Becoming Nightshade

The last couple of days had been more than strange for Maggie. Ever since that kiss—unexpected, confusing, and completely unforgettable—Jason had practically disappeared. He wasn't answering her texts, and at school, he'd slip out of sight the second she came into view. If she tried to talk to him, he'd make up some excuse or, worse, pretend not to hear her. It was enough to make anyone feel like they'd done something wrong, and Maggie couldn't shake the knot of anxiety. Even her friends had started to pick up on it. Stephanie had been the first to comment, nudging Maggie's shoulder with a knowing look.

"Did you and Jason have some kind of fight? He's, like, ghosting you."

Maggie forced a laugh, brushing it off. "Please, you know how he is. He's probably off sulking about his grades or something." But even she knew the lie was flimsy. Stephanie gave her a skeptical look, but thankfully, didn't press.

Bruce and Maggie were in the training room together, and he watched her has he held the punching bag for her. Noticing her punches had more frustration, emotion and anger behind them.

"Did something happen between you and Jason?"

Maggie tensed. Leave it to Bruce to notice every little change. "Why?" she asked, feigning innocence.

"He's been... distant," Bruce said, with that careful tone he used when he wasn't sure he'd get an answer. "I thought maybe you two had another argument."

"Nothing like that," she replied quickly, a little too quickly. Her face burned as she focuses back on the bag and started punching it again, trying to sound casual.

"We're fine."

Bruce watched her carefully, but, thankfully, he didn't push. Maggie breathed a silent sigh of relief. The last thing she wanted was anyone knowing about the kiss, especially, her dad.

It wasn't fair, though. Jason had been the one to kiss her, and now he was acting like she was the one with a problem. The more she thought about it, the more her frustration simmered reaching its breaking point. Jason couldn't avoid Maggie this time. Bruce had put his foot down, assigning them to a training session together. With an annoyingly perceptive look, he'd told them both to...

"Get over whatever issue is going on" before heading off for a Justice League mission. Now, Jason had no way out.

Barbara and Dick, both sensing the tension, had been more than happy to supervise. Dick, especially, seemed to be enjoying it a little too much, his smirk lingering as he observed the way Jason stiffened every time Maggie so much as glanced in his direction. Barbara, meanwhile, was trying to hide her amusement behind a professional demeanor, though Maggie didn't miss the way her eyebrow quirked every time Jason avoided eye contact.

"So," Dick started, leaning against the cave wall with a casual air, "you two gonna tell us what's up, or do we have to guess?"

Maggie shot him a look that could melt steel, and Jason kept his gaze locked on his gloves, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.

Dick shrugged, nudging Barbara with a grin. "Fine by me. This ought to be interesting."

As they squared off, Maggie's stance was sharp, her eyes narrowed with a fire that had been simmering for days. Jason could feel the anger radiating off her, and while he tried to keep his focus, he knew he was in for it. They started off light—standard moves, nothing too challenging. But it didn't take long for Maggie to pick up the pace, her strikes growing quicker and fiercer with each exchange. Jason managed to deflect most of her blows, but he could see the frustration in her eyes, feel it in the weight behind each punch and kick.

"Is that all you got?" Jason muttered, hoping to keep things casual.

Maggie's eyes flashed. She lunged forward, her movements now less calculated and more forceful, the carefully measured restraint she usually practiced slipping away. With each swing, each dodge, she seemed to be letting something out, her breaths coming faster, her gaze locked on him with an intensity that made Jason wish he faked being sick to get out of this training session. Barbara and Dick exchanged a quick look, but neither intervened, letting the tension unfold. Maggie's movements became sharper, more relentless. Jason struggled to keep up, his reflexes just a beat too slow as Maggie closed in, backing him into a corner. She landed a hit against his shoulder, and he staggered, her words cutting as deeply as her fists.

"You're such an ass," she hissed, her tone biting.

Jason clenched his jaw, blocking her next hit, but he didn't retaliate. Instead, his voice came out barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry."

The apology only seemed to fuel her anger, and she pressed forward, determined not to let him off that easily. The tension was palpable, so much so that even Dick and Barbara couldn't ignore it.

Dick leaned toward Barbara; brow raised. "You got any idea what Jason did to set her off like this?"

Barbara shook her head, watching the sparring match with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Not a clue. But whatever it was… he must've really messed up."

As the sparring continued, Maggie's voice grew louder, mocking his words from before. Her tone was sharp, each line cutting deeper than any physical blow.

"'I'm sorry… I know I shouldn't have done that…'" She blocked his attempt to dodge, forcing him back. "'I wanted to do that for a while now…'" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

Jason stumbled, caught off and before he knew it, she had him pinned to the mat. They were face-to-face, her hands pressing his shoulders down, leaving him with nowhere to escape.

"Answer me," she demanded, her voice low but firm.

Jason managed to twist, reversing the pin and holding Maggie down, his face just inches from hers. "What do you want?" he asked, feigning innocence, but Maggie could see the hesitation in his eyes.

Frustrated, she shifted her weight, flipping him back down and pinning him again. "I want you to stop avoiding me and just talk to me."

Jason swallowed, trying to keep his expression unreadable. "About what?"

Maggie rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. "About this," she whispered, and before he could respond, she leaned down, capturing his lips in a kiss, forgetting they were not alone.

Across the room, Dick's eyes went wide as he registered what was happening. He sprang into action, rushing forward and pulling Maggie off Jason, his voice rising in horror. "No, no, no! Absolutely not on my watch!"

Barbara, unable to hold back, burst into laughter at the scene, her laughter echoing through the training room as Dick continued to stand between them like a human barrier, shaking his head with disbelief. Dick shot Barbara a look, his expression a mix of exasperation and disbelief.

"This isn't funny!" he insisted, though his flushed face and flustered tone only made Barbara laugh harder.

"Oh, come on, Dick," she replied between chuckles. "Lighten up. You know it was bound to happen... eventually."

Dick groaned, running a hand over his face. "Yeah, well, I didn't need to see it happening!" He threw a glance back at Maggie and Jason, who were both looking anywhere but at each other—or him.

Barbara just shook her head, still smiling. "Relax, big brother. It's just a kiss."

But Dick's frown only deepened. "Not when it's *my* little sister."

Maggie stepped forward; her expression serious as she tried to make her point.

"For the record," she began, eyes narrowing at Jason, "he kissed me first, after I gave him the antidote from Scarecrow's fear toxin."

Jason crossed his arms, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, well, you kissed me back when I did."

Maggie's face flushed with frustration. "So, what is it, Jason? Do you like… like me, or was it just heat of the moment?"

Jason's bravado faltered, and he shifted uncomfortably, glancing from Maggie to the floor and then back again. The silence stretched between them, thick and uncertain, while Dick's face paled, and Barbara looked on with quiet amusement, waiting to see if Jason would finally give her a straight answer. The silence stretched on, thick and tense, until Maggie's frustration finally bubbled over. She shook her head, biting back her words before turning on her heel and storming off, her footsteps echoing as she disappeared. Jason's gaze lingered in the direction she'd gone, his shoulders sagging. Barbara stepped closer, her tone soft but direct.

"If you're afraid to tell her how you feel, why don't you talk to us?"

Jason shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's not that simple. I'm… not even sure how I feel. That's why I was avoiding her." He let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't have an answer for her."

Dick folded his arms, a skeptical look crossing his face. "Then why'd you kiss her?"

Jason glanced down at a loss for words. He shrugged, his voice barely audible. "In that moment… it just felt right. But now, I don't know... I never felt this way before."

Barbara's expression softened. "So, what exactly *are* you feeling when it comes to Maggie?"

Jason hesitated, his gaze drifting as he tried to put it into words. "She's beautiful, smart… kind... I mean, did you hear about how she took down the Riddler by just being mean?" He chuckled, the memory sparking a brief smile. "It was so funny. And… she gets so cute when she's mad—her eyes just get brighter, and her nose crinkles when she's studying." He paused, running a hand through his hair."

Barbara raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Jason, it sounds like you got a crush, and from what I can tell, there's a very good possibility Maggie feels the same way. That's probably why she's so frustrated."

Jason looked at her, uncertain, her words sinking in. The idea of Maggie liking him back was almost overwhelming, yet there was something reassuring in it, too—maybe even hopeful.

Dick sighed, fixing Jason with a serious look. "Look, Jay, I get it. I really do. But there's something you need to think about here—something that Bruce hammered into me and Barbara a long time ago. Dating within the team? It's complicated, and it can be dangerous, not just for you but for everyone around you."

Jason looked away, clearly uncomfortable, but Dick continued, his tone unyielding.

"The thing is, when we're out there, we're targets. Every single one of us. Enemies are always looking for leverage, for a weak spot they can use against us. And if they catch onto something personal, something like this? They'll use it to their advantage without a second thought."

Jason shifted his weight, avoiding Dick's gaze. "Yeah, but we can handle that stuff, right?"

Dick shook his head, his voice firm. "This isn't just about handling it. Being close to someone on the team makes you vulnerable in ways that go beyond physical danger. You'll be distracted, worried about them, even if you think you can stay focused. It's more than that, Jason. When someone's out there with you and you care about them that much, you make decisions based on emotion instead of logic. You end up putting them, and yourself, at risk. Bruce taught us that, and he's right."

Jason finally looked up; his brows knit together. "But you and Babs—"

Dick raised a hand, cutting him off. "Yeah, and I'll be honest, it hasn't always been easy. It's caused issues, times when one of us got hurt because the other couldn't keep emotions in check. We did make it work, but it's a constant struggle, and it's not something to take lightly."

He placed a hand on Jason's shoulder. "Look, I'm not telling you to ignore your feelings or pretend they don't exist. But you need to think this through. If you're serious about this—about her—you have to be aware of the risk and decide if you're ready for the complications, it'll bring. Because once it's out there, there's no going back. And I know Maggie means a lot to you, so you need to think about what's best for her, too."

Jason bit his lip, clearly absorbing the weight of Dick's words, his mind turning over everything Dick had said.

Barbara, who had been listening quietly until now, crossed her arms and gave Dick a pointed look.

"Hypocrite much?"

Dick turned to her, a little taken aback. "Excuse me?"

Barbara rolled her eyes. "You're lecturing Jason about the dangers of dating within the team, but do you even hear yourself? You and I had navigated this same 'complication' and need I point out you and Kori."

Dick sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's not the same, Babs."

"Oh, it's exactly the same," she countered, her tone both amused and exasperated. "We've had close calls, sure. We've had to balance it all, but it's worked because we're honest with each other and realistic about the risks. And we know how much we care about each other. You're lecturing just like Bruce did, but maybe he just needs a little guidance instead of a scare tactic."

Jason looked between them, surprised at Barbara's defense, a hint of a smirk forming on his lips. Dick opened his mouth to argue but realized he'd been backed into a corner. He shifted, his serious demeanor softening.

"Fine, maybe I came on a little strong," Dick admitted, glancing at Jason. "But it's because I know how dangerous this life is."

Barbara softened as well, nodding. "That's all we're saying, Jay. If you're going to pursue this, just be sure you're ready to face the challenges it brings. Maggie deserves someone who knows what they're getting into—and is all in."

Jason nodded slowly, absorbing their words. "I get it. And… thanks.... I'm gonna go talk to her...Before she rips my head off."

Dick patted him on the back with a small smile. "Good luck, Jay."

With a final nod, Jason headed off to find Maggie, leaving Dick and Barbara alone in the quiet of the training room. Barbara watched him disappear, a soft smile crossing her face. She glanced over at Dick, her eyes warm with nostalgia.

"Remember being that young?" she asked, a hint of laughter in her voice.

Dick chuckled, folding his arms. "Oh yeah. Seems like a lifetime ago."

Barbara shook her head, amusement sparking in her eyes. "Just so we're clear, I'm not telling Bruce about any of this."

Dick grinned, nodding. "Me neither. They're on their own with him."

They both laughed, the sound echoing through the room as they shared the silent agreement to let Jason and Maggie navigate this one on their own.

Jason made his way to Maggie's room, feeling his heart thud a little harder with each step. He took a steadying breath before knocking lightly on the doorframe. Maggie looked up from her desk, where she was buried in schoolwork, her expression cool and still tinged with frustration.

"What do you want?" she asked, not bothering to hide her irritation.

Jason shifted awkwardly; his hands shoved into his pockets. "I… wanted to talk..."

Maggie raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "So now you're ready to talk?"

He nodded, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes.

"Yeah. Look, I know I've been avoiding you, and that's on me. I didn't know what to say, because… I don't really know what I'm doing here. Or how I feel, exactly."

He glanced at her, searching for any sign she was listening, and then took another breath, pushing himself to continue.

"But I do know that I've never felt this way about anyone before."

Her gaze softened slightly, but she kept her arms crossed, waiting for him to go on. Jason ran a hand through his hair, trying to find the right words.

"It's like… every time I see you, I feel this weird mix of things. You're always surprising me—you're smart, you're tough, and you don't let anyone tell you what to do. It's… kind of amazing." He hesitated, his voice dropping a little. "And… you drive me crazy sometimes, in a good way. The kind that makes me want to be around you more, even when I'm trying not to."

Maggie's expression wavered, a flicker of surprise and something else—maybe even hope—in her eyes. She looked down, biting her lip as he continued.

"I don't have all the answers, Maggie. But I know I don't want to mess this up. And if you'll let me… I want to figure it out, with you."

Maggie looked down, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of her notebook. She took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper at first.

"I'm confused too."

She looked up, meeting his gaze, her expression softening as the frustration she'd been holding onto began to dissolve.

"I don't… I don't know how I feel either. It's like every time I think I've got it figured out, you go and do something that throws me off balance."

Jason managed a small, tentative smile. "Yeah? I thought you had all the answers."

She rolled her eyes, but a tiny smile crept onto her face. "Not this time."

Both a little unsure, both feeling the weight of emotions they hadn't quite sorted out yet. Maggie took a breath, finally speaking up again.

"But… I think I'd like to figure it out too. Maybe we can be confused together...Over burgers and fries?"

Jason chuckled, the tension in his shoulders finally easing. "Burgers and fries, huh? Now that's something I can get behind."

"Good," she said, her smile growing. "Tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow night," he agreed, feeling a rush of warmth that he hadn't expected. This felt… easy, like the pressure and uncertainty had lifted, leaving only the promise of figuring things out together.