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Even the Losers
Chapter 1
“You can do this Marinette,” Adrien whispered encouragingly, echoing the mantra she’d been whispering to herself for the past two days. She could do this. She could manage. This was for Max. She could handle it. He couldn’t be here but she could. She could be strong for him. She gave Adrien a shaky smile and nodded. “We just have to find him and we can leave,” he reminded her.
Marinette took a breath and let it out slowly. She’d dealt with far, far worse than a few judgmental, heartless asses who had no real interest in her. But seas of artificial smiles had always unsettled her and currently she was surrounded with so much artificial sweetness she felt like she was walking through a kid’s cereal aisle. That added onto her already existing anxiety had her ready to bolt at the slightest provocation.
She ran her hand over the skirt of her dress, letting the feeling of the fabric and the knowledge of all that had gone into it soothe her. She was especially proud of her dress and the work that had gone into it. It was a black so dark it almost appeared to draw in the light around it. A mesh with strategically placed blood red decorations overlaid the dress, hugging her bodice until it reached her hips then dropped into a flowing skirt that ended just before it could pool on the ground.
She fought the urge to fiddle with the belt in her nervousness. She couldn’t show weakness like that, not here. She looked up at Adrien again in search of an anchor to reality. She took in his expression and had to stifle the laugh that resulted. He had his own artificially sweet smile on but his eyes quite clearly begged for a quick death. He glanced down to her and nudged her discreetly, his artificial smile becoming wide and real. “Shhhh,” he hushed her under his breath. “We’re trying not to attract attention to ourselves, remember? We’re ghosts.” He looked around to make sure nobody was looking at them.
Marinette immediately quieted, her face becoming somber. She did remember. In and out. That was the goal. Her goal. Knock the man on his ass with Max’s accomplishments, then never see him, or anyone else in this room, other than Adrien of course, ever again. They were supposed to be like ghosts. There but not. Her eyes scanned the room looking for their target.
Adrien’s eyes immediately softened and filled with regret. “Shit, Mari. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“No,” she looked up at him with an artificial smile of her own. “I know. It’s fine. It’s not your fault.” She scanned the crowd again, cursing her height, as she had many times in her life. Even with the six inch, death defying heels, she still barely reached Adrien’s eyes, let alone give her any kind of advantage to see the crowd. She needed some kind of vantage point but unfortunately, the only high point in the ballroom was the stage, which she couldn’t utilize if she was going to follow her Ghost policy. “We might have more success if we split up. Let me know if you find him.”
Adrien squeezed her arm quickly before nodding. “Good luck.”
Marinette shot him a genuine smile. “You too. May the Luck be with you.”
Adrien laughed and shook his head. “I never should have forced you to watch that movie.”
Marinette grinned back. “You never should have forced me to watch the prequels. The original ones were just fine.” Adrien narrowed his eyes at her but let it drop in favor of disappearing in the crowd to find their target.
Marinette followed him with her eyes until she couldn’t see him anymore then took a deep breath to brace herself. Her eyes immediately started darting around and her fingers started dancing. She needed something to occupy them or she was going to start attracting unwanted attention.
She noted a bar close by and made a beeline for it. She waited politely for the bartender to notice her, her fingers tapping anxiously against the bar while she waited. She froze when she heard a gruff voice next to her. “Did you sneak in here?”
She turned to the voice and blinked a few times. “Excuse me?”
“You’re anxious and jittery. Afraid you’re going to get kicked out?” the man elaborated.
Marinette studied him for a moment trying to figure out why he looked so familiar. “No,” she started slowly, trying to give her brain a chance to answer the puzzle. “Just not a fan of events like this.”
The man scoffed and nodded in understanding. “Cheers.” He raised his glass for her to clink his but she held out her hands with a sheepish look, showing she didn’t have a drink yet. “Well, that’s a crime. Nobody should have to endure one of these without a drink.” He motioned to the bartender and got an immediate response. “Another for me and a…” he motioned to Marinette to give her order.
“Oh, champagne, please,” she finished with a smile for the bartender. That’s what was socially acceptable at events like this, right? Champagne.
The bartender looked to the man for confirmation. The man nodded. “And a champagne for the woman.” Marinette scowled at the bartender causing the man to laugh. “He’s just worried that you’re underage. You look awfully young. You’re not, right?”
Marinette’s glare softened in realization. “Oh, that makes sense. No, I’m not. I forgot the legal age here is higher than in France.”
He nodded and looked at her critically for a moment before offering his hand. “Jason.”
Marinette immediately reached out for his hand and answered with her name before her brain registered the name he’d given. Jason. Jason Todd. Bruce Wayne’s son. She pulled her hand back quickly as the realization hit her and focused on leveling her breathing. She grabbed the champagne glass more violently than necessary when the bartender set it down in front of her and immediately downed the entire glass, only coughing a bit as the bubbles tickled her throat. Overall, champagne was not the best drink to chug. “Another, please,” she croaked out.
“You know, there are better drinks for that, if that’s what you want to do,” Jason grinned, laughing at her.
“Wasn’t the plan until it was and then that’s all I had,” she croaked out, her voice still hoarse from the bubbles. She kept her eyes focused on her empty glass as she spoke, almost afraid to make eye contact with him as if just seeing her eyes would be enough to blow her cover.
Jason chuckled and nodded in understanding. “Don’t suppose you’d care to dance?”
Marinette whipped her head to him and stared incredulously, forgetting her previous reservations. She only moved again when the bartender set the new drink down in front of her. “Um… no… thank you. That doesn’t seem… I don’t think my date would be comfortable with that. Good luck getting drunk enough to handle tonight though.” She gave him a weak smile and raised her glass to him before moving into the fray again, now armed with a socially acceptable fidget toy.
It took five minutes of avoiding wandering hands and leering looks but with a little luck and some prodding from the goddess hiding in the folds of her skirt, she was finally able to stumble on M. Lucius Fox, Director of Research and Development for Wayne Enterprises. He was in a conversation he was not remotely interested in with some vapid business exec who was just as interested in M. Fox. Not that M. Fox’s disinterest was clear. He was very polite and good at covering his boredom, much more so than his conversation partner, but she’d been at enough stuffy, snobby parties with Adrien, Felix, and Chloe to know the signs.
She took another breath and squared her shoulders, going into Ladybug Mode; calm and confident, completely assured of herself. She was on a mission. She had a goal and a plan to accomplish it, and once she had a plan, she had a direction and purpose, and with those, her insecurities fell away. With M. Fox in her sights, she could see the pieces and the way they fit together. There were no more doubts. She set her glass on a passing waiter’s tray and made her way over to M. Fox.
“The elusive M. Fox. It is a pleasure to meet you,” Marinette purred, coming up next to him with a charming, real smile.
“I didn’t realize I was hiding,” Lucius responded with a polite smile of his own.
“Must just come naturally. Foxes are known to be crafty.” Marinette looked around them and motioned toward the dancefloor. “Would you care to dance, M. Fox?”
He shook his head deferentially. “Are you sure there aren’t other people here you’d rather dance with?”
Marinette smiled conspiratorially and leaned closer to him, making sure to keep a respectable distance. She did NOT want to have her banter confused with flirting. That was not the strategy she had devised. “That would defeat the purpose of coming here. I came here specifically to speak with you.”
Lucius looked down at her analytically, trying to figure out what her angle was, but took her hand and followed her onto the dancefloor. “And what did you want to speak about, Ms…?”
“Dupain Cheng. Marinette Dupain Cheng. It’s nice to meet you M. Fox. I wanted to speak to you to sell my friend Max Kante.”
Lucius’ eyes widened almost imperceptibly as the music changed. After a beat, he chuckled. “I’m not in the market to buy anyone, but thank you.” He settled his hands on her mid-back and hand for their dance.
Marinette chuckled good naturedly along with him. “Sell his talents, would be a better way to say it.”
“And where is Mr. Kante?” Lucius raised an eyebrow at her, curious why the young man didn’t bother to come himself. “Why are you presenting his talents instead of him?”
“Finals. Had the incredibly bad luck to have a Friday at noon final. I mean at least it wasn’t at 19h, right? Can you believe they have those?” She scrunched up her nose in playful disgust. “But still means he’s taking it right now. And for his last final of his career. I mean… probably. Knowing him, he might get another PhD at some point. My finals and presentation ended last week. M. Wa…” she took a steadying breath and looked back up with a strained smile hoping he wouldn’t notice the stutter. “M. Wayne even visited for it. That’s when the idea for this came to me. So while Max studied, I plotted.”
“So why me then and not Mr. Wayne?” Lucius asked with a curious interest.
Marinette froze for just a second. Hardly enough for anyone to notice. Her mind raced to calculate the appropriate response to that question, a satisfactorily casual yet intelligent response. “M. Wayne isn’t in charge of research. You are. Not to mention, I highly doubt the CEO would be involved enough in the research and development projects to know what was going on. You I take as a man who knows what is going on with all your ongoing projects.”
He nodded. She wasn’t wrong, or normally wouldn’t be. Mr. Wayne usually was not involved in any projects and with the exception of one particular project they were having issues with, he wouldn’t know the particulars. “A very dangerous and elaborate plan. Why didn’t you make an appointment with me? Or just stop me on the street?” he prodded, hoping for her thought process.
Marinette laughed lightly. “I don’t imagine I would have had a chance in Hell of making an appointment with you in your office. I have no standing, no name, no significance that would have attracted any PA worth their salt’s attention. I would have been pawned off onto a low ranking employee to handle, if I was handled at all. And something like this needed to be taken to you.
“As for running into you on the street, I can’t imagine you would have responded positively to getting accosted on the street. You seem more than capable of handling yourself with grace in the face of a pest. I doubt I would have gotten more than a few words in. At a gala however,” she grinned conspiratorially at him. “Societal convention. Almost absolute certainty of at least one dance where I would have you one-on-one for a few minutes. Hostage audience. Figured I could use it to my advantage for once.”
Lucius smiled back at her ingenuity. “There’s an application process he could have gone through,” he noted.
Mari nodded and looked out to the crowd, scanning it. “Right, applying to M. Fedor Rabler,” she said distractedly. “He did that.”
Lucius nodded in understanding. Their application process was tough. Lots of amazing candidates didn’t get through. He had to respect her devotion to her friend, to risk coming here and potentially making an enemy of Wayne Enterprises if he’d been that sort of man. His eyes turned sympathetic. “I’m sorry he was passed over.”
“You know, I’ve noticed Elspeth Cole puts forth a lot of inventions and extremely varied ones at that,” she continued as though she hadn’t heard his consolation. “Most inventors, you can see their process, you can see how they got from one invention to the next, but hers… they’re so varied. It’s almost like they’re coming from completely different people.” Lucius watched her carefully, waiting to see where she was going with this. “That’s them, isn’t it? Dancing together. Awfully close for purely colleagues.”
Lucius followed her sight line to Ms. Cole and Mr. Rabler dancing extremely closely. Not obscenely, but perhaps a bit closer than was normally acceptable at a society event such as this one. “It’s hardly incriminating that two people with expertise in electrical engineering would get together,” he said slowly.
“Max is amazing. Brilliant,” Marinette said, seemingly not noticing her non-sequitur. “He created an AI that helped the Parisian superheroes locate and defeat our supervillain at only 14.” Lucius’ brow rose. That was certainly promising. He wondered what would have caused them not to take such an applicant. Surely there was some sort of embellishment there, but as he studied her, she seemed entirely genuine.
“He’s being scouted by several high profile companies including Lexcorp and Palmer Technologies.” She turned her attention back to Lucius, a curious pout on her lips. “But not Wayne Enterprises.” She looked away with clearly forced casualness. “Lexcorp and Palmer, they’re offering pretty impressive packages. Not as good as he deserves in my opinion, but I may be a bit biased. Wayne Enterprises however… nothing. Not even an offer.
“Now, I don’t really have a dog in the fight… other than wanting my friend to be safe and treated with the respect he deserves. But Palmer Technologies gets blown up by a villain or its inventors kidnapped far too frequently for me to be comfortable with my friend working there. And Lexcorp…” She looked down as if in thought before looking back at him again with a determined look in her eye.
“You know, I get a feeling sometimes. I can’t really explain it, just get a feeling about people or things. I’ve found it’s best for me and the people around me if I listen to that feeling and that feeling tells me Lex Luthor is the last person who should be trusted with a brain as brilliant as Max’s.” She looked back over to Mr. Rabler and Ms. Cole. “That same feeling told me Max shouldn’t trust the application process for Wayne Enterprises.”
She looked back at Lucius with an apologetic smile. “No offense. So, I convinced Max to make a small part of his submission just a little off. Just a bit. Enough that even an expert could miss it, but if it’s wrong the project could never work. It took a lot of convincing to get him to do it. He refused to believe he had anything to worry about in Wayne Enterprises with its stellar reputation.” She scrunched up her face in annoyance. “But that feeling, you know? I couldn’t get over it. After a lot of work, I convinced him there was no harm. After all, if he was hired he could fix it. If he wasn’t… well, you shouldn’t be using what he presented anyway, right? No harm, no foul as you Americans say.”
“No,” Lucius agreed. “That would be theft and completely against WE policy and standards. In fact, we should not be asking applicants to submit anything like that in the first place.”
Marinette smiled and nodded approvingly. “I’ve heard rumblings, or rather Max has, of WE getting into transmutation of materials. Just can’t get that algorithm right though, can you? Algorithms are hard. Just a little off and nothing works.”
He stared at her. That was a secret project. Other departments in Wayne Enterprises didn’t even know about it. “I can’t comment on ongoing projects.”
“I never did show you what Max is capable of, did I?” She gave him a bright smile and reached down to press a disguised button on her belt. Lucius tensed and cursed himself for exposing himself to whatever she was about to do. A wave of emerald green washed over the front of her bodice as the blood red decorated mesh overlay turned into a brilliant emerald green that reflected the lights now rather than absorbing it.
Lucius’ eyes widened in surprise, a feat very few had been able to draw out of him. “He designed the fabric?” he whispered out. He reached out tentatively to touch the fabric at her shoulder.
Marinette grinned brilliantly at his reaction. It was no less than Max deserved. He’d worked incredibly hard on it. “He did,” she nodded in confirmation, “and the software that controls it. The whole dress can change but we’re kind of surrounded here and I didn’t want to attract too much attention.” She let him touch it for a moment before pushing the button again to turn it back into the black, then allowing him to feel the mesh to confirm it was the same fabric. “He has ideas for changing the texture as well, but limited resources you know? Something I’d hope wouldn’t be an issue at WE.”
“How does it work?” His eyes were still focused on the fabric at her shoulder. He took a quick look at the rest of the bodice, but quickly snapped his eyes back to her shoulder. The neckline was conservative, but it was still rather unbecoming to stare at the young woman’s chest.
Marinette laughed. “You’ll have to ask Max that. I just designed the dress. I don’t really understand the mechanics behind it, but he does. I doubt Ms. Cole can say the same.”
Lucius stared in awe at her shoulder before looking back up to her eyes and nodding in understanding. “Interesting. I’ll take that under advisement. Maybe we should be scouting you as well.”
Mari laughed. “No, thank you. I’m not an inventor. I’m a designer. But I appreciate the interest.”
Lucius nodded and led her off the dancefloor with the end of the song. “Inventor or not, we can always use someone with intuition, intelligence, and ingenuity like you’ve demonstrated.”
Marinette gave him a brilliant, somewhat familiar smile. “That’s very flattering. Thank you, M. Fox. But tonight is about Max. I have my own, separate plans for my future.”
Lucius nodded in understanding. “Our loss,” he answered sincerely. “If you ever need any help or advice, please feel free to call me. I’m sure Mr. Kante will have it soon enough and can pass it onto you.” He looked back down to her shoulder again. “If I may…” He motioned toward her shoulder.
Marinette laughed. “Of course. I understand how truly impressive it is. It’s been incredibly inspirational, thinking of the options.”
“And what did your intuition tell you about tonight?” He looked up to meet her eyes, curious about her answer.
Marinette’s face went slack for a moment before she pasted on a bittersweet smile. “That it would be costly but worth it.”
Lucius quirked his head to the side. “In what way?”
Marinette shook her head absently and took a sudden interest in M. Fox’s tie. “I’m not sure yet.”
Mr. Fox’s eyes softened. “Would he be available to meet on Monday?”
Marinette grin and snapped her eyes up to him. Mission success! Max was going to get his interview! “He can be.”
“I’d actually like to speak with both of you, if you don’t mind. In my office at 10 Monday?” he offered.
Marinette faltered. “In Wayne Enterprises?”
Lucius chuckled. “Naturally.”
Marinette swallowed heavily. “Why don’t we meet somewhere else? Early morning coffee perhaps?” she offered instead with an artificial smile. “Here’s my card. Have someone give me a call or text and I can arrange it. He’s scheduled to fly in tomorrow morning. He was supposed to meet with Lexcorp Monday morning, but he’ll be at coffee to meet you instead.”
Lucius smiled back at her as he slipped her card into his pocket. “I greatly appreciate your candor and support Ms. Dupain Cheng.” He took her hand in both of his to shake it. “I cannot tell you how good it was to meet you. And if you ever get one of those feelings about me or Wayne Enterprises, let me know, okay?”
“Lucius.”
Lucius froze at the cold voice, not accustomed to that tone of voice directed at him. He looked over curiously and missed Marinette freezing before pushing another button on her belt.
Chapter 2
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#maribat#bio dad bruce wayne#roynette#Even the Losers#mbdbwm2021#prompt -#meeting for the first time
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Red Shadows
Pets
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First *** Previous
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Marinette really didn’t know what to do.
On one hand she severed any and all ties to not just the Red Room, but to the League of Assassins and her grandfather. On the other hand, her biological brother doesn’t want anything to do with her, her father has had no contact with her, while being with her brother, and her other brothers didn’t care enough to help her. Maybe they know her past, but even then, she knew they were there, and they just stayed there and watched.
She wasn’t originally planning on taking the plane she booked, but maybe it was wrong to come back. She hoped her brother could help her transition out of her past but the way he looked at her.
When he told her he thought she was dead, that he didn’t want to ‘end up’ like her. His face said more than his words. His eyes darkened, resolution clear. And his face at a glance was pleasant, but just underneath he was clenching his jaw, burrowing his brow, while trying to relax his features. Telling her that being like her that she is, nothing, that meeting was a mistake. That hurt her so she left, not looking back. When he found her after the attack, he almost looked like he cared, but she can’t forget his eyes, so she’s leaving Gotham.
Which brings her back to the airport. She had gotten a plane ticket for any destination that was the next flight out that had an opening. But first she needed to lose this tracker, she already had to deal with being tracked her entire life she didn’t need to continue being monitored. She noticed it in one of the pockets of her vest, on the way to her hotel to get her bag.
So, while waiting for her flight to be called, she went for coffee. While in line, she slipped the tracker from her pocket, kneeled down to tie her shoe, and tacked it on the nearest suitcase (that wasn't hers). Got her coffee then got on her plane
As luck would have it, she was going back to Paris. So, she started over.
She had a contact that set her up with a new identity, Amira Morningstar, the irony was not lost on her.
After a week, she decided to apply to university. Forging report cards wasn't that hard, given they were all homeschooled.
After a month, she needed to get out. She had some custom handguns that shot rubber bullets. However, she prefers her escrima sticks, that also happen to pack 50,000 volts. She added a mask that covered the bottom half of her face and red contacts.
That was how Black Widow became Paris' resident vigilante. Adrien Agreste vouched for her, saying she's the reason for Hawkmoth's downfall. That alone granted her their unwavering trust.
A few days after going out as Black Widow, she heard a soft thump on her balcony. There she found a little kitten, as an owl dove for it.
She opened the sliding door, shot out her arms, to protect the little kitten. Her arms got cut up by the owl’s talons, but she didn't care.
"Your all alone huh?" She took the kitten in, and immediately looked up what she could feed the kitten until the morning. She found a recipe that she had all the ingredients on hand, made it, and fed the kitten using a syringe for oral medicines.
Only after the kitten fell asleep did she treat the gouges on her arms.
In the morning she fed both her and the kitten then went to the vet. Where she got quite the surprise.
Turns out it wasn't a kitten but a newborn European Lynx cub.
So, she did the logical thing and went to the zoo. Where she got help from the big cat handler on how to raise the little guy, turns out its a boy. So, she called him Небо (pronounced Nebo), because it means sky in Russian, seeing as he fell from the sky.
The handlers at the zoo fell in love with him and looked forward to when they would visit, either for pleasure or a check up.
She soon found a passion for fashion design, and soon her designs were being sought after.
Once Jagged Stone saw her work and found out about her "Rock'n" furry friend, he officially named her his personal stylist.
Her commissions were so sought after it attracted the attention of one Audrey Bourgeoise. Who offered her an internship under her. Which she would be crazy to refuse, so she and Hебо got packed, and went to New York.
Was it a bit difficult to find a place that allowed not just pets, but a six-month-old Lynx cub, absurdly hard. Did she eventually find one, yes, on the outskirts of Metropolis, meaning she has to commute, but that’s not too bad. Seeing as she was fortunate enough that the zoo in Paris called the one in Metropolis and explained the situation. She was going to go the next weekend so that they can meet in person and not just over video.
Yes, she usually rode the subway for work, but because of Небо she got a small compact car, to not have to hassle for check ups. Yes, it was normal to see her walking him all over Paris, but Metropolis is different. When they got there, she placed him in his harness, attached his leash and he jumped into her arms. Luckily, he was still small, and she could still do so.
They walked up to the front gate, and the girl luckily seemed to know who they were. “You must be Amira and Небо?!” She smiled brightly.
“That’s us.” Amira smiled as she responded.
“Here are your badges, make sure to always have them, and bring them back.” She put the lanyard around her neck and clipped the badge to Небо’s harness. “A handler is on their way to show you around.”
“Thank you.” Shortly afterwards like the girl said a handler came and gave them a tour of the facility and then they went to the big cat’s area.
Just like in Paris, they all quickly fell in love with the lynx cub. After the check up they decided to walk around the zoo, as it was a slow day.
She was letting Небоclimb a tree off leash, away from and exhibits, when someone noticed the leash in her hands and the badge on her neck.
“Hey!” He spoke and it was so bright and bubbly that she turned towards him.
“Hello.” She responded.
“Are you a caretaker?” He asked.
“Of one very mischievous cat.” She grinned. “Небо брифинг (pronounced brifing) [briefing].” He climbed down and sat on her left side. She crouched down and reattached his lead. “This is Небо, my European Lynx Cub.” She introduced.
That got the two of them talking. And when he found out this was her first time in the Metropolis Zoo, he of course had to give them a tour. Then she had to take a call, unfortunately, someone messed up several gowns for the next show case and she was the closest designer on call.
“I’m so sorry.” She walked back over. “But I have to go. See you around?!” She smiled, for the first time in maybe forever, she genuinely smiled. They were halfway home when she realized not only did, she not get his number, she also never got his name. Oh well it can’t be helped now.
---
“Sorry I’m late, Kent, there was an unforeseen delay.” A rogue decided that it was a good idea to take hostage of W.E. yet again, and he happened to be the first on the scene but had to wait for one of his siblings.
“No worries, Damian. I didn’t even realize you were late.” Jon answered him.
“And why would that be am never anything but!?!”
“I met someone with a pet lynx cub. You just missed her actually. She left maybe ten minutes ago.”
“That is a shame, I missed the cub.” Damian informed. “You didn’t happen to get her number so I can see the lynx, did you?”
The half Kryptonian’s face fell. “Nope, I didn’t even get her name.” He informed.
That was when a caretaker passed by them. “You’re talking about little Небо, right?”
“Yes.” Jon instantly shot up.
“Amira has to bring him back in six weeks for grooming and some vaccines.”
“Thank you so much.” Jon waved as the caretaker walked off.
“Why is she bringing in the lynx?”
“Well, the lynx cub is her pet.” He answered with a shrug. “You two would get along, I think.”
“That depends on how well she is treating that Lynx cub.” He grumbled.
next
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Taking Chances Ch. 2 Finding Out (Family/Friends)
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“Mari!” Adrien yells, running past Batman to sweep her up in a hug. Marinette’s face instantly heats up, but she buries herself into the hug. After all, it’s not every day she faces a supervillain determined to kill her with a dangerous weapon...without her suit, anyway.
“I’m okay. I’m okay.” Marinette reassures him, relishing in the comfort. A cleared throat makes her jump back and look at Batman who, despite clearing his throat and cutting off the most amazing hug ever, has no emotions on his face. Whatsoever. Cause that’s not intimidating or anything.
“The police will need your statement, Miss Dupain Cheng.” Batman says. Marinette nods, squeaking when Adrien reaches down and entwines his fingers with hers. Following Batman’s directions to the awaiting police, Marinette feels nerves flood her systerm as she sees the sheer number of officers on the other side of the door. Sucking in a deep breath, she feels Adrien squeeze her hand. Shooting him a thankful smile, Marinette uses her unattached hand to open the door and step out into the mess of personnel. A man with a mustache and square glasses steps forward immediately, his hand extended.
“Hello Miss Dupain Cheng. I’m Commissioner Jim Gordon. We were in communication with Batman while he was inside so we heard some of what happened. Would you be comfortable telling us what happened? We can get you checked over by paramedics first, if you want.” Commissioner Gordon says.
“Oh, no, no. I’m fine. I don’t-” She starts to say, but a gruff voice cuts her off.
“She should be examined immediately, Gordon. She may have inhaled smoke from the smoke bombs due to proximity. She also could have burns to her face or ears from Joker’s gun. He shot it and then proceeded to prod her with it.” Batman says, the last part of his ‘report’ slightly more gruff than the first. Was he…..worried about her? Marinette shakes that thought off almost immediately. Why would Batman be worried about her? Wait, was he really going to make her see the paramedics when all she wanted to do was talk to the officers so she could get back to the trip?
“I assure you, Monsieur Batman, Monsieur Gordon, I don’t need to see the paramedics. I’m a little shaky, but that’s all. I mean, I was held at gunpoint. I think shaky is appropriate, non?” Marinette asks, flashing the two a bright smile. Gordon raises an eyebrow and glances at Batman who shakes his head stiffly.
“She gets examined.” He says, leaving no room for questions as he pulls his grappling hook (?!?!) out and retreats to the rooftop.
“You heard the man. We can talk as you’re examined, if you’d prefer. I’m sure you just want to put this whole business behind you.” Commissioner Gordon says kindly. Marinette sighs in relief and nods, smiling again at the man. Hopefully this would be taken care of quickly.
---
Bruce Wayne was slightly panicking, though he would never admit it. When reports of the Joker being spotted at the Gotham City Museum of Modern Art first rolled in, he assumed his biggest challenge would be keeping Jason from murdering the clown. He did not expect to see a small girl being held at gunpoint. A girl who looked like a strange mix between his mother, and someone else. But he couldn’t place his- of course. Memories flood his mind as he thinks back to the woman who was so clearly related to the small girl. Bridgette Le. A woman that he, at one time, thought he would be able to spend the rest of his life with. Until she left Gotham and cut off all contact between the two. Oh god. She wouldn’t….would she?
---
“I don’t understand why that older paramedic looked like she’d seen a ghost.” Marinette says with a pout as she continues working on the embroidery for a jacket for Jagged. Design never sleeps.
“What d’ya mean?” Adrien asks from his nest of blankets on her bed. Marinette tries to focus on keeping her blush down. Apparently, the attack at the museum had scared Adrien more than her, though she imagined he was scared on her behalf. But she couldn’t quite understand why...nevertheless, he had become attached at her hip and hadn’t left her side since they got back to the hotel. Even though all she really wanted was a little alone time to talk to Tikki. Especially about the chance of the Miraculous Cure working here. Maybe if she was in the battle…
“Didn’t you notice? He was fine til he looked into my eyes and then he got super pale. He looked like he was going to say something, but Monsieur Gordon stopped him before he could.” Marinette recounts, remembering the way the paramedic had to switch out since his hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
“I didn’t notice that. That’s weird. Anything else happen like that today?” Adrien asks, finally sitting up and giving her his full attention. Marinette pauses her stitching and purses her lips as she runs the days events back through her head. The paramedic. Batman. Joker. Arriving late to the museum. The cab ride. Being left at the hotel. Coffee-
“Well,” Marinette starts, furrowing her eyebrows as she tries to rationalize the man’s actions in addition to the actions of the paramedic. But something wasn’t adding up. “There was my cab ride to the museum.”
“What happened? Was someone creepy? I can fight them for you!” Adrien offers, a little too cheery. Marinette freezes as she studies his face, searching for something. Adrien had been off all day. More protective than he’d been in awhile. And the few times Lila had spoken, he had scowled at her instead of ignored her. Was he finally coming around to the idea that the high road would not work with Lila? Pushing those thoughts off for another time, Marinette shakes her head.
“No, no. Nothing like that. But as I was leaving, he called me Miss Wayne.” Marinette admits, not expecting Adrien’s uncontrollable laughter.
“He, you, oh my god!” He laughs, clutching his sides. Marinette’s eyebrows furrow in confusion as she sets the jacket down on the desk.
“What?” She asks, completely and totally frustrated with the situation. Adrien laughs for another minute before calming down, wiping tears from his eyes and shooting her a blinding smile. Not his model smile. An actual smile that warms her heart and her cheeks.
“I’m so sorry Mari. It’s just, I think he was referring to the fact that you look like the typical kid Bruce Wayne adopts.” Adrien says and Marinette’s blood freezes.
“Did you say Bruce Wayne?” Marinette asks and Adrien nods, his previous mirth wiped from his face.
“Yeah, Mari, are you okay?” He asks. Marinette nods, then shakes her head, then groans and throws up her arms in frustration.
“I don’t know! I just- you remember how I told you I’m adopted?” She asks. Adrien nods, then stops. A look of mixed terror and awe flooding his face.
“Oh god, Mari. You never told me the name. Your birth father-”
“His name is Bruce Wayne. But there’s gotta be hundreds if not thousands of Bruce Waynes in the US right?” Marinette asks, even as her hope in that idea dwindles.
“The US? He’s confirmed from the US?” Adrien asks, already pulling out his phone.
“Yes. Adrien, what are you doing?” She asks, suddenly worried as she jumps onto the bed next to him, desperately trying to see his phone.
“I’m googling Bruce Wayne and Bridgette Le as a combined search. Wayne is one of the most prominent figures in Gotham, all of his previous relationships have photographic evidence. Except for whoever the mother of his youngest is. But that’s probably because he wasn’t in the country at that time.” Adrien says, typing away furiously on his phone. Marinette’s eyebrow quirks up in amusement.
“Since when were you a master researcher?” She asks with a grin.
“Since one of my best friends found out she’s adopted and it could be the man who hosts the only palatable high society parties. Seriously. And they’d be much better if you were there and-holy shit. Your bio mom looks just like you!” Adrien exclaims, turning the phone to her. Marinette inhales deeply and thanks whatever power there is that she’s not in Paris right now. The emotions running over her at an indescribable speed...not all of them are positive. And they’re all overwhelming as she looks at a picture that very clearly shows her bio mom with Bruce Wayne. As in the Gotham Bruce Wayne. Not a different unknown Bruce Wayne across the country somewhere. Nope. A man who is apparently prominent enough that Monsieur Agreste makes his son go to the man’s parties.
“I don’t suppose she just had a type for men named Bruce Wayne?” Marinette says weakly. This was not what she expected.
---
This was exactly what he expected. Looking at the birth records for one Marinette Le, where he’s noted as the father. Though why he wasn’t notified before the girl’s custody was signed over to Sabine Cheng, he’ll never understand. His jaw clenches as he continues reading, eyes scanning over Bridgette’s death certificate before glancing back at Marinette’s birth certificate. A daughter. He had a daughter. Another child that he would never be able to hold when they were small. Another child that grew up without him. Another child that he didn’t meet until they were already a person. Someone with their own experiences individual from his own, someone that may not even know he had found them. And that he wanted nothing more than to get to know someone who was brave enough to stand between the Joker and her friends. Someone who was determined not to let what should have been the most traumatic experience in her life be a set back. He had a daughter. And he wanted to meet her.
***
Next
Note, my headcannon is that the paramedic that panicked did so because he was one of the first responders the night that the Waynes were murdered. And while she looks a lot like her birth mom, Marinette also definitely has Martha Wayne’s eyes and the paramedic could NOT deal. Also, let me know if you want tagged!
Tag List: @jjmjjktth
#maribat bruce wayne#maribat#maribat bio dad bruce#maribat bio dad! bruce wayne month 2021#mbdbwm2021#maribat marinette dupain cheng#maribat adrien agreste#day two family/friends
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To Have Several first Meetings
Bio Dad Bruce Wayne Month Day 1: Meeting for the first time
ao3
@maribat-bdbwm
Marinette had known she was adopted since she had been twelve and had a project about genetics in school. Her parents had explained to her that her mother had given her up for adoption since she wasn’t in a situation to take care of her and didn’t think her father would be able to. Marinette’s mother had passed away soon after and while Tom and Sabine had her father’s information neither of them had ever contacted him. They left the option up to Marinette, and at the time she hadn’t cared, she had two loving parents and she was happy.
.oOo.
Marinette meets Batman for the first time when she’s 14. Wonder Woman had been in contact with them from the beginning of the hawkmoth situation, but after Heroes Day Batman insists on speaking to the them. As they enter the Watch Tower she can feel Cat Noir buzzing with excitement next to her. She’d laugh but she’s too nervous to do so.
Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are waiting for them. Marinette’s glad there aren’t more heroes around, Cat Noir looks like he might explode in excitement. They sit down at the table and Batman speaks first, “You need training.”
She’s well aware of that, but the way Batman says it irritates her, but she ignores it. She’s here because Diana asked, and because Batman is right about their lack of training.
Superman speaks up then, “We can help you with that. You can use Titans Tower for your training-”
“-And due to the nature of the threat you face, the two of you and the rest of your team is welcome there anytime.”
Marinette doesn’t point out that the rest of them are temporary heroes, it will probably alarm them more. She knows Cat Noir is probably jumping at the offer but she wants to know “why?”
Batman’s the one to speak, “if you’re going to protect Paris, then you’re going to need to be trained well.”
Marinette doesn’t know why Batman has a sudden vested interest in Paris’s safety but she’s going to go along with it. They do need the training and it will be nice to talk to more heroes their age.
“And the Justice League won’t interfere in Paris?”
“No.”
“None of them? You have a very large team and not all of them are here at the moment.”
“I will ensure everyone is informed.”
Marinette drops it, Batman sounds sincere.
.oOo.
Cat Noir and Ladybug make their first appearance in Titans tower that weekend. Cyborg and Nightwing are the ones waiting for them. They meet a lot of heroes. There’s Robin, Red Robin, Superboy, Wonder Girl, Kid flash, Solstice, Ravager, Beast Boy, Raven and apparently there are more of them usually but those are the ones she meets.
Civilian names are a whole another thing. Ladybug, Cat Noir and the Bats don’t share theirs but then there are the others. Cassie of course doesn’t have a secret identity. And Kon, Bart, Kiran, Rose and Gar don’t really mind telling another super hero. It’s a bit weird how forthcoming they are with their identities, Marinette’s had the no sharing identities rule hammered into her head for over a year now, and meeting the Teen Titans is making her question that rule.
As time passes and the miraculous team grows larger and the heroes become permanent, Titans Tower becomes steadily more occupied during weekends and training relaxes into hanging out.
They still train of course, the bats help with figuring out hawkmoth and Mayura’s identities, pretty much everyone helps with the actual fighting, and Raven helps with the more magical aspects.
She meets pretty much all of the teenage superhero community over the course of a year. It’s pretty cool.
.oOo.
About a year after they start their training, they figure out Hawkmoth is Gabriel Agreste and Mayura’s Nathalie Sancouer. It’s not surprising but she knows they’re all worried how it’s going to affect Adrien, who as they learn is Cat Noir.
Marinette is fifteen when Hawkmoth’s reign over Paris ends.
Paris celebrates for days. But Marinette can’t bring herself to feel anything anymore. It’s not that she hasn’t been dealing with her emotions with the constant trips to the tower it’s just not letting herself feel anything in Paris becomes normal.
Her parents start to get worried and as much as she would love to calm down their fears she can’t. Luka, Juleka and Alya are the ones who join forces to convince her to reach out to her biological father.
When she gives in and asks her parents, they give her his contact information happily, assuming that’s what had been bothering her all this time. Marinette doesn’t correct them.
It takes Marinette a few weeks to call him but she does call him.
.oOo.
It turns out he already knew about her; he had just figured waiting until she was older was the better approach. Marinette wasn’t really sure what to make of that but he had invited her to his house in Gotham to spend a week getting to know him and the rest of his children.
Marinette accepts his offer happily. It would be nice to learn more about her father and his family (beyond what her research turned up with, Gotham reporters didn’t seem very sensible), and get out of Paris for a while.
.oOo.
Marinette is met by M. Pennyworth, who’s their butler, at the airport. Her parents had let her come on her own after M. Wayne had assured them that she would be safe. There had still been an unnecessarily large number of people to send her off at the airport, though.
Their ride to Wayne Manor is filled with a good amount of nervous rambling, from Marinette’s part. Alfred (he had insisted upon being called so) asks her about school and friends and Marinette goes on a lot of tangents as she talks about everyone in Paris.
There several people waiting at the entrance when they reach the Manor. If she wasn’t anxious about meeting her family, she would probably be more amazed at the beauty of the Manor and the surrounding grounds.
She waves awkwardly at them and says, “hi, I’m Marinette.”
The shortest boy among them, Damian she believes, turns away and walks back into the Manor. Her father turns as if to follow him but he’s stopped by the second tallest of her siblings, Marinette doesn’t think she’ll ever get used to the idea of siblings but she finds she quite likes it, “I’ll go check on Damian. Bye Marinette, see you around.”
She waves at him silently and all of them fall into silence, Alfred having left them. Would it be too late to turn away now?
There aren’t enough pictures of Bruce Wayne’s children on the internet, with the exception of Tim Wayne, for her to recognise all of them but she's pretty sure the one who finally breaks the silence is Jason Todd, returning from the dead created more than enough reading material for her research.
“I'm leaving. Nice to meet ya,” and then heads off. None of the others seem to think it’s strange, so she doesn’t dwell on it.
Mr. Wayne clears his throat and says, “we should probably head inside.”
“Truly one of your brighter ideas B,” Tim says and the other two laugh. They introduce themselves as Cass and Duke once they’re inside and Mr. Wayne tells her she can call him B or Bruce like the others do or whatever she’s comfortable with, Marinette nods in reply. And then she’s being dragged along to somewhere deep in the Manor by her new siblings and they’re talking about some kind of prank war that they’re apparently in the middle of.
Marinette grins. This is bound to be interesting.
#is the several ony twice?#yes.#Am I too tired to care?#also yes.#I rewrote half of it today even though I've had the whole thing written for days#but then i decided i didn't like it half an hour before i posted#still dont like it but eh#bio dad bruce wayne#maribat#mbdbwm2021#my writing
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Meeting for The First Time - Day 1
My maribat bio dad! Bruce Wayne day 1
(sorry if it's late!)
Ao3
@maribat-bdbwm
------
Marinette ran through the streets of Paris trying to get away from the Akuma. This time, she was doing it as a civilian. She couldn't get away to hide and transform into her alter-ego, Ladybug, in time.
This particular akuma was turned into one because to victim just found out that they were adopted. They wanted to find their biological parents and meet them, but their adopted parents banned them forcibly from doing so.
Their power, apparently, sent people to the place their biological parents were. Mostly, they'd sent people to the biological paternal figure. Luka and Juleka were sent to where Jagged Stone was. Kagami, poor thing, was sent in front of her father's tombstone. Mirielle, someone from the science class homeroom, found out her bio father was in the hospital fighting cancer.
Marinette tripped over a stray pebble and got zapped by the day of light from the villain. She was transported to a pristine office, landing on something. Or someone.
---
Bruce's day was normal, or as normal it can be it Gotham. He was finishing up some paperwork. He put them to the side and reached for his bottle of water. Something, or someone fell out of a portal and crashed into him, toppling the chair, him, and the mysterious person over into the floor.
The person stood up quickly. He stood up as well and looked to see the imposter. And saw the same color of eyes he saw in the mirror everyday.
---
Marinette didn't really know what to expect when she looked at her supposed biological father. She didn't expect the slightly buff and very tall figure. She thought he'd be taller though. And she sure as hell didn't expect them to have to exact same color eyes as herself.
Her 'father' scanned her then asked, "Who are you?" .
Marinette, nervous of his reaction said, "Um, Hi. I'm Marinette and apparently I'm your daughter".
---
Bruce couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had another biological child!
"Who is your mother? " he asked the girl. Marinette, his mind supplied.
The girl, 'Marinette' answered, "My mother's name is Sabine Cheng".
Well, that explained a lot.
---
Explanation
Bruce met Sabine about 15 years ago. They had a short fling, but soon she had to go back to China. They had contact for a few weeks, but she had moved to Paris, and contact was cut.
---
Her 'father' then introduced himself as the BRUCE WAYNE. He looked like he was going to say something else to Marinette but, a portal opened up next to her. A blonde boy in black, a girl in blue and white with pink hair, and a boy wearing brown with white hair stepped out.
Bruce wrote down something on a piece of paper and handed it to her, which she pocketed before she was pulled through the portal.
---
Marinette, as Ladybug later defeated the akuma at last and three the 'Miraculous Ladybug' cure. There wasn't much damage, so the team headed back home individually.
--
At home, Marinette opened the paper from Bruce.
Hm. Ok.
He wrote down his contact information.
She might use this.
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First Impressions
AYO its ya girl! let me pretend i didnt fall off the face of the earth for the entirety of july and august as i slide you Bio Dad Bruce Wayne Day 1- Meeting for the First Time
Maribat Masterlist AO3 @maribat-bdbwm
Word Count: 1.2K words
Summary:
Marinette could barely contain her excitement.
She was going to meet her father for the first time ever!
BD!Bruce Wayne Day 1- Meeting for the First Time
without further ado:
The plane ride was long and boring. Hours upon hours of listening to the whispered conversations and the poorly concealed snores was enough to drive normal people insane. The seat, though lavish and soft, grew uncomfortable after the first three hours of the fourteen hour flight. She slept, ate and watched two movies but there were still three more hours to go. Marinette’s neck had cramped from being seated for so long but not once did she let her discomfort show. She was a big girl now, all of ten years old, and she would not embarrass her mother and her training while being in first class of the plane.
“Don’t look so tense, darling,” her mother’s sweet voice called out to her, a warm hand on her shoulder. “The plane will be landing soon and then you can stretch your legs.”
“Yes, maman,” despite her discomfort, she was still excited. It was her first time going to America and she was going to meet her birth father! Her parents have spoken of him a few times but each time left her yearning for more; yearning to know the man that made her, that gave her her eyes and pale complexion. She imagined all the possibilities. Was he kind? Was he secretly funny? He was probably as big as her papa! Her maman liked tall guys, she said it made her feel safe. Marinette wanted to feel safe too. He was a warrior, her maman had said, a hero. Could he fight like her papa? Her papa used his imposing size to his advantage, overpowering all his enemies but never causing a scene. Maman used to tell her stories about her papa, about how he used to be known as The Silent Bear, a strong fighter who worked with a group called the League of Shadows before becoming a member of their village. Was her father from that group too? Maman never told her how she met neither her papa nor her father.
“Marinette,” her voice called her attention. “We’ve landed, sweetie, let’s go.”
Disembarking was a whirlwind of bustling bodies and luggage. The airport smelled different from the Pudong Airport. Not a foul smell, but it was stuffy with fear and anxiety. It made Marinette’s skin crawl. Her maman’s grip on her arm was anchoring as she was dragged throughout the airport and into an awaiting black car. It was nighttime and Marinette was, despite the long flight, still restless with excitement. She watched as her maman merely nodded at the driver before they were off into the night.
The city was much different from where she grew up. She knew of only her maman’s village and the elders that lived there. The tall buildings, skyscrapers, her English teacher’s voice said, were infinite as they reached for the sky. Some looked old, lined in brick and gargoyles while others were steel and silver like the shiniest of knives. They complemented each other, like the blade and hilt of an old sword. The traffic was crazy though. Marinette has never seen so many cars going in the same direction except for the journey to the airport in Shanghai.
On top of one of the older buildings, perched on a gargoyle, Marinette saw a shadow. She couldn’t tell what it was until it opened its wings and jumped, swooping over the city like a bat out of hell.
“Maman! Did you see that?” She was shaking her maman’s sleeve to get her attention to the figure. “It’s him! It’s him!”
“Yes, darling.” Her maman’s smile was sweet and sent warm feelings all throughout her tiny body. “Just be patient, dear.”
The car turned off the main road and in another five minutes was pulling up to what Marinette believed was called the Gotham Harbour. There were shipping crates and the distinct smell of salt water and dead fish. Marinette couldn’t control her face and turned her nose up in disgust. Not the worst smelling place she’s been but still not nice. The car crawled around corners until it stopped between two forklifts. Before her stood the same figure she witnessed in the city.
The Dark Knight.
The Caped Crusader.
Batman.
Her father.
Her maman and papa had never referred to him by his real name; Marinette didn’t think he had one besides ‘Batman.’ He was always ‘the Bat’ or ‘Batman’ when her parents spoke of him. He cared for his city, he fought for justice and was an honest man. But she wanted, no, needed to know more. Would he win in a fight against her papa? Her maman? Her maman was rather fond of long-ranged weapons but her parents said he was a close-ranged fighter like her papa. The excitement was sweet on Marinette’s tongue. She had so many thoughts and questions to voice, none that she could voice from the seclusion of the car.
“Wait here, Marinette.” Her maman had a look on her face, staring out the windshield, boring into the man waiting for them. She had that look whenever she faced a troublesome problem. She fixed her with a softer look, her eyebrows relaxing but her dark eyes as cold as ever. “And remember your manners.”
It was like ice had been injected into her veins. Marinette put a lid on her excitement. Her mother had let her joviality run free long enough. She was representing her village now. She was not going to embarrass her upbringing. Her fidgeting stopped and she took large breaths to calm her heart and mind. She would not be naive into thinking her father would be as warm and welcoming as her dreams had crafted. But she still hoped. Just a teeny bit.
“Yes, mother,” was her response. Her mother nodded at that and stepped out of the car without a word.
She couldn’t hear what they were saying and her lip-reading skills were not the best. Her mother barely came up to this man’s shoulders. Her deep red blouse was the only splash of colour against his black silhouette. Marinette looked at the crates that boxed them in and saw more figures hidden in the shadows. Those must be his birds. They were unmoving, and huge. Most of them.
Tapping on the glass of her side of the car brought her attention back to her mother. Her eyebrows were back in their previous scrunch. Taking a deeper breath, Marinette squared her shoulders and stepped out of the car. The chill of the air against her skin reminded her of her earrings, her greatest weapon if things went bad.
She prayed things didn’t go bad.
With a final look at her mother, she stood as tall as she could and paced to her father. To Batman.
Holy cow, Batman!
This was the moment of truth. She would not embarrass herself or her family name.
“Hello, father,” she started. She kept her voice low and as even as possible, remembering her manners. Her keen eye caught the hesitation in his breathing, she felt the energy on the harbour shift at her words. She took the silence, that lasted only a second, to fully look at the man before her. He was an impressive figure indeed and her mother liked her men tall, but something stuck out to her. Her curiosity rang out and threw her manners away. Her next words left her before she could fully think them over.
“I thought you’d be taller.”
#mbdbwm2021#maribat#maribat!biodadbrucewayne2021#maribat!biodadbrucewaynemonth2021#maribat events#monthly events
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Day 10 of bio dad! Bruce Wayne month 2021
Twin Au
@maribat-bdbwm
Where Damien has a secret twin sister who was, directly after birth, sent to live with monks of a certain temple in Tibet to keep her hidden from Ra's Al Ghul
Though, Talia and Damien visited her at least once a year for a one or two weeks
When the temple of miraculous was destroyed the only survivers (Fu and Marinette) fled to France, leaving no trace behind
Once Talia and Damien came for their yearly visit, all they found were the destroyed and burned down remains of the temple, no signs of any survivers
Needless to say, Damien never got over his sister's "death" and soon his grief turned to uncontained anger and rage
All that he has left of her now is a single photo, taken on their 6th birthday by some monk. He keeps it hidden in his room at all times.
Aaaand that's about all i have thought of
#maribat#maribat bio dad! bruce wayne month 2021#marinette wayne al ghul#damien wayne#mbdbwm2021#miraculous ladybug#day 10#twin au
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No Stronger Bond Than Ours
For Maribat Bio Dad!Bruce Wayne Month Day 11: Siblings
This is a gift for @the-coffee-fandom! It's based off of their fic Sister!?! Preposterous!
I decided to just link my fic this time because I feel this one-shot is too long to put on here.
"CEO TIM DRAKE-WAYNE’S NEW GIRLFRIEND"
This just in! We have reports that CEO Tim Drake-Wayne is now off the market! Ladies, I repeat, CEO Tim Drake-Wayne is taken! By who? Well, stay tuned to find out in this night's special program!
一
@maribat-bdbwm
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Maribat Day 10: Twins AU
Art below the cut!
The first pic is their only photo for many many years, they’re 6 there. Ra’s doesn’t like her in the League nor does he find her useful until a member of the Order tells him that she’s going to be a Guardian in the future, Ra’s sees his chance to get rid of her (either to use her in the future or get her killed). Damian hates her with a burning passion and to avoid a tantrum, Talia tells him that Marinette was killed for being weak.
Damian is satisfied with the result and disgusted with her apparent incompetence. It wouldn’t be until five years later that he would get to know the truth and it was only because she called the Justice League to deal with Hawkmoth, which they didn’t get the calls until a year later, and they decided to send Batman as an emissary.
Bruce took Damian to Paris with him, where Damian recognized his twin by her eyes. She tries to send them away, telling them that she dealt with Hawkmoth two months ago and now has everything under control. Marinette tells Bruce that she’s Damian’s twin and he decides to take her to Gotham as well. Mostly because he thinks that she’s like Damian, but, while she has killed, it was because of necessity in her missions and usually she only severely wounded people.
Damian is absolutely against this, and surprising no one, he hates her even more.
The second pic is years later, when Damian is the League’s leader and Marinette’s the Order’s. A lot has happened for them in the last 8 years, but they’re finally at peace with each other.
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Bio Dad Bruce Wayne Month 2021!
Day 2 - Family
Day1 - Day2 - Day3
Marinette Wayne was the baby of the Family. She loved her brothers to no end.
Maybe a little more because they treated her as the baby.
Being the youngest had both its advantages and disadvantages. On one hand they listened to her every demand. On the contrary they were over protective.
Being the youngest also had other perks. No one could ever say to Marinette. Growing up Marinette was given lots of love by her older siblings. She got everything. She always loved the attention her crazily big family paid her. Don’t get her wrong, She loved her family a lots.
They gave her everything she asked. All she had to do was ask.
A ride in the Batmobile. Done. Modelling her clothes. Done. A baby Tiger. Also done. But mostly Marinette enjoyed spending time with her crazy family.
She loved the gifts and all, But the most? It was spending time together.
Playing pranks, Making gifts for each other, Game nights, Cooking nights.
Yeah those were definitely her most fond moments.
Her father and Siblings tried not to blow up the kitchen. That was something straight out of the funny TV shows for Baby marinette. She always loved her brothers and father trying to cook, and later accidentally blowing up the Kitchen. That was the funniest part. She would fall down laughing while clutching her stomach every single time.
Don’t blame her, Her family managed to do the most impossible things. Setting water on fire, Blowing up an egg in the microwave, Her father couldn’t even make coffee!
And that was funny itself. Marinette loved sitting on a chair and watching her Dad trying to make sense of the Coffee maker. Everytime she ended up laughing out loud.
She also loved doing the trapeze with Dick. Playing pranks on everyone with Jay. Trying to stay up all night with Tim. Walking Titus with Damian. Dancing with Cass. Doing ridiculous things with Stephanie. Watching Babs help through the Comms. Baking with Alfred too.
Also there was another thing she loved the most. Going to WE with her Dad. The Employees were made to sign NDA’s so her Identity wouldn’t get out. Many times she got bored in Dad’s meetings. So she ended up talking to one of the employees while they worked. Marinette was curious about business. So she often ended up with her bombarding a person with Queries. At the end of the Day, her dad would realize she wasn’t with him. That ended with him panicking and announcing on the huge microphones in WE. She enjoyed scaring the shit out of her Dad.
So when it was time to stay with her mother. Everyone ended up crying. Marinette was confused and sad. Did heer family not love her anymore? Did they hate her now? What about Jay-Jay? And Dami? Sure he was four years older than her, but he loved her, Right? She pulled her father’s coat and timidly asked
“Do you all hate me now? Is that why you're sending me away?”
Gasps were heard among many. “No darling, we don't, we love you lots. But your mother gave birth to you right? Don’t you think she wants to meet you too? You can still visit every summer and winter break.We won't miss a single christmas without you. I promise we’ll all call you daily!” Her father says. Yes, that makes sense. She should thank the lady for giving birth to her. Maybe the lady wants to know what she looks like.
“Pinky Promise?”
“Pinky Promise.”
And the promise was kept. Every Summer she ended up with new memories. She also got to thank the lady who gave birth to her. She was her Maman now. And there was Papa too! Marinette hopes that her Dad finds her another Mom! Then she would get to keep two Moms and two Dads! One will always be her Dad, Bruce. Second will be her Maman. Third, her Papa Tom. And fourth her Mom or another lady her Dad finds.
Marinette loved her new life too!! She also missed her Brothers and Sisters and the craziness they brought. She loved cooking with her Maman. Also she loved Baking with Papa. She also had a two year old sister Bridgette! She looked just like her! Now she has a small Sibling. It’ll be just like her and Damian!
Marinette made a lot of friends. Bonded with her sister. Also Introduced her to her Dad!
She had such good friends! She also became a superhero. Her both families knew about that. But all that changed one day. Why? The one and only Lila Rossi.
She took all of Marinette’s friends. Except Chloe, Kagami, Luka and Nathaniel. Chloe is dating Nathaniel. And Kagami is dating Luka. She also has a boyfriend, Jon kent. She started dating him Last year. Her family knew about Lila. So did Bridgette. She always called Lila a Witch.
This year she won't be going to Gotham to visit her family! They will be coming here! She was Psyched. Now Bridgette could meet them in person! She and Bridgette were currently sitting in Le Grand Paris waiting for the Waynes. Her Class was also going to be there. Instead they will be talking with Mr.Agreste. Oh Boy, She was going to enjoy this.
As she was thinking about what her family brought her, They said it was a surprise. They even got Bridgette one! Bridgette wanted to become a Cop, Just like Dick. She wondered if that was related. Maybe a famous cop’s autograph. Ooh maybe Commissioner Gordon’s.He was her role model after all! As she was soaked in her thoughts she missed the group of men wearing suits. Everyone’s Jaw Dropped. Aurore started filming. Her train of thoughts were cut off when she fell down from weight. She looked to see it was Jason Todd.
“Ouch Jay-Jay! Get off!” Marinette shouts. “What? Am I not allowed to hug my Baby Sister anymore?” He asks with fake hurt. “Of course you can! But seriously you are jumping on me!”Marinette Retorts. Then she’s under a dog pile. “I’m gonna join the pile too!!” Bridgette and Damian shout. “Boys get off your sister!” This earns a lot of Gasps. “Thanks Dad, I missed you.” Marinette then hugs her father. “Missed you too.”
“Hey Bridgette, nice to meet you formally!” While the waynes are absorbed in their conversation they miss a class with a teacher and principal coming in and taking a seat. Mr.Agreste is here in person.
“Aren’t those the Waynes? Why are they sitting with Mari-trash?” Lila asks getting a lot of Gasps. “Lets go talk to them, they will make an excellent Buissniess partner.”Mr.Agreste says to Adrien, getting a nod in return. Everyone follows them. The first thing they here is
“-A whole fabric shop for me? Thank you!” Marinette says hugging her Father.
“Is this Commissioner Gordon’s Autograph? That’s so cool!” Bridgette says.
“Mr. Wayne! A surprise seeing you here!” The Waynes turn to see Gabriel.
“Hello Gabriel. A surprise indeed.” Bruce answers smoothly.
“If you don’t mind, What are you doing here?” Gabriel asks.
“Oh, I decided that this year I should visit my daughter in Paris, Instead of the other way around,” Bruce says Patting Marinette’s head.
“She’s your daughter? She has quite a lot of potentiel Mr.Wayne.” Gabriel says Surprised.
“Right? She’s MW! Marinette Wayne!” Bruce exclaimed. Everyone Gasps.
“Oh?I’m glad our kids are such good friends.” Gabriel says fuming to the fact she’s on the top of the Designers list. To his surprise Mr.Wayne Scoffs.
“Good friends? Good Friends? These children bully my daughter on claims of a liar! Your son knows the truth, Yet he let’s kids bully my Daughter!On what note are they Good Friends?” Bruce Fumes. Everyone pales.
“I apologise, I had no idea.” Gabriel says.
“Not your fault. You should pay more attention to your son. Like even I’m a lot of busy. I still make time for my family. Although I'll still be pressing charges against the class and School.”
That’s how Lila’s Reign ended. She loved her Family no matter how much Chaotic they were. Yes she loved them lots.
@maribat-bdbwm
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Maribat Bio Dad! Bruce Wayne Month 2021
Hello everyone and welcome back to this year’s Maribat Bio Dad! Bruce Wayne Month! I want to thank everyone for following this event and thank those who have patiently waited for the release of the info and prompts! Thank you!
And so, without further ado, here they are!
[Please download or click the image for better quality!]
INFO and THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
-Once again, this event will be taking place on September 01, at 00:01 am EST (00:01) and ending at September 30, 11:59 EST (23:59)
-This year, the prompts aren’t limited to just Marinette, but extend to other characters! Let your imagination go wild!
-This event is open to all types of works! Drawing, edits, writing, etc! Everything is welcomed!
-Tag the blog so that we can see your work! (And reblog so that others can see them! ^^)
-This year, only one tag will be used, therefore, only this tag will be checked! The tag this year is #mbdbwm2021. Again, only this tag will be checked to make sure we didn’t miss any posts relating to this event!
-This year’s ao3 collection is: Maribat BD!BWM 2021 (MaribatBDBWM2021) (Need help with adding your work to our collection? Here’s our infograph to help you!)
-Have fun with it!
Again, thank you for reading and hope to see your works! And as always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask! I’ll be happy to answer them!
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Even the Losers
Chapter 5
Chapter 1 Chapter 4
“Not quite the child you expected to be on the front page today, was it?” Lucius commented, falling into step with Bruce as soon as he exited the elevator on their offices’ floor.
Bruce shot him a slight glare. He heavily suspected the receptionist at the front of letting Lucius know he was on his way up so he could stage this ambush. “No, no it was not,” he gritted out. He loved Lucius. He did. But he was not looking forward to discussing this with anyone right now. He needed to talk to Sabine and figure out his next steps. He didn’t have time for teasing or hurt feelings, unless they were Marinette’s or his other children’s.
“Don’t think she expected it either. She was quite distraught when the reporters found her this morning,” Lucius noted calmly.
Bruce stopped and glared full force at him. “Why were you with her this morning?”
Lucius raised an unamused eyebrow at him. “Early morning meeting with her and her friend, Max Kante, the one who actually invented the fabric Ms. Cole tried to take credit for.” He continued walking toward Bruce’s office, not caring whether he caught up or not. If he wanted to be an overbearing ass, they could have a meeting with that tone and Bruce definitely wouldn’t be the one to win.
“Sorry,” Bruce grumbled, catching up to him.
Lucius nodded to let him know he accepted the apology. “She takes after you, you know. I could see how upset she was with the reporters’ questions but she masked it expertly. Seemed to completely shut down those emotions. If I didn’t know you, I might not have known it was all an act. Shut the reporter down without admitting anything too, or lying. Quite smart, that daughter of yours.” Lucius turned toward Bruce as they passed through Bruce’s office doors. “Must get that from her mother,” he teased.
Bruce let out a long breath. “Without a doubt. How was she at the meeting?”
Lucius raised both eyebrows at that question, otherwise not reacting at all. “You haven’t spoken with her yet?”
Bruce focused on his desk as he sat behind it. “I haven’t had the opportunity yet,” he hedged.
Lucius narrowed his eyes slightly but answered the question. “She was brilliant. She is brilliant. She was calm and collected. Engaging and polite. Very insightful. You would never know she had been accosted and almost assaulted a few moments before. Completely professional.”
“What do you mean ‘almost assaulted’?” Bruce growled.
“Particularly aggressive reporter. I gave PR and security his name and picture. We’ll have a restraining order put out and he won’t be allowed at any Wayne events,” he answered calmly.
Bruce squeezed the arm rest on his chair until it fell off in his hand. He let out an annoyed growl and threw it in the garbage. He pushed the intercom on his desk phone, more aggressively than necessary. “I’m going to need a new chair, David.”
He slammed the button again before he had the chance to respond and let out a long deep breath to calm himself. “It’s already started. It hasn’t even been a day.” He shook his head and looked up at Lucius. “Can you see about getting a restraining order for her personally as well, please? And how was the meeting?” Bruce asked.
“It was successful. Mr. Kante seems extremely excited about our contract. He’s looking over it today, but I expect he’ll begin working for us as of next week. I’m still working on your daughter though,” he mused.
Bruce choked and looked back at him. “Excuse me!”
“To work for us,” Lucius tried to disguise the amused glint in his eyes, but not too hard. It was interesting seeing Bruce acting so disconcerted, and not pretending for an audience, actually feeling it. “She helped Mr. Kante develop the fabric and understands how best to show it off. She would be invaluable to have on the project. Hell, she’d be invaluable to have in the company.”
Bruce furrowed his brow in confusion. “I thought Mr. Kante developed the fabric.”
“He did. He definitely figured out how to make it work, but she was a significant help. Her insights and advice were key. She tried to deny it but he kept insisting. Without both of them, there wouldn’t be any fabric. Not to mention she’s the one that discovered Rabler and Cole were stealing ideas. She created the trap and presented the evidence.” Lucius couldn’t keep the proud tone out of his voice.
Bruce’s lips turned up in a wide, proud smile. “Yeah?” Lucius nodded with a proud smile of his own, albeit smaller than Bruce’s. Bruce just stopped himself from saying ‘that’s my girl’ because he wasn’t sure he got to make a statement like that. Not when he hadn’t been involved in bringing her up in any way. But it didn’t stop his chest from puffing up with pride at the knowledge.
She was smart. She was caring. She was creative. She was insightful and brilliant. She was healthy and unscarred. She was everything he hoped she would get to be growing up away from him. He must have done something right. But the idea of having her work next to him like Tim did, getting to see her every day… He smiled at the thought. “How successful do you think you were getting her to agree?”
Lucius hesitated. “Not very,” he admitted slowly. “I don't know the nature of your relationship…” He watched Bruce carefully as he spoke. “… but she seemed to respond positively when I stressed that I wanted her because of her skill, not because of any association with you.”
Bruce looked down and nodded. “There is no relationship. She didn't know.”
“So her being your daughter isn't the reason if you manipulated Candice into looking into her and offer her to the rest of us as a possible designer for the product like it was her own idea?” Lucius raised a disbelieving eyebrow.
“I knew. She didn't,” Bruce admitted.
Lucius nodded in understanding. “Until when?”
“This morning, I imagine,” Bruce sighed.
Lucius raised an eyebrow at him, vividly recalling her behavior at the gala. The way she’d balked at meeting him in his office at WE. The way she’d frozen immediately upon seeing Bruce, all her fire and confidence falling instantaneously. The way she’d been almost begging for a way out from having to spend time with Bruce. “You think she didn’t know before the gala?”
Bruce scrunched his face in indignation. “No. Sabine would have told me if she’d told her.”
Lucius shook his head incredulously. “Alright.” If Bruce wanted to believe that, he wasn’t going to correct him. “So you were going to stay out of it and manipulate everything from behind the scenes? Only exposing your relationship when you felt comfortable with it?” Bruce looked down and nodded.
Lucius narrowed his eyes at him, his gaze suddenly sharp. He tossed the file in his hand onto Bruce’s desk. “I didn’t take you for a coward, Mr. Wayne.”
Bruce sighed as he watched him walk out of the room. His gaze fell on the file Lucius had left behind on his desk, the file on DCD with Marinette’s picture on the front. He pulled the picture off of the file to look closer. He smiled as his mind flashed back to innocent baby eyes blinking back at him. Her eyes hadn’t changed in twenty years. Still the same bright, brilliant, hopeful eyes. His mother’s eyes. He could see it almost as soon as she was born. He could never allow those eyes to be hurt, could never bear to see them in pain, which is all his life seemed to be.
“Then you don’t really know me,” he mumbled as he put the picture back and turned away, his eyes landing on the phone. He took a deep breath and got ready for the conversation he had to have next. He picked up the phone and dialed the number he knew by heart. He squeezed his eyes shut in frustration realizing he had memorized it not because he’d actually dialed it enough to have the muscle memory, but because he’d intentionally committed it to memory.
“That took longer than expected,” Sabine answered on the second ring, annoyance clear in her voice.
Bruce let out a deep sigh. He wasn’t expecting this call to go well, but he needed her help. “I was handling the rest of my family. They didn’t take to the news that they had a sister I never told them about too well.”
“Shocking,” Sabine deadpanned. “And how did Marinette take it?”
Bruce hesitated unsure of how to answer that. “You haven’t spoken with her yet.” The disappointment in her voice was almost palpable. Bruce could almost feel it slapping him across the face and pulling him down to her level.
“I don’t want to mess this up,” he admitted more honestly than he had intended. “More than I have already. I don’t want to drive her away by saying the wrong thing,” he chuckled mirthlessly at himself again, “and we both know that’s absolutely something I would do. I need to know the best way to approach her. What do I need to do?”
Sabine sighed and Bruce could hear her shuffling around until letting out a lighter sigh like she was sitting down. “Well, everything’s going to be pretty raw for her. That’s the first thing. She hasn’t had time to process this. She needs to process in order to know how she wants to respond. If you approach her before she’d had time to process, she’s going to freak out on you or just shut down completely, cold, detached. Did I mention she sometimes takes after you, especially since Hawkmoth?
“But, she tends towards anxiety and overreaction spirals that she has to be brought out of. Her friends are there, so see if she wants them with her whenever you meet. They’ll know how to bring her out of it and calm her down. She might need a few more days before she can meet in person, but don’t wait until then to contact her.”
Bruce nodded, fighting the urge to take notes. That would be inappropriate right? To write down psychological insights into his own daughter? “Yeah, a few hours isn’t all that much time to process,” he agreed absentmindedly, still trying to figure out how many notes would be acceptable. He almost jumped in his seat when Sabine started cackling. He did accidentally ram his arm hard enough to bruise on the point sticking up from the remnants of the broken armrest.
He sputtered until she took pity on him. “You think she’s only known for an hour?”
Bruce paused and stared at the phone, trying to process her words. “You told her?” he was too shocked to be upset yet.
“No,” she answered quickly. “I don’t know how she found out but she knew before today.”
“You think she knew when she planned to come here,” he said incredulously.
“No, definitely not when she first planned it,” she corrected him.
“How can you be so certain?”
Sabine chuckled ruefully. “She's not like us Bruce. She can't lie to save her life. She's terrible at it. She wears her heart on her sleeve. If she knew she was going to see her biological father for the first time, without him expecting it, she would’ve been anxious, fidgety when she told me the plan to go to Gotham. She wasn't. This was all about Max.
“I have no idea what point between last Monday and today she figured it out. But, I can say that she's not answering my calls now. I expected her to call and laugh about it or get anxiety about it because she felt bad for causing you trouble. She didn’t. She asked Adrien to let us know she needs space. So she knew.”
Bruce let out a frustrated groan. “She's upset.”
Sabine took a beat before responding. “I'm not sure since I haven’t gotten to speak to her about it. But, knowing her I’d bet on confused rather than upset. Hurt. Betrayed. Can you blame her?” There was an extended pause while they both tried to process what they knew and how to respond.
After a minute of silence, Sabine spoke up a wry tone to her voice. “You know, she’s always been an extremely cheery child. Wouldn't know she was related to you at all when she was younger,” she laughed lightly, “well, people who bought into your socialite persona might, but nobody that knows you, really knows you and your brooding nature. She always tries to see the best in everyone and bring it out.
“She used to come into the bakery when we had customers and no matter what mood they were in, they would leave smiling. Even the ones in the worst mood would be laughing by the time they left. She just had that effect on people.
“But the one thing she could never stand, that drove her crazy, was a liar. She can’t stand lying and liars.” Her voice suddenly turned sharp and serious. “And she just found out, and not from us,” she emphasized, “that we lied to her about this her whole life and that you never wanted her around but did want other kids around.”
“That is absolutely not the case and you know it,” Bruce roared instantly.
Sabine made a few placating noises. “You know that. And I know that… on some level. But she doesn't.” She stressed. “I have no idea how you’re going to prove it to her now. Because all she sees is that you walked away when she was one and never turned back. Not until the media got involved and forced you to. And she doesn’t even know that much actually. Really all she knows is you walked away. That's what you're going to be up against; her thinking that she is a burden, a prop for you, that all your interest is feigned.”
“Inadequacy issues,” Bruce nodded. Memories of Damian’s first years in the manor flashed through his mind. He shuddered at the memory of Damian trying to kill Dick his first night and trying to kill Tim the first time he saw him, believing he was interfering with his birthright. “But not violent, right?” he asked cautiously. Because if she was anything like Damian, they were going to have to take some precautions, not that Sabine had given him any reason to suspect that. But then again, it would mean she wanted to be part of their family, so that was at least a starting point.
Sabine laughed. “Marinette violent? She’ll rip you to shreds if you touch one of her friends, but verbally. She couldn’t fight her way out of a paper bag.”
Her reassurance made Bruce frown more. That was good… kind of. He didn’t have to worry about her attacking the other kids, not that he was worried about that, really. Nothing he had ever heard about her or seen so far would indicate that was something he needed to be concerned about. But that also mean she had no way of protecting herself if she ever got kidnapped or caught in a rogue attack.
Maybe that was something Damian could help her with. He was an excellent fighter and it was something he greatly enjoyed. He felt at ease when he was practicing or sparring. Maybe that was a way they could bond, Damian sharing something important to him. Bruce immediately grimaced at the idea. There was no way Damian teaching someone with no fighting experience how to fight ended well for either of them. It was more likely to result in a frustrated Damian and a bloodied, bruised, and scared Marinette.
Dick! Dick could teach her, or Tim. Both also excellent fighters and both much more likely to go slowly, easing her into something her body had never been used to. Bruce nodded to himself. Dick would jump at the chance to work with her. And Tim, although less enthusiastic, would be more than willing to help make sure she could protect herself.
Bruce took a breath and focused back on the conversation at hand. “So… go slowly. Ask if she would be okay with meeting first. Give her time to adjust before the meeting. Try to figure out how to reassure her my interest in a relationship with her has nothing to do with the media.” He nodded with a grimace. “That shouldn’t be too hard.”
He could hear Sabine’s reassuring smile through the phone. “As long as she’s had time to process, it should be okay. She’s helped friends go through the same thing. It shouldn’t be too hard once you get past the initial part.”
“Right. I can do this.” Bruce said, more to himself than Sabine.
“And Bruce?” Bruce was immediately tense from the edge in her seemingly sweet voice. “Protect our girl. This is a lot for her all at once.”
Bruce breathed out a relieved sigh. “I will.”
“Because if you don’t, not even Batman will be able to protect you.”
Bruce blinked a few times and opened his mouth only to snap it shut quickly, unsure if he even wanted to figure out if that was a veiled reference or not. After a few seconds he nodded resolutely, deciding it didn’t matter. “I understand.”
“Good day, Bruce,” Sabine said sweetly.
“Good night, Sabine,” Bruce answered with a smile, wondering just how much of her mother Marinette had replicated.
Chapter 6
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Taking Chances Chapter Seven: Trying for Normal (Gifts)
Prev
AO3
“You can not honestly tell me you are thinking of announcing that girl as your daughter.” Damian says, his scowl deeper than Dick had seen it in a while.
“‘That girl’ has a name, Little D. Plus she’s your sister.” Dick says, resisting the urge to nudge him. They had gotten to the point where a small nudge wasn’t a death sentence, but Damian was on edge. And a small nudge would probably not be appreciated.
“I do not care what her name is, Grayson. Since coming to Gotham she has been involved in two separate Rogue attacks. She is suspicious at best, and a nuisance at worst.” He replies, crossing his arms.
“Enough, Damian. Marinette is not a nuisance. She simply has bad luck.” Bruce says, obviously trying to defend his daughter.
“And poor self-preservation skills. Talking back to the Joker? Snarking the Riddler? For an individual with no combat training, she gets much too involved in attacks. It is idiotic.” Damian argues, shaking his head.
“It might have something to do with the Paris situation. She said she’s been at attacks before, so she must have some experience with villains. And from what I read on the Ladyblog, none of the damage in Paris lasts. She just may not realize how dangerous it is for her to do here what she would do in Paris. We just need to warn her, or, at least remind her, that Gotham is a dangerous place.” Dick says, thinking back to her reaction to the Riddler and the Joker. She was definitely more tense with the Joker, despite the fact that both villains had arrived with armed goons. Maybe she thought the Riddler was less likely to kill someone, not true. Or maybe she- Dick frowns as he remembers a key difference between the attacks.
“I just realized something.” He says with a frown.
“Care to share with the rest of the room, Dickiebird?” Jason asks, strolling in and flopping onto a chair.
“She was more tense at the attack with the Joker, she seemed to understand that it was a dangerous situation. Sure, she talked back to him, but she didn’t try to fight back or anything. But at the attack with the Riddler, he wasn’t even targeting her at first. He was targeting the boy she’d been talking to. And she was more reckless, and then she fought back. She fought well, but it was still super dangerous.” Dick rambles, pacing as he explains the predicament.
“Is there a point to this? I feel like I walked in at the wrong time.” Jason calls out from his chair, feet propped up on the table in front of him.
“My point, Jay, is that Marinette has a crush.” Dick says, shuddering at the word like it’s something disgusting. (It is, his sister is too young for crushes and boyfriends).
“Is that why she ran off with him right after the attack?” Jason asks with a smirk. Dick feels his eyes practically shoot out of his head.
“She what!?” He yells, running over to the Batcomputer to look at the security footage from the wax museum. Spots that were targeted frequently, like the wax museum, had their security footage directly linked to the Batcave. Just in case of an emergency or in case an attack happened and they needed an extra set of eyes.
“I’m sure she didn’t do anything that you wouldn’t do.” Jason teases, and Dick pales.
“Shut up, Jason!” He moans, his typing turning frantic as he scrolls through the day’s footage. He stops when he gets to the moments after the battle. When the phones of the French students had all gone off. Frowning, he watches as his sister runs up to the boy and grabs his hand, leaning in and whispering to each other before the two run out of the room. Towards the bathrooms. Oh hell no. Dick scrolls forwards, frowning when they don’t come out in five minutes. Or ten minutes. Huffing, he switches to the cameras aimed at the exits. Surely one of the cameras had to catch the pair leaving the museum. He rewinds it and watches, but...there’s nothing. They don’t leave the bathrooms and they don’t leave the museum. For the rest of the day.
“Has anyone been in contact with her since the attack?” Bruce asks from right beside him, making him jump out of his seat with a yelp.
“I don’t even have her number.” Dick says, resisting the urge to glare at his adoptive father. He might’ve had Marinette’s number had Bruce actually acted like he wanted her to be there for dinner the other day. Instead, he practically ignored her and she left. And now she was missing. Definitely missing, because she never came out of the bathroom at the museum.
“Hello, Marinette? Yes, I apologize for calling so suddenly. I was- yes. Yes, I did hear about the attack….yes, that was part of the reason I was calling. I was wondering if you would like to come to dinner at the manor. You could bring your friend, Adrien Agreste, I believe was his name. Of course. Yes. Oh no, I’ll send a car. No, no I assure you it- Marinette please. Taxis aren’t always safe after dark. Thank you. Yes, I- we’ll see you then. Goodbye.” Bruce hangs up, and Dick looks at him, raising an eyebrow.
“Just gonna suddenly invite her and her boy toy to dinner, B? What’re you gonna do, interrogate them?” He asks frowning.
“That’s the second time that Marinette has ran off after that alarm. I’ve seen videos of the situation in Paris and I’m concerned. Now go upstairs and act normal. I want all of you on your best behaviors at dinner. Damian, better than best please. No weapons.” Bruce directs before leaving the room, presumably to ask Alfred to pick up Marinette. Dick sighs and looks at his brothers.
“Well this isn’t going to be a disaster or anything.” He says.
---
“Tikki this is going to be a disaster!” Marinette whines, throwing herself face first onto the bed. She tries to ignore Tikki’s amused giggle. This was not funny. This was dinner with her family that she hadn’t made a great impression on the first time. And Adrien was invited, and she wasn’t sure where the two stood but she was sure that if Dick was at dinner, he would just push Adrien farther away from her.
“I could practically hear your suffering from Adrien’s room, pigtails.” Plagg says, making Marinette sit up and glare at the Kwami.
“Are you just here to mock me?” She asks, pouting. He snorts.
“No, I’m here to tell you the kid’s on his way over here. I told him you were panicking and he practically ran out his door.” Plagg says with a chuckle. Rapid knocking on the door makes him laugh more before dropping onto the bed next to Tikki. Marinette sighs, rolling off the bed and pulling the door open, jumping forward in time to catch Adrien before he completely falls to the ground.
“Are you okay? Plagg said you were panicking, did something happen?” He asks quickly, looking her up and down. Marinette blinks, slightly taken aback by his sudden concern. It was nice, but still a lot all at once. Shaking her head, she gestures for him to come in and shuts the door behind him. Walking back over to the bed, she once again face plants and groans.
“She’s nervous because Mr. Wayne invited the two of you to dinner.” Tikki chirps, giggling when Marinette lifts her head up enough to glare at her.
“Traitor.” She says, dropping her head back down.
“If you don’t want me to go with Marinette, I won’t.” Adrien says. Marinette immediately jumps up, shaking her head rapidly.
“No, no that’s not what I meant. I just- I’m nervous about actually sitting through a dinner with them. And I’m pretty sure Dick will try and sit between us and glare at you like he did at the museum.” She admits, cursing the way her cheeks heat up. Adrien raises an eyebrow.
“He was glaring at me?” He asks, utter confusion on his face. Marinette groans, dropping her head into her hands.
“Sometimes your obliviousness is cute-”
“You think I’m cute!”
“But right now, it’s kinda making me want to scream into my pillow.” Marinette admits, giving him her signature “not amused” look. A look she usually saves for when Chat Noir is making a pun.
“Wait, why wouldn’t Dick like me?” Adrien asks, thankfully stuck on that now instead of the fact that she thinks he’s cute.
“Um, maybe because we were holding hands? Did you really not notice how he kept standing in between us the entire time we were at the museum?” Marinette asks, suddenly unsure if she’d imagined the whole thing.
“Oh no, I did. I just didn’t think it meant he didn’t like me. I’ve never really dealt with siblings before. I mean, I’ve met Nino’s little brother but...that’s about it.” Adrien says, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. Marinette sighs, grinning softly.
“I don’t really have a lot of experience either, so maybe I was just imagining things.” She admits. Adrien’s shoulders instantly relax and she smiles. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.
“So, did you want me to come with?” He asks after a moment of silence. Marinette nods, agreeing immediately.
“Please. I don’t think I can go back there alone, not yet anyway.”
“Of course, Mari. Now, what’re you wearing?”
---
The ride to Wayne Manor wasn’t as quiet as her first, with Adrien making quiet jokes and saying things to try and help keep Marinette out of her head. She was thankful that he had come with, because she was definitely going to need the emotional support to get through dinner. The car stops and Marinette sucks in a deep breath. Smoothing out her skirt nervously, Marinette glances at the small, neatly wrapped package sitting between her and Adrien. It was something she had started back when she first found out she was adopted. And that her parents didn’t know her bio dad. A scrapbook with copies of everything important from her life: baby pictures, school pictures, birth announcement, report cards, clippings from newspapers where she had won or placed in contests, pictures of her early designs and recent designs, pictures of certificates and trophies from various competitions and activities. Basically a road map of her life to be given to her bio dad so that he could get to know her. She’d written her name on the front page, with the words “daughter of Bruce Wayne and Bridgette Le” underneath. A sort of amendment to her birth announcement which listed her as the daughter of Tom and Sabine Dupain Cheng. And while she definitely was their daughter, she also wanted Mr. Wayne to know that she wanted to be his daughter too. Not just by blood, which isn’t the important part. No, she wanted to get to know him and for him to get to know her. Pushing down the intruding thoughts insisting that it was too soon and that he didn’t want her in the first place, she opens the car door and steps out, clutching the package to her chest like a safety blanket.
“Would you like me to take that for you, Miss Marinette?” Alfred asks, glancing at the package.
“Oh, no thank you Alfred. It’s for my da- er, um, Mr. Wayne. I can hang onto it.” She says with a bright smile. She could do this. Sure, it didn’t go great the last time she was here. And she was pretty sure Mr. Wayne’s youngest son could kill her and wanted to kill her. But it was fine. Everything is fine. Walking through the front door, her shoulders relax slightly when she sees Dick is the only one standing there waiting for them.
“Marinette! He cheers, rushing forward and picking her up in a hug. As in, legitimately picking her up. Okay then.
“Good to see you too.” She says, trying not to show that he’s literally suffocating her with the hug.
“Good to see you again, Dick!” Adrien says cheerfully. Marinette feels Dick tense before setting her down, his smile less bright as he looks at Adrien.
“And you. Adrien, right?” He asks, sticking his hand out for a handshake.
“Yup!” Adrien says cheerfully. Marinette watches cautiously, noticing that Dick seems to be squeezing a little too hard….and then Adrien appears to match his strength, if the look on Dick’s face is anything to go by. Marinette coughs to hide a snort, her face heating up as both boys turn to look at her.
“Uh, is it just you and Mr. Wayne tonight?” Marinette asks, choosing to ignore their awkward handshake.
“Nope! It’s me and Bruce and Alfred, of course, and Jay and Tim and Damian and Cass. Steph’s not in town and Babs is having dinner with her dad.” Dick says, and Marinette’s eyes widen. There were a lot more people in her bio dad’s family than she thought. She knew about the boys, but she hadn’t seen anything about Cass, Steph or ‘Babs’.
“I didn’t realize I had sisters too.” She says instead of voicing her insecurities. Before she only had the boys to measure up against, now she had three girls too?
“Well, the only official sister is Cass. Steph used to date Tim and she just kinda stuck around. She’s practically family at this point. And Babs and I used to date, but again, she stuck around after and now she’s practically family.” Dick explains with a grin and a shrug. Cause having your exes around isn’t awkward. Or, maybe it isn’t. She doesn’t have any exes to compare it to. Just as she starts to get lost in her thoughts, she feels Adrien brush against her gently. Reminding her that he’s there, for her, giving her the strength she needs to follow Dick into the living room. Where everyone else was sitting. Oh boy.
“Marinette, so glad you could join us. And Mr. Agreste, nice to see you again.” Bruce says, standing from his spot and moving to shake Adrien’s hand.
“You as well, M. Wayne. And please, call me Adrien. Mr. Agreste is my father.” He says, and Marinette can just barely see his wince. His father always had been his least favorite subject, no matter how much or how little they spoke of him.
“Thanks for inviting us.” Marinette says, moving the package so that she’s no longer clutching it like a lifeline. Holding it out to Mr. Wayne, she laughs at his confused face. “It’s a present.” She adds.
“Oh, well, thank you.” He says, his face unreadable. Marinette shifts her weight, glancing between him and the package, waiting for him to open it. Or properly introduce her to the rest of the family. Either option would work at this point. Glancing at Dick, she sighs in relief when he claps. At least someone was going to make the first move.
“Right, so I don’t think you got the chance to meet Jason and Damian properly when you were here the other day.” Dick says, tugging her around a still frozen Bruce in front of the two boys from the other day.
“No, I didn’t. Hi, I’m Marinette.” She says, smiling and holding out a hand to Damian first. He tuts and turns away, making Marinette’s smile fall slightly before she turns to Jason. Jason grins and shakes her hand.
“Welcome to the family, kid.” He says, before whistling. “You didn’t get B’s height, that’s for sure.” He teases, Marinette snorts, her smile turning into a teasing smirk.
“Hey, don’t count me out for my height. Ever heard the phrase, small but mighty?” She asks, crossing her arms. Jason snorts, reaching out and messing up her hair.
“Whatever you say, Pixie Pop.” He replies. She rolls her eyes and turns to the other two siblings she hadn’t met.
“Hi, you must be Tim and Cass.” She says, smiling at both of them. Tim nods, his hand twitching towards his pocket. Marinette tries not to laugh, having seen Max do the same thing when he had to socialize for any amount of time. The boy was always far more comfortable with his phone in his hand, even if he wasn’t actually looking at it. Cass smiles, and Marinette notices her hands moving. “Sorry, could you repeat that, I wasn’t watching closely.” She says. Cass’ smile widens and she nods before starting over.
“Welcome to family. Nice to meet you.” Cass signs, making Marinette beam.
“It’s nice to meet you too.” She says, eyes widening when she realizes she left Adrien alone with a frozen Mr. Wayne. Whirling around, she moved back to Adrien and tugged him forward, rolling her eyes at his surprised yelp. Honestly, he should expect this by now.
“Geeze, Princess. Give a man a warning.” He says, adjusting his shirt that she’d accidentally messed up.
“Sorry k- Adrien. Sorry. Anyway, uh, everyone this is my friend Adrien Agreste. Adrien this is Jason, Damian, Tim, Cass and you already know Dick.” Marinette introduces, gesturing to each of her new siblings. Adrien shoots a wide smile, not quite his model smile but also not quite a real one.
“Nice to meet you all.” He says.
“Marinette, I apologize. Did you want me to open this now?” Mr. Wayne asks suddenly. She turns and raises an eyebrow at his unreadable expression and the way he holds onto the present like he doesn’t know what to expect. Which is fair, considering they’d only met in person the day before.
“Oh, um, if you want to. It’s nothing big.” She says, watching nervously as he nods and unwraps it. His eyebrows twitch together as he looks at the book, obviously not yet understanding.
“Open it, B.” Dick whispers, clearly understanding the gift more than their father. Mr. Wayne nods and opens it, his unreadable expression falling into one that she...still can’t read. But it’s not emotionless anymore. As he flips through the book, a small smile creeps its way onto his face and Marinette almost cheers. That’s the most sincere look she’d ever seen on the man.
“Did you put all this together?” He asks, glancing up from the book to look at her. Marinette nods.
“When I found out I was adopted, I wanted to have something to give my bio dad. So that even if he didn’t want to see me in person, he could get to know me. When I found out you’re my, um, dad, I added some personal touches.” She says.
“And I can keep this?” He asks, and Marinette’s shocked that he sounds almost scared. As if he thinks she’ll say no and take everything back. She smiles.
“Of course. My Maman and Papa already have those pictures. These are all yours.” She says.
“Thank you, Marinette. I- This is an amazing gift.” He says. Marinette’s smile widens and her shoulders sag in relief. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be a disaster after all.
Next
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#maribat#maribat marinette dupain cheng#maribat adrien agreste#maribat adrienette#maribat bruce wayne#maribat bio dad bruce#maribat bio dad! bruce wayne month 2021#maribat bio dad au#maribat batfam#maribat dick grayson#maribat jason todd#maribat tim drake#maribat cassandra cain#maribat damian wayne#platonic jasonette#platonic dickinette#platonic timari#platonic daminette#mbdbwm2021#ao3fic#day seven gifts
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The Chronicles of Marinette Wayne
For Bio dad Bruce Month Day 22: Library/Books
ao3
@maribat-bdbwm
Marinette had first come to live with him when she had been five and had just lost her mother. The only reason she was coming to stay with them had been Dick, who was much more excited at the prospect of a younger sister than Bruce was about another child and a grieving one at that.
When Bruce had first been contacted about having a biological daughter who had just lost her mother, he had thought it would be better to send her to someone like the Kents. Someone who would provide her with a stable family where she could lead a happy life. But then Dick had found out when Bruce had gone to Alfred for advice and had convinced him to bring her to the manor. Had convinced him that letting her go now might affect her in the future, and he wasn’t wrong (not that Bruce had considered how it might affect her since it would definitely look like he hadn’t wanted her, he just wasn’t sure if he was the best candidate) but the life they lead wasn’t one he wanted to drag a five-year-old into. When he had voiced that thought Dick had retorted with, “well, you’re not planning to put her in a cape and let her fight the rogues, are you?”
Of course not, he had no intention of doing that. She was five for heaven’s sake, and so the matter had been decided. She would live with them.
.oOo.
Marinette had warmed up to both Dick and Alfred almost instantaneously. Bruce spent what time he was at home hovering around her uncertainly. She spoke to him occasionally but not a lot. He had learnt (from her, he’d done an extensive background check and looked into all the details of her upbringing prior to this) that she liked pink, her favourite food was chocolate chip cookies and that she had a favourite soft toy that she always slept with. But even though she spoke to him she was never as open with him as she was with Dick or Alfred. It took her a week before she came to him willingly instead of him talking to her.
It had been shortly after he had returned from patrol. The door to his room had opened and tear-filled blue eyes stared at him, he could see her clinging on to her soft toy. He got up and walked towards her, she was still lingering in the doorway. Kneeling to reach her height he asks softly, “nightmare?”
She nods, tears still streaming down her face.
He looks at her unsure of what to do.
“Would you like to go back to sleep?” he asks quietly.
She shakes her head vehemently.
He still is unsure of what to do. Acting on a random whim he stands and picks her up. She clings to him and he definitely doesn’t marvel over how she fits perfectly in his arms.
He takes her to the library and picks out The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, sitting on his favourite armchair he seats her on his lap and starts to read to her, “Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy…”
.oOo.
Alfred finds the two of them passed out in the armchair the next morning. The crick in his neck and the lecture he gets from Alfred about how an armchair is not the proper place for either of them to sleep are worth it when Marinette comes to him that night with the book in hand asking about, “Mr. Tumus”
“Mr. Tumnus,” he corrects her gently.
She nods in agreement and repeats, “Mr. Tumus.”
.oOo.
Him reading to her becomes an event. She drags Dick into it too, whenever he isn’t with his Teen Titans in New York that is. Alfred provides them with milk and cookies and he reads to Marinette and Dick every night before patrol. They stop once she falls asleep and either him or Dick take her up to bed before patrol.
About a year after they start this routine, he returns from patrol to find a crying Marinette in his room. She just cries harder once she sees him. He holds her until she falls asleep resolving to talk to her in the morning.
He takes her to the cave the next morning, after breakfast, with Dick and tells her about Batman and Robin. When they head back to the manor she heads to her room and doesn’t come out before sundown (Alfred took her lunch to her room and had somehow talked her into eating). He spends the whole day worrying about if telling her was the wrong thing to do. She had lost her mother mere months before, she shouldn’t have to worry about her other parent too. She comes down for dinner and after dinner she still drags them to the library. She doesn’t fall asleep like she usually does, instead when he completes a chapter Marinette asks the two of them to wait, runs out and returns, panting, a few minutes later with something colourful in her hand. She then hands it to both him and Dick it’s a thread with beads on it. She hands Dick two of these, one has red, green and yellow beads and the other is purple, black and yellow, and his has blue, purple and black.
She grins up at the two of them and says cheerfully, “lucky charms. Dick’s is like Robin and yours is Batman.”
“And the other one?” Dick asks
“Batgirl,” she exclaims cheerfully.
Bruce as always is amazed at her never-ending optimism, kindness and hopefulness. Dick offers her a sunshine smile of his own, hugs her and says, “Thank you Sunshine.”
Once she lets go of Dick she looks at him with her big blue eyes, and Bruce ruffles her hair and gives her a smile and tells her he’ll carry it with him at all times. She smiles wider (something Bruce wasn’t aware was possible) and says goodnight before skipping back to her room.
.oOo.
Barbara convinces Dick to bring Marinette to the library after he gives her the lucky charm. The two of them leave the manor dressed in casual clothes and treat it almost like a mission to go and come back without causing any news scandals.
When they return Marinette’s carrying the entire Chronicles of Narnia series and pestering Dick about visiting Barbara again.
He points out that they already have the Chronicles of Narnia in the manor library, Marinette opens the book to a random page shows it to him and says, “but look this one has pretty pictures.”
He reads from the newly acquired illustrated copies that night.
.oOo.
As Dick starts to pull away more and Bruce tries to get him back, the tension in the house is high on good days. They don’t spend as often reading in the library anymore. He still reads to Marinette after nightmares, but Marinette no longer pulls them all to read while they have cookies and milk.
And then Dick leaves. He still visits Marinette, takes her out or Barbara will drop by and take her to the library. But he doesn’t spend any time in the manor other than to speak to Alfred. But there’s no longer a Batman and Robin. Gotham has Batman and Blüdhaven, Nightwing.
Marinette no longer comes to him with her copy of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe after nightmares,
.oOo.
When he first brings Jason home, Marinette had decided to spend the day with Dick in Blüdhaven. When Alfred brings her back the next morning, she’s shocked but she decides she’s going to be his friend. She takes him on a tour of the manor. Bruce trails behind the two, unsure of what to do, before he’s called away by an emergency at WE.
When he returns the two of them aren’t in either of their rooms, the several sitting rooms or the media room.
Alfred is the one who finds him during his search for the two and says, “I would check the library Master Bruce. It seems the young Master Jason has a love of literature.”
Sure enough, that’s where he finds the two. On the armchair that he had used that very first night, the both of them being tiny enough to fit in one seat, curled up and reading. Not wanting to disturb the two he steps back quietly. The two of them come as soon as Alfred calls them for dinner, and Jason’s certainly more animated than he had been the day before.
.oOo.
Marinette talks Dick into visiting, Bruce is simply glad to see his son back temporarily even if Dick refuses to talk to Bruce. He forms a tentative friendship with Jason. Bruce finds the three of them in the library before he leaves for patrol, Marinette’s reading The Magician’s Nephew out loud while the two of them sit next to her with milk and cookies in hand. His heart warms at the sight, he wishes he could take a picture but he doesn’t want to disturb them. Footage from the security cameras will have to do.
.oOo.
When Barbara’s shot, Marinette’s there everyday that Barbara’s fine with visitors. The rest of them accompany her as often as they can. Even as things slowly return to some what normal, Marinette spends nearly half her time with Barbara.
And then Jason dies. Marinette spends more time outside than at the Manor, or so Alfred says. And Bruce, well he isn’t really sure anymore.
He sends Marinette to Paris for her own safety. He’d met and befriended a nice couple during his travels and they had agreed to let his daughter stay with them for a while.
Marinette doesn’t care about his reasons, when she leaves for Paris she takes all her things but leaves the illustrated set of the Chronicles of Narnia that he had bought for her as a birthday gift after she and Dick had first visited Barbara.
.oOo.
Shortly after Robin hits the streets once again, Tim comes over to the Batcave in a panic one night. Rambling about an unsigned package that was just books and a slip of paper with a number on it. He had wanted to check it for any possible signs of danger. Bruce had agreed, it was definitely a strange thing and with the lives they lead no one could really tell for sure.
And then Bruce sees the books and tells Tim there’s nothing to worry about. It’s a new set of the Chronicles of Narnia. There’s a charm hanging from one of the books. She’s gotten better at making them since she was five.
He sighs and says, “The number’s safe. Call her, she’ll probably explain better than I can.”
He doesn’t join Tim, Marinette hasn’t spoken to him since she was sent to Paris and he doesn’t know what to say to her now.
.oOo.
There’s a supervillain in Paris, someone new, something about rock monsters. He takes Clark and Diana to check it out. He sent Marinette there so she could be safe, not so that she ends up in another city infested with villains.
When he gets there, there are two children. The girl feels really familiar, the way she speaks when she talks to the flying butterfly head is really familiar but before Bruce can worry too much about it the fight is done and the two kids are swarmed by the press. Before they can move from where they are, the girl- Ladybug says something to her partner and swings out. The next thing he knows she’s standing in front of him and the anger is visible on her face, “Get out. Get out of Paris right now.”
“We’re here to hel-” Clark starts to say when she cuts him off.
“Not you, I want Batman out of this city right now,” she repeats glaring at him. He knows those eyes. They’re the eyes he looks at every day in the mirror. The eyes he shares with his daughter.
“Marine-”
She doesn’t let him continue, “Uncle Clark and Aunt Diana can stay for a while if they can keep their emotions in check but they’ll have to leave too. I want you to leave now.”
He can see Clark and Diana reeling and slowly figuring out what’s happening. Ignoring the two of them he asks, “how?”
She laughs, not the tinkling cheerful sound that he had heard in the manor but a bitter sound, and Bruce wishes he could fix this.
“I was given the miraculous and now I’ve promised to protect this city. Why, regretting your decision to send me here?”
Yes. Very much so. But the words wouldn’t come out of his mouth, and he watches silently as she turns and leaves.
Bruce can feel the weight of Clark and Diana’s gazes. Shrugging off their questions he heads to the nearest teleporter.
His only child that hadn’t wanted this life had been pushed into it.
.oOo.
Tim and Marinette have kept in contact. He’s caught several of their conversations, though he’s never joined one.
It’s been nearly a year since he saw her in Paris. And then Tim’s dad tells him he can’t be Robin and that he can’t contact the hero community anymore. Two days later, Ladybug shows up in Gotham worried out of her mind. Stephanie’s the one who finds her and brings her to the cave. When she first starts talking to him, he’s so relieved to speak to her again that he misses out on a bit but the gist of what she said would be, “did something happen to Tim?”
He can tell she’s annoyed with what happened with Jack Drake. But before she can speak, Nightwing walks into the cave to find a detransformed Marinette. And before Marinette can figure out what’s happening, Dick has engulfed her in a hug and Marinette’s laughing. Bruce smiles as he returns to the Batcomputer, it’s been a really long time since he’s heard her laugh.
.oOo.
Marinette stays for the next week. She’d apparently panicked and told everyone she had a family emergency and wouldn’t be back for the week. Bruce was glad that she still considered them family, especially after that disastrous conversation in Paris.
She spends time with Barbara, Stephanie and Cassandra. Apparently, Stephanie and Cass already knw her and have spoken to her a few times. She spends some time with him, speaks more to him than she has in the past two years after he sent her to Paris.
On her last day in Gotham, he finds her and Cass in the library. She’s sitting with Cass on the armchair and she and Cass are reading Prince Caspian. They must’ve been here the whole week if she’s gotten to that far. The idea of reading those books in the wrong order is like sacrilege to Marinette.
She returns to Paris when the week ends, but has now added him to her semi-regularly contacted people.
.oOo.
Marinette pulls away again after Stephanie dies. From what Tom and Sabine tell him, she’s spending what time she’s not in school, with Alya. Bruce knows that Alya Cesaire knows that Marinette is Ladybug, realises she’s throwing herself into superheroing. Bruce wishes she’d inherited some of his better habits.
She doesn’t visit again for a while. Not until the attack on Titans Tower, and even then he doesn’t see her. He doesn’t know if anyone did.
But when he’s in the library to check something for a case he realises all of Jason’s favourite books that Marinette had with her were back in place.
He doesn’t mention it to anyone.
.oOo.
Darkseid happens. When he returns from the time stream, things are different from how he left them.
The whole family comes to the manor, after he returns. They’re all telling stories over dinner. Stephanie speaks of a little girl who idolises batgirl. Dick carries out an over dramatic reproduction of one of his and Damian’s patrols, while Damian complains about how inaccurate it is. Jason’s laughing at the two of them. Cass and Marinette coax Tim into talking about the whole Mr. Sarcastic mess. Dick looks gleeful as everyone rips into Tim’s momentary lapse in a sense of style, before Tim brings up Dick’s first Nightwing suit as a defence. Barbara points out the lack of pants in the first two robin costumes, and the others laugh (Damian grins) while Dick and Jason splutter in indignance. Marinette (who people tend to forget spent a good chunk of time with Dick when she was younger) describes in an exaggerated manner some of Gabriel’s, he’s missed quite a lot, worst akuma costumes and marvels over how he managed to create them while also being a world-renowned fashion designer.
As all of them continue to talk happily, Bruce slips out of the dining room. They deserve a break, but someone still needs to take care of Gotham.
Gotham has unnaturally less crime today, still takes him time to finish his patrol though. Unnaturally less crime in Gotham is still more crime than what most other cities face.
He heads to the library to grab a book to read before he sleeps. There’s a light on in the far corner of the library. When Bruce heads there he finds a large plate with crumbs on it with a few empty or half-finished glasses of milk next to the plate. His children are scattered around. They’ve pushed back the seats and have mostly spread themselves on the carpet. Marinette curled up between Dick and Jason and still reading from the practically ancient copy of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Jason’s reading one of his classics. Damian’s sitting on Dick’s other side and is animatedly talking about one of his pets while Dick listens to him attentively. Tim and Barbara are going over something on her laptop at the table, and Stephanie and Cass are curled up against each other and talking quietly. Cass is the first to see him and smiles at him and beckons him to join them. Picking a book off the shelf he joins them on the floor.
When Alfred finds them there the next morning, having gotten used to finding them asleep in the library several times over the years, he just sighs and tells them that breakfast is ready and if they’d like hot food, they’d have to get off the floor. All of them scramble up and as they leave the library, he can hear them starting to plot on how to get Alfred to join them the next time.
#here have another pre written one shot#this one's like really old#like written in may old#this whole thing really got away from me#it's about 3000 words more than I thought it would be#i just thought it would be a 100-200 word drabble#maribat#bio dad bruce wayne#mbdbwm2021#my writing
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Guys. i know i haven’t posted in a while here, but hear me out. just listen.. please. okay so imagine little Mari, or just Daminette and then boom this
for little mari it could be her watching tv and they all catch her doing this and they record—for daminette it could be anything i didn’t think it through
#maribat#mlb x dc#ao3#reading#mbdbwm2021#little!mari#little marinette#marinette is a wayne#cute#or daminette#daminette#i just thought of this it’s just supposed to be cute and wholesome
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