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I redraw this scene because I really think, Adrien should be singing this song! The “Chat Blan” episode was released before “Heart Hunter”. So she definitely heard his song. GAAAH!!
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Long time no see!

Cold, but sweet kiss ✨

the thin line between love and hate | dickinette

Word Count: +1k

summary: lady noire had just come to steal the belt. of all the days nightwing could have arrived, this was the worst.

ao3|wattpad | masterlist | prompts | series masterlist

@dickinette-february

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.

bad decisions | dickinette

Word Count: +2k

summary: marinette knewshe shouldn’t have listened to chloe.

ao3|wattpad | masterlist | prompts | series masterlist

@dickinette-february

All Marinette wanted was onenight of relaxation. Was that so hard to ask?

Her phone buzzed with a text from Adrien, once againbegging for her forgiveness, apologizing for his actions, promising to make it better.

It was the same story everyday since the day she caught him kissing Lila in Marinette’sapartment.

◇─◇──◇─◇

Marinette hummed along with the song playing in her earbuds, carefully clutching onto her sketchbook so that it didn’t fly away.

She may be older now, but that didn’t mean her clumsiness wasn’t prone to show up now and then.

The song paused when an incoming call from Chloe flashed across her phone, and Marinette picked up immediately.

“Hey, Chlo!” she said, cheerfully. “What’s up?”

“Mari. Mom says you can go to-”

She cut off abruptly and the distinct sound of phone-wrestling was heard.

“Marinette,” Audrey Bourgeois’ cool, confident voice was heard. “You are going to be going to the USA as an ambassador for our partnership with the Waynes. My assistant will forward the details to you.”

The call was cut, leaving Marinette staring at her screen open-mouthed.

The USA? To form a deal with the Waynes?

Marinette phone, for the second time in the last few minutes, flashed with an incoming call from Chloe.

“Sorry about that Mari,” She sounded out of breath as if she had just yelled at someone.

Marinette laughed nervously. “It’s alright. But…what did Audrey mean about a deal with the Waynes?”

A man bumped into her and Marinette stumbled.

“Watch it,” he hissed and Marinette rolled her eyes, nervousness momentarily forgotten.

She started walking towards her apartment in favour of standing in the middle of the street.

As Chloe explained, Marinette fumbled with her keys, opening the door to her apartment.

The scene she saw made her jaw drop and her keys fall.

Adrien and Lila were tangled up together on the couch, vehemently kissing.

They hadn’t even noticed her coming in.

◇─◇──◇─◇

Marinette thanked the flight attendant with a polite smile and pulled her suitcase through the airport.

As she emerged through the sliding doors, Gotham looked every bit of the gloomy and dark place it was described to be.

Rain poured down in torrents, sliding over cars.

Marinette, thankfully, got out of the rain unscathed and as she stepped into the limo that Audrey provided her with, Marinette gaped at the luxuriousness of it.

The female Bourgeois’ fortune never failed to shock her.

“To the hotel, ma'am?” asked the American driver, looking at her through the rear-view mirror.

Marinette cleared her throat and nodded. “Yes.”

The car started to move and curiously, Marinette looked outside the window, watching as the buildings flew by.

One, in particular, stood out, looking particularly grand and elegant compared to the other flashy buildings next to it.

On the building, a big ‘W’ was stamped upon it, and Marinette assumed it was the esteemed headquarters of Wayne Enterprises.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when the car came to a standstill, in front of a grand building, adorned with bright lights giving it a certain flair.

Marinette stepped out of the limousine already seeing some very harried-looking people hurrying to her.

“Welcome,welcome, Madame Dupain-Cheng,” A moustached man said exuberantly with a prominent french accent.

Marinette assumed he was french so she smiled at him politely and said, “Bonjour, Monsieur.”

Quickly, he took her single bag and directed her to her room, and Marinette had to say Audrey Bourgeois went all out on this one.

The room was luxuriously decorated with chandeliers and sparkling bottles of champagne in ice.

“Please do call if you need anything.”

Marinette nodded, still in shock as she shut the door behind him.

As soon as she did, her phone began to ring and Chloe’s name flashed across the screen.

Marinette sighed as she picked up. “Do you have some superpower?”

“I know I’m special Mari, you don’t need to remind me.” Marinette could practically hear the smugness in her voice.

“Sure, Chloe,” she drawled, walking into her room. “So, what’s up?”

“Two things,” Chloe said, suddenly business-like. “First, Adrien is taken care of. He doesn’t know you’ve gotten a new phone number, so he can’t call you anymore.”

Marinette felt some of the tension in her shoulders flow out of her. “Thanks, Chlo. What would I do without you?”

“Probably shrivel up and die.” Chloe sniffed haughtily but Marinette knew she was touched. “But anyway, two, I’ll be coming to Gotham the day after tomorrow, but you have a meeting with the Waynes tomorrow itself, so you’ll have to meet them on your own.”

Marinette groaned. “Seriously? Can’t you come tomorrow?”

She could hear the smirk in her best friend’s voice as she said, “Nope. You know I can’t. I still have to deal with the fall of the Gabriel Empire. Mom says there’s a lot to be taken care of and I can’t leave before that.”

Only sighing in response, Marinette flopped onto her bed. “I take back what I said before.”

Chloe cackled and Marinette was struck with a sense of dread. This wasn’t going to end well.

“You, Mari,” she said, “Are going to hate me even more after this.”

“Chloe-” Marinette started but said girl interrupted her before she could say anything.

“You,” Chloe paused dramatically. “Are going to be going on a night out. To themost famous club in Gotham.”

Marinette groaned. “Chloe, no.”

“Chloe, yes.” The girl cackled again. “I told you, you were going to hate me after this.”

Marinette sighed, this was a conversation they had somany times before.

It was always the same thing; Chloe thought Marinette should go and find more fish in the sea (especially after Adrien) and Marinette didn’t agree.

She was perfectly fine on her own.

“Marinette,” Chloe said, and this time, said girl knew she meant business. “It’s been agessince you’ve had some fun, especially with the work Mom’s putting you under. Now, you’re not even dating Adrien, so you can hook up with people. C'mon Mari, you’re in your twenties, live a little.”

Marinette sighed, already resigned.

“You’re lucky I brought some dresses with me.”

Marinette was already regretting her decision to listen to Chloe.

The club was loud, ridiculously loud and Marinette was already starting to get a headache from the volume.

She needed a drink.

It was most definitely a bad decision, but Chloe said to let go, and that was exactlywhat Marinette was doing.

Striding to the bartender confidently, Marinette asked for the strongest drink they have.

She settled herself on a barstool, sipping her drink, content with watching the writhing masses of the people.

“What’s a pretty lady like yourself doing alone?” A sleazy voice crooned.

Marinette cringed.

She turned around, only to see a mucholder man, smirking at her, clearly leering at her body.

“None of your business,” Marinette said shortly and turned her back to him.

“Aw, don’t be like that, love.”

Shuddering in disgust as she felt his hand on her arm, Marinette stood up.

And promptly stumbled over her feet.

So maybe she had had too much to drink.

“Get away from me,” she yelled over the loud music.

The man ignored her protest as he tightened his grip on her arm.

Marinette was getting ready to kick him right where it hurt when the man’s hand was ripped off her.

“I think,” a voice said casually, “She said to get away from her. I suggest you do that before things get messy.”

Marinette turned around to see a veryhandsome dark-haired man defending her honour.

She would be lying if she didn’t say she wasn’t attracted to him.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when her assailant stepped forward and tilted his head in a way Marinette assumed he thought was intimidating.

Spoiler alert: it wasn’t in the slightest.

Her 'knight in shining armour’ smirked. “Are we seriously going to do this?”

Marinette snorted. “Clearly.”

Shooting her a look that screamed danger, Marinette’s assailant stepped forward with his fist cocked.

Any bystander would have assumed that it was for the man standing next to Marinette.

Instead, his fist came flying to her and Marinette’s Ladybug instincts kicked in.

She ducked and shoved him back as hard as she could.

Marinette may or may not have underestimated how much strength she had.

He went flying and slammed into one of the chairs behind him.

“Oh my god,” the man whose name she stilldidn’t know, gaped.

Marinette stifled her laugh as all the people near them turned and gaped at him, assuming it was himwho caused the commotion.

“What the hell is going on here?’ A burly bouncer stood in front of them, arms crossed.

Marinette blinked her eyes open slowly as they adjusted to the light.

Where was she?

Light was streaming through the large windows of whatever room she was in and the sheets under her were as soft as silk.

Marinette tried to remember how exactly she ended up here.

◇─◇──◇─◇

As Marinette’s assailant was being kicked out of the club, her knight turned to her.

"So,” he said charmingly and Marinette cursed herself as her heartbeat sped up. “I wasn’t expecting that, but it certainly wasn’t unwelcome. Maybe it’ll teach him something about consent.”

Marinette shrugged lightly. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

“It was one,” he responded humorously.

Marinette decided it was time she got his name.

“So,” she started casually. “Who ismy knight in shining armour? I think I deserve to know.”

He bowed. “Dick.”

Marinette reared back. “What?Is that supposed to be a joke?”

“No, no, no,” he said frantically. “My actual name is Richard, but you can callme Dick.”

“Oh.” Marinette felt her cheeks warming up but hopefully, Dick wouldn’t notice. “Well, my name is Marinette.”

◇─◇──◇─◇

After that, things got fuzzy and Marinette vaguely remembered dancing with him.

And then kissing him.

And then coming home with him.

Marinette sat up suddenly, muttering, “This was a terrible decision, I should never have done this, I’m such an idiot-”

She fell silent as the sheets rustled beside her.

Turning around, she saw the man of the night himself stretched out all over the bed, smirking at her. “I didn’t think I was thatbad.”

Marinette rolled her eyes at him. “Cocky much?”

“Well,” he leaned forward, and Marinette willed herself to not look down. “I dohave some good comments and, if I do say so myself-”

He was cut off abruptly with Marinette throwing a pillow at him. “Ever heard of too much information?”

Dick held up his hands in apology. “But seriously, was it good?”

Marinette’s cheeks stained a light pink as she muttered, “Yes.”

He smirked.

“But,” Marinette said, to stop his ego from inflating. “Don’t let it get to your head.”

Obviously, her statement didn’t do anything.

Marinette stood up, picking up her clothes. “Is there anywhere I can change?”

“Already leaving?” Dick pouted and it was adorable.

Marinette had to fight the urge to not melt then and there. “Well, I do have places to be and things to do. So, yes.”

His face fell exaggeratedly and Marinette almostfelt bad.

Almost.

While he was getting out of bed, she fought to keep her gaze on his face only.

It took her a few seconds to realize he was pointing at something.

Feeling her cheeks turn scarlet, Marinette said, “Thanks!” and raced off to the safety of the bathroom.

Dick was left behind, and Marinette could practically hearhis smirk.

◇─◇──◇─◇

“Youwhat?” Chloe screeched. “Oh my god Mari, I’m so proudof you!”

Marinette paused. “That was not the answer I was expecting.”

“I can’t believe yougot laid, that’s amazing-” Chloe sounded like she was about to ramble on and on, so Marinette cut her off.

“I know, and you can rant about it later, but right now, I need your help in getting ready for the Wayne meeting.”

Chloe grumbled but she complied anyway.

◇─◇──◇─◇

Marinette straightened her back as the receptionist let her into the meeting room.

As she entered, Marinette subtly gaped at the luxuriousness of the room. It was beautiful but there were some improvements required.

Her internal rambling was cut off with a veryfamiliar laugh; one she had heard multiple times in the last night.

Turning around, Marinette felt her jaw drop.

“Dick?”

Sheknewsleeping with him was a terrible decision.

old marichat sketch ~ might redraw this later!

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My mood often changes very fast from this

to this

Ladybug groans her face in a pillow as she freaks out a little a lot.

“How’d you figure it out? I’m not that obvious, am I? Do you think he knows? He can’t know, that would be awful- ohhhh NonononononoNOnonononooooo. No. Please, tell me he doesn’t know.” Ladybug is laying face down on the couch in the living room of Titans Tower, Beast Boy smirking down at her reaction to being found out. The boy just brought up her rather obvious crush, and now the Parisian hero is a little panicked. If Beast Boy noticed who else did? Everyone on the team is really smart.

The Parisian joined the Titans over a year ago after asking the Justice League for help. She fits into the team’s dynamic really well, playing video games with Beast Boy and Kid Flash; hanging out with Star and binging rom-coms; Raven was a tough nut to crack but didn’t seem to mind hanging out. They did get along but respected that they just had very different interests.

Robin is a completely different story, at first he was rude but the bluenette was stubborn. She wasn’t going to deal with his bratty attitude, she sticks up for her herself. At some point, the Parisian earns his respect. They became friends over time, working well together though Robin insisted they train so she could improve her technique.

“It’s kinda obvious for me, but he’s pretty dense. Bats are always idiots when it comes to emotions n’ stuff.” The young Parisian hero looks up from her pillow.    

“I know that… he’s my best friend. Friend- Merde. What if he sees me just as a friend!?” The bluenette’s hands go to her hair, eyes blown wide. It takes everything in Beast Boy not to laugh at how blind the girl is being. Does she not see how smitten the fourth Robin is for her? That he acts more like a human being when she’s around?

“No, what if all he ever sees in me is a friend? This isn’t good, then we’ll never date and he’s just so datable. Have you seen the way his nose crinkles when he tastes something he doesn’t like, holding it until it goes away? And the way he swoops his hair, I’d bet it’s soft. And he’s so strong-”

“Ew. I have ears, please don’t-” Ladybug doesn’t seem to hear him, continuing her rant. 

“And then one day I’ll have to watch him fall for someone, I think I already have. It’s awful- not that I’m not happy he’s happy, because I am- but I think he likes Raven. They spend so much time together, sneaking off sometimes.”

“I bet they like each other, how could I compete with her. She’s amazing, and- and I’m not.” The bluenette’s tone goes from one of acceptance to defeat.

“Oh, okay, we got serious. Uh- don’t cry.” When he and Raven went over the plan, they hadn’t covered the possibility of a) Ladybug thinking Robin and Raven were a thing; or b) that Ladybug would compare herself to Raven. The Parisian is always so self-confident and optimistic, perfect even- she never lets anyone get her down. She huffs at his less than helpful response.

“I’m not gonna cry. It’s just, why would he like me? I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m annoying.” The girl stands pacing, trying to decipher the enigma that is Robin. The girl’s moods changes at the drop of a dime, leaving Beast Boy to try and play catch-up.

“Am I  annoying to him? Probably. Raven is so calm and nice, he has no reason not to like her.”

“That’s definitely not true, if he thinks that he would tell you.” She nods, sitting on the couch, leaning on her hands. His words help a little but a girl’s mind is her worst enemy, all the worst ‘what if’s’ popping into her brain like spam mail in an already full mailbox.

This is going to take more intervention than he thought.





“You’re ridiculous, that isn’t true.”

“You’re just blind, and as you would say- 'you’re too close.’” Robin rolls his eyes, Raven is sitting on her bed as Robin looks at her, standing.

“All I’m saying is-”

“I understand what you said, you don’t need to repeat it. All I’m saying is-” He mocks, “- that it’s highly unlikely she’d be interested in me.” This time Raven rolls her eyes, he really is an idiot.

“How can I prove it to you- just ask her out. She’ll say yes.”

“I don’t trust you, you have no proof.”

“Fine. Don’t believe me, but mark my words, if you wait too long she might settle for someone else. You heard her complain about being mobbed on Valentines day last year.”

“Whatever, she didn’t like any of them.”

“Yeah, because she likes you.” Robin glares at Raven as he walks out of her room to go train. Robin first saw her as annoying but she grew on him. He mistook his interest in her as friendship until Raven commented on his liking their latest addition without telling her. It went downhill from there, now it’s like he can’t get her off his mind.

He tried to deny it, reason a way out of the conclusion. Raven did her best to encourage him but she was getting nowhere, the entire team was frustrated because both refused to see what was staring them right in the face. 





Beast Boy and Raven meet with Starfire after both Ladybug and Robin go back to their respective home cities.

“What did you the learn?” Beast Boy speaks up first, recounting his confronting Ladybug about it. 

“She’s got it bad, thinks he and Raven are into each other." 

"Robin is convinced she doesn’t like him. He doesn’t want to get rejected so he refuses to ask her out.”

“How can we tell him she likes him that he actually does the listening?”

“He’d only be convinced if he heard her say it.” Raven reasons, knowing how blind and hard headed Robin is.

“There’s no way she’ll fess-up, she’s too insecure. Even if we convinced her that Robin wasn’t into you.”

“I wish the little D could just hear her say it in passing. He would ask without fear and she’d get to date him without putting herself out there.” Beast Boy can already see it, it’s the perfect plan. 

“I’m sure I could get her to talk about it in the hall, you could get him close enough to hear?” Beast Boy offers, it could work but they can’t see each other.

“We’ll use the hallways on the fifth floor, that are separated by a wall and meet towards the elevator?”

“Sounds great, Mama.” Raven rolls her eyes at his nickname for her. Starfire looks between the two before abruptly standing, trying to hide her smile.

“Yes, well, I must attend to some dishes. Farewell.” The two shared a look. Perhaps it isn’t only Robin and Ladybug that need to come clean.

“We gotta say something sooner than lat-”

“I know, but not yet. We could use this to our advantage…”





“Right? So I had to go all the way to the other side of the city to deliver this banner, it was worth it though. The skater friend won.”

“Do they still race? You said this was a normal way to spend your weekend.”

“O-oh well, I don’t see them much anymore.” Ladybug’s shoulders turn inwards, looking to the floor. Robin hates the small frown on her lips, he knows better than to pry but maybe if he got some more information he could help.

“How come?”

“Just, time. Grew apart I guess.”

“You’re an awful liar.”

“I take that as a compliment!” Ladybug defended, smiling slightly. “You see, while Mr.-Tall,-Dark,-Handsome,-and-Mysterious is making up lies he has to keep straight I’m simply seen as an airhead that forgets her phone everywhere she goes!”

“You’re even worse at changing the subject.” Ladybug’s smile falters.

“Hehe, yeah, have you seen Star? She said she had the cutest picture of you asleep in your costume with some dog.” Robin crosses his arms, why is she avoiding the subject?

“I have plenty of pictures of 'the dog’ but please-” He pats the seat next to him on his bed, “-elaborate on this 'growing apart’ situation.” He isn’t going to give in, he has that face he used to do during training when she was too tired to get up. Ladybug sit, plopping onto the bed her arms spread across the comfortable fabric of the duvet.

“I can’t say much, just that they don’t want to be friends with me anymore. None of them do.”

“Who’s none of them?”

“My friends. All of them, only one does but they 'can’t’ be my friend. He just doesn’t have enough of a backbone.”

“Surely you have other friends besides the mindless heathens.”

“School and hero duties add up, I hardly have enough time to keep up with my jobs. I don’t have time for that, and they could get suspicious, notice the patterns where my old friends would see the clumsy forgetful me.” He nods, laying on his back and turning to look her in the eye.

“At least I have you guys.” She smiles, brushing some hair from Robin’s forehead. It feels nice.

“If it were up to me-”

“It isn’t, and it’s best not to dwell. Come on, bird boy, let’s get a snack.”

“Right, but none of that hot chocolate nonsense.” She rolls her eyes, she’ll get him to try it. One day.

“Are we sure this is gonna work?” Beast Boy is unsure, Raven hadn’t seen the way Ladybug reacted, it was like no matter what he said her mind found some way to turn it into a bad thing, like she could only see the worst in a situation. It was completely unlike her.

“Yes.”

“But-”

“No 'but’s’, this will give Robin the push he needs to ask her out. She’ll say yes. End of story.”

“Then why are we planning the the thing with the mo-”

“In case he’s more dense than humanly possible and because it’s time people knew.”

“Right… I’ll wait till ten minutes from now to get her to walk past, you have till then to get him there, we’ll take two laps just in case.” Raven nods before going to look for Robin. She finds him in the living room, reading a book. 

“Come.” Raven turns around and makes her way towards the elevator, he catches up and they ride to the fifth floor. They exit and hide behind the designated wall. 

“You are not to make a sound, simply wait and listen.”

They wait.

And listen.

It takes ten minutes for something to happen, the elevator bell rings and opens at their floor. Raven motions for him to stay quiet. Robin hears to footsteps as someone sighs.

”-How could I not? He’s just so- dreamy.“

"Ew. Why do you even like him? You’re too nice for him.”

“I am not 'too nice’ and Robin is not mean… He’s just… gruff- yeah, gruff, at first. But you should have seen how cute it was when we were talking about something and I was laying and he laid down next to me and there was hair blocking his eyes a little so I swiped it out of the way and it was so soft.” She says it all in one breath which should be concerning if Robin’s attention wasn’t being taken up by trying to not freak out. His eyes wide, back pressed against the wall so as not to get caught. She keeps talking, he has to hear more.

She sounds so sure of her affection, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. She likes him? Like to date? Raven is right? This is impossible, but it was happening. She’s ranting about things not even he notices about himself like they’re the most amazing things in the world.

“And have you seen him smile? And his laugh, it’s one of my favorite things about him. And did you notice the way he always perks up when there’s a happy animal on the television, like it reminds him of something- I’d bet he has an animal. I wish I could have a pet.” They kept walking, she kept rambling about him, his hair, his smile, the way he walked. He heard the voices fade at she and Beast Boy kept walking.

“I told you.” Robin didn’t even have a response, she feels the same way?

“She likes me?”

“You’ve got to be joking, after all that, you still don’t believe it?”

“Shut up, I’m processing.” Raven crosses her arms, impatiently waiting, they’ll loop back soon.

“She likes me.”

“Just keep listening.” Ladybug and Beast Boy came back into earshot. When they got closer, Beast Boy cut her off when she starts going off topic about his hair.

“So if he asked you out, what would you do?” Robin hears them stop, she makes a high pitched whine he knows means she’s flustered, she used to do it every time he glared her down and got a little too close, at the time, an unknown symptom of his attraction towards the heroine.

“I mean, if I could speak- I’d say yes but I’d probably freak out and fall or trip over my words. It doesn’t matter, he wouldn’t ask. Why in the world would he like me?” Raven has to remind Robin to stay quiet and hidden with a shushing motion and a hand to his shoulder. He stays in place despite the fact that he wanted to list every reason why he would. His stupid monkey brain thought of kissing her to drive his point home but shoos the intrusive thought away.

“Right, and what you’d kiss him?” It was like his teammate is reading his stupid, teenage mind.

“Pretending he liked me back? I mean, I could go on about his li-”

“Please don’t.” The bluenette laughs with him.

“Ah! I have to go meet Robin for training. Bye!”

“Later.” The girl’s footsteps disappear as the elevator door arrives and carries her towards the training room.

“Dude you better not say she doesn’t like you again.” Beast Boy sad, knocking on the wall to get his attention.

“Why don’t you just ask her?”

“Yes, the little D, she will the gladly accept.” Kor'i appears out of nowhere, he hates when she hovers like that. He can never tell where she is. He glares at them all, he’s late to meet with Ladybug. How in the world is he going to face her after that, it was so wrong to have listened. She hadn’t meant for him to hear those things. Robin is filled with guilt as he walks into the waiting elevator and nears the training room. Ladybug is there smiling and slightly pink, likely from their teammate’s questions.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.” He couldn’t tell her he heard, she’ll get embarrassed. He can’t act on it either, she sounds busy enough as is. He would just be in the way.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” He snaps at her this time, the rest of their training session is silent. She leaves back to Paris as soon as her shift is over, not staying to speak with Robin like she usually does. No one is amused by his behavior.

“What the hell? You get the confirmation you’ve been needing to finally ask her out and you start acting like you hate her?” Beast Boy finally exclaims, Raven kicks him under the chair.

“It’s none of your business, and none of you should have interfered. I was not meant to hear any of that, she doesn’t have time for me anyways.” Robin gets up from his seat and walks towards the zeta-tube.

After that, things get a little better. Robin isn’t rude or snappy to her but they don’t talk or have their little one on one training sessions. Ladybug does everything in her power to try and rebuild the bridge she didn’t know had been burnt. She doesn’t know what she did wrong, what she said, what happened made Robin want to avoid her like the plague.

Is he going to leave her too?

No. It doesn’t matter that he probably put two and two together and knows she likes him, that he probably likes someone else, he is her friend at the very least, it might not be enough but it’s something.

Ladybug gathers her courage, waiting for him to pass the one place she knows she can get him. Waiting right at a corner, she hears him coming. She wants to laugh when he slows, always knowing when she tries to sneak up on him, but this time she holds it in. Reminding herself of why she’s there.

Just as he comes into range, she turns the corner and faces him. 

Her face is angry, no, pissed. Her eyebrows scrunched, a deep frown replacing the usual smile, she shoves a finger onto his chest. He always knew she was there but her expression, it’s hurt and angry and world ending- his world to be specific.

“What is your deal? What the hell did I do to you that you won’t even talk to me anymore? What did I say? Why do you suddenly hate me?”

“I-”

“I mean, one day we’re laughing and talking, and I tell you about what happened with my friends, and then the next you don’t even bother to greet me!” She berates him in French, she gets more passionate about her speech until she’s out of gas. At least, that’s what he thinks.

“It’s disrespectful and hurtful! You don’t just drop someone because they did something to upset you, you try to fix it. You try to work through it!” 

“I-”

“What? You what? I told you about my friends, not only did I put a lot of trust in you for that- it could have pointed towards my identity if I slipped up. You’re too easy to talk to. And don’t you dare say that this is just how you are because we both know you’ve been off lately. So just tell me! Tell me you hate me, tell me you want space, tell me somethings wrong or that I did something but just don’t shrug this off. You are too important to me to just let this go!” He can see the unshed tears in her eyes, why is she crying? Why does he have to make her cry? He doesn’t deserve her tears, her affection, he doesn’t deserve her. 

“I just- I think you can do better. I’m not a good enough companion.” Robin refused to use the word friend, she isn’t his friend, she’s so much more than that. A rouge tear falls, her face incredulous.

“What?”

“You sound busy enough, you’d be better off spending your time with someone else.” Robin doesn’t look her in the eye, it’s the honest truth but he can’t stand looking at her so upset. 

Ladybug is at a loss, that’s why he’s upset? Because he thinks she was wasting her time? That he wasn’t good enough for her to spend her time with?

It’s like a switch flips, her anger melting away. Her jabbing finger falls.

“Who could be better?” She hugs him, Damian does have some experience from Grayson so he awkwardly returns the favor. The far shorter girl sniffles once before pulling back with a smile.

Robin feels a pang in his chest, he made her cry. She wipes away the unshed tears from the corners of her eyes, glad to have the mess over and done with. He vows never to do so ever again.

“I never wanna hear you say that you’re anything less than the best, c'mon time to get your butt handed to you.”

“Spar?”

“You wish.” Robin sighed, she always beats him in video games. As they walk, the alarm blares. There’s an attack somewhere. The duo runs towards the living room, Starfire is already there with Beast Boy, Raven, and Kid Flash.

“We’ve got two. There’s some kind of monster tearing through down town, we need to stop them.”

“And the other?” Robin asks.

“Paris, akuma.” Ladybug groans, like she always does. She runs off towards the zeta tubes with a wave goodbye. Time to deal with the mangy cat’s puns.

Robin and the rest of the team walk back into Titan Tower expecting to see Ladybug waiting for them, she always gets back before them in situations like this. Kid Flash speeds off after grabbing his things saying he’s late to something, as usual. Beast Boy limps, most of his weight supported by Raven as they make their way towards the med bay. 

Robin and Starfire sit in the living room, she shows him photos of Dick in ridiculous sleeping positions or mid fall but Robin is on edge. Why isn’t she back yet?

Of course, he gets an immediate answer. Ladybug’s distress signal goes off, he and Star are off without a moment’s hesitation. Jumping into the zeta-tubes, worry for their teammate clear. After over a year of working with her she’s never used the distress button. The machine powers up and blinds them, Damian jams a communicator in his ear and tunes in to the local news station. He hears where Ladybug is and he and Starfire set off in search for the girl. Paris is bright, people stop and stare as the heroes make their way towards the Eiffel tower.

Robin’s mind is hyper focused and clouded at the same time, he knows he has to be at his best to help Ladybug so he shoves all that annoying emotion in a stupid box, shuts it, locks it, and pushes it into a dark little corner. They arrive at the lawn of the Eiffel tower.

Looking exhausted, Ladybug charges the villain. A blond boy in a black cat suit is flung at her with ease. The monster tries to throw a bus full of people at the two as Ladybug tries to get the boy off, he doesn’t seem to care, trying to hug the girl. Robin feels his chest tighten in jealousy.

Robin motions towards the bus, Starfire flies past and catches the bus mid air. The dark haired teenage boy is quick to lift the ill equipped partner he’s heard so verymuch about off Ladybug.

“I believe she is trying to get up.” He drops the boy to the side before offering a hand to Ladybug.

“Hello, again.” Ladybug smiles up at him, taking Robins hand. Pulling her up, the two stand close together. Staring.

“Hi.”

“Shall we get back to the task at hand?!” Starfire asks, mid battle with the monster when Ladybug and Robin snap back to reality. They join the fight, Chat sticks to the sidelines with a pout. The monster is tough, she only pressed the panic button in fear of the hostages being injured or killed. Even if they were physically healed by the miraculous cure it’s traumatizing.

The battle doesn’t last very long, the monster is extremely susceptible to Robin’s ice capsules, and is no match for Kor'i’s strength.

Ladybug is relieved when she sees the purified akuma flap away.

“Miraculous Ladybug!” The bluenette was able to use her lucky charm quickly enough, she’d say thank you before giving Tikki food and returning to the tower to finish her shift.

“Well done.”

“Thank you, you weren’t too bad yourself.” Marinette smiles back to the far taller boy.

“Will you be returning to the tower? Should we wait for you?”

“You are the kidding, yes? We are in Paris! I’d like to go the shopping!” Ladybug laughed.

“With what money? My brother’s card is rather telling. As is your own.”

“I suppose you are correct.”

“Don’t worry, Starfire, we can go on a shopping day soon.” The girl smiled.

“Yes, the little D, would you join us? Raven may join as well, yes, Ladybug? Girls day!”

“I do not qualify as a girl.”

“Little D?” Ladybug asks, smiling softly before bursting into laughter. “I need to go help the victim and recharge. I’ll see you back at the tower.” Ladybug turns to leave but comes face to face with Chat. 

“What are you doing here? We don’t need you.” He directs his comments to both of the American heroes but mostly towards Robin. Ladybug pinches the bridge of her nose.

“We are members of the Teen Titans, we were asked to come. Now if you’ll excuse us-”

“What? Who asked you to come here. My lady and I would never-”

“I did, and I am not 'your lady’ you need to stop with the names and trying to distract me mid-battle, Chat.” 

“But-” Ladybug gives the mangy cat no time to explain, cutting in with no patience.

“No ‘but’s, you almost got us and all those hostages killed. Go. Home.” The tro of Titan’s walk away, it’s best not to give the boy anymore attention.

"We should do it now.”

“What’d you mean? He’s still acting like he can’t stand her.”

“No, they made up. I heard her yelling at him about it. He caved pretty quickly after that. We do it tonight, no more sneaking around and hopefully they get together.” Beast Boy nods, watching Raven ice his ankle for him.

“Thanks, mama.”

“… You’re welcome.” He smiles flicking some water on his girlfriend, she looks at him with a sad excuse for a glare.

“Alright, the ice should stay. Let’s go see if she’s back.” Raven makes sure to keep Beast Boy off his ankle, quickly shooing him off to the empty living room couch. They don’t wait long for Robin, Starfire, and Ladybug to return.

“Thanks again for coming to help, guys.” Starfire smiles. Robin nods.

“It was our pleasure, what shall we do now?”

“Movie?” Beast Boy asks, getting immediate yeses from the girls.

“I’ll pass-”

“Come on.” Raven complains, the guy can be such a pain.

“tt, no. That doesn’t work on me.”

“Pretty please?” Starfire asks. She pulls out the baby doll eyes and a pout.

“No, the physical appearance of the 'please’ makes no difference-”

“Please?” Ladybug pulls out all the stops, she looks him right in the eyes, those big, blue, innocent eyes were so sad and pretty, she shuffles a foot, her hands behind her back. Her bottom lip juts out ever so slightly as her torso sways back and forth. His response is immediate.

“Yes.” Ladybug grins in victory, Damian doesn’t get the chance to backpedal.

“Yay!” Starfire quickly steals Robin’s usual seat. Raven and Beast Boy take up one side of the couch, Robin and Ladybug take up the other. Everyone bickers and argues over which movie to watch until Robin gets annoyed and plays one of the few movies he can bear. Lion King.

Throughout the duration of the film, Beast Boy slowly pushes Ladybug closer to him laying longways until he takes up the majority of the couch. Ladybug is squished against Robin, their arms pressing uncomfortably against each other. Deciding to test the waters, Robin wraps an arm around the Parisian’s shoulder. The lights were off but the girl’s blush is obvious. She has yet to move, he feels her glance in the opposite direction for a moment before leaning onto him.

Damian wasn’t freaking out… Okay, Damian was only freaking out a little. He didn’t do well last time he saw she likes him. What should he do now? An annoying and sarcastic voice told him not to ignore her but they weren’t much help. The little Grayson in Damian’s mind told him to pull her a little closer, maybe kiss her head to make his intentions more clear. She still isn’t aware of his affection towards her. He does the first, he could all but see the little Grayson smiling. Robin has no clue what to do next so he just does his best to watch the movie.

The lights come on far too soon, Ladybug doesn’t move to get off him until she notices the lights turn on. She blushes that adorable shade of pink. That’s when he sees it, just behind a blushing bluenette is Raven snuggling with Beast Boy as if it’s the most normal thing in the world. His brows furrow, his arm falls of Ladybugs shoulder. It was clear this isn’t a one time thing or anything of the sort. They know exactly what they’re doing, they’ve been seeing each other and she didn’t tell him. After all the times he spoke about Ladybug, she didn’t care to mention her own relationship.

Ladybug follows his line of sight, her posture goes from relaxed to tense.

To Marinette it’s like confirmation to something she knew all along, he likes Raven. Maybe he only wrapped his arm around her because of how squished they were. Which means she completely misread the situation and leaned onto him when he was just trying to be comfortable.

“I knew it!” Starfire exclaims, beaming. Raven just looks away trying or hide her small smile. Ladybug is happy their happy but Robin just walks away, his face neutral. She hates when he makes that face. Soon Starfire has to leave and Beast Boy hobbles to his room, ankle still tender.

Ladybug’s overthinking keeps her in place, staring at her hands. She doesn’t even notice that Raven is still in the room with her.

“You should go talk to him.”

“W-what? Me? No, he doesn’t want to talk to me.” Ladybug tried to say no but she couldn’t help but be worried for Robin. Raven gives her a look, she relents.

“Fine.” Ladybug drags herself to where she knows he’ll be. He was always on the roof when he has to think. She mentally prepares herself for an undeniable, verbal confirmation that he doesn’t like her, she forces herself to go- to be there for him.

“Go away.” Damian is in no mood to deal with Raven, how could she not tell him?

“You can’t get rid of a bug that easily, Rob.” He chastises himself for being rude to Ladybug again, at least she doesn’t sound upset because of it. She doesn’t say anything, sitting next to him as they look over the brightly lit cityscape.

“Wanna talk about it?” He doesn’t respond. The little Grayson, encouraged by the success of last time, tries to get Damian to hold her hand. Their hands were so close, just a few inches apart. That definitely isn’t happening. “Right…” She trails off, not knowing what else to say. The silence grows, unchecked like a cancer.

“I- Just- Why wouldn’t she tell me? After-” Robin was about to say too much but thankfully stopped himself.

“After what?” He’s relieved she’s still ignorant of his affection, putting himself out there like that’s a scary thought.

“Nothing. Nevermind.”

“After you told her you like her.” She speaks with such certainty, like she’s accepted it as fact. Is that what she really thought?

“What? No- I just- confided in her about something similar. I expected she’d do the same. She’s one of my best friends.” He sees Ladybug nod, that same look of  on her face.

“I’m sure she didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. They probably just wanted to keep it quiet until they were ready to tell everyone.” Robin had to admit she was probably right. He saw the way her hands fiddled and folded, she was trying to think of something to talk about, likely to distract him. She was always so considerate.

“So… girlfriend.”

“Where’d you hear that?” He was so confused, the very idea is ridiculous.

“Well, you said you confided in Raven about something similar. I just assumed you had a partner.”

“Oh. No.” They sat in silence again, looking over the silent harbor. Damian gathers his courage, now is the perfect time- looking over a clear sky with the stars out. Isn’t this the kind of situation girls daydream about? Now was the most likely time for her to accept. Deciding to just get it out, Damian starts speaking.

“Actually there’s-”

“I know you probably don’t-” Of course, just as Robin starts speaking, she does too. Alarm bells start ringing in his head, the little Grayson is trying to figure out what she was going to say while the rest of him starts freaking out.

They awkwardly laugh, looking away, Damian feels an unfamiliar little burning sensation on his cheeks. He’s loosing more of his nerve by the second.

“ILikeYou,LikeLikeLike.” She just blurts it out, redder than her costume. Damian’s head snaps to her with his lips parted. This is happening.

“I feel the same way. I- I apologize I didn’t say so sooner I just- you said you were so busy already, I didn’t want to become a distraction.” Ladybug gives him a small smile, that was what that was about. She fondly wipes the hair from his forehead back, lacing her fingers through his hair. Her hand rested at the back of his neck, smiling. She looks so content, at peace.

“I see no issue in distractions.”

“I suppose this is the part of the story where we kiss?” Robin puts a hand on the Parisian’s cheek, inching closer. They move to close the gap until they were just a hairsbreadth away. Her eyes are so blue and so beautiful up-close.

“I suppose you’d be correct.” Their lips meet, the beautiful night sky behind them- everything else melting away.

First~Previous ~ Here(Final)

Marinette was bouncing in her seat, her mother and father chuckled at her childlike reaction to the plane landing. When it was finally their turn, the Dupain-Chengs grabbed their carry-ons and exited the plane.

“Come on, Maman, Papa! Damian said they were waiting by baggage claim!” The bluenette helped her parents with their things while they made sure they had everything before eagerly leading them through the now familiar airport.

Damian and Marinette had been together for a little over three years, the young designer was now eighteen, her boyfriend a year older. The couple visited each other throughout the year for birthdays, holidays, and whenever they could- of course, Jason was more than happy to chaperone Damian’s visits to Paris, always eager to see his little sister.

The Waynes were quick when it came to accepting Marinette as one of their own, once she’d been fighting one of Hawkmoth’s akumas and apparently someone saw. The entire family ended up spending an hour watching her defeat the villain just to make sure they didn’t need to go help.

Of course, during some of her many visits Marinette got herself in the middle of more than a few prank wars. At first, she participated to get Damian and Jason to work together- wanting two of the most important boys in her life to get along but it quickly became a free for all. It was safe to say Marinette won, getting the entire family with the exception of: Alfred, Mar'i, Kor'i and  Selina, stuck doing a live interview about the family dynamic with questions written by Marinette.

Marinette dragged her parents past her favorite TSA officer with an excited hello before thinking back to when she saw the Waynes family interview. Bruce thought it was the funniest way to oust her to the public, and allowed her to go through with it. Everyone saw Marinette smiling cheekily from the sidelines as they answered question after question, clearly written by her.

// Flashback, 2 years ago //

“Alright, next question: who is the best superhero?” Everyone laughed softly, darting to each other picking sides for the debate to come.

“Oh boy, not this again.” Bruce sighed, Selina patting him reassuringly, she decided to attend the interview, wanting to watch the chaos unfold in person.

“Bat girl!” The three girls exclaimed in unison, hopefully Babs was watching as Stephanie elaborated. “The original, of course. She was awesome, always doing these cool gymnastic tricks- way better than Nightwings!” The boys were quick to counter.

“No way! Robin had way better tricks, did you see the video of him doing that cool triple flip thing?!” Tim offered.

“Nope! Because Nightwing has superior acrobatic skills, I heard he was able to beat the Batman in a fight because of them- when he and the Justice league got brainwashed or something!” Bruce sighed tiredly as everyone else continued to argue, eventually it became a shouting match. Bruce whistled loudly, everyone quieting. The reporter continued.

“This next question is for all of you, except Mr. and Mrs. Wayne, who is your favorite sibling?” They all shared a smug look and answered from left to right, Dick went first. Stephanie and Tim were quick to follow, Cass responding immediately after them.

“Marinette.”

“Marinette.”

“Marinette.”

“Marinette.”

“HEY! She was my sister first! Anyways, Marinette.” Jason exclaimed proudly.

“tt, all my siblings are annoying- with the exception of Cass, the most tolerable.”

“What, brat, you don’t like Marinette?” Jason interrupted before the reporter could ask.

“tt, she is not my sister. And she isn’t any of yours, I’m the only reason she visits Gotham.” Damian huffed defensively.

“YEAH RIGHT! I’m her favorite, she visits for me not you!” Damian scoffed.

“Marinette, obviously prefers me.” Damian challenged, standing- dragging Marinette into view as she blushed furiously. She glared at her boyfriend as she was pulled from her hiding spot. 

“Damian! No-”

“Yes. You should know better than to include me in their pathetic prank war.” Damian kissed Marinette firmly, she responded out of habit before he pulled away with a smirk, sitting. He sat Marinette on his lap, she blushed but didn’t move wrapping an arm behind Damian.

“I assume you’re Marinette?” The Parisian nodded timidly at the reporter’s question.

“And you’re?” The woman asked, curious as to how exactly she was related to the Waynes.

“My girlfriend.” Damian answered for her, Marinette flicked his ear.

“I used to live in Gotham, me and Jason looked out for each other but I got adopted by a nice couple in France! My parents are amazing, anyways, I was on a class trip and saw Jason, and met Damian and we started dating.”

“Despite my best efforts.” Jason huffed, a sixteen-year-old Marinette rolled her eyes.

“He’s exaggerating.” Damian scoffed at that. The reporter seemed to adapt to Marinette’s presence quickly, her teleprompter now changing questions from those Marinette sent to new ones.

“Okay, so Marinette and Damian- who said I love you first?” Marinette smirked, whispered in Damian’s ear, and answered:

“I did.” Damian blushed softly as he starred at Marinette, she said it well over a year ago to which Damian immediately reciprocated. Just to embarrass him, Marinette said ‘Me, beach, bikini.’ which always embarrassed Damian because it always worked- he’d immediately think back to the first time they went to the beach her in a bikini borrowed from Selina.

Jason snorted, and everyone else seemed amused to see Damian flustered.

“Who is more romantic?” Marinette hadn’t been expecting questions other than the ones she wrote but took the opportunity when she saw it.

“He is.” Damian glared at Marinette as his family howled in laughter.

“How?”

“OH! I KNOW I KNOW!” Stephanie raised one hand while putting a finger on her nose. “Damian always sends her flowers, and covers her in a blanket if she falls asleep, and always tries to cook for her even though she or Alfie have to save the day! But she is too! When he got sick, she always called to make sure he was resting instead of working, and sang him to sleep like a little kid! She’s an awesome singer!” Marinette seemed to get even more embarrassed as the rest of the Waynes added their own compliments. The interview was about to end but Marinette got an idea, an awfully hilarious idea, it was her emergency back up.

“Well since you all seem to agree on everything, who caught my sketch book on fire?” The family went silent, everyone looked guilty.

“It was an accident.” Bruce, shockingly, started.

“We never should have tried to cook.” Cass continued.

“But you were sick, and Alfred was out of town.” Dick tried to amend.

“The book was right next to the burner- Damian was looking at it.” Stephanie added, shifting the blame to Marinette’s boyfriend.

“Trying to see what you would make him for Christmas.” Jason seconded.

“ So he could one-up it.” Tim added, unnecessarily.

“Because of how great your gift from last year was.” Stephanie mentioned before everyone spoke together in unison.

“Sorry.” Marinette laughed, they’d rehearsed that.

“You really think I’d leave ideas for all of your gifts in there? PLEASE! You are all too nosy, I keep the one with all of your gifts somewhere safe.” Marinette said, smirking down at Damian who was glaring at his tattletail siblings.

// Flashback ends //

Marinette always smiled at the memory, she loved the Waynes- they had such a beautifully chaotic family dynamic.

“Slow down, Marinette! It’s not like they’ll leave without us!” Tom said, chuckling as his daughter dragged the adults towards baggage claim, only a little bit further and then Marinette would see Damian again. Last they’d seen each other was when Damian visited Paris three months ago, it had felt like an eternity to her. Marinette was pulled to a stop by Sabine, who was cold, the mother put one of her sweaters on while an impatient Marinette watched. Finally, Sabine was ready, closing her bag with a quick 'zip’.

Marinette immediately dragged her parents toward the sign she quickly spotted, Mar'i was sitting on her father’s shoulders with a large poster above her head. The sign was neon pink, with white cut out letters spelling out 'Dupain-Cheng’ in two rows. There were little doodles and hearts decorating the borders.

Damian stood next to Jason, impatiently checking his watch grumbling about how long customs takes. Tim and Stephanie were near them with Bruce, Alfred, Selina, and Kor'i. Only Bruce, Damian, and Jason had met Tom and Sabine before hand. Mar'i was excited to meet her twin’s parents, hearing about their magic desserts.

“Auntie Nettie!” the half-Tamiranian exclaimed, climbing down her father awkwardly before charging towards Marinette. The Parisian was quick to hug the girl back.

“Hello, Mini Me!” The five-year-old was quick to climb onto Marinette’s shoulders, offering her hand to Tom who was now at almost eye level. Marinette’s father took the offered hand and gave the small girl a firm handshake. The girl giggled.

“Uncle Dami! I did it, just like you taught me!”

“Good job, Mar'i!” The girl’s father praised, grabbing his daughter off the short girls shoulders and placing her on the floor.  Damian was about to hug Marinette when Jason steps in front of him and greets his sister.

“Hey, Marinette! it’s good to see you again!” Marinette hugged her brother close before pulling away and turning to greet a now grumpy Damian.

“DAMI!” Marinette said cheerily, latching onto him with a tight hug. Damian hugged back feeling her in his arms again was almost as relaxing as the smell of her hair. The sharp, sweet smell of jasmine invaded his senses with a pleasant undertone of rose water.

“Hello.” She laughed as she pulled away to greet Stephanie and Cass. Damian greeted Tom and Sabine familiarly, as did Jason. Mar'i was quick to properly introduce herself to both.

“Hi! I’m Mar'i, and you’re Marinette’s parents! Tom and Sabine! Auntie Nettie talks about you guys a lot, is it true you two are soulmates like in the fairy tales?” Marinette’s parents laughed softly before starting up a conversation with the girl. Eventually, Marinette’s parents were acquainted with everyone and they made their way to the manor. Tom called their new employee, George, to make sure everything at the bakery was going well with the holiday rush.

It was December 23rd and the weather in Gotham was harsh, everyone was quick to rush into the warm manor. Tom and Sabine quietly marveled at the extravagance of it all. Marinette quickly led them to their room, promising to help them around until they got the hang of the manors maze-like layout.

“Thank you, dear, where is your room?”

“It’s just down the hall, what do you guys want to do? Diner is always at six so you have time to unpack or take a nap.”

“That sounds like a good idea, thank you, Marinette.”

“Of course, Maman! I’ll come get you at five fifty, okay?” Her parents nodded before shutting the door, Marinette made her way to Damian’s room- which so happened to also be hers.

The Parisian plopped on the bed, tired from the flight. Damian noticed her 'tired to the bone’ sigh from his seat at his desk and went to lay down next to her, hugging her from behind his lips pressed to her neck.

“I missed you.” Marinette mumbled, feeling warm and safe in Damian’s arms she struggled to stay awake. Damian stayed silent, slowly rubbing her shoulders as her worked the knots out. Marinette was now laying on her stomach, sighing as he worked. The Parisian always melted under his touch. Finals had been stressful, thankfully she didn’t have to deal with Hawkmoth anymore. Ladybug was still active, with Selina now wearing the miraculous of the cat, but she only dealt with normal crimes or the odd super villain when she was  in Gotham as Ladybird.

“Father thinks we should stay in tonight, with Drake, to avoid suspicion.” Damian mumbled softly, still rubbing Marinette’s back through her warm shirt. Marinette hummed in agreement, her body only felt more tired as time went on, her eyelids drooping.

“Of course, we’ll have to entertain your parents until they go to bed but after that we have all the time in the world.” Marinette could hardly register the words but she caught his tone. He wanted to snuggle, never willing to say the word out-loud.

“Wanna snuggle?” Damian snorted.

“I believe the proper term is cuddle.” Marinette rolled her hardly open eyes, they always argued about this.

“Why can’t it be both?” Marinette softly slurred, her eyes feeling heavy as lead. Damian gave Marinette a kiss on the cheek as he cuddled close to her, keeping her warm.

“Because that would mean I’m partially wrong and that’s impossible.” The world faded to black as Damian’s warm arms pulled Marinette comfortably against him.

Damian looked down at a sleeping Marinette, her shallow even breathing soothing him, her adorable rosy cheeks now matched her pink nose. Marinette hated the cold but she always looked adorable decked out in winter gear, over dressing to the point where Damian had to coax her out of some of her layers.

Damian looked down at the beautiful, strong-willed, stubborn, terrifyingly tiny girl in his arms he only thought of one thing: he was going to marry that girl.

Selina was guiding the Dupain-Chengs and the rest of her family from the dining room to the living room. Damian and Marinette who were tasked with helping Alfred take everything to the kitchen. Suddenly, the feline woman got an adorably funny idea and led everyone on a short detour to the hallway filled with family photos and portraits.

Marinette was pushed up against a wall, Damian had one hand holding her neck and tilting the girls head up while the other snuck under the girls shirt and gripped her waist, pulling her flush against him. Damian was unyielding, ravaging Marinette’s lips as he kissed her senseless. Marinette’s hands were in his hair, softly scratching against his scalp or simply running her hands through his soft locks, her hands having a mind of the own as Damian’s lips stole all of Marinette’s attention.

Damian’s malleable lips worked against Marinette’s, somewhere far in the back of his mind Damian was thanking Alfred for insisting on his doing the dishes, this gave the couple time to escape from their observant family.

Damian let Marinette breathe as he moved from her lips to her cheek, not stopping as he eventually moved south towards her neck. Marinette was trying to focus on her uneven breathing but Damian was not one to be ignored, his hand on her hip keeping her close as he continued to greedily kiss her neck marking it as his. Marinette’s features relaxed slightly her eyes hardly opening, her thoughts foggy but seemed to have a common factor: Damian, it was either Damian’s lips as they worked the sensitive skin of her neck, or Damian’s smell of peppermint and earl gray tea, or Damian’s family staring in shock- WITH HER PARENTS AND JASON!

Marinette tensed as her eyes flew completely open, she squeaked. Damian seemed to notice the change of atmosphere and paled as he saw the murderous look in Jason and Tom Dupain’s eyes. Bruce looked so done, as if he’d seen it a million times before. Selina and Sabine shared an amused smirk, Tim and Stephanie just looked away, Dick had noticed and covered Mar'i’s eyes before leaving the room, Kor'i with them, blushing intensely- embarrassed for the Parisian, she had been in Marinette’s shoes before and did not miss it.

Damian swallowed dryly. Tom and Jason shared a look, Jason was about to grab Damian and Tom, Marinette but Sabine stopped them short.

“Tom! Leave them alone, how else am I supposed to get grandkids?” Marinette was quick to blush, trying to hide in Damian’s arms, only securing his guilt in Tom’s eyes. Jason was snapped out of Big Brother Mode™ by Tim. Sabine and Selina jokingly ushered the boys and girls out, telling them to give the young couple their privacy.

Marinette wanted to die of embarrassment but once everyone was gone Damian just picked up where he left off, taking his love’s mind off the intrusion. 

The couple walked into the living room more than a few minutes later. The lights were off and a movie playing so no one payed them any mind when they silently sat in the empty loveseat. No one noticed the hickies that decorated Marinette from her jawline to her right collarbone, a feature Damian practically worshiped, or the love bites on Damian’s neck.

Marinette blushed when she saw what Damian had done as they got ready for bed, Damian shrugged before laying on their bed and opening his arms- begging for cuddles.

Jason asked to be Damian’s spar buddy for training the next morning and kicked the assassins ass- literally, but the actual spar was a tie. Tom was heard grumbling about hormonal boys for days, luckily Sabine kept him in check.

That Christmas was an interesting one, to be sure. Luckily some things stayed the same, no matter how hard Damian tried Marinette still out did him. She, as always, received jewelry Damian had been stockpiling to give her on one of the few days she couldn’t refuse and a very special pendant he’d handmade for her, after taking a jewelry making class.

Mari’ insisted the bluenette try everything on, not giving the girl time to take anything off. By the time Marinette was wearing everything she was literally dripping in jewels.

Marinette gave Damian four sweaters, each in a different size. They were for a picture of Damian with Alfred the Cat, Titus, and a very small one that Marinette said went with her other gift. It was a guinea pig Damian was quick to name Adrien, seeing as  how both were small rodents, saying Adrien the hamster was far better. Marinette chastised him and Damian relented eventually naming the small animal after Circe, explaining that just like the sorceress bewitched sailors that visited her island, turning them into pigs, Marinette had enchanted him.

~~~ 6 years later ~~~

Marinette was bouncing in her seat, her mother and father chuckled at her childlike reaction to the plane landing. When it was finally their turn, the Dupain-Chengs grabbed their carry-ons and exited the plane.

Marinette quickly ushered her parents through the crowded airport, past customs and Christmas decorations as she hurried to meet up with Damian, Marinette had spent the last month in Paris helping out with the bakery when her mother had an accident and couldn’t work for a few weeks. Thankfully, Sabine recovered quickly and the Dupain-Chengs decided to visit Gotham for the holidays. Marinette hadn’t seen Damian in weeks and missed him terribly, he always complained about how empty and cold their apartment (penthouse) was without her there.

Damian checked his watch, he still had an hour before Marinette’s plane landed. The man walked to where Jason and his father were standing, looking over the nights patrol routes. He’d already received permission from his father, Kyle, and the Dupain-Chengs, all he needed now was Jason’s approval.

“Father, Todd.” Damian greeted, fidgeting with the box in his pocket. Jason eyed Damian suspiciously.

“What’d you do this time, brat?” Jason asked, a look of annoyance flashed onto Damian’s face before he controlled himself, taking a breath Damian showed him the box. Jason’s eyes widened in understanding.

“Well, brat, looks like you’re gonna beat her when it comes to presents this year. What could be better than your last name?” Damian relaxed at Jason’s reaction to the black velvet box, Damian’s father spoke up.

“You know what you’re going to say?” Damian nodded.

“Where and when you want to ask?” Damian nodded again.

“Well, then all that’s left is that you actually do it.” Damian knew his family would approve but it still felt nice to hear it.

Marinette immediately hugged Damian when she saw him, her parents patiently waiting behind them. Both Marinette and Damian heard the quiet exchange between the married couple.

“When do you think we’ll get the grandchildren?”

“I think they should talk about getting married first, Sabine.” Marinette blushed softly, they’d discussed both at length and seemed to want the same things the only discrepancy being names. Damian was dead set on naming a girl Amora, Marinette liked Emma. Marinette loved the names Hugo and Louis, Damian thought they were meaningless and simple. He favored boys names like Aaron or Alfred. Marinette joked that he was obsessed with the letter A.

It was Christmas morning, the whole family spent the night at the manor. Word of Damian’s gift spread among the ranks like wildfire, a nine-year-old Mar'i could hardly keep it to herself. After the usual Christmas breakfast everyone crowded around the tree, giving each other gifts. Marinette and Damian had yet to give each other their presents, Marinette went first.

“TADA!” Every year, Marinette hand knits sweaters for Damian and all of his pets, so they could take a cute picture. As time went on, Marinette went from cute to ugly Christmas sweaters. Damian smiled as he rolled his eyes, this year’s had intricate reindeer patterns. She always surprised him, and he knew she had a secret place to make his gifts because Damian knew every nook and cranny of their apartment and searched it regularly for hints as to what his gift was.

Marinette’s other gift for him was, as always, amazing and would have easily topped almost anything Damian got her- but this time he’d win.

“Marinette, you are light of my life, the reason I wake up in the morning. You are such a beautiful and determined woman, and the care you put into everything you do is part of what makes you the most terrifyingly amazing person I have ever met. Your heart is filled with such genuine kindness, compassion, and empathy that the world does not deserve you and neither do I, but I’d like to spend the rest of my life working to be worthy of your love. 'If love is a labor, I shall slave away to the end.’ Would you allow me the honor of becoming your husband?” Marinette stared at Damian, his right knee on the ground with his left foot firmly on the ground as he opened the velvety black box.

There were two rings in the box, one was a simple silver band, something that wouldn’t get in the way as she worked, running successful brand like hers was a lot of work. The other was a gorgeous sterling silver ring with a beautifully cut diamond in the center, it was clearly vintage. Marinette felt tears of joy sting her eyes as she tried to get her body to move, finally Marinette was able to speak her voice thick with emotion as she hugged Damian.

“Yes!” Damian couldn’t believe the words that left his girlfriend- no, fiancee’s lips. He was engaged to Marinette, the love of his life. Damian was spurred into action, hugging Marinette back before pushing her away so he could put the rings on her finger, the first was a simple band, the other his grandmothers. At first, Damian had purchased a new ring for Marinette but Selina and Damian’s father gave him is grandmother’s engagement ring and it was perfect. Just like Marinette.

Marinette kissed Damian, the feeling of her left hand on his neck, the cool rings against his neck seemed to ground him. Damian never had to worry again, Marinette would always be with him.

Jason smiled as he saw the pure joy in his little sister’s eyes, he had been wrong. Damian wouldn’t be the reason Marinette’s eyes would look broken, he’d be the reason they swelled with love, with contentment. There was no trace of the broken Marinette from all those years ago, she finally became the person Jason was determined to see her grow-up to be.

She was happy, and that was all that mattered.

Previous ~ Here ~ Next

Marinette was in the kitchen, preparing herself some hot chocolate. After the drama at Wayne tower, Jason insisted she stay with his family. Her older brother seemed to loathe the class with a passion, refusing to let her near them. Marinette’s parents were hesitant at first, not trusting some random Gotham boy to take care of their daughter but eventually they were persuaded. Where she would be staying was definitely a factor, where could be safer?

“I don’t see how you could stand to drink such sugary poison.” Damian stated making her jump, he was right behind her. He reached past Marinette and to the cupboard she was in front of. He grabbed a teacup before pulling his arm back, his eyes never straying from her own.

“Well then… what do you suggest I drink?” Marinette’s hot chocolate sat on the counter behind her, forgotten, as she turned and faced Damian. The Parisian crossed her arms defiantly, Damian looked down at her like she was a cute puppy.

“Tea has been known to calm frayed nerves, perhaps I could prepare you some?”

“W-why would I need to calm down? I feel perfectly fine!” Marinette declared, refusing to give in. Her stubbornness seemed to amuse Damian, he reached out and just barely brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.

“Well, you’ve been blushing since you noticed I was here, for one. Now, would you like some tea? How do you take it?”

“I don’t usually have tea. I tried making myself some a few times but always thought it tasted like bitter water.”

“You haven’t had my tea yet.” Damian challenged, “You wouldn’t be scared to try something I made, would you?” Marinette was coherent enough to see what he was doing, even if his imposing and, frankly, distracting physique was only a hair’s breadth away.

“Only if you have my hot chocolate. Or are you scared of the ‘sugary poison’?” Marinette offered, Damian leaned his head down just a fraction of an inch closer to Marinette before catching himself pulling away. He retreated back a few feet before turning to the sink.

“Alright then, it’s a deal. I’ll try the wretched holiday drink if you have my tea.” Damian spoke with his back to her as he filled a kettle with water.

“Deal.” Marinette agreed before heading to refrigerator, she’s get him to admit her hot chocolate was good. No one called her favorite drink 'wretched’ and got away with it.

“Deal.” Damian reaffirmed.

By the time the drinks were done Marinette was thirsty, she would have had her own hot chocolate but Damian demanded she leave it, claiming it would cloud her pallet. She rolled her eyes at that but by the time she finally got past Damian’s joking defense the drink was cold.

Marinette sipped from her cup first, Damian watched, both amused and attentive as she took a sip of the tea.

He laughed at her wrinkled nose, just for a moment- one could hardly call it a chuckle, before adding the cream.

“Try it now.” Marinette looked at Damian hesitantly before taking another sip, this time he noticed her relax as a small smile graced her lips. Damian smirked at his little victory.

“Alright, your turn Monsieur.” Damian rolled his eyes as Marinette watched him lift the mug. He felt she looked over excited for something so silly but found it strangely endearing.

The warm, smooth liquid made it’s way past his lips and while it was a little too sweet for his liking, it was still good and he told her so.

“Fine, it was adequate.” Marinette rolled her eyes before taking a taunting step toward him.

“Yeah right! That was some of my best work, you don’t get to get away with calling it 'adequate’” Damian scoffed, taking a more intimidating step towards the short girl, one upping her in their little game of chicken.

“Then what do you suggest I call something I found too sweet but bearable?”

“Good! You call it good, it’s important to be polite, Damian!” Marinette took another step forward forgetting how close they already were, refusing to back down. Damian had to look further down than usual to meet Marinette’s passionately determined eyes.

He took his opportunity, using his right hand to tilt her chin upwards, smiling slightly, only slightly. They were so close, he could feel the warmth of her body from where he stood. Damian was about to speak when they saw someone walk into the kitchen, it was Jason.

The teenagers separated themselves quickly but it was too late, the damage was already done. The taller boy immediately scooped Marinette up and slung her over his shoulder. Jason was glaring daggers at a smug Damian before waking out of the room with Marinette. Damian waved goodbye to a blushing Parisian, she followed her old brothers lead and glared at the annoyingly smug boy.

The rest of Marinette’s stay was an amusing balance between getting to know the Wayne’s, spending time with Jason, and sneaking off with an unrepentant Damian.

Whenever Jason was around they kept their distance but were caught more than enough times.

“And you eat this?” Damian asked, bewildered at how anyone could consume something so unhealthy.

“Yes. It isn’t that bad if you have it every once in a while. Sometimes the calories are worth it! Worth the satisfaction of indulgence.” Damian scoffed from his seat on the counter opposite to Marinette, who was baking chocolate chip cookies.

“Why don’t you help me? That way they’re done sooner.” Marinette offered, not realizing how disastrous the question was.

“I think it would be best if I didn’t. Things tend to go wrong when me or my siblings attempt to do anything in the kitchen.” Marinette giggled, she thought Damian was great. He was a good listener, funny, smart, and on top of that he was drop-dead-gorgeous. Marinette knew he wasn’t just being friendly, no, he’d made his intentions perfectly clear when they first met but she didn’t want to become a problem. Jason seemed to hate the idea, so she did her best to keep it friendly- unfortunately, Damian was persistent.

“It’s just rolling the dough into balls, it’s not even real cooking!” Marinette countered and Damian relented, getting up and watching her roll the dough before following suit.

At first, everything went suspiciously well. Damian did a good job rolling the dough and there was a period of comfortable silence, the problem with that was that it was too comfortable. Marinette began to hum, softly at first before it got a little louder. Damian didn’t comment but eventually Marinette realized what she had done and blushed, her hands going to her head- accidentally getting flour on Damian’s (NOT distracting) tight black turtleneck.

Marinette apologized repeatedly but noticed Damian was trying to smother his laughter.

“What? What is it?” The Parisian demanded, her accent thickening as she got more and more worried about what he was laughing at. As it turned out, the in her state of embarrassment she had not only dirtied Damian but also herself. She had cookie dough smeared across both cheeks. She blushed a deep red, making the cookie dough even more visible.

Eventually, Marinette moved past her embarrassment and spoke to a working Damian as he loaded the cookies in the oven.

“Oh Damian~” The boy turned, his eyes still amused.

“Ye-” Damian was cut off by a cloud of flour, she’d thrown the powdery substance at him as he turned. While blinded by the thick cloud of white Marinette was able to get close enough to get some cookie dough on his forehead.

“Oh it is on, little one, and I don’t loose.” They spent the next ten minutes throwing flour, extra dough, and water at each other, in a world of their own.

Reality didn’t come crashing down on the teens until they saw the flash of a camera.

It was Tim and Stephanie.

Marinette blushed as she tried to dust the flour off herself, embarrassed that she’d made such a mess in someone else’s home. Damian seemed to be torn between being amused at Marinette’s embarrassment and trying to salvage what was left of his reputation.

“Jason’s gonna lose it.”

“Todd doesn’t need to know.”

“What’s in it for us?” Stephanie countered, using her hand to lower Tim’s hand as he tried to call Jason.

“Cookies?” Just as Marinette spoke the timer went off and she went to take the treats out of the oven. The warm chocolate-y smell filled the room as both Steph and Tim began to drool.

“Todd doesn’t need to know?”

“Jason doesn’t need to know.” Tim seconded as Marinette fanned the cookies. When they were cool she handed them all the cookies on a plate. All but one that she negotiated for Damian to try.

Dick, Tim, Steph, Selina, even Bruce found it hilarious, they understood why Jason hated it, but they also saw that she brought out the best in Damian. It pissed Jason off, Marinette was off limits. Damian was frustrated because had Jason not been so annoying he’d have asked her out already, but watching the second robin get so riled up also made the chase that much more fun (not that Damian would even consider perusing her without her explicit encouragement).

Damian was taking Titus out for a walk on the grounds when he heard a familiar hum, he followed the high, sweet tune to the rose gardens where a small Parisian sat, sketching.

Marinette sat on a small bench for two, her hair in loose waves. She wore a black skirt that ended just above her knees and a deep red halter top with matching red flats. She looked stunning, surrounded by the vibrant rose bushes. He studied her for a moment more before making his presence known.

“What are you drawing?” Damian asked as he approached the girl. Marinette wasn’t as jumpy as when they first met, getting used to his sudden appearances.

“A new design, a dress.” Everyone knew she wanted to be a designer but no one knew she was MDC yet. Marinette convinced herself that was because it hadn’t come up yet but in reality she was embarrassed. She’d heard Tim say they were his favorite designer and that if he ever met them he’d either fall in love (Stephanie slapped him across the head at that) or pass out.

Marinette didn’t look up until Damian’s shadow blocked the light. Marinette decided to tease him and ignore the boy in favor of his dog.

“Hello again, Titus! What a good boy, so cute!” She poured all her attention onto the animal who took it in stride. Damian didn’t like being ignored but humored her, petting Titus.

“You like to design.” It wasn’t a question, Damian remembered what Grayson told him about conversation. He tried to find a relevant topic that would allow him to compliment her.

“May I see your sketch?” Damian asked, still paying attention to Titus. Marinette blushed as she quickly shut her sketchbook.

“Uh… hehe- maybe another day.” Her logo was on the corner of each page and Marinette didn’t want to risk it. Damian thought she looked adorable, blushing deeply, but he also thought it was uncalled for- he hadn’t begun his teasing yet. This caught his attention and curiosity, he had to see the book.

“What? Why are you blushing?” Damian teased but he saw she was getting uncomfortable, he had done it in good fun but he saw he’d overstepped.

“Apologies- I’m sorry if I crossed a line I was just teasing, you don’t have to show me- I didn’t mean it.” Damian was at a loss, he didn’t think before he spoke and ended up stringing together apology after apology. Marinette giggled.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to blush!” Damian hadn’t even noticed how hot his face was, this only embarrassed him further.

“Oh~ Do you need some tea? To calm the nerves?” Marinette teased, earning a half-assed glare from Damian, who was still trying to fight his blush. Finally, he got it under control. Despite the sidetrack Damian persisted, trying to start up another conversation just like Grayson told him to. He sat next to Marinette on the bench.

“The gardens are beautiful this time of year, are they not?” Damian offered. Marinette hummed in agreement, studying her surroundings before her eyes met Damian’s.

“Breathtaking.” Damian complimented, making Marinette blush heavily. Damian glanced at her full, pale rose lips, unconsciously licking his own. The Parisian seemed to notice and she tilted her head upward slightly, only slightly, with her eyes half-closed.

Damian summoned his courage and leaned in closer, they both closed their eyes. Just as they were about to close the gap, his hand was about to hold her check. Damian swore he felt her soft lips barely brush his when they heard Jason yell.

“AH! Get off her! NOPE NOPE NOPE!” Jason was a few meters away but both teens obeyed, embarrassed. Jason grabbed Marinette’s hand and quickly, but carefully, pulled his little sister away from Damian. “From now on, you two aren’t allowed in the same room anymore. Except diner. Keep away from Nettie, Demon Brat.”

Damian saw Jason’s face, this wasn’t just because he thought it was weird to see Damian try to date someone he saw as family- no, it was something else entirely. It was because he saw Marinette as too good, too pure for Damian.

Jason didn’t want Marinette to be dragged into the mess that was Damian’s life.

Jason didn’t want Marinette to suffer because Damian didn’t know how to deal with his emotions.

Jason didn’t want Marinette to be hurt by Damian, he didn’t want to see someone he loved hurt. It wasn’t just because it was Damian, it was because he didn’t want to see Marinette’s heart get broken.

Damian, shockingly, backed off- hardly even acknowledging the girl on the few occasions they crossed paths. He wasn’t outwardly rude like he was with his siblings but Marinette seemed to catch on. At first she was a little dejected but was adamant about keeping positive.

Jason spent as much time as possible with his little sister, making sure to watch movies, tour the city, and just hang out all the time. He also made sure that she got to know the rest of the family, except Damian. And the fourth robin let it happen, he kept to himself and let her spend time with everyone else.

And then family night reared it’s ugly head.

Marinette was sitting with Alfred the Cat and Cass on the sofa, Jason on a chair near Marinette, waiting for everyone else to arrive for the movie.

The Parisian beamed when she met Kor'i and Mar'i, quickly bonding with both. Marinette was quickly dubbed Auntie Nettie by an Auntie Steph and Uncle Timmy. Dick was about to play the first movie when Kor'i spoke up.

“Where is the little D?”

“Yeah! Where’s Uncle Dami?” A four year old Mar'i asked from her father’s lap. Jason scoffed, he was about to speak when someone walked in.

“Has anyone seen Alfred the Cat?” Damian asked, before he saw Jason and Marinette. Damian was about to say never mind- noticing Alfred purring in Marinette’s arms, but Mar'i beat him to it.

“Uncle Dami!” The half Tamaranian announced, jumping from the couch and flying into her uncle’s arms. Marinette was quick to catch onto the families nightly activities and let them catch her talking to Tikki. Jason clearly wasn’t happy, neither was Damian, but on the bright side they didn’t have any secrets. Kor'i and Mar'i were briefly discussed but Marinette didn’t pry.

“It’s been forever, like a whole week! You have to come watch the movie with us, it’s family night! You can sit next to Marinette! Isn’t she pretty? And nice?” Mar'i chattered and waited for Damian to respond.

“Yes, she is very nice.” Damian spoke as carried his niece to her father who gave him an encouraging smile before Damian sat between Marinette and Cass. Mar'i spoke up just before Dick could play the movie.

“And pretty! Right Uncle Dami? Isn’t she really pretty? Like momma!” Kor'i gave her daughter a quick kiss on the cheek, distracting the girl from Damian and Marinette’s panic- and Jason’s low growl.

Dick played the movie and gently shushed his daughter, stopping her from asking Damian again. Telling her she did a good job and would get extra popcorn.

The movie was some children’s story that Damian couldn’t seem to pay attention to, all he could seem to think about was the Parisian next to him- cuddling Alfred the Cat with her knees practically tucked to her chest, her back to him.

Damian took notice of Marinette’s drooping shoulders and yawns as the movie progressed, but he hadn’t expected for her to suddenly turn and cuddle onto his side, grabbing his arm as she and Alfred slept. Jason clearly didn’t like it but Marinette was immovable, sleeping peacefully against a tense Damian. The boy did everything in his power to not sink into the warm sofa and nap alongside her, exhausted. He fought his tired eyes as best he could but it was a losing battle.

Eventually the movie faded away, his head rested upon something soft.

Jason wanted to be mad, he wanted to move Marinette so she rested against him- she always used to as a little girl but he saw she was clinging to Damian, whether it was intentional or not. Jason knew Damian hadn’t done anything to give Marinette reason to cuddle him, finally understanding that Jason just didn’t want to see Marinette hurt. Unfortunately, neither could do anything about it. 

Jason also knew he couldn’t blame Damian for passing out, knowing as well as anyone that finals and patrol were a bad mix but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to slap him for passing out and unconsciously cuddling with Marinette.

Alfred the cat eventually woke from his nap and moved from his warm spot between the two teenagers and left the room to do only God knows what. The sudden lack of warmth seemed to stir both Marinette and Damian. The Parisian whined softly as she nuzzled closer to Damian, her legs ended up across his lap as they snuggled closer. Jason clenched his fists and jaw before bringing his attention back to the movie, trying to think of what to do.

By the time the movie ended, Jason was at a loss- at some point Cass left the room so Damian and Marinette were literally lying on each other, limbs entangled as they slept, blissfully unaware of their compromising position. Everyone softly laughed and took pictures of Damian sleeping and Marinette lying carefully on top of him, his arms wrapped around her with her head tucked under his chin. Their their legs tangled.

“Jay, I’m sorry but they’re so cute together. And they really seem to like each other, I know it’s weird for you but let them be.” Dick tried, he’d been rooting for them since Damian started to ask about how to start a conversation, lines you don’t cross, how to tell if a subject is off limits. The first robin prayed to whatever god was out there that his brother would finally see that their dating wouldn’t be the end of the world.

“I know.” Jason noticed Damian back off when he realized why Jason didn’t want them to date, it wasn’t just because Damian was an ass, if something ever happened to Damian- Marinette would be a mess and he couldn’t stand to see the broken look in her eyes ever again. Jason knew it was a shitty reason, she’d probably be a mess no matter what, but he couldn’t help it. He just wanted to protect Marinette. Jason finally knew what to do, but until then he’d let them sleep.

Jason walked out of the room, annoyed- the brat won. Damn their stubbornness. Hopefully it would make Damian more bearable…

Damian woke up with the sun, but for once wanted to stay in bed. He was warm, and a calming, steady breathing tried to lull him back to sleep- wait. Why would he feel someone else’s breathing?

Damian’s eyes snapped open and scanned the room, he was lying in the living room with a blanket on him and- 'No. No. No. Of all the times to pass out, of all the people-’

Damian’s mind went into overdrive trying to remember how he’d gone from sitting with Marinette leaning on him to falling asleep with her. He knew he was dead, but suddenly his mind focused on the even sound of her breathing, she was still sleeping- dead to the world. There was no reason to wake her, so Damian closed his eyes, pulled Marinette closer, and allowed himself to go back to sleep. Enjoying his last moments in the land of the living.

Something made a noise, Damian opened his eyes again. This time Marinette awoke with him, propping herself up on his chest and rubbing her eyes with a tired yawn.

“Good morning.” Marinette froze at the sound of Damian’s deep, rough, sleep-filled voice as she took in a messy haired, tired Damian. She blushed, hard, morning Damian was officially her favorite Damian.

“D-Damian- w-what happe- did I- I’m so sorry!” Marinette sat up, not thinking about what she was doing. She continued to apologize while Damian panicked, if Jason walked in right now- he’d die for the second time. Breaking the family record, sure, but that certainly wouldn’t be worth it. Well… No, not worth it- unless someone brought him back again… No, no, Todd would likely make it painful. Definitely not worth it.

“Marinette-”

“No, this is totally my fault! I’m so sorry. I really didn’t mean to fall asleep on you, you were probably really uncomfortable with me leaning on you like that!”

“Marinette really it’s alri-”

“No, Damian! It’s not alright, I- Jay probably got really mad at you, I’ll- I’ll talk to him make sure he knows it wasn’t your fault.”

“Marinette?” The Parisian seemed to be done with her ranting and was staring at Damian again, she for some reason, hadn’t noticed earlier but Damian wasn’t wearing a shirt. In Marinette’s sleepy state she just stared unabashedly. Damian’s voice seemed to get her attention.

“Perhaps you shouldn’t sit like that…” Damian refused to call it what it was. Had he wanted to be more accurate, and he didn’t, he would have asked her to stop straddling him.

Marinette froze, blushed, and then started whining in embarrassment. Her head in her hands. Damian was having a difficult time holding back his own blush but was managing alright.

“Marinette?” Damian asked, she peaked out from between her hands and realized she had yet to get off him, finally he sat up on his own and gently pushed her off him. They sat next to each other, Damian refused to look at Marinette in her beautifully flustered state.

Jason walked in with his arms crossed, he leaned against the door-frame.

“Awake are we?” He asked, not expecting an answer, he didn’t get one.

“Well, Demon Spawn, let’s just say your reputation is effectively ruined. Steph and Selina got more than enough pictures to get even you to blush.” The two teenagers refused to look at Jason, he pinched the bridge of his nose, letting his annoyance surface.

“I can’t even-” Damian waited for the inevitable outburst, for once. “ I can’t believe I’m fucking doing this- You two were cute or whatever but word of the wise, brat- hurt her and I’ll kill you. Got it?” Both teenagers heads snapped up, Marinette blushed. Damian nodded a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

'FINALLY’ Was the only thing Damian thought in that moment before he began to plan how to ask her out. He needs to speak to Grayson again, unfortunately.

And with that, their banter and teases began again. This time there was no bribery to keep Damian’s siblings quiet and no Jason to stop their kisses. The young couple went on dates, watched movies, laughed at the put off look Damian’s family would have when he said something awkwardly funny. Of course, Jason was still insistent on sibling bonding, stealing Marinette as often as possible- that became their new game: who could get Marinette for the day.

Of course, there were some close calls. Jason had walked in on Damian and Marinette kissing… for an extended period of time… he stood frozen and watched in horror as they made out on a chair in Damian’s room, Marinette’s hands in Damian’s hair with his hands at her hips, keeping her pressed against him as her legs bracketed his hips.

Damian noticed Jason first, immediately pushing away and inwardly cursing. Marinette blushed furiously and had to stop Jason from killing Damian but her messy hair and slightly swollen lips didn’t help.

Of course, everyone else thought it was hilarious.

As they say, all good things must come to an end. After three weeks of freedom from her class, their trip finally came to an end and so did Marinette’s reunion. By the end of her stay Marinette knew why she’d be okay, from now on she had a family four times as big as before. The Parisian couldn’t be happier: she reunited with her brother and has an adoring boyfriend. All she had to do now was survive the last few weeks of the school year before transferring to Mme Mandeleiev’s class.

I’m gonna be okay, Marinette thought that to herself as they made their way to the airport. Damian didn’t want her to leave, no one did, he held Marinette’s hand while she spoke to Jason who promised to visit often.

Everyone hugged her goodbye or said so from a respectful distance before she passed through security and rejoined her class.Both Damian and Jason glared at the class in warning, they still seemed to be reeling from the discovery that the Italian was a liar. People called out to the girl, shouting apologies. Marinette just walked past as if she couldn’t hear a thing. 

And then she was gone. Damian and Jason pouted, they already missed her, luckily summer was right around the corner. They’d get her to visit soon, or if they had to they’d go to Paris.

After all, family is supposed to stick together. And despite their attempts at denying it, they were clingy.