Becoming Nightshade

Back in Gotham after a weekend in Smallville, life quickly resumed its usual pace for Bruce, Jason, and Maggie. The relaxation of the farm felt like a distant memory as they returned to a city always on the edge. As evening settled in, they all gathered in the living room of Wayne Manor. Just as they were about to start a movie, the familiar, piercing sound of the Bat-Signal reached them. Bruce tensed, exchanging a look with Jason.

"Looks like duty calls," Bruce said, rising from the couch and reaching for his comm.

Jason groaned, though a hint of excitement flickered in his eyes. "Who's stirring up trouble now?"

Bruce glanced at the Bat computer nearby, scanning the details coming through. "One of Penguin's people hit a warehouse in the Narrows. Looks like there's more going on."

Jason cracked his knuckles, already mentally switching into Robin mode. "Alright, let's take care of it."

Bruce gave a quick nod to Maggie. "Don't wait up."

Maggie waved them off. "No problem. I'll make sure to keep myself busy."

As they headed down to the Batcave to suit up, Maggie heard the low hum of the Batmobile starting up, then the roar of its engine as it sped out into the night. She waited until the house was still and quiet, then pulled out her phone, dialing a familiar number.

Roy picked up on the first ring. "Hey, Sweetie. What's up?"

Maggie smiled at the sound of his voice. "Hey, you free tonight?"

"For you? Always," he said smoothly, and she could practically hear the grin in his voice.

"Great. Get over here," she said, a playful edge in her tone. "I've got the place to myself."

A little while later, Roy showed up, a slight smirk on his face as he took in the vastness of Wayne Manor. "So, this is what it's like when your family is out, huh?"

"Enjoy it while it lasts," Maggie teased, leading him to the media room. "I was thinking we could watch something… or maybe just talk. Whatever you're in the mood for."

"Uh-huh." Roy looked amused, slipping an arm around her shoulders as they sat down on the plush couch. "What are *you* in the mood for?"

Maggie feigned a thoughtful look. "Well, we could start with a movie…"

She clicked the remote, and the screen lit up, though neither of them was really paying attention. Before long, she felt his arm pull her in closer, his hand resting at her waist. They leaned in, lips meeting softly, then deepening as the minutes slipped by, the movie nothing more than background noise. They laughed in between kisses, talking in soft murmurs. Roy and Maggie were lost in each other, the movie long forgotten as their kisses deepened. The room was dim, the faint glow of the TV casting soft light over them. They leaned into each other, Roy's hand drifting to Maggie's waist as he pulled her closer, both completely unaware of anything outside their bubble. Then the room was suddenly illuminated by the unmistakable glare of a hallway light flicking on. Maggie barely had time to process it before the door swung open, and Bruce and Jason stepped inside, freshly back from their night out on the streets, sporting a few new bruises and looking very much the worse for wear back in their regular clothes. Bruce stopped in his tracks, his usually calm expression giving way to a raised eyebrow as he took in the scene on the couch.

"Maggie," Bruce said, voice steady but with an unmistakable edge of disapproval.

Maggie froze, eyes wide, face flushed, and immediately pulled back from Roy. "Uh… hey, Dad. I thought you and Jason were—" she stammered, scrambling for an excuse but coming up empty as the reality of the situation hit her.

Roy awkwardly adjusted himself, giving a quick, nervous wave. "Uh, Mr. Wayne, hey. Jason. Good to see you guys. Didn't… didn't hear you come in."

Jason's smirk was immediate, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe as he looked at Maggie with amusement. "Clearly."

Bruce gave Roy a scrutinizing look, then shifted his gaze to Maggie, his expression unreadable. "Well, we're home now," he said, with the kind of tone that left no room for debate. "Mind telling us what's going on?"

Maggie tried to compose herself, tucking her hair behind her ear and meeting Bruce's gaze as confidently as she could. "We were just… watching a movie." She glanced at Roy, who was attempting to look as innocent as possible.

"Watching a movie, right," Jason said, his smirk widening. "Looked like a… pretty intense movie."

Maggie shot him a glare, muttering, "Not helping, Jason."

Bruce, seeming to take in the whole situation with an air of forced calm, crossed his arms. "Maggie… I expect a little more discretion when we're not home."

Maggie's cheeks flushed deeper. "Got it, Dad."

Bruce looked over at Roy. "I think it's best if you head home now. And Maggie—" he looked at her, his expression softening just slightly, "—we'll talk in the morning."

Maggie nodded, shooting Roy an apologetic look as she walked him to the door, while Jason and Bruce shared a knowing glance. Once she'd seen Roy out, she turned back to see Jason grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

"Rough night, huh?" Jason said with a grin.

Maggie narrowed her eyes. "Not. One. Word."

Jason laughed, holding his hands up in surrender, as Bruce gave them both a look that said this conversation was far from over. But for now, he just shook his head, walking toward the kitchen for an ice pack.

The next morning, Maggie tried to slip quietly into the kitchen, hoping to grab breakfast and maybe avoid the inevitable conversation with her dad. The house was peaceful, the early morning sun casting soft light through the windows as she moved toward the coffee maker. But as soon as she reached for a mug, she felt someone's gaze on her. Turning, she saw her father sitting at the dining table with a newspaper, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He gestured to the chair across from him.

"Good morning, Maggie. Have a seat," he said in his usual calm tone, though his eyes held a familiar seriousness.

"Morning, Dad," she murmured, sitting down, bracing herself. She felt her cheeks flush just thinking about last night. "Look, I know… I know last night looked… bad."

Bruce folded the newspaper neatly and set it aside. "You could say that." He leaned back, taking a breath. "I'm not here to lecture you, Maggie. You're getting older, and...There's a certain level of respect and trust I expect under this roof."

Maggie nodded, her gaze dropping to the table. "I get it, Dad."

Bruce's tone softened slightly. "I remember what it was like, being young. You're going to make choices, and you're going to make mistakes." He looked at her, his expression understanding. "But remember that those choices reflect more than just yourself. It's about your respect for our home, your respect for yourself."

Maggie met his gaze, feeling a little steadier. "I know. I… I really like Roy, and I wasn't trying to do anything disrespectful. I guess we just got carried away."

Bruce's expression lightened, a trace of amusement in his eyes. "Roy seems like a good kid, Maggie. But keep in mind that while I trust you, I also expect you to keep your head. In Gotham, people see and judge everything you do a little harder, especially when you're my daughter."

Maggie sighed, knowing he was right. "I'll do better. I don't want to give people a reason to look at me differently. Or give you a reason to worry."

Bruce gave her a faint smile, reaching over to place a reassuring hand on hers. "You know, I'm always going to worry a little Maggie. You're smart, independent, and I know you're capable of making good choices. Just… make sure those choices reflect the person you want to be."

She nodded, a smile finally creeping onto her face. "Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it. "

He gave her a gentle nod, then stood up, pausing to give her a small pat on the shoulder. "Good. And maybe next time, a little less 'movie-watching' while Jason and I are out?"

Maggie laughed, groaning as she dropped her face into her hands. "Noted."

Bruce leaves the kitchen as Jason strolled in looking far too alert for this hour. He gave her a wide grin, the type that only meant trouble, and poured himself a mug of coffee.

"Morning, *Casanova*," he greeted, smirking as he stirred in a spoonful of sugar.

Maggie rolled her eyes, though a blush crept up her cheeks. "I'm guessing you've got a whole list of things you're dying to say, huh?"

"Oh, you have no idea," Jason said, settling across from her with an amused glint in his eyes. "Let's start with the basics: did you even *watch* the movie, or was it just for cover?"

Maggie groaned, taking a long sip of her coffee to stall. "Yes, Jason, I actually had plans to watch the movie. But then things… you know."

Jason laughed, leaning back in his chair, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "Uh-huh. Sure, they just *happened.*" He gave her a playful nudge with his foot under the table. "And by 'things,' you mean—?"

"None of your business," she cut in quickly, shooting him a glare, though the corner of her mouth betrayed a smile.

"Oh, come on," he said, winking. "I'd say it's my business now, considering Bruce and I got to walk in on your 'movie night'."

Maggie shook her head, setting down her mug with a sigh. "You're never going to let this go, are you?"

Jason put on a mock thoughtful expression, scratching his chin. "Let's see… little miss can't do no wrong got caught making out on the couch while we're out fighting crime? Nope."

"Great," she muttered, covering her face with her hands. "I'm never going to live this down."

Jason leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Hey, no need to be embarrassed. It was kind of impressive, actually—didn't think you had it in you to go to second base.

She peeked through her fingers to see him giving her a mock bow.

"Roy didn't seem to mind," she replied, regaining some of her sass.

"True," Jason conceded with a laugh. "But, you know, you might want to rethink the whole making out with your boyfriend at home thing. I don't think Bruce has recovered from the shock."

Maggie chuckled, relaxing a little. "Yeah, I know. He gave me 'The Talk' this morning."

Jason's eyebrows shot up. "Oof. *That* talk?"

She nodded, half-amused, half-embarrassed. "Yup. He even managed to work in 'respect,' 'trust,' and 'Gotham's expectations.' It was the whole deal."

Jason chuckled, giving her a look of mock sympathy. "That's what you get for putting on a show while the old man's out. But, hey—" he paused, giving her a genuine smile.

"Now you know why I never make out with any of my dates at home."

Maggie nodded, a soft smile on her face. "Yeah... And thanks for not being too brutal with the teasing… for once."

Jason shrugged, flashing her a mischievous grin as he took a bite of his toast. "Hey, don't thank me too soon. I'm just saving the good stuff for when I see Roy."

Maggie rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing.

That afternoon at Gotham's downtown arcade, Jason strolled in, spotting Roy leaning over a pinball machine, fully engrossed in his game. Jason grinned, knowing this was the perfect opportunity to make Roy squirm a little.

He ambled over, leaning casually against the machine. "So, *Romeo,* how's it going?" Jason asked, his tone dripping with amusement.

Roy glanced over, surprised, then shot him a grin. "Oh, hey, man. Good to see you. I, uh, didn't know you'd be here."

"Yeah, I thought I'd stop by," Jason replied, crossing his arms with a smirk. "You know, make sure my sister's *movie night* friend's still breathing after last night's little performance."

Roy's face turned slightly pink as he tried to maintain his cool. "Look, Jason, I swear, we didn't mean for..."

Jason chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. "Relax, man. I'm just messing with you. But, for the record, Bruce was *not* impressed." He paused, raising an eyebrow. "And neither was I, walking in on that. I mean, the couch? Seriously?"

Roy rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "We just got carried away..."

"Sure, sure." Jason gave him a brotherly, good-natured punch to the arm. "But listen up, okay? Just because I'm cool with you doesn't mean you get a free pass. Respect

Maggie, or you're going to be dealing with me, and I don't play nice."

Roy nodded, his expression earnest. "I get it. I care about Maggie—a lot. And I'd never do anything to hurt her."

Jason's smirk softened. "Good." He then grinned, his teasing tone returning. "But, for the record, next time, maybe keep the make-out sessions to your place, huh?"

Roy laughed, raising his hands. "Message received, loud and clear."

Meanwhile, across the city back in the Wayne Manor training room, Maggie was sparring with Barbara Gordon. They were practicing grappling techniques, but Barbara had a mischievous twinkle in her eye as she threw a light jab Maggie's way.

"So, heard you got yourself busted by your dad last night," Barbara said with a laugh, dodging Maggie's quick kick.

Maggie groaned, blocking a punch. "I swear, Jason's going to make sure the entire city knows at this rate."

Barbara chuckled, holding her hands up to pause their sparring. "Hey, if it makes you feel better, Bruce once caught me and Dick making out on a rooftop."

Maggie's eyes widened. "No way! In suits?"

Barbara shrugged, laughing as she recalled it. "Oh, yeah. We'd just finished a patrol, and things got… steamy." She shook her head. "Then, bam, there's Bruce, standing there like he's about to deduct points from us for unprofessional conduct."

Maggie burst out laughing, imagining the scene. "What did he say?"

Barbara smirked, rolling her eyes. "Nothing. Just this intense, disappointed Batman look. He cleared his throat, gave Dick a glare, and said, 'Is this what I trained you for?' I think we were both too mortified to respond."

Maggie laughed, shaking her head. "Guess I'm not the only one then. Dad gave me the same disappointed speech this morning."

Barbara threw her arm around Maggie's shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "It's all part of the Bat-family initiation, Maggie. Don't worry— And he's only hard on you because you're his little girl."

Maggie nodded. "Thanks, Babs. I guess it's not the end of the world if I embarrassed myself a little. And hey, it's good to know I'm not alone."

Barbara smiled warmly. "Exactly. And hey, just be thankful it wasn't on a rooftop."

Later that night, Roy was lounging on his bed, scrolling through his phone when it buzzed with an incoming call. The caller ID read "Dick Grayson." Curiosity piqued, he answered. "Hey, Dick! What's up?"

"Hey, Roy," Dick's voice came through, casual at first. "So, I got your number from Jason. Hope that's cool."

"Yeah, sure! What's going on?" Roy asked, his tone brightening.

There was a pause on the other end before Dick continued, his voice shifting into a more serious tone. "I wanted to talk to you about Maggie."

Roy's stomach dropped slightly. "Uh-oh. "

"I've heard about your 'movie night'," Dick replied, his tone firm but not unkind. "And I wanted to have a little chat."

"Okay…" Roy said slowly, feeling the weight of Dick's words. "What about it?"

"I just wanted to remind you to keep your hands to yourself when it comes to her," Dick said, sounding more like an older brother than a vigilante. "Maggie is my little sister, and I want to make sure she's treated with respect."

Roy swallowed, feeling the tension rise. "Look, I care about her, Dick. I really do. It just… happened. We didn't mean for it to go that far."

"I get it," Dick interrupted, his voice calming. "But you need to be careful. I don't want her getting hurt."

Roy nodded, even though Dick couldn't see him. "I know, I really like her, man. I was thinking about introducing her to my parents."

"Good," Dick replied, paused for a moment, then added, "And just so you know, if I hear about anything like what happened last night happening again, I'll personally make sure Jason is the least of your worries."

Roy chuckled nervously as Dick ended the call.