Becoming Nightshade

Maggie sat on the edge of the bed, her posture relaxed as she idly scrolled through her phone. The soft glow of the device illuminated her face as she scanned through messages and social media posts, absorbing every detail of Maggie's life. It was fascinating how much these modern humans lived through their little screens, how much of themselves they gave away.

"They practically hand you the keys to their lives," Lillyanna murmured to herself, smirking as she scrolled through a group chat with Maggie's friends. They were discussing homecoming plans, dress shopping, and petty high school drama. The mundanity of it all amused her, but it also served a purpose—keeping up appearances.

The door was closed, and the manor was quiet, save for the faint hum of Alfred moving about downstairs. Lillyanna had no intention of leaving Maggie's room tonight. She needed this time to ensure the cracks in her disguise didn't show.

She set the phone down and stood, moving to the mirror. Staring at her reflection, she tilted her head slightly, studying Maggie's face as if it were a mask she was trying on. "You've got everyone fooled," she whispered, a hint of pride in her tone. "Even Jason… for now.

Lillyanna stood in front of the mirror, her reflection rippling faintly as if the glass couldn't quite contain her presence. A shadow flickered across her face, darkening her expression. She stared at herself—or rather, at Maggie's face—her eyes cold and unrelenting. The weight of the shadows inside her pressed against her consciousness, a constant reminder of her purpose.

She tilted her head, her voice low and sharp. "Come on, Ms. Wayne," Lillyanna said, her tone dripping with a mix of impatience and encouragement. "You need to be stronger than that. You've got the power. You just need to stop fighting it."

The mirror rippled again, and Maggie's faint voice echoed back, weak and hesitant. "Why are you doing this?"

Lillyanna's expression softened slightly, though her tone remained firm. "Leave you alone? Oh, Maggie, that's not how this works. I am you now—or at least temporarily. "

Maggie's voice trembled, her presence flickering faintly in the reflection. "I didn't ask for this."

Lillyanna smirked, stepping closer to the mirror. "No one ever does, but here we are. You've been given a gift, Maggie, a power most people couldn't dream of. The shadows—they're a part of you now. You can either waste your time running from them, or you can learn to embrace them."

The room grew colder, the shadows on the walls twisting and writhing as Lillyanna's voice dropped to a near whisper. "Take your time. Learn the shadows. Accept the power. But until you do, I'll keep things running smoothly for you. I'll protect you."

The flicker of Maggie's presence grew fainter, her voice barely audible now. "Protect me? Or control me?"

Lillyanna's smile widened, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Does it matter? Either way, I'm keeping you alive."

Lillyanna as Maggie ran a hand through her hair, smoothing it back into place, and straightened her posture.

"Now," she said to herself, her voice calm and calculated. "Let's see what this little life of yours has to offer."

She turned away from the mirror, her mind already turning to her next move. Maggie could fight all she wanted in the depths of her consciousness, but Lillyanna was in control now—and she had no intention of letting go any time soon.

Lillyanna stepped away from the mirror, her thoughts sharp and focused. The shadows in the room seemed to ripple with anticipation, responding to her presence like loyal subjects awaiting orders. She glanced around, her eyes narrowing as she considered her next move.

"I suppose it's time to explore the possibilities," she murmured to herself, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Let's see what strings I can pull."

Pulling Maggie's phone from the nightstand, she unlocked it effortlessly, scanning through the messages and notifications. Her fingers hovered over a group chat with Maggie's friends, filled with mundane chatter about homecoming dresses and weekend plans. The banality of it all almost made her laugh, but she knew better than to underestimate the power of maintaining appearances.

Lillyanna's smirk widened as she typed the message, her fingers moving deftly across the screen. She knew exactly how to stir the pot while keeping up the act of being Maggie. The group chat buzzed almost instantly with responses, the first one coming from Stephanie.

Stephanie: OMG, yes! You'd totally kill it in something vintage and sexy. Alexis wouldn't know what hit her.

Emily: Haha, the thought of you getting the same dress as Alexis and making it look better? That's savage, Maggie. I'm here for it.

Lillyanna chuckled softly, pleased with how easily she could blend into Maggie's life. These friends of hers were simple—eager for drama, easily entertained, and none the wiser about who they were really talking to.

She added another message, her tone teasing but calculated.

Maggie: Savage? Me? Never. 😉 But seriously, let's make sure I find something that makes Alexis regret even showing up. Vintage it is.

The responses poured in with excited emojis and enthusiastic comments, feeding into the persona Lillyanna had so carefully crafted. She put the phone down, her smirk growing as she paced the room.

"High school games," she murmured to herself, shaking her head. "So trivial."

The shadows in the corners of the room flickered as if responding to her mood. Lillyanna turned toward the mirror, studying her reflection again. "Keep them busy, keep them distracted," she said softly.

She glanced back at the phone, her mind already turning to what else she could do to deepen her control over Maggie's life.

Jason landed on a rooftop with a heavy thud, his breathing sharp as he surveyed the dark alley below. A group of petty criminals were sprawled out on the pavement, groaning in pain from the beating they'd just received. Jason's knuckles were bloody, his staff cracked slightly at the tip from the sheer force of his hits.

Dick dropped down beside him, his movements quieter, more fluid. He adjusted the escrima sticks in his hands and gave Jason a pointed look. "Alright, that's enough, Robin," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "You've got to dial it back."

Jason didn't respond immediately, his chest heaving as he glared down at the unconscious criminals. Finally, he wiped his face with the back of his glove and muttered, "They deserved it."

Dick raised an eyebrow, his concern evident. "Sure, but they didn't deserve to get pounded into the pavement like they just pulled off a heist at Wayne Tower. These guys are small-time, Robin. You're hitting them like they're Joker's crew."

Jason shot him a glare, his temper flaring. "You don't know what you're talking about, Nightwing. I'm fine."

"Really?" Dick asked, crossing his arms and leaning slightly toward him. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're trying to punch your way through whatever's eating at you."

Jason sighed, turning away to look out over the city. The silence between them stretched for a moment before he finally spoke. "I told you something's off with her, and I can't stop thinking about it."

Dick's expression softened slightly, but his tone remained steady. "I get it. You're worried about her. But you're not going to fix anything by breaking your knuckles on every crook in Gotham."

Jason tightened his grip on his staff, his jaw clenching. "I can't just ignore it, Nightwing. She's not herself. It's like she's someone else, and I don't know how to help her."

Dick stepped closer, placing a hand on Jason's shoulder. "You don't have to figure it out all at once," he said. "We'll keep an eye on her, like we talked about. But for now, you need to focus. "

Jason exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Yeah, fine," he muttered. "I'll take it down a notch."

"Good," Dick said with a faint smile, stepping past him to survey the alley. "Now let's wrap this up and get back. We've got a long night ahead."

Jason nodded reluctantly, his mind still racing as they moved to secure the criminals for the GCPD.

The soft hum of the engines filled the cavernous expanse of the Batcave as Dick and Jason returned from their patrol. Jason pulling off his helmet and tossing it onto a nearby table. His body was sore, but his mind was still buzzing with thoughts about Maggie.

Dick stretching his arms over his head before giving Jason a tired glance. "Alright, patrol's done. Time to hit the hay, yeah?"

Jason didn't respond immediately, instead glancing toward the staircase that led back to the manor. His brow furrowed, and he crossed his arms as if debating something internally.

Dick followed his gaze and sighed. "You're thinking about checking on her, aren't you?"

Jason nodded slightly. "I just… I can't shake this feeling, man."

Dick hesitated, then nodded in understanding. "Alright, let's go. But if she's sleeping, we're not waking her up."

The house was eerily quiet as they made their way through the dark hallways to Maggie's room. Jason opened the door slowly, the soft creak of the hinges breaking the silence.

Maggie was curled up in bed, the blankets pulled up to her chest. Her breathing was slow and steady, her face relaxed in what looked like peaceful sleep. Jason stepped inside quietly, his eyes scanning her for any sign of distress.

"She looks fine," Dick whispered, leaning against the doorframe.

Jason didn't reply, his gaze fixed on her. After a moment, he moved closer, pulling the blanket up slightly to cover her shoulders. His jaw tightened as the unease in his gut refused to dissipate.

"She doesn't feel fine," Jason murmured, his voice barely audible.

Dick sighed softly, stepping into the room. "Jay, you can't let this eat at you. She's been through a lot."

Jason glanced back at him, his expression conflicted. "What if it's more than that? What if… what if something's wrong, and we're not seeing it?"

Dick placed a hand on Jason's shoulder, his voice steady. "Then we figure it out. But right now, she's safe. She's home. That's what matters."

Jason nodded reluctantly and stepped back toward the door. "Yeah. You're right."

As they turned to leave, Jason accidentally bumped into the edge of a small table near the bed. The sound of something clattering to the floor shattered the stillness of the room. Maggie stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she blinked groggily at the two figures standing by her door.

"Jason? Dick?" Maggie—Lillyanna—muttered, her voice groggy and slightly annoyed. "What are you guys doing?"

Jason froze for a moment, caught off guard. "Uh… just checking on you," he said quickly, stepping closer. "Didn't mean to wake you."

She sat up slightly, rubbing her eyes. Her expression was a perfect mimicry of Maggie's confusion and mild irritation. "It's the middle of the night. "

Dick chuckled nervously, stepping forward to smooth things over. "Sorry, Mags. Jason was worried, and, well, we thought we'd check in. Looks like you're okay, so we'll get out of your hair."

She raised an eyebrow, feigning amusement. "You two need to get a hobby."

Jason hesitated, still scanning her face for any sign of something unusual. "Yeah. Sorry. Get some rest."

"Goodnight," she said softly, sinking back against her pillows. Her tone was warm, but her eyes tracked them carefully until they exited the room and closed the door behind them.

Jason leaned against the wall outside her door, exhaling sharply. "Something still feels off."

Dick shook his head, giving him a look. "She just woke up to find us lurking in her room. Of course, she's going to seem off."

Jason pushed off the wall, his jaw tight. "No. It's more than that. She didn't seem… surprised enough. Maggie would've been way more annoyed."

Dick frowned, but he didn't argue. "Alright, keep watching. But don't go making things worse by being too obvious."

Jason nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But I'm not letting this go."