The old class gathered around the TV at Alya's new apartment. It was Christmas time and they were all eager to watch 'Jagged Stone's Charity Extravaganza!!!' To their surprise, it wasn't hosted in Paris this year; it was hosted in Gotham. It was rumored that Bruce Wayne and his family and co-founded the event.
The class cheered loudly as Jagged Stone and Bruce Wayne walked out on stage.
"Welcome to our Holiday Extravaganza!" Jagged Stone cried out, "Any donations today will be sent to orphanages. Thank you to everyone who brought clothes and toys to the boxes in the front."
"Thank you, all, for attending or streaming this charity event." Bruce continued, "To those of you confused streamers, anyone who was able to purchase a ticket, we let them know there would be donation boxes if they would like to contribute that way, instead of with money."
"That's such a good idea!" Nino commented.
"I thought of it." Lila immediately, declared, "I just thought that some teens could donate their old shirts or toys they don't play with anymore."
"That's such a good idea!" Mylene cried out, "We could do that around gardens. People could throw their banana peels, egg shells, all their composite waste and it could be used as fertilizer to help the gardens!"
"I'm glad I could help." Lila smiled, tightly.
'The only thing that would end up in there is trash.'
"To kick start off the event, " Bruce began, and on cue a spotlight shown on a giant wrapped present.
The number immediatley began to flicker until it reached $2 million.
"The Wayne family donation!" Bruce announced.
Everyone began to cheer.
"How generous!" Jagged smiled, clapping him on the back, "Now, I do want to let everyone know that there is a lottery, no matter how big of a donation, or small. Anyone in the world can donate! The prize is a custom design, of our choice, from my personal designer. The winner and my deisgner, will be filmed on the design and the progress. The reveal itself will be an exclusive on DVD."
They watched as the donations began to roll in.
"We should all donate $20, as a chance to win." Alya suggested.
"Well, I already know Jagged and the designer, so that feels like cheating." Lila spoke up, "I handed him money, in person, the last time I saw him. He said he would add it to his own donation."
"How generous of you, Lila." Kim smiled.
They quickly found out that the Extravaganza was more like a Battle of the Bands. Many bands, some local, and not were performing Christmas and holiday songs. Even Kitty Section was performing to their surprise.
"I canât believe they're there!" Nino whined.
"Ivan said he had a big event and I couldn't go, but I didn't know it was this." Mylene said in awe.
"I put in a good word for them." Lila declared.
She smiled and turned to Adrien, for approval, but saw him shake his head instead.
'How did I fuck that up? Does he know Jagged Stone? As long as he doesnât say anything, I'm fine.'
Jagged came back onstage and announced, "My designer is gonna be on film anyways, so I asked her to perform, as well. She has been my designer since she was thirteen. I had her make me an accessory and I loved her creativity, so much, she went on to deisgn covers and my rockin clothes."
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Adrien sit up.
'Does he know the deisgner?'
"Welcome my amazing designer!" he cried out.
"Adopted!" a voice called out.
"Adopted niece." he stated, rolling his eyes, "Amazing designer, MDC, or as you Gothamites may know her asâŠâŠ..Marinette Wayne!"
Their jaws dropped as Marinette walked out on stage in an elegant dress, with her hair in curls.
"Is that Mari? Like our Mari?"
"She looks the same."
"She's taller."
"Her hair grew out."
"Not the only thing that grew. Ow."
"Shut up, Kim."
"No, he is not actually my uncle." She declared, after hugging the rock star on stage, "I designed his Eiffel Tower sunglasses. His next big ask was his Rock Giant album cover, with the scratch and sniff sticker."
"That was all your genius." Jagged announced, "It was so amazing, we had a contract drawn up that day for her to be my personal designer."
"Besides, it would be too weird if I was your actual niece, since I dated Luka." she stated.
Luka just smiled and waved.
"Wait, Luka and Juleka are twins."
"So, he's Jagged Stone's daughter!"
"Do you think she could get me his autograph?"
Lila could feel the room tilt and her vision begin to tunnel. She glanced over at Adrien, who was smiling.
"Wait, Wayne? Marinette's married?"
"She said she knew Jagged Stone when she was thirteen."
"Do you think Luka introduced them?"
"He was still in love with her for a long time."
"I will be singing with my husband, Damian Wayne, while he plays violin." Mari announced.
A man walked out, who they couldn only assume was her husband. They could see him glare at Luka. Luka simply blew him a kiss.
"We'll be performing a classic: 'You're a Mean Once, Mr. Grinch' with back up on instruments." she continued.
Jagged gave her a quick hug and patted Damian on the shoulder.
"Can Marinette even sing?"
"I don't know?"
"How can you not know?"
"Yeah, you were so close before!"
You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch
You really are a heel
You're as cuddly as a cactus
As charming as an eel
Mr. Grinch
You're a bad banana with a greasy black peel
"She's amazing!"
"I didn't know she could sing! Did you?"
"No. She could have joined Kitty Section!"
"They're a rock band."
Lila sat rooted to the couch, frozen and panicking.
You're a monster, Mr. Grinch
Your heart's an empty hole
Your brain is full of spiders
You've got garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch
"Her husband is amazing!"
"He's so fast."
"And accurate."
"Graceful, the complete opposite of her."
"Do you think that's why she and Luka didn't work out?"
You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch (Mr. Grinch)
You have termites in your smile
You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile
Mr. Grinch
Now given the choice between the two of you, I'd take the
Seasick crocodile
Seasick crocodile
"Oh my god, she can really sing!"
"Look, it's Fang!"
"Awww, she said crocodile and Jagged's croc she called for him."
"I donât know how she isn't scared of it!"
"He's acting like a big puppy with her!"
Lila sprang to her feet.
"Lila?" spoke up Alix.
The words that best describe you are
Lila ran to the bathroom and they could all hear her throw up.
Stink, stank, stunk
Alya and Mylene rushed after her
No, no, no
"Are you okay, Lila?" Mylene asked.
"Were you already feeling like this?" Alya questioned, "You didn't have to force yourself to come. I tried to make sure to avoid the foods you canât eat."
Stink, stank, stunk
"Do you need a ride home?" Mylene asked.
"I don't want to ruin your party." Lila groaned.
"I can give ou a ride and come back." Mylene declared.
Oh-oh, Mr. Grinch
"That's fine." Alya smiled, "We planned for a long night anyways and the concerts not even half way over."
Mr. Grinch
Lila simply nodded.
Alya came back to the living room to see that Marinette's song was already over. She was giving belly rubs to Fang.
"I'd like to thank everyone for watching and donating." Marinette smiled, "I will personally be donating $1 million, from my business, to the charity."
"Thank you, my dear." Jagged declared.
"I do want to let the audience know that the Wayne family are banned from participating in the prize, so even with their large donation, they still have to pay if they want clothes from her."
Jagged laughed as Damian and Marinette walked off stage, with Fang trailing after them.
"Yes!" Kim shouted, "No favortism!"
Alya turned at the sound of the door opening, "You're back already?"
'I didn't know Lila lived so close.'
"Lila had me drop her off at the store for medicane." Mylene responded, " She said her place was close by and didn't want to risk throwing up in the car."
"Then why do you look like someone announced they were going to tear down the park?" Alix questioned.
"I-I think she lied." Mylene mumbled.
"Huh?" Kim asked.
"Lila." Mylene spoke.
"Lied about what?" Nino asked, "We all heard her vomit."
"Everything!" Mylene shouted, surprising them, "I waited in the car, in case if she changed her mind and wanted a ride. She went in and came out, almost immediately, and got in another car."
"Maybe she called her boyfriend?" Alya suggested, "It sounds like she was being considerate to not throw up in your car."
"And Marinette?" Mylene pushed.
"Huh?" Kim spoke, "The song it over. It was short. It was over by the time you left."
"No!" Mylene declared, "Lila said she knew the designer and was close friends with her; that they were like sisters!"
"I-I fight with my sisters." Alya spoke up, confused, "I got the apartment so we weren't so confined."
"We all knew Mari." Mylene continued to argue, "She said Lila lied about knowing Jagged and she would have known, since she was designing for him."
"She didn't know about Luka or Juleka." Alix remarked.
"Yeah, but that's cause Luka didn't know until later." Kim spoke up.
"What?" Nino asked.
"Anarchy never told Luka or Juleka, who their dad was." Adrien spoke up, "He found out the same night that Mari broke up with him. He said 'One door closes, another opens'."
"Well, itâs not like we knew she designed for him." Nino tried to argue back.
"Yes, we did." the model countered, "She designed his glasses when we worked at Chloe's hotle for the day. She was his gopher. He's been to the bakery, loads of times, and even did a TV special there. I had her autograph his new cd covers, when they came out. I didnât know where she moved or I would have gone and asked her to sign the rest."
"You're agreeing, with her?" Alix asked, "You're saying you think Lila lied to us about knowing Jagged Stone?"
Adrien simply nodded.
"Why?" demanded the hostess.
"Cause she panicked." he answered.
"What?" asked Nino.
"You didn't see her face or how she tensed up when Marinette came on stage?" Adrien asked, "Lila never once mentioned Mari or her "fashion designer friend" once she was on stage. Last week, she said that she 'hoped Mari would find love and peace in her life. That she would 'pray for her soul so she would never bully anyone ever again'."
"She did?" Max questioned.
"Alya told Lila she 'hoped Mari got help with her anger issues'." Adrien countered.
Alya suddenly felt sick to her stomach.
"We could always call Juleka or Luka, anyone from Kitty Section, really, and ask Jagged Stone directly." Adrien declared, "You kno, if you don't believe me."
"But, if she lied about Jagged Stone and MDC, I mean Marinette, what else did she lie about?" Kim asked the hard question.
Max sighed, "She claimed they were like 'sisters', but she told us that Marinette bullied and hated her."
"We told Marinette she was a hurtful person." Mylene sniffed, "That being around her was painful."
Alya took a look around the room. Some of them were fixated on the stream, others were staring at their laps. She realized Adrien had known Lila was lying about Mari, at the very least. She recalled he tried to tell her and Nino, but they hadn't believed him. She took out her phone and immediately blocked Lila's number. Nino watched as she hovered over the button, before pressing it. He realized how far they had fallen and did the same. He sent out a text to the others that he and Alya had blocked Lila's number.
The others slowly lifted up their heads and stared at Alya. She had been Lila's biggest supporter and best friend, but they could only see the tear streaks on her face now. One by one, they followed suit an blocked someone they had trusted. They watched as Alya stared at her phone before typing something. On the screen appeared a new donation: it read-$20 from 'Sorry, Marinette. From Paris.'
"I hope she sees it." Nino whispered.
Alya took a deep breath, "Let's continue the concert. I'm not going to let her ruin the night. We also have to cheer on our friends."
Everyone nodded and put their phones away, before turning back to the screen.
Lila stared at her phone: Message Not Sent. She tried to apologize about the vomit, but her texts weren't going through. She tried over and over. Then she tried other people from the party; the answer was always the same.
Lila slammed her phone down and let out a bitter laugh. Marinette finally won; everyone turned against her and Marinette wasn't even there to see it.
'It's not like she will forgive them and be friends with them again. She's married to a rich guy. That bakery girl has the life I was supposed to and I'm stuck in Paris with no Adrien , no rich husband and now, no friends.'
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"Are you sure it's okay to have a watch party here at your place, Alya?" Lila questioned.
"Are you kidding me?" Alya cried out, "It's not every day we get to see your boyfriend, Damian Wayne, on TV!"
"Did you really invite the old class?" Lila asked.
"It's like a mini reunion!" Alya giggled, "We still don't know where Marinette is, so she won't be here, if that's what you are worried about."
Lila remained silent. Marinette hadn't gone to high school with the rest of them. The class had asked her parents, but they just said she transferred elsewhere. There wasn't any reason to bring the baker's daughter into the mix that day. No one had seen her in years and as far as they knew, she never went home.
"I'm so glad we can watch it togther." Lila smiled, "I would have been there, but I have to fly with my mother to Italy tomorrow so I couldn't go."
Soon, everyone arrived. They got snacks and drinks, ready to watch the Wayne Christmas Gala on the TV.
Both Damian and Marinette stopped in front of the cameras for pictures.
"For those of you who don't kno the story behind Gotham's couple, it all started when Marinette Dupain-Cheng joined Wayne Enterprises at the age of eighteen." the announcer spoke, "At the age of twenty, she was running their fashion department and that is when Damian met her. Damian Wayne has stated in several interviews how he was , at first, determined to close down the department. That desire is wheat led him to meet her. We have learned that she did not cater to the Wayne ego and told him to leave her alone. Over time, Damian kept a watchful eye on her and even went as far as accusing her of seducing him. When he confronted her, months later, she punched him and quit. Bruce and Timothy Drake-Wayne begged her to stay, even attempting to raise her commission price to $200,000 for every design her completed."
The room was silent as they listened to the couple's tale.
"In the end, Marinette only desired Damian to apologize." the announcer laughed, "Our local Ice Prince then confessed he had found her attractive and distracting. It has been five years since that fated day when they started going out."
Across the screen showed pictures of the out on dates, walking in the park, eating at resturants; both cute and fancy.
"Just last month, Damian Wayne proposed." the announcer spoke, "Let's see if we can get a word in. Mr. Wayne, Miss Dupain-Cheng, there's a question viewers are dying to know."
"Maybe, we can answer." Marinette replied.
"Aside from her beauty, what drew you to dating Miss Dupain-Cheng?" they questioned.
Marinette covered her mouth, but the audio picked up a slight snort.
Damian blushed, "I was raised by my mother who taught me women were meant to be valued by thir strength, not their appearance. Marinette showed me how strong she was; that day I asked her out after she punched me in the face. Marinette is kind, smart, strong, a leader, and confident. I couldn't imagine anyone else by my side."
"Thank you for you answer, Mr. Wayne." the announced replied, shcoked, letting them walk off, "Well, there you have it folks. Out Ice Prince was dethawed by some heated words and a heated punch by Gotham's very own Sunshine!"
The TV cut to commercial and all hell broke loose.
"Lila, what the hell was that?"
"Didn't you say you were dating Damian Wayne?"
"Yeah!"
"Why is he with Marinette?"
"Why is he engaged to Marinette?"
"Are you 100% positive that you're dating Damian Wayne?"
"You think she's lying?"
"I just want to make sure before we blast Damian Wayne online as a cheater!"
"He cheated on Lila and deceived Marinette! The media is saying he's been with Mari for five years! Lila said they've been together for two years!"
"Do you have any pictures? We can use that as proof!"
"Knowing Marinette, she may just say that you're 'lying again'. She wouldn't believe you!"
Lila gulped, "I-I was lied to."
"Huh?" questioned Nino.
"The person I was dating said he was Damian Wayne, but he doesn't look like the guy on TV. I was too speechless when he came out on the screen to say anything. I'm sorry for the confusion." Lila admitted.
"Well, you better call him and tell him you just saw the Wayne Gala and know he isn't the real Damian Wayne!" shouted Alix.
"Wow! I can't believe that Marinette has been in Gotham!" spoke Nathaniel.
"Are your kidding? She's engaged to one of the world's billionares and is and is a fashion director for their company!" Kim exclaimed, "I wonder when she is coming back."
"Why would she come back here?" Adrien questioned, "Paris may be the fashion capital, but why would you lose a really good job like that?"
"Marinette's about to become Mrs. Wayne!" Rose cried out, excited.
Lila stood up, suddenly.
"Hey, are you okay?" Alya asked.
Lila had tears in her eyes, "I-I need to make a call."
"Do you need one of us to go with you?" Mylene asked out of concern.
Lila just shook her head.
Lila left the room, sobbing. After all she had done, Marinette had still won. Marinette had moved on. The baker's daughter had left the losers behind and rose the ranks to glory. She was on the verge of being fired from Gabriel. Adrien wasn't dating her, still, and was dating some other model from Shanghai. She was positive that Marinette hadn't thought of her in years. She had ruined her own life by turning Marinette against her. She had turned the person who would be the richest into her enemy and she knew she would never get a chance to have the life she desired.
They should have expected it; Marinette had warned them it could happen, but while they were on a trip with Gotham Academy, the classes had been taken hostage by the Joker. Many people were able to escape and with Marinette's quick thinking and Damian's specialized training, the classes had been able to slip out the side doors.
When they heard the Joker begin to shout at his goons for letting everyoen escape, they quickly made their way up to the roof. It was easy to tell by the paint buckets, ladders, yellow chutes, and scaffolding that construction was being done to the roof. Marinette eased her way to the roof edge and looked over the side. The chute went all the way down to the ground. They could use it as a slide, but they would have to take turns. Who knows if it would be able to hold both of their combined weights. If all else failed, she would have to reveal her identity and get them both to safety. Damian moved to her side and seemed to be looking at the scaffolding at the rooftop.
Both heard the rooftop door swing open, loudly. Marinette looked over at Damian; she couldn't let him be hurt. After being Ladybug for so long, there was no way she was going to let her new frined get hurt. She grabbed Damian's hand and eased them towards the chute. Once they made their way in front of it, she put her plan into action.
"I'm sorry." Marinette whispered.
"What?" Damian whispered, confused.
Marinette quickly grabbed his collar and pulled him into a deep kiss. Damian wasn't sure what to think. He had met Marinette earlier in the week. The next thing he knew, he was pushed down the construction chute. It wasn't until he heard the gunshot overhead and a splatter of blood fell on his face, did he realize what happened.
Red Hood instantly grabbed onto Damian.
"No!" Damian shouted, "I have to go back!" fighting to get free.
"You're bleeding." Hood hissed.
"It's not mine!" the young Wayne shouted, "He shot her; she saved me!"
Red Hood couldn't believe what he was seeing. Damian was frantic in trying to get away to save a civilian.
"Look, we need to get you away from here." Hood explained, "Change and come back. You can still save her."
Red Hood and Damian rushed away from the building, only for it to explode. Glass rained down from the building as it began to go up in flames.
"NO!" Damian shouted, trying to rush back.
'Fuck!'
Hood quickly grabbed onto the young Robin from making a mistake. He held him around his chest and kept him against his frame. Off to the side, a portal opened up and spit out a girl with a high ponytail, dressed in red and white. They stilled as the red faded away and revealed Marinette. Her clothes were dirty and torn. There was blood on her head and some seeping through her clothes, on her arm.
"Marinette!" Damian cried, breaking free.
A red bug and small horse floated above the girl's small frame. They seemed hesitant on allowing them near her.
"It's okay." Red Hood spoke, "We protect Gotham."
The bug turned her eyes to Damian as he looked over her charge.
"Yes. Him, too." Hood stated.
She had seen how her master protected him and kept him safe. Two heroes stuck in civilian form, trying to save the other. How ironic.
"What about our girl?" the horse spoke.
"She's only knocked out." Damian sighed, picking her up.
"Give her to me." declared Batman, arriving on the scene, "Nightwing and Red Robin, look for alternate escape routes. The fire department is on their way. We'll look over the damage once they are finished, but I doubt he's in there. Oracle, I want green lights all the way to the hospital. Red Hood, you're with me."
Damian gently set her in his father's arms. Batman had never heard his son so panicked and distraught, over the comms. He would make sure she was well taken care of. A hero deserved only the best and it seemed they would have a lot to talk about once she woke up. She looked about his son's age and as far as he knew, Paris had no heroes.
"Damian," Batman spoke, "let's get you looked at."
"I'm fine." he declared, his eyes never leaving the girl's still frame, "She needs to be taken care of, immediately."
"She will be." Batman spoke, as they made their way to the media circus.
"Is there anything I can do?" Damian asked the floating creatures.
"Take her earring." the red one spoke.
"The glasses, too." the horse one declared.
Damian pocketed the frames into his jacket and pierced the earrings into his lobes.
"I could have just made them clip-ons." the red one stated, hovering close to his ears, making the bleeding stop.
"No matter." the young Wayne answered, as the continued their walk.
All of Gotham and the visiting class of Paris watched as Batman carried Marinette towards them. She was bleeding and her clothes were torn, burned and covered in what they could only assume was dirt and blood. Everyone held their breath, unsure of her fate.
"I need a stretcher." he demanded, making everyone sigh in relief.
"Kid, you need to come with me." another paramedic spoke to Damian, attempting to guide him to another ambulence.
Damian slapped his arm away.
"Mr. Wayne-" the paramedic began.
"I will be seen at the hospital, but I am riding with her." Damian declared.
"Sir." the paramedic continued.
"She braved The Joker and made sure I escaped. The least I can do is repay the gesture and make sure she is treated well." the Wayne heir spoke, shocking everyone.
That petite girl had saved Bruce Wayne's son and helped him to escape. It was no wonder he wanted to make sure she was treated with only the best. Sure, he was dirty, a little bruised, and had tears in his clothes, but they could tell she kept him safe. Batman nodded to the paramedic and they stepped aside, allowing Damian into the same ambulence as Marinette.
Damian Wayne sat in a chair next to Marinette's bedside, holding her hand. Tikki, as he learned, was nestled next to her under the blanket and Kalki, had decided to remain at the manor. She loved the manor and he was told, Alfred was happily giving her sugar cubes to eat.
Marinette blinked her eyes awake and looked around. Damian was by her side, head on the bed, holding her hand. Hesitantly, she squeezed his hand. His head quickly shot up and he looked right at her. Before she could blink, she felt his lips on hers.
"You scared me, Angel." Damian whispered.
"Angel?" Mari questioned.
"You did save my life." he answered.
He could see the moment panic set in. She slowly reached up to her ears. He took her hand and kissed it, gently.
"I have them." the young Wayne spoke, turning his head so she could see he was wearing earrings, "Tikki is cuddled into your waist. She hasn't left your side; don't worry. Kalki is at my home, eating sugar. Right now, you need to rest and then we'll talk about you throwing your life away to save mine."
Marinette teared up and nodded, as she was lightly scolded.
"I do have to ask, why kiss me?" the Wayne heir questioned.
Mari blushed, "You've been nice to me this whole trip." still looking away.
Damian tilted her face to look at him and got closer, "What else?" he pushed.
"I thought I was going to die. I figured I should at least kiss someone once in my life and you're my friend." she answered, honestly.
Damian leaned in and pressed his lips to hers again.
"Then, I'll keep kissing you so you remember to live on." he answered.
Marinette blushed, "I-I'd li-like that." and yawned.
Damian chuckled and eased back into his seat, "Rest. You need to get your strength back."
Almost instantly, Marinette had fallen back to sleep, this time with a smile on her face. Damian pulled out his phone and quickly called his father.
"She woke up for a few minutes, but she fell back to sleep." he stated.
He could hear his family sigh in relief.
"Thank you, Damian." Bruce spoke, "We'll notify her family. Keep us updated."
"I'm not going anywhere." he declared, hanging up the call.
"Marinette, is it true?" shouted Rose.
"Is what true?" Marinette yawned.
Rose showed Marinette her phone. Trending was #Daminette, #fairytaleromance #heroineofgotham. She clicked on the link and was taken to a video of the press hounding Damian Wayne.
"Is it true you are dating your rescuer?" someone shouted.
Damian Wayne stopped and looked at the cameras.
"I grew up with a strong female role model; a warrior for a mother. She taught me to never be weak. Weakness wasn't just about fear or feelings, it was about staying strong for others who may need you. Marinette isn't weak and I plan on reminding her of what she's worth, even if it takes the rest of our lives to do so." Damian Wayne declared, before walking away.
"Yes." Marinette blushed, "I woke up in a hospital room and he was already there. When I woke up, he kissed me and called me Angel."
"Awwww." the girls cooed.
"It was so scary to find out if you were okay." spoke Alix.
"Yeah." Kim declared, "We had to wait until Bustier told us anything and I think she had to hear from your parents."
"Damian stayed with me the whole time and he would give Bruce updates." Marinette answered, "Then, Bruce would call my parents and let them know."
"Bruce, huh?" Alya teased, "Getting close to your father-in-law already?"
Marinette blushed, "It's barely been a month!"
"Dudette, Wayne boy is saying forever already." Nino snickered
"What about you being a hero?" Ivan asked, changing the subject.
"I don't think I'm a hero." she smiled.
Adrien looked over Marinette from his seat. She still walked a bit slower then everyone, she had some bandages wrapped around her arms, and one in a sling. He knew better than anyone in that room that Marinette was a hero. Multimouse had been the best person they ever had on the team. She had braved a villain without a miraculous! She almost died to save someone else. He could have lost his best friend and there was no cure in Gotham. Adrien stood up, walked over to Mari, and hugged her as tight as he could, without injuring her further.
