," Canary says. "But being human isn't just about biology. It's a feeling. An experience. So although you can fly and lift a car with your bare hands, it doesn't define who you are."

Mara huffs but chooses not to respond.

"And neither does your anger."

There it is. The gutting punchline.

This silly little conversation about human habits distracted her from what she'd done earlier.

Immediately, the girl's posture stiffens as her eyes meet the floor like it's the most intricate piece of art to ever exist. She'd rather fish out her organs and tie them all together than talk about this because talking about it makes her the one thing she can't afford to be―vulnerable.

Slowly, Canary's eyes roam the room before staying glued to the young Amazon. "When you . . . get like that, do you even realize?" Mara digs her nails so far into her upper arm that it feels like her skin is going to peel off. Sensing the tension, Canary gently presses her hand on Mara's knee. "It's alright. This is a safe space. Nothing leaves this room."

Mara chews on her lower lip. She relaxes beneath Canary's gaze. Something about the older woman shouts trust and warmth, something that Mara's been searching for in her own mother.

"Sort of . . ." she murmurs. "It feels like I'm some sort of puppet and someone else is tugging the strings. I know what I'm doing, but it's so hard to stop myself."

"Do you want to stop yourself?"

Mara winces. It's brief, but nothing goes unnoticed to the therapist. "My father always encouraged that type of behavior. My sister tried to teach me meditation but I was too stubborn and impatient so she'd do these spells that forced me to calm me down."

Canary nods, encouraging the girl to continue.

"I haven't consciously felt truly angry in such a long time."

"She shouldn't have done that to you."

"Done what?"

"The spells," Canary continues, her hands folded. "Now your anger is controlling you."

"It wasn't really a choice. Warriors don't have time for emotions. My sister did what she thought was right."

"And what about you?" Canary asks. "Did you think it was right?"

Mara's eyes downcast, hoping that if she glares at the floor long enough a sinkhole will form and take her anywhere but here. "I think that it's not her fault that I am the way I am."

"And do you think it's your fault?"

Silence reverberates.

Black Canary sighs. "Your mother told me about the gloves."

Mara stiffens.

"She told me that they hide a power―a part of you."

Repeatedly, Mara shakes her head.

"Why not embrace it?"

Mara squeezes her eyes shut, her head still moving like a bobblehead. "No, it's not like that. It's not good and it can't ever be good in any way."

"Mara―"

"No, you don't understand."

"Then make me understand."

All the blood drains from Mara's face. Canary notes that although her complexion is typically pale, she looks like a ghost.

"They turn me into . . . him."

"Who―?"

Black Canary's watch buzzes and she sighs, coming to a stand. "We'll finish this later."

Mara releases a breath.

Saved by the bell. Somehow, that's the closest she's gotten to experiencing school like they do on TV.

A shadow still hovers over Mara. Canary smiles at her. "I know that everything is new and you endured a lot with your father, but we're here for you. I'm here for you, anything you need. No one is giving up on you, so don't give up on yourself."

Mara's too mentally exhausted to respond.