#platonic dickinette

[verymuchimmortalcat]

I'll be summer sun for you forever

For Bio Dad! Bruce Wayne Month, Prompt: Meeting for the first time ao3 @maribat-bdbwm

Ladybug is sitting on the roof of the WE building, swinging her legs over the ledge. Somewhere off in the distance she hears the sound of guns and she briefly wonders whether it’s one of the several criminals of Gotham or just Jason. There’s noise behind her and Marinette turns around to find her father.

“Ladybug.”

Marinette grins, “Batman.”

She can see the sigh he’s trying to hold back. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Ladybug. I wasn’t expecting to see you in Gotham.” His voice is so weird and gravelly she almost laughs. No wonder her siblings endlessly tease him about the Batman voice. She’d always thought the comms made it worse than it actually was.

She only hums, still grinning. “Really, I was sure I’d told you.”

Ladybug definitely did not tell him. Marinette on the other hand told him months ago that she’d come to Gotham during summer break.

He really does sigh this time. How surprising, she never thought he’d do that around heroes he barely knew. “No, you did not. There’s a rule about no metas.”

She snorts. What a hypocrite. “Have you not noticed that Signal’s a meta or are you just ignoring that?”

Marinette can’t actually tell but she’s pretty certain his eye is twitching. This is so much fun, she should have made the trip to Gotham earlier. But regardless that’s not why she decided to come out on a little night run. Before he can reply she says, “Besides, Batman and Robin were in Paris last month even after the Justice League promised not to set foot in Paris. I’m only returning the favour.”

She’d already chewed out her dad during their visit. He’d ignored her, insisting that it was necessary for him to check and once again trying to talk Marinette into moving back home. Not that he was any good at it, her father isn’t really capable of carrying such conversations. Plus, it wasn’t like Gotham was much safer.

Batman remains expressionless. “We weren’t spotted. Neither by civilians or the Parisian heroes.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” she replies coolly, “You weren’t spotted by any civilians who felt the need to announce it to the rest of the city.” Adrien had seen them and mentioned it the next day in school. Marinette had been ready to storm back to the bakery and start yelling at them again. Instead, she had taken a deep breath, thanked Tikki that Alya was absent, put on her best confused expression and faked interest.

Marinette gets why her siblings hate the cowl. It’s hard enough to figure out what her father is thinking without half his face hidden. “You and Chat Noir are teenagers. You can’t take care of the whole city on your own-”

Marinette snaps. She’d only wanted to mess with her dad for what he’d done not listen to him question her capability.

“Last I checked you’re the only adult in this city.”

“Nightwing-”

“Started out as a child vigilante in a crime ridden city. All Chat Noir and I do is take care of akumas and spend our free time trying to figure out Hawkmoth’s identity. You really do not need to worry.”

She doesn’t wait for his reply. She swings away to the next building, pulling out the horse miraculous to portal back to her room in the manor. She detransforms and falls face down onto her bed trying extremely hard to cry.

It’s quite a while later that there’s a knock on her door. “Come in,” she calls not bothering to get up. The door opens and closes and Dick says, “Hey Nettie.” She feels the bed dip as he sits next to her.

“Apparently B had a very interesting first meeting with Ladybug today.” He sounds nonchalant but Marinette knows better.

She lifts her head up and glares at him, “So?”

He shrugs, “Just thought you should know.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Dick sighs, “I went through the footage to see where exactly B messed up.”

She looks at him incredulously, “You needed footage for that? He almost definitely messed up the second he opened his mouth.”

Her brother chuckles, looking away from her, “That’s true. But I figured it’s better to know, if only to ensure Ladybug doesn’t yell at me the next time I see her.”

She frowns, confused with where he’s heading with this.

“Nettie, did you know that Nightwing and the first Robin being the same person is a conspiracy theory? One of Bernard’s in fact. It’s considered just that insane.” She inhales sharply, but Dick continues as if he doesn’t notice, “So, imagine my surprise when Ladybug threw that fact in B’s face, after all we both know she isn’t the kind to believe in baseless theories.”

Marinette squeezes her eyes shut. “Shit. Does B know?”

Dick is still speaking casually, “About the conspiracy theory or about you being Ladybug?”

The confirmation that her brother now knows her identity doesn’t help at all. “Both.”

“He’s too paranoid to not know about the conspiracy theory but he doesn’t know you’re Ladybug-” she sighs in relief “- he thinks you heard it from one of the other JL members.”

She gets up to sit beside him, looking at him in confusion. He finally meets her eyes when Marinette asks, “How?”

“I told him so. I was the only one who was there every single time you were at the Watch Tower.”

Her mouth opens in shock. He smiles softly at her, “The audio on the security tapes isn’t perfect even if he gets Babs or Uncle Clark to check, both of them would lie for you. Even if he checks himself, Babs can alter it.”

She throws her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Continuously whispering thank you. He laughs and ruffles her hair, “Don’t worry about it. I get it.”

Marinette laughs a bit at that. She doesn’t really miss when B and Dick argued all the time because of how overprotective their father could be. Before he slips out her room, he ruffles her hair more and grins as he says, “Be early to breakfast tomorrow. Alfred’s making chocolate chip pancakes.”

She smirks, “Don’t worry. I’ll be there first.”

There’s a laughing call of, “You’re on,” from the hallway and Marinette grins. Sometimes, she’s really thankful that she has siblings.

[thornalchemist23]

Marinette: Bye Damian! Bye Dick! Bye Tim! Bye Jason! Bye Damian! Dick: You said 'bye Damian' twice. Marinette: I like Damian.

[marauderundercover]

A Robin in the Making: Meeting the Justice League

Bruce frowns at the monitor.

“I already told Superman that I cannot, under any circumstances, come to the Watchtower this week.” He says firmly. Oliver runs a hand down his face, obviously aggravated.

“Batman, I’m telling you, if any of us could figure out how the hell to fix it, we would. And we wouldn’t be calling your stubborn ass.” He huffs out. Bruce’s eye twitches under his cowl.

“I don’t have anyone to watch Robin.” He says, telling only a partial truth.

“Then bring the kid with! I’m sure we can figure out something for him to do while you fix the monitor station.” Oliver says. Bruce starts to argue again, because it really wouldn’t only be his oldest that he’d have to bring along, when a familiar voice cuts in.

“Whoa, really? Can we go, B, please, please, please?” Dick begs, appearing at the edge of the cave with a domino already on his face. And just like that, Bruce has no choice but to cave. Something he was sure Dick knew.

“Fine. We’ll be there in twenty.” He says curtly before hanging up. Sighing, Bruce turns to look at Dick. “You do realize Mari is going to have to go too, right?” He asks. Dick nods rapidly.

“B, you’re not even ready for how totally awesome this is going to be! I’ll go grab M.” He says, darting back up the stairs. Bruce blows out a long breath. He’d told the League that he had prior engagements in Gotham that would keep him from being on call for this entire week. With Alfred in England for another five days, he had no one to watch Dick or Marinette. Which meant he hadn’t even been patrolling for very long. Just long enough for people to notice him (something he rarely wanted as Batman), and then he went right back to the manor. Dick, as he was almost a teenager, had tried to convince Bruce that he could watch Marinette by himself for a few hours. It wasn’t that Bruce didn’t trust his son. He did. He just also knew that Marinette and Dick had been partners in crime ever since Marinette first pulled herself into a standing position. She took off after her older brother and never looked back. It never failed to put a smile on Bruce’s face- well, as long as it wasn’t accompanied by mischievous giggling from the two. Before he can get too lost in his thoughts, he realizes that the giggles are definitely real and approaching quickly.

“Dick, make sure you’re holding onto her!” Bruce calls out. After Marinette had made her appearance, he’d made sure there were railings everywhere in the cave. Didn’t mean he completely trusted the railings to be failproof.

“Don’t worry daddy! Dickie’s got me!” Marinette calls out, and Bruce relaxes slightly. Until the two appear in sight and he sees what his three year old daughter is wearing.

“Richard, why does Marinette have a Robin uniform?” He asks, working hard to keep his tone calm. He already wasn’t thrilled that Dick was running around every other night fighting crime. It terrified him, but the idea of Dick going out as Robin by himself and getting injured because he didn’t tell Bruce where he was going- that fear far outweighed the fear that Bruce had when he would spot his son out of the corner of his eye while going against a mugger. But his daughter, who was still a toddler, wearing a domino mask was a little too much for him.

“It’s not really a uniform, B. She’s not gonna go out and kick the Joker’s butt or anything. I just thought it’d be cool for her to be able to match me if we ever got to meet the League together. Pretty cool, right?” Dick presses, and Bruce takes a second to breathe. Looking closer, the outfit clearly just mimicked the Robin colors, and was obviously not made to fight in. It was, unfortunately, cute. There was even a tiny bat symbol on the belt of it.

“I’m a hero!” Marinette chirps happily, grinning up at him. Bruce softens immediately, crouching down so he can be more on her level.

“You make a great hero, sweetheart. Now remember, what do you call Dickie when he gets his outfit on?” Bruce asks. Ever since she’d started talking, he’d tried to drill the importance of secret identities to her. He knew it wasn’t exactly traditional parenting, but he figured it was better than just lying to her about such a big part of his life. She grins widely.

“Dickie is Robin and you’re B.” She says, rattling the words off as if she’d rehearsed them (he knew she had). Bruce smiles and picks her up, tossing her gently into the air before catching her, heart warming as she giggles and shrieks.

“Very good.” He says, then pauses as he realizes she doesn’t have a secret identity.

“I say we call her Bug, cause that’s already what Lucius and you call her when she has to go to WE.” Dick pipes up, walking back into the main part of the cave as he pulls on his last shoe. Bruce glances down at his daughter.

“Does that work for you?” He asks. She nods, grinning. Bruce exhales deeply. “Very well. Who’s ready to meet the Justice League?”

---

The second they zeta onto the Watchtower, Dick runs to the center of the room, slowly turning as he tries to take in everything. He’d met a few of the other heroes at the Hall of Justice before, but B had never let him go to space before!

“Hey sport. Where’s your old man?” Ollie asks, walking in with his arms crossed. Dick nods towards the zeta tubes.

“He’s gotta get Bug set up first, but he said it was fine for me to come ahead.” Dick explains. Ollie frowns.

“Bug?” He asks. “Is that a person?” Dick nods.

“Yup! She’s my little sister.” He says, and Ollie’s jaw drops.

“She- what- Batman has more than one kid?” He gasps. Dick snorts. It was always funny to see people’s reactions to B having kids. Before he can explain more, the zeta tube announces B and Mari’s arrival.

“B! B, look! Stars!” Marinette gasps, immediately tugging B over to the windows. Dick giggles at the look on Ollie’s face.

“Green Arrow. I assume you have figured out where Robin and Bug can go?” B asks, glancing back at the other hero while Mari was focused on the stars. Ollie sputters for a minute.

“What- I- what the hell, Batman! We had an idea for Robin, not a freaking toddler!” He huffs out. Marinette tilts her head to the side, and Dick’s eyes widen. Uh oh.

“B? What does ‘hell’ mean?” She asks, frowning.

“Oh sh-”

“Unless you want to teach her two new words today, I suggest you shut your mouth.” Batman says lowly. Ollie’s jaw snaps shut as he nods slowly. B turns to Mari. “That’s not a word we use, Bug. Green Arrow is going to have to go sit in time out becuase he said it. You don’t want to sit in time out, right?” Mari shakes her head rapidly.

“No! No fank you.” She says, messing up her ‘th’ like usual. Dick thought it made her the cutest kid ever.

“Very well. Robin, stay here with Bug. I’ll walk Green Arrow to time out and send Superman back here.” B says. Dick nods, and Mari rushes over to him.

“C’mon! Let’s do flips!” She says excitedly. Dick grins, immediately rushing over to help her with her cartwheels. He loved being a big brother.

@maribat-get-in

[soulmate-game]

Work burned me out, middle management positions are draining. What was supposed to be an angsty oneshot is now… yeah I’m continuing it. Not a full series, just a two-parter… hopefully.

Edit: I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK THIS CLUSTERFUCK OF AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER IS, but BUCKLE IN BECAUSE IT PROBABLY DOESN’T PASS SAFETY REGULATIONS! HOOOOO BOY

Part 1

—*—*—*—*—*

“…” she stared at the being in front of her, face frighteningly blank. Next to her, Bruce fidgeted.

“I’m not going anywhere, so you either gotta learn to love me real quick or get lost quicker,” the child snarked from where he was sitting upside-down on the bat computer chair. “And don’t call me Richard, my name’s Dick.”

“I don’t remember you working with a fetus, Batman,” Marinette slowly drawled, emphasizing the vigilante’s name despite none of the three of them being suited up. Dick shot up with a cry of indignation.

“I am not a fetus! I’m fifteen! I’ve been Robin since I was twelve!”

“Nope,” Marinette countered, unmoved. “I started out as Ladybug when I was twelve, and I was never as small as you,” she blatantly lied. Dick was already taller than her, which wasn’t much of an achievement considering that she was five-foot-one-inch tall. “You are six years old, tops.”

Dick let out an almost inhuman screech of complaint. Even as he rambled on angrily about how wrong she was, Marinette only nodded as if he proved her right about something.

“That was a good squawk though. Definitely a birdie.”

It took another twenty minutes before Dick ran off to tell on Marinette to Alfred, giving her and Bruce some alone time. With which she used to whirl to him and immediately hiss in equal parts fury and worry;

“Please tell me he wasn’t—“

“The timeline is gone,” Bruce reminded her, bracing her by putting both his hands on her shoulders. “He doesn’t remember.”

“Still!”

He let out such a heavy sigh that he seemed to deflate with it, his dark circles growing more pronounced.

“He wasn’t supposed to be,” he admitted softly. “When he turned sixteen, last time, I allowed him to form his own team of teen heroes. Supervised from afar by myself of course, not that they knew that. I had given them the order to stay back and guard their city, but they disobeyed me and snuck onto the battlefield anyway.”

Marinette rubbed at her temples, nodding. “Teenagers have a habit of doing that. This time around, can we ask Bunnyx to supervise them? She has all the energy of a teenager, so she’ll fit in, but the maturity of someone trusted to guard all the timelines.”

Bruce paused, thinking of what little he knew of the pastel rabbit themed hero, and then reluctantly nodded. “That… might be for the best. And giving them more opportunities to train with…” he hummed, hand on his chin. “I might actually change things up, in that case. Instead of jumping to put teens on their own in a tower, the old Justice League headquarters is more protected. And if we started with the ‘sidekicks’,” he gave very purposeful air quotes, “of other Leaguers, it would create a better support system than letting teenagers run around with… really, not enough regulation.”

“Gotta love hindsight,” Marinette agreed with a nod. “The whole teenagers by themselves thing only worked for my team because we were overly traumatized and each saw different apocalypses before we turned sixteen. Bunnyx could fix them herself back then, but still.”

“Best to do better by the new generation,” Bruce agreed with her unspoken statement. “I can still put that old team together again when they’re older, support their development elsewhere in the meantime.”

“Oh, and now that we’re done on that topic,” Marinette snapped her fingers before pointing to the staircase that Dick had disappeared up. “He’s going to make my life a living hell, isn’t he?”

Bruce groaned, offering her a lopsided grimace of apology. “He’s a menace,” he agreed. “He’s scared away any woman I’ve brought to the house, even though most of them are completely platonic. I have to make the press believe the whole playboy thing somehow, and inviting my friends over to chat is the easiest way to do so without breaking hearts for real. Dick hasn’t caught on yet,” Bruce rubbed his forehead. “His antics to scare away Selina Kyle are legendary already, and she’s sapphic. She couldn’t be attracted to me if I was the last man on earth.”

“Could have fooled me,” Marinette teased, suddenly impish. “She’s catwoman, isn’t she?”

Bruce narrowed his eyes, saying only: “Chat Noir. Year one.”

It was Marinette’s turn to grimace. “Point taken. But in my defense, he took way too long to realize he’s gay and watched too much anime at the time.”

Bruce let out one of his unfairly charming chuckles, changing position so that his arm was around her shoulders and pulling her to his side. She fit there surprisingly well, for someone almost half his size. She leaned into him, and the both just soaked in the comfort of one another for a long moment.

“You know,” Bruce started for a while. “If you want to stay in Gotham, we can make you another alter ego so that you don’t accidentally lure Shadow Moth here. Tell that fox of yours to make it seem like you’re in Paris and take some of the weight off of your shoulders for a change. Blackmail Constantine into charming some jars to keep the butterflies in until you can purify them.”

“Hmmm.” She closed her eyes. “Ladybird sounds nice. Fits with the bird thing that Robin has going for him.”

Bruce laughed. “That’ll really annoy him,” he warned, amused. Marinette’s close-eyed smile was pure mischief.

“That’s the whole point. I’m not letting a fetus win against me, bat-boy.”

—*—*—*—*—*

Marinette wasn’t speaking to Bunnyx. Bruce didn’t know what they had said to one another, but he could guess it had to do with Jason.

With his baby, who he just buried. The boy Marinette had thought of a son ever since he first brought him home. She had even smoothed things over between Dick and Jason, which he had considered nothing short of a miracle at the time.

But that miracle was nowhere to be seen now, with Marinette every bit as despondent next to him as he was. He wanted to be angry with her, he did, but he couldn’t. He had seen her blow up at Bunnyx, seen her try to hold her status as Grand Guardian over the bunny holder.

Bunnyx had simply said that she wouldn’t answer to Ladybug until after the grief passed then, and ran away into her burrow.

“Is this the payment?” He heard her whisper, her voice hoarse and broken. “For the do-over? We passed the old timeline. We took down Shadow Moth. Is this the price?” Tears dripped down her face silently, she didn’t seem to notice them. “Was I not a good enough mother? Should I—“ she stopped herself, shaking her head. He didn’t ask what she was about to say. Maybe he should have.

—*—*—*—*—*

Tim was great. He was too much like Marinette at times, which made Bruce’s chest ache, but he was a great Robin. A great son. His experience with Marinette proved priceless when it came to helping curb Tim’s overworking habits and caffeine addiction.

But not even Tim could find where Marinette had disappeared to, even with his detective skills surpassing Bruce’s already.

Tim was the first son of his that didn’t get to grow up with Marinette at all.

—*—*—*—*—*

“It’s fine, Baobei,” she whispered, stepping to the side. Behind her was the waterfall that hid the tunnel to the Batcave. “He’s not the one to blame. He did his best, even now he’s doing his best.”

“Then why does—“

“Because other people need him, and he has too big of a heart to turn them away,” her mouth tilted a little, smile lopsided and sad. “Timothy didn’t replace you. He just forced Bruce to live again. Bruce didn’t kill Joker, because he didn’t want to taint another child with the sight of murder.”

“And you?” The voice was dark, deadly, gruff. Older, and yet… so achingly familiar. She smiled at him again, soft and sad and… proud.

“I don’t have one,” she lied. She had tried, tried so hard. Bruce had gotten in her way first, and then the very same desire to not taint more children with the image of death.

But her baby needed a scapegoat, and she was willing to throw herself on the fire for him.

“That’s why it’s fine,” she repeated. “If this is what you want. Just, please. Let it end with me.”

This time, Marinette made sure she had the Time miraculous safely in her pocket. Nobody would interfere with this.

The bullet sent her into the flow of the waterfall, red flowing behind her like the carpet she used to walk down with Bruce whenever she released a new collection. She felt no regret as she closed her eyes and fell.

—*—*—*—*—*

The shot hadn’t been fatal. Red Hood might have been mad with Pit Rage, but his fondness for his only true mother figure was ever present. He simply wanted to see if she was serious about taking that shot.

His regret was immediate when she didn’t even try to dodge. The bullet had only grazed her shoulder, but she didn’t seem to notice that. She had been so ready to die— to let him kill her— that she had passed out before hitting the water. He dragged her to the Batcave, knowing he had a lot to answer for.

Bruce wished he could have found her sooner, found both of them sooner. But at least they were back.

—*—*—*—*—*

“… I mean,” she rocked on her heels. “You are growing a bit old for Robin…”

Tim glared at her, not appreciating the insight.

“Bruce is stuck in the timestream, and you aren’t doing a thing about it. I don’t hold your opinion very highly right now,” he snipped back. She snorted, glancing away.

As if that little stunt to “kill Batman” could ever fool her. She’d been there for the real thing, thanks, she could spot a fake a mile away. “He’s got Bunnyx going to find him. She owes me big time, let her do the heavy lifting for a change.”

“How many years have you held that grudge?” Barbara asked, eyebrows raised as she wheeled herself towards the bat computer. “Even Jason thinks you should have let it go by now.”

Marinette scoffed at the exact same time as a certain someone tutted next to her, making them look for a moment like a perfect pair.

Crossed arms, a scoff, annoyed glare? If a DNA test hadn’t already proven otherwise, they might have thought Damian was hers.

“Fetuses don’t get to judge me,” was her only argument before she turned on her heel and walked away.

“I am not a fetus! Lady Marinette, I am ten years old!”

—*—*—*—*—*

Bonus:

Jason was curled up around Marinette, despite being told numerous times not to crowd her on the med-bay bed. He argued that he shot her, so he gets to nurse her back to health.

Did she use her blood, tainted by years of use of the Ladybug, to purify his pit madness? Yes. Had he figured that out yet? Nope.

“Love you, Mom,” he murmured in his sleep. Marinette, who had been awake for about an hour already, smiled to herself.

“Love you, Baobei.”

[mochegato]

Unspoken Truths

Unspoken Truths

Angry heels clicked against the cold, fake wood floor as Marinette marched into the kitchen of their apartment.  This was not what she agreed to when she'd agreed to be Dick’s roommate.  When Dick had asked her… well, more like told her, but he framed it in the form of a question, so it counts, to room together while she went to uni in New York and he established himself as an independent adult, which she was 90% sure was a made up excuse since she was 99% sure he was happily living somewhere before she said she was moving to New York and in reality he just wanted to keep an overprotective eye on her, she had pictured nights out dancing, nights in with friends watching movies, late night rides home from study sessions because despite knowing who she is, or was, Dick always worried about her, and, of course, putting out fires in the kitchen when Dick insisted on ‘helping’ her bake.  It was supposed to be teasing and laughter and support.  Not this.

“What the Hell was that?” she demanded, slamming her hands onto the counter.  She glared at Dick, knowing full well he could feel the weight of it despite not facing her.  They knew each other well enough, for long enough, that they could read each other without having to actually see each other.  They could read behind the tone, the choice of words, pauses, where a word is stressed, they could discern the tempo of footsteps and body shuffles. Plus, the yelling.  The yelling was a solid clue even Wally would have been able to pick up on.

“What?” he asked innocently, shoving the remainder of an orange in his mouth and turning to face her, his eyes wide in a nod to innocence that wasn’t even an attempt at authenticity.

Marinette raised an unimpressed eyebrow and motioned harshly toward the front door.  “He drove all the way here to see me!”

Dick scoffed as he poured a glass of water for himself.  “He should have stayed in Gotham.”

“Dick!”  She stomped her foot in frustration.  “We had plans for tonight.  I should be on a date right now!”

“And who’s stopping you?  Go ahead.” He motioned the glass of water toward the front door without bothering to temper his smirk.  “Go find a date.”

Marinette had never wanted to slap a smirk off someone’s face so much in her entire life.  She settled for rounding the island and slapping his shoulder.  “You.  You’re stopping me because you drove off my date!”

“I did no such thing,” he insisted, drawing his hand to his chest dramatically in mock offense.  “I merely stated a few facts he should know, and he ran away.  Quite craven, really.  Do you really want to date a coward?”

“Yes!” She froze instantly and cringed. “No, wait.  That came out wrong.”

Dick snorted.  “No, I don’t think it did.”

She narrowed her eyes at him and hit the bottom of his glass as he raised it to take a drink, spilling the remainder of its contents down the front of his shirt. Dick sputtered and jumped away like that might save him from getting wetter.  He huffed and glared at Marinette as he pulled his shirt off and threw it in her face.

“Prat,” she grumbled and threw it back at him.  “Regardless, you had no right!  I get to decide who I date.  Not you.”

Dick grinned at her and backed up toward his bedroom.  “Of course, you do,” he cooed condescendingly, his grin never leaving his lips.  “And I get approval rights.  It’s in the big brother contract.”

“You’re not my big brother!” she called after him, stalking after him so he couldn’t escape the conversation.

He gasped dramatically staring at her for a moment before giving her an exaggerated sympathetic look.  “It’s okay. I know you’re upset and saying things you don’t mean right now.”

Marinette sucked in a long breath and let it out slowly through puckered lips. She scrunched her eyes as she repeated the practice for a few breaths in an attempt to abate her frustration.  “I mean it so very, very much.”

His puckered lips and flat look disappeared as he pulled on an old, but dry shirt.  “Well... never mind, doesn't matter.  That guy wasn't good for you anyway. You’re better off without him. Hey, want to order in and watch something?”

“Not good for me,” Marinette scoffed.  “And what did he do?  What did he do that was so terrible he deserved to be run off like a scared kid tagging for the first time?”

Dick looked away just for a moment, barely a fraction of a second, but it was enough for Marinette to know that he had nothing and he was scrambling.  "He’s a henchman.”

“A henchman…” Marinette repeated slowly.

“Yep, a henchman.  That's right,” Dick confirmed.  He moved past her, keeping his eyes ahead and his feet moving to distract from his awkward tone.  “What movie should we watch?  Or do you want to binge on a show?”

Marinette cocked her head to the side and clicked her tongue as she followed slowly after him.  “For which rogue?”

Dick blinked, his step showing just a hint of a falter.  “Huh?  What?

“Which rogue,” she repeated.  “Which rogue is he a henchman for?”

Dick kept his eyes focused on the television as he flipped through options. In this case, the more obscure the better; makes it harder to research.  “For Toyman.”

“Really…” she drawled.  She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the entryway to the living room, her ankles crossed seemingly casually.  “I didn't know he had live henchmen.  I thought all of his were mechanical,” she observed wryly.

“Oh right…” he looked down for a moment before perking up and looking back at her as he fell back onto the couch with ease.  “Well, he has a few people to help him make the automated ones. Obviously. Want to watch the show with that chocolate guy?”

Marinette gave him a flat look that she was sure he could feel despite not looking at her.  “No, he doesn't.  And no, he’s not.  So, what is your real problem with him?”

Dick let out an annoyed sigh and tore his eyes away from the screen again.  “He's too old for you.  He’s in graduate school and you’re just starting university. You’re barely eighteen.”

Marinette’s jaw dropped.  She stared at him for a few seconds before her brow furrowed into a slight scowl.  “He's closer to my age than Barbara was to yours when you started dating her at my age, jackass.”

Dick pursed his lips in annoyance and narrowed his eyes at her.  “I saw him kick a dog.”

“No, you didn’t,” she hissed.

“Oh, come on, Marinette!” he groaned, throwing his arms up in frustration like she was being the unreasonable one.  “He’s going into psychology.”

“Is this one of the facts you stated to him?” she asked glowering at him.  “Because, yeah, that’s what he’s getting his master’s in. We already knew that.”

“In Gotham,” he elaborated like the relevance was so clear a toddler would understand.

Marinette stared at him blankly for a few seconds waiting for him to elaborate. When he didn’t, she opened her hands wide inviting him to continue.  “Yeah, that’s where he lives and where we met.  Most of our dates have been there.”

He sighed deeply.  “You don’t understand.”

“No, I don’t,” she agreed.  “He was a good man.”

“Maybe,” Dick conceded.  He turned to level her with a genuine look.  “But not good enough.  Not for you.”

Marinette groaned and spun away from him throwing her hands out in frustration. She stormed toward the front door. “You never think anyone is.  I let you date who you want with just a modicum of ridicule.”  Dick gave her a flat look she could feel even without looking back at him.  Both of them were well aware that it was not a modicum. She delighted in making snide comments about his dating habits.  “But I never threaten any of them no matter what my opinion of them is.”

“Because none of them were serious,” he pointed out, but immediately regretted it. Marinette whirled around on him; her eyes flashed dangerously.  Dick had to fight cringing.  When her eyes flashed like that, it meant she was going to do something he would regret.

She smiled sharply.  “Right.  Message received.  So, from now on I'm going to go out with a different boy every night.”

Dick rolled his eyes and eased back into the couch. It was an empty threat and they both knew it.  “As long as it isn't serious,” he agreed, waving his hand over his shoulder as if giving permission to continue.

She narrowed her eyes at him and cocked her hip to the side.  “You don't have to be serious to sleep with someone.”  She sing-songed the last part, taking more than a little bit of pleasure from the way Dick’s eyes widened.  She smirked as she spread out her hands in front of her, miming a theater billboard.  “I’m going to become the Dick Grayson of New York.  If any of them try to make it into a real relationship, I’ll tell them I’m only allowed to have sex.”

Dick gasped and pushed forward from the couch so he could properly gape at her.  “Marinette… Eloise?  That’s French, right?  Marinette Eloise Dupain-Cheng you get back here right now.  Marinette?  Marinette!”

“You know my middle name, Richard John Grayson!” she growled over her shoulder as she headed for the front door.

“Where are you going?”  His brow furrowed in concern.

“Out to find a date for the night.  Someone to have fun with for a few hours and then never see again,” she chirped in false excitement.

Dick sighed heavily.  “Marinette…”

She grabbed her purse without once looking back at him. “You’re the one that set the rule, ‘big brother’.  I’m allowed to shag but not love.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it,” he insisted, looking at her sincerely.  “You deserve love, to be treated like the amazing person you are, and you weren’t going to get it from that guy.”

Marinette froze with her hand on the doorknob for a second before dropping her head to the door and groaning loudly, the sound echoing through the apartment.  “You’re such an asshole.”

Dick huffed out a relieved breath and selected a show for himself with a smile.  “I love you,” he called after her.

She huffed as she pulled the door open.  “I love you too.  But I don’t like you all the time,” she yelled back before slamming the door closed.

Her mood had only gotten worse as she wandered and thought about how her night should have turned out.  She didn’t pay attention to where she was walking, focusing more on her imaginary continuation of her fight with Dick and all the well thought out rebuttals and quips she should have had, until she found herself outside a familiar door.  Just the sight of it was enough to calm her.

The anticipation of what was beyond the door was almost enough to melt away her frustration until she noticed her shoes, shoes she would never be allowed to wear beyond the door normally, at least not without extensive teasing, shoes that were perfect for her cancelled date, shoes that were pointless now.  And just like that, the frustration was back.

She stormed through the door, slamming it behind her and growling at the sign that had the audacity to fall from the force of the impact.  She searched the bay impatiently for signs of life.  The door had been unlocked and the lights were on, so he had to be there somewhere.   She finally relaxed slightly as she spotted Roy’s legs sticking out from under a vehicle. She stalked over to the vehicle and dropped against the open hood, leaning over the engine to watch him as he worked.

Roy froze as he spotted her legs first, her toned, muscular legs, from years of training and fighting, and had to force his mind to stay focused instead of wandering to what her legs would look like wrapped around his waist as he kissed her.  He forced a breath out.  Best not to focus on things that weren’t going to happen.  And he was almost able to focus until he spotted her face peering through at him from above, her long hair falling in front of her face, obscuring his view until she swiped it back behind her ear revealing her devastating eyes and plump pout, and he lost his breath all over again.  He opened his mouth to chastise her about wearing heels, even as sexy as the ones she had on were, but she interrupted before he could. “Life sucks and I hate everything.”

He blinked a few times before he could finally process what she said.  “And good evening to you, Fire Flower,” he chuckled, pushing out from under the vehicle.  He grabbed a rag to wipe his hands as he stood to greet her.  “Having a good…”  His eyes widened as soon as they landed on her.  “… night?”

He should have been prepared, he really should have considering her shoes, but he was utterly unprepared to see her dressed for a date.  While normally stunning, she looked even more astounding than usual.  Her dress hugged her curves snugly before falling away loosely below her hips.  The sweetheart neckline gave just a hint the breathtaking curves that lay beneath but left her neck and collarbone exposed and begging to be kissed.  She had just a hint of makeup except for her dark painted lips that brought his focus to how tantalizing they were.  He barely managed to return his focus to the rag in his hands and his path to his toolchest.

“Not really, no,” she grumbled.  She stalked over to his toolchest and fell against it hard enough to cause it to scratch against the floor for a few centimeters, her arms crossed tightly across her chest.  “Thanks to nosy, interfering, know-it-all, smug assholes.  Well, asshole, singular.  Just the one.”  She narrowed her eyes in thought.  “Maybe two, but only one was a nosy, interfering, know-it-all, smug asshole.”

Roy raised an eyebrow but didn’t push.  At least one of those assholes was likely Dick, it usually was, which left the other asshole position open, and that description certainly didn’t bode well for Psych Boy.  “Well, you look…” he struggled briefly for a less incriminating term than astounding but still conveyed how breathtaking she looked.  “… nice,” but immediately cringed, widening his eyes in exasperation with himself.  Nice? Nice!  She looked better than nice.

Marinette continued oblivious to his distress.  “Thanks,” she huffed.  “I was supposed to be on a date.”  She grabbed a wrench he was reaching for and handed it over to him.

He nodded thoughtlessly.  Yep, definitely didn’t bode well for Psych Boy.  “Thanks.” He traded the wrench in her hand for the one he had fruitlessly been using, her fingers grazing his as she grabbed it and willed his body not to lean toward her.  “Did the date not go well?”  He tried to make his voice light and force his eyes to focus on the electrical piece in front of him.

Marinette huffed and threw the wrench back into the drawer before leaning behind him to get a closer look at what he was working on.  “The date didn’t go at all.”

Roy stiffened both from her proximity, which was close enough he could feel her heat against his back even through his shirt, and from the sudden realization that if the date didn’t even happen, he must have done something incredibly bad if she called it off before it could even start.  He turned to meet her eyes, his lips pursed tightly, and his brow furrowed in concern.  “Did he do something?  Do I need to have a talk with him?”

Marinette scoffed and waved him off.  “He let Dick scare him off is what he did.  Ran away as quickly as he could.”

Roy relaxed and let out a breath.  He nodded as he focused back on the engine.  “Guess it’s a good thing I never bothered to learn Gotham Psych Boy’s name then.”

She opened her hands wide in annoyance.  “Why is that the thing you guys keep fixating on?”

Roy looked up from the engine enough to give her a confused look.  “His name?”

“That he’s studying psychology,” she elaborated.  “Why do you guys keep pointing that out.  Why does it matter?”

“He’s studying psychology in Gotham.”  He said each word slowly, like it should be self-explanatory.”

Marinette groaned in frustration.  “That’s all Dick said too!  That doesn’t mean anything to me!  What does that mean?”

He sighed heavily and ran his hand down his face, smudging oil on his cheeks and forehead.  “I forget sometimes that you didn’t grow up here.”

She watched him expectantly, but he continued to work silently.  When it was clear he wasn’t going to elucidate, she tried to stare him into submission, which she instantly realized was a mistake because it meant she was staring at him with nothing else to distract her, which was always incredibly dangerous, but especially tonight.  He was wearing a shirt stretched over his chest and biceps so tightly, she could see each pronounced muscle moving fluidly under it as he worked.  His hair was just long enough to fall in front of his eyes but not obstruct his view and her hands twitched to brush it away.  It was a rare occurrence to see him without his hat, really only happening right after he woke up or was working under a vehicle.

His mouth was fixed in a tight line, but the plump curves were still visible. She had to physically shake her head to stop staring at them.  But it was the oil smudges that were really getting to her.  She had to look away before she took a tissue from her purse, gently cupped his sharp jaw in her hands, and wiped them away, kissing it to make it better when she rubbed too hard.

Roy could feel her eyes on him, and while he wanted to puff his chest out and posture for her, the longer it went on, the more it unsettled him.  Not because he didn’t enjoy her looking at him, but rather because he enjoyed it more than he should.  Friends didn’t preen at their friends studying them.  Friends didn’t think about their friends’ legs wrapped around their waist.  Friends didn’t root for their friends’ relationships to fail.  He needed to focus.  She wanted to be friends.  She’d made that clear.  No matter what else happened, what he thought he saw, he needed to remember that.  “So, not talking to Dick, then?”

“Does yelling count?” She scoffed and followed him over to the vehicle when he moved. “I needed to get away from him for a little bit.  Ended up here.  Like I usually do.”  She leaned over the engine next to him, their arms brushing against his as she did.  “What are you working on?”

He motioned to a particular portion of the engine, his eyes lighting up at the change of topic.  “I’m installing a directional, defined, limited impact EMP.  The people in the vehicle will be able to control the scope, severity, and path of the pulse.  They’ll be able to take out certain electronics without taking out an entire area.”

A smile worked its way onto her face as he spoke, and she found herself subconsciously leaning toward him as he described his creation.  The way his face lit up when he talked about his inventions and designs was exhilarating.  His eyes danced with passion and merriment and Marinette wanted desperately to be a part of it.  It was like a gravitational pull.  “Want help?”

“You’ll get your pretty dress dirty,” he warned, a teasing lilt to his voice, before he could temper it.  But it would be okay.  Teasing was friendly, right?

Marinette smirked back.  “You know I like to play dirty.”

Roy lost in her eyes for a few moments before shaking himself out of it. Teasing was not friendly, repeat NOT friendly, especially when she did it back.  He scoffed loudly, more to break the tension and remind himself what he was supposed to be doing than anything else.  “You don’t play dirty.  You might get dirty baking and stuff, but you don’t play dirty.”

Marinette shrugged and leaned against him as he worked, leaning her head on his shoulder, letting it bob up and down as he loosened a bolt.  “Jason would disagree.”

Roy let out a slow breath through his nose.  Her head on his shoulder, the familiarity, was killing him.  But he could breathe through it… for his friend.  He forced out a chuckle and focused back on the engine. “That doesn’t count.”  He loosened five more bolts before speaking again.  “Why didn't you go out? Find a new date?”

Marinette pulled away from him and stared at him for a few moments processing what he had said, encouraging her to go date… someone else.  She frowned and took a step away from him, putting some much-needed space between the two of them before slumping against the vehicle looking away from him and crossing her arms over herself like a shield.  “What's the point,” she muttered.  “It would probably end the same anyway.”

Roy chuckled mirthlessly and shook his head in disbelief, his eyes never leaving the engine.  “You liked him that much?  That him leaving makes you give up on love?”  He tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice, but he was almost positive he’d failed, if she even paid attention.

“I don’t know,” she groaned.  She wandered over to the small, dusty window.  The layer of dust was so thick, she couldn’t make out anything other than vague shapes of lights beyond it, but it was enough to distract her.  “Jason never liked him.”  She admitted, her eyes narrowing slightly as if focusing on the thought.  “That was a huge point against him.  Jason’s a little sweetheart.  He’s like sunshine incarnate.  He likes everyone… except rogues and abusers, of course.”

Roy nodded indulgently.  “Rogues, abusers, and anyone who hits on you,” he added with a smirk.

“That is not true!”  She spun toward him; her mouth open to list the people who’d flirted with her who Jason hadn’t had an issue with but snapped her mouth shut quickly when she couldn’t think of a single name.  “That doesn’t count.  That’s a small sample size.”

“No, it really isn’t,” Roy scoffed, still focusing on the engine before she could see his slightly reddened cheeks.

Marinette rolled her eyes, unwilling to engage in that particular debate.  The possibility of other people finding her attractive wasn’t a discussion she wanted to have with Roy.  She didn’t need the reminder he wasn’t interested and arguing that not a lot of people had shown any romantic interest in her was not going to make herself feel better.

But Greg had been different.  He was handsome and funny and sweet and charming… okay, granted a little too charming, but charming none the less, and interested in her.  She knew there was an expiration date on their relationship, she just hadn’t thought it would be so soon, that night in particular.

She huffed and slumped back against the wall.  “He couldn’t even stand up to Dick.  If he couldn’t stand up to Dick, how would it have worked anyway.”  She straightened up suddenly, a determined glint in her eyes. “I need someone who can handle Dick without getting intimidated.  Even better if they can give the attitude back.  Someone Jason likes.  Someone who I can talk to.  Someone who makes me feel better just by being around.  Someone who I can see a future with.”  Her eyes landed on Roy, her eyes running over his face as if to memorize it, like she hadn’t already.  The determination fled from her eyes.  “Someone who wants me,” she added quietly, almost morosely, looking away in defeat.

Roy froze as he listened to her words.  The wrench in his hand almost fell as his lungs forgot how to move.  His eyes flicked over to her from the corner of his eye.  “It’s hopeless,” she finished.  “I’ll never find anything like that.”

Roy groaned and threw his wrench down.  He raked his hands through his hair and spun to look at her. “Why did you come here, Marinette?”

Marinette blinked at him, caught short at the question.  “What?”

“Why did you come here?” he repeated.  He took a step closer to her.  “Why did you come to me?”

Marinette furrowed her brows, not having expected the hostility rolling off him.  She fought the urge to back away from him.  “What do you mean why did I come to you?  I always come to you.”

He huffed out a breath and shook his head disbelievingly.  “Why do you think that is?  That you come to me?  That you always come to me.  Why do you think that is?”

“I think ‘that is’ because…” she shook her head in confusion, “because you know me better than anyone else.  Because you always make me feel better whether I’m sad or happy, I always feel better after spending time with you.”

He took another few steps closer to her, looming over her even from several feet away.  His eyes were glinting with something she couldn’t identify.  “And what does that mean to you?  That you say I know you better than anyone else.  That I always make you feel better.  What do you think that means?”

“I think it means I trust you.  I think it means you’re my best friend,” she shouted back.  She took a beat before realizing what she said and how loudly she had said it.  “Do NOT tell Alya or Adrien.”  She cocked her head to the side as she rethought that, “Actually, just Alya.  You can tell Adrien.”  After he delighted in telling Roy that story about how she had sent him looking all over London for constipation medicine, she was just fine with Roy saying Adrien wasn’t her best friend, even if they both knew it wasn’t true.

Roy shook his head and dropped it back, eyes squeezed shut tight and let out a pained groan.  “You can’t keep doing this to me, Marinette.  You have to make a decision.”

Marinette stared, utterly perplexed.  “What do you mean?  What am I doing to you?  What are you talking about?  I thought… I thought we were friends…”

Roy let out a strained chuckle.  “Friends don’t find themselves leaning toward each other every time they’re within three feet of one another.  Friends don’t get jealous when the other smiles at someone else.  Friends don’t threaten other friends for telling embarrassing stories in front of their ‘friend’.”  He took a step closer to her again, moving into her space, his face close enough to hers that she could feel his breath, no longer looming, this time comforting as he lifted his hands to gently caress her face.  “Friends don’t find any excuse they can find to touch one another.  Friends don’t get lost staring at each other’s mouths.  Friends don’t blush when the other is this close,” he said pointedly brushing her cheek.

“Roy…”

He took a step back, dropping his hands to his side.  “You can’t keep making me think we could be more, giving me hope, then pretend like it’s not happening.  You can’t describe me as who you should date and then pretend like I don’t exist.”

“I didn’t describe you,” she insisted, desperation and confusion edging into her voice.  “I didn’t. I said someone who likes me.  You don’t like me… not like that.”

“I don’t…” he stared at her in exasperation. “I risked my life for you! I almost died for you!  A lot,” he yelled before pausing.  “We should really talk about how often your life is in danger.”

“Oh please, you almost die for everyone.  I’m not special.”  She waved her hand dismissively and turned away from him as if she thought the conversation was over.

He opened his mouth to object but snapped it closed.  He was a superhero.  It was literally his job to risk his life for people.  But it had always been different when she was the one he was risking it for. It had always seemed more justified, more valid.  He accepted that he could lose his life saving someone else, but he’d happily give his life to save her.  “You are special,” he stated quietly.

“No,” she insisted, shaking her head in denial. “No, you said.  You said, more than once, you said you weren’t interested in me.”

“I lied,” he yelled throwing his hands out in frustration.

“You never lie to me,” she said slowly, her voice suddenly small.  “You don’t. Not about the things that matter.”

“I only lie about the things that matter.  About the things I can't bear to lose.  I only lie about you.”  He stepped closer and gently cupped her face with his hands.  “Honestly, you're so special to me.  You always have been.  I’ve been here pining for you since the day I met you.  I’ve been reveling in every laugh, every smile, every sigh.  I’ve been trying to be there for you when your sighs turned sad and your smiles turned into frowns.  All the while trying to keep a respectable distance because you wanted to be friends when I’ve been desperate to kiss you for almost a year now.  But what I want most, what I need, is for you to be happy.

“But it doesn’t matter what I need.”  He stepped back again, drawing his hands away with him. His heart stuttered when Marinette seemed to follow his hands before rocking back on her heels again.  “What matters is how you feel; what you want.” Her brows furrowed as she looked down to consider her words.  Roy hooked a finger under her chin, prompting her to look up to meet his eyes.  “So, Fire Flower, what do you want?  What is it you need?”  His voice was deep and low, but light enough not to pressure her.

Marinette’s gaze was caught under the weight of his, she couldn’t have looked away if she wanted to, which she didn’t.  His gaze was heavy and darkened, causing her heart rate to speed up the longer she stared at him.  She waited a beat too long to respond and Roy started to pull his hand away in understanding.

The movement spurred Marinette into action.  She lurched forward, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him to her as she arched into him until her face was a few centimeters from his, her breath fanning across his face.  “I want you,” she said quietly, meeting his eyes with a look of sincere desperation.  “I want this. I need you.”

He was stunned by the admission, frozen and unsure how to respond to hearing the words he’d been dreaming of her saying since he met her, until her soft lips met his, pressing insistently.  He wasted no time matching her fervor, taking advantage when she parted her lips.  His entire body thrummed when her hands started moving, running down his back and up his arms back up to his neck and caressing his jaw.  He pulled her closer, needing more; more contact, more skin, more emotion.  He ran his hands down to her thighs, lifting them up to set her on the edge of the vehicle hood and nestling himself between her legs.

She pulled away after a while, resting her forehead against his as she struggled to catch her breath.  When she finally opened her eyes again, his were already looking at her, a look of awe radiating from him.  She smiled brightly before she began to giggle.  The laughter was contagious, Roy joining her after a few seconds, his smile as bright as hers.  Marinette’s eyes flicked down to his lips.  She pulled her lower lip between her teeth and let him pull her back off the hood, allowing her to slide down his body until her feet landed solidly on the ground.  He shoved the bonnet closed and lifted her back up onto it.  “Safer,” he murmured against her lips.

Marinette grinned and wrapped one hand around the back of his neck and into his hair.  She pulled him toward her again but paused just before he reached her lips, looking suddenly very serious.  “But we can’t tell Dick about this.”

Roy barked out a laugh and shook his head.  “Oh, definitely not,” he agreed readily before kissing her deeply.

For you @izanae  Hope it makes you smile

[blackroserelina]

Is there any story where Marinette is related to Dick? Like she's his child or sister. I would really like to read some stories like that right now.

[meduarts]

Secretary!Marinette AU Masterlist

Well, lots of people like this au, and I have made many contents for this au alone and I think it's enough to make a master list! So here we go.

Fanfiction:

Managing Life [1][2][3][4]

Fanart:

Marinette & Batfam Doodle Dump

Marinette & Damian Doodle Dump

Marinette & Dick Doodle Dump

Marinette & Dick art

Marinette & Bruce Doodle Dump

'Get Help' Comic

Prompts:

How It Started

Expanding The Idea

Secretary! Marinette AU Part 2

Secretary! Marinette AU Part 3

Secretary! Marinette AU Part 4

Secretary! Marinette AU Part 8

Secretary! Marinette AU Part 9

Scenarios:

Bruce and Mari

Mari and Joker

[maribat-media]

Maribat Media Poll Sunday: #0

This is the official start of a new standard for this blog. Weekly polls!

These polls will be just about anything you can think of.

They will be centered around Maribat, if that was not already clear, but feel free to leave some polls you would like to see either in the replies, reblog, or an ask!

Note: If you leave it in an ask, please specify that it is a poll request.

Here's a 'mini' poll to start us off! (check below line)

If you have any pairing that is a rare pair, poly ship or bio parent that got you into the fandom, shoot that relationship out! Do so however you feel comfortable (in tags or reblog)

Extra Special Challenge: If you happen to remember the exact piece (fic, artwork, drabble, incorrect quote) or the author/creator of the piece, give them a shootout in a reblog of this!

Alternative to Special Challenge: If you can't remember who/what you got you into the fandom, shootout the creators or friends that have helped instead!

[mochinek0]

Do you have a list for all your other mari bat works

I only have 3 right now. I am working on other Maribat one shots. Dickinette, Jasonette, Bio!Dad Bruce Wayne, Platonic Daminette, sibling Maribat, and Felinette incoming.

Dinner with Destiny

The Al Ghul Family

I Could be a Better Boyfriend

[verymuchimmortalcat]

Dick: I’ve never seen anyone look so cute and ridiculous at the same time.

Marinette: *hanging upside down off her bed, glaring at her sketch book* Rot in hell, Dick.

Dick: *dramatic gasp* My baby sister swears!

Marinette: *rolls her eyes* Shut up. You’re only three years older. And we have like 20 siblings. Go call Damian a baby.

Dick: *pouts* He tried to stab me last time.

Marinette: Good. You deserve it.

Dick: No one appreciates me in this house.

Marinette: I love and appreciate you but if you don’t get out of my room this second you should know that I know where Damian keeps his knives.

[fleursroses]

I posted 141 times in 2022

That's 16 more posts than 2021!

40 posts created (28%)

101 posts reblogged (72%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@fleursroses

@pomsicles

@littleinkling64

@hamsternamedmarinette

@scarlixy

I tagged 59 of my posts in 2022

#maribat - 32 posts

#mlb x dc - 29 posts

#dc x mlb - 29 posts

#maridami - 17 posts

#daminette - 16 posts

#marinette x damian - 16 posts

#platonic jasonette - 7 posts

#jasonette - 6 posts

#maridick - 6 posts

#dickinette - 5 posts

Longest Tag: 121 characters

#anyway fun fact! this is actually the work i'll post when i hit 200 followers! it's not quite ready but i'm getting there

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Marinette: Excuse me sir, have you ever been arrested?

Damian: Yes.

Marinette:

Marinette: I was going to say "because it’s illegal to be that cute" but now I’m curious.

Damian: Aggravated assault.

348 notes - Posted January 9, 2022

#4

Damian, on the phone with Marinette: He’s in the kitchen again…

Tim, reading a recipe: “Beat three eggs.” At what? Hand to hand combat?

Marinette: GET. HIM. OUT.

503 notes - Posted February 23, 2022

#3

Marinette: We all have our demons

Marinette, grabbing Damian: This one's mine

540 notes - Posted January 19, 2022

#2

Marinette: So.

Marinette: I'm in love.

Marinette: With Damian.

Marinette: I'm in love with Damian.

Jason:

Jason: Our Damian?

Marinette: Yes?

Marinette: ...thoughts?

Jason: And prayers.

840 notes - Posted January 2, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Dick: Let's play a game. I call it "Mari or Titus'. I tell you something I've heard Damian say, and you have to guess whether he said it to his wife or his dog

Jason: Okay, that's easy

Dick: First up: "I would die for you"

Jason, under his breath: Fuck

899 notes - Posted February 20, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[marauderundercover]

Found Family: pt 3

Prev

Standing in front of the door, Dick steals a glance at Marinette. He stifles a laugh as she huffs, moving her bangs out of her face without using her hands (which were currently holding onto her crutches). Before he can tease her about it, the door swings open and Alfred smiles at them.

“Hello there.” He says, stepping to the side to let them in. Dick grins.

“Hiya Alfred.” Dick says, watching his kid to make sure she doesn’t trip using her crutches. Once she’s successfully inside, Dick gestures to her. “Alfred, meet Marinette. Marinette, meet Alfred Pennyworth.” Marinette smiles.

“Hi, Mr. Pennyworth. It’s nice to meet you.” She says, her voice more timid than he was used to. Alfred smiles.

“You may call me Alfred, Miss Marinette. It’s lovely to finally meet you. Though I do wish Master Dick would have brought you by sooner.” He says. Marinette winces.

“Oh, I’m sorry-” She tries to say, but Dick cuts her off.

“It’s not your fault, kid. You didn’t know.” He says gently. She smiles at him, but he can see it’s forced. God, he hopes bringing her wasn’t a mistake. He didn’t wanna hurt the poor kid any more than she already was.

“Master Dick is quite right, Miss Marinette. I apologize for making you believe otherwise. If you’ll both follow me to the family room, dinner should be ready in forty five minutes.” Alfred says, walking just ahead of them, but slow enough that Marinette didn’t have to rush with her crutches.

“Is it too late to back out now?” Marinette asks quietly. Dick stops walking, and she does too. He looks into her face, and notices how worried she looks.

“It’s not too late, kiddo. Say the word and we’re out of here.” He reassures her. Alfred pauses and looks back at them, but Dick shakes his head slightly. This was something he had to take care of. Marinette frowns, looking conflicted.

“It’s not that I don’t want to meet your family, it’s just-” She pauses, her frown deepening. “What if they don’t like me?” She asks. Dick shrugs.

“If they don’t like you, it’s their loss.” He says, though he knows his family will love her. Well, Damian may be a little cautious, but he probably wouldn’t be downright mean. Probably.

“But if they don’t like me…” She trails off and it suddenly clicks. Pulling her into a hug, Dick lets his chin rest on her head as she leans into him.

“I’m not leaving you, Mari. You don’t have to worry about that.” He says softly. She breathes in deeply, and then exhales slowly. Dick pulls away slightly, giving her a small smile. “Do you still want to leave? I’m good at making escapes.” He offers. She grins, and shakes her head, looking far more relaxed than she had earlier.

“I can do this.” She says firmly. Dick grins.

“There’s the Mari I know!” He cheers, gesturing forward. “After you, kiddo.” He says with a small bow. She laughs, but crutches forwards. Everything would work out.

---

Dick glances at Marinette as she drops into the seat next to his. For some reason, Bruce and his brothers had decided not to show up until right as dinner was starting. So now they got to have the awkward introductions while everyone should be focused on eating. He just hoped that no one would press any of the hard subjects during dinner.

“So, Dickiebird adopted you?” Jason asks, glancing at Marinette before scooping some pasta onto his plate. Marinette frowns, shaking her head.

“Er, no. He’s just, um, he’s kind of my adult when I need a parent at school.” She says, her cheeks reddening. Damian raises an eyebrow.

“And why is that?” He asks.

“Mostly cause I’m the only cop she knows and a guy at school was acting like a creep towards her.” Dick jumps in, grinning at his kid. Marinette’s shoulders relax and she snorts.

“He still won’t talk to me. Mr. Jameson tried to stick us together in biology and Dylan literally screamed no. It was fantastic.” Marinette says with a grin. Dick raises an eyebrow.

“I thought the teachers weren’t trying to pair you two up after I talked to them about it?” He says. Marinette huffs.

“You know how Mr. Jameson is.” She grumbles under her breath. Dick frowns.

“Do I need to go talk to him again? I told them why I didn’t want the two of you paired up. Dylan was harassing you just a few months ago.” He says, already running through plans in his head. He’d assumed the teachers were on his side about this. After all, Dylan apparently regularly caused trouble at school. And Marinette didn’t. And it was a case of previous harassment, even if Dylan wouldn’t dare try anything now.

“Hold up, some punks been messing with you?” Jason asks. Dick glances at him, unsurprised to see slight anger on his brother’s face. He always had hated when people wouldn’t take ‘no’ as a full answer. Marinette shrugs.

“Not really, anymore. Ever since Da- Dick. Ever since Dick intimidated him, Dylan’s tried to stay away from me.” She says. Jason glances at him, raising an eyebrow. Dick shrugs. As far as his family needed to know, Officer Grayson was plenty intimidating to a teenage boy. They definitely didn’t need to know that Nightwing had also had a conversation with the punk after Dick spotted him harassing Marinette at the bus stop.

“Well if anyone else tries to mess with you, make sure they know Dickhead over here isn’t the only one willing to punch a shithead for you.” Jason says, taking a bite of pasta. Alfred sighs.

“Master Jason, while the sentiment is appreciated, I do ask that you refrain from using language like that unless you wish to contribute to the swear jar.” He says, shaking his head. But Dick can see the slight smile on Alfred’s face. Jason always had been Alfred’s favorite, despite his occasional mouth. Marinette giggles, and Dick can’t help but smile too. Mission give Marinette more family (no matter how annoying they could get), was a success.

Permanent tag list: @stainedglassm @kittenmywaythrulife @laydeekrayzee @doll246 @queenz-z @deathssilentapproach-blog @literaryhiraeth @unoriginalmess @crazylittlemunchkin  

Story tag list: @aespades @nerd-nowandforever @adrestar @twsssmlmaa @hammalammadamdam  @its-maemain

[soulmate-game]

Yes, I know AO3 is back up. But I gotta finish what I started.

—*—*—*—*—*

The Heroes’ Game

Prev ….. Next.

Chapter 2:

“There has to be a way to turn this off,” Marinette seemed to be talking mostly to herself. After the bat boys made sure the three traffickers were picked up, they relocated Marinette to the empty rooftop of a building they owned. Not that she knew that, but it was the best way to insure nobody came up to see them. The smaller girl was pacing, despite the disorientation that came with seeing herself pace as she paced. Robin seemed to feel that same disorientation, rubbing his forehead in what could have been pain but was probably annoyance as well.

Batman and Nightwing could only watch as words tumbled out of the girl’s mouth faster than they could comprehend all of them. It was such an odd sight; a silent Robin brooding in place and rubbing his temples while the small Asian girl in pigtails rambled and paced.

They could hardly believe they were soulmates, but if Robin hadn’t denied it yet then it had to be true.

“At least it isn’t a physical mark,” Batman managed to interject into Marinette’s panic. She looked up at him, instantly cutting off her verbal vomit. “But how about you two explain exactly what your mark is so we can understand?”

“Yeah, don’t leave us hanging,” Nightwing agreed with a smile. Sure, it was incredibly inconvenient and not at all ideal for one of them to meet their soulmate in uniform. But, none of them exactly had a say in that. The best they could do was roll with the punches and Nightwing wasn’t gonna let a little right hook from Fate keep him down for long.

“It’s annoying,” Robin surprisingly answered first, lowering his hand to cross his arms over his broad chest again. Marinette turned to him, just then realizing that Robin hadn’t looked away from her for longer than a few seconds since their bond had first formed. “Our vision is cut in half, like a two-player game screen. One side is my usual point of view, the other side is the point of view through her eyes.”

Batman and Nightwing tensed, processing. Marinette didn’t notice, considering she had narrowed her focus back onto the concrete of the roof below her and decided to contribute to the explanation.

“I think that’s exactly what it is,” she agreed, unknowingly making everyone look over at her. “I didn’t notice it before, but— look, Robin. In the bottom left hand corners,” she pointed to something only Robin and herself could see. “It says Player One and Player Two. In red and—oh, those are hearts instead of colons.”

“So much for hoping this was at least platonic,” Batman groaned, running a hand over his face. He was happy that Robin had a match, sure, but that didn’t exactly make things easy. Nothing to do with superheroes and their soulmates was easy.

“I think…” Marinette narrowed her eyes as she focused on the red font. The spot after the colon had a flashing cursor. “I think it’s waiting for us to introduce ourselves,” she looked up to her newly found soulmate with expectation. He avoided meeting her eyes, and said nothing. Puffing out her cheeks, Marinette decided not to be put off by his behavior and straightened her spine. Taking several confident steps forward, she held out her hand to him. “Hello, Robin. My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, and I am from Paris, France. My class and I are here on a month-long field trip thanks to one of us winning the Wayne Enterprises scholastic competition last month.”

“Wait a second,” Nightwing interjected, eyes narrowed behind his mask. “Are you being humble? Because the guest speaker at the Wayne Gala at the end of the month is the winner of that competition and her name has already been released as Mari—“

Cue the frantic arm waving and full face blush. “Ah-Ah-Ah yeah, that’s me. But I don’t like to brag, so I didn’t want to say it! You know, I didn’t want to come off as full of myself or a-anything. It’s really embarrassing having to make a speech,” Marinette’s head dropped at the reminder. “Ohhhh, I’m gonna make a total fool out of myself! I should tell Monsieur Wayne I’m not comfortable making a speech. Yeah— oh, but how could I possibly just say; ‘sorry, Mister Wayne, But I am a chronic clutz prone to embarrassing myself and think that making a speech at one of your galas would be a huge mistake,’ oh I sound so lame—”

“Hey,” Robin’s voice cut through the rambling, and Marinette looked up. “Look. It has your name after Player One now. Stop thinking about useless things and focus on how to shut this off. Soulmate or not, we can’t have you finding out who we all are after only a day.”

Nightwing walked over and threw an arm over Robin’s shoulders, even though the older male was still focusing on Marinette out of the corner of his eye. Most people would be offended by the way Robin spoke, blunt and sharp at the same time. But Marinette hadn’t started rambling again, instead the girl stood calmly. Her breaths came slow and regular once more, and her eyes held a scarily familiar focus. Maybe they really do belong together. Huh. Who would have thought his soulmate would be so adorable? And humble. Kind of a mess though, but a cute mess. “Hey, the girl introduced herself and you didn’t even shake her hand. Come on, fill in your name Player

Two!”

Robin scowled. He had already deduced that being Player Two was likely due to the fact that Marinette had been the one to initiate the contact that awakened their soul bond. Didn’t mean he liked being second in any respect. His soulmate was also a wreck. All the rambling and random switches in and out of panic. It was aggravating, but…

But he watched the stern focus in her eyes as she thought about how to temporarily shut down the connection they had. And he had been watching her the whole time. Analyzing her body language. She was easy to rile up, sure, but her panic was never all consuming. Robin could see that her feet always remained firmly planted, her stance fluid and firm. She was always ready to defend herself, whether she knew it or not, regardless of the surface-level panic she might have been experiencing. Even after only twenty or so minutes of interaction, Robin could tell that Marinette Dupain-Cheng was not a 2-D character. She was layered, with secrets and complexities that he was willing to bet few people saw or knew about. Maybe that’s why he walked over to her, and extended a hand that she readily grasped after a brief moment of disbelief.

“... I’m Robin.”

He watched the twitch of her eyebrow in exasperation, hiding his amusement under a perfectly developed poker face. The writing on the bottom of his POV’s side filled in; PLAYER TWO: ROBIN.

“Great,” Marinette deadpanned, looking very unamused. “What if that never changes, huh? I’m not asking you to reveal your identity or anything. Soulmates or not, you don’t owe me something that important. Especially not right away. But you could have at least given me the first letter of your real name or something.”

“You’ll have to earn that,” Robin retorted with a cocky grin. To his pleasant surprise, Marinette responded by cracking her knuckles.

“You know, this layout looks suspiciously similar to a combat video game,” she hinted heavily. Robin adjusted his stance and his smirk widened into a grin.

“Oh? You’re right. Ready to lose?”

“No,” Batman interrupted, one heavy hand suddenly on both of their shoulders as the teenage soulmates snapped out of the challenging connection they had made. “Not today. Miss Dupain-Cheng—“

“Just Marinette, please, Monsieur Batman.”

“... Marinette. You said your class left you behind at the hotel, right? Any idea where they would be now?”

Marinette pulled out her phone to look at the time, frowning. “It’s been about an hour. They’ll probably stay at the museum for another hour, and then they said we would all get dinner at the restaurant across the street.”

Batman nodded, filing that information away. “Good. Then we have about an hour for the two of you to figure out your bond before we need to drop you off in front of the restaurant to rejoin your class.”

“And have a chat with your teacher about taking roll call and properly taking care of her students while in the most dangerous city in the world,” Nightwing agreed, furious at the fact that any student would be left behind to potentially wander such a dangerous city, like Marinette did. Though, considering who her soulmate was, she probably only felt safe to wander due to confidence in her ability to protect herself. Confidence that they all saw was fairly valid.

That being decided, the two soulmates sat down. Batman, knowing it was unnecessary for both him and Nightwing to watch over the teens, left to resume patrol. Nightwing stayed. Someone had to watch the teen’s backs as they focused on figuring out their bond.

And that led to Marinette and Robin both sitting cross-legged and staring at one another without a clue about what to do. After a minute of silent staring, Marinette shifted and her nose scrunched up.

“Uh,” she said as she was struck with her usual timidity at the awkward situation. Here she was, sitting and trying to figure out her soul bond with a guy she just met. One of Gotham’s heroes, no less, which really was more of a relief than anything. At least he would understand her once she eventually revealed herself as Ladybug to him, and she understood him. She shifted her weight again, unable to move her gaze from Robin’s emerald green eyes. “How about we just… start by meditating? That should help, right?” She watched as his green eyes widened slightly in disbelief, and saw herself fidget again from his point of view.

“You meditate?” He asked, clearly not having expected that. Marinette sighed, relaxing into the change in conversation.

“Yeah. I mean, most of Paris meditates now. When your emotions can be used to turn you into a temporary supervillain because of a crazed maniac with a magic artifact, you tend to look for ways to manage your emotions and keep yourself from being vulnerable.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Nightwing asked, and Marinette could tell that he was shocked even despite the mask. “What are you talking about?”

It was Marinette’s turn to be confused, her brows furrowing as she looked between the two males and realized mon dieu, neither of them know what I’m talking about!

“Oh my god,” she said in English. “Paris, we’ve been attacked by a supervillain for the last three years,” she said slowly, but still no recognition. In fact, that only seemed to shock the heroes more. Marinette’s face grew more grim as she decided to completely fill them in. “Three years ago, one of my classmates randomly turned into a huge rock monster. Because of it, Paris’s primary two heroes showed up for the first time to defeat him. When he turned back into a normal boy, the true villain projected himself in front of the Eiffel Tower. His name is HawkMoth. He got hold of a magical artifact called a Miraculous. His Miraculous allows him to corrupt something, in his case butterflies, and use that corrupted object to take advantage of people experiencing negative emotions. His corrupted object takes advantage of those negative emotions to turn the person into a supervillain, giving them powers and essentially brainwashing them into causing havoc. He bargains with them, convincing them that he’ll allow them to get their revenge in exchange for them bringing him what he wants,” Marinette took a breath. “The Miraculous That the two heroes of Paris use. It’s where the get their own powers,” she explained. “Ladybug, the leader, uses the Ladybug Miraculous. It holds the power of creation. Her partner, Chat Noir, uses the cat Miraculous, which holds the power of destruction. If you combine the powers of those two Miraculous, you can make a wish. They will literally manipulate reality in order to grant the wish,” Marinette looked down to her lap, clenching her hands into fists. Through her soul bond with Robin, she could see herself trembling in anger. “But it always comes with a price. The Miraculous uphold the balance of the world. If they grant a wish, they will also balance that wish. If you, for example, wish for the cure to an illness,” Marinette swallowed, “then maybe you will unleash a brand new illness that gets brought to your city by rats and wipes out around forty percent of the population in Europe.”

“The Black Plague,” Nightwing gasped. “That was from a wish made using these— Miraculous?”

Marinette nodded gravely. “Yes. A wish has also caused the sinking of Atlantis, the wipe out of most of the Native American population in North America from illness, it was the final straw to begin the First World War. You cannot make a wish without consequences,” she stressed. “That is why Ladybug and Chat Noir work so hard to keep their Miraculous away from HawkMoth. But they haven’t been able to discover his identity yet. Nobody has,” Marinette’s shoulders slumped. “Which means Paris can only endure as it gets hit every few days by a new supervillain and new powers. Luckily, one of Ladybug’s power is the ability to reverse any damage that happens due to a Miraculous. It will completely reverse environmental damage, magical effects, injuries, even deaths that occurred from misuse of a Miraculous,” Marinette didn’t notice how both men stiffened at that last admission. “But the most we can do is try to police our emotions as much as possible, keep ourselves from being overcome by negative emotions for very long, so that Hawk Moth doesn’t have the chance to use us. Thus, meditation.”

Silence reigned for a long moment before Nightwing punched the concrete under him, making Marinette jump. What—?

“How did we not know?” The older hero growled, making Marinette’s eyes shoot wide open. Huh?

“You really never heard about this?” She asked cautiously, frowning. “Ladybug called the Justice League for help back when this all first started, but she was waved off as if it was all a prank. She tried again later, only to get the same treatment. I thought you would have at least heard about that.”

Nightwing and Robin both shook their heads. “No,” the older of the two refuted. “Nobody from the League told any of us about a prank call, and usually we’d hear about that. Not many people risk prank calling the heroes of the world, after all. And that doesn’t explain how international news never covers that. Even if the effects are reversed, you’d think someone would report about villains in Paris.”

“Someone does,” Marinette said, tilting her head. “The Ladyblog used to be the only one, you can find it online. It started out as a really trustworthy source of information on everything happening in Paris with its heroes and Akumas—Which is what the temporary villains are called. But lately, the Ladyblog has been…” Marinette’s face twisted into a scowl. “...not the most reliable news source. But Ladybug herself started a new news app, AkumaWatch, that most of Paris has downloaded by now,” Marinette pulled out her phone to show them. Pulling the app up, she turned the screen so they could see. “This tab holds footage of past or currently occurring attacks. This tab holds resources for calming techniques, and sources for therapy or other emotional aid for anyone who needs it. This tab has self defense techniques and the location of all the Akuma Shelters in the city so people can evacuate as quickly as possible. And this tab,” she clicked on the second to last one, “is for anyone who sees an Akuma, which looks like a corrupt purple butterfly, to take a picture of it. This allows the Akuma Alert to narrow down the area that the attack begins in, so that people know where to avoid most,” she explained. “The last tab is for any PSAs or other public statements that any of Paris’s heroes or public figures have to say about the attacks.”

“You know a lot about this,” Robin mused slowly, Marinette fully aware of how his gaze remained on her face as she closed the app and put her phone away. Robin was equally aware of how she stubbornly looked anywhere other than his face. Marinette shrugged.

“I helped make the app. Besides, Ladybug occasionally lands on my terrace and we’ll talk when she doesn’t have something better to do. I wouldn’t say we’re friends, exactly, but I think she just likes having someone other than her teammates to talk to about everything with,” Marinette rubbed the back of her neck and smiled sheepishly. “I’m a pretty good listener.”

Robin and Nightwing traded glances, before they both looked back at her.

“Okay…” Robin said slowly. “Let’s try meditation.”

Eager to get away from the previous topic, Marinette easily agreed and both teens adjusted their posture, got comfortable, and closed their eyes.

As usual both of their visions went completely black, but only for a moment. Once they had both sunk into their meditation, their vision came back to show them in what they immediately, intrinsically knew was a shared mindspace.

No longer was their vision cut in half like a game. Instead they saw only from their own point of view, like normal, which was disorienting in and of itself after half an hour of seeing from two points of view at the same time.

The mindspace was mostly white, and it seemed to go on forever. But there were things there. Everything that belonged to Marinette was on pink space, like the floor or sometimes walls and ceiling of the area around that object decided to create a small piece of solidity to emphasize it. Solidity that happened to come in the form of pink. Pink floor in a patch of space, or a cube of pink floor, wall, and patch of ceiling. Likewise, the spots that belonged to Robin were backdropped by green. And the. There were spots that merged both colors, indicating that it was shared.

Like the giant sparring mat in the center of the room, where the floor beneath and around it was an attractive swirl of pink and green as if the two colors chased one another, creating a design that seemed wholly and completely right. Belonging just to Robin, though Marinette was able to walk over and gently run her hands over them, was a rack of weapons—primarily swords. There was also a couch, a computer, a large bookshelf, a wall of batarangs, and a TV that they apparently shared just like the sparring mat.

Amongst the pink items were things like a kitchen— a whole, fully stocked kitchen— a sewing station and matching rack of fabric, a computer of her own, a few potted plants, and a loft bed.

After taking the time to absorb their surroundings, Robin turned to Marinette to find, with relief, that they were both dressed exactly as they were in the physical world. Marinette wasted no time heading over to the shared television, a large flat screen, and sat down on the ground in front of Robin’s green-backdropped couch.

“What are you doing?” The boy asked in exasperation as Marinette turned on the piece of technology. “This isn’t the time to play around. We’re trying to figure out how to control this bond,” he reminded her. Marinette nodded, not looking back at him.

“That’s exactly what I’m doing. Look, our vision mimicked a video game, right? So where better to find clues than the mysterious TV in our mindspace. I mean, it technically doesn’t actually exist, since this isn’t the physical world, so it won’t have any normal channels or shows on it. The TV is connected to our minds. What better place to look for— I knew it!” She shouted in glee. Sure enough, when Robin walked up to her and sat down on the sofa that belonged to him, he saw it. The screen of the TV was split in half, but both sides were dark. In the bottom left of each side of the screen were the very familiar red words and heart-colons;

PLAYER ONE: MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG

PLAYER TWO: ROBIN

The TV showed the view from their eyes. It was the link between their mindspace and their vision in the real world.

“Okay…” Robin mused slowly, reaching forward to grab the green controller on the stand that held the TV. Marinette grabbed the matching pink controller. “So this works like a video game, after all.”

“At least partially,” his soulmate agreed. “It’s mostly a mind link, right? We share a mindspace, which isn’t too odd for soulmates,” even if it was on the rarer side of the spectrum, “But it looks like our minds are even connected through our physical vision. Here, let’s see if this game of life has any instructions,” the girl pressed the center button on her controller, which pulled up an Options tab on the screen. “Yes!”

“Here, let’s look at the list of controls,” Robin suggested, clicking the appropriate option on the screen. The “game title” was boasted in bright red at the top of the “controls” list;

Soul Team.

Marinette’s eyes widened at the title. “Oh,” she said, her voice surprisingly quiet. “It’s… like it’s saying that we’re each other’s backup, no matter what,” her soft voice echoed in the room, striking an odd chord in Robin. “We can always see when the other person is in danger, or what they’re facing, and go to help.”

“Look at this,” Robin pointed to one of the “controls” lines near the top. “Switch vision mode between Split Screen, Audio Only, Personal Mode, or Sleep Mode. It looks like we can only switch modes here, in the Mindspace,” he pointed out as he read. “We don’t have to agree on the setting, but aside from Sleep Mode, Which activates automatically when we fall asleep, any mode one of us chooses still affects us both.”

“Audio only just lets us hear what is going on around the other person,” Marinette read, humming in thought. “We can use that as a step two, right? Like, we can start on Personal Mode, where we only have our own Point of Views, but once we get more comfortable we can switch to audio mode every now and then.”

“Maybe,” Robin agreed reluctantly. Audio mode shouldn’t be too bad… possibly. Once again, his green eyes strayed to his soulmate. Completely unaware, for the first time in a half hour, of his stare, Marinette just continued reading about everything their soul bond entailed.

Analyzing her like this, Robin was just… calmed, in a way. Visually, Marinette was pretty. She had gorgeous sapphire eyes, clear like a pristine lake, and midnight black hair that shimmered blue in the right lighting. Sure, it was pulled into childish pigtails at the base of her neck, but it didn’t seem to detract from the surprising maturity in the girl’s posture. She was clearly a childish person at heart, and easy to excite if their interactions thus far were anything to go off of, but there was a hidden maturity there. A hidden knowledge, amongst her many subtle layers and complexities.

Perhaps that was the first similarity that Robin noticed between the two of them. She had what seemed like a very straightforward personality at first glance— the awkward, shy, clumsy, excitable girly girl, just like he was the cold, arrogant, mysterious bad boy on the surface. But she held more than that, secrets and deeper parts of herself that she kept hidden flawlessly. Robin doubted even her closest friends noticed much of what lies beyond the surface of her character.

“It seems like this bond is supposed to ease us into getting to know each other,” Marinette’s voice brought Robin out of his inner musings. “We can’t hear each other’s thoughts, no matter what, which is usually the feature that comes along with shared mindspaces. But we can adjust the level of privacy we allow one another, and we can meet here when we sleep. It’s less like the bond between gamers, and more like the bond is meant to act like an ice breaker. Like… an activity for us to get to know each other, almost.”

“Our soul bond is a team bonding activity,” Robin surmised in a deadpan tone, completely done with the logic of the universe and the way it liked to play with him. The laugh that Marinette let ring out only partially made up for his annoyance.

“Oui, Oui!” Marinette agreed emphatically before standing up frantically in realization. “Oh! I forgot to ask, do you speak French?”

Robin grinned and nodded. “I do, actually. I suppose that is at least convenient. My first language is Arabic, however. I don’t suppose you speak that, do you?”

Marinette’s shoulders slumped. “No. But I do speak Mandarin! And Cantonese, which is actually my first language. I’m still working on Mandarin, though. I’ve only been learning it for about two years, but I can hold a decent conversation.”

Damian nodded, tilting his head. “I am fluent in Mandarin, but my Cantonese can use some work. We can benefit each other in that respect, at least.”

“So we have plenty of languages to choose from!” Marinette said cheerfully, punctuating her words with an excited clap. “That should make it easy to keep people from eavesdropping on us all the time, at least. If we ever spoke to each other in front of my class, for example, Cantonese would be best to use. They all speak French, for obvious reasons, and several are fluent in English, and one of them is fluent in mandarin, but I don’t think any of them know Cantonese. After I help you get fluent, maybe you could teach me Arabic?”

And for the first time in Damian Wayne’s life, the sparkle of excitement in a girl’s eyes completely drained his will to argue. Grimacing, the boy agreed to teach her Arabic after they helped each other become fluent in the type of Chinese that they, respectively, needed help with.

This is a problem, Robin thought in despair. She’s already becoming a weakness.

—*—*—*—*—*

[abyssal-ali]

Ranking of maribat ships (again, only my opinion/preference, no hate)

All can be either romantic or platonic but I usually prefer romantic (with side platonics, optional)

Jasonette

Daminette

Jasonette with sibling Daminette/ Daminette with sibling Jasonette or Timinette

Timari/Timinette

Brucinette

Dickinette

Alfred x Marinette (I've never read an Alfred x Mari fanfic but I wrote a drabble once.) [I think the ship name should be NetteWorth]

[blackroserelina]

Old discord Idea I had

So I talked with people on discord a long time ago with this idea. I don’t remember who the people are but I forgot to post it on here. so here it is.

So I Had an idea not sure how it will work but this is it. Marinette and Dick are bio siblings and Mari is quite a few years younger than Dick. When their parents die they end up being separated Mari gets adopted by the Dupain-Chengs and Bruce takes in Dick. They agree to stay in contact somehow (mail, email, text, etc.). A few years later Mari became Ladybug is when Dick will notes her looking more stressed and tired. Dick would worry but Mari would wave it off as her new duty as class president and her getting more commissions. He would believe her but at the same time knows it isn't the full truth.

He finally will decide to find out what is going on when he starts seeing the same look in her eyes that the rest of his family has the look of someone who has seen too much. But he gets blocked every time he tries to find out what is going on and when he decides to just go to Pairs to see what's going on he finds out that there is a travel bane and can't go and not only that it seems the zeta tubes in and around Pairs are offline somehow.

 maybe Mari gets taken in by Tom and Sabine because of Gina? Like, she's friends with Haley or something, and she would've taken Dick too but he wanted to stay in Gotham to see justice done.

he goes to Tim or Barbara or both of them when he couldn't get in and find anything. I would believe he would have a better relationship with Jason than in cannon in the beginning since (I hope) he wouldn't blame Jason for taking Robin from him. Since he has Mari there to set him straight. 

but do you think he would go to one of them if he couldn't find anything on his own? and when they do you think that they would inform the rest of the family of what is happening in Pairs. what would Dick do when he finds out Mari is being bullied in school? would he be angry worried or something else?

I think Dick would definitely go to the others for help. He might start by asking Bruce about it, but if the JL shut off the zeta tubes I suspect Bruce will be like "sorry, I can bring your sister here but you can't go to her", and maybe he pitches that to Mari and she says she can't leave her commissions of something. So then Dick will go to his sibs, and he'll start doing stuff secretly, and I think that his sibs would help him. He might even enlist other friends/supers he knows, depending on what timeline you're using. And like. I'm pretty sure between him and his friends he'll find a way to sneak into Paris.

Is the travel ban just for supers or is it civilians too?

It would be for supers and any meta. I think that any metas in Pairs would have to leave till Hawkmoth is dealt with.

So what I'm hearing is that Dick could do something similar to what he did in YJ, and put together a circus act, and then he and anyone he decides to bring with him could sneak into France with Haley's or something...

ya, that could work and Mari could go to it without knowing Dick will be there. what if when Dick is there he sees an Akuma fight and during the fight Ladybug does something that makes Dick realizes who she is.

Maybe a type of flip or something with her yoyo that was their Mom's special move on the trapeze?

That would work! I mean, Tim pegged Dick as a Grayson by his quadruple somersault, Dick could def peg Mari over something similar. Especially if he was already kinda sus about the haunted look in her eyes and her obvious increase in stress.

ya, he would be sus but every time he would try to make the connection something would make it not fully connect and the veil that keep him from finding out would finally lift when he sees the flip that only a Grayson would know how to do and he would be questioning why he didn't make the connection sooner because he knows that she was somehow involved. maybe he thought she was one of the backup heroes. but now he can see how obvious Ladybug is his sister from what he has seen from her over the years this has been happening.

Later, when he finally gets the full story from her, all he can think is "fucking magic bullshit"

But would Bruce eventually find out what Dick did and what would he do? I can see Dick offering his and his friends to help Mari.

I think Bruce would find out eventually, but he would know that there's no way he could go to Paris safely. He's got too much anger for that to be safe. So instead he tries to get Dick to come back, and Dick is like "absolutely not", so then Bruce contacts Ladybug, and is like, "I'm sorry, but a bunch of young heroes violated your ban," but by that point, Dick and his friends have already talked to Mari and so she's like, "Thanks for the heads up Batman, but I already know and we've talked, they're fine."

ooo what would Dick do to Chat when he finds out how he treats her. always flirting and harassing her on and off the job.

I think for the sake of not getting akumatized he'd try not to get angry about it. Maybe start by saying, "Hey, look dude, you need to back off. What you're doing isn't okay, and this is why." And if that doesn't work he'll start running interference, just being in the way and third-wheeling. Whether or not Chat knows that Dick is LB's brother or if he thinks this new random hero is a rival, well, that's up to you. But I think that the minute Hawkmoth is done with Dick is gonna stop holding back, and if Chat's still harassing LB by then Dick's just gonna let him have it.

ya, I can see Dick doing that. I can't decide if Mari would let them be their hero selves in Pairs or if she would have them use a miraculous since no hero is supposed to be in Pairs besides miraculous users and if she does give them who gets what. (maybe he takes Tim with him. Idk if anyone else because the only other person I can think of that doesn't have powers is Roy and Idk if he would be good to take or not don't know much about him.)

Artemis could go, Tim and Steph could go, Roy...maybe? Like, it would depend on when he went, honestly, and I'm not sure there's a good time. Also, his storyline is a crazy mess because of timelines.

Zatanna could probably sneak in? Like, she's a magic user, yes, but that won't show up on any kind of test the Parisian authorities might run. And if they're already breaking the rules, well...  Also Z likes Dick and would therefore be willing to help however she could.

Zatanna could just portal in with her magic if there's not something blocking it

True! There might be tho if the JL shut off zeta tubes. They might have gotten Constantine to do something to contain magic.

Zatanna canonly has stronger magic than Constantine as far as I'm aware so he might not be able to do anything to stop her if the JL did get him to do something

Yes, Zatana is stronger, but Constantine has a wider range of skills Bc he goes further into dark magic

It would depend on how old Z is, I think. Idk the ages, but if she's a teenager I think Constantine would beat her just by experience.

Dick is already Nightwing

Oooo. In that case, Zatanna will probably be old enough to actually be in the JL, so in that case, she could maybe help Dick and his team disguise themselves or something but she probably wouldn't be able to actually go with that, that would mean going rogue.

[meduarts]

Managing Life (Part 2/?)

Summary: Marinette has been Audrey Bourgeois' secretary ever since she voiced out her dream of having her own business. Audrey thinks that she should learn more about the nooks and crannies of running a fashion business. However, fate has other plans for her, and honestly, what can our resident guardian could do to counter fate?

Disclaimer: I do not own MLB or DCU.

Pairings: Dick Grayson/Marinette Dupain-Cheng

Taglist: @timinette-is-bestbest, @peach-blueberry-pie, @tinybrie, @taewinterbear95, @its-maemain, @flyhighdreamer, @kokoroluna @kitsun3699 @lilfuturescarss @kaimodius @sinoffalsejudgement @night-ngale @laydeekrayzee @fauxnormal @stella17luna @plz-excuse-my-inner-gay @ae-vixrose (Tell me if you want to be a part of the taglist!)

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Bruce Wayne sighed heavily, he could feel a telltale headache coming from miles away. His personal assistant had given him a letter of notice and he had now just figured out how dependent he is on his assistant. Fortunately, he managed to beg, yes he had to beg, his assistant to wait until he could find someone to replace them.

Not to mention the death of his son, Jason, had hit him hard. He admits that he was too late but really what can he do? He wants to kill the Joker but that would mean going against his code. And killing the Joker wouldn't bring Jason back, no matter how much he wanted to bring him back.

Now, he has another son that somehow found out his identity and actually picked up the pieces and demands he takes the kid as the new Robin. Bruce is slowly moving on but the thought of his dead son is still a heartache that he wasn't sure would heal. Dick is trying his best but even he knows that the boy is falling apart.

He sighed heavily, he was tired and lost. Everything constant in his life is changing, slowly but surely and he is not ready. His head began to pound and he tried to soothe it by massaging the bridge of his nose.

His headache came again at the same time his phone rang and that almost made him whine. He picked up the call and cleared his throat. "This is Bruce Wayne speaking."

"Bruce darling! How are you on this fine evening?"

"Audrey...Why did you call?"

"Such coldness from you! Is Brucie Wayne a fake all this time? I'm hurt!"

Bruce groaned out, his head pounding like crazy, "I don't have time for this, Audrey. My assistant gave me their letter of notice days ago and I haven't found a replacement yet. If you have, Oh I don't know, a perfectly reliable assistant laying around in your office then I suggest we end this call because I am this close to breaking my phone for the tenth time."

She laughed at his misery. He could feel his eye twitch.

"I'm hanging up." Why he became friends with Audrey Bourgeois was always one of the many questions he has in his life. Somehow, the bossy blonde decided in Highschool that she would be friends with Bruce and she had stuck to that promise ever since. Honestly, Bruce has learned to not question the way of the universe.

"Wait!" She snorts and finally took a deep breath to compose herself.

"I might have answers for your predicament! My apprentice/assistant/secretary is looking for a new mentor! One that could teach her the ways of a big business should operate! Perhaps, I can introduce you to her!" She offered between her giggles.

Bruce frowned, to be completely honest he had done many interviews and none of the candidates is the perfect assistant that could replace them, he had nothing to lose. "I'm interested."

"Good, I'll schedule a dinner for the three of us at some point during your gala week."

"I hope you're not pranking me again. I had enough grievances lately that'll last a while."

Audrey laughed again at his misery. Why was he friends with this designer again? Right, she ordered him to be one.

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Marinette made sure that everything had been acquainted before she and Audrey leave Paris for the Wayne Gala. She made sure that the Secretaries of every division in the company know what was going to happen when she was gone for the week.

Fortunately for her, everyone in Style Queen respects her and her decision-making skills. How could they not? She was one of the reasons why Style Queen had been advancing at rapid speed during those 3 years when she became a permanent team member.

No messed up meetings, their profit margin had increased, their designs were always at the top of the chart, their galas were always a hit, and their fashion show had become one of the most awaited fashion shows in years, and to top it all off there has been zero firing and quitting during those 3 years. They didn't even need to pay for extra therapists for the emotional damage caused by Audrey!

A miracle? Yes. A blessing from the Gods? Definitely. Is Marinette the Messiah that the Style Queen company had been waiting for? Most Definitely.

Did the Style Queen employees made a cult to worship the ground that Marinette walks on? Allegedly.

Anyways, after confirming the things that needed to be done she called for a staff assembly and hand them folders as well as pdf files in USB about their schedule for the next week. She made sure that if anything happened in the company while she was away to immediately contact her.

Now, she stood in front of Audrey while listing off the things that should be done during their week in Gotham.

"Right Mme Bourgeois. our agenda during our week in Gotham is as follows, Monday, we'll check on our branch in Gotham, I also book that dinner with M Wayne at 7 p.m. Tuesday, we have a photoshoot in Gotham Garden, I also made sure to up the security in case the rogues decided to attack and a failsafe location outside Gotham so that we can continue our shoot peacefully.

Tuesday night will be your fitting for your gown and we will be doing that in your room. Wednesday will be reserved fully for the progress report with our company. Thursday will be reserved for the Wayne family fitting as well which will be done in the afternoon. I made sure to clear Friday and Saturday morning to afternoon. Saturday night is the gala and Sunday we will board the plane to Paris." Marinette finished while rechecking the schedule on her tablet.

"Fabulous! I know I can always count on you Marinette!" Audrey clapped her perfectly manicured hands and winked at her secretary.

"Of course, Are there any problems that you would like to point out from the schedule?"

"Non," Audrey answered nonchalantly. "So, Marinette. Have you made up your mind about what I said days ago?"

Marinette puts away her tablet and fixed the pink-rimmed horse kwami glasses that she decides to take today to match her outfit. "Actually, I did. You are right Madame, I need to spread my wings and take a leap of faith."

"Excellent! You will be coming to the dinner on Monday, yes?"

"I- Yes, you did order me to attend the dinner with M Wayne."

"Good! Now, have the rest of the day off! I shall see you tomorrow evening, yes?"

Marinette blinked slowly, "Yes, Madame. Uh... thank you." She bowed shortly and left the office without another word. She could actually feel that Audrey was planning something behind her back and she doesn't want to know what her plans were.

Well, a whole afternoon off, is a rare thing to occur. "Should I spend the rest of the day holed up in my apartment sketching or holed up in my regular cafe sketching?" She asked Kaalki who was hiding in her breast pocket.

"Why not take a stroll in the park? The weather is great today, Guardian!"

"An astounding idea! Let's go!" She cheered and made a brisk walk to her office. She packed up her things, say a few goodbyes to the staff that she met along the way, and left the building. She quickly made her way to a cafe nearby, bought herself a coffee strong enough that she was sure it could raise a dead body and walked to the park that Kaalki had mentioned.

There was an open seat near the park's walking trek and immediately bee-lined her way there, took out her sketchbook, and let the horse kwami make a comfortable perch on her lap. As the Great Guardian, she had managed to find the right spell to mask the kwami's presence with a layered illusion, even a former holder couldn't spot them since Marinette willed it so.

"So, Grand Guardian...Who is this Wayne person?"

Marinette hummed for a moment, trying to find the right answer. "Well, he's a businessman, he owns a multibillion company called the Wayne Enterprise, it has many branches across the world and they have many divisions as well, though none of them focuses on fashion. Which is unfortunate but I digress." She explained patiently.

"Whoaa, is he rich then??" Kaalki gushed excitedly.

"Well, he is a millionaire think he's going to be a billionaire soon. So yeah, I think you can call him rich."

The aristocratic kwami gasped loudly, "You should have him as your mentor! You could be a millionaire too!"

Marinette laughed merrily, "I don't think that's how it works but I'll consider that."

"Oh Guardian, I can already sense it! It must be fate! Perhaps you can even marry the man!"

The designer was drinking her coffee and spitting it out when she heard the kwami's excited ramble. She coughed a few times trying to regain her composure, "K-kaalki, that man is old enough to be my father! Besides, he has kids already!"

"What about his kids then?"

"A- K-kaalki! You will stay out of my romantic life! I-i can find a suitable person to date!"

Kaalki gave her a deadpanned look, "Yeah, uh-huh sure you do."

"Kaalkiii!!!" Marinette whined exasperatedly. "Can we please stop this conversation??"

The kwami just giggled and made themselves comfortable on her lap. Marinette huffed and rubbed her face tiredly, yeah she knows that her love life had been a disaster but she didn't need the little creature gods to butt in. She's perfectly fine on her own, sure it's lonely but if she has work to do it distracts her from feeling that loneliness.

Honestly, dating one of the Wayne kids. That's a laugh!

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Marinette sighed as she rolled her neck and heard a few pops from it. Traveling to Gotham is a pain in the ass and she hopes she doesn't have to do it again anytime soon. She had brought a couple of kwamis with her for the trip, not that she wanted to use them to gallop across the roof of Gotham City as a hero or vigilante, she just didn't want to leave them at home alone.

She was wearing the dragon's choker, Tikki's earrings, and the turtle's bracelet that she had charmed to change the designs so that it'll fit with her outfit. Wayzz gave her a wave of comforting magic towards their bond and Marinette stroked the bracelet gently in gratitude.

Thankfully, everything went smoothly. Marinette made sure the hotel room for Audrey is good enough for the bossy queen and after that she could finally throw herself on her hotel bed. Her head was pounding but she still picked herself up and began to unpack.

"Marinette! This town is oozing with an unlucky aura and chaos! I think Kaalki was on to something when she said something about fate!" Exclaimed Tikki as she observes the city through the glass.

"I told you!" Kaalki yelled from the other side of the room.

Marinette frowns to herself and decided to flare her magic to get a better sense of the City of Crime. Yep, Tikki was right, everything is oozing with bad luck miasma, and darkness surrounding parts of the city. Everything is gloomy and depressing, no wonder the people of Gotham are miserable.

"You're right, Tikki." She stood from the floor and walked to the big window overseeing the city. "It's coated with Bad Luck and Chaos."

"We should stay here and purify this mess!" Pollen offered while floating next to Marinette's head.

"I don't think we should be that rash. Let's see what fate got for us. In the meantime, does anyone wants to go with me to buy snacks?"

A series of 'yes' from the childish gods made her head lighter than before.

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Monday starts out as a pleasant day for her, she managed to make all the snacks for the kwamis and bake the pastries that Audrey love so much for breakfast. Everything was smooth and it lifted Marinette's spirit. There was no schedule for today morning and Marinette debated to herself if she wants to go out and find inspiration for her design or not.

There's something about Gotham that made her blood pump in adrenaline and she's pretty sure it is her innate guardian magic telling her to go ahead and purify the city. She looked at the kwamis who are lounging and made up her mind.

"Hey Plagg, Do you want to come with me and explore Gotham before dinner?"

The cat kwami in question brighten up and zoomed across the room in excitement. "Alright!!! Let's enjoy the day with extra CHAOS!"

Marinette laughs and took off Tikki's earrings to put on Plagg's ring. She took her large canvas bag, her sketchbook, and her art supply. She made sure the kwamis are comfortable enough and told them to not make a mess when she was out.

Once she's out, with Plagg securely in her bag, she trusted her instinct and found herself entering a park. It was a nice day and looking around at the different architecture near the park she found herself an empty seat nearby. She lets Plagg perch himself on her shoulder while she dug out her sketchbook and start sketching away her ideas.

Not long after that she felt someone took a seat next to her, she glanced to her side and found a man nearing his 40s slumping next to her. She could feel the sorrow and sadness lingering around the man and Marinette being Marinette couldn't sit still.

Marinette could've sworn the man looked familiar and even though she became a very competent assistant to Audrey, she couldn't for the love of God remember the faces she had seen before. If they are known figures in the fashion world, she might recognize them but otherwise, she would forget them, rich or not.

The girl closed her sketchbook, which the man took notice of.

"I'm sorry, I'm not bothering you, am I?" He asked with a polite smile.

The girl shook her head and smiled warmly at the man, "Non, monsieur. I just couldn't help but notice how sad you are."

The man blinked, obviously shocked at her, and gave her a small weak smile. "I guess you can say that..." He chuckled mirthlessly.

Marinette hummed, "Are you grieving?" She asked quietly.

The man looked towards the park and she could see the dark aura around him seemingly trying to choke the man. He nodded silently and took a shaky breath. "My son." He muttered quietly.

She nodded in silence, she rummaged through her canvas bag and took out a charmed amulet that she had been working on with Master Fu before his passing. She looked away from the amulet and found Plagg giving her an encouraging smile. She knew that this was the right thing to do and so she cupped the amulet in her hands and said, "I'm sorry for your loss...No parents should bury their children."

The man sniffed and nodded, "Thank you."

"Though you have to walk this winding road, stumbling blindly in this dark path, there will always be a path of light that will help you find your way." She advised with a warm smile. Master Fu had told her that when she was grieving for the loss of her friendship and the weight she had to carry as Ladybug.

Slowly she reached out to take his hand and gently put the charmed amulet in it. "You just need to do the next right thing." She uttered softly and sent waves of comforting magic to the amulet. Hoping that it would lift the man's spirit and help him find hope. She then took her bag and left the man staring at the amulet.

Marinette quickly left the park and bought herself a coffee before returning to her hotel where she gets ready for dinner. Her heart felt full knowing she helped someone even if it was just a little bit. She hoped that one act of random kindness could lift a little bit of the bad luck aura in Gotham.

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Bruce Wayne just wanted time to compose himself. He had a lapse of grieving thoughts when he looked at Jason's picture. So he left his office to find a place where he could grieve freely. The mansion still has memories of Jason and he couldn't stand the guilt that is eating him inside. He found a nearby park and took a seat next to a young woman who was busy sketching. He didn't really expect anything would come out of this walk in the park, but he was pleasantly surprised that the young woman beside him had given him a random act of kindness that had left him a bit speechless.

He was looking at the emerald amulet on his hand and somehow he felt lighter than he ever felt in the past few months. Odd. He decided to bench any negative thoughts to ready himself for the dinner reservation tonight.

TBC

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A/N: Next chapter would be the dinner! Stay tuned!

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