Merry Christmas everyone. Here is just a short random Christmas story i came up with. Nothing serious, and it'lll more than likely only be two-three chapters long. I just wanted to put something up for the holidays. Okay, here you go, and don't worry I will continue with Queen Kobra and soon start The Hunted sequel. Happy Holidays!

Trapped Hearts – A Christmas Tale

"Slaggit McGinnis, I officially hate you as of now." Maxine Gibson folds her arms across her voluptuous chest covered in the navy blue knuckle-length turtle neck sweater, a scowl directed towards the young man standing before her as they exit from the store and pause briefly in the middle of the mall floor; ignoring the hustle and bustle of last minute shoppers the best way possible…by arguing. Three years after graduating from Hamilton Hill; three years of keeping Gotham safe from psychopathic maniacs and Terrence McGinnis, her childhood best friend, still needed her to go to the mall and pick out gifts…he didn't need – or want, rather – Max to help him fight crime but she had to succumb to every other pointless whim that Terry could dream of? It wasn't fair; yet being the wonderfully kind person she was Max just couldn't refuse. Damn it.

"If you're going to lie Max you should find a better way to do it." Terry smiles widely while adjusting the backpack on one shoulder and tightening his grip on a large shopping bag, all the while amused at his bestie's irritation. "Besides, you wouldn't let me screw up Christmas"

Max's scowl grows even deeper as she proclaims hotly, "It's Christmas Eve! You just had to pick today to go shopping?" The mall was crowded – much too crowded for Max's comfort. The two step on an escalator, Max's dark blue knee high army boot tapping in agitation as the stairway ascends – Terry's smirk making her even more pissed off.

"I've been," McGinnis counters sheepishly, "busy."

"Right," the neon pink pixie haired girl scoffs. "Saving Gotham…sneaking in and out of girl's skirts," she mumbles.

Immediately Terry's expression hardens. "What's your damage Max?" Oh joy, now they were going to really fight now. Why the hell was the escalator moving so slow?

"Forget I said anything," Max cautions. This was the last thing she's wanted to talk about right now; because she knew it wouldn't end so well.

"You're threatening me? Just who do you think you are? Dana dumped me, I've got no ties, I can mess around if I want to. It shouldn't matter to you. You're not my girl or anything. Mind your own business, for once."

Gibson balls her fist and points a judging finger straight into McGinnis's face as she growls, both wearing fierce expressions, "You are such a dreg! Selfish! That's what you are." She had no clue what suddenly possessed him but Max was not going to just sit by and do nothing while he disrespected her like that. The faces surrounding them start to flood with nervousness at the hostility. Fuck them, fuck Christmas cheer. There was only so much attitude a person could take.

"Oh wow, I wonder who that sounds like! Ugh, I never would've asked you to come if I'd known you'd start bitching about it."

Max boils red with anger, hardly able to control herself. Oh he didn't know what a bitch was, not until she'd let loose on him. There were many things she loved about the relationship that the two shared, but at the same time she was tired – tired of always coming second place to his ignoramus mindset and lack of understanding. The old man had more fucking compassion! She'd rather have morning tea with Mad Stan than be stuck here squabbling over his womanizing ways. Dana broke his heart, he became depressed and wouldn't talk to her for months – but he managed to find solitude in other women; and in their beds. McGinnis had claimed that being twenty-one he could do whatever the hell he wanted, that his love life was of no concern to anyone. And that pissed Max off more than anything. Screwing around with a bunch of no good, money hungering -, "Well you know what Mr. I don't need anyone? Maybe you shouldn't have asked me! I'm leaving." She turns, starting to descend the moving stairs and push her way through the fellow passengers, daring someone to make a comment: her fist would be all the objection necessary.

This made absolutely no sense at all. How a wonderful evening could transform into this was beyond Gibson's comprehension – and truth be told she was done attempting to figure the shit out. Terry had become a bigger asshole than lately since the split up. But that anger should be directed to Dana, not Max. Max was trying to stand by her friend and be of assistance but McGinnis was making it hell of a lot harder than it should have been; and she was sick of the one-sided behavior. She was his confidant not punching bag – and yes there was a significant difference! Getting as far away from his crap was at the forefront right now. Get. Away. From Him.

Terry pauses, surprised that his friend was actually leaving. Sit down, glare, or have a tantrum for a few moments – that was the closest to trouble he'd get in. But regardless of what happened she always stayed (force him out sometimes, yeah)…but she always stayed. Part of the young vigilante knew that his heartbreak was the issue; he was aware of the possibility that he'd been tough on Gibson who'd only tried to help. But in the end the boy's pride blinded and dwindled away any other realizations. All that mattered was biting back. He knew Max could take so much before exploding – and that she wouldn't back down…and neither would he. The two of them were too similar, more than they cared to accept. They were so alike, and Terry enjoyed having someone to understand; someone to care. And lately that liking had altered into something emotionally greater. But he shouldn't feel that way about his best friend. Right? More confused than angry Terry calls out after Max's retreating figure, "Fine. I did this before you came along, I don't need you now."

Oh what. The. Fuck? He didn't say that; someone say Terrence had not said that crap! He couldn't stop blowing up her phone for help! Didn't need her, her ass! Enraged by such a comment Gibson wheels and yells loudly, "That's some pretty big talk you inque haired son of a bitch!" She could pretty much hear the mall grow silent…and she didn't give a splicer's ass! "Fuck you McGinnis! I don't need you, go to hell!"

"Fine! I'm better off without you! I don't need you anyway!" The escalator comes to an abrupt halt following a sudden shaking that erupts within the mall. Somewhere Terry can hear a statement about "blow it all up!" but his blue eyes aren't focused on that. It's focused on the people running up and down the escalator with screams…he's focused on Max's figure suddenly falling backwards and toppling over the railing, plummeting towards the far away ground. And all he can think about is the fact that he lied: he needed her more than anything else in this world.

TO BE CONTINUED…