#adrien x bruce

[ive-tumbled-down-a-rabbit-hole]

Look at my lips and listen closely

Master list

Ok, I've listened to a lot of Dead Pony recently and ended up mis-hearing a line or two in bullet farm which sent off a cascade of tangential thoughts (which is pretty standard really) and voila this is the nonsense that was created. Well sort of, characters then decided to evolve and take over as well in ways I wasn't expecting so it's more of a 'voilà' and 'oh, I was not expecting to write that' and 'ok, that's a new direction to the original loose plan… concept'

Ta for reading 😘

……………

Bruce stared at the trio across the ballroom. They were positioned in such a way he couldn't see their lips. Their conversation was hidden causing him to feel a rising panic as the sound slowly faded while his heart beat sped up. He tried to figure out why they were here. Why now?

Bruce's heart felt like it would burst out his chest if it wasn't for all his years training. It wouldn't surprise him if he received a call from Clark in a moment or two to check to see how he was doing with how loud it felt to him. The years of training seemed to vanish and he felt like he was a newly christened twenty year old vigilante finding his feet in the world, learning how to mask and misdirect.

Taking an actual drink from his glass for once, Bruce took a second to compose himself. The slightly aromatic taste danced on his tongue, grounding him back to the present. To look at him, he'd still look like Brucie, playboy turned father, but from the curious glances his children sent him, he knew that he wasn't hiding his concern particularly well.

Across the room it appeared like his past was finally catching up with him in the most unexpected ways. He really had not foreseen that these three people would ever meet. There were links of course. The potential that they could meet, he just had never considered that they would.

They all lived at some point in the same country, and the blondes ran in potentially similar social circles but their lifestyles and personalities were so different it was hard to see them meeting… and connecting. Particularly… no… he wouldn't… would he?

Frowning Bruce mused about Ra's and how he liked playing mind games and well, after so many years of not seeing any of them, it wasn't a hard stretch of the imagination that this was the lastest mind game the megalomaniac near immortal would play. Pulling his Brucie facade close, Bruce greeted Dick who appeared at his side and leant into his arm while Jason joined them. The younger man's arms folded and wearing a frown that mirrored Bruce's own internal one.

"So, B, what's got you upset."

Laughing jovially causing his sons to wince at the fakeness, Bruce wrapped an arm around his boys and guided them somewhere slightly more secluded.

"Oh nothing Dickie. Are you and Jaylad ok? Your siblings?"

Picking up Bruce's unsaid meaning, Jason quickly sent a text to the others to meet them as Dick scanned the crowds. A surge of protective pride flooded Bruce at his boy's growth, they'd come a long way from the boys he adopted all those years ago.

By the more quiet balcony the rest of the Wayne's and adjacents congregated waiting for Bruce to spill the deets. They'd all clocked the trio that seemed to be the source of Bruce's unusual anxiety and waited in semi baited breath.

"Spill old man. What's the deal?"

"Gnnn"

"So eloquent B. Spit it out."

"I slept with that trio."

"Shocker! Who haven't you dated or slept with? Diana and Clark aren't the first you've had a ménage à trois with, big deal. What's the issue?"

"Not together. One's a model, another an heiress and the other I met training at the LoA."

"Gross Bossman. T.M.I!"

"So we have a Ra's situation?"

"What would grandfather want to do with a model and heiress?"

"I don'ge'it. Ken's an assassin? No offence Blondie."

"Full offence Jay! Why can't blonds be assassins?"

"Nothing against blond's, just, him?! I stuck out when I was there, him! He'd be a walking target. He looks as threatening as a wet kitten."

"Not all that trained with grandfather were brutes Todd. It could be part of his style to disarm his prey, mother's preference was harmless seduction anyway."

"Talia… harmless… *cackles* you're joking right?!"

Bruce pinched his nose as his children bickered around him trying to draw the attention back to himself.

"*Cough* HE isn't the assassin *cough* He is… was the model. She, Marinette, the dark haired one. She was who I met when," Bruce paused as a group of socialite's walked past. "I met her when I was travelling. I was with Adrien shortly after when I got back. I knew Chloe from childhood."

"You mean Tinkerbell is the one we're concerned about?!" Jason raised his eyebrows in surprise then started to reassess the trio.

"It's what Ra's is up to that concerns me. Why she… they would target Adrien and or Chloe?"

"You're about to find out B."

Acknowledging Tim's input, Bruce watched as Chloe had split off from the others, her gold dress sparkling under the chandelier's, her icy ruling aura making guests part like the sea much like she did in childhood. Marinette continued to talk to the group they were with as Adrien started weaving his way through the crowds. Slipping on his Brucie persona yet again, Bruce grabbed two drinks from a passing waiter as he grinned (honestly not even having to fake his fondness) as Adrien sauntered towards him.

The moment Adrien got close enough to the Wayne's, in full Brucie style, Bruce dragged Adrien into a warm, fully embracing, hug as he scouted out the ballroom. His woody cologne filled Bruce's nose as he breathed the man's scent in. He would be ready to protect his ex paramour from an attack.

"Adi baby!! Long time no see sweetheart. How are you, gorgeous? What brings you to this spectacular event… have you tried the wine? Isn't it devine."

Leaning away to greet Bruce with a customary la bise, Adrien returned to melt into Bruce's arms. Succumbing to the legacy of spending so much time touch starved in childhood. Bruce carefully manoeuvred him so he could hold him close while passing him the glass of sparkling wine.

"Brucie! It's good to see you too, mon amour. Meow are you? I'm purrr-fect at the moment. I've taken over the family business. I came here with my chief designer and COO. Mari and Chlo, have you met Marinette or Chloe actually? Hang on, I'll get them over here to meet you, where is she? Anyway they say I need to network more."

Adrien scanned the crowd looking for the blood-red dressed assassin and golden heiress he had come with before turning secretly to Bruce and his family.

"Which I sup-pawse they're correct." Adrien brings his hand up in a staged overly loud whisper, "don't tell them I said that though!"

His captivating emerald eyes sparkle into Bruce's steely blue ones in amusement. Looping his arm through Bruce's Adrien leans against the giant man like a feline seeking warmth, to Bruce's children's amusement.

"I finally escaped modelling. Father took ill, much like maman and Natalie did, it was a slight cat-asrophe with lots of drama. But I'm in charge. Business is far more fun than posing, you know, the proper cats pawjamas. I guess you do given…"

Adrien waved his arm about before smiling up at Bruce in a fond manner, his lips catching the light as a clear gloss coated them along with embroidered playful cats decorating his suit, diverting Bruce's attention momentarily. Bruce had forgotten how affectionate and almost cat-like he was with his tactility. The firm muscles hidden under his fitted figurative cat suit tantalised Bruce with memories of late night rendezvous. It was what had drawn him originally to Selina, the familiarity and reminder to the man beside him.

"Ooo, let's grab Mari and Chlo a glass of this devine purr-seco as you say. They'll be done talking business by now, I hope. I'm sure they'll join us in a meow-ment. The papers say you're a family man now mon amour. By the looks of it, it's true? Finally dark and mysterious men adopt litters of children in Gotham?"

Bruce winced internally, this wasn't going to be easy as Adrien seemed to be fond of the potential threat. That also being said Bruce felt the need to find Chloe too. Despite the chemistry that still simmered between him and Adrien, she was still at risk. The woman he shared his first kiss with. The snarky woman he'd watch with Ollie verbally decimate Lex 'just for funsies'. He glanced around the party goers again while appearing to look at his throng of children that surrounded him.

"Ah, yes, I can't comment on bat but mine fill the house with noise and chaos and my life with colour. I'm so proud of them even though they are the cause of me going grey."

"Not pawsible! You hardly have a wrinkle chéri, are you sure you are not modelling and not doing it for moi?! Or well my company?"

Bruce let out a loud laugh before placing a kiss on Adrien's forehead as he watched Marinette weave closer towards the pair and his children slowly close ranks protectively. He bit back the smile as he watched her slightly stumble but gracefully rescue it to look purposeful. Bruce focused on the problem at hand and to suppressed and parked how he felt for her while at Nanda Parbat.

"Bruce darling. What a surprise to see you, I didn't know you knew Adrien as well."

"Mari, you know Bruce too?"

Marinette slipped gracefully between the Wayne's and came up close to Adrien who slipped out of Bruce's hold to hug her. The quick kiss of her cherry red lips on Adrien cheek which he happily returned sent an unexpected jealousy through Bruce. He wasn't sure if it was because Adrien had left his space, because he was close to Marinette or that they shared a bond that Bruce no longer did.

"Of course Kitty, I met him while I was soul searching, tying up loose ends and looking for inspiration from around the globe. We trained together for a while."

"Ah, that point in time. It's a shame I couldn't come along. You know I'd have come with you, Purr-incess."

"Silly Kitty, you were exactly where you were needed. Been fed pastries and smothered in parental love along with Queenie."

Confused, Bruce could feel his Brucie mask slipping as he watched the pair banter and talk within jokes, pet names and understanding. It was like watching his children interact, like how they all interacted with their respective teams. Adrien knew of her time away, they both knew Chloe, did they know what she did while travelling… what it meant?

"Err…hn?"

Adrien laughed with his sunny smile as Marinette smirked and took a small sip from the glass Adrien had passed her. A ladybug themed ring glittered in the light daintily on her hand.

"Brucie, don't look confused. I've known Mari since we were tweens. We've been fur-ends… best fur-ends since my first day of collége. I've known Chlo even longer. She was my first fur-end. We all went to school together. Lived through Hawkmoth together. Were friends like you are with Ollie and that reporter from Metropolis and the curator at the Louve."

"Oh."

Blinking trying to process it all. Maybe there isn't a huge underhanded threat from Ra's. Bruce found himself getting more and more confused as his initial hypothesis has started to unravel but unwilling to let it go completely. Out of the corner of his eye he can see Cass, Steph and Tim whispering as Jason hovers while broodingnin a way that he'll deny. Dick charming and distracting other guests with Duke. All on hand if required but close enough to eavesdrop as well.

"And back to what you were saying. I'm not sure about the modelling Kitty though. He's missing the je ne sais quoi. The build… shoulders too…" Marinette's hand flipped at the broadness and just Bruce himself, "his looks too much like dracula. Our next look needs to be spectacular and Brucie… he has had too many injuries and spent recovering inside avoiding the sun. Hmm, not enough Côte d'Azur trips."

Marinette leant in close, her calloused hand skimming his cheek startling Bruce by her suddenly closeness and stealing his breath away and he peered into her bluebell eyes. Her lips tantalisingly close, sparks of something skittered around them despite the heat that Adrien was burning him with. Her hand slowly slipped down to brush imaginary lint off his velvet tux jacket and turned to Bruce with knowing eyes.

"Skiing accident in the Alps was the last injury Oui? Cannes, Nice or Toulon are good places to visit too, not quite as dangerous but still enough to do for thrill seekers."

Bruce gulped.

He'd forgotten their games of words. Of hidden meaning and close to the truth while saying everything and nothing. In a way, it's what drew him to Talia, the deadliness in a lithe form. What separated them was that Talia used her body like Selina to get to him. Adrien on the other hand used his playfulness and some to coyness where Marinette used her softness to hide the steel and sharpness of her mind.

The feeling of being the prey and not the predator in control grew as the French duo danced about him with more history than he expected. Their playful flirting and silent conversations left him feeling trapped and surprisingly flustered.

"Oh hush Buginette. Stop teasing Brucie. He's litter-ally a walking sex god and you know it. Your designs would need to be tailored oui, but imagine his body selling your outfits, his face selling the perfumes."

Staring at him like he was a slab of meat, Marinette's critical eye gazed over him. Finally Bruce felt he could breathe even with their sole attention on him. He felt safe knowing that it was clinical rather than heated.

"Potentially. I'll let you tell Jules then."

Adrien paled and shook his head.

"Nope. No thank you. I'd rather live, she has claws."

"*cough* hngh, do you still visit Nanda Parbat?"

Bruce stared at the duo trying carefully to unravel the situation without unsettling the careful balance that was required to keep the conversation from going south. The navigation of it all felt like he was lost at sea, and he didn't like it.

"Only visited there once. When I met you to be precise. The city had something that didn't belong to there and I was seeking it out to return to its original owners."

Cupping Bruce's face and pulling all his attention back to the blonde with emerald eyes. "Brucie, mon chéri, look at my lips and listen closely, Buginette is my chief designer at Agreste. We only travel to these events and fashion weeks. She isn't what you are thinking. No nefarious ties to green goop and wrinkly prunes. Definitely aligned to bats, cats, ladybugs and bees. Especially the birds and the bees."

Bruce let out a sigh, some of the tension he had held seeped out and he fell into a more natural Brucie stance and grin, kissing Adrien on the cheek and laughing as a blush flushed the Parisians cheeks as Marinette's familiar giggle surrounded them.

A fleeting look at his children, Bruce spotted them also relaxing their stants and slowly starting to drift off. Cass's thumbs up and smile said everything. She didn't perceive the pair as a threat, Marinette as a threat specifically and that there were no lies to worry about. Damian's disgusted face at having to witness the flirting was normal but he made no move to reach for his hidden weapons and was willing to be led away by Dick. Tim seemed to be long gone talking to investors and Jason seemed to be with Duke making a break for it no doubt.

"Umm, Bugaboo, I can see your wife approaching and she looks mad! I'm gonna go make out *cough* I mean catch up with Brucie. Play his dark knight and saviour. Cool. Love mee-yow. I'll let you deal with her umm sting!"

Looking up from the man who suddenly curled into him, Bruce's eyes widened in surprise as Chloe in a swarm of gold stormed towards them, her pink lipstick sneering at anyone getting in her way. The recognisable fire burned in her eyes like a vengeful queen only softening as she spotted Marinette whose red lips twisted into a dangerous smile.

"Ridiculous, utterly utterly ridiculous. Minette! You would not…. hmmmmmf!"

Stopping Chloe from approaching the flirty men, Marinette captured Chloe into her arms and distracted her with a searing kiss.

"Quick! Come mon chéri, Mari est saving us!"

Bemused, and thoroughly out of his depth at the power play and relationships of the Parisians, Bruce let Adrien drag him towards the balcony. The searing look in those emerald eyes said everything. The peach lips alluring and pouting at Bruce, as tempting as they were years ago. Bruce shrugged and decided for now he'll go along with it.

Given the hints they had littered, the conversation with Bruce suspected that they knew who they really were, but returned the favour with tips on who they may have been in a past life. They wore their masks in plain sight but hidden from the world unless you knew. Unless the world remembered the past.

Was it a worry? Yes. Would he investigate further? Definitely. But for now he would relax and catch up with Adrien.

[mochinek0]

I'm a Princess

Chloe sipped her champagne as she looked around the Waynes' Gala. She spotted many people that were clients of her mother and some that promoted Gabriel. She noticed a few other designers, but the rest of the people…..well, they at least dressed the part. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a girl who she could have sworn was Marinette Dupain-Cheng. The girl had darker skin and green eyes, but her face, her eye shape!

Chloe sauntered over and shoved the champagne flute in front of her face.

"Go on." she demanded, "Get me another drink."

The girl looked her up and down.

"You still wear Gabriel?" she questioned, "Ew."

Chloe gasped, "He is an amazing designer!"

"He's an asshole." the girl retorted.

"You better shut your mouth, you Twerp!" Chloe bristled.

"Or what?" the girl commented, "You're gonna tell my mommy about your horrible fashion choices?"

"How dare you!" the Bourgeois heiress cried.

"No. How dare you show up to the Wayne Gala in something that is four seasons old!" the girl claimed.

"I am a Princess and-" Chloe began.

"No." the girl interrupted, "You are the daughter of a hotel owner, who didn't even wear clothes designed by her mother. You decided to wear trash."

Chloe was fuming. She had never been spoken to this way and the face of the girl wasn't helping.

'Her face is irritating! She looks just like Baker Girl when she started pushing back!'

"I am a princess and-" Chloe spoke again.

"I'm a princess." the girl declared, "Technically, after Great-Grandfather and Grandma passed way, Daddy became King. I'm a princess; you're playing dress up."

Chloe scowled, "You little-"

"Princess Amaya Wayne, lovely to see you again." a voice called out.

"King Ali of Achu." Amaya curtsied, focusing her attention on him.

Chloe closed her mouth and focused on the interaction in front of her.

'The Waynes have royalty in their blood and this….brat is actually a princess?'

"I'm very sorry, Ms. Bourgeois, but I must get going. My family will be summoning me soon." Amaya smiled, "King Ali, why don't you accompany me? I'm sure Father would love to discuss the next fundraiser for the children's hospital."

"Of course." the king answered.

The hotel owner fumed as they walked away. She lost sight of them in the crowd; Ali had never forgiven her for that fish-smell fiasco when they were younger. Chloe had to see for herself if the girl who humilated her was actually a Wayne. She followed them from a distance and tried to blend in with other girls nearby. She was too focused on Amaya to notice the judged looks thrown her way, as she tried to incorporate herself into their circle talks.

Sure enough, King Ali walked Amaya up to Bruce Wayne and someone else. Chloe couldn't make out who the guy was, but she heard the King of Achu refer to him as Damian. Amaya hugged Bruce and call him 'Grandfather', before he was asked to answer some questions for the Daily Planet.

'She's actually a Wayne!'

Bruce excused himself and the hotel owner was able to get a clearer view of the guy. He looked exactly like Bruce, but his complexion was similar to the kings' and he had green eyes.

"Why don't we continue this conversation tomorrow, Your Highness?" Damian spoke, "There are some things I want to go over without prying eyes or ears."

The King nodded and walked off.

"Have you seen your mother, Amaya?" Damian questioned.

"I believe she is with Uncle and people watching, as usual." she smiled, "She does love to look at everyone's outfits."

Out of the corner of her eye, Chloe spotted a familiar head of blonde hair. As Adrien walked out of the crown, Chloe scowled as she noticed his companion: Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Chloe dropped her glass as Marinette Dupain-Cheng walked over and kissed Damian Wayne.

"Mother." Amaya smiled, before hugging Marinette.

'Baker Girl; she married into the Wayne family! How did she manage to weasel her was into a family with royal blood?'

Chloe stomped and politely shoved her way through the crowd towards the stage. She couldn't believe that she saw that brat was hugging her Adrikins, after she disgraced the Gabriel name!

"You look lovely as always, Amaya." Adrien complimented, "You definetly get your beauty from your mother."

Amaya smiled, "Thank you, Uncle Adrien."

"Don't act high and mighty!" Chloe demanded, "You were just trash talking his father a few minutes ago!"

"Chloe." Marinette spoke.

"Baker Girl." the hotel owner sneered back.

Adrien and Damian were quick to push the girls behind them.

"So what?" Adrien asked, "Who cares if my niece talks shit about Gabriel?"

Chloe looked at him in shock, "But you-"

"Left his place and company when I was eighteen and I never looked back." Adrien declared, "I hated being a model and everything that came with it. The rules, the photoshoots, the diet, the loneliness, that stupid schedule pack dictating when I woke up, went to bed! I couldn't even hang out with my frineds!"

"But we're suppose to run an empire together!" Chloe shouted back.

"Is this some bullshit my father told you?" the former model questioned, "The last time I saw him was twelve years ago and the last time I spoke to him on the phone, was eight. I don't know what he told you, but I never wanted to own Gabriel. I can't draw to save my life; I never want to model again. I don't know what you would do, but it's certainly not draw."

"I can draw!" the hotel owner shouted.

Adrien smiled, "Really? Anytime there was a competition, you tried to steal Marinette's sketches and frame her. You have never put in any effort to practice drawing. I never even saw you take fashion classes. You just decided since your mommy was a fashion designer, you would be too. Audrey probably des more in a day, then you do in a week!"

Chloe could feel the promises she was fed start to crumble. Gabriel had told her that once Adrien was done with his vacation, they would run the company. Adrien was telling her that was never going to happen. She had been waiting for the da when she didn't need to watch over the hotle anymore. It was annoying having to serve others and make sure their needs were met. What about her needs? She wanted a trip to Cancun! She wanted to sail the Caribbean! She wanted to sleep past six am!

She snarled, "What about Baker Girl, huh? You seriously expect-"

Damian was quick to get in her face, "Call my wife that again and you'll be thrown out on the street."

"She is-" Chloe faltered

"My wife is a fashion designer." Damian stated proudly, "Number one in the country and number three internationally."

"Hah!" Chloe smiled, thinking she had caught them in a lie, "Zahr is-"

"My wife." Damian replied, wrapping his arm around Marinette's waist, "She makes all designs and has total control of her own design company. It's not even associated with Wayne Enterprise."

Amaya laughed "She's just sore that her gown is horrible."

"Amaya!" scolded Marinette.

"It's true." Amaya declared, "She tries to act big, but that spray painted gold just screams 'Look At Me; I Deserve Attention'!"

Adrien began to laugh since Chloe had been wearing the same color scheme since they were toddlers. Her attitude certainly hadn't changed. Damian just smirked at his daughter's decleration.

"And what is with that horrible blue eyeshadow?" the Wayne heiress continued, "No one wears eyeshadow that blue; it's outdated. It doesn't even match your dress or skin tone. If anything it makes you look a bloated fish. Why on Earth would you wear a nude lip shade of color? Even in the 50's, when they did use that shade, at least they had red lips."

Chloe's jaw dropped. Never had she imagined a child would tell her off for how she dressed. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Marinette biting her lip and could see Adrien laughing himself to tears.

"Yep." Adrien cried, "Tha-That's definetly your kid, Damian."

Mari sighed, "Is Yami and Malik gonna be the same way?"

"You do love honesty, Habibiti." Damian pointed out.

His wife groaned, "I'm gonna get so many phone calls when the twins go to school."

Chloe scowled and began to stomp away. She couldn't believe that someone who was related to bakers talked to her like that. The trash that came out of that girl's mouth left her fuming!

"Good." Amaya called out, enough for Chloe to hear, "Grandma is leaving. My eyes were starting to hurt, just from looking at her. Thankfully, the galas are at night. If we had it during the day, we'd have a disco ball on the floor with all that metallic strips sewn in."

Chloe could hear the baker's daughter snort, before laughing along side her Adrien.

"Amaya, you know how much your grandfather cares about appearances at these." Damian stated, causing his daughter to sigh, "Grounded for a week."

"Yes, Baba." Amaya spoke, "I only did it to get back at her for being a bully to Maman, when she was my age."

Mari kissed her daughter's head, "As long as you're not like this at school."

"Never, Maman." their daughter answered.

"Come along, Amiriti (Princess)." Damian spoke, "Let's go find your grandfather."

Chloe looked back to see the baker's daughter on her husband's arm. Adrien and her bratty daughter were right behind them, talking and laughing. Chloe had never felt so humiliated before.

'Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous!'

Nothing was like how it was before when they were all in Francois Dupont College. She was no longer the Mayor's Daughter. Her father had moved to NYC with her mother, after high school. She had taken over as the owner of the hotel. Chloe had tried to use the same control she had in school to dictate the hotel's conditions and staff, but it failed miserably. People started to leave bad reviews of the hotel; some of the staff quit. When her father had heard about it, he offered to come back for a few months to show her how to run it properly; she had hung up on him.

Chloe Bourgeois couldn't believe that promises she had overheard as a child were over. She was suppose to marry Adrien Agreste; he was her Adrikins!

'I never should have helped him runaway from home to get into school!'

Chloe knew that was the moment everything changed in their realtionship. Everyone had turned him against her! He started speaking up more, defending others from her, and calling her a bad friend. She had hoped that one he finished 'exploring' that his new habit would be broken and they would get married after university. She had never even looked at another guy so when she found out that he had quit modeling, she thought he was getting ready to take over the company and propose. The proposal never came and Adrien had left Paris, without a word.

'It was all Baker Girl's fault! She ruined my Adrikins! Her Adrikins never behaved like this 'til he met her!'

She continued to glare at Marinette. She hated how Marinette was now rich, even richer than her. Marinette always got what she never had; a loving home, parents who cared about her, and now a husband and family. Chloe refused to believe she was jealous.

'I deserve more! I deserve my happily ever after with My Prince!'

Chloe turned her gaze to Adrien and she felt her heart stop. Adrien was on his tip-toes, kissing some guy taller than him. To add insult to injury, he looked just like Marinette. He had dark hair and blue eyes. Adrien Agreste had always been her dream Prince Charming, but she wasn't his Princess. Apparently, Adrien Agreste was the princess.

Chloe walked away as she heard Amaya ask if Uncle Adrien and Uncle Jon were excited for their wedding next month.

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[xxxnightcorequeenxxx]

[ghostdoodlen]

Stickers I made somewhere back in February? For a sticker competition in discord.

Just found out they became stickers like two hrs ago

You can imagine my excitement

Unfortunately they had to be 320x320 pixels :P

But I still like them.

[wonderwomanpleasesteponme]

Some Maribat thoughts with bio dad Bruce Wayne.

Normalverse -

Bruce coming to get the daughter that he has somehow managed to get to live a life sperate from his life as a vigilante: Marinette, your parents and I have come to the agreement that it would be best for you to come to Gotham with me as it is no longer safe for you to be here with Hawkmoth around.

Marinette internally: but I'm Ladybug I can't just abandone Paris and my team like this. Oh all my friends are here and my fashion business was just starting to take off. Most importantly who will defend Paris while I'm gone, I'm the only one who can purify akumas! Wait I'll use the horse miraculous to go back and fort whenever i get an akuma alert.

Marinette out loud: fine, I'll go.

Meanwhile in the world of Shadybug and Claw Noir after the events of the Paris world special -

Mirror Bruce Wayne coming to collect his daughter: l am going to say this once, you will be coming with me back to Gotham as that foolish rebellion has gotten more power and started wining more and more fights against to Supreme.

Shadybug/Marinette internally: shit shit, fucking shit, god fucking damn it, may the kwami of death if there is one and their not Plagg take me now.

Shady: I'm going to get my things. *goes into her room*

Shady who has all but officially moved into the Agreste Manor so most of her stuff is over there: *shoves whatever she hasn't moved into the Agreste Manor as yet into a backpack, before jumping out her bedroom window and booking it down the street.

Shady upon spotting Adrien's limo:*pulls open the door and gets inside startling Adrien and Gorilla* Fucking drive!

[confusedandghostly]

Entirely self indulgent dp x dc x mlb prompt

—

-Danny & Adrien know each other, maybe via Magic Stuff, maybe it’s the classic “event in a convenient spot”, doesn’t really matter. Point is they’re hero friends who both know each other’s secret identities and keep in touch.

-At some point, Danny is forced to relocate from Amity park because of a reveal gone horribly wrong. He bolts and keeps going until he can’t anymore. He’s picked up by a stranger.

-(Generally he doesn’t drop his transformations by accident anymore but thank the ancients he did this time because he would’ve had one hell of a time explaining to this stranger why his blood was bright neon green. As it stands, the biggest question is what the hell happened to him.)

-Nightwing is just vibing, doing his nightly patrols in Bludhaven, when he finds this kid half unconscious in an alleyway, bleeding out. They more or less beg not to be taken to a hospital when Dick suggests it, so instead he takes them to one of his safe houses and patches him up there (This kid is 16? Maybe? Why’s there an open autopsy incision-)

-Danny is not in any shape to be going anywhere and on top of that, his accelerated healing is working at a third of the speed it should be because of the materials that were used to hurt him being anti ghost, so Dick manages to convince him to stay in his misc safehouses - he doesn’t need to stay in just one, he’s allowed to move between them, just please don’t leave entirely.

-Danny explicitly requests that as few people as possible get involved in this, and yes that means the rest of the bats. If he can leave once he’s healed without anyone but Nightwing ever knowing he was there then that’s for the best.

-Except, as it often goes, Danny gets attached to Dick and Dick gets attached to Danny and the Reveal happens, etc.

-While he’s still healing and can’t do much of anything, a story runs on the news. Dick doesn’t think too much of it at first, but Danny gets really concerned when he sees it.

-“-Paris’ supervillain Hawkmoth has finally been taken down. Secretly the popular fashion designer Gabriel Agreste, many people who have heard the news are devastated. His home is currently being searched….”

-Danny goes “oh shit!!! I know that guy!!!” and immediately calls up Adrien and asks if he’s alright, what he’s doing, etc and the resounding answer is no, Adrien’s having an existential crisis, and he’s staying with friends while he figures out what to do with himself.

-Danny explains his own situation, specifically that he was displaced but found a safe (and at this point he really doesn’t want to leave anymore) home with another hero, and Dick, who’s only heard half of the conversation but understands that someone Danny knows and trusts with his own identity needs a place to stay, and offers Adrien a place here.

-Adrien decides to take him up on that offer. He’s being harassed, moreso than he ever was simply for being Adrien the model, because now he’s Adrien, the supervillain’s son, and since Hawkmoth was pretty localized he’s hoping that it won’t be near as bad in a different country.

-Now Dick has two kids in his care and he’s feeling more and more like Bruce by the day because he’s just gone from living alone save for whatever times he visits the manor to having two kids in his house, relying on him for safety and emotional support in the span of like. Two weeks.

-Reveal x2 with Adrien, all that Bonding Stuff™️

-Adrien and Danny get to talking and they’re both experiencing some cabin fever and so they decide “yk what?? We could help Nightwing with his hero work!! The area already has a metric fuckton of heroes, what’s two more?”

-It’s actually rather easy for Adrien to convince Nightwing because he gets why Adrien wants to be back out on the field. Danny, on the other hand, is finding it way harder, because Dick is already worried about Danny’s injuries.

-They both manage it though, under two conditions.

-1. They can’t be Phantom and Cat Noir. Not only is it going to be incredibly obvious if/when they make any public appearances as civilians, but also it’s going to raise questions and unwanted attention.

-2. Minimal magic and ghostly powers. This ties back to the previous stipulation, technically. Cataclysm is too recognizable as a miraculous thing, and it could be detrimental in a fight where Adrien can’t get away to recharge. If Danny used too many of his ghostly powers, he could give himself away as a ghost and become a target for hunters.

-Cue a montage of Dick hiding his two new protégés from the rest of the bats because he wants it to be a surprise and also he wants their debut to be on their terms for safety and damage control reasons while trying to set them up with the appropriate training and gear (moreso Danny who needs a whole new suit than Adrien who can just redesign his magic suit)

-The other bats are absolutely certain something is up with Nightwing and they’re proven right when two new players make their debut.

[rocker-socks]

Being into DC and not ML is really funny when looking at AO3, but it does force me to ask why Marinette always ends up adopted by the bat family (black hair and blue eyes, i get it) but Adrien never ends up adopted by Catwoman. His name is literally Chat Noir (Black Cat). Its Right There. He has mommy issues and everything.

[lily-drake]

Master List Part 2

Master List Part 1

Dickinette

Biosibling!Dickinette: Birds of a Feather Flock Together: Part 1 Part 2

BioDad!Dickinette:

Of Broken Hearts and Shattered Minds

Ric Rolled: Part 1 Part 2

Casinette: Sibling!Cassientte: Stop in the Name of Your Sister: Part 1 Part 2

Bruce:

BioDad!Bruce:

Where is She?!

You've Got to be Kitten Me: Part 1 Part 2

He Stole My Heart So I Stole His (Felinette) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9

BioDad!Month (2021): Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Everything after Part 11 was posted exclusively on my Ao3.

Found Family:

Watch What You Say: Part 1 Part 2

Adopted Into a Better Life

Drabbles/Story Ideas

Batman Specific:

Why are you here Batman?

In a Different League: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

6 Times Tim Suffered Alon + One Time He Doesn't

[arty-shadow-morningstar]

Biodad! Bruce Wayne

Realised I haven't posted anything Maribat related in a while. Also realised that it's Biodad! Bruce Wayne month.

I am currently on break from fic writing until October. This happened because the wifi was out for a while and I lacked motivation to study.

-----

Marinette is a Wayne and everyone knows except for the new kids aka Alya, Adrien and Lila.

Mari doesn't flaunt her wealth or tried to hide it but everyone just sort of forgets when she is as down to earth as the rest of them.

Except for the certain times she shows it and everyone is violently reminded that she is richer than Chloe Bourgeosis (who can't stand that fact.)

Picture this, Set season 3-ish, Spring Break is over and everyone is coming back from their vacation.

Chloe comes in a limo and bragging about her vacation in the Carribean or something.

Adrien looks around and is like, "Where's Marinette?"

Marinette hasn't been heard from all break and Alya is only aware that she is visiting family in the States.

Anyways, bell rings to signal classes and still no sign of Marinette.

Then, the chopping sounds of a helicopter is heard and everyone looks up to the sky and sees one.

Everyone moved out of the way as they realised that it was going to land in the courtyard (Or the sake of crack and the magic of imagination and fiction, let's pretend this is allowed and possible)

"I wonder if that is a new student." Adrien wondered.

"Ooh, I hope they aren't another Chloe. They seem rich if they are coming to school by helicopter." Alya said.

"That's Marinette." Nino explained.

"Where?" Adrien looked around for his very good friend.

"The helicopter. It's hers. Well, it belongs to her family. See?" Nino pointed out the Wayne logo to his friends.

"No freaking way." Alya exclaimed, "Marinette's not…" She stopped upon seeing a familiar girl exit the helicopter, arguing with a man in English.

"B, I am not going back out on this. I am staying in Paris and that is final." Marinette yelled.

"Sweetheart, but think of the akumas. They are dangerous." The man tried to appeal to her.

"It's fine and I am not dead yet. Plus I don't want you bubble wrapping me to 'protect' me if I stay in Gotham."

"I am not that bad."

"It's that Bruce Wayne? That's Bruce Wayne." Alya pointed and turned to Nino, "Why is Bruce Wayne here and why does Marinette know him?"

"You don't know?"

"Of course, I don't." Alya feels like there is a story here and Nino is not telling her what it is.

Adrien raised his hands, "Same here."

"How do you not know?" Nino waved towards the pair, "Mari's father is Bruce Wayne."

"What?" Alya and Adrien exclaimed. Brain.exe has stopped working.

"Everybody knew that."

"We didn't. What do you mean my girl's father is one of the richest man on the planet?" Alya demanded as she shook her boyfriend for more answers.

"I know it sounds hard to believe but yeah. Marinette is Bruce Wayne's daughter."

Alya walked away in disbelief and muttering on her phone, trying to see if it was true. She screamed, "Oh my God" when she found Marinette's Wikipedia page.

Adrien is just looking like a lost puppy.

"Dude, you okay?" Nino asked.

"Why didn't Marinette tell me? I thought we were friends."

"Adrien, I think she forgot that you didn't know since all of us already knew and plus I thought you would have known before this. Don't you rich kids hang out in the same circles or something?"

"If my father lets me go out and that is rarely. So no."

"Oh right, your old man. Look, Mme. Mendeleeve is coming. We better get to class. You can ask Marinette why she didn't tell you then."

In the Meantime, Marinette and Bruce had stopped yelling at each other and were angrily doing ASL to communicate hero business.

The helicopter had flew away after dropping off its passengers.

"Mme. Marinette and M. Wayne, it's time for Mademoiselle's class to start so I hope you can continue this fight after school." Mme. Mendeleeve interuppted them.

"Yes, Ma'am/miss"

"And Marinette," Bruce called, "We will negotiate this for a compromise over lunch."

"Fine." Marinette groaned and walked away with the teacher.

Bruce ignored Damocles, who had hurriedly changed out of his Owl Knight costume to greet the billionaire, as he made his way to the expensive-looking car parked in front of the school.

"Oh, wait. Principal Damocles." Bruce said as if he remembered something before opening the door, "Marinette had been complaining about another girl in her class who had been threatening her and apparently framing her for cheating on test and theft. I was also told that she was expelled because of it. Why was I not aware about this?"

Damocles paled and stuttered out a poor excuse.

"I also hear that the Bourgeosis girl is still having her way with everything and picking fights with my daughter."

"About that. Chloe insists on being in the same class as Marinette and the Mayor intervene everytime we try to do something about it."

"I see. I am already considering pulling her out since Hawkmoth is making a big mess of the city. At least back at home, there are protocols in school for attacks but I don't see any in your school policies for akuma attacks."

"Um. We- er are working on it. You see Hawkmoth is a recent thing and um-" Blah. blah. blah. Bruce just hears more excuses.

"Hn." and Bruce gets into his car and drove away.

Damocles made a note to tell Bustier to take Marinette's side for a while.

In the class, Lila was eagerly bristling with excitement. There was a new student in school who arrived by helicopter and it had the Wayne logo. One of the richest children in the world was attending the school. Forget Agreste, this was a bigger fish to fry. She was far away to see who the student was and Mme. Mendeleeve prevented her from getting a closer look but she could recognise them by the red clothes they wore to school. Hopefully, they were in the same class as hers. Lila prayed hard to see a new face as people trickled in. She even got Nathaniel to sit with Ivan so there is an empty seat next to her.

However, she had no luck when Marinette, usually the last one to class, arrived and there was still no new student.

That is until Adrien asked loud enough for everyone to hear, "Marinette, why didn't you tell me that your father is Bruce Wayne?"

Lila nearly crack her neck by turning her head so fast to stare at Marinette who answered, "I thought you already knew." in a confused tone.

Sure enough, Marinette was wearing the same clothes the supposed Wayne child had. Lila has a crisis since one of the best golden ticket to fame and fortune already knew she was a liar.

"Is he really your father?" Alya grabbed Marinette.

"Yes." Marinette looked between Adrien and Alya who both looked betrayed, "Why do you look so confused about it? Everybody knew."

"Everybody. Except us."

Lila picked that moment to chimed in, "Marinette, how could you not tell me that you are a Wayne? I thought that we were friends." Hoping she could salvage something.

Marinette made a face and it was gone as she replied, "It's not like I hid the fact that I am a Wayne. Maybe I wasn't as obvious about my wealth like Chloe and most people assumed that my last name is Dupain-Cheng because she called me that. I kinda forgot you didn't know because everyone already knew. So no hard feelings?"

Alya sighed, "I can't get mad when I know how scattered you get. I mean some things are now obvious now that I think about it and it explains some things."

The rest of the day, Lila tries to act all buddy-buddy with Marinette and Marinette ignores her.

[queenz-z]

Field Trip To Gotham

*In hotel room*

Adrien: Mari you’re famous.

Marinette: Huh? Famous on what?

Adrien: Check your instagram you’re literally blowing up.

Marinette: Who is Bruce Wayne and why is everyone saying I look like him?

..

[text message]

Marinette: WHY IS BRUCE WAYNE TEXTING ME!?!

[Unknown Number]: Hello this is Bruce Wayne, is this Marinette Dupain-Cheng?

Marinette: HELP HE KNOWS MY LAST NAME!

[raeuberprinzessin]

Ladybug, petting a purring, happy Chat Noir: - yeah, so that's how we lost our mentor and our temporary heroes.

Batman, trying to hide his excitement: So, you're interested in a new mentor and team?

Ladybug, confused: *stops petting Chat Noir* Huh?

Chat Noir: *stops purring* *blinks drowsily at Batman*

Batman, now vibrating with excitement: How do you two feel about adoption?

Bonus:

Nino, preparing himself somewhere else to fight Gabriel for custody over Adrien: I feel a disturbance in the force 👀

[mochinek0]

Daminette One Shots

“Normal”

Sweetheart Ice Cream

Fairy vs Angel

Maribat Halloween

Bruce v Gabriel

Team Damidrien

Chat’s Retaliation

I Don’t Bite

Reunited

Karma

Not my Type

Umbrella Scene

The Moon and her Shadow

Tied for Second Place

The Sketchbook

Party Crasher

SIT! (meme)

Halloween Treats

Dirty Mind

Bees (meme)

Pissed Off

Green Eyes

Damian X Plagg

Diner Girl

Valentine’s Day Surprise

Robin Hoodie

TAGLIST:  @animeweebgirl @a-star-with-a-human-name @meme991001 @vixen-uchiha @abrx2002 @alysrose-starchild @fandom-trapped-03 @dood-space @moonlightstar64 @saltymiraculer @marveldcedits20 @09shell-sea09 @icerosecrystal @animegirlweeb @insane-fangirl-of-everything @blueblossombliss @nickristus-dreamer @megawhitleycalderonpaganus @scribblinggraveyard @urbanpineapplefarmer @northernbluetongue @mystery-5-5 @zalladane @grandmaveitch @queen-of-the-trash-planet-tm @friedchickening @iggy-of-fans @mjisntme @sam-spectra @sonif50 @dur55 @danielslilangel @notmycupoftea26 @t1dwarrior-of-earth @bee-wrecker @polyvirnl @pawsitivelymiraculous @wannajointhecrabcult @goblinwhoships @starlightshield @demonangel27 @dreamykitty25 @irontimetravelflower @clumsy-owl-4178 @lavenderjunes @miyla-lokidottir @toodaloo-kangaroo @our-preciousss @crystalangelluna @sassakitty @tomanyfandomsonmymind @ichigorose @tigresslily @legodetectivemalsblog

[kawaiichibiart]

I am once again asking, no DEMANDING, MLB x BatFam, Adrien gets adopted by Catwoman aka Selina Kyle and goes anti-hero and/or vigilante. Give him a family who cares but will also let him go ape shit ("yes, you can break the chimney, Bruce can pay to have it fixed" "*deep sigh* Selina, stop telling the kids they can break buildings")

[the-glass-is-actually-full]

Jason: The first one to make Bruce laugh is the favourite kid! Stephanie: -casually tickling him- damn it! Cassandra: -Pulling faces- -Bruce looking with a straight face- Tim: -running in- Damian told Marinette he loved her today! -Bruce laughing immediately- -everyone laughing- Tim: No! It's the truth! I saw them all romantic and soppy and he has this weird thing on his face! Jason: Wait... What? Stephanie: A... smile? Tim: No. Can't be. He would never do that.

[jonmyblaze]

MAMAN LE CHAT AU

Or how Adrien found out his bio!parents were American furries., And his mother was a famous cat girl.

MLB and DC Bat fam batcat, Adrienette and ladynoir,

" imagine as a subversion of the Marinette bio daughter of Bruce. We have Adrien being BATCATS biological child.

Born before Helena, and before Bruce and Selena were ready to tie the knot for realsies.

Selina was young, Bruce wasn't in the right mindset after Jason's death. Boundaries were drawn and lines were crossed.

She thought she was fine. Until she started puking in the morning during her Trip to France

It was positive

She was pregnant.

During her trip she stumbled across a loving family. At a swingers party (this was during the early stages before she decided)

At one point she wasn't going to keep the pregnancy but then while her trip around France found a lovely couple named Emile and Gabriel.

They were so loving and kind to her. Emilie even joked that they could be twins.

)she had decided to grow her hair out and stop dying her hair black. Nobody would recognize her and on the plus side Selina had absolutely ravishing blonde hair. )

She wasn't planning on keeping the pregnancy but then she heard the couples plight.

Emile was infertile. And Gabriel too. But they really wanted a child

they were so loving and kind and supportive that Selena felt it would be best she gave her child the life of a child that was wanted.

Both were deeplly loving. But they didn't want to be intrusive , They argued against the idea but Selina made up her mind.

she would keep the pregnancy, give the couple a chance to raise a bouncing baby child that they would love and adore.

Selina never felt like she was cut out to be a mother butShe still visits.

At least once a year for his birthday.

She even was Even labeled godmother of her son should both the parents be unfit for her sons. She was still a part of her child's life.

All was going well until the incident

------years later----

Now imagine, Selina Kyle finds out her son was in a worse position, his father is emotionally neglectful now and is in a downward spiral trying to find a way to save his wife at the cost of his own son's happiness.

and get the bat family to help , (save Adrien, fight Gabriel advocate for him to be taken to either home or emancipation. )

imagine him being the Only blonde in the family other then Steph and Bette. (Who I will keep in the family)And they all thinks he's the normal one."

Imagine what dick (who is fully grown and married to Starfire) would think about his mentor having a blonde bio child

And she only takes him away after he hires her to steal the miraculous.

Welcome to "MAMAN LE CHAT AU"

[goggles-mcgee]

A Little Birdy Told Me 18

Beginning

Last Chapter           Next Chapter

Summary:  It's morning in Wayne Manor and Gordon and Bullock stop by for Marinette's statement.

“Good Morning Gordon, Bullock.” Bruce welcomed as he opened the door wider so the two men could enter his house.

“How many times have I told you you can just call me Jim, Bruce?” Jim asked with a shake of his head and a fond smile on his lips as he stepped inside the familiar manor.

“You forget Boy Scout, he was raised by the butler, I think he’s incapable of shaking off that proper speech.” Harvey joked as he followed Jim inside. The two followed the familiar path to the kitchen with Bruce making polite conversation, catching up from the last time they had seen one another. Bruce made sure his voice carried so the kids would know they were closing in on the kitchen. They all did better when they knew people were approaching rather than when they were snuck up on. Came with their night jobs unfortunately. He also did it for Marinette who was so tense, of course he knew why she was but it still made him frown when she flinched at his and the boys’ voices or simply seeing them out of the corner of her eye. He could tell that she was trying her best not to do so but he also knew it couldn’t be helped. 

“Marinette, I’d like you to meet Chief Bullock and Commissioner Gordon, they are old family friends and I figured they would be the best people to get your report of what happened at Wayne Tower.” Bruce explained as he introduced the two men to the teen, who frankly still looked a bit skittish. She looked like she was going to question why the Commissioner and Chief of the GCPD was there to collect her statement but Bruce watched some tension leave her when he clarified that both men were family friends. It made Bruce want to cry, this child, without even knowing them for long, without even knowing him for long, trusted his word. How long had she been going without being able to trust the adults around her? Without being able to lean on them because her fear of them being used by an emotional terrorist was so strong? He didn’t want to know the answer but he thought he might know anyway. 

“Nice to meet you, you can call me Jim. None of that Commissioner stuff.” Gordon said with a small smile, still forever awkward around children that weren’t his own or Bruce’s. 

“And I’m Harvey. Don’t let Bruce trick you into thinking we’re stuffy old men. I swear this boy must have come out of the womb speaking that politely. Took him years to stop calling Jim and I ‘Detective So-and-So.’ It was cute for a while, but quickly became annoying.” Bullock said with a teasing grin shot at Bruce as he took off his hat and set it on the island counter and took a seat on one of the stools set up there for when one of the kids was having a quick meal. 

It managed to get a giggle out of Marinette so Bruce counted it as a win. The teen just seemed so drained, even after the sleepover with Ivy and Harley. He figured they must have had some serious conversation if the looks Ivy and Harley had exchanged over their rushed breakfasts was anything to go by. They had even written two separate notes for Marinette before they had left, she had yet to open them but when Alfred had given them to her she had had the softest smile on her face. “It’s nice to meet you both. You probably already know but I’m Marinette. Uh, Dupain-Cheng. Marinette Dupain-Cheng. You need my full name for the report right?”

“Yeah we do kid, but we don’t need to start right away. Why don’t you finish breakfast and then we’ll go settle in Bruce’s office if you’re comfortable with that.” Jim suggested. Marinette gave a small nod before she tucked into her breakfast once more which helped Bruce breathe a little easier. He always worried about the kids eating enough, looks like Marinette officially made it to his worry list. 

“Have you boys had anything to eat yet?” Alfred asked.

“I had a little something from Wackdonals but I’d never say no to your cooking Alfred you know that.” Bollock said as he took a seat at the table and pointedly looked at the chair across from him until Gordon took it with an eye roll. 

“And I’ve told you fast food is not breakfast Harvey.” Alfred shot back as he made the two men a plate each. 

“They serve breakfast.” Harvey retorted with a shit-eating grin that had Marinette muffle another giggle and made Bruce smile as he took a seat at the end of the island counter, the seat closest to the kitchen table. 

“They serve convenience.” Alfred said with a shake of his head as he placed the plates in front of the men. Bruce bit back a laugh as he knew Alfred’s stance on fast food, he didn’t really like the family eating it but he wouldn’t say anything if it was only eaten once in a good while but he absolutely drew the line at breakfast. The older man was firm in his belief that breakfast was the most important meal of the day and he would go out of his way to make the family breakfast even if they woke up at different times if it meant they didn’t go to a fast food restaurant to get breakfast. 

“You like Sundollar Alfie, don’t lie.” Jason made his arrival as he did most mornings. With a witty comment. It made Bruce want to hug him and simultaneously sigh seeing as he was usually the target of said comments. 

When Alfred didn’t comment Jason just laughed and took a seat next to Marinette while Alfred made him a plate. “Morning Short-Stack.”

“Morning Jolly Green Giant.” She snarked back which made Jason snort and ruffle her bangs which made her pout as she slapped away his hand. Jason just laughed again and shook his head before he gave Alfred a soft ‘Thanks’ once he was handed his plate and dug in. It still hurt to see how he ate sometimes, like he thought someone would take his plate from him. It was a habit he never really broke, he only slowly ate if it was something he made. Which was why Alfred had Jason help him with meals a lot of the time or if Jason ever asked to use the kitchen to make a meal he could. He was basically the only one in the house allowed near the stove besides Barbara and Bruce himself even if the kids liked to tease him about not knowing how to cook. What they didn’t know is that he always helped make their birthday meals if he was able to, and he made damn sure he was able to. 

“Oh hey the Fuzz!” Jason cheered as he finally noticed Gordon and Bullock.

“Jason.” They said together which made him snicker. 

“And of course my favorite cryptid, The Jersey Devil! What are you doing in a mansion? Aren’t you supposed to be out haunting the Pine Barrens man?” Jason said cheekily as he looked at Bruce.

“That gets funnier every morning you say it Jason.” Bruce sighed out as he sipped at his coffee since he had already eaten his breakfast well before anyone was awake. He had had to explain his whole schedule to Marinette when she got worried that she was the only one eating. 

“Truly I am the king of comedy.” Jason agreed sagely. “Thanks for the pork roll Alfred.”

“Always welcome Master Jason.” Alfred nodded as he took the boy’s plate before he could take it to the sink himself like he liked to do. Bruce happily drank his coffee and just took it all in, he loved mornings like this, mornings with one of his kids being happy and joking around. Though Dick was more prone to hide behind his jokes and smiles, Bruce would like to believe he knew when they were forced or faked, overall though he was the most morning-person to ever exist beside Clark. Damian was not one to make jokes, he was a quiet person in the mornings and was more often to give smiles or grunts rather than vocal answers. Cass was much the same way, though she was just not a morning person after she learned she could sleep in and would not be punished. Duke was much like Jason, if he was having a good day he would be making jokes and smiles all around, though he did have some quiet mornings they were no-less happy. Steph was not a morning person. Neither was Babs. 

It was peaceful, the way Gordon and Bullock were talking in low voices at the table, voices rising only when Bullock attempted to steal food off Jim’s plate and the way Jason made idle chatter with Alfred about some new recipes he found on some app he had. Bruce of course noticed how the older boy would glance at Marinette every now and then to check on her or make sure she didn’t feel left out of the conversation even if all she gave was a nod at something he said. Bruce loved mornings like this. He could recall some mornings from his youth with his parents and Alfred that felt like these kinds of mornings. He wished he remembered them more vividly but time was a cruel thing to the mind, as much as he wanted to remember those great mornings with them he could never recall what they had talked about or if he ever told his parents he loved them as much as they told him those mornings they would send him off to school. It was an old hurt that still ached but he was working on it. His kids helped more than they probably realized, more than he could ever explain, and he was so grateful for these mornings. He felt so full of love and he liked to believe this is what his parents felt those mornings with him. 

Then they passed and it was a struggle to have breakfast, it took him longer to enter the kitchen. His mother’s records would no longer fill the mornings, he hadn’t had the strength to play them. His father would no longer be in his seat at the table having his cup of coffee with the newspaper. That cup sat there for about a year before he let Alfred clean it because it had stayed on that table the morning the day they were murdered. Alfred tried, bless his heart, but Bruce couldn’t stomach his pancakes because of the memories he had of them for about two years. But then breakfast became him and Alfred, then it was Bruce, Jim and Alfred, then Bullock joined sometimes and then so had Selina. Then life went on, he found his kids or in some cases they found him and the rest was history. Complicated, messy, hurtful, joyful, and wonderful history. But of course things couldn’t last forever and he saw the pointed look Gordon shot at him which made him sigh into his now empty mug. 

“Marinette, would you rather give your statement here or somewhere else in the house? Anywhere you want is fine.” Bruce felt bad for cutting into her conversation with Alfred and Jason, especially because she had actually started taking part in it but they did have to get her statement. As callous as it sounded, they had already given her a lot of time to process, that’s how the law saw it, he was grateful that the GCPD let Batman work with them. They took his judgments to heart and they actually listened to what he had to say. It hadn’t always been that way, that was another rocky history he had. 

Marinette looked up at him and Bruce nearly took a step back, her eyes were so wide and trusting, it was merely-blinding, like when Cass would ask him for something. They were the kind of eyes that held innocence no matter the tragedies they bore witness to, they were pure and Bruce felt as blessed and he did uncomfortable under their gaze. “Can we do the interview in your office? It um, it makes me feel safe.” 

“Whatever you want, Sweetpea.” Shit. No. This is not your kid Bruce! Do not parent it! He could see Jason snicker into his hand and mouth ‘Sweetpea’ at Bruce with the biggest shit-eating grin.

Though he would take all the embarrassment, and all the teasing he knew would be coming his way from his kids with the way Marinette smiled and seemed to relax. “Thank you.”

Bruce gave her a nod and looked up at Gordon and Bullock who both were looking at him with matching expressions. Ones he did not appreciate, thank you very much, somehow they looked both fond yet teasing. He glared at them as best he could in the small window of opportunity he was given as Marinette slid off the counter seat. Maybe he had to make the counters lower? Damian had the same problem but if he even suggested it the boy would have a fit, and maybe murder him in his sleep at the offense. Though he knew Damian would grow into his height, the boy had tall parents, and all his children were tall so lowering the island counter would ultimately be counterproductive. He just felt a little bad at the small jump Marinette had to do to get off the seat, though he was confident she would get some height, though he wasn’t so confident about it being much. He had done his homework on her parents and while, yes, her father was a very tall individual, her mother was on the smaller scale. Given how her mother’s genes won out already, he would be willing to bet she would only grow a little more given she was already taller than her mother. 

“Morning All!” Bruce was pulled from his thoughts by Dick’s sing-song greeting and couldn’t help but smile. He thanked the boy in his head for pulling him from said thoughts, he just couldn’t shut off what Tim and Alfred so fondly dubbed his ‘Detective Brain.’ Even if what he was ‘investigating’ or ‘breaking down’ was mundane, his brain was always grinding its gears away. Bruce smiled at his oldest and gave him a nod and was not surprised to see Damian trail in after him. If Dick was staying at the Manor then it was often you would see the two together, especially for their morning run. 

“Morning Nettie!” Dick greeted Marinette with a ruffle of her bangs which had her slapping at his hand much like she had done with Jason. 

“Morning Dick.” 

“Where are you off to so early in the morning?” He asked as he looked at Bruce, Gordon and Bullock, his smile still in place though Bruce could see his confusion and worry.

“Oh, uh, the Chief and Commissioner are here to get my statement about what happened at Wayne Tower.” Marinette responded, her nervousness shone through the biting of her lip and the way she fiddled with a loose thread on the dress she wore for the day. 

“Oh. Well whaddya know, they also have to get my statement. Why don’t we do it together?” The elder boy lied swiftly and Bruce’s heart filled with fondness, it was no secret that Dick felt particularly responsible about what happened at the Tower. No matter how much the staff, Bruce, the boy’s siblings, and Alfred all told him, he still couldn’t help but shoulder the blame. It also was no surprise to Bruce that Dick felt protective over Marinette over everything. Especially seeing them the night of the accidental phone-call, Marinette looked so comforted and relaxed next to Dick, and Dick looked like…well he looked like what Bruce imagined he looked like when any of his children leaned on him in their times of need. 

“We already-OOF!” Harvey had started but an elbow from Gordon stopped him.

Gordon smiled at Marinette when she looked at him in surprise and questioning. “WE already planned on questioning you Richard, lucky us you are staying at the Manor. Otherwise we would have had to take the drive out to Blüdhaven.”

“Yeah…Lucky us.” Bullock groaned. “Let’s head to the study so we can get this out of your way, kid.” 

“Okay…” Marinette replied with some trepidation but when Dick bumped her shoulder gently and gave her a smile she seemed to calm and gave him a smile back as they walked out of the kitchen but not before she waved at Damian who looked shocked at the action. Through his confusion though the boy gave her a wave back and Bruce again had to hold a chuckle back at his son’s expression. He simply smiled at Damian and patted him on the shoulder as he walked out, it seemed like they had to have a talk soon. Damian may not have realized it yet, but Bruce knew a crush when he saw one, especially on one of his children’s faces. Especially on Damian’s given the boy looked so much like him at that age and Alfred told him so many times how Damian and he showed the same amount of emotion. 

Once they got to the study and all took seats on the couches, as Bruce didn’t want to make Marinette feel uncomfortable or intimidated if he or anyone else sat at his desk, Gordon and Bullock immediately set into getting Marinette’s statement. It shouldn’t have shocked him how well they handled the whole thing given how long the two had been at this job, and how many kids and teens they spoke to, the numbers were too high in Bruce’s opinion but he did his best to lower them. They were patient when they needed to be yet pushed when they had to, he never really thought about it but Bruce could admit that maybe anytime he encountered a child as Batman, especially in the beginning years that he tried to emulate Gordon’s behavior. Being a father helped but it also hindered in a way, because sometimes Bruce just wanted to grab the parents by the shoulders and shake them or he just wished the children never had to go through what they did. Sometimes he saw his kids in the children he encountered and it scared him, it made him want to be reckless even when he knew he couldn’t afford to be. 

Marinette reminded him of Cass and Dick in ways he couldn’t really describe, maybe it was the way both kids often walked like they had the weight of the world on their shoulders. Or maybe it was the way they cared about people, how they loved people with their entire beings. It could also have been the way they found joy in the simple things, they tried to look at the silver linings, but sometimes they could spiral. They overthink, they worry, they feel so much. Bruce looked at Marinette and he saw what he saw in all his kids, a child who had to grow too fast. A child who felt like they were responsible for more than they could handle. Maybe even a child who felt they had to be perfect and anything less than was just not enough. All in all though, Bruce saw a child, a scared child who needed help and if he could be that help he would be. She may not know it yet but by the way Dick looked at her, the way Jason spoke with her, Damian interacted with her and the way Alfred already seemed to dote on her, Marinette had the Wayne family at her back. Bruce had no doubt in his mind that once she and Tim interacted more that they would get along great, Cass would adore her and so would Steph, Duke too. 

Bruce knew she wasn’t telling them the whole truth about Paris, her fear and anger were real, the emotions were very real, the heroes were real, there was just something about it all that felt off. He wasn’t sure what but he hoped they earned her trust, she was an honorary Wayne as far as he saw it and they were going to do whatever they could to help her while she was in Gotham. And if they didn’t manage to solve everything in Gotham then they would go to Paris and help, no kid deserved this much stress. No person deserved this actually. 

“Hey Bruce, I was just telling Marinette about the Botanical Gardens! Apparently it was on the trip’s original plan but was ‘outvoted’ at the last minute, anyway, I was telling her that we were due for a check-in over there this week and thought maybe I can take her this afternoon instead of going to the Tower.” Dick said as he looked between Marinette and Bruce excitedly.

Bruce took one look at Marinette’s hopeful smile and Dick’s excited one, he knew the boy wanted to cheer up Marinette, he also knew Dick probably wanted to be anywhere but the Tower so he sighed and smiled back, “Sounds good to me. Just remember to check in now and then and maybe see if Tim wants to go? He could do with the fresh air. I think I saw him making a new board on his ceiling and I would like him to leave his room sometime.”

“Deal!” Dick said with a laugh as he jumped up from the couch and grabbed Marinette’s hand to ‘go wake Tim up.’ Which coming from Dick could mean jumping on the bed or dumping ice on the poor boy and he did not want to be here for either option so he bid Gordon and Bullock a good rest of their days and made his way to the garage to see Alfred and Damian waiting for him. They were going to drop Damian off at school before Alfred dropped Bruce off at the Tower to help Lucius with whatever he could. 

“Dupain-Cheng is not accompanying us?” Damian asked once they were in the car and Bruce hid his smile in his hand.

“Ah, no, Dick is taking her to the Botanical Gardens, apparently it was something she wanted to do originally with her class but the idea got shut down. I think Dick wanted to cheer her up after everything that has happened. Tim might join them as well.”

“I could have taken her.” Damian looked offended that he hadn’t been considered for the last minute trip and Bruce was fighting with himself not to chuckle. 

“Damian. You have school.”

“Tim has work. So does Dick.”

“Tim has started building another board on his ceiling. That means no work for him. As for Dick, as much as I’m sure he’d love to be giving tours at any of the buildings, or being security for the day, he needs his time off too. Remember, he’s trying to look for something that feels right. I think the incident at the Tower might have dissuaded him from continuing on as tour guide.” Bruce explained.

“Richard has excellent people skills though.” Damian scowled. 

“I’m not saying he doesn’t,” the boy was very protective of his older brother, “it’s just that people can be difficult. For you and I it’s a different kind of difficult, but for Dick, I think it’s more so the kind of people he interacts with and the way he interacts with them.”

“He could be a cop again.”

“He liked it in Blüdhaven I admit, but he wasn’t happy after a while.”

“Do you think he’ll stay in Gotham?” The way Damian asked made Bruce’s heart clench. It was like he didn’t want to allow himself to hope. He was rather attached to Dick and every time the boy went back to Blüdhaven he was always down the days that followed. Dick had told him he wanted to find a new job, one he actually enjoyed, he was even considering moving back to Gotham but he made Bruce swear he wouldn’t mention it to the family. Not until he was sure at least.

“It’s a possibility.” Bruce couldn’t lie to Damian. Not because he felt bad or anything, the boy had the scary ability to read him like all his children did, but sometimes it was like Damian could sniff out a lie. Which, truth be told, was a little disturbing. 

Damian hummed before he looked out the window, “What about Dupain-Cheng? What’s going to happen there?”

“Well, once the new teacher is flown in and the chaperones who should have been here to begin with, the teacher, Marinette, Gotham Academy’s principal and I along with some lawyers will have a meeting to discuss that. We will have to plan out how to carry out the exchange but with splitting the French Class up, if we can even do that to begin with. I don’t believe it will be a problem though. We will also be discussing new rules regarding the French Class.” Bruce explained. He expected the meeting would derail when he got to the Rules section but Gotham was not a city to mess around in and they needed to understand that.

“But she will still be staying with us, correct?”  

Bruce chuckled this time, “Yes. Marinette will continue to stay with us either way since I am now her temporary guardian as her parents gave their permission.” 

“Why did you laugh?” Damian pouted.

“Oh look, we have arrived at your school.” Bruce pointed out which Damian did not look happy about but got out of the car all the same. “Have a good day at school today Damian. Alfred will pick you up as always, or perhaps Dick will. You will be notified before the school day is up.”

“Thank you Father. I hope you have a good day at work and once I am home from school you can tell me what you were laughing at.” Damian huffed before he turned around sharply and left for school. Bruce just shook his head and chuckled softly. 

                 ___________________________________

Tim Curry In Clue My Beloved

@huedoneit

Did anyone else notice our local Baby Wayne aka Ice Prince was a little…thawed today? He didn’t even make sarcastic remarks about @scalesandarpeggios 

It was scary 😱

🎵 Allegra 🎵

@scalesandarpeggios 

      RE: Tim Curry In Clue My Beloved

      @huedoneit

      [Did anyone else notice our local Baby Wayne aka…]

I take offense to that. But true, he didn’t even lecture you about singing show tunes in the hall, all he did was scoff. 

AAAAAlan

@dontmakemejazzsquare

     RE: 🎵 Allegra 🎵

    @scalesandarpeggios 

     [I take offense to that. But true, he…]

Maybe the dude is just sick 🤷🏾‍♂️

*Wackdonals- in the DC Universe version of McDonalds

*Sundollar- is the Dc Universe version of Starbucks

*Pork Roll-or Taylor Ham as it's known in North Jersey, a processed meat product processed, packaged, and sold in New Jersey and almost nowhere else

*Jersey Devil- Cryptid that is said to live in and haunt the Pine Barrens. It is said to have bat wings, hooves, a goat's head and a forked tail. Though in other accounts it is said to have a horse's head instead of a goat's and a kangaroo's tail instead of forked. This cryptid has had many sightings but most commonly the sightings came from Southern Jersey and Philadelphia.

Gotham is located in Jersey, specifically South Jersey which is why I added the line about the Jersey Devil and Pork Roll

Next Chapter

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