Becoming Nightshade

The warm morning light filtered through the tall windows of Wayne Manor, casting soft golden hues across the polished floors. Alfred moved gracefully through the kitchen, setting the dining table with precision. A pot of freshly brewed coffee sat in the center, alongside a plate of pastries and a bowl of fruit.

Jason walked into the dining room, his hair still damp from his shower. He grabbed a piece of toast, leaning against the table as he ate. His eyes were tired, and his mind was still preoccupied with the previous night. Dick entered shortly after, looking far more awake and carrying an energy bar.

"Morning, sunshine," Dick quipped, sliding into a chair. "You look like you slept about ten minutes."

Jason shot him a glare, taking a bite of his toast. "Didn't sleep much."

"Gee, really? Wouldn't have guessed," Dick replied, smirking. "Still thinking about Maggie?"

Jason's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.

Before the conversation could continue, Maggie—Lillyanna—appeared in the doorway, her hair loosely tied back, wearing a casual sweater and jeans. She had a soft smile on her face, but Jason's sharp eyes immediately caught the slight tension in her movements.

"Morning," she said brightly, walking over to the table. She grabbed a coffee cup, pouring herself a generous amount before sitting down.

"Morning, Mags," Dick said, his tone warm and casual. "How'd you sleep?"

She sipped her coffee, her smile never faltering. "Better than I thought I would."

Jason studied her carefully. "You're up early," he said, his tone neutral but probing.

She shrugged, taking another sip. "I figured I'd start the day right. Maybe even get some studying done before lunch."

Dick raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Look at you, Miss Overachiever."

"Trying to make up for lost time," she replied smoothly, though Jason caught the faintest flicker in her expression—like she was calculating her responses.

Alfred entered, carrying a tray of eggs and toast, placing it gently on the table. "Miss Maggie, it's good to see you up and about this morning," he said, his tone kind. "I trust you'll let us know if you're feeling unwell?"

"Of course, Alfred," she replied with a gracious smile. "Thank you."

Dick glanced at the clock on the wall and stood, grabbing his energy bar. "Alright, I'm heading out. Patrol debrief later, Jay?"

Jason nodded, watching as Dick left the room. His attention immediately returned to Maggie. "So, what's the plan for today?"

Maggie—Lillyanna in disguise—set her coffee cup down and leaned casually against the table. "Meeting up with Emily and Stephanie for lunch," she said, her tone light and cheerful. "Then we're heading out to go dress shopping for homecoming."

Jason frowned slightly, his arms crossing. "You sure you're up for all that?"

Maggie smiled warmly, brushing off his concern. "I'll be fine, Jason. Hanging out with my friends will be good for me."

He studied her for a moment, his gut still nagging at him. "Alright," he said slowly. "Just… don't push yourself, okay?"

Her smile didn't falter as she stepped closer, placing a hand lightly on his arm. "You worry too much," she said softly. "But thanks, Jay."

Jason forced a small smile, though his unease remained. "If anything feels off, call me. You've still got me on speed dial, right?"

She laughed lightly. "Always." Picking up her coffee, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "I should go get ready."

Jason watched as she left the room, the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the air. Something still didn't sit right with him. Her words, her tone—it all seemed… practiced. Too perfect.

He drummed his fingers against the table, debating his options. He could let it go, give her space like everyone kept telling him. Or he could go to Constantine, but that came with its own risks. Constantine's involvement wasn't exactly subtle, and Jason wasn't ready to tip his hand. No, the only way to figure this out was to see for himself. If Maggie was fine, he'd back off. But if she wasn't…

Jason stood abruptly, grabbing his jacket. He'd follow her—like a spy, like he'd been trained to do. Staying in the shadows, watching her every move, just to be sure. If something was off, he'd see it.

Maggie—Lillyanna—sat at a small outdoor table with Emily and Stephanie, the three of them sipping iced coffees as the conversation flowed. The café was busy, bustling with people on a Saturday afternoon, giving Jason plenty of cover as he watched from a nearby table in a corner. He leaned back, pretending to scroll through his phone, though his eyes stayed fixed on Maggie.

At the table, Emily twirled her straw, a grin on her face. "So, Maggie, are you actually thinking of applying to Gotham University? Or is your dad still pushing for the Ivy League?"

Maggie laughed lightly. "Gotham U is my top choice, actually. I've been talking with Dad about it. It makes sense to stay close to home."

Stephanie raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's surprising. You could go anywhere, Mags."

Maggie shrugged, taking a sip of her coffee. "I know, but Gotham U has one of the best programs for what I'm looking at. Plus, I wouldn't have to start over somewhere new."

Emily giggled. "And Jason would totally lose it if you went out of state."

Maggie smirked faintly. "He'd manage. But yeah, staying here does have its perks."

Stephanie grinned. "I love this for you. Gotham U is lucky to have you if you go."

From his spot,he watched Maggie interact with her friends. On the surface, everything seemed normal—too normal. She laughed in all the right places, responded with the same quick wit he knew her for, but something about it felt… rehearsed. Like she was playing a role rather than just being herself.

He tapped his fingers against his thigh, debating whether to approach her. Maybe he was overthinking it. Maybe she really was fine, and he was just being paranoid.

But then there was the way she smiled—sharp, calculated, not the usual easy warmth he knew. And the way her eyes flicked around, subtly taking in her surroundings, as if she were on high alert even while chatting about dresses and college.

Emily leaned forward conspiratorially. "So, Maggie, are we going full glam for homecoming, or are we keeping it classic? You've got to have a plan."

Maggie tilted her head, pretending to think it over. "I'm leaning toward vintage. Something sleek and bold. You know, make a statement."

Stephanie clapped her hands together. "Yes! That's perfect. Alexis will be so jealous."

Emily grinned. "And speaking of statements, are you and Jason officially going to homecoming together?"

Maggie hesitated for the briefest moment, her smile never faltering. "Of course. He's my boyfriend, after all."

Jason tensed from his vantage point, catching the subtle shift in her tone. It was just a split second, but it was enough to make his unease grow.

He leaned forward, pretending to adjust his shoelaces as he kept his eyes on her. Why would she hesitate?Jason's mind raced as he watched her laugh again, perfectly fitting into the conversation with her friends. He needed answers, and he needed them soon.

The boutique was a whirlwind of color and glitter, racks of elegant dresses arranged in neat rows. Maggie stood with Emily and Stephanie near the center of the shop, her fingers running over the fabric of a sleek, dark dress.

"This one," Emily said, pulling out a gown with intricate lace and a soft blush hue. "It's gorgeous, Maggie. Try it on!"

Stephanie scoffed. "That's so not her color. Maggie needs something bold, something that screams queen." She grabbed a striking vintage-inspired black dress with a plunging neckline and dramatic embroidery. "This is the one."

Maggie—keeping her tone light and playful—tilted her head as she considered the dress. "You might be onto something, Steph."

As Maggie disappeared into the dressing room with the dresses, Stephanie and Emily continued rifling through the racks.

"She's so much more relaxed lately," Emily said, glancing toward the dressing rooms. "It's nice to see her back to herself."

Stephanie nodded, holding up a bright red dress to inspect it. "Yeah, I was worried after the whole motorcycle thing, but she seems fine now. Maybe even better than fine."

Meanwhile, Jason sat in his parked car a few blocks away, his fingers drumming restlessly on the steering wheel. He'd followed Maggie and her friends to the boutique, but he hadn't gone inside. Instead, he sat there, watching the entrance and debating his next move.

What am I doing? he thought, staring at the glowing boutique sign. She's dress shopping with her friends. Normal, right?…

His mind raced as he replayed everything he'd seen and felt since Maggie's return. Her sudden shift in behavior, her boldness, her too-perfect interactions—it all felt wrong. But what was he going to do? Walk into the boutique and accuse her of being… what, not herself? He could already hear Dick's voice in his head, telling him to let it go.

Jason exhaled sharply, pulling out his phone. He scrolled through his contacts and hovered over Constantine's name. This feels crazy, he thought, his thumb hesitating over the call button.

Instead, he opened a text to Constantine.

"Need to talk. Something's off with Maggie. Call me."

He put the phone down, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, Jason," he muttered to himself. "Play it smart. Watch. Wait. Don't screw this up."

Maggie stepped out of the dressing room in the vintage black dress Stephanie had picked, and both of her friends gasped.

"You look incredible," Emily said, clapping her hands together. "That's the dress."

Maggie turned to look at herself in the mirror, her lips curving into a faint smirk. The dramatic cut and intricate details suited her perfectly—powerful, commanding, and just a touch dangerous. "You're right," she said softly, her voice carrying a slight edge. "This is the one."

Stephanie grinned. "Told you!"

Maggie didn't reply, her eyes lingering on her reflection. For a moment, the shadows in the room seemed to ripple faintly, and her smirk deepened. Yes, she thought. This will do nicely.

Her friends didn't notice the shift, too busy chattering about their own dress options. Maggie moved back toward the dressing room, her mind already calculating her next steps.

Jason saw Maggie and her friends leaving the boutique, their bags in hand and laughter. His phone buzzed in his pocket. He ducked into an alleyway to check it, pulling up the message from Constantine:

"Get me a picture of her. Use the filter in the app I sent you. It'll show her aura. Don't screw this up, mate."

Jason scowled at the message but quickly opened the app Constantine had mentioned. The interface was simple, with a glowing camera icon and a slider labeled "Aura Detection." Jason adjusted it, then tucked his phone away, stepping back onto the street. He'd need the right moment to take the shot without drawing attention.

Maggie and her friends stopped at a small ice cream shop, taking a table near the window. Jason lingered across the street, pretending to browse a newspaper stand as he angled his phone toward the shop. Through the app's filter, the image of Maggie came into focus.

Her friends' auras were soft, warm shades of yellow and pink—normal, harmless energy. But Maggie's aura was entirely different. Swirling shadows of deep purple and black coiled around her like living tendrils, occasionally flaring with bursts of crimson. Jason's stomach dropped as he stared at the screen.What the hell ?

He quickly snapped a picture and sent it to Constantine with a short message:

"This is what you're looking for?"

The reply came almost instantly:

"Bloody hell. Keep your distance, kid. That's not your girlfriend."

"Earth to Maggie," Stephanie teased, waving her spoon in front of Maggie's face. "You've been staring out the window like you're waiting for something."

Maggie blinked, her expression shifting back into a warm smile. "Sorry. Just thinking about how much I missed hanging out with you guys. Feels good to get back to normal."

Emily grinned. "Aww, Mags! We missed you too. But, uh, speaking of normal… what's up with Alexis? She's been weirdly quiet about homecoming."

Stephanie snorted. "She's probably planning something dramatic. You know how she is—always has to make it about her."

Maggie chuckled, stirring her ice cream. "Well, let her. She can have the drama. I'll take the crown."

Her friends laughed, completely charmed by her confidence.

Jason leaned against the lamppost, his mind racing. He couldn't deny it anymore. Something was seriously wrong with Maggie. The picture he'd sent to Constantine confirmed it, and her behavior only added to the mounting evidence.

His phone buzzed again. Another message from Constantine:

"Meet me tonight. Don't confront her yet. Too risky. I'll explain everything then."

Jason gritted his teeth, his eyes fixed on Maggie as she laughed with her friends. He didn't like waiting, but Constantine was right—he needed more information before making a move.

As the girls left the ice cream shop and continued down the street, Jason followed at a safe distance, his resolve hardening. Whatever was going on, he was going to get to the bottom of it.