#hell yes jasonette

[ghostcryptid]

gosh i wish i could write but okay just hear me out,,,

so there’s this amazing fic i found on ao3 right and basically it’s what if the pit de-ages jason and i can’t not think about it

specifically, de-aged jason meeting marinette

so. it goes like this

talia went against ra’s to revive jason and then they go in hiding

and i’m like, perfect why? because, after a bunch of false trails and going around the continent, they can settle in PARIS

hopefully the league directs it’s attention to more important things now (except obviously talia very rarely hopes instead of being prepared)

months following jason’s immediate revival were difficult

partly because of imminent danger of league and in part because jason was, simply put, a mess

the pit might’ve been merciful only because jason did not have to remember his death in vivid details(he still has nightmares about it tho) but the disorientation and muddled memories wasn’t ideal either

jason was 11 after revival but talia doesn’t let them surface from hiding for like two years

so jay’s 13 when they go to paris, same as mari (this is just a year before mlb starts)

talia changes her name but jason keeps his cause that’s the only thing he is certain of and he is not going to change it. he does however, get a different surname

it’s not instant friendship cause jay’s still a bit unsteady on his feet —and the world is tilted and mari’s a bit too afraidinsecure

but then mari never stops trying and jay feels like a boat that’s found an anchor in a storm

so it’s not quite a meet-cute but they have their first friend ever and then they’re basically inseparable 

(jason doesn’t call talia mom but she is basically his mom at this point)

[the-witches-you-couldnt-burn]

Idea: Daddy Issues (GONE WRONG)

Ok so Mari wants to take the pranks to the new level, and she knew exactly where the line. Rules are just suggestions to guide the societal defined ‘right’ & moral abiding behaviour. All’s fair in chaotic love and prank wars.

So Mari has this conversation with her friend or SO:

“You know I love you, right?”

“What did you do?”

“I married your father last night.”

“You… there are a million other things I expected to hear, and none of them would be worse than what you just said.”

And that’s the story of how she broke the internet and the stepmother meme was invented within the batfam chat, the public would be SWEATING if anyone every even brought up the idea to disparage the bluenette.

Based on this prompt by @whygodohgodwhy

[mochegato]

Jasonette Protection Program

Chapter 1

Jason smirked as the lock disengaged for him. Tim may be ‘the smart one’ but thank God he was predictable.  It made things like breaking into his townhouse so much easier.  Now he just had to convince him to let him hide at his place for a few days.  It shouldn’t be too hard once he knew it would piss off Damian, because again, Tim was predictable, and one thing he reveled in more than tormenting Jason was tormenting the gremlin.  And not being able to find Jason would absolutely kill Damian, meaning he couldn’t kill Jason.  And none of them would think to look for Jason at Tim’s place of all places.

“Hey, Preten… er… Tim.  You here?” Jason called out as he relocked the door behind him.  “Come on, Tim.  I know you’re here.  You said you were going to hang out with friends tonight, which we both know means you’re going to be home alone all night.”

Jason moved through the townhouse looking for Tim, getting increasingly paranoid as he moved.  He’d told Alfred he’d be around if he needed anything, and he would never lie to Alfred.  So where was he, Jason wondered to himself as he walked past Tim’s bedroom, noting the untouched bed and wandered into the spare bedroom.  And who was the woman in the bed?  The suspiciously, absolutely gorgeous woman, sleeping peacefully in the bed he was going to use.  When Tim was conspicuously missing?  Well that was unpredictable.  

What the fuck was going on?  Tim was paranoid as fuck.  And to just leave someone in his townhouse unsupervised?  Someone who was pretending like she could sleep through Jason screaming at the top of his lungs?  Something was off.  “Hey! Person who doesn’t live here!” Jason yelled.  “Who the fuck are you and why are you in my brother’s bed?”

The woman’s eyes popped open.  Her face scrunched in confusion after a beat, but she slowly closed her eyes again.  “Hey, no!” Jason kicked the bed hard enough to jostle the entire bed.  “Who the fuck are you?”  

This time the woman, who he now realized was probably Tim’s girlfriend that he hadn’t told any of them existed, which he couldn’t blame Tim for, he wouldn’t want to introduce anyone to this family unless he had to either, bolted up to sitting and gasped in a breath.  Her head whipped around clumsily to find the source of the disruption.  She blinked groggily as she looked around, almost like she wasn’t registering what she was seeing, not really.  Jason almost felt bad for waking her up because damn, she must have been really deeply asleep.  It was taking her a while to settle back into reality.

Jason’s theory about her not really taking in what she saw was confirmed when her gaze swept past him with no reaction at all.  The room was dim, but wasn’t dark.  He wasn’t hidden.  There was no way she could have missed him.  After a few seconds she stopped her scan of the room and blinked blankly, swaying slightly in place, and brought her gaze back to him.  She blinked more heavily a few more times as she stared at him as if trying to figure out if he was really there.

Her eyes met his, but didn’t seem to see him. They looked glazed over.  He would normally be a bit more sympathetic to the sleep induced daze, but he was already in a bad mood and she was fucking ignoring him and where was Tim?  “Yes, I’m real,” he gruffly answered her unasked question.  “Now, for the third time, what the fuck are you doing in my brother’s bed?”

She looked down at herself and the bed she was in.  Her head lolled unsteadily as she looked around until she fell back onto the bed with a grunt.  “I see why your brother is the detective, not you.”  

“Excuse me!” he growled at her.  Instead of flinching back like a normal person would have, a smile teased on her lips and she turned over on her side, curling happily into her pillow.  Jason almost thought she’d fallen asleep and was about to strip the comforter off of her until she slurred out a sleepy question.  “So, which brother are you?”

He stared at her, unsure how to react to her. She knew Tim was a detective.  How did she know that?  ‘Detective’ isn’t a term you could just throw in there like ‘he’s the smart one’ would be, which, he was used to hearing.  But ‘detective’ was extremely specific and directly related to their nightly activities.  Unless he told her he was a private detective for some reason?  Or an inside joke?  And she was acting so casual about it, like it was an understood thing.  “Jason,” he finally answered.  Regardless of whether she knew or not, giving that much wouldn’t hurt.

“Ooohhh,” she smiled against the pillow, not even bothering to open her eyes.  “I was supposed to never meet you.  You should definitely stay close by.  Take a picture of Tim’s face when he sees you with me.  It’s going to be brilliant.  I would pay to see it.”

He smiled in spite of himself, but quickly schooled his expression.  She wasn’t answering his questions.  She was deftly avoiding giving him any information.  It was so natural, he could almost believe it really was, but nobody in their lives was that innocent.  But then again, her body was completely relaxed.  He was accustomed to deceptive relaxation, body positioning that appeared outwardly to be relaxed, but the muscles were prone and ready to jump into action in an instant if a threat presented itself.  She didn’t show those signs.  She was either amazingly good, which would explain how she knew who Tim was, or she really was that relaxed and innocent.  

Either way, he still didn’t have a name.  “And who are you exactly?  For the fourth time,” he asked again.

“Tomorrow,” she murmured as she groped for the covers to pull them back up over her chest.  “So tired. Just sleep.  Tim will be back soon, maybe.  Ask h…” she trailed off.

“You don't care if I share the bed?” he asked suspiciously.  This seemed more and more like a trap, but what the hell the trap could be, he couldn’t figure out.  He wasn’t married or seeing anyone so it wasn’t like she could blackmail him with pictures. And she couldn’t exhort him by forcing him into a situation where he defends himself against her husband or boyfriend who just ‘happens’ to walk in on them in bed, that was actually a popular one in Gotham for some reason, because they were in Tim’s townhouse and she knew they were brothers so… what the hell could her game be?

“And there was one bed,” she mumbled amused, giggling softly to herself.

“What?”

She waved him off sloppily.  “Not worried. You lay one finger on me and Tim will kill you.” She clumsily patted the space in the bed next to her.  “Sleep.”

“I’m sleeping on the couch,” he insisted surlily. He waited to see how she would react, but her only response was a soft snore.  He snorted.  He studied the woman, trying to figure out who exactly this woman was and how close to Tim she was, because not many girlfriends would suggest pranking their boyfriends with cheating… with the boyfriend’s brother, especially when she apparently knew there was animosity between them.  

Some of that could be because she was currently quite obviously not quite aware of reality.  He was now convinced it was a bit more than just being tired.  She had clearly enjoyed her night a bit too much, which he could completely understand. If he had to spend an entire night laughing with Tim, he’d need to be drunk too.

His head snapped in the direction of the front door when he heard the sounds of a lock disengaging and the door opening.  He glanced back at the woman in the bed, whose name he still didn’t know, and made a split second decision to trust her despite that fact.  The likelihood that she was conning him was far outweighed by the opportunity to prank Tim, and with his friend’s? girlfriend’s? whichever’s help!  This was unheard of.  Dick’s friends were more than willing to help with a prank, knowingly or unknowingly, but Tim’s friends?  Never. At least not with Jason.

He ripped off his jacket and shirt, throwing them toward the corner of the room and hopped toward the bed as he pulled off his boots.  He jumped under the covers behind the woman and let the covers pool around his hips, just above his pants waistband.  He pulled the covers up to the woman’s shoulders to hide the fact that she was still wearing her shirt.  She barely moved at all in response to his actions.  He wasn’t even sure if she knew he was there.  He really hoped when she woke up that she remembered the prank.

He could hear Tim’s footsteps as he got closer to the door.  Just before he reached the door, Jason threw his arm over the woman’s waist and moved closer to her.  He just barely cracked his eye open, enough to see Tim, but still look closed if the other person wasn’t watching closely enough.

Tim peeked quietly into the room.  He did a double take when he saw the bed.  “What the…” Tim started.  Jason couldn’t stop the small grin that spread on his face, that is until Tim reacted.  

He suddenly threw the door open and rushed the bed. He hauled Jason out of the bed with more strength than Jason remembered him having.  Tim threw him against the wall hard enough to knock a few pictures off the wall.  His face was contorted in the angriest scowl Jason had ever seen on him.  He shoved his forearm into Jason’s throat, pushing hard enough that Jason had to gasp to get air.

Tim moved closer, his eyes sparking with so much anger that for the first time Jason was a bit intimidated.  Maybe this hadn’t been such a brilliant idea after all.  But, this reaction from the normally composed Tim was definitely unpredictable.  The woman wasn’t kidding when she said Tim would kill him for touching her.  Tim paused and glanced down toward Jason’s cargo pants, still tightly belted and zipped.  When he looked back up, his eyes had somehow narrowed even more.  “That better have been just a terrible fucking joke.”

Jason rolled his eyes and tried to push Tim’s arm away from his throat, but Tim wouldn’t yield.  “Calm down, Timbers.  I didn’t sleep with your girlfriend,” Jason jeered.

“She isn’t my girlfriend, asshole,” Tim sneered back pushing his forearm harder into Jason’s throat.  “She’s a good friend who got drugged by someone tonight, intending to do God knows what.  So you can imagine how utterly not funny I find you joking about sleeping with her right now.”

Jason’s eyes widened in realization.  That… that would explain a lot.  “Oh Shit.  I’m really sorry, Tim.  I swear I didn’t do anything to her.”  Tim nodded slightly and lowered his arm, but his expression didn’t soften much.  He continued to glare at Jason.

His stare down was interrupted by a soft, tired, slightly slurred voice.  “What happened?  Tim?”  The woman smiled slightly.  “You’re home.”  Her eyes flicked over to Jason and she stopped to contemplate him.  “Hey, you’re real.  Did you take a picture?”

Tim whipped his head over to Jason, his heated glare back in place. “A picture of what, exactly?” he demanded.

Jason held up his hands in an effort to placate him.  She was really, really not helping them right now. “Of your face when you saw us together,” he explained slowly.  Tim drew in a deep breath and his jaw got even tighter.  “In my defense, it was her idea,” Jason said quickly, pointing to the woman, “and I didn’t know she was drugged.”

Tim looked away and huffed out an angry breath. He rubbed his forehead.  “Of course it was her idea.”  He turned to the woman with an exasperated sigh.  “You’re not funny, Marinette.”

The woman, Marinette, pouted at him and nestled deeper into the covers.  “I’m fucking hilarious,” she mumbled out from under the covers.  Her face emerged from the covers as she took them both in.  She looked down at Jason’s chest for a second and threw off the comforter to look down at her chest.  She pulled gently at the front of her shirt.  “Should have taken my shirt off too.  Would have been funnier,” she chastised lightly before collapsing back onto the bed and closing her eyes again.

“No,” Tim yelled out holding out his hands in a halting motion.

Marinette opened one eye to glare at him before turning over and snuggling into the covers on the other side.  “Fuck you.  I have great breasts.”

Tim groaned and looked down mortified.  “Oh God, that’s not something I wanted to ever hear coming out of your mouth.”

“And you’re in trouble anyway,” she continued, ignoring Tim’s comment, her words slurring slightly more as fatigue claimed more of her attention.  “Why didn’t you tell me your brother was sexy?”

Tim groaned and ran his hand down his face.  “And there’s another.”  He looked back at her with a serious expression.  “Not sexy, annoying asshole.”

“No, she clearly said sexy,” Jason corrected him with a cocky grin.

“Touch her and die,” Tim hissed.

“Protective much,” Jason taunted.

“That’s exactly what I am, protective of my drugged friend,” Tim growled back, reminding Jason of the situation and why Marinette was there in the first place.  He turned back to Marinette with a softer expression.  “You can do far better than him.”  He didn’t even flinch when Jason punched him hard in the shoulder. Jason discretely looked up to see how Marinette reacted to Tim’s words, but she was already sleeping again.

He only looked away from her when Tim punched his shoulder and shoved him toward the door.  “Don’t even fucking think about it,” he snapped.

“Yeah, yeah.  Okay.  Whatever, keep your friend,” Jason waved him off, but his eyes found their way back to her as they left the room.  “Tell me what happened while I raid your fridge.”

Chapter 2

@jasonette-july-event

[ms-starflower]

Spook-tober Maribat — Day 3 — Bats

@maribat-october-rarepairs

So, here is my first try at a non-platonic Jasonette! I really, really tried to write with someone that wasn’t Marinette. But I couldn’t. I’m sorry, I’m weak for Marinette.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Is that a bat?” A woman said, cutting through the silence of the night.

Red Hood’s head turned toward the direction of the voice slightly startled. He had been sure he couldn’t be seen from the street here, it’s why he chose this spot for his break in the first place.

“What?! Where?!” A second voice answered, panic noticeable in her tone. Jason couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at that; the people panicking at their sight were usually criminals, but the first woman hadn’t sounded afraid.

“Here, on the wall. Are you alright, Mari-hime?” The first woman replied, her tone now mildly curious.

“Oh god, Kags, you were talking about a bat's graffiti?” The second woman (Mari?) asked with exasperation. Jason leaned slightly over the edge of the rooftop, looking in their direction. It was two women with dark hair, they were standing in the alley, both giving him their backs.

“Well, yes,” the first voice, that Jason now identified as the taller one, said with confusion. From where he was, Jason could see her head tilt slightly. “What else could I have been talking about? Bats don’t usually thrive in urban settings.”

“Oh my god, Kagami. We are in Gotham, remember? The city of The Bat. I thought you were talking about Batman or one of his broods!” She exclaimed, turning toward her friend while moving her hands around her. There was something vaguely familiar about her profil, but Jason couldn’t put his finger on what.

“Ah. I see why my sentence could have been misunderstood,” Kagami said, her tone still somewhat judging. Mari clearly heard it too, because she raised her arms in exasperation. “Still, I don’t understand why you sounded so panicked, we are not doing anything that could elicit Batman’s anger. Or his… broods’.”

“That’s— That’s not the point!” Mari said, moving his hand around, making something tingle in Jason’s mind again. But whatever it was, it stayed just out of reach.

“It kind of is, Hime. You were flustered by the mere mention of a bat, I would like to understand why,” she told her, and even though Jason couldn’t see it, he would bet all of Damian’s katanas that she was raising an eyebrow. It probably looked judgmental, too.

“I— I— It’s just that, well,” Mari stammered, pulling on her braid nervously. Jason probably shouldn't get so much entertainment from their conversation, but damnit if he wasn’t invested now. “It’s Batman?”

“What about Batman is putting you in this state? We literally talked to Superman three days ago, and you were perfectly fine,” Kagami said with curiosity, crossing her arms.

Jason raised an eyebrow at that. Why would they talk with Superman? Did they get themselves in the middle of something in Metropolis?

“It’s because there is something cryptic about Batman!”

“Something… cryptic,” she repeated, now clearly judging her friend.

“Yes. Now can we stop talking about the Bats? You are going to summon one of them here!” Mari hissed, making Jason grin devilishly. He really, really shouldn’t do that, but he really, really wanted to crash their conversation now.

“Summon them? What are they, demons?”

“Oh my god, no. But you don’t talk about the bats in the middle of the night, in an alley of Gotham, if you don’t want them to appear!”

“Appear? This reasoning makes no sense, Mari-hime.”

“It does,” Mari hissed.

“It’s irrational,” Kagami countered calmly.

“It isn’t!”

“It kinda is,” Jason said, choosing this moment to make his presence known and jumping from his perch on the roof in the alley, using the fire escape.

The reactions were as entertaining as he had anticipated.

Kagami, the tall one, turned swiftly toward him, taking on a defensive stance, hand going toward her hip like it should have held a weapon. Huh, interesting. But what made him laugh, though, was the smaller woman's reaction.

Mari screeched like a demon outta hell, jumping out of her skin before turning toward him with a fist raised. Both women froze when they realized who he was, Kagami raising an eyebrow with a contemplative expression; probably wondering if there wasn’t some truth in her demon theory.

“Holy hell, Red Hoodie,” she hissed, making him pause. “Don’t do that for fuck’s sake!”

But Jason wasn’t really listening anymore, too busy staring at her. The slightly dramatical pose, hand on her chest and torso slightly leaning forward, her hair and eyes colors, her height. Her body language. Her semi-familiar profile. The fact that she just called him Red Hoodie.

And, well, it clicked.

Of course she was familiar, he had spent the last two years pining over her!

“Pix?” He asked softly, making both women straighten. From there, he could clearly see panic seep in Mari’s, Ladybug’s, eyes.

“What?” She asked with a high pitched tone, making Kagami beside her close her eyes with exasperation. “No, of course not! Who is Pixie? Not me!”

“Sometimes I wonder how you managed to keep your cover for more than a decade, Hime,” Kagami told her with an exasperatedly amused tone. “But then I remember that magic is involved.”

“Yes! What about the magic!” Mari said, turning toward her friend. “Why did the Miraculous’ hocus pocus didn’t stop him from recognizing me!”

“Well, even magic has its limit, hime” Kagami answered, and Jason was only mildly offended to be that easily ignored.

“Hey,” he said slowly, raising his hand in front of him. “I can just, like, forget about it? If you want?”

“You couldn’t just forget about it, Red,” she said with a smile. “But no, it’s fine. I, uhm, I trust you.”

Jason forgot how to breathe for a second there.

He had met Ladybug a little over two years ago, when she and her partner, Chat Noir, transferred from the Justice League Europe to America. Red Hood wasn’t exactly a JLA member, but he helped out for some ‘All Hand on Deck’ situations, and that’s when they met.

Ladybug was smart, witty, and absolutely badass. Jason couldn’t not like her, and if, after that, he would come up to the Watchtower more regularly, well it was nobody's business now, was it.

Still, in the two years he had been pining like a lovesick fool (Dick’s words, not Jason’s), he never made any move to try something with her. Mainly because Ladybug took her secret identity extremely seriously. The only JL members who knew her civilian name were Wonder Woman, because her mother and Ladybug were apparently friends, and Batman, because he was a noisy bastard.

(Alright, in Bruce’s defence, he actually asked Ladybug if he could look into it, and she accepted, if only to know if there were any leaks and how to stop them. But Jason didn’t feel like taking Bruce's defence at the moment so, heh.)

And Jason hadn’t wanted to go out with someone he would know only on one side of the mask, and he equally didn’t want to pressure her into unmasking herself. So he didn’t make any moves.

So, hearing from her that she trusted him with her identity. He felt a small, fond smile curl his lips and took a step toward her.

“So, you’re in Gotham,” he started, trying to find the right word. Not an easy thing.

“Um, yeah,” she said with a smile, and Jason wasn’t sure if she was blushing or if he was just seeing things.

Deciding to just say fuck it, Jason looked into his pockets, taking out an old receipt and a pen. Under her curious gaze, he scribbled quickly on it and gave it to her.

She looked down at her hand curiously, before looking up at him with a frown.

“It’s my number,” he told her, rubbing the back of his neck, before wincing under his helmet at how awkward he sounded. “I was thinking that I could, like, take you out? While you are in town?”

“Like— Like a date?” She asked, eyes wide, and Jason was starting to regret his forwardness.

“Uh, yeah? If you want it to be a date?”

“I— Uhm, I don’t,” she started, and Jason felt something inside him freeze. He should have continued with the pining from afar. “I don’t, you know, date under the mask?”

“Oh. Oh,” he exclaimed, relief shooting through him. “No, no. I wasn’t thinking about coming as Red Hood.”

“You weren’t?” She asked with surprise, blinking at him.

“Nope,” he told her with a smile, before nodding toward the paper in her hand. “Look at it.”

“Oh,” she mumbled when she saw that he had written down his name, along with his number, a deep blush creeping up into her cheeks. “Oh. I— I, um, I would like that very much, then.”

“As a date?” He asked with a smile, just to be sure.

“As a date,” she answered with a grin.

“Well,” Kagami said with a smirk, making the both of them startle and turn toward her. Fuck, Jason totally forgot she was here. “Now I understand why the mere mention of Bats flusters you, Mari-hime.”

[khneltea]

jasonette headcannon #1

so i realise that this is a ship that is underappreciated and i would gladly contribute to this beautiful ship

↬ After he gets revived by the Lazarus pit, escapes the league, and makes it back to Gotham, he needs to do shit before he becomes Red Hood, the crime lord.

↬ Like, everyone forgets the in between bits.

↬ So his first step was to infiltrate a smaller gang and work his way up very quickly.

↬ Seriously, he had a 10 step plan to become crime lord.

↬ Step one: join a small gang

↬ Step two: gain their trust

↬ Step three: start climbing the ranks

↬ Step four: get a side hoe

↬ Step five: get an actual hoe

↬ Step six: become the gang leader

↬ Step seven: make batman's life living hell

↬ Step eight: more of the above, but focused more on Replacement

↬ Step nine: upgrade the fuck outta his gang

↬ Step ten: sit back as gotham burns under his feet

↬ Very nice and easy and simple plans, right?

↬ Wrong

�� He's only on step two, and he fucks it up

↬ but in his defense, it was the person they decided to capture who was really at fault so he could bitch about it all he wanted

↬ So they had a plan to hold the sweet petit half-Asian woman who owned the clothes shop down near the Bowery at gunpoint and rob her store right

↬ But here's what happened

↬ "Get down on your fucking knees and hands uP OH MY GOD IS THAT A SHOTGUN?!"

↬ "Yes it is, and I know how to use it, so I kindly ask you to leave this respectable shop unless you are buying clothes."

↬ Marinette is just standing there with a shotgun in hand and she looks t e r r i f y i n g

↬ One idiot part of the hit was clearly drunk and didn't get the memo that she could literally blow their brains out

↬ "Now, sweet cheeks, ya're gonna getta big owie if ya keep holding tha' gun like tha', why dontcha hand it over to me like a good bitch and while ya're at it, hand me all that green in that little cash register of yours."

↬ "And why don't you kindly, pardon my English, fuck off"

↬ Fuck, she was cute.

↬ The man is obviously an idiot and tries to punch the woman

↬ Only for her to shoot his foot and calmly reloads it as he screams like a baby with his foot bleeding out on her white tiled floors.

↬ "Shame, I did warn him. Would any of you want to order some clothing? If not, please make your way out of the premises, my shop is still open. While you're at it, please take out the trash on your way there."

↬ Holy fuck she's not just cute, she's smoking hot.

[miracle-sham]

Yet So Poison Entwined We Fracture.

| {Jasonette July 2021, Saturday Challenge 1: Hurt No Comfort} |

| [Ao3 Link] | | [Masterlist Link] | | [Spotify Playlist Link] |

| It all went wrong so quickly. Marinette thought she could trust Jason, that he'd never betray her. And Jason thought the same. But with a truth-serum turned poison seeping through their veins, neither had thought to look for the purple feathers. |

| Word Count: 1,706. |

———

| A/N: I'll try and keep this short and sweet but it's nice to dip back into writing for Maribat, I really missed it whilst I was gone. Also I've now got a author's channel in MGI where I sometimes put title sneak peaks, snippets, and random au ramblings, so y'know feel free to pop into the channel and have a gander if you'd fancy! And one last thing, keen eyes may have noticed I've added a Spotify Playlist Link, it contains all the songs I listened to when working on this oneshot, if you're curious! |

| If you want to be tagged in future oneshots/fics or a specific Au, then feel free to send me a dm and or ask! |

| Also side note, Don’t Like? Don’t Read. Also also, please do not criticise any of my writing. This was written for fun and receiving criticism, even in a compliment/criticism sandwich, is the exact opposite of fun. |

———

Marinette staggers back, clutching at her bloodied side as the world spins for a moment and everything blurs. Breath catches in her throat as a sharp pang of betrayal pierces her heart, tears springing to the corners of her eyes unbidden. Whimpering, she barely manages to cry out, “J–Jason?”

Heartbreak coating his name like the truth serum-poison making its way through her system at this very moment.

She makes an awful choking noise and collapses to her knees, scrunching her face up and wheezing. Barely is she able to keep her eyes open, fixated on staring at someone she thought she could trust.

Smirking lazily, Jason saunters up to her, crouches and then grabs her face by the chin, forcing her to tilt her head up to continue staring at him in the eyes. “Aw, did you really fucking think I cared about you this entire time?”

Marinette swallows thickly—unable to conjure up a response to him. Black spots start to form in the corner of her vision like watching a spattering of embers burning away on a piece of paper.

He tilts his head to the side and snorts, “really? Nothing to say, no heartfelt "I trusted you!" or "you're lying!". Not even a "I know the real you is still in there?", how fucking pathetic.”

There's a small part of her brain that starts flashing red lights and wailing alarms—warning her that she's in danger, that she's hurt, that she's stopped breathing. She can't breathe, can't move, can't say anything or she'll spill all her remaining secrets.

Jason sighs and drops her chin. “And here I fucking thought your shitty-ass reaction to me betraying you would be more fun.”

Grimacing, she waits a heartbeat after he lets go before mustering all her strength to slam her skull into his—if I'm going down, you're coming with me for this, Marinette mentally vows.

There's a horrendous thwacking sound as the impact lands, and Marinette feels as though her brain has turned into a blender that just had its blades snap mid blend.

Jason, on the other hand, flings himself backwards and curses up a storm. He pulls out one of his guns and with dizzying vision, manages to shoot a bullet that just clips the uninjured side of her ribs. “That's what you fucking get for that you bitch!”

Marinette doubles over as the pain seems to ricochet through her; vision blacking out completely. She struggles for breath, her hearing cutting off not a second later. Objectively, she's aware she's not alone. But as her senses shut down one by one, leaving her helplessly trapped in her own mind, she can't help but wonder why her heart aches with loneliness. I'm sorry, she silently apologises to no one and everyone.

Distantly, she thinks she's swaying—or collapsing again maybe. But it's hard to tell, it's disorientating trying to focus on the world with dying senses.

Marinette is lost. Every little movement, every little thought—it's agony, a struggle to keep going, keep holding on. Once more, she silently pleas for forgiveness from the kwami.

She stops.

Stops breathing. Heart stops beating. Stops fighting. It all stops.

At least this way, she thinks to herself, I can't spill any secrets from the truth serum-poison if I carry them to the grave instead…

She sinks into the darkness, clinging to her final thought in numb relief as she does so. Everything fades away.

———

Jason groans as the knife Marinette is wielding digs deeper between his ribs.

She doesn't move back immediately, so he grits his teeth and roundhouse kicks at her—the heavy thump of collision makes his wound burn like acid has just been poured on it.

He's a few seconds too slow pulling his leg back, as Marinette slices the knife through his calf.

“Fuck!” He bites out, throwing himself further out of her range and breathing. “Marinette!”

With the gall to smile faux-innocently, she plays with the knife in her hand, slipping it between her fingers and swirling it about. “Yes, Jason?”

“The fuck are you doing!?” He growls, shifting his position when she doesn't move to apply pressure to the calf wound.

She shrugs, seemingly unbothered, “what? Did you really think this wouldn't happen one day? That I wouldn't get sick of you. Show you just how much you've hurt me the entire time we've known each other?”

Jason spits blood from his mouth at the warehouse floor in front of her. “I don't believe whatever shit you're being made to spew, but I sure as fucking hell know that you'd never do something as fucked up as this.”

“Oh, that's cute! You still believe in me. What's next, are you going to beg me to come to my senses? Are you going to cry my name and hope it changes my mind? Are you going to declare that the "real" me is still there inside and that you're going to save me?” Marinette giggles, high-pitched and yet hollow sounding.

Jason flinches at the sound, breathing stuttering as the poison from her knife starts to really seep in. Shit, he thinks to himself, truth serum-poison. If I'm not careful I'm gonna say shit that should stay secret.

A flash of silver catches the edge of his vision. And it's all the warning he gets. He immediately ducks and rolls, cursing under his breath as his wounds are aggravated. The air by his hair swooshes as the blade just narrowly misses.

Marinette giggles taper off into a hiss of fury. Her hair slips out of her pigtails from the constant movement, and multiple strands fall in front of her face. She huffs, ineffectively blowing them out of the way. “Did you really think I ever loved you?”

“Yes!” The words are choked out of his mouth before he can even think, the truth serum-poison kicking in hard and fast. Jason wheezes and the taste of iron lingers like malice in his throat. Fuck, he thinks desperately, I'm running out of time and Marinette isn't snapping out of whatever the fuck's been done to her.

He stumbles into another roll, as the blade comes swinging at him again. His vision blurts violently, and the next thing Jason knows—is that his view has suddenly tipped upside down and that there's a throbbing ache radiating from the back of his shoulders and head.

“Huh, you really do have a thick skull. Normally that'd be enough to knock anyone else out. Well, I guess I'll have to do this the old fashioned way.” Marinette rambles, pulling out a rag.

Jason grunts as he pushes himself only to be slammed back into the concrete warehouse floor, rag pressed firmly over his mouth and nose.

He thrashes and refuses to inhale. Marinette scowls and kicks him sharply into the ribs, causing him to gasp through gritted teeth. But it's enough to affect him.

His vision teeters then flickers to black, he can feel his movements slowing—becoming more and more sluggish until he's as still as he was in that fucking coffin he's had to crawl out of once before. At least, he barely manages to cling to the final thought, I can't spill any secrets if I carry them to the grave once more.

And then it all fades away.

———

Lila steeples her finger and smirks. She's sitting in her plain white office for the Agreste, three monitors set up before her on the desk. The middle screen shows her emails and a few tabs up on fashion for work-related reasons. The outer two screens, however, show the feed to two identical cells—two by four by five metres with cement floors and grey brick walls, no windows and a single plain black metal door. No furniture either, not even beds or toilets, just chains attached to the wall opposite the door. And in the chains is what has Lila so very happy indeed; Marinette and Jason, one in each cell and both stuck in the chains with no hope for escape.

A steady pool of blood has already formed beneath the both of them, thanks to the wonderful work of her Sentimonster duplicates of the two.

Lila can't help but monologue in her glee, “It's so excellently simple really. Even if one escapes, there's no way they'll help the other escape now. Now they've experienced the pain of betrayal and torture inflicted by the other!”

Footsteps approach the door to her office; all it takes is a quick click and click of the mouse and her two outer screen feeds flip to showing more work-related tabs and emails.

The door opens to reveal Adrien, slightly dishevelled—hair and shirt ruffled, eyes red with dark bags beneath them, and shiny tear streaks down his cheeks—he stands in the threshold, shaking. “Did you know?”

Lila smiles in fake confusion. “Know what?”

Adrien swallows, gaze flickering to her screens. “Marinette's dead. So is Jason.”

Lila tilts her head to the side to make it look as though she's thinking. “The Wayne boy that was close to her, right? Oh dear.”

His tired gaze turns back to Lila as he continues. “They think both of them were kidnapped and tortured separately. Police have found traces of an altered truth-serum among the bloodstains and…” He chokes for a second, grief plain as day across his face. “and they found pieces of fingers, ears, slices of skin, and all.”

“Oh, oh, that's horrible!” Lila gasps, covering her mouth with her hands to hide the victorious curl forming on her lips. “Have they found out who was cruel enough to do that to them yet?”

Adrien shakes his head silently.

“Hopefully, the culprit will be found soon. But if you need any support, I'll always be here for you, Adrien!” Lila gravely announces, bobbing her head slightly as she spoke.

He narrows his eyes at her, shakes his head, and then stalks away from her office.

She scowls as soon as his back turns and gets up to shut her door. “Well,” She says to herself as she flips back to the cell feed, “at least that means I'll have plenty of time to pull the secrets from you two without the police thinking to look for you alive.”

———

| Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this little oneshot! Comments, likes, and reblogs are much appreciated! |

| Also feel free to send me any asks or comments with any questions you have regarding this oneshot, I'll be more than happy to answer! |

| @jasonette-july-event |

[justcourttee]

I love your sibling Jasonette, so may I please have some more? *Raises gruel bowl*

A little angsty, a little sweet. I hope you love this one too :)

The Birthday Gift

Jason was having a shitty day.

Marinette was supposed to call him when her plane touched down at Gotham Airport, but that was hours ago and she had yet to return a single message. On top of that, stupid Bruce blindsided with yet another intervention with Batman Incorporated and how yes there are terrible villains out there, but we are not the judge, jury, and executioner. A load of hypocrites if you asked him. Finally, Roy stood him up for a drink at their favorite bar due to a meeting with Oliver.

So he could honestly say he was not surprised when a handful of Joker’s thugs dropped in on him on his self-pitying walk home.

“Look, guys, today is not my day. I’ll let you off easy if you leave now.”

The men’s painted smiles sent shivers down his back, reminding him just a little too much of the original. They said nothing as they circled him, waiting for him to make the first move, a mistake he had made many times with them.

“C’mon dudes, can’t you give a guy a break. It’s my birthday today and even my own sister stood me up.”

One of the men began to snicker as if he found the idea of Jason’s loneliness funny. Maybe it was, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to laugh with them. The sound of footsteps approaching caught his attention. He felt his whole body stiffen as the maniacal laughter reached his ears. No one else sounded so deranged, so crazy, but it couldn’t be. The world didn’t hate him this much right?

Wrong.

“Well, well, well, little Jason Todd. Oh my, it’s been so long, you’ve grown so much.”

Joker himself in all of his clown prince glory. His smile sickened Jason’s stomach to the core.

“What do you want, Joker?”

The clown’s face frowned in mock hurt as he placed a dramatic hand over his heart.

“Is that any way to talk to your favorite agent of chaos? Now now little bird, I’m not here as a threat, I’m here to offer you some birthday fun! After all, you always were my favorite little Robin. It’s why I treated you so much more tenderly than the rest.”

Joker reached up to wipe a fake tear from his face before allowing the grin to stretch it’s way back slowly. Jason’s mind was racing with possibilities, the number one being an exit strategy. Four men, all deranged, plus the Joker himself. It wasn’t looking great, but there was no way this clown was going to kill him twice in this lifetime.

“What’s this gift you mentioned? So kind of you to think of me on this day.” It took everything he had to hold back the sarcasm from dripping off his tongue. His hand moved in the slightest, trying to reach the gun he had tucked in his waistband.

“I’m glad you asked-”

Before he could finish his sentence, a figure dropped from the rooftops, landing on the nearest goon. The three remaining men all reached for their weapons, but could never touch them. Something shot out, gripping their guns and pulling them into the abyss of darkness. For a brief second, Jason allowed himself to feel hopeful.

Maybe the old man finally remembered his birthday, maybe he was here to help him. But as the figure stood, taking a step into the light, he felt his heart drop. A small girl stood in front of him dressed in a skintight black suit, small red dots lining her sides. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun on top of her head, her mask solid red matching the side of her suit.

“I’ll give you one chance Joker, let go of the boy and I’ll let you go.”

There was a tense silence for a moment before Joker laughter tore through the air.

“A child! Are you Batman's new birdy my girl?”

The small figure stiffened as Joker’s men began recovering their wits, some drawing pocket knives, others closing in with their bare hands.

“Do I look like a bird to you?”

Jason had to hand it to her. The kid had guts to stand before the Joker and insult his jokes, but he knew the clown’s patience was running thin. Sooner or later, he was going to give the order and the thugs would tear into her. He was so close to his gun, but any sudden movement could put her in danger now.

“Now now, it sounds like you need an attitude adjustment. Why don’t you ask Jason here how it feels?”

His smirk was sinister and with the flick of his hand, the thugs all jumped. They were fast, but she was faster. One by one she knocked them out, flipping and twirling with grace as she dodged each attempt on her life. Jason’s fingers finally wrapped around his gun, a sense of relief flooding through his body.

This was what he needed to shift the fight, but something stopped him. Numbness spread through his limbs as he lost his grip on the gun, the weapon clattering against the concrete. He vaguely recognized the hand on his back giving him a shove forward, but he couldn’t put his arms out to save himself.

“No!” The girl tried to rush forward, but she was distracted as one of the thugs landed a punch, knocking her off her balance. They managed to subdue her, holding her still as Joker moved forward to examine the new curiosity.

“Quite interesting. How do you know my Jason?”

The girl’s eyes clouded over as she mustered as much strength as she could, trying to pull her arms free. Joker raised his hand, a sickening smack coming from the girl’s face as a red mark began to form. Jason tried to move, he needed to protect her like she tried to do for him, but it was impossible.

“Now, I asked you a question. Show some respect for your elders!”  His laughter only enraged the girl.

“Don’t you dare touch him.”

“Oh, you mean, like this?” Joker raised his leg, landing a kick right into Jason’s ribcage sending the clown into a fit of laughter. “Or this?”

“Stop it! No! Jason!”

He knew the voice sounded so familiar, but he couldn’t focus on it, not with the endless pain rolling in.

“All you have to do is answer the question! You have the power to stop this dear.”

Jason tried his best to raise his head to look at her properly, but the best he could do was land one eye on the girl. The face, mask or not, he knew that face. Joker raised his foot once more, stopping only a millimeter from Jason’s face.

“He’s my brother! I swear if you hurt him again I’ll kill you. I’ll kill all of you.”

Jason felt the realization flood through him as his heart dropped. She didn’t abandon him. She was right here. Marinette.

“I see, I didn’t know my dear Jason had a sister. Honestly, I wouldn’t expect him to be related to someone so weak.”

He reared back his foot again, delivering yet another blow. Jason heard Marinette yell in rage, but he couldn’t do anything to stop it.

“What the-”

Jason couldn’t see anything, he could barely move from the paralysis and the bruised rib cage. He heard the sounds of commotion sending panic through his body. These weren’t like the villains Marinette faced in Paris, these were rougher around the edge, their only goal to kill. Parsian villains killed, but almost always on accident, collateral damage. These men did it for fun.

He tested his fingers, a sense of urgency flooding through him as they twitched under his strained effort. Jason just about had his full hand in motion again when five shots rang through the air sucking the breath from his lungs.

“Bug? Bug are you alright?”

Jason couldn’t help the tears that fell down his face and trickled into his voice. She was the only family that mattered to him, the only one that ever cared for him. Using his good hand, he attempted to flip himself, only succeeding in straining his wrist.

“Bug!”

Two hands wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him into their lap, his head lolled backward before a soft touch helped him prop upwards. Two shining blue eyes stared down into his, a splatter of blood staining her mask.

“Bug what did you do? You don’t kill.”

She shook her head, dropping down to hug his numb body.

“I only wounded them. They crawled away carrying their stupid clown leader. Jason, I was so scared they were going to kill you.”

He felt a hot tear hit his face and then another. Soon her tears mixed with his own as the shock faded away. He almost let that asshole kill him again and in front of Marinette.

“Hey, hey, no tears on your birthday.”

Marinette wiped away his before she took care of her own, a shaky giggle escaping her lips.

“Mari, why didn’t you call back? I was so worried.”

The feeling had returned in both his arms as he tried his best to move his legs next.

“I was trying to finish your birthday gift, you know how I get when I’m sewing.”

It was Jason’s turn to laugh, still shaky as well as he tried to push what had happened out of his mind.

“What did you get me?”

“A new jacket. I know leather is your favorite and you always seem to ruin the ones I make you.”

They both shared a laugh as Marinette shook her head.

“Let me see if we’re lucky tonight.”

Marinette gently set him back on the ground as she called upon her lucky charm, only to throw it directly into the air with her signature phrase. Hundreds of small ladybugs circled his body, a warmth spreading throughout where they touched.

As they disappeared into the night sky, Jason tested his legs, a small smile tugging at his lips when they moved at his command.

“You know how much I love that thing right?”

Marinette shook her head as she called off her transformation catching a small, exhausted Tikki.

“You know how lucky you are that I transformed before they laid a hand on you right?”

Jason gently shoved her shoulder as she stuck her tongue out at him. As she finished caring for Tikki, she turned her full attention to him, slipping off the oversized jacket she was wearing.

“Here, this was your gift. It was the only way I could think to protect it without leaving it up on the rooftop.”

He slipped off his older jacket, a gift from his last day in Paris, and slipped on his new one, relishing in the perfect fit.

“You know, you’re a miracle worker Marinette. And since you’re in town, I think we can now use that phone of yours to contact Damian.”

“Don’t even think about it, after all, you don’t want to end up like those thugs.” Her tone was playful as she handed him back his fallen gun.

“I think I could take my chances.” He threw his arm over her shoulders as he guided her out of the alleyway. “Now, how about you  buy me a birthday drink?”

“How about not? This is the States, my friend, I’m technically not legal here.”

Jason cursed under his breath earning a laugh from the smaller girl as they headed down the avenue. Jason felt his phone buzzing from his back pocket, most likely Bruce calling him about his Joker encounter (which he had no doubt he already found out about), but he didn’t have the energy for yet another lecture on his birthday. Not from him.

“Are you going to get that? It could be your family?”

Jason looked down to meet her concerned eyes, a sight that melted his heart. He shook his head, planting a small kiss on the top of her head.

“I’ve got the only family that matters right here and that’s the best birthday gift anyone could ask for.”

Permanent Tag List:

@damianette-is-life @rebecarojas07 @ash-amg

[lady-literature]

Good Omens AU

Jasonette because that’s my Brand ig

This is mostly just an excuse to talk about slow burn jasonette interacting throughout history periods lol

(tho like, i guess that one mari never dies/jason can’t stay dead au would do the same thing BUT THIS IS LESS ANGSTY SOOOOO)

Marinette as Aziraphale, the angel who loves humanity too much

Can and will fight everyone

Was a high ranking angel once upon a time but then gave away her heavenly sword to the Humans and uh oh

Got ‘demoted’ to earth except psych she actually likes it better down here fuckers

Jason as Crowley, our lovable demon who’s too kind for his own good

Might’ve been kind of violent in the Beginning?

But then spending time with humanity and living on earth he becomes toned down to ‘nuisance at best’

Still does his job cause like,,,, it’s his job and he doesn’t exactly hate it or anything

Most humans he’s fine with

But there are some who he takes great pleasure in condemning to hell

Also PYSCH its Jason who never admits the two of them are friends and stuff

Mari insists that loving all of God’s creatures is apart of the job description and that she forgives him and blah blah blah

After a while all that is just an obvious excuse because she likes him and likes to be around him and fuck heaven etc etc.

Adrien as the Anticrist (cause like, cmon)

PLAGG AS THE HELLHOUND OMG

(adrien just calls him Cat asfgddf)

Chloé, Jon, and Damian as the rest of the Them

god that’s an absolute disaster and I LOVE IT

Dick as Anathema and Wally as Pulsifer

Because i think that’s hilarious and also i love them

Selina? As Madame Tracy maybe. She kinda suits her tbh

So then Bruce as The Witchfinder?

Oh my god though, the witchfinder is so achingly bad at his job and also so damn chaotically stupid

Rip sorry bruce

You may be competent but the story works against you at every turn lol

Actually you know what? I want Bruce to actually be a private eye

He takes normal looking cases but is like cursed or something (like dirk gently ig- actually yes exactly like dirk gently im a genius) so that every case he takes is subtly or becomes obviously supernatural in some way

Dude just stumbles into magic when he’s looking for other things and he hates it

anyway i might write more for this later? but i really like this idea. will probably just pile more stuff onto this tbh

[normal-piece-of-shit]

First Meeting

Yup. That's right. I'm participating in another one :)

Not going to be able to do most days though. And I'm late too, but, better late than never, right?

Enjoy~

@jasonette-july-2k20

------

Marinette leaned back on her chair, stretching her hands to make them feel once again.

She smiled in satisfaction. Another design brought to reality. Yes, it was brought to life at 2 AM, but time was only a social construct, it didn't matter.

Now all that was left, were the occasional thuds of a certain vigilante going about his patrol.

Thud.

She smirked. There they were.

She waited for another thud. The one that indicated he was leaving.

She frowned.

It hadn't come.

Why wasn’t he leaving? Was he injured? Having a super long conversation on his phone? Sweet talking his guns?

…Or maybe the sounds of boots weren't of the vigilante.

She groaned. She knew that the ‘thud’ was timed too perfectly with her thoughts!

She looked around, searching for a weapon. She needed one. And quick.

Ah, screw it. She could just punch him.

With gentle footsteps, she moved towards her balcony. Her hands made their way to the handle.

“You shOuld’nT havE proVokEd hiM. They say! TheN hE woUld’nT haVe slAshEd yOu witH hiS kaTanA. They say!” Her ears perked at the sound. Was it…mocking someone? “Fucking idiots.”

Click. Said the handle.

In a second, Red Hood’s helmet-free head whipped around to look at her, his gun already in his hand, pointing at her.

In the same second, Marinette's instincts kicked in and she was sending a hard punch his way.

He caught it.

They stared at each other, both equally bewildered.

Before the vigilante took back his hand. “Ow!” He was holding his hand. “What the hell is your hand made of?!”

She blinked. “I’ll tell you if you tell me why you’re still here and not going on with your patrol.”

He held her stare. “As you can clearly see.” He pointed at his jacket, which she now noticed was slashed at most places, “My most important asset has been a teensy bit ruined by a fucking demon.”

She couldn't help it. She laughed.

He looked at her, offended. “I’ve been given a makeover by the devil and you dare laugh?!”

“I’m sorry, really!” She was still laughing. “I just can't help it! Was it Robin?

“Who else?” He grumbled.

“Heh.” Her laughing had been reduced to small giggles now. “Maybe you should come in. I can fix up that jacket of yours.” She eyes his hand. “And, uh, give you a bandage for that hand?”

His eyes widened. “What-”

She pulled him inside, effortlessly taking off his jacket and moving towards her closet.

He shuffled in his spot, both too shocked and awkward to move.

She threw a similar jacket like his at him.

“I’d made similar costumes of Gotham's vigilantes a few weeks earlier.” She explained. “Never thought I’d be giving you this.”

He held the jacket up, staring at it in awe. “It feels just like the real thing! How?” He turned towards her with a curious gaze.

She shrugged. “I guess you could say I’m magic.” Her eyes twinkled with untold secrets.

He chuckled in reply. His eyes landed on a plate of croissants. “Croissants!”

“A midnight snack. Have one.” She grinned, amused as she noticed his eyes settling on the plate.

He didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed his first.

“Holy Batman!” He held up the croissant. “This thing is the second best thing I’ve ever eaten! You're an absolute angel!”

She would deny that she'd blushed a little. “I could leave some on the roof every night for you. You usually follow this path for your patrol, right?”

“What? You don't have to do that!” His stomach didn't seem to agree with his words though. It growled to state its displeasure.

“So, that means I'll be leaving croissants for you, right?”

He groaned.

[lala-ladybug]

Healing Hands: Chapter 5

Can you say ~trauma~?

Jasonette Sword Art Online AU

Read here on AO3

Tag list: @iloontjeboontje

First | Previous | Next

Chapter 5: Yes, Dick? You’re looking particularly dickish today

After so much commotion, the silence as they sat made Marinette’s ears ring. She and her Order were gathered in the spacious living room of Chloe’s house. After checking to make sure it was empty, she and the other miraculous holders had reassured their civilian classmates and sent them off to bed. They’d spent the better part of the day getting out of the overcrowded town. Thank Kwami they hadn’t still been travelling after the sun went down, but the noises from the woods still kept them all awake. Kagami had dug out a teapot from the kitchen cabinets and brewed several mugs for those who had needed one. No one was hungry.

Marinette’s hands shook slightly as she sipped her tea. That was another blessing, that Chloe’s VIP pass included a partially stocked kitchen to begin with. They would explore the rest of the house tomorrow, but for now, while the others rested.... They needed to talk.

She set her cup down with a sound that was amplified in the heavy quiet, then took a deep breath. “Okay....” The words felt strange in her mouth. She swallowed against the lump in her throat. “Can anyone sense their Kwami?”

She looked around at the blank faces of her friends as they all tried to reach for their respective powers. Chloe’s lip trembled, but her eyes were dry. Luka and Kagami’s jaws clenched, and Adrien frowned as he shook his head.

“None of us can, then,” Luka stated evenly, finally voicing what she’d been afraid of.

Marinette bit her lip. Kagami placed her cup of tea down forcefully. “What are we going to do.” It wasn’t a question so much as a statement.

Marinette rubbed her eyes. Kwami, what could they do? They should count themselves lucky they weren’t dead yet. She could only imagine her Maman and Papa’s panic, but they hadn’t tried to pull her out, so she hadn’t....

They could still die though, if what the Game Master had said was true. If their HP dropped to zero, they would die. There was no Second Chance or Lucky Charm this time. But they were still likely among the best trained people in the game. Her mind was made up.

“We fight.” She finally said with all the confidence she could muster. “There are thousands of civilians stuck in here with us, so we need to fight for them. We need to beat the level bosses in order to advance, right?” The question was rhetorical, but Chloe nodded and Kagami blinked in affirmation all the same.

“Good,” Marinette stood up. “We will be the ones to fight these bosses. So they don’t have to. Think about it, even without our Kwami, we still have an edge on everyone else here. The faster we beat the game, the faster they can go home.”

“And us too!” Adrien jumped up with a smile. “And us too,” Marinette echoed.

Luka drained his tea and stood next. “So it’s settled then,” he put a hand on her shoulder, steady as ever.

“Indeed,” Kagami rose beside them.

Chloe stared up at them, eyes wide. “You really think we can do this?” She asked in a small voice.

Marinette looked her in the eye and said, “I know we can.” The blonde released a small sigh and stood as well. A gleam of determination entered her eye as she said, “Okay. Let’s go save everyone from this ridiculous game.”

* * *

Jason, Jaime, Cassie, and Zatanna returned to the center of town. It was nearly deserted now, the murky twilight creating pockets of shadows around the square, perfect for hiding lurking figures. But it was nothing Jason couldn’t handle. In fact, with his current mood, he damn well dared them to try.

They’d spent hours hacking away at the wild boars, Jaime even joining in as his allergies permitted him. The four had gained a few player levels and a decent amount of money and loot. But damn if it wasn’t tiring as hell.

His crossbow was much more taxing than using guns, and it used different muscles in his shoulders and arms than he was accustomed to working. He could tell the others were similarly weighed down by exhaustion. Cassie’s whip demanded an endurance she wasn’t used to without her super strength, Jaime’s throws of a handaxe grew increasingly shorter the longer they fought, and Zatanna wasn’t used to fighting with physical weapons at all. It took everything they had left to drag themselves back into town.

One of the shadows a few feet away swam with sudden movement. Jason equipped his crossbow, arms shaking with the effort of just holding it. Damnit, now was not a good time, but he’d still fight these bastards with everything he had.

He relaxed when he saw it was Dick and the rest of Team Alpha approaching. Putting his weapon away, Jason crossed his arms and planted his feet firmly. Dick better have gotten them those fucking beds for the night.

“We’re just waiting on Beta,” Dick said in a low voice. “Then we can go to the inn and regroup.” The others could regroup. Jason would be heading right to sleep. He stalked over to the brick wall Bart sat slumped against and leaned his shoulder against it. The cool roughness grounded him and kept his eyes open.

He distantly heard Zatanna telling Dick that they had made out okay in the west. Unnecessary talking when there were other players listening nearby. He swallowed against the urge to forcibly silence them that was rising in his blood. It sang with the persistent thrum of battle, unshakable as it was insistent. He closed his eyes and counted his breaths. One. Breathe out and picture a color. Blue. Breathe in. Two. Out. Yellow. In. Three. Out. Green.

He’d barely reached ten by the time Tim led his group back to join them. The song in his blood stilled for now, he pushed off of the wall and followed as Dick and Wally guided them to the inn. He hardly registered his surroundings as they entered and divvied up the rooms. He, Dick, Tim, and Wally were in one room, the girls in another, and the other boys in a third. The place seemed clean enough as he cast his tired eyes around the tavern.

They climbed the stairs to their rooms and settled in each. Dick and Tim sat on their beds talking about going to the other boys’ room-- the largest of the three-- to discuss strategy. Jason hardly heard them as his head hit the pillow and he fell asleep.

* * *

The warmth of the early morning sun on her face woke Marinette up. She stretched and yawned, wincing at her soreness. Sometimes this game was a little too realistic. In the bed beside hers, Chloe grumbled something about the girls’ room having no curtains over the window and rolled over.

Marinette gave a strained smile at that. She quietly dressed and descended the ladder from their small loft to where the rest of the girls were still sleeping, and tip-toed out to the hall.

Down the stairs was the kitchen, empty save for a softly steaming tea kettle that meant Kagami and Luka would soon be joining her. She prepared dough to make fresh croissants as she had every couple of days for the past few weeks since they’d been trapped in the game.

The thought briefly gave her pause, that they’d already been here for close to a month, but she shook it off and formed the croissants onto the baking tray. She slid them into the oven just as Kagami and Luka trailed in from the garden. They’d been harvesting the already-ripe blueberries, and laid a heaping basket of them on the countertop.

Chloe’s VIP pass had saved their lives and then some. It came with a comfortably sized house that included a full kitchen, sitting area, storage room, balcony, two massive bedrooms with enough room to house all twelve of them, a garden ready to be planted in, and stables already stocked with several horses. It really was luxurious, and if they weren’t trapped in the game, she would have found it much more enjoyable.

The property also included a small pond that had proved to give a refreshing swim after training sessions, a well, and a few acres of woods. The latter was where they did most of their monster-training. Marinette had already reached a player level of 10 just by fighting the various denizens of their backyard. The rest of the new Order wasn’t far behind her, ranging from levels 7 to 10 between the four of them.

“Good morning, Marihime,” Kagami inclined her head respectfully, then poured the tea into three waiting mugs. Luka thanked her and shot Marinette a quick smile as way of greeting.

She nodded back and stirred a generous helping of sugar into her mug. The three sipped their tea while they waited for the croissants to bake. Once they were finished and cooling, Marinette and the others donned cloaks to protect against the morning chill and started their brisk morning walk into town.

The dirt path wound down to the base of the hill where several more paths for other player houses split off the main track that they now set on. The lush grass on either side was covered in a slight blanket of mist from the evaporating morning dew. Birds chirped high above, darting between the sparse trees. The walk took about a half hour, and their tea was nearly finished by the time they arrived at the outskirts of the city.

Kagami polished off her mug and placed it back in her inventory, then rested her hand warily on the hilt of her rapier as they began encountering more people. Their destination, a news stand, was thankfully not too close to the center of town. The less people they encountered, the better.

“Get your daily paper here! New news every day! Two copper pieces for a paper, one gold for a yearly subscription.” Marinette veered towards the NPC shouting her wares.

“Hi, one paper please,” she said breathlessly, and slid two copper pieces onto the counter.

“Here you go!” The vendor, an ample woman of thirty, took the coins and handed Marinette a folded newspaper with a smile. “You know, you’re one of my best customers. I’ll give you a deal,” she winked, “how about fifty silver for a yearly subscription!”

“Oh, that’s very kind of you miss, but I’m afraid we won’t be staying quite that long,” Marinette replied. At least, she hoped not.

“Very well dear, have a lovely day!” The NPC thankfully seemed unbothered, and went back to shouting her prices to the general population.

Luka and Kagami moved from their posts of casually guarding Marinette while she dealt with the woman manning the stall. The three set off back the way they’d come, ready for another day of training and exploring the first level.

Marinette unfolded the newspaper and skimmed the headlines while they walked, trusting her companions to keep an eye out for her. However, they weren’t expecting her to stop dead in her tracks. It took a moment for them to turn around and backtrack to where she stood staring intently at the paper in her hands.

“Holy Kwami....” She said, and read the article title again. “‘Exploration team finds boss dungeon entrance!’” She read aloud.

Luka moved to peer over her shoulder and read it alongside her. “You know what this means?” He asked with a small smile.

Kagami put her hand on Marinette’s shoulder. “We are on the path to ending this.”

* * *

Jason woke up to an empty house. It had only been a few weeks since the start of the game, and his idiot brothers were out in the village. Again. He groaned at the motion of swinging his legs off the bed to sit up. Training to get used to the in-game movements was getting old.

He stood and rubbed the back of his neck, loosening some of the stiffness that seemed to have soaked into his bones. He went downstairs to the spacious kitchen to get some fruits for breakfast. With twelve people to make money and collect resources, the team had made quick work of purchasing a large house to use as a base.

Grabbing a few apples for the road, Jason traced the now-familiar path to find Dick and a few of the others in a communal amphitheater. Bart and Wally were handing out flyers near the entrances, chatting people up and trying to convince them to come listen to where Dick and Tim were speaking below.

Jason took a seat next to Artemis, near the back. “At it again?” He asked her, crunching into his apple.

She was leaning forward to prop her elbows on her knees, her chin resting in cupped hands. “Yup,” she said, popping the “p.” She sighed and sat up. “All week, and we’ve only got a handful of recruits.”

“We’re all in this together after all,” Dick was saying loudly. “So join us to help end this game! I have a plan to train recruits for taking on the first level boss.”

Jason yawned. Same old fuckin’ stupid plan. There’s just no way to make risking your life sound enticing. “The others still out hunting?” He nudged Artemis’s knee with his own.

She nodded in affirmation, looking similarly discouraged and bored. He got up and started to leave, deciding to make himself useful and join the rest of the team in fighting.

“Jason!” A shout made him stop. He looked to the sky and muttered to himself about patience, then turned to face his brother. “Yes, Dick? You’re looking particularly dickish today.”

Dick crossed his arms. “Haha, very funny. If you’re not busy, I could really use you here spreading the word.”

“Look, people just don’t want to go up against something they’ve never faced before. Hell, half these dumbasses haven’t even been in a real fight before.” He shook his head. “This is a waste of time. I’m going to fight some monsters so that I can level up and be ready for when we inevitably face the big bad without these posers.”

Dick narrowed his eyes at that. “Now hold on a minute, we have no idea what we’re going up against here. We need a bigger group before we’re ready to go up against the boss. More than half of us aren’t up to par with our special moves out of the picture, and we’re still trying to figure out the gameplay.” He held his hands out placatingly. “An exploration group just found the probable location of the boss dungeon, so that’s half the battle already. We just need to wait for more recruits and a more solid plan.”

“So how long are we supposed to wait, Dick?” Jason asked incredulously. “A week? A month? A year? How many people are going to die while we ‘figure out’ how to do something we already damn well know how to do.” He poked an accusatory finger at Dick’s chest. “We’ve been training for weeks already, we can handle this.”

“I hear you Jay, but we have no idea what kind of a threat this is going to be. We need to take our time and--”

“What you need is a fucking backbone. We’re the best hope that thousands of people have at surviving! I say we train some more and then fight the damn thing ourselves, recruits or no.” He couldn’t believe Dick. Saving people was supposed to be his schtick, not Jason’s. “Hundreds of people have already died, in case you forgot, and this is only the first fucking level. Time is a luxury we do not have.”

Dick looked ready to retort when a young boy came up to him and tapped him on the elbow. “Excuse me, mister? I’m interested in recruitment!”

Jason took advantage of the distraction and stalked off towards the center of town. What a... well, Mr. and Mrs. Grayson picked a damn good name.

If Dick wanted to know what they were up against, then fine. He’d go find out for him.

[the-fusionist]

Jasonette July: First Meetings

A/N: Hello, I’m back at writing again! I suck at commitment, but I’m going to do my best to follow up with the stories for this event. Hope you all enjoy! Let me know if you want to be on the tag list!

HERE I GO:

If Marinette had to rate her time in Gotham so far on a scale of one to ten, it would probably be a 4 or 5. The reason she had moved to the United States was for college, having been accepted into Gotham University. 

It was amazing to have a change in scenery after the defeat of Hawkmoth. Her and Adrien became good friends after realizing who the other was, and she knew that there wasn’t really a chance of a romantic relationship with Adrien now. He was with Kagami, and she really had no right to come between them. Besides, a long-distance relationship would be difficult to maintain. 

Adrien had given up his miraculous after finding out who Hawkmoth was. He didn’t really want to have anything to do with the miraculouses after how much they had destroyed his family. Marinette couldn’t blame him for that, and she didn’t push Adrien on the subject. Now she had all the kwamis in her possession as Guardian. Last she saw Plagg and Tikki, they were talking with all the other kwamis in her apartment. 

Now though, she was regretting her decision of leaving Tikki behind. She had been working on a project and was in desperate need of some red satin. She knew that it was past midnight, but the fabrics shop was just two blocks away. She could get there quickly and come back to her apartment in a short time, and it probably wasn’t likely that there were too many people out this late. 

Oh, how wrong she was. Out of the corner of her eye, she could spot a shadow drifting across the sidewalk, keeping pace with her brisk steps. As she tightly clutched her shopping bag that contained her new purchases, she could faintly make out several pairs of heavy footsteps. She groaned internally, this was not her night. She blamed lack of sleep for her stupid decisions, deciding she should probably bring Tikki everywhere from now on. 

At this point, she was almost one block away from her apartment. She definitely didn’t want them to know where she lived, and just two yards ahead of her was an alley. If she made the sharp turn into the alley, she would have the element of surprise and she would have a better chance of taking them down. Her time as Ladybug had given her plenty of fighting experience that wasn’t lost on her. 

So, after walking a few more feet, Marinette turned sharply into the alley. She quickly spotted a convenient dumpster, and crouched behind it. Hastily, she shoved her shopping bag and purse under the dumpster. She only had to wait a few minutes, before two dark shapes entered the alley. Slowing her breathing, she listened as they trudged deeper into the alley, closer to where she was hiding.

A gruff voice could be heard, “Where did the bitch go?”

Before the other man could reply, Marinette jumped out and socked the man closest to her in the chin. He stumbled backwards for a second, before falling to the ground, knocked out. 

The other man, who had been in a shocked state, moved his hand under his jacket. Marinette presumed that he was reaching for a gun, and acted fast. She whipped her leg up, and kicked the man's ribs. A sickening crack was heard, and the man gasped before falling backwards. He ended up on the dirty floor next to his friend, moaning in agony before passing out. 

Marinette almost sighed in relief, before she heard a quiet thud behind her. It almost sounded like someone had come from the roof above, but that didn’t make sense. So, a panicked Marinette swung around to face her new attacker. Without even processing the appearance of the person, she smashed her fist into his face. Years of fighting akumas lead to pure muscle memory, and her urge to survive had taken over her completely at this point. 

She felt her knuckles press against cool metal, surprising her momentarily. However, the idea of an attacker who was wearing protective gear spurred her into an onslaught of blows. She kicked and punched her new opponent as they staggered backwards, cursing colorfully. 

“Holy shit, lady! I’m trying to help you!” came a strangled voice that was somewhat muffled from what appeared to be a red helmet. 

Marinette paused, looking a bit more closely at her would-be attacker. She gasped in shock before letting out a word vomit of apologies in French and English. Before Marinette stood none other than the Red Hood, one of Gotham’s resident heroes. He was still holding his forearms up to his head, trying to protect himself in case she decided to continue hitting him. Slowly though, he lowered his arms and Marinette could fully look at the vigilante. 

His brown jacket was wrinkled and smudged with dirt. His clothing overall was in disarray, and he looked awful. The worst part though, was an ample sized dent in his shiny, red helmet. Marinette felt overwhelming guilt. She couldn’t believe she just did that. Oh, hell, what did she just do? She continued to blurt out panicked apologies while hyperventilating before the vigilante in question spoke.

“Whoa, calm down. I’m okay, and you’re safe now. Deep breaths, you’re okay. I’m not dead, you’re okay.”

Marinette stopped blurting apologies and slowly felt herself calming down. Oh god, why did these things happen to her. She took deep breaths like he advised, and little by little she felt herself coming off the adrenaline high. 

Once she was mostly calmed down, a cloud of discomfort fell over the two. It was currently 2:00 a.m., and Marinette and the Red Hood were standing in a damp alleyway next to two unconscious bodies. The awkwardness was so thick, Marinette was sure she could cut through it like a knife. So, she decided to break it. 

“Umm…Thanks. I’m really sorry about attacking you, I really didn’t mean to. I totally wasn’t trying to kill you on purpose or anything so I’m so sorry. And I damaged your helmet, I can pay for it if you want?” Marinette nervously stated.

To her surprise, the Red Hood burst out into deep laughter that was slightly smothered by his helmet. Despite the situation, Marinette couldn’t help but smile a bit.

He finally replied, “No, you’re totally okay. I’m fine, and you don’t have to pay for the helmet or anything. I scared you too, and I probably should have probably said something before jumping down into the middle of an alley at night. But, damn, you punch good!” 

Marinette let out a burst of laughter, though it was partially due to relief that the Gotham hero wasn’t totally pissed at her. 

“Thanks, but please let me pay you back somehow. It’ll make me feel better about beating you up. Please?” she asked. 

“No, trust me, it’s totally fine. Besides, you should probably get back to wherever you live. I’ll make sure the cops get these two goons, but it would probably be safer if you were back inside. I can walk you back to help you in case you get bothered again?” Jason had no intention of leaving her all alone at night. Even if she refused him, he would tail her by the roofs to make sure she got home safe. 

Luckily, Marinette agreed, “Yes please, and thank you so much! I really am sorry though.”

Distractedly, Marinette grabbed her purse from under the dumpster while the Red Hood tied up the two men. Hurriedly, she walked with the hero in a comfortable silence all the way back to the entrance of her apartment building. 

“Well, this is goodbye. Nice meeting you Warrior Lady, despite the shitty circumstances,” the red helmeted man said good humoredly. 

Marinette laughed at the nickname before replying, “Goodbye to you too. And thank you for everything.”

“Your welcome. And it really was no problem, trust me. I better get going, but it was fun to meet you.”

So the Red Hood gave a quick nod to her before turning around. Right before he could disappear though, Marinette cried out.

“Wait!”

He abruptly turned around, before a small tin was shoved into his hands. 

“Thank you!” Marinette smiled before stepping into her apartment building and leaving the vigilante standing alone in the dimly lit Gotham street.

Jason curiously looked down at the box in his hands. Cracking it open, he found several macarons sitting in a row. Underneath his helmet, a small smile crossed his face. He decided to make his way back to the two idiots the girl had knocked out. He needed to check if the cops had found them. Stilling smiling to himself, Jason mused over the events that had just transpired. It had definitely been an interesting night. 

Marinette had come back into her apartment, dropping her purse onto the floor. After being fussed over by the kwamis when she told them what had happened, she crashed into bed. However, a thought occurred to Marinette, and she groaned. Her new red satin was still under that dumpster. Her whole trip had pretty much been pointless. Too tired to care anymore though, she fell asleep. 

The next morning, when Marinette walked onto her balcony contemplating last night's events, she was surprised. Sitting on the table of her balcony, was Marinette's shopping bag with her forgotten red satin. Smiling to herself, she grabbed the bag and rushed back inside with a new bout of inspiration. Some outfits based on the Red Hood flashed into her mind, and she quickly got to work.

TAG LIST: @rebecarojas07 @theatreandcomicfreak​ @maribatlife @ethelphantom @18-fandoms-unite-08 @mochegato @jasonette-july-2k20

[mochegato]

Colossal Debts

For @maribat-secret-santa-2020.  Timinette and platonic Jasonette requested.

Jason owed him big for this.  Tremendously. Monumentally.  Colossally big.  This was Tim’s night off.  His night to relax at home… with a few cold case files and maybe video games.  No family, no obligations, no playing nice. Just him, alone.  Not even his friends were going to be over.  Just relaxation.  But nooooo.  Jason called and coerced him into helping him, or more specifically one of his drunken, loud-mouthed, idiot friends.  Make no mistake just because he let Jason coerce him into helping, that in no way meant he wasn’t going to collect big on this.  Tremendously. Monumentally.  Colossally big.

He scanned the room looking for someone who looked like he would be a friend of Jason’s but didn’t see anyone who stood out as an obnoxious jerk.  If Jason made him come all the way down here for no reason, Tim was going to make him take his nights for the next month.  He yanked his phone out of his pocket to give him a call only to have the phone start ringing before he could get past the lock screen.  Speak of the Devil… He pushed the answer button and opened his mouth to ask Jason what the hell, but Jason spoke before he could.

“Where the fuck are you?” he demanded.  “You said you were going to the bar.”

“I am at the bar,” Tim hissed back.  “I’m looking for your friend but I don’t see anyone that stands out.  Are you sure he’s still here?”

“I said ‘her’, dumbass.  And yes she’s still there.  She just called me saying she was going to walk home since you weren’t there,” Jason growled back.  “I swear to God, if something happened while you were fucking around…” he gave an aggrevated sigh.  “Look for a woman who looks completely out of place in a seedy bar and way the fuck out of your league.  Someone who seems like pure innocence and sunshine… drunk sunshine, very drunk if her friend is anything to go by.  Probably pouting and sitting back down after I threatened her to get her not to leave on her own.”

Tim scanned the bar again and saw a petite woman slump into a chair at the end of the bar and drop her head on her arms dramatically.  “I can’t see her face, but black hair, small?”

“Probably.  Her name is Marinette.  Don’t call her small to her face unless I’m there to see you do it.  And Tim?” He waited a beat to make sure he had Tim’s attention.  “Mistreat her in any way and I will throw parties in your townhouse every night during your entire three month stay in the ICU.”

“Yeah, yeah, got it.” Tim rolled his eyes.  Jason could at least come up with a somewhat new threat.  “One wrong move with your drunk girlfriend and you’ll kill me.”

“Not my girlfriend and I won’t be the one to do it.  There will be a line.  She’ll be at the front of it.” He hung up without further explanation.

Tim sighed and made his way over to the woman he was pretty sure was Jason’s “friend”.  He sat down next to the woman close enough to make sure she knew of his presence but far enough away not to invade her personal space.

“Not even remotely interested.  Thank you, next.” She mumbled into her arms, lifting one of her arms to clumsily wave him away.

Tim cocked his head to the side with an amused smile.  She had an adorable French accent.  “First time I’ve been turned down before the person even interacted with me.”

“Exciting day for you.  Congratulations.”  He was pretty sure she was slurring her words slightly but between the mumbling into her arms and her accent, it was hard to tell.

“Thank you.” He nodded to her even though she couldn’t see it.  “I’m Tim.”

“Don’t care,” she singsonged in an annoyed voice.

Tim gave an amused snort.  At least she was an amusing drunk.  “I’m Jason’s brother.  He sent me to come pick you up.  I take it you’re Marinette?”

Marinette’s head popped up to take him in and she immediately regretted it, dropping her head back down with a groan.  “Too fast.  That was a mistake.”  She kept her head buried for a few moments to let the blood settle before slowly turning her head to face him, still resting her head on her arms.  Tim’s breath hitched slightly when her eyes met his.  Her eyes were bright and brilliant and utterly captivating.  She was looking at him with a soft smile.  “So you’re Jason’s brother.  Not what I was expecting.  Which one are you?”

“Tim,” he repeated with a smile.

“Oh, you’re the smart one.”  She nodded with a teasing smile.  She raised her head slightly to see him better.

Tim scoffed.  “I’m surprised he didn’t say the annoying one.”

“You’re all the annoying one.” She gave him a knowing smile, as though she was letting him in on a joke.  Her face suddenly turned serious and penitent.  “Thank you for picking me up.  I’m sorry for whatever threat he used to get you to come.  He’s always been so overprotective.  I’m sorry you got caught up in it.” She smiled gratefully at him and Tim’s heart skipped a beat at the sight.  

She suddenly straightened up in her seat and turned back to her empty drink in front of her, frowning at the sight.  She moved the ice cubes around, searching intently for liquor she hoped it was hiding. “I’m sorry for interrupting your night.” She turned back to him with concerned eyes.  “Oh!  Did you have plans for tonight?  Were they fun?”

“Uh, no.” He looked down sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.  “I was just relaxing.”

“I’m sorry.  Oh, you should get a drink!  You can celebrate with me.  You can’t celebrate without a drink.”  She motioned wildly to get the bartender’s attention.  She was suddenly very excited, her grin incredibly wide and all signs of weariness and serenity gone.  

Tim stared at her for a few moments trying to figure out how to respond.  “No, I’m good,” he said calmly, trying to bring her emotional levels back down.  She pouted at him and gave him puppy dog eyes.  Tim looked over to her drink to keep from looking her in the eyes.  He needed to distract her, and himself.  “What are you celebrating?”

“My company!  I just officially launched my company on Monday!  Isn’t that so cool?  It’s so cool.” She nodded to herself.  “Oh! We should have a drink to celebrate.”

“Yes, very cool.  Congratulations,” he confirmed.

She narrowed her eyes at him and huffed.  “I know you’re just patronaging… parrotizing… patronizing!  Patronizing me, but I’ll take it anyway because you’re one of the only ones to say it.  So, thank you very much.”  She gave him an overly wide smile.  “You should get a drink to celebrate!”  She exclaimed excitedly, eyes opening wide as though she just thought of it.

Tim chuckled.  “No, thank you.  I’m good and we should probably cut you off too.” He handed his card to the bartender. “I’d like to close out her tab, please.”

She pouted at him, her euphoric mood suddenly plummeting along with her shoulders. “But it’s a celebration.”

“Is this man bothering you?” The bartender eyed Tim suspiciously.

“He doesn’t want to celebrate with me.”  She sighed and slumped onto the bar again, resting her chin on her arms.  “Nobody wants to celebrate with me.  Even my friend left,” she reported morosely.

“I was sent to take her back to her home,” Tim assured the bartender.  

She kept a skeptical eye on him and addressed Marinette again.  “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

“Hm?” Marinette looked up at her with a confused look.  She looked over to Tim again.  “Oh, right.  No. Yeah.  I’m fine.  My brother sent him.  If he tried anything, Jason would cut it off.”  She returned her unfocused gaze to the bartender.  Suddenly she straightened up, hands grasping the edge of the bar almost knocking over her empty glass in the process.  “His hand!  I meant his hand.  He’d cut off his hand!  Not…” she surreptitiously looked Tim up and down.  She slumped back down into her seat and hid her head in her arms again. “I’m not drunk enough to finish that sentence.”

The bartender nodded with a chuckle and left to ring up the tab.

“So… brother?” Tim prompted her laughing.

“Hm,” she hummed in confirmation.  “Self-proclaimed.”

“How did you two meet?”

“Bar fight.  In Paris.”

“Of course you did.  Did he step in to protect you in the middle of it, start it, or both?”

She scoffed at him.  “I started it.  Actually, legally, I didn’t start it.  The guy who grabbed my ass started it.  I just finished it.  Jason pretended to be my brother to the cops and made sure I got home safe. We hung out a lot after that for…” she eyed him critically, “… reasons,” she finished uncertainly.  “The brother title stuck.”  She looked around the bar, eyes drifting from one thing to another with no apparent link.  “Stupid cover.  Brother,” she scoffed.  “His French wasn’t that good.”  She turned to Tim with a bewildered look.  “And do we look alike?  Even a little bit?”  

She scoffed again and faced forward, moving her arms to rest them on the bar with a thump but missed the bar.  The momentum threw her forward and her reflexes were just a beat too slow to stop herself from crashing into the bar.  She braced herself for the impact but instead felt a soft, warm embrace halting her movement.  She looked up at her savior in awe.  Tim looked down at her with a soft smile.  “Careful. The bar moves.”

Marinette blushed as she settled back on her seat.  “Thank you,” she answered quietly, looking away from his eyes.  

Tim nodded and moved back to his seat, but kept his arms around Marinette until he was certain she was stable.  “So was the reason you hung out so much after that so he could cover for you in more bar fights?” Tim joked.

Marinette hummed affirmatively.  “I know you’re being condensate… condescend… joking, but kind of. They seem to follow us. Or maybe it’s just fighting in general that I can’t get away from.”  She frowned at the bar, remembering something that Tim desperately wanted to know more about. He didn’t like the frown on her face. He wanted to get her to smile again.

“I wasn’t trying to be condescending or patronizing.  Promise.  At least not towards you.  Jason, yes absolutely.  But not you,” he spoke with sincerity in his voice.  

She stared at him wide eyed for a few moments before looking away shyly. “Okay.”

As if to accentuate her earlier point, he heard loud yelling halfway down the bar. One man stood up and started shoving another over something Tim couldn’t quite make out.  Tim jumped out of his seat and reached for Marinette to get her to safety.  He’d just come back later to get his card.  Protecting Marinette was more important right now.

Marinette brushed his hands away inelegantly.  “We’re fine here.  That guy there, with the glasses?  He’s going to jump in any second now.  That’s going to push the fight in the other direction.  Once he jumps in his friend is going to jump in too.  They’re going to be fum… stum… fighting around that big table there.  One of them is going to be thrown on it.  Probably glasses’ friend.  That’s going to get Curly, the bald one?  Curly was the bald Stooge right?” Tim opened his mouth to respond but she was already moving on.  “So Curly’s going to jump in, right?  Once he’s in the bartender is going to pull out that bat and probably the gun she keeps under the bar and stop it, ‘cuz she likes him.”  She looked around in panic.  “Don’t tell anyone!  That’s a secret.  I think.” Deciding nobody was around to hear, she slumped back down and continued her narrative.  “The fight will move away from us until the bartender ends it.”

Tim eyed her skeptically and turned to watch the bar fight unfold.  His mouth dropped as it happened exactly like Marinette had predicted.  He whipped his head around when he heard a loud bang next to him.  “Oh my God someone stole my phone!” she whisper shouted to him, searching around frantically.  

Tim looked down to the source of the noise, something hitting the floor, he sighed disbelievingly.  He bent down and picked up her phone she had dropped and handed it back to her.  “It’s right here.”

She looked between him and the phone a few times.  “Oh my God,” she whispered out, “you stole my phone.”

Tim stared at her for a few moments and started laughing incredulously.  She could predict the events of the fight, incorporating observations of multiple figures, inputting social relationships, attitudes, and physiques, but she couldn’t figure out she dropped her phone. He looked at her fondly for a moment before furrowing his brow when a thought occurred to him.  “So… you were here with a friend and your friend just left you alone?”  It seemed incredibly irresponsible considering her current state and honestly, Tim was a little worried about what Jason would do to the friend when he found out.

Marinette scoffed.  She turned her head to give him an insulted look.  “You think he’s better at taking care of me than I am?”  She straightened up in her seat to her full height attempting to look more intimidating and faced her body toward him.  “Even drunk, I could handle myself as well or better than him.”

Tim held up his hands in mock surrender.  “No.  I am not doubting your capabilities,” he tried to placate her.  “I’m just saying having more than one person, especially when drinking is involved is safer.

Marinette stared at him for a few moments deciding if she thought he meant it or not before seeming to come to the conclusion he meant it.  She nodded at him.  “Agreed.  To be fair though, he…”  She raised her arm up, propped her elbow on the bar, and sloppily plopped her chin on her hand, staring at him intently.  “…you have gorgeous eyes.”

Tim gaped at her and blushed, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. “Than…”

“To be fair,” she continued not letting him finish his expression of gratitude and returning her glossy stare toward the bar.  “He wasn’t exactly sober either and his girlfriend was caught in that rogue attack across town and he was too worried about her to think straight. That’s probably why you’re here instead of Jason anyway.”  Tim whipped his head around to see who was close enough to hear her, but almost the entirety of the bar was focused on the remains of the fight.  There was nobody close by, but she was drunk enough to suddenly start announcing things loudly enough for everyone in the bar to hear. He really, really needed to get her out of there but they were still waiting on his card and the receipt.  

Marinette suddenly furrowed her brow and looked down at the bar top. “Oh.  I don’t think I was supposed to say that.”

He tried to fix her with a stern look but it came out softer than he intended. “What did you mean by that?”

Her face quickly morphed to a blank expression when she faced him again.  She blinked a few times.  “By what?  I don’t know what I said.  I don’t know anything, not a thing.  Mind completely empty.”  She tried to tap her temple to indicate where her brain should be, in case Tim needed the visual reminder, but flinched back when she accidentally poked herself in the eye instead.  She scrunched her eyes shut and turned toward the bar again.  “And filter completely missing,” she tried to mutter under her breath, but instead said it just as loudly.

Tim stared at her for a few moments uncertain how he felt about her clearly knowing their secret, or at least Jason’s and having the will but clearly not the ability to keep quiet about it.  He burst out laughing, deciding giving into the absurdity of the situation was the best response.  “You’re a terrible liar, you know that?”  He nodded to the bartender who just returned his card after dealing with the fighters.

“I know,” she announced in an exasperated voice and throwing her arms out to the side.  “You would think I’d be better by now.  You should hear… I really like your smile, too.”  She smiled sweetly at him.

Tim smiled self-consciously.  “I like yours too.”

She beamed back at him and turned back to the bar.  “… hear some of the excuses I’ve come up with.” She turned to Tim with a desperate look on her face.  “I once said I had to water my hamster. I don’t even have a hamster.” She looked back to the bar again and slumped back into her seat.  Her face turned sad.  “I want a hamster.”  

She waved her arms wildly as a thought occurred to her.  “Wait!” She looked at him with panic in her eyes.  “If Jason’s your brother and my brother… does that make you my brother too?”

Tim stared at her for a second.  “No. Not even remotely.”

“Are you sure?  Transitive properties and all.” She looked at him uncertain.

“I am absolutely positive.  In no way could you be considered my sister,” he promised.

She sighed in relief, relaxing back into her seat with a contented smile. “Okay, good.  You should get a hamster.”

“I think it’s time to get you home,” he said shaking his head and getting up. He reached out to help her up and support her.

She looked over at him stricken.  “Oh no, I made you uncomfortable!  Do you have a pho… phoban?” she scrunched up her face in concentration.  “Phobia!” she announced proudly.  Before leaning into Tim.  “Do you have a fear of hamsters?  I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have brought them up.  It’s okay, you don’t need to get one.”

Tim fought the smile that wanted to appear on his lips at her concern.  “No,” he assured her.

“Oh.” She looked down trying to come up with another reason for his sudden decision to leave.  “Did I make you mad because you hate hamsters?” She asked in a very serious tone like that was the most rational next explanation.

He didn’t even fight the smile and chuckle this time as he wrapped his arm around her waist to help her toward the exit.  “No.  I have no opinions on hamsters at all.”

“Well that’s just sad,” she dismissed him and curled into his side, allowing him to guide her outside.  After a few steps she stopped and stood up straight.  “I annoyed you!” she moaned ruefully.

“No.” He ran his hands up and down her arms to calm her and get assure her he was not upset.  His breath hitched when she turned her watery, shining blue eyes to his, pausing his hands as he got lost in her gaze.  He shook his head to focus back on the task at hand, not hitting on the beautiful, sweet, funny, interesting, drunken friend of Jason.  “It’s just getting late and I think you could use some sleep,” he said gently.

“Oh… okay,” she answered slightly dazed from his gaze as well.  Her gaze shifted to take in his face.  “You’re very handsome.  You have great hair too.  Does it naturally do that?”  She reached up to touch his hair, but jerked her hand back so violently she would have fallen over if Tim wasn’t supporting her weight.  “I am so sorry.  That was not okay.  I forgot you’re just here because Jason asked you.  I don’t know you and I can’t just touch you without your permission.”

Tim looked down pointedly at his arm around her waist but she completely missed the look.  She groaned and hid her head in her hands.  Tim tightened his grip around her waist and continued leading her to his car. “It’s okay.  I’m glad I came down and met you.  And, if I was offended I would have tried to move away instead of leaning into it.  You can touch my hair if you want,” he assured her.  “And anything else,” he muttered under his breath.

She looked up at him with a cute look of wide eyed confusion.  “What?”

“What?” he answered back just as innocently.  “Um… So… You and Jason are close?”  He asked carefully trying to distract her while he opened his car door for her.

She hummed noncommittally.  “As close as Jason lets anyone get.  He’s like the big brother I never wanted.  I think I was adopted against my will.”

“Oh?” He prompted as he closed the door.  He needed her to stay awake so he knew where to take her.  And it had the added benefit of allowing him to get to know her a bit better… and possibly blackmail on Jason.

She hummed again when he got in on the driver’s side.  He watched her fumble with the seat belt as she spoke.  “Something about the dead heroes club?”

He froze.  He snapped his eyes to hers.  “You were a hero?”

Her eyes bugged out and snapped up to his.  “Noooo, what?”  She looked back down at the belt latch, trying a few more times to get it to click.  She huffed after a few more tries.  “Reverse polarization.”

“What?” Tim asked her trying to figure out where the hell that had come from.

“Reverse polarization.  That must be it.  The… the square part is repelling the other square part.  That’s why I can’t get it to work.” She nodded to herself. “Reverse polarization.  They don’t want to be together.”  She paused for a moment.  “If that isn’t some kind of symbolism… I don’t know what for, but something.”

Tim gave an amused smile and pushed the latch into the buckle.  Marinette gasped and looked at him in awe.  “How did you stop the polarization?”

“Magic,” Tim answered looking away, fully realizing there would be no way to explain the lack of magnets involved.

Marinette gasped.  “You’re magic too?”  She stared at him excitedly for a few moments before her face scrunched up again.  “You guys aren’t magic.  Batman doesn’t like magic.  You lied.”

Tim stared at her, thinking very carefully about his next words and running through all the things she just revealed.  First, she knew he was a bat.  Second, she knew Batman didn’t like magic.  Third, she said ‘too’.  So either she knew someone who was magic or she was magic.  Fourth, she had taken him seriously and thought he was lying to her. He decided the last one was the immediate issue.  The rest could be dealt with when she woke up in the morning.  Or when he could corner Jason.  “Sorry, it was a joke.  I didn’t think you would take me seriously.  I’m sorry for misleading you.  It was not my intention,” he promised solemnly.

Marinette studied him and cocked her head to the side and finally nodded. “Okay.  I don’t like liars.  Even though I am one, but I don’t like it.”

“So why do you?”

“Have to,” she shrugged.

“Because you’re a hero, like Jason?” he prompted again.

“Hero’s not the right word.” She shook her head jerkily.  “You don’t have heroes.”

Vigilante,” he suggested.

“Yes!” She looked excitedly at him then realized their conversation.  “Nooooo.” She looked straight out the windshield. Tim focused on the road as well and pulled out into traffic.  “I was never a vigilante,” she continued absentmindedly.

“Were you a hero?” he asked again.  “A hero that died and came back?”

“Hm? What?” She raised her eyebrows at him as though seeking clarification.  “I’m sorry my English isn’t very…” she screwed up her eyes to think, “… well.”  She nodded proudly at herself.

Tim scoffed at her.  “Your English is excellent.  You have to focus to mess it up.”

“Aww, thank you!” she beamed at his praise.  “I haven’t been speaking it very long.”

He opened his mouth to press the subject but decided that wouldn’t be fair to her.  He wouldn’t want someone to take advantage of him if he were in a weakened state.  He wouldn’t do it to her.  “Where do you live?”

She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the door’s glass.   She rambled off her address.  Tim chuckled lightly.  “I meant here… in Gotham.  Not France.”

Marinette’s eyes flew open.  “Oh! Um.”  She frowned to think about it.  They hadn’t been living there very long and she remembered more by sight than by actual address.  “6th street.  No 7th.  8th?  9th. Definitely 9th.  Sorry,” she smiled sheepishly at him and closed her eyes again.  “No!” she jumped forward, “27th!” She looked away and frowned.  “No, that’s not right either.”

Tim sighed and tried not to smile at the cute faces she was making.  He decided this was absolutely fruitless.  The only solution would be to call Jason.  He picked up on the fourth ring with an annoyed voice.  “No, you can’t date her.”

“That was not the question.  And also, fuck you.  Where does your girl live?”

“She’s not mine and why don’t you ask her?”  After a beat, he amended himself.  “Actually, she is.  She’s mine. You can’t date her.”

Tim scoffed at him.  “She already said you adopted her like a little sister.  B rub off on you, Jay?”  He smirked as he drove knowing exactly the face and gestures Jason was making to that. Before he could respond, Tim continued, “She doesn’t remember her address.”  He looked over to her.  Her head was resting on the glass again and her eyes were closed.  Her breathing was even and her mouth hung open slightly. “And I’m pretty sure she just fell asleep.  I can link to the batcomputer and look it up, I guess.”

“NO! I don’t want B to know about her yet.”

“Why,” Tim asked suspiciously, the previous conversation about magic popping into his mind.  It could be just Jason being Jason and wanting to keep everyone at arm’s length or it could mean something was going on with this woman and he didn’t want Bruce to act on it.

“Because it’s B.  I want her off his radar as long as possible.”

“That tells me exactly nothing.” He rolled his eyes.  “Is she dangerous?”

“Only if you try to grab her ass or try to hurt someone.  I just don’t want Bat dad getting his hands on her,” he explained, his growing annoyance clear in his voice.

“So, she is a hero, a magical one.” Tim nodded at the confirmation.

“No…” Jason answered tentatively.  “… It’s complicated.  And I’m not going to explain it.  Just… take her to your place for tonight.”

“Why my place?”

“She needs some place to crash.  She’s a good person.  And you want to hook up with her despite me telling you to back off.”

Tim nodded his head to the side in acknowledgement.  He wasn’t wrong.  And if she slept at his place tonight he could keep an eye on her to make sure she was okay and maybe talk to her in the morning.  “Fine.  I’ll take her to my place.”

“And Tim?”

“Yes?”

“You sleep on the couch.”

“You know I have a guest room, right?  A few, in fact.”

<><><><><> 

The next morning came earlier than Tim was prepared for.  He really wanted to stay in bed for a few more hours, but he was afraid of Marinette waking up in a strange bed and freaking out with nobody there to answer questions.  He dragged himself out of the guest bed and started making coffee for them.  He would have started breakfast for them, but he didn’t know how long she would be sleeping and he couldn’t cook.  He just decided he could order some food to be delivered when he heard shuffling from the kitchen entrance.  

He looked up to see Marinette in the doorway, nervously rubbing her arms, an anxious smile on her face.  She looked absolutely beautiful despite being a bit rumpled and disheveled.  “Hi,” she waved awkwardly.

Tim gave her a disarming smile.  “Hi.”

She looked around uncertainly.  “Um… if you don’t mind me asking… Where am I?” The apprehension was clear in her voice.

Tim smiled calmly, trying to reassure her that she was safe.  “You’re in my townhouse.”

“Right, right.  Cool. Cool.” She shifted nervously. “And we didn’t?” She motioned vaguely between them.

Tim’s smile widened at her expression.  “No.  I slept in the spare room.”

“Oh thank god.” She let out a relieved breath.  “I didn’t think we did considering I’m still dressed but… Oh, no offense to you.  I just…”

“Weren’t yourself or able to make responsible decisions last night?” He asked with an amused glint in his eyes and a smirk.  He motioned to a chair at the counter.

“Yes.” She sighed out, grateful for his understanding. �� She suddenly straightened unnaturally stiff and studied him apprehensively for a few moments.  “You say that like you know I wasn’t making responsible decisions last night.  Tell me I didn’t do anything I should regret or be embarrassed about last night, please.”

“Other than saying you wanted to jump me and get married and have babies in a house filled with hamsters?” he offered innocently.

“OH MY GOD!”  Her face turned bright red faster than she could bury it in her hands to hide it.

His laughter boomed out of him.  “I’m kidding. I’m totally kidding.” He only laughed louder when she gave him an absolutely adorable pout.  

“That was not funny.  You’re mean.” She sat down in the offered chair with a huff.  “Stop being mean to the hungover urchin you housed for the night.”

His laughter calmed quickly and he had the decency to look guilty.  “I’m sorry.  You’re right.  That was mean.  You were perfectly polite and sweet all night.  You didn’t do anything embarrassing at all.  The only thing I would be embarrassed about in the morning was telling me my eyes were pretty and I was handsome.  Which isn’t even embarrassing, I’m just easily embarrassed.  It was very nice to hear though.”

The rosy color returned to her cheeks as she studied his eyes searching them to see if he was telling the truth this time.  She must have found that he was because she looked down and nodded.  “Yeah, drunk me is very honest.”  Tim blushed slightly at her admission.  “I swear I’m not usually like that.  My friend and I were just celebrating and things spiraled.”

Tim nodded in understanding.  “Congratulations again, in case you don’t remember me saying it last night.  You never said what kind of company it is.”

“Thank you.” She gave him a grateful smile.  “It’s a fashion company.  I’m a designer.  I’m really excited to finally have a store front up and running.”  She looked around his townhouse, really looking at it for the first time.  “Um… no offense.  Who are you?

Tim chuckled.  “And drunk you has no memory retention.”

“I am so sorry,” she moaned into her hands.

He chuckled.  “Don’t be. I don’t drink often but when I do, I’m pretty much the same, and significantly less cute in the process.” Marinette blushed and looked down to try unsuccessfully to hide it.  “I’m Tim.  I’m Jason’s brother.  He asked me to pick you up last night since he was helping with the rogue attack.”

“He was?”  She looked at him, the picture of innocent confusion.

“Oh, sober you is much better at acting dumb than drunk you.”  Tim commented with a shake of his head and handed her a cup of coffee.  “I’m impressed.  I would have believed that if I didn’t know better.”

Her eyes widened at him.  “What did…”

“Just that you knew Jason was a vigilante.  Is there more?” he asked with a teasing smile.

She opened her mouth to deny it before she thought better of it and narrowed her eyes at him playfully.  “You were going to be nice to the hungover urchin.  I’m too hungover for mind games.”

“I actually never said that.  But I’m willing to make it up to you.” He offered her a charming smile and leaned across the counter toward her.  “Want to go get breakfast?  My treat. We can talk and get to know each other… if you want.”

Marinette beamed at him, “I would love to.”  She suddenly got a mischievous glint in her eye.  “How pissed do you think it will make Jason?”  Tim hummed noncommittally.  Honestly he wasn’t sure.  Jason seemed surprisingly okay with Tim bringing her to his house, but Jason was also extremely overprotective of the people he cared about so…

She leaned forward conspiratorially with a devious grin.  “We should take a picture that makes it look like more is going on and send it to him.”  Tim raised his eyebrows in surprise.  Did she just… “Actually, maybe not.” She waved away the idea and leaned back in her chair again.  “You’d be the one that would have to deal with the aftermath of that.  That wouldn’t be fair and Jason can be an absolute asshole when he’s being protective.”

“Jason would hate it.  Let’s do it.”  Tim’s expression morphed to match her previous grin.

Marinette’s face brightened with excitement.  “Really?”

Tim nodded, “I am always up for messing with my brothers.”

Marinette looked away shyly.  “Okay, well, I was thinking you could take a picture of me kissing your cheek and send it to him?  If you’re okay with me doing that.”

“I am absolutely okay with you kissing me,” Tim nodded, pulling out his phone. His cheeks colored quickly when he realized what he said.  “I mean…”

“Ready?” she interrupted, the slight blush on her cheeks the only indication that she had heard him.

He nodded mutely and positioned the phone to take the picture.  He nearly dropped the phone when he felt her soft lips brush against his cheek.  It took a moment for him to remember he was supposed to be taking a picture of the kiss, not just enjoying it.  Too quickly, she pulled away, looking at him with expectant eyes.  “Did we get it?  How does it look?”

He stared at her dumbly for a few seconds, still recovering from the kiss. “Um, right,” he turned to view the picture.  “You look gorgeous.  It!  It looks gorgeous.  I’ll just… I’ll send it to Jason.”  His fingers fumbled through the screens to send the picture.  Would she mind if he set it as his screensaver?  It wasn’t creepy if the picture was her idea, right?

“And… could you send it to me too?” she asked timidly.

He looked up at her in surprise and quickly gave her a happy grin.  “How about you take one with your phone. Maybe I can kiss your cheek this time.”

Marinette’s cheeks turned bright pink.  She bit her lower lip and nodded at him.  Tim grinned as he leaned forward to press a kiss to her cheek.  Maybe he owed Jason instead. Tremendously.  Monumentally.  Colossally big.

[fuckingdeadbutroyal]

Jasonette July- Soulmate AU- Part 4

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5

!Season 3 spoilers coming right ahead!

A tiny sigh escaped Maris lips as she felt her body filling up with energy. “He ate. I think I’ll be fine in a few”, she told her partner, who was currently swimming next to her. She hadn’t dared to detransform for a day now, knowing that doing so would mean her finally collapsing. The duo hasn’t been wasting time, though. Theyvwere trying to come up with a new plan. Ladybug told him all about her being the new Guardian of the Miraculous, about Chat Blanc and Bunnix. Pointed out how if Bunnix hasn’t turned up yet, that meant that they could handle the situation. Explained why she wouldn’t dare share her identity with him, even though she wanted to, because of how she couldn’t afford to risk him turning into Chat Blanc again. Ladybug told him about her soulmate. Now he finally understood how she had such incredible stamina and... had a hard time agreeing to the two of them staying as nothing more than friends.

Adrien did not disregard their friendship as something unimportant. Knowing that he was Ladybugs best friend and feeling that she was just as well his... best friend, his partner, the person he could rely on the most. It was amazing, unique and so very very important to him.

That didn’t mean he wasn’t hurt, though. He loved her and she liked him, they both knew that. It just was never enough. Not for Adrien.Now was not the time to grieve his broken heart, though. He was used to suppressing his emotions due to Hawkmoths terror. He could keep it together for a little longer.

Now that all their cards were laid out on the table, they were ready to come up with a plan.

“Look. I can’t cast my cure while the akuma is still out there. Creation doesn’t work with destruction working actively against it.”, Ladybug told Chat who, though currently detransformed as Adrien, winced. The word “Destruction” has already intergrated itself as a trigger, setting off a bad reaction in the teenagers mind. Plagg did not like that in the slightest. “Kid, you’ve gotta get it together. Yes I am the god of D-Trigger, but I’m also the God of Chaos and let me tell ya, I can’t sense a hint of chaos on that dusty dirtbag out there.” Adrien smirked, a drained, sarcastical smile forming on his lips. “Are you trying to tell me I have another power you’ve just forgotten to mention?” 

The heroes knew they still weren’t off age and therefore didn’t have access to their full potential. That didn’t stop hope from lighting up in the backs of the duos hearts. They already couldn’t use the other Miraculous power, since all of the previous Miraculous holders were eliminated on day three, due to Hawkmoth already knowing their identities (thanks to what he had done on heroes day two years ago) and him finding the civilian heroes’ hiding places before Ladybug and Chat Noir could even locate their presence in Paris. Searching for new holders was clearly not a good idea. They couldn’t risk throwing someone inexperienced and terrified into a battle they didn’t know how to win yet.

But if Chat could use a new power? 

That would be the element of surprise they needed! Adriens 18th Birthday was just around the corner, there's a chance it could work!

"Nah, he's not in the right condition to try, too young and way too exhausted"

Bye bye little flame of hope.

"But if you were to get some ACTUAL sleep and eat some fucking food? You would totally make it."

"Wait what?", Marinettes eyes were the size of asteroids. They had a chance! She just had to get him to one of those bunkers so he could get some sleep and then..."Then we'll have to go without it. I'm not leaving you alone milady."

Oh, yeah, there was that tiny detail she had forgotten. The two of them were too protective of each other to leave their partner to their own devices and Ladybug entering any building was not an option.The girl let out a frustrated huff, "Cha-" "I understand what you mean, Ladybug.”, Adriens voice was solid and left no room for argument. Batman would have been proud. “But this is not up to debate. I'm not leaving you alone, not while you are in this state nor during any of our battles. It has never ended well in the past and it sure as hell won't end well now."

Plagg' and Maris' annoyed sighs were absolutly identical, which would've made Adrien laugh, if it weren't for their current situation. He knew he was right, though, and he knew she did as well.

Mentally, Marinette was feeling better. Less on edge, more focused. It was surprising to all of them. Of course she still was incredibly tired, even more fatigued than yesterday, which was understandable since she has not slept for about a week now and spent most of her time swinging around Paris, thinking her head off and crying her eyes out while trying to save as many civilians as possible. Nontheless, even though her body was about to shut down, her brain was working at a thousand miles per hour. She knew it was thanks to her soulmate, who was currently fueling the both of them by ingesting loads of energizing substances and getting closer.

Marinette was now certain her soulmate was a man. He was in Paris, in danger and aware of her dependance on him.

Who could he be? How did he get here? Why now? Why hasn’t he ever tried to find her before? 

She didn’t judge him, of couse. Did not expect him to put everything aside just to find her. Who if not Ladybug could understand what it meant to have duties holding you back, chaining you to the ones who claim to love you? (While they only do so because they need her, Marinette believed. Paris didn’t actually love her, no-one cared about her wellbeing unless it was important for their safety. No-one would jump into fire for Ladybug if they wouldn't trust her to sacrifice her sanity to resurrect them. No-one has ever jumped to rescue Marinette in her civilian identity, after all.)

Marinette was spiralling. Memories and repressed emotions suddenly jumping to the surface, reminding her of all the ways she had offered her very self to help anyone in need and receiving nothing in return. She had people who were nice to her, she had friends and family and people who loved her for who she was. Sadly, Mari only just now realised that love wasn't enough. It has never been enough. She would spend many nights awake, working on gifts and projects and helping her friends out or even just simply entertaining them over the phone. What for? Why?!

"Marinette is a saint", her parents would say, "She can do anything." Mari knew that wasn't true. She wasn't almighty. She couldn't even say "No".

That’s where the spiral came to an end. All those thoughts were standing at a cliffs edge, staring down into the abyss right beneath their feet. A tiny step forward, a minimal lean in and she would fall. Where would she go? What would she encounter? Was it okay to do this? Was it okay to change?

For once, Mari felt sure of herself. In a place she would've never thought she'd be, swimming under a god damn Ladybug themed boat in the middle of the Saine. Her mind was clear, certain. She opened her eyes and her mind jumped.

"Well fuck no I can't always do everything.", Mari heard Ladybugs voice, only partly recognizing it as her own.

The black cat duo next to her winced, having been discussing the topic of whether or not Adrien could leave Ladybug alone for a few hours. Not at all have they been expecting the sudden change in the star of their argument.

"Bug...?"

She looked at him, face straight but full of rage. Eyes sharp but full of thought. She didn't need to look around to figure out how to use her lucky charm, instead she had a horrible, unstable and unfinished plan she was absolutely going to follow.

"I have an idea."

------------------

Hawkmoth was nervous. The akuma was stronger than he had expected and definitely much harder to control. He hasn't yet decided whether or not it was a good idea to akumatize a homeless man, especially considering his educational history in architecture and geography.

It was like the Akuma was thinking, not just feeling like all his previous ones did. It could either mean victory or the literal end of the world. Gabriel was hoping for the first option, of course.

Another reason for his nervous state of mind, were the unexpected members of the justice league, who for whatever reason just now decided to enter the battlefield. He hasn't been expecting them anymore, once the first year of his reign had passed without a droplet of attention from Gotham and the rest of the world. If they've never cared before, why now? Did they suddenly have more free time or did they only just realise they were literal vigilantes and could therefore ignore any and all international borders?

Or was Hawkmoth finally on the right track, finally about to win so they sent the last of their forces to come and save his enemies? A grin split his masked face in a horrifying grimace. His secret weapon was still leashed, still waiting for his order. Agreste Senior had the upper hand, this was his time to shine, his time to win.

Finally.

----------

Much clearer air seeped into Jason's lungs. He even went as far as removing his mask, just so he could properly breathe in something that wasn't poisoned with a literal mist of dust and the stench of death. His heart, no, their hearts were beating faster. Jason stood right by the river. He felt the cold water numbing her legs and reaching for her throat. He felt her dizzy fatigue and her clenching stomach. He knew her thoughts were just as clear as his. It felt as though their minds were finally complete, as if their brains could finally grasp the whole situation. Their body's were so close, they could finally function the way they were meant to. Together, helping one another.

"Red Robin. I found her. The boats are meant for shelter, the akuma can't come out in the open and it’s afraid of water. The heroes must be somewhere underneath those fat kanus."

"Copy."

"I'm going in."

"Hood wai-"

Jason was already underwater, hearing but not listening to Tim's voice.

Red Hood was about to find his Red Lady and no one could stop him.

-------------

Marinette had just finished explaining her plan to Adrien, who was now transformed and ready to move, when she felt it. "He's here.", was all she could muster. Chat didn't have to think twice to guess what she had meant and subconsciously started to brace himself. He couldn't help but think that now really wasn't the time for her soulmate to interrupt. They were at war, which meant that her uninvited lover was putting himself and Ladybug at risk. Risking her safety meant risking Paris safety which meant that over all, Adrien felt like they were being royaly fucked by the Kwami of Timing.

The Duo felt the water underneath their feet moving. (The rivers flow has been stopped right at the beginning of the akuma battle. It was a safety precaution the mayor has ordered after a particularly unpleasant spread of akuma poison. Now, whenever the Akuma-alert went of, the city shut down, sealed shut and closed up. Not a single soul could enter and not a single twig could leave.

The heroes had formerly agreed to that being a great idea, now that they were short on everything, though... let's say they have learned that isolation wasn't always the best solution to their problems.)

Ladybug felt him before she heard him, a weird sense of Deja-vu overcoming her.

He came up behind her. Her spine felt like it was buzzing with electricity.

"Pixie?"

Jason didn't know why he called her that, but it sure as hell felt right.

Another shiver went down their spines. Marinettes reaction caused by her soulmates voice, while Jason's body just seemed to mimic hers even more intensely now.

She turned around.

Their eyes met.

Their scars felt like they've lit up in flames.

Two sleeping bodies were sinking towards the floor of the river Saine.

--------------------------------------

Hey ho, friendioh

I am so tired, my eyes are so done, je suis juste come Jasonette in my story.

You comments though? I LOVE YOU. Thank each and every one of you lovely message-leavers, my heart is now full of love and excitement and it’s your fault!

I can’t stress this enough, your feedback is shooing my depressay far far away.

Now back to the content. I am not finished yet, there’s more coming and the end is still uncertain, even to me. I have my plotline and my scenes, but this story has kind of started writing itself (which in my opinion is what makes writing so great). So I guess we’re all looking into a future just as uncertain as Dukes vision :)

My taglist has grown! Message me if you are interested in joining that cute group you are about to read the names of, I’ll be happy to add you ^^

Tag List \o/

@maribat-is-lifeblood @lokilex @amayakans @readingismyoxygen 

Thanks for reading ^^

[hateswifi]

Jasonette July: Joint Mission

Day eleven of being committal, I finished this early and I’m watching movies with my sister.

The Master: Master List

Jasonette July: Master List

--------------------------------------

When she joined the Justice League she didn’t realize how much of a jerk Red Hood would be to her. She asked around and was told that it was just her he acted like this with alone. The worst part is, she had only been nice to him.

“Ladybug!”

“Yes, madame!”

“Pay attention, you two should be very happy we were able to finish the mission even after you guys blew you cover. You’re lucky you had back up and if you didn’t I doubt you’d be this unhurt,” Wonder Woman lectures.

“And this is why we think you should be handcuffed until you two can figure out how to be civil,” Batman said.

“Umm... I have a life, an apartment, and a job that I don’t need this bastard following me around,” Ladybug said, standing in a rage.

“Well then you guys better figure it out soon,” Wonder Woman said, leaving the room with Batman following closely behind. 

“This sucks,” Hood mutters to himself.

“I’m going to make a few calls before I get handcuffed to you,” Ladybug said, standing up abruptly. “Hey, Bee.”

“You got in trouble,” Marinette could hear Chloe’s smirk through the phone.

“Kinda, I can’t come home for a bit.”

“Seriously? How much trouble did you get into.”

“I’m not in trouble, it’s just a teamwork exercise,” She sighs.

“Bull, you and Hood were fighting again weren’t you?”

“The mission went bad because there were some things said, ya know?”

“Yeah, I get it, you guys got into a lover’s spat.” “Seriously, Bee, that’s not even close to being true. Well, I have to let you go, I have to call my client before I’m handcuffed.” “That's fantastic! So much for team building,” Chloe laughs as Marinette shakes her head and hangs up.

Ladybug sighs and dials another number. “Hello?” “Hello, Miss Marinette.”

“Hi, I’m currently sick and won’t be able to take measurements tomorrow, I know this is a lot to ask, would you be able to take their measurements?”

“Of course, Miss Marinette, I hope you feel better, I’ll send them over when I’m done.” “Thank you, Alfred!”

She was walking back into the room when Hood was picking up his phone. “Of course I can try, I don’t know how well it will work, but I can try,” Hood said, looking at her as she entered. “Bye.”

“You ready for this bull?”

“Yeah, sure whatever,” Hood sighs.

“You guys ready?” Bruce asks.

“What took so long?” Hood grumbles.

“We had to find a pair you wouldn’t be able to break out of,” Wonderwoman says, cuffing their hands together.

“I have to be able to work, can you cuff my left hand?” Ladybug asks. Wonderwoman nods and locks her left hand. 

“Hood, you guys can stay in the penthouse, you know where it is, there neither of you have to give away your identities unless you want to,” Batman explains. Wonderwoman and Batman leave the room leaving, Hood and Ladybug alone.

“I have to grab somethings for work and stuff,” Ladybug said, turning to face Hood.

“Ok,” Hood shrugs.

“I’m going to have to ask you to close your eyes, I would love to try and keep my privacy,” Ladybug sighs.

“Fine whatever.”  They walk in silence to Hood’s motorcycle.

“I’m driving,” Ladybug said, trying to climb on his bike.

“No you’re not, this is my bike, my rules,” Hood growls.

“Fine here’s a store close to my apartment, we’ll have to go on the roof the rest of the way, because there’s no one way I’m walking in like this with you,” Ladybug said, climbing on behind him. She didn’t realize how close they would have to sit because of their cuffed hands. They pull into a nearby alleyway and Hood holds onto her as she yo-yo’s on to the roof. “You’re going to have to trust me, I’m going to lead you to my apartment,” Ladybug says.

“Just don’t let me fall off the roof,” Hood jokes. Ladybug picks him up bridal style.

“Put me down!” 

“We’re almost there, calm down!” He’s put down and is about to open his eyes when she put her hand over his eyes.

“What the hell!” 

“You can open your eyes once we’re inside, but no looking around too much,” Ladybug says, opening the window. “Bee, transform, we have a guest,” She shouts into the living room. “You can open your eyes, Hood.”

“Who’s Bee?”

“That would be me,” Chloe says, entering the main living area transformed. “This better than I thought it would be.” Chloe laughs.

“Bee, this is Hood, Hood this is my roommate and best friend, Bee,” Ladybug introduces.

“You said you wouldn’t be back for a bit,” Bee says, sitting down on the couch.

“I have to pick up work, remember the client I was talking about yesterday? Well, their butler is going to be taking their measurements for me, I just told him I was sick and couldn’t come. I still have to do other work though, so I came by to pick up some things.” “Speaking of things to do, I have to go to my father’s house tomorrow, I have to do something, which means you need to be blindfolded,” Hood says, nonchalantly. 

“Whatever,” Ladybug shrugs. “Bee, can you grab my stuff, I don’t really want him to leave this area, ya know?”

“Yeah, sure,” Bee sighs, before walking down the opposite hall of the one she appeared from. They stand in awkward silence. 

“So what do you do for work?” “I’m a superhero, but you mean as a civilian, I’m a fashion designer,” Ladybug says, looking at where Bee had disappeared to. “What about you?”

“I work as head of security in my father’s business,” Hood says, rubbing the back of his neck. 

“And here’s your stuff,” Bee walks out, holding a bag. “Your sketchbook is in there.”

“Well we’re going to have to figure this out soon, I’ll have to use my sewing machine for the upcoming orders. My uncle’s wardrobe needs to be done soon. Did you stick my pencil bag in here?”

“Yep, what’d ya take me for a dumb blonde,” Chloe rolls her eyes.

“Ok we’ve talked about this Noir was oblivious not dumb, there’s a different and look where it ended up. We ended up best friends because he wanted his friend to be friends with each other,” Ladybug shrugs. “Well, we should go. If Mama and Papa call, tell them to call my phone,” She says, opening the window.

“Ok, buginette,” Been calls at their back.

“Bye, Bee,” Hood says over his shoulder.

“Don’t hurt her, I’ll hurt you!” 

“Hold this for me while I carry you,” Ladybug says, holding out her bag. 

“Fine but were taking off out mask and you are going to detransform. I won’t look at you, you won’t look at me,” Hood says.

“As long as you promise not to look,” Ladybug says, picking Hood up. 

“This is embarrassing you know,” Hood grumbles.

“Yep. But it’s also the easiest way to carry you.” They land on the ground and Hood takes off his helmet. 

“Now, your turn.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Ladybug sighs. “Tikki, Spots off.”

They ride to the penthouse Batman promised. They don’t look at each other. Hood reads a book as she sketches ideas for the Wayne’s outfits.

Jason looks over at what Ladybug is working on. “What are you working on?”

“Suits for my clients,” She says quickly, forgetting she’s not supposed to like him.

“They look nice, I like that one, it looks formal while still not looking stuffy.” 

“Yeah one of the sons is against wearing anything formal,” Ladybug says, adding finishing touches.

They end up talking about anything and everything except identities. It was getting into the early hours of the morning and they may or may not be sleep deprived. “So why do you hate me?” Ladybug asks with a yawn.

“I don’t hate you, what made you think that?”

“You always yell at me when we’re on missions and everyone says that you make jokes and stuff but even not during missions, you never seemed friendly, I guess,” Ladybug says, placing her head on his shoulder.

“I yell at you because I like you and I don’t want you to get hurt, and with the jokes and stuff, I don’t want to scare you off,” Hood admits, running his fingers through her hair.

The next thing he knew, he was staring face to face with the most beautiful blue eyes. “You like me?” She asks, her eye glittered with hope.

“Ever since the first mission,” Hood says, and before he could continue, she placed a firm kiss on his lips. “You’re beautiful.”

“I like you too, I didn’t want to show it because I thought you hated me.”

“We can talk about this tomorrow, you and I both have to do things tomorrow.” So there they feel asleep Ladybug wrapped in Hood’s warm embrace. The next morning they were awakened by a call, it was Alfred. “What's the matter, Alfred?”

“Alfred?” Ladybug woke with a yawn.

“You have to come to get your measurements taken,” Alfred’s voice came over the phone.

“Oh ok, did Bruce tell you about my extra appendage?”

“Yes, Master Jason.”

“Ok, see you soon,” Jason said, hanging up. “I guess it’s time to get up.” he sighs, prompting her to stand up.

“If you want, I could still wear a blindfold,” Ladybug says, standing up. 

“If you want to keep any form of secrecy, you can,” Hood said.

“Want breakfast before we go?”

“Maybe just some coffee.” Ladybug nods and heads to the kitchen, dragging Hood behind her. They drink coffee and have some eggs before getting back on Hood’s bike. 

“Welcome home, Master Jason,” Alfred greets.

“Alfred?” Ladybug asks, lifting her blindfold.

“Miss Marinette, you said you are sick,” Alfred says, raising an eyebrow.

“How was I supposed to explain this, but since I’m here I guess I’ll take the measurements,” Marinette shrugs.

“You knew her didn’t you Alfred?” Jason sighs.

“Of course, Master Jason,” Alfred smiles.

“Thank you, Alfred.”

“I see you both learned to get along,” Bruce says, entering the lobby.

“You knew too, I’m going to guess,” Marinette sighs.

“Of course, I’m Batman, I know all. I just knew you too needed some time to get to know each other to realize you have feeling for one another.”

“Thank you, Brucie, I now have an amazing girlfriend because of this “Team building”,” Jason says, using air quotes around team building.

“Now, not that I don’t like hanging out with you Jason, but could you please uncuff me, I have measurements to take,” Marinette giggles.

“Of course, Marinette.” They're uncuffed and she hugs Jason. 

“I guess we can go on missions together and not worry about arguing,” Marinette murmurs.

“How about we try a couple of dates first?”

“I’d be happy with that,” Marinette says, kissing his cheek.

--------------------------------------

Tag List: @jasonette-july-2k20 @abrx2002 @pawsitivelymiraculous​ @ironspiderstark@thestressmademedoit @bigpicklebananatree @zalladane

Permanent Tag List: @ash-amg @bee-wrecker @damianette-is-life @mjisntme @i-will-be-your-ace @k-poplunardreams @chocolateherringtacofan @toodaloo-kangaroo @i-is-mysterious @zambie-trashart @imnotfluffy @nanakeid

[khneltea]

Jasonette headcannon #1 section b.

Woah, so apparently y'all like this stuff. Uhm, takes inspiration from @mochegato and @SquareBrain on AO3

Previous

↬ Jason will never admit that he felt scared out of his wits as he rocked up to the shop

↬ nope, nuh-uh, never

↬ the store owner who stood a head shorter than him wasn't scary in the slightest

↬ so, dressed up in his best leather jacket and jeans, plus that old red shirt that may or may not have a bullet hole in it somewhere but was the best one he could find, he opened the door to the shop

↬ only to tremble in his boots at who was in the shop (whether it was anger or sheer fear, he will not admit to either and will deny all allegations of said trembling)

↬ inside was 2 of the biggest crime lords in Gotham, the one from the docks and the one from the underground, notorious for trying to tear each other's throats out, sitting peacefully on pretty pink cushions and enjoying pastries and tea out of tiny dainty tea cups

↬ what.the.actual.fuck.

↬ the glaringly pink (he supposed that was the theme) door to the right suddenly burst open and out comes the lady of the hour, and behind her was a very hot teenage girl (about 15 years old), but for some reason, he didn't really pay attention to her

↬ all eyes were on the two ladies, the hot one giggling away about a quinceañera while the owner of the shop smiled serenely, surveying the surroundings (probably checking if there was a gang war)

↬ her bluebell eyes popped out when they saw him (he says it was because he was handsome, but don't listen to him-)

↬ "hello! Welcome to my boutique, would you like to take a seat while checking our ready-made garments? Or are you here for a commision?"

↬ "uhhhhhhh..." Jason didn't think that far ahead. And it's hard going impromptu when there was a beautiful lady devoting all her attention on him

↬ she smiled like she knew exactly what he was thinking

↬ "why don't you take a seat, monsieur, and I'll help you out dans juste un instant (oh gosh, I'm sorry all you people who speak french who are going to call me out for using Google translate-)"

↬ so he's just sitting there, a tiny tea cup with little black cats and ladybugs on the sides held in his hands as he sees her negotiating a purchase with one of the mobster groups

↬ he nearly sighed in relief when the crime lord by the docks left with the gorgeous girl (probably his daughter now that he thought about it) after leaving a heavy briefcase and a business card in exchange for a beautiful sleek gown and matching accessories

↬ kinda scared him how friendly they both seemed to the store owner and how...warm that look in both the father and daughter's eyes were

↬ and he couldn't help but flinch when the crime lord from Gotham underground (is this a thing-) grins while the blue eyed woman started taking his measurements

↬ "doll, you're always welcome to come over anytime. You're good at business, I need more people like that."

↬ she has the fucking audacity to laugh. Laugh, I tell you

↬ "non, non, monsieur. I am quite happy with my little shop over here. Besides, the young ones would miss my pastries too much if I moved."

↬ he waved a hand. "Those street rats? If that's all that it takes to get you on my side, then consider them to be in better protection and care than those kids Wayne adopts every 5 seconds."

↬ got to say, his heart went thump when he pieced together that she took care of the street kids

↬ she grins "well, you're already giving them protection for living in my block, so that's all I need. Don't worry about the rest, I've got it covered."

↬ the crime lord shrugs. "Eh, I don't really care about the brats. But you, you're the one that needs protecting. Where else will I be getting these good suits that don't tear all the goddamn time from knives and guns? Plus, what's another 5 or 6 men patrolling this area to keep my favourite designer safe? If it makes you happy that they're inadvertently looking out for the kids, then better for me."

↬ wait those suits protected him from knives and guns????? Who the hell was this woman???

↬ smiling in response, but not as brightly anymore, she stood up, jotting down some notes in her book

↬ "alright, monsieur, you'll have to come in to a fitting on Saturday, presumably before your interaction with Monsieur Falcone at 1pm, so would it be presumptuous to ask if you come in at 10:30?"

↬ "not at all, my dear! it's a pleasure of doing business with you"

↬ "also, preferably, don't wear the flashy red suit you have, might i recommend the blue one from the fitting before last week's? Monsieur Falcone would gladly appreciate the red suit blaring in his eyes after the concussion he received recently"

↬ wait

↬ how the fuck did she know that

↬ falcone got that last night (he should know, he gave it to him)

↬ and the only ones who should know about it right now are him, Falcone, and no one else

↬ either this kid was magic, or she was Alfred level shit (he's still not convinced that Alfred is fully human)

↬ "thanks doll" and the crime lord leaves

↬ she turns to him, smiles and everything

↬ "alright, monsieur hood, what would you like to purchase today? or are you still having difficulty choosing?"

↬ uhm fuck ok

↬ how the hell do you talk to pretty, badass women that can probably take over the entirety of Gotham in a day

↬ "uhhhhhh got anything in red that doesn't make me look like a fucking period stain?"

↬ she giggled in a way that you know it's not flirting but just generally found it funny, and he thought it was the creation of the universe

↬ "i'm sure we can find you something, monsieur hood."

↬ proceeds to pull him up (what the fuck she was so strong for such a tiny girl) and lead him to the back room

↬ fabrics upon fabrics upon fabrics lay everywhere in chaos, but he felt like if he moved something, the balance of the room would be upset

↬ finally comes to a bar that ran from one end of a rack to the other, thin fabrics lining it

↬ the blue-eyed girl takes a beautiful black silk cravat with red embroidery that boldly stood out (yes, he knows what a cravat is, sue him for wanting to know what Mr Knightley, Mr Bingley, and Mr Darcy wore in the books) and drapes it over his neck, critically eyeing it

↬ in the process, pulling him down by the neck to look at it and being very close to her pink plump lips

↬ uhm fuck what do i do what do i say who am i what is life what the fuck austen you didn't prepare me for this-

↬ "as i thought", she says, "this is a good colour scheme for you, but probably more of a black with a tinge of brown and a more muted red colour scheme for everyday use."

↬ she walks away and comes back with a measuring tape and measures his neck, shoulders, arms, and starts measuring around the torso

↬ he doesn't even register this because of how efficient she is and because he was used to it from living with Bruce fucking Wayne (he won't admit that he was just too distracted by the way her dainty little fingers brushed against the back of his ears as she leaned forward to check the measurements, nor when they fluttered against his biceps and chest)

↬ when she's done, she starts writing measurements and mumbling under her breath, which snaps him out of his stupor

↬ "why did you take my measurements?"

↬ "a good cravat needs a good suit, and what better than for me to make a matching one when I have the time and resources to do it?"

↬ she fucking grinned at him like a devious minx who knew more about him than she should and he melted a bit. 

↬ just a little bit.

↬ turning around, she stuck her hand out, still smiling like a fucking seductress

↬ "I'll be making your suit and cravats, let's hope to a wonderful relationship, it's going to be a pleasure working with you."

↬ he tried to match her smile, but ended up feeling like a dork with his heart beating 200 times a second. and he felt like an even bigger dork when he took her hand and gave her a small kiss on the knuckles. "believe me, the pleasure is all mine, dove. might i dare, i fain would ask, for your sweet name? that while a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, i feel that yours would double in so."

↬ she smiled back at him.

↬ "why, good sir, it is a good show of faith in the honey to the flower of life, as Hugo quotes, but I wish you would take me to dinner first before such matters. My name, you ask? It is Marinette, Marinette Dupain-Cheng."

↬ He smirked. "My name is Jason Todd."

↬ "I know, Monsieur Hood."

↬ "Wait, how the fuck do you know-"

[ethelphantom]

To Annoy the Hell out of Everyone

Maribat March day 11, Best Friends. Platonic Jasonette. Have fun!

Oohhhh and a possible TW: Implied/referenced racism and bullying, both mentioned just in passing, though both times it’s mentioned in a context where Jay and Mari are helping in at least some kind of way (that works), so y’know. Also, it isn’t explicit, but it could be triggering to someone so I have to mention it just in case. And also, I don’t think the work is angsty anyway, so yeah. 

Ao3

This is Maribat -- don’t like; don’t read.

__________________________

Marinette doubled over laughing as she listened to Jason tell what he'd been told.

“Do they seriously think we’re dating?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Oh my god. This is too hilarious.”

“You’re right, Pixie. Like, first of all, why? Second of all, okay, maybe I can see why. Third, ew — you’re basically my sister.”

“Right back at you."

“Well, it’s not like they would believe either of us even if we tried to tell them.”

Marinette shrugged. “You’re right, but still. Ew. Disgusting. I love you but like, I’d never date you unless it was to get a jerk to stop flirting with me.”

Jason just snorted and pulled Marinette closer to himself to be able to hug her. “Well, regardless, it’s how it is, and knowing who think so, it’s become a rumour at this point, and the entire school will probably think so within a week. We might as well make the best of it. We won’t even need to lie and say they’re right, just stay quiet and neutral about that specific matter.”

“Such as?”

“Well, for example, we’ll simply get to laugh at whatever outlandish theories they may have about how we got together as we ‘refuse to tell anyone’. Then, as everyone’s either scared of us or respects us, we can have them leave the Demon brat alone once and for all. I mean, he’s god knows how many classes below us, but it’s still the same school, and if someone thinks they’ve disappointed one of us, well.”

She seemed to consider it before her eyes lit up. “Yes. And we can also annoy the hell out of Dick, Damian, Tim and Bruce at home if we pretend to be a couple in love. Like, no kisses or stuff, and they know we’re not dating anyway so that’s good, but imagine the frustration.”

“Yes.”

❋❋❋

“Can you please not?”

“What do you mean, Dickiebird?”

Dick shot a pointed look at the self-proclaimed siblings acting like they were in love, holding hands the entire time, giving one another romantic gifts (chocolate in heart-shaped boxes, rose macarons and actual roses, mostly), and now they were sharing food.

They literally had platefuls of the same food, it was completely unnecessary.

So okay, Dick loved them both, they were like demon twins or something, but gosh, could they be frustrating. The two of them were definitely going to be the reason his hair went white one day.

Bruce’s hair too, probably.

Tim had already excused himself from the table after the third extravagant love confession accompanied by cheesy romantic music and too many red tulips and yarrows. Damian was gritting his teeth as he’d made a bet with Tim about how he wouldn’t be able to not yell or scream or raise his voice in general or make a scene at the dinner table for a week, and he was struggling. Alfred had simply sighed and went to get them more food, as well as a vacuum in case someone threw a glass at the wall.

He could actually see Marinette and Jason snickering under their breaths.

The only good thing about any of this was that Damian had said the kids who had called him a terrorist and used other racist remarks of him had come to apologise, looking like kicked puppies who were very afraid of their next move, as though someone scary would kick them again. He had some kind of an idea why this was happening, so maybe letting them be like this at least for a while was a good idea. It could make Damian's life a little easier, at least.

But, if Dick had any say in any of this (he probably did not), he was going to have a word or two with whoever had made his little siblings like this once he was sure Damian wouldn't be bothered anymore.

This needed to end.

(Maybe. It was also kind of funny. But still. He needed more cereal to be able to deal with this.)

_________________

@kris-pines04​ @thethirdwheelfriend @daminett4life @abrx2002 @persephonebutkore @rebecarojas07 @corabeth11​ @freshbark @maribat-march2020 @catsandfanfic @fertileleaf @eat0crow @cutechip