Becoming Nightshade

Jason sat in the driver's seat of the sleek, matte-black prototype sports car he just busted, his fingers tightening around the wheel. The engine purred beneath him, a beast waiting to be unleashed. The dashboard glowed with high-tech displays, the soft hum of hidden power thrumming through the car. It wasn't just any car—this was a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Beside him, Briggs' right-hand man, Tucker, leaned back in the passenger seat, his cold eyes watching Jason like a hawk. The weight of his sidearm pressed visibly against his jacket, a silent reminder that this wasn't a simple job.

"Get moving, Todd," Tucker said, his voice flat but carrying a clear edge. "Running behind schedule isn't good for your friends. You know the drill—take it to the drop point."

Jason's jaw clenched, his mind racing through the possibilities. Every second he wasted was another second Maggie and Dick were at Briggs' mercy.Trying to figure out a way to turn the tables.

He forced a smirk, gripping the wheel tighter. "Relax, Tucker. You don't rush a piece of art like this." He tapped the dashboard, letting his fingers dance over the custom interface. "You really think Briggs knows what he's sitting on here? This thing's got military-grade encryption, adaptive AI response, and..."

Tucker scoffed. "Save the lecture, Todd. You're not here to admire the damn thing."

Jason exhaled through his nose, eyes narrowing as he glanced in the rearview mirror. The city lights blurred behind him, but his mind was locked in on one thought— He shifted the car into gear, feeling the raw power beneath him as it lurched forward, smooth and effortless. The tires gripped the wet pavement perfectly as he eased onto the road, weaving through Gotham's late-night traffic. The clock on the dash ticked down ominously, reminding him of the limited time he had to pull this off.

"So, what's Briggs got planned for this beauty?" Jason asked, keeping his tone casual as he navigated the streets.

Tucker's eyes flicked toward him with a smirk. "You don't need to know. You're just the delivery guy."

Jason nodded, playing along. "Fair enough. But if I'm driving this thing, I need to know if we're talking resale or chop shop."

Tucker chuckled, shaking his head. " Let's just say, some very interested parties have been eyeing this ride for a while. It's not just about the car, Todd. It's about what's inside."

Jason's stomach twisted. He knew that if the tech inside the car fell into the wrong hands, it could mean disaster— for Wayne Enterprises. He spotted an upcoming intersection with a red light and an alleyway just beyond it. If he timed it right...

Suddenly, Tucker pulled out his gun, resting it against Jason's ribs. "Don't even think about it," he muttered, his voice colder. "You play games, I shoot you right here."

Jason gritted his teeth, forcing his foot to stay steady on the gas. He needed another angle.

Jason sighed. "Alright, Tucker," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You win. Straight to the drop point."

Tucker nodded, satisfied, and lowered the gun slightly. "Smart."

Jason kept driving, his heart pounding against his ribs as he forced himself to stay calm. He just needed to hold out a little longer. If he played this right, he could buy enough time for Bruce to find him soon. As he turned onto another street, his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror—and his stomach dropped. A Gotham PD cruiser had slipped into traffic behind him, its red and blue lights flashing as the siren blared to life.

Tucker tensed beside him, his grip on the gun tightening. "Keep driving," he snapped, his voice sharp with warning. "You even think about pulling over, I put a bullet in your gut."

Jason swallowed hard,"Relax, man. It's just a traffic stop. They probably ran the plates. This thing sticks out like a sore thumb."

Tucker's eyes darted to the side mirror, his breathing heavy. "I said, keep driving. No stops."

Jason raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? And what do you think's gonna happen if I don't pull over? They'll chase us, man. And you really wanna explain to Briggs why half the GCPD is at the drop point?"

Tucker hesitated, his finger twitching near the trigger. The cop car's sirens whooped again, and the voice over the loudspeaker crackled to life. "Driver of the black vehicle, pull over immediately!"

Jason slowed the car slightly, his mind racing. "Listen," he said smoothly, his hands gripping the wheel tighter. "We play it cool. I'll pull over, smile, show them my ID, and in two minutes, we're back on the road." He cut his eyes to Tucker. "Unless you wanna shoot a cop too?"

Tucker's jaw clenched, but he slowly lowered the gun from Jason's ribs. "Fine. But if you try anything, I'll send a message to Briggs."

Jason nodded tightly and eased the car to the curb, the sports car's engine rumbling as it idled. The police cruiser pulled up behind them, and Jason could see two officers stepping out, their hands resting on their holsters.

Tucker shifted uncomfortably. "Keep it short."

Jason rolled down the window, putting on his best 'just a guy driving a fancy car' smile. "Evening, officers. Something wrong?"

One of the officers, a tall man with a sharp gaze, leaned down slightly, eyeing Jason before glancing at Tucker. "License and registration," he said flatly, clearly not buying the casual act. Jason reached slowly for the glove compartment, his mind racing. As he handed over the fake ID Briggs had given him, Jason made eye contact with the officer and subtly flexed his fingers twice—a silent signal Batman had drilled into him years ago to show GCPD that your in danger but can't say.

The officer's eyes flickered with recognition, but his face remained stoic. He took the ID and stepped back toward the cruiser, likely running it through their system. Jason watched through the mirror, hoping the officer had understood the signal.

Tucker fidgeted in his seat. "Hurry it up," he muttered under his breath, his paranoia growing by the second.

Jason glanced over at him. " Relax."

But Tucker wasn't relaxing. He was sweating now, his fingers twitching near his gun. Jason clenched his jaw. Come on...Now be a good time.

The officer walked back to the window, his expression unreadable. "Step out of the vehicle, sir."

Before Jason could respond, Tucker panicked. His hand shot up, the gun flashing under the streetlights as he squeezed the trigger.

BANG!

The shot shattered the tension in an instant, the bullet tearing through the officer's shoulder, sending him stumbling backward with a grunt of pain. Jason's heart leaped into his throat.

"Damn it, Tucker!" Jason snarled, his hands flying to the wheel as chaos erupted around them.

The second officer, reacting on instinct, dove for cover behind the patrol car, drawing his weapon and shouting into his radio. "Officer down! Shots fired, requesting backup!" The distant whine of additional sirens flared to life.

Tucker was breathing hard, his eyes wild with adrenaline. "Drive! Now!" he barked, shoving the barrel of the gun into Jason's ribs again.

Jason slammed his foot down on the gas, the sports car's tires screeching as it lurched forward, but his hands subtly twisted the wheel toward the patrol car. With a deafening crunch, the front bumper clipped the cruiser, sending it spinning slightly and giving Jason the cover he needed. "Hold on!" he shouted, jerking the wheel hard.

Tucker swore, slamming against the door as Jason took the turn at a breakneck speed, sending the car barreling down the darkened Gotham streets.

"Where the hell are you going?" Tucker growled, trying to steady himself.

Jason forced himself to stay cool, scanning his surroundings. "Trying to lose the cops, genius." His eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, where the patrol car was already in pursuit, sirens wailing. More were coming, their lights flashing like beacons in the night.

But it wasn't just the cops. A shadow moved across the rooftops above them, fast and fluid. Batman. Jason's lips twitched into a smirk. Showtime. He yanked the wheel sharply, sending the car into an alleyway that barely fit the sleek vehicle. The side mirrors scraped against brick, sparks flying. Tucker cursed, struggling to stay upright. "You trying to get us killed?"

Jason didn't answer.Suddenly, a heavy thud hit the roof of the car. Tucker's eyes widened in panic. "What the hell was that?"

Jason's smirk grew wider. "Your worst nightmare."

Before Tucker could react, a gauntleted fist shattered the passenger window, and a dark figure reached in, yanking him out with inhuman strength. The gun tumbled from his hand as he screamed, disappearing into the darkness above. Jason skidded the car to a stop in the middle of an empty lot, breathing hard. He barely had a second to react before the driver's side door flew open, and Batman loomed over him, his cape billowing like a dark tide.

"Out," Bruce's voice was a low growl, no room for argument.

Jason sighed and raised his hands. "What took you so long?"

Bruce ignored him, scanning the area for any additional threats. "Where are Maggie and Dick?"

Jason's cocky demeanor faded. "Briggs still has them. We need to move—now."

Bruce's expression hardened, nodding once. "Then let's end this."

Jason stepped out, cracking his knuckles. "Lead the way, old man."

Without another word, they disappeared into the shadows, leaving the wrecked sports car and the flashing lights of the approaching cops behind.