Becoming Nightshade

The quiet of a typical Saturday afternoon at Wayne Manor was interrupted by the low rumble of a motorcycle engine approaching the front gates. Maggie glanced up from her book, hearing the distant hum through the open window of the library. Jason, lounging on the couch nearby, lifted his head with a knowing smirk.

"Guess who?" he muttered, already getting up.

Alfred entered the library just as the faint sound of the doorbell echoed through the manor. "It appears you have a visitor," he informed them, his eyes twinkling just a bit. "Mr. Conner Kent, to be precise."

Maggie's eyes lit up. She hadn't seen Conner in months. She hopped up and practically ran down the grand staircase, Jason trailing behind with an easy, almost amused stride. When Maggie reached the door, she swung it open to find Conner standing there, hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket, his trademark grin in place. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow on him, making him look every bit the laid-back guy from Metropolis.

"Maggie," he greeted, flashing her a grin. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Conner!" Maggie beamed, giving him a quick hug. "You could've called, but I guess the whole 'showing up unannounced' thing is very Kent of you."

"Hey, it keeps things interesting," Conner replied, chuckling.

Jason joined them at the door, giving Conner a quick once-over. "Long time, Kent. Finally decided to drop by?"

"Figured it was about time," Conner replied, smirking. "Had to see if Wayne Manor's as big as you said."

Jason shrugged, gesturing inside. "Come on in. Alfred just made some lemonade."

They made their way to the sitting room, where Alfred had already set out glasses and a pitcher on the coffee table. Conner took a seat in one of the armchairs, glancing around with casual curiosity. Even though he'd been to the manor before, the quiet, imposing elegance of the place was still something to admire.

"So," Conner said, looking back at Maggie with a grin, "what do you two do for fun around here?"

Jason snorted. "Fun? In Wayne Manor?" He leaned back, a sarcastic glint in his eye. "Oh yeah, it's a regular party here."

"Oh, please," Maggie countered, giving Jason a playful shove. "We have fun. Just… Gotham-style fun."

"Meaning, keep an eye out for the Riddler or the Joker crashing your Saturday plans," Jason added, taking a sip of his lemonade with a wry smile.

Conner laughed, his easygoing demeanor lighting up the room. "Hey, I don't mind a little excitement. Keeps things interesting."

Maggie rolled her eyes with a grin. "Trust me, Conner. Spend a little time in Gotham, and you'll get more excitement than you bargained for."

They settled into an easy conversation, recounting stories and catching up. Conner told them about Metropolis, Jason shared Gotham's latest "close calls," and Maggie added her own adventures with a mischievous glint in her eye. As the sun began to cast long shadows across the room, Conner leaned back and looked at Maggie with a grin.

"Alright, Wayne. So, are you giving me the full Gotham experience or what? What's first on the agenda?"

Maggie's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, I have a few ideas."

After a few more twists and turns, they finally pulled up to an alley off a side street in Gotham's trendier district. They parked their bikes outside a tucked-away spot with a neon sign that read "The Underground"—a coffeehouse-slash-arcade known for its dim lighting, loud music, and zero parental supervision. It was a favorite haunt for teens wanting to escape and have some fun on their own terms.

Maggie hopped off Jason's bike, shaking out her hair with a grin. "This place is perfect! "

Jason shrugged, giving Conner a half-smile. "Thought I'd take you to the best Gotham has to offer."

Conner chuckled, looking around the alleyway with a nod. "I like it. Better than the usual hangouts back home."

They stepped inside, greeted by the warm buzz of chatter and laughter, mixed with the beeps and buzzes from vintage arcade games lined up against the wall. A live band was setting up in the corner, testing out their instruments. Maggie's eyes sparkled as she took in the atmosphere, the faint scent of coffee and popcorn filling the air.

"Alright, what's first?" Conner asked, glancing between Maggie and Jason.

Maggie grinned, grabbing Conner's hand and dragging him over to the arcade games. "How about we see if the Smallville can beat Gotham's high score?"

Jason scoffed, crossing his arms as he leaned against a machine. "Good luck, Kent. This one's got Gotham in her blood. She'll wipe the floor with you."

They spent the next hour competing fiercely at every game they could find—racing games, pinball, and skee-ball, laughing and teasing each other the whole time. Jason would make sarcastic commentary every time Conner's score dropped, while Maggie would occasionally "accidentally" nudge Conner's arm mid-game, all in good fun. After the arcade, they grabbed some snacks from the café counter and settled onto a couch tucked in the corner. They traded stories and jokes, letting the carefree atmosphere sink in. At one point, the band began playing a set of punk rock covers, and Maggie gave Jason a challenging look, standing up and pulling both him and Conner with her.

"Come on, let's dance! Don't be such a buzzkill."

Jason groaned, but he followed, the three of them laughing as they let loose on the small makeshift dance floor, surrounded by other teens swaying to the music. As Maggie, Jason, and Conner stepped out of The Underground, the warm glow of neon signs and the hum of city nightlife greeted them. The three were still buzzing from the fun they'd had inside, laughing and jostling each other as they moved toward their parked bikes.

"Alright, who's ready to lose to me in a race back to the manor?" Jason teased, giving Conner a smirk.

"Oh, please," Conner shot back, rolling his eyes. "I'd like to see you try and keep up."

Jason's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen before his expression turned serious.

"It's Bruce," he muttered, answering the call. "Hey… yeah, I'm with Maggie and Conner." His face grew even more focused as he listened. "Alright. We'll be there."

He ended the call, slipping his phone back into his pocket. Maggie and Conner exchanged curious looks.

"What's up?" Maggie asked.

"Bruce wants us to meet him in the Batcave. He sounded… well, let's just say it didn't sound like a casual check-in," Jason replied, his voice low. He gestured for them to follow, and the three of them made their way back to Wayne Manor.

Once they entered the Batcave, the dim light and the soft hum of the computers greeted them. But they weren't alone. Standing beside Bruce was a familiar figure clad in green—Oliver Queen, the Green Arrow, with his quiver full of arrows slung over his back.

"About time." Bruce said, giving Jason a nod.

Jason's face remained neutral, though Maggie noticed the subtle shift in his posture as he noticed the others. "What's going on?"

Bruce glanced at Oliver. "Green Arrow's in town. He's tracking someone dangerous—a villain who crossed into Gotham's territory. And he brought back up."

Oliver nodded to Jason and the others, giving a small, wry smile. "Figured Gotham's finest might have an interest in helping out."

Beside him stood a young man with bright red hair and a confident smirk that Maggie and Jason recognized instantly.

Roy.

The sight of him caught them off guard. Jason felt a surge of surprise, mixed with a strange sense of relief, while Maggie's heart gave an uncomfortable twist. They hadn't seen him since he'd moved to Star City after his parents were murdered by Black Mask. It had been a tough time for him, and they'd understood when he decided to leave Gotham and start fresh.

"Long time, no see, guys," Roy said with a small, almost nervous smile, glancing at Maggie and then Jason. "Didn't expect to run into you here. "

Jason's brows furrowed, and he glanced at Bruce, who gave him a small nod. Understanding the signal, Jason returned his attention to Roy, straightening his shoulders a bit. "Yeah, you probably didn't expect this," he said, feeling a strange mix of pride and vulnerability. "I'm Robin."

Roy blinked, and then a grin slowly spread across his face. "No way. *You're* Robin?" He shook his head in disbelief, but there was genuine pride in his eyes. "Well, that explain a lot... Wait a minute, if your Robin that means Bruce is Batman... I made out with Batman's daughter and lived!"

"Yeah, well," Jason replied laughing at Roy finally putting two and two together.

Oliver chuckled, placing a hand on Roy's shoulder. "Gotham's full of surprises, isn't it, Roy?"

Roy smirked, glancing over at Maggie, his gaze softening. "Yeah. Always has been."

Maggie gave him a small, tense smile, her mind flashing back to when they'd dated, the memories bittersweet. But now wasn't the time for lingering feelings; they had work to do.

"So, what brings you two to Gotham, besides sightseeing?"

Oliver's face grew serious. "One of my enemies—a mercenary named Onyx—has made her way into Gotham. She's ruthless, highly trained, and she's gone dark. My intel says she's planning something big, and I'm guessing she's picked Gotham because she thinks she can slip under the radar here."

Conner's expression grew focused. "So, you're hoping we can help track her down?"

Bruce nodded, pulling up a map of Gotham on the main computer. Bruce turned to Green Arrow; his expression serious. "Does Onyx have any contacts or allies here in Gotham that you know of? Anyone she might be working with?"

Oliver nodded thoughtfully, crossing his arms. "I've been tracking her network, and from what I've gathered, she has some ties with Gotham's underground. She's worked with a few of your usual suspects before—Scarecrow, maybe Black Mask—though I don't have confirmation if they're involved right now."

Bruce's eyes narrowed. "If Black Mask is part of this, we'll need to be prepared. He's been quiet lately since he broke out of Black gate, but if he's resurfacing with Onyx, it won't be anything small."

Jason's gaze flickered, a shadow crossing his face as he heard Black Mask's name. He knew all too well the damage Black Mask could inflict, having seen what he did to Roy's family firsthand and what he did to Maggie as well. Roy, standing next to him, went still, his jaw tightening.

Oliver noticed the tension and added, "I don't know for sure, but it's possible she's reaching out to him. Onyx is resourceful, and if she needs extra firepower or information on Gotham's layout, Black Mask's network could provide that."

Bruce nodded, his face unreadable as he processed the information. "Then we need to act quickly. If Onyx is aligning herself with Black Mask, she could already be setting things in motion."

Green Arrow turned to Roy, who looked ready to jump in. "You up for this, Speedy?"

Roy nodded, his expression steely. "You bet I am." He glanced at Jason and Maggie, determination in his eyes. "Let's make sure neither of them gets any stronger foothold in Gotham."

The dim, abandoned warehouse loomed before them, barely illuminated by the faint streetlights outside. Batman, Green Arrow, Speedy, Robin, and Conner moved in silence, each scanning the area, muscles tense and senses on high alert. According to the intel, this was one of Onyx's possible hideouts, a known meeting place for Gotham's underground dealings.

Back in the Batcave, Maggie and Barbara monitored the operation from the Bat computer, their eyes flicking between live feeds from each team member's comm link. Maggie's heart pounded as she watched Jason's camera feed, her worry masked by focus.

"Alright," Batman's voice crackled over the comms. "Stay sharp. We don't know exactly who's in there, but don't underestimate Onyx. She's ex-military, highly skilled."

"Understood, Bats," Green Arrow replied. "We'll handle her."

Speedy nodded, adjusting his quiver, though Maggie noticed a flicker of tension in his voice. "Let's make this quick."

The group moved in, slipping through the shadows of the warehouse. But as they neared the center, the faint sound of movement reached their ears. Batman signaled for them to halt, crouching low as he scanned the dark corners of the room. Just then, a figure stepped forward from the shadows, her eyes sharp and focused.

Onyx.

"Welcome, gentlemen," she sneered, her voice cold. "I've been expecting you."

Before they could react, another figure emerged beside her—tall, thin, with a twisted, haunting mask covering his face. The unmistakable presence of Scarecrow sent a chill down their spines.

"Oh, you thought this would be a simple takedown?" Scarecrow's voice dripped with amusement, echoing off the empty walls. "Such brave heroes… let's see how brave you are when you're confronted with your deepest fears."

Before anyone could react, a sudden hiss filled the room as Scarecrow unleashed a thick, noxious gas that billowed out, quickly filling the space. They all instinctively held their breath, but it was too late—the fear toxin seeped into their systems, taking effect almost instantly.

Back at the Batcave, Maggie's eyes widened in alarm. "Barbara, the feed's picking up some kind of gas. Scarecrow must have dosed them with his fear toxin!"

Barbara's fingers flew across the keyboard, trying to analyze the toxin levels. "Damn it. The readings are spiking. They've all been exposed."

On the warehouse floor, chaos erupted. Conner staggered, his vision blurring as a wave of fear overtook him. He saw flashes of his worst nightmare—losing control of his powers, hurting the people he cared about. He gritted his teeth, fighting to stay grounded, but the images only grew stronger.

Green Arrow dropped to one knee, his bow slipping from his hands as he clutched his head. He saw Star City burning, his loved ones in danger, his failures as a leader flashing before his eyes. "No… not them…" he murmured, struggling to breathe.

Beside him, Speedy's face contorted in terror as his greatest fear materialized in front of him—Black Mask, looming over him with that cold, merciless grin, his parents' faces haunting him from the shadows.

Jason stumbled backward, his chest heaving as Scarecrow's toxin took hold, warping his reality into a waking nightmare. The warehouse around him faded, replaced by a scene that chilled him to his core: Maggie, lying still on the cold ground, blood staining her clothes. Her lifeless eyes stared up at him, her hand just out of reach.

"Maggie…" he choked, reaching out, but his hand passed through her as if she were a ghost.

Suddenly, he heard a low, furious voice behind him. He turned to see Batman, his face obscured by shadows, but his eyes burning with anger and disappointment.

"You let her die, Jason," Bruce's voice rumbled, each word dripping with blame. "She trusted you, and you failed her."

Jason's knees buckled, a sense of crushing guilt and despair overwhelming him. "No… I… I tried to save her," he whispered, his voice breaking as he stared back at Bruce, desperate for some sign of understanding.

But Batman's expression didn't soften. Instead, he took a step forward, his presence towering, menacing. "This is on you, Jason. You should never have been trusted to protect her."

Jason's grip on his escrima sticks trembled, his mind swirling with horror and shame. His heart raced, and his breaths came shallow, frantic. The sight of Maggie's still on the ground, Bruce's unyielding condemnation—it was a torment he couldn't escape.

Then, through the fog of his fear, he heard a faint, familiar voice Maggie through his com link. "Robin… it's not real. Stay with us, alright?"

The voice cut through the hallucination, trying to pull him back.

Batman fought hard to keep his focus, to maintain control, but even he couldn't fully withstand the effects of the fear toxin. His mind flooded with images of his worst nightmares—Gotham falling into ruin, his allies broken, his family gone. He clenched his fists, fighting the visions, but they only grew more vivid.

In the Batcave, Maggie gripped the edge of the console, her heart racing. "Barbara, they're losing it! We have to help them!"

Barbara was already scanning for options. "If I can reroute the ventilation systems, I might be able to flush out some of the toxin. But they'll have to hold on a little longer."

"Come on, Jason, you've got this," Maggie whispered, her gaze glued to his shaky camera feed as he struggled to steady himself.

Back in the warehouse, Onyx and Scarecrow watched with twisted satisfaction, enjoying the chaos as each of their enemies was consumed by their own worst fears. Onyx smirked, crossing her arms. "Looks like Gotham's best isn't so unstoppable after all."

Scarecrow chuckled, his voice echoing. "Ah, the beauty of fear. It reveals the weakness hiding within every soul."

Just then, Batman gritted his teeth, pushing through the visions with sheer willpower. He reached for his communicator, his voice strained but steady. "Team… listen to me. These are illusions… fight through it. Focus on what's real."

Jason, still reeling, took a deep breath, grounding himself in Bruce's words. He glanced at Conner, who was struggling nearby, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Conner… it's not real. Stay with me, alright?"

Conner blinked, breathing heavily as he fought against the images flashing before his eyes. "Right… right. I'm here."

In the Batcave, Barbara finally managed to activate the ventilation system, and within moments, the gas began to dissipate from the warehouse, though the effects of the toxin lingered in their minds. Maggie let out a breath of relief, watching as their friends started to regain their composure.

As the fog cleared, Batman stood tall, his gaze locked on Scarecrow. "Your tricks won't work on us forever."

Green Arrow, still shaken but regaining his focus, retrieved his bow, aiming an arrow at Scarecrow. "You messed with the wrong city."

Onyx's eyes narrowed as she realized the tide was turning. "Scarecrow, fall back. This isn't over."

Scarecrow hesitated, but with a final twisted grin, he stepped back into the shadows with Onyx, vanishing as they retreated into the warehouse's dark corners.

Batman turned to his team; his voice steady but grave. "They'll be back. But next time, we'll be ready."

Back in the Batcave, Maggie slumped back in her chair, her heart finally slowing as the screen showed her brother and friends regrouping. Barbara put a hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring nod.

"They pulled through," Barbara said. "But this is only the beginning. Scarecrow and Onyx won't stay in the shadows for long."