okay sO @peppersonironi tagged me in a wip title tag game but I literally just remembered being tagged means I actually have to do this lmao
rules: post the file names of all the files in your wip folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous the name. send me an ask with the title that intrigues you the most and I’ll post a little snippet or tell you something about it! tag as many people as you have wips.
these are only the wips I’ve worked on recently because otherwise the list would literally never end haha
We have a Discord now and some wonderful people are helping setting things up but we still need a lot of help with the musical itself.
So if you want to help then you can fill in the forms below!
Things to keep in mind:
All help is appreciated, even if you don’t think you could help with something specifically like drawing or writing you can still sign up to help in general
You can sign up for multiple roles, but depending on how many people we have for each role, we may have to ask you to just work on one thing
We ask that you upload some of your work if you sign up for any role (other than helper) if you pick several roles then please upload something for each
Finally, this is a big project so just know that it’s going to be a lot of work and you are going to have to work with other people.
I couldn’t sleep because of this idea. It’s totally crazy and maybe a bit unlikely but I believe in this community and we could totally make it happen. Also thank you @blondie-4404and@moonlitceleste for helping me brainstorm and encouraging me to actually post the idea.
The idea is to make a musical based on the original field trip AU (by @ozmav). It would animated with both songs and dialogue.
For this we would need a team of writers, artists, musicians, voice actors, and more. But first we need to know if anyone is interested so please comment and/or reblog if this is something that you would like to see happen or if you would like to help.
We are a small fandom but there are so many talented people here so I think that if we all helped we could actually pull this off.
Several months after Jason’s death and after accepting Tim as his disciple, one night Batman returned with a baby.
“Master Bruce, may I ask who your lovely company is?”
“Her name is Marinette. She’s my daughter.”
Alfred frowned. Then Batman thought it best to add that he didn’t want to talk about it.
“Don’t ask me about her origins. The most important thing is that she is my daughter and from now on she will live with me at the Manor.”
“Understood.”
Alfred respected his choice. Tim didn’t seem too surprised, and Dick joked that he was amazed that Bruce didn’t have more children than that (a joke that would be banned after Damian arrived).
No one asked any more questions. The baby had black hair and blue eyes. Who would question her parentage to Bruce in this case?
She grew up in the Manor as Marinette Wayne. A lot of things happened after that: Barbara’s paralysis, Spoiler, then came Jason’s return, then Damian’s arrival.
Marinette ignored the harsh glow of the screen on her eyes as she scrolled through her laptop, looking at websites that would probably get her arrested.
In her defence, she was doing it for a good reason. Which usually meant it was for the safety of the miraculous.
But no one needed to know that.
“Marinette,” Tikki said, floating by her owner. “I’m sure whatever you’re searching for can wait for a few hours, while you sleep.”
The fashion designer groaned, running her stiff fingers through her hair that was sticking out in various directions.
“No, Tikki, it can’t because if it goes too far,” Marinette said, closing a tab furiously. “It’s going to destroy our planet as we know it.”
Tikki stared at her, completely unfazed. “Well then take a break. I’m sure the world is not going to end in the next few seconds.”
Marinette paused her blindingly fast typing, considering Tikki’s offer.
Her answer was an immediate and resounding no.
The other kwamis who had come to support Tikki’s point sighed in annoyance.
“Really, Guardian,” said Wayzz, floating next to Tikki, “I would very much like it if you listened to Tikki; what you are doing is nothealthy. Also, Master Fu once told me, if you take a break, sometimes what you’re looking for appears right after.”
Thatmade Marinette pause. And her rumbling stomach, but we’re just going to ignore that for now.
“Well,” Marinette stretched the word out, her eyes flicking from kwami to kwami. “I supposeI could take a few minutes break.”
The cheers of the kwami echoed around the penthouse.
Marinette sighed in bliss as she took a sip of her coffee, feeling a little less tired than before.
“Coffee,” she announced, carefully sitting on her couch. “Is god’s gift to Earth.”
“Nah, Pigtails,” Plagg said, floating in front of her. “It’s cheese. Always and forever.”
He groaned in delight as he gobbled up a large piece of cheese.
Giving him the stink-eye, Marinette turned back to her laptop, continuing her search.
“If I could just find the name…” Marinette took another sip of her coffee before typing furiously again.
“If I may ask,” said Nooroo, blinking his large eyes. “What exactlyare you looking for?”
Marinette stretched her back, cringing at the loud crackit let out. “I’m looking for an alien. His name is Thanos. Or something like that.”
“Then I suppose we can help each other.”
Marinette froze as the familiar, smooth and silky voice of Damian Al-Ghul rung in her ears.
She turned around slowly, cringing at her state, slipping her confident mask on.
“Al-Ghul,” she said coolly, straightening her back. By now, all of the kwamis had flown into their respective hiding places, knowing who Damian was. “What are you doing here?”
Currently, Damian was perched upon her windowsill, which, for your reference, was quite high up in the sky.
“First,” he asked smoothly, deep voice rippling. “May I come in?”
At her suspicious look, he held his hands up, leaving him in a precarious position. “I don’t have any weapons. I have not come here, intending to fight with you.”
At Marinette’s signal from behind her back, Plagg and Wayzz flew around Damian, scanning him for any weapons.
Plagg flew in front of her after a few seconds, casually saying, “He’s clear, Pigtails.”
Toocasually.
Marinette saw the look in his eyes and mentally pinched her nose because it meant that Plagg wanted to tell her something.
It could wait.
“All right,” Marinette said, suddenly aware of her hair and how it must be looking. “Come in.”
Before she had even finished her sentence, Damian was already leaping inside, like a cat.
Oh kwami, Marinette thought, suddenly having an inkling of what Plagg wanted to tell her.
She really hoped she was wrong.
Once Damian was standing in front of her, Marinette stalked towards him, eyes cold as ice. “Now answer my question from before, Al-Ghul. Why are you here?”
Damian gave her that infuriating smirk, the one she still remembered from when he kidnapped her two weeks ago.
“I assume we are both looking for the same…alien,” he said, looking slightly annoyed at the thought. “Thanos.”
Marinette raised her eyebrows, unwilling to believe him. “I suppose we are. Provided you are telling the truth.”
“I am,” Damian said, looking more annoyed now. “Some of my assassins are going off track, assassinating people who they shouldn’t be. I have been forced to dispose of them, their actions drawing too much attention to the League. I did my research a week ago and came across the same name you did, as well as the word ‘miraculous.’ I suppose that explains your involvement as well.”
Marinette was intrigued now, Wayzz’s confirmation that Damian was telling the truth reassuring her. “Well, did you come across the term infinity stones?”
“I did.” Damian looked and soundedcompletely confused, proving to Marinette that this was something out of their world, something that none of them knew.
“Well,” Marinette knew she was making a terrible decision and she should probably stop herself but two minds were better than one right?
“How about working together to figure this out?”
Marinette would remember Damian’s expression for the rest of her life because it was thatpriceless.
Marinette was processing what had happened in the last few, eventfulminutes in a private corner of her own, because a, she was trying to run away from her so-called old friends and b, she reallyneeded the time to process this or she was going to explode.
Unfortunately, her seclusion didn’t last long because, in a few seconds, Nino and Kim were rushing up to her, begging for her forgiveness.
“Marinette,” Kim yelled, as he came to a stop in front of her. “Marinette, I’m so, sosorry, words can’t express how sorry I am, pleaseMarinette-”
On top of his voice, Nino was alsovoicing his apologies, “Mari, how can I make this up to you? I swear to always believe in you; I’m sorry I’ve been such a bad friend-”
All in all, it was sounding like a mess, and Marinette was beginning to back away from Nino and Kim.
Marinette laughed nervously, which, surprisingly shut the two of them up (she was expecting some more drastic measures to be taken). “So, um, I don’t really know what to say, because you know, I’ve made my feelings pretty clear before. We’re not friends anymore.”
Nino and Kim looked at her with devastated eyes that did nothingto sway her decision.
An awkward silence descended on the trio of the once childhood friends.
Marinette looked around furtively, looking for an exit.
Spotting the hallway behind her, Marinette took the opportunity to escape. “So, because things got really awkward here, I’m just going to pretend I got a superimportant text and go somewhere that’s not here, so…bye!”
The last word echoed lightly off the walls as Marinette raced down the hallway.
Looking behind her every now and then to make sure they weren’t following her (you could never be toocareful), Marinette didn’t notice the orange girl until she practically barreled into her, the two of them stumbling.
Marinette opened her mouth to apologize profusely, but when she saw whoshe bumped into, she closed her mouth with an irritated snap.
What a lovelytime to run into her oneenemy that probably wants her deadby now.
Lila Rossi felt her anger burn beyond its limitations as she set her gaze on the baneof her existence.
Marinette Dupain-fucking-Cheng.
As Lila’s gaze rested on the ‘innocent’ girl, every second made her anger burn brighterand more insane.
By this point, Lila was practically snarlingin anger and the urge to just endMarinette’s miserable existence was naggingLila painfully.
“You,” she hissed poisonously, her eyes flashing with hatred. “You little bitc-”
“Idon’thave time for this.”
Dupain-Cheng’s voice was icy and emotionless, and it made Lila feel a thousand times smaller, though she tried to hide it.
Feeling her anger spark even more, Lila resorted to more..physicalmeans,attemptingto shove Marinette back.
“I’ll make you pay, you little home-wrecker,” Lila pulled her arms back to shove Marinette.
She even wouldhave, had Marinette’s own hands not gripped her arms to the point of pain.
This time, when Lila looked at Marinette’s face, she was properlyintimidated.
“Listen up here, Rossi,” Marinette hissed, her nails digging into Lila’s skin. “Let me make this clear. Against me, you are nothing. Believe me, in your time at our school, I could have killed you a hundredtimes over, so be gratefulthat you’re even alive.”
“You’re lying,” Lila said, although the tremor in her voice bellied her true feelings.
“I can assure you,” a frosty voice said, one that Lila recognized very well, having been the one to expose her, “That she is very much telling the truth. I have seen her do it herself. Do not underestimate her, as you did before, Ms. Rossi.”
Damian Wayne looked at Lila with nothing but disdain and anger in his eyes, and suddenly, Lila felt like shrinking and falling into the ground because goddamn it, these two were scary.
“Now,” Damian said clearly, gently prying Marinette’s hands from Lila’s now-crushed sleeves. “Let me be perfectly clear. You will notlie from this second forward about me, Marinette or anyother member of my family. If you do so, Wayne Enterprises will sue you for your entire worth - which is quite meagre by the way - multiplied by a hundred. By the end of it, your life will be ruined permanently and you’ll be spending the rest of it rotting in a jail cell.”
Safe to say, Lila was terrified of Damian now.
But maybe she could salvage the situation? Damian said only the Wayne family…
“And,” Damian continued. “I dosuggest not lying about any celebrity, because, Ms. Rossi, currently, I believe you are 'trending’ and your parents are being floodedwith lawsuits.”
Lila’s jaw dropped open in shock.
“Do what you will with that,” Damian smirked at her one more time before grabbing Marinette’s hand and walking away dramatically.
Lila stood there in silence for what felt like hours, until her sharp ringtone cut into her subconscious.
Well actually, a better word would be that he was enraged, and on the verge of mutilatingthat little liarwho thought she could pawn herself off as hisboyfriend’s girlfriend.
What a - pardon his language - harlot.
And she even had the audacityto say that Damian, himself was fightingwith his belovedover a pathetic specimen like her?
So it made Damian feel particularly victorious when Adrien ignored the liar when she beggedhim for help.
But obviously, for a furiousassassin like him, that wasn’t enough.
So,obviously, Damian couldn’t resist Tim’s offer to be the one to inform Lila’s parents of her actions.
If they werein fact, aware of Lila’s actions (but they probably weren’t, considering the fact that they were two well-known government figures, not foreign diplomats), Damian would have great pleasure in slaughtering them verbally if not physically.
He even flew down to Paris with Adrien (certainly not making out on the way, in celebration), with a clear, unedited video clip of Lila’s exposure in front of everyemployee in WE, as proof of what he was going to inform them of.
Although, Alya’s blog did more than enough.
Damian smirked cruelly as he watched Lila’s father’s face slowly turn purple with anger and her mother’s hands start to shakewith fury.
“Lila!”
Her mother’s voice shrieked shrilly and scarily through the house.
After a few long moments, the girl came down the stairs, eyes cast down low as a failed attempt to look innocent and demure.
“Yes,mama?” she asked, still not looking up.
“Your father and I have a visitor here, mio caro,” her mother said with false sweetness. “He says his name is Damian Wayne.”
Lila’s head shot up, panic evident in her eyes.
If Damian put his assassin skills to use and listened hard enough, he could hear her heart beating muchfaster than normal.
“He showed us an…interestingvideo and website, shall we say,” her father picked up from there. “I think it’s time we had a chat.”
As Damian slipped out of the room, hearing Lila’s parents scream at their daughter, he didn’t forget to put a littlebug on their sofa.
He could come and collect it later, and keep it for personaluses, obviously.
Certainly not to spread it to everyone who was involved in the planning of Lila’s exposé and have a laugh about it later.
Even the mildly disapproving Bruce couldn’t help but chuckle over it.
That made Damian feel even better about himself, no matter how much Bruce tried to stop it.
Marinette felt her body ache as she returned to the world of the living…not literally of course.
As her depleted senses recharged, Marinette slowly heard four voices around her.
“Her heartbeat’s normal, how are we going to know when she wakes up?” said one voice that Marinette recognized as Jason’s.
“When her eyes open, obviously,” Tim said, without his usual snark, though.
Wishing she could roll her eyes at their childish argument, Marinette futilely tried to open her eyes.
But her body had decided to not cooperate, and instead, Marinette remained motionless to outside eyes.
If it wasn’t for the monitor beside her, some would consider Marinette to be dead.
Which would be very concerning, considering the fact that she still had the whole of Paris to save.
Instead, Marinette resigned herself to the fate of listening to the Wayne brothers bickering between each other, and keeping her sarcastic comments to herself.
The raunchy tune of Dick’s phone filled the silence in the room, and if Marinette focused reallyhard, she could hear the snickers that Damian was valiantly trying to hide, in order to maintain his icy persona.
Although, Marinette couldn’t blame him for laughing.
Dick’s 90s era ringtone was hilarious, especially the singer’s voice.
Often, Dick claimed he put it as his ringtone as a joke, but Marinette knew better, especially when she was witness to Dick changing it on a night when he was particularly drunk.
That was a story for another time.
But for now, Marinette made a mental note to use it as blackmail material for Damian later.
Even though no one knew, Damian Wayne got around, especially with his silent footsteps.
He had loadsof material on everyone in the family (but not as much as Tim) but never made any move to use it unless it suited him.
Obviously, Marinette could make better use of it.
Wow, she thought with a healthy amount of wariness, it seemed like Chloe was rubbing off on her.
Speak of the devil and she shall appear.
The door slammed open in typical Chloe Bourgeois style and Marinette wished she could look up to see the Wayne brothers’ expressions as they faced the brunt of Chloe’s fury.
It would have been a sight to see, and Marinette sighed (as much as she could since she was still paralysed).
“What. The. Fuck.” Chloe punctuated each word with a menacing pause. “Happened to her?”
There was silence for a few moments.
“Well?” Chloe demanded, tapping her foot impatiently. “Answer me! It better be honest because as Marinette’s best friend, I have every right to sueyou-”
“Marinette overestimated herself,” Damian stated bluntly, and if Marinette were able to move(hint, hint, Tikki), she would have recoiled in faux hurt. “She used too much of her powers and hence passed out.”
If Marinette could look up, she would have seen the adoring look in Damian’s eyes as he watched Chloe curse Marinette to hell and back.
Later, Tim would snicker and tell her allabout Damian’s newest crush i.e. Chloe Bourgeois, Queen Bee, herself.
Marinette would laugh herself silly.
“Honestly woman,” Jason said, having recovered his manly confidence. “Language! You don’t want to scar the children’s ear in here!”
To emphasize his statement, Jason covered Tim’s ears with a pat on his head. “Don’t worry Timmy, this is just adult stuff you don’t need to learn.”
Jason was rewarded with cold coffee being dumped over his head.
Tim smirked as Jason ran out of the room, swearing about idiot brothers. “Now who’s the one swearing?”
Marinette huffed out a laugh, forgetting she had been paralyzed for the last few hours.
Immediately, in a ruffle of shoves, ouches and swear words, several people were crowded around her.
Realizing she was no longer paralyzed, Marinette thanked Tikki mentally, and experimentally wiggled her fingers.
Slowly, she began to open her eyes, expecting the harsh light of hospitals.
Instead, that light was muted by the heads of several people above her.
Marinette groaned loudly, feeling the aching stiffness in her neck. “How long do you guys plan to stand around my bed like creepers? I’ll plan the rest of my day - or what’s left of it - accordingly.”
“Well,” Tim said, after a few moments of silence. “We know she’s not insane now.”
summary: “on a scale of one to ten, how bad do you want to kill me right now?”
a/n: can’t believe i got this out so quick. even though it’s relatively short (compared to my usual 2k), i like this one a lot. as usual, the bolded text is a prompt from pinterest.
Jason cringed as he watched Marinette’s face go through a multitude of expression changes and finally land on one; a mix of anger and surprise (probably wondering how he managed to escape through the tiny vents of the building).
He had a feeling that this wasn’t going to end well for him, especially when Marinette strode up to him, inches away from his face.
Feeling his heartbeat speed up and palms growing sweaty, Jason cursed himself for developing his stupid crush on Marinette.
Even though he didn’t know anythingabout her at the time, in a few weeks, Jason had managed to develop a crush on Marinette, her somewhat sweet manner and overall badassness just drawing him in and doing thingsto him.
His crush was only further encouraged when he did a ‘little’ research on Marinette using the Justice League’s extensive databases.
After a little more in-depth research of history, it wasn’t hard to figure out why Marinette was at the League of Assassins.
Sorely regretting his decision to try and poke the answer out of Marinette before he left, Jason resigned himself to the fact that he would never meet Marinette again.
Or so he thought, the situation in front of him proving him wrong.
“So,” Jason said casually, leaning back a little. Marinette’s close proximity was being verydistracting. “On a scale of one to ten, how bad do you want to kill me right now?”
Marinette shot him a smile; all teeth and nothinglike the girl she was in the pictures he found of her past (Jason wasn’t stalking her! He just happenedto find them and happenedto memorise them).
“Right now,” Marinette trailed a slim finger over his arm, all the way to his chest. “I’m hovering somewhere in the high thirties.”
Jason gulped for two reasons. One, well thatwasn’t good, and two, holy shit he never knew a finger could be so utterly distracting.
“Well,” he stuttered, cheeks darkening to a shade of red. “I didn’t-”
“But,” Marinette interrupted him, hands looping around his neck now. “I didjust get you back, and to be honest, I don’t particularly want to lose you again. Do you know just how many nights of sleep I lost because of you?”
Jason opened his mouth to answer a verycautious answer, but, apparently, it was a rhetorical question because a few seconds later, Marinette tugged his face towards hers.
His lips found their place on hers, fitting together like they were two puzzle pieces.
For the first few seconds, Jason was frozen. Pinned against the wall, his hands were by his sides, not doing anything until his snapped back to his senses.
Turning the tables, Jason turned Marinette around so shewas pinned against the wall, and moving his lips against hers, Jason wrapped his hands around her waist tightly and possessively.
After a few minutes, air was becoming more and more a necessity that they both needed, but Jason was unwilling to let go, even for a gulp of air.
In fact, they would have gone right on kissing until they passed out, had Tim not barged in.
“Are you guys done?” he asked impatiently, eyes glued to his phone. “I have thingsto do and- oh my god, myeyes!”
He ran out of the room screaming and yelling about being “mentally scarred” and “never recovering” and Jason had a feeling that a lotof people were going to be asking him questions later.
But right now, that wasn’t his priority.
His priority was the girl in front of him, with sparkling blue eyes and a smugsmirk on her lips.
“So,” she said, teasingly. “That’s that.”
Jason groaned, already knowing that she somehow knewTim was coming and did nothing about it.
“I hate you,” he mumbled into her shoulder. “So much.”
Marinette smirked into his shoulder, again. “That’s not what I felt a few seconds ago.”
Sighing as he straightened himself, Jason wondered what the hellpossessed him to like a girl like Marinette.
Her amazing personality (and looks) were certainlynot worth this.
At least, that’s what he told himself in that moment.
In fact, she couldn’t believe she even endedup like this and was stillalive. Clearly, having Tikki’s luck was extremely helpful.
She straightened her back to an almost painful angle as she heard her ‘leader’s’ icy voice echo through the room.
“Marinette,” Talia Al Ghul greeted her, and silently, Marinette took her appointed place next to the woman.
Ra’s Al Ghul seated himself next to Talia, leaning back in his chair.
Slowly, all the other members of the League of the Assassins filtered into the room as Talia and Ra’s watched on impassively.
Without giving a single thought away, Marinette wondered what today’s meeting was about.
Generally, Talia told her everything (as her right-hand woman, so to say) and needless to say, Marinette took advantage of it to prepare herself.
However, for this particular meeting, Talia hadn’t breathed a single word to Marinette. In fact, Marinette wasn’t even aware it was to happen today until a low-ranking member informed her of it.
Blank mask faltering for a milli-second, Marinette panicked and wondered if she had blown her cover somehow and this meeting was to discuss her fate.
“Welcome, honoured members of the League of the Assassins,” Talia said smoothly, oblivious to Marinette’s panic. “Apologies for calling this unexpected and unplanned meeting; something urgent has to be communicated.”
Marinette breathed a sigh of relief; she hadn’t blown her cover - this was a completely unplanned meeting.
Thank the kwamis.
“Recently,” Ra’s leaned forward now, adding his own contribution. “A few assassins found the body of a certain individual you may recognize the name of…Jason Todd.”
There was no physical reaction of any of the trained assassins, but Marinette, with her slightlyenhanced hearing, could hear several heartbeats picking up; in excitement or fear, she couldn’t tell.
“Ra’s and I plan to resurrect him with the use of the Lazarus Pits, a magical creation I am sure you have heard of.” Talia continued.
Thistime there was a reaction. Several of the assassins straightened even further with a jerk, while others looked at Talia, aghast.
“You cannot be serious!” One assassin cried out.
He was quickly shut up with a frosty glare from Marinette. She needed to know more about this.
From all she had learnt about the vigilantes of Gotham, she knew that Jason Todd had been one of the Robins, killed by the infamous, insane Joker. Batman had, apparently, taken his death hard, being crueller and crueller with the criminals until the thirdRobin came along; Timothy Drake.
Not that the league knew she had that knowledge.
The saying that knowledge was power rang especially true in the situations that Marinette often found herself in, particularly with Talia.
She was snapped out of her thoughts when Talia shot the assassin who interrupted a particularly evil glare. “As I was saying, we plan to resurrect him in the Lazarus Pits, as per the wish of my father, and keep him under our care.”
Ah, Marinette thought, so that was the point of all this.
Keeping someone under the league’s care essentially meant converting them into one of their own.
In any other situation, Marinette would have said the same had happened to her, except for the fact that it hadn’t.
She was in the League of Assassins of her own free volition and her own agenda.
All of a sudden, all the assassins were agreeing, nodding in time.
Marinette resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
All was forgotten when the league got a new assassin…not like the Lazarus Pits could cause permanent mental damage to those who took even a single dip in it.
◇─◇──◇─◇
Marinette coughed as she shielded her eyes from the bright, toxic green colours of the Lazarus Pits.
As Talia’s right-hand woman, it was a given that she would accompany Talia and Ra’s as they resurrected Jason.
The Lazarus Pits glowed starkly against the pitch darkness of the underground cave they were in.
Talia, somehow, seemed unperturbed by it. “Move to the banks of the Pits!” she ordered, loudly, and the assassins carrying Jason’s corpse immediately hurried there.
Marinette took some more time, sensitive to the dust and heavilywishing she could wear her miraculous right now. At least it provided some extra protection against all this toxicity.
As she arrived at the banks of the Pits, Marinette saw that they had already begun to take out Jason’s body from the bag they had brought him in.
When she saw the state he was in, Marinette felt the urge to puke. What kind of sickowould do this to anyone?
Talia hadn’t even spared the body a glance, instead, analysing the waters of the Pits.
If she leaned any further, she was going to fall right in, Marinette thought with a healthy amount of malice.
Once they had the body out, one of the assassins turned to Talia.
Already excited at the prospect of getting another assassin, Talia gleefully said, “Dip it in.”
Talia didn’t even see Jason Todd as a real person.
◇─◇──◇─◇
Fast-forwarding to a few months later, you would find Marinette and Jason sparring in a room in the League of Assassins.
Marinette gave Jason a triumphant grin as she bested him once again. “Nice try, Todd. Fix your stance. Remember, you can’t give your opponent-”
“-A single advantage,” interrupted Jason with an exasperated grin. “I know, it’s not the first time you’ve told me.”
The day Jason was brought back to life went off without a hitch, as Talia often liked to brag to Marinette.
Almost immediately after he was well in terms of physical health, Jason was handed over to Marinette, she being one of the best assassins at the League of the Assassins.
At first, it was awkward with Jason not willing to trust Marinette (why would he?) and Marinette just generally being very awkward around him.
Eventually though, Marinette came to the realization that she needed to tell Jasons something about herself if she was going to get him to trust her.
So she told him she wasn’t like everyone around here.
Something in her tone must have convinced him, though, because the next day, he was seemed to be more willing to trust her.
That was how they ended up at the present moment.
“Come on, Todd.” Marinette shot him an indulgent grin. “Let’s take a water break.”
Jason sat up, giving her a handsome grin that did notmake Marinette’s heart beat faster at all. “Whatever you say.”
As they sat side-by-side on the chilly floor, Marinette felt her skin heat up as Jason’s muscled arms brushed against her own.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, catching their breaths.
“Why do you stay here if you’re not like them?”
Marinette froze. She knew Jason had been wanting to ask this for some time, but she didn’t know whether she should tell him the real reason.
Opting to deflect, she gave him a smirk. “Thinking, are we?”
Rolling her eyes at her poor attempt, Jason didn’t seem to want to budge. “Come on Marinette. Answer the question.”
Marinette waited for a few seconds, hoping that he would take it back and just leave it alone.
When he didn’t she sighed, slouching against the wall. “I have my reasons.”
Jason persisted, though. “What areyour reasons? If they even exist, you know.”
Marinette’s head shot up, hurt and anger dominant in her eyes. “What is thatsupposed to mean?”
Jason didn’t even seem to care that he pissed her off. “Do you know the number of people you’ve killed for Talia? Why would you do that?”
If Marinette knew what would happen next, maybe she would have answered, but at that point, she was just too angry to form a proper, justifiable answer.
Standing up, Marinette leaned down until she was nose-to-nose with Jason.
“Like I said before,” she breathed. “I have my reasons.”
Turning her back on him, she didn’t notice the crestfallen expression on his face as he looked at his watch and then the vent above.
The next day he was gone.
The league never found his body.
◇─◇──◇─◇
Exactly five months and six days later, Marinette was planning her escape from the League of the Assassins.
She had spent yearsplanning her escape and knew her whole plan by heart.
It was simple really; there were only three steps.
The first was to steal the powerful miraculous the league had in their clutches. Marinette could check that off the list, having used several precautions to make sure the league never found out that the 'miraculous’ they now had wasn’t real.
After that, she had to figure out a way to make it seemlike she was dead so that none of the assassins were on the lookout for her. After 'dying’ she was going to escape in the chaos.
The final step was probably the hardest. It was moving to Gotham because Marinette had heard that there were a lotof lost miraculous there.
Like she said before, it was simple.
Gathering all of her importantbelongings, Marinette dumped them all in a corner of the room. Placing the charred body she had stolen from the morgue (don’t even ask), Marinette pulled out a matchbox.
Her eyes glowed as she lit the match on fire, and dropped it casually on the bed.
It lit up immediately, flames sparking and spreading all over the room. Dumping the body on the side of the room, Marinette gathered her belongings and climbed up to the vent in her room.
She wrinkled her nose at the smell.
◇─◇──◇─◇
Five months and twenty-six days later, Marinette had a steady job at Wayne Enterprises, which was being the entire family’s professional designer.
It suited her well, and Marinette could say she definitely enjoyed it.
That was, until she ran into an old acquaintance of hers. Specifically, someone she thought was dead.
To be exact, Jason Todd.
◇─◇──◇─◇
It was a regular day for Marinette.
Until, Mr. Wayne told her she was going to meet the entire Wayne family, suddenly deciding to get a new wardrobe from her.
Completely flabbergasted, Marinette couldn’t find it in herself to refuse, especially with the price Mr. Wayne offered.
She had just finished with Mr. Grayson’s measurements and told him to call the next person in.
That was when he walked in.
He looked a bit older (obviously) but he was just as handsome as ever, and some of the light that was absent in his eyes before, was shining now.
Marinette, who was drinking a sip of water as he walked in, choked on her drink, coughing madly.
Immediately, he launched himself towards her, rubbing her back.
“Are you okay?” he asked her, and all Marinette could register was that he even soundedthe same.
“Holy shit,” Marinette swore. “Jason? Is that you?”
His head snapped back and suddenly Marinette was staring into his familiar blue eyes.
“Marinette?” he gasped, taking a few steps back.
◇─◇──◇─◇
“How are you alive?” Marinette sputtered, unable to believe that this was theJason Todd. How did she not know this?
Completely ignoring her question, Jason asked her one of his own. “What are you doing here?”
“Answer me, first.” Marinette shot him a dangerous glare; something she had perfected in her years at the League of Assassins.
“It’s a long story,” Jason said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Marinette scoffed. “You conned me into thinking you were dead for eleven months. I have time.”
serendipity | +3.9k | lila salt, adrien salt, alya salt
summary: the last time damian al-ghul saw marinette was when they were twelve. he didn’t think he would see her again. so, it’s a huge surprise when he stumbles upon her in WE while exposing the liar of the class from France.
the confrontation | +0.8k | lila salt, mild class salt [part 2 to ‘serendipity’]
summary: what a lovelytime to run into her enemy that probably wants her deadby now.
soulmate au | +1.8k | lila salt, adrien salt, alya salt
summary: tradition says that your soulmate will have another tattoo, something that relates to you. when they meet you, it is said that the tattoos start glowing a bright gold.
summary: he was a handsome man, she would give him that, but according to her father - the one of the most important lords of the kingdom - he was extremely stand-offish and cold. she didn’t know if she would get along with him.
summary: damian glared at her fiercely and she shrunk back. “i can assure you, lila rossi is most definitely not my soulmate. perhaps you should check everything she has said on google. it does exist you know.”
summary: tim and marinette attend marinette’s class reunion.
the recording | +1.5k | little angst, fluff, salt; [part 2 to ‘an…interesting reunion’]
summary: the recording (can be read as a stand-alone)
the gala | +1.6k | lila salt, adrien salt, alya salt, class salt [platonic]
summary: timothy drake-wayne was not happy. he had to lead the (according to dick at least, and he was inclined to believe him because he had never seen dick so unhappy) class of dimwits from france because it was his turn. He had put it off all week and now he had to do it as the CEO of WE.
summary: “you really should have sat down,” sighed anarka. “lad, your father is bruce wayne.”
no pairing
oneshots:
the exposé | +5.3k | lila salt, adrien salt, alya salt, class salt
summary: lila was having the time of her life at WE. the class was fawning over her, ready to do her bidding whenever she wanted, however she wanted. she could spout out a ridiculous lie and they’d believe it; they were completely and irreversibly under her spell. but then, of course, things hadto go wrong.
summary: marinette wakes up in a hospital, paralyzed.
what a liar! | +1k | lila salt, class sugar, fix-it fic
summary: lila rossi mentally prepared her plethora of lies as she entered her new class. the only thing was, she wasn’t aware they possessed brain cells.
summary: “i mean,” marinette says frustratedly, ready to tear her hair out - you will never believe the number of rants she has told chloe and kagami and the nights she has spent obsessing over it, “i’m in love with both of you!”
“Habibti, I need to ask you a few questions,” said Damian.
Marinette, his new girlfriend, tilted her head curiously. “Of course, Dami.”
Before I go and let you in
“Do you think you’ll be fine with the press once we release our relationship?” Damian asked nervously. It wouldn’t be the first time one of his girlfriends had run off because she couldn’t deal with it.
And he wasn’t willing to go through the heartbreak again.
Don’t wanna be irrational
Marinette giggled lightly. “Yes, I will be.”
“Really?” Damian wasn’t really convinced.
“Really,” Marinette confirmed. “You know, as Jagged Stone’s designer and Adrien Agreste’s girlfriend, I thought you wouldn’t be too worried about that.”
And make the same mistakes again
Damian’s lips tugged up into a smile when he remembered. How could he have forgotten?
“I don’t want to make the same mistake again,” he said honestly.
Marinette’s eyebrows furrowed for a second and then they shot up when she realized what he meant. “You mean…your girlfriends have broken up with you because of that?”
Nodding, Damian elaborated. “Because they let the fame get to their heads. After some time,” he shook his head defeatedly. “They just…stop seeing me for who I am-”
He was cut off when he felt Marinette wrap her arms around him. “I won’t ever let that happen.”
Looking into her eyes, Damian believed her.
Would you be there
Alfred was surprised to see Master Damian’s girlfriend at the door. So early, too, he thought.
Nevertheless, he smiled at her. “Miss Dupain-Cheng, this is an unexpected surprise. What are you doing here so early? On a weekend, too?”
5 AM on a weekend?
She looked surprised, as if she hadn’t realized that.
Blushing when she realized it was 5 in the morning, she apologized. “Sorry, Alfred. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
“Not at all, Miss Dupain-Cheng.” Alfred said, not sure where this was going. “I was already awake.”
Waving her hand casually, she said, “Call me Marinette. And to answer your earlier question, I’m here for Dami’s birthday!”
She visibly brightened at the thought and Alfred couldn’t help but smile fondly at her. “Of course, come in.”
“So, I was thinking of making Damian’s favorite cake because I’m a baker and I want this to be one of Damian’s favorite birthdays-” she rambled and then came to a stop. “I’m rambling, aren’t I?”
Chuckling, Alfred gestured to the kitchen. “Yes, you were. Would you like to make the cake in the kitchen?”
**
A truly delightful girl, Alfred couldn’t help but think as he watched her bake with enthusiasm.
Through the thick and the thin
“Justleave me alone!”
Damian regretted the words as soon as they came out of his mouth.
He never should have taken his anger out on Marinette. It wasn’t fair to her.
He expected Marinette to glare at him, yell at him, leave, break up with him.
But what Damian didn’texpect was her eyes to soften and then wrap him into a warm hug.
Almost immediately, the underlying tension crawling beneath his skin (driving him crazy) evaporated and transformed into comfort.
Realizing he should apologize to her, he said, “I’m sorry, I never should have said that-”
“It’s alright, Dami,” Marinette soothed him, rubbing his back with her small palms. “You just need to let it all out.”
How did he manage to land with such an amazinggirlfriend?
Never second-guessing with you
“Are you sure?” Damian asked nervously. He had never told any of his girlfriends of his nightly activities.
If she told someone – Damian didn’t want to think about it.
With confidence Damian had grown to love, Marinette nodded. “Yes.”
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and opened them again. “I’m Robin.”
Marinette’s eyebrows shot up. “As in the Robin from the Bats?”
Hesitantly (out of character for Damian), he nodded.
Suddenly she grinned, “Oh, that’s nice. Because I think it’s time I told you, I’m Ladybug. Superheroine of Paris.”
Eh?
Choosing to ignore that part, Damian asked, “You’re okay with me being Robin?”
Giving him an odd look, she said, “Yes. Of course, why wouldn’t I be?”
Tension he didn’t even know Damian was feeling slithered out of his body.
Pulling Marinette into a heated kiss, it lasted for several minutes.
They pulled apart when someone cleared their throat. “From the scene in front of me,” Todd smirked, “I assume she took it well?”
Glaring, Damian kicked him out of the room. The idiot already knew the answer.
Turning to what was becoming one of the best things in his life, Damian raised an eyebrow at Marinette. “You were saying about superheroes and Paris?”
Don’t wanna wake up
Marinette couldn’t help but smile as she battled against Damian’s unwillingness to get out of bed. “Dami,” she whined. “Let me go – we’re going to be late for ‘family breakfast’.”
Family breakfast was a new tradition at Wayne Manor. It was basically what the name suggested – breakfast with the entire family.
“We don’t needto go, Habibti,” Damian mumbled into her neck.
Huffing as she tried to untangle their limbs, Marinette said, “Yes, we do, because I want to ask Barb and Steph something,”
After 5 minutes of constant badgering, Damian finally gave in – grumbling, of course.
“Finally,” Marinette missed Damian’s warmth almost immediately. She was smart enough not to sayso of course, otherwise they’d never get out of bed.
She yelped when she felt Damian’s arms wrap around her waist, pulling her to the bathroom. “We’regoing to shower,” he growled into her ear.
**
It was dirty little winks and smirks, the two of them received when they arrived 1 hour late to Family Breakfast with clothes covering their necks.
Wishing I never gave love
The time after she and Adrien broke up, Marinette thought she would never be able to fall in love again. After all, if she wasn’t able to keep a relationship with her so-called soulmate, how would she ever date again?
But it was times like this – when Damian organized everyone for a party in honor of a promotion she received – that made her thank Tikki and any other god in existence that they didn’t let her give up on love.
“SURPRISE!” Everyone yelled as they jumped out of their hiding places.
Marinette stumbled from where she was standing – right into Damian’s arms. “What’s this?” she asked stupidly.
“A party,” Damian said quietly. “A party for your promotion.”
And suddenly, Marinette’s heart warmed in a way it had never before. All of these people – Damian, Bruce, Dick, Barbara, Stephanie, Tim, Jason, everyone– had come here to celebrate.
For her.
And the fact that they invited her parents made it so much sweeter.
So, she kissed Damian like she never had before.
And when they pulled apart, wolf-whistles were being blown everywhere.
Wishing I never gave trust
Marinette hesitated. Should she, or shouldn’t she?
“Damian, I want to show you, my friend. Tikki,” she said determinedly.
Damian looked at her, eyebrows raised. “The one who helped you when you were Ladybug?”
Nodding, Marinette let Tikki come out.
“Hello, Damian!” she said in typical Tikki-fashion. “I’m Tikki.”
Her boyfriend, for his part, didn’t seem too surprised and Marinette couldn’t help but smile as the two of them formed a bond not unlike hers and Tikki’s.
**
“He’s a keeper,” Dusuu whispered into her ear gleefully. “I can feelthe love.”
Blushing, Marinette couldn’t help but agree with her.
Knowing it wasn’t true
Marinette’s voice was raw from all the screaming she had done. Her cheeks were wet with tear stains and her sheets were torn with her nails clawing at them.
Scrabbling for her phone, Marinette felt a weight in her chest lift when she heard Damian’s voice on the other end of the line. “Habibti?”
“Dami,” her throat itched with pain. “Can you please come right now?”
Sounds of movement were coming from the other end. “I’m coming. Right now.”
**
“Shh,” Damian whispered as he ran his hand soothingly over Marinette’s back. “It’s all right.”
She sobbed quietly into his Robin suit – not that he gave a damn.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked carefully.
Marinette hiccuped and nodded. “I-it was terrible. Paris w-was in r-ruins again a-and I was s-stuck. I couldn’t d-do a-anythin-” her voice trailed off into sobs again.
Damian felt his heart clench at her unhappiness. “Shh, Habibti. All is fine. It wasn’t real. It was a nightmare, that’s it.”
If I was your hero, would you be mine?
Damian sighed fondly as he watched his wife work on her design. “Habibti,” he called.
She didn’t respond. Thatshowed how deep she was in ‘the zone’ as she called it.
Walking forward, Damian tapped her lightly on the shoulder and couldn’t help but laugh at her expression.
“Dami!” she yelled, flinging her arms around him. “What are you doing here?”
Damian shook his head when he saw the number of coffee cups by her side. “I’m here to make sure you take care of yourself.”
He lifted her up into his arms, bridal style. “By first, making you eat.”
Marinette gasped when she saw her favorite meals on the table. “All for me?”
“All for you,” Damian agreed.
He savored the kiss she gave him.
Once she pulled away, she giggled and ran a hand through his hair. “My hero.”
I know this ain’t a fairytale, this is real life
Marinette smiled sleepily as she and Damian half-registered the movie they were watching.
“What are you thinking, Habibti?” asked her husband, somehow always knowing what she was feeling.
Marinette hummed, thinking about what to say. Finally, she settled on, “Just thinking how lucky I am to have you,”
Damian’s chest rumbled against her ear. “I do too. Sometimes, I think this is a fairytale. That one day, I’ll wake up and find that you aren’t real – just a dream.”
Tipping her head upwards, Marinette captured Damian’s lips with her own. “Still not real enough?” she asked playfully.
Growling, Damian pushed her onto the sofa. “Perhaps you could help me?”
But if I were to save you, would you do the same?
Bruce watched, horrified, as his daughter-in-law was kicked hardin the stomach.
Doubling down almost immediately, her opponent took the chance to kick her.
Straight off the building.
As she fell, he heard everyone scream in pain, anger, he couldn’t tell.
But faster than Bruce had ever seen, Damian ran to the next building and caught her.
Caught her in his arms and set her aside gently.
Bruce shuddered in fear.
He highly doubted Marinette’s opponent was going to survive.
And catch me if I’m fallin’, fallin’, fallin’, fallin’?
Damian felt his eyes fill up with tears as he saw his newborn child. Amelia, they had decided to name her.
As her green eyes, not unlike his, danced with laughter, Damian kissed her forehead as he had done to Marinette and made a solemn promise to himself.
A promise to protect her till he couldn’t anymore.
summary: damian glared at her fiercely and she shrunk back. “i can assure you, lila rossi is most definitely not my soulmate. perhaps you should check everything she has said on google. it does exist you know.”
Said girl stirred a little, mumbling, “5 more minutes, maman.”
“Marinette!”
Yet she did not respond, rolling over to cover her ears with the pillow next to her.
“Marinette Dupain-Cheng, if you do notwake up right now you are going to miss your flight to New York!”
Sabine Cheng stifled a laugh at her daughter’s high-pitched shriek.
**
Marinette grumbled as she picked herself up from the ground.
Amazing start to the day, rolling off your bed and falling down.
“Cheer up, Marinette!” Tikki said, unfailingly happy in the morning (as always). “You’re going to go on your America tour today!”
Her chosen brushed her teeth faster, while simultaneously trying to make sure she had everything ready. “Tikki, am I missing anything?” she asked frantically.
While looking at the list Marinette made, Tikki smiled fondly at her chosen, hoping that the Rossi girl and Marinette’s ex-friends didn’t ruin the trip Marinette had worked so hard to organize.
Since Bustier couldn’t be bothered to, it fell onto Marinette to plan the senior trip. It was supposed to be educational and fun, in a way, since they would be required to write an essay about their trip. It counted for more than 50% of their grade.
With help from her friends (Alix, Kim, Max and Chloe), in no time, Marinette had developed an outline of what places they could visit.
Theoriginalplan (before it was presented to the class) was to go to New York, Metropolis, LA and then finally California.
But nooo, Lila Rossi just hadto see her so-called soulmate, Damian Wayne (“Marinette, how could you?” “How could I what?” “How could you just exclude Gotham because I want to see my soulmate?”), billionaire Bruce Wayne’s son.
Despite Marinette’s warnings, Mdm. Bustier forced her to change the itenary so that Lila could see her ‘soulmate’ (“Marinette, please change the locations.” “But Mdm. Bustier, Gotham is one of the most crime-ridden-” “I will not stand for your petty grievances, Marinette. Change it at once.”) and so the list had become:
California, New York, Metropolis and thenGotham.
Nevertheless, Marinette beamed as she waved to her parents, feeling excited.
“You can stop waving now,” Chloe remarked dryly, filing her nails. “They’re out of sight.”
**
You might be wondering, what happened to elicit such a changebetween their relationship.
Lila.
That was one thing Marinette had to thank her for. She showed Marinette who her realfriends were, a.k.a Chloe, Alix, Kim and Max.
Chloe didn’t believe Lila from the start (“Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. Does she expect meto believe that Jagged Stone, the one who lives in my hotel every monthowns a cat? Everyone knows he’s allergic to them!”) but Max was disillusioned when some of the things Lila said didn’t line up – “I got tinnitus from saving Jagged Stone’s cat from an airplane!” “You would’ve become deaf. Not suffer from tinnitus.” “Don’t be silly, Max!” – case in point.
Kim and Alix, on the other hand, came to know when Lila mixed her names up (“I know Michael Phelps – he’s such an amazing skater, Alix. I could give you some tips from him!” “Michael Phelps? Isn’t he a swimmer?”) and (Marinette snorted when she heard that) said Michael Phelps was a skater.
That certainly didn’t earn her any points with thosetwo.
In the end, Marinette could say she would take her life right nowthan the one before because until Lila came, she never really noticed how whinythe class was.
She shuddered when she remembered the never-ending requests they had – and they expected herto do it for free.
Thank god she got away from them.
**
In response to Chloe’s statement from earlier, Marinette mock-glared at her. “I know,Chloe. I was about to stop.”
“Sure, Mari,” sniffed her best friend.
Marinette protested feebly. “Really!”
“Uh-huh,” Chloe continued to file her nails, completely uninterested.
Before Marinette could retort, the door burst open and two balls of chaos rolled into the car with one poor Max.
“Ha! I won, Kim, you owe me 30 Euros!” Alix crowed triumphantly.
Kim, as expected, disagreed. “No way, pipsqueak! Iwon.”
“I did.”
“No, I did.”
“I did.”
“Can you both pleasesit properly?” Chloe pushed them with a surprising amount of strength. “You’re wrinklingthe car leather.”
In response, the two of them stuck their tongues out.
Marinette snickered at the expression on Chloe’s face – exasperation, pureexasperation.
Maxfinallyup righting himself, stood up unsteadily as he walked to the only empty seat next to Marinette.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Kim said, pulling Max onto his lap.
Max squeaked, his cheeks turning a fiery shade of red.
Alix cackled, “Poor Max. Kim, you reallyshouldn’t do that. You’re going to give the poor boy a heart attack.”
Marinette sighed happily for her friends. She was honestly elated that Kim and Max had found their soulmate in each other. They were just adorable!
She fairly beamed when Marinette saw the love-sick smile on Chloe’s face. It meant she was talking to Kagami.
Alix hadn’t found hers yet and according to the girl herself, she wasn’t really bothered by it either because she was ace.
Marinette just wished she could find hersoulmate.
Soulmate bonds – in their world – came in different types. For example, Chloe and Kagami’s bond was the word bond. Each had a word or a phrase written circling their wrists (“Excuse me, you dropped your phone.” “Thank you”) and whoever said those words was their soulmate.
Kim and Max had the string-bond – one of the strongest bonds in existence. The bond only surfaced when it decided whether the two people were readyto become lovers.
Marinette had the aura bond – one of the most difficultbonds to find your soulmate with. Basically, her aura and her soulmate’s aura – when they meet – would touch each other and glow.
It was extremely rare to witnesssuch a bonding and even rarerfor someone to find their soulmate with it.
She often wondered whether she would ever findher soulmate. At first, she thought her soulmate was Chat Noir, after all, wasn’t he her other half?
But their auras did not connect when they met.
“Marinette?” She snapped out of her thoughts when Chloe shook her arm. “Come on! We’re at the airport!”
**
After checking in – and successfully avoiding Lila’s attempts at sabotage (“Oh my gosh, Marinette! Your ticket is ripped to shreds, you can’t come!” “Well, it’s a good thing I made two copies then, isn’t it? Just in case I lost mine.”) – Marinette sighed and resigned herself to listening to Lila’s bullshit for the next few hours.
Unfortunately, she and Alix had gotten the seats rightbehind her and Alya.
“-and then Prince Ali took me out on a date!” Lila was babbling.
Alya gasped theatrically, right on cue. “Oh my gosh, girl! How did it go?”
“Well-”
Marinette groaned and resisted the urge to throw herself out of the window. “Kill me now,” she said tiredly, “Please.”
Alix didn’t look like she was faring any better and glared at the idiots in front of them. “Why did we have to get stuck with them?”
“I don’t know,” Marinette banged her head on the table in front of her. “But what I doknow is that the next few hours are going to be torture.”
**
By the time the plane landed, Alix was eyeing the knife in her hand murderously, clearly plotting Lila and Alya’s murder, and Marinette had scribbled uselessly on 2 clean pages of paper because Lila’s voice was interrupting her inspiration.
“FINALLY!” Alix screamed, running around like a maniac. “FINALLY, WE GET TO LEAVE THOSE-” Yelling some extreme profanities, she continued, “BEHIND!”
Even though the attendants were eyeing the two of them like they were crazy, Marinette didn’t care because finally.
How did anyone believe Lila anyway?
**
The next day, Marinette argued with Chloe the better color for her new sketchbook at one of the gift shops near the Statue of Liberty. “Red it better because it’s so bright but not toobright. That way, if I don’t know where it is, I can just look. For. RED!”
Snatching the yellow one off the shelves, Chloe held it in front of Marinette’s eyes. “NO! Yellow! Red would just mergeinto your room because it’s pink, while yellow would be more obvious!”
“But yellow is too brightfor the night!”
Offended, Chloe gasped. “How dare you-”
Seeing as they were dragging the attention of other customers, Alix snatched both the books from their hands and put it on the counter. “Both of them, please.”
As they walked out of the stationary shop (Chloe and Marinette still arguing) the three of them spotted Lila, Alya, Mylene and Rose walking out of a boutique loaded with bags.
“I can’t believe they’re going shoppingwhen we’re supposed to be taking notes for the essay.” Alix muttered glaring at them with disgust.
Chloe smirked icily. “It doesn’t matter because when they fail the essay, it’ll be theirfault.”
Marinette and Chloe agreed to disagree in favor of scorning Lila and her cronies.
**
California was the funpart of the trip. With its beaches and just right weather, Marinette and crew set up their site somewhere on the beach.
They spent most of their days running around, playing games and in Marinette’s case being completely oblivious to the boys flirting with her.
Nevertheless, she couldn’t help wonder whyHawkmoth wasn’t striking. It had been 3 days now and yet there was no akuma. Perhaps he was giving hera break since Chat Noir didn’t show up to half the fights anyway.
It certainly wasn’t because Gabriel Agreste was frantically planning for his spring line of which the developments got delayed due to his…terrorizing activities.
They were in Metropolis now and Marinette was currently stuck inside a sideways bus.
How, you ask?
She saved a young girl from being the hostage of the villain. Unfortunately, because she wasn’t Ladybug then her reflexes weren’t as fast and now Marinette was stuck inside the bus being the villain’s hostage.
Just a regular day for her.
Along with Chloe, Alix was yelling, “Mari, what is wrong with you?”
“Marinette, is her name?” asked the terribly-dressed villain (seriously, was he color blind or something?), “Alrighty then! Superman!” he bellowed suddenly.
Superman appeared almost immediately and distracted the villain.
While,Superboypulled Marinette out and set her beside her friends where she was promptly pulled into a bone-crushing hug.
“Guys,” she gasped, exaggerating only slightly(read:a lot), “Can’t….breathe…need…to…breathe!”
Finally, they let her go and just before Superboy was about to take off, Marinette called out, “Thank you!”
In reponse, he merely tipped an imaginary hat.
**
Marinette muttered angrily while Kim and Alix rough-housed with each other blow some steam.
How could they? She fumed. How f*cking could they?
Their ‘class’ had left them behind in Gotham Park. And Mdm. Bustier (someteacher) hadn’t even bothered to do attendance to check if everyone was there.
Marinette would even go as far as to bet that Lilawas the one to engineer this.
“Look OUT!”
Yelping, Marinette tumbled down laughing when a Great Dane came jumping on her, licking her face.
Giggling, she ran her hands through his fur making no move to get up.
“Marinette!” Chloe gasped, running to her, “Are you okay?”
Still playing with the unnamed dog, Marinette giggled out a “Yes,”.
“Ms, I am sosorry,” a masculine voice gasped, evidently from running. “Titus, no. Bad-”
Marinette sat up slowly. “It’s fine, your dog – Titus, is it? – is really very cute.”
“Cute?” Surprise laced his tone. “Most people describe Titus as scary. I haven’t seen him take to someone so fast.”
Standing up with Chloe’s help, Marinette brushed her outfit and made eye contact with the man.
Her breath suddenly whooshedout of her chest.
And slowly, slowly but steadily, her pinkish red aura reached out and merged with his dark emerald one.
As Marinette watched in wonder, the two of them slowly formed a beautiful, breath-taking gold turning brighter and brighterand then it was gone.
The only sign it had been there was a little heart made out of a puff smoke – one side red, the other green.
“Oh my god, Mari,” Chloe breathed. “I think that’s your soulmate!”
You think?
◇─◇──◇─◇
When Damian went to walk Titus that afternoon, he expected it to go normally.
He certainly didn’t expect Titus to run off and then meet his soulmate all in one go.
Nevertheless, he swallowed thickly and introduced himself, “My name is Damian Wayne.”
His soulmate’s friends looked at him in shock but his soulmate didn’t have any such reaction. If she was surprised, she was doing a damn good job of hiding it. “Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”
“Marinette,” her glasses friend said, “Don’t you know who that is?”
She turned to him curiously. “He’s my soulmate, Max.”
The girl – familiar from somewhere, he thinks – slaps her forehead and pulls Marinette to her side while whispering something in her ear.
“Oh!” Marinette’s cheeks suddenly colored and she said, “I didn’t know you were theDamian Wayne, I just-”
Suddenly feeling nervous, Damian interrupted her. “It’s fine,” he said slightly harshly. “It was actually kind of refreshing to meet someone who didn’t know who I was.”
She started blushing all over again and he distantly thinks, it’s cute.
“What are you doing here, anyway?” Damian moved forward to try and dispel the awkward silence that had descended upon them. “I’ve never seen you here.”
“Well,” Marinette stutters, “We were actually on a school trip, but our teacher acci-”
“Since Mari’s too nice to tell you it objectively,” Her blonde friend interrupts, “I will. We were left behind by our teacher. Chloe Bourgeois.”
Chloe holds out her hand, eyes threatening and Damian takes it, equally cold.
Somehow sensing the tension between them, Marinette continues, “And we were supposed to go to WE but because they left us behind-”
“-we’re stuck here,” finished a pink-haired girl. “Alix Kubdel.”
Nodding towards her (she certainly seemed better than Chloe), Damian sends a small smile to his soulmate (his heart beat faster at the thought that he found his soulmate). “I can take you to WE if you want. But how did your teacher just forgetyou existed?”
Exchanging looks with her tall friend, Marinette gestures towards him and says, “Kim will tell you.”
**
By the time they have reached WE, Damian is fumingresisting the urge to go and murder this Lila Rossi and Adrien Agreste and the rest of their idiot classmates.
Whotells someone letting a pathological liar, lie and lie is taking the ‘high road’?
What kind of friends ditch someone who did so muchfor them just like that?
And the liar. Damian seethed at the thought of her. How dare she, how dare she targethissoulmate.
“Woah, Damian, man,” said Kim – the tall one, “You might want to calm down. You’re scaring the people.”
Breathe Damian. Breathe.
Inhaling with great difficulty, Damian said, “I am going to murderyour class and teacher. And I won’t even make it look like an accident.”
Chloe finally looked at him with something other than wariness as she murderously said, “I’ll help you.”
Marinette panicked looking at their serious expressions. “No! You guys can’t do that!”
“Watch me,” Damian snarled.
◇─◇──◇─◇
Richard Grayson considered himself to be a good person.
So,whothought he deserved this?
This being a class (and teacher) without braincells because they believe every damn word out of a patheticliar’s mouth. Seriously, hadn’t they heard of something called Google?
Oh, and as if thatwasn’t enough, the teacher had forgotten about 5 students and stated, “They are troublemakers anyway, we can start without them,”
Was she insane?
She was a goddamnteacher! Didn’t she know it was her jobto make sure they straightened out?
Gritting his teeth, he said with a patience did notfeel, “Mdm. Bustier, we cannotstart the tour without your missing students. You will have to findthem and get them here.”
So, here he was.
Waiting for the idiot of the teacher to try and get her students to WE.
Needless to say, he was elatedwhen the WE doors slammed open and Damian came striding in (even though he looked like he was about to murder someone).
“Lil’ D!” Dick yelled, hoping Damian saw the pleading in his eyes, “Come meet the class we’re touring today!”
Growling, Damian walked right passed him and glared icily at the class. “Which one of you is the liar?” he hissed, glaring at everyone.
When no one responded, Dick volunteered himself, “That one.”
Damian shot him a slightly thankful look and advanced to her. “You,” he spat. “Lie about my soulmate one more time and I’ll end you.”
Turning her nose up at him, she sniffled theatrically. “How dare you say that to me? My soulmate is Damian Wayne and he’ll have the Wayne lawyers on you in seconds.”
By now, everyone (employees included) had frozen, watching the drama eagerly. But when Lie-la said that.
Most people burst out laughing immediately, and Dick would have too, had she not said Damianwas her soulmate. “What do you mean, Mdm. Rossi, that Damian is your soulmate?”
Smirking triumphantly, her olive-green eyes sparkled maliciously as she said, “Damian Wayne is my soulmate.”
Woah.Shereallyhadn’t done her research. “Mdm. Rossi,” Dick said coldly. “Damian is not your soulmate.”
“And how would you know that?” An ombre-haired, glasses-wearing girl glared at him.
“Because,” he said coolly, “I am his brother andyou do realize that Damianwas the one to tell you to stay away from his soulmate?”
Lila paled and Dick felt satisfaction course through him.
But then he registered what Damian said. He had found his soulmate.
“Wait, Damian,” Dick asked turning to him, “Just whois your soulmate?”
“I am,” a female voice said. A short blue-haired girl with pale skin walked next to Damian and held out her hand. “Marinette Dupain-Cheng,”
Dick smiled at the girl and shook it firmly. “Dick Grayson.”
“But that’s not possible,” cried out the glasses-wearing girl, Alya. “Lilais Damian’s soulmate!”
Damian glared at her fiercely and she shrunk back. “I can assure you, Lila Rossi is most definitely notmy soulmate. Perhaps you should check everything she has said on Google. It doesexist you know.”
Alya quickly pulled out her phone and was probably searching up everything Lila told her.
The rest of her class watched her in tense silence and then backed away slowly as they saw the unbridled fury grow in her eyes. “You.” Alya hissed. “I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU!”
◇─◇──◇─◇
Marinette jumped when she felt a hand touch her elbow.
It was Adrien. “Marinette,” he hissed, “What are you doing? Why are you exposing Lila?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Adrien,” she said loudly, drawing the attention of Damian. “Maybe it’s because she’s been lying about me?”
“But she wasn’t-”
“Hurting anyone?” Marinette glared at him coldly. “She was, Adrien. Me.And you and your ‘high road’ bullshit can go and rot in hell for all I care.”
“Wait,” asked Nino, hurt evident in his expression. “Adrien knewall this time?”
Chloe smiled icily. “Yes. He didn’t wantto expose Lie-la because she wasn’t ‘hurting anyone’,”
And then suddenly, the entire class was rounding on Adrien, who was frantically trying to explain his actions.
In the chaos, no one noticed Lila advance closer and closer to Marinette.
She jumped onto her and screeched, “MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG,I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!”
Lilaattemptedto try and choke Marinette but said girl was quicker, stronger and smarter.
Marinette quickly backed away and flipped her onto her back, pinning Lila’s wrists together.
“Let me go!”Lila was thrashing around trying to get out of Marinette’s hold.
“Mdm. Rossi, you are under arrest for assault and attempted murder,” came the cool voice of an unfamiliar officer.
As one of his men handcuffed Lila, Damian wrapped Marinette into a warm hug. He opened his mouth to say something but Alya interrupted him.
“Marinette!” she called. “I’m so sorry! Can you give me an interview with theDamian Wayne?”
Marinette goggled at her, unable to process what she said. Turning to Chloe, she asked, “Did she actually just saythat?”
“Well?” Alya tapped her foot impatiently and Marinette glared at her.
“No,Alya, I will notgive you an interview with Damian,” she hissed.
Alya looked gobsmacked. “But…why? I’m your best friend!”
“Best friend?” Marinette laughed. “Best friends don’t leave each other when the next shiny thing comes around. Best friends don’t ditch other. Best friends don’t believe a liar over each other. And besides,” she added sweetly. “Youare not my best friend. Chloeis.”
Chloe beamed at her.
“Alright,” Dick clapped. “I know this must be a nasty shock-”
Damian Al-Ghul eyes the assassin in front of him. “Are you sure?” he asks with no semblance of emotion.
The assassin bows his head. “Yes. The Great Guardian of the Miraculous is currently in New York City.”
“And what does the Guardian do?”
“The Guardian has a business she owns – designing for various…celebrities,” The assassin displays disgust at the word, but Damian ignores it.
“And her name?” he asks.
“Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”
Pursing his lips, Damian motions for him to leave. “Leave. And permit no one to enter.”
Bowing once again, the assassin leaves the room and shuts it behind him.
Damian rubs his temple, wondering just howhe could kidnap the Great Guardian of the Miraculous. She had the most powerful miraculous in her hands, and if he was not stealthy enough, the Guardian would detect him.
Yes,him.
Damianwas going to go and kidnap her for the miraculous. But the plan would have to be flawless and well executed.
So far, no one knew of his idea and Damian planned to keep it that way.
Now, back to the plan…
◇─◇──◇─◇
A few weeks later…
Marinette smiles brightly (and fakely) feeling her cheeks hurt with how hardshe was smiling.
Once she walked into her office, she slams the door shut and slides against it.
Her shaking shoulders and telltale sting in her eyes tell her that she’s about to start crying again.
“Why?” Marinette whispers to the room. “Why did he have to do it now?”
‘He’ was Adrien Agreste, her ex-fiancé.
The previous night, he had broken off their engagement for reasons Marinette couldn’t fathom to understand.
**
Smiling stiffly, Marinette smiles for the cameras outside the restaurant.
“That’s right,” Adrien whispers into her ears, also waving for the paparazzi. “You’re doing great!”
Marinette says nothing, somewhat annoyed at him for ruining what was supposed to be a privatedinner.
After 10 minutes of constant smiling, she finally relaxes into the limo. “Done,” she groans.
Adrien looks at her with an odd look in his eye. Then, Marinette didn’t realize what it meant.
As the car glides to her apartment, Marinette discusses her latest designs for her business. “-And if I finish it, it would be a huge boost!” she finishes excitedly.
“A boost you wouldn’t needif you joined Gabriel.” Adrien points out – for the millionth time – and Marinette sighs.
“Adrien,” she says, “We’ve discussed this. I am notgoing to be joining Gabriel as one of the designers. I have my own dreams to fulfill.”
And later, as Marinette reflects, this is what made him snap.
He stiffens up and they sit in uncomfortable silence for the rest of the ride.
Once they reach her apartment, Adrien asks her, “Marinette, would you mind if I came to drop you off?”
“No, of course not,” she says, oblivious to what comes next.
Inside her apartment, Adrien looks at her. “Marinette,” he begins in the patronizing tone she hates. “I’m giving you a choice.”
She stares at him. “What choice?”
He breathes in. “Either, you join Gabriel and we can continue our relationship or…”
“Or what?” Marinette asks, still not completely sure what’s happening.
“Or it’s the end.” Adrien finishes, looking at her with those hopeful green eyes as he was expecting her to choose the first option.
As if he was thinking she would give up her dreams, something she spent yearsmaking true, just for him.
“What are you doing, kid?” Plagg flies out of Adrien’s pocket and glares at him.
Adrien looks at Plagg as is he’s the one being stupid. “I’m giving Marinette a choice.”
“A choice between youand her job?What’swrongwith you kid?” Plagg asks bluntly.
Apparently, his owner is unwilling to listen and snaps, “Shut up, Plagg.”
As Plagg opens his mouth to speak, Adrien says it again. “Plagg. I order you to shut up.”
The kwami’s mouth snaps shut.
Marinette’s jaw drops open and Tikki and the other kwami’s fly out in indignation.
“Adrien,” Marinette asks sternly, “Whatare you doing?”
“Marinette,” Adrien says as if that will excuse what he’s done, “I gave you a choice. You pick.”
Seething now, Marinette glares at him. “I pick-”
“Me right?” Adrien asks excitedly, as if she would actuallydo that after what he’s done in the last past 5 minutes.
“No,” Marinette hisses. “Ipick my business.”
Now it’s Adrien’s turn to be shocked. “What?” he gasps. “But what about us-”
Practically fuming now, Marinette advances on him. “I wasn’t the one who gave the ultimatum Adrien. You were. And you can take it back how much you want. But Iwon’t be coming back.”
She snatches the ring on her finger and slams it onto her table, feeling spiteful satisfaction when it shatters to pieces.
An analogy of their relationship really.
“Nowget out.” Marinette dares him to try and fight her.
Still shocked, Adrien walks backwards, towards the door. “Come on, Plagg.”
Plagg tries to say something, but all that comes out is a muffled noise.
Enraged, Marinette snaps her fingers and he can speak again.
“You wish, kid,” Plagg hisses flying to the rest of the kwamis.
Adrien glares at him – as if he ownsPlagg, “Plagg, I orderyou to come with me!”
But nothing happens because Marinette has snatched the ring from Adrien’s hand. “Out.”
“But my miracu-” he stutters, looking at her with betrayal.
Later on, she will laugh bitterly at the irony.
“OUT!” Marinette yells, but yetAdrien still tries.
“Marinette-”
And for the first time in Marinette’s entire time, she’s had the Ladybug Miraculous, Tikki yells.
Boy, does she yell.
“GET OUT OF HER HOUSE!” Tikki screeches. “GET OUT NOWADRIEN AGRESTE OR I SWEAR I WILL MURDERYOU,RIGHT NOW!”
Adrien hightails out.
And hours after he has left, Marinette is sobbing with the kwamis trying to comfort her.
**
Coming back to the present, Marinette wishes she hadn’t left Tikki behind today. For two reasons really, 1) she could reallyuse her support and 2) Marinette felt like she was being watched.
Instead, Marinette tries to think about what Tikki would have said. He isn’t worth your tears, Marinette, she would say fiercely, you deserve so much better than him.
Yes, Marinette thinks, standing up and smoothing her clothes out, Tikki would say that.
Walking to her desk, Marinette opens up her laptop and while waiting she organizes her desk.
She pauses when she sees a dark shape behind her.
What in the kwam-
Spinning around, Marinette gives her attacker a solid punch in the jaw, smirking triumphantly when she hears himcurse loudly.
But it was far too soon, because later, to the smell of chloroform, Marinette falls into the waiting arms of unconsciousness.
◇─◇──◇─◇
Damian rubs the ice pack over his jaw thoughtfully, while assessing the short woman tied to the chair.
She is stronger than she looks, he thinks thoughtfully.
He smiles wryly, remembering the solid, surprise punch to the jaw she gave him.
When she starts to stir, Damian immediately makes his face blank and sets the ice pack down.
“Where am I?” she mumbles and he is momentarily thrown off by the innocence in her voice. For some reason, it appealsto him.
Clearing his throat, Damian waits for her to open her eyes before addressing her. “You,” he says coldly, “Are in the lair of the League of the Assassins.”
She stiffens up immediately and her eyes (beautiful ones) become glaciers. “Why?” she hisses. “The Order has done nothing to you.”
“Exactly,” Damian says walking closer to her. “Nothing.Zero. Zip. Nada. I wish to know why.”
She glares at him, subtly (but not subtle enough) trying to loosen her bonds. “And so, you kidnappedme?”
“Yes,” Damian says casually. “And I also want the Miracle Box.”
Her back straightens defiantly. “What makes you think Ihave it?”
Laughing softly, Damian looks at her. “You don’t think I would have done my research, Marinette Duoain-Cheng, Ladybug, former superheroine of Paris?”
She doesn’t look to surprised at the use of her name and alias. “I was hoping,” she admitted, “Damian Al-Ghul.”
And Damian can safely say he is shockedshe managed to get his real name. He made sure to keep it a secret.
“Interesting,” he says, walking around her. “Bit you still didn’t answer my question. Whereis the Miracle Box?”
Marinette tips her head back and gives him a cocky smirk (and for some reason Damian wants to kiss it of her lips). “What makes you think Ihave it? After all, if you know I was Ladybug, then you mustknow I had a partner too?”
He doesn’t miss the emphasis on ‘had’. Damian wonders if it has something to do with the momentary weakness she displayed once she was in her office.
His expression shifts uncomfortably, feeling like he wanted to murder the one who made her so…weak.
It disappears in a flash.
Replying as cockily as her, Damian smirks. “Unlikely because Wang Fu trusted you much more than your partner and fiancé, Adrien Agreste also known as Chat Noir.”
“Ex-fiancé,” she says almost angrily and then Marinette snaps her mouth shut as if she hadn’t meant to say that.
Quirking an eyebrow at her, Damian says, “This must be recent development because otherwise it would be all over the news.”
She rolls her eyes at that. “Yeah, because Adrien just hadto make us look good for the press,” she mumbles, apparently unaware he can hear her.
Ignoring the ugly feeling in his stomach, Damian eyes her thoughtfully. Perhaps if he opened her up more, she would give him more information about the Box.
(Definitely not because he wanted to know more about her)
Thisbeing opening up to Damian Al-Ghul, her quite literally arch enemy.
But here she was, telling him all about her issues with Adrien and how they broke up.
“-And then, he gave mean ultimatum – either I join Gabrielor we break up! And then when P-”
Marinette pauses abruptly. Shit. How could she have fallen for this trick?
He must have noticed the tear tracks on her face, she thinks.
“And then?” Damian looks at her with interest – interest that is faked, she tells herself firmly.
Realizing she should probably continue so as to not arouse his suspicion, Marinette says, “He did something I couldn’t forgive. So, I broke off the engagement.”
“There’s more to the story,” Damian says, no demands.
Marinette shrugs – or as much as she could in her bonds. “That’s all I’m willing to tell you.”
Damian presses his lips together and it draws her attention to them.
They look soft, she thinks longingly and almost immediately snaps out of it.
“Fine,” Damian snaps. “I’ll let you go.”
Marinette gapes at him as he rummages around his desk for a knife.
Quickly, he pulls one out and she stiffens. What if he’s going to kill her?
But that would defeat his purpose, she reasons. But isn’t letting her go alsodefeating his purpose?
She waits, her heart thumping, and Marinette feels her muscles become slack with shock when he actuallycuts her loose.
Unsure, why he is doing this, warily Marinette gets up and promptly tumbles into his chest.
“Mmph,” she says and she feels her cheeks color in a way they haven’t since Adrien.
Damian’s arms are wrapped around her and she can smell the scent of the cologne he uses.
Backing off, Marinette winces as she rubs her wrists. “Why are you doing this?” she misses Damian’s eyes tracking her wrists and then him cringing at her wince.
“Because I want to,” he says brusquely.
Glaring at him defiantly, she replies, “That’s no answer.”
“No, it’s not,” Damian agrees. “But if you want to escape, now’s the time.” He gestures to the door.
Marinette wastes no time, launching herself out and then taking off into the streets of New York.
Thank Kwami Damian took her somewhere familiar, she thinks as Marinette runs through the streets zigzagging for the benefit of any followers.
Taking the longer route to her apartment, Marinette stares at the Kwamis wide-eyed. “You will neverbelieve what happened to me.”
**
That night, as Marinette lay in bed, she wonders why Damian Al-Ghul of all people let her go.
Little does she know, said man is wondering the same thing himself.
summary: “i mean,” marinette says frustratedly, ready to tear her hair out - you will never believe the number of rants she has told chloe and kagami and the nights she has spent obsessing over it, “i’m in love with both of you!”
Marinette Dupain-Cheng is unaware of her surroundings as she sketches into her book.
Unfortunately, this is what causes her to trip over a stray root in the ground.
Preparing herself for the hard ground, Marinette is surprised when she feels a pair of arms wrapping around her. “I’ve got you!” A bright voice says.
Looking up, Marinette’s cheeks pink in embarrassment. “Thank you! And sorry for falling into you,”
A dark-haired boy next to the one who caught her snorts.. “You didn’t. He just hadto catch you.”
Frowning, Marinette stares at him. Rude.
The blonde-haired boy who caught her, notices her look and laughs. “Don’t worry about him. Damian’s always grumpy.” He smiles at her and holds out his hand. “I’m Jonathan Kent - call me Jon - and this one here,” he gestures to Damian. “Is Damian Wayne.”
Damian looks at her as if he’s expecting a reaction from her but Marinette just shakes Jon’s hand and says, “I’m Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Nice to meet you.”
Jon looks surprised too, as if he was expecting something from her. Weird.But Damian’s name doesseem familiar…
Shrugging it off, Marinette asks them, “Do you both live in Gotham?”
Shaking his head, Jon says, “I don’t but Damian does.”
Again, Damian looks like he’s expecting a reaction.
“What about you?” Jon asks. “I haven’t seen you around before.”
“Oh, I’m on vacation.”
“Here?” Damian asks her skeptically. “Most people go to New York.”
“Weweregoing to go to New York,” Marinette says, remembering all the plans she and her family had made, “But then, when we were boarding, the attendant said myticket said I was supposed to go to Gotham. So my parents booked a hotel room for me and took off for New York while I came to Gotham.”
Even Jon looks surprised now. “Your parents just leftyou?” he asks, as if he can’t fathom the idea.
“Yes?” Marinette says, even though it sounds more like a question than a statement. “They trust me too because it’s been like this for most of my life, anyway. It’s not new.”
Both the boys stare at her like she’s insane.
“But that’s not how it’s supposed to-” Jon is cut off when Damian elbows him in the side.
“You can join us for the rest of your trip, if you want,” he offers.
Marinette eyes him suspiciously. On one hand, this trip wouldbe more fun with some friends (she didn’t really interact with hers ever since Lie-la appeared) but this was Gotham. She did her research on the plane and it wasthe most crime-ridden city in the world.
Hesitating, Marinette nods her head. “Okay.”
***
“You say her parents took off to New York and let her come to Gotham on her own?”
Bruce and Clark are both looking at Jon and Damian with shock.
Nodding firmly, Damian answers, “Yes. Apparently, there was some mix-up in the tickets.”
“But who doesthat?” Bruce asks with more than a little bit of disgust.
Jonathan shrugs. “Neglectful parents, obviously. But that’s not why we’re here. Damian asked Marinette to hang out with us for the rest of her trip so-”
Clark interrupts. “Damianasked her?”
“Yes, I did,” Damian says, rolling his eyes. What was the big deal?
“Believe me, I was shocked too,” Jon whispers loudly. “But anyway, we’re going to ask her to stay in the Manor so that she’s safe.”
“Yes,” Bruce says thoughtfully. “I think that would be a good idea. We’ll just have to be a little more careful about our nightly activities.”
“Then it’s settled.”
***
Jon rolls his eyes playfully as everyone fights over who gets to call Marinette for dinner.
It was actually kind of disturbing to see how she managed to get everyone wrapped around her fingers.
“It’smyturn-” Stephanie was shouting.
Tim scoffs and interrupts her. “You alwayssay that, Steph. I’mgoing to go.” He stands up but immediately Jason lunges towards the door to run to Marinette’s room.
Almost everyone starts protesting when Tim does that because he’salways the one to say that and he knows it too.
Jon snickers when he sees the expression on Bruce’s face. It’s the I’m-going-to-adopt-this-childexpression.
“Oh, no, B,” says Dick, having noticed the expression too, “Don’t you dareadopt Marinette.”
Everyone goes silent and stares at Bruce - who freezes with the expression on his face.
And then two seconds later, everyone is listing the reasons why he can’t adopt her ( “She already has parents!” “ Neglectfulones-” “You don’t know that!” ) and then Damian and Jon are out of the room.
“I can’t believeFather is considering adopting Angel.” Damian grumbles as they walk up the stairs.
You’re saying that because then you won’t be able to date her, Jon wants to say but he stops himself just in time.
Though none of them had said it outright, it was clear both of them were completely smitten by Marinette.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Jon knocks and opens the door to Marinette’s room just as she’s walking out from a portal as the French superheroine Ladybug?
Jesus Christ, things just got a lotcomplicated.
***
Marinetteswearsshe never meant for this to happen. Honest.
She didn’t know Chat Noir wouldn’t show up to Style Queen and so she had to fight against the akuma herself - making her late.
She was distracted the whole time, her thoughts ultimately going to the email she received from the Style Queen herself. Come with me to New York, and I’ll make all your fashion dreams come true.
Needless to say, she was exhausted when she portaled into her room into Wayne Manor - she was pretty sure she burst Damian and Jon’s eardrums when she figured out who Damian was - and thus didn’t realize her friends were in the room until one of them made some kind of noise.
“Oops?” she says when Marinette sees them standing at her door.
Tikki snorts, devouring her cookie while Kaalki sniffs haughtily.
Ultimately, the first thing they say is, “ What are those?” pointing at Tikki and Kaalki.
Oh right. She forgot about them.
***
“So you’re telling me, you’re a superhero with magical kwamis?” Jon asks and Damian winces at the high pitch.
“Also,” says the horse-like one. “This one,” it says pointing at Jon. “Is not a human.”
Dear god, why? Why did this have to happen?
After the explanation, the first thing she says is:
“I can’t believe this.” Marinette has this glazed expression on her face.
“Can’t believe what?” asks Jason, leaning against the door.
Jon opens his mouth to tell some flimsy lie (for someone who can detect lies, he’s terrible at lying himself) but Marinette points at Jason and glaresat him.
“You,” she hisses and Damian shudders - reminding himself to never piss off Marinette. “Have a terriblefashion sense. Like seriously, whowears a tin can on their head and calls themselves Red Hood? ”
Jason only gapes at her.
***
By the end of the summer, Marinette can guarantee that she knows who Hawkmoth is. The only thing she needs to do now is to catch him and Mayura and strip them of their miraculous.
“Promise you’ll message us?” Jon asks with those puppy eyes she can’t resist.
Hugging him, Marinette laughs. “Yes, Jon. I promiseto message you.”
“You better,” Damian mutters as he leans in for his own hug.
Marinette snickers at the shocked expression on his brothers’ faces.
“Don’t forget about us, Pixie,” Jason yells as if he’s miles away from her.
Giggling, Marinette waves at her friends as she walks to the limousine. “I won’t!”
Present time…
“Hello?” Marinette asks into the phone, hoping the offer is still around.
“What?” Audrey Bourgeois snaps into the phone. “Whoever you are, you better hurry. I’m a busy woman, you know. Who gave you my number anyway? Zara! Zayna, Zara, whatever. Did you give my number to anyone-”
Tikki smiles at her holder fondly. “At least she won’t have to deal with parents who don’t care about her anymore.”
Almost immediately, Kagami’s face darkens. “I can’t believe they just kickedyou out like that.”
Shrugging, Marinette says, “Eh. It doesn’t really matter anymore. I’m over it. It’s not like they spent much time with me anyway.”
Seeing as the topic was spoiling everyone’s mood, Marinette’s eyes light up. “So, what’s New York like?”
“Oh my kwami, you will never believe it but it’s like no one ever restshere-”
Marinette couldn’t wait to get to New York.
“Marinette!” Audrey calls.
Banging her head on the table, Marinette groans. Will Audrey never leave her alone for 10 minutes? She hasn’t even gotten round to designingyet.
“Yes?” she says, exasperated.
“Come here, young lady,” Audrey claps her hands together. “I have an appointment and I want you to attend it.”
Why did she have to deal with this now?
“Well?” Audrey taps her foot impatiently waiting for a response. “You know, if you don’t want to do it-”
Hurriedly, Marinette answers. “Of course, I want to do it. I was just getting my stuff.”
“Good,” Audrey says with satisfaction and Marinette trades an eye roll with Tikki.
***
Marinette is ridiculously relieved she didn’t turn down Audrey’s offer to attend the appointment. Because like some of the most famouspeople in the world were there - Tony Stark and Steve Rogers with their son Peter Parker.
“So, what can Style Queen do for you?” Audrey asks professionally.
Steve Rogers clears his throat. “We need suits for the Wayne Gala. Preferably formal ones with a personal flair.”
Audrey shoots Marinette a pointed look she doesn’t miss. It was common knowledge that thiswas Marinette’s specialty.
“Well, then, I suppose you’re looking for a designer such as Marinette, here,” and Tony Stark - Tony Stark! - smiles at her. Audrey continues, “Her specialty is adding a personal addition to clothes.”
“You’re Jagged Stone’s personal designer!” Peter says with enthusiasm. “Wow! Your designs are amazing!”
Feeling her cheeks warm with embarrassment at the praise, Marinette responds with a “Thank you,”
By the end of the meeting, Marinette has been tasked with designing New York’s power couple and son’s suits for the Wayne Gala.
***
2 weeks later…
Honestly, Marinette doesn’t even know how it happened.
‘It’ being her getting adopted by Tony Stark and Steve Rogers.
◇─◇──◇─◇
Because she was designing for them, Marinette often had to go to their tower for measurements and such.
And somehow, the trio had managed to weasel the story out of Marinette, as shown below:
“So Marinette,” Tony asks casually as she measures Peter. “How did you end up in New York? I highly doubt your parents would have let you come here alone with only a few friends without much argument.”
“Well,” Marinette says absent-mindedly. “They actually kicked me out.”
Steve chokes on the water he was drinking. “What?” he asked while coughing.
“Yeah,” Marinette still doesn’t realize what she’s saying because she’s so focused and as a result, misses Tikki’s urgent stare. “It all started because of some liar in my school. She turned all of my friends against me using her lies and then it started spiralling from there.”
By the time she’s done measuring all three of them, Marinette has narrated the whole story and only realized once she was done. “So my mom gave me an ultimatum - either stop bullying her or leave - and I chose the second option because clearly they didn’t trust me and-”
Marinette suddenly claps a hand over her mouth.
“And what?” Tony encourages her, already thinking of pulling a ‘Brucie’ as they referred to it and adopt her.
Slapping a hand on her forehead, Marinette groans. “Why am I even telling you this?”
“Because Tony asked,” Peter says oh-so-helpfully.
“Come on,” Steve urges, “Finish the story!”
“But I’m not supposed to be telling you this,” Marinette protests because isn’t there a rule about professionality or something?
Tony groans and says, “You can’t just stop there!”
Seeing as they weren’t going to take no for an answer, Marinette finished the so-called story. “I had an offer from Audrey about 3 years ago so I called her up, and voila,” she says, “here I am.”
2 days later, Tony and Steve are asking her how she would feel if they adopted her.
Let’s just say:
Someone’s eardrums hadto have burst that day and that there was a lot of blood.
(Not in thatsense! She was sewing and she pricked herself hardwith the pin!)
◇─◇──◇─◇
But yes, that was how she ended up here - signing the papers legally binding her to Tony Stark and Steve Rogers with Bucky Barnes being her surrogate guardian.
“You know,” Tony says casually and Marinette feels an eerie sense of deja vu. “We have to introduce you to the press before someone gets wind of this.”
Sheknewthis was coming and yet she flops onto the couch. “Do we haveto?” she whines.
Peter pats her head condescendingly, much as an older brother would do. “Yes, you haveto,” he emphasizes and Marinette whacks him on the shoulder.
“Ouch!” He glares at her, rubbing his injured limb.
Ignoring their bickering, Steve continues and says, “So we were thinking…”
Damian huffed as he checked his suit for wrinkles. “Do we haveto come?” he grumbles.
“Yes, you do,” Father says sternly. “But you might want to stay till the end,” he continues, eyes twinkling in a way that distrubed Damian. “There’s a surprise for both of you.”
And promptly, he walks out.
“What kind of surprise do you think it will be?” Jon asks, running a hand through his slicked back hair.
“If I knew, wouldn’t I be telling you?” Damian answers, still annoyed he has to come.
Satisfied with his hair, Jon nods. “Point.”
***
When Father said there was surprise, Damian thought, thiswas not what he had in mind.
Thisbeing his good, good friend (and Jon’s), Marinette Dupain-Cheng - who looked verybeautiful - being adopted by Tony Stark and Steve Rogers.
While the press is eating it up, Damian and Jon turn accusingly on Father and Clark.
“Youknewabout this,” Damian says.
“And you didn’t think to tellus?” Jon finishes.
Rolling his eyes, Jason adds his (unwanted) smartass comment. “That’s what a surprisemeans, you know.”
“Shut up, Todd,” Damian bites.
Anything else he was going to say was cut off when a blue-haired girl threw her arms around Damian and Jon.
“Damian! Jon!” she said brightly, hugging them. “I haven’t seen you in so long!”
Hugging her back, Damian is unable to stop himself when his lips tug up into a small smile. “You couldn’t be bothered to tellus you were getting adopted?”
Her smile turning mischievous, Marinette says, “I wanted it to be a surprise. So I told everyone except for you.”
“I figured,” Jon mumbled, his face still buried in Marinette’s neck.
Over her head, they exchange a look, they were going to tell her tonight.
And Marinette would make her choice.
“Wait,” Marinette stares at both Damian and Jon. “You bothare in love with me?”
“Yes,” Damian says seriously. “And we need you to make a choice so that the other can try and move on.”
Marinette bites her lip. What if she didn’t want to choose?
Dammit, why did shealways make the hard decisions in life? She was in love with bothof them, she couldn’t just say yes to one and no to the other!
“Well?” Jon shifts uncomfortably, waiting for her answer.
“I don’t…I don’t know-?” she whispers, examining her hand. “I don’t know who to choose!”
They both gape at her with open mouths. “What do you mean?” Damian finally asks.
“I mean,” she says frustratedly, ready to tear her hair out - you will never believe the number of rants she has told Chloe and Kagami and the nights she has spent obsessing over it, “I’m in love with both of you !”
When she finishes saying that, she is breathing hard while Damian and Jon look like someone threw a brick on their face.
“What?” Jon breathes.
Cheeks warming now, Marinette repeats, “I’m in love with both of you.”
They exchange a look - one Marinette doesn’t understand.
The next second, Damian is kissing her and then Jon is.
Smiling shyly at her, Jon says, “Maybe we could try-”
“-a poly relationship?” Damian finishes.
In response, she kisses both of them again.
By the time he, Damian and Marinette return to the party, Tony, Steve and Bucky are looking at Jon and Damian with vaguely threatening eyes.
“Damian, Jon,” Tony says, not-at-all threateningly. “Would you mind coming in private for a second?”
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?”
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.”
summary: he needed a way to tell marinette he was sorry. that he was sorry for not telling her about him. that he was sorry for missing their dates. that he was sorry he was the reason they broke up. that he was the reason she was dead.
5.game on | fluff, humour, damian being a simp for marinette
summary: lady noire met red hood – another not-so-welcomed vigilante like her in gotham. you would expect the two of them to hit it off, maybe work together, but it was the complete opposite. it was hate at first sight.
summary: “i dare you to go to that man there,” alya pointed at an, admittedly, handsome man, “and ask him out on a date using puns.” alya finished her dare with a smug smirk.
summary: “oh,” tim quietened down and jason relished the silence. until, well, dick apparently snatched the phone from tim and screeched, “marinette’s a ghost!”
