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It's All About Fooling Or Getting Fooled by MiniNoire (@noirewrites)

Soft music fills the air. People dance and mingle with each other, an air of cheeriness ever present in the ambient atmosphere of the courtyard of College Francoise Dupont. It is an unofficial reunion party, and everyone grabs upon this chance to meet their schoolmates whom they haven’t seen in years.

“And then your Father promised to let me walk the catwalk for the Spring Collection! Isn’t that just great, Adrien?” Lila claims, as she practically hangs from the model’s arm. She flutters her eyelashes at him, and the man gives her a strained smile.

“Uh, yeah, sounds… nice!” His voice is shrill with faux enthusiasm, as he tries his extreme best to pull his arm out of the woman’s death grip. “Uh, Lola… I mean, Lila! Would you please mind returning my arm?” He tugs at his arm again, stressing his point. “I unfortunately need it right now, you see.”

“But Adrien…” Lila whimpers, as she all but tightens her grip around his arm. The blond grimaces, frustration visible on his face.

Before he can say anything though, his phone chimes out loud, cutting the tension in the air and causing both of them to jump in surprise.

“Oh!” He exclaims, immediately pulling his arm to himself at the small window of opportunity he gets, shoving it into his pocket to get his phone out. “I wonder who might be calling me at this hour! Haha!” He glares at the screen, before chuckling. “Of course it is my very best cousin Félix! Who else would it be, right?”

He beams at Lila. “Sorry, Lo-Lila, I need to take a raincheck for a few minutes. Bros before hoes, you see?” He points a finger-gun at her shocked self. “Let’s meet sometime later. Like, 2-3 years later. Okay? Till then, see ya!”

And before giving Rossi a chance to reply, he dashes out of the area.

Finding himself a secluded place in the courtyard, away from prying ears, the boy finally lets out a sigh of relief.

“Making Lila walk the catwalk? Ha! I knew that old man was senile,” the man grumbles to himself.

He runs a hand over his face and through his fluffed-up hair, trying to tame the mane down. His phone chimes again, and he lets out a hiss.

Picking the call up, Adrien doesn’t bother to even hide the bite in his voice. “What?”

“Oops. Looks like you finally met Lila,” the voice on the other side snickers.

“Adrien Agreste,” the faux model grits out as he tries not to bite his own hand off in anger. “I swear, the next time I see you, you’re dead meat.”

“If you kill me, you won’t be getting the coveted Marinette photographs I promised to give you at the end of this deal, my dear Félix,” the real model on the other end of the call states in a sweet voice, making Félix growl. “It really is up to you now… Those photos or my life?”

“I fucking hate you…”

“Aww, love you too, bro!” Adrien makes a small kissing voice, causing Félix to gag, before ultimately bursting into chuckles. Adrien continues to keep up his act for a minute or two before he crumbles into a fit of laughter, too.

It takes them a minute or two to get themselves back together. “So,” Félix coughs, patting at his shirt and messing his hair up a little bit to recompose his Adrien look, “does that Lila girl not know that you’re taken already? Like, man, you dating Kagami was all over the tabloids for a whole month!”

“There’s a reason why I didn’t come to the reunion, you see?” Adrien sighs from the other side. “Lila won’t let me off the hook as long as she thinks she has a chance. You have no idea how many times I’ve had to hold ‘Gami back just so she won’t go to prison for ripping a certain person’s throat out.”

“Yikes!” Félix exclaims out loud. “That girl Lila must have a real death wish to get on Kagami’s bad side.”

“Bet you on that, bro.” There is some shuffling from Adrien’s side, followed by some incomprehensible, hushed conversation. Félix looks around, checking for any suspicious behavior. Instead, his eye is caught by two girls arguing near the buffet table.

“Ah, Félix,” Adrien chimes in from the phone, catching the other blond by surprise. “Pardon me, but I really need to go get some things checked with Madame Tsurugi. Talk to you later?”

“Sure,” Félix says distractedly. “Something came up here, too. Catch you later.”

He hangs the call up quickly and strides in the direction of the buffet table. The argument seems to be on the verge of turning into a scene. One of the women is clearly Lila; the brown hair paired with a hot orange dress and black tights is too easy to pick out in a crowd.

The other woman in pink… Félix knows her too well to not be able to identify her at first glance.

Raven hair, petite frame and a knack for getting into trouble -- Marinette Dupain Cheng has had Félix Graham de Vanily enchanted since the day he had first met her.

“...Great if you would stop wrapping yourself around him.”

Marinette’s voice drifts to his ears as he pauses near the crowd. To an average person, it would seem like a petty argument between two school frenemies. But with Marinette’s tense stance, clenched fists and grit teeth, and Lila’s unnerving smirk as she brings a champagne flute to her lips, Félix knows that the situation is far from being under control.

“Say Marinette,” Lila begins speaking, and Félix feels his breath hitch in the anticipation of what words are going to leave her mouth. “You do know that Adrien is engaged, right?”

“Yes, I do remember,” Marinette replies, crossing her arms on her chest. “I also remember that he is engaged to Kagami and not you, Lila.”

“But I work with his Father, right? It makes sense for me to get close to him. However,” the brunette lets out a giggle. “I still can’t see why you don’t want me to go near him at all. Especially when you’re not even his lover, Marinette.”

“But she is my friend.”

The small gathering turns to look at him, as Félix steps up to get beside Marinette.

“Marinette's my friend, and it makes complete sense for her to worry about my well-being,” Félix explains. He places his hand on Marinette’s back, pulling her close protectively as he glares daggers at Lila.

“However, since we’re just colleagues in different departments, as we should be, Miss Rossi,” Félix smirks. “I don’t think it makes any sense for us to be buddy-buddy, right?”

Lila doesn’t reply. She just clenches her teeth in frustration, finding herself devoid of any reply to provide to the unexpected rebuttal.

“Well, with that sorted, I hope no one will mind if I take my good friend here for a dance,” Félix announces, causing the crowd that has gathered to stir. “Don’t mind whatever happened here. Hope you all enjoy the party, guys!”

Taking her hand in his, Félix swiftly makes his way towards the dance floor, Marinette in tow. It is only when she stops abruptly and tugs at his hand, causing him to turn and face her, that realisation hits him in the face.

He has been holding Marinette’s, his crush’s , hand. He has been pulling her across the room to the dance floor. He has invited her for a dance.

Without even asking for her consent.

Félix prays for the ground to open up and swallow him whole.

“I-uh-Mari!” He stammers, abruptly letting go of her hand, as if her mere touch burns him. (Well, it does burn him, but in a very good way.) His hand reaches up to rub at the nape of his neck, a bad habit he has picked up from Adrien.

“I am so sorry for being so abrupt back there,” Félix apologises profusely. “It just seemed like Lila was giving you a hard time and I really didn’t want her to ruin this party for you and--”

Marinette giggles, causing Félix to cut off from his senseless rant. Her voice is like the chime of a bell, music to his ears. She looks up at him with mesmerising bluebell eyes and then gives him a heartwarming smile, and Félix is sure he has ultimately reached Heaven...

“It’s alright, Adrien .”

...and has been abruptly pulled out of there to be thrown in the darkest realms of Hell.

Because of course, he has the worst luck in the entire universe. Because of course, he can’t experience the ecstasy of his crush truly appreciating him. Because of course, her appreciation comes when he’s serving as a doppelgänger for his evil cousin.

“I-Adrien? Yeah-right! Uh-doyouwannadance?” He stammers out, face flushing beet red in embarrassment.

Marinette laughs again as she takes his quivering hand in hers. “Had it been someone else, you surely would’ve embarrassed yourself,” she teases, making Félix go beet red. She places his hand on her back and hers on his shoulder, and steps closer to him. Taking his other hand in hers, she smirks up at him. “Good thing I have a Ph.D. in speaking gibberish, Adrien .”

For a second, he feels like she is just enjoying rubbing salt in his wound.

“Well, I did learn from the best, didn’t I?” He teases back with a wink. The flush on her face as she ducks her head down is the sweetest revenge he can get.

They continue to sway in silence to the music, basking in each other's presence.

One step forward, one step back. One step to the left, one step to the right.

It is as simple as that.

But the turmoil in Félix’s heart is nothing less than a typhoon.

He is numb to the presence around them, but hyper aware of Marinette’s warm embrace surrounding him. He is numb to the music that fills the room, but hyper aware of the steps he takes with her in tandem to the song. He is numb to the lazy chit chat that floats under the ambience of the music, but hyper aware of the smile that lifts him to ecstasy.

It makes his heart race to be this close to her after such a long time, even if it is under the pretense of being Adrien Agreste. The last time they had been together like this had been a year back, when he had offered Marinette to be his platonic plus one for the Gabriel Fashion Event.

As Félix, of course.

“I’m glad you came to my rescue back there,” Marinette whispers softly, jerking him out of his thoughts. “You swooped in like a knight in shining armor.”

“Well, it is my job to protect damsels in distress, isn’t it?” He teases, flicking her forehead lightly.

“Ow! Meanie!” She sticks her tongue out, and Félix lets out a hearty laugh.

Being around Marinette has always been cathartic for him.

The song changes, and he twirls her around before pulling her back to himself. “Truth be told, I wanted to thank you for defending me back there.”

His grip tightens just a little, as if he wants to hold her close and never let her go. She looks up at him and he finds himself tongue-tied in her presence for the umpteenth time.

Damn his hormones for making him act like a teenager all over again.

“No issues there,” she whispers softly. The song shifts a little, diving into something more slow, more meaningful, more romantic.

Marinette steps closer to him. She frees her hand from his, placing it over his other shoulder. Using him as a support, she leans up on her tiptoes, bringing her mouth close to his ear.

“After all,” she whispers in a soft, smooth tone, causing Félix to involuntarily shiver. “I couldn’t let Lila get her paws on what’s mine. Right, Félix ?”

He stiffens.

His breath hitches.

His jaw drops open.

“What happened?” Marinette snickers, her warm breath tickling his ear, and Félix just tightens his grip around her waist as his brain tries to frantically reboot itself. “Baker girl got your tongue, Sir?”

How does one speak French again?

“You…” he finally manages to stutter out, shaky from the revelation.

“Me?” She pulls back and pouts innocently, bringing up a hand to her chest as she blinks at him with those menacingly mesmerising bright, blue eyes.

Félix cannot believe her. All this while, he had thought that he had got his act in the bag! Even Lila Rossi, the master liar, had not been able to tell the difference between him and Adrien. Then, how did Marinette…?

“You could’ve bought a better fake engagement ring, y’know?” She quips cheekily, as if reading his mind. “The one Kagami got for Adrien with me was a little more rose-gold in color.”

He facepalms, letting out a groan. Out of all things, a darned engagement ring had given his act away!

“It’s all about fooling or getting fooled,” she boops his nose, and Félix groans.

“Just let me die right here from the second hand embarrassment,” he mutters to himself, causing Marinette to chuckle.

“Had it been some other day, I would. But you see…”

Marinette takes his hand in his and places it on her back, as her own hands return to loop around his neck. She steps closer to him, looking up at him with a smirk playing on her lips.

“I remember a certain someone owing their good friend a slow dance, Sir.”

He lets out another frustrated noise, pouting. “You’re not going to let me live that down, right?”

She puts her head on his chest, shaking with mirth. “Nope. Never.”

“Despite knowing about my mega crush on you.”

“That makes things all the more hilarious.”

He pulls away from her, looking sternly into her eyes. “You are one mean woman.”

She sticks her tongue out at him. “A mean woman who likes you as much as you like her.”

“Wait!” He stops her before she can snuggle back into his chest. “Do you really mean it? The like part?”

“That’s not how you ask a lady out, Félix Graham de Vanily,” Marinette shakes her head, hiding herself back in his chest as she hugs him tight.

For a moment, Félix is caught off guard. But soon, he feels his heart bloom with happiness as the events of the day catch up with him. Wrapping his arms around her petite frame, Félix gently kisses Marinette’s hair.

Update: I made it better. At least I think it’s better now.________

Adrien was aghast when he learned that his childhood friend Marinette had been stolen by a dragon. Even more when he learned it had happened several years ago. Many people had mentioned seeing a black flying serpent fly towards the beach, where an abandoned castle resided. There was no doubt in his mind that foul beast took her there. Despite his father’s protests, he donned his best armour, mounted the fastest horse he had and rushed to save her. Only problem was that he didn’t know Marinette was perfectly content where she was.

The death of Marinette Dupain-Cheng was all caused by one Lila Rossi. She may not have physically killed her, but the death of Marinette could all be pinned back to Lila Rossi’s first day of school.

When Lila first joined Miss Bustier’s class, she would spin these grand, too good to be true tales. This was most likely to grab the attention of those who value things and people that are shiny and new.

Then Lila slowly made her claims more realistic.

She made them harder to prove wrong or right.

At some point, Lila had Alya remove any interview that could cause a problem if the wrong person saw it. Of course, she never told the ladybloger that this was the reason for wanting them taken down.

Slowly, Lila became the talk of the school, the new star student, the new popular girl that everyone wants to be, the person everyone wants to be friends with.

Lila got everything she wanted.

She was treated like royalty who had suffered at the hands of a monster.

A monster that Lila created, not that anyone willing to stand up to her knew.

The monster’s name was Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

To paint Marinette as a monster took time and effort. Unlike the grand stories Lila started with to get the school wrapped around her finger, Lila had to start small.

The liar would mention how Marinette was never where she should be.

She would point out mistakes in Marinette’s excuses.

Slowly, Lila moved from real problems to false claims that no one could prove wrong.

Lila planted her seeds wherever she could. Some had even gotten back to her parents and they grounded her to the point where she wasn’t let out of the house, doing school online.

Much to Lila’s joy, Marinette Dupain-Cheng slowly disappeared into the background. No one paid the bluenette any mind, not even her parents.

Tom and Sabine seemed to prefer Lila over Marinette with how they’re always checking on her when she’s at the bakery, giving her free treats, and showering her with compliments.

Marinette slowly became fed up with how she was being treated. Researching her family tree to find a relative that she could potentially stay with, in some sort of half thought through runaway plan.

During Marinette’s research, using a bit of aid from her magic, she learned that Tom Dupain and Sabine Cheng were not her parents, they were her Aunt and Uncle.

Her mother was a woman named Chéng Féng and her father was unknown. According to medical records, Chéng Féng died only moments after naming her daughter. Digging a little deeper, Marinette found her original birth certificate. The name Chéng Yàn printed clearly on the document, even if it was only an online version.

With her curiosity piqued, she cast a simple illusion, creating a globe of the world.

Taking a needle and pricking the tip of her finger, she dripped two drops of blood at the north pole.

The blood drops went two separate ways. One went to someplace in China, Hong Kong before the blood turned black. The other drop went to the USA, New Jersey before breaking into a small rose red and large crimson droplets.

This is where knowing the meanings for blood magic came in handy. Black blood means dead. Crimson means full blood. Rose-red means half-blood.

Marinette.

No.

That felt wrong now, but Chéng Yàn didn’t feel right either.

Not yet at least.

Letting out a sigh she went back to her previous train of thought.

 She now knew her mother was deceased, her father was alive, and she has a half-sibling.

Digging through her mother’s travel history wasn’t difficult. Finding out who her father is was even easier.

A few tabloids had taken pictures of Bruce Wayne with his current lover Chéng Féng. The timeline matched up perfectly. Of course, she also checks with a bit of magic, just to be sure.

Once she was a hundred percent certain, she continued her digging, learning about her father and apparent little half-brother. If during her digging she ran into information about the bat family’s identities, well, then no one else needed to know.

The bluenette fell asleep in the early morning hours instead of the night hours. The reason was due to some late-night planning.

Her plans did include running away, but strangely they didn’t include meeting her father and brother.

Her plans included traveling the world and helping people get out of bad situations.

To be fair, she had been half asleep while making this plan, yet the longer she looked at it, the more she thought it was a good idea.

She thought through all the reasons to stay and leave, the pros and the cons. Surprisingly she found no reason for her to stay. 

Paris’s villains have already been dealt with. She was already doing school online. She didn’t have any friends or strong bonds to keep her in Paris.

Sure she had to take care of the kwamis, but they already gave their blessing for her to leave. They seemed to have collectively come to the agreement that this environment was toxic and slowly killing their guardian.

Before running away, they figured out all the big details, then moved to all the smaller details. Once the planning was complete they started their mission.

The kwamis only referred to their guardian as Chéng Yàn to help her get used to the new name. Her original name, which was her mother’s gift to her before she passed. A gift that her Aunt and Uncle stole from her because they wanted a child of their own, including a name of their choosing.

Chéng Yàn let out a slow breath to calm herself. There was no point getting worked up over something that won’t matter at the end of the month.

Using her time wisely, Chéng Yàn rewired the inheritance from her mother to only be accessible to herself. Making sure that her Aunt and Uncle wouldn’t ever see a cent of it.

To her surprise, it was quite a large inheritance, it would easily have her set for life. Especially if she kept doing her clothing commissions, but her commissions would be too easy to trace back to her. Maybe later she will start some kind of business, but for now, she’ll simply live off of her commission money, which was nothing to laugh at.

At the end of the month, everything was ready for the last phase of her runaway plan.

Miss Bustier’s class was getting icecream from André, right next to the seine.

One of them seemed to notice Marinette and points her out to the others.

Just in time for them to see her jump.

Gasps and screams could be heard from the class of sheep.

The police were called when she never resurfaced.

The authorities swept the seine for the young girl’s body, but all they found was Marinette’s signature blazer and purse. They claimed the current must-have swept her body away, and with that, Marinette Dupain-Cheng was pronounced dead.

No one noticed the girl who had been watching from the shadows leaning against an alley wall dressed in a red leather jacket, a white sweater, black leggings, and black combat boots. Her hair was freshly cut to shoulder length with the tips dyed red.

She pushed off from the wall, walking deeper into the alley before stepping through a portal.

To where?

She didn’t know.

Marinette woke up feeling the exhaustion of last night’s magic consumption. Apparently, operating on someone blind uses more magic than operating on someone with sight.

She was definitely gonna need a lot of caffeine before her brain became functional.

Getting out of bed, Marinette moved to the kitchen.

“Good morning Miss Marinette.” Barkk greeted, being the first of the kwamis to notice her.

“Good morning Barkk,” Marinette said with a smile as a cup of what she assumed was her coffee tea mix was given to her.

Once the others noticed they each gave their morning greetings. Marinette returned their morning greetings, taking a few sips of her caffeinated beverage.

“What time is it?” Marinette asked.

There were far too many kwamis up, meaning she had most likely slept in.

“It’s 10:43 am, Miss.” fluff answered helpfully.

Marinette gave them a thoughtful hum, trying to decide if she should open up shop this late into the day or not. It’s not like she had any orders that need to be filled, but she did have a lot of baked goods from last night.

There are far too many treats and snacks for the kwamis to eat it all before it goes bad, and it would be a shame to waste them.

“Who wants to pick today’s outfit?” Marinette asked as an idea formed in her head.

The kwamis argued about whose turn it was to pick her outfit. Marinette couldn’t help but laugh at the group of literal gods’ child-like antics.

In the end, the kwamis agreed on the outfit of the day being gray thick leggings and soft pink oversized fluffy sweater with a pair of combat boots. She also put on Trixx’s necklace, Roarr’s panjas bracelet, and Kaalki’s sunglasses so she would have an easier time using their energy, and not have to rely on her own energy that seemed to be a bit drained from interacting with the slimy green magic.

“Trixx, Roarr, Kaalki, are you guys ready to head out?” Marinette called as she made her way down to the first floor.

“You bet!” Roarr cheered.

“Of course, Mistress,” Kaalki claimed.

“Let’s go!” Trixx said before diving into Marinette’s bag to hide. The other two kwamis followed Trixx into the bag.

Marinette made sure to lock all the doors and windows of her shop before starting her walk to the shader part of Gothom.

It didn’t take long for some random person to try and mug her once she reached that area of town.

“Hand over the bags lady! Or I’ll shoot!” The robber claimed. 

Marinette paid more attention to his energy than his threats.

“Are you hungry?” Marinette asked after a few missed beats, ignoring the teen’s threat. 

“Are ya deff lady? I said I’ll shoot!” The young man threatens again.

“I’m not deff kid, but I am blind if that’s what you meant?” Marinette offered her response calmly.

This teen’s energy swirled in a way that seemed apologetic but it seemed to keep the threatening movement to it.

It reminded her of something she had heard.

That’s right.

She had heard from some of the more gossip-loving customers that on Gotham’s streets it was survival of the strongest and by any means necessary.

Marinette bent down, setting her bags on the floor. She then proceeded to take out a large rectangular container and opened it, offering it to the kid.

“What the hell ya doing?” The boy questioned her like she was insane.

“Well you wanted me to hand over my bags but they’re just full of leftover treats and snacks that I brought to hand out the street kid. I can’t give them all to you but you’re more than welcome to take some.” Marinette offers.

The young man’s energy moves in a way that makes him seem shocked.

“You’re not from here are ya lady?” The teen questions.

He moved a bit and most of the threatening energy he had was gone. She can only assume that he had put his gun away.

“I’ve only lived in Gotham for a couple of months,” Marinette informs him with a smile.

“You moved here willingly?” The kid asked, a bit shocked. “Didn’t you say you’re blind? Why the hell would ya move to a shit hole like this?”

Marinette stood back up, dusting herself off, before picking up her bags and cane.

“You really shouldn’t curse so much. Aren’t you, like, twelve, thirteen.” Marinette teased with a light tone of voice, avoiding the question as to why she moved here.

“I’m fifteen, lady!” The kid said a bit annoyed, causing Marinette to giggle before she seemed to remember something.

“Hey, I just realized that me being new here means that the street kids won’t trust me or the food I offer. Do you think you could help me pass them out?” Marinette asked him.

“Lady, ya just said that street kids won’t trust ya. Why would I trust ya or help ya?” Marinette reluctantly agreed that the kid had a point.

“Honestly kid, I got no reason for you to trust me, but if you want to pass on this information and food it’s up to you. My name is Marinette and I’m the owner of Jardin des Fées. It’s about twelve blocks away from Robinson Park. I’m willing to give paying jobs, food, and a safe space to anyone who needs it.” Marinette informs him, handing the bags of food over before leaving the alleyway the kid had pulled her into.

“Ya know ya shouldn’t give out that much information to a stranger!” The kid shouted towards her retreating figure.

“Why not?” Marinette asked, stopping at the entrance of the alleyway, turning her head in the direction of the teen’s voice and energy.

The kid was silent for a bit. His energy moved a bit in confusion and assessment. Almost as if he was trying to read her.

“You’re a weird one, lady.“ He finally said, turning away. "Name’s Lao.” The kid told her before she heard him running off in the opposite direction of her.

Marinette had a small smile on her face as she began the walk back to her shop.

Looks like it was time to begin her official work in Gotham as the Grand Guardian.

Angel with blue eyes

Original idea

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

______________

Secret Dreams

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

____________

Contagious adoption

Part 1

Part 2

___________

Cries of a hummingbird

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

__________

The feeling of home

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

__________

When A mother’s & A father’s world’s collide

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Who will you live for?

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

A swallow’s freedom

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

A fairy’s protection

Chapter 1

Lila walked into school with a smile on her face. She had planned this day out to the tee. She would let Marinette have her false sense of security. She had been spreading seeds of doubt for over three years now. She knew the class would find it suspicious, but it wouldn’t matter. Lila wouldn’t tell anyone, anything about Marinette, today. She had bought a new dress and shoes for the occasion. She had to look her best after all. By the end of the day, she would be dating Adrien Agreste.

As their teacher allowed them to gather up their belongings before the final, Lila stood up and walked in front of Adrien’s seat.

“Adrien, we’ve known each other and worked together for a couple years now. Will you go on a date with me?” Lila asked, playing up the innocent act.

Adrien stared at her in shocked, before finding his voice, “I’m sorry, Lila, but I don’t want to date you.”

‘He…He said no!’

In an effort to stop having to link multiple times in each fic post, I’m going to try to keep all links archived here. I’m considering doing an additional post to catalogue each story’s tag list in a public space, where people can check if they’re already tagged for something or not. If that sounds cool to you let me know!

This post will be pinned at the top of my blog and updated each time I post something!

The Road Rises to Meet You (soulmate au redux)

(daminette)

AO3  ||  Part 1  ||  Part 2  ||  Part 3

Soulmate AU

(daminette, jondrien, chlogami)

Part 1  ||   Part 2  ||   Part 2.5   ||   Part 3   ||   Part 4   ||   Part 5   ||   

Part 6   ||   Part 7   ||   Part 8   ||   Part 9   ||   Part 10   ||   Part 11   ||   

Part 12   ||   Part 13   ||   Part 14   ||   Part 15   ||   Part 16 ALT (angst)   ||   

Part 16   ||   Part 17   ||   Part 18   ||   Part 19   ||   Part 20   ||   Part 21   ||   

Part 22   ||   Part 23   ||   Part 24   ||   Part 25   ||   Part 26   ||   

Part 27   ||   Part 28  ||  Part 29  ||  Part 30

Black Cats and Robinettes

(daminette, role reversal AU)

Part 1  ||   Part 2   ||   Part 3   ||   Part 4

Fake Dating AU

(daminette)

Part 1   ||   Part 2   ||   Part 3   ||   Part 4   ||   Part 4.5   ||   Part 5  ||  

Part 6

Akumanette

(gen, jason+marinette siblings, akumatized marinette)

Part 1  ||   Part 2   ||   Part 3   ||   Part 4   ||   Part 5

Drabbles/Oneshots (as of right now)

A Bird In the Hand  (chlodamian)

Party Games  (daminette)

Blind Date  (daminette)

Changeling  (undecided)

First Crush  (timinette, one-sided daminette)

Christmas Spirit  (gen)

Me, Choosing You  (LINK LEADS TO AO3)(jasonette)

@qualitypeacepainter sent me this wonderful idea for a Daminette Volleyball AU. It will definitely have several parts and I am so excited to write it so I hope you enjoy and I hope it’s something like what you had in mind :)

“So this is what a tournament looks like?” Marinette inhaled deeply “Do you smell that Nino? Air Salonpas. It’s so satisfying.”

She didn’t bother waiting for his response, she knew he was only here for her sake. Nobody could match her excitement for this day. It took her weeks, but she finally scrambled together a makeshift team so that she could enter at least one volleyball tournament before her middle school days were over. They had exactly three days of practice, but it didn’t matter.

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH and now I NEED you to TELL ME WHAT DO YOU MEAN because I REALLY want to know 👀

First ~ Previous ~ Here(Final)

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

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

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

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

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

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

// Flashback, 2 years ago //

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Marinette.”

“Marinette.”

“Marinette.”

“Marinette.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Damian! No-”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“How?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

// Flashback ends //

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Wanna snuggle?” Damian snorted.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

~~~ 6 years later ~~~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Previous ~ Here ~ Next

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Deal.” Damian reaffirmed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It was Tim and Stephanie.

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

“Jason’s gonna lose it.”

“Todd doesn’t need to know.”

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

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

“Todd doesn’t need to know?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And then family night reared it’s ugly head.

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

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

“Where is the little D?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Marinette-”

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

“Marinette really it’s alri-”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Of course, everyone else thought it was hilarious.

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

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

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

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

Here ~ Next ~ Last

Jason was annoyed, he didn’t understand why he had to babysit a bunch of annoying teenagers. Bruce tried to make the excuse of keeping them safe while Joker was on the loose, but that didn’t mean the head of security of an international company should be following some stupid tourists.

On top of that, his little sister’s birthday was coming up. It was hardly a week away but Jason was already feeling the guilt, she would have turned fifteen this year. Jason remembered how a six-year-old Marinette would go on and on about when she became a teenager.

// Flashback, 12 years ago //

“Jay-Jay!” A small half-Asian girl with midnight hair exclaimed, her bright blue eyes shining with excitement as her hands shot up, asking to be held.

“Alright, alright, jeez I just got back, pixie! And you’re getting to old for this!” A fourteen-year-old Jason picked up the far too light girl, balancing her on his hip as he fished the granola bar out of his back pocket. “Are you hungry?” Marinette shook her head ‘no’, pushing the food towards him.

“I ate yesterday, it’s your turn.” Marinette pouted but took the food anyways.

“Wanna share?” She offered, Jason shook his head. He insisted she eat, and eventually she did.

“Now, I have to go back.” Marinette frowned, “I just came to bring your food. I’ll be back soon, see you tomorrow.” Jason gave his little honorary sister a hug before tucking her into bed, using both her blanket and his.

“When I’m big, like you, I’m gonna make you stay!” Jason chuckled softly before tucking her in again, on the inside he was proud. She was so smart, she’d grow-up to become an amazing person, Jason just had to make sure she lived long enough to do it.

// Flashback ends //

Jason never saw Marinette again, that was the night Batman found him and took him in. His life had changed so much since that night, if only he hadn’t been so stupid and told Bruce about Marinette, Jason was convinced he would have taken her in too. But now it was too late, apparently she’d been adopted by some couple in Europe but the case was sealed and without telling Tim or Bruce he’d never get his hands on them.

The second robin was pulled out of his thoughts when Dick approached him, strangely not at work.

“What?” Dick seemed to get more and more excited as he walked with Jason.

“Where are you going, Jay?” Jason glared at his brother, shoving him off.

“I have to go babysit some french class that Bruce invited.”

“Hey, you never know- it could be fun!” Jason just rolled his eyes at his older brother’s golden retriever-like mentality. They turned a corner and boarded the elevator.

“What are you even doing here, aren’t you supposed to be working?”

“I got the afternoon off.”

“Great, wanna take my place?” Dick looked at his watch before responding.

“No, trust me, you’re the better person for the job.” Jason was confused by that, but the elevator doors opened and a quick glance at his own watch told Jason he was late.

“Whatever.” Jason huffed as he walked to the lobby, but Dick just followed him as he messed with his phone. Odd.

Marinette was excited, her class had been selected by Wayne Enterprises for a class trip! She was so happy that she’d get to see Gotham again. No one knew that Marinette had grown up in the states and been adopted by the Dupain’s, not that anyone cared. The class was quick to fall into Lila Rossi’s trap, it hurt Marinette to see her friends leave her but she’d be okay. She had Tiki and her parents.

She might not have Jason, but she’d be okay. She had to be, Ladybug couldn’t be emotional compromised.

Lila suddenly pulled Marinette from her revere when she gasped,

“Oh my goodness, you won’t tell anyone right? Bruce always hates when people find out, our family is really serious about privacy… but you won’t say anything right?” The class was quick to give their assurances before Lila continued to spin her web of lies. She was prattling about some rich boyfriend of hers and how she’s practically family.

Instead of listening to the mindless Italian, Marinette decided to take in the modern lobby. The walls were a sharp white that went well with the dark marble floors. There was a sleek receptionists desk with four busy-looking employee’s. Everyone was dressed in business-wear so the french class stood out like a sore thumb. The room had tall ceilings with an understated, modern chandelier and rounded sofas. The seating was scattered throughout the large lobby.

Their tour guide was a nice blond man named Mark, he that said they were going to begin as soon as a security guard assigned to escort them arrived. Marinette was waiting near Mark and Mme. Bustier, keeping her distance from Lila’s coffee and her class’ harsh glares.

“Later, Dick.” An almost familiar voice called, it was gruffer and deeper than it used to be but Marinette instantly recognized it.

“Jay-Jay?” Marinette called out, softly, disbelievingly, it wasn’t the first time she’d thought she heard the voice but the bluenette couldn’t help but hope. He caught it and their eyes met. Marinette could feel her eyes fill with unshed tears as she took Jason in, he was much taller with dark hair and an odd white tuft on the front. His face had matured since she’d last seen him, he now had sharp features and a strong jawline, his eyes were unmistakable. He was dressed in a suit but on top of his shirt was a bullet proof vest, sure she couldn’t remember much but his voice had always calmed her and the thought of the skinny fourteen year old smirking would always make her smile, it was almost instinctual.

“Pixie pop?” He sounded like he couldn’t believe his eyes, behind the shock was relief- and grief. Marinette slowly walked towards Jason, stopping right in front of him.

Jason couldn’t believe it. After all these years they finally found each other again. Regret and disappointment washed over him in waves. Her eyes looked broken. He never should have left her, he should have found her sooner, he should have told Bruce, he should have done something- anything.

“Marine-?” Jason tried to speak but was cut off, Marinette had slapped him. Hard. The harsh noise of her hand hitting his skin got everyone to stop in their tracks, even the eternally busy receptionists. His cheek stung, she was stronger than she looked. He didn’t stop her.

“Idiot.” Before Jason even knew what was happening Marinette was hugging him, jumping to reach her arms around his neck.

He did his best to shove back his self loathing for another time, right now he had to focus on Marinette.

“I’m so sorry, I’m so so sorry.” Jason just kept apologizing as he hugged her back, a stray tear seared his cheek. Marinette cut him off with a flick to his ear- he used to do that when she was bratty.

“Where did you go? Why did you leave me? I was alone. And you promised!” Marinette spoke, pushing through the tears, through the emotion- all Jason could do was dip his head in shame. He always promised they’d stay together, no matter what.

“A lot of stuff happened, Pixie. Let’s get out of here- yeah?” Marinette nodded before hugging Jason again, this time around the waist.

“I missed you, you big idiot. You’re the worst brother ever, you owe me a lot of candy.” Jason relaxed at the word brother, even if he had years to make up for it was better than losing his little sister for good.

“See! I told you he was looking into it for a reason, pay up!” Dick exclaimed, that got Jason’s attention. Dick and the rest of his siblings saw his glare and quieted. Damian wasn’t even paying attention, he was on his phone. Tim saw the glare but still payed Dick, grumbling as he did so.

“Go be idiots somewhere else.”

“No way! She said brother! That makes us her brothers too!” Marinette jumped at the conclusion, Jason growled. He glared again, but the tiny person clinging to Jason took the edge off.

“Dick Grayson.” The original Robin introduced himself politely, “Nice to meet you.” She greeted the boy politely, wiping her tears away with her left while she shook his hand with her right.

“Tim Drake.” The most exhausted of the group introduced, he was about to do something to the youngest- whose head was still buried in his phone- but was interrupted.

“Of course the slut has an american sugar daddy!” Lila loudly announced laughing, the rest of the class joined in- some more hesitantly than others. Jason noticed Marinette try to make herself smaller, hugging him tighter- this wasn’t anything new to her.

Jason glared, the boys eyed him- worried about the genuinely deadly look in his eye.

“What did you call her?” Jason asked in perfect french, the children flinched. Mme Bustier stood between the students and Jason, looking nervous but determined.

“Please don’t intimidate my students.” The woman tried to sound firm but failed miserably.

“Then maybe you should stop your students from bullying their classmate, or did you not hear the brunette insult another student?!” Caline didn’t know whether or not to answer but decided to stay quiet.

“Any of you brats insult my little sister again and you won’t wanna know what happens.” Jason quietly threatened, meaning every word.

“Little sister?” Alya exclaimed, “Please! Marinette is an only child, if you’re going to lie at least be convincing! You don’t know her at all, the lying bully is just trying to steal the spotlight again!” Jason was pissed and took a threatening step towards the girl, but deep down he knew she was right, he didn’t know Marinette. But the one thing he did know was that he was her brother, and no one messed with his family.

For once, Jason’s brothers were quiet. Dick and Tim were waiting to see how Jason would handle everything, waiting to see if they needed to intervene. Damian was on his laptop, not giving anyone a second glance. It seemed to Jason he had been paying attention because Damian assumed he’d be in the lobby long enough the take out his computer.

The entire exchange from the moment the insult was given to now had taken no longer than a minute but Marinette was still clinging to Jason until he tried to walk towards Alya again, she had whispered something to Lila that made her laugh and when Jason tried to move forward Marinette released him and grabbed his suit coat, trying to pull him back. Sure the pulls were weak but she meant it.

“You’ll just make it worse, Jay.” He huffed, there was no way in hell he was going to let Marinette anywhere near the moronic class ever again.

“Fine, let’s call security and get them out of here.”

“Hey you can’t do that, we were invited by Bruce Wayne himself.” Jason continued as if the bespectacled brunette hadn’t spoken.

“Oh wait! I am security! Get out.”

“Jason-”

“B! Great, you can tell them to leave! I’m outta-here!”

“You’re not going anywhere, Jason, and the class is scheduled for a tour. Tim, call Lucius. Ask him to cover for us and get someone who isn’t the head of security to escort the tour. Never touch my email again.” Tim sheepishly agreed, dialing Lucius’ number.

Bruce then turned to the French class as they stared in awe, Caline blushed softly.

“You must be Mme Bustier?” She nodded, “I’m Bruce Wayne, my apologies for the delay, the tour will be starting shortly. If it’s alright with you, may Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng be excused from the tour?” Bruce spoke in pristine French, the teacher could only nod in response to the older man’s rehearsed smile.

“Mr. Wayne! Can I get a quote for an article?” Alya asked without thinking.

“What’s your article about?” Bruce asked, curious.

“Uh-” Alya blushed before trying to disappear into the crowd, he politely ignored her outburst.

“It was a pleasure meeting all of you, but if you’d excuse me I have other things to attend to-”

“Wait! Aren’t you going to greet Lila?” The billionaire looked confused for a moment before he noticed one girl looking particularly distressed.

“I’m sorry to say I don’t know anyone by that name, now if you’ll excuse me-”

“What do you mean? Lila Rossi, your honorary niece! She practically lived with you when her mother worked at the embassy here in Gotham! Your youngest son, Damian’s childhood friend! Her boyfriend!” The boy on his laptop snorted at Rose’s statement.

“I am not in a relationship with anyone, and I have no childhood friends.” Damian shut his laptop as he ran a hand through his hair making a good portion of the class blush, Marinette couldn’t help but think 'He’s too good looking for his own good’. His dark hair and tan skin highlighted his jade eyes, a business suit adding to her professional demeanor. His shorter, swoopy hair was mesmerizing… and his arms were thick and seemed strong, the veins on his hand clearly visible as it moved through his silky locks. Jason seemed to catch onto her train of thought and hastily covered her eyes.

“No.” Marinette giggled, coming back to reality when the boy was shielded from view. He was as protective as ever. She remembered how he’d get when the other kids used to get close to Marinette, being a little girl meant pity cash from adults and was a solid partner on the streets of Gotham. Marinette moved his hand to watch the long awaited fall of Liar Rossi.

“What do you mean?” Nino exclaimed.

“If that wasn’t true, what else did you lie about?” Kim exclaimed, Alix seconded.

“Nothing, I swear.” The brunette pleaded, desperately trying to convince the class.

“Does this mean you don’t know those music producers you promised I’d get to meet?” Nino demanded, the class began to circle around Lila, all asking about promises she’d made

“And the acting internship?” Milene asked.

“Do you even know Ladybug?”

“Or Jagged Stone?”

“Was anything you said true?” The class continued to ask her questions, Lila looked shaken as her not-so-carefully crafted web of lies fell apart.

“Was what you said about Marinette true?”

“Did she even bully you?”

“I knew she wouldn’t say such horrible things!”

“Yeah, Marinette never would have hurt anyone! I can’t believe we fell for your lies!” Everyone began to yell at Lila, blaming her for all the awful things they did to her. Jason could hardly stand it, pulling Marinette into another hug- she had been dealing with morons.

“Class! Now is not the time, we have a tour. Unless you want the trip to end early I suggest you quiet down!” Mme Bustier was ignored. Mike whistled, loudly.

“Alright! It’s time for the tour, so quiet down!” The tour guide quickly took a head count and led the class away, an artificial smile in place. Everyone was either glaring at the Lila girl or looking at Marinette as they walked away.

“Sorry about them, they can get pretty loud.” Marinette tried to play the whole thing off, they let her.

“Bruce Wayne.”

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng, it’s an honor to meet you sir. Thank you for the trip!” Bruce gave his three younger sons a look, Damian was back on his laptop but was quick to defend himself.

“I, for one, had no part in this, father. They bet on why Jason looked into some girl’s adoption file.”

“And you knew?” Damian stopped typing and looked up.

“Maybe… but you can’t prove anything.” Tim smirked before he remembered what he was going to do before any of the drama came up.

“Damian! Introduce yourself!” The boy who looked to be a little older than Marinette rolled his eyes with a sigh but approached the girl nonetheless, glaring at Tim before looking at Marinette for the first time. His scowl morphed into something else as he studied her.

Marinette noticed his examining her and blushed, but looked back at him just as interested.

“… Damian Wayne.”

“Marinette.” They shook hands, neither taking their eyes off each other. Jason looked between the two teenagers, first at Damian then to his little sister before going back to Damian and then back to Marinette before it stopped on Damian’s- Jason.exe stopped working before it went into overdrive.

As if on instinct, Jason put a hand on each of their shoulders pushing them apart. Their longer-then-normal hand shake ended as they eyes snapped to Jason.

“Don’t even think about it. No way in hell, brat, keep your slimy paws off my sister.” Marinette blushed heavily, averting her eyes in embarrassment.

Dick and Tim howled in laughter when they heard Damian’s response, Bruce smirked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is going to take more intervention than he thought. “You’re ridiculous, that isn’t true.”

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

“All I’m saying is-”

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

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

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

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

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

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

He tried to deny it, reason a way out of the conclusion. Raven did her best to encourage him but she was getting nowhere, the entire team was frustrated because both refused to see what was staring them right in the face.  Beast Boy and Raven meet with Starfire after both Ladybug and Robin go back to their respective home cities.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“We gotta say something sooner than lat-”

“I know, but not yet. We could use this to our advantage…” “Right? So I had to go all the way to the other side of the city to deliver this banner, it was worth it though. The skater friend won.”

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

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

“How come?”

“Just, time. Grew apart I guess.”

“You’re an awful liar.”

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

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

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

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

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

“Who’s none of them?”

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

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

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

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

“If it were up to me-”

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

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

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

“Yes.”

“But-”

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

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

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

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

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

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

They wait.

And listen.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“She likes me?”

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

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

“She likes me.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Why don’t you just ask her?”

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

“Are you alright?”

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

“Are you sure?”

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

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

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

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

Is he going to leave her too?

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

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

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

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

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

“I-”

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

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

“I-”

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

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

“What?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Spar?”

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

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

“And the other?” Robin asks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Hi.”

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

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

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

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

“Well done.”

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

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

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

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

“I suppose you are correct.”

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

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

“I do not qualify as a girl.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"We should do it now.”

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

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

“Thanks, mama.”

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

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

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

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

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

“I’ll pass-”

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

“tt, no. That doesn’t work on me.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You should go talk to him.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Nothing. Nevermind.”

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

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

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

“So… girlfriend.”

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

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

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

“Actually there’s-”

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

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

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

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

“I see no issue in distractions.”

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

I’ll leave it under the keep reading bar so that I don’t take up your whole screens, but I hope this helps if you ever try to scroll through the mess that is my page. Every couple of new additons I’ll be sure to reblog this so it doesn’t get lost :)

Thanks for all the support! You guys make me so happy, more than I could put into words and I cannot thank you enough.

(Part 1) (Part 2)

After their first meeting, Marinette was pretty much convinced to move in with the Waynes. When she was introduced to the rest of the family, it strengthened her decision.

Her first thought after meeting Tim Drake was “oh you poor kindred spirit,” and then she proceeded to mother-hen the heck out of him, despite him being older than her.

Jason Todd was unfairly tall, and his snark was only rivaled by her own, but then he quoted Jane Austen right in front of her and she realized just how much of a nerd he was.

Damian obviously did NOT want to be there, and he made that very clear with their first interaction by declaring that he didn’t like her and that he didn’t trust her.

Well. Tough love it is.