#platonic!dickinette

[blackroserelina]

Once Lost Now Found

I'm not much of a writer I had to use AI to even get this done, but this is basically the story for the lost one out line I did. I'm not fully happy with it but it's what I can do.

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"Pfft, what a bust," Marinette exclaimed as she stomped into the dimly lit coffee shop. The hotel's coffee pot had decided to brew its last cup of sludge that morning, leaving her desperate for a decent caffeine fix before the big tour of Wayne Enterprise. She was in Gotham for a class trip, and the thought of facing the day without her usual buzz was as appealing as a soggy croissant.

Her eyes landed on the menu, and she felt a glimmer of hope as she spotted the "Death by Espresso" option. "Perfect," she murmured, stepping up to the counter. "One of those, please."

The barista, a young man with a slightly worried look, asked "You're sure you can handle it?"

Marinette's determination didn't waver. "Trust me, I need it."

As she waited for her drink, she heard the door chime, and in walked a figure that was both familiar and foreign to her. Tim Drake, in his casual yet expensive attire, strode in with the confidence of someone who was used to the chaos of Gotham. His eyes scanned the room, and when they met hers, he paused for a fraction of a second before ordering the same lethal concoction.

Their drinks arrived simultaneously, and they both went to grab them, "Well, I guess we have similar tastes in coffee," Tim said, noticing her bewilderment.

Marinette couldn't help but laugh nervously. "Yeah, I guess so."

Tim's eyes searched hers, and she felt a strange sense of comfort from his presence. "I'm Tim," he said, extending a hand. "Timothy Drake."

Marinette took his hand, her grip firm yet gentle. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng."

Tim's smile grew as he replied, "Nice to meet you, Marinette."

As they stepped out of the coffee shop, the harsh reality of Gotham's streets hit them like a cold wind. Marinette's eyes grew wide as she spotted the bus, her class's yellow beacon of safety, pulling away from the curb. Panic set in, and she looked around frantically for any sign of the teacher who was supposed to be looking out for her.

"You, okay?" Tim asked, his eyes narrowing at the bus's retreating figure.

Marinette nodded, trying to keep the tremor from her voice. "Yeah, I just… I can't believe they left without me."

Tim's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and concern. "That's unacceptable. You're not from around here, are you?"

Marinette nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It's a class trip from Paris. I won the contest to come here."

Tim's eyes widened. "Paris? That's amazing! But it's also incredibly irresponsible of them to leave you behind."

Marinette felt a warmth spread through her chest at his genuine concern. "It's okay," she lied, trying to put on a brave face. "I'm sure they'll realize and come back for me."

Tim's expression was grim. "I wouldn't bet on it. Gotham's not the safest place to be stranded, especially if you're not from around here." He checked his watch. "Look, I'm heading to Wayne Enterprise myself for some work. You can come with me, and I'll make sure you get to the tour on time."

Marinette hesitated, eyeing him warily. Gotham was a city of shadows and secrets, and she wasn't about to trust a stranger, no matter how kind he seemed. But as she focused on his aura, she felt a gentle warmth, a sense of protection and sincerity that washed away her fears. "Okay," she agreed, taking a deep breath. "Thank you, Tim."

The ride to Wayne Enterprise was filled with nervous energy, their conversation bouncing between the mundane and the profound. Tim spoke of his love for Gotham, despite its dangers, and Marinette shared her excitement for the tour, her voice filled with hope and wonder. As they approached the towering building, Marinette's heart raced.

Upon their arrival, Dick Grayson was already waiting for them. His gaze swept over the group of students, and his eyes lingered on Marinette as she stepped into the lobby, clutching her purse tightly to herself. His stomach twisted in knots as he heard the whispers of her classmates, the cruel taunts that seemed to follow her wherever she went. He had been informed by Tim of the situation, and it was all he could do to keep from swooping in and putting an end to it right there.

As Marinette sees her class, she knows her time with him has ended so she waves goodbye to Tim.

"I'll be okay," she assured him with a forced smile. "Thank you again for the ride."

Tim nodded, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary before he turned to leave. Dick stepped forward, a mask of professionalism sliding into place as he began the tour. Throughout the grand halls of Wayne Enterprise, Lila's voice echoed like a siren's call, weaving tall tales of her connections and the importance of her family name. The class hung on her every word, their eyes glazed over with adoration, while Dick felt his patience wearing thinner than a spider's web.

Marinette alone remained unshaken by Lila's deceitful charm, her eyes never leaving Dick as she listened to the real stories he shared about the company's history and its commitment to the city. Her gaze was a beacon of sanity in a sea of naivety. He found himself grateful for her silent support, her nods of understanding grounding him in the face of such blatant dishonesty.

As the tour dragged on, the rest of the class remained enraptured by Lila's fabrications, while Marinette discreetly sent glances Dick's way, her expressions a silent question. He returned her looks with a mix of exasperation and amusement, his respect for her growing with every step.

"Miss Bustier," Dick called out, his voice echoing in the vast lobby, "I think it's time we moved on."

Lila rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh, come on, Mr. Grayson, we're having so much fun!"

The class giggled in unison, clearly on her side. Dick felt a headache coming on. "Miss Rossi," he said firmly, "let's not hold up the tour any longer."

Lila huffed, but complied, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Marinette couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for Dick. He had been trying so hard to give them a real insight into the company, and all they cared about were her classmates' petty gossip and exaggerated tales of wealth. She walked closer to him, her eyes scanning and hands fiddling with the locket that was her silent companion around her neck.

"Thank you for the tour," she said quietly, her voice sincere.

Dick nodded, his eyes scanning the locket around her neck. It was a subtle gesture, but Marinette caught it. "You're welcome, Marinette. It's not every day we get such an insightful visitor."

As the tour concluded, the students dispersed, eager to explore the rest of Gotham, but Marinette lingered, her eyes on the locket that had drawn Dick's attention. The rest of the class had ignored the actual tour, lost in Lila's fabricated tales of grandeur, but she had been the one to truly listen and appreciate the stories Dick had shared about the city and the company.

Dick noticed her lingering and approached her. "You seem like the only one who actually enjoyed the tour," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

Marinette shrugged, her cheeks flushing. "I guess I just like to learn about new places."

Dick's smile grew, and he gave her a warm pat on the shoulder. "You're a breath of fresh air in this city," he said before turning to leave.

Marinette watched him go, her thoughts a jumble of confusion and excitement. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to him than met the eye. She knew he wasn't just any employee at Wayne Enterprise; she could feel it.

The class trip continued, and that evening they all went to a fancy restaurant for dinner. The chatter was loud, a cacophony of French and English blending together. Lila, as usual, held court, spinning tales of her fabulous life in Paris that made the other students' eyes widen with envy. Marinette tried to ignore the noise, focusing instead on her meal. The food was delicious, but the company was… less than ideal.

As the meal ended and the students began to leave, Marinette told Miss Bustier that she had to use the restroom really quick.

"Don't take too long," Miss Bustier called out, already halfway out the door.

Marinette nodded and hurried to the bathroom. When she emerged, the restaurant was empty except for a few lingering staff. She felt a cold hand of fear grips her heart—she had been left behind again. Panic rising, she fumbled for her phone in her pocket, only to find it as lifeless as a forgotten souvenir. The battery was dead.

With no way to call for help, she stepped out into the darkening streets of Gotham. The once vibrant and bustling metropolis now seemed like a labyrinth of shadows and danger. She had been warned about the city's notorious reputation, but she never thought she would be alone in it. As she wandered, trying to remember the way back to the hotel, she heard the distant sound of laughter and footsteps growing louder. Two men turned the corner, leering at her.

"Looks like we found ourselves a little tourist," one of them sneered, his teeth glinting in the dim streetlight.

Marinette took a deep breath, her hand instinctively moving to the locket around her neck. It was all she had left of home, of her father, and she wasn't about to let anyone take that from her. She had been trained in martial arts, thanks to her adopted mother's insistence and with her experience as Ladybug, she wasn't going to let fear dictate her actions.

The alley grew quieter as their footsteps grew closer. The moon cast eerie shadows that danced on the damp pavement. The smell of rotting trash mixed with the scent of rain that hung in the air. She knew she had to end this quickly. With a swift move, she grabbed one man's arm and twisted it behind his back, causing him to cry out in pain. The second man lunged at her, but she was ready. She ducked under his arm and delivered a powerful kick to his midsection, sending him reeling into the wall.

As she spun around to face the first attacker, she felt a hand on her shoulder, firm yet gentle. "Easy there, kitten," a gruff voice said. She whipped around, ready to fight, only to find a man dressed in red and black, a hood shadowing his face.

Marinette's heart raced as she took in the newcomer. The two men she had just fought were groaning on the ground, but the new figure didn't seem concerned with them. "Who are you?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

The man in red and black, known as Red Hood, chuckled softly. "Someone who doesn't like to see a pretty girl like you fighting in the streets."

Marinette's eyes narrowed, and she took a step back, her instincts telling her to be wary. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

Red Hood's grip on her shoulder tightened for a moment before he realized his mistake and let go. "I'm not here to hurt you," he said, his voice calmer now. "I just want to make sure you're okay."

Marinette eyed him warily, her heart pounding in her chest. The locket felt heavy around her neck, a silent reminder of her father's love and protection. "Thanks," she managed to say, her voice still shaking slightly. "I can handle myself."

Red Hood studied her for a moment, his eyes piercing through the shadows of his hood. "I can see that," he said with a hint of admiration. "But it's not every day you find a tourist who can take down two thugs without breaking a sweat. What's your secret?"

Marinette swallowed hard, her thoughts racing. She couldn't tell him the truth, not here, not now. "Just a little self-defense," she lied, trying to keep her voice steady. "My mom taught me."

Red Hood's eyes searched hers as if looking for a glimpse of the truth behind her words. After a moment, he nodded. "Good for you," he said, his voice carrying a hint of a Southern drawl. "But you shouldn't be out here alone. It's not safe."

Marinette felt a shiver run down her spine, her earlier bravado fading in the face of his intense gaze. "I know," she murmured, her eyes darting to the unconscious men on the ground. "My class left me behind."

Red Hood's expression darkened. "Stay here," he instructed, his voice firm. He stepped over to the thugs and tied them up with a swiftness that spoke of experience. He pulled out a small communicator from his utility belt and spoke into it, arranging for their pickup.

Marinette watched him, feeling a strange sense of comfort in his presence. She knew he was dangerous, a vigilante of some kind, but he didn't feel threatening to her. Her eyes wandered to the locket again, the warm metal pressing against her skin.

"You okay?" Red Hood asked, his voice softer now.

Marinette nodded, still trembling slightly. "I think so," she whispered. "I just want to go back to the hotel."

Red Hood looked at her for a long moment before nodding. "I'll take you there," he said. "But you have to stay close."

Marinette nodded, her eyes never leaving his. She could feel his concern, his protective aura wrapping around her like a warm blanket. As they walked through the streets of Gotham, she couldn't help but feel a strange kinship with him. Despite his intimidating exterior, there was something comforting about the way he moved, the confidence in his steps.

"What's your name?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"Red Hood," he replied, his eyes never leaving the shadows. "How about you?"

Marinette took a deep breath, the air thick with the scent of rain. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Red Hood nodded. "Nice to meet you, Marinette," he said, his eyes scanning the street. "Now, let's get you out of here."

They moved swiftly through the alleyways, sticking to the shadows. Marinette could feel his eyes on her, checking if she was okay, if she needed help. She didn't. Her training as Ladybug had prepared her for moments like this, but she appreciated his concern.

As they neared the hotel, the streets grew quieter, the neon lights reflecting off the wet pavement. The rain had started to fall, a soft patter that grew louder with each step. Red Hood pulled his hood up further, shielding his face from the downpour.

Marinette felt a twinge of sadness as they approached the hotel's glowing entrance. She didn't want to leave him, didn't want to return to the cold reality of her classmates' indifference. But she knew she had to.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the rain. "For everything."

Red Hood nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "You're welcome," he said, his grip on her shoulder reassuring. "And remember, Gotham can be a tough place. Stick with your group and stay safe."

Marinette stepped into the light of the hotel lobby, the warmth enveloping her as the rain continued to fall outside. She watched as Red Hood melted back into the shadows, his figure disappearing as if he had never been there. The encounter left her with more questions than answers, but she knew she had to keep moving forward.

The elevator ride to her room felt like an eternity. Each floor that passed brought back the memory of her father's eyes." The locket felt like a burning ember against her skin, a constant reminder of her lost past.

When the doors finally opened, Marinette rushed into her room and collapsed onto the bed, the locket still clutched in her hand. She stared at it, the inscription blurring through her tears. "My most beloved daughter M.W.," she whispered, tracing the letters with her thumb. "Daddy loves you always." as she cried herself to sleep.

The next day, she was paired with Damian Wayne for the visit to Gotham Academy. His cold demeanor was intimidating, but Marinette felt a strange pull towards him. Throughout the day, she saw glimpses of kindness beneath his tough exterior, especially when he defended her from a sneering comment by one of the other students. His sharp gaze was assessing, and she couldn't help but feel that he was searching for something in her, something she wasn't even sure she knew existed.

As they walked the halls, Marinette found herself opening up to Damian, sharing her love for art and her dreams of becoming a fashion designer. His initial skepticism gradually gave way to something resembling respect, and by the end of the day, she had earned a rare smile from the young heir to the Wayne legacy.

In the bustling cafeteria, they sat side by side, surrounded by the cacophony of chatter and clanging trays. Marinette picked at her food, lost in thought about the events of the past few days.

"You know," Damian began, his voice low and contemplative, "you're not like the others."

Marinette looked up from her tray, surprised by his sudden openness. "What do you mean?" she asked a hint of defensiveness in her tone.

Damian's gaze was fixed on her, his dark eyes unreadable. "You're… different," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You have… a strength about you."

Marinette felt her cheeks flush. "Thanks," she murmured, unsure of how to respond.

Damian's gaze remained steadfast. "You remind me of someone," he said, his voice a mix of curiosity and something else she couldn't quite place.

Marinette's heart skipped a beat. Could it be? Could he somehow know about her secret life as Ladybug? She quickly dismissed the thought. No, it wasn't possible. "Really?" she asked, trying to keep her voice casual. "Who?"

Damian leaned closer, his eyes searching hers. "Someone important," he said, his voice dropping even lower. "Someone who has faced darkness and come out stronger for it."

Marinette's heart raced. Could he be referring to Ladybug? Her mind raced with possibilities, but she kept her expression neutral. "That's a nice compliment," she said, her voice a mere whisper.

Damian nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "It's more than that," he said, his voice intense. "It's a recognition of something… extraordinary."

Marinette felt a jolt of adrenaline. She had never met anyone who seemed to see through her so easily. Her heart pounded in her chest as she wondered if he could be talking about her heroic alter ego. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Damian leaned back in his chair, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "I've seen the way you handle yourself," he said, his eyes never leaving hers. "The way you stand up to bullies, even when you're scared. It's… inspiring."

Marinette felt a warmth spread through her, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time. Someone was finally seeing her, not just her classmates' version of her. "Thank you," she said, genuinely touched by his words.

Damian's smirk grew. "You're welcome," he said. "You know, if you ever need anything while you're in Gotham, just let me know."

Marinette's eyes widened slightly. Was he offering to help her, not just as a fellow student but as something more? "Thanks," she said, her voice a bit shaky. "But I'm sure I'll be fine."

Damian's smirk didn't falter. "I'm sure you will," he said, his tone sincere. "But sometimes, even the strongest heroes need a hand."

Marinette's thoughts swirled as she took in his words. Was he hinting at something? Did he know her secret? Impossible, she thought, pushing the doubt aside. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that he saw more than he let on.

The rest of the day at Gotham Academy was a blur. The tension between her and Damian grew thicker with every shared glance and whispered conversation. She felt like she was walking on eggshells, not wanting to give anything away.

As the class boarded the bus back to the hotel, Marinette couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. She knew she had to keep her distance from the Wayne brothers, not just to protect her secret but also to protect them from the danger that followed her. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were somehow connected, that they were all part of something much larger than themselves.

That night, she couldn't sleep. Her mind was racing with the day's events. The way Red Hood had moved, the way Tim and Dick had looked at her during the tour, and now Damian's cryptic words. It was all too much to process. Her heart felt like it was going to burst with excitement and fear.

The next day, the class was scheduled to visit the Gotham Museum of Art.

Marinette walked through the grand halls, feeling a strange mix of awe and anxiety. She had always loved art, but in Gotham, it felt different, as if each painting held a secret of the city's dark soul. She found solace in the quiet whispers of the brushstrokes, a stark contrast to the chaos outside.

As the tour group moved from one exhibit to the next, she noticed a peculiar painting that had been recently added. It was a portrait of a young girl with her mother, and the girl's eyes seemed to follow her, filled with a sense of longing that resonated deep within her. The plaque beside it read, "Marinette Wayne," and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine.

The first name was the same as hers, and the resemblance in the eyes was uncanny. The more she stared, the more she felt like she was looking into a mirror reflecting a past she couldn't remember. The rest of the class had moved on, but she remained, lost in the haunting beauty of the portrait.

It was then that she heard a soft footstep behind her, and she spun around to see Bruce Wayne standing there, his eyes fixed on the painting as well.

"It's a beautiful piece, isn't it?" he said, his voice low and measured.

Marinette nodded, unable to tear her gaze away from the painting. "It's… haunting," she murmured.

Bruce stepped closer, his eyes never leaving the painting. "It reminds me of someone," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Someone very important to me."

Marinette felt her heart clench in her chest for some reason.

Bruce continued, "Marinette was my daughter," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "She was… she was everything to me."

Marinette's breath caught in her throat. The locket grew heavier on her neck. "Your…daughter?" she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

Bruce nodded his gaze still on the painting. "Yes," he said, his voice filled with a sadness that seemed to echo through the museum. "She was taken from me when she was very young. I've been searching for her ever since."

Marinette's eyes grew wide with shock and disbelief. "What…what happened?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Bruce took a deep breath, his eyes welling up with pain. "She was kidnapped," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "I've devoted my life to finding her, and to making sure no one else has to go through what she did."

Marinette's hand flew to her locket, her heart racing for some reason. She felt a strange kinship with this man, a bond that she couldn't explain. "Di… did you ever find any leads?" she asked.

Bruce's eyes searched hers, the pain in his gaze was palpable. "No," he said, his voice strained. "Every trail went cold. I never gave up hope, but… it's been so long."

Marinette felt a tear slip down her cheek. The story was all too familiar, but she didn't know why. "I'm sorry," she murmured, not knowing what else to say.

Bruce's gaze softened, and he reached out to gently wipe the tear away. "It's alright," he said, his voice filled with a warmth she hadn't heard in years. "Life is full of tragedies, but also moments of beauty, like this painting."

Marinette nodded, her eyes still glued to the portrait. "It's just… it's eerie how much she looks like me," she whispered.

Bruce's hand froze, and he leaned in closer, examining her features. "You do share a resemblance," he said, his voice tight with restrained emotion. "Perhaps it's the eyes."

Marinette's heart raced as he took a step back, composing himself. "It's just a coincidence," she said, trying to convince herself as much as him. "I'm sure lots of people have similar eyes."

Bruce nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on the locket she unconsciously clutched. "Perhaps," he murmured, his voice thick with unspoken questions. "But it's more than that, isn't it?"

Marinette's hand tightened around the locket, the carving of 'M.W.' feeling like a brand on her skin. Her mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle that was her life.

"Marinette," Bruce said gently, using her name for the first time. The sound of it on his lips sent a wave of longing through her. "Do you have a moment to talk in private?"

She nodded, and he led her to a secluded corner of the museum. The silence between them was deafening, filled with the weight of unspoken truths.

"I know this might sound strange," Bruce began, his voice gentle yet firm. "But I need to ask you something important." He took hold of the locket around her neck, the weight of its contents heavy. "Do you know what this means?"

Marinette's eyes grew wide with shock "It's… it's just a necklace," she lied, her voice trembling. "It's special to me, but I don't know what it means."

Bruce's eyes searched hers, and she could see the hope and fear mingling in the depths of his gaze. "Marinette," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Look inside."

With trembling hands, she opened the locket. The same words she had read countless times stared back at her, "My most beloved daughter M.W. Daddy loves you always." But this time, something clicked. The initials matched the name from the painting. Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be?

Bruce's eyes searched hers, holding the locket between them. "Do you know who this is?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of hope and fear.

Marinette felt the room spin as she stared at the locket, the reality of the situation crashing down upon her. "It… it's me," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "It's… I'm M.W."

Bruce's hand trembled as he cupped her cheek, his eyes searching hers. "Marinette," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Is it possible?"

Marinette's eyes filled with tears as she nodded slowly. "I… I think so," she choked out, the weight of the revelation too much to bear.

Bruce's own eyes glistened with unshed tears as he cradled her face in his hands. "Marinette," he breathed, her name like a prayer on his lips. "My baby girl."

The dam of emotions broke, and Marinette threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. It was as if the universe had conspired to bring her to this moment, to this place where she could finally find the love she had been searching for her entire life. Bruce held her tightly, his own eyes filled with tears as he whispered soothing words into her ear, the warmth of his embrace bringing a sense of belonging she had never felt before.

Marinette pulled away, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Daddy," she whispered, testing the word she hadn't dared to speak in so long.

Their moment was interrupted by the concerned chatter of the approaching tour group. Bruce quickly composed himself, his eyes scanning the room. He knew they couldn't stay here, not like this. "Marinette," he said, urgency in his tone. "We need to talk. In private."

They found a quiet spot in the museum's garden, the chilly Gotham air a stark contrast to the warmth of their conversation. "What do we do now?" Marinette asked, her voice still shaking.

Bruce took a deep breath, the reality of the situation setting in. "First, we need to find out for sure," he said, his voice firm.

Marinette nodded, wiping her eyes. "How do we do that?" she asked, hope mingling with fear.

Bruce took a deep breath. "We need to get a DNA test," he said. "It's the only way to be certain."

Marinette's heart raced at the thought. "But…but what if it's true?" she stammered. "What if I am your daughter?"

Bruce's gaze softened as he took her hand in his. "Then we'll deal with it together," he assured her. "But we need to be certain."

Marinette nodded, her mind racing with the implications. "Okay," she said, her voice small. "But how do we explain this to everyone?"

Bruce's expression grew serious. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," he said. "For now, we need to keep this between us. The less people know, the better."

Marinette nodded, her mind reeling with the gravity of their situation. She knew that if it were true, it would change everything. Her life in Paris, her friends, her secret identity – all of it would be turned upside down.

"We'll figure this out together," he said, his voice a soothing balm to her racing thoughts. "But for now, we need to keep this between us. I'll arrange for a discreet DNA test tomorrow."

Marinette nodded, her mind racing with the implications of her potential lineage. Could she really be the lost daughter of Bruce Wayne? It was too much to comprehend.

The rest of the day was a blur as she went through the motions of the tour, her thoughts consumed by the revelation. She couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and dread intertwined. Her heart ached with the hope of finally finding her family, yet the fear of losing everything she knew was ever-present.

That night, she lay in her hotel bed, the locket clutched tightly in her hand. Her mind was a whirlwind of questions, and she couldn't shake the feeling that her entire life was about to change. The DNA test loomed over her like a storm cloud, and she found it hard to sleep.

The next day, Bruce arranged for a private meeting in his office at Wayne Enterprise. Under the guise of meeting the winner that won the class this trip. The gleaming skyscraper stood tall against the gloomy Gotham skyline, a symbol of hope amidst the city's darkness. Marinette's heart hammered in her chest as she stepped into the elevator, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down on her.

When the elevator doors slid open, she was greeted by Alfred, Bruce's loyal butler. His kind eyes searched hers, and she wondered if he knew the truth they were about to uncover. He led her into a plush office, where Bruce was waiting, his expression a mask of calm she couldn't quite read.

The DNA test was quick and painless, but the wait was agonizing. They talked in hushed tones, avoiding the subject at hand, their eyes darting to the clock on the wall as the minutes ticked by. Marinette felt like she was in a dream, one that she didn't want to end but knew would bring a reality she wasn't prepared for.

Bruce excused himself to take a call, leaving Marinette alone with her thoughts. She gazed out the window at the sprawling cityscape, the stark contrast of the gleaming Wayne Tower against the grimy buildings of Gotham a stark reminder of the life she might have had.

When he returned, his eyes were heavy with a mix of anticipation and dread. "The results will be in tomorrow," he said, his voice tight.

Marinette nodded, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Thank you," she murmured, feeling a knot form in her stomach.

The next 24 hours were the longest of her life. She walked through the streets of Gotham, the weight of the locket and the potential truth it held pressing down on her like a leaden cloak. She couldn't focus on anything else, her thoughts a tornado of what-ifs and maybes. Her interactions with her classmates were forced, her mind elsewhere.

The night brought no rest. She tossed and turned in her hotel bed, the locket lying like a hot coal on her chest. The whispers of the wind outside seemed to carry the secrets of the city, secrets that could soon be her own. The room felt too small, the air too thick to breathe.

The next day dragged on like a mournful symphony, each second a painful crescendo towards the truth. The class continued with their Gotham adventures, but Marinette was lost in her thoughts, unable to fully engage with the world around her. She found solace in the quiet moments, the gentle hum of the city's pulse a lullaby that sang of a past she had long ago forgotten.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting Gotham in a cloak of twilight, Marinette waited anxiously in the hotel lobby. The grand clock ticked away the moments, each chime echoing through her soul like a countdown to destiny. And then, as if on cue, the elevator doors parted, and Bruce emerged, his eyes filled with a solemn intensity that told her the moment of truth had arrived.

He approached her, his footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. In his hand, he held a small envelope, the seal of the lab stark and official. Marinette's heart felt as if it were about to burst from her chest as he handed it to her, his own hand trembling slightly.

With trembling fingers, she took the envelope and slid out the single sheet of paper. The words she read sent a shockwave through her entire being. The DNA test results were conclusive: she was indeed Marinette Wayne, the long-lost daughter of Bruce Wayne. The truth hit her like a ton of bricks, and she felt her legs give out beneath her.

Bruce caught her before she could fall, his strong arms wrapping around her as she sobbed into his chest. "It's okay," he murmured over and over, his voice a comforting rumble that she hadn't heard since she was a child. "You're home now."

Marinette looked up at him, her eyes blurred with tears. "What do we do now?" she asked, her voice small and scared.

Bruce's gaze held hers, filled with a fierce determination. "We get to know each other," he said firmly. "You're not alone anymore."

Marinette nodded, her heart swelling with a mix of joy and fear. She had found her father, but what about her mother? The woman in the portrait, the woman she had never known?

Bruce seemed to read her thoughts. "Your mother was a wonderful person," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "She was… she was taken from us when you were very young. But I promise you, she would be proud of the strong, brave woman you've become."

Marinette felt a fresh wave of tears threaten to spill over. "I don't know how to be a Wayne," she whispered. "I don't know anything about this life."

Bruce's grip on her tightened. "You don't have to be anyone but yourself," he assured her. "I'll be here to guide you, to help you navigate this new chapter."

Marinette took a shaky breath, trying to process the monumental revelation. "What about my life in Paris? I have responsibility there."

Bruce nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. "We'll figure it out," he promised. "We'll take it one step at a time."

[soulmate-game]

Work burned me out, middle management positions are draining. What was supposed to be an angsty oneshot is now… yeah I’m continuing it. Not a full series, just a two-parter… hopefully.

Edit: I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK THIS CLUSTERFUCK OF AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER IS, but BUCKLE IN BECAUSE IT PROBABLY DOESN’T PASS SAFETY REGULATIONS! HOOOOO BOY

Part 1

—*—*—*—*—*

“…” she stared at the being in front of her, face frighteningly blank. Next to her, Bruce fidgeted.

“I’m not going anywhere, so you either gotta learn to love me real quick or get lost quicker,” the child snarked from where he was sitting upside-down on the bat computer chair. “And don’t call me Richard, my name’s Dick.”

“I don’t remember you working with a fetus, Batman,” Marinette slowly drawled, emphasizing the vigilante’s name despite none of the three of them being suited up. Dick shot up with a cry of indignation.

“I am not a fetus! I’m fifteen! I’ve been Robin since I was twelve!”

“Nope,” Marinette countered, unmoved. “I started out as Ladybug when I was twelve, and I was never as small as you,” she blatantly lied. Dick was already taller than her, which wasn’t much of an achievement considering that she was five-foot-one-inch tall. “You are six years old, tops.”

Dick let out an almost inhuman screech of complaint. Even as he rambled on angrily about how wrong she was, Marinette only nodded as if he proved her right about something.

“That was a good squawk though. Definitely a birdie.”

It took another twenty minutes before Dick ran off to tell on Marinette to Alfred, giving her and Bruce some alone time. With which she used to whirl to him and immediately hiss in equal parts fury and worry;

“Please tell me he wasn’t—“

“The timeline is gone,” Bruce reminded her, bracing her by putting both his hands on her shoulders. “He doesn’t remember.”

“Still!”

He let out such a heavy sigh that he seemed to deflate with it, his dark circles growing more pronounced.

“He wasn’t supposed to be,” he admitted softly. “When he turned sixteen, last time, I allowed him to form his own team of teen heroes. Supervised from afar by myself of course, not that they knew that. I had given them the order to stay back and guard their city, but they disobeyed me and snuck onto the battlefield anyway.”

Marinette rubbed at her temples, nodding. “Teenagers have a habit of doing that. This time around, can we ask Bunnyx to supervise them? She has all the energy of a teenager, so she’ll fit in, but the maturity of someone trusted to guard all the timelines.”

Bruce paused, thinking of what little he knew of the pastel rabbit themed hero, and then reluctantly nodded. “That… might be for the best. And giving them more opportunities to train with…” he hummed, hand on his chin. “I might actually change things up, in that case. Instead of jumping to put teens on their own in a tower, the old Justice League headquarters is more protected. And if we started with the ‘sidekicks’,” he gave very purposeful air quotes, “of other Leaguers, it would create a better support system than letting teenagers run around with… really, not enough regulation.”

“Gotta love hindsight,” Marinette agreed with a nod. “The whole teenagers by themselves thing only worked for my team because we were overly traumatized and each saw different apocalypses before we turned sixteen. Bunnyx could fix them herself back then, but still.”

“Best to do better by the new generation,” Bruce agreed with her unspoken statement. “I can still put that old team together again when they’re older, support their development elsewhere in the meantime.”

“Oh, and now that we’re done on that topic,” Marinette snapped her fingers before pointing to the staircase that Dick had disappeared up. “He’s going to make my life a living hell, isn’t he?”

Bruce groaned, offering her a lopsided grimace of apology. “He’s a menace,” he agreed. “He’s scared away any woman I’ve brought to the house, even though most of them are completely platonic. I have to make the press believe the whole playboy thing somehow, and inviting my friends over to chat is the easiest way to do so without breaking hearts for real. Dick hasn’t caught on yet,” Bruce rubbed his forehead. “His antics to scare away Selina Kyle are legendary already, and she’s sapphic. She couldn’t be attracted to me if I was the last man on earth.”

“Could have fooled me,” Marinette teased, suddenly impish. “She’s catwoman, isn’t she?”

Bruce narrowed his eyes, saying only: “Chat Noir. Year one.”

It was Marinette’s turn to grimace. “Point taken. But in my defense, he took way too long to realize he’s gay and watched too much anime at the time.”

Bruce let out one of his unfairly charming chuckles, changing position so that his arm was around her shoulders and pulling her to his side. She fit there surprisingly well, for someone almost half his size. She leaned into him, and the both just soaked in the comfort of one another for a long moment.

“You know,” Bruce started for a while. “If you want to stay in Gotham, we can make you another alter ego so that you don’t accidentally lure Shadow Moth here. Tell that fox of yours to make it seem like you’re in Paris and take some of the weight off of your shoulders for a change. Blackmail Constantine into charming some jars to keep the butterflies in until you can purify them.”

“Hmmm.” She closed her eyes. “Ladybird sounds nice. Fits with the bird thing that Robin has going for him.”

Bruce laughed. “That’ll really annoy him,” he warned, amused. Marinette’s close-eyed smile was pure mischief.

“That’s the whole point. I’m not letting a fetus win against me, bat-boy.”

—*—*—*—*—*

Marinette wasn’t speaking to Bunnyx. Bruce didn’t know what they had said to one another, but he could guess it had to do with Jason.

With his baby, who he just buried. The boy Marinette had thought of a son ever since he first brought him home. She had even smoothed things over between Dick and Jason, which he had considered nothing short of a miracle at the time.

But that miracle was nowhere to be seen now, with Marinette every bit as despondent next to him as he was. He wanted to be angry with her, he did, but he couldn’t. He had seen her blow up at Bunnyx, seen her try to hold her status as Grand Guardian over the bunny holder.

Bunnyx had simply said that she wouldn’t answer to Ladybug until after the grief passed then, and ran away into her burrow.

“Is this the payment?” He heard her whisper, her voice hoarse and broken. “For the do-over? We passed the old timeline. We took down Shadow Moth. Is this the price?” Tears dripped down her face silently, she didn’t seem to notice them. “Was I not a good enough mother? Should I—“ she stopped herself, shaking her head. He didn’t ask what she was about to say. Maybe he should have.

—*—*—*—*—*

Tim was great. He was too much like Marinette at times, which made Bruce’s chest ache, but he was a great Robin. A great son. His experience with Marinette proved priceless when it came to helping curb Tim’s overworking habits and caffeine addiction.

But not even Tim could find where Marinette had disappeared to, even with his detective skills surpassing Bruce’s already.

Tim was the first son of his that didn’t get to grow up with Marinette at all.

—*—*—*—*—*

“It’s fine, Baobei,” she whispered, stepping to the side. Behind her was the waterfall that hid the tunnel to the Batcave. “He’s not the one to blame. He did his best, even now he’s doing his best.”

“Then why does—“

“Because other people need him, and he has too big of a heart to turn them away,” her mouth tilted a little, smile lopsided and sad. “Timothy didn’t replace you. He just forced Bruce to live again. Bruce didn’t kill Joker, because he didn’t want to taint another child with the sight of murder.”

“And you?” The voice was dark, deadly, gruff. Older, and yet… so achingly familiar. She smiled at him again, soft and sad and… proud.

“I don’t have one,” she lied. She had tried, tried so hard. Bruce had gotten in her way first, and then the very same desire to not taint more children with the image of death.

But her baby needed a scapegoat, and she was willing to throw herself on the fire for him.

“That’s why it’s fine,” she repeated. “If this is what you want. Just, please. Let it end with me.”

This time, Marinette made sure she had the Time miraculous safely in her pocket. Nobody would interfere with this.

The bullet sent her into the flow of the waterfall, red flowing behind her like the carpet she used to walk down with Bruce whenever she released a new collection. She felt no regret as she closed her eyes and fell.

—*—*—*—*—*

The shot hadn’t been fatal. Red Hood might have been mad with Pit Rage, but his fondness for his only true mother figure was ever present. He simply wanted to see if she was serious about taking that shot.

His regret was immediate when she didn’t even try to dodge. The bullet had only grazed her shoulder, but she didn’t seem to notice that. She had been so ready to die— to let him kill her— that she had passed out before hitting the water. He dragged her to the Batcave, knowing he had a lot to answer for.

Bruce wished he could have found her sooner, found both of them sooner. But at least they were back.

—*—*—*—*—*

“… I mean,” she rocked on her heels. “You are growing a bit old for Robin…”

Tim glared at her, not appreciating the insight.

“Bruce is stuck in the timestream, and you aren’t doing a thing about it. I don’t hold your opinion very highly right now,” he snipped back. She snorted, glancing away.

As if that little stunt to “kill Batman” could ever fool her. She’d been there for the real thing, thanks, she could spot a fake a mile away. “He’s got Bunnyx going to find him. She owes me big time, let her do the heavy lifting for a change.”

“How many years have you held that grudge?” Barbara asked, eyebrows raised as she wheeled herself towards the bat computer. “Even Jason thinks you should have let it go by now.”

Marinette scoffed at the exact same time as a certain someone tutted next to her, making them look for a moment like a perfect pair.

Crossed arms, a scoff, annoyed glare? If a DNA test hadn’t already proven otherwise, they might have thought Damian was hers.

“Fetuses don’t get to judge me,” was her only argument before she turned on her heel and walked away.

“I am not a fetus! Lady Marinette, I am ten years old!”

—*—*—*—*—*

Bonus:

Jason was curled up around Marinette, despite being told numerous times not to crowd her on the med-bay bed. He argued that he shot her, so he gets to nurse her back to health.

Did she use her blood, tainted by years of use of the Ladybug, to purify his pit madness? Yes. Had he figured that out yet? Nope.

“Love you, Mom,” he murmured in his sleep. Marinette, who had been awake for about an hour already, smiled to herself.

“Love you, Baobei.”

[verymuchimmortalcat]

I'll be summer sun for you forever

For Bio Dad! Bruce Wayne Month, Prompt: Meeting for the first time ao3 @maribat-bdbwm

Ladybug is sitting on the roof of the WE building, swinging her legs over the ledge. Somewhere off in the distance she hears the sound of guns and she briefly wonders whether it’s one of the several criminals of Gotham or just Jason. There’s noise behind her and Marinette turns around to find her father.

“Ladybug.”

Marinette grins, “Batman.”

She can see the sigh he’s trying to hold back. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Ladybug. I wasn’t expecting to see you in Gotham.” His voice is so weird and gravelly she almost laughs. No wonder her siblings endlessly tease him about the Batman voice. She’d always thought the comms made it worse than it actually was.

She only hums, still grinning. “Really, I was sure I’d told you.”

Ladybug definitely did not tell him. Marinette on the other hand told him months ago that she’d come to Gotham during summer break.

He really does sigh this time. How surprising, she never thought he’d do that around heroes he barely knew. “No, you did not. There’s a rule about no metas.”

She snorts. What a hypocrite. “Have you not noticed that Signal’s a meta or are you just ignoring that?”

Marinette can’t actually tell but she’s pretty certain his eye is twitching. This is so much fun, she should have made the trip to Gotham earlier. But regardless that’s not why she decided to come out on a little night run. Before he can reply she says, “Besides, Batman and Robin were in Paris last month even after the Justice League promised not to set foot in Paris. I’m only returning the favour.”

She’d already chewed out her dad during their visit. He’d ignored her, insisting that it was necessary for him to check and once again trying to talk Marinette into moving back home. Not that he was any good at it, her father isn’t really capable of carrying such conversations. Plus, it wasn’t like Gotham was much safer.

Batman remains expressionless. “We weren’t spotted. Neither by civilians or the Parisian heroes.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” she replies coolly, “You weren’t spotted by any civilians who felt the need to announce it to the rest of the city.” Adrien had seen them and mentioned it the next day in school. Marinette had been ready to storm back to the bakery and start yelling at them again. Instead, she had taken a deep breath, thanked Tikki that Alya was absent, put on her best confused expression and faked interest.

Marinette gets why her siblings hate the cowl. It’s hard enough to figure out what her father is thinking without half his face hidden. “You and Chat Noir are teenagers. You can’t take care of the whole city on your own-”

Marinette snaps. She’d only wanted to mess with her dad for what he’d done not listen to him question her capability.

“Last I checked you’re the only adult in this city.”

“Nightwing-”

“Started out as a child vigilante in a crime ridden city. All Chat Noir and I do is take care of akumas and spend our free time trying to figure out Hawkmoth’s identity. You really do not need to worry.”

She doesn’t wait for his reply. She swings away to the next building, pulling out the horse miraculous to portal back to her room in the manor. She detransforms and falls face down onto her bed trying extremely hard to cry.

It’s quite a while later that there’s a knock on her door. “Come in,” she calls not bothering to get up. The door opens and closes and Dick says, “Hey Nettie.” She feels the bed dip as he sits next to her.

“Apparently B had a very interesting first meeting with Ladybug today.” He sounds nonchalant but Marinette knows better.

She lifts her head up and glares at him, “So?”

He shrugs, “Just thought you should know.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Dick sighs, “I went through the footage to see where exactly B messed up.”

She looks at him incredulously, “You needed footage for that? He almost definitely messed up the second he opened his mouth.”

Her brother chuckles, looking away from her, “That’s true. But I figured it’s better to know, if only to ensure Ladybug doesn’t yell at me the next time I see her.”

She frowns, confused with where he’s heading with this.

“Nettie, did you know that Nightwing and the first Robin being the same person is a conspiracy theory? One of Bernard’s in fact. It’s considered just that insane.” She inhales sharply, but Dick continues as if he doesn’t notice, “So, imagine my surprise when Ladybug threw that fact in B’s face, after all we both know she isn’t the kind to believe in baseless theories.”

Marinette squeezes her eyes shut. “Shit. Does B know?”

Dick is still speaking casually, “About the conspiracy theory or about you being Ladybug?”

The confirmation that her brother now knows her identity doesn’t help at all. “Both.”

“He’s too paranoid to not know about the conspiracy theory but he doesn’t know you’re Ladybug-” she sighs in relief “- he thinks you heard it from one of the other JL members.”

She gets up to sit beside him, looking at him in confusion. He finally meets her eyes when Marinette asks, “How?”

“I told him so. I was the only one who was there every single time you were at the Watch Tower.”

Her mouth opens in shock. He smiles softly at her, “The audio on the security tapes isn’t perfect even if he gets Babs or Uncle Clark to check, both of them would lie for you. Even if he checks himself, Babs can alter it.”

She throws her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Continuously whispering thank you. He laughs and ruffles her hair, “Don’t worry about it. I get it.”

Marinette laughs a bit at that. She doesn’t really miss when B and Dick argued all the time because of how overprotective their father could be. Before he slips out her room, he ruffles her hair more and grins as he says, “Be early to breakfast tomorrow. Alfred’s making chocolate chip pancakes.”

She smirks, “Don’t worry. I’ll be there first.”

There’s a laughing call of, “You’re on,” from the hallway and Marinette grins. Sometimes, she’s really thankful that she has siblings.

[thornalchemist23]

Marinette: Bye Damian! Bye Dick! Bye Tim! Bye Jason! Bye Damian! Dick: You said 'bye Damian' twice. Marinette: I like Damian.

[marauderundercover]

A Robin in the Making: Meeting the Justice League

Bruce frowns at the monitor.

“I already told Superman that I cannot, under any circumstances, come to the Watchtower this week.” He says firmly. Oliver runs a hand down his face, obviously aggravated.

“Batman, I’m telling you, if any of us could figure out how the hell to fix it, we would. And we wouldn’t be calling your stubborn ass.” He huffs out. Bruce’s eye twitches under his cowl.

“I don’t have anyone to watch Robin.” He says, telling only a partial truth.

“Then bring the kid with! I’m sure we can figure out something for him to do while you fix the monitor station.” Oliver says. Bruce starts to argue again, because it really wouldn’t only be his oldest that he’d have to bring along, when a familiar voice cuts in.

“Whoa, really? Can we go, B, please, please, please?” Dick begs, appearing at the edge of the cave with a domino already on his face. And just like that, Bruce has no choice but to cave. Something he was sure Dick knew.

“Fine. We’ll be there in twenty.” He says curtly before hanging up. Sighing, Bruce turns to look at Dick. “You do realize Mari is going to have to go too, right?” He asks. Dick nods rapidly.

“B, you’re not even ready for how totally awesome this is going to be! I’ll go grab M.” He says, darting back up the stairs. Bruce blows out a long breath. He’d told the League that he had prior engagements in Gotham that would keep him from being on call for this entire week. With Alfred in England for another five days, he had no one to watch Dick or Marinette. Which meant he hadn’t even been patrolling for very long. Just long enough for people to notice him (something he rarely wanted as Batman), and then he went right back to the manor. Dick, as he was almost a teenager, had tried to convince Bruce that he could watch Marinette by himself for a few hours. It wasn’t that Bruce didn’t trust his son. He did. He just also knew that Marinette and Dick had been partners in crime ever since Marinette first pulled herself into a standing position. She took off after her older brother and never looked back. It never failed to put a smile on Bruce’s face- well, as long as it wasn’t accompanied by mischievous giggling from the two. Before he can get too lost in his thoughts, he realizes that the giggles are definitely real and approaching quickly.

“Dick, make sure you’re holding onto her!” Bruce calls out. After Marinette had made her appearance, he’d made sure there were railings everywhere in the cave. Didn’t mean he completely trusted the railings to be failproof.

“Don’t worry daddy! Dickie’s got me!” Marinette calls out, and Bruce relaxes slightly. Until the two appear in sight and he sees what his three year old daughter is wearing.

“Richard, why does Marinette have a Robin uniform?” He asks, working hard to keep his tone calm. He already wasn’t thrilled that Dick was running around every other night fighting crime. It terrified him, but the idea of Dick going out as Robin by himself and getting injured because he didn’t tell Bruce where he was going- that fear far outweighed the fear that Bruce had when he would spot his son out of the corner of his eye while going against a mugger. But his daughter, who was still a toddler, wearing a domino mask was a little too much for him.

“It’s not really a uniform, B. She’s not gonna go out and kick the Joker’s butt or anything. I just thought it’d be cool for her to be able to match me if we ever got to meet the League together. Pretty cool, right?” Dick presses, and Bruce takes a second to breathe. Looking closer, the outfit clearly just mimicked the Robin colors, and was obviously not made to fight in. It was, unfortunately, cute. There was even a tiny bat symbol on the belt of it.

“I’m a hero!” Marinette chirps happily, grinning up at him. Bruce softens immediately, crouching down so he can be more on her level.

“You make a great hero, sweetheart. Now remember, what do you call Dickie when he gets his outfit on?” Bruce asks. Ever since she’d started talking, he’d tried to drill the importance of secret identities to her. He knew it wasn’t exactly traditional parenting, but he figured it was better than just lying to her about such a big part of his life. She grins widely.

“Dickie is Robin and you’re B.” She says, rattling the words off as if she’d rehearsed them (he knew she had). Bruce smiles and picks her up, tossing her gently into the air before catching her, heart warming as she giggles and shrieks.

“Very good.” He says, then pauses as he realizes she doesn’t have a secret identity.

“I say we call her Bug, cause that’s already what Lucius and you call her when she has to go to WE.” Dick pipes up, walking back into the main part of the cave as he pulls on his last shoe. Bruce glances down at his daughter.

“Does that work for you?” He asks. She nods, grinning. Bruce exhales deeply. “Very well. Who’s ready to meet the Justice League?”

---

The second they zeta onto the Watchtower, Dick runs to the center of the room, slowly turning as he tries to take in everything. He’d met a few of the other heroes at the Hall of Justice before, but B had never let him go to space before!

“Hey sport. Where’s your old man?” Ollie asks, walking in with his arms crossed. Dick nods towards the zeta tubes.

“He’s gotta get Bug set up first, but he said it was fine for me to come ahead.” Dick explains. Ollie frowns.

“Bug?” He asks. “Is that a person?” Dick nods.

“Yup! She’s my little sister.” He says, and Ollie’s jaw drops.

“She- what- Batman has more than one kid?” He gasps. Dick snorts. It was always funny to see people’s reactions to B having kids. Before he can explain more, the zeta tube announces B and Mari’s arrival.

“B! B, look! Stars!” Marinette gasps, immediately tugging B over to the windows. Dick giggles at the look on Ollie’s face.

“Green Arrow. I assume you have figured out where Robin and Bug can go?” B asks, glancing back at the other hero while Mari was focused on the stars. Ollie sputters for a minute.

“What- I- what the hell, Batman! We had an idea for Robin, not a freaking toddler!” He huffs out. Marinette tilts her head to the side, and Dick’s eyes widen. Uh oh.

“B? What does ‘hell’ mean?” She asks, frowning.

“Oh sh-”

“Unless you want to teach her two new words today, I suggest you shut your mouth.” Batman says lowly. Ollie’s jaw snaps shut as he nods slowly. B turns to Mari. “That’s not a word we use, Bug. Green Arrow is going to have to go sit in time out becuase he said it. You don’t want to sit in time out, right?” Mari shakes her head rapidly.

“No! No fank you.” She says, messing up her ‘th’ like usual. Dick thought it made her the cutest kid ever.

“Very well. Robin, stay here with Bug. I’ll walk Green Arrow to time out and send Superman back here.” B says. Dick nods, and Mari rushes over to him.

“C’mon! Let’s do flips!” She says excitedly. Dick grins, immediately rushing over to help her with her cartwheels. He loved being a big brother.

@maribat-get-in

[maribat-calendar-events]

Maribat Awards 2023 Nominees

Art: Favourite Artist Favourite FanArt

Authors: Favourite Author Most Underrated Author Best Maribat Author of All Time (Any year) Best New Author

Fics: Favourite Fic Most Underrated Fic Best Maribat Fic of All Time (Any year)

Ships: Best Daminette Best Jasonette Best Timari Best Dickinette Best Rare Pair Best Platonic (non-bio-family) Best Biological family AU (not just biodad!Bruce)

Overall: Best One-Shot Best Multi-Chapter Best Fluff Best Angst Best Hurt/Comfort Best Comedy

Vote Now Here!

[maribat-media]

Maribat Media Poll Sunday: #0

This is the official start of a new standard for this blog. Weekly polls!

These polls will be just about anything you can think of.

They will be centered around Maribat, if that was not already clear, but feel free to leave some polls you would like to see either in the replies, reblog, or an ask!

Note: If you leave it in an ask, please specify that it is a poll request.

Here's a 'mini' poll to start us off! (check below line)

If you have any pairing that is a rare pair, poly ship or bio parent that got you into the fandom, shoot that relationship out! Do so however you feel comfortable (in tags or reblog)

Extra Special Challenge: If you happen to remember the exact piece (fic, artwork, drabble, incorrect quote) or the author/creator of the piece, give them a shootout in a reblog of this!

Alternative to Special Challenge: If you can't remember who/what you got you into the fandom, shootout the creators or friends that have helped instead!

[mochinek0]

Do you have a list for all your other mari bat works

I only have 3 right now. I am working on other Maribat one shots. Dickinette, Jasonette, Bio!Dad Bruce Wayne, Platonic Daminette, sibling Maribat, and Felinette incoming.

Dinner with Destiny

The Al Ghul Family

I Could be a Better Boyfriend

[maribatserver]

Tag Team Tournament: Spandex Flex

Dickinette may not be the most universally popular ship in the world of Maribat, but those of us who are fans are very dedicated to this ship. There's also a lot of fun to be had with platonic takes on Dick and Marinette's relationship, for those who want to take advantage of Dick's status as a big brother years in the making.

For those of you who're looking for inspiration for this ship, be warned, the "D" in Dickinette lowkey stands for "Depressing", though as this playlist is a Newsie creation it still has a happy ending.

Remember that if you save the Spotify playlist, you'll be potentially earning points for this team!

For those of you who don't use Spotify, we did make a YouTube Playlist too, but we can't track those saves, so they can't earn points. (If you know a way of tracking YouTube Playlist saves, please let us know).

Song list below the cut.

1 Friday I'm In Love by Phoebe Bridgers (originally by The Cure (cw flashing lights))

2 2:30 by Nicole Jaskot (cw rapid lighting changes)

3 Take Care by Keaton Henson (originally by Beach House)

4 I'm Lying to You Cause I'm Lost by The Paper Kites

5 Outta Time by Natalia Kills (cw glitchy, Bad TV Filter)

6 Before you Leave Me by Alex Warren

7 Go by The Civil Wars

8 Don't Go by Rae Morris

9 The Fear of Letting Go by Ruelle

10 Apocalypse by Jackie Evancho

11 Can't Let You Go by Adam Lambert

12 Just Us by James Arthur (cw lens flares)

13 Wake up with Me by Gabrielle Aplin

14 Tightrope by Michelle Williams (from The Greatest Showman)

15 Two by Sleeping At Last

Thank you @izanae and @nottesilhouette for helping @newdog14 find songs for this playlist, even when her standards for "vibes" and "playlist flow" were entirely inscrutable and utterly ridiculous.

[fleursroses]

I posted 141 times in 2022

That's 16 more posts than 2021!

40 posts created (28%)

101 posts reblogged (72%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@fleursroses

@pomsicles

@littleinkling64

@hamsternamedmarinette

@scarlixy

I tagged 59 of my posts in 2022

#maribat - 32 posts

#mlb x dc - 29 posts

#dc x mlb - 29 posts

#maridami - 17 posts

#daminette - 16 posts

#marinette x damian - 16 posts

#platonic jasonette - 7 posts

#jasonette - 6 posts

#maridick - 6 posts

#dickinette - 5 posts

Longest Tag: 121 characters

#anyway fun fact! this is actually the work i'll post when i hit 200 followers! it's not quite ready but i'm getting there

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Marinette: Excuse me sir, have you ever been arrested?

Damian: Yes.

Marinette:

Marinette: I was going to say "because it’s illegal to be that cute" but now I’m curious.

Damian: Aggravated assault.

348 notes - Posted January 9, 2022

#4

Damian, on the phone with Marinette: He’s in the kitchen again…

Tim, reading a recipe: “Beat three eggs.” At what? Hand to hand combat?

Marinette: GET. HIM. OUT.

503 notes - Posted February 23, 2022

#3

Marinette: We all have our demons

Marinette, grabbing Damian: This one's mine

540 notes - Posted January 19, 2022

#2

Marinette: So.

Marinette: I'm in love.

Marinette: With Damian.

Marinette: I'm in love with Damian.

Jason:

Jason: Our Damian?

Marinette: Yes?

Marinette: ...thoughts?

Jason: And prayers.

840 notes - Posted January 2, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Dick: Let's play a game. I call it "Mari or Titus'. I tell you something I've heard Damian say, and you have to guess whether he said it to his wife or his dog

Jason: Okay, that's easy

Dick: First up: "I would die for you"

Jason, under his breath: Fuck

899 notes - Posted February 20, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[abyssal-ali]

PART TWO of which Maribat fic inspired by a Taylor Swift song should I type out/complete! PART ONE here!

If you want more deets/summary/etc let me know and I'd be happy to tell yall more! Or visit my masterlist 1!

[blackroserelina]

Is there any story where Marinette is related to Dick? Like she's his child or sister. I would really like to read some stories like that right now.

[soulmate-game]

Yes, I know AO3 is back up. But I gotta finish what I started.

—*—*—*—*—*

The Heroes’ Game

Prev ….. Next.

Chapter 2:

“There has to be a way to turn this off,” Marinette seemed to be talking mostly to herself. After the bat boys made sure the three traffickers were picked up, they relocated Marinette to the empty rooftop of a building they owned. Not that she knew that, but it was the best way to insure nobody came up to see them. The smaller girl was pacing, despite the disorientation that came with seeing herself pace as she paced. Robin seemed to feel that same disorientation, rubbing his forehead in what could have been pain but was probably annoyance as well.

Batman and Nightwing could only watch as words tumbled out of the girl’s mouth faster than they could comprehend all of them. It was such an odd sight; a silent Robin brooding in place and rubbing his temples while the small Asian girl in pigtails rambled and paced.

They could hardly believe they were soulmates, but if Robin hadn’t denied it yet then it had to be true.

“At least it isn’t a physical mark,” Batman managed to interject into Marinette’s panic. She looked up at him, instantly cutting off her verbal vomit. “But how about you two explain exactly what your mark is so we can understand?”

“Yeah, don’t leave us hanging,” Nightwing agreed with a smile. Sure, it was incredibly inconvenient and not at all ideal for one of them to meet their soulmate in uniform. But, none of them exactly had a say in that. The best they could do was roll with the punches and Nightwing wasn’t gonna let a little right hook from Fate keep him down for long.

“It’s annoying,” Robin surprisingly answered first, lowering his hand to cross his arms over his broad chest again. Marinette turned to him, just then realizing that Robin hadn’t looked away from her for longer than a few seconds since their bond had first formed. “Our vision is cut in half, like a two-player game screen. One side is my usual point of view, the other side is the point of view through her eyes.”

Batman and Nightwing tensed, processing. Marinette didn’t notice, considering she had narrowed her focus back onto the concrete of the roof below her and decided to contribute to the explanation.

“I think that’s exactly what it is,” she agreed, unknowingly making everyone look over at her. “I didn’t notice it before, but— look, Robin. In the bottom left hand corners,” she pointed to something only Robin and herself could see. “It says Player One and Player Two. In red and—oh, those are hearts instead of colons.”

“So much for hoping this was at least platonic,” Batman groaned, running a hand over his face. He was happy that Robin had a match, sure, but that didn’t exactly make things easy. Nothing to do with superheroes and their soulmates was easy.

“I think…” Marinette narrowed her eyes as she focused on the red font. The spot after the colon had a flashing cursor. “I think it’s waiting for us to introduce ourselves,” she looked up to her newly found soulmate with expectation. He avoided meeting her eyes, and said nothing. Puffing out her cheeks, Marinette decided not to be put off by his behavior and straightened her spine. Taking several confident steps forward, she held out her hand to him. “Hello, Robin. My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, and I am from Paris, France. My class and I are here on a month-long field trip thanks to one of us winning the Wayne Enterprises scholastic competition last month.”

“Wait a second,” Nightwing interjected, eyes narrowed behind his mask. “Are you being humble? Because the guest speaker at the Wayne Gala at the end of the month is the winner of that competition and her name has already been released as Mari—“

Cue the frantic arm waving and full face blush. “Ah-Ah-Ah yeah, that’s me. But I don’t like to brag, so I didn’t want to say it! You know, I didn’t want to come off as full of myself or a-anything. It’s really embarrassing having to make a speech,” Marinette’s head dropped at the reminder. “Ohhhh, I’m gonna make a total fool out of myself! I should tell Monsieur Wayne I’m not comfortable making a speech. Yeah— oh, but how could I possibly just say; ‘sorry, Mister Wayne, But I am a chronic clutz prone to embarrassing myself and think that making a speech at one of your galas would be a huge mistake,’ oh I sound so lame—”

“Hey,” Robin’s voice cut through the rambling, and Marinette looked up. “Look. It has your name after Player One now. Stop thinking about useless things and focus on how to shut this off. Soulmate or not, we can’t have you finding out who we all are after only a day.”

Nightwing walked over and threw an arm over Robin’s shoulders, even though the older male was still focusing on Marinette out of the corner of his eye. Most people would be offended by the way Robin spoke, blunt and sharp at the same time. But Marinette hadn’t started rambling again, instead the girl stood calmly. Her breaths came slow and regular once more, and her eyes held a scarily familiar focus. Maybe they really do belong together. Huh. Who would have thought his soulmate would be so adorable? And humble. Kind of a mess though, but a cute mess. “Hey, the girl introduced herself and you didn’t even shake her hand. Come on, fill in your name Player

Two!”

Robin scowled. He had already deduced that being Player Two was likely due to the fact that Marinette had been the one to initiate the contact that awakened their soul bond. Didn’t mean he liked being second in any respect. His soulmate was also a wreck. All the rambling and random switches in and out of panic. It was aggravating, but…

But he watched the stern focus in her eyes as she thought about how to temporarily shut down the connection they had. And he had been watching her the whole time. Analyzing her body language. She was easy to rile up, sure, but her panic was never all consuming. Robin could see that her feet always remained firmly planted, her stance fluid and firm. She was always ready to defend herself, whether she knew it or not, regardless of the surface-level panic she might have been experiencing. Even after only twenty or so minutes of interaction, Robin could tell that Marinette Dupain-Cheng was not a 2-D character. She was layered, with secrets and complexities that he was willing to bet few people saw or knew about. Maybe that’s why he walked over to her, and extended a hand that she readily grasped after a brief moment of disbelief.

“... I’m Robin.”

He watched the twitch of her eyebrow in exasperation, hiding his amusement under a perfectly developed poker face. The writing on the bottom of his POV’s side filled in; PLAYER TWO: ROBIN.

“Great,” Marinette deadpanned, looking very unamused. “What if that never changes, huh? I’m not asking you to reveal your identity or anything. Soulmates or not, you don’t owe me something that important. Especially not right away. But you could have at least given me the first letter of your real name or something.”

“You’ll have to earn that,” Robin retorted with a cocky grin. To his pleasant surprise, Marinette responded by cracking her knuckles.

“You know, this layout looks suspiciously similar to a combat video game,” she hinted heavily. Robin adjusted his stance and his smirk widened into a grin.

“Oh? You’re right. Ready to lose?”

“No,” Batman interrupted, one heavy hand suddenly on both of their shoulders as the teenage soulmates snapped out of the challenging connection they had made. “Not today. Miss Dupain-Cheng—“

“Just Marinette, please, Monsieur Batman.”

“... Marinette. You said your class left you behind at the hotel, right? Any idea where they would be now?”

Marinette pulled out her phone to look at the time, frowning. “It’s been about an hour. They’ll probably stay at the museum for another hour, and then they said we would all get dinner at the restaurant across the street.”

Batman nodded, filing that information away. “Good. Then we have about an hour for the two of you to figure out your bond before we need to drop you off in front of the restaurant to rejoin your class.”

“And have a chat with your teacher about taking roll call and properly taking care of her students while in the most dangerous city in the world,” Nightwing agreed, furious at the fact that any student would be left behind to potentially wander such a dangerous city, like Marinette did. Though, considering who her soulmate was, she probably only felt safe to wander due to confidence in her ability to protect herself. Confidence that they all saw was fairly valid.

That being decided, the two soulmates sat down. Batman, knowing it was unnecessary for both him and Nightwing to watch over the teens, left to resume patrol. Nightwing stayed. Someone had to watch the teen’s backs as they focused on figuring out their bond.

And that led to Marinette and Robin both sitting cross-legged and staring at one another without a clue about what to do. After a minute of silent staring, Marinette shifted and her nose scrunched up.

“Uh,” she said as she was struck with her usual timidity at the awkward situation. Here she was, sitting and trying to figure out her soul bond with a guy she just met. One of Gotham’s heroes, no less, which really was more of a relief than anything. At least he would understand her once she eventually revealed herself as Ladybug to him, and she understood him. She shifted her weight again, unable to move her gaze from Robin’s emerald green eyes. “How about we just… start by meditating? That should help, right?” She watched as his green eyes widened slightly in disbelief, and saw herself fidget again from his point of view.

“You meditate?” He asked, clearly not having expected that. Marinette sighed, relaxing into the change in conversation.

“Yeah. I mean, most of Paris meditates now. When your emotions can be used to turn you into a temporary supervillain because of a crazed maniac with a magic artifact, you tend to look for ways to manage your emotions and keep yourself from being vulnerable.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Nightwing asked, and Marinette could tell that he was shocked even despite the mask. “What are you talking about?”

It was Marinette’s turn to be confused, her brows furrowing as she looked between the two males and realized mon dieu, neither of them know what I’m talking about!

“Oh my god,” she said in English. “Paris, we’ve been attacked by a supervillain for the last three years,” she said slowly, but still no recognition. In fact, that only seemed to shock the heroes more. Marinette’s face grew more grim as she decided to completely fill them in. “Three years ago, one of my classmates randomly turned into a huge rock monster. Because of it, Paris’s primary two heroes showed up for the first time to defeat him. When he turned back into a normal boy, the true villain projected himself in front of the Eiffel Tower. His name is HawkMoth. He got hold of a magical artifact called a Miraculous. His Miraculous allows him to corrupt something, in his case butterflies, and use that corrupted object to take advantage of people experiencing negative emotions. His corrupted object takes advantage of those negative emotions to turn the person into a supervillain, giving them powers and essentially brainwashing them into causing havoc. He bargains with them, convincing them that he’ll allow them to get their revenge in exchange for them bringing him what he wants,” Marinette took a breath. “The Miraculous That the two heroes of Paris use. It’s where the get their own powers,” she explained. “Ladybug, the leader, uses the Ladybug Miraculous. It holds the power of creation. Her partner, Chat Noir, uses the cat Miraculous, which holds the power of destruction. If you combine the powers of those two Miraculous, you can make a wish. They will literally manipulate reality in order to grant the wish,” Marinette looked down to her lap, clenching her hands into fists. Through her soul bond with Robin, she could see herself trembling in anger. “But it always comes with a price. The Miraculous uphold the balance of the world. If they grant a wish, they will also balance that wish. If you, for example, wish for the cure to an illness,” Marinette swallowed, “then maybe you will unleash a brand new illness that gets brought to your city by rats and wipes out around forty percent of the population in Europe.”

“The Black Plague,” Nightwing gasped. “That was from a wish made using these— Miraculous?”

Marinette nodded gravely. “Yes. A wish has also caused the sinking of Atlantis, the wipe out of most of the Native American population in North America from illness, it was the final straw to begin the First World War. You cannot make a wish without consequences,” she stressed. “That is why Ladybug and Chat Noir work so hard to keep their Miraculous away from HawkMoth. But they haven’t been able to discover his identity yet. Nobody has,” Marinette’s shoulders slumped. “Which means Paris can only endure as it gets hit every few days by a new supervillain and new powers. Luckily, one of Ladybug’s power is the ability to reverse any damage that happens due to a Miraculous. It will completely reverse environmental damage, magical effects, injuries, even deaths that occurred from misuse of a Miraculous,” Marinette didn’t notice how both men stiffened at that last admission. “But the most we can do is try to police our emotions as much as possible, keep ourselves from being overcome by negative emotions for very long, so that Hawk Moth doesn’t have the chance to use us. Thus, meditation.”

Silence reigned for a long moment before Nightwing punched the concrete under him, making Marinette jump. What—?

“How did we not know?” The older hero growled, making Marinette’s eyes shoot wide open. Huh?

“You really never heard about this?” She asked cautiously, frowning. “Ladybug called the Justice League for help back when this all first started, but she was waved off as if it was all a prank. She tried again later, only to get the same treatment. I thought you would have at least heard about that.”

Nightwing and Robin both shook their heads. “No,” the older of the two refuted. “Nobody from the League told any of us about a prank call, and usually we’d hear about that. Not many people risk prank calling the heroes of the world, after all. And that doesn’t explain how international news never covers that. Even if the effects are reversed, you’d think someone would report about villains in Paris.”

“Someone does,” Marinette said, tilting her head. “The Ladyblog used to be the only one, you can find it online. It started out as a really trustworthy source of information on everything happening in Paris with its heroes and Akumas—Which is what the temporary villains are called. But lately, the Ladyblog has been…” Marinette’s face twisted into a scowl. “...not the most reliable news source. But Ladybug herself started a new news app, AkumaWatch, that most of Paris has downloaded by now,” Marinette pulled out her phone to show them. Pulling the app up, she turned the screen so they could see. “This tab holds footage of past or currently occurring attacks. This tab holds resources for calming techniques, and sources for therapy or other emotional aid for anyone who needs it. This tab has self defense techniques and the location of all the Akuma Shelters in the city so people can evacuate as quickly as possible. And this tab,” she clicked on the second to last one, “is for anyone who sees an Akuma, which looks like a corrupt purple butterfly, to take a picture of it. This allows the Akuma Alert to narrow down the area that the attack begins in, so that people know where to avoid most,” she explained. “The last tab is for any PSAs or other public statements that any of Paris’s heroes or public figures have to say about the attacks.”

“You know a lot about this,” Robin mused slowly, Marinette fully aware of how his gaze remained on her face as she closed the app and put her phone away. Robin was equally aware of how she stubbornly looked anywhere other than his face. Marinette shrugged.

“I helped make the app. Besides, Ladybug occasionally lands on my terrace and we’ll talk when she doesn’t have something better to do. I wouldn’t say we’re friends, exactly, but I think she just likes having someone other than her teammates to talk to about everything with,” Marinette rubbed the back of her neck and smiled sheepishly. “I’m a pretty good listener.”

Robin and Nightwing traded glances, before they both looked back at her.

“Okay…” Robin said slowly. “Let’s try meditation.”

Eager to get away from the previous topic, Marinette easily agreed and both teens adjusted their posture, got comfortable, and closed their eyes.

As usual both of their visions went completely black, but only for a moment. Once they had both sunk into their meditation, their vision came back to show them in what they immediately, intrinsically knew was a shared mindspace.

No longer was their vision cut in half like a game. Instead they saw only from their own point of view, like normal, which was disorienting in and of itself after half an hour of seeing from two points of view at the same time.

The mindspace was mostly white, and it seemed to go on forever. But there were things there. Everything that belonged to Marinette was on pink space, like the floor or sometimes walls and ceiling of the area around that object decided to create a small piece of solidity to emphasize it. Solidity that happened to come in the form of pink. Pink floor in a patch of space, or a cube of pink floor, wall, and patch of ceiling. Likewise, the spots that belonged to Robin were backdropped by green. And the. There were spots that merged both colors, indicating that it was shared.

Like the giant sparring mat in the center of the room, where the floor beneath and around it was an attractive swirl of pink and green as if the two colors chased one another, creating a design that seemed wholly and completely right. Belonging just to Robin, though Marinette was able to walk over and gently run her hands over them, was a rack of weapons—primarily swords. There was also a couch, a computer, a large bookshelf, a wall of batarangs, and a TV that they apparently shared just like the sparring mat.

Amongst the pink items were things like a kitchen— a whole, fully stocked kitchen— a sewing station and matching rack of fabric, a computer of her own, a few potted plants, and a loft bed.

After taking the time to absorb their surroundings, Robin turned to Marinette to find, with relief, that they were both dressed exactly as they were in the physical world. Marinette wasted no time heading over to the shared television, a large flat screen, and sat down on the ground in front of Robin’s green-backdropped couch.

“What are you doing?” The boy asked in exasperation as Marinette turned on the piece of technology. “This isn’t the time to play around. We’re trying to figure out how to control this bond,” he reminded her. Marinette nodded, not looking back at him.

“That’s exactly what I’m doing. Look, our vision mimicked a video game, right? So where better to find clues than the mysterious TV in our mindspace. I mean, it technically doesn’t actually exist, since this isn’t the physical world, so it won’t have any normal channels or shows on it. The TV is connected to our minds. What better place to look for— I knew it!” She shouted in glee. Sure enough, when Robin walked up to her and sat down on the sofa that belonged to him, he saw it. The screen of the TV was split in half, but both sides were dark. In the bottom left of each side of the screen were the very familiar red words and heart-colons;

PLAYER ONE: MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG

PLAYER TWO: ROBIN

The TV showed the view from their eyes. It was the link between their mindspace and their vision in the real world.

“Okay…” Robin mused slowly, reaching forward to grab the green controller on the stand that held the TV. Marinette grabbed the matching pink controller. “So this works like a video game, after all.”

“At least partially,” his soulmate agreed. “It’s mostly a mind link, right? We share a mindspace, which isn’t too odd for soulmates,” even if it was on the rarer side of the spectrum, “But it looks like our minds are even connected through our physical vision. Here, let’s see if this game of life has any instructions,” the girl pressed the center button on her controller, which pulled up an Options tab on the screen. “Yes!”

“Here, let’s look at the list of controls,” Robin suggested, clicking the appropriate option on the screen. The “game title” was boasted in bright red at the top of the “controls” list;

Soul Team.

Marinette’s eyes widened at the title. “Oh,” she said, her voice surprisingly quiet. “It’s… like it’s saying that we’re each other’s backup, no matter what,” her soft voice echoed in the room, striking an odd chord in Robin. “We can always see when the other person is in danger, or what they’re facing, and go to help.”

“Look at this,” Robin pointed to one of the “controls” lines near the top. “Switch vision mode between Split Screen, Audio Only, Personal Mode, or Sleep Mode. It looks like we can only switch modes here, in the Mindspace,” he pointed out as he read. “We don’t have to agree on the setting, but aside from Sleep Mode, Which activates automatically when we fall asleep, any mode one of us chooses still affects us both.”

“Audio only just lets us hear what is going on around the other person,” Marinette read, humming in thought. “We can use that as a step two, right? Like, we can start on Personal Mode, where we only have our own Point of Views, but once we get more comfortable we can switch to audio mode every now and then.”

“Maybe,” Robin agreed reluctantly. Audio mode shouldn’t be too bad… possibly. Once again, his green eyes strayed to his soulmate. Completely unaware, for the first time in a half hour, of his stare, Marinette just continued reading about everything their soul bond entailed.

Analyzing her like this, Robin was just… calmed, in a way. Visually, Marinette was pretty. She had gorgeous sapphire eyes, clear like a pristine lake, and midnight black hair that shimmered blue in the right lighting. Sure, it was pulled into childish pigtails at the base of her neck, but it didn’t seem to detract from the surprising maturity in the girl’s posture. She was clearly a childish person at heart, and easy to excite if their interactions thus far were anything to go off of, but there was a hidden maturity there. A hidden knowledge, amongst her many subtle layers and complexities.

Perhaps that was the first similarity that Robin noticed between the two of them. She had what seemed like a very straightforward personality at first glance— the awkward, shy, clumsy, excitable girly girl, just like he was the cold, arrogant, mysterious bad boy on the surface. But she held more than that, secrets and deeper parts of herself that she kept hidden flawlessly. Robin doubted even her closest friends noticed much of what lies beyond the surface of her character.

“It seems like this bond is supposed to ease us into getting to know each other,” Marinette’s voice brought Robin out of his inner musings. “We can’t hear each other’s thoughts, no matter what, which is usually the feature that comes along with shared mindspaces. But we can adjust the level of privacy we allow one another, and we can meet here when we sleep. It’s less like the bond between gamers, and more like the bond is meant to act like an ice breaker. Like… an activity for us to get to know each other, almost.”

“Our soul bond is a team bonding activity,” Robin surmised in a deadpan tone, completely done with the logic of the universe and the way it liked to play with him. The laugh that Marinette let ring out only partially made up for his annoyance.

“Oui, Oui!” Marinette agreed emphatically before standing up frantically in realization. “Oh! I forgot to ask, do you speak French?”

Robin grinned and nodded. “I do, actually. I suppose that is at least convenient. My first language is Arabic, however. I don’t suppose you speak that, do you?”

Marinette’s shoulders slumped. “No. But I do speak Mandarin! And Cantonese, which is actually my first language. I’m still working on Mandarin, though. I’ve only been learning it for about two years, but I can hold a decent conversation.”

Damian nodded, tilting his head. “I am fluent in Mandarin, but my Cantonese can use some work. We can benefit each other in that respect, at least.”

“So we have plenty of languages to choose from!” Marinette said cheerfully, punctuating her words with an excited clap. “That should make it easy to keep people from eavesdropping on us all the time, at least. If we ever spoke to each other in front of my class, for example, Cantonese would be best to use. They all speak French, for obvious reasons, and several are fluent in English, and one of them is fluent in mandarin, but I don’t think any of them know Cantonese. After I help you get fluent, maybe you could teach me Arabic?”

And for the first time in Damian Wayne’s life, the sparkle of excitement in a girl’s eyes completely drained his will to argue. Grimacing, the boy agreed to teach her Arabic after they helped each other become fluent in the type of Chinese that they, respectively, needed help with.

This is a problem, Robin thought in despair. She’s already becoming a weakness.

—*—*—*—*—*

[its-karma-bitches-00]

ENDGAME

Chapter 2: Gone

Description: So... I know many Daminette fans don't like Damian being younger than Marinette so 🚨SPoiler AleRT 🚨 Damian is gonna be younger for a while but an event happens that gets their ages exchanged. (Sort of)

Warning; swearing, angst.

Summary: Where half the population fades away.

-----

Previously:

"Check the international news" Damian said appearing out of nowhere, Marinette nodded switching her tabs to international news

"What the fuck is that?" Chloe asked pointing at the phone

Boy... the world was in for a life changing ride.

***

"It's a spaceship" Marinette answered listening carefully at the reporter "In New York"

"Should we help or something?" Chloe asked

"No, the Avengers seem to have it under control, besides I think the adults will take care of it." Tim reassured "I don't think there's any of anything to worry about this literally happens all the Time!"

"For once, Drake is right I don't think we should waste our time on this." Damien added

"I guess..." Marinette nodded hesitantly but deep down,  something told her that something bad was gonna happen.

"Why is it donut shaped?" Chloe asked as Damian facepalmed.

***

"So are you dating Damian or Tim?"

Marinette choked on her water as Chloe burst into laughter. The rest just stared unable to understand what was so funny.

"What's so funny?" Tim walked towards them voicing everyone's thoughts

"Is that coffee?" Marinette interrupted, eyes shining at the cup in Tim's hand

"Yes..." he said, narrowing his eyes

"Please gimme" Marinette very 'kindly' requested. now, she had this look that clearly said 'if you dare deny my wishes, you're totally dead'

The entire group of friends 'ooh'ed and "ahhh"ed but Tim wasn't gonna back down.

"Oh, you want this?" Tim asked waving the cup around

"Mmm-hmm, weren't you saying that Chivalry isn't dead? You can prove that by handing me the cup" Marinette smiled cunningly.

"Hmm you're right" Tim nodded taking a sip before spitting it back in and handing it to her, bowing "sorry, I had to check if it was sweet enough for my lady"

The boys in the group howled and whistled, Marinette looked at him in absolute disgust "This is why I won't date you"

"I never asked you on a date" Tim smirked "And I have a girlfriend so.."

"Ugh, I swear I threw up a bit and swallowed it" a red haired girl named Margret gagged.

"Same here" Chloe scrunched her nose

The loud laughter soon died down, it turned Into hushed conversations about the spaceship in New York

"Do you think we're are gonna die?!"

"No" Tim denied "It left earth long ago so...No."

"What do you think it didn't destruct the world like all the other times?"

"maybe they just wanted to plant so they could regroup food for the rest of their planet?"

"Could be" Marinette giggled as the bell rang signaling the end of the lunch break "meet you guys at the lockers after school?" Everyone agreed, waving goodbye to each other.

School ended pretty fast, some teachers even gave updates about the spacecraft, which was long gone and there wasn't anything to worry about. "Schools officially done" Chloe yawned "Now I gonna go to the manor, take a nice warm bath and have my beauty sleep"

"Yeah, today was weirdly boring and tiring, being head boy sucks!"

"Speak for yourself" Chloe snorted "at least you don't have to keep dancing saying 'Go Gothamites!' "

"I don't know today seemed pretty fun" Marinette smiled

"everyday is fun for you." Tim and Chloe deadpanned

"Hey losers." Damian said walking towards them with no emotions...as usual "Except for you angel you're an absolute win-win." Damian remarked, sending her finger guns

"Oh great! Now I have to listen to his unbearable flirting!" Tim threw his hands up in frustration

Marinette sighed "here they go. Again." Before any of them could speak a black limo pulled up in front of them, the window rolled open revealing Jason wearing sunglasses.

"Get in losers, we're going shop- I mean, home!".

Damian rolled his eyes "Why are you wearing sunglasses in a car with black tinted glasses?"

"Where's Alfred? He usually comes to pick us up." Marinette asked making herself comfortable in the car "We thought we'd give you a ride" Dick smiled at her "how was school?"

"Fine" Damian answered "what about the alien spacecraft?"

"Gone" Jason informed "with Iron guy, spider guy and another guy."

"Another guy?" Chloe asked

"Some wizard. don't worry, justice league is already searching for them" Dick smiled again "you guys want to buy anything-"

"Coffee!" Tim and Marinette yelled in unison interrupting the old robin

"-except something you're addicted to like coffee, nail polish or katanas and bloody murder?" Dick blinked at them

"No" all of the huffed

"Awwwwww you kids are so cute!" Jason gushed before leaning back to ruffle their hair

"God! what is hell is wrong with you? it took me so much time to get this perfect hair!"

"Jason I swear to God no more croissants for a month"

"Dude, what the fuck?!"

"Touch me again Todd, I will chop your fingers off."

"You still think they're cute?" Dick asked

Jason shook his head no.

***

Marinette slumped against the soft mattress at Wayne manor relaxing herself the doors suddenly opened and a monkey barged in, jumping on her. And as monkey she meant Stephanie Brown

"Lets do something funnnnnnnn!"

"Steph I'm sorry, I'm tired. go hangout with you're boyfriend." Marinette whined, pushing her off.

"But whyyyy?"

"I'm tired Steph and why are you acting like a kid?, you have a boyfriend. Go make out with him or something"

"But Timmy is busy" she whined

A knock on the door interrupted Marinette "come in."

The door pushed open and Titus ran in jumping on the bed and licking Marinette's face "Titus!" She laughed "Good boy"

"Dinners ready" Damian said from the door way.

"We'll be there" Marinette smiled

"Where my affection when I need it?" The blonde next to Marinette asked to no one in particular, before standing up and walking towards the Damian "lets go! For a delicious dinner awaits us"

Marinette, Stephanie and Damian entered the dining room together, where everyone was seated laughing and talking. "Hey kids" Selina smiled a glass of water in her hands "didn't get to see you all day."

"Yeah" Marinette smiled taking the empty seat between Chloe and Dick, she looked around at the wonderful sight, a year ago Marinette would have never believed that she would be living at Wayne manor, eating mashed potatoes with them. "You okay?" Chloe asked

"I'm fine." Marinette smiled before remembering "Bruce? What-"

"Uh...guys?!" Cassandra's panicked voice exclaimed, everyone snapped their heads towards her fading hand. "Oh God" Dick gasped as he too started fading away

"Bruce" Selina called before completely fading out. The same happened to Steph, Cass, Chloe, Alfred, Dick, Duke, Kate and lastly...

Marinette.

That day, Half the world was wiped out because of the infinity stones.

Never to return ever again.

-----

THIS STORY IS FROM MY WATTPAD ACCOUNT

@Aquaqueen2020

[meduarts]

Managing Life (Part 4/?)

Summary: Marinette has been Audrey Bourgeois' secretary ever since she voiced out her dream of having her own business. Audrey thinks that she should learn more about the nooks and crannies of running a fashion business. However, fate has other plans for her, and honestly, what can our resident guardian could do to counter fate?

Disclaimer: I do not own MLB or DCU.

Pairings: Dick Grayson/Marinette Dupain-Cheng

A/n: Well, here we are with another update. Special thanks to @mysnis for giving me the idea for this chapter in particular!

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<Beginning>

Marinette had just finished the online meeting about the progress report from the main Style Queen branch in Paris. She huffed tiredly as she began to relax her overly stiffed body, a result from sitting for 5 hours straight for the meeting. She was going to lay on her bed when her phone started to ring.

She checked on who was calling her and to her surprise, it was Audrey. Curious, she picks up the call. "Madame? Do you need me to bake you more baked goods?" She asked in concern.

"Non non! Everything is perfect as usual! I'm just here to inform you that you have an interview with Brucie, tomorrow morning! I already made sure that your morning schedule is clear!"

"W-wait, What?" Marinette replied dumbly.

"Do I need to spell it out for you, Marinette? Tomorrow morning, you have an interview with Bruce Wayne. He was looking for a new secretary and you are currently looking for a new mentor! Fate, non?"

"F-fate?? Wait! That dinner! I knew you were planning something! Did you pimp me out to him???" Marinette accused while ruffling her hair nervously.

She could hear Audrey's signature shrill laugh from the other side of the connection, "Oh please, Pimping sounds so crude! I merely just help out my darling protege to find a mentor! Anyways, be ready tomorrow morning, Brucie kindly told me that his Butler shall pick you up at 8 A.M sharp! Wear one of your designs and don't bother getting your portfolio and resume together because I already sent a copy to him! Entendue? Good! Have a good night's rest, my dear! Ta~' Then she hung up.

Marinette looked at her phone in disbelief, she was utterly speechless. She has an interview with Bruce Wayne. She has an interview with Bruce Wayne. INTERVIEW! BRUCE WAYNE!

The young secretary's mind went overdrive and crashed immediately. Negative thoughts about the things that would happen and imaginative scenarios about how she would fail the interview, making a mockery of herself in front of one of the most powerful men in Gotham began to pop into her mind. She didn't even notice that she was hyperventilating were it not for the kwamis shouts around her.

"Breathe, Marinette!" Exclaimed Tikki in her ear.

Marinette began rebooting and she made sure to do the breathing exercise that her therapist had mentioned. Once she is calm enough, the fact that she has an interview tomorrow morning made her anxious again. She bolted out from her bed and began pacing.

"Oh, this is a disaster! Completely a disaster! I-i'm nowhere ready! Merde, what if I fall, what if I accidentally spill water on his expensive suit?! WHAT IF I MADE HIM UNCOMFORTABLE???!!" She panics.

The kwamis looked at each other, exasperated at their silly Guardian. They watched in amusement at Marinette's tirade.

"What if I made him hate me?! I might have to fake my death, change my identity and move somewhere remote! To bora-bora or somewhere in Southeast Asia?! Perhaps, Indonesia?! Yeah, that sounds like a good failsafe, I could even change my name, dyed my hair, and even get cosmetic surgery to alter my look! Maybe I should become a hermit in Tibet instead! YES! That's a good idea!"

Plagg sighed frustratedly at his kitten, and he decided to put a stop to this ridiculous rant. He zoomed in front of Marinette and slap her nose, "Get a hold of yourself, kitten. It's getting ridiculous.".

It worked instantly, the girl sucked a deep breath before letting out a huge sigh. "Sorry..." She mumbled softly. "I spiralled again, didn't I?" She meekly asked Plagg with a sheepish smile.

Plagg gave her a droll look, "Ya think? You even talked about getting plastic surgery and becoming a hermit in Tibet."

Marinette blushed in embarrassment, "Yeah, I don't know where that came from."

The other kwamis floated around Marinette, some were giggling and some were looking at her with an exasperated smile. Duusu flew forward and hugged Marinette's cheek. "It's going to be alright, peafowl! You are good at your job and I'm sure that the Wayne man was impressed with your achievements!"

"That's right, Marinette! I'm sure that you'll do fine in your interview! Besides, we're always there for you so you're never alone!" Tikki agreed.

Nooroo shyly floats forward, "I-if it made you feel better. I-i'll be honored to accompany you! P-perhaps my calmness could help!" He offered meekly.

Marinette smiled warmly and reached forward so that Nooro could perch on her palm. She brought him closer and gave the butterfly kwami a gentle kiss. "Thank you, Nooroo. You're such a dear." She complimented which made the said kwami blush.

Marinette then looks at the assembled kwami and smiles brightly at them. "Thank you, all of you. I don't know where would I be without you all."

"Crash and Burn?" Plagg snarks. "A complete mess?" Trixx added. "Rich but not as elegant!" pipes Kaalki. Tikki and Wayzz moved to them and gave all three a whack.

"Don't listen to them, Guardian. I'm sure without us you would be okay." Wayzz argued.

"But I'd be lonely. Either way, I'm glad that we could meet. I'm glad that fate brought me to you. I love you guys." Marinette said and they all share a big hug.

She doesn't know what will happen tomorrow, but with the kwami around, she felt like she could do anything. With her resolve set, she started to form a plan on how to tackle the interview tomorrow.

She can do this!

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"I can't do this~" She whined miserably while hiding her face behind her hands. Currently, she's on her way to the Wayne Enterprise HQ. As Audrey had said Bruce's Butler, Alfred Pennyworth, picked her up at exactly 8 A.M. She wasn't late which was a good sign, she even made sure that she wore her best-designed dress! But after a few minutes sitting in Bruce Wayne's car, her anxiety had come back with gusto.

Alfred clears his throat to catch Marinette's attention. When the nervous girl looks up he gave her a warm smile. "What seems to be the problem, Ms Dupain-Cheng?" He asked kindly.

Marinette chewed her lips while her hands were fiddling together trying to keep herself grounded. "I-it's nothing, Mr Pennyworth. I'm just being silly, that's all."

Alfred hummed thoughtfully, "It must not be that silly since it's making you so nervous. Perhaps, I could give you a bit of advice if you want to talk about it?" he offered kindly.

The girl shrinks but then she felt an encouraging pat from her breast pocket. She looked downwards and was greeted by Nooro's encouraging smile. She let out a shaky sigh, "Well...I'm just nervous about this interview. Mme Bourgeois told me last night and I haven't prepared anything yet! I'm afraid of giving M Wayne the wrong impression. Not to mention, I had coincidentally met him at the park before and I did this stupid thing where I get to be this ridiculous know-it-all! Maybe I shouldn't do this interview." She whined to herself. Alfred smiled softly as he briefly glance at the ruffled-looking girl from the rearview mirror.

"Ms Dupain-Cheng, I think it is best if you take a deep breath and think about your next step and only the next step. You will never know whether you'll succeed or fail, right? Just one step, Ms Dupain-Cheng. Only one step." Advised the old butler while giving a knowing smile from the mirror. Marinette replied with a sheepish smile of her own.

She looks at her hands again and took a peek at Nooroo who was giving her a wide smile. She nodded to herself, took a deep breath, closes her eyes, and tries to clear her mind. Taking Alfred's words to heart she plans in her mind. She was going to do her best in the interview, she plans on what she was going to speak as an introduction and then she opened her eyes with renewed vigour.

She looks at Alfred and smiled brightly, "Thank you for your advice, sir. It definitely works." Her hands raised to her chest to cup the butterfly pendant that she had worn that day. "Just one step..." She whispered again for courage, then a whisper of a familiar voice added.

Do the next right thing.

She could feel her eyes beginning to water, somehow she could feel Master Fu's encouraging pat on her shoulder. A strange but familiar warmth surged to her whole body and she could feel her nerve starting to lessen. She will do the interview to her best ability. After all what's the worst thing that could happen?

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

The worst thing did kind of happened.

So, after thanking Alfred for driving her to Wayne Enterprise and for the advice Marinette walked bravely to the huge building. Everything was going well so far, she told the receptionist about her appointment and the nice lady showed her the way to Mr Wayne's office.

The worst thing happened when she walked out of the elevator and ran into someone, hard. Her nerve came again during the elevator ride and once the door opened she bolted out from the confined space, and barreled into someone, sending them both to the ground with a loud thud.

"O-oh my gosh! I-I'm so sorry! I-i wasn't looking." She stuttered apologetically as she moved away from the person.

The one whom she stumbled to turns out to be a man who seemed to be the same age as she was. The man shook his head and held out a hand to stop Marinette's stuttering. "It's...fine." He said politely with a smile. He picked himself up and look at Marinette with a calculating gaze. "Who are you?" He asked politely.

"I-i'm Marinette. I-i was here f-for the interview? W-with Mr Wayne?" She said unsurely. She could feel herself being judged under those scrutinizing eyes of his and Marinette unconsciously flinched.

The man hummed noncommittally. "The office is just down the hall. Good luck, I think you'll need it." He said with a bored tone.

That set Marinette off from her previous nervous self. "And what makes you think I'll need it?" A hint of sass bleeds through in her tone. The man blinked, clearly unexpected to see a change of tone from Marinette.

"Oh, I'm not implying anything! It's just..." The man trailed off his words, his eyes darting around the room trying to think of a more polite way to voice his 'concerns'. "Look, I'm sure you are a very competent person, it's just I know Bruce and I don't think he's looking for someone like...you?" He finished unsurely.

Marinette was appalled, no she was furious, sure she had sent the guy flying with her nervous stumble but she couldn't help it. Her nerves got the better of her! However, that doesn't give him any right to judge her so lowly!

Before she could even give a seething remark the man pats her shoulder and gave an empathetic smile, which to Marinette looked so condescending that she wants to punch that smile off his face. "Anyways, good luck and I'm sure that there'll be another path for you." He 'advised' helpfully and leave Marinette seething and glaring murderously on his disappearing back.

Oh, she'll show him. If before she just wants to give her best for this interview and just leave everything to fate, now she's determined to get that job. She'll show him how much of a terrifying secretary she could be.

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

Dick couldn't believe his odds to stumble upon the girl that he had met as Nightwing. The one that had confused his mind with the way the reports told how she had handled the Riddler and his goons. When the girl had sent him to the ground with her powerful stumble and had stuttered out her apology he was ready to believe that what happened with the Riddler had been a fluke.

There was no way that someone like her could do what the reports had stated. Yep, Dick now has a firm belief that what she had done was certainly a fluke. When she introduced herself and told him that she was here for the Secretary/PA interview with Bruce he winced inwardly.

The girl will be eaten by the wolves, where in this case the wolf is Bruce, but he digresses. So he wished the girl good luck and it seems that she had taken it wrongly. Dick had to find the right words to not hurt Marinette's feelings and after saying his piece he thought that he had done a pretty decent job to shoot down any hope for working as Bruce's PA.

He knows his adopted father and he knows that Bruce doesn't appreciate a scatterbrain of a secretary, even if she's quite pretty. He left the girl in the hallway thinking that it'll be the last time he'll ever see her again.

Short answer from the universe? He was wrong. He was so wrong.,

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

Marinette waits outside of the CEO's office, still stewing from that guy's condescending attitude. Not even Nooroo's gentle pat could calm down her rage. She hopes that she won't see that guy soon because as much as she prides her ability to control her emotions she wouldn't count herself to not slap the guy silly.

"Ms Dupain-Cheng, Mr Wayne is ready for your interview." Called the lovely secretary who gave her an encouraging smile.

Marinette shoot out from her seat and nodded excitedly. "Thank you! I'm ready now." She said as she pats down her skirt to smooth any wrinkles away. She marched confidently to the office and greet the familiar man with a bright smile.

"M Wayne! We meet again!"

"Ah, Marinette. I can call you that right?"

She nodded with a confident smile as she approach his desk and waited next to the chair in front of him waiting for his permission.

"Oh! Please, sit-sit! I'm sure you already know what we're going to do today?" He asked with a pleasant smile. Marinette took a seat and gave a small shrug.

"I have to say, M Wayne. Madame Bourgeois informed me on such short notice that I'm afraid my preparation would not be as much as I wanted." She explained elegantly.

"Really? Audrey gave you such short notice? Do you want to reschedule the interview?" Bruce offered fully expecting her to accept the new agreement, instead, Marinette shook her head.

"Oh, no. I'm ready." She confidently declined. "I have a point to prove." She added with a smirk. Bruce chuckled and with that, the interview starts.

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

Marinette didn't know how they even moved to this topic but right now, instead of interviewing, Marinette is eagerly pointing out the flaws of Batman's hero costume as well as the early Robins costume. Thankfully, Bruce didn't seem put off instead he was listening very intently and even took some notes from her rant. It was pretty surrealistic.

The interview had started out great and it didn't feel like she was being interviewed for a job position, to be honest. They talk about her ability to plan on her feet and anticipate unexpected occurrences. They talk about how she manages Audrey's schedule and made sure the company runs smoothly if one of the others is not present in HQ. Bruce even asked about how she handles difficult business partners or clients and considering the pleased smile on his face she felt like she nailed this interview. At one point, Bruce had asked about her fashion business and Marinette had excitedly explained how she started the business when she was thirteen during the heights of Hawkmoth's reign of terror. All in all, she would consider this a success!

While she was going to move on to talk about the atrocious colour shade that the first Robin had, Bruce Wayne's secretary had come inside the office to inform them about the fitting appointment that they had in one of the reserved meeting rooms. So, they ended the interview there and leave the office while discussing a new topic which is about capes.

"I'm just saying M Wayne, I just think that they should invest in an easily removed cape system. Imagine if the enemy manages to get their hands on the cape? Disaster!" She rants as Bruce frowned thoughtfully.

"You may have a point. Anyways, perhaps we should shelve this conversation for another time. We're here." He said as he opened the meeting room to show that there was already someone inside. "Ah! You're here, perfect. Marinette, I'd like to introduce you to my son. Richard Grayson."

Before either person could introduce themself they both gasped dramatically and pointed at each other with a different variety of shock.

"YOU!"

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

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[mochegato]

Unspoken Truths

Unspoken Truths

Angry heels clicked against the cold, fake wood floor as Marinette marched into the kitchen of their apartment.  This was not what she agreed to when she'd agreed to be Dick’s roommate.  When Dick had asked her… well, more like told her, but he framed it in the form of a question, so it counts, to room together while she went to uni in New York and he established himself as an independent adult, which she was 90% sure was a made up excuse since she was 99% sure he was happily living somewhere before she said she was moving to New York and in reality he just wanted to keep an overprotective eye on her, she had pictured nights out dancing, nights in with friends watching movies, late night rides home from study sessions because despite knowing who she is, or was, Dick always worried about her, and, of course, putting out fires in the kitchen when Dick insisted on ‘helping’ her bake.  It was supposed to be teasing and laughter and support.  Not this.

“What the Hell was that?” she demanded, slamming her hands onto the counter.  She glared at Dick, knowing full well he could feel the weight of it despite not facing her.  They knew each other well enough, for long enough, that they could read each other without having to actually see each other.  They could read behind the tone, the choice of words, pauses, where a word is stressed, they could discern the tempo of footsteps and body shuffles. Plus, the yelling.  The yelling was a solid clue even Wally would have been able to pick up on.

“What?” he asked innocently, shoving the remainder of an orange in his mouth and turning to face her, his eyes wide in a nod to innocence that wasn’t even an attempt at authenticity.

Marinette raised an unimpressed eyebrow and motioned harshly toward the front door.  “He drove all the way here to see me!”

Dick scoffed as he poured a glass of water for himself.  “He should have stayed in Gotham.”

“Dick!”  She stomped her foot in frustration.  “We had plans for tonight.  I should be on a date right now!”

“And who’s stopping you?  Go ahead.” He motioned the glass of water toward the front door without bothering to temper his smirk.  “Go find a date.”

Marinette had never wanted to slap a smirk off someone’s face so much in her entire life.  She settled for rounding the island and slapping his shoulder.  “You.  You’re stopping me because you drove off my date!”

“I did no such thing,” he insisted, drawing his hand to his chest dramatically in mock offense.  “I merely stated a few facts he should know, and he ran away.  Quite craven, really.  Do you really want to date a coward?”

“Yes!” She froze instantly and cringed. “No, wait.  That came out wrong.”

Dick snorted.  “No, I don’t think it did.”

She narrowed her eyes at him and hit the bottom of his glass as he raised it to take a drink, spilling the remainder of its contents down the front of his shirt. Dick sputtered and jumped away like that might save him from getting wetter.  He huffed and glared at Marinette as he pulled his shirt off and threw it in her face.

“Prat,” she grumbled and threw it back at him.  “Regardless, you had no right!  I get to decide who I date.  Not you.”

Dick grinned at her and backed up toward his bedroom.  “Of course, you do,” he cooed condescendingly, his grin never leaving his lips.  “And I get approval rights.  It’s in the big brother contract.”

“You’re not my big brother!” she called after him, stalking after him so he couldn’t escape the conversation.

He gasped dramatically staring at her for a moment before giving her an exaggerated sympathetic look.  “It’s okay. I know you’re upset and saying things you don’t mean right now.”

Marinette sucked in a long breath and let it out slowly through puckered lips. She scrunched her eyes as she repeated the practice for a few breaths in an attempt to abate her frustration.  “I mean it so very, very much.”

His puckered lips and flat look disappeared as he pulled on an old, but dry shirt.  “Well... never mind, doesn't matter.  That guy wasn't good for you anyway. You’re better off without him. Hey, want to order in and watch something?”

“Not good for me,” Marinette scoffed.  “And what did he do?  What did he do that was so terrible he deserved to be run off like a scared kid tagging for the first time?”

Dick looked away just for a moment, barely a fraction of a second, but it was enough for Marinette to know that he had nothing and he was scrambling.  "He’s a henchman.”

“A henchman…” Marinette repeated slowly.

“Yep, a henchman.  That's right,” Dick confirmed.  He moved past her, keeping his eyes ahead and his feet moving to distract from his awkward tone.  “What movie should we watch?  Or do you want to binge on a show?”

Marinette cocked her head to the side and clicked her tongue as she followed slowly after him.  “For which rogue?”

Dick blinked, his step showing just a hint of a falter.  “Huh?  What?

“Which rogue,” she repeated.  “Which rogue is he a henchman for?”

Dick kept his eyes focused on the television as he flipped through options. In this case, the more obscure the better; makes it harder to research.  “For Toyman.”

“Really…” she drawled.  She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the entryway to the living room, her ankles crossed seemingly casually.  “I didn't know he had live henchmen.  I thought all of his were mechanical,” she observed wryly.

“Oh right…” he looked down for a moment before perking up and looking back at her as he fell back onto the couch with ease.  “Well, he has a few people to help him make the automated ones. Obviously. Want to watch the show with that chocolate guy?”

Marinette gave him a flat look that she was sure he could feel despite not looking at her.  “No, he doesn't.  And no, he’s not.  So, what is your real problem with him?”

Dick let out an annoyed sigh and tore his eyes away from the screen again.  “He's too old for you.  He’s in graduate school and you’re just starting university. You’re barely eighteen.”

Marinette’s jaw dropped.  She stared at him for a few seconds before her brow furrowed into a slight scowl.  “He's closer to my age than Barbara was to yours when you started dating her at my age, jackass.”

Dick pursed his lips in annoyance and narrowed his eyes at her.  “I saw him kick a dog.”

“No, you didn’t,” she hissed.

“Oh, come on, Marinette!” he groaned, throwing his arms up in frustration like she was being the unreasonable one.  “He’s going into psychology.”

“Is this one of the facts you stated to him?” she asked glowering at him.  “Because, yeah, that’s what he’s getting his master’s in. We already knew that.”

“In Gotham,” he elaborated like the relevance was so clear a toddler would understand.

Marinette stared at him blankly for a few seconds waiting for him to elaborate. When he didn’t, she opened her hands wide inviting him to continue.  “Yeah, that’s where he lives and where we met.  Most of our dates have been there.”

He sighed deeply.  “You don’t understand.”

“No, I don’t,” she agreed.  “He was a good man.”

“Maybe,” Dick conceded.  He turned to level her with a genuine look.  “But not good enough.  Not for you.”

Marinette groaned and spun away from him throwing her hands out in frustration. She stormed toward the front door. “You never think anyone is.  I let you date who you want with just a modicum of ridicule.”  Dick gave her a flat look she could feel even without looking back at him.  Both of them were well aware that it was not a modicum. She delighted in making snide comments about his dating habits.  “But I never threaten any of them no matter what my opinion of them is.”

“Because none of them were serious,” he pointed out, but immediately regretted it. Marinette whirled around on him; her eyes flashed dangerously.  Dick had to fight cringing.  When her eyes flashed like that, it meant she was going to do something he would regret.

She smiled sharply.  “Right.  Message received.  So, from now on I'm going to go out with a different boy every night.”

Dick rolled his eyes and eased back into the couch. It was an empty threat and they both knew it.  “As long as it isn't serious,” he agreed, waving his hand over his shoulder as if giving permission to continue.

She narrowed her eyes at him and cocked her hip to the side.  “You don't have to be serious to sleep with someone.”  She sing-songed the last part, taking more than a little bit of pleasure from the way Dick’s eyes widened.  She smirked as she spread out her hands in front of her, miming a theater billboard.  “I’m going to become the Dick Grayson of New York.  If any of them try to make it into a real relationship, I’ll tell them I’m only allowed to have sex.”

Dick gasped and pushed forward from the couch so he could properly gape at her.  “Marinette… Eloise?  That’s French, right?  Marinette Eloise Dupain-Cheng you get back here right now.  Marinette?  Marinette!”

“You know my middle name, Richard John Grayson!” she growled over her shoulder as she headed for the front door.

“Where are you going?”  His brow furrowed in concern.

“Out to find a date for the night.  Someone to have fun with for a few hours and then never see again,” she chirped in false excitement.

Dick sighed heavily.  “Marinette…”

She grabbed her purse without once looking back at him. “You’re the one that set the rule, ‘big brother’.  I’m allowed to shag but not love.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it,” he insisted, looking at her sincerely.  “You deserve love, to be treated like the amazing person you are, and you weren’t going to get it from that guy.”

Marinette froze with her hand on the doorknob for a second before dropping her head to the door and groaning loudly, the sound echoing through the apartment.  “You’re such an asshole.”

Dick huffed out a relieved breath and selected a show for himself with a smile.  “I love you,” he called after her.

She huffed as she pulled the door open.  “I love you too.  But I don’t like you all the time,” she yelled back before slamming the door closed.

Her mood had only gotten worse as she wandered and thought about how her night should have turned out.  She didn’t pay attention to where she was walking, focusing more on her imaginary continuation of her fight with Dick and all the well thought out rebuttals and quips she should have had, until she found herself outside a familiar door.  Just the sight of it was enough to calm her.

The anticipation of what was beyond the door was almost enough to melt away her frustration until she noticed her shoes, shoes she would never be allowed to wear beyond the door normally, at least not without extensive teasing, shoes that were perfect for her cancelled date, shoes that were pointless now.  And just like that, the frustration was back.

She stormed through the door, slamming it behind her and growling at the sign that had the audacity to fall from the force of the impact.  She searched the bay impatiently for signs of life.  The door had been unlocked and the lights were on, so he had to be there somewhere.   She finally relaxed slightly as she spotted Roy’s legs sticking out from under a vehicle. She stalked over to the vehicle and dropped against the open hood, leaning over the engine to watch him as he worked.

Roy froze as he spotted her legs first, her toned, muscular legs, from years of training and fighting, and had to force his mind to stay focused instead of wandering to what her legs would look like wrapped around his waist as he kissed her.  He forced a breath out.  Best not to focus on things that weren’t going to happen.  And he was almost able to focus until he spotted her face peering through at him from above, her long hair falling in front of her face, obscuring his view until she swiped it back behind her ear revealing her devastating eyes and plump pout, and he lost his breath all over again.  He opened his mouth to chastise her about wearing heels, even as sexy as the ones she had on were, but she interrupted before he could. “Life sucks and I hate everything.”

He blinked a few times before he could finally process what she said.  “And good evening to you, Fire Flower,” he chuckled, pushing out from under the vehicle.  He grabbed a rag to wipe his hands as he stood to greet her.  “Having a good…”  His eyes widened as soon as they landed on her.  “… night?”

He should have been prepared, he really should have considering her shoes, but he was utterly unprepared to see her dressed for a date.  While normally stunning, she looked even more astounding than usual.  Her dress hugged her curves snugly before falling away loosely below her hips.  The sweetheart neckline gave just a hint the breathtaking curves that lay beneath but left her neck and collarbone exposed and begging to be kissed.  She had just a hint of makeup except for her dark painted lips that brought his focus to how tantalizing they were.  He barely managed to return his focus to the rag in his hands and his path to his toolchest.

“Not really, no,” she grumbled.  She stalked over to his toolchest and fell against it hard enough to cause it to scratch against the floor for a few centimeters, her arms crossed tightly across her chest.  “Thanks to nosy, interfering, know-it-all, smug assholes.  Well, asshole, singular.  Just the one.”  She narrowed her eyes in thought.  “Maybe two, but only one was a nosy, interfering, know-it-all, smug asshole.”

Roy raised an eyebrow but didn’t push.  At least one of those assholes was likely Dick, it usually was, which left the other asshole position open, and that description certainly didn’t bode well for Psych Boy.  “Well, you look…” he struggled briefly for a less incriminating term than astounding but still conveyed how breathtaking she looked.  “… nice,” but immediately cringed, widening his eyes in exasperation with himself.  Nice? Nice!  She looked better than nice.

Marinette continued oblivious to his distress.  “Thanks,” she huffed.  “I was supposed to be on a date.”  She grabbed a wrench he was reaching for and handed it over to him.

He nodded thoughtlessly.  Yep, definitely didn’t bode well for Psych Boy.  “Thanks.” He traded the wrench in her hand for the one he had fruitlessly been using, her fingers grazing his as she grabbed it and willed his body not to lean toward her.  “Did the date not go well?”  He tried to make his voice light and force his eyes to focus on the electrical piece in front of him.

Marinette huffed and threw the wrench back into the drawer before leaning behind him to get a closer look at what he was working on.  “The date didn’t go at all.”

Roy stiffened both from her proximity, which was close enough he could feel her heat against his back even through his shirt, and from the sudden realization that if the date didn’t even happen, he must have done something incredibly bad if she called it off before it could even start.  He turned to meet her eyes, his lips pursed tightly, and his brow furrowed in concern.  “Did he do something?  Do I need to have a talk with him?”

Marinette scoffed and waved him off.  “He let Dick scare him off is what he did.  Ran away as quickly as he could.”

Roy relaxed and let out a breath.  He nodded as he focused back on the engine.  “Guess it’s a good thing I never bothered to learn Gotham Psych Boy’s name then.”

She opened her hands wide in annoyance.  “Why is that the thing you guys keep fixating on?”

Roy looked up from the engine enough to give her a confused look.  “His name?”

“That he’s studying psychology,” she elaborated.  “Why do you guys keep pointing that out.  Why does it matter?”

“He’s studying psychology in Gotham.”  He said each word slowly, like it should be self-explanatory.”

Marinette groaned in frustration.  “That’s all Dick said too!  That doesn’t mean anything to me!  What does that mean?”

He sighed heavily and ran his hand down his face, smudging oil on his cheeks and forehead.  “I forget sometimes that you didn’t grow up here.”

She watched him expectantly, but he continued to work silently.  When it was clear he wasn’t going to elucidate, she tried to stare him into submission, which she instantly realized was a mistake because it meant she was staring at him with nothing else to distract her, which was always incredibly dangerous, but especially tonight.  He was wearing a shirt stretched over his chest and biceps so tightly, she could see each pronounced muscle moving fluidly under it as he worked.  His hair was just long enough to fall in front of his eyes but not obstruct his view and her hands twitched to brush it away.  It was a rare occurrence to see him without his hat, really only happening right after he woke up or was working under a vehicle.

His mouth was fixed in a tight line, but the plump curves were still visible. She had to physically shake her head to stop staring at them.  But it was the oil smudges that were really getting to her.  She had to look away before she took a tissue from her purse, gently cupped his sharp jaw in her hands, and wiped them away, kissing it to make it better when she rubbed too hard.

Roy could feel her eyes on him, and while he wanted to puff his chest out and posture for her, the longer it went on, the more it unsettled him.  Not because he didn’t enjoy her looking at him, but rather because he enjoyed it more than he should.  Friends didn’t preen at their friends studying them.  Friends didn’t think about their friends’ legs wrapped around their waist.  Friends didn’t root for their friends’ relationships to fail.  He needed to focus.  She wanted to be friends.  She’d made that clear.  No matter what else happened, what he thought he saw, he needed to remember that.  “So, not talking to Dick, then?”

“Does yelling count?” She scoffed and followed him over to the vehicle when he moved. “I needed to get away from him for a little bit.  Ended up here.  Like I usually do.”  She leaned over the engine next to him, their arms brushing against his as she did.  “What are you working on?”

He motioned to a particular portion of the engine, his eyes lighting up at the change of topic.  “I’m installing a directional, defined, limited impact EMP.  The people in the vehicle will be able to control the scope, severity, and path of the pulse.  They’ll be able to take out certain electronics without taking out an entire area.”

A smile worked its way onto her face as he spoke, and she found herself subconsciously leaning toward him as he described his creation.  The way his face lit up when he talked about his inventions and designs was exhilarating.  His eyes danced with passion and merriment and Marinette wanted desperately to be a part of it.  It was like a gravitational pull.  “Want help?”

“You’ll get your pretty dress dirty,” he warned, a teasing lilt to his voice, before he could temper it.  But it would be okay.  Teasing was friendly, right?

Marinette smirked back.  “You know I like to play dirty.”

Roy lost in her eyes for a few moments before shaking himself out of it. Teasing was not friendly, repeat NOT friendly, especially when she did it back.  He scoffed loudly, more to break the tension and remind himself what he was supposed to be doing than anything else.  “You don’t play dirty.  You might get dirty baking and stuff, but you don’t play dirty.”

Marinette shrugged and leaned against him as he worked, leaning her head on his shoulder, letting it bob up and down as he loosened a bolt.  “Jason would disagree.”

Roy let out a slow breath through his nose.  Her head on his shoulder, the familiarity, was killing him.  But he could breathe through it… for his friend.  He forced out a chuckle and focused back on the engine. “That doesn’t count.”  He loosened five more bolts before speaking again.  “Why didn't you go out? Find a new date?”

Marinette pulled away from him and stared at him for a few moments processing what he had said, encouraging her to go date… someone else.  She frowned and took a step away from him, putting some much-needed space between the two of them before slumping against the vehicle looking away from him and crossing her arms over herself like a shield.  “What's the point,” she muttered.  “It would probably end the same anyway.”

Roy chuckled mirthlessly and shook his head in disbelief, his eyes never leaving the engine.  “You liked him that much?  That him leaving makes you give up on love?”  He tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice, but he was almost positive he’d failed, if she even paid attention.

“I don’t know,” she groaned.  She wandered over to the small, dusty window.  The layer of dust was so thick, she couldn’t make out anything other than vague shapes of lights beyond it, but it was enough to distract her.  “Jason never liked him.”  She admitted, her eyes narrowing slightly as if focusing on the thought.  “That was a huge point against him.  Jason’s a little sweetheart.  He’s like sunshine incarnate.  He likes everyone… except rogues and abusers, of course.”

Roy nodded indulgently.  “Rogues, abusers, and anyone who hits on you,” he added with a smirk.

“That is not true!”  She spun toward him; her mouth open to list the people who’d flirted with her who Jason hadn’t had an issue with but snapped her mouth shut quickly when she couldn’t think of a single name.  “That doesn’t count.  That’s a small sample size.”

“No, it really isn’t,” Roy scoffed, still focusing on the engine before she could see his slightly reddened cheeks.

Marinette rolled her eyes, unwilling to engage in that particular debate.  The possibility of other people finding her attractive wasn’t a discussion she wanted to have with Roy.  She didn’t need the reminder he wasn’t interested and arguing that not a lot of people had shown any romantic interest in her was not going to make herself feel better.

But Greg had been different.  He was handsome and funny and sweet and charming… okay, granted a little too charming, but charming none the less, and interested in her.  She knew there was an expiration date on their relationship, she just hadn’t thought it would be so soon, that night in particular.

She huffed and slumped back against the wall.  “He couldn’t even stand up to Dick.  If he couldn’t stand up to Dick, how would it have worked anyway.”  She straightened up suddenly, a determined glint in her eyes. “I need someone who can handle Dick without getting intimidated.  Even better if they can give the attitude back.  Someone Jason likes.  Someone who I can talk to.  Someone who makes me feel better just by being around.  Someone who I can see a future with.”  Her eyes landed on Roy, her eyes running over his face as if to memorize it, like she hadn’t already.  The determination fled from her eyes.  “Someone who wants me,” she added quietly, almost morosely, looking away in defeat.

Roy froze as he listened to her words.  The wrench in his hand almost fell as his lungs forgot how to move.  His eyes flicked over to her from the corner of his eye.  “It’s hopeless,” she finished.  “I’ll never find anything like that.”

Roy groaned and threw his wrench down.  He raked his hands through his hair and spun to look at her. “Why did you come here, Marinette?”

Marinette blinked at him, caught short at the question.  “What?”

“Why did you come here?” he repeated.  He took a step closer to her.  “Why did you come to me?”

Marinette furrowed her brows, not having expected the hostility rolling off him.  She fought the urge to back away from him.  “What do you mean why did I come to you?  I always come to you.”

He huffed out a breath and shook his head disbelievingly.  “Why do you think that is?  That you come to me?  That you always come to me.  Why do you think that is?”

“I think ‘that is’ because…” she shook her head in confusion, “because you know me better than anyone else.  Because you always make me feel better whether I’m sad or happy, I always feel better after spending time with you.”

He took another few steps closer to her, looming over her even from several feet away.  His eyes were glinting with something she couldn’t identify.  “And what does that mean to you?  That you say I know you better than anyone else.  That I always make you feel better.  What do you think that means?”

“I think it means I trust you.  I think it means you’re my best friend,” she shouted back.  She took a beat before realizing what she said and how loudly she had said it.  “Do NOT tell Alya or Adrien.”  She cocked her head to the side as she rethought that, “Actually, just Alya.  You can tell Adrien.”  After he delighted in telling Roy that story about how she had sent him looking all over London for constipation medicine, she was just fine with Roy saying Adrien wasn’t her best friend, even if they both knew it wasn’t true.

Roy shook his head and dropped it back, eyes squeezed shut tight and let out a pained groan.  “You can’t keep doing this to me, Marinette.  You have to make a decision.”

Marinette stared, utterly perplexed.  “What do you mean?  What am I doing to you?  What are you talking about?  I thought… I thought we were friends…”

Roy let out a strained chuckle.  “Friends don’t find themselves leaning toward each other every time they’re within three feet of one another.  Friends don’t get jealous when the other smiles at someone else.  Friends don’t threaten other friends for telling embarrassing stories in front of their ‘friend’.”  He took a step closer to her again, moving into her space, his face close enough to hers that she could feel his breath, no longer looming, this time comforting as he lifted his hands to gently caress her face.  “Friends don’t find any excuse they can find to touch one another.  Friends don’t get lost staring at each other’s mouths.  Friends don’t blush when the other is this close,” he said pointedly brushing her cheek.

“Roy…”

He took a step back, dropping his hands to his side.  “You can’t keep making me think we could be more, giving me hope, then pretend like it’s not happening.  You can’t describe me as who you should date and then pretend like I don’t exist.”

“I didn’t describe you,” she insisted, desperation and confusion edging into her voice.  “I didn’t. I said someone who likes me.  You don’t like me… not like that.”

“I don’t…” he stared at her in exasperation. “I risked my life for you! I almost died for you!  A lot,” he yelled before pausing.  “We should really talk about how often your life is in danger.”

“Oh please, you almost die for everyone.  I’m not special.”  She waved her hand dismissively and turned away from him as if she thought the conversation was over.

He opened his mouth to object but snapped it closed.  He was a superhero.  It was literally his job to risk his life for people.  But it had always been different when she was the one he was risking it for. It had always seemed more justified, more valid.  He accepted that he could lose his life saving someone else, but he’d happily give his life to save her.  “You are special,” he stated quietly.

“No,” she insisted, shaking her head in denial. “No, you said.  You said, more than once, you said you weren’t interested in me.”

“I lied,” he yelled throwing his hands out in frustration.

“You never lie to me,” she said slowly, her voice suddenly small.  “You don’t. Not about the things that matter.”

“I only lie about the things that matter.  About the things I can't bear to lose.  I only lie about you.”  He stepped closer and gently cupped her face with his hands.  “Honestly, you're so special to me.  You always have been.  I’ve been here pining for you since the day I met you.  I’ve been reveling in every laugh, every smile, every sigh.  I’ve been trying to be there for you when your sighs turned sad and your smiles turned into frowns.  All the while trying to keep a respectable distance because you wanted to be friends when I’ve been desperate to kiss you for almost a year now.  But what I want most, what I need, is for you to be happy.

“But it doesn’t matter what I need.”  He stepped back again, drawing his hands away with him. His heart stuttered when Marinette seemed to follow his hands before rocking back on her heels again.  “What matters is how you feel; what you want.” Her brows furrowed as she looked down to consider her words.  Roy hooked a finger under her chin, prompting her to look up to meet his eyes.  “So, Fire Flower, what do you want?  What is it you need?”  His voice was deep and low, but light enough not to pressure her.

Marinette’s gaze was caught under the weight of his, she couldn’t have looked away if she wanted to, which she didn’t.  His gaze was heavy and darkened, causing her heart rate to speed up the longer she stared at him.  She waited a beat too long to respond and Roy started to pull his hand away in understanding.

The movement spurred Marinette into action.  She lurched forward, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him to her as she arched into him until her face was a few centimeters from his, her breath fanning across his face.  “I want you,” she said quietly, meeting his eyes with a look of sincere desperation.  “I want this. I need you.”

He was stunned by the admission, frozen and unsure how to respond to hearing the words he’d been dreaming of her saying since he met her, until her soft lips met his, pressing insistently.  He wasted no time matching her fervor, taking advantage when she parted her lips.  His entire body thrummed when her hands started moving, running down his back and up his arms back up to his neck and caressing his jaw.  He pulled her closer, needing more; more contact, more skin, more emotion.  He ran his hands down to her thighs, lifting them up to set her on the edge of the vehicle hood and nestling himself between her legs.

She pulled away after a while, resting her forehead against his as she struggled to catch her breath.  When she finally opened her eyes again, his were already looking at her, a look of awe radiating from him.  She smiled brightly before she began to giggle.  The laughter was contagious, Roy joining her after a few seconds, his smile as bright as hers.  Marinette’s eyes flicked down to his lips.  She pulled her lower lip between her teeth and let him pull her back off the hood, allowing her to slide down his body until her feet landed solidly on the ground.  He shoved the bonnet closed and lifted her back up onto it.  “Safer,” he murmured against her lips.

Marinette grinned and wrapped one hand around the back of his neck and into his hair.  She pulled him toward her again but paused just before he reached her lips, looking suddenly very serious.  “But we can’t tell Dick about this.”

Roy barked out a laugh and shook his head.  “Oh, definitely not,” he agreed readily before kissing her deeply.

For you @izanae  Hope it makes you smile