Becoming Nightshade

It had been a few months since Maggie and Jason's respective dates, and Gotham Prep was buzzing with its usual intensity. Fall Semester Midterms were coming up, and the pressure to keep up with school and social lives was higher than ever. For Maggie Wayne, balancing her academic workload and her growing relationship with Roy Harper felt like a challenge she could handle—most of the time. For Jason Todd, however, things were starting to unravel. Maggie sat in the library, her focus split between a stack of textbooks and her phone, where a message from Roy lit up the screen.

Roy*

Hey, are we still on for lunch? Or are you buried under all those books?*

Maggie smiled softly before typing back.

Maggie*

Lunch is still on. Meet you in 15. *

As she hit send, Maggie glanced at her biology notes and sighed. She was on track to earn college credits alongside her high school diploma, but the workload was intense. Her relationship with Roy was going well, but she often found herself torn between the responsibilities that came with her studies and the light-hearted fun Roy represented.

Maggie gathered her books and headed out to meet him, grateful for the distraction from her constant academic grind.

Roy was waiting for her at the usual spot, giving her that carefree smile she'd come to enjoy. "You look like you've been in a battle with your books," he teased as she sat down. Leading a sweet kiss upon Maggie's cheek.

"I feel like I lost," she joked back, trying to shake off the weight of everything. She leaned forward, elbows on the table, giving him a grin. "But at least I have you to rescue me from it all."

Roy chuckled. "Hey, anytime. I'd make a pretty decent knight in shining armor, don't you think?"

Maggie laughed, but somewhere in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but think about the real battles happening at night—battles Roy knew nothing about.

Meanwhile, Jason Todd was struggling, though he refused to admit it. School was feeling more and more like a chore he couldn't keep up with, especially as patrols with Batman had become longer, more intense, and more dangerous. He found himself daydreaming in class, and unable to finish the exams in front of him. Worst of all, balancing his relationship with Emily had become harder than he expected.

It wasn't that he didn't like Emily—he did—but keeping his identity as Robin a secret while trying to live a "normal" teenage life was exhausting. The demands of being a vigilante were getting in the way of his personal life. Last night's patrol had gone well past midnight, leaving him tired and unfocused during today's classes.

As Jason walked to meet Emily by her locker, he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and forced himself to act like everything was fine.

"Hey, you look tired," Emily said, concern in her voice.

"I'm good. Just a late night," he muttered, trying to brush it off.

Emily frowned. "You've been saying that a lot lately. You've been bailing on plans too. Is everything okay?"

Jason's gut twisted with guilt, but he put on his best smirk. "I told ya, school's been kicking my ass. But I'm still here, aren't I?"

Emily didn't seem entirely convinced, but she let it slide, and the two of them walked to class together. Jason tried to focus, but in the back of his mind, all he could think about was the upcoming patrol. Tonight, he and Batman were tracking down one of Gotham's most dangerous criminals, and Jason had to be sharp. He couldn't afford to slip up.

By the time lunch rolled around, Jason found himself avoiding the cafeteria. Instead, he slipped out into the courtyard, needing a break from it all. He sat on a bench, pulling out his phone, half-expecting a message from Bruce about tonight's mission. Sure enough, it buzzed.

Bruce*

Meet in the cave at 8 PM sharp. We need to prep for tonight.*

Jason's heart sank. Another long night. Another excuse to make for Emily. The cracks in his double life were starting to show, and he knew it was only a matter of time before something had to give. He leaned back against the bench, staring up at the gray Gotham sky.

Later that day, Maggie and Jason crossed paths at the Wayne Manor training room. Maggie was fresh from a study session, while Jason looked like he hadn't slept in days.

"You, okay?" Maggie asked, noticing how worn-out Jason looked.

"Yeah, just school stuff," he said, brushing it off. "And Emily. And... everything else."

Maggie raised an eyebrow. "Everything else? You mean the 'night job'?"

Jason just nodded, his exhaustion seeping into his words. "I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. The school stuff, the Robin stuff... Emily."

Maggie thought about Roy and her own balancing act, but Jason's situation seemed ten times more complicated. She didn't have an answer for him, but she understood the weight of it.

"We'll figure it out," Maggie said quietly.

Jason didn't respond, but he appreciated the sentiment.

The next day at Gotham Prep, Maggie found herself walking into the cafeteria without Jason by her side. He had been absent all morning, and she had no idea if he would even show up at all. She slid her tray onto the table where Roy and Emily were already seated, both of them looking deep in conversation.

Emily glanced up as Maggie sat down, her expression a mix of worry and frustration. "Hey, Maggie, have you seen Jason? He's been acting really weird lately."

Maggie paused, biting back her immediate response. She had noticed it too—Jason's exhaustion, his distance—but she knew why. Jason's responsibilities as Robin were starting to wear him down, but she couldn't exactly tell them that.

"Yeah, he's been pretty busy with school," Maggie said, trying to keep her voice casual. "You know how it is—homework, tests, all that stuff."

Emily frowned, clearly not convinced. "He's been bailing on plans left and right. He cancels at the last minute or just disappears..."

Roy, sitting across from them, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I've noticed too. Dude looks like he hasn't slept in weeks. Yesterday in gym, he could barely keep his eyes open. I get that school is stressful, but this is something else."

Maggie forced a laugh, trying to downplay the seriousness of the situation. "Maybe he's just not great at time management. You know Jason..."

But the look on Emily's face didn't ease up. "It's not just about school, Maggie. He won't even talk to me about it. We're supposed to be dating, but it feels like he's shutting me out."

Maggie felt a pang of guilt. She hated lying to them, especially Emily, who genuinely cared for Jason. But how could she explain the truth without revealing Jason's secret? "I'm sure he'll come around. He's probably just going through a lot right now. I'll talk to him and see if I can get him to open up."

Roy leaned forward; his voice more serious than usual. "You think it's something at home? Maybe things with his foster situation aren't as smooth as they seem?"

Maggie shook her head quickly. "No, everything's fine at home. Trust me...I'd know."

Roy gave her a long, searching look before nodding. "Alright, but tell him we're here for him, okay? He's, our friend. We just want to help."

Maggie smiled, though it felt forced. "I'll make sure he knows."

As the conversation drifted to other topics—classes, the upcoming winter break—Maggie couldn't shake the uneasy feeling growing in her chest. She hated having to cover for Jason, but she understood the necessity of keeping his secret. Still, she couldn't help but worry about how much longer he could keep this up, and what would happen when the people who cared about him started pushing for answers.

She glanced at Emily, who was stirring her drink absentmindedly, clearly still worried about Jason. Roy, ever the optimist, was already talking about the next time they'd all hang out, assuming Jason would magically be back to normal.

After a long day of school. Maggie couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to do something. Jason had been burning himself out between school, his relationship with Emily, and his increasingly demanding life as Robin. She knew how hard it was to balance everything, but she wasn't the one wearing a mask at night. Jason needed someone who had been there, who understood what he was going through.

That evening, as soon as she got home, Maggie grabbed her phone and dialed the one person she thought could help: Dick Grayson.

"Hey, Sis! What's up?" Dick answered, his usual upbeat tone instantly lifting her mood.

"Hey, Bro. I need your help with something," Maggie said, walking into her room for privacy. "It's about Jason."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Dick spoke again, his voice more serious. "What's going on? Is something wrong?"

Maggie sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's just... he's struggling. He's barely keeping up with school, and Emily and Roy have noticed how tired he is all the time. He's been canceling plans and shutting people out. I know what's really going on, but they don't. He's burning the candle at both ends, and I'm worried he's going to hit a breaking point."

"Sounds like the classic Robin problem," Dick said, his tone lighter but understanding. "I remember those days—trying to juggle school, friends, and night patrols. It's not easy. He needs to find a balance, but it's hard to see that when you're in the thick of it."

"That's why I'm calling you," Maggie explained. "You've been through this before. I thought maybe you could talk to him, give him some advice. He's stubborn, but I think he'll listen to you."

Dick chuckled. "He is stubborn, but I'll give him a call. He's a good kid, just needs to figure out how to manage the chaos. Thanks for letting me know, Mags. I'll check in with him."

"Thanks, Dick," Maggie said, relief washing over her. "I just hope he'll actually listen."

"Don't worry, I'll handle it," Dick reassured her. "Take care, and don't hesitate to call if you need anything else."

After hanging up, Maggie leaned back on her bed, hoping that Dick's words would get through to Jason.

Later that same evening, Jason was in his room, lying on his bed, half-asleep with his phone buzzing next to him. He groggily reached over and saw Dick's name flashing on the screen. Confused but too tired to ignore it, he answered.

"Yo, what's up?" Jason mumbled, still waking up.

"Jason, it's Dick," came the familiar voice of Nightwing, casual but with a hint of concern. "I wanted to check in on you. Maggie called me, said you've been running yourself into the ground lately."

Jason sat up, suddenly more awake. "What? She called you...What'd she say?"

"Just that you've been tired, canceling plans, struggling with school... sounds like the usual Robin burnout," Dick said, his voice understanding. "Trust me, I've been there. Balancing the life of a hero is tough."

Jason sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah, well, school's a pain. And patrols have been... a lot. It's just hard to keep up."

"I get it," Dick said, his tone sympathetic. "When I was Robin, I had the same problem. You're trying to do everything, and it feels like if you slip up in one area, the whole thing will collapse. But the thing is, you don't have to do it all alone. And you can't be everything for everyone all the time."

Jason listened in silence, knowing Dick was right but feeling frustrated. "So, what do I do?"

"You need to figure out what's most important to you," Dick said. "Set boundaries. If you keep burning yourself out, you're not going to be good being Robin. It's okay to take a break. It's okay to let people in. Emily, Roy, Maggie—they care about you. You don't need to shut them out."

Jason exhaled slowly, the weight of it sinking in. "Yeah, I've been kind of a jerk lately."

"Nah, just overwhelmed," Dick reassured him. "Look, you're doing a great job, but don't forget that part of being a hero is knowing when to ask for help. You've got people around you who want to be there for you. Let them."

Jason nodded, even though Dick couldn't see it. "Thanks, man. I'll try to figure it out."

"Good. And hey, if you ever need advice or just to talk, you know where to find me," Dick said warmly. "Take it easy, okay?"

"I will," Jason promised, feeling a bit lighter. "Appreciate it, Dick."

As the call ended, Jason sat in the quiet of his room, feeling a little less alone.

The cold wind swept through Gotham's narrow streets, and Jason Todd—Robin—followed closely behind Batman as they patrolled the city. Tonight's mission was particularly tense; there had been reports of a major arms deal going down in the city, orchestrated by none other than The Penguin.

"We'll approach from the east," Batman said, his voice cutting through the night air. "Penguin's men won't expect an assault from the rooftops."

Jason nodded, but his mind was scattered. His dual life had become harder to manage, especially with his friends Roy, Emily, and Stephanie noticing how often he canceled plans and disappeared.

As Batman and Robin moved across the rooftops, Jason's comm buzzed.

"Deal's happening," Batman whispered. They peered down into the street, where The Penguin's men unloaded crates from a truck under the cover of darkness.

Suddenly, Jason froze. Down below, walking into the same alley where Penguin's men were gathered, were Roy, Emily, and Stephanie. They were laughing, oblivious to the danger ahead of them, clearly on their way to grab food from a nearby diner.

Jason's pulse quickened. He could see Penguin's men noticing them too, guns subtly turning in their direction.

"I'll take the left flank," Jason said quickly to Batman, already moving before Batman could respond.

"Robin—wait!" Batman hissed.

But Jason was already moving, his mind racing. He couldn't let them get hurt, but he also couldn't reveal his identity. There was no time to waste. As he dropped into the alley, masked and silent, Penguin's men aimed their weapons toward his unsuspecting friends.

"Hey!" Jason shouted, his voice gruff and altered to hide his real one. He flung a batarang at the nearest gunman, knocking the weapon out of his hand.

Immediately, chaos erupted.

The gunfire began. Batman joined the fray, but Jason was already in motion, shielding Roy, Emily, and Stephanie from the barrage of bullets. He pushed them behind a dumpster.

"Stay down!" Robin barked at them, barely glancing their way. He launched into combat, but one of Penguin's men turned a gun on Roy, who was trying to peek over the edge of the dumpster.

Without thinking, Jason dove in front of Roy, taking a bullet to his shoulder. Pain seared through his body, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to let a single sound escape. The shot was non-lethal, but it hurt like hell. Jason stumbled, his hand pressed to the wound, but he remained standing.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Emily's horrified expression as she watched him take the hit. "Robin—you're hurt!" she cried.

Jason waved her off. "I'm fine! Stay down!"

Batman moved swiftly, taking down several thugs in quick succession, his presence commanding and terrifying to the criminals. Penguin, realizing the situation was falling apart, attempted to flee, but Batgirl swooped in from the opposite side of the alley, cutting off his escape route. In moments, the remaining thugs were subdued.

Jason stumbled, his arm and shoulder throbbing, but he managed to keep upright. His friends were still staring at him, concern etched across their faces, but none of them seemed to recognize him.

"Let's go!" Batman's voice cut through the chaos, signaling Robin to retreat before the authorities arrived.

The Batmobile pulled into the Batcave, its engines humming quietly before shutting down. Jason gritted his teeth, clutching his shoulder, still feeling the pain from the gunshot. As the hatch opened, Alfred was already waiting with a medical kit in hand, his eyes stern but concerned.

"Master Jason," Alfred said, his tone clipped. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Maggie was at the bottom of the steps, watching as Batman and Jason approached. She quickly spotted the blood staining Jason's uniform, and her eyes widened.

"Jason, you're hurt!" she exclaimed, rushing forward.

"I'm fine, really," Jason muttered as he hopped out of the car, wincing slightly from the movement.

Batman, however, wasn't as forgiving. His jaw was tight, his posture tense. "That could've been worse, Robin. A lot worse," he said, his deep voice laced with frustration.

Jason didn't say anything as Alfred ushered him toward the medical bay in the cave, motioning for him to sit on the table. He peeled off his suit's top half, revealing the deep bullet wound in his shoulder. Alfred began cleaning it, his movements gentle but efficient.

"Hold still, Master Jason," Alfred said, his voice soft but authoritative.

Batman paced nearby, his cape flowing behind him as his mind worked through the events of the night. His silence was heavy, the tension in the cave thick as Maggie watched Alfred work on Jason's wound.

"This isn't just about the injury," Batman finally said, his voice low and stern. "Tonight, your recklessness could've compromised your identity. Worse, it could've cost you your life."

Jason winced more from the lecture than from the pain in his shoulder. "I had to do something. I wasn't going to let them get hurt."

"And I'm telling you that it's not just about them," Batman snapped, stopping his pacing to face Jason. "You need to think strategically. Putting yourself in harm's way like that—it can't keep happening. Not if you want to keep being Robin."

Jason opened his mouth to retort, but Maggie jumped in before he could.

"Dad—you're overworking him," she said, stepping closer, her voice firm. "Jason has been going on patrol after patrol with you, and he's still trying to keep up with school and everything else. He's exhausted. It's no wonder something like this happened."

Batman's gaze shifted to Maggie, his eyes narrowing slightly. "This isn't about workload, Maggie. It's about discipline. Jason knew the risks tonight and still acted recklessly."

Maggie crossed her arms, not backing down. "He's barely had time to pushing him harder than you pushed Dick."

Jason glanced between them, feeling the tension rise even further. He appreciated Maggie standing up for him, but he wasn't sure if arguing with Batman would help matters.

"Look, I can handle it," Jason said, though the strain in his voice suggested otherwise.

Alfred, having finished bandaging Jason's wound, looked between them all with a quiet wisdom that only he possessed. "Master Bruce," he said softly, addressing Batman, "perhaps there is some merit in what Miss Maggie is saying. Master Jason has been juggling more than just the cape and cowl."

Batman's face softened just slightly, his eyes flickering with a mix of frustration and concern. "We'll discuss this more later. For now, Jason, get some rest."

Maggie watched her father, still tense but silently grateful he didn't push Jason further. As Batman turned away and headed deeper into the cave, she set down next to Jason.

"You good?" she asked, her voice softer now.

Jason nodded, his expression still tight but appreciative. "Yeah."

Alfred chimed in, his voice calm and soothing. "It seems we may all need a bit of rest tonight. I'll bring you something to eat, Master Jason."

Jason chuckled lightly despite the pain. "Yeah, could use a good meal after that."

As Alfred left to fetch some food, the Batcave grew quieter. Jason leaned back in his seat, his body aching, but at least for now, the weight on his shoulders felt just a little bit lighter. Maggie stood by his side, sharing the silence.

The next day at school, Jason and Maggie found themselves at their usual table in the cafeteria, surrounded by Roy, Emily, and Stephanie. The chatter was light at first, everyone still buzzing with excitement over recent events.

"Man, last night was crazy," Roy said, leaning back in his chair with a grin. "I still can't believe we got caught up in a fight between Batman, Robin, and the Penguin."

"Yeah, that was intense," Emily agreed, her eyes wide as she recalled the scene. "But thank God Robin was there. He saved us."

Jason shifted uncomfortably, trying not to react too visibly. His arm in a slang and his shoulder was still sore from the gunshot wound, even though Alfred had patched him up pretty well. He glanced at Maggie, who was picking at her lunch, but clearly listening intently.

"I know, right?" Stephanie added. "I mean, Robin was awesome. But Jason…" She suddenly turned her attention toward him, her expression a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "You hurt your shoulder too, didn't you? How did that happen?"

Jason stiffened, but forced a casual smile. "Uh, yeah. I, uh—tripped, down the stairs at the manor... I landed on my shoulder...Clumsy me."

Stephanie raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Really? You tripped? Sounds a little… convenient."

Roy laughed, slapping the table with his palm. "Yeah, right! What are you saying, Steph? You think Jason's Robin or something? Now that would be hilarious! Our boy Jason, swinging around Gotham, fighting crime. Seriously though—are you Robin?"

He asked it jokingly, but all eyes turned toward Jason, waiting for his response.

Jason felt his pulse quicken, but he managed a chuckle, shaking his head. "Me? Robin? Nah, no way. I mean, do I look like I can do backflips and swing from rooftops?"

He shrugged it off, doing his best to seem laid-back, but Stephanie wasn't convinced. She crossed her arms, eyes narrowing at him.

Maggie quickly jumped in, her voice smooth and confident. "Come on... Jason couldn't be Robin even if he wanted to. Trust me, I would know."

Her tone was firm, and her eyes flicked to Jason, giving him the backup he needed.

"Yeah, exactly," Jason added, grateful for the assist. "Plus, you'd have to be, like, a ninja or something. I can barely keep up in gym class."

Roy snorted. "I don't know, man. You've got some moves. But yeah, you're probably right. Robin's got to be some elite-level fighter or whatever. Still, the coincidence is wild."

Jason relaxed a little, hoping the subject would finally drop. Emily, though, leaned closer, her expression more concerned than skeptical.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, her voice soft. "You've been looking tired lately, and now you're hurt… If something's going on, you can tell me, Jason."

He met her gaze, feeling a pang of guilt. He hated lying to his friends, especially Emily, but there was no way he could reveal the truth.

"I'm fine, really," he insisted, trying to sound reassuring. "Just you know?...I'll probably just take it easy for a few days."

Maggie nodded in agreement, backing up his words again. "He'll be fine, Em. I'll make sure it."

Stephanie seemed to buy it, finally dropping her suspicious stare. "Alright, alright, if you say so. But if you *were* Robin, you'd totally have to tell us, right? Like, no secrets."

Jason forced a grin. "Yeah, totally. If I ever start swinging around Gotham, you guys will be the first to know."

The table laughed, and the tension eased. But as the conversation moved on to lighter topics, Jason couldn't help but feel the weight of the secret he carried. He caught Maggie's eye, and she gave him a small, understanding nod.