Becoming Nightshade

After finishing their homework—Maggie grumbling about AP calculus while Jason half-heartedly skimmed through an literature assignment—the two made their way back down to the Batcave, ready for training. The cavern was dimly lit except for the glow of the Batcomputer and a row of overhead lights illuminating the training area. Bruce stood by the mats, already suited up in his tactical gear, his expression unreadable as always.

Dick was stretching on the sidelines, looking far too enthusiastic for Maggie's liking. "Finally," he said, rolling his shoulders. "I was starting to think you two were trying to ditch training."

Jason scoffed, tugging on his gloves. "Yeah, we just love getting our asses handed to us after a full day of school."

Barbara's voice chimed in through the comms from her home setup. "Well, consider it good prep. You know, for real life."

Maggie sighed, tying her hair back.

Bruce stepped forward, his voice cutting through the light banter. "Enough. Tonight's focus is control and discipline." His gaze locked onto Maggie. "Your shadow abilities are an asset, but if you can't control or fight without them, they're a liability. We'll be working on that."

Maggie nodded, standing up straighter. "Got it."

Bruce's eyes flicked to Jason. "And you. Your strikes have been getting sloppy. You're relying too much on brute force. Precision matters."

Jason rolled his eyes but nodded, cracking his knuckles. "Yeah, yeah. Precision. Got it." He shot Maggie a sideways glance. "At least you get to play with shadows. I'm stuck with 'be precise, Jason.'"

Bruce didn't miss a beat. "And yet, you still struggle with it."

Dick snickered from the sidelines. "He's got a point."

Jason groaned. "Okay, can we just get this over with?"

Bruce crossed his arms, his expression unwavering. "Positions. Now."

Maggie took her place on the mat, facing off against Dick while Jason begrudgingly stepped in front of Bruce, ready for his own drills. Barbara's voice crackled in through the Batcave's speakers, ever watchful from her Oracle station.

"Alright, kids. Let's see if you've been paying attention. Maggie, no powers. Jason, aim to control, not destroy."

"Gee, thanks, Babs," Jason muttered, rolling his shoulders.

Maggie squared up against Dick, taking a steady breath. She knew he was fast—faster than anyone she'd ever trained with, and without her shadows, she had to rely purely on skill. The moment Bruce gave the signal, Dick launched forward, his movements precise and calculated. Maggie blocked the first strike, but he immediately countered, forcing her to stay light on her feet.

"Stay focused," Bruce called from the sidelines. "Anticipate. React."

Maggie ducked under a kick, pivoting sharply and aiming a strike at Dick's side, but he caught her wrist, twisting it effortlessly and sending her off balance.

"Too slow," Dick said, his voice teasing but firm.

Maggie gritted her teeth, frustrated but determined. She forced herself to breathe, to center, and not rely on the creeping instinct to summon her powers. Another strike came in, and this time she dodged, slipping behind him and landing a clean elbow to his back.

Dick stumbled slightly, turning to her with a grin. "Not bad, Mags."

Meanwhile, across the mat, Jason was locked in a grueling series of drills with Bruce. Each punch he threw was met with an effortless deflection, and Bruce's counters were surgical—controlled, efficient, and relentless. Jason huffed in frustration, stepping back and wiping sweat from his brow.

"You're overextending," Bruce said coolly. "You're relying too much on strength. Control it."

Jason clenched his jaw and threw another punch, this time more measured. Bruce blocked but gave an approving nod. "Better."

Maggie, catching a break in her spar, glanced at Jason. "Hey, at least you haven't been flipped twice."

Jason smirked, ducking under one of Bruce's swings. "Give it time."

The training session stretched on, each second feeling heavier as exhaustion set in. Sweat beaded down Maggie's forehead, her muscles burning with the effort to keep pace with Dick's relentless attacks. Her instincts screamed at her to use the shadows—to reach into the darkness and let it do the work for her—but she fought against it, forcing herself to rely on skill alone.

Dick moved with his usual effortless grace, weaving through her strikes and countering with precise blows aimed to test her endurance. Maggie ducked under a high kick, twisting into a defensive stance before blocking a quick jab. She felt the sting of impact reverberate through her arms, but she held her ground.

"Good," Dick said, circling her. "But you're still hesitating." He feinted left before sweeping low with a kick. Maggie barely sidestepped in time, her breath coming in short gasps. "You need to trust your instincts—without the powers."

"I'm trying," she gritted out, lunging forward with a calculated punch. Dick parried, his movements fluid, but she managed to pivot and land a clean shot to his ribs.

He stumbled slightly, flashing her an approving grin. "That's more like it."

Across the mat, Jason was locked in a brutal back-and-forth with Bruce, every hit absorbed and returned with calculated precision. Jason's punches were strong, fueled by frustration, but Bruce's counters were swift and efficient. Each time Jason threw a wild hook, Bruce would sidestep, catching him off balance and forcing him to reset.

"You're still relying too much on brute force," Bruce said coolly, deflecting another strike and stepping into Jason's space with a lightning-quick counter, tapping him lightly in the ribs. "Strength is nothing without control."

Jason scowled, rolling his shoulders and repositioning himself. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered, this time throwing a more measured jab. Bruce blocked but nodded in approval.

Maggie glanced at them briefly, her chest rising and falling rapidly, before refocusing on Dick. He moved in again, faster this time, forcing her to react instinctively. Her arms ached as she blocked his strikes, her legs burning with the effort to stay light on her feet. She gritted her teeth, pushing forward with a series of punches—one blocked, another slipping past his guard.

Dick caught her arm, twisting it just enough to throw her off balance. She hit the mat with a thud, panting hard.

"You're thinking too much," Dick said, offering a hand to pull her up. "You've got the instincts. Trust them."

Maggie took his hand, getting to her feet with a groan. "Easier said than done."

Bruce's voice cut through the space. "Again."

She swallowed hard, resetting herself, her muscles screaming in protest but her resolve unwavering. She wouldn't let fatigue—or the temptation of her abilities—get the best of her.

They continued, strike after strike, each block feeling heavier, each movement slower than the last. Maggie's body ached, but she kept going, pushing past her limits, determined to prove she could do this. Her breath came in short, labored bursts, but she stayed focused, absorbing Dick's lessons with every failed attempt, every successful counter.

Jason, similarly battered, was still trading blows with Bruce, his strikes becoming more refined, more calculated as he learned to control his power rather than lean into it blindly.

Bruce finally stepped back, signaling an end to the session. "Good. Improvement on both sides." His gaze lingered on Maggie. "You'll need to continue working on fighting without relying on your abilities. You can't afford to depend on them as a crutch."

Maggie nodded, breathing hard. "Got it."

Jason, rubbing his sore arms, muttered, "I think I pulled something."

Dick patted his shoulder with a grin. "That's what precision gets you, little brother."

Alfred's voice echoed from the stairwell. "I do believe that's enough punishment for one evening. Dinner is ready upstairs."

Jason immediately perked up. "Finally."

As they made their way toward the exit, Maggie nudged Jason. "I didn't use my powers once."

Jason gave her a sideways glance. "Yeah? And you didn't get knocked out. I'd call that progress."

Maggie grinned. "I'll take it."

Bruce watched them leave, his expression unreadable but with a hint of pride in his eyes. "Training resumes tomorrow. No excuses."

ason groaned, dragging a hand down his sweaty face. "Of course, on a Saturday." He shot Maggie a look. "I thought weekends were for sleeping in and pretending we're normal."

Maggie smirked, wiping down her face with a towel. "Come on, Jay. You'd be bored out of your mind if you weren't getting your ass kicked by Bruce."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, I'd at least like the option of being lazy."

Dick grinned as he grabbed a water bottle from the bench. "You know Bruce doesn't believe in weekends. Crime doesn't take days off, so neither do we."

Jason sighed dramatically. "Well, crime should consider a little self-care."

Bruce, who had been observing their exchange with his usual stoicism, finally spoke up. "You want rest? Earn it. And right now, you haven't."

Jason groaned louder. "Fantastic."

"Come on, let's get upstairs before Alfred decides to start dishing out health shakes instead of actual food."

Jason dragged himself off the mat with a grunt. "Best idea I've heard all As Maggie and Jason disappeared up the stairs, their voices fading into the manor, Bruce lingered behind in the shadows of the Batcave entrance. His fingers pressed lightly against his earpiece. "Oracle, any updates?"

Barbara's voice crackled through the comms, calm but with a hint of tension. "Nothing solid yet, but I've been tracking encrypted chatter all morning. There's been some mentions of movement in Gotham of important cargo to come."

Bruce's eyes narrowed, his mind already racing through the possibilities. "Important cargo," he repeated. "Did they specify what or where?"

Barbara sighed on the other end of the comm, the soft clatter of her typing echoing through the channel. "Nothing concrete, but the usual whispers suggest it's coming through the docks—Pier 31 specifically. That's where the chatter's been concentrated."

Bruce nodded, his eyes narrowing in thought."Good.The Court wouldn't risk exposure on something routine. Whatever it is, it's significant. Keep looking for leads when this shipment arrives."

Barbara's voice crackled through the comms, her tone resolute. "Already on it. I'll monitor the dark web and city traffic, see if there's any chatter about logistics. If they're moving something big, there's bound to be breadcrumbs."