Mai Quev

"Welcome back to 'The Mystery Box'." Marinette declared, "I'm Ladybug."

"Robin." Damian stated.

"Now, last week we were going over The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Afterwards, there was a list of recommended books posted.

1.)The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni

2.)The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

3.)Bullet Train and 4.)Three Assassins, both written by Kotaro Isaka and translated by Sam Malissa

5.)The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

And for the more adventurous, 6.)Helter Skelter: the True Story of the Mason Murders by Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry

You were also free to recommend your own favorite tastes for mysteries and crime. Today, we have special case in 'The Mystery Box' and I have a feeling everyone will like this one." she smiled.

Robin sighed, "That's what I'm afraid of."

"We know that many people have already left or are heading home for the holidays." Ladybug began, "So we thought of something-"

Robin sneered, "You thought of something."

"Don't get your feather's in a twist, Bird Boy." Ladybug cooed, "We wanted something everyone could enjoy; no matter how far. Today the mystery is: Ladybug and Robin! You are allowed to send in your questions, but if we feel something is too personal or close to giving away who we are, the question will be thrown out."

"Let the questions flow in." Robin commented.

Question one: Is there anyone you don't want to see during the holidays? There's always that one family member.

Ladybug smiled, "From the comments, I can see that lots of people agree with you; whether an uncle or aunt, a parent or a sibling. I'm afraid there's no one in my family I want to avoid, but there are old friends who turned out to be assholes. Those people I could go without."

"My family." Robin stated, "There was a reason I moved out, but I'm expected to be home because of my grandfather. I'm....excited to see my pets, though."

Question two: Are you going home for the holidays?

"Unfortunately." Robin sighed, "The show will be on hold until the break is over."

"No." Ladybug spoke.

"You're staying?" Robin shouted, "Why is this the first I'm hearing it?"

"My parents will be out of the country." Ladybug replied, ignoring her partner, "A relative is sick and they're leaving soon to help I've been looking up single holiday recipes to try this year."

"Lucky." Robin pouted.

"Robin, you can't cook." Ladybug retorted, "You'd end up burning the school down."

Robin should stay!

Robin, don't leave us!

Robin, what are you making for dinner tonight?

Robin, I'll teach you how to cook!

We can go out to eat!

Shut up! Let the bad bird burn down the school!

Birb

"Should we be concerned how many people want you to burn the school down?" Marinette questioned.

"I assume it has to due with finals." Damian smirked, "Also, I'm not doing it. I don't want to move back. I like my dorm."

Boooooo!

No!

Stay with us!

I got a C-, okay!

I failed -_-'

I don't want to retake that stupid class next year!!!

Need the evidence gone!!!!

Ladybug giggled, "Well, I can certainly say, it's no mystery how much our followers have faith in your cooking skills."

"Ha-ha." Robin spoke, rolling his eyes, "Besides, I can always order out."

"That would require you talking to people." Ladybug rebuffed.

"Not if I do it online." Damian answered, "Like you're one to talk; you're more introverted than I am. I know you have classes in person because there was no other option."

Question three: Are you dating? If so, why not invite her over?

"Not dating." Robin stated.

Ladybug declares, "Robin is my friend and he respects my boundaries."

"I'm Bi and lean more towards guys." he responds, "Girls are too clingy."

Ladybug scoffs, "Chat Noir was clingy."

"No." Robin declares, "Your mental ex-partner was obsessive and should be given a restraining order, should he ever find out who you are."

"Not arguing with you there." Ladybug replied.

I’m back. Kind of. I don’t have anything to read, and i was wondering if you gorgeous people could help me.

If you look at my master post (pinned) I have a link that takes you to a doc full of fics :). Most are on tumblr, cause I haven’t gotten around to ao3 yet, but you’ll find em! Hope this helps :p

And, personally, I like my lavender best

“Lil Lavender,” by kazoosandfannypacks

by @mochinek0

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3

Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6

Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9

Chapter 10

“Mr. Way-” someone began, but he silenced them by putting his hand up.

“I would like an explanation as to why you all have decided to accuse my wife of having an affair and accosting us, as we were headed out for lunch. Everyone will stay silent unless I call on you. Understood?” he demanded. The reporters nodded.

With a sigh, he pointed to the gentleman in a teal button up shirt.

“There is an article circulating online, saying that Marinette is carrying the Agreste heir.” the reporter stated.

Tim: Hands Marinette a piece of paper for suggestions or complaints please contact the manufacturer

Several months after Jason’s death and after accepting Tim as his disciple, one night Batman returned with a baby.

“Master Bruce, may I ask who your lovely company is?”

“Her name is Marinette. She’s my daughter.”

Alfred frowned. Then Batman thought it best to add that he didn’t want to talk about it.

“Don’t ask me about her origins. The most important thing is that she is my daughter and from now on she will live with me at the Manor.”

“Understood.”

Alfred respected his choice. Tim didn’t seem too surprised, and Dick joked that he was amazed that Bruce didn’t have more children than that (a joke that would be banned after Damian arrived).

No one asked any more questions. The baby had black hair and blue eyes. Who would question her parentage to Bruce in this case?

She grew up in the Manor as Marinette Wayne. A lot of things happened after that: Barbara’s paralysis, Spoiler, then came Jason’s return, then Damian’s arrival.

Red Hood: [yes, actually.]

Lounge: *scowls and tries to roll him off them so they’re on top*

Red Hood: *leans more of his weight on top of them*

Lounge: AUGH! get off, you fucking-

Red Hood: [oh, you didn’t see me complaining earlier, Loungie.]

Lounge: *snarls* disgusting nickname.

Red Hood: [you started this, okay? just accept your fate, we’re going to be here all night.]

Lounge: all night? i don’t want to constantly stare up at your ugly mug all day, Hood!

Red Hood: [night. what, can you not remember what day and night look like?] *looks up* [i can clearly see the moonlight from here, are you losing it?]

Lounge: ….i’m losing brain cells by the second, your helmet is just too hideous, my brain is taking psychic damage!

Red Hood: *nods* [mhm, mhm, i hear your case. in that case…] *leans back so that he’s straddling them* [let me take my helmet off for you.]

Lounge: e-excuse you– *bucks their hips to try and knock him off* get OFF. you’re so heavy, what the fuck. what are you? made of ROCK? what the hell, Hood.

Red Hood: *laughs and reaches up to take off their helmet* [not made of rock] i’m afraid.

Lounge: …. *scowls harder* you piece of beautiful looking shit.

Red Hood: *smirks* i’ll take it that i don’t look so ugly under the mask, huh?

Lounge: *growls* i hate you. you can’t have both a- no, you just can’t– YOU CAN’T HAVE A GOOD VOICE, A NICE BODY, AND A HANDSOME FACE, OKAY? that’s just- *slams their head back* that’s just SO unfair.

Red Hood: *blinks down at them* …you think my voice is nice?

Lounge: *screams*

Tim: You’re right, and I’m sorry. But Bruce, one more thing.

Bruce: What.

Tim: … I love you?

Jason: I would rather die.

Tim: Then die again, I guess.

I know I know its about time huh?

Intercoursefluids wrote this chapter btw

First Last Current Next

AO3

Robin groaned as he limped into the Batcave, silently cursing the Riddler and his goons once again. Sometimes Damian wished he could pull a Jason, and just shoot a gun at all his problems. But alas, he couldn’t, all thanks to his father’s morals.

Moments like these made him think about his time with his mother when he was forced encouraged to kill. And about how when he first arrived at his father’s, how difficult it was for him to follow Bruce’s rules. It was unnatural for him at the time. Talia was a complicated woman at best. No matter what Damian did, he would be a disappointment. The only expectation to that had only ever been killing. The unadulterated pride on her face when he would take a life was colossal. So as any child would’ve done in his position, Damian always tried his hardest to make his mother proud and to feel any love she felt for him, even if it was only for a few moments.

But after living with his father for the last fourteen years, and with the help of his siblings, Damian was finally able to realize that it was never love that his mother had given him. It was a manipulation tacted. That the only thing his mother had created him for, was to be a killing machine.

It also helped him realize what love truly was. Dick showed him love by showering him hugs and surprise visits. Jason, while didn’t exactly like to come to the manor or Damian’s apartment, was a very emotional person and was getting better at expressing it after all his therapy appointment with Dinah, which Damian was still surprised he did. All his siblings expressed their feelings differently, but the one that meant the most to Damian was his father’s. Bruce Wayne was a complicated person, often not seeing the line between family and profession. But Bruce in recent years has been trying harder to express his pride and love for his children. While he still had a very long way to go, Damian was proud of his father.

Speaking of his father, Damian spotted him, looking through some of the files and articles about something he couldn’t quite make out from where he was with Barabra. They were quietly discussing it, not paying mind to Damian as he walked past them. Damian carefully took off his mask, careful not to rip any skin from the glue, and made his way towards Alfred, who was waiting for him by the med-station.

Damian sat down in the chair and laid his leg on a short table as Alfred instructed. As Damian got his stitches sown in, Jason and Tims’s motorcycles could be heard entering the cave, followed by Dick bringing in the batmobile for the night. Damian rolled his eyes as Jason and Tim started shoving each other as soon as they got off their cycles while Dick tried to break the fight up.

As soon as Alfred finished and wrapped up his leg, Damian got up and made his way to the computer where they would usually held their end of patrol reports. He watched out of the corner of his eye that Dick had successfully pulled apart Tim and Jason, and was now giving them a Big Brother Talk™. He smirked, watching Jason mock Dick when the elder had his back turned, and the youngest of the trio struggle to hold his laughter, but still managed not to gain the attention of the first.

Out of the corner of his eye, Damian could see Duke, Stephanie, and Cass walk in, engrossed in a conversation. Damian was a bit caught off guard to see his sister and her girlfriend back from Hong Kong, but knowing them, he wasn’t that surprised that they had come back calling ahead.

Barbara, who had noticed everyone come in, closed the file she and Bruce had been looking at and turned her wheelchair so she was facing everyone else. She called over the boys who were still by the vehicles and started that night’s meeting.

The overall review was pretty normal. A few muggings, the average late-night stupid burglars, preventing two murders, and of course that night’s star rouge, Riddler.

As soon as his father said they were free to go for the night, Damian made his way to the showers, stripping down to nothing and washing the sweat, dirt, and blood off himself, while being mindful of the bandages that were covering his stitches.

He carefully stepped out of the showers and making sure to dry himself off, changed into a simple pair of grey sweatpants and an old black t-shirt.

After putting his suit in the laundry so it could be cleaned for the next night, or fight, whichever came sooner, Damian made his way upstairs and into the main living room where he had left his car keys and shoes.

He stuffed his keys in the pocket of his sweatpants and made his way to the kitchen in search of a snack before he had to make his way back to his apartment complex. Damian opened the fridge and found some Tupperware that was filled with some pasta. As he reached for it, his eyes caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a note next to the bowl.

‘Don’t touch my food - JT’

Damian rolled his eyes. “If you didn’t want anyone to take your food, Todd, you should’ve hidden it better,” he muttered to no one and reached to grab the bowl with his right hand while crumbling the paper and tossing it in the trash with his left.  Damian opened the microwave and set the food to heat for about thirty seconds to a minute.

When it was properly hot, Damian took out a fork from one of the drawers and sat down on the island, and started to eat the food from a new bowl while reading an ebook he had downloaded on his phone. He heard his brothers coming back from the cave.

Damian looked up in time to see the doors to the kitchen slam open and his family make their way.

“I don’t care, Dickweed. I truly couldn’t care less,” said Jason, but about what, Damian wouldn’t be able to tell you.

“But come on Jay,” whined Dick. “It’ll be fun!”

Before Jason could shut him down again, his eyes caught sight of Damian eating his food.

“The fuck, you bastard,” he yelled, taking the bowl from Damian in an attempt of saving his food. But it was too late. Damian had just eaten the last bit of it.

Damian rolled his eyes. “If you didn’t want me to eat your food, Todd, don’t put it out in the open.”

Jason glared at Damian before walking away, mumbling, “Heartless little shit.”

Damian shook his head and bid goodbye to Alfred and his father before driving to his apartment.

The drive back was quiet. There were no more than five other cars on the road, which was pretty normal, considering the time. Damian sighed in relief as his building came into view, finally acknowledging the exhaustion he felt from patrol. Parking his car in its designated lot, he made his way up to his floor and his front door.

Opening his door, and locking it behind him as he entered, Damian shed his shoes and socks and set his keys and phone down on his countertop. He made his way to the bathroom, where he brushed his teeth and washed his face since he had already showered at the manor.

As he lay in bed that night, his phone began to ring. Without looking at the id caller, he picked it up, his thumb hovering over the ‘End Call ’ button in case of a spam caller.

“Damian, hey,” the voice said. Damian rolled his eyes when he realized who it was.

“I was just at the manor, Grayson. What is the matter,” he asked.

“How about you and I go to the fair tomorrow,” Dick said, too much enthusiasm for that time of night, especially after patrol in  Damian’s opinion.

“Is this because Todd refused to attend the fair with you,” Damian sighed, forcing himself to stay awake while his eyes were slowly shutting.

“Of course not, Lil’ D. Maybe Jason refused, but we can still hang out tomorrow,” he said.

“Look, Grayson. I have work tomorrow, as do you. And I, for one, am exhausted with patrol. Have a goodnight,” as soon as the words were out of his mouth, Damian hung up the phone before his elder brother could refute and shut his eyes, giving in to his body’s desire to sleep.

___

As his alarm blared, Damian climbed out of bed and made his way to the bathroom, still rubbing a bit of sleep out of his eyes, and narrowly avoiding a wall.

His breakfast was the same as it had been for the last few days, a bowl of oatmeal with shredded almonds, berries, and some honey with a glass of beet juice. As Damian opened the fridge to put his ingredients away, he made a mental note to grab some groceries later that day, or maybe he could convince Alfred to make him some food for the next few days, because despite living alone, and have been for a few years, Damian wasn’t able to make much other than basic meals. Besides, Damian would never say no to Alfred’s cooking. Especially the man’s quiche.

Once he finished eating, Damian washed out his dish and made his way to change. He carefully chose a black suit jacket with a black pantsuit and a dark maroon turtleneck. He grabbed a black watch from his drawer, along with his phone and keys, and made his way to the parking garage.

As Damian got closer to where he usually parked his car, he saw one Richard Grayson leaning up against his car, wearing a dark blue polo, black jeans, and a pair of dark aviators and looking down at his phone.

Damian tsked at the sight. “What are you doing, Grayson?”

Dick looked up and grinned. “Hello to you too, Lil’ D.” Damian just rolled his eyes and made his way to the driver’s side of his car, but before he could open the door, Dick stopped him. “Nah-huh. Today is a day of brother bonding between us. So we’ll be taking my car.” Dick said, already dragging him away and pushing him to the passenger side of a new matte black tesla.

Knowing just how stubborn his brother could be, Damian sat down in the car. Besides, what was the harm anyway? They both worked in the same building and it wasn’t like they could just take the day off.

___

Something most people knew about Richard Grayson was that he had these puppy dog eyes that worked on everyone. Well, almost everyone.

Damian happened to be that exception, which had never really bothered Dick, except when it came to things like these.

“It’ll be fun,” he pouted. Dick had parked the car in front of a movie theater, trying to convince his brother to watch the newest installment of Dick’s favorite romance trilogy with him. The theater was in the nicer part of town, with tall buildings surrounding it, including wedding venues and business offices, along with WE. Dick had also blackmailed convinced Tim to cover for them in the office.

Damian glared at him. “Grayson no, I refuse to watch another romcom with you.”

“Oh come on,” Dick tried again. “Romcoms are great!”

“No,” Damian said more sternly, but Dick wasn’t deterred. Dick knew that Damian was unbelievably stubborn, but so was Dick. Damian had to have learned it from someone.

“Steph would watch it with me, Jason too,” Dick tried. He knew how last-resort it was. Comparing him to Jason hadn’t really affected Damian that much anymore. Not after he had moved out of the manor.

“Then take them to the movies with you. I’m not going to watch it-,” Damian was cut off by the sound of the back door opening and slamming shut. Dick looked back to see a girl around Damian’s age. She was wearing a beautiful gown, which resembled one of a wedding dress. Tears and mascara were running down her face, her eyes red and puffy along with her nose. She looked urgently at them and pleaded with her eyes as she yelled-

“Drive! Please Drive!”

Dick floored it.

___

If someone told Damian yesterday that day he would be helping a runaway bride, he would’ve threatened you for telling outlandish lies. But here he was, carrying a sobbing ex-bride in his arms, rushing her away from the crowd that had formed.

Damian spared a glance behind him, making sure Dick had followed with the dress.

He quickly opened the door to his office and slammed it shut once Dick had followed him in.

Damian laid the woman on the sofa in the corner of his office and grabbed a bottle of water from the mini-fridge he kept under his desk and a spare hoodie he kept in the bottom drawer as the office was unusually cold from the recent snowfall, along with the sweatpants and t-shirt he kept in case he worked late.

The woman’s cries had subdued into just whimpers. Damian handed the items to her. He watched as she put on the jacket, which went down to her knees, and drank the water.

Damian looked at his brother for help. He had never been in a situation like this before. Though Damian highly doubted the fact that Dick had too, the elder was still better at comforting people in trouble than he was.

Dick looked worriedly at the girl then at Damian. From what they understood from what she was saying earlier, she had been either cheated on by the person she was supposed to marry or was almost killed by the person she was supposed to marry. Neither of which are exactly ideal on a wedding day.

Dick slowly stepped towards the woman and sat down on his knees in front of her, putting his hand on her shoulder.

“Ma’am, are you alright?”

She looked up at them and Damian couldn’t help but notice how beautiful her eyes were.

“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have barged into your car like that. It was completely inappropriate and probably scared you. I have been such a burden and you boys have taken care of me. Please let me repay you somehow,” She rambled out quickly and Damian was barely able to understand her but it seems that Dick didn’t have that same problem.

“Miss, it’s okay. You were emotional and weren’t in your right mind. I’m just thankful it was just us and not someone that could’ve hurt. As for repaying us, you could start with telling us your name and maybe what happened,” Dick said, smiling. The woman returned it, though there was a bit of sadness behind it.

“Marinette. My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” Marinette said. “As for what happened, I was supposed to get married, as you might already know considering...my….dress,” A sudden panic took over her face. “My Dress! Where is it?”

Damian looked towards Dick, nothing understanding why the dress mattered now but wasn’t about to ask. Dick pointed to dress, where it laid on a chair on the other side of the office. Marinette ran to it and grabbed an egged shaped box out of a hidden pocket.

Damian looked over at Dick in confusion, only to see his brother already looking over at him.

Marinette started to mumble to herself in French. “Dieu merci, c'est ici. mon Dieu.” She turned back around and saw their confused faces.

“Umm… family heirlooms. They’re very important to me,” she said. Damian could see it wasn’t the full truth, and despise what his detective urges said, he didn’t pry.

Carrying the box tightly in her arms, Marinette sat back down in front of them and continued her story. She told them about Adrien and their relationship. About how they had met and started dating. About how he revealed a big secret when she had walked down the aisle, the secret which she refused to disclose. About him proposing and her friends revealing the fact he was cheating on her on their wedding day.

Though Damian could tell that Marinette was withholding information, he still saw how much the whole incident drained her. Of course, it would.

He could see her eyes droop slightly as she talked. Checking the time on his watch, he realized it was much later than he expected.

“Miss Dupain-Cheng, if you don’t mind me asking, where are you staying,” he asked, interrupting a conversation between her and Dick, or maybe it was supposed to be between the three of them and he just wasn’t paying attention.

Marinette’s face goes black for a second before she paled. “All my stuff is at the hotel Adrien and I were staying in. He still has all my stuff,” she whispers after a moment of staring at the wall beside Damian.

Damian can see the tears forming in Marinette’s eyes again and rushes to reassure her. “Miss Dupain-Cheng, please do not worry. Grayson or myself could accompany you if you so wish.”

Marinette said nothing and just nodded. Damian nodded towards Dick to grab his keys and the two men

“Um...” Marinette said suddenly before they could walk out the door. “I still don’t know either of your names.” She laughed awkwardly and Damian realized they never introduced themselves.

“Damian Wayne,” he said, and Marinette smiled in appreciation.

“Richard Grayson-Wayne, but you can just call me Dick,” Dick laughed and Marinette a bit.

“Dick...isn’t that the English word for-” Dick cut her off by yelling yes.

“Yes. Yes, it is. It’s amazing how many jokes I can make with my name,” Dick said, and thankfully Marinette didn’t look grossed out or even a bit deterred, she just laughed with his brother.

The three of them walked out of the office, Damian ahead to make sure the crowd had gone away and Dick with Marinette in case he needed to cover her, and Marinette carefully carrying her dress, making sure nothing could fall out the pockets in it.

It hadn’t taken long for them to reach Dick’s car and before they knew it, they were heading to the Hotel that Adrien was in.

___

Marinette didn’t expect her wedding to go the way that it did. She never thought that Adrien would cheat on her. She never thought she’d ever jump into a random person’s car and yell at them to drive. She especially never thought she would still be with that person and his younger brother hours later, headed to the hotel where she was supposed to be staying to pick up her stuff while listening to a mix of Hannah Montana’s songs.

Yet here she was, doing all those things. Marinette ached, thinking about how right now, she was supposed to be dancing with Adrien, newlywed, and carefree during their reception surrounded by their friends and family.

Marinette blinked back tears and Dick announced to her that they were about to reach the hotel. Looking through the windshield, Marinette could see the building they were staying in. It didn’t look like much from the outside, but Marinette knew better, having been inside before.

The lobby was decorated head-to-toe in lavish paintings and vases, beautiful antique items like guitars and type-writers. Marinette was pretty sure the hotel’s owners had stolen all the items inside, which wouldn’t surprise her because they were in Gotham.

As the car pulled up in front of the hotel, Dick turned down the music and asked, “Do you want Damian or me to go up with you?”

Marinette thought about it, weighing the pros and cons out for a moment before saying, “I think one of you should come, to just stand outside the door, if anything, in case he’s in there.”

Damian nodded, silently taking off his seatbelt and stepping out of the car, and Marinette followed close behind.

The two of them silently made their way through the hotel lobby and to the elevator. Marinette pressed the button to the floor of the room and they awkwardly waited for the elevator to make it to the very top floor, courtesy of Gabriel wanting to flaunt his wealth.

Once the doors opened, the two of them made their way to the room. She took the keycard out of her wallet, which she had picked up from the pocket of her dress before they left the car, she opened the door.

Marinette peeked inside, and once she saw that Adrien’s shoes weren’t where they were supposed to be, she said to Damian, “I think I’ll be fine going inside alone. I don’t think he’s in there.”

Damian nodded and stood at the door as Marinette walked in. She went into the room where, thankfully, most of her clothes were still in her bag. A few hair and make-up things were still out too, so she carefully put them away.

As she picked up the last bag and carefully made her way out of the room, but was stopped in her tracks when she saw a figure on the other side of the room, facing away from her.

Shadowmoth.

He seemed to be talking on the phone, not paying any mind to his surroundings. An idea came to mind. As quietly as she could, Marinette put down the bags she was carrying.

Carefully, she walked to the small kitchenette in the room and grabbed a frying pan that was laying on the counter. Marinette continued on until she was right behind him. Just as she was about to hit him with the frying pan, he turned around. And the last expression he was able to make before he was knocked out was one of shock and surprise.

Marinette let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Her hands shook as she bent down and took both the peacock and butterfly miraculous off his body. She inspected them, making sure there were no cracks in them.

Only then did she look down at the man. Marinette felt her heart stop. This couldn’t be right. She was seeing things.

Marinette didn’t realize she had backed herself into a corner until she hit a wall. All of a sudden someone yelled.

“Miss Dupian-Cheng, are you alright? Do you need me to come in,” asked the voice. Damian, right. He had come with her. Maybe he could help her understand what was happening in her mind right now.

But as she looked back down at the unconscious body of Gabriel Agreste, Marinette realized that she couldn’t let Damian see this. So instead of asking for help, she yelled back, “It’s fine. I just need one more moment.”

Marinette quickly dragged Gabriel out of the view from the door and grabbed her things and rushed out the door.

Damian grabbed one of the bags from her as she made it out. As they waited for the elevator to reach them, Damian asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, what was it that took you so long, Miss Dupian-Cheng?”

Her eyes widened, but she quickly came up with a believable lie. “I was missing my straightener. I finally found it under the cabinet.”

Damian nodded, and once again, they were silent until they reached the car. Dick greeted them as they sat down.

“Sorry, Marinette. Where will you go now,” Dick asked her. Marinette blinked, not having thought up to this point yet.

“Would either of you know any good hotels nearby,” she asked sheepishly.

Dick nodded and they were off.

___

It had been about two weeks since the whole ‘Runaway Bride Incident,’ when Bruce had called Damian into the cave about two hours before patrol.

“Father,” Damian greeted as he entered. As he neared the computer, Damian realized that Jason was there too. “Afternoon, Todd.”

“Good to see you too, Demon Spawn,” Jason smirked before turning to Bruce. “What did you call us for B? Finally gonna let us finish Joker?” Most of these, Jason asked that more of as a joke, knowing that Bruce would never actually let him kill the Joker.

Bruce ignored Jason in favor of pulling up some articles that were in French. But one, in particular, caught his eye.

Où se trouve le Papillon?

The Butterfly? What?

Bruce interrupted Damian’s train of thought. “Next week, the two of you will be flying out to Paris and staying there until we can get an idea of what’s happening. You will be going under the cover of setting up a new Wayne Enterprise branch.”

With the wedding being set for a week after Adrien proposed, Marinette was a little disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to make her own dress, but that was overshadowed by the pure joy and excitement that took over every time she thought about it.

She was getting married!

Marinette had hoped that her friends would be more excited for her but they all just seemed kind of stressed.

She guessed that it was just the fact that they were helping with the wedding planning. It did take a lot of work to have a wedding planned and ready in a week.

Chloe and Alix were especially jumpy, but they were helping with most of the planning so it was to be expected. They both cried far more than Marinette thought they would when she showed them her final choice for her wedding dress.

With the wedding happening on October 17th you wouldn’t think it would be that cold out, but Marinette had wanted Jagged, Penny, and Luka to be able to come.

The problem with that was that Jagged had taken Luka and Penny with him when he went on his world tour and was currently staying in Gotham, New Jersey since it was his hometown.

No problem, they could have the wedding in Gotham.

Gotham, however, for those of you who don’t know, is cold.

Mixing the cold with Marinette's newly forming bug tendencies just spelled trouble and possible hibernation. So…

She was wearing a floor-length dress with sleeves, made of very thick material and tinted pink (It also had a sewn-in pocket just big enough to hold the miracle box, her wallet, and her passport. They were going to Gotham, the crime city, there was no way she would be leaving her valuables in a measly hotel room. They would be on her person at all times if she had any say in it.)

Adrien had also given her a beautiful pink-ish necklace to go with the dress.

She didn’t think she could love the man any more than she already did.

Turbulence started shaking the plane as they landed, forcing Adrien awake from where he slept in the seat beside her.

“Are we already here? That was fast.” He said.

“Yeah, it was 8 hours.” She leaned her head on his arm. “I’m glad you got some sleep though, you’ve seemed pretty tired these last few days.”

Adrien yawned, stretching out his arms and legs, accidentally bumping her head from his shoulder.

“Yeah sorry, I’ve been having a couple late nights since I proposed.” He shrugged, turning back to look at her. “Nothing to worry yourself over though. I’ll be able to sleep better once we’ve said our vows, promise.”

He tilted her head up, kissing her deeply before pulling away and waiting for the flight attendant to announce that they could start getting off.

Marinette smiled at him, holding his hand as they gathered their carry-ons and exited the plane.

The plane had landed a little after the sun had set, so it was a challenge trying to find a cab to take them to their hotel.

Marinette had recommended just calling an Uber but Adrien refused. He thought it was a waste of time.

“Adrien please, let's just call an Uber. It's just getting late and it’s freezing out here!”

“I said No, Marinette! We are not calling an Uber! And I told you to bring a thicker jacket, it's your own fault if you're cold.”

Marinette flinches at his tone, lowering her head and keeping quiet as her fiance Finally hails a cab down for them.

“It’s about damn time!”

He rounds the car opening his door before looking over at her.

“Hurry up Marinette, I don’t have all day for you to get in.”

Walking to the back of the car Marinette signals for the driver to open the trunk so she can put her suitcase in. It's not a large thing by any means, just big enough to hold the miracle box and her overnight clothes/toiletries.

She had had the dress shipped ahead so that was one less thing to pack. Luka was supposed to bring it with him when he got there.

Opening her door, Marinette slid into her seat before sending a smile to the driver and telling him the address.

The entire ride Adrien remained silent, he didn’t reach for her hand, didn’t talk to her, he didn’t even look in her general direction too busy texting on his phone.

Yet as soon as they pulled up to the hotel he was practically dragging her out of the cab telling her to grab their bags from the back while he paid the cab fare.

Not a word was said between the two of them until they made it up to their room where Adrien immediately pinned her to the wall and kissed her.

Hard.

Pushing back against him, he abandons her lips to trail hot kisses down her neck.

Marinette pushes against him harder, pulling his head from her neck and holding his face in her hands as they both pant from the heated kiss.

“A-Adrien? Is something wrong? Why are you acting like this?”

Adrien sighs before pulling her hands away and placing another chaste kiss on her lips.

“Sorry, Princess. I just didn’t like the way that cab driver was looking at you, and you weren’t really helping by smiling at him like that. He could have gotten the wrong idea.”

“But I wasn’t trying to-”

“I know you weren’t trying to Mari” He brings his hands up to hold her face, swiping his thumb across her lips “But that doesn’t change the fact that you almost did.”

Leaning forward he rests his head against hers before pulling away aging to head to the bathroom.

“Sorry for being so mean today, Princess. I’ll feel better tomorrow I promise. I’ll be better as a husband than I ever could as a boyfriend.”

Marinette watches as he disappears behind the door before sighing, her whole body sagging in exhaustion as she heads to the second bathroom to get ready.

They had booked a two bed, two bath, room at Adrien’s suggestion.

He had said it would make their first night together with all the more special and truthfully, Marinette couldn’t help but feel grateful.

Adrien had been tense all day and I was starting to make her a little uncomfortable.

He had been getting angry rather quickly but he was always quick to apologize so she wasn’t too mad at him.

They were about to get married, after all, that would make anyone anxious.

“Are you okay Marinette?”

Looking at her little flying friend Marinette can’t help but smile.

“Yeah, Tiks. I’m okay. I’m getting married to Adrien tomorrow, it's what I’ve always dreamed of! Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

Tikki says nothing for a moment, keeping a thoughtful look on her face before she flies up to hug her chosen’s cheek.

“It’s okay to change your mind about something you were convinced you wanted. You know that right?”

Marinette smiles, nuzzling the kwami with her hand.

“Of course I know that Tikki. You’ll see, tomorrow will be better.”

Marinette finishes getting ready and lays down in her bed, she had heard the tub running earlier so Adrien must be taking a bath.

Probably for the best too, he was very stressed.

Rolling on her side, Marinette opts out of waiting up to say goodnight. There was no telling how long he would take in there and she was really tired.

“Night Tikki.”

“Goodnight Marinette, sleep well.”

“Luka! Help me with Mari’s makeup! You do eyeliner better than me.”

Looking up from the door he just opened he is met with all of the stunning girls he has the privilege to call friends, family, and girlfriends…

As well as the hurricane that was the bridal parties room.

“Hurry up! Here take this and work your magic, I need to get the dress ready for her to put on.”

Juleka shoves the Eyeliner pen into his hands before pushing him towards the blushing bride herself.

“Well don’t you look beautiful, M-M-Marinette.”

Marinette giggles, a wide smile on her face as Chloe finishes her hair behind her.

“Hey, Lulu. I would give you a hug but I think your girlfriends would literally kill me if I moved too soon.”

“Damn straight we would.”

Kagami pauses while painting her friend's nails to give her boyfriend a kiss.

He smiles, kissing her back before looking at Chloe who had been strangely quiet the entire time, realizing how pale his girlfriend actually was.

Quickly applying the eyeliner Luka held up a small hand mirror for the seal of approval.

“I will never understand how you do eyeliner so well.”

Marinette narrows her (now scarily perfectly lined) eyes at her friend.

“And I will never tell.” He replies like the cheeky bastard he is.

“Fine then, keep your secrets.”

“Trust me I will. Hey Chlo? If you're done with Mari’s hair I want to talk to you.”

Chloe nods and Luka leads her into a separate room.

“Okay, hands up and don’t you dare touch anything.”

Marinette stands at Kagami’s command, raising her hands above her head and walking over to the dress Juleka and Rose had finished setting up the dress so that she could easily just… step into it.

The sleeves would be a bit more tricky though. After maneuvering her silky underdress so it wouldn’t ride up as she walked in the gown, Both girls started rolling up the sleeves to make the process a little faster.

The entire time she had been getting situated in the dress Kagami and Alix (who came back just in time to see her trip over the dress and lunge to catch her at the same time as the other three girls) had been using blow dryers on her nails so they were almost completely dry by now anyway.

No one wanted to risk ruining the dress or the nails though, so overly cautious dressing it was!

Normally they would have just waited for her nails to air dry before putting on the dress, but Marinette had never quite grown out of never being on time so they were currently rushing so she would make it on time.

They got the dress on with no issues (thank the kwami she didn’t know if she could handle something going wrong before she even got to the altar) just as Luka and Chloe came back into the room.

“Hey! Did you guys have a nice talk?”

Chloe and Luka’s smiles were small but no less genuine than any other they had ever given her. Her happiness was infectious, which made the next step all the more difficult.

“You could say that. Are you ready to put on your jewelry now?”

Nodding Marinette holds still as Alix clasps the pink choker around her neck, which had been a present from Adrien after he had proposed.

“You look so beautiful Mari! Like a real-life Princess!” Rose squealed, dashing over to hug her, jumping up and down in her excitement.

“I know! I’m getting married! I’m getting married!”

She held hands with Rose jumping up and down with the girl, not noticing the four separate grimaces and the one curious look those faces received.

Sabine was the first to walk down the aisle, taking her place and readying the camera to film.

She watches her soon to be Son-In-Law walk down the aisle to take his place on the altar, never once looking up at her or smiling.

‘Poor boy must be nervous’

Next to walk down were Max, Luka, Marc, and Nathaniel, all taking their places as the groomsmen. They all give little waves to Sabine, making her notice Markov following behind Max wearing a little bowtie. She trains the camera on his little form smiling and waving back as he does a little backflip for the camera.

The bridesmaids were closer to a mix of drunk girls and the ones stuck taking care of them than they were at a bridal party with how Rose and Juleka couldn’t stop giggling while Alix and Kagami tried to herd them to their places without making it obvious.

Neither Chloe nor Alya were bridesmaids which had surprised Sabine at first but given how last minute the wedding was they probably weren’t sure they would even be able to come. That and the fact that her daughter and Alya had seemed to just grow apart as the years passed.

In fact, the wedding had happened so fast Sabine had made Marinette take a pregnancy test (both the ones you get at the dollar store and a blood test at the clinic). She’s broken out of her thoughts when the music for the Flower “Girl” starts.

Music that is entirely and completely inappropriate for a wedding.

This was the one part of the wedding that Marinette refused to disclose to her mother, and now she understands why…

Lê Chiến Kim and Nino Lahiffe, two boys that she watched grow up, that she sent her daughter on playdates with, who she housed and fed on their week-long sleepovers at her home…

Were twerking down the aisle throwing flower petals and holding a pillow with two rings on it, respectfully.

Sabine. Was. Wheezing.

She was bent over, clutching her stomach, and doing her best not to cry from laughter.

Adrien however, didn’t find it nearly as funny as most of the wedding guests did. He was practically glaring at his Best Man (Nino) and Marinette's Maid of Honor (Kim) as they made fools of themselves at his wedding.

He covered it up just in time though, replacing his sneer with a wide smile as Nino took his place behind him with the rings, just as Sabine turned the camera back to him.

Sabine was smiling so wide it hurt, wheezing out another laugh as Kim pulls a bridal bouquet from out of nowhere.

“Where were you even hiding that?!”

Kim turns to her and the camera, huffing from his dance walk down the aisle, winking at her.

“Some questions are better left unanswered, Momma C.”

Sabine snorts at him shaking her head as the music signaling her daughter and husband's arrival starts.

Turning the camera towards the two she can’t help but let out a soft sob, tears building up in her eyes, and from the looks of it her husband wasn’t any better.

Tom was practically sobbing as he walked his baby girl down the aisle, taking slow measured steps, trying to prolong the inevitable.

They reach the altar, and he turns her to face him.

“I know you’re a grown woman now, but you will always be my little baby girl, Marinette.”

Marinette squeezes her Papa’s hands, trying not to cry as he walks away to stand next to her Maman.

Adrien takes her hands as the officiant starts talking, and she spends most of his speech/officiating just staring into her soon-to-be husband's eyes smiling all the while (Tomoe Tsurugi had said she wanted to be the officiant but she couldn’t make it. Something about having a Tsurugi elder officiate a family member's wedding brings good luck to the couple with a long, happy wedding. Marinette had cried when she realized Tomoe saw her as a daughter.)

After some time has passed Adrien leans in ever so slightly before whispering to her.

“I told you I would love you on both sides of the mask, M’lady” His smile is blinding, so bright it hurts to look at. For once, that smile doesn’t warm her insides.

Instead, it makes her blood turn to ice in her veins, freezing her lovestruck smile on her face.

She glances down at their clasped hands, specifically his right hand.

The miraculous rests on his finger, a simple piece of jewelry that she had thought nothing of until this very moment.

She shifts her hand, twisting the ring between two fingers as Adrien releases a breathless laugh.

“Supurrise Princess~”

“If anyone objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Marinette looks up, making eye contact with Adrien, with her partner Chat Noir, and for the first time since she fell in love with him, she questioned if she should go through with marrying him.

“Adrien, I-”

“I object!”

Gasps filled the venue, everyone turning to look at the one and only, Chloé Bourgeois.

“Chloe? What- I don’t understand. What are you doing?” Marinette winced as her voice cracked on the last word, doing her very best not to cry.

“I’m so sorry, but I can’t let you marry him. We’ve been trying to find a way to tell you but we haven’t been able to see you until this morning. This was our last chance to tell you.”

Marinette can’t even find it in herself to be mad at her. Her usually confident and composed friend looks absolutely heartbroken.

“Chloe! What is the meaning of this?! I thought you grew out of things like this back in college!” Adrien comes up to Marinette’s side, the feeling of his ring against her arm serving as a stark reminder of what he’d just revealed to her.

She can’t even bring herself to care.

“He’s been cheating on you with Lila, Mari. We caught them a while back, and again not even an hour ago! I took pictures to prove it. I’m so sorry Marinette, but you don’t deserve to be treated like this!”

The TVs on both sides of the altar that had been showing a background of roses (It was supposed to play videos of them together after they said their vows) switched to a picture of what is clearly Adrien pinning Lila to a wall while he kissed her neck.

Several pictures show on the board but Marinette is no longer paying attention, it's too much.

It's all too much.

Chat Noir, the one who treats her as though she is something he owns, is the man she was about to marry.

He knew who she was for who knows how long!

He was CHEATING ON HER WITH LILA!

He had been with her in the hallway, not even an hour before he was supposed to say his vows to her!

It was too much, she was feeling far too much.

So she went numb…

She stopped feeling, she couldn’t take it.

Today was supposed to be the best day of her life.

She notices him lacing his fingers through hers, the ring cold on her hand, practically branding its imprint onto her hand.

In one fluid movement, she rips her hand out of his, taking the ring with it, the ring itself going unnoticed by Adrien.

“Mari, those photos are obviously faked! I love you! You know that!”

Adrien reaches for her again, quickly being intercepted by both Nino and Kim.

“Dude! Did you seriously cheat on Mari?!”

“Yeah what the hell man?! Were you going to keep your little side piece while you were married!?”

They both started shoving at Adrien pushing him away from her as everyone started shouting.

It was deafening, she couldn’t tell if the roaring sound was from the crowd or her own heartbeat in her ears.

She didn’t know when she started crying, but her hands came away from her face wet with tears and ruined makeup.

When had she covered her face?

It was too much, too much was going on and yet, she felt nothing. Marinette wasn’t sure she could feel anything at this point. Anything other than the need to get away, the need to run.

So she did.

Hiking up the skirt to her dress as she bolted, running out of the crowd and dodging the hands trying to grab her, trying to pull her back to them.

Bursting through the doors leading outside, she pauses to check her surroundings and catch her breath.

She tries to look at street signs and remember what little she knew of the city to figure out how to get away, but those thoughts fly out the window as she hears shouts coming from behind her, evidently, someone had followed her in her mad dash to freedom.

Spotting a black car idling nearby she makes a choice she hopes she won’t soon regret.

“Grayson no, I refuse to watch another RomCom with you.”

Damian glares at his oldest brother from the passenger seat as he pouts at him.

“Oh come on~ RomComs are great!”

“No.” Damian's tone leaves no room for argument.

But Dick Grayson was a very stubborn man.

“Steph would watch it with me, Jason too.”

Damian raises a single eyebrow, completely unimpressed with his response.

“Then take them to the movies with you. I’m not going to watch it-”

The sound of the back door opening and slamming shut has him immediately silent.

“Drive! Please drive!”

The brothers take a single look at the girl with a tear-stained face and rumpled wedding dress before Dick is flooring it.

Weaving in and out of traffic and taking back alleys when he spots a red light up ahead, the drive is silent until they are a significant ways away from where they were.

“So uh, do you have any specific place you want me to take you? I don’t mind, really.” Dick asks as he pulls into a batburger parking lot.

“I, Uh, No, sorry I didn’t think that far ahead.” She sniffles, whipping her eyes as more tears start to fall.

“That’s fine. Would you like to get into a new set of clothes? I don’t imagine that a wedding dress is the most comfortable thing to wear.”

She nods at Damian’s suggestion which is all the confirmation that he needs before telling Dick to take them to WE.

“Why are we going to WE?”

Damian glances back at the woman, her sobs had died down to mere sniffles and even those were slowly coming to a stop.

It was more concerning than it was reassuring.

“I have extra sets of clothes in my office, another suit, and some nightclothes, just in case I work too late.”

Damian kept glancing back at the woman, who had now gone completely silent.

It was unnerving, like watching a ticking time bomb, just waiting for it to blow.

Dick pulled up in front of the building, getting out and rounding the car to help the young woman out only to see that his younger brother had beaten him to it.

Damian couldn’t help but hover around her as he led her through the building. She looked like she was ready to shatter at any given moment.

And shatter she did.

It happened about halfway to his office, he had turned back to check on her as he had been doing since she had gotten in the car only to see that she had stopped walking entirely and was now trembling.

“Miss?”

A wet laugh escapes her as her hands rub at her shoulders and throat.

“It was supposed to be Mrs. today.”

Damian looks at his older brother who had been following close behind him, completely at a loss for what he was supposed to do.

He had never been in a situation like this.

“I- I don’t understand! What did I do wrong?! W-why did he- And on our wedding day of all days! He asked me! It’s not like I forced him into it! I don’t understand! Why wasn’t I good enough?!”

Her voice cracks on the last word, tears pouring down her face in violent streams as she gasps for air.

Dick and Damian both open their mouths to refute her claim (and likely insult the man boy who had caused her such pain), when she cuts them off.

“I- I can’t breathe! I-!”

She clutches at her throat, clawing and scratching at her neck where her necklace lies.

“Get this thing off of me! Its- It’s strangling me!”

Damian moves before he even realizes it, standing behind her he unclasps the necklace throwing it to the side.

She goes for the dress next, desperately trying to rip the fabric from her body.

“It’s too tight! I- I can’t!”

More gasping sobs tear from her as her frame shakes.

Damian moves for the buttons on her back, but there are too many of them and she needed this dress off now.

He grips the two sides holding the back together and pulls.

Ripping the buttons off causing them to scatter across the room.

She pulls her arms out of the sleeves, shoving the dress off leaving her in her undergown.

She steps out of the mound of fabric, tripping in the process.

Damian grabs her, turning his body so she lands in his lap instead of on the ground.

The whispers and shouts of surprise and concern slowly flood into him as he tries to rub soothing circles into her back.

They had attracted a crowd.

Damian scoops her up, one arm under her legs and the other holding her back, clutching her to his chest and keeping her face out of the view of the various cameras pointed in their direction.

“Grayson, grab her dress.”

With one last glare directed at the cameras, he turns, marching him and the girl straight to his office and closing the door behind him.

And if Dick Grayson noticed that the dress was slightly heavier than it should be and had something hard and round in it?

Well, it was none of his damn business.

I Paint Sometimes @TimArtThomas

DaMiAn WaYNe iS hEArtLEsS

@fangirling-101 wrote this chapter