#hellishere7980

Dear mother, I know you're mad at me. I was supposed to stay with Damien. Stay ‘safe’ as you put it But there is still a weak point I need to cover. You said our aim was to get Damian to safety. Mother, you and I both know he is not completely safe. Safer? Yes. But not completely safe. You know, I promised to myself that I would do whatever it took to keep you both safe. This is my way of doing it. Go ahead and say that ‘You don't need to do it’. But I know I need to do it. So, forgive me, mother, for disobeying your direct orders. I was following the order you gave me a long time ago.

I love you, Mother.

You always said that repeating something again and again reduces the value of your words. These three words I will never tire of speaking to you. Because you gave birth to me. You kept me safe as much as you could. You snuck in and stayed with me when I was sick. You are my mother.

You always said, “Mariam, You are my daughter. Be brave.”

Now I'm saying, “You are my mother, Trust me.”

Trust me to know what I'm doing.

Your daughter, Mariam.

Talia fell down crying after reading the letter. The woman who never shed a tear even after being stabbed and shot.

Bruce stepped forward and supported her to a chair.

— — — — — — — —

“M-Mother?” Damian asked as Talia was about to get back into the car.

“Yes, Damian.” Talia said, smiling at him.

“Don't worry.” Bruce said, standing beside Damien. “We'll keep a lookout for Mariam.”

Talia just nodded and was about to get into the car when a notification chimed up in the bat computer.

Facial match: Ra’s Al-Ghul Location: Gotham Harbour, Dock #7

They all looked at each other as they rushed to put on their costumes. Dick dragged Damian with him to at least make him wear a basic black Kalver uniform. Soon enough, they all took off. Dick and Tim on the nightcycle and the R-Cycle. Bruce, Damian and Talia in the Batmobile with Alfred manning the comms. After breaking some traffic laws, they pulled up at the Gotham Harbour in under 20 minutes. They all stepped out and saw Ra’s standing on a cliff while his personal helicopter, ready for takeoff, waited below in the sandy area.

“Well.” Ra’s said, turning towards them. “I expected that pusillanimous girl of yours to do this.” He said to Talia. “But you? You failed to achieve the low expectations I set for you. This has gone on for long enough. If you so desperately wish to get out of the league, then fine. The league has no place for cowards like you and your daughter who can not even respect their blood. Come along, Damian.”

“NO!” Talia And Damian said together.

Ra’s opened his mouth to say something else but just then a stone was catapulted from the nearby higher cliff which hit Ra’s, the momentum throwing him off the cliff and onto the spinning blades of his helicopter.

Everyone else remaining on the cliff were stunned and watched in utter shock as they heard the sound of flesh being sliced and falling into the slightly acidic waters of Gotham Harbour. As the men in the helicopter jumped out, arrows from the nearby cliff, although from a different area, claimed their lives as they fell down in the pools of their own blood.

All of them stood motionless. Then Batman said, “Whoever did this, the intention was not to harm us yet. Proceed with caution. Robin, Damian, check if there are any survivors. Talia, Nightwing and I are going to check the cliff from where the attack came.”

After spending hours, they couldn't find anything. Just a note that said.

I Bow to thee, Talia Al-Ghul. The Demon Head of the League of Assassins.

“What does this mean, mother?” Damian asked when they showed the note to everyone back in the Batcave.

“This is an ancient ritual.” Talia said looking at the note with something akin to silent horror. “Whenever a Demon had died and the heir took the place as the next Demon Head, all the people of the League of Assassins were supposed to pledge their loyalty to the new Demon Head. They used to bow as a symbol for accepting their superior.”

“But didn't Ra’s say that you were not to inherit the League?” Bruce asked. “Because you are a woman.”

“I know that.” Talia said.

“OK, OK, you are the new Head.” Dick said. “Got it. What are we gonna do now? I think that Mariam might have done it—”

Talia said, “She wouldn’t kill her own Grandfather.” She took a deep breath in.

“I still think the League isn't a fit place to bring up Damian. I still wish you would keep him here.” Talia said, looking at Bruce.

“That would be my absolute pleasure.” Bruce said. “But I want to know one thing.” He continued turning towards Damian, kneeling down to his level, “You wanna stay here, Damian?”

Damian looked deep into Bruce's eyes. “Yes, Father.”

“Well, that's settled!” Tim said. “He gets to stay with us. And you,” He said to Talia. “Get to head the league. Fun.”

Talia gave a light chuckle. “I will leave now.”

And so the days went by. Damian adjusted in his new life as the new Robin after Tim gave him the mantle. Talia went on to Head the league, changing the name from League of Assassins to League of Shadows. When Damian called her about it, she replied, “A new change of aim, means a new change of name.”

From Plymouth, she made her way to London.

London. It fitted her. The clouds stopped the blinding sunlight from ever reaching the ground. Like a tamer version of Gotham. Obviously the crime rates were not near each other, but at least the atmosphere matched. Dark. Cloudy. Cold.

Six days after Ra’s Al-Ghul died.

One day she was sitting in the park when she came across a curious old woman. Mariam was just sitting on a bench, minding her own business when an old woman with a smiling face and a funny little bun came along and sat beside her on the bench. 

“You like the clouds, I see.” she said.

Normally Mariam would not have replied, but it was days since she had a decent conversation with anyone, soo…

“It keeps the heat down.” Is what she said in response.

“Heat in London?”

“If the clouds weren't here, it would be a nice warm day with blinding sunshine and what not.”

“True.”

With that, they both sat in silence. Soon it was lunchtime and the old lady got up.

“What would you like to have for lunch?” She asked.

“How do you know my mother has not made lunch for me already?” Mariam asked, assessing her from the corner of her eye.

“Because most kids who are to eat at home start looking around for their mother as soon as it dawns lunchtime.” The old lady asked, smiling at Mariam. “I was thinking. Sandwiches would make a splendid lunch. What do you say?”

“No, thank you.”

“Look, child. I can tell that you have some sort of training. And that you are on the run.” 

Mariam tensed.

“I'm not here to hurt you.” The old lady continued. “This is me trying to return- more accurately, pass on the favor. Someone much dear to me also suffers through this.”

“So this is your way of easing your guilt? You couldn't save your loved one, so now you're trying to save me? I don't need to be saved.” Mariam said, getting up.

“My Fu is alive, thank you very much.” The old lady replied, frustration seeping into her voice.

“Then why are you doing this?”

“Nobody should leave a child on their own.”

“Child.” Mariam let out a sarcastic laugh. “Haven't heard that in a while.”

“Come on, young lady. I think you would like to meet Fu.”

And that's how she met him. That's how she met Wang Fu. The Guardian of the Mother Miracle Box. That's how she learned the old lady's name. Marianne Lenoir. Curious little coincidence there. Marianne, Mariam. But her life was nothing if not a coincidence. Her birth to her survival. Coincidence.

Meanwhile, in America (Batcave)

“You realize, Bruce, she doesn't have that level of training!” A female figure said. Her frustration evident through the huge screen in the Batcave.

“Talia, I know you don't like the sound of it, but it fits.” Batman said, his cowl off. “Tell me, who else would have the training? We both know it's not that simple to kill Ra's Al Ghul. All his assassins always sweep a perimeter wherever he goes. They are constantly on rotating grounds, otherwise it would have been so easy to kill Ra's Al Ghul.”

“Bruce, you talk like I don't know that.” Talia said, the sounds of swords clashing behind her clear enough to echo through the batcave. “Oh, and I wish they would stop fighting already!” She said loudly, shooting a dirty look over her shoulder where the sound of swords was coming from. “Continuous clash. Even though they know they are outnumbered, they can't give up.”

Nightwing came from behind to stand beside Batman's chair. “Those rebel groups have not quite burned down yet?” 

“They would have, but they refused to change. Normally there wouldn't be so much rebellion if I had just inherited it, but father with all his ‘females are inferior’ complexity which By the way was known throughout the league. Those groups are simply unwilling to have a female Demon Head.” 

“It doesn't help that the League of Assassins is changing its aims, does it?” Nightwing asked with a sad smile.

“No it does not.” Talia agreed, slightly shaking her head. “How I wish she was here.”

“I'm sorry, Talia.” Bruce said. “But she simply vanished.”

“And that's what confuses me.” Talia said. “She doesn't have that level of training that she can simply disappear off the bat–”

“Pun intended?” Nightwing asked with a sly smile.

“No.” Talia said, rubbing her forehead. “Coming back to the topic, she couldn't have killed Father. You realize to kill him somebody would have had to throw the stone based on their pure aim and–” She threw her hands up in frustration. “It's not as easy to aim with a stone as it is to aim with a gun. Whoever did this had remarkable marksmanship.”

“There's no point in fretting over it, Talia. We have our systems up. I will check daily but I think we should trust her enough to know that she knows what she's doing.” Bruce said.

“Wait a minute. Hold up.” Nightwing said, turning towards him. “Where was this trust when I used to disappear?”

“Girls are more mature.” Bruce mumbled.

And the night ended with Nightwing's offended sounds and Talia's soft laughing.

Bonus:

Mariam looked at the floating green turtle creature in front of her. She stared at the creature, and the creature stared back at her. Fu and Marianne looked in anticipation from behind her.

Mariam turned to look at them, pointing at that floating green turtle thing. “ What in the unholy hell is THAT!?

Bonus #2

“So,” Mariam said as she and Fu made their way back to the massage parlor after bidding Marianne farewell at the train station. “How many Kwamis are there?”

“You are not ready for that information. Just as we don't put the noodles in the water unless it's boiling, you'll have to show patience before you are taught about the miraculous.”

Someone rang the doorbell. The whole family Had gathered and were eating an amazing dinner courtesy of Alfred. Alfred, Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian, Bruce, Selina and Talia were there to celebrate the newly turned 9 year old boy's birthday.

Someone rang the doorbell. Everyone was on high alert as Alfred walked out of the kitchen to answer the door and everyone else followed.

On the other side of the door stood Mariam.

“Ukhti!” Damian exclaimed as he rushed past Alfred and hugged her.

“Mariam?” Talia said, stepping forward. “But you–”

Damian moved aside and Talia speed-walked past him and grabbed her daughter in a hug. “I thought I lost you.” She whispered in Mariam’s ear. 

“Mother, you can't be free of me that easily.” Mariam replied, smiling.

“I believe we have a cake to cut, don't we? Let us take this inside, shall we?” Alfred said and they all trooped back into the dining room.

“Where have you been?” Dick asked.

“Somewhere safe.” Mariam replied. “Oh! Least I forget it.” She said, sliding a beautifully packaged box towards Damian. “Happy birthday, Damian.”

Damian slowly under the ribbon on the gift box and opened it to find a sketchbook and a set of pencil colors. He looked up questioningly at Mariam.

“You know, I'm traveling around, trying new stuff.” Mariam began. “I found out I really liked drawing. So I thought you would like it too. I mean, it's practical. It takes up little to no space. It comes easily to us. And it's basically like drawing the layout of a building, but with more details and smaller objects–”

“And more pretty” Selina added.

“It's fun, trust me.”

“Mm-hmm.” Damian said, inspecting the pencil colors. “They are of admirable quality.” 

“Well, of course they are.” Mariam replied. “I’m the one who picked them.”

“How exactly did you pick them?” Bruce said.

“What do you mean, Father?” Mariam asked, although her eyes were still fixed on Damian's joyous expression.

“I mean That Talia didn't give you any money.” Bruce continued.

“How would you know that?” Mariam asked.

“Because I told them, daughter.” Talia said.

“Well, can't argue with that.” Mariam said. “But you know, getting money isn't exactly hard. And I have sufficient training to get a job, you know. I mean, I've seen people less qualified than me earning nicely.”

“Well, I agree.” Damian said. He had set aside his gift along with his other gifts. “League education is nothing to be laughed at.”

“Yeah, but still, you shouldn't have to do this.” Talia said with a mocking smile. “Isn't that right, daughter?”

“Ha, ha, ha.” Mariam gave a light laugh. “Walked right into that one, I did. But it's fun. Genuinely, it's a lot of fun.”

The rest of the conversation ended in favor of Damian's celebration. Or “Successful completion of nine years of existence.” In Tim’s opinion.

Afterwards, they all left for patrol. Mariam was wearing a basic outfit of Batgirl's costume with Nightwing as her buddy.

After the patrol winded up, they all met at the rendezvous point on top of the Wayne Enterprises building. All happily looking down at the smoke filled the city with blinking lights clearing up at them. 

“Mariam?” Talia said, turning towards her. “Why do you insist on this?”

She turned away from the look and looked deep into her mother's eyes. “Insist on what, mother?”

“Insisting on living on your own when there are two houses perfectly capable of taking you in. You don't need to stay with me, You can stay here with your father if you want.”

“Is it wrong to insist on it if I have a perfectly valid reason?” Mariam asked.

“What is this perfectly valid reason ukhti?” Damian asked her. “What is this reason that justifies you staying away from us?”

“Simple.” Mariam said, moving towards the edge of the building. Everyone saw it and their muscles tensed. “I knew Grandfather was gonna die before he died.”

“What?” Bruce growled.

“I'm the one who killed him. I-I” Her breath hitched. “He was coming after you, Mother.”

“What are you talking about?” Talia asked. “You mean to say that your grandfather was coming after me?”

“He intended to.” Mariam replied.

“You could have talked to me about it.” Talia said, throwing up her hands in frustration, her voice reflecting her anger.

“I'm sorry mother, but it would not have yielded any results.” Mariam said, looking deep into her eyes. “All this while you couldn't see what was happening. Actually, you could see, but you refused to understand it. Grandfather, he was sending you into dangerous missions, treating you so horribly. He would have had you married to somebody in the League But was simply scared that his son-in-law could be a potential threat. A potential heir to the throne. You give up on so many of your dreams. Just do not anger him. And for what?” She scoffed. “Only for you to be thrown away once you have trained your replacement? Once you had trained me? Couldn't you see that, mother?”

Talia stood speechless. 

Mariam continued. “I couldn't let him take you, Mother. I regret what I had to do, but I will not apologize for it.” She took a small step back and stumbled on the edge. “But I apologize to you all.” She said in a whispered voice that carried through the silent night despite the traffic below. With that, she turned around and dropped from the building. 

All those on the roof rushed near her in a desperate attempt to grapple her to safety. She hadn't taken her grapple. But they saw no sign of her.

They all stumbled back near the center of the building. Everyone still reeling in shock. They were shaken out of their thoughts when Oracle’s voice chimed in in the comms. “She just dropped by with the uniform and left.”

“Team head back to the Cave.” Batman said and hence, the night ended.

Mariam's second visit came a day after Bruce's birthday. 

They all had come back from patrol and were winding up for the night, when they heard light footsteps. All except Damian drew their weapons and stood ready.

They all waited breathlessly as they saw the shadow of a human coming closer.

“Mariam!” Damian exclaimed.

As she came into proper view, she gave all of them a meek smile. “Happy belated birthday, father.” She said as she stopped walking.

“Mariam?” Bruce asked not believing himself and how could he? After they had made her run away?

“In flesh.” Mariam said, giving a light chuckle.

“Why have you come now?” Damian said, cutting into the conversation. “Why didn't you come yesterday when it was actually Father's birthday?”

Mariam's fingers lightly fidgeted with the ribbon on the gift before answering. “I didn't want to ruin his birthday like I ruined yours.”

“Mariam,” Bruce said. “Never think that you would ruin my birthday. You are always welcome here.”

They all moved upstairs for a nice cup of tea before bed. 

“How long are you gonna be staying here?” Tim asked as he happily munched on some chips which Alfred had provided.

“Just a couple of hours. I'll be meeting with Mother afterwards.” Mariam replied.

“Mariam?” Bruce said.

“Yes, Father?”

“There's something I need to discuss with you.”

“Sure.”

“Let's go to my study.”

As they both got up, Damian blurted out, “I wish to go to visit Mother too.”

Bruce said, “It's fine by me. Will you be able to take him with you, Mariam?”

“Yeah.” She replied.

“Yeah?” Dick asked. “Since when did you start saying yeah?”

“I've been traveling. It's fun to see so many people. I picked up some words.” Mariam said before following Bruce out of the dining room.

Later, when they were in his study, he motioned her to sit down and he sat down opposite her. “Mariam, your mother and I have been talking.”

“About what?”

“About the fact that you're not staying with any of us. If there's a reason then please let us know.”

“I–” She said before taking a deep breath in and continuing. “I just want to see what a normal life feels like.”

“If you want a normal life, you can find it here.”

“I don't think I can. Believe it or not, Father, life as a billionaire's daughter does not qualify as normal.”

“There is also another reason. Isn't it?”

Mariam drew a deep breath in. “Promise me you won't tell anyone.”

“My lips are sealed.” Bruce replied, slightly leaning forward, trying to give an encouraging nod.

“Ra’s Al-Ghul was my grandfather. E-even though he treated me and mother horribly, there was still a sense of respect I had for him. Was it because it was ingrained in me or simply a respect for his skills? I can't seem to define it. But what I do know is, deep down, I did consider him f-family. I did consider him my blood. And–” She again drew a sharp breath in. “I can't seem to get rid of the guilt. I cannot wake up every morning and see his eyes in Mother’s and Damian’s. I-I didn't mean to kill him, but he was hurting the people I loved. Even heard from some of his trusted advisors that he was considering-g” 

“Considering replacing mother with you?” Bruce prompted.

“Yes, he was considering replacing mother with me. I couldn't risk that.”

“It's alright.” Bruce said, gently patting her shoulder, trying to comfort her. “Everything will be fine.”

Dear Damian, Normally I would write a letter in Arabic, but I thought since you're gonna live here, you might as well get used to the language. I know this was abrupt to you. But this is the first opening me and Mother could get. Sorry, Mother and I could get. English grammar rules are so wonky.

Both Bruce and Damian let out a soft laugh.

Anyway, back to the point. I know what you're gonna say. You're gonna say, “You did the same thing I'm doing right now. I can handle it.” And I'm not denying that, Damian. Just that you shouldn't have to do this. Shouldn't have to fight. You shouldn't have to kill. You shouldn't have to always watch behind your back. It's not right. And just the fact that it happened to me does not make it right for you. Here at Father’s you'll be able to learn new things. Enjoy life. Make friends. Meet your other siblings and our Father.

Please give them a chance. You don't know if you like something if you never try it. Stay safe. And be happy. Don't think this is goodbye, I will come visit. Mother and I love you. With all we have.

Your sister And the bane of your existence, Mariam.

Thankfully, Damien was too tired after the day's proceedings and went down for sleep without much fuss. After making sure he was comfortable in the guest bedroom, Bruce went back down to the Cave where the DNA showed 92% completed. Seeing him, Tim, Dick and Alfred came and gathered around.

“Well, Master Bruce?”

“He is sleeping for now. The kid had a dagger, but I left it with him because he looked too–”

“Vulnerable.” Tim said.

“Yeah, that.” Bruce said, giving them a tired smile. “I was thinkin–”

The batcomputer chimed. As all of them whipped around they saw displayed on the screen in bold letters. Almost mocking them-

Test #27

Subject: Damian Al-Ghul Wayne

Biological matches: Bruce Thomas Wayne (Parental) Talia Al-Ghul (Parental) Ra’s Al-Ghul (Grand Parental) Test subject #28 (Complete Fraternal)

“Well damn” Dick said. “I suppose it was to be expected, honestly.”

Bruce sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I suppose it is pointless to open up the second test result.”

“Better safe than sorry.” Tim said, clacking on the keyboard. “Here we go.” with his words, the screen changed.

Test #28

Subject: Mariam

Biological matches: Bruce Thomas Wayne (Parental) Talia Al-Ghul (Parental) Ra’s Al-Ghul (Grand Parental) Damian Al-Ghul Wayne (Complete Fraternal)

“I didn't enter her complete name because she never really said it out loud, but do you want me to, like, input it in as Al-Ghul Wayne?” Tim asked, spinning around on the batchair.

“Yeah.” Bruce said. Turning to Alfred, he continued, “What do I do, Alfred?”

“Though it may take some time, Master Bruce, I believe a solution will present itself. Worrying about when will only cause additional stress. I suggest you focus on Master Damian. You do have a lot of years to make up for.”

“I don't even know how old the kid is!” Bruce groaned. “I’ll turn In for the night. I'll deal with this tomorrow morning.”

“Excellent idea, Master Bruce. After all, a good rest makes our minds work better. Don't they Master Tim?”

“Wha-What?” Tim asked, his eyes still glued to the screen pulling up Talia's file.

“Come on, Tim.” Dick said. He was slowly putting all the bat computer screens on Sleep Mode. “You already know all that there is to know about her.”

“Yeah, yeah. I'm looking through Justice League files, you know, in case someone updated something.”

“Come on, Tim.” Bruce said, making use of his ‘dad voice’ as put by Dick. “The files will still all be here in the morning. It's time you got some rest.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just a minute.” Tim said, his eyes scanning the screen.

“Nope.” Dick said as he picked him up. “Going to burrito wrap you in a blanket so you can't sneak into the Cave.”

“Nooooooo” Tim said dramatically as Dick put him over his shoulder and walked off.

Bruce waited until their steps receded before again turning to Alfred. “Do you think I'm ready for this?”

They were running. She gripped Damian’s hand tighter “Come on, Damian. You gotta run faster. I know it's hard, but–” She bit back an ear piercing scream as she ducked, Dragging her brother with her. A knife whizzed past their heads with couple of arrows. They both ran and ran till they finally spotted a boat in which Mariam jumped, her brother following her. And soon enough, the boat took off before their persuaders could reach them.

“What was that about?” Damian Said his eyes blown wide open. “We are supposed to be on their side, ukhti.”

“I know, I know.” Mariam replied, her chest heaving. “There's just a place we've got to get to.”

“Where?”

“Somewhere safe.”

“But where?”

Merriam sighed. “Damian there's no beating around the bush for this one. Mother and I feel that the league is getting too dangerous for you.”

“TOO DANGEROUS?!” Damian’s voice pierced through the calm night.

“Hush.” Mariam said, shushing him.

“NO! No, hush.” Damian said, looking up at his sister. “It's NOT dangerous. I did the same stuff as you did!”

“Yes, and none of us want that for you. Damian–” Her voice broke, “The way I've grown up, the way you are growing up is not a way for any child to be brought up. That's not how it's supposed to be.”

“The WORLD is not what it's supposed to be.” Damian said, throwing his hands up.

“I know, but still everyone tries to make it into what it is supposed to be, don't they? This is our way of fixing it.” Mariam said, bending down to his level.

“Grandfather will come after us.” Damian said, looking intently into his sister's eyes.

“And mother and I will deal with it. You don't need to concern yourself with that anymore. You will get the chance to be a normal kid. As normal as it is possible.”

“You're going leave me alone, aren't you? Looks like you finally realized I'm not worth it.”

“NEVER SAY THAT.” Mariam said, pulling her brother into a hug. “We both love you very much.”

“Apparently not enough.”

Mariam pulled herself from him and loved him intently in the eyes. “Listen up, Damian. You are one of the best things that has ever happened to me. And you know what they say? If you really love someone, you got to let them go.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing. We're almost here.”

“Where are we exactly?”

“Gotham City.”

Damian pulled a deep breath in. “We're meeting Father?”

“Yes.” Mariam replied, pulling her brother along, keeping a sharp lookout for anyone who might have noticed their small boat docking on the harbour. The fact that he was going to meet his father was enough for Damian to stay quiet. They soon found a spare motorcycle which Talia had arranged for them.

“I should drive.” Damian said, looking the bike over. It wasn't exactly a brand new model, but it wasn't outdated either.

“Yeah, right.” Mariam said, snorting. “You and your little 4.ft’ frame will be able to handle my 5.ft 5’’.”

“You always said size wasn't a true judge of strength.” Damian said, gripping the handle.

“No Damian, we are not getting pulled over by the police. This is supposed to be done discreetly.

“Very well.” Damian said as he resigned himself to his fate.

Mariam smiled at him and got on to the bike, motioning him to grab her waist. And after that they were weaving through the traffic, heading for Wayne Manor. After 15 minutes they could see the twinkling lights of the huge estate and Mariam made a sharp turn, Entering one of the secret passageways to the infamous Batcave. Damian was thoroughly enjoying himself, unaware of the tension in his sister's body. Soon, they rolled into the parking area of the Bat Cave, and slowly got off with their hands in the air as all the bats in the Batcave stood with their weapons drawn, their masks covered, their eyes glaring the pair.

As Mariam dismounted the bike, she pushed Damian forward and said in a clear voice, her eyes contacting Batman's White lenses. “This is Damian Al-Ghul Wayne. Son of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al-Ghul.”

All the people in the bat cave sucked a deep breath in. Their shock clear even through their masks.

“He means no harm.” Mariam continued. “This is the first chance we have got to free him from the league. He has no blood on his hands. Me and Talia wish that you'll protect your son.”

“What does this mean?” Damian said, turning around. His sister was crying. Tears pouring down her cheeks. “YOU HAVE TO STAY! YOU CAN'T LEAVE! I WON'T LET YOU!” He rushed towards her and grabbed her in a tight embrace.

“I'm sorry, Damian.” Mariam said, gently patting his head. Hugging him a bit tighter before pushing him away leaving two letters in his hand. “I'll come visit, so don't you worry. Everything will be fine.” She whispered in his hair.

“NO! IT WON'T BE FINE BECAUSE YOU WON'T BE THERE.” Damian said, his eyes flooded with tears.

Mariam just gave him a sad smile And jumped back on the bike, riding away.

Damian’s knees gave out as he kneeled on the rough surface of batcave’s parking lot. He could hear the movement of the resident bats. He could feel Batman, his father, picking him up and holding him close. But that did nothing to change the fact that his sister was gone. Leaving two letters in her wake, enclosed in a pretty envelope which had a couple of flowers printed on it. A sorry replacement for her calming presence.

He just stayed there in Batma-no-Father's embrace.

A soft voice murmured close to his ear. His father's voice. “Damian, do you mind if we do a DNA test?”

“No.” Bruce's heart broke a bit hearing the boy’s sad tone. Even if the DNA results didn't show him to be his son, he was gonna adopt this kid.

Tim came slowly near the pair. Damian saw him and the tweezer in his hand. He reached up and plugged a couple of hairs out of his head and handed it to him.

“Your DNA is already coded in, isn't it Bruce?” Tim asked as he carefully handled the.

“Yes.” Bruce replied, standing up with Damian still in his arms handing the long hair of the girl to Tim, which had stuck to Damian’s clothes, and walking towards the chair in front of the bat computer.

He sat down and gently patted Damian's head. “Uhh-Damian?”

“Yes?” He said, wiping his eyes with his long sleeves. Looked like he was getting a grip on himself.

Good. Bruce thought. It's a lot easier to talk to a sniffling kid than a sobbing kid.

“Do you mind me asking some questions?”

“No.”

“Who was that girl?”

“She was my sister.”

“As in–”

“Yes, your daughter.”

Bruce sucked, another deep breath in. Damn. Was today the day when everyone tried to reveal their biological connections to him? He has two kids! Well, he already had three other kids, but two biological kids? Whose lives he had missed.

Apparently due to the long time that Bruce spent thinking appeared to Damian as a clear rejection of him and his sister as sobs again started, shaking his body.

What am I supposed to do? Bruce thought, panic seeping into his mind.

“Do you wanna read the letter she left?” Bruce said instantly regretting it. Great going, Bruce. Let us emphasize the fact that his sister is gone. Bruce sighed. Well, there is No going back now. The only saving grace was that the kid was actually happy to read her letters.

“Maybe she has left us a clue there.” He said trying to open the letters without damaging the envelopes. The first envelope Had Damian’s name on it and the second had Talia’s.

“We will open mother’s If none of them come and visit in a week.” Damian said, keeping Talia’s aside and opening his own. Bruce shifted a bit to get a better view. And soon both father and son were reading the letter written in a bit loopy handwriting.

So here they were. All standing around THE phone. As it charged. The guilty phone which Bruce had put away in order to ‘Not give into the temptation to get Isabella, his own kid back’ as so kindly put up by Jason.

“It's an old model.” Tim said. “If it had been a new one? We could have simply replaced the battery with a charged one and it would have been up and running in no time. But since this is one of those God forsaken ancient types—”

“It's only 8 years old Tim.” Bruce said.

“Exactly my point! These were the ones that were used before–” Tim was interrupted by Jason. “Yeah, yeah, we know, Timbers. The point is, how long is this thing gonna take?”

“You guys have absolutely no patience.” Barbara said, shaking her head. “Who knows how you stay still during Recon missions.”

“I think the screen is turning on.” Dick said, eager to stop the bickering.

“Ookkkayyyy, Just gotta make this thing respond in order to open the voice mails. But seriously, don't you guys see it? The reacting speed is so slow!!” Tim said, his eyes roaming over the screen.

But despite Tim’s views, the ‘thing’ opened up soon enough. There were 76 voicemails left, one by someone else and the remaining 75 by Marinette.

“Well?” Fei said. “Let's start them up. Oldest to newest.”

“Got it.” Tim said.

And soon enough Marinette's. Or more accurately, young Marinette’s. Voice came out of the speakers.

Voicemail 1- “Hey, Dad… You didn't pick up, so I guess you're busy? I got off the flight without any hitch and Tom and Sabine seem nice. I'll call you later, I suppose.”

Voicemail 2- “Dad. Hello, are you stuck in a meeting or what? Wait, that is impossible. It's 8:00 PM there. Just…just Call me back when you can.”

Voicemail 3- “Dad respond. Please.”

Voicemail 4- “Come on, Dad. Pick up, pick up, pick up, pick up, PICK UP.”

Voicemail 5- ”You're scaring me, Dad.”

Voicemail 6- “Hey, Bruce. It's Hal. There is a meeting scheduled for 3:00 PM today. Diana has me stuck on calling duty so, don't forget to come.”

Voicemail 7- “Dad, is your phone broken? Is that it? I suppose it won't work then. Are you on a League mission? Dad, you gotta answer the phone!”

Voicemail 8- “I tried calling Dick, Clark and Diana. None of them are picking up. And I'm almost sure these aren't their numbers. Dad. Answer the phone.”

“Please stop it.” Bruce said. He was clearly trying not to cry And Selena was rubbing soothing circles into his back. “I can't take it. Please just-t don't.”

“OK, B.” Barbara said scrolling through the voicemails. “Most of them have similar durations, And they are all around the same time So I think they are all similar.”

The only thing going through everybody's mind was- She was disheartened. She was losing it. Around 50 voicemails were left that way. And then clearly, Marinette got the message. If Her calls weren't gonna go through. She might as well stop calling.

But then the Call log showed that the calls picked up again. Around two years back.

“OK, I gotta start up from here because technically there is no reason other than her calling for help when the akumas started.” Barbara said, her eyes searching in the duration of the calls. They didn't match up with the previous ones. They were more lengthy compared to the duration that the other calls had gotten into slowly as time went on.

“Starting up from Voicemail #52.” She announced as she hit the play button again.

Voicemail 52- “DAD, Dad, there's a super villain in Paris. Please just look into it. I-I DON'T THI-INK I CA-AN---” The voice was anxious. Enough to get all of the batclan set on edge. But then the call abruptly ended.

Voicemail 53- “Dad-BA I CAN'T BE A HERO. I CAN'T BE THIS LADYBUG. This is a mistake. JUST GET ME OUT OF HERE, please.”

Voicemail 54- “Dad, are you even there? Look, I'm sorry for anything I might have done. Just please, I can't do this. Don't make me do this. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm SORRY.”

Voicemail 55- “PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE.”

Voicemail 56- “Please respond.”

Voicemail 57- “DAD!”

Voicemail 58- “Dad, pick up, pick up, PICK UP. PLEASE, please, please, please. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for anything wrong I did just elp me.”

Voicemail 59- “DAD, I CAN BRING BACK PEOPLE TO LIFE AND I'M NOT READY FOR THIS HEROING. Please. This gives me changes Jaso- no, just no.” Her breath was hitching up.

Voicemail 60- “Dad, get me OUTTA here.” This time, she was sobbing.

Voicemail 61- “OK, OK.” They heard the sound of her pulling a deep breath in. “Let's do this rationally. There is a super villain in Paris called Hawkmoth. He basically mind controls people and can give them magical powers through butterflies. And yes, this is real, not some JOKE.” There was venom in her voice. “The only people capable of fighting him are apparently me and Chat Noir. This is a humble request. Please do something. The Justice League calls won't go through.”

Voicemail 62- “Dad. Please.” She sounded defeated.

Voicemail 63- “Dad, I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS.”

There was pin drop silence in the room. But the voicemails didn't stop with that. They continued, although there was a certain icyness in Marinette's voice whenever she called.

Voicemail 64- “Hey, Dad. Free enough to Help me?”

Voicemail 65- “You know a funny thing happened today. There was this attack Akumas name was Syrena. She had the power to FLOOD entire streets. THE WHOLE CITY DROWNED.” Her voice had a tinge of hysteria now. “I had to SWIM PAST Tom and Sabine's bodies to fight that damned thing. But you know what? This is a damned good emotional exercise. Swim past your dead guardians' bodies into a fight, knowing, that millions of people's lives depend on you. And your partner decides that it is a fine time to throw an emotional tantrum LIKE A BABY. The guy who is supposed to be in charge doesn't know SHIT. You have to do HIS JOB FOR HIM. Your father is too busy to help you out. Believing that ignorance is bliss. You can't even feel anything because if you do because a guy with nothing better to do with his life is gonna send a butterfly out of you. And if, God forbid, I fail, THE WHOLE WORLD IS GONNA GET REWRITTEN.” She drew a deep breath in. “Yeah. What a wonderful experience.” Sarcasm was dripping in her voice.

Voicemail 66- There was static in the background. “Yeah, these calls aren't going to go through.”

Voicemail 67- “Look once and for all, just for official record, I suppose. These calls aren't going through. It's been a year since the Akumas started appearing. So for the last time. Goodbye and thank you for the birthday gift. I didn't want to stupid expensive watch. I wanted MY FATHER. But I guess I don't get to be picky.”

Notes:

So just to make things clear. Originally the name was Isabella Wayne. But then she shifted to Paris it became Marinette Dupain Cheng. Now later in the series, it's gonna be Marinette Isabella Luscinia-Wayne.

Also to keep in mind that Gamora is not anyone real in this series. It's just an illusion of a person Marinette made in order to like, not entrust her guardianship with anybody because frankly, she has had enough of douchebag parents. Even more than you think, but that is a spoiler. Uncle J, or Jagged as she had told Damien, forced her because he knew that MDC didn't have a PA cause Marinette was MDC, and she didn't have a PA.

People have been confusing it with that. Also the storyline is that Bruce sent her away when she was around 7-8ish Years old. He didn't contact her because, as I said in the story, He felt that if he heard her voice telling him that, “Let me come home, Dad.” He wouldn't be able to resist himself. Because he sent her away as he didn't want the same thing that happened to Jason to happen to her. You know, in sort of a sick way to protect her. I mean, he's a batman. If he's not emotionally constipated, then what is he? Anyway, I hope you are enjoying this and thank you for all those who have left lovely comments and kudos. It really helps me keep up with the writing spree.

Lady Miracle stared at him, waiting, watching as after a moment, his chest rose. Pained rattling breaths shook his body with the effort it took to make them and his face twisted in pain. It was physical, she could see that in the way his body reacted, but the way his face fell and the sob that left him, she knew he was feeling everything.

But he was still alive.

Movement out of the corner of her eye drew her out of her appraisal of the Agreste patriarch and she saw that it was Duusu and Nooroo. Lady Miracle wondered what it was like for the two Concepts to finally see the man that had used their magic to hurt millions of people being punished after seven long years. To finally re-join their fellow Kwami after a hundred years of being ‘lost’.

They watched every move Agreste made, every twitch and shudder and relished every broken sob and scream of agony that had left him and was still escaping his lips. They were waiting for her, and the realisation gave her an idea.

“detransform.”

Destransforming herself, Tikki appeared in a small ball of light in front of her, hovering almost protectively she glared down at the man who had abused two of her brethren as her aura joined Nooroo, Duusu and Plagg’s as they reunited without words.

Marinette closed her eyes, reaching within her she summoned each of the Kwami and they appeared, one by one, in glowing balls of power and light, their aura’s joining the others and filling the dome as they stared down at Gabriel Agreste with predator-like focus as he whimpered.

Not a single one of the nineteen Kwami moved. But their auras fluctuated and pulsed as they tried to reign in their anger as magic, ancient, dark and dangerous danced through the air, causing Marinette’s hair to stand up and she struggled to not shudder at the feel of overwhelming power.

“Curse him as much as you desire.”

Marinette turned and walked towards the edge of the dome, making a portal as the Kwami stilled. The tension in the observatory snapped with an explosion and she stepped through the portal as screams and other sounds were drawn from Paris’ infamous terrorist. If his screams under her curse were bad, they were nothing compared to that.

Closing the portal behind her, the noise stopped immediately and all that was left was the silence.

It was like a plug was pulled, and all energy she had drained out of her. She couldn’t believe it. It didn’t seem real. After years of battles, struggles, emotional repression and abuse were over.

“We did it.” Marinette whispered in shock, letting her spoken words shift the weight off her shoulders and felt immediately lighter.

For the first time since she picked up the Miraculous of Creation and Fortune, swearing to free Paris from Shadow Moth, Marinette felt free. 

“We won.”

Court Proceedings

“Uhh, B” Tim walked down into the Batcave. “You’re going to want to see this.” he went to the Batcomputer, typed something in, and brought up news coverage of a court case.

The second Bruce read the title his face darkened he said, “call everyone down.”

—

“All rise. Department One of the Supreme Court of Appeals is now in session. Please be seated.”

As everyone in the court took their places, the Judge began to present the case. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Calling the case of the People of Paris, France versus Gabriel Agreste, previously known as ShadowMoth. Are both sides ready?”

“Ready for the People, Your Honor.”

“Ready for the Defence Your Honor”

“Lady Miracle?”

“I’m ready,” the Defender nodded her head. As she walked to the podium, Lady Miracle looked around the courtroom. The case was to be heard in the Palais de Justice. The room looked too clean for the dirty truths that were about to be revealed. Making her walk to the stand painfully short.

She wasn’t the only one asked to testify against Gabriel. Some of the most deadly Akuma victims and the most frequent victims were also present: Ondine, Mr. Ramier, August, who had just turned 2 years old the previous month, etc. Other reporters who had seen multiple battles also stood witness.

They filled the pews of the courtroom and in the back stood the other reporter with their cameras. The cameras that would broadcast the court case to the entire world. Where everyone would know of what went down in Paris. The mayor of Paris and the President of France both agreed to keep the Akuma attacks hidden from the rest of the world. The last thing Paris needed was for the Justice League to come in and mess up what fragile structure they had built. Heaven knows what would've happened if Superman or Batman had come and been akumatized. So instead they blocked the media and moved the JLE headquarters out of Paris to Marseilles.

Once Lady Miracle made it to the podium the Clerk came up to swear her in. “Please stand. Raise your right hand. Do you promise that the testimony you shall give in the case before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

Does it count that the ‘Gods’ already loved her? I mean the kwamis are gods so…?

“I do”

“Please state your name and occupation for the record.”

She gave the clerk a deadpan look because everybody knew who she was and exactly why she was there. But she answered anyway.

“Lady Miracle, Hero, and protector of Paris, France.”

“Thank you. We will now begin the questioning.” As madam walked up to begin questioning, the rest of the world was able to see Lady Miracle for the first time in all of her glory.

She was asked basic questions about the fights, etc.

She ended her testimony by saying- 

“I judged and punished Gabriel according to the laws of the miraculous order and then proceeded to turn him into the authorities so that he may also face judgment in the courts of Paris.” Lady Miracle said her face was hard and showed no emotion. For a while no one spoke, everyone was too busy processing what they had heard.

“Thank you, Lady Miracle” the Judge spoke, finally breaking the silence.

“Am I done?” She asked.

“Yes, unless the Defender has any more questions to ask?”

“None, Your Honor.”

“Then that is all, Lady Miracle. Thank you for your time.”

Lady Miracle stood and made it back to her seat.

“Next,” the judge continued, “ we will hear the testimony of Gabriel Agreste.”

.............

“And what about Marinette?”

“Who?” Gabriel glared at the person who asked him the question.

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She was the only person in the Akuma class, besides your son, that you never akumatized.”

“Oh, her,” Gabriel spat, “trust me, my friend, it wasn’t from lack of trying. Marinette Dupain-Cheng was an absolute menace for me. Despite not having powers like that pesky bug and cat she still managed to foil my plans. I tried everything I could to akumatize Marinette. I blacklisted her from multiple fashion houses, hired crooks to scare her and steal, had her fashion website taken down for ‘plagiarism’, I even went as far to make a deal with one of her classmates to make her school life a living hell.” he sneered, “Yet for some reason, that pesky brat managed to contain her emotions enough so my Akuma’s couldn’t possess her.”

“And you’re just going to admit to that?”

“Of course.” he said matter of factly, “My fate has already been sealed. There’s no point keeping any more skeletons in the closet. Marinette Dupain-Cheng was going to be my masterpiece. If I was able to akumatize her I could have gotten Lady Miracle and Chat Noir’s miraculous and I could have—” he was cut off by a series of bubbles escaping from his mouth.

“What was that?” The person off-screen asked horrified.

“That was the annoying curse that—” more bubbles “was placed on me so I don’t reveal too much about the miraculous. Regardless, Mme. Dupain-Cheng remained obnoxiously optimistic for the past six years, or she just blocked off any emotion that I could have manipulated.” Gabriel rolled his eyes.

“O..kay, on to the next question.”

Gabriel Agreste had a week-long court trial that started a week after his revelation. While the length and speed at which the trial began and finished was abnormal, Paris had wanted justice to be served as soon as possible after years of trauma. It was televised throughout France and everyone in the country watched it, many businesses and schools showing it on screen. Compiled by her and handed over to the group of lawyers prosecuting Agreste, it had been easy for Marinette to label everything nicely and put it in a folder to hand over. She already had a portfolio on the man, both Shadow Moth and Gabriel, all she needed to do was add what she had found at Agreste Manor when Ladybug was cursing Gabriel.

Some of the evidence included bribes that had been made too, and accepted by board members of Collège Françoise Dupont. Many staff members had also been bribed, the most notable being Principal Damocles, to ensure the Akuma Class stayed together. Phone calls and text messages between Gabriel Agreste and Nathalie Sancoeur, as well as between Gabriel Agreste and Lila Rossi, about akumatisation plans and Scarlet Swarm ideas. They dated from the day his identity was discovered back to the first Scarlet Swarm years earlier which included conversations about Nathalie being Mayura.

The calls and text messages were backed up by video footage from Agreste Manor’s security system of the three as they brainstormed different powers that akumas could have in future and planned the next Scarlet Swarm. The prosecutors had akuma flight patterns that showed that Agreste Manor was the epicentre and the building remained unharmed during most of the attacks no matter the magnitude.

There were files Gabriel had made on each of the past heroes, labelled by their hero names, holding photographic evidence that he had had stalked them on multiple occasions after their reveal, despite the Temps being thirteen at the time. The only file that wasn’t labelled by their hero name was Marinette’s, and upon closer inspection it was revealed why.

The file had been made before and she was revealed to have been Princess Justice and later Queen Mean and was filled with plans on ways to akumatised her. It was the largest file out of all of them and it showed she had been stalked by the middle-aged man.

It was almost an obsession, his interest in getting her akumatised. On the plans that failed he had jotted little notes how to improve whatever traumatic or upsetting thing he made happen to her that had nearly caused her to become one of his akumas.

It was disturbing and more than a little numbing as Marinette listened and watched footage, read documents and learnt about how obsessed the middle-aged man who had terrorised her city had been with her for years.

It was unreal. God-like. Terrifying.

The Justice League was close to having a meltdown before Red Robin cut it off by showing another bit of footage. Dated one day after the Stoneheart incident, it was a press conference with Ladybug and Chat Noir as they explained what had happened.

Despite calling each other partners, Ladybug was the clear leader between the two. It was obvious with how she spoke and answered questions, how Chat Noir deferred to her, and how they stood, despite being side by side. Ladybug naturally drew people’s attention to herself as a leader did; exuding quiet confidence and strength.

By the end of the footage, Batman’s mind was whirling with the information he had just learned and all of the implications that it must have had for Paris.

The city had been under the control of a magical terrorist who could turn them into akumas for simply feeling a negative emotion. No matter a person’s age or gender, no matter if they were awake or asleep, they weren’t safe to feel anything.

It was horrifying. Not only for the victim, who didn’t have any control over their actions and had no memory of what they did, but for the people caught up in the attack.

Was Isa ever used like this? No, not the time.

They died, were injured and watched their loved ones be killed, only to come back and repeat the process the next time Hawkmoth made an akuma. They remembered everything and had to live with the aftermath as they tried to not feel anger, sadness, grief or anything they would have felt, for fear they would be turned into an akuma.

It was horrifying. And Nightwing, Red Hood had the same expression as him. Guilt, fear and fury.

Red Robin gave them very little time to process that information, cutting off many conversations amongst themselves as they tried to make sense of it all as he continued and they were forced to focus or get left behind.

The first six months seemed to be filled with Paris falling into its new normal of living with a magical terrorist that preyed off their emotions and getting to know and trust their heroes, but by the time winter became spring, the city had put their full support behind Ladybug and Chat Noir.

Watching the footage and reading the reports on the akuma battles as Red Robin split the screens so he could read off the Timeline page while they matched the akuma on the Akuma and Amok page, Batman became more certain that Ladybug was the leader.

Chat Noir constantly deferred to her during battles and she was the one that always developed the plan, using whatever object her magic gave her to her advantage in some of the most creative and tactically brilliant ways Batman had ever seen.

She also had a greater understanding and grasp on her weapon. Using the abilities of her yoyo to accomplish feats Batman was astonished to see a yoyo perform. She was also the better fighter, despite Chat Noir almost always being the offensive part of their duo.

When Red Robin made it to the seven-month mark, the Timeline marked it as the start of the Era of the Temporary Heroes.

It gave them all pause, and Batman agreed with The Flash as the metahuman hero muttered that calling something the first in situations like this normally wasn’t a good sign.

As they got further, he was proven correct.

Rena Rouge was foxed themed, her magic allowing her to cast illusions and she was the first temporary hero to be introduced. Carapace was only a month after her and was turtle themed, his magic meant he was able to cast an impenetrable shield while Queen Bee followed two weeks after, four weeks before the first Heroes Day.

Queen Bee was a disaster. She deliberately endangered hundreds of lives so she could save them to appear heroic, then revealed her identity for clout. Ladybug was openly livid at her fellow hero, but she paid little notice other than to fawn over her in hero-worship.

The Justice League viewed the clip in disbelief then tried to theorise how the hell Ladybug and Chat Noir could have not known that she had the capacity to do something like that. But, when Superman asked Red Robin if Queen Bee’s identity was known to the public, the younger hero said yes.

Queen Bee only fought in four battles, one of them being the Scarlet Swarm akuma battle on the first Heroes Day.

The footage from that battle had left the entire Justice League in stunned horrified silence. The casualties reached close to a million and destruction was city wide with the battle ending three hours later as Hawkmoth fled with the help of a previous unknown ally called Mayura.

Viperion was brought in less than a month after the Heroes Day Scarlet Swarm. The snake themed hero had the most interesting and dangerous magic Batman had seen of the Temps so far; being able to reset time back to a specific place was not something to take lightly.

King Monkey and Pegasus followed in quick succession and were monkey and horse themed respectively. The former could summon an object that affected the functioning of another’s powers while the latter could create portals to anywhere.

The last temporary hero was Ryuko, a dragon themed superheroine that could become one of three elements; water, wind or lightning and she appeared four months after Heroes Day.

Like Ladybug and Chat Noir, the temporary heroes all had enhanced physical abilities and senses but were lower in the hierarchy, deferring to Chat Noir when Ladybug wasn’t there.

Hawkmoth did the same as Mayura and her magic became a prominent feature in his attacks, creating sentimonsters to help his akumas.

He hated magic.

Ladybug or as she now went by as Lady Miracle continued to train.

It was astounding how much respect the people had for her.

The Ladyblog was all the evidence the Timeline gave despite the vague accusation, and it was all the Justice League needed to prove that fact. The last thing that happened between the press conference and the attack on the First Wave was the increase in the support behind the ship “Ladynoir” as the cat themed hero stepped up his flirting and became more vocal in his declarations of love, especially in front of people and cameras.

Each time he did so, Ladybug turned him down, telling him that she was a professional and did not date colleagues or she cut him off as he told reporters that they were dating and set the record straight.

Batman wished people in the Justice League, himself and his clan included, followed that same principal. The way Chat Noir’s flirting was put in the Timeline had alarm bells ringing in Batman’s head, especially since it was accompanied by percentages of how it had increased. While it could be a closely followed love story between two heroes for someone to see how it progressed, the tone suggested otherwise.

When Shadow Moth did attack, the battle was marked on the Timeline. Ladybug was impaled and pinned to the ground and Chat Noir was nowhere on scene.

The made it's way towards the hero when Ladybug kicked it square in the face and sent it flying back.