Becoming Nightshade

She shoved open the door to the garage, the cool air hitting her like a wake-up call. The sleek rows of cars and motorcycles gleamed under the overhead lights. Maggie's eyes landed on one of the motorcycles—compact, fast, and exactly what she needed to burn off some steam.

Without a second thought, she grabbed a helmet from the rack, swinging her leg over the bike. She didn't bother to check if anyone had noticed her leaving. Right now, she didn't care. She needed air, freedom, and the roar of an engine to drown out the noise in her head.

The garage doors slid open with a low hum as she revved the engine, the sound echoing off the walls. With a sharp twist of the throttle, Maggie peeled out onto the driveway, the cool morning air whipping against her face as she sped down the long road leading away from Wayne Manor.

The ride helped—just a little. By the time Maggie pulled into the school parking lot, her hands had stopped trembling. She parked the motorcycle near the edge of the lot, pulling off the helmet and shaking out her hair. As she swung her leg off the bike, she caught a few curious stares from passing students. Maggie showing up on a motorcycle wasn't exactly subtle.

"Nice ride," a voice called out. Maggie glanced over to see a group of juniors gawking at the bike like it was a trophy. She ignored them, locking the helmet onto the bike and slinging her bag over her shoulder.

The cool confidence she wore like armor wavered as she headed toward the building. The shadows from last night's dream still lingered at the edges of her thoughts.

She scoffed under her breath, kicking a stray pebble out of her path as she walked. As she approached the front steps of the school, she paused, taking a deep breath. Maggie walked into the building, her steps quick and deliberate as the usual buzz of morning chatter filled the air. She made her way to her locker, trying to keep her head down, but the low hum of whispers and occasional stares made it clear people had noticed her arrival.

As she opened her locker, a familiar voice called out behind her. "Maggie!"

She sighed, bracing herself as Stephanie and Emily hurried up to her, both looking far too excited for this early in the morning.

"Why didn't you tell us you were coming to school on a motorcycle?" Stephanie asked, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Because it wasn't a big deal," Maggie muttered, shoving her bag into the locker and grabbing her books.

"Not a big deal?" Emily repeated, holding up her phone. "Girl, the entire school is talking about it. You're all over everyone's feed!"

Stephanie leaned in, scrolling through the pictures. "People are posting pics of you riding in, like you're a movie star or something. Look at this one—'Wayne heiress channels Batgirl.'" She snorted. "I mean, it's not wrong."

Maggie groaned, slamming her locker shut. "Seriously?"

"Oh, it gets better," Emily said, pointing to another comment. "Some people are saying, 'badass' and you're hot."

Stephanie nudged Maggie playfully. "But the real question is: does this hurt or help your chances of being Homecoming queen?"

Maggie froze, blinking at her. "What?"

"Think about it," Stephanie said, her grin sly. "Some people might see this as a total power move. Cool, rebellious Maggie Wayne riding a motorcycle like she owns the place?"

"But," Emily chimed in, "Alexis is definitely going to spin this against you. You know how she is."

Maggie rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Let her try. I'm not even sure I care about being Homecoming queen anymore."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Stephanie held up a hand. "You don't get to say that. We've been working on this campaign for you. This is bigger than you now, Mags. It's about us."

Maggie gave her a flat look. "You're being dramatic."

Emily giggled, looping her arm through Maggie's. "She's not wrong, though. This could go either way. But honestly? I think it helps. People are loving the whole 'badass Wayne girl' thing."

Her gaze wandered down the hallway, and she froze when she spotted Jason walking in.

"Oh, great," Maggie muttered under her breath, feeling her friends shift beside her as they noticed him too.

"Speaking of Jason Todd rubbing off on you…" Stephanie said, nudging her with a smirk.

Jason finally reached them, his sharp blue eyes flicking between Maggie and her friends. "Morning," he said, his voice casual but carrying an edge Maggie couldn't quite place.

Emily, ever the flirt, chimed in with a grin. "Morning, Jason. Did you see Maggie's grand motorcycle entrance today? People are obsessed."

Jason raised an eyebrow, glancing at Maggie. "Yeah, I heard."

Maggie shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, crossing her arms. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Jason's casual smirk faded, his expression hardening as he stood a little straighter. "What's with you today?—storming off, not saying anything, and then leaving without me." He motioned vaguely with his hand. "And taking a motorcycle to school? That's not like you, Mags."

Her brow furrowed, her irritation flaring. "So now I need your permission to take a motorcycle? Last I checked, I can do whatever I want."

Jason rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "That's not what I'm saying."

Maggie snapped, her voice rising slightly. "I needed some air. I just… needed to clear my head, okay?"

Jason's jaw tightened, his blue eyes narrowing. "And you couldn't just tell me that?"

"And like I need to tell you everything, Jason!" Maggie shot back, her frustration boiling over.

Jason's eyebrows shot up, his own temper flaring. "Mags! You can't just shut me out and then act like I'm the problem."

"Problem?" Maggie scoffed, slamming her locker shut with enough force to make the nearby students flinch. "You're the one making this a bigger deal than it is, Jason! I just wanted some air."

"Some air? Fine. But you didn't need to take off without a word!" Jason shot back, stepping closer.

"Oh, so now me clearing my head is a personal attack on you?" Maggie retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Sorry if my life doesn't revolve around keeping you in the loop!"

Jason's jaw clenched, his frustration boiling over. "That's not what this is about, and you know it! You've been acting off !"

Maggie narrowed her eyes, stepping closer herself. " Did you ever think that maybe I need space instead of you breathing down my neck all the time?"

"Space?" Jason barked a laugh, his expression disbelieving. "Right. "

"Whatever, Jason."

Without another word, she stormed off down the hallway, her footsteps echoing loudly behind her.

Jason stood there, staring after her with a mixture of anger and worry. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

Stephanie and Emily exchanged wide-eyed glances.

"Don't even start," Jason muttered as he noticed them watching. Shoving his hands into his pockets, and walked off.

Later that day. The quiet hum of the library filled the air as students worked on assignments, some whispering in hushed voices. Maggie stood in the back, away from the clusters of students, running her fingers along the spines of books.

The faint sound of footsteps behind her made her tense, but she didn't turn around.

"Hey, Mags," Jason's familiar voice cut through the quiet. His tone was light, almost teasing. "Are you still hot, or have you cooled down?"

Maggie stiffened, her hand pausing on a book, but she didn't turn to face him. "What do you want, Jason?" she muttered, her voice low and distant.

Jason stepped closer, leaning casually against the shelf beside her. "Does this have something to do with this morning? Or last night's text?"

Maggie's jaw tightened. She pulled a book from the shelf, flipping through it even though she wasn't reading a word. "No. It's... Just drop it, okay?"

Jason's brows furrowed, his playful smirk fading. "Come on, Mags. I know something's up. You've been weird all day. You can't just brush me off and expect me not to notice."

"I'm not brushing you off," she snapped, finally turning to glare at him. "I just don't want to talk about it. Is that so hard to understand?"

Jason held up his hands in mock surrender, though his expression stayed serious. "Alright, fine. But you've got to admit, you're not exactly acting like yourself."

"Maybe I don't want to act like myself today," Maggie shot back, her voice sharper than she intended.

Jason studied her for a moment, his gaze softening. "Mags, you know you can talk to me, right?"

Her shoulders tensed as she hugged the book to her chest. She could feel his sincerity, the worry in his voice. For a brief moment, she thought about telling him—about Lillyanna,about the dream.

"I know," she said finally, her voice quieter. "But not today, okay?"

Jason frowned, clearly unsatisfied, but he didn't push further. "Alright. But if this is about last night—"

"Just… let it go." she said,turning back to the shelf. "

Jason lingered for a moment longer before sighing. "Fine. But don't expect me to stop checking in."

The school day ended with Maggie avoiding Jason and everyone else as much as she could. By the time she stepped out of the building, the late afternoon sun was already dipping low, casting long shadows across the streets of Gotham.

She crossed the parking lot toward her motorcycle, ignoring the stares and whispers that still followed her after the morning's spectacle. Sliding on her helmet and fastening it, she swung a leg over the bike and revved the engine. The low growl of the motor felt like a welcome distraction, a noise loud enough to drown out the thoughts swirling in her head.

Maggie sped off down the road, weaving through the sparse traffic with practiced ease. The wind whipping past her face helped clear her mind, but not enough to block out the voice she dreaded most.

"You didn't tell him."

The words echoed in her mind, clear as day despite the roar of the engine. Maggie's grip on the handlebars tightened, her jaw clenching beneath her helmet.

"You didn't tell anyone." Lillyanna's voice was calm, almost amused, but it sent a chill down Maggie's spine. "You're afraid they'll think you're weak. Afraid they'll push you away."

"Shut up," Maggie muttered, though no one could hear her over the wind and the engine's roar.

"You can't run from me, Maggie. You can't run from what you are."

Her breath hitched as the shadows along the sides of the road seemed to stretch, moving unnaturally like they were alive. Maggie shook her head, focusing on the road ahead. "I'm not running," she hissed. "I'm not afraid of you."

A soft, mocking laugh echoed in her mind. "Oh, but you are. And that fear will only grow, Maggie. Until you stop fighting me."

The laugh sent a shiver down her spine, her heart hammering in her chest. The motorcycle swerved slightly as her focus wavered. She tried to steady herself, forcing her hands to grip the handlebars tighter, but Lillyanna's voice didn't stop.

"You can feel it, can't you? The power waiting beneath the surface. You're not afraid of me—you're afraid of what you'll become."

"Shut up!" Maggie shouted, the words tearing from her throat.

Her vision blurred, the world around her bending and twisting as shadows danced at the edges of her sight. Panic surged through her as the bike veered to the side, her balance slipping.

Before she could correct herself, the front tire clipped the edge of the curb, and the bike bucked violently. Maggie screamed as she lost control, the motorcycle skidding out from under her. She hit the pavement hard, the momentum dragging her across the rough asphalt before she came to a jarring stop.

The silence that followed was deafening, save for the faint sound of the bike's engine sputtering to a halt a few feet away. Maggie lay on the ground, her helmet protecting her head but doing little to shield her from the pain radiating through her arms and legs.

Then Lillyanna's voice slithered back into her mind, soft and mocking.

"Sooner or later, you'll be like me."

Maggie squeezed her eyes shut, her fists clenching against the asphalt. The adrenaline and shock kept her frozen in place, her body too stiff and sore to move. Every breath sent a sharp ache through her ribs, and the sting of scraped skin burned against the cool evening air.

The sound of screeching tires broke through the quiet, followed by a car door slamming. Footsteps pounded toward her.

"Hey! Are you okay?" a man's voice called out, his tone urgent.

Maggie opened her eyes slowly, squinting at the figure crouching beside her. He looked to be in his mid-20s, his face tight with concern as he scanned her injuries and glanced at the fallen motorcycle a few feet away.

"Miss, can you hear me?" he asked, leaning closer.

"Y-Yeah," Maggie croaked, her voice hoarse. She tried to push herself up, but pain shot through her side, making her gasp and collapse back down.

"Whoa, don't move!" the man said firmly, placing a hand on her shoulder to steady her. "You could have broken something. Just stay still, okay?"

"I'm fine," Maggie muttered weakly, though it was clear she wasn't.

The man didn't buy it. He pulled out his phone and began dialing. "You're not fine. I'm calling an ambulance."

"No!" Maggie said sharply, reaching out to grab his wrist. Her voice cracked as she added, "I said no. I don't need an ambulance."

He hesitated, glancing down at her hand gripping his wrist. "Look, I get that you're scared or stubborn or whatever, but I'm not just going to leave you here like this. You could have serious internal injuries."

"I can handle it," Maggie insisted, her grip tightening.

The man's expression hardened. "Sorry, but I'm not taking that chance." He pulled his wrist free and held the phone to his ear.

"Hi, yeah, I need an ambulance," he said quickly, rattling off their location as Maggie glared up at him.

"You didn't have to do that," she muttered, her voice laced with frustration.

"Yeah, I did," he said, tucking his phone back into his pocket. "You can be mad at me later, but right now, I'd rather be safe than sorry."

Maggie slumped back against the curb, her breath uneven. The adrenaline was starting to wear off, leaving behind a sharp, throbbing pain in her ribs and legs.

The man crouched down again, his tone softer this time. "Just hang in there. The paramedics will be here soon. Do you want me to call anyone? Family? Friends?"

Maggie hesitated, biting her lip. Her first instinct was to say no—to keep this from everyone. But the pain radiating through her body and the lingering fear in the back of her mind made her falter.

She nodded faintly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah… can you call—"

Before she could finish, the sound of screeching tires pulled her attention. Another car had pulled over, and the driver's door flung open.

"Mags!" Jason's voice rang out, his tone sharp with panic.

Maggie turned her head slightly, wincing at the movement. Jason was running toward her, his eyes darting between her and the downed motorcycle on the pavement. His expression was a mix of anger and worry as he skidded to a stop beside her.

"What the hell happened?" he demanded, crouching down. His hands hovered over her as if he didn't know where to start.

Maggie tried to muster a glare, but the exhaustion in her voice betrayed her. "I'm fine, Jason."

Jason's eyes narrowed, flicking over the scrapes on her arms and the way she cradled her side. "Yeah, you look real fine," he snapped. He turned to the man beside her. "Did you call an ambulance?"

The man nodded. "They're on their way."

Jason exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face before looking back at Maggie. "What were you even doing?"

"I was riding home," Maggie muttered, her voice defensive despite the pain.

"Riding home?" Jason echoed, his tone rising. "More like crashing home!

The sound of approaching sirens broke the silence between them, the flashing lights reflecting off the surrounding buildings.

Jason stood, waving the paramedics over as they pulled up. "She's over here," he called out.

The paramedics hurried to Maggie's side, assessing her injuries and asking questions. Jason stayed close, his worry evident in the way he hovered, refusing to leave her alone.

When one of the paramedics suggested taking her to the hospital, Maggie opened her mouth to protest, but Jason cut her off.

"She's going," he said firmly, crossing his arms.

Maggie glared up at him. "I can make my own decisions, Jason."

"Yeah, and right now, you're making a bad one," Jason shot back. "So deal with it."

The paramedics helped her onto a stretcher, securing her before loading her into the ambulance. Jason turned to the man who had stopped earlier.

"Thanks for helping her," he said, his voice sincere.

The man nodded. "She's lucky. That could've been much worse."

Jason glanced back at the ambulance, his jaw tightening. "Yeah. She is."

As the doors of the ambulance closed and it began pulling away, Jason jogged back to his car, his jaw tight and his mind racing. The sight of Maggie lying injured on the ground was burned into his mind.

Sliding into the driver's seat, he started the engine, gripping the wheel tightly as he pulled onto the street to follow the ambulance.

He grabbed his phone from the passenger seat, hitting the speed dial for Alfred. The call rang several times before going to voicemail. Jason cursed under his breath, immediately dialing Bruce next. Same result—voicemail.

"Are you kidding me?" Jason muttered, slamming the phone down onto the center console.

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.Without another thought, he scrolled to Dick's contact and hit call.

It rang twice before Dick picked up.

"Hey, Jaybird, what's up?" Dick's familiar voice came through the line, light and casual.

Jason didn't waste time. "Mags was in an accident," he said quickly, his voice clipped.

"What?" Dick's tone shifted instantly, sharp with concern. "What happened? Is she okay?"

"She crashed her bike," Jason explained, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the wheel. "Ambulance is taking her to Gotham General. I'm following them now."

"Is it bad?" Dick asked, his voice tight.

"I don't know," Jason admitted, frustration and guilt lacing his tone. "She's banged up, but she wouldn't let me get close enough to really check. It's… it's my fault."

"What are you talking about?" Dick's voice softened slightly, but there was still an edge of urgency.

Jason gripped the wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white. "She was acting weird this morning, and instead of trying to figure out what was going on, I pushed her. We argued, and she stormed off. I think she was still mad when she rode off from school. She must've been in a mood and wasn't paying attention."

"Jay," Dick started, his voice steady, "this isn't your fault."

Jason shook his head, though Dick couldn't see him. "It feels like it is. If I hadn't been such a—" He cut himself off, exhaling sharply. "If I'd just let her have her space, maybe she wouldn't have gotten hurt."

"Listen to me," Dick said firmly. "Mags is stubborn. You know that. She probably matter what. Don't waste time blaming yourself—you need to be there for her now. That's what matters."

Jason's jaw tightened, the knot in his chest refusing to loosen. "I know, but…" He trailed off, his voice dropping. "I just can't stop thinking about what could've happened. What if it was worse?"

Dick's tone softened again, though it remained steady. "But it wasn't worse, Jason. She's on her way to the hospital, and she's going to get the care she needs. You did the right thing by being there for her."

Jason didn't respond immediately, his focus shifting to the ambulance's taillights ahead. Finally, he let out a quiet sigh. "Yeah. I just hate seeing her like this."

"I know," Dick said, his voice understanding. "But you're there for her, and that's what she needs. I'll be there as soon as I can, alright?"

"Alright," Jason muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"And, Jay?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't beat yourself up too much. Maggie wouldn't want that."

Jason swallowed hard, nodding even though Dick couldn't see him. "Yeah. Thanks, Dick."

"Anytime," Dick said before the line disconnected.

Jason tossed the phone back onto the passenger seat, gripping the wheel with both hands as he followed the ambulance closely.