Becoming Nightshade

Maggie took a deep breath, steadying herself. This time, she wasn't holding back. If Conner wanted a fight, she was going to give him one. Shadows coiled around her feet like living tendrils, pulsating with energy. Her eyes darkened with focus as she locked onto Conner, determination hardening her features.

Conner grinned, sensing the shift in her demeanor. "Alright, Mags. Let's see what you've got."

Before he could take another step, the shadows surged forward with blinding speed, coiling around his legs like thick chains. He grunted in surprise, trying to push through, but this time the darkness was heavier—denser. Maggie had reinforced them with sheer will, pouring more of herself into their structure.

Conner's grin faltered slightly. "Okay... that's new."

She flicked her wrist, and the shadows tightened, pulling him off balance just enough for her to move in. She sprinted forward, her form gliding seamlessly through the darkness, reappearing in front of him in an instant. With precision, she landed a sharp kick to his side, using the shadows to augment her speed and force.

Conner stumbled back a step, eyes wide. "Whoa! Okay, that actually hurt."

Clark, observing from the sidelines, nodded in approval. "She's focusing better now. No wasted movement."

Bruce, arms crossed, remained stoic but watchful. "She's finally fighting with intent."

Conner rolled his shoulders, his usual playful smirk replaced with something more predatory. "Alright, Mags," he said, his voice carrying a sharp edge. "No more playing around."

Before Maggie could react, Conner was on her—faster than she anticipated. A gust of wind slammed into her as he closed the distance in an instant, throwing a punch aimed straight at her gut. Maggie barely managed to throw up a shadow shield, but the force of the impact sent her skidding back across the training mat, her feet digging into the ground to stop herself.

Jason tensed on the sidelines. "Hey, take it easy!" he shouted, but Bruce raised a hand, silencing him.

Maggie clenched her fists, shaking off the sting in her ribs. She narrowed her eyes, shadows swirling around her hands. "Alright, Conner. You want to play rough? Let's play rough."

Conner didn't wait. He lunged at her again, and this time Maggie was ready. She sidestepped, shadows swirling at her feet, propelling her faster than before. She reappeared behind him, striking out with a tendril of darkness aimed at his throat, but Conner ducked, countering with a brutal elbow to her side that sent her sprawling.

"Too slow," he taunted, standing over her, his blue eyes sharp and unrelenting.

Maggie gritted her teeth, using the momentum of the fall to roll away and push herself up, her shadows thickening around her like armor. She sent a whip of darkness snaking toward his legs, but Conner grabbed it mid-air and yanked her forward with terrifying strength. Maggie barely had time to react before his fist came flying toward her face.

At the last second, she dissolved into the shadows, reforming behind him and slamming an enhanced kick to the back of his knee. Conner stumbled but spun fast, his fist catching her in the shoulder, sending her crashing to the ground once more.

"Is that all you've got?" he growled, stepping toward her.

Maggie wiped a trickle of sweat from her forehead, her eyes burning with renewed determination. "Not even close."

She thrust her hands forward, and the shadows obeyed, twisting around Conner's limbs with more force than before. This time, they didn't just restrain him—they weighed him down, pressing into him with suffocating density. His expression flickered with irritation as he struggled against them, his muscles straining. Maggie stepped closer, shadows swirling around her like a storm.

Conner's eyes flared red for a split second. "Enough!" he barked, and with a deafening roar, he broke free, the shadows shattering into shards of darkness. Before Maggie could react, he closed the gap, grabbing her by the arm and lifting her effortlessly off the ground.

Jason took a step forward, fists clenched. "That's it—"

Bruce's voice was cold and sharp. "Stand down."

Maggie twisted in Conner's grip, her shadows spiraling around her arm like blades. She slammed them into his wrist, forcing him to release her. Landing with feline grace, she pivoted, sending a dozen shadow tendrils at him simultaneously. They coiled around his legs, arms, and torso, dragging him down with relentless force.

Conner grunted, his face darkening with frustration. "You're good, Mags. But not good enough." With an explosive burst of strength, he broke free again, this time slamming his shoulder into her midsection and pinning her against the wall.

She gasped, her vision blurring for a second, but instead of backing down, Maggie smirked. "Gotcha."

From the ground beneath him, the shadows surged upward in an inky wave, wrapping around him like a vice. They hardened instantly, forming a thick cocoon that locked him in place.

Conner struggled, his jaw tightening. "Damn it."

Clark stepped forward, signaling the end. "That's enough." His voice was calm but authoritative.

Maggie panted, slowly withdrawing the shadows, letting Conner free. He stepped back, rolling his shoulders with a scowl. "You caught me off guard," he admitted. "Won't happen again."

Maggie smirked, though exhaustion weighed heavy in her body.

Bruce, who had been silent through the entire exchange, finally spoke. "You relied on your powers to compensate for physical weaknesses. You still left yourself open."

Maggie swallowed hard and nodded. "I'll work on it."

Jason ran up to her side, offering a hand. "You alright?"

"Yea just got to walk it off."

Jason's smirk faded instantly as he caught Maggie before she hit the ground, his arms steadying her. "Easy there, tough girl," he said, concern lacing his voice. "You're not walking anything off if you can't even stand."

Maggie grimaced, clutching her side. "Okay… maybe walking it off was a bad idea," she admitted through gritted teeth. "I think I might have broken a rib or two."

Bruce was already moving toward them, his keen eyes scanning her with a mixture of scrutiny and concern.

Conner, standing nearby with his arms crossed, shifted uncomfortably. "I, uh... didn't think I hit that hard," he muttered.

Clark placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You did fine, Conner. Maggie's tougher than she looks, but injuries happen. It's part of the training."

Dick jogged over, kneeling beside Maggie with a playful smirk, though his eyes held a hint of worry. "Well, at least you can say you held your own against a Kryptonian. Not many people can brag about that."

Maggie rolled her eyes but winced in pain. "Yeah, I'll add it to my resume."

Jason, still holding onto her, shot Dick a glare. "Not helping, Grayson."

Bruce gestured toward the exit. "Jason, help her to the med bay. I'll call Alfred to have him prep the medical equipment."

Jason nodded, carefully wrapping an arm around Maggie's waist. "C'mon, Mags. Let's get you patched up before Bruce decides to put you through another round of training as a 'learning experience.'"

Maggie groaned but leaned into him as they walked, her steps slow and measured. "I think I learned enough for today."

Clark watched them go, turning to Bruce with a thoughtful expression. "She's determined. Reminds me of someone I know."

Bruce glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "She'll need more than determination."

Clark nodded. "She's getting there."

Maggie sat on the medical table, wincing as Alfred gently pressed along her ribs with the utmost care and precision. His expression remained calm and professional, though the subtle trace of concern in his eyes didn't escape her notice. "You're fortunate, Miss Maggie," he said in his usual composed tone. "Nothing is broken, but you've sustained quite significant bruising. I'll prepare an ice pack and some pain relievers, but you'll need to refrain from any strenuous activity for the next few days."

Maggie let out a small breath of relief, leaning back slightly. "Thanks, Alfred. That's... honestly better than I expected." She glanced sideways at Jason, offering a small, tired smile. "Told you I was fine."

Jason, sitting rigidly beside her with his arms crossed, didn't look convinced. His jaw clenched, and his eyes—dark and intense—flicked toward Alfred. "Fine isn't almost collapsing because you can't breathe," he muttered. The worry in his voice was hard to mask, and Maggie felt it in the way his foot tapped restlessly against the floor. "Are you sure she's okay?"

Alfred nodded reassuringly. "Quite certain, Master Jason. However, I'd advise you to ensure she refrains from any unnecessary activity."

Before Jason could argue further, the medbay door creaked open, and Conner stepped inside, looking uncharacteristically hesitant. His usual confidence was dimmed, his shoulders tense as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Hey," he said quietly, eyes landing on Maggie. "I just... wanted to check on you. I didn't mean to go that hard. I got caught up in it, and I—"

Maggie held up a hand before he could finish, offering a small but sincere smile. "Conner, it's fine. It's training." She paused, her eyes softening despite the soreness in her body. "I'll be okay."

Jason, however, wasn't even close to fine. He shot up from his chair so fast it scraped against the floor, the harsh sound cutting through the quiet room. His glare was razor-sharp as he took a step toward Conner, placing himself between Maggie and the Kryptonian. "What the hell were you thinking, Conner?" His voice was low, dangerous. His fists curled at his sides, his muscles taut with restrained anger. "Maybe next time, you could try not throwing her around like she's some kind of rag doll."

Conner raised his hands in a peacekeeping gesture. "Look, man, I—"

Jason wasn't finished. "We get it—you're strong. You don't need to prove it by using her as your personal stress ball." His voice dripped with barely-contained fury, his protective instincts on high alert. "You could've seriously hurt her."

Maggie sighed, placing a hand on Jason's arm, a silent plea for him to back off. "Jay, it's fine—"

"No, it's not fine, Mags," Jason snapped, turning to her, his eyes filled with frustration and worry. "You could've broken something. You almost did." His gaze swung back to Conner. "I swear, if you ever—"

"Jason." Maggie's voice, though firm, carried an edge of irritation. "I'm okay. Alfred said nothing's broken."

Jason exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in agitation, but his eyes never left Conner. "You better be glad she's okay," he muttered, the protective fury still simmering beneath his words.

Conner sighed, his shoulders dropping. "Look, I get it. I messed up. I should've been more careful. It won't happen again."

Jason's fists remained clenched, but Maggie squeezed his arm again, this time firmer. "Jay, enough." Her voice carried more weight, her patience thinning. "I can handle myself."

Jason's jaw tightened. "Yeah? Because it sure didn't look like it when you were on the floor holding your ribs," he shot back, his tone edged with frustration and something deeper—fear.

Maggie's eyes narrowed. "I'm not some fragile little thing that needs you swooping in to fight my battles. I asked to train with Conner, and I knew what I was getting into."

Jason turned to fully face her, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. "Mags, I get that you're tough, okay? But that doesn't mean I'm gonna stand by and watch you get hurt like that." His voice softened slightly, but the fire in his eyes remained. "I can't."

Maggie folded her arms, clearly not buying into his overprotectiveness. "Jay, you're blowing this way out of proportion. It's training. People get bruised, it happens." She glanced toward Conner, who stood awkwardly by the door, rubbing the back of his neck. "He didn't mean to hurt me."

Jason let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. "That's not the point, Mags. It's not about intent, it's about what could've happened." He ran a hand through his hair, visibly trying to keep his temper in check. "What if it had been worse? What if next time, it is worse?"

Maggie's frustration boiled over, and she took a step closer to him. "Then I'll deal with it. Just like I always do." Her voice was heated now, defiant. "You're not my bodyguard, Jason. You're my boyfriend. There's a difference."

Jason's face fell slightly, the weight of her words hitting him harder than he expected. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated, his shoulders tensing. After a moment, he exhaled shakily, his usual bravado crumbling in the quiet space between them. "I just…" he started, voice barely above a whisper. His eyes met hers, filled with vulnerability he rarely showed. "I just don't want to lose you, Mags."

His hands twitched at his sides before he reached out, his fingers ghosting over hers as if afraid she might slip away. "I know you can handle yourself. I know you're strong. But that doesn't stop the what-ifs from getting to me." He swallowed hard, his voice thick with emotion. "I've lost people before. And every time you get hurt... it feels like I'm one step away from losing you too."

Maggie's frustration softened at the raw honesty in his words. She gently cupped his face, forcing him to look at her. "Jason… I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

He let out a bitter chuckle, leaning into her touch. "You can't promise that," he whispered. "This life... it doesn't care about promises. It takes and takes, and I just—I can't lose you to it. Not you."

A cough from the doorway shattered the moment, and they turned to see Conner standing there, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uh… should I come back later, or are we done with the dramatic declarations?"

Jason groaned, pulling away from Maggie slightly but keeping an arm protectively around her waist. "Really, Kon? You got nothing better to do?"

Conner smirked. "Nope. Just here to see if you're done glaring at me like you want to toss me into orbit."

Before Jason could fire back, Alfred's voice chimed in smoothly. "Master Todd, while your affections are touching, I do believe Miss Maggie requires rest, not prolonged embraces that might further agitate her injuries."

Maggie sighed, shaking her head with a tired smile. "Thanks, Alfred."

Alfred's expression remained perfectly composed, though the twinkle in his eye betrayed his amusement. "And if I may, Master Kent, lurking in doorways is hardly becoming of a gentleman."

Conner held up his hands. "Right, right. I'll be lurking elsewhere." He shot a wink at Maggie before stepping back. "Feel better, Mags. And Jason? Try not to explode, man."

Jason rolled his eyes as Conner disappeared. Maggie nudged him gently. "He's just trying to help."

Jason huffed, his expression softening. "Yeah, well, next time, he can help without turning you into a punching bag."

Alfred cleared his throat. "Perhaps, Master Todd, a cup of tea would do you well."

Jason sighed. "Yeah, yeah." He squeezed Maggie's hand before reluctantly letting go. "I'll be back in a bit."

As Jason followed Alfred out, Maggie smiled, knowing that despite his overprotectiveness, he'd always be in her corner.