"Okay, kiddo so Mama's got some anger issues to work out so we're gonna take a little detour before we meet up with the other half of your co-parent family." Maggie huffed already crossing in a quick jog towards the campus gym. Part of her didn't know why she was narrating for the toy otter she'd decided to nestle under her jacket as if it really were a real baby or why she'd immediately sent a friendly 'I need a sparing partner, got a few minutes?" text almost as soon as she'd finished the meeting about her classes to really the only other number in her phone beside her aunts and her supervisor at the local zoo.
Linda's answered 'I got your back. See you in a few" was quicker than Maggie would have thought given the Latina knew from their talks the previous night that the blonde was intending to spend the holiday break mostly holed up with her boyfriend. True most of those talks were after Linda had nursed her share of shots but Winn, Maggie's co 'buzz monitor' as Kara had teasingly coined them had only smiled tenderly at his 'floaty' girlfriend and traded another of her lined alcohol shots for a water one.
Finding a relatively empty corner of the gym as she shakes herself out of her remembrance Maggie tossed down her bag and then strips off her jacket with care, she didn't know she had in her agitation at the upsetting events of her attempt to settle her newest class schedule.
"So, I know Danvers showed you about making things go boom yesterday." Maggie starts off once again struck with an odd amusement as she continued talking to the plushy otter as if the toy could understand her as she tucked said toy into a more snuggle cocoon of her jacket as she talked "but I'm gonna show you how to throw a punch." she explained pressing a light kiss to the plushy toy's soft head before she stepped back and focused instead on the punching bag, she'd chosen to work with.
Maggie needed the distraction her impromptu fight brought seeing as she was still buzzing with upset energy about the disaster that had been her talk with her advisor. A small part of her didn't understand why she was so fixated on this considering she was attempting to start classes midway through an already started semester. It shouldn't have been so much of a low blow when she found most of the classes that interested her were full up.
Her fists connected in a hard snapping punch against the fight-worn leather of the heavy bag as Maggie allowed her mind to wander as she struck the lazily swaying thing again and again.
If only the man, whom she still considered her father despite recent events hadn't made that last threat that had so worried her aunt the elder woman had decided then and there to move to use her aunt's words 'Somewhere that devil man won't think to look for us." Regardless of her Tia's promise "He won't lay a finger on you. Not while I have a say." As the two packed up.
Her hands were starting to sting a little on her next blind strike but Maggie ignored the jolting pain in favor of her wallowing a little longer.
Heck, it had only been after a solid week of pleading considering they'd been 'laying low' for a month without an 'incident' that the elder Sawyer woman had felt comfortable enough to help a restless Maggie reenroll in college.
"Hey easy there."
Maggie was only now remembering she hadn't thought to wrap her hands before she'd thrown her first punch and was now regretting it considering the pain ripping her knuckles as her bleeding hands were lightly cradled in another's.
"Sparing without taping up to strengthen your hands is one thing but if you're just punching wildly without protection just to do it is a medical emergency waiting to happen.' The motherly tone reprimanded yet the professor-looking woman's grip was still tender as she pulled a small square something from seemingly nowhere and ripped it open with her teeth as her eyes stay trained on Maggie's injuries,
There was something about the focused look in those downcast eyes that had Maggie reminded of someone. She just couldn't remember who passed the new annoyance of her classes clouding her mind. "I just have a lot on my mind." Maggie defends in a hiss considering the motherly woman was now gently dabbing an alcohol wipe across her (Maggie's) knuckles.
"I guessed that already, thanks."
At that Maggie had to blink a few times else she would have sworn she was talking to a more adult version of her latest crush that was Alex Danvers 'Otter whisper' as Alex had drunkenly dubbed herself the night before.
"Sorry, that was rude." The other woman says her tone much more apologetic as her eyes lift to meet Maggie's own. "I guess I've been spending too much time around my eldest daughter recently seems her current bratty attitude is rubbing off on me."
Maggie shrugs one shoulder "It's alright." She attempts to calm
"It's not." The woman counters "but if you'd like to talk some things out, I've been told by my other two daughters that I'm a rather good listener."
Maggie couldn't help but smile a little at that. Just the simple joy of the words alone as her hands were being carefully taped in a rather practiced boxers training wrapping style. "Considering how close you've become to my children in the span of a single night Maggie Sawyer I'm not taking chances of you being injured." Her caregiver explains noticing the surprising way Maggie was now looking at the wrapping on her hands at the same time Maggie herself finally notices the campus badge clipped to the woman's jacket.
Eliza Danvers. Science Division.
"Y-You're…Mom."
Eliza chuckled at the stammered comment. How could she not as she nodes her head once in confirmation. "I have to say I did enjoy watching Kara's phone videos of your valiant attempts to help Winn wrangle my 'wild ones' the other night. Alex especially but considering how many images of you my Alexandra managed to successfully send me along with who I assume is this cutie here…." She pauses gesturing towards the otter toy yet to move from inside Maggie's swaddled jacket.
"Danvers kept calling her Baby but I kind of want to find her an actual name." Maggie sighed running a badged hand through her still pulled-up hair.
Again, Eliza laughs at this "I don't know this one does kind of look like a Baby to me." The mother defends picking up the jacket-wrapped 'child' in a practiced hold of cradling a sleeping child. "Besides from what I could see of it that birth certificate the two of you filled out says her name is clearly 'Baby Sanvers'" Eliza reminded sending a stammering Maggie a playful wink as she gently swayed on the spot.
"Winn's not-so-clever attempt at blending mine and Alex's last names." Maggie pointed out.
"He does have a way with names." Eliza agreed with a smile before becoming serious once again. "but something else is bothering you."
Maggie stiffened a little more at the more probing tone her crush's mother was now using as Eliza gestured once more for Maggie to take another practice swing at her chosen punching bag. 'Baby' the otter tucked in her arms as Maggie found herself obeying the offer at Eliza's soft "I'd like to help if I can."
Maggie chewed nervously on her lower lip, her eyes darting back to the name badge Eliza was wearing before she gives a small shake of her head and instead squares up with the heavy bag once again. A hand against her shoulder stops her latest attempt at a punch. "Your stance needs a little fixing" Maggie can tell that wasn't exactly what Eliza had wanted to start with, but she allows it in favor of shifting her weight to match Eliza's.
"Still teaching Mom? It's break you can take some time off during break you know?"
Maggie's smile was much more genuine this time as she pivots around at the question only to be engulfed in a friendly hug by the newcomer. The shorter girl found herself leaning into the offered stability as she hugs Linda back for a beat or three.
"A good teacher can always find new students." Eliza reminds watching the embrace with a tender smile.
"Sure thing Zordon." Linda joked making her adoptive mother roll her eyes at the teasing as Linda's arm slung loosely around Maggie's shoulders. "but how about we ditch the training for the time being and head to lunch instead?"
"I'd say that is a wonderful idea." Eliza answers considering both she and Linda could hear the agreeing rumbling of Maggie's empty stomach.
