Lady Noire smirked as she silently jumped through the window, executed a smooth flip and landed on her feet.
The museum was deathly silent, as expected because it was precisely three o'clock in the morning.
Her eyes searched around the exhibit she was in, looking for the lost miraculous.
It was, unfortunately, quite a large one, specifically, a belt. It gave the wearer the ability to, quite literally, become a fish, and Lady Noire wrinkled her nose at the thought of that.
With the help of her night vision, Lady Noire was able to locate the miraculous within seconds.
It was stored in a glass box, right in the corner of the room where no one would notice if it disappeared.
Stealthily striding towards it, Lady Noire nimbly dodged the museum’s security cameras and whispered a soft, “Cataclysm.”
The glass she put her hand on turned to ash immediately and with a small smirk, Lady Noire carefully held the belt.
As she turned to leave, Lady Noire froze, cat ears twitching, hearing the light sound of wind rustling.
Turning around completely, her bright green eyes narrowed as they landed on the vigilante in front of her.
“Nightwing.”
The vigilante gave her what she considered to be a smirk and straightened his back from where he was leaning.
“Noire.”
The first time Lady Noire had met him, she was frozen for a few seconds because she hadn’t expected his voice to be so…attractive.
But she was used to it now.
Kind of.
There were times - like this - where she would go silent in shock. It was rather embarrassing, to be honest.
“What, cat got your tongue?” Nightwing said, and Lady Noire could practically hearhow smug he was.
“Nope.” Lady Noire popped the ‘p’ and gave him a smirk of her own. “Just planning my escape route.”
Twirling her baton, Lady Noire extended it and with a short salute, she was out of the museum in seconds.
As soon as she landed on the roof, Lady Noire began to run, jumping over the gaps between the buildings.
Her cat ears twitching, she was surprised to find no noise whatsoeverbehind her.
Usually, Nightwing was seconds behind her, calling out flirty remarks that occasionallymade her blush.
In her confusion of the lack of noise, Lady Noire didn’t notice the escrima stick flying towards her.
It hit her square in the chest, and she stumbled back with the force of it.
Seconds later, Nightwing was on the roof and Lady Noire was forced to dodge his punches and kicks.
She remembered the first time he fought her, unwilling to harm a woman. Lady Noire left him with a lotof bruises that night.
Not this time, unfortunately.
Nightwing seemed determined to stop her and Lady Noire couldn’t help but give an annoyed grunt because of all the times she had stolen something, he hadto come on the day she was taking what was, technically, rightfully hers.
Lady Noire cursed herself as Nightwing gave her a painfulkick to her ribs.
Wheezing, she asked, “What happened to being the gentleman you claimed you were?”
“I am,” Nightwing said, stillattacking her. “Just not for you.”
“Ah,” Lady Noire gave him a sultry smirk. “So you like it rough?”
Nightwing’s cheeks darkened marginally and Lady Noire gave herself a congratulatory laugh.
It was abruptly cut off when Nightwing kicked her hardon the stomach.
Lady Noire fell back onto the roof with a loud bang, the breath knocked out of her.
She swore loudly, attempting to get up.
It was thwarted a few seconds later when Nightwing, straddled her, fingers gripping her arms tightly.
“The belt, Noire,” he said harshly.
Ignoring the odd stinging in her heart (Nightwing was her enemy, she knew nothingabout him), Lady Noire gave him a pained smirk. “Bold of you to assume I even have it on me.”
Nightwing sputtered, eyes raking up and down her body.
In any other situation, Lady Noire would have been excited, but right now, she was just nervous.
The belt, in actuality, was right on her waist.
Her abilities as the Guardian allowed her to make the miraculous invisible, but only for a short amount of time.
Speaking of time, both Lady Noire and Nightwing jumped as a loud beeping filled the air around them.
“Shit.” Lady Noire swore as she saw her ring.
The cataclysm.
She only had 3 minutes exactlybefore she detransformed in front of Nightwing.
“What the hellis that?” Nightwing stared at her ring. “Don’t tell me you’re going to blow this place up.”
“Don’t be an idiot,Nightwing,” Lady Noire snapped, mind racing. How was she going to get out of this? “I’m not suicidal.”
“Thenwhatis it?”
Nightwing was glaring at her and for the first time, Lady Noire noticed the blue of his eyes.
Usually, in the darkness, she didn’t notice it, but at that moment it struck her quite hard.
Maybe that was what prompted her to do what she did.
Lady Noire wrapped her arms around Nightwing’s neck and pressed her lips on his.
Soft,was the first thing that came to her mind.
Nightwing’s lips were unbearably soft, a pillowy kind of soft. It made kissing him all the more enjoyable.
His hair was alsosoft. Lady Noire tangled her hands in the dark strands and he grunted, relaxing against her.
In a few seconds, they were heatedly kissing, tongues dancing together, hands roaming around each other.
Their moment of heat was rudely interrupted with anotherloud beep from Lady Noire’s ring.
The green light was flashing urgently now, as it disappeared from sight.
The two of them pulled apart, breathing heavily.
Lady Noire was now standing, pushed against a wall at some point. It took her a few seconds to catch her breath.
Once she did so, Nightwing still looked dazed, so she shot him an apologetic smirk. “My apologies, Nightwing. But you can consider it payback for before.”
Shoving him backwards, Lady Noire kicked him on the chest and he went flying.
As she launched herself off the roof, Lady Noire said, “We should do that again sometime! It was fun.”
And she disappeared into the darkness.
The only thing was…she didn’t see the smug smirk on Nightwing’s face as he fingered the belt wrapped around his hand.
He’d played her as much as she had played him, Lady Noire would later realize.
Marinette had just put her chocolate chip cookies in the oven when she heard the familiar tapping on her window.
Rushing over to it, Marinette gulped hoping that somehowthis time, maybeJason wasn’t hurt. He was one of her best friends and being Ladybug for a good part of her teenage years, it didn’t take Marinette long to figure out he was Red Hood. His excuses were pathetic so the pieces weren’t difficult to put together.
To be honest, though, she was kind of expecting it. Marinette remembered the first time she met Jason. He was Red Hood.
◇─◇──◇─◇
Some piece of shit decided that he was going to attack Marinette, so obviously, she had to teach him somemanners.
Marinette ducked as he swing his fist at her, and kicked him hard, right where it hurt.
As he was groaning, clutching his stomach, Marinette kicked him directly on the head, and her assailant was knocked out cold.
“You can come out now,” she called out, already sensing the presence behind her with her mysticalpowers.
Red Hood walked out from the shadows and Marinette cringed at his ridiculousoutfit. A tin can? Seriously?
“Wow,” he said, surprise evident in his tone.
Marinette scowled at him. “What is that even supposed to mean? Have you never seen a woman who can defend herself?”
“No, I mean-” Red Hood fumbled for an answer. After a few seconds, he gave up, sighing heavily and saying, “I meant that I’ve never seen anyonetake out a person so quickly.”
Marinette shrugged, flipping her hair. “I guess I’m just special.”
◇─◇──◇─◇
Now that Marinette thought about it, that was probably what prompted Jason to try and get to know her.
Once he did, well, after that, it was smooth flying.
The two of them were friends, nothing more. But, their dynamic could also be defined as Jason making sure Marinette ate and drank, while she made sure he didn’t do anything stupid that could get him potentially killed.
It worked.
As Marinette put down her mittens on the table and beganto hurry through the window, a fist punched through the glass and opened the handle.
Red Hood jumped in, with a body in his arms.
“Excuse you?” Marinette asked hotly. “Why would you punch through my window with a bodywith you? Hood, we’ve discussed this-”
The body groaned and Marinette froze.
It took her a few seconds to realize that the person was, in fact, alive.
“Jason?” The man mumbled, trying and failing to get up. “Where are we?”
“Oh my kwami,” Marinette looked at Jason, who was unmasked now. “Jason, is that your brother?”
Said man, who was unmasked now, nodded. “It’s Nightwing and he’s injured. He got shoved through some walls and fell and I didn’t know where else to go-”
Marinette shut him up with quick instructions, already mentally preparing the spells she would need to patch Nightwing up.
“Jason put him on the couch and get the first-aid kit.”
Quickly complying, Marinette hurried over to the man now lying on her couch, wincing as she saw the extent of his wounds.
He had a lot of scratches, two large gashes - one on his stomach and the other on his chest and some broken ribs.
“I’ve got the first-aid kit!” Jason called out, as he entered the room.
He looked a little less worried than before, probably relieved because he got his brother some help.
Marinette pulled out some bandages to put on the relatively small scratches and as she did so, her patient seemed to regain consciousness.
“Jason?” he called out.
Immediately, Jason was at his side. “Hey Dickie, don’t worry, I’ve gotten some help.”
‘Dickie’ attempted to sit up once again and Jason looked like he wanted to help, so Marinette cut in before either of them could make the wounds worse.
“You should stay still,” she advised, still prepping. “Don’t want to make those wounds worse.”
“Who are you?”
In any other situation, Marinette would have been offended, but considering the fact that he was a superhero who had to keep his identity safe, she didn’t bother herself about it.
“I’m Jason’s friend,” she said, looking him over. “And I’m going to need you to take off your shirt.”
“You know,” he said with a hint of humour, and instinct told Marinette he was about to make a dirty joke. “Usually, we do the deed after the dates, not before them.”
Jason groaned, in disgust, most likely, while Marinette rolled her eyes.
But only after a few seconds though; she was caught off guard by how deep it was. Oops?
It suddenly occurred to Marinette that she couldn’t clean the wounds on his face if his mask was still on.
“And you’re also going to have to take your mask off.”
His humorous (read: attractive) laugh cut off abruptly. “Excuse me?”
Marinette sighed, already knowing what this was about. “I have no intention of exploiting your identity, I make a decent amount of money so don’t be worried.”
He looked at Jason who nodded casually.
“She’s safe,” he said, and Marinette smiled slightly. She knew Jason trusted her but a little confirmation was always nice.
Nightwing gave an exasperated sigh, mumbling 'you should have just taken me to the Batcave’ before pulling off his mask.
Well, shit.
Marinette was notexpecting him to, frankly, be so utterly hot.
Jason had told her a little about each of his brothers; Nightwing was the oldest (about her age), single and Jason had made it no secret he was trying to get them together, but what he had convenientlymanaged to leave out was that his oldest brother was ridiculously attractive.
“Er, you okay?” Nightwing asked.
Marinette realized she had been caught staring and quickly put herself to work again.
“Yeah…” she said, scrambling for an excuse. “I just didn’t realize Nightwing was my age.”
Jason shot her an odd look, probably knowing he’d told her everyone’s ages.
It took him a few seconds to realize exactly why and Marinette was sure her flaming cheeks were a dead giveaway.
“So,” Jason said in a tone she didn’t like. “Once you patch him up, Di-”
He caught himself quickly, and Marinette had a feeling he was going to say his brother’s real name.
Clearly, She was right because Nightwing glared at his brother.
“My brother,” Jason corrected hastily, “Will need some clothes. Mari, as resourceful you are I’m sureyou don’t have any clothes in his size so I’ll just have to run back to the Batcave and get it; see ya!”
And just like that, he left.
Marinette glared at the back of his head because he knewshe had clothes in every size for every gender. She was a fashion designer, it was to be expected.
Jason had left them alone because he had suddenlydecided that it was the perfecttime for the two of them to get to know each other.
He texted her as much, and Marinette was sure he was doing it while he was running on roofs.
The little idiot.
Nightwing winced as Marinette dabbed the swab over his face. “Ouch,” he mumbled.
Marinette shot him an apologetic smile as she continued to do so. “I’m afraid I can’t do anything about the pain.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, Nightwing’s grunts of pain occasionally breaking it.
Eventually, he was the first one to speak. “Jason’s told us a lot about you. Actually, everything but your name.”
Marinette shot him a smirk. Anything to distract him from the pain he was most definitely feeling. “Is that your way of asking me my name, so you can track me down?”
Nightwing offered her a falsely innocent smile. “Maybe you’re right about the first part. I didn’t even think about the second part, though.”
“Marinette.” She said, after a few seconds of silence.
Shooting her a dazzling smile, Nightwing said, “Well, Marinette, it’s nice to meet you. My name’s Richard but you can call me Dick.”
Marinette shot him a smile of her own.
“Well, Dick,” she repeated, “It’s lovely to meet you too. Now, I’m going to need you to take off your suit, so I can take care of the rest of you.”
She punctuated her statement with one last delicate press on his face and looked at him expectantly.
“I still stand by what I said before,” said Dick with a smirk as he pulled off the top part of his suit.
Marinette answered after a few seconds, mesmerized by his sculpted chest.
“I’m sure once you’re patched up, I can whip up some dinner. Will that do?” Marinette asked airily as she cleaned his wounds.
Dick pretended to think about it for a moment before answering. “That depends.”
“On?”
Marinette cringed as Dick choked on air as she cleaned a particularly deep wound.
“On what you make for dinner.”
Marinette shot him a teasing grin. “I assure you, you will like it.”
Dick cocked an eyebrow at her. “And how do you know that?”
“Just a lucky guess,” Marinette hedged as she cleaned his chest. It really wasgodly.
Dick rolled his eyes.
“Okay, you can sit up now.” Marinette held his arms tightly as if she had done it a million times before.
Easing himself up, Dick stared at Marinette suddenly struck by her beauty. Even at this late hour - it was nearing midnight - she looked absolutely breath-taking.
Jason would be happy, he thought with a wry grin. His brother hadn’t been very subtle about meeting his friend, but each time Dick refused with some excuse or the other.
He was regretting doing that now; he would have met Marinette much sooner if he hadn’t made those excuses.
Without even realizing it, the two of them leaned closer and closer until their noses were almost touching.
“Is this okay?” Dick breathed softly.
Marinette nodded, and almost immediately, his lips slanted over hers.
It wasn’t like the usual fireworks that exploded once you kissed someone; it was a kiss that felt like you were returning home, to the place where unconditional love always waited for you.
Dick’s hands wound up on Marinette’s face as hers tangled in his hair, and things were getting heateduntil something - or someone - interrupted them.
“Oh my god, this was not what I was expecting-” Jason stood at the doorway, clothes in hand as he covered his eyes with the other.
Dick scowled at his brother. He had terrible timing. “Well, what wereyou expecting when you left us like that?”
All Marinette wanted was onenight of relaxation. Was that so hard to ask?
Her phone buzzed with a text from Adrien, once againbegging for her forgiveness, apologizing for his actions, promising to make it better.
It was the same story everyday since the day she caught him kissing Lila in Marinette’sapartment.
◇─◇──◇─◇
Marinette hummed along with the song playing in her earbuds, carefully clutching onto her sketchbook so that it didn’t fly away.
She may be older now, but that didn’t mean her clumsiness wasn’t prone to show up now and then.
The song paused when an incoming call from Chloe flashed across her phone, and Marinette picked up immediately.
“Hey, Chlo!” she said, cheerfully. “What’s up?”
“Mari. Mom says you can go to-”
She cut off abruptly and the distinct sound of phone-wrestling was heard.
“Marinette,” Audrey Bourgeois’ cool, confident voice was heard. “You are going to be going to the USA as an ambassador for our partnership with the Waynes. My assistant will forward the details to you.”
The call was cut, leaving Marinette staring at her screen open-mouthed.
The USA? To form a deal with the Waynes?
Marinette phone, for the second time in the last few minutes, flashed with an incoming call from Chloe.
“Sorry about that Mari,” She sounded out of breath as if she had just yelled at someone.
Marinette laughed nervously. “It’s alright. But…what did Audrey mean about a deal with the Waynes?”
A man bumped into her and Marinette stumbled.
“Watch it,” he hissed and Marinette rolled her eyes, nervousness momentarily forgotten.
She started walking towards her apartment in favour of standing in the middle of the street.
As Chloe explained, Marinette fumbled with her keys, opening the door to her apartment.
The scene she saw made her jaw drop and her keys fall.
Adrien and Lila were tangled up together on the couch, vehemently kissing.
They hadn’t even noticed her coming in.
◇─◇──◇─◇
Marinette thanked the flight attendant with a polite smile and pulled her suitcase through the airport.
As she emerged through the sliding doors, Gotham looked every bit of the gloomy and dark place it was described to be.
Rain poured down in torrents, sliding over cars.
Marinette, thankfully, got out of the rain unscathed and as she stepped into the limo that Audrey provided her with, Marinette gaped at the luxuriousness of it.
The female Bourgeois’ fortune never failed to shock her.
“To the hotel, ma'am?” asked the American driver, looking at her through the rear-view mirror.
Marinette cleared her throat and nodded. “Yes.”
The car started to move and curiously, Marinette looked outside the window, watching as the buildings flew by.
One, in particular, stood out, looking particularly grand and elegant compared to the other flashy buildings next to it.
On the building, a big ‘W’ was stamped upon it, and Marinette assumed it was the esteemed headquarters of Wayne Enterprises.
She was snapped out of her thoughts when the car came to a standstill, in front of a grand building, adorned with bright lights giving it a certain flair.
Marinette stepped out of the limousine already seeing some very harried-looking people hurrying to her.
“Welcome,welcome, Madame Dupain-Cheng,” A moustached man said exuberantly with a prominent french accent.
Marinette assumed he was french so she smiled at him politely and said, “Bonjour, Monsieur.”
Quickly, he took her single bag and directed her to her room, and Marinette had to say Audrey Bourgeois went all out on this one.
The room was luxuriously decorated with chandeliers and sparkling bottles of champagne in ice.
“Please do call if you need anything.”
Marinette nodded, still in shock as she shut the door behind him.
As soon as she did, her phone began to ring and Chloe’s name flashed across the screen.
Marinette sighed as she picked up. “Do you have some superpower?”
“I know I’m special Mari, you don’t need to remind me.” Marinette could practically hear the smugness in her voice.
“Sure, Chloe,” she drawled, walking into her room. “So, what’s up?”
“Two things,” Chloe said, suddenly business-like. “First, Adrien is taken care of. He doesn’t know you’ve gotten a new phone number, so he can’t call you anymore.”
Marinette felt some of the tension in her shoulders flow out of her. “Thanks, Chlo. What would I do without you?”
“Probably shrivel up and die.” Chloe sniffed haughtily but Marinette knew she was touched. “But anyway, two, I’ll be coming to Gotham the day after tomorrow, but you have a meeting with the Waynes tomorrow itself, so you’ll have to meet them on your own.”
Marinette groaned. “Seriously? Can’t you come tomorrow?”
She could hear the smirk in her best friend’s voice as she said, “Nope. You know I can’t. I still have to deal with the fall of the Gabriel Empire. Mom says there’s a lot to be taken care of and I can’t leave before that.”
Only sighing in response, Marinette flopped onto her bed. “I take back what I said before.”
Chloe cackled and Marinette was struck with a sense of dread. This wasn’t going to end well.
“You, Mari,” she said, “Are going to hate me even more after this.”
“Chloe-” Marinette started but said girl interrupted her before she could say anything.
“You,” Chloe paused dramatically. “Are going to be going on a night out. To themost famous club in Gotham.”
Marinette groaned. “Chloe, no.”
“Chloe, yes.” The girl cackled again. “I told you, you were going to hate me after this.”
Marinette sighed, this was a conversation they had somany times before.
It was always the same thing; Chloe thought Marinette should go and find more fish in the sea (especially after Adrien) and Marinette didn’t agree.
She was perfectly fine on her own.
“Marinette,” Chloe said, and this time, said girl knew she meant business. “It’s been agessince you’ve had some fun, especially with the work Mom’s putting you under. Now, you’re not even dating Adrien, so you can hook up with people. C'mon Mari, you’re in your twenties, live a little.”
Marinette sighed, already resigned.
“You’re lucky I brought some dresses with me.”
Marinette was already regretting her decision to listen to Chloe.
The club was loud, ridiculously loud and Marinette was already starting to get a headache from the volume.
She needed a drink.
It was most definitely a bad decision, but Chloe said to let go, and that was exactlywhat Marinette was doing.
Striding to the bartender confidently, Marinette asked for the strongest drink they have.
She settled herself on a barstool, sipping her drink, content with watching the writhing masses of the people.
“What’s a pretty lady like yourself doing alone?” A sleazy voice crooned.
Marinette cringed.
She turned around, only to see a mucholder man, smirking at her, clearly leering at her body.
“None of your business,” Marinette said shortly and turned her back to him.
“Aw, don’t be like that, love.”
Shuddering in disgust as she felt his hand on her arm, Marinette stood up.
And promptly stumbled over her feet.
So maybe she had had too much to drink.
“Get away from me,” she yelled over the loud music.
The man ignored her protest as he tightened his grip on her arm.
Marinette was getting ready to kick him right where it hurt when the man’s hand was ripped off her.
“I think,” a voice said casually, “She said to get away from her. I suggest you do that before things get messy.”
Marinette turned around to see a veryhandsome dark-haired man defending her honour.
She would be lying if she didn’t say she wasn’t attracted to him.
She was snapped out of her thoughts when her assailant stepped forward and tilted his head in a way Marinette assumed he thought was intimidating.
Spoiler alert: it wasn’t in the slightest.
Her 'knight in shining armour’ smirked. “Are we seriously going to do this?”
Marinette snorted. “Clearly.”
Shooting her a look that screamed danger, Marinette’s assailant stepped forward with his fist cocked.
Any bystander would have assumed that it was for the man standing next to Marinette.
Instead, his fist came flying to her and Marinette’s Ladybug instincts kicked in.
She ducked and shoved him back as hard as she could.
Marinette may or may not have underestimated how much strength she had.
He went flying and slammed into one of the chairs behind him.
“Oh my god,” the man whose name she stilldidn’t know, gaped.
Marinette stifled her laugh as all the people near them turned and gaped at him, assuming it was himwho caused the commotion.
“What the hell is going on here?’ A burly bouncer stood in front of them, arms crossed.
Marinette blinked her eyes open slowly as they adjusted to the light.
Where was she?
Light was streaming through the large windows of whatever room she was in and the sheets under her were as soft as silk.
Marinette tried to remember how exactly she ended up here.
◇─◇──◇─◇
As Marinette’s assailant was being kicked out of the club, her knight turned to her.
"So,” he said charmingly and Marinette cursed herself as her heartbeat sped up. “I wasn’t expecting that, but it certainly wasn’t unwelcome. Maybe it’ll teach him something about consent.”
Marinette shrugged lightly. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
“It was one,” he responded humorously.
Marinette decided it was time she got his name.
“So,” she started casually. “Who ismy knight in shining armour? I think I deserve to know.”
He bowed. “Dick.”
Marinette reared back. “What?Is that supposed to be a joke?”
“No, no, no,” he said frantically. “My actual name is Richard, but you can callme Dick.”
“Oh.” Marinette felt her cheeks warming up but hopefully, Dick wouldn’t notice. “Well, my name is Marinette.”
◇─◇──◇─◇
After that, things got fuzzy and Marinette vaguely remembered dancing with him.
And then kissing him.
And then coming home with him.
Marinette sat up suddenly, muttering, “This was a terrible decision, I should never have done this, I’m such an idiot-”
She fell silent as the sheets rustled beside her.
Turning around, she saw the man of the night himself stretched out all over the bed, smirking at her. “I didn’t think I was thatbad.”
Marinette rolled her eyes at him. “Cocky much?”
“Well,” he leaned forward, and Marinette willed herself to not look down. “I dohave some good comments and, if I do say so myself-”
He was cut off abruptly with Marinette throwing a pillow at him. “Ever heard of too much information?”
Dick held up his hands in apology. “But seriously, was it good?”
Marinette’s cheeks stained a light pink as she muttered, “Yes.”
He smirked.
“But,” Marinette said, to stop his ego from inflating. “Don’t let it get to your head.”
Obviously, her statement didn’t do anything.
Marinette stood up, picking up her clothes. “Is there anywhere I can change?”
“Already leaving?” Dick pouted and it was adorable.
Marinette had to fight the urge to not melt then and there. “Well, I do have places to be and things to do. So, yes.”
His face fell exaggeratedly and Marinette almostfelt bad.
Almost.
While he was getting out of bed, she fought to keep her gaze on his face only.
It took her a few seconds to realize he was pointing at something.
Feeling her cheeks turn scarlet, Marinette said, “Thanks!” and raced off to the safety of the bathroom.
Dick was left behind, and Marinette could practically hearhis smirk.
◇─◇──◇─◇
“Youwhat?” Chloe screeched. “Oh my god Mari, I’m so proudof you!”
Marinette paused. “That was not the answer I was expecting.”
“I can’t believe yougot laid, that’s amazing-” Chloe sounded like she was about to ramble on and on, so Marinette cut her off.
“I know, and you can rant about it later, but right now, I need your help in getting ready for the Wayne meeting.”
Chloe grumbled but she complied anyway.
◇─◇──◇─◇
Marinette straightened her back as the receptionist let her into the meeting room.
As she entered, Marinette subtly gaped at the luxuriousness of the room. It was beautiful but there were some improvements required.
Her internal rambling was cut off with a veryfamiliar laugh; one she had heard multiple times in the last night.
Marinette stuck her tongue out as she opened the bottle of bright, brightgold glitter.
The bottle was humongous, with a largeamount of glitter filling it up to the tip.
With her experience as a designer (and Manon’s demands), Marinette knew justhow explosive and stickyglitter was.
As a teenager, when Marinette was still what she considered was a rookie designer, her clumsiness often resulted in glitter coating her room.
It was absolutely painfulto try and get it out once it was stuck.
To be honest, Marinette thought that they should put a hazard sign on glitter because it was just thatpainful.
Hence her caution now.
Making sure the bottle was absolutelystraight, Marinette twisted the bottle cap slowly with a towel around her hand, so the cap wouldn’t slip through her hands.
Although her clumsiness had receded in her recent years as the Ladybird of Gotham, it was still prone to come out at the most inopportunetimes and with a material like glitter, Marinette wasn’t risking it.
“You know,” A voice said from right behind her. “You don’t haveto open the bottle so slowly. It’s not going to explode, Mari.”
Marinette shrieked, the bottle tipping slightly.
A single flake of glitter fluttered down to the floor before Marinette managed to straighten the bottle again.
“Oh my gods, Dick!” She breathed, turning around and facing the grinning man in front of her. “Neverdo that again; especially not when I have glitter in my hands.”
Her boyfriend shot her that cheeky grin she loved and held his arms out for a hug.
Marinettecarefullyset the bottle on her desk and wrapped her arms around Dick, drowning in his scent.
Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, Dick asked her, “So which of your clients demanded glitter on their clothes?”
“Audrey Bourgeois.” Marinette mumbled against his chest. “Something about a new fashion line?”
Dick snorted. “I don’t think she understands how chaoticit’s going to end up.”
“Oh, Mr Grayson,” said a sharp voice from the doorway. “I know exactlyhow chaotic it willbe.”
Audrey Bourgeois strode into the spacious office as if she owned it. “Now, Marinette, would you like to show me what you have made up till now?”
It was an order phrased like a question.
Marinette reluctantly untangled herself from Dick and pulled out the dress she had made.
She was very proud of it, having spent hoursworking on her latest creation. The only thing left was the glitter - something she had put off until the end, just in case things got out of control.
Audrey scrutinised the dress with pursed lips as Marinette eyed the glitter bottle on her desk with something close to hostility.
The gold glitter sparkled from the light in the studio, creating a blinding ball of light on her desk.
“Stare any harder, Mari,” Dick mumbled from next to her, “And it’s going to burn.”
“Maybe it should,” she muttered back, still glaring fiercely at it. “I hateglitter.”
“Well,” Audrey interrupted their conversation. “The dress is acceptable, Marinette. Where do you plan on adding the glitter?”
As she gestured to the places where she was going to add the glitter, Marinette internally rolled her eyes at Audrey’s inability to dish out a properly framed, genuinecompliment.
After she was done explaining, Marinette stood by Dick who, thank the gods, was still there.
Probably because he knew how much Marinette disliked glitter and that paired with her rarely-found explosive temper was notgoing to end well.
Audrey hummed. “It isan adequate idea.”
She looked at Marinette and pointed at the dreadedglitter bottle. “Add the glitter and send me the dress. Then we can talk about payment.”
Marinette nodded politely and Audrey pulled out her phone, already yelling at her chauffeur.
Onceshestalked out, Marinette let out an exaggerated sigh. “At least she liked it.”
Dick shot her an amused smirk. “You thought she wasn’t going to?”
Marinette shrugged. “You never know with Audrey Bourgeois.”
She walked towards the glitter bottle and screwed it shut tightly. “There. Now the bottle isn’t going to just randomly explode.”
“You worry too much.” Dick said, holding her hand and pulling her to the door. “Let’s go out for lunch, yeah?”
Marinette shot him a dazzling grin. “Just give me a minute to cover the dress.”
◇─◇──◇─◇
Downstairs, Tim shrieked as he ran from Jason, jumping over the railing.
He had just accidentallydropped some coffee on Jason’s favourite fluffy slippers and now said man was chasing him through the house.
“Timmy!” Jason was yelling. “I swear to godyou better come back here right now.”
Obviously, he wasn’t going to, but Tim applauded Jason’s futile efforts to coerce him into coming back.
Tim ran up the stairs, two at a time, and carefully set his coffee cup on the side table.
It wouldn’t do for it to break.
Once he did that, he took off, faster, now that he didn’t have his coffee cup in hand.
The familiar open doors of Marinette’s studio welcomed him and an idea began to bloom in Tim’s head.
Marinette said she was getting glitter today…
◇─◇──◇─◇
Jason narrowed his eyes at the double doors of Marinette’s studio.
He was well-aware that Tim was inside and it was becauseTim was inside, that Jason walked in warily, eyes and ears alert.
That was until a flurry of glitter fell straight on his head.
Golden glitter coated Jason from head to toe and without even thinking about it, Jason sprinted out of the room like his life depended on it.
He knew justhow much Marinette hated glitter and finding out it was all over her studio?
Well that wasn’t going to end well.
◇─◇──◇─◇
“Istilldon’t understand how you take your coffee with so much sugar and not get high,” Dick said, walking with Marinette on the streets of Gotham. “But maybe it’s because you like your coffee as dark and bitter as your soul.”
Marinette shoved him lightly. “Shut up, you dork.”
Dick shot her a cheesy grin. “But I’m yourdork, aren’t I?”
“Sometimes,” Marinette took a welcomed sip of her coffee, “I wonder why I love you.”
“It’s because of my dashing looks, love.” Dick said, donning a British accent.
Marinette laughed as he ran over to the door and held it open for her. “Ladies first.”
Blowing him a kiss, she walked in and Dick quickly followed, offering his arm to her.
They kept up the act for a few seconds before they broke down into fits of giggles.
Still laughing as they entered Marinette’s studio, they didn’t notice the glitter-covered surfaces until a bag of the cursed substance fell on them.
Gasping, the Marinette sputtered as her vision was covered with an influx of gold. “What the hell?”
Dick was stumbling around like a headless chicken, his hands waving around. “What’s happening? Has someone broken in?”
As funny as that was, Marinette decided to calm him down. “Nothing’s happened…except for someone dropping the glitter on us.”
Her gaze went to the bottle she had left on the table, and sure enough, it was empty.
“If you wish to know who was responsible for this,” Damian stood, leaning against the doorway with a smirk. “I can tell you…for a price.”
Marinette whirled around. “Absolutely. What’s the price?”
“Your next cookie batch.”
Dick gasped theatrically in the background. “No.”
Whirling to him now, Marinette glared at him. “No? The perpetrators need to be punished, Dick. I am the queen of all pranks and I will remainthe queen of pranks.”
Said man turned to Damian. “Ask for something else, Damian.”
“I shall not.” was the prompt answer. “I want the cookies and the cookies only.”
Marinette, whose back was to Damian, shot Dick a wink. “Alright, I agree to your terms. I will give you the next batch I make. Who did this?”
Damian shot her a narrow-eyed look but still answered. “Drake and Todd.”
“Done. The cookies will be for you.” Marinette gave him a smirk and turned to Dick. “Come on Grayson, let’s get revenge and then I’ll bake two batches; one for you and one for Damian.”
Dick grinned as he pressed his lips to his girlfriend’s. “Let’s.”
There are Bio Dad! Stephen Strange, Bio Dad! Bruce Wayne, Bio! Dad John Constantine, Adopted by the Kents, Bio Dad & Mom! Joker and Harley, and many more.
Okay…. So I’m looking for a story. I don’t know if it’s brucinette or not but marinette got reincarnated into talia’s body? And she’ll be living her normal life but Bruce would be suspicious and and would keep tabs on her and she’ll get angry and would just go off on him for being racist among other things. Does anyone know about this and its name/author?
She should have expected this. She had actively used the miraculouses of creation and multiplication, together even. But her life was already going to be hard enough. She had just moved to Metropolis and started a new job at the Daily Planet after her short-lived disaster of a time in Gotham. She hoped that the brighter, happier Metropolis would offer her a better time but she had been sick off and on since she moved here. She had never seen herself as a journalist but she wasn’t there for the byline, she was mostly doing research for the fashion and style department.
The doctor had cleared up her illness quickly and referred her to an OB who had just doubled the problem. The ultrasound tech had moved the wand over her and pointed out Baby A. Marinette was about to ask about the designation when the introduction of Baby B made it all too clear. She was numb for the rest of the appointment. They sent her off with pictures and a stack of information. Marinette thought that they might have given her extra information based on her reaction and explanation that she had no local family and avoided talking about the father. She couldn’t really talk too much about him. She had never seen his face and didn’t know his name. It wasn’t like she could put Nightwing on the birth certificate. But based on the timing of the troubles starting with her ex and the time spent with Nightwing, he was the only option.
Dick was still waiting for Clark to show up. It was taking a while. He didn’t know if telling him why he wanted to meet would help get him there faster or cause him to not show. Finally he saw him walk through the door and look around. His smile when their eyes met definitely felt more like a grimace.
“You made it. I wasn’t sure if you would have time tonight or if you would be busy.”
“I always have time for you, Buster.“ Normally Dick would have felt better at the use of his childhood nickname but the discussion they were about to have was too serious. "I just had some previous plans tonight so it took me a bit longer.”
The school trip to Gotham was supposed to be fun. It was supposed to be a reward to the class, a celebration of the recent defeat of Hawkmoth by Ladybug and Chat Noir. Marinette wanted to celebrate. She really didn’t want to cry on the trip. Yet, as the plane touched down in Gotham, Marinette was staring out the plane window at the rain and the setting sun, rubbing her eyes, trying her best to brush away the tears before they formed.
“Are you okay, Marinette?” Alya looked over at Marinette, concern visible on her face.
Marinette nodded weakly, blinking away the wetness in her eyes. “I’m fine. I just… I have some bad memories associated with Gotham. One of my childhood friends… his parents were murdered on a trip to Gotham and I lost contact with him after that. It’s always been a very raw subject for me.”
Alya opened her mouth to respond, but before she could get a word out, Lila leaned across the aisle to interrupt the conversation. “Your childhood friend’s parents were murdered on a trip to Gotham? It’s okay to admit that you’re scared of Gotham because of the supervillains. You don’t have to come up with some outlandish story for why you’re upset.”
Marinette glared over at Lila, her eyes shiny from both her tears and her anger. “I wasn’t talking to you, Lila, but for your information, I’m not making up a story. I wouldn’t lie about the death of my friend’s parents. I hateliars.”
Lila flinched back, her eyes wide and innocent. “I’m sorry, Marinette. I just wanted to make sure that you knew that you could tell the truth. We wouldn’t judge you for it.”
Alya frowned, giving Lila a stern look. “Lila, Marinette is seriously upset. I don’t think that this is the right time to lecture her.”
“Oh, of course.” As soon as Alya turned away from her, Lila’s expression was murderous. Marinette could care less. She turned away and ignored Lila, not in the mood to deal with the liar’s taunts. If she could just hold back her tears until they got off the plane, maybe she could pretend that it was the rain that was making her face wet.
It took an hour to get from the plane to the hotel room, and that hour was torture for Marinette, who spent the entire journey holding back tears. As soon as Alya shut the door to their hotel room with a click, Marinette finally let herself cry, curling up into a ball on the hotel bed.
Marinette felt Alya wrapped her arms around her in a hug. “I’ve got you, Marinette. It’ll be okay.”
Marinette didn’t know how long she cried for. All she knew was that when the tears finally stopped, the sky had gone dark outside. “What time is it?”
“It’s a little past eight. I texted Nino to tell Ms. Bustier that you weren’t feeling well, so she won’t be bothering you with any class president duties tonight.”
“Thanks.” Marinette shifted herself from lying on her side to sitting up. “Have I ever told you what happened to Dick?”
Alya shook her head. “You’ve mentioned him a few times, but only that you two were friends when you were younger, and then lost touch.”
Marinette sighed. “It all started when I was nine years old. My Grandma Gina was babysitting me for the weekend. She was old friends with the ringmaster of a circus that was in Paris, so she took me there to stay the weekend. That was where I met Dick and his parents…”
Marinette told the story in bursts, stopping to cry every few minutes when she got too emotional to continue. “…And I never spoke to him again after that. Gotham’s foster care records aren’t open to the public, and I stopped myself from Googling his name a long time ago. It just hurts too much to get my hopes up.”
Alya wrapped Marinette up in another hug. “I’m sorry, Marinette. I wish there was something I could do to make this better.”
“I think this trip might be good for me. It hurts a lot now, but I think once it’s over I might finally feel a little more at peace.”
“I hope so. But if there’s ever any time where you need to just stop and let it all out, I’ll be there for you.”
“Thanks, Alya. You’re the best.”
Alya was Marinette’s best friend, even if Alya was friends with Lila as well. That was Marinette’s one regret - when she unmasked Hawkmoth and Mayura as Gabriel Agreste and Nathalie Sancour, there was no way to unmask Lila as a liar as well. Gabriel refused to name Lila as an accomplice, aware that admitting to having manipulated a teen girl into performing acts of terrorism wouldn’t look good for him. So Lila was free to continue her reign of terror, though at least now Marinette could be rightfully angry with her, without fear of being akumatized.
———-
The class trip was partially sponsored by the Wayne Scholarship Foundation. Usually, the Wayne Scholarship Foundation only awarded scholarships, given to students all across America to pay for college, but after Hawkmoth’s defeat and the media coverage that followed, a rather large sum was awarded to Marinette’s class for their bravery on the front lines of Hawkmoths’ attacks. The Wayne Foundation organized tours and shows for them all over the city, starting with a tour of the Martha Wayne Memorial Botanical Gardens bright and early on the first morning of their trip. Then the class would go on a walking tour of Gotham during the afternoon, ending at a high-end sushi restaurant for dinner, followed by a night exploring East Hills Park during one of their famous firework shows. The late May day promised to be warm and sunny, so Marinette put on her favorite red floral sundress with a jean jacket overtop to hide the thin spaghetti straps, and sturdy tennis shoes to handle all of the walking she would be doing.
“Marinette!” gasped Lila as soon as Alya and Marinette walked into the main lobby. “Are you sure that your outfit is dress-code approved?”
Marinette rolled her eyes. “Yes, Lila. With my jacket on, this fits the dress code. I wouldn’t make something that I can’t wear.”
“Okay. I was just checking. Your dress seemed a little too short to me, but I guess I just prefer something more modest.”
As Lila walked away, Alya placed her hand on Marinette’s shoulder in comfort. “I’m sure Lila didn’t mean to come off as slut-shaming. I think she’s just lashing out because wants to make sure you don’t get in trouble for your outfit.” Even Alya sounded uncertain of her explanation, as not even she believed herself. Without the support of Hawkmoth, Lila was no longer a cunning and calculated mastermind of manipulation. Now she was just a scared bully, desperately doing whatever she could to maintain her power over the class.
“Whatever,” Marinette sighed. “I won’t let her ruin my trip.”
“That’s the spirit. Besides, anyone with taste would know that your outfit looks super cute.”
Marinette smirked. "Are you saying that you don’t think Lila has taste?”
“Definitely not as much taste as you. You’re the Queen of Fashion Trends. You always look good.” Alya put her arm around Marinette’s shoulder. “Plus, you know better than to wear cowboy boots to school.”
Marinette giggled as she remembered the incident. Lila came to school showing off her ‘authentic’ cowboy boots from America, seemingly unaware that they were the ugliest shoes anyone in their class had ever seen.
“You’ll have a great day today, I promise.” Alya walked with Marinette to the bus waiting outside. They got a seat up near the front, by Nino and Adrien.
Adrien had been the most affected by Hawkmoth’s unmasking, given that it revealed his Father as a terrorist and his Mother as a coma-patient. All seemed lost for Adrien, as a team of Paris’s best doctors revealed that Emilie Agreste was braid-dead. They planned on pulling the plug on Emilie’s life support until, Amelie Graham de Vanily revealed that by combining the twin rings she and her sister owned with Ladybug’s power of creation, together they had the power to bring Emilie back to life. Marinette was skeptical, after all, Amelie seemed to have ulterior motives in everything she did, but how could Marinette refuse when it was the only thing that she could do to help Adrien. In the end, she decided to help, no matter the consequences. Miraculously, it worked. Emilie was brought back to life and Adrien had a mother again.
However, in the aftermath of her decision, Marinette realized one crucial detail. In all of the chaos of deciding whether or not to work with Amelie, when she based her final decision on Adrien, she did it because he was her friend, not because he was her crush. At that moment, she realized that the overwhelming crush she had on Adrien since the age of thirteen had faded. In its place was a beautiful friendship.
“Good morning,” chirped Adrien.
“What’s up, dudes?” chimed in Nino.
“I can’t believe we’re here in Gotham. I thought our class trip to London was cool, but this is just incredible. I can’t believe that the Wayne Foundation organized all of this for us,” Alya gushed.
Marinette smiled. She knew that her friends deserved the vacation. Alya, Nino, and Adrien (though his involvement as Aspik was brief) all helped in the fight against Hawkmoth, even though they never revealed their superhero identities to each other. “What are you all most excited about?”
“I can’t wait to see the Superhero Museum,” said Alya. “I can’t believe we were invited to the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new exhibition.”
“Itis a celebration of the defeat of Hawkmoth. I suppose they wanted some real Parisians there to see it.”
“I’m excited for Super: an American Musical, with the original cast. Did you guys know that this is their last week in Gotham before the show starts on Broadway!” Nino cheered.
Marinette smiled. “That is cool. I’ve heard that it’s a fan favorite to win a Tony this year.”
When all eyes landed on Adrien to answer the question, he shrugged. “I just want to experience everything. And take a lot of pictures. I promised my Mom that I would send her some.”
“How about we take one now?” Marinette suggested.
Adrien nodded and the group of friends squeezed together to take a selfie.
“How about you, Marinette?”
“The Wayne Foundation Fundraising Gala,” Marinette answered promptly. “It’s one of the most influential events in fashion. I’ve heard that celebrities wear their second-best outfits to the Met Gala and save their best for the Wayne Gala. I know that the Wayne Foundation is paying for a shopping trip to pick out an outfit for the Gala, but I made my dress own and brought it here.”
Alya laughed. “I should have guessed.”
Marinette smiled sheepishly. “I couldn’t resist. This is the first opportunity I’ve had to wear my newest creation.”
“Do you have pictures of it?” asked Adrien.
Marinette shook her head. “I’m not showing anyone until the Gala. I’m keeping it safe in my room. I don’t want to jinx anything.”
“Hawkmoth is gone. We’re in Gotham, living it up. Life is good.” Alya summarized, and the whole group chimed in their agreement. Life wasgood.
———-
“Is everything in this city named after the Waynes?” asked Nino as they stepped off the bus in from of the Martha Wayne Memorial Botanical Gardens.
“The Waynes are one of the oldest and wealthiest families in Gotham. When you’re that rich, life is just a game of buying your name onto as many buildings as possible,” Adrien answered.
“The Waynes and their extraordinary money are the reason why we’re here, so I’m willing to forgo making fun of everything they put their name on,” Alya decided.
Once they got through the doors to the Botanical Garden, Marinette was entranced. Flowers of every shade surrounded her, the sound of rushing water and the rustling of leaves was the only thing she could hear, the smell of pollen and fresh air filled her lungs. It was heavenly.
“I’m Olivia, but you can all call me Liv,” spoke the blonde tour guide as she approached the class. “I’ll be giving you a tour of the Botanical Gardens, the largest sanctuary for endangered plants in New Jersey. We’re known especially for our orchid garden, which we’ll walk through at the end of our tour.”
As the tour continued, Marinette noticed that one hallway was blocked off by a sign reading: Hydrangea Exhibition Coming This Fall.
Liv pointed out the hallway. “Down that hallway is the upcoming Hydrangea Exhibition, which is replacing the old New Jersey Wildflower exhibit. Now, I know you’re all from out of town, but if you’re even in Gotham again, make sure you check out the Botanical Gardens. We’re always getting new exhibits-”
Liv was cut off by the sound of shattering glass. One of the panes of glass making up the room had been shattered, and shards rained down on screaming tourists. Marinette’s eyes widened as she recognized Poison Ivy, lowering herself through the now opened ceiling on her vines. “You thought you could destroy the native vegetation of this city and get away with it? Nothing escapes my notice. Now, I would like to have a little chat with whoever’s in charge here.”
Liv motioned for all the students to get down, whispering, “As long as we stay out of Poison Ivy’s way, we’ll be perfectly fine. Just stay calm and stay quiet.”
Marinette watched as the Director of the Botanical Gardens came out to reason with Poison Ivy. He pleaded with the villain, “We won’t destroy any of the wildflower gardens, I swear. I’ll make sure myself that the wildflower exhibit will be moved to public parks all across Gotham.”
Poison Ivy shook her head. “That’s not good enough. You think you can wash your hands of these flowers so long as someone else offers to take them? How long do you think the wildflower gardens will last without any sort of protection?”
“We’ll make sure that the gardens are protected, I promise.”
Narrowing her eyes, Poison Ivy gave the Director a cruel smile. “I hope for your sake, Mr. Joseph Hoffman of 524 Shelton Avenue, that nothing happens to those flowers. Otherwise…” Poison Ivy let the threat hang in the air, using her vines to ascend back up to the ceiling.
The next few moments were so chaotic and full of movement that Marinette couldn’t quite piece together what had happened. All she knew was that one second Poison Ivy was leaving the way she came and the next second, Batman and Robin were facing her down in the middle of the Botanical Gardens.
“Oh, hello Batman, Robin. It’s so nice to see you. I was just leaving though, so unless you want to fight me where all these plants - and civilians, I suppose - could get hurt, I would step out of my way.”
“Poison Ivy, we both know that I can’t just let you go free after you threatened this man’s life.”
Poison Ivy sighed dramatically. “Oh well, I gave you a chance. Now it looks like I’ll have to start getting civilians involved. The villain’s eyes panned over the room, her eyes just happening to make contact with Marinette’s for a split second before Marinette looked away. But that split second was enough. Marinette felt vines start to wrap around her forearms, yanking her forward.
Marinette was pulled all the way over to Poison Ivy, Batman, and Robin, until she was stopped in between the villain and heroes. "What’s your name?” Poison Ivy asked, a menacing smile on her face.
“M-Marinette,” she stuttered out, eyes wide.
Batman’s expression was stoic and unyielding, while Robin looked at her with wide, stunned eyes. Batman spoke, “Why don’t we move this outside where no one - plants or civilians - will get hurt.”
Poison Ivy nodded. “I will require a head start, though, so I’ll keep my vines wrapped around Marinette’s throat. As soon as I’m out of range the vines will go slack and she’ll be able to go on with her day. However, if you start to come after me before then, I’ll tighten my vines and poor little Marinette might not make it.”
Marinette stiffened as the vines grew around her throat, just loose enough for her to take shallow breaths. Poison Ivy disappeared from view, but Marinette continued to stay perfectly still, desperately trying to slow her breathing before she hyperventilated. No one made a move toward Marinette, no one willing to risk the consequences of making a move while Poison Ivy could still control the vines.
After what felt like hours, but was really only about five minutes, the vines relaxed and fell to the floor. Marinette collapsed to the ground, lowering herself into the seated position so she could breathe a little bit easier.
“Are you alright?” asked Robin, kneeling next to her. “Are you having any trouble breathing?”
“I’m okay. I didn’t get hurt. I was just scared.”
Robin got up and held out his hand to help her to her feet. “Why don’t we get you back with the rest of your group. Are you here with your family?”
Marinette shook her head. “I’m here on a school trip.”
Robin walked Marinette over to her class, handing her off to Ms. Bustier, who let out a sigh of relief as she gently placed her hand on Marinette’s shoulder. “I know that was a very scary situation, Marinette. If you would like, I can take you and Alya back to the hotel.”
“No way!” protested Marinette. “I didn’t even get hurt. Plus, we have the walking tour of Gotham today. I don’t want to miss it.”
“Are you sure?” Ms. Bustier glanced over toward Batman.
Batman joined the conversation, saying, “If Marinette prefers to continue her day as normal, then I would advise following Marinette’s lead. Often, the best way to recover from an encounter with a villain is to go on with your life as normal.”
Marinette nodded. “I want to stay with the rest of the class and go on with our day.”
Ms. Bustier still looked hesitant but conceded anyway. “Alright. I think our tour of the Botanical Gardens is over, though. I doubt that they would let us continue, what with shattered glass all over the floors.”
Liv led the group out of the building, commenting with a sigh, “It’s a shame that Poison Ivy came and ruined the tour. The orchid garden is such an amazing exhibit, and now none of you will get to see it. Unless…” Liv glanced around. “There’s no broken glass in the orchid garden, so I don’t suppose why we couldn’t leave the Botanical Garden through the side-exit past the orchid garden. What do you say, Marinette?”
Marinette smiled. “That sounds wonderful.”
As the tour group turned to enter one of the hallways branching off of the main room, Marinette glanced behind her one last time. She made eye contact with Robin, who was watching her leave, an expression of wonder on his face. Marinette turned back around self-consciously rubbing the back of her neck. She wasn’t sure why Robin looked at her like that. It wasn’t a look that one would give a stranger, and yet they had never met before. Marinette thought it was odd, but the thought was gone from her mind as soon as her class entered the orchid garden. I’m here in Gotham for a week to have fun, she reminded herself, so no more investigating every strange occurrence.
———-
The walking tour of Gotham was just as fun and informative as Marinette anticipated, packed with interesting facts and amazing sights. She got a bunch of high-quality pictures of Gotham, good for putting in the blog post that Marinette (as class president) was in charge of putting together to go on the school website. Best of all, Lila didn’t bother her for the whole tour. Even Lila knew that she couldn’t bully Marinette and get away with it, after what Marinette had been through the morning.
The sushi restaurant was amazing too. Marinette had eaten sushi a few times before, but never anything as high-quality as what was served in the restaurant. Marinette decided that if this was what a field trip funded by the Wayne Foundation was like, then she was incredibly excited for the week to come.
Aside from the unfortunate interruption at the Botanical Garden, the day was perfect. Yet, Marinette couldn’t stop thinking about the strange look on Robin’s face. Had she done something wrong? Was she really safe from Poison Ivy? The thoughts lingered in her head, pestering her every time she felt safe and content.
“Listen up, class!” called out Ms. Bustier. “You’ll all have exactly two hours to explore East Hills Park. The firework show starts in approximately half an hour, and ends half an hour before you have to meet up here, which should give you plenty enough time.”
Marinette followed Adrien, Alya, and Nino off the bus and into the park. The group of friends started to explore the park, stumbling upon the statues and fountains that were scattered about the grounds.
“I found another Wayne!” Nino shouted from a few meters away. “This statue was dedicated to Patrick Wayne, who was Mayor of Gotham City - this was before they changed the name to just Gotham - from 1896-1904. His most notable achievement from his time in office was that he built over thirty new schools and eleven new library buildings in the city. He was known for his dedication to educating the City of Gotham.”
It had become an inside joke between the group to try and find as many things in Gotham named after the Waynes as they could. The task turned out to be much less difficult than they had anticipated, so the group quickly switched tactics and began looking up the various Waynes to see what they actually did with their lives, to determine whether they deserved their names on the various buildings and statues of Gotham.
“He actually sounds like he deserved a statue,” said Adrien, looking down at his phone at the Wikipedia article he had pulled up. “Not like Augustus Wayne, who never had a job and gambled away nearly a quarter of the Wayne fortune, yet still has a bridge and a fountain in this park named after him.”
Marinette chimed in, “My favorite is Georgiana Wayne. Apparently, a reporter was harassing her over the fact that she was a divorcee and Theodore Wayne was her second husband, and she told that reporter to, quote, 'Fuck off, you lousy son of a bitch. If my husband doesn’t mind that I am a divorcee, I don’t see why you should.’”
“I wonder if she has any statues in the park,” said Alya.
“I doubt it. Her Wikipedia article is only four paragraphs long.”
Alya frowned. “That’s a shame. Augustus Wayne does nothing of importance with his life and gets a whole bridge named after him, but Georgiana Wayne is a total badass in the 1920s and gets nothing.”
“We’ll have to bring it up with Bruce Wayne at the fundraising Gala,” joked Marinette.
“Good idea.” Alya glanced down at her phone. “It’s almost time for the fireworks show to start. According to the class groupchat, everyone is gathering on the south shore of the duck pond. There are benches there, and it should have a good view.”
“I’ll meet you guys there,” said Marinette. “I just want to get a few more pictures before it gets too dark.”
Marinette started taking pictures of the fountains and flowerbeds, wandering aimlessly through the park. She was busy getting the best angle to take a picture of a maple tree framed by the sunset when she bumped into someone walking behind her.
“Oh, I’m so sorry-” Marinette began to apologize, but as soon as she recognized just who she bumped into she was at a loss for words. “Dick?”
“Marinette?” Dick’s voice was deeper than Marinette remembered, yet still hauntingly familiar. His wide blue eyes stared into hers.
Marinette couldn’t hold it together. She burst into tears, launching herself into his arms. “Dick, I thought I would never see you again. What are you doing here?”
“I heard your name on the news when they were reporting about Poison Ivy’s vandalism at the Botanical Gardens. I did a little googling and found out about your class trip. It took a little digging into the Wayne Foundation website, but I found the approved itinerary for the trip and decided to track you down at East Hills Park. I knew I had to see you again.”
“You did that for me?” Overhead the fireworks started going off, extravagant flashes of color that Marinette ignored completely. She couldn’t tear her eyes off of Dick. When she imagined her reunion with him, she never really considered that he would be all grown up. No longer was Dick the twelve-year-old boy that Marinette remembered from her childhood. Dick was now five years older and sixteen inches taller.
“Of course I did. Marinette, I’ve missed you so much.”
“I tried to get back in contact with you but Gotham’s CPS refused to release any information to me. I kept calling and calling but they wouldn’t tell me anything.” The tears returned with a vengeance, and Marinette started to sob. “I gave up on finding you and I’m so sorry.”
“I don’t blame you. You have to know I don’t blame you. It’s me who should be apologizing. I could have tracked you down but I never did.”
Marinette sniffled. “Why didn’t you?”
“I was a coward.” Marinette opened her mouth to protest but Dick cut her off. “I was scared of losing another person I loved. I shut everyone out and by the time I was ready to let people in again, I was afraid that you wouldn’t want to be a part of my life again.”
“What made you change your mind?” asked Marinette.
“No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t forget you. It was stupid of me to think that I ever could in the first place. You were my best friend Marinette. You still are, if you’ll have me.”
Dick looked at her with such longing that Marinette knew she could never deny him. Her face softened. “Of course I will.”
“Thank you.” Dick held onto Marinette tighter.
Marinette closed her eyes and melted into his embrace. The fireworks show continued, bathing the park in beautiful colors, but Marinette felt no need to watch it. She knew that she already had the most beautiful thing in the park in her arms.
The laugh she gave was broken as she shook her head. “I wish that were true. Gods, I do. But we both know that’s a lie. It was fun. An escape. We were both avoiding things we’d rather not face.”
“Mar-”
“You know I’m right.”
“We can make it work. Life’s a balancing act, just let the things in and juggle them. Together.”
She gave a small laugh as she shook her head. “I wish we could but I’ve been ignoring the signs for too long. There’s things that require my attention. It’s best if you forget about me. At least for a while.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing that concerns you.”
“You don’t know that. I can help. There are resources I have access to-”
“No. You can’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do, Dick. I have to go.”
He grabbed her wrist, stopping her from leaving. “I don’t want to lose you, Mar. Please. Let me help. There has to be something I can do. You don’t know what-”
“You’re not listening to me! I have to go. There are things I’ve ignored for too long and- it’s best for everyone if I just disappear for a while. Thank you. For everything.”
“Marinette-”
She cut him off with a quick kiss, gently gripping his hand with her own, interlocking fingers and giving two tight squeezes before pulling away.
“Goodbye, Dick,” she whispered, before sweeping out the door, glancing back once with a bittersweet smile as she let the door fall shut. The soft click of the latch catching felt deafening.
He took a deep breath, thumb brushing against the cold metal as he played back what just happened in his head, squeezing his eyes shut, ignoring the faint stinging behind his eyes.
He sat down before finally looking at what she’d pressed into his hand. A simple braided leather bracelet. Simple except for the clasp. The clasp was…. odd to say the least. Nothing he’s seen before, though that wasn’t odd for Marinette’s designs. It looked like a decorative key had been inserted into the sheath of a sword, a small ruby ladybug resting on the key while a cat sat at the bottom of the sheath, tail wrapped around it, emerald eyes seeming to stare at him. 376 inscribed on the key head in a swirling script.
He frowned as the two pieces refused to budge in his response to tugging them apart. Unbudging, as he pulled and twisted and screwed, refusing to give way at any of his attempts.
It was unmoving. He would have thought that it was supposed to be had it not been for the faint seam around the shank of the key and along the bottom of the sheath. He laughed, shaking his head as an idea came to mind.
He pressed the key in further, and twisted, the bottom of the sheath popping open, allowing him to pull the key out. He turned the key over as he examined it, the soft jangle of the open sheath pieces hitting each other as he moved, pulled his attention away. Moving to snap the pieces shut the words West Kane Street delicately inscribed on the piece that fell open caught his gaze. He gave a soft smile, snapping the pieces shut, before wrapping it around his wrist and sliding the key back in, the click locking the clasp shut once more.
—————————————
376 West Kane Street was unobtrusive. The type of building someone could walk past a million times without ever questioning its purpose or sparing it a second glance or thought. Dick was pretty sure he would have missed it completely if he was not looking for it. In fact, it was exactly the type of building he missed frequently, he realized, recognising the small deli across the street from his patrols.
He released the key from around his wrist, sliding it into the lock and opening the door, letting it fall shut behind him as he stepped inside. The set of soft clicks of locks automatically locking behind him startled him. More locks shutting than he’d unlocked automatically latching shut. He frowned, stepping closer, the soft releases of the locks undoing themselves as he got closer.
Technology or Magic. A layer of protection for what he was willing to guess off the bat was a safe house. Marinette’s safe house. A guess that was only proven further as he explored.
It was well stocked. Extremely well stocked. Dick had spotted the large first aid kit tucked away, plenty of canned goods and other non-perishables stocked the kitchen cabinets. Magazines, books, and dvds piled in bookshelves. Two cabinets dedicated to various medications and other specialties for medical treatment one wouldn’t typically find in a first aid kit. Toiletries stocked the bathrooms. Plenty of sheets and blankets in the linen closet. Anything and everything he could have thought about wanting seemed to be there, plus a few unusual items. A pair of sabers in the corner, a couple wheels of camembert in the fridge, crates of sketchbooks.
Picking one up and flipping through it revealed designs and sketches, her signature clear in the corner of any page would have erased any doubts that it was hers if he had any.
“I’d be careful with that if I were you. Mari can be protective of her designs.”
He spun, getting slightly defensive as he spotted his new company. Nothing seemed to have moved, he hadn’t heard the doors or windows open or shut. It was like he’d just appeared, lounging against the wall, silently having snuck up on him in a way Marinette had only ever been able to. Most of his family had a hard time sneaking up on him, each having their own little tells, but Marinette had always just seemed to materialize, and it seemed he did as well.
“You must be Dick. I didn’t think you would show up so soon. It took me two weeks to figure the key out. Bugaboo was laughing at me the whole time.”
“I can’t say I have the pleasure of knowing your name as well.”
“Relax. I’m a friend of Mari’s.” The blonde man raised his hands in an appeasing manner, pushing off the wall he was leaning on with a grin as he held out his hand. “It’s great to finally meet you. I’m Adrien.”
He took his hand, the two shaking hands for a moment before heading into the kitchen to rummage through the fridge, pulling out a wheel of camembert along with several jars and containers.
“How did you know who I am?”
“Only a handful of those got handed out, and since the last person she mentioned giving one was someone named Dick. And you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t. She doesn’t give those out lightly,” he explained, gesturing to his bracelet. “For another thing, I don’t think you realized how long she agonized whether or not to straight out tell you or hide it away in the key and leave you to figure it out on your own. That’s big. She didn’t even tell me and we’re partners. You mean a lot to her. Talks about you all the time. Sandwich?”
“I’m good. Thanks.”
“You sure? I make a very gouda sandwich if I do say so myself.”
“Yeah. I’m good. So. Partners?”
“Yep. Since lycee,” he told Dick. The small stab of jealousy wasn’t something Dick had been expecting at his words as Adrien continued. “Been watching her back and by her side for ages. Haven’t always been the best at it. Rough patches here and there and all that. I’m sure you know what that’s like. Hard times in a partnership.”
Partnership. Not relationship. Partnership. Implying that he and Marinette weren’t-
Dick gave a small laugh, relaxing slightly. “Yeah. God, never a good time. But it worked out in the long run. Helped me get out of a rut of a sort.”
Adrien nodded. “Stay safe out there. I don’t want to think what’ll happen if- well- take care Dick.”
Adrien was gone as fast as he appeared, only poking his head back once with a cheerful, “Your sandwich is on the counter!” before the sound of the door opening and closing, unlocking and locking behind left Dick alone, puzzling over the encounter slightly as he stared at the sandwich.
Adrien was right about the sandwich though. It was grate.
—————————————
He grit his teeth as he landed on the safe house’s fire escape, stumbling slightly as the window slid open. A small hiss of pain escaped as he pulled himself in, landing on the floor in a lump before pushing to his feet, leaning against the kitchen counter catching his breath and taking stock of his injuries.
He’d barely managed to get the top of his suit off before Marinette came sweeping in, a faint blue light glowing from underneath her shirt illuminating how frantic she looked. She seemed more disheveled than he’d ever seen her. Giving him a quick once over as she passed, frowning, pulling the first aid kit out of it’s spot and opening it up, pulling out various things from alcohol to gauze to a needle and thread, wasting no time in getting to work, disinfecting his wounds as she spoke up.
“I leave for a month and you’ve already managed to seriously injure yourself- Adrien, goddammit. You spent time with him, didn’t you?” she asked, worry clear in her eyes, as she moved.
“I’m sorry-
“You spent time with Adrien, didn’t you Dick?” she clarified, staring him down.
“How long have you known?”
“Our third date. Though, in all fairness, I’m well aware of the signs of vigilantism, and after that it wasn’t hard to put together. You haven’t answered my question though.”
“He showed up when I first visited, trying to figure out what you had just left me the key to.”
“Of course he did,” she muttered. “Meddling cat.”
He tensed watching her reaction, annoyance and exasperation clear. “What’s wrong with Adrien? He made it seem as if he belonged here and that you two were close.”
“We are. He does. There’s nothing wrong with him. I would- I have- trusted him with my life. Many times. He just tends to…. trail bad luck wherever he goes. And him being here while you were explains why you managed to get so injured so soon. He should have thought about what his presence would mean….” she trailed off, glancing at one of the clocks on the wall, biting her lip as she finished stitching him up. “How do you feel about cinnamon rolls?”
“What?”
“For you. To eat. Or throw at Adrien. Whichever you prefer. Cinnamon rolls?”
“Yours are my favorite.”
“Great,” She barely glanced at him as she pulled ingredients down and got to work, shooing him away when he tried to help. “We both know you are a disaster in the kitchen, Love. Besides I am not about to risk you pulling stitches after I stitched you up.”
“Love?” he asked with a grin, as she blushed, shaking her head.
“Forget I said that. I’m just…. a bit frazzled right now. That’s it”
“So you don’t miss me? I’ve missed you so much.”
“I never said that. I’m just- I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“A bit too late for that.”
“No thanks to that mangy alley cat.”
“Marinette, what’s going on?”
“Nothing. I have it handled. I just. The more distance between us the better. If you hadn’t been so severely injured I would have stayed away. And do not get any funny ideas about getting injured to draw me out,” she told him, flicking some dough at him as she rolled it out. “I’m just glad you found the safe house before this happened.”
“I would have been fine.”
She looked over at him, doubt in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak before giving a small headshake, quickly finishing the rolls and putting them in the oven before moving into the living room and sitting on the couch, snuggling into Dick as he sat next to her.
“I have missed you,” she said softly, keeping her eyes fixed straight ahead. “Everything is just a bit much. And I have it handled. I just can’t risk anything right now. I don’t want to risk you.”
“So you cut me off? Mar. I can help you.”
“I have help. Adrien is-”
“Your partner. I know.”
She laughed, looking up at him with a small smile. “Is someone a little jealous?”
“Me? Never.”
“No need to worry, Love. We figured out a long time ago things were better off platonic between us and both have since moved on.”
“I’m glad. I still want to help you though.”
“I know,” she told him, closing her eyes as she rested her head against his shoulder. “But this is the best path.”
“How do you know that though?” he asked. After not receiving an answer he glanced down with a small smile, finding that she;d fallen asleep on his shoulder. He pressed a small kiss to the top of her head before slowly letting the events of the night hit and drift off into unconsciousness as well.
—————————————
When he woke up she was gone. A container of cinnamon buns on the counter, his name scrawled on the sticky note on top of it. No note along with it or anything though, to his disappointment.
He gave a small huff as he opened the container pulling out a roll for a quick breakfast before he had to get a move on, taking a moment to glance over his wounds, surprised to see how far along they were in the healing process.
“How are you feeling?”
Dick jumped, launching the cinnamon roll in his hand straight at Adrien’s face. Hard. It stuck for a half a second before falling off, leaving a trail of icing on his cheek as he caught it.
“Did you just- Was I just- Assalted by a cinnamon roll? Marinette suggested it, didn’t she?”
“It’s the yeast I could do since you keep sneaking up on me.”
Adrien laughed. “A bunder on my part. I take it you’re feeling better.”
“Better than I imagined I would considering my injuries.”
He nodded. “Marinette is the best healer I know. She knows what her gifts are and she uses them. She’s the best for patch ups.”
“It was good to see her again, though Marinette didn’t seem too happy you popped by.”
“I know,” he grinned. “It’s for her benefit though.”
“Is there any particular reason you’re here with me instead of helping her?”
The grin he got in response to his question felt as if he had walked into a trap as Adrien came closer, taking a bite of the cinnamon roll before answering.
“She has everything handled at the moment. Taking a moment to herself. Glad you asked though. Brings me to what I wanted to say. If you hurt her in any way, no one will ever know what happened to you. No one will be able to revive you except at the grace of M’Lady. No one. Not Bruce Wayne, The Batman himself, nor any part of the Justice League. You’re entering a playing field with forces far beyond you. I’d love to see you take over as her partner and protector, but I won’t hesitate if you fail. Don’t think any of your caped friends can save you. Okay?” he asked, finishing as bright and cheerful as he usually was, taking another bite of the pastry.
“I don’t plan on hurting her.”
“Accidents happen.”
“Look, I just want to help-”
“But she won’t let you. She’s stubborn.”
“I know.”
“Marinette has a lot on her plate. You help her relax in a way I haven’t been able to in a long time. You’re good for her,” Adrien told him, picking up one of the books from the coffee table, as he moved towards the windows. “But the balance is delicate. If you aren’t careful you will be very bad for her,” he told him, tossing the book at Dick. Except the book never made it to him, crumbling into ash in the air, destroyed before it ever reached him. Adrien glanced back at him once more, looking like the cat that had caught the canary before giving a cheeky salute and disappearing out the window.
Dick stared at the trail of ash littering the carpet. Well that got rid of the possibility of technology. Adrien could be a meta, but with the other things he’d witnessed, the locks, the fast healing wounds, the dissolving book, magic seemed the more likely option.
Magic.
Great.
Good to know.
Adrien was a magic user. And by that logic, Marinette as well.
—————————————
Dick woke up to a light, burning against his eye lids on his night off. The ladybug on his key seemed to be glowing, illuminating a small portion of the room in a faint ruby light, flickering every now and again. He frowned, the light getting brighter as he moved, his mind flitting back to the night he’d shown up at the safe house injured. The blue glow from Marinette’s necklace coming to the forefront.
“Meddling Cat.”
“M’Lady.”
“Bugaboo.”
Adrien was the Cat. Marinette the Ladybug.
The magic, distancing, and threats made sense now. If Marientte was Ladybug and Adrien Chat Noir, a powerful duo with some very important artifacts to protect. Well the safe house and strange threats and aspects fit.
If her necklace glowed when he was injured then she-
He didn’t hesitate leaving his apartment and quickly making his way over to the safe house,the glow growing stronger as he moved, the door swinging open for him before he’d even had a chance to get his key out, locking shut as it swung closed. The lights were off as he moved through, playing a game of hot and cold with his bracelet before bothering with the lights.
His heart stopped as he spotted the figure, leaning against the wall hand pressed against their side.
“Adrien?”
“No, it’s-”
“Dick? What are you doing here?” she asked, voice sounding strained.
“The Key started glowing. I pieced two and two together and got here as fast as I could.”
“Not many would have figured it out that fast.”
“I wish I had sooner.”
She laughed, quickly stopping with a gasp of pain.
“You’re hurt.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m fine.”
“Marinette! Let me help you. Please. I just want to help you.”
“I promise-”
“Please. Please don’t lie to me. You stitched me up before. Let me return the favor. What’s hurt?”
She was silent for a minute before speaking up. “Few cuts, probably a broken rib or two, gash in my side,” she said softly. “Maybe a concussion.”
He nodded, quickly grabbing the first aid kit and getting to work. Joking and telling stories, careful not to make her laugh but just trying to distract her and get her to smile while he took care of her wounds.
“There we go,” he said, carefully picking her up and carrying her back into one of the bed rooms and setting her down on the bed.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. What happened, Marinette? What’s been happening?”
“You know I’m Ladybug. You figured that out didn’t you? And Adrien’s-”
“Chat Noir.”
She grinned. “Clever birdy. I’m- we’re, I recently split Guardianship with him- the Guardians of the Miracle box. A couple of cults and League of Assassins all got a bit too close to figuring out where I’d hidden it. I shouldn’t have left it with Adrien for so long. Got him to take a break, gave it a healthy dose of my good luck to combat his bad. Managed to rehide it, but lingered at the old spot a bit too long. They got the jump on me a bit sooner than I’d have liked.”
“So when Adrien was helping you?”
“He was giving me time to rebalance and tip the scales to be a bit luckier for the box. And the skirmishes. He should be finishing up soon with them now.”
“You aren’t worried about him?”
“Oh I’m worried. But he knows if he dies again, he’ll get hell from me. And besides, the only trouble for him will be the League of Assassins, but he’s dealt with them several times before this. I’m pretty sure the cults are starting to worship him, which is concerning, but Plagg’s loving it and that’s a problem for another day,” she finished, her last couple words, dissolving into a yawn.
“Get some sleep.”
“Not yet.”
“Don’t worry about Adrien. Or the League for that matter. I’ll help get that sorted out. Or get Damian to. Just rest right now.”
“Dick. It’s not your job to take care of this.”
“And it doesn’t have to be solely yours. I meant it when I said we can make it work. We’ll just juggle life together. I don’t want to lose you.”
She gave a small huff. “Fine. Maybe you have a point.”
He smiled, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Just close your eyes. It’ll be alright. I’ll be right here for you, Darling,” he told her, going to stand up, before being yanked down onto the bed.
“If I’m being forced to nap, I’m bringing you with me. Remember, Love, Together?”
He gave a soft chuckle as she snuggled into him, gently running his fingers through her hair as she drifted off.
I’m working on, like, three different stories at once. But that’s fine!
Send me a one sentence prompt or line of dialogue, and a ship. It can be a romantic or platonic ship, just make sure to tell me which. I wanna do some drabblessssss
Marinette woke up, her eyes and throat burning as she rolled over blinking the sleep from her eyes, the haze not clearing as she did so. Instead her eyes only stung more.
That wasn’t right.
She sat up, the smell of smoke finally registering in her sleep-addled brain kicking her into high gear. She was on one of the top floors which made evacuating a bit more hazardous, not that she was concerned. First thing was getting the important things. The grimoires and Miracle Box.
Smoke inhalation. That was a bad thing. A bad thing she was currently doing. Great. She grabbed her messenger bag and a scrap of fabric, tying the second over her nose and mouth, ignoring the small part of her in the back of her head that wondered if it was supposed to be wet. She didn’t have the time or means to do that at the moment and something was better than nothing in any case.
She shoved her feet into the sneakers that lay next to her door, praying she wouldn’t trip over her shoe laces as she quickly hurried down the hall into the guest room, picking up her sewing kit holding the Miracle Box and shoving the grimoires and photo albums for her memories into her messenger bag, zipping it shut and heading back out, barely taking a step out when a beam fell crosswise into the hallway.
Merde.
This is fine. The building’s structure is weakening is all. It’s fine.
She held her breath, squinting her eyes against the harsh air, taking the fastest, softest steps she could as she gained speed, vaulting over the bean realizing halfway through that that was a bad idea, as the ground underneath her foot broke away from the pressure of her pushing off which only meant nothing good could come from her landing.
She grit her teeth, already moving when she landed, trying to keep her movement moving forward despite the ground breaking away underfoot a half step behind her as she burst out into the main hall where she was met with fallen beams and fallen floor. And flames. Large flames.
Perfect.
Just great.
She glanced around, all the doors appeared open which was good. Her neighbors had gotten out then. She was about to try to pick her way to the opposite side of the hall where both the staircases and fire escapes were, a great design job there, when the window behind her shattered and hanging there was one of the local vigilantes. Nightwing.
“Need a hand?”
“Please!”
“How comfortable are you with jumping out here?”
“How confident are you that you’ll catch me?”
“Without the box and bag. Extremely. Didn’t anyone ever tell you you should leave your belongings in case of a fire?”
“You can pry it from my charred body. It’s coming.”
“Okay then. When you’re ready.”
Marinette double checked her hold on the box and swung the messenger bag so it hung on the same side of her body as the box was held before leaping out of the window completely airborne for a moment before feeling a strong arm wrap around her, trying to halt her momentum, she helped wrapping her arm around him before locking her legs around his waist, and her arm around his neck freeing his hand up.
“Nice catch.”
“Nice reaction time.”
She held on as he unlocked the stop holding them in place just outside the window, the two beginning their descent as she pulled the makeshift mask off her face.
“How are you holding up?”
“My eyes and throat are burning, my apartments destroyed, probably slightly burned, so. I’m doing great. Thanks for the rescue.”
“I’m glad I could help save such a pretty lady.”
She laughed as he said that, a faint blush rising onto her cheeks as she let out a small cough.
They’d barely touched the ground, Marinette unwrapping herself from the vigilante, the dryness and cough in her throat getting worse, before her world faded to black.
To the people that want to dress their characters with pictures in their Maribat fics (preferably girls but I do boys too) @ me I’m bored and don’t wanna study anymore.
We know we are! There are going to be so many great teams, we can’t wait to see who joins them. Some of you have probably already picked your first team, but for those of you who are still deciding, here are the options:
Spandex Flex - Dickinette
Book Design - Jasonette
Art Couple - Daminette
Java Junkies - Timari
3’s Company - Poly Ships
Lucky Shot - Roynette
Sunshine Children - Marijon
Rare Flair - Any other ship!
If you’re ready to declare your allegiance, reblog this post and put your favorite ship in the tags! That way you all know who needs to be encouraged to “Tag In” to your favorite team instead.
This summer, from July 31 – August 6th, the Maribat Discord Server will be hosting our first ever Tag Team Tournament event!
Eight teams will be competing to post as much new content as possible during the event: all to find out which ship is truly the most popular in our fun little corner of the fandom!
Ourteams this summer, in no particular order:
Spandex Flex - Dickinette Book Design - Jasonette Art Couple - Daminette Java Junkies - Timari Lucky Shot - Roynette Sunshine Children - Marijon 3’s Company - Poly Ships Rare Flair - Any Ship Without a Team
Who’s on the teams? Well, anyone who wants to be! And since this is the Tag Team Tournament, creators can tag in and tag out of teams as they please, creating as much or as little as they’d like to support each ship — multishippers rejoice! We’ll be releasing logos for each team as we get closer to the event, so keep an eye out in the weeks to come!
How do you participate? Our full Event Guide Document explains everything you need to know, including the rules, submission guidelines, scoring guidelines, and more! You’ll also find the submission form — only content submitted through this form will be scored for your team, so make sure you read the whole document and fill it out.
If you’re posting on AO3, we have an Event Collection for your fics. If you’re posting on Tumblr, make sure to tag your creation with #TTT2022 so we can see it and reblog it here!
If you’d like to keep an eye on the scores for each team (and maybe tag into a team to help bump them up), our Event Guide Document offers a publicly accessible tracker, complete with live-updating team totals!
In the mean time, we hope you’ll join us in the Maribat Discord Server as we prepare for the event!
Just so all of you know, there’s now an in-server space for chatting about the event, planning creations, and trapping encouraging your friends to write for whatever team you’d most like to see win! We hope to see you hopping into the server soon!
Just so all of you know, there’s now an in-server space for chatting about the event, planning creations, and trapping encouraging your friends to write for whatever team you’d most like to see win! We hope to see you hopping into the server soon!
We know we are! There are going to be so many great teams, we can’t wait to see who joins them. Some of you have probably already picked your first team, but for those of you who are still deciding, here are the options:
Spandex Flex - Dickinette
Book Design - Jasonette
Art Couple - Daminette
Java Junkies - Timari
3’s Company - Poly Ships
Lucky Shot - Roynette
Sunshine Children - Marijon
Rare Flair - Any other ship!
If you’re ready to declare your allegiance, reblog this post and put your favorite ship in the tags! That way you all know who needs to be encouraged to “Tag In” to your favorite team instead.
We know we are! There are going to be so many great teams, we can’t wait to see who joins them. Some of you have probably already picked your first team, but for those of you who are still deciding, here are the options:
Spandex Flex - Dickinette
Book Design - Jasonette
Art Couple - Daminette
Java Junkies - Timari
3’s Company - Poly Ships
Lucky Shot - Roynette
Sunshine Children - Marijon
Rare Flair - Any other ship!
If you’re ready to declare your allegiance, reblog this post and put your favorite ship in the tags! That way you all know who needs to be encouraged to “Tag In” to your favorite team instead.
This summer, from July 31 – August 6th, the Maribat Discord Server will be hosting our first ever Tag Team Tournament event!
Eight teams will be competing to post as much new content as possible during the event: all to find out which ship is truly the most popular in our fun little corner of the fandom!
Ourteams this summer, in no particular order:
Spandex Flex - Dickinette Book Design - Jasonette Art Couple - Daminette Java Junkies - Timari Lucky Shot - Roynette Sunshine Children - Marijon 3’s Company - Poly Ships Rare Flair - Any Ship Without a Team
Who’s on the teams? Well, anyone who wants to be! And since this is the Tag Team Tournament, creators can tag in and tag out of teams as they please, creating as much or as little as they’d like to support each ship — multishippers rejoice! We’ll be releasing logos for each team as we get closer to the event, so keep an eye out in the weeks to come!
How do you participate? Our full Event Guide Document explains everything you need to know, including the rules, submission guidelines, scoring guidelines, and more! You’ll also find the submission form — only content submitted through this form will be scored for your team, so make sure you read the whole document and fill it out.
If you’re posting on AO3, we have an Event Collection for your fics. If you’re posting on Tumblr, make sure to tag your creation with #TTT2022 so we can see it and reblog it here!
If you’d like to keep an eye on the scores for each team (and maybe tag into a team to help bump them up), our Event Guide Document offers a publicly accessible tracker, complete with live-updating team totals!
In the mean time, we hope you’ll join us in the Maribat Discord Server as we prepare for the event!
For@alytori , and the MGI Anniversary Gift Exchange!!!
*-*-*
There is something nostalgic about the rain, Marinette thinks as she peeks out from under the tarped cover of the bakery entrance. Maybe it’s the gentle pitter-patter of raindrops hitting the ground, or the all-too familiar scent of petrichor wafting through the air. Maybe it is the beginnings that blossom under the sprinkle. She smiles, patting the pocket where Adrien’s old umbrella is stored. Her eyes linger on the smallest hint of green that his touch had left on her that day. Maybe today she’ll tell him that they’re soulmates.
She goes through the motions–getting to class nearly late, falling asleep during Madame Mendeleiev’s lecture, glaring at Chloe, and finally, packing up for the day. She just about leaps out of her seat, desperate to catch up to Adrien, before Madame Bustier calls after her, wanting to talk to her about their upcoming school dance. Her focus lies elsewhere through the entire meeting, feet tapping the floor impatiently as she chews on her nails. As soon as Ms. Bustier excuses her, she sprints out, yelling a hurried goodbye back to her as she tears down the hallway.
She rounds the corner, and there by the entrance is Adrien, in all his golden-haired glory. He’s waiting under the cover of the entrance, preoccupied by the phone in his hand. She grins, pulling out his umbrella, ready for everything to come full circle, for her to finally be united with her soulmate–
But she halts at the sight of another limo pulling up to the curb. This definitely isn’t Adrien’s car, which is silver and less extravagant, and her suspicions are confirmed when Kagami steps out of the car and runs up to Adrien. Marinette can see the care in her eyes as she chastises the boy for his carelessness, pushing the umbrella she had been holding into his hands. She also sees the soft smile that Adrien sports, who chuckles at Kagami’s fussing.
It’s hard, holding in all she’s feeling at the moment. All the jealousy she feels towards Kagami, all the self-hatred she feels towards herself for her inaction and her hesitance. All the grief, the loss for what she could’ve had. But something in her breaks when their hands intertwine, and when Adrien presses a chaste kiss to Kagami’s cheek.
All of a sudden, everything is too much to handle. She’s suddenly made aware of the cold sheets of rain drenching her form, hitting her head in a manner so unlike the soft pitters of that morning. She realizes, warmth drips down her face and the taste of salt hits her tongue, that there is so much more to rain than simple beginnings.
Today, this is a dreaded end.
*
The next afternoon finds her laying in bed, eyes puffy and red as she sniffles miserably. Her entire body aches, and she shivers, cursing the rain for her cold. Her heart’s already broken–there’s no need for the universe to rub even more salt in the wound. She grumbles under her breath, blindly grasping for the chicken soup her mom had dropped off earlier.
The telltale twinkly sounds she’s normally so excited to hear grate on her ears as Tikki flits into view, comforting and positive as ever as she picks up a spoon and gently guides it towards Marinette’s mouth. But she doesn’t speak, which Marinette is grateful for. She doesn’t think she could hold a conversation if she wanted to–her throat is raw from crying, and she can’t go a couple sentences without choking back tears. She flinches at how pathetic she’s acting. All over a boy she’s destined to love, but who’ll never love her back.
The bowl she’s been holding is taken out of her hands, and Tikki pushes her back into the bed with little force. She stares at the sealing, hugging her cat plushie tightly, and takes a deep breath in, and out. In, and out. Her eyelids grow heavy, and the emotional exhaustion finally sets in as she blinks in and out of consciousness. A quiet buzz fills her ears, and she welcomes the white noise as she falls into the arms of sleep.
“I hope you feel better soon, Marinette,” she hears Tikki whisper by her side.
She hopes she does, too.
*
By the next school day, she learns that a new kid had joined them in her absence.
“Mari, I swear to god, Dick is so funny,” Alya recalls with a laugh as they come through the school’s gates. “I mean, he even made Madame Mendeleiev laugh!”
Her brows furrow, racking her brain for a “Dick” at their school. “What an odd name,” she muses. “I don’t think I’ve ever met him before, though.”
“He’s new! God, you’re going to love him, Mari.” Alya chuckles as she opens the class’ door. “He’s super sweet, and he reminds me a lot of someone I know.” She says as she gives Marinette a playful shove through the doorway. Stumbling in, Marinette lets her eyes roam across the room, avoiding meeting Adrien’s friendly gaze, until her sights land on bright blues so similar to her own at the back of the classroom. She’s mesmerized, enraptured in the depth of emotion in his eyes that leaves her head swimming, until Alya pats her shoulder, leaning in to tell her something.
“You can stare later! Just go say hi,” she whispers, and Marinette groans silently. She trudges up the stairs, embarrassed and mortified by herself. She’s still getting over Adrien, why is she already feeling things for a boy she’s never met?
She stops by the new student’s desk, about to speak before their gazes meet once again and all the words she’s about to say die on her tongue, mixed about by his stare. She hovers awkwardly, unsure of what to say and even how to speak, when he breaks their gaze with a closed-eyed smile.
“You’re Marinette, right? Nice to meet you!” His cheer, already contagious as he shakes her hand vigorously, gets a giggle out of her.
“That’s me. It’s nice to meet you too, Dick. Weird name though, no offense.” He chuckles at her little joke, and it’s like everything becomes a bit brighter as her cheeks heat up at the sound of his laughter.
“Don’t worry, it is a pretty weird nickname, anyways.” He waves her off. “But at least it’s kinda funny. My real name makes me feel like an old person.”
“Why? What is it?” Though she’s sure he’s just whining, she feels like a child being told a thrilling bedtime story by their parents, desperate to hear what happens next. She’s genuinely curious as to what name could possibly get him this worked up.
He beckons her to come closer to him, and cups his hand around her ear when she does. He makes a show of looking around for anyone listening in, and once he decides it’s safe he leans in, slightly rustling her hair as he does. “It’s Richard,” he whispers darkly, as if the name were a curse. She leans back, trying to catch any hint of a joke in his posture, but the serious glint in his eyes tells her otherwise.
“Dick, I hate to burst your bubble, but… that’s one of the most common boys’ names in France. Possibly even Europe,” she snorts, slapping a hand over her mouth as Dick’s face falls.
“I- what?! Hey, don’t laugh! It’s not my fault I’m from America.”
“America, huh?” She’s about to ask him why he’s here, maybe for studying abroad, but she is interrupted by Madame Bustier clapping her hands at the front of the room, bringing the class’ attention to the start of the lesson. With a little wave towards Dick, she makes her way to her desk and plops down in her seat with a sigh. When she looks to the front, she makes the mistake of locking eyes with Adrien, who is turned around in his seat, talking to Alya and Nino. For a second, she’s afraid he knows that she saw him and Kagami a couple days ago in the rain, but instead he smiles warmly, and the tension in her shoulders eases minutely.
“We missed you, Marinette! I hope you’re not feeling too sick anymore, I’m sure that was a pain.” There’s genuine sympathy in his tone, and she can’t help but grin cheerily back.
“I’m much better now! A little cold can’t keep me down for long,” she huffs triumphantly, flexing her arm slightly.
“Yeah, except for that one time she was knocked out for a few days because she went in the snow without a coat.”
“Nino,” she pouts. “That was so long ago! How did you even remember that?”
“That was just a few weeks ago, Mari.”
“Ah.” Her face grows hot as her friends break into laughter, and she chuckles despite herself. “Hey! In my defense, I would have been late to school. I can’t have that now, can I?”
Alya pats her on the back as they focus their attention back on Madame Bustier. “Whatever you say, girl.”
The rest of the day is relatively normal, save for fact that she partners up with Dick rather than Alya for one of their assignments. The other girl had already partnered with Alix, and their class has finally evened out with their new student. She can already tell he is an incredibly hard worker–he already has the outline of their poster finished and is now catching her up on what she had missed.
As they are wrapping up the sketch of their poster, the final bell rings, and they chat as they clean up their station. She’s finally able to ask him about his travels, how the U.S. is, if he misses his family. He takes all the questions with stride–his high school was prestigious enough to land some of their students opportunities to study abroad, and his father had been more than happy to pay for his expenses. A sentimental look crosses his face at the mention of his father, and he tells her stories about his crime-ridden city, so dangerous that vigilantes have taken residence there and began to protect the city’s citizens.
“Don’t even get me started on Batman!” There are sparkles in his eyes as he talks about the vigilante, and his face flushes in excitement. “He’s so cool, he’s been able to break up almost all of the Rogues with such a high success rate! Without him and his sidekicks, I’m sure Gotham’s crime rate would be even higher than it is now.”
The familiarity of his city’s predicament hits so close to home. She can understand the struggle, especially with Paris’ current situation, and she silently thanks Gotham’s vigilantes for holding out for their citizens. She’s grateful Dick and his family are able to stay safe.
“Anyways, Gotham kind of sucks, but I still miss it. There’s people there waiting for me to come back–they’re going to have to wait though, because I love it here! It’s so different from home.” He sighs, dumping the rest of her markers back into their case. “I feel so safe here.”
She’s about to remind him that Paris hasn’t gone a full week without akuma attacks for the past couple years, but someone taps on her shoulder and she spins, nearly bumping into Adrien.
“Oh–sorry, Mari! I just wanted to talk to you outside for a bit if it’s okay? I don’t want to disrupt your guys’ work or anything!” He smiles softly, scratching the back of his neck nervously. The familiar anxiety of being in Adrien’s general vicinity is back, tightly gripping her heart as if it feared losing its hold. She glances back at Dick questioningly, and she sighs in relief when he gives her a nod and another cheery thumbs-up. Following the other boy outside, she takes a couple stabilizing breaths, preparing herself for whatever he was going to say.
The two stand outside in silence for a couple minutes, leaning back against the classroom wall. Marinette can feel the hesitance in the air, a question so close to spilling out of the others’ lips before he bites it back. She chews her own lips nervously as she surveys the pavement below them, which is now lightly dotted with rain, and is reminded of him and Kagami. Whatever he asks, she hopes it’s not about a couple days ago.
“What does love feel like?” Her eyes blow wide at the simple question, head on a swivel as she turns to Adrien. He’s not looking at her–his sights are set dead ahead, unfocused and full of pain.
“It’s been a long time since my mother passed, and my father’s been absent ever since. Funny, I don’t think I remember something as basic as love.” He lets out that self-deprecating chuckle that she’s grown to hate, and his shoulders tense ever so slightly. “It’s not fair. I want to be able to love, and I think I am in love. But how do I know it’s even real?” His eyes close, and he finally lets himself breathe.
“Sorry for asking you such a loaded question, Mari. I feel so stupid.”
“No, don’t feel sorry!” She waves her hands placatingly. “It’s fine not to know–and it sucks that you’re in this position right now. It really isn’t fair, is it?” Her heart breaks when he nods, curling into himself just a little bit.
“To me… love is a want. It’s a want to be around someone, to hug them, give them gifts. Love is wanting to stay by someone’s side through thick and thin, to hold their hand through pain or just… be with them. You know?” Her voice cracks with emotion and she pins him with a look that she knows is vulnerable, too vulnerable. She can already see the confusion in his expression, the way his lips twitch slightly downwards and his brows furrow worriedly. “It’s so hard to describe. I guess that’s because it’s different for everyone,” she finishes hurriedly, brushing herself off as she pushes off from the wall. “Did that help?”
“Yeah… I think so,” Adrien trails off. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” she chokes out, desperate to leave before her heart breaks even more. “I hope you can find love again.”
Whether or not her last words are meant for herself or Adrien, she’s not sure. But as she makes for the door, she misses the look of longing that Adrien gives her.
*
“You okay?” Marinette looks up to see Dick hovering worriedly by her desk. “You were out there for a bit, so I packed up the rest of your things for you.”
She chuckles wetly, sniffling as she brushes away the tears that were beginning to well in her eyes. “Yeah,” she says, taking her belongings from the boy’s grasp. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”
Dick smiles back, all sunshine and warm where Marinette needs it. “Anyways, I heard about this mysterious ice cream cart that pops up sometimes–you’ve probably already seen it, but do you want to find it with me?”
“Ah.” Marinette sees the glint in his eyes, hopeful and genuine. “Sure! We can drop our things off at my place first, if you want. It’s just across the street.” Dick nods, and as they make their way out of the classroom, she notices that the sprinkles of earlier have built to a light pour.
“Shoot, it’s raining,” the other whines. “Sorry, I don’t have an umbrella. Mind pushing this back another day?”
But she’s already taking out the umbrella she has, waving him over. “We can share this one, if you want? I don’t bite.” Dick laughs as he steps under its cover.
As they make their way to the bakery, she’s content with the knowledge that, while the rain may have brought an ending, she’s excited for what’s to come.
