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ive-tumbled-down-a-rabbit-hole · 1 year

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Panicked at the disco

Meet Cute Monday 49

Masterlist

MCM Masterlist

I apologise for the incorrect medical stuff. I know very little about it and best left to patch up cuts with plasters than anything else

………………………………………………………………………..

Alya scrolled through her phone contently while sitting next to Marinette, who currently was still passed out on the bed. She smirked to herself as she listened to the couple the other side of the now closed curtains bickering away also dealing with head injuries. She couldn't quite contain her snort as the dark haired guy argued with the red head he was with that the concussion 'wasn't that bad' and why the hell was he taken to a hospital of all places.

Not hearing the red heads reply, Alya attention was drawn to her friend as she let out a low groan.

"ugggnnnn…. larm off…. no sound…. no beep beep!"

"Can't Nettie. The beeping's your heart monitor."

"nngnn no… no sense? Turn off… please? Head hurt."

"I get it, your head hurts Nets. We're at the hospital having you checked out. The beeping is stuff monitoring you."

Cautiously Marinette opened one eye to squint at Alya who'd stopped playing with her phone to watch her friend shuffle around on the bed as she slowly woke up and processed the world around her.

"What… what happened?"

"You panicked at the disco, girl!"

In response, Marinette suddenly shot up, only to grab her head and groan at the fast movement, regretting every moment of it. Alya, ignoring the laughter from the other side of the ward and feeling sorry for her disaster friend, pressed a button to alert the nurses of Marinette's return to the waking world. As the dark haired woman moaned at the pain emanating from her head Alya took pity and started to fluff the woman's pillows easing her back into a resting position as Marinette reclosed her eyes from the world. Now awake with a pounding headache, she frowned and moved her head towards the direction where Alya was keeping her eyes closed.

"Als… seriously… what happened? I… I remember arriving at the show, worrying then its blank."

"Your definition of worrying is slightly different to the rest of the worlds, girl. You had a panic attack. You stopped breathing and passed out. On the way down you whacked your head against the corner of a table. Lots of blood and shouts. You're all badged up and need to be checked for concussion. We're in hospital."

"Oh… what… no! I did not panic! It was worry, more importantly, did my life's work go ok?!?!"

"What?! Seriously girl! THAT is what you're worrying about??"

"Did the show go ok? The outfits presented properly. How was it received?"

"Nettie sweetie. I love you, I do. *You* have been my biggest concern. Not your outfits. I'm sure it was ok and it doesn't matter about the after party. Hey, no stop!"

Ignoring Alya's protests, Marinette, despite her throbbing head, started to disconnect all the monitors, blanking out the horrible squealing sounds they now where giving off. She needed to know how her collection was received. The hours she had poured into it all, she need the feedback. The minor head situation can be dealt with much later.

"I'm fine. It's minor Alya. How the collection was received is more important. I need to go to that party. We can come back after I've found out."

"Can you sit down Miss please."

A Nurse had bundled into the ward and started firmly but carefully push Marinette back onto the bed despite her kitten protests that she was fine. With no nonsense the nurse started to check Marinette and sort out the noisy equipment so not to disturb the rest of the room.

Alya smirked at the pout Marinette was sending the nurse as she reluctantly compiled with the instructions she was given as she was medically reviewed and accessed.

"I want to keep you in and review your concussion for the next few hours before deciding if it's safe to discharge you. I'm going to get you some pain relief for your headache and we will review later. Buzz if you need anything or you feel nauseas or any symptoms get worse and I'll be back in a moment."

As the nurse disappeared leaving the curtains open Marinette groaned in frustration sending Alya large kitten eyes and looking very sorry for herself.

"You're not going to help me escape are you?"

"Nope." Alya popped the 'p' grinning at the response.

"What am I going to do. I can't even read the reviews as you're holding my phone hostage. This is cruelty. If you loved me you'd help me. Betrayed by my own best friend."

"I'm not betraying you. You can review the shows feedback when your head isn't hurting with lights making it worse and you can't over think comments. I *will* tell you though, Audrey has sung your praises again."

"But what else! What about the networking you always say I should do!!"

"Nuh-uh! You sit back and rest."

Marinette pushed the 'food' or more appropriate junk around that Alya had found in a vending machine. It was gross. It was disgusting. She would not lower herself to drink the disgusting excuse of liquid or eat the cardboard presented to her.

"Please Nettie! Stop being awkward."

"I'm not being awkward. This…," Marinette wrinkled her nose in protest, "stuff does not equate to food or liquid. You want to leave as much as I do. So go find a proper bakery and get me something of standard."

"A bakery?!?"

"Yes. An almond croissant would be ideal really. A subpar taste of home would do me the world of good."

"And no doubt a black coffee to go with it, Princess?"

"French press preferably."

Alya rolled her eyes at Marinette as she in returned tried to provide kitten eyes and pouted.

"Pleeeeeease!"

The medicine the nurse provided had helped ward off most of the headache but the bright lights did make Marinette want to squint and the thought of food, technically made her feel nauseous, but she needed out. Marinette hated hospitals and with Alya keeping guard she would never escape without the official go ahead from the nurse. She just needed to get rid of her friend for a significant amount of time. Once out, all was fair and Alya wouldn't… hopefully… take her back to the hospital… maybe.

Sensing weakness as Alya semi faltered, Marinette ramped up her Adrien/Chat Noir 'I'm pathetic and need feeding' looks until Alya cracked throwing her arms into the air.

"Fine! If the nurse takes the coffee away it's not my fault. Give me a mo to find somewhere on the map."

Internally Marinette smirked as outwardly she beamed, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!! I will love you for forever!!"

"Sure you will. Look, I found a place a 10 minute walk away."

Narrowing her eyes, Alya pointed her phone at Marinette in warning.

"You are to stay here. I WILL be back."

Marinette nodded her head slowly with wide aching eyes focused on the movement of the phone to close to her face for comfort. As Alya sped off, Marinette slowly counted to 300 in the hope that it meant Alya had left the hospital given her the opportunity to escape.

As yet another nurse, doctor, hospital staff (Marinette was keeping track) seemed to appear, she dived into what she hoped was yet another cupboard to hid. Peering out the tiny crack she heard a noise behind her causing Marinette to spin around fast grabbing the nearest thing she could (a bed pan) as a weapon. Staring back at her was the other person on her ward from earlier, he too looked like he was trying to escape having also concluded that waiting was a pointless task.

"Disco girl?"

"Tank."

"What?"

"I thought it was a game of state the obvious." Marinette turned to peer out the crack watching yet more people go down the corridor. "Wait!? Please don't tell on me… I won't tell on you."

Low chuckles sounded behind her as Marinette sighed and moved back to look around the supplies within the room, slightly on edge of the stranger.

"Why don't we work together instead. Seems like we're both trying to evade over bearing friends."

"I don't know you. How do I know you're not a serial killer?"

"*chuckles* I'm Jason and I promise I won't kill you. I dislike meaningless violence especially on those who are innocent."

Marinette pouted at the giant of a man smirking before her, she felt like he was missing something out of that statement but at the same time he didn't seem like a threat and she didn't get any off vibes coming across. He also had a point about working together to escape the their prison.

"Marinette. Do you have a plan?"

Ignoring the tank of a man, Jason, who had just shrugged, Marinette started to move, looking through the cupboard to see what stuff was in there which would allow her to formulate an escape rather than door dashing she was currently doing.

"Acquire a wheel chair, grab some stethoscope and wheel you out like a good attendant would do."

"Excuse you!! Why do I have to play the patient?! You could play the patient while I play doctor. We're more likely to find scrubs that fit me than you."

"Listen Doll, hate to break it to ya, but having a bandage around the head makes it much harder for you to look like a doctor."

"I… what…" Marinette's hand rush to head to feel the bandage wrapped around the cut and remembered Alya's delightful description of her downfall."

"Oh… ok… well… that makes sense. Baguettes! I'm such a clutz."

"Or you're suffering from concussion."

"That too but I need out. Hate hospitals."

"Same. Never anything good in them. So, you on board?"

"Yup. Found a stethoscope on this shelf, and few other things. Let's get you dressed up Doctor Jason."

The pair with some miraculous luck found an 'abandoned' wheel chair which Jason nodded for Marinette to sit in. He found a stray blanket tossing it at Marinette so she dressed up as a poor victim that Jason was escorted to an appointment at the other end of the hospital. Gratefully no-one stopped the pair in their get up or even gave them the time of day. With the supplies and get up they had found they fitted into the background perfectly much to Jason's relief.

As they turned a corner and Jason froze. The tiny waif of a woman looked up at him in his pretend doctor gear to try grab his attention and figure out what had caused them to stop. With an abrupt turn, Jason started to wheel Marinette down another corridor despite the exit being within reach moments previously.

"Ummmm, we're going the wrong way. The exit was back there."

"Yup, but it's being guarded by a red headed menace."

"Alya's there?!?! Sugar! I thought I had another 5 minutes left before she arrived."

"Ah, sorry, not your red headed menace. Mine. Roy, the fool who brought me here in the first place."

"Okay, that makes sense. Does this place have a back entrance or something that we can escape into?"

"That's what I'm looking for but no clue. We might need to find a perfect spot to watch and plan a distraction or something."

"Regroup at the cafeteria?"

"Maybe, just keep your eyes open."

Jason moved them away from the entrance trying to be discrete, avoiding attention that could draw unwanted company to them. His purposeful movements seemed to help disguise them as he desperately sought an alternative escape path. His partner in crime was surprisingly helpful and just good at spotting potential hazards. Jason found himself slipping into an easy conversation with Marinette. They were fine and had almost come up with a perfect escape plan, but Jason, pushing his luck slipped in a flirty joke with Ms Panic at the Disco. Marinette's laugh echoed down the hall only to have a vaguely familiar shout in a response. Panic grew in Jason as his companion paled and started to look around urgently.

"Ummm… Jason. Are you up for running? My red headed menace is here now too. They're trapping us in a pincer movement."

"Not on my watch Doll. Ready for some wheel chair racing and knocking red haired pins over?"

"Errr, what?! Eeeeks!!!"

Quickly checking that Marinette have grabbed the arms of the wheelchair, Jason started to jog with increasing speed with Marinette squeaking with the increasing speed. Jason weaved quickly around other patients and hospital staff with a confidence and precision in an attempt to lose the meddling red headed friends.

"Where are we going?"

"Away. Hold tight!"

Jason careened around a corner at speed tipping a wheel off leaving Marinette clinging on in panic. Her squeak again was boarding on cute if Jason wasn't so worried about Roy catching him. Jason found himself nearly toppling over the chair as Marinette grabbed a wheel changing the speed and direction but pointing at a sign of hope.

"That way! Fire exit."

"Good Spot Doll."

Charging towards the spotted escape, the pair chanced a glance at the chasing red heads now followed with security. Looking backwards Jason didn't notice a visitor drop their drink spilling the liquid across their path. Seconds later, wheelchair, Marinette and Jason slipped on the wet floor and collided with a wall in a heap.

"Really Roy! Really. I thought you were a friend."

"I am. Which why you're back here."

"I loved you Als. You've betrayed me TWICE! How could you? Stabbing me in the back and all."

"Suck it Nets. I did no stabbing, that was you who tried to TRICK me!"

"The betrayal. The disowning. The lack of coffee!!"

Roy smirked with Alya as Jason and Marinette glared at the well-meaning and caring friends. The two injured pair fumed as they were handcuffed to their beds. It seemed a little extreme (and pointless) but the nurses and security agreed with the stubborn noirettes that were now a flight risk so it had to be done.

While Marinette and Jason, with their additional bruises (and egos) sulked, Roy sat opposite the other red head who was content in playing card's with him. Alya was cackling at her friends misfortune, had started a competition with Roy, which he could completely get behind, on exchanging stories and anecdotes of their injured friends and the chaos they'd caused. The mutual kinsman ship was a blessing and a relief he finally had a partner to help wrangle his dark haired menace back into bed for recovery who also have a dark haired drama queen.

Glancing at the brooding bedbound pair who despite appearing to accept their fate, were amitting death energy off them, Roy turned his attention back to Alya. The red head knew that the hushed whispers from the dark haired menaces where either planning their next escape or ways to enact revenge. Hopefully Roy had wowed Alya enough to be willing to make an escape plan if wrangling the devils in disguise failed. He rather liked to live after all this.

#maribat #dc x mlb #mlb x dc #maribat au #ml x dc #dc x ml #meet cute #meet cute monday #jason x marinette #marinette x jason #jasonette

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folk-ever-lore · 2 years

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Wicked

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” a voice said gently in her head, “I will give you the power to take your kingdom back from those who stole it.”

The brave girl shook her head wiping her tears, “What you want, I will not give you.”

***

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” the familiar voice said, “I will give you the power to silence those who have wronged you.”

“Listen to me,” the furious girl hissed, “stay in your lane.”

***

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” the ever known voice appeared in her head once again, “I will not let you escape me again. I will give you the power to control anyone who dares to stand in your way.”

“All of this talking,” she laughed back, at the supervillain who had seemingly made it his mission to akumatise her, “is driving me insane.”

A butterfly flew from her hair ribbon.

“See you later, little butterfly.”

***

Marinette was furious. No, she wasn’t furious. She’d been furious a few years ago when Lila had framed her for stealing her stuff, but now? Now she was mad with rage.

Did that liar seriously think that she could take away all of Marinette’s Parisian friends and not expect any Payback? If so, she had a very big surprise coming. But it had been when Lila had the nerve to dare insult Marinette’s boyfriend that she’d lost control of any will power that was holding her back.

“Oh yeah,” Lila had said, “I met the Waynes when I visited Gotham during the summer. Brucie and Richard were so nice and caring, along with Tim, but the middle child? Jason? He was a nightmare. It’s no wonder why his death was faked in order to keep him out of public view. It would have destroyed the Wayne family’s public image.”

That was when Marinette had lost it. She did take people insulting her fabulous boyfriend very well at all, let alone when they made disgusting comments about his death.

She smiled and made her way over to the serial liar. “Hey Lila, I’ve got a present just for you.”

“A present? For me? You really shouldn’t have.”

“I insist,” she smirked, before curling her fist up and punching the liar right in the face.

“What was that for?” Alya had yelled amid the chaos.

“"I have sat by and watched her lie to all of you for years now, without doing anything as you all seem content to believe her over me,” Marinette stated casually, “but I will not let her say anything about such a personal matter that she knows nothing about. She’s never met Jason and can’t say anything about his death.”

“You’re insane,” screamed Lila.

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” a lulling voice cried, anxious to see if this would finally be the day he succeeded, “I will give you the power to protect any relationship that is pure of heart.”

She paused, “And what will I do to the others?”

“You will destroy them. And all you need to give me in return are Ladybug and Chat Noir’s miraculous. Do we have a deal, Homewreaker?”

“Yes, Hawk Moth.”

***

When the news report reached America, reached the Justice League, reached Jason the attack had already been going on for a day.

The Justice League had been called in after Ladybug hadn’t shown up for hours, but apparently no one had actually told Jason because ‘he was too close to this case’. Yes because that was his girlfriend who had been akumatized. His girlfriend who had been the only person capable of restoring the damage done by akuma attacks. His girlfriend that the Justice League didn’t know was Ladybug.

Yeah, fuck not helping. He was taking a zeta tube to Paris.

***

He raced through the streets, wearing his Red Hood leather jacket without the rest of his usual get up. He hoped that seeing both sides of him would help.

“Marinette,” he cried out when he saw her. “Marinette, please talk to me.”

The corrupted figure of his girlfriend flew down towards him with a smile. “Hello, my love,” she said in a sing-song voice. “I was wondering how long it would take you to come and see me.”

“They tried to stop me from seeing you,” he admitted softly, prioritising his own safety over the Justice League’s, after all they’d agreed to it when they’d tried to lock him up, “but I managed to get here anyway.”

Marinette, no Homewreaker, growled, “I’ll kill them. I’ll hunt them all down and kill them. No one shall keep my love from me, not even the Justice League.”

Jason swallowed heavily and shook his head. They’d only been looking out for him, even if they didn’t have all the facts and made the wrong decision. “Please no,” he begged, “stay with me as Marinette instead.”

“I am not Marinette, I am Homewreaker,” she hissed, shoving him away. “It would be wise to accept that.”

“I will never accept that the girl I love is gone,” he claimed, eyes hardening with resolve as he spoke. “She loves the world around and would never hurt anyone. She is a blessing to have in this universe. She is so incredibly kind and caring.”

“Well,” Homewreaker replied with a smirk gracing her purple lips, “this is a wicked world, for this wicked girl. You can watch me dance around possessed, or I’ll put a noose around your neck to finally make you mine once and for all.”

Jason grimaced at the imagery. Marinette would never do anything that cruel to anyone, ever, not even a supervillain.

Wait. She’d recognised that she was possessed. Did that mean that Marinette was still in there fighting for control against Hawkmoth? He certainly hoped so. He was about to make himself look like a fool if not. But this was his last chance to save her. He didn't know what else he could do. This was her last chance.

“Marinette,” he cried again, “I know you’re still in there. I know you’re still fighting for control. If you weren’t, Hawk Moth would have already won. Please, come back to me.”

The infamous purple butterfly mask appeared on her face. Marinette’s body twisted and twitched as she fought Hawk Moth for the control of her body. She wasn’t going to give up that easily.

Her voice was softer, gentler and kinder and she screamed and sobbed for help. She sounded much less possessed. “Jason,” she yelled, pain echoing through each and every single one of her words. “Jason, help, please.”

“I will, my love,” he said as he pulled her twitching body close to him, enveloping her in a hug. Refusing to let her lose herself, refusing to let Hawk Moth get control of her body, refusing to let her leave. He was going to save her, and he didn’t give a fuck what the Justice League or anyone else had to say about that.

“Jason?” Marinette asked, as a wave of purple overtook her once again, this time returning her to her normal self. The black butterfly pulled away from her body and turned white as it flew off.

“I’m here,” he soothed, running his hand through her hair in the gentle, familiar pattern he generally did when they were cuddled up beside each other watching films. “I’m here and I’m never leaving. Not now, not ever. You won’t be getting rid of me any time soon.”

She pulled him closer to her, as close as he could get. “Can we get out of here?” She asked, not liking all the media and attention on her. She wanted to crawl into a ball and forget that this event had ever occurred, but unfortunately she couldn’t. The best she could do was escape from the media’s watchful eyes for a bit.

“Of course,” he said as he picked her up. “The Watchtower?” He whispered into her ear.

She nodded, “Yes please. I think we need to tell them the full truth.”

“Anything for you, my love.”

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itsnothappening · 2 years

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thighs | jasonette

word count: +1.9k

summary: wasn't she supposed to feel something when her soulmate died?

a/n: not my best :(

@maribat-calendar-events

ao3 | wattpad | series masterlist | masterlist | prompts

Marinette was five years old when she first got her soulmate mark. It was a totally normal sentence and—at that time—perfectly understandable because, well, she was probably the clumsiest person in existence.

Don't worry about it, were going to be her soulmate's first words to her.

Her parents had laughed lightly when they saw it, and Marinette giggled along with them, never foreseeing that she would come to hate them in the future.

Before, she used to show off her soulmate sentence, telling anyone and everyone who would listen. Marinette thought it was something to be proud of, something she should cherish and be happy for. But she was a poor naive little girl then, seeing the world only in the rose-coloured glasses her parents had brought her up in. As she grew older, Marinette began to despise them for it—maybe she wouldn't be as jaded as she was now if only her parents had raised her differently.

The arrival of Hawkmoth and Lila Rossi completely shattered those glasses, especially when the universe seemed to let her down constantly. When she was in school, Lila was not content with blinding all of Marinette's friends with her flashy tales, nope, she wanted to destroy Marinette's home life too.

Somehow, with her oh-so-mystical powers, Lila managed to convince Marinette's parents that their daughter was, in fact, a thief. That, unfortunately for Marinette's parents, was the end of the rope for their daughter. The day she turned eighteen, Marinette moved out of her childhood home, to an apartment she had saved for months.

Soon after that, Marinette stopped believing in her soulmate. Maybe it was because the universe had screwed her over so many times that Marinette believed it to be impossible that she would ever get to meet her soulmate. Or, maybe it was because of the general air of discord around her; thanks Hawkmoth. But, at any rate, her soulmate mark began to fade. It happened throughout a few nights and by the time Marinette noticed—since she couldn't care less at the time—it was already gone.

The words she had traced millions of times as a child just disappeared, and she didn't even notice. Wasn't she supposed to feel something when her soulmate died?

(Although she would never say it out loud, it was the first time Marinette cared to admit that maybe she cared about her soulmate. Just a little.)

Then the realization that her soulmate was gone set in, and Marinette had never felt so... alone. Sure, she still had the kwamis, but it wasn't the same.

Eventually, Marinette decided to get over herself, because wasn't this the choice she made?

She decided a fresh start was in order, considering the fact that she couldn't go anywhere in New York where she wasn't tainted with reminders of her former/dead soulmate.

It probably wasn't the best decision, but Marinette packed up and found herself in Gotham, the city of crime. With her skills, it wasn't hard to find a job, and faster than she thought was possible, Marinette settled down.

Today, she works as the Wayne family's personal designer, a job that paid very well and resulted in a lot of interaction with the family.

Her experience in short: The Waynes were nothing like the media made them look.

Being their designer meant Marinette had been a witness to all of their—admittedly stupid—escapades, and it made her wonder; just how did they manage to hide all this from the media?

Marinette huffed out an amused laugh as she remembered the time Tim thought it would be a good idea to drink nine cups of coffee in a row—it didn't end well, but from an outsider's point of view, it was hilarious.

Pressing on the dainty bell at the Wayne Manor's massive—and dramatic—doorway, Marinette waited for their beloved butler to open the door.

Marinette liked to think that she and Alfred were good friends, mainly due to their shared love of baking and—of course—their connection to the Wayne family. More often than not, the two of them could be found chuckling over their antics, with a Wayne sibling whining in the background.

"Good morning Miss Marinette," Alfred opened the door wider, giving her space to enter. "I expect you are here for the measurements of the Wayne Gala?"

Marinette shot him a pearly smile as she stepped into the manor's foyer, already heading to the main room, where she generally took everyone's measurements.

Giving him a nod, Marinette pushed open the door to the room, already prepared for the chaos inside.

As it turns out, Bruce was running late, leaving all the other Wayne children completely out of control.

When she entered the room, the first thing Marinette saw was Damian chasing Tim around with a particularly sharp knife, Dick yelling at them to stop and Cass just sitting there, an amused smile on her face.

As soon as she saw Marinette though, her eyes lit up with enthusiasm, waving her over.

Laughing, Marinette walked up to her and set her things on the plush—and very expensive—couch Cass was sitting on.

"Well," Marinette said, surveying the chaotic and loud room, "Since the others are busy, shall I start with you?"

Cass gave her a grin of assent and pulled out Marinette's sketchbook, excited to see all of her dress ideas.

Marinette had just finished introducing her first design when a searing pain made itself known on her back.

Clenching her teeth in an effort to not scream, Marinette accidentally broke the pencil she was holding, the only giveaway that she was in pain.

Immediately Cass was looking at her in worry, her eyes widening when she saw tears filling up Marinette's eyes and hurts escape her mouth.

Standing up in alarm, Cass dropped all of the materials in her lap—creating a loud ruckus—and rushed to her friend, rubbing her back in a silent motion of asking her how she could help.

A choked gasp escaped Marinette's throat as Cass' hand rubbed her back—rubbing the place her soulmate mark used to be, and effectively causing the pain to be worse.

It didn't take a genius to figure out where the sudden pain was coming from, and with effort, Marinette managed to whisper out, "Soulmate mark."

And then she passed out.

When she woke up a few hours later, Marinette woke up to the concerned whispers and questions of the Waynes, each of them looking at her with a healthy amount of worry in their eyes.

It took Marinette a few minutes to remember what had transpired, but once she did, her eyes widened to the point where they were almost bugging out of her head.

"Can someone—" she whispered, "Can someone check my soulmate mark?"

Cass volunteered to do so, kicking everyone out of the slightly out-of-the-ordinary room. Peeling off Marinette's fashionable blouse, Cass read out the newly inscribed words on Marinette's back.

My thighs are going to melt if you keep me like this for any longer.

Miles away, Jason Todd awoke for the first time after months, a new sentence engraved on the small of his back.

Well then stop moving and let me do my job.

#jasonette #jasonette july 2022 #jason x marinette #marinette x jason #marinette dupain cheng #jason todd #tim drake #bruce wayne #dick grayson #alfred pennyworth #cassandra cain #damian wayne #lila salt #mild #angst

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miracle-sham · 1 year

Text

Phoenix Villains Snippets.

| {MGI Civil War 3 Event} |

| {Play With Fire} |

———

| Word Count: 853. |

———

Marinette watched as the fire danced between her fingers and around her hand as if playing with her. It seemed so harmless like this, so different to roaring inferno burning the village around her to the ground.

This is what they deserved for hanging her parents under the accusation that they had set their own bakery alight. As if they would ever so recklessly endanger their sole livelihoods like that? It was sickening.

Her eyes, usually such a clear, crystal blue, gleamed gold in the lights of the flames. Why shouldn't she burn this place to the ground, and rejoice in the ashes? They'd taken everything from her. Her parents, her livelihood, her future...

Why shouldn't she take away theirs? There were no innocents in this. No one had said anything as the guards held her back, as she screamed and sobbed as two kind, gentle people gasped and choked for air.

It hadn't been a beheading. It hadn't been quick. Marinette wondered who pulled the strings to make it that way.

She'd burn them. The scent of charred skin was already becoming familiar enough.

Ashes choked the air. Good. They deserved to know how her parents had felt, desperate for air yet unable to breathe.

The crackling of bodies and buildings burning was loud, but not loud enough to disguise the crunch of soft footsteps against death baked soil, followed by the near silent swish of a cape.

“You're here to stop me.” She muttered hollowly, gaze not wandering from her flickering flames.

“What makes you think that?” An unfamiliar accent responded. “Maybe I'm here to join you.”

She snorted. “You're a Bat. Are you not? Bats stop that which they believe to be injustices.”

He chuckled. Against her will, she turned to look at him.

Poison-green eyes gleamed in the roaring fire's light. ... Perhaps this one was on her side. Still.

Best to make sure.

A man stumbled out of the wreckage, eyes wild, nearly out of his mind from pain.

"Please," he said, "Please save me. I can't -- I'm not -- I'm a good man, I promise, please --"

Marinette tilted her head at him. "Save you, hm?"

The Bat brushed ashes off his shoulder and nodded his head at her, as if to say, 'Go on.'

"Who saved my family?" she asked the man, and saw no recognition in his eyes. "Who saved Tom and Sabine Dupain-Cheng?"

"Make it stop!" the man pleaded again. Marinette tsked and threaded a soothing hand through his hair.

He sobbed, going lax under her hand.

She tightened her grip and yanked his head up. "Wrong answer."

The scent of burnt hair and charred, cooking flesh filled the air.

"Efficient," the Bat said, as she tossed the body to the ground. "Screaming was a little inconvenient, though."

Marinette gestured at the carnage around her. "Convenience wasn't exactly my goal, here."

He snorted. "Sure, it's not now. But later? It will be."

Sending a glance at him through the corner of one eye, she caused the fire to ripple and writhe around her hand and to rise from the ground, licking at the air around her boots. Casting her in a brilliantly searing glow.

She hummed, closing her eyes for a brief moment as she breathed in the scent of smoke. “And, what do you exactly propose that later will require my goal to change to one of convenience?”

The Bat sauntered closer. “Awww, c'mon. Don't tell me this is your one and only grand plan? To burn one little village to the ground and then what? Let yourself get captured by a Bat?”

“You sound so certain that I wouldn't fight back.” She pointed out. “And yet you saw what I just did to the waste of life.”

“You didn't immediately try to attack me.” The Bat countered.

Marinette hummed.

“I could help you, if you were to so wish it.” The Bat offered, a teasing lilt to his tone, eyes glimmering not unlike hers as he watched the flames swirling around her.

“I have other targets.” She admitted. “Not everyone responsible was here tonight.”

“Then,” The Bat started, moving even closer, unphased by the risk of burning, “let's enjoy tonight, the other Bats, Ladybug and Batgirl specifically, won't arrive til overmorrow at the earliest. Afterwards, we can begin making moves towards our next targets.”

She nodded, lips uncurling into a feral grin. “That sounds a wonderful plan.”

The Bat bowed. “The name's Jason.”

“Marinette but I think Phoenix is a little more fitting for the both of us now, don't you think.” She answered.

“Oh, I agree.” He reached one gloved hand out towards her. “To the start of a beautiful alliance.”

“To the start indeed.” Marinette clasped his hand, flames dancing and playing harmless around them both.

———

"What," Steph said, "The fuck."

She was staring at a heart burned into the ground. A perfectly-shaped, coal-black heart. That was somehow gouged into the cobblestone road.

Cass hummed. "Not natural, Ladybug" she said.

Steph spluttered. "Not -- not -- NO DUH! Batgirl! What -- "Cass's giggle cut her off. Steph pouted.

"Unfair," she mumbled, "You're so mean to me."

———

| @writingsnippetsthatneverupdate | | @maribat-get-in |

#Maribat #Jasonette #MGI #M?GI Civil War 3 #Maribat? Get In!#JasMari #MariJay #Marinette x Jason #Jason x Marinette #MGICivilWar3 #MGI Civil War 2023 #Luck's a Ladybug #Ba(d)t Bitches #Collab #Sham's Posts #Sham's Writing #Saf's Writing

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jinx-jade · 2 years

Text

Learning what it means to heal: chapter 1

"So, you're looking for a what… a cure? For the madness caused by the Lazarus pit?" Constantine asked as he took another drag from his cigarette, letting the smoke out with a slight hiss of breath.

"If you can't help then just say that. Quit wasting our time." Jason growled, eyes flaring into sharp shades of green once more, in a show of anger and irritation.

Cassandra laid a hand on Jason's forearm, drawing his attention away from the mage that had triggered his anger. It did nothing to calm the madness, only redirect it to a target he wouldn’t harm with anything but words, and if the madness did turn into physical violence, then a target that could also defend herself without causing him too much harm.

"Never said I couldn't help." The magic-user informed them with a raised brow, extinguishing the last of his cigarette- burning embers falling cold as he discarded it into an ashtray.

Dick glanced over to his little sister who gave a half nod, half-shrug. He returned the nod before turning his attention back to the magic-user in front of them.

"So how do we get rid of the Lazarus pits' side effects?" The eldest of the Wayne siblings asked, only to receive a chuckle in response.

"Never said I could help, either." Constantine's snarky response came as he grabbed a bottle and glass over the counter of the bar and poured himself a glass of whiskey.

"Constantine," Bruce said in a sharp tone, a clear warning to the mage who raised his hands as if to surrender.

"You're gonna want to talk to the Court's Snake." He informed them, lowering his hands as he leaned against the bar top, grabbing his glass, he took a sip of the amber liquid.

"The what now?" Stephanie questioned from where she had been leaning against the wall.

Constantine held up a finger, a silent, 'one moment' as he threw his head back, finishing off his glass, before setting it back down onto the counter.

"The Court's Snake," Constantine repeated as if that would explain everything. When the bats showed no sign of recognition, he let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Court of Miracles? Wielders of the Miraculi, magic artifacts that serve to tether literal gods to this plane? The kids you guys left in charge of Paris for a three-year-long war?" The mage reminded them, causing the Justice League members present to cringe, having recognized the brief explanation of the meta heroes once they were given more content than just a 'court'.

"Ah, so you do remember them." Constantine chuckled as he poured himself another glass of whiskey.

"What does their snake have to do with anything?" Dick asked with furrowed brows. "He was a temporary hero that they retired as soon as they could."

"The Snake has the God of intuition as his companion, the kid's name is L… L something." He shrugged. "He's a smart kid, but I'm sure you can find him easily with that computer of yours." The mage informed them, picking up his glass, only to startle as a bullet shattered the glass he had been holding.

Everyone present looked over to where the bullet had been shot from, revealing a very pissed-off Jason, gun still in hand, but now pointed at the ground where Cassandra had lowered it.

"That was rude." The mage claimed with a bored expression.

"Are you gonna help or are you gonna continue with your bullshit runaround answers," Jason growled, glaring toxic green eyes at the magic-user, who ignored the silent threat in favor of turning back to the bar and grabbing another glass, placing it on the counter.

"I gave you as much of an answer as any other mage could give. Talk to the Court's Snake if you want to find a way to be healed. Even if he, himself, can't heal you, the snake will know who can." Constantine informed them as he poured his glass of whiskey once again, raising a brow towards Jason, who still had a gun in hand, but with the safety now clicked back in place.

"Thank you, Constantine," Bruce said with a sigh, ushering his kids towards the door they had entered through.

Once they stepped through the door they appeared back into Bruce's home office, as if they had just entered through that doorway instead of leaving through the bar doorway.

Jason dropped the gun he had been holding onto one of the coffee tables before storming out of the office. The office door closed harshly behind him as those that were left in the office looked at each other in silent communication.

"I'll go talk to Babs about finding a snake," Stephanie said with a raise of her hand, receiving a nod from Cassandra, who followed her out of the office. Leaving the eldest child with their adopted father.

Bruce let out a sigh as he walked over to his desk, sitting tiredly on the chair, leaning back as he dragged his hands down his face.

"I mean, at least we got a lead?" Dick prompted, completely ignoring the chairs in front of the desk he could sit on in favor of sitting on the desk itself.

"A lead to an unstable group of meta heroes that do whatever they please with no order or reason." Bruce countered, raising a brow as if to reprimand his son for sitting on the desk instead of a chair.

"But it's a lead, nonetheless. Besides, Wonder Woman backs them, so does Aquaman, and all of our magic users if I remember correctly." Dick reminded him, ignoring the pointed look, and the raised eyebrow in favor of checking his phone that was buzzing with incoming messages. Bruce sighed tiredly as he picked up his own buzzing phone.

They looked over the texts curiously, seeing that they were from Barbara.

"That was quick," Bruce said as he reread the messages, noting the location before sending back a response.

"She's Babs, what do you expect?" Dick huffed in amusement, jumping off the desk as he began making his way to the door. "Besides, I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say we'd do anything to help each other. That's what families are for right?"

Bruce hummed in agreement as his eldest son left the room, presumably to either help the girls in their search for information or to find Jason and help him calm down.

With another tired sigh, something that had quickly become a constantly recurring sound within the Wayne household, Bruce opened up the family calendar and began to draft a rearranged version to accommodate a trip to Paris. He then sent the rough draft schedule to Alfred to be approved or rearranged as the family butler and pseudo-Grandfather saw fit.

By the end of the week, the Wayne family was in Paris to supposedly check in on their European branches as well as attend a gala the following week in the city of lights. The first three days were spent checking in on the W.E. branches, making public appearances to create the illusion of a normal family work trip abroad, and planning how they should go about talking to the former snake wielder.

“So… who’s going to meet the former snake, Luka Couffaine?” Tim asked, typing away at something on his laptop from where he had decided to set up his workspace, on top of the coffee table in the center of the living room.

“Great question- little wing?” Dick prompted, looking away from Tim and over towards Jason, who only looked up briefly, shrugging in response before going back to reading his book, one of his favorites that he had brought from home.

“We came here to find a way to help you.” Damian tisked, “You could at least try to do something productive instead of wasting our time.”

Jason slammed his book shut, not bothering to even look in Damian’s direction as he stood up from his spot on the couch, dropping the book onto his now abandoned seat.

“Fuck you demon brat- I’m going out,” Jason grumbled after a few steady breaths, he made his way towards the door, leaving the room with the soft swoosh and click of a door being opened and closed.

“Not helpful, Dames.” Stephanie groaned, gesturing towards the door that Jason had just left through. The youngest of the Wayne children blinked a few times, scowling at the door as if it had offended him.

Bruce walked into their penthouse, looking from the door to the rest of his children for an answer to his silent question.

“Damian couldn’t keep his mouth shut,” Tim answered, looking just over the edge of his computer screen before going back to work on whatever it was, he was working on.

Damian huffed, crossing his arms, fingers twitching in a tell-tale sign of wanting to grab one of his blades. Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose, patting Damian on the head before gesturing towards the door with a raised brow.

“Who is he not currently mad at?” Bruce questioned, glancing from one child to the next.

"Me, Duke, and Cass," Dick answered as he got ready to go follow Jason.

"Nah- he's mad at you by default association." Tim pointed out.

"What did I do?" Dick asked in confusion.

"You a) bothered him while he was trying to read, and b) didn't tell Damian off for being a gremlin," Tim explained as if it was obvious.

“Uh, but Cass and I are probably fine, right?” Duke asked, awkwardly raising his hand as Cassandra gave a nod of her head.

“We have a dinner to attend at six with one of W.E. 's partners, Picture Purrfect’s CEO, at Agreste Manor.” Bruce reminded them, as the two exchanged looks before getting up and leaving the penthouse. The door closed lightly behind them.

“How far do you think he’s gotten?” Duke asked, stepping into the stairwell, shooting his grappling hook to the top through the hole in the center, holding onto the railing as he looked over at his older sister.

Cassandra shrugged, lifting a hand, and tilting it from side to side, before grabbing her own grappling hook and doing the same.

“Fair enough.” Duke agreed with a shrug, jumping up, over the railing, and down the center of the stairwell, Cassandra being quick to do the same, following her little brother down to ground level.

Releasing their grapples once their feet were planted firmly on the concrete flooring, Cassandra nodded her head in the direction of the exit sign above the door that led to the outside, ignoring the door that led them back into the building based on where Jason would go. The two siblings left the building, cloaking in light refraction that rendered them invisible to the normal human eye, they began their search, pulling Jason's tracker on Duke's phone to lead them to their destination.

"Geez, he made good time," Duke said as he pointed out the red dot signaling Jason's location that was halfway across the city.

They made their way up a fire escape and began running from rooftop to rooftop. Cassandra gives him a strange look when she sees how far away Jason had made it in the time it had taken them to leave the penthouse. She shook her head in a slow deliberate motion, gesturing down at the device.

"Uh- doesn't make sense- or the device is wrong?" Duke guessed, having been the newest of the strays that their adoptive father had taken in, he was still getting used to what means what from the silent bat.

Cassandra shrugged, holding up a one, then a two, then a one, and another two, tilting her head from side to side as if to say either worked.

"Check the location first to see if it's right, then ask Babs to take a look if it's wrong?" Duke proposed, landing from a somersault into a running crouch as he glanced to his side to see his sister's answer. Cassandra gave a sharp nod of her head before gesturing for them to continue.

____________________

Jason left the penthouse as fast as he could, uncaring whether he caused a scene, trying to keep the whispers of the madness under control as he rushed out of the building so as to not hurt anyone that doesn't, entirely, deserve it. He turned into an alleyway, ignoring the whispers from the madness of run-hurt-kill-hurt-run as he walked through the alleyway. Each and every step he took echoed along the pavement as he made it to the other side of the alleyway.

Except it wasn’t the other side of an alleyway. It was a library, bookcases lining every wall from floor to ceiling, with ladders leaning against the shelves, set at different heights for easy access to the difficult-to-reach books.

"Huh. That's new." A voice hummed, different from the harsh whispering madness. It was soft and luring in a way the slimy voices of madness had never been before.

"Hello?" The new voice greeted in a questioning tone, drawing his attention to a person in front of him. A real person, not just a voice created by the madness.

"How did you get here?" The person questioned. Bright blue eyes staring into his burning acid green.

"I just… walked down the alleyway… and then I was here," Jason explained hesitantly, in a slight trance from the way the person’s almost glowing blue eyes examined him. A clear show of skepticism from the person as they narrowed their eyes at him.

“Are you sure?” The person asked, head tilted to the side curiously.

“I don’t know how I got here any more than you do,” Jason explained, barely holding back the snarl that threatened to escape as he crossed his arms over his chest, the person only humming in response, circling him as they examined him again.

“Where’s your keeper?” The person asked once they reached the point in their circle where they were once again, in front of Jason.

“The Fuck do I need a keeper for? I’m a grown-ass adult.” Jason snarled, eyes glaring at them with shades of swirling greens as the madness made another attempt to fully take over, only just being held back by his determination not to give in.

The person narrowed their eyes at him again, bringing their hand up to their mouth, biting down on the skin at the edge of their fingertip. They grabbed Jason’s wrist, bringing it closer to their index finger, swiping patterns onto the inner part of his wrist with warm red liquid before he could respond or pull away. He would have probably let out the snarl he had been holding back but he was only able to let out a shaky breath as he realized that everything had gone quiet. The whispers dissipated into thin air, as if they had never existed, to begin with.

“...what did you do?” he asked in a hushed voice, filled with cracks from the tears forming in the corner of his eyes. As if speaking too loudly would undo whatever it was the person had done, his arms fell to his sides limply.

“Soul tethering. It’s a helpful skill for keepers to know in case their charges lean-to close to the line of being a reaper.” The person explains, holding Jason’s wrist up for him to see. “Although, if I had to guess, I would say you are a reaper. Which is concerning since you don’t seem to have a keeper.”

Jason stared at her for a few moments, letting the clean air enter his lungs as his mind stayed silent. He closed his eyes, letting himself just be in the moment of calm, not caring about the how or why just yet. Enjoying the knowledge that the madness was gone, even if just for a moment.

He opened his eyes when he felt a light poke in his chest, pushing the tears that had formed back so they wouldn’t fall.

“You, okay?” The person asked, eyes wide and lips pressed together in a firm line.

“Yeah- but, just one question,” Jason said in the same quiet voice as before, minus the voice cracking that he had gotten under control along with his tears.

The person only hummed, not agreeing to answer any questions, but not outright saying they wouldn’t

“What are you talking about?” Jason questioned. The person blinked in response, lips pursed, eyes still held wide open, or maybe they just had naturally wide doe-like eyes. “I just- soul tethering? That’s a magic thing, right?”

A nod, but no vocal answer.

“What about Phantoms, Reapers, and keepers? The first two have to do with the dead, souls, and ghosts, but I’m not sure how keepers fit into that or what they are.” Jason murmured, running a hand through his hair, drawing his attention back to the symbol the person had scribbled onto his wrist. It was red with flecks of yellow, closer to a shade of gold and rubies, or perhaps the color of a flickering flame, fiery reds with bright yellows appearing in the light.

Jason turned his head back away from his wrist to face them.

“You-… don’t know what you are-… do you?” The person asked slowly, staring at Jason as if he was a puzzle of some sort. A mystery that needed to be solved. An unknown that needed to be discovered.

“You say that like I’m not human.” Jason chuckled, only to be met by the sight of them worrying their lips with furrowed brows.

“Come on.” and a roll of the eyes was their response, ignoring his implied question in favor of leading him deeper into the library.

“Where are we going?” Jason asked, following the lure of bright sapphire eyes through the maze of bookshelves.

They stopped in front of a desk that was tucked away in a corner, cozy, and safe, out of view from the rest of the library. The person snatched up a journal from one of the desk drawers and held it out for him to take. However, when he attempted to grab the journal, the person pulled it out of reach, holding it tightly to their chest.

“It’s a book on phantoms. From what they are to what they can do. Just the bare basics.” They informed him, holding the book out for him to grab, and once again, the journal was pulled out of reach when he attempted to take it.

“What are you going to give me for this?” They asked, holding the journal up between their thumb, index, and middle fingers.

“Seriously?” he groaned, making another attempt to grab the journal. The person easily side-steps out of his reach with a twirl as if they were the air itself.

“I’m guessing you love to read and learn.” They claimed, eyes scanning over him once more as they circled him again. This time Jason turned with them, keeping an eye on their every movement.

“Yeah, so what?” Jason scoffed, leaning back to sit on the edge of the desk.

They responded by lightly shaking the book in their hands.

“While you are currently a reaper and not a Phantom, that doesn’t erase your Phantom traits.” They explained, crossing their arms lightly over their chest. The journal was safely tucked between their arms.

Jason growled. “You can just claim I’m not human and then dangle a book with an explanation of what I supposedly am in front of me. It’s rude as hell.”

The person blinked; head tilted to the side. “Huh, guess the tether is wearing out.” They mused and extended a hand expectantly towards him.

“What?" He questioned, while the person just made a grabbing motion towards his wrist. "...god dammit, you’re talking about the mark keeping the Lazarus out.” He cursed, bringing his wrist into view. The marks had faded, and the gem-like sheen it once had was replaced with the dull, copper of dried blood.

They snatched his wrist once more, examining it. “Soul tethers are supposed to last longer than that.” They said more to themselves than him. “Perhaps it’s the- Lazarus? You called it. That wore it down faster than it was supposed to.”

“Fuck if I know- can you just fix it?” he asked, a desperate tone weaving through his voice.

“Do you want me to fix the temporary thing, or do you want this journal?” They asked, in a voice that sounded soft and filled with pure curiosity, no hidden malice or meaning, simply curious to know what he would choose.

“I thought I had to give you something for the book.” He snarked, the sharp ringing of whispers seeping back into the air around him.

“You did!” The person cheered. “I have a new topic to research! It’s especially interesting since the Lazarus thing wore through an hour-long soul tether in half that time!”

Jason stared at them incredulously. “I’ve been here for half an hour? What- where the hell is here?” he asked, looking around the library as if it held some type of clue to show him where he had ended up.

The person only smiled at him, placing a finger over their lips in the universe sign for ‘quiet' and ‘secret’, as if to tease him with the unknown information.

“Jason! Geez, how did you get here so fast?” Duke questioned, jogging up to his side, Cassandra right beside him with worried brows.

“Wha?” He looked around once more only to be met with the sight of completely different bookcases that no longer ran from floor to ceiling, stopping two-thirds of the way up the wall instead.

“You okay, Jay?” The newest Wayne addition asked in concern, slowing down his movements in a way that deliberately made it so Jason could see that they weren’t a threat. He hated that it was a trained procedure that all of the Wayne family had when approaching him, even the newest adopted kid.

“I’m fine,” he barked a touch too harshly, wincing as the madness made another grab for full control, returning with a vengeful force.

He spotted a leather-bound journal sitting on an almost completely empty shelf to his left. The same journal that the person had agreed to trade with him. Pushing past his siblings, Jason snagged the book, and the book under it to conceal his movement from his older sister, slipping the leather-bound journal into the hidden compartment in his jacket with the ease of a former street kid who had to steal to survive, and kept the other book in his hand.

“Let’s go.” He huffed, looking over the other book only to be pleasantly surprised to find the book, ‘Moral Alignment of the Heart’, a book he had been meaning to read for a while but never had the time to.

“Sure.” Duke agreed, walking up on his left, Cassandra moving to be on his right, grabbing the hand that was unoccupied by a book, and began playing with his fingers in a soothing motion that also served as a distraction.

"Find any good books?" His little brother asked curiously, seemingly ignoring the book in his hold in favor of trying for a vocal answer.

"Haven't had time to read this one," Jason said in place of an answer, holding up the book Duke had previously been ignoring.

"Huh- that's a pretty old copy. Are you sure you want to buy it at a used bookstore? It could be damaged in some way that makes it so you can read it." Duke said, pointing out the few visible blemishes the cover had that highlighted the age of the book, but Jason just shrugged, walking up to the checkout desk.

After a quick interaction with the salesperson that Duke handled, they walked out of the store and opted to stop at an ice cream shop after some gentle persuasion from the Wayne Boys' older sister.

"Cass- we have a fancy dinner to attend in-" Duke pulled out his phone to check the time, "an hour and a half. We don't need to stop for Ice cream." He reminded her as they stepped into the ice cream parlor.

Cassandra pursed her lips, staring at her little brother with pleading kitten eyes as they walked over to the Ice cream display case.

"White chocolate cherry?" Jason asked, looking from his sister to all the assorted flavors in the display case. Cassandra nodded her head as she bounced on the balls of her feet, tugging lightly on the sleeve of his jacket.

"What?" He huffed, looking down at his older sister who pointed to another flavor of ice cream.

"One," Jason said sternly, narrowing his eyes as Cassandra pouted, releasing the sleeve of his jacket to cross her arms with a sharp puff of air as she pointed to the one, she wanted.

“What can I get for you today?” The employee asks with the normal customer service tone of voice that grates on Jason’s nerves.

“A Cotton candy cone, a dark chocolate raspberry cup, and whatever he gets,” Jason ordered, gesturing towards his little brother, who let out a sigh, resigning to the fate of a spoiled dinner.

“A rocky road cup, please,” Duke ordered, pulling out his wallet, only for Jason to beat him to it with a raised brow, making a show of holding up the book he had bought for earlier Jason.

The employee ran the card as a different employee handed them their orders.

“Have a wonderful day. Come back soon.” The employee called out as they left the shop.

“So-... we gonna stop and eat somewhere, head back to the penthouse, or are we gonna start walking towards Agreste manor?” Duke asked, walking backward so that he could face them while speaking.

Jason scrunched up his nose in annoyance.

“Is dinner mandatory?” he asked, receiving a poke in the side from Cassandra.

"Uh- I don't actually know? Want me to ask B for ya?" Duke proposed with a shrug, receiving a shake of the head from Jason.

"How far away is the dinner place?" he asked, scraping the paper cup for the last of his ice cream.

"...a fifteen-minute walk?" Duke answered hesitantly, looking to Cassandra for confirmation, who gave it in the form of a thumbs-up, munching on the cone of her sweet treat.

"K, bye," Jason said, throwing his cup and spoon away as he walked away from them.

Duke blinked looking between both of his older siblings as if trying to figure out what to do. Cassandra shrugged, pulling out her phone and opening it to the family trackers that they had originally used to find Jason, and tilted the screen for Duke to be able to see it.

“Why do I have a feeling that we won’t be seeing him at the dinner?” Duke asked with a chuckle, causing Cassandra to huff in amusement.

“Ugh- you’re gonna make me be the one to tell B, aren’t you?” he groaned as his older sister smirked before breaking into a sprint down the sidewalk.

“Hey! Get back here!”

____________________

Jason ducked into another alleyway, this time paying extra attention to his surroundings as he made his way over to the fire escape and began to climb it. As interesting as that library had been, he would rather not go back there right away, needing some time to process what exactly had happened.

He pulled open the window of his safe house and climbed through, flicking the lights on as he passed by the switches. Stripping off his jacket, he settled into the armchair that sat next to the couch, in front of the tv and grabbed the leather-bound journal from the hidden pocket.

The book itself didn’t seem to be different from any other leather journal. A smooth waxy, yet soft finish, with a small buckle clasping the pages shut. Nothing stood out about the book, but the person who gave it to him. Well, gave it to him being a loose term since they had claimed to need a trade for the book. A trade that could apparently be a new topic to research.

Jason bristled at the thought of the person he had met in the strange library getting caught up in anything to do with the league of assassins just because he had carelessly mentioned the word, Lazarus. And as strange as that encounter was, one that he would have thought to be a hallucination from the madness in another attempt to take control if he wasn’t holding proof of the encounter, the leather-bound journal they had traded him for the knowledge of something new and unusual to them, a part of him yearned to return to the cove of books that ran from floor to ceiling, surrounding them in knowledge, that perhaps he already know, or perhaps he did not.

He opened the journal and, undoing the buckle with a slight hiss as the prong sliced through the surface of his palm with an unexpected sharp edge. He glanced at the rather shallow cut as his blood slowly began to pool in the center of his palm. Cupping his hand around the air above the journal to keep the blood from spilling, he opted to temporarily ignore the cut in favor of looking over the first page of the journal that he had already opened too. A blank page stared at him, mocking him silently with the knowledge that now revealed itself as much more difficult to obtain. Knowledge, that for all he knew never existed, to begin with. Flipping the page revealed blank page after blank page, a completely blank book from front to back.

He stood up from the armchair with a snarl, letting the useless, blank book hit the floor without caring about what damage would befall it. He moved to the bathroom, hand still cupped around the pool of blood as he dug through the cabinet, pulling out the first aid kit he cleaned and bandaged the wound before returning to the armchair with the copy of ‘Moral Alignment of the Heart’ that he had picked up from the bookstore earlier.

Time moved on at an unknown rate as he was absorbed into the world of fiction, which despite the title, was not in fact a romance book, but a book about unpredictable events that lead to questionable choices. Those choices break and build the characters as the story continues, revealing the true colors of those who they called friends, family, or foes. None of the characters were as they seemed to behave at the start of the book, and by the time Jason got through the seventh chapter, none of the characters, and by extent, the reader, knew who to trust.

The quiet buzz of a phone ringing pulled Jason out of the world of fiction with a frustrated huff of breath. He looked around for a moment before spotting his jacket on the floor, probably having been knocked off the chair when he had stood up to bandage his hand. Leaning over the armrest, Jason picked the jacket up off the floor, revealing the discarded journal beneath it.

Except, the pages were no longer blank.

Crimson red ink was now scattered about the page as random areas had drawings and writing that faded into existence. A few small splatters of blood that had stained the pages spread out slowly, creating a thinly woven web as it went. Somehow creating more of the ruby red pigmentation without the need for more blood to be split, running its path until the book looked to have red painted edges instead of the previously plain ones or the usual gold that could be found on some books as a decretive detail.

“What the hell?” Jason whispered under his breath to no one in particular, reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a random flat paper that had been sitting uncomfortably through the fabric of the pocket lining and used it as a bookmark for the page he had been on.

Another buzz from his phone rang out as Jason picked up the journal and began to flip through it. This time the pages were full of handwritten text and sketches. He sat up straight in the armchair as he read each page, letting his phone ring out for the third time. Paragraph after paragraph, he examined the new information about the beings known as Phantoms. Their habits, traits, skills, and more, were all listed neatly within the journal. The part that caught his eye, in particular, was the small ‘chapter’ on Reapers.

His phone rang again. This time he pulled it out of his jacket pocket, checking to see who it was even though he already knew it was one of his siblings. He had three missed calls already, two from Dick, one from Bruce, and an incoming call from Tim. A harsh scoff left his mouth, and he pressed the decline button and continued reading.

The person from the library had called him a Reaper. Or more accurately, they had thought him to be a Phantom only to decide he was a Reaper instead, and this book explains why. Of course, it came back to the source of his misery and madness.

Reapers, as it turned out, was the title given to those whose souls had spiraled out of control. All of their raw power locked itself up in a last-ditch preservation act as their actions became increasingly chaotic, unpredictable, and violent. They were most commonly Phantoms who have lost or never had a Keeper to bring them back to balance. Although, there are a few passages of text explaining that outside energies can corrupt a soul. The book went as far as to list the energies to stay away from, most noticeably, energies like creative destruction magic, and destructive creation magic.

Those two were types of magic he had become familiar with through his family's research. They were the same type of energies that the Lazarus pits had been made from.

The book explained how Reapers can be brought back into balance but that the process used varied based on what caused the soul corruption to begin with. However, none of the processes were explained any farther than listing their names.

“Great. The fuck do I do with that?” Jason growled in frustration as he flipped through looking for any explanations on how to get rid of the madness. Even just a definition for the strangely named processes would be considered a win at this point, but there was nothing.

The luring voice of the blue-eyed stranger echoed in his mind as he realized what they had told him. ‘Just the bare basics’, they had said, the implication that they knew more hung in the air. How does someone know that this was only the basics if they didn’t know there was more to it, to begin with? Did they have more books with actual explanations? The questions ran through his mind until a sharp tapping noise broke him from his train of thought.

A quick glance towards the window revealed a familiar back and blue figure, hand poised as if to knock again.

Jason ignored his older brother, looking back down to his lap where the journal sat open to the page about Keepers. A detailed passage on how Phantoms traveled in groups, and pairs, but never alone, lest they risk becoming a Reaper. Phantoms that travel in twos only are known as safeguards. One is the keeper for the other and vice versa. Both safeguards hold the titles of keeper and charge.

"You okay little wing?" Dick questioned as he stepped through the window.

"Fine." Came Jason's quiet response as he turned the page, not bothering to look up.

The title keeper was given to someone that a Phantom views as their other half, platonically, romantically, or blood-related. So long as they are a Phantom and your soul considers them their other half, they can hold the title of keeper.

"You sure? Cause the window was left unlocked." Dick pointed out as he stood next to the armchair Jason was reading in.

"I said I was fine," Jason replied sharply, glaring at his older brother as he finally looked away from the leather-bound journal.

Dick held up his hands in mock surrender, waiting for his younger brother to either lash out or settle down.

"Have you eaten yet?" The blue and black vigilante questioned gently, holding up a to-go bag that Jason had not noticed earlier.

"...No," Jason murmured, looking back down at the book in his lap.

"Come on. The others are almost done with the dinner pleasantries, so we'll be heading over to see snake boy in a bit." The older explained as he set the food down on the kitchen island and pulled up a stool, gesturing for the younger to come and sit down.

Jason groaned as he carefully closed the journal, replacing the buckle and setting it aside before getting up and walking over to the bar stool. They sat in silence for a long while as Jason ate, content to leave any tension in the air well enough alone.

“How’d you get out of dinner?” Jason asked, taking another bite as he waited for an answer.

“My little brother caught one of those twenty-four-hour colds, so I just had to leave early to check on him,” Dick explained with all the dramatics of a former circus performer, causing Jason to scoff.

“So, you used me as a scapegoat for leaving early.” He questioned, glaring at his older brother.

“I'll have you know I would never!” The drama queen gasped in offense, placing a hand over his heart in a shocking movement.

“Wanna bet?” Jason asked with a raised brow, nodding over to the window where another bat had appeared at the safe house.

Dick only shrugged.

“I brought you dinner, didn’t I?” He laughed as Jason got up, throwing the empty takeout boxes away.

“It’s open dumbass,” Jason called out to the lurking bat, walking into one of the bedrooms that were used as more of a storage room.

When Jason returned to the main room in his Red-Hood gear, he saw Tim and Dick exchange a few looks in silent conversation. Ignoring the flare of anger that the madness created with the knowledge of being left out on something, he walked past them, grabbing the journal and stashing it away in a hidden pocket so he at least had some helpful information to read over if this Court Snake doesn’t work out.

“We going or what?” He snarked, gesturing toward the window Tim had left wide open.

“Yeah, we’re going.” Dick agreed, following him out, Tim following behind the eldest.

They checked the location of the established meetup point and then began to make their way there. Staying in the shadows, out of sight of any civilians that might still be awake in the early evening.

“Huh- wasn’t expecting you guys for another half hour.” A man with bright blue highlights claimed, putting his guitar away in favor of welcoming aboard the houseboat.

“Come on in.” The man, Luka Couffaine, motioned for them to enter the captain's quarters. “There are never many people at this dock, but that doesn’t mean no one will walk past here, better safe than sorry,” he explained, disappearing below deck.

While that explanation, logically made scenes. They still waited for Barbara to give them the all-clear to head below deck.

“So, what did you guys need?” The former Snake questioned, taking a backward seat in the desk chair, gesturing for them to sit where they pleased.

“What do you know about the Lazarus pits?” Batman asked in more of a demanding tone than a questioning one.

“Mmhh- Lazarus pits... Lazarus pit... laz- Oh! The destructive creation magical artifact that the Shadows have?” Luka guesses with a snap of his fingers.

“Yes, that. What do you know about it?” Batman asked again.

“Just that- but I know someone that could tell you more,” Luka informed them with a shrug, turning around to the desk, he opened one of the drawers, and pulled out a small, rectangular piece of paper with writing they couldn’t read in red ink.

He ripped the paper in half, causing their vision to blur and the room to spin. Then, suddenly, they were in a library of some sort.

“Hello.” A person with blue eyes and a luring voice greeted, raising a brow with a pointed look in Jason’s direction that no one else seemed to notice. “What can I help you with?”

#marinette x jason #mgimixer

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mochinek0 · 3 months

Text

Time to Go

Marinette had known since she was born that she was the only daughter of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul. She was also Damian's little sister, by three years.

When the strike on Ra's Al Ghul was taken, Talia quickly hid her away. Marinette knew her family's lives were on the line. She knew Damian would be on the front lines and prayed for his safe return. Although she knew she wasn't her grandfather's favorite, she still mourned his death. Damian seemed to take it especially hard.

Talia had told Marinette and Damian that they would be seperated for the time being. She needed Damian to go with his father to continue his training, while she picked up the pieces of the League.

"What about me, Mother?" Mari questioned.

"You will be on a mission, all of your own." Talia explained, "You're mission is to go undercover. You will act as a daughter of other people. This will keep you safe. Not many know of your existence, but I need to make sure all that wish to harm us, are gone."

"I do not approve of this." Damian snarled.

"I understand." Talia whispered, "I have folders for each of you with detailed instructions. Until you are in your new lodgings, you are not to open them."

Marinette nodded sadly and cried herself to sleep in her big brother's arms. She knew it would be a while before she saw him again. Talia gave them their moment. It hurt her dearly to tear her children apart, but Slade had to pay for his crimes. The League had to be rebuilt and become stronger than ever to give them both their inheritance. With Ra's gone, she would train Marinette to become as deadly as her, when she came of age.

Marinette smiled at the envelope in her hand.

'Another letter from mother. I wonder what my orders are this time.'

Marinette,

The time has come for your father to pick you up. He and Damian will pick you up in three days time. Prepare for his arrival.

Marinette smiled, happily. Lila had been a pain in the ass, as of late. Sabine and Tom took everything her so-called friends said at face value. They would laugh at the implications over dinner. Marinette would tell them all of the lies and how brainless the class truly was. They both knew that if Marinette was really bullying Lila, she could have done far worse. Tom and Sabine had disagreed with Adrien's decleration, but told Mairnette to keep the piece while they reached out to Talia. Only her mother's orders were absolute. If her mother said she could kill her, they wouldn't stand in her way.

"Maman. Papa." Marinette called out.

"So, what did the letter say this time?" Sabine asked.

"Father and Brother will be here in three days time to retrieve me." she answered.

"Well, let's start pulling you out of that horrible school and get ou all packed up." Tom laughed, "I'm sure they will be happy to see you."

'Damian, perhaps. Father; I don't know if he even knows of my existence. Surprise, Father.'

Bruce sighed, "What do you mean you have a sister?"

"It's just as I stated." Damian declared, "Mother has insisted it is safe to retrieve her."

"You've been talking to Talia?" Dick questioned.

"No." the young Wayne heir answered, "She gave us both instructions before we left."

Damian held up the letter.

"There are certain dates for me to open these letters." he explained, "Most of them coincide with our birthdays. Today is Marinette's; she turns fifteen."

"So where is she?" Jason asked.

"Paris, France." Damian stated, "She has been under watchful eyes and was assigned to live as a normal child. No assassin work. Grandfather wasn't too happy that he didn't have two grandsons. Mother taught her self-defense, but she helped out around, mostly as a servant. I was to ignore her if I saw her unless we were alone."

Bruce rubbed his head.

"I have already prepared another room, Sir." Alfred smiled.

"Please, don't let there be two of him." Tim pleaded as Bruce stood up and walked out of the cave to pack.

Marinette handed over her ledger of Lila Rossi to Bruce.

"The school needs to choose their staff more carefully." she spoke, "Tom and Sabine have tried stepping in with the Principal, but I bellieve the Board needs to know what is going on under their noses.

Bruce looked at it and quickly read through it.

"I agree." he snarled, "I'll be taking it with me to the board. I need to legally sign you out of that school, anyways."

Marinette turned to her brother and hugged him.

"I missed you." she whispered.

Damian said nothing, but held her close.

Tom and Sabine stood by as they watch the girl they help raise, reunite with her family. Marinette let go and realized they were holding something.

"We have a copy of all of the recipes we've made over the years." Sabine declared, "Both in the bakery and just for the house."

"Family eyes only." Tom smiled.

"Thank you." Marinette replied, taking it and holding it close to her chest.

"I will make sure it is handed over to our grandfather and he will keep it locked up and safe." Damian declared.

Tom and Sabine smiled.

"I need to take my stuff back to the school." Mari spoke up.

"Go." Damian replied, "Father should return soon. I will tell him where you are and we will meet you there. I will put your belongings in the car so we can leave immediately."

Marinette walked into class and handed her class books over to Ms. Bustier.

"Marinette, why-" Caline began to question.

"I resign as class president." Mari announced.

"What?" Caline whispered in shock.

"Marinette?" Adrien called out, "Are you okay?"

"Is this why you haven't been in school?" Alya asked.

Caline laughed awkwardly, "Marinette, I'm sure-"

"I will be leaving this school, as of today." she announced, leaving the class stunned.

"Oh, Marinette!" Lila called out, standing up, "Did I do something? I only wanted to be friends!"

"Yeah!" shouted Kim, "What the hell?"

"I'll be moving in with my birth father and older brother." Marinette stated, "Mother says it is time for me to go with them."

"Sabine kicked you out?" Adrien questioned, confused.

"Sabine and Tom are my guardians, not my parents." Mari declared, "My birth father listened to me. I have always had a keen eye for detail, as many of you know from asking me to design for them."

"Are you till going on about 'Lila stealing from you'?" Alya asked, "We know it was you who stole!"

Lila paled and sat back down in her seat.

'What?'

Marinette looked at Lila and smiled, "Why do you think Ms. Bustier doesn't want me to stop being class president? It's because I make detailed plans for all the school trips, fundraisers, plan the fire drills, and escape routes. I even know where everything in this school is, including the security cameras. I have kept a record of every lie you said sice you got here, where and when. My father turned the evidence over to the Board of Governers."

Lila's jaw dropped.

"If the cameras aren't working, then they'll just go after that gullible man. Pretty sure embezzlement won't keep him in position." Mari shrugged.

"Huh?" asked Nino.

"How many times do you think the mayor pays him to look the other way when Chloe's being a bitch?" Marinette declared.

"Excuse me!" Chloe shouted.

"Maybe Lila can lend you her hearing aids." Marinette retorted.

"This is why you're a bully." Alix glared at her.

Marinette simply smiled.

Bruce and Damian walked in. Chloe smoothed her clothes and fluffed her hair, quickly. She stood up and smiled.

"I'm-" She spoke.

"Your voice is like nails on a chalk board." Damian commanded, "Be silent."

Chloe closed her mouth and sat down in embarassment, leaving everyone speechless.

Marinette giggled, "You always did know how to make an entrance, Big Brother."

Chloe's jaw dropped.

'She's a Wayne!'

Marinette turned and smiled at Chloe, "Goodbye, Daddy's Little Princess." before turning back to her family, "Father, I am ready to return home."

"Very well." Bruce spoke.

All three of them left the class without another word. There was a lot they had to discuss. As far as Bruce knew, Marinette had no idea about him being Batman and Damian being Robin. She had grown up with some semblance of a normal life and he wanted to keep it that way.

The class looked at the door confused.

"Chloe?" whispered Sabrina.

"Shit!" Chloe screamed, slamming her fists onto the desk.

"Chloe, are you okay?" asked Kim.

"No!" she yelled back, "Do I look okay? So you know-You don't know who they are? Of course you Pea Brains, don't! That was Bruce and Damian Wayne. Which makes.....Baker Girl is one of the richest people in the world."

Lila sat in her seat, enraged.

'What?'

"What?" questioned Alya.

"They have more money than mine and Adrikins' family combined." she scoffed, "Her father could buy Daddy's hotel like it was nothing!"

"But-" whispered Mylene.

"Marinette is a Wayne." Chloe stated, "The Waynes own an international business and have their hands in everything. They are old money. Bruce Wayne practically owns a whole city and just doesn't wanna be mayor."

"What about her brother?" asked Alix.

"He's known for being violent and lashing out. He hates the press." she remarked, "One thing about him on social media and he hunts you down and sues you."

"That's illegal." Alya claimed.

"Sorry. Would you prefer to be thrown in jail or settle for a million dollars to delete what you have?" the heiress questioned, "The Wayne family is known for the high IQ and attention to detail, which means....we're all screwed."

The class learned that everything Marinette had said was true. Lila's lies were all exposed. She was expelled and taken to a juvenile detention center, ontop of being sued by various people. Principal Damocles had been fired, as he had zero authority to expell anyone. Their teacher, Caline Bustier, was fired for not doing her job. She never informed the nurse about Lila's illnesses or disabilities, so there was never any confirmation that any of those were true. She also never sent Lila any homework during her 'travels' and so she was far behind the class in her studies.

Chloe believed she was suffering the most. Adrien was no longer in school with her. The people that let her do what she wanted was removed from the school and she was being forced to sell clothes out of her closet because her mother was upset by how much she 'embarassed them' in front of the Waynes.

'Stupid Marinette! This is all her fault! If she had just acted rich, like me, everything would be the same as it always was.'

The class was in disarray. Not only had Ms. Bustier let Lila slide on so many things, she was behind on their lessons as well. They now had mandatory after school tutoring and study sessions. Adrien Agreste had been pulled out of the class due to his high marks. He was also at the level they all should have been at.

"Dude, how did you pass?" Nino asked, "We all listened to Miss Bustier! You're higher than anyone, including Max!"

"Well, I was homeschooled and Natalie was a tough teacher compared to Miss Bustier. Also, I wanted to be at the same grade level as Chloe. I sorta knew mostly everything, already." Adrien admitted, "I actually could have skipped a few grades if I wanted to."

Nino was surprised, "Would you be willing to tutor us?"

"I wish I could but the board made me take a test and Father demanded I answer every question I knew correctly." Adrien sighed, "I'll be going to high school and if I continue the way I am now, I'm set to graduate in two years."

They realized it would never be the same. Everyone else still had four or five years until they graduated.

Bruce thought that another child would tip the balance of the manor, but he was wrong. It felt like all they had been missing, was her. She adjusted perfectly to the chaos. His sons insisted that Marinette learn self-defense, at the very least. She refused to walk in their footsteps and become Robin or any other sort of vigilante. It hadn't taken long for Marinette to be announced as Bruce Wayne's daughter and Damian's long lost biological sister. Marinette had taken Gotham by storm as Gotham's Angel and was designing under a new alias: Serpentine. She was taking the fashion world by storm.

Everyone loved having Marinette around, but Damian Al-Ghul Wayne knew better. Marinette was as deceiving as their mother. She looked innocent in everything she did, but her mind was a war zone. Their grandfather never appreciated her mind, but he had gotten some of his best stealth mission ideas after talking with her. He could see her slithering into every crack in their new home. She was flexible like Grayson, loved motorcycles like Todd, talked business with Father and Drake. She even won over Alfred, Brown and Cain with her cooking and baking skills.

Damian watched as Marinette smiled at her computer. The look at the screen, the smile; it was his mother's smile. He could see Gabriel stocks were plummeting after their reunion in Paris. Style Queen was barely hovering above water. For Marinette, it was never about becoming Robin. It was about ruling the world and she was going do it through fashion.

Damian would never tell anyone, but he was scared of his little sister and he would take it to his grave. The smile that would lead anyone to death: The Arabian Helen of Troy.

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raeuberprinzessin · 9 months

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Dick, excitedly showing his newest little sister Marinette the Batcave: This is the Batcave! Overe there is the Batcomputer and here we sharpen our Batarangs. On this side are the Batbikes and if you follow this path you'll find the Batplane. And right here is the Batmobile! Isn't it amazing? We should totally take you on a joy ride with it, don't you agree? What do you say?

Marinette, slowly taking it all in: I feel like you were going for a theme with this ... Let me guess? Moody broody late-pubescent goth?

Alfred: Very well said, Miss Marinette.

Jason, peering at a stricken-looking Bruce: Well, I guess trying to show off how cool you are to your new daughter might not go as planned. Any contingencies, old man?

Tim: Going off of experience, it's having a moody brooding session in the dark cave. You know, like a late-pubescent goth.

Bruce, murmuring: I didn't even name most of these things, why am I getting attacked?

#maribat #maribat marinette dupain cheng #mlb x batman #mlb x dc #maribat bio dad bruce #maribat dick grayson #maribat alfred pennyworth #maribat jason todd #maribat tim drake #maribat bruce wayne #to the justice league batman might be this hyper competent one-person-army #but to his kids he's just their slightly awkward dad #and they roast him into oblivion #that's how they show their love to each other #no one else is allowed to say things like that about him #maribat incorrect quotes #incorrect quotes

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lily-drake · 1 year

Text

It’s a Learned Trait

This is my Secret Santa gift to Night_ngale on Ao3! This story is inspired by this photo by @mumblesplash on Tumblr (yes I got permission, and thank you for it!):

For Night_ngale on Ao3:

Marinette had been having a wonderful day with her parents in Gotham, New Jersey. Her parents had just finished a catering job there and today they had decided to go sightseeing to all of the tourist attractions. They had taken her to the zoo, to the aquarium, to the museum, and now they were heading to a bo-ton-tanicel-al…. botanical garden! Both of her parents were holding her hands and smiling brightly at her as they walked the busy streets. It was such a nice day, absolutely nothing could ruin it for her!

Then an explosion happened, and there was running, and a ringing noise in her ears that just wouldn’t stop, and everything was moving too fast.

Screams filled the air along with scary high pitched giggling that sent shivers running through her spine. She clutched tightly to the pair of hands that held onto both of her’s just as tightly, if not tighter, as they fled the crowded streets. Then they could feel the cool shadow of something big that was coming from up high. She looked up and felt herself freeze up as a massive piece of concrete broke off of the building they were under and fell faster and faster and faster exactly where she and her parents stood. She tried to move, she tried to get herself to run away from the danger that she knew even at her age meant that she would no longer be able to wander the Earth; but she couldn’t. The people kept shoving past her and her parents, keeping them in place as everyone pushed and shoved to get far, far away from the ensuing chaos. The crowd was too thick, the screams were too loud, the rubble was too fast. The next thing she knew was two pairs of different sized hands shoved her forward away from the massive pieces of falling debris that was right above them. She turned to look behind her to see her parents' horrified expressions as they too stared up at the ginormous piece of concrete that was hurtling towards them and so many more people. People kept almost stepping on her and crowding her vision of her parents and they moved before she could blink.

Before she could even process what happened next, someone had picked her up and moved her away before quickly covering her eyes. A few seconds later a loud crash was heard and the ground shook so hard she would have fallen over if the person hadn’t been keeping her upright. Once the shaking was over the person that had rescued her picked her up, holding tightly onto her as they moved their hand up and the sound of something being shot through the air sounded just above her.

“It’s ok, I’ve gotcha.”

Said a deep gruff voice, though she could barely hear it as the cold wind whipped past her ears biting at her skin. Her knee length pink dress hugged her legs as her brain refused to function and process the events that had just occurred. She felt her feet touch solid ground, but her legs didn’t seem to want to hold her as her brain continued to stay offline. She couldn’t think, couldn’t comprehend, and would the ringing in her ears just stop! Where were her mama and papa?! What happened to them?!

It sounded like someone was trying to talk to her, but she was underwater and she couldn’t hear a thing, she couldn’t even see what was in front of her clearly. Her entire body felt like it was weighted down, the pressure slowly crushing her. She couldn’t even think, her brain was just too quiet and the ringing was too loud! There was too much, too much noise, too much quiet, too much information yet not enough at all! She kept going down deeper with nothing to ground her fleeting thoughts until she felt something heavy being placed around her shoulders. Her eyes slowly began to register her surroundings and, after who knew how long, she was met with deep light teal eyes that were filled with worry. Their face was obscured by a red mask, but she could still make out most of his features. He had dark black hair with a white streak in it. She didn’t know why this was important, all she knew was that she had to keep looking at him. It was like if she looked away from him then everything would get all fuzzy again and she wouldn’t be able to think, and the ringing would take over her again even though it was still there! Why can’t it stop, just make it stop, she wanted her mama and papa! Where were they?!

“Hey, things will be ok.”

The masked man gently stated. He kept eye contact with her, watching her to make sure she didn’t start to hyperventilate and that she wouldn’t go into shock. He carefully pulled the jacket around her full body, carefully pulling her limp and dysfunctional arms into the jacket’s large sleeves. He gave her a small reassuring smile while smoothing out the sleeves on the jacket, pressing the warmth of it onto her. “Can you hold onto this for me? I’ll be right back, ok?”

She simply nodded her head and held onto the jacket tightly like it was a lifeline. He slowly grabbed a helmet that was on the ground near his legs and put it on. “Don’t move ok, you’re safe now.”

He looked back at her then ran and jumped off…., oh, she was on a roof. When did she get on a roof? She hadn’t noticed. She stood completely still, her mind causing the cacophony of noises to fade in and out. She could hear screams and bangs, then nothing. She could hear fighting and laughter, then the ringing came back. The sounds often came close to the roof she was on; the fear of it made her legs so weak she eventually collapsed onto her knees as she clutched the jacket tighter than before. Eventually her brain finally seemed to grasp the reality around her causing tears to start falling down her cheeks and sobs escaped her lips. Her parents were dead, she was rescued, but th-they’re d-de-dead!

Sobs wracked her small frame as the noises continued on for she doesn’t even know how long. Every time there was a noise louder than the rest she pulled the jacket even tighter around her small body expecting the worst. She wanted to escape, she wanted to hug her parents, she just wanted to go back home to Paris. She wanted to go back to the bakery and eat the desserts her parents made, see Nino and Kim and play games with them, she wanted to go to the pretty gardens at the park and lay with the flowers.

They were supposed to be happy, they were happy when they saw the pretty fishies, they were happy when they saw the amazing artifacts in the museum, papa had held her on his shoulders so she could see the giraffes better when they had taken her to the zoo. Everything had been so perfect, why did everything change so fast? Why did her mama and papa have to leave her like this? Why was there no rain when such a terrible tragedy had just occurred like in the movies?

There was a soft thump that made her wrap the jacket even tighter, if that was even possible. She didn’t want to get hurt, she just wanted her parents back. “Hey, thanks for holding onto that for me.”

The man from before said. She looked up, her eyes watery, making his figure blurry. She saw him take off the helmet and set it down. He looked sad and remorseful as he slowly sat next to her, but never reached out to touch her, instead remaining a comfortable presence. “You from here?”

She slowly shook her head no. “P-Paris.”

Her voice was cracked and broken. Her parents had her study English with her French studies because of all of the tourists that came by. Not to mention Mama said that if she wanted to be famous then she had to know English. How would she get back to Paris? Who would take her? How was she supposed to survive without her mama and papa?! She couldn’t, she needed them, now they’re gone and she’ll die here because she has nothing without them.

“Paris is a nice place. Have any friends there?”

She nodded again, the movement causing the drops on her cheek to drip onto the ground. He stayed silent, waiting to see if she would do or say anything further. She was glad he let her take her time, she was tired and her brain was still too loud and fuzzy to really understand his questions immediately. Dejectedly she replied, “N-Nino and K-Kim are my friends. Th-they stand up t-to Chloe f-for me. Everyo-one else is too scared of her an-and her daddy.”

He reached out to touch her, but quickly pulled back. He wanted to comfort the small child, but he wasn’t sure how she would respond if he touched her. She looked so small curled up in his jacket, it would have been cute if it weren’t for the circumstances that led to the scene in front of him. “Sounds like you’ve got some good people lookin’ out for ya.”

He said, trying to sound reassuring. She gave a small smile and nodded, “Y-yea.”

“Why don’t we go somewhere safe. I know someone who will take care of ya for a bit, okay?” Red Hood asked carefully. She nodded again and was about to take her arms out of the sleeves of the warm jacket, but before she could fully take it off the man stopped her. “Keep it, I’ve got a lot of others back home, and this is gonna keep you safe, ok?”

She nodded slowly, letting him adjust and zip it up so the warmth that still lingered in it was all around her. He slowly stood up, projecting his movements so as to not scare her before he extended his hand for her to take. She looked at it hesitantly, slowly reaching out and taking hold of his hand as she wiped her cheeks with the sleeve of her free arm. Her hand was so small that when he closed his her entire hand was encompassed by his own. He gently pulled her back onto her feet making sure she was stable before letting go. “Hop on my back and hold on tight, ‘kay?”

He said softly–just like her mom used to when she was hurt–crouching down with his back facing her so she could climb on. With a brief moment of hesitation, because what if this was a trap like Mama and Papa had warned her about, she carefully climbed onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck and gripped onto his shirt. It was a bit hard as there seemed to be something hard sewn into parts of it, but it was okay. He slowly got up and made sure her legs were wrapped tightly around his torso so she wouldn't slip or fall off. When he was sure she was secure, he grabbed something from one of his pockets, angled it. There was a loud bang, like the one she had heard when he had first grabbed her, though that memory felt like it was from so many years ago, that startled her accompanied by a whiz as it shot into the air. He pulled on the device he was using to make sure it was taught and secure, then he ran and jumped off the building.

Marinette screamed in fear and buried her face into his shoulder, holding him even tighter than before. She kept her eyes shut, feeling out the rhythm of run, jump, fall, swing. Eventually she started to feel a little more comfortable swinging through the air, that was until they started to fall again. She screamed again louder than the time before and heard the noise of the man’s device again before she felt the taut jolt that signified they were soaring through the air once more. Slowly, she tilted her head up and saw how amazing the city looked with all of its shining lights so high up in the sky with the setting sun sinking behind the tall buildings. Wasn’t it just past 13:00 though? She had just eaten lunch with her mama and papa; hadn’t she…?

Suddenly the lights weren’t as amazing as they were before, they were dull and full of sorrow and loss. She didn’t want to look down just in case she saw them, they wouldn’t look the same. She didn’t want to look down because then she might fall, and she didn’t want to fall. Heights have always been scary. She held onto the man tighter, scared that if she loosened her grip even the smallest amount, she’d fall.

They continued on in that fashion for a few minutes when the man with the red helmet set her down on a balcony. It was plain with a swirled black metal guard. The roof was bland and lifeless with nothing decorating it other than the fence, she didn’t like it. “I’ve got a friend here. He’ll watch over you for a while, okay?” She nodded slowly, unsure of whether she should be relieved someone would take her in or scared that this was all some sort of trap. She watched and listened as the man climbed down a fire escape and began to tap on a window.

Tap

…

Tap tap

…..

Tap tap tap

Then he stepped back and waited. Another man with red hair opened the window with a small smile, “What’s up Hood?” He asked in a casual voice.

“I need you to watch someone for me.”

The red-haired man raised a brow.

“Her parents didn’t make it in the last battle with Joker. Lots of debris, and I don’t feel like having serial-adopter-bats see her.”

“Makes sense. Where are they?” The other man asked with a small nod, looking around the escape. The man in the helmet held up one finger and climbed back up to her.

“Can you come with me please?”

Marinette gulped, unsure of what she should do. But the man has been really nice to her so far, and he’s even letting her keep his jacket. Slowly she reached out and took his offered hand, letting him help her down the fire escape to the window.

“Hey,”

The other man said in a soft tone,

“What's your name?”

She looked down, anxiously twirling her foot from side to side. “M-Marinette.” She replied quietly, voice strained.

“That’s a nice name, how old are you?” His voice was soft and gentle and it made her feel a little more at ease.

“Nine.”

“Wow, you’re pretty old, huh? I’m Roy, do you want to come in and eat something? I just finished making some sandwiches.” She looked back at the man that had brought her here and saw him give her a small nod. She nodded back and shyly followed the red haired man into the apartment building. “Do you want some water?”

She nodded again, standing near the island counter. She looked back at the window where the man in the helmet had been only seconds before, only to see that he was no longer there. The man nodded and quickly got a cup from a cupboard and filled it with some tap water before placing it on the counter near her with a small plate that held what looked like BLT. “I have a roommate, he should come by soon. Just as a heads up, ok?”

She nodded, carefully climbing up to the barstool and sat down. Marinette looked at the sandwich and started picking at it. She really wasn’t that hungry, but it would be rude to not accept her host's hospitality. Her mama had taught her the importance of respecting people that were trying to help her, especially when she was at her friend’s home. Tears she thought she had run out of started to resurface as she thought of her mama. She sniffled and wiped her eyes before more could escape.

Roy looked at her worriedly. From what he had read from the text Jason had sent him, her parents were caught by falling debris from one of Joker’s bombs that the bats hadn’t been able to dismantle in time. He had been able to pull her away, but her parents along with a bunch of other civilians weren’t able to make it out of the way in time. Jason said that he had managed to cover her eyes and take her away before she could see anything, but he knew that wouldn’t be enough to stop any type of trauma from forming.

The girl was so small, he could only imagine what must be going through her mind. Not to mention she was only visiting from Paris, she wasn’t even from Gotham. Apparently her parents were catering for one of Bruce’s events, and that was the only reason they had even traveled here in the first place.

“Hey, do you want to watch a movie? I’m sure we could find something you’d like.” She didn’t respond right away as she processed what he had asked. It didn’t matter though, he’d give her all the time she needed.

“R-Ratatouille?” Was her small reply. A smile graced his lips, as he asked,

“Is that your favorite Disney movie?” She shrunk in on herself and nodded with a small,

“Mhm.”

“That’s a great movie, let me ask Jason to pick it up when he comes back. He should be here soon anyways.”

“Okay.”

Her voice was so quiet, but he could hear the joy in her voice. He quickly texted Jason to pick up the movie when he was done debriefing with The Bats and started to make another sandwich since she was eating his, not that he minded of course.

• • •

Jason walks in with a bag full of gummy candy, popcorn, a box of different flavored macaroons, and one Disney movie in its unopened case and plastic wrapping. He was thankful to see that the small girl was sitting at the counter drawing. He wouldn’t know what to do if she were still crying. “Hey, heard we’re takin’ care of another kid? I bet Lian will be happy to have a new friend when she comes back from her sleepover.”

He called out into the apartment as if he had no idea what had happened only a few hours before. The little girl startled from her seat, quickly turning to look at him with her large bluebell eyes. He really needed to keep her away from Bruce, she was perfect Wayne material and he refused for her to be tainted by him and the rest of his adopted child army.

“Yea, Red Hood dropped her off due to….” He glanced at the girl sympathetically, “The incident that happened earlier.”

Marinette shifted uncomfortably and went back to drawing with a furrowed brow. There was a heavy silence that filled the room until Jason said, “Well, I bought a bunch of snacks and was told to buy a movie, so….”

Marinette looked up again and hopped off the chair nearly tripping. She quickly stood up embarrassed as both boys stared at her in worry.

“You okay Marinette?” Roy asked carefully, walking towards her. Her cheeks turned a slight red as she nodded.

“Y-yes, sorry. I’m really clumsy.” Her voice held a French accent that only made the little girl even more adorable. Jason gave her a wide smile and gently handed her the plastic grocery bag.

“Here you go.”

She carefully took the bag with a small, “Thank you”, and started to look through it. Her eyes shined with childlike glee at the macaroons and they shined even brighter when she pulled out the blue-ray disk. She quickly ran over to Roy and showed him the movie asking if he could put it into whatever he uses.

It was interesting to see Roy smile and ruffle her hair. He looked calm and happy, used to the role of caretaker. Gently he took the disk, removed the plastic before opening it up, and walked over to the TV in the main room next to the kitchen and popped the disk in.

“Hey, I’ll go grab some blankets. Do you want to take your shoes off Marinette?” He asked gently as he moved toward the linen closet. She nodded and slipped them off with a slightly flushed face. She watched as Roy sunk down on the couch where he patted at one of the seats. Cautiously she walked toward the coach sitting in a rocking chair a few feet away from Roy. You could never be too cautious, at least that’s what her mama used to say. “Used to”, that felt wrong.

When Jason walked back into the room he watched as the small girl hugged her legs close to her chest, face hidden behind her arms. It was a heartbreaking sight, a sight that felt familiar as it pulled against his heartstrings as he remembered doing the same thing around the same age.

“Thanks Jaybird.” Roy whispered as he took the blankets from his hands. He hadn’t even noticed that he was approaching. He was out of it today, and not in a good way. The opening narration of Remmy the Rat began to play through the speakers as Roy slowly and carefully wrapped a weighted blanket around the young girl's shoulders. He watched as Roy talked to her quietly for a few moments, never initiating touch, waiting to see what she would say or do. It was always interesting to watch Roy act like a father as he treated his kid far differently than either of his dads had treated him. After a few minutes Roy stepped away, back to his spot on the couch not saying another word as the young girl collected herself before looking up to watch the movie with tear soaked cheeks that stabbed at Jason’s heart.

• • •

It was around the middle of the movie that little Mari fell asleep. She had slowly begun to relax as the movie progressed until she had blinked a few times very slowly, then her eyes fell and stayed shut. She was emotionally exhausted from the day and had simply passed out, poor kid.

Jason watched the kid, but not in a weird way. He was worried, and he didn’t know what to do. The kid was stuck here, despite the fact that she’s not a citizen, and from what little information he could find with little time at his disposal, he couldn’t find any family that could take her now that she was an orphan. Jason wondered if this was how Bruce felt when he had met all of them before he decided to make them his little band of misfit toys. He often felt this way when he saw Lian, but it was never as strong of an emotion as he felt now for this child he had only met a few hours ago.

“You look constipated; which means you’re trying a failing to show some form of deep emotion. So spit it out, what’s going on in that thick skull of yours?”

Roy asked quietly, turning his head slightly to give him a side eye before turning back to the movie. Jason rolled his eyes and let out a long frustrated sigh. “I don’t know Roy. There’s just a lot going on, especially after the last attack.”

Roy quickly paused the movie and turned to look Jason in his eyes. There wasn’t any pity in his gaze, but there was empathy and an openness that showed he wouldn’t judge.

“It was Joker’s fault. So many people died because of the Joker, her parents,” he firmly gestured to the sleeping girl with tear stained cheeks sleeping on the small chair, whisper yelling so as to not wake her; “are no longer alive because of his actions today and Bruce still won’t get rid of him.” Jason took in a deep shuddering breath, he needed to control himself, he couldn’t let the green creep in. That wouldn’t do anything, it wouldn’t do any good for anyone, especially right now.

“I’ve tried to kill him,” Jason admitted shakily, “I’ve tried, but he always finds a way to stop me. I don’t understand how he cares for that-that creature more than his own- than me.” A heavy silence fell between them only broken up by the gentle snores to their right.

“I don’t want her to feel this way, I don’t want her to go through the same pain I went through at her age.” Jason continued. When I was trying to find out any information on her, a potential family member that could take her home I found that her grandmother on her dad’s side died in a motorcycle accident, her grandfather died of a heart attack, on her mom’s side it looks like her mother was disowned for unknown reasons, which means that they probably would not take in her daughter. That leaves her with Social Services, and despite Bruce’s efforts I still don’t trust it; or as a street kid.”

Roy contemplated everything that Jason had just told him. They had been through a lot together, in fact Jason and Star were the reasons that he was still alive, the reason he believed that he was doing a good job at being a father, they helped him keep going when everyone else had given up on him. Roy glanced at the sleeping girl, then back to Jason. Jason looked at the girl the same way Roy looked at his own daughter, with a sort of protective love. Roy could tell that Jason cared about the kid; he probably saw himself Marinette. It only made sense that he would feel extra protective around the girl as no one would want the same trauma that you’ve faced placed onto another.

“Well, what do you think is the best thing to do Jason? I know for a fact that you’re not going to be letting Bruce or any of the other bats, besides maybe Oracle, anywhere near her. If what you say is true, and she really has no family that will willingly take her in, then what’s your plan?”

Another sigh escaped Jason as he leaned his head back so that it was hanging off the couch. “I don’t know Roy, maybe we can drop her off in Metropolis and let her be taken care of there. They have a better system and I’m sure she would be adopted by someone that would love her.”

Roy nodded, he could see the good in the plan, but there was something else. Jason was still frustrated and didn’t like the idea. “But?” He prodded.

“‘But’,” Jason said emphasizing the ‘t’, “the thought of doing that makes my skin crawl in all of the wrong ways.”

Roy hummed. This isn't some easy or light hearted task. The kid had just lost both of her parents in the most sudden way possible, then she was taken away from the area and to the house of complete strangers, and to top it off she may never be able to return to her home country; but if she does she would be put into the foster system with no stability ot time to heal. Of course she also had the possibility of being taken in by her grandparents in China, but there was a chance that they would treat her poorly since they had disowned her mother, and they may only take her in because of obligation. Nothing about this was easy, none of it was simple. If Jason wanted to somehow become her legal guardian then he would need to earn her trust, he would have to either legally become alive again or find a believable identity that would allow for him to adopt her.

There were just so many variables, and it was too late for this conversation, yet not late enough.

“Lian’s coming home tomorrow, we can figure this out while they play.”

Jason nodded, mostly to himself. “You’re right. We need to give her more time to process everything, I still need to process today.”

“Did you have a panic attack?” Roy asked worriedly. Now that he was thinking about it there must have been lots of explosions, even if most of them were disabled. Then there was the clown and how he just paraded around on the rooftops. Jason had had a few before when he returned back to the apartment after a Joker breakout, it was horrifying. Jason just gave him a sad, strained smile.

“No, thankfully.”

“Right,” Roy said as he slowly stood up, stretching his arms up dramatically. “Well let's move her to Kori’s room tonight. She’s still visiting Tamaran.”

Jason nodded, following suit. Slowly he approached the sleeping girl, televising his movements despite the fact that she was still asleep before gently picking the girl up. Roy watched with a gentle smile as he slowly walked to Kori’s room, trying not to wake her as he brought her to bed. He had watched Jason do the same thing with Lian, playing the role of older brother perfectly. Now, it looked like he might be stepping into a new role. The same role that Roy carried right now. But who knew what would happen. As Roy settled in for the night in his own room a sudden thought came to his mind. Jason was always complaining how Bruce had a “type” or MO for the people he really cared about; and that was that they needed to have black hair and/or blue eyes. The girl that Jason saved and now is attached to has black hair and…blue eyes. He quickly turned into his pillow and started laughing his butt of, hoping that no one would be able to hear him. A couple tears slipped down his cheeks as he thought to himself, ‘so it’s a learned trait after all.’

Taglist:

@maribat-secret-santa @aespades @adrestar @astrynyx @doll246 @queenz-z @toodaloo-kangaroo @crazylittlemunchkin @seraphichana @miraculous-ninjabird @dorkus-minimus @mysticsoulgirl @ritacrow-blog @snow-leopard-777 @fidget-eep @sometandomstuff333 @lady-phoenix-of-tardis @shreeing @achaoticmess1 @miraculous-ninjabird @liquid-luck-00 @buginetye @stainedglassm @prettylittlebutterflie @laurcad123 @iloontjeboontje @heartsong18 @raeuberprinzessin @when-no-wings-do-broomsticks @jennifer-rose123 @moon5608 @corporeal-terrestrial @skitarii-alpha-c6-555 @saltysugarysembei @phantom120 @kking13 @depressed-bitchy-demon @a-slytherinish-gryffindor

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fanbliss · 7 months

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So Marinette moves to Gotham for ( insert reason) and a few weeks later finds a kid with blue eyes and black hair in her studio/ apartment sitting on the counter with a half empty cookie jar and a cookie in his mouth looks like a deer cought in headlights one night, the night that she was finally sent to sleep by Tikki because she's been awake for four days and just walks over to the kid and puts him on her lap and falls asleep on the couch.

#dp×dc×mlb #maribat #jason todd #marinette is a badass #mominette #dp x dc crossover #Danny accidentally got deaged in another universe #he snuck in to get some food #cookies are the only reason he stayed #tired lady has mini gods in a box #he like the cat one #Jasonette

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the-witches-you-couldnt-burn · 2 years

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You wish

MGI Bracket War: ROUND TWO

Prompt: “I wanted it to be you”

Do you guys like my line breaker? I made it! ☺️

Ao3

Once upon a time, there was MAGIC

It once flowed through the land like the wind, grew like the grass underfoot and traversed multiple mountain ranges.

Before it became barren, this land was lush and full of life. And here lived a multitude of magical creatures that lived in harmony with humans.

This ancient land was called Mirac.

Then the Empire attacked

Fire and bombs destroyed the earth, trees were cut down to build Noble castles, and the magical creatures were enslaved.

Thus birthed the Empire’s most powerful weapon; the Genie.

Born of a Dinji and Fairy, Genies were able to be commanded and their powers harnessed against their will.

Wishes.

They granted wishes, three of them.

And so Genies became the most powerful beings in existence, dressed in golden shackles, they were mocked by their kin for being traitors and by humans for being pets.

Soon enough, magic disappeared; taking the magical creatures with it. All that was left were the Genies, trapped in their lamps and necklace chains.

But after a civil war that separated the country into states, the Genies were lost as well.

Whether the magic reclaimed them or they were buried alive in their gilded prisons, we’ll probably never know. . .

Black hooves thundered against the golden earth, sand flying in clouds behind them. They say that the desert sand is poor man’s gold. They say that the ancient magic seeped into the infertile soil and could be seen in the violent thrashing waves of desert storms. Who were they? Probably some lunatic on wild cave mushrooms who looks to the sky for answers. He’d never know the answer and stopped looking for it years ago.

But somehow he’d ended up looking for another question that most likely won’t have an answer.

They stopped in front of an oasis; its water was bluer than the blazing sky. He jumped down from the leather saddle and patted the brown horse’s behind. Taking off his red headscarf he crouched down by the water’s edge, scooping water onto the back of his neck and face. He sighed, his head tilted up to the sky, droplets of sweat and water littered his forehead; a palm leaf’s shadow covered his eyes from the blistering sun. Staying in his crouched position he grabbed a pot out of his saddle bag and filled the pot with the lake water whilst Ace, his horse drank.

Jason knew better than to drink water from a stationary source, it had been drilled into him from a young age. The water bubbled away as he sat scowering his map and compass. The treasure he sought should be nearby, if it was real in the first place.

After their short rest, they continued their journey; the midday sun raged over their heads. It was nearing sunset when they reached their destination.

The massive expanse of sand retreated, leaving only patches in the stone and hardened clay ground. Splintering leafless trees were a monotone grey, a welcome break from the burnt oranges and sandy beiges. Their branches broken, along with their spines from a previous quake or storm. Ace’s hooves clacked on the stone, loose rocks skidded, some even falling down the drought cracks.

The tree’s corpses were uprooted by the land’s divide. The canyon was small in length but still split the entire valley in two. One could theorise that the lack of sand on this platoon could be due to the canyon being a drain of sorts. Maybe if one were to jump, they’d land softly below. Jason could see one man who thought this, his rotting body was speared by three stone stalagmites; but bugs and birds would have feasted on him long before he died.

Tying Ace to the sturdiest stump in the tree graveyard, he tied his excess rope around his middle with a bowline and began his descent; he wanted to be out before darkness descended upon them. Ace neighed his disapproval but his owner continued into the crack’s depths.

Jagged roots that had split stone in search for water scratched at him, pulling at his clothes like beggars pleading for sustenance. His palms were wrapped in rags but his fingers remained free and articulate enough to have a sturdy grasp on the sheer cliff-face. He managed to lower himself enough to reach a small shelf in the sediment layers.

He shuffled along, the shadow of the unexposed canyon fell upon him. Surely this was a fools quest. Jason knew that, but some crazy old bat had beat it into him to “Always complete the mission, unless you’re dead or dying.”

There was a crevasse where the two sides joined, could it even be considered a cave? Jason scoffed, ‘someone needs to check their prescription.’

He pressed his back against the other rock wall and hooked his right leg in the hole. Swinging his head through the crevasse; if he thought it was dark before, it was even darker now.

He felt around his pant pocket for his sun stones. They wrangled in sizes from a fingernail to the palm of a hand. The stone glowed warmly, it showed that this crevasse was a cave, bigger than what the naked eye could see from outside.

He saw no markings, no cave drawings, no pedestals, no treasure; nothing that made it seem that an ancient secret was stored here. He sighed and jumped down from his ledge, ‘just complete the mission’ he repeated in his head. He walked to the end of the cavern, clearing every nook and cranny.

Nothing, nada, zilch.

He spun around on the heel of his boot, whistling. He was so gonna rub this in Damian’s face.

But a red glint caught his eye. Curses reverberated around the room. Damn Damian was going to be so smug.

The glint came from a fallen boulder that was directly under the ledge he sat upon before. He looked between the gap, yup, it looked lamp shape. He pulled the small boulder towards him and it rolled a fraction before he resorted to wiggling it until he could fit his arm through and grasp the metal.

When he pulled it out he was shocked. It was completely unscathed; well except for a few scratches. His gaze turned to the rock, he felt along the side that should’ve crushed the lamp. The lamp had left an imprint in the stone.

His fingers trailed down the smooth body of the lamp. It was made of a red metal, maybe some sort of copper alloy? It had some black smudges or were there scratches? His thumb rubbed along that to see if he could rid this artifact of this imperfection.

Light erupted from the lamp and floated out of his hand. The cavern was filled with a rose gold glow. He covered his eyes with one arm and went for his sword with the other. A tendril of pink light knocked the blade from his hand and pushed him back. The breath was knocked out of him and he had no energy to move. He could only sit, slouched against the wall, watching the light grow bigger.

A black silhouette appeared in the middle of the light. Arms stretched up high, he heard joints popping. When the light dissipated it revealed a lady, or maybe she was an adolescent? Her face was youthful and eyes were a vibrant blue. She wore a red halter top with white translucent off the shoulder butterfly sleeves.

His vision swam and he felt something touch his shoulder. “Hey, are you ok?” Her voice is muffled in his ears. He could barely make out her face through his blurry vision before he blacked out.

He couldn’t tell what time it was. His sun stone was on the floor next to him, dimmer than before but still lit up the room. His head felt light and his body warm, not things he usually felt when camping out in the desert. He looked down to find himself wrapped in a cotton blanket and there was a silk pillow behind his head. Both were embroidered with flowers and bugs.

“Are you awake?”

He went for his sword, not there. He went for his knife, not there. He glared at the person in front of him, who had dropped a linen bag full of his weapons on the floor.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” She crouched down in front of him, showing him her bare palms. “But holy kwami, how many knives does one deed?”

His eyes narrowed, glaring at her. “Who are you,” he gruffly questioned.

“I am your genie, Master.” She smiled at him but he saw it was forced.

“Why are you calling me Master?” That word felt rotten and vile, it made him want to vomit.

She tilted her head in confusion, her smile melting off her face. Her lips parted as she tried to form a coherent explanation. “You rubbed the lamp right?” Jason nodded, “I am the genie of that lamp, and you are my Master.” Her last word was strained, her voice cracking.

“Cut the Master crap.” She looked taken aback, her blue eyes stared widely at him. He flicked his chin up at her, “What’s your name.”

“Marinette.”

They sat in silence, both observing each other.

“You’re different from what I expected.”

“It’s a mix o’ disbelief and annoyance.” He ran a hand down his face. Damian was gonna be so goddamn smug.

“May I ask your name and why you’re here?”

“Jason. I’m the Commander of Nanda Parbat's Army. My mission was to follow up on the rumours of an ancient genie and investigate if it was real.”

“Well!” Marinette hollowly chuckled, “You found me. Did the rumours tell you of the rules?” He raised his eyebrow but said nothing. “The first thing you need to know is my magic is able to create and I can’t directly destroy things. One, I will not revive the dead, it's a horrible thing to witness. Two, love spells are a no, I cannot control humans. And three, never wish to become a genie.”

He whistled in response to which she gave him a quizzical look, her hair falling on her face. He stood up and reached a hand out to her to help her up, she flinched before accepting. He peaked out of the cave entrance and it was daybreak, “Let’s get out of here.”

“Oh wait!” She hurriedly picked up her lamp and hooked it on the waistband of her loose black and red pants. She grasped his hand and he pulled her up to the ledge.

Curiosity got the better of him. “What’s that made o’ anyways?” Nodding at the lamp. Each side had three black smudged dots.

She looked down at the lamp and tilted it up. In the sun he could see not only it wasn’t anywhere near the orangey bronze colour of copper, it was a glittering garnet red that looked to swirl in the light.

“It’s made of Miraculium,” she coughed, clearing her throat. “It has magical properties.”

He pulled her close to him, his dark eyes looking down at her. “Yea’ I noticed that afta the lamp dented the boulder.” He says with a hint of disbelief.

He loosened the rope around his waist and guided her to hold onto his back, he fastened a harness around both of them. “Jump up on my back.” Marinette hooked her arms around his neck, which was a feat in itself since he was over a head taller than her. She swung her legs around his middle, anchoring her legs so he could move without holding her.

She leaned over his shoulder and looked at him, “You know. . .” Her words trailed off, “I could teleport us out of here.”

He began shuffling them along the canyon’s shelf, “Can you do that without me usin’ a wish?”

“Um no?”

“Then forget it.”

Soon enough they were back riding across the desert with the blazing sun hovering above them. He further explained his role within the Viceroy’s Palace and the importance that her true identity is kept hidden.

“It seems like you humans haven’t changed much.”

Although he said no words, Jason wholeheartedly agreed.

Whispers erupted as they rode through the street.

“Who is that with Commander Todd?”

“Ooo maybe he arrested someone.”

“I’d like him to arrest me!”

“Nima! Shush! He’ll hear you! He hears everything! That’s how he became such a great Commander.”

Mari leaned closer to the man in front of her, “Are you hearing this?” She whispered, rolling her eyes. She was glad that he had acquired a hooded coat for her, she could only imagine the bachelor Commander returning with a mysterious woman on his horse.

Well as fate would have it when they reached the palace, Jason jumped off the horse first and held her waist to help her down. Annnnnnd that’s when her hood fell down.

Onlookers watched as the Commander’s passenger was revealed. Dark blue hair spilled out of the coat, she smiled nervously at the man below her before he helped her feet to settle on the ground. Her pale face smiled up at him and everyone in the surrounding area held their breath.

Jason Todd, known as the youngest ever Commander of Nanda Parbat. He was also known as a ticking time-bomb. With his explosive temper no one knew what would set him off next. Last time it was a street woman smiling up at him whilst grabbing at his arm.

Seeing everyones’ eyes on them, Marinette hooked her arms through Jason’s and pressed her body against him. He looked at her quizzically. Standing on her tiptoes he whispered in his ear, “You wanted me to hide my identity right? So play along~”

They walked down the paved pathway, palm trees and people lined up in rows to watch them. They winded through the many hallways, no tapestries and paintings decorated the walls. They reached a room that looked fancier than the others. Jason pushed open the door and escorted her in.

“My room.” He rumbled, his voice sounding tired after a long day of travelling and adventuring.

His room was minimalistic but not as bare as the halls. Shelves with trinkets, walls hung with red and grey tapestries decorated the room. It had a pair of giant windows with a balcony that overlooked the garden and a dark wood desk, piled with paper in the corner. His large bed had a mahogany bookshelf embedded into the wall next to it.

She released his arm and walked towards the books and ran her hand along some of the spines. She smiled, “You like to read?” She asked rhetorically, not bothering to turn around. His collection was from multiple countries, empires and languages; Greek, Roman, English and more.

“They’re good for burnin’.” Marinette scoffed at his reply, turning to face him with her arms crossed and pouting. She had never acted like this around one of her masters. Maybe it had been so long she had forgotten her discipline? Screw it she’d enjoy this until she got punished, he hasn’t reprimanded her once, she was living the dream.

“I’ve gotta go report back to Their Majesties about my mission, I’ll be back soon.” He looked back at her before the door closed, “Stay put. I’ll send a maid to run you a bath and give you something else to wear.”

An auburn haired maid came minutes after and introduced herself as Lian. She guided Marinette into Jason’s private bathroom where a steaming tub sat in wait. Lian then excused herself while Mari undressed before reappearing to wash the Genie’s hair.

“I’ve never had someone wash my hair before.” Marinette mumbled to the quiet room, the only noise was water droplets falling from her soaked hair.

“Not even your mother?” Lian questioned and that brought a smile to Marinette’s face. Imagining her Dinji mother, who was the form of a red beetle the size of a baby hippo, trying to wash her hair.

“No,” She chuckled. “My mother was never able to.”

“Apologies!” The young maid bowed her head, cheeks flushing from embarrassment.

“No need, Ms Lian.”

The girl’s black eyes widened as she stuttered, “No need to address me formally Madam Marinette! I am just a maid.”

The bluenette spun around, leaning her forearms on the tub’s side. She looked up at Lian with dazzling blue eyes, “Even maids deserve respect and simple pleasures.”

“Patrol of the Western border was clean. No recent riots in towns and the epidemic seems to be under control.”

“Good work Todd.” Prince Damian smirked down at him. He sat on his gilded throne, the Viceroy’s throne that was next to his, sat empty. The fifteen year old prince had been given reign over revising the courtesan's reports. “Did you find it, Todd?”

“No,” he paused. Why had he lied, there was no one else with them. He cleared his throat before turning to leave, he looked back at the prince who was now frowning. Jason grinned, Demonspawn couldn’t be smug if he didn’t know. “I found something better.”

He returned to his room to find Marinette already fast asleep. . . But she was on the floor, curled into a fetal position to keep warm against the cold desert night. He had lived here for years and still got whiplash from the weather’s moodiness, he couldn’t imagine what it’s like for someone who had been here for less than a day.

His muscles screamed for reprieve, he was on the verge of collapse. He ignored his body and reached down to pick up the small genie.

She was too light. Made of paper bones and porcelain skin; fragile but he knew she could be deadly if held wrong, or if she was held in the wrong hands.

He tucked her into bed. What was he going to do with her? He’s harbouring a Magical Creature. He could use her for her wishes then hand her over to the Demon Prince, but then Damian would know that he lied. He could easily beat up that kid but what would happen to the civilians of Nanda Parbat? They wouldn’t survive uninjured from Damian’s fury.

He grabbed another pillow from his bed along with the doona and made himself comfortable on the floor. He looked up at the bed, yes, she can stay for the night.

A few months later. . .

“Bringin’ yer woman to battle, Jay? ‘re ya that needy for a lay?” The ginger haired guard cackled with a few other guys. They rode on their horses off to the right and have been quiet up until now.

“She is needed on the frontier, Roy.” Marinette felt Jason’s voice reverberate from his chest as she held onto him from behind.

“Yeah! By you!”

They reached the army camp by dusk and set up their battalion's tents. Jason finally returned to the camp he had lived in for the previous two years before he was called back to the capital to sooth civilian riots. Now he was back in the South with reinforcements, this war will turn in Nanda Parbat’s favour.

They looked over the map that had figurines of the enemy and allied soldier’s positions. There was a significant presence of enemy forces in a small mountain range, most likely looking to have a geographical advantage.

They discussed between each other points Jason could bring up to the battalion leaders during tomorrow’s meeting. Their yawns kept interrupting them and they both silently agreed this could wait until tomorrow, or was it already today? They were too tired to care.

After more than a month of arguing who should take the bed, both stated the other should. Marinette would try to sleep on the floor but always awoke back in bed. Her argument that he should get the bed became even stronger when she discovered he was a potential heir to Nanda Parbat’s throne. Finally she convinced him that they could share the bed. They didn’t even consider having separate rooms as that would look suspicious for the couple who were ‘joined at the hip’.

When morning came they both were horrified by the state of the camp that they didn’t see due to the darkness of their arrival. Many soldiers were injured and didn’t go to treat them as the medic was already overrun by other soldiers with critical conditions.

Burns, bruises, cuts, stabs, fractures, infections, concussions, amputations. Soldiers writhing in agony in an alley of tents away from their Captains so that they didn’t have to be in the deadly silence of the medic tent. The single frazzled medic ran from bed to bed, only providing bandages and alcohol for pain and disinfectant.

Grass green eyes looked up and through their frizzy red hair. They shot up, stepping over bodies with a wide smile to greet her visitors. She stuck out her hand, “Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley.”

Jason shook her hand, looking around the room. “What’s happening here? It wasn’t like this when I left.”

“Oh,” Pamela looked around the room, her wide teeth bared smile was a constant. “The former doctor was neglecting his duties so I had to step up. I have applied multiple times for an assistant or a better care kit but so far I’ve gotten no response.” She said through gritted teeth. “I’m sorry, were you injured anywhere? As you can see I'm swamped.”

It became clear that the doctor thought this was some inspection or audit of her skills and the effort she put into her job. Marinette waved her hands in front of herself, “No, no. We’re ok, we were just checking in on all the support departments.” She grabs Jason’s arm, “We’ll make sure your requests are heard.”

She dragged Jason outside. “Marinette—” she spun around, he nodded towards his arm, she sputtered and let go. “I think I know my first wish.”

She looked up at him with big eyes, it had been months of her pestering him every few days about a wish. “Yes?” She leaned forward in wait for his words.

“I think it would be good to heal all the soldiers in the camp.”

Marinette’s eye twitched, ‘Be calm, be calm Mari. this is what genies have to put up with.’

“Maaaaybeeee instead of that,” she pressed her palms together. “You could wish for better medicinal practices in Nanda Parbat? And then you could—”

She slammed a hand over her mouth. She had gotten too comfortable, last time she made a suggestion to a Master, they didn’t take it well.

‘You’re just a beast’s daughter! What ideas could you give me?’ She shivered at the memory. She avoided his gaze and flinched at his touch. He moved her hand that was covering her mouth, he bent down and his greyish-blue eyes met hers.

“Continue.”

She breathed deeply and sighed. “If you wish for better medical practices it will help more people in the long run. Yes, if you heal all the soldiers, what are you going to do when they get hurt again? After medicinal practices have been improved we can hire new doctors to help Dr Isley. This is war, Commander, I think you know it’s better to take the longer but more safe route.”

He clicked his tongue. It reminded her of Prince Damian, they were more like brothers than they cared to admit to anyone.

“Good.” She shook herself out of her thoughts of brotherhood and raised her eyebrow.

“Wait—” She shook her head. “—Was that a test?”

For the first time since she met him, he gave her a wide smile showing his teeth. He laughed, “What do you think?”

She was dumbfounded.

“Marinette,” he whispered. “I wish for Nanda Parbat’s medicinal practices to improve.”

‘Genie! I wish for more crates filled with gold!’

She smiled, “As you wish.” Her eyes flashed a neon blue and a gust of wind exploded from her. It didn’t knock Jason over but he was startled by it, but as he looked around no one else seemed to be affected by it. His gaze turned back to the genie, the neon dimming from her eyes.

That was the first time he truly felt magic. It wasn’t like a desert storm that pounded the earth, it was a refreshing gust of wind.

Before he could poster the subject more, the girl in front of him collapsed. “Marinette!” The girl didn’t show any form of response to his cry. “Mari!”

When she awoke it was dark. The moonlight made the white tarp walls glow. It was a beautiful sight in the silence that was this night. Too warm. She pulled the tunic she wore over her head, panting. She must’ve become rusty from not using her magic for over a century.

“Marinette go!” Her father cried pulling at his chains, her mother clicked her agreement.

“No! I won’t leave you here! She pulled at their chains, her maman had less due to her being in beetle form but they still would budge. Chains made out of miraculium. Magic vs magic. They were betrayed by something created for them to harness for peace.

Her father grabbed her lamp in his hands. “Three dot’s Mari! Your mother says they mean life, you’ve got to live but not like this!” He shouted over the approaching soldiers' footsteps. He rubbed the lamp, her blue eyes that she inherited from him glowed as he became the new owner of her lamp. “I wish for you and the lamp to be hidden—“ the door to the pen was broken and she couldn’t hear the rest of his wish. “—I command you!”

She could not disobey a direct command. Her eyes glowed blue as her hands raised, she screams internally for the wish to stop. Tears rushed down her face as pink light surrounded her and the lamp. She chokingly sobbed out her goodbyes to her parents but was gone before she could hear their cries of their love for her.

She pulled the blankets up to her chest, she felt the cold on her bare back. Her parents had saved her from the cycle of masters they witnessed other genies go through. She can’t even go back for them now; she’s still bound to Jason and they’ve surely been reclaimed by the magic by now.

The tent flap moved and Jason appeared carrying a tray of food and water. He rushed to her side asking if she was ok. She shooed him away, stating that she was just a bit out of practice and would be fine next time. He helped her drink as her limbs still tingled with numbness.

He told her what she had missed in the days that she remained unconscious. The wish had taken immediate effect and they hired two more doctors to help Dr Isley; Dr. Harleen Quinzel and a nurse by the name of Dinah Lance.

She swallowed wrong at hearing this; she swiftly turned away from him and began coughing her lungs out. He patted her back and she soon settled down. He traced a finger down her spine and she shivered at his touch. He looked down at her bare skin; black, grey and silver lines shimmered on her back. He had heard of and seen many tribal tattoos but these looked similar to insect wings.

“My wings.” She broke the silence.

“Tell me about them.” She turned back around and shifted so he could join her on the mattress.

“Well. . .” She looked off to the side. “I am the result of a joke amongst our human captors. If there is a god they’ll have to beg for my forgiveness after what they’ve done. My father was the largest fairy and my mother, who was a dinji. She was a red beetle dinji, about the size of a giant tortoise.” She gestured the size with her weak arms. She turned back to look at her companion. “Please don’t ask the specifics of how I came to be from that union. Although they are my parents, I do not even want to think about it.”

He chuckled, the light fell on his face and she stared at him. When had he changed from the gruff guy from the cave with seventeen knives (yes she counted).

“All genies have some sort of imprint from their parents. Mine is the image of their wings.” She took a breath. “It gives me hope that one day I’ll be free.”

The next morning they were riding out again. Their reinforcement battalion were swapping with a battalion that’s been stationed on the frontier. Jason and their leader shook hands and discussed details. An arrow soared through the air and landed, embedded deep into the dirt road.

“Take cover!” Jason commanded and the soldiers fled into the trees. The south was still arid and sandy but had more tropical storms and oasis that eventually became a forest. Now the southern state of the empire wanted this land to become more prosperous.

A barrage of around landed right where they stood moments ago. Some arrows were flaming and caught the surrounding plants on fire. Both allied and enemy battalions charged. It was a slaughter with no clear winner. The enemy soldiers, who wore yellow were numerous while Nanda Parbet, who wore black, were more highly skilled.

“Fire!” Men on both sides shouted whether they meant shooting weapons or the growing blaze was unclear in this chaos. Marinette stayed out of the way and under a tree. Jason had given her a poisoned dagger to defend herself. And although she couldn’t use her magic on herself she wasn’t completely defenceless.

As the battle just got more out of hand it became clear that they were losing. “Jason,” Marinette cried as she joined in on the battle defending his flank. “What do you want to do?”

“Is it too soon to make another wish?” He blocked an oncoming sword and flicked the weapon out of the yellow guard’s hand. Jason raised his left arm and fired off his crossbow, impaling the guy’s heart.

“Go for it!”

“I wish for anythin’ that will help us.”

“Are you sure you want to make a blank wish?” She spat, slashing her knife down someone’s face and grabbing three arrows out of the air. “Are you sure you can live with the consequences?”

“I trust your judgement!” He yelled, fighting in a three vs one.

“As you wish!” Her eyes glowed and she dropped her dagger, making her way over to where most of the enemy troops were gathered. “Jason!” He squinted at her, blood from a cut on his forehead running into his eye. “Call a retreat now!”

He blew his horn and the allied troops began to back away from the fight and return the horses and caravans. Pink light gathered around her and the forest exploded into an inferno. Screams and the stench of melting flesh filled the air. Bodies began to drop to the forest’s floor, both allied and enemy, mainly enemy.

They reconvened back at camp and the three medics rushed out to assess the damage. Barely over half the troop they had at that position survived the attack and were still standing, more were knocked down and being treated.

“Commander!” Two men rushed up carrying a man on a stretcher, “Roy’s hurt!”

Panic pierced his heart as he saw one of his oldest friends and comrades lying there defenceless.

Dr Quinzel examined the ginger. Burns covered his left arm, parts had even become black and burnt from the heat. The blonde looked up at them grimly, “We’ll have to amputate if we want any hope of his survival.”

He solemnly nodded and turned his eyes away. “Do what you must.”

He stayed by Roy’s bedside for days; Marinette had to force him to sleep. Meetings with the leaders continued with an empty chair to Jason’s right. Some good that came from this was many other enemy battalions were retreating as their larges squadron was decimated by the blast.

One day, what everyone was waiting for with held breaths ever since Marinette was seen by his side happened. He blew up.

“Why didn’t you tell me this could happen?” He bellowed, they were in a clearing outside of camp but some soldier bathing in a nearby creek could overhear them.

“I warned you that there would be consequences!”

Their yelling continued until Dinah, the camp’s nurse, came and broke them up. She scolded them saying it was no one’s fault and it could’ve happened to anyone.

Those words didn’t apply here, the feuding couple thought. One had made the wish and the other had granted it. Marinette gasped and her eyes glowed, Jason and Dinah paused.

And Marinette was gone in a flash of pink light.

“At first I wondered.” Talia’s voice cut through the large expanse of the room. “Why would a girl from the desert have access to an ancient weapon and not use it? But when my sources told me you were the genie I was intrigued.”

“My first wish is to revive my father!”

“I already told you I cannot revive people from the dead.” Marinette yelled back, stem rising from her ears as she tugged on her chains.

“I wish for you to revive my father, I command you!”

“Not now Damian!” Jason rushed past his brother, who had greeted him at the palace steps. He had rode Ace here in under four hour, which was probably a world record for that distance but there was no time for games.

“I’m not dumb Todd! You did find the genie.”

Jason stumbled looking down at the Prince. “. . .How do you know that?”

“How do you think?” Jason’s eyes widened and his rushed pace became a full sprint, he changed directions from his room to the grand hall. Damian still kept up but seemed to have no intention to stop him. “You found her, loved her and now lost her. . . I bet you wish you didn’t.”

He further explained how Lian the maid had found the lamp in Marinette’s belongings and took it, as it seemed important. His mother had gotten a secret telegram from the frontlines; it detailed Marinette and a fiery explosion that happened out of nowhere after a retreat was called. The guards first searched Jason’s and Marinette’s room, tearing up the walls and floor before interrogating all the staff. Finally the lamp was found hidden in a hold under Lian’s mattress.

“And that’s when mother got her hands on it.” They reached the imposing doors to the grand hall.

They broke past the guards and into the hall to find the deceased Viceroy Ra Al Ghul standing before Marinette with her lamp in his grey hands. “It's good to be back.” His voice sounded like he had gargled gravel and glass.

“So you’re the genie I was looking for for seventy years.” He snarled, leaning down on Mari who collapsed on the floor. “Don’t bother with your speech, I already know what I want.

“First I want to be immortal and second I would like the power to rival genies like you.” His tooth grin was filled with blackened and decaying teeth.

Marinette looked over at Jason and Damian, who both yelled out for Ra to stop and for Marinette not to listen to him. Her eyes flashed a vibrant blue, they had mere seconds to act. They both rushed at Ra, aiming for the lamp to stop the wish.

“I command you!” He bellowed and light erupted for Marinette.

But instead of crying she smirked, “As you wish.”

Marinette sat under the newly installed garden fountain, watching as bugs moved throughout the plants. The statue on top of the marble stone was of Ra Al Ghul, and warned people what happens when they mess with magic. He held the lamp in an outstretched arm and hid his face in the other. His metal body shined, it looked like it was made of swirling glitter. He became exactly what he wished for, an immortal statute of Miraculium.

“Why do you like bugs so much? I thought girls like you were meant to be terrified of them.” Damian interrupted her silence and sat down next to him. She shot a glare his way, as she turned back to watch the flowers sway in the wind.

"I see my papa in the dragonflies and my maman in the beetles.” She finally said.

"Oh,” Damian paused, not expecting that answer. He tilted his head at her, “Would you like me to get an enclosure so you can see them every day?"

Her laugh was hollow and bitter, she forced a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. “And what?” She almost snarled at him, but his innocent question didn’t deserve her rage. “Trap them like my kin were for centuries? No, not even insects deserve that.”

Damian muttered his apologies from fleeing the garden, rushing by Jason on his way out.

Jason raised an eyebrow and she sighed, her anger replaced by guilt. “What was that about?”

“Damian tried doing something nice but I got emotional about my parents and the enslaved Magical Creatures, so I lashed out at him!” She dragged her hands down her face, the pinks of her bottom eyelids showing.

Jason shushed her and took both her hands in his, helping her up. They stood among the many exotic flowers that managed to thrive in this barren country.

He mumbled something to her that she couldn’t quite catch so she asked him to repeat.

“I wanted it to be you.”

She scrunched her brows and gazed up at him, face flooded with confusion. “Wanted what to be me?”

“My last wish, I wanted it to be you. Your freedom.” His hand brushed away a stray hair from her pink cheek.

She spluttered as her brain finally processed his words, all she could reply with was, “HUH?”

He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers cradling her jaw in his hands. “I’m sorry. Am I going too fast? Or do you not want this?”

“No no!” She reassured him, trying to regain her composure. Finally she took a deep breath of his scent, and closed her eyes. “Do you still have the lamp?”

“Yes.”

She opened her eyes and nuzzled into his palm. “Then make your wish Master~” She teased, a wide grin painted on her face.

“As you wish.”

Taglist:

@iloontjeboontje @twsssmlmaa @ann0631 @ledalasombra @ev-cupcake @toodaloo-kangaroo @couffeeine @newmoonxy @nightlychaotic

#maribat #mlb x dc #dc x mlb #jasonette #jason x marinette #marinette x jason #Genie AU #Jason is stoic not dumb #I totally didn’t write this while watching Avatar & Aladdin #🤫#MGI Bracket War 2022 #round 2

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ive-tumbled-down-a-rabbit-hole · 2 years

Text

Hidden Traps

Meet Cute Monday 38

For @izanae for being amazing 😘❤️

Masterlist

MCM Masterlist

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

Jason stared as Roy fiddle around with the plant pot that stood in his apartment's hallway. Roy had shoved the small gravel stones to the side and started to dig to pull out another larger grey stone, which he twisted open to reveal two small apartment keys. Having fished one out he reassembled the hidey hole key situation and reassembled the plant and pot, so it looked like nothing happened.

“You do realise that it would be just as easy to pick your locks, right?”

“But then I’ll look like a burglar, this way if anyone catches me, I can say I’m doing plant care.”

“You live here. Surely your neighbours recognise you and would get it.”

“Yes! They do, this was my neighbour’s idea.”

“Then why?!”

“...”

“Roy.”

“... she’s cute. You can’t resist those big blue soulful eyes she gives you.”

“Let me get this straight. You’re make things hard for ya self, due to a girl.”

“You would too.”

Jason rolled his eyes at his friend's ridiculousness as they entered the now unlocked the ‘traditional’ way apartment with traps/alarms/security all disengaged. Roy watched as Jason dumped the groceries on the kitchen counter and started to move the kitchen space with a familiar ease putting things away and pulling other stuff out to start cooking dinner. He slammed the fridge door closed slightly harder than it needed muttering to himself about Roy’s ‘ridiculousness’, just to see the strange picture that really wasn’t in Roy’s apartment last time he visited slip off the wall.

“Roy?”

The man in question looked up from the table where he was fiddling with his latest contraption that was associated with his bow and just hummed at Jason.

“Why the hell do you have a picture of a hidden safe on the wall??”

“Because I’m renting and not allowed a real one.”

“......”

“Mars helped chose the picture and said it would be cool to have a hidden wall safe, but it sucked that renting we couldn’t so like we both came up with the idea of having a fake one.”

“And Mars is your neighbour? And you just went along with it??”

“She is very convincing when she’s all sweet and nervous. You can’t say no. It’s like kicking a wet kitten, you just can’t.”

“You just compared your neighbour to a wet kitten.”

“She’s little and cute.”

“Whatever loser, hang the picture up properly this time.”

_____________

The pair were eating Jason’s prepared dinner going over the plans for their next mission when there was a knocking at Roy’s door. Jason raised his eyebrow questioningly at Roy as he was sure that they weren’t expecting company anytime soon. If they did, it was more likely to enter via a window than the more ‘conventional’ method of via door. Roy dragged himself up and mooched over to the door checking the peep hole before he opened it. Suddenly Roy’s voice tone changed as he spoke to the person on the other side. Curious to his friend's sudden strange behaviour Jason got up to investigate too.

Talking to Roy was a petite woman with dark hair that shimmered blue in the florescent light of the hallway. Roy had implied that his neighbour was a shy cute fragile thing not this hot sexy fae like woman. Her dark tight jeans hugged her legs, her (red hood not arsenal) red crop top showed just enough abs to hint at she worked out and had muscles hidden in her lithe frame with her burgundy jacket sealing the deal on h-o-t.

Roy had been holding out on him.

“Oh! You’ve got guests, I’ll leave. You don’t need to worry...”

“Mars!”

“I get, you don’t have to. I’ll ask someone else...”

“Marinette!”

Roy’s sharper tone broke through her nervous ramblings.

“I’ll do it. It’s only Jay so it doesn’t count as a guest. And what you’re asking isn’t a big thing.”

As she started to nervously bite her painted red lips and twiddle her fingers that Jason got it. Her shimmering blue eyes looking up at Roy through dark lashes had Jason understand why his friend couldn’t say no. Despite her dress and appearance of confidence at the start of the conversation, the way she curled into herself like she was certain of rejection made it bring clear images of injured kittens. Saying no seemed like an impossible task. Especially when Jason heard what her request was, though he didn’t like it and could see the subtle tenseness in Roy’s muscles agreeing with his thoughts.

“So, you don’t mind? I understand if you don’t want to, but it would make my friend feel better. And me...... it would reassure me as well.”

The chewing on her lip with her nervous smile was adorable.

“Mars, I told you before, I’m happy to help. We’re friends. I want you safe too. I’m sorry I never thought about this before but considering we live next door I guess it never came up. Come in and I can see if my phone is charge. You can ignore Jay, he’s a pain who’s visiting.”

Relief seemed to flood her body with Roy’s comments. Jason caught her cautious sneak looks at him before returning her full attention to Roy.

“Thank you! And don’t worry about your phone. I’ll just put my number and restaurant name on a piece of paper, and you can text me with your number when its charged. I should be back by 11 latest, I think. It’s first date so I just want to get to know the guy better for the moment. Nothing more.”

Jason scrambled and grabbed a piece of paper from the table and held it out to her who responded with a soft grateful smile, which was almost sinfully innocent, as Roy led her in. Reaching in her bag so took out a permanent marker and wrote the name of the restaurant on the paper before opening the pen to pull out a smaller pink marker which she wrote her number in with heart signed at the end when she beamed up at the men.

“What’s with the pen inside a pen?”

“Oh, ummm,” a slight blush dusted her cheeks as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, “I like making secret hiding places for things, but I have nothing to hide so umm yeah, I hid everyday things instead. I have this bolt which I hide my hay fever medicine... but it also makes a good surprise weapon since I’ve tied a ribbon round it.”

Jason suddenly understood another reason why Roy was so taken by his neighbour. She was hot as hell, but as cute as a kitten with a passion for making quirky things. No wonder Roy had heart eyes and was trying to be all puffed up muscles with the woman despite him looking more like an adoring puppy. Hell, he was starting to get catch some sort of protective feels for her too.

“Do you have a taser? Shall I call you at 10 to check in? Did you want us to take you there and pick you up?”

“...”

“Roy, I’ll be ok. Taser is in my bag along with my electric yoyo. I’ve got a taxi taking me to the restaurant and will get one back. I’ll be fine, you worrywart.”

“I’m checking in at 10. If I get no reply, I’m coming to get you.”

Marinette rolled her at Roy’s dramatics, cocking her hip looking up at him with a pout and shimmering eyes.

“I’m not a kid. I’m not a helpless damsel Roy. I can look after myself, so you don’t need to go all big brother mode on me. I was giving you info so I can I felt safer as its easy for you to check given you live across the corridor, but if you’re gonna be a drama queen about it forget it. I’ll let someone from work know instead.”

That caused Jason to pause. Big Brother. Interesting. He had originally thought Roy was interested in his neighbour. Taking in both their stances, Jason reassessed his original thoughts and observations as to whether he read the situation correctly.

Oh, ooooooh, he got it now. He could see the similarities, with the hair which shines blue in the lights, her sapphire kitten eyes, the flitting between nervousness and confidence. Marinette reminded him of Lian, and Roy was channelling his protective vibes towards her since he couldn’t currently do this to his little girl.

Jason watched as Roy spluttered and tried to rein in his mother-henning all the while he endeavoured to subtly place trackers on the woman as she looked unamused at his form of care. Taking pity on his co-disaster friend Jason decided to step in, even if it meant letting the woman leave the apartment for a ‘date’.

“Hey, it’s ok Pixie, no need to worry about Roy being all smothering ya. I’ll keep ‘im in line. You go enjoy your date and we’ll check in with ya later.”

Pausing Marinette took in Jason’s appearance, finally paying him more attention than cursory glances as she leant back into Roy side while she assessed him carefully. Blinking quickly with a light blush that grew on her cheeks, Marinette nodded to herself with whatever she found before breaking into a wonky smile.

“Okay. Thank you. I’ll... I’ll talk to you two later. Thank you, Roy.”

“Wait! Take this with you!”

Roy moved and grabbed a tube of what looked like hand cream. Marinette paused tilting her head at him as she took it off him and slipped it into her bag.

“Look, it’s a distress beacon. Like the one we’re working on for the hairbrush. I... It’ll reassure me that you have something that you can easily use to warn me if things are going wrong, ok.”

Marinette lent in to give him a hug and soft smile.

“Thanks Roy. I’ll use that. Same principle as the other one? Twist it 45 degrees, push in and twist back?”

“Yeah, now go be safe.”

With another quick hug and a quick wave to Jason, Marinette quickly escapes the apartment fully loaded with hidden gadgets by the sounds of things.

At Roy’s sigh Jason crossed his arms and gave him a raised eyebrow in hope of getting answers out of his friend. Jason snorted at Roy’s huff and pout as the pair conversed with facial expressions alone as they went back to the cooling meal.

Smirking at his friend, Jason leant back in his chair with his plate empty and turning Roy's new arrow gadget around with his fingers.

“So, when do we kit up!”

“I thought you we’re meant to be ‘keeping me in line’?”

“This is. You’ve let her go. Now we shadow from a respectful distance and observe just in case.”

“Just in case?”

“Well, it’s like a stake out. We need to back sure her date isn’t a prick. And you never know, the restaurant could be a front.”

“So, tailing my neighbour for ‘just in case’ is now acceptable, where an hour ago you’d were calling me a loser for creating fake safes with Mars.”

“You didn’t say she was hot and completely needs to be protected earlier.”

“You think she’s hot?”

“What...”

“Jay, Jaybird, Ex Boy Wonder, Jason, you just said you think Mars is hot?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“You did! That’s why you’re happy to follow her.”

“Nope! I just don’t want an evening of you moping around worrying about your baby sister neighbour. Plus, the weather is perfect for an evening rooftop run.”

Roy looked at Jason with knowing eyes and shoved his final mouthful of food in, slowly chewing as he weighed up his response.

“Whatever, Birdbrain. You just want to check out the competition, but works in my favour, I don’t trust the guys she keeps getting set up with. Let’s suit up.”

Jason grinned at his friend; he’d gotten a silent approval to get to know the creative, quirky woman next door.

#maribat #dc x mlb #mlb x dc #maribat au #ml x dc #dc x ml #meet cute #meet cute monday #jasonette #platonic roynette #jason x marinette #marinette x jason #roy x Marinette #marinette x roy

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folk-ever-lore · 2 years

Text

I Forgot That You Existed

Marinette Dupain-Cheng had left Paris as soon as she could. Once Hawkmoth had been defeated and collège was over, she had said goodbye to the city she had once protected and left for University in the United States.

It hadn’t been an easy decision but it had been the right one. Being forced into becoming a child superhero and protecting an entire city at such a young age was bound to leave her with at least some ill will towards Paris. Of course, there was also the issue of Adrien Agreste.

Adrien, sweet perfect Adrien Agreste. Once she’d been head over heels in love with him, or so she’d believed. In reality it had been an extremely unhealthy obsession that had led to the decline of her mental health as she was willing to do anything in order to get him to like her back. Including, but not limited to, stealing his phone, dressing up as a waiter to gain access to his house and stalking him whenever he was around another girl.

When she’d sat down and realised what she had become, Marinette’s first course of action was to spend as little time around him as possible. And thus moving as far away as possible. Gotham was pretty far away from Paris, right?

All in all the move, although to the most crime infested city in the world, had been the right thing for her and her life. She didn’t regret it at all.

Now she had an amazing husband who she loved more than anything (in a completely healthy way), and a whole other crazy family that came with Jason. She, of course, kept in touch with her own family but the Waynes were also her family now.

She tried her best to attend her weekly therapy lessons because they were a godsend, but sometimes the crime in Gotham just didn’t allow it. Yes, she had chosen to fight crime again. But that was the important part. She chose to fight crime again with Jason’s family, their family.

Although she didn’t use the miraculous anymore, just watch over them, she had chosen the moniker Ladybird to make a nod to her past hero identity.

And although this had all been a hugely positive thing for Marinette, she hadn’t been expecting the identity crisis the first time she saw Adrien Agreste in over five years. Adrien Agreste and his wife, an overly blonde model just like him.

“Marinette,” he cried happily as he came over to her at the latest Wayne Gala. “It’s been so long. I’ve missed you.”

She nodded politely at him. “Adrien. I take it this must be your wife? It’s nice to meet you Mrs Agreste.”

“Please, just call me Sophie,” the woman insisted.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Sophie. I’m Marinette. I went to school with Adrien.”

And as the night went on nothing happened. She didn’t feel drawn to Adrien, didn’t hate him, didn’t want to avoid him, didn’t want to profess her love to him. Nothing. Neutral. Nice

When the night was over, and the guests were gone, the first thing Jason did was check on his wife. “Are you okay? I know that couldn’t have been easy for you.”

“It wasn’t easy,” she admitted. “But I think it went okay. I can’t ever see us being friends, but I don’t think there’s any issues there anymore.”

“That’s great,” he replied with a grin, happy to support the woman he loved in any possible way. “It means that you’ve completely moved on from that moment of time mentally. I’m so proud of you!”

Marinette cuddled up into him. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for supporting me. Thank you so much. You mean the world to be.”

“And you mean the world to me too, Pixie. I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

#maribat #marinette dupain cheng #jason todd #jasonette #marinette x jason #jason x marinette #adrien agreste #past relationship #new relationship #old friends #fluff #years on #mlb x dc #dc x mlb #marinette dupain-cheng maribat #jason todd maribat

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itsnothappening · 2 years

Text

temptation | jasonette

word count: +1k

summary: jason smirked at her, sharp and beautiful. "is that, like, a thing with you or something?" he asked, laughter clear in his voice.

a/n: this is just chaos LMAO

@maribat-calendar-events

ao3 | wattpad | series masterlist | masterlist | prompts

If Marinette was being honest, she didn't really take much notice of it the first time it happened. If she was being even more honest, it probably had been a thing for a long, long time but she'd chosen to never acknowledge it. Marinette was well-aware of how much effort it took a person to be good at something—especially because of her own experiences as an upcoming fashion designer. So, it only made sense that she would be impressed when someone achieved something at a high level.

The turned-on part threw her into a loop though.

Jason and Marinette hadn't been seeing each other long—just about a few weeks. As was to be expected in Gotham, their relationship began with a simple one-night stand and progressed from there. Up till, well, last week, their relationship had been purely physical, but now it was in the transition stage to something more of the just-enjoying-each-other's company stage.

It was a nice thing Marinette would admit, to sit in her boyfriend's apartment, his head in her lap and just talk about anything and everything. She was more comfortable with him than she had ever been with anybody else in her life—something she hadn't forced herself to think about for longer than a few seconds.

She and Jason were sitting in comfortable silence, each left to their own devices. Jason, with his head in her lap, was reading a book while Marinette stroked her hand through his hair, scrolling through Instagram aimlessly. Her interest was sparked when Chloe tagged her in a new post.

The video was labelled as Marinette felt confident up till the first question LMAO.

Marinette tapped on it curiously, wondering what the hell Chloe was talking about now. The video had captions so she played it silently. It was some sort of quiz show, and the first question was simple: a question about the Justice League. Jason had told Marinette enough about it for her to answer with ease. The second one, on the other hand, threw Marinette into a loop and she let out a soft snort when she understood what Chloe's comment meant.

"What's up?" Jason asked curiously, looking at her over his book.

"Nothing," Marinette said, shaking her head. "Just some quiz show Chloe tagged me in. Like, who could possibly know those answers?" Marinette laughed softly as the video continued to play.

"What are they?" Jason asked, flipping a page of his book.

Marinette raised an eyebrow at him, but nonetheless complied, rewinding back to the second question. "What countries made up the original Axis powers in World War II?"

Jason didn't even look up from his book. "Germany, Italy and Japan."

The video confirmed his answer and Marinette looked up at him, stunned. It wasn't much of a shock that she didn't know the answer—history and science had never been her forte anyway, but what was a shock was the familiar flip her stomach did at his answer.

"When Walt Disney was a child, which character did he play in his school function?"

"Peter Pan."

Marinette blinked hard. Jason did mention that he loved classics, so maybe that was it. Marinette nearly managed to convince herself that, right up until the timer ran out and the host confirmed his answer.

"Now for our next category," the host announced, "Geography."

Jason snorted, like it was easy, and Marinette felt her skin prickle at the thought.

"Which country borders 14 nations and crosses 8 time zones?"

"Russia," Jason said dismissively, and Marinette stared at him with her jaw open. Her stomach whirled as his answer was correct, once again, her heartbeat began to pound.

"The ancient Phoenician city of Constantine is located in what modern-day Arab country?" Marinette didn't even understand what that question meant.

"Algeria," was the one-word answer, and Marinette was staring openly at Jason now. He still hadn't looked up from his book.

"Apple Inc. was founded by three people: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and who was the last person?"

"Ronald Wayne," and whoops that does it. Marinette threw her phone and with moves, she didn't even know she had, she somehow managed to manoeuvre herself and Jason until she was in his lap.

"What?" Jason asked with concern, his book lying in a heap on the ground.

"That," Marinette said, pressing a hard kiss to his lips. "Was really hot."

Jason opened his mouth—no doubt to ask another question—but Marinette used the opportunity to slip her tongue into his mouth, digging her hands into his hair. A few seconds later, Jason pulled away, laughing.

"What?" Marinette demanded frustratedly.

"I'm so confused," he said with an amused smile on his face. "What exactly is happening?" Marinette shifted uncomfortably, a dark stain appearing on her cheeks and Jason tightened her grip on his waist, clarifying, "Not that I'm complaining, obviously, but, you know."

Marinette buried his head into her neck, sucking at his sweet spot repeatedly to distract him from her embarrassment.

"You're smart," she muttered finally, in answer to his question. It wasn't news to her per se—Marinette had seen Jason enough times with a textbook and adorable glasses on his face. But. Knowing that and seeing it were two very different things.

"I'm, well," Jason hesitated, "I'm okay. Not as good as Tim."

Apparently, the universe wasn't done with Marinette today, because right on cue, her phone came back with another question. "Mount Erebus which is the second-highest volcano in Antarctica was the first ascent by whom?"

Marinette stared at Jason with her breath in her throat.

He had the ability to turn a little red as he murmured, "Edgeworth David in 1908."

"Oh my god," Marinette said, looking at him with wonder and reverence in her eyes. "That's like—oh my god, I can't get over it—"

"Are you sure you're okay over there?" Jason asked with a stupid amused grin on his face.

Marinette crushed their mouths back together, pushing him back onto the couch, tangling their limbs together.

Pulling away to gasp for air, Marinette repeated, "Smart."

Jason smirked at her, sharp and beautiful. "Is that, like, a thing with you or something?" he asked, laughter clear in his voice.

"No," Marinette lied, emphatically and immediately. "Shut up."

She pressed her lips to his again, before Jason could retort back.

#jasonette july 2022 #jasonette #jason x marinette #marinette x jason #jason todd #marinette dupain cheng #fluff #humour #basically marinette has a kink so to say #and jason is just confused LMAO #maribat #mlb x dc #dc x mlb

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miracle-sham · 2 years

Text

A Brush With Death and the Fangs of Regret.

| {MGI Team Mixer Event} |

| {What other secrets did you keep from me?, Phantoms, Clouds, Would you just stop treating me like something you're trying to fix, Crimson, Wanna bet?, Am I safe with you?, and You hit surprisingly hard for the weakest member of your team} |

| Monsterhunting is a dangerous business, Marinette knows this well with how many close calls she's had over the years but perhaps this is the closest call to date. |

| Injured and answerless, she's forced to reckon with the missing pieces and gaps in her memories and hope she makes it out alive with her humanity intact. |

| Though it's starting to look more and more unlikely with every step she takes. |

| Word Count: 4,361. |

| Warnings/Tags: Alternative Universe—Fantasy/No Miraculous, Horror, Dread, Gothic Horror, Survival Horror, Unreliable Narrator, Monster Hunter Marinette, Vampire Jason, Alchemist Jonathon Crane, Memory loss, Blood and injury, Canon typical violence, Implied/referenced Character Death, Major character undeath, Implied/referenced vampire turning, Good Sibling Jason, Hurt Marinette, Hurt Jason, both deserce hugs, Angst, Mild hurt/comfort, Hallucinations, Loss of control, Loss of senses, Loss of trust, Swearing, Mind Mamipulation, Implied/referenced non consensual drug use, Implied/referenced needles, Unethical human experimentation, Near death experiences, Panic attacks/disassociation, ambiguous/open ending, Unreality. |

———

| A/N: Regarding the tags, please make sure to read all of them carefully before reading because even though most of it is all implied/referenced, it is still pretty dark/angsty. Also regarding the panic attack/disassociation those don't technically happen but they're the closest words i could think of to accurately describe what Marinette goes through during this fic and it gets a little heavy at point. If you struggle with unreality this may not be the fic for you because there is some very explicit unreality throughout the fic as a main theme, so if you're unsure please be careful. |

| If you think or know you can handle this kind of content, then I hope you enjoy this au! |

| Also side note, Don’t Like? Don’t Read. |

———

Run! Marinette's mind screams. But her throat burns and her body aches like she's just gone toe to toe with an animated grotesque. And maybe she has! It's not like she can actually remember anything from the past three days, just a harrowing black void where her memory is and the knowledge that three days have passed, a fact that's waving red flags in her mind. Not to even mention that the rest of her memories predating the lost ones are blurry at best and incomprehensible at worst right now. After all, missing time and messed-up memories are dangerous symptoms for a monster hunter like herself to be experiencing, especially when disorientated and alone in an unfamiliar place—she knows that for certain at least.

Stifling a hiss between her teeth, Marinette dives, rolling into the nearest room and darting to one side of the door frame. Then, by hooking her fingers around it, cautiously shuts the wooden door—reinforced with iron bars and bolts—partially, until it's only barely ajar; as to make as little sound as possible to find her by.

The manor house's basement is a maze and she's oh so vulnerably lost. She can't afford to stay here—stay still—for long. Holding her breath for a moment, she waits. The seconds pass like the dripping of blood from the deep gash curled across her collarbone and throat. Luckily though, the other new injuries she awoke with—littering her arms, legs, chest, and throat, looking dreadfully like signs of torture—are freshly scabbed over and haven't seemed to have reopened.

A small mercy.

Perhaps a little too violently for the stealth she desperately needs, she slams her shoulders back against the stone wall inside the room and lets herself slide to the floor, legs giving way beneath her. The impact will probably bruise nastily, knowing her luck.

She hasn't got time to clean the wound on her neck, meaning she'll still be easy to track via the scent of her blood but really, it's too late now all things considered, and there's no water or alcohol she could even use to do so in the first place anyway. Scrabbling for a scrap of cloth, she tears the bottom of her tunic and wraps it with practised deftness around her neck to cover the gash in a temporary bandage—better than nothing.

In, two, three, four. Her shoulders shake as she struggles for every slow breath, desperately willing her heartbeat to steady from its frenetic rhythm.

Out, two, three, four.

Footsteps approach.

Marinette freezes, pulse skyrocketing and breath hitching in terror. No, no, no! He's coming, he's coming, he's coming!

Who, she doesn't quite know but what she does know, is that instinctual fear for her survival clouding her mind.

Closer, and closer, floorboards groaning and moaning in warning. Only accentuated by the scraping prowl of hardened leather soles against the wood.

Bloody fingers scramble at the crossbow resting on her belt, silver bolt at the ready.

The footsteps reach the threshold of the doorframe, nails squealing in the floorboard beneath the boots. Hinges on the door wailing as whoever lurks behind, slowly begins prising it open like a coffin.

Quick as a flash, Marinette yanks the crossbow from its belt hook and up at the now-open door. Without hesitating to aim, fires. There's a clunk of the mechanism activating and a twang as it shoots.

Thunk, as it misses.

“Shit! Fuck!” An almost familiar voice yelps, sounding strained with a growl between their teeth.

She ignores the cursing and its accompanying sense of déjà vu, already reloading by habit and bringing the crossbow up to aim at the one tracking her.

“Hey, hey, it's just me!” The person—a man with an unnervingly agnising streak of white in his black hair—stumbles back, raising his hands in surrender, near unnaturally bright green eyes apprehensively wide. He's grinning at her anxiously, making it more of an uneasy half grimace than any sort of smile really. “You recognise me, right? C'mon, Mari!”

She doesn't. Her fingers tremble against the trigger, keeping the crossbow raised to shoot his heart at the slightest threat. Why does he know my name… Is he the one chasing me? The one I need to run from?

“Marinette?” He pleads, fingers curling in slightly as his eyebrows furrow, a look of deep distress slowly etching its way across his features before the realisation crushes his hope and a wretched sort of dolorous dawns in his eyes. “No! No, please, come on!” He takes a step back. “I can't…”

“Can't what?” She retorts carefully, not erring in her aim as she continues to hold the crossbow up and ready.

He swallows a breath of air sharply at that, “you… fuck—you really don't recognise me, huh?”

Licking her lip nervously, she squints at him. “Should I?”

The man opens his mouth to speak then shuts it, biting his tongue and holding the unspoken words between his teeth.

But Marinette catches a glint of something unmistakably amiss.

And they can both hear the distant ringing of the death knell outside, marking the hours they have left to flee this place—to escape with their lives.

They're running out of time.

He sighs, closing his eyes for a brief moment before staring at her intently. “What do you remember?”

“I'm a monster hunter.” She responds, eyeing him warily, finger twitching on the crossbow trigger.

His face twists at her answer, “Yeah… yeah… but anything else?”

“What's it to you?” Marinette answers unhelpfully, tone almost whingey in petulance.

The man barks out an acerbic laugh of disbelief and shakes his head slightly but offers no answer.

Tilting her head to one side, she nods stiffly towards him, switching the topic. “What's your name then? Since you already know mine?” She can't help the slight questioning lilt at the end of her words. The curiosity burns like the wound around her neck.

“Jason.” He mutters lowly. “But, uhh,” the corner of his lips starts to curl into a frown before scrunching into a full grimace. “You used to call me Jay, among some other nicknames. We were close, you and I.” He breathes in slowly as if the words pain him to speak. “I'm your older brother.”

A chill runs down her spine and it takes all her willpower not to shoot as she raises an eyebrow at him instead. “Uh-huh? Is that so?”

Jason doesn't respond immediately but the grief-stricken stare he gives is answer enough. He takes a tentative step forwards again, reaching one hand towards her, the other still raised in a show of harmlessness.

Watching askance at his movements, she holds herself perfectly still. Not daring to even breathe. Until the very last second, when he gets but a fraction too close.

Violently, she flinches back. Heart racing, hands shaking.

The crossbow fires.

Thwonk, the bolt slams into Jason's torso, shadowed by a hiss of burning flesh.

“Fuck!” He bites out, a snarl on his lips, accidentally revealing two inhumanly long fangs where his canines should have been. “I'm offended, Nettie.” He coughs, “your aim's gotten worse.”

‘You really wanna bet?’ is the snappy response upon her lips that dies like a bolt through the heart, as she stares, eyes wide in horror at the sight that answers her unspoken challenge.

For, slowly a patch of dark crimson upon his sternum begins to stain and spread through the pale shirt.

Marinette freezes again, unable to wrench her eyes from that bolt sticking out of his chest, skin smouldering on contact with the silver—she shouldn't be so surprised, so shocked by her own reaction, not when she can't recall ever being so distraught over hurting a monster before, in her blurry memories. So why is seeing Jason hurt different? He can't be telling the truth, can he?

Still trembling, she reloads the crossbow yet again, between hesitant flickering glances up at him. “If you're really my brother then how come you're a vampire?” She demands, baring her own dull teeth back at him before adding on quickly, “because I'm still completely human. So either you're trying to take advantage of my memory, intact or not, or you should be dead.”

“I ain't arguing with that.” Shaking his head, he scoffs. “Look, you won't be human for fucking long if we don't get out of here, okay.” He scowls, sending a dark look back down the shadowed hallway he came from, before offering a hand out to her once more. “I know a way out, I can explain shit afterwards. And we will find a way to undo whatever the fuck he did to you, alright.” Sighing, he swallows another heavy gulp of air, furrows his brows and grits his teeth. “And I'm sorry but I promise you, I've never used any of my vampire powers to hurt you, Marinette, never, I swear.”

She scrunches up her nose and twists her lips at his words, shifting between a soft frown and a grimace. Fingers twitching on crossbow trigger, Marinette leans towards him just a smidgen as she voluntarily chooses to lower some of her guard—as a test obviously, definitely not because her instincts, despite all her training to the contrary, seem to be screaming that he, a deadly monster is trustworthy.

Making a small noise of gentle distress at the back of her mouth, she drops the crossbow's aim to the floorboards. Softly, voice wavering like the candle flames lighting the room, she queries, “if that really is the case, then what other secrets did you keep from me?”

Jason cocks his head to one side and hums, gazing over her shoulder unseeing for a split second. “Not a lot to be honest, apart from my… undeath at first but suffice to say I was in no state to even tell you. And the one who turned me, wasn't exactly planning on me being found, let alone in one piece.” With a small grave smile, he rubs his neck, clearing his throat as he does so. “I won't let you be hurt, or turned, like I was, alright. As I've told you countless times before, I'll protect you always, even if it kills me again.”

It takes a moment for either of them to notice the deafening silence of the basement. Not a creak, nor groan to be heard from the wooden doors and floorboards.

“Oh fuck. We're outta time.” He keeps his hand offered to her. “Please,” Jason begs, desperation shining in his eyes, “trust me, just until we escape at least.”

Nodding gingerly, Marinette doesn't hesitate to clasp his hand. “I trust you,” she murmurs a little too softly—too truthfully—not quite half-believing herself, tightening her grip and adding with slightly muted vitriol, “but just until then! I'm only trusting you so I can escape. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Jason bursts into a blinding grin, hauling her up to her feet easily by the hand.

The action is so strangely familiar to her eyes. It hurts.

Scrunching her nose up and grimacing, she grits her teeth and then bites her lips as she glances aside, muttering under her breath, “am I even safe with you, trusting you?” Clearing her throat quickly, she chews on the next words as she picks them ever so carefully. “You said,” she asserts, louder and clearer, intending for this to be heard and not her former words. “that you knew a way out, right?” Her voice pitching on the last word.

Just barely catching the heart-sinking defeat flickering through his eyes as his smile wanes to a thin fragile frown. Jason shrugs his shoulders, tensing mordantly, then tugs gently on her hand in silent communication.

When she hesitates, his frown deepens.

He clears his own throat, pointedly looking away from her now. “C'mon, follow me. It shouldn't take long but we can't risk getting caught.”

The second they cross into the hallway, a long low creak of a boot on a squeaky floorboard emanates from the darkness beyond their candlelit threshold.

She exchanges a glance with Jason like second nature, the familiarity of the action aches like her scabbed over wounds.

Nodding, he cocks his head to one side, raising his eyebrows briefly and throwing his gaze down the hallway in a half-roll, indicating the opposite direction from the creak. With the flick of his other hand, he makes a few quick gestures and begins speed-sneaking—steps silent as a bat—away from the encroaching threat, pulling her after him.

Marinette lets him guide her as she focuses on keeping her own footsteps as quiet as his—and surprisingly achieving it despite her humanity. Daring not to dwell on the thought, she keeps her ear out for any further sounds in their surroundings.

Near bolting down the corridor lined with blood and closed wooden doors that are also reinforced with more iron nails and bars, warped and gnarled like unburied coffins in a graveyard. The deeper they run, the more disconcerting it becomes. Light scuffs and scratches on the doors, walls, and floor bleed into gaping gouges clawed a merciless rusting crimson.

The creaking floorboards remain a constant slow death knell behind them.

A turn of the corner. Then down another long corridor with doors less tightly bolted—yet the fatal stains and jagged slashes only worsen. That which is kept down here struggled and fought. Where Marinette has run from, those signs are faint.

It's a sickening sort of nausea to know by the context of this sight, that either she had been prevented by unknown means from fighting back like those before her, or… she had gone willingly down there. She doesn't know which implication is worse. She doesn't want to know the truth either. Because either way, it will hurt.

The crossbow weighs heavy on her hands and the silver bolts burn painlessly.

As they dart around another corner, a dangling bait of hope glimmers before them. Polished spiral stone stairs.

The creaking fades.

Only for laughter to creep in after.

“Fuck!” Jason grunts, whipping around to glare behind them from where it comes from but not missing a step as he pulls her up the steep climb. “It's never a good sign when Crane laughs like that. We're nearly out though, just trust me a little longer, Nettie.”

Nodding, Marinette stares up at him unguarded and, for a split second, she feels the phantom tugging of a distant memory that dissipates upon her grasp.

The spiral staircase ascends into pitch darkness for far longer than she will ever dare be comfortable with alone.

But… she's not alone. Is she?

No, Jason's hand is cold but firm, wrapped around her own. So familiar yet so unfamiliar it hurts. But what in this place doesn't?

The candlelight at the end of the spiral is more comforting than she's willing to admit at this moment—she's a monster hunter, and every monster hunter knows that the light can be just as much a sign of danger as the darkness but that doesn't stop that primal relief at light returning.

Still, they're not out yet, they can't afford to get complacent and act like it's safe before they really are.

Jason leads her down another two left turns—the walls, floors, doors noticeably undamaged up here—then a right as the hallway lined with richly woven tapestries and fanciful portraits of the Agreste's ancestors, splits into three, and then through an inconspicuous plain wooden door. Through it, is another long hallway decorated with all the finery of aristocracy, with a large window partially ajar at the end—large enough for two people to escape through.

Thunder rumbles outside, and stormy clouds are visible in the sky through the window, even at this distance away.

Glancing back at her, Jason bursts into another blinding infectious grin and starts bounding down the hallway like an overexcited puppy—or a werewolf—tugging her along with him.

Marinette should still be wary of him, and yet, she can't help but start to smile along with him at his antics. They're so close to freedom, surely they can afford to get excited about it now, they're practically out already.

Sooner than she expects, the large open window that leads to the outside is just within reach. Only a few more metres, only a few more steps.

And then... Then she'll be free.

But—

—Her body—

—It seems—

—Has other plans.

Collapsing to her knees. Her hand slipping from his grip, with only a shallow inhale of breath and the thump of her body against the wooden floorboards to indicate what is wrong.

Jason hasn't noticed. Not yet. He's so close and yet so far with each passing second.

Her fingers twitch against the grain. Sluggish and leaden as though there are chains dragging against her every movement.

A rising numbness unfurls from Marinette's chest like poison, inciting her heart and mind to writhe—clouding them with a permuting toxin. Her heartbeat spikes with a violent staccato and the world shutters around her as darkness creeps into the corners of all that she can see. Slowly she loses her sense of touch, the floorboards beneath her fingers and knees no longer registering to her mind, no longer able to feel the movement of her lips parting or her chest heaving in breath. But she can still see, it, the phantoms of their movement at the edges of her tunnelled vision. Her breathing hitches as she realises, that with one sense gone, grounding herself will be so much harder now.

And then… her breathing stops. Her heartbeat pounds in her head, the rushing of blood and the throbbing drowning out any other sound. Her vision starts to grey, colours bleeding like her hopes for freedom.

Can't breathe, can't breathe, can't— Marinette's mind screams.

It is as if she's a puppet with her strings cut, unable to move or react, trapped in her crumpled body—helpless. She can barely hear, all she can do is watch with monochrome sight.

“Fuck!” Jason yells as soon as it twigs for him that she's no longer beside him, pivoting on his heel to bolt back for her, a dawning dread in his eyes. “Nettie!”

She's just barely at the right angle to see his reaction, and the strangest thing occurs, Marinette doesn't so much hear Jason's words, as she knows he spoke them. Which means even though she can't hear anything in her mind above the beating of her pulse, she can still hear and understand outside sounds even though it doesn't feel like she can.

It's weird. Disorientating. To lose another sense. And it's only in that knowledge of an absence, does Marinette notice another sense gone, and another. She can't smell or taste the mustiness in the air, or the acrid scent of freshly clotting blood clinging to her thanks to her wounds. She can't taste the dryness of dehydration or the otherwise unnoticeable taste of her own mouth anymore.

It's all gone. Only the shreds of sight and hearing are left and those are nearly gone too.

“C'mon, c'mon, I got you,” Jason mutters, desperation squeezing the words in a vice grip. “What the fuck did he do to you?”

“I'm fine,” Marinette's body responds automatically—against her will. If she had control, her heart would've plummeted at the chains wrapping around her mind, caging her within as the body continues to repeat the words. “I'm fine.”

Rattling like a rabid beast, she claws at the boundaries of her mind. ‘No! No, no, no, please! Let me go! I'm not fine! Stop! Don't listen, please!’

But he can't hear her pleas.

“Do you remember what's been done to you?” He questions, crouching down beside her and scouring every visible part of her up and down for anything concerning—pausing only for a moment to blow the white strands of hair out of his face that has fallen in the way. “Any other injuries, barring the obvious one on your collarbone and neck, if you've been drugged with any chemicals, and if you have what they are, or something?”

Oh, how desperately Marinette wants to cry at him that she doesn't know. Her body doesn't respond against her will again, another small mercy.

Though she cannot feel it, she watches his hands ghosting down her arms as he frantically looks her over and over again, eyes wide, brows furrowed, mouth half agape in horror and concern as he speaks. “—And Leslie can help you once we get out, she can check you over to make sure you're okay and patch up any injuries, of the body or mind.”

She's missed something he said. It's worsening.

And all she can feel within her mind, are the phantoms of restraints tearing at her skin and needles piercing her flesh.

“Would you just stop treating me like something you're trying to fix!” Her body snarls, though otherwise still not moving.

How much longer…?

Her thoughts trail to a stop as Jason gently takes her hands in his and shakes them softly. “I'm not trying to fix you, Mari. You're hurt and that means you need help—but it doesn't mean I think you need fixing.”

“It's going to be alright, Nettie. I know you also hate how pitying this can sound like but B, A, and Leslie all have means of helping however you've been hurt by Crane. And we're nearly out of his laboratory, please just bear with me, with this treatment just a little bit longer.” He pauses to let the words sink before adding tenderly, “I'm going to pick you up and carry you out now, I've got you, okay.” Slowly, he reaches around her to scoop her up and haul her over his shoulders as carefully as possible to prevent aggravating any of her injuries. It's not the comfiest way to carry someone but it will at least let him safely carry her as far as needed.

‘Who's what?’ Marinette wants to ask as he moves her. ‘We're in the Agreste manor house, not a laboratory?’

Jason still doesn't hear her, he adjusts his grip and starts speed walking towards the window. “No matter what, Mari, I'm not leaving without you.”

“Is that so?” A voice that sends shivers down her spine calls out, his words cut through the throbbing heartbeat in her mind with surgical precision, “well I'm afraid I can't let you whisk away my favourite little experiment just yet, vampire.”

Steps closing in. Slowly, patiently… tauntingly.

“Back the fuck up.” Jason growls—sliding into a bloodthirsty hiss at the end. “Batman may have a rule against killing you rogues, but I sure as fuck don't. You ain't getting your hands on her again.”

What little of the hallway Marinette can still see through her fading vision begins to distort, the trappings of a foreboding but opulent manor house bleeding away to a grim plainness now littered with gouges and dragged claw marks, not unlike the basement had held.

Jonathan Crane laughs lowly—callously, “Did you know, that littlest bird of yours hits surprisingly hard for the weakest member of your team, when under the influence of enough fear? It's truly fascinating.”

Unable to hold back a snarl, Jason's face twists as his control of his vampiric powers slip for just a moment. Acutely aware of Marinette on his shoulders still, he pulls a vial from his belt and lobs it violently at Crane's feet, immediately bursting into a sprint towards the window whilst swinging Marinette from his shoulders and into his arms.

There's a hollow unbreathing second as the glass shatters upon the wooden floorboards before a shrieking roar that rivals the thunder begins to tear the building apart. A writhing mass of viscous starving flames burst from the point of shattering, sticky globs of oil splattering across the hallways, creating a sea of liquid fire.

Marinette can just barely watch it from her position in Jason's arms, her sight burning like the laboratory's hallway.

Angling his body to protect her, Jason leaps at the window. A cascade of glass showers around them. Glinting and glimmering in the reflection of the drowning inferno behind them. And for a second it almost looks as though they are falling with wings of smoke, glass, and fire outstretched from their backs.

And then the world tilts violently. The earth comes rushing up to meet them. Jason hits it first, a sickening crack of branches shivering apart beneath him. But he keeps her cradled in his arms, shielding her from the worst of the impact.

The laboratory above them crackles and screeches as it is swallowed to the bone by the insatiable fire.

Slowly, Jason breathes deeply, making a sort of chuffing laugh between every other breath. “Fuck. We made it. We're out!”

If she still had control of her body, Marinette would nod and be breathless in laughter too.

Grinning blindingly at her once more, he hauls himself off the conveniently planted shrubbery—Most likely Poison Ivy's doing—that has broken their fall. Then turns and offers a hand to her.

Marinette stares at him blankly.

“C'mon,” he coaxes, still smiling at her like the sun. “Just a bit further, the others will have noticed the beacon by now. We'll take you back home, to safety. And Leslie and A can help you with your injuries. You'll be okay.”

She can't even open her mouth to answer. Pitching forwards, her body crumples again. Like an unloved discarded doll.

There's a look of flooding panic in his eyes, his mouth moving frantically with unheard words, as her eyes roll back and everything goes dark.

Distantly, within the inky darkness, Marinette wonders why she never thought to ask why he came to save her from that place, or who those other people were.

But… It's a little too late now.

The pain of her injuries fade away along with her final bleeding thoughts—the darkness smothering it all as she's cradled ever so gently to the unwavering lull of her heartbeat—steadying itself from the staccato of before.

———

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