Becoming Nightshade

Homecoming week was in full swing at Gotham Academy, and the excitement among Maggie's friends was at an all-time high. The halls were decked out with colorful banners, twinkling fairy lights, and themed decorations that changed daily. Students bustled around, gossiping about dates, last-minute dress alterations, and the upcoming football game, but Maggie's group had their attention set on something else—the newly announced in-school costume contest.

Emily burst into the cafeteria, practically bouncing with excitement, waving a flyer in her hand. "Guys! Have you seen this? They're doing a costume contest on Thursday!"

Stephanie snatched the paper from her and skimmed it. "No way...Oh, come on. We have to go all out! We're seniors! It's our last chance to do something ridiculous and not get detention for it."

"Plus, we can totally do a group theme. I was thinking we could all go as something daring, like villians... OMG I could dress up as Posion Ivy, Steph could be Catwoman and Mags can be Harley Quinn. We can even call ourselves The Gotham Sirens!" Emily said overly excitied.

Maggie nearly choked on her drink, coughing as she stared at Emily in disbelief. "You want me to dress up as Harley Quinn? Seriously?"

Stephanie grinned, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Come on, Mags. You'd totally pull it off."

Maggie groaned, shaking her head. "I don't know... my dad would not be thrilled about me dressing up as the Joker's girlfriend."

Emily clapped her hands together excitedly. "It's perfect, though! We'll be The Gotham Sirens! A little dangerous, a little sexy, but still classy."

Stephanie was already scrolling through costume ideas on her phone. "Okay, so we need to get this right. Poison Ivy is all about the green, Catwoman—obviously the black catsuit, and Harley..." She trailed off, looking at Maggie expectantly.

Maggie sighed, knowing there was no way she was getting out of this. "I guess I can start practicing my 'Mistah J' impression," she muttered, rolling her eyes.

Emily nudged her playfully. "Relax, you can do your own version. A modern Harley—independent, stylish, and definitely not answering to any clown."

Maggie arched an eyebrow. "Okay, that actually sounds better. No Joker. Just me, a baseball bat, and some well-placed chaos."

Stephanie grinned. "Now you're getting into it! I'll start working on our costumes tonight. Gotham Sirens, here we come!"

Maggie shook her head but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. "If my dad finds out about this, you're both taking the heat."

Emily waved a dismissive hand. "Come on, Mags, it's just for fun. What's the worst that could happen?"

Just as Maggie opened her mouth to respond, a familiar voice chimed in from behind.

"Oh, I don't know," Jason drawled, slipping an arm around Maggie's shoulders as he leaned in. "Maybe your dads disapproving staire?"

Maggie groaned, leaning into him with an exasperated sigh. "I knew you were going to say that."

Jason smirked, looking between Emily and Stephanie. "And let me guess—Emily's Ivy, and Steph's Catwoman?"

Stephanie grinned. "Obviously. We're gonna own this contest...Why don't you dress up as Batman Jay? You got the height for it."

Jason nearly choked on his drink, coughing as he shot Maggie a look. "Me? Batman? Yeah, hard pass." He smirked, shaking his head. "I don't do costumes."

Stephanie rolled her eyes dramatically. "Come on, Jay. It's just one day."

Maggie smirked, crossing her arms as she glanced at Jason. "Yeah, Jay."

Jason groaned, taking another sip of his drink. "No way."

Stephanie pouted dramatically. "Come on, Jason! It's one day. Just throw on a cape, and boom—instant Batman."

Jason shook his head firmly. "Nope. I don't do costumes."

Emily leaned in, eyes wide with exaggerated pleading. "Think of the aesthetic, Jay. You and Mags—Harley and Batman. Total opposites attract kind of vibe!"

Jason arched an eyebrow. "Pass."

Maggie chuckled. Jason smirked, leaning closer for only her to hear. "I'm plenty fun, just not the 'dress up like a guy who broods for a living' kind of fun."

Stephanie sighed in defeat, flopping back into her seat. "Fine, but you're missing out on a golden opportunity here."

Emily shrugged, grinning at Maggie. "Guess it's just us Sirens, then. You in, Mags?"

Maggie hesitated for a moment, glancing at Jason, who shot her a look that said, Don't even think about it. She smiled innocently. "Sure, why not?"

Jason groaned again, rubbing his temples. "I'm gonna regret this week, aren't I?"

As Jason and Maggie walked through the grand doors of Wayne Manor, the familiar hush of the house settled over them. Maggie dropped her school bag by the entrance, kicking off her shoes with a sigh. "I can't believe I let them talk me into that," she muttered, running a hand through her hair.

Jason smirked, closing the door behind him. "Harley Quinn, huh? Guess I better keep an eye on you, make sure you don't start swinging a mallet around the manor."

Maggie rolled her eyes, nudging him playfully. Doing a really good Harley Quinn vocal impression "Don't worry, puddin'. I'll leave the crime spree for after homecoming."

Jason blinked, staring at her with a mix of amusement and mild horror. "Okay... that's scary good." He shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Seriously, Mags, you've been practicing, haven't you?"

Maggie grinned mischievously. "Maybe a little." She leaned in closer, adopting the signature playful tone again. "What's the matter, puddin'? Afraid I might turn to a life of crime?"

"Nope. Absolutely not. I can't deal with you doing that voice."

Maggie laughed, "Oh please, you know you love it."

Jason smirked, his eyes darkening with that familiar mischievous glint. "Oh, I don't know, Mags," he murmured, stepping closer, his movements slow and deliberate. "I think I like you just the way you are... but the whole bad girl thing?" He leaned in, his voice dropping to a husky whisper as he cornered her against the doorframe. "Kinda hot."

Maggie's back pressing against the wood as Jason closed the space between them. His hands rested lightly on her hips, his lips hovering just inches from hers. "Jason..." she started, her voice suddenly softer, teasing but breathless.

He smirked, his nose brushing against hers. "What's the matter, Mags? Cat got your tongue?"

Before she could respond, he closed the distance, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to her lips. Maggie melted into him, her hands curling into the fabric of his jacket as the world around them seemed to blur away.

Just as things started to deepen, a familiar voice cleared its throat from down the hall. "Ahem."

Jason groaned, pulling back just enough to glare over his shoulder. Standing there with his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised was none other than Bruce Wayne, looking entirely unimpressed.

Jason sighed, pressing his forehead to hers with a defeated chuckle. "I swear, your dad has the worst timing."

Bruce stood there, arms crossed, his expression the perfect blend of disapproval and exhaustion. "I could say the same about the two of you," he said, his voice steady and firm. His eyes flicked between them, lingering on Jason just long enough to make him shift slightly. "This is a hallway, not a personal lounge."

"We were just—"

Bruce cut her off with a simple raise of his hand. "Maggie, get changed and meet me in the Batcave. Training starts now."

Maggie groaned, resting her head against Jason's chest. "Right now?"

Bruce's gaze didn't waver. "Training isn't optional."

Jason smirked, still holding Maggie close. "Guess that means I'm off the hook?"

Bruce's eyes flicked to him, and with a small but knowing smirk, he added, "Suit up, Jason. Patrol starts in ten."

Jason's smirk dropped instantly. "Of course it does," he muttered under his breath, releasing Maggie with a sigh. "Guess our plans are on hold."

Maggie grinned, caressing his cheek teasingly. "Duty calls, Pretty Bird."

Jason rolled his eyes, reluctantly following Bruce as Maggie turned to head upstairs. "You got five minutes, Maggie," Bruce called after her. "Make them count."

Maggie jogged up the stairs, calling over her shoulder, "I'll be down in three!"

Jason watched her disappear before letting out a groan. "Man, you really don't believe in breaks, do you?"

Bruce didn't even look at him as he made his way toward the Batcave entrance. "Crime doesn't take breaks. Neither do we."

Jason sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. "Yeah, yeah. Gotham never sleeps." With one last glance up the stairs, he added under his breath, "Guess I don't either." Then, he followed Bruce into the cave, already bracing for another long night.

Maggie descended the stairs into the Batcave, the cool air sending a shiver down her spine. The sound of the Batcomputer's hum and the rhythmic clinking of Jason adjusting his gear filled the vast space. Jason, already suited up in his Robin gear, glanced over his shoulder and shot her a smirk.

"Finally decided to join us?" he teased, tightening his gloves.

Maggie rolled her eyes, stretching her arms. "I'm here, aren't I?" She turned to Bruce, who stood near the training mat, his imposing figure illuminated by the soft glow of the monitors behind him. "So, what's the plan?"

Bruce didn't waste time with small talk. "We're focusing on control tonight," he said, his eyes steady on hers. "You're improving, but I want more precision with your shadow manipulation."

Maggie nodded, determination setting in. "Got it."

Jason, now fully geared up, secured his domino mask in place. "Don't break anything while I'm gone," he quipped, his voice laced with playful sarcasm. "I don't wanna come back to the cave on fire."

Maggie smirked. "No promises."

Bruce cut through their banter with a sharp glance. "Focus."

Jason gave Maggie a quick wink and stepped toward the motorcycle. "Stay out of trouble, Mags. I'll see you later." He turned to Bruce, his tone more serious. "I'll check in at the usual points."

Bruce nodded, his voice even. "Stay sharp, and report anything unusual."

With a final glance at Maggie, Jason hopped into the bike, the engine roaring to life. As it sped out of the cave, leaving a gust of wind in its wake, Maggie turned back to Bruce, cracking her knuckles.

"Alright, let's do this."

Maggie squared her shoulders, taking a deep breath to steady herself. The Batcave's dim lighting cast long shadows across the sleek black floor, and the distant hum of the Batcomputer served as the only background noise. Bruce stood across from her, his stance strong and unmoving—an immovable force she was meant to challenge.

"Focus," Bruce said, his deep voice cutting through the air like a blade.

Maggie nodded, swallowing hard. She clenched her fists, feeling the familiar tendrils of darkness coil around her arms, pulsing with an energy she was still learning to control. She lunged forward, aiming a series of quick strikes at Bruce, who effortlessly blocked each one with precision. He moved with calculated ease, his counters controlled yet powerful, forcing Maggie to stay on her toes.

"You're telegraphing your moves," Bruce observed coolly, sidestepping another punch and countering with a low sweeping kick. Maggie barely managed to leap over it, landing with a stumble.

She gritted her teeth, adjusting her stance. "I'm trying," she muttered, wiping sweat from her brow.

Bruce didn't let up. He pressed forward with a series of swift jabs, each one forcing Maggie to retreat and react instinctively. Her shadows flickered in response, coiling defensively around her, but Bruce was faster. He dodged them, delivering a light but firm strike to her stomach, sending her staggering back.

"Stop depending on them," he said sternly. "Fight with your mind, not just your powers."

Maggie took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay grounded. She moved in again, this time feinting with her left and twisting to bring her knee up. Bruce blocked it, but she spun, using the momentum to bring a shadow-empowered strike down toward his side. This time, Bruce had to take a step back.

A small, satisfied smirk tugged at the corner of Maggie's lips. "Gotcha."

Bruce's expression didn't change. "Don't get cocky." Before she could blink, he grabbed her wrist and flipped her onto the mat, pinning her down in a fluid motion. "And never assume one victory means the fight is over."

Maggie groaned, staring up at the ceiling. "Point taken."

Just then, the comms crackled to life, and Jason's voice came through in his usual smug tone. "Robin to Batcave, come in. Reporting in from downtown. Caught a couple of idiots trying to rob the Gotham National Bank."

Bruce released Maggie and stepped over to the Batcomputer, activating the comms with a tap. "Go ahead," he said, his voice shifting back to business mode.

Jason continued, the sound of distant sirens in the background. "Caught them red-handed in the vault. Looks like they were amateurs, but they had some serious tech—military-grade EMPs, some fancy tools for cracking safes. Gotham PD's picking them up now."

Bruce nodded, eyes narrowing slightly at the information. "Good work. Any signs they were connected to someone bigger?"

Jason's voice grew more serious. "Not sure yet, but I wouldn't rule it out. I'll drop off the evidence at the GCPD and do another sweep of the area."

"Keep me posted," Bruce replied, ending the call with a press of a button.

Maggie sat up, still catching her breath. "Jason sounds like he's having fun."

Bruce shot her a look. "Crime fighting isn't fun, Maggie. It's a responsibility."