Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Gotham City. What the hell was Mme. Bustier thinking?! Here she was thinking her PowerPoint had proved her - well, point, - but apparently not. So here she was staring at the plane that was going to take her and her hellish class to their doom. Okay, maybe she was exaggerating, but with trigger-happy mental patients (literally!), no Miraculous Cure, and Lila of all people, this was bound to be a dumpster fire!

"Ugh, come on, Dupain-Cheng. Are you going to stand there all day or are you coming?"

Chloe. Her unlikely ally against Lila, the only person she hated more than Marinette herself. After the rest of the sheeple had migrated to Lila's side, Marinette found that the only people she had left standing beside her were Kagami, Luka, and - surprisingly - Chloe. Adrien was disappointingly neutral, but she didn't hold it against him. His upbringing had left him horribly socially stunted, and she was 90% sure Lila had some kind of unholy alliance with Gabriel, keeping Adrien in check.

"Yeah, I'm coming, don't get your panties in a twist."

"Dupain-Cheng!"

-

The hotel was fancy. Like, Grand Paris Hotel fancy. Stupid billionaires.

The rest of the class got paired up, two to a room, but Chloe managed to get hers changed to the penthouse suite, oh so graciously deigning to let Marinette stay with her.

"What am I supposed to do with two beds, Dupain-Cheng? Hmm? Besides, if I left you alone with the rest of the heathens, they'd tear you to shreds!"

Marinette thinks she enjoys the company after Sabrina flocked to Lila.

The itinerary has them set for resting the jet lag off that night, then touring the Gotham Wayne Enterprises office. Unfortunately, while Chloe is snoring away in the next room over, Marinette is lying awake worrying. Sure, she knew that no one was going to find the Miracle Box in her sewing box, magically locked, in her suitcase, with a padlock on it, stashed in the hotel provided safe, but she still felt paranoid having it out of her bedroom.

As a result, her night with little to no fitful sleep compounded on the jet lag, leaving her feeling like a literal zombie.

Wait, she's died before, so is she a zombie?!

Coffee. Her eyes zero in on the drink of the gods in Chloe's manicured hand.

"You are a goddess, Chloe, and I love you." She says, chugging the coffee down like a man in the middle of the desert. She completely missed the astonished look on Chloe's face.

"Alright class, I'm going to do a quick headcount, then we'll head out." Mme. Mendeleiev said.

Despite the fact that Mme. Bustier wanted to go on the trip, she found out that she's pregnant and decided that the other teacher should go in her stead. Honestly, it was the only thing that salvaged the trip for Marinette. If Mme. Bustier were here, she'd have probably left her behind!

They quickly boarded the bus (Dodging a foot stuck out by Alya. God, to think she almost confessed she was Ladybug to her!) and got on their way.

The W.E. office was, quite frankly, huge. Really! The only building that Marinette had seen that could hold a candle to the building, was the TVi studio back home. The lobby was equally as impressive. It was huge with marble floors and columns that probably cost more than her parents would make in their whole lives.

"Hi! Are you the French class?"

They were greeted by a woman who... honestly, looked out of place in the large pristine lobby. Her brown hair was long and curly, up in a ponytail, revealing shaved sides, and heavily pierced ears. Her rock t-shirt, cargo pants, and leather jacket clashing with the business casual the rest of the people bustling about were sporting.

Oh, wait. Was she saying something?

"-guest I.D.s, they'll let you access the elevators up to the fifth floor. Any questions?"

"Yes, one." Mme. Mendeleiev said, "I thought our tour guide was a young man, Richard Grayson?"

The woman's eye twitched (She tuned out her name, damn).

"Yes, he was scheduled to lead the tour, but something... came up." She seemed awfully annoyed with this Richard. Hmm.

"Excuse me? Riley?" Lila piped up from the back. Ew. The woman's- Riley's- smile sharpened. "That's Mrs. Miller-Todd to you. Yes?" Lila flinched back, like her words physically hurt. That little- "W-Well, I was wondering why our passes only took us up to the fifth floor?"

"W-" Mrs. Miller-Todd (Damn, that was a mouthful, is this how people feel about her name?), opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Alya. "Yeah! For your information, Lila's dating Damian Wayne!"

Well, shoot. She might not have to deal with Lila for much longer. At Alya's exclamation, all the movement in the lobby stopped, every single person staring at Lila and Alya like they'd grown another head. Their tour guide raised an eyebrow looking amused, baffling Lila and the rest of her flock. "Really? I wasn't aware that he had even been to France, let alone gotten a girlfriend five years older than himself." Did... did that just happen? Did Lila just get called out in front of a bunch of people who seemed to not believe her?! "Pinch me." Marinette whispered. Unfortunately for her, Chloe heard her. She whipped around and pouted at her.

"Lila's not from France! She lived in Italy before; that's where she met him, and the Wayne's are very secretive, that's why you didn't hear about it! And five years isn't that much!" Alya stoutly defended Lila, reminding Marinette vaguely of a Pomeranian.

The poor young woman covered her mouth with her hand, looking like she was contemplating running out the door and not looking back. "You know what?" She muttered, "Bruce is going to have to actually pay me to get me to deal with this shit." Out loud though, she said; "O-kay, well, supposed girlfriends aside, the first five floors are the only ones open to visitors, the rest are various labs and offices for employees, nothing very interesting."

Marinette wanted to argue that the labs sounded very interesting, but like a good visiting student, said nothing.

They went up the elevators in two groups, up to the third floor. "The second floor is a food court, and you'll be stopping there for lunch and getting turned over to your teacher. Now this floor..."

The tour was actually pretty interesting. They got to see a few finished projects going up for sale and got an in-depth explanation of which department does what. They managed to get to the R&D department before Lila's Possi (Trademark pending) caused more trouble. "So, is it true that you make Batman's gear? How about nuclear weapons?" Alya asked, whipping her phone out. Mrs. Miller-Todd sighed. "Mlle. Cesaire, I believe that in the form you signed allowing you on this trip, it said 'no recording devices of any kind'?"

Alya frowned but put her phone away. "Good. That was your first warning, Mlle. Cesaire. If it happens again, I will have to confiscate it. As for your question, I'm afraid I can't answer it." Alya grinned, her hand twitched, obviously wanting to grab her phone, but refraining. "So, you do!"

Mrs. Miller-Todd narrowed her eyes. "I did not say that. I meant, that I don't know. I'm not an employee at Wayne Enterprises."

Everyone's eyes blew wide. Not an employee? "But, if you're not an employee, then why are you giving the tour?" Mme Mendeleiev asked. Mrs. Miller-Todd sighed in annoyance. "I lost a bet."

"Yeah, but who let you do this?" Alya demanded, placing herself in front of Lila, like the loyal guard dog she was. Mrs. Miller-Todd raised her eyebrow (It was starting to seem like her signature move at this point. Or maybe... someone else found her class as annoying as she and Chloe do?). "Bruce Wayne."

Marinette could feel the panic in Lila from the back of the group and watched the reporter in Alya sit up and beg. She whipped her phone out and started rattling off questions, asking about her relationship with Bruce Wayne. In a second though, her phone was taken from her hand, cutting her off. "I warned you, Mlle. Cesaire. Don't worry, you'll get it back at the end. Now, last time I checked, this was a tour of the building, not my personal life." She proceeded to turn on her heel and stalk off down the hallway, expecting the class to follow.

"I like her." Chloe said next to her ear. "Mmhmm." Marinette hummed back, agreeing whole heartedly.

Maybe Gotham wouldn't be a disaster after all.

Chapter Text

The food court was huge, mini restaurants filling the second floor. Her stomach rumbled at the thought of food, having missed breakfast as late as she was. 

Her class filed off the elevator taking in everything, leaving her with the tour guide. "Mrs. Miller-Todd? I'm sorry about my class. They're a pain."

The other woman turned to her. "Oh, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, it's fine. You aren't responsible for your classmates' actions. No need to apologise." She put a hand on Marinette's shoulder. "'Sides, worse things have been said about the Waynes by far more reputable sources than a teenage girl with a blog." She frowns. "It could've been worse if she made a claim about any of the grown Wayne men. Thank God she didn't."

Marinette scoffs. "Yeah, not about the Waynes."

Mrs. Miller-Todd raises an eyebrow at that. "That supposed to mean something?"

Marinette glances at her. "Only that she claims to be the 'muse' of two famous grown men."

Her eyes blow wide at that. "Are you serious?!"

Marinette huffs a bitter laugh. "Yeah. She's apparently the inspiration for a whole line from Gabriel - the fashion house - as well as several songs by Jagged Stone." 

The other woman scrunches her face at that, like she smelled something gross. "Wouldn't a simple Google search fix that?"

"Yeah, that's the worst part! She spews all this crap, but every single thing is easily disproven!" Marinette throws her hands in the air. "She managed to convince Max, who has like, genius level I.Q. that his eye would be gouged out by a napkin! And he wears glasses!" Her hands fell to her pigtails and started tugging. "Hell, some of these wouldn't even take a Google search, just a simple phone call! My classmates are quite accomplished and know some of these people, PERSONALLY!" She was panting, and probably sounded deranged, but damn did it feel good to get this off her chest. She glanced at the woman in front of her, and she seemed deep in thought.

"Marinette," she started, "do you know what slander is? It's false allegations damaging to one's reputation and is very much something you can sue for."

Marinette blinked owlishly. It is? Uncle Jagged could... sue Lila for claiming she saved his nonexistent cat? SHE could sue Lila for claiming to date MDC/her? Huh.

"Yeah, you could."

Oh. She said that out loud. "I... I don't know what to say..."

"Well, I'd say talk to your parents and your 'Uncle Jagged'." She said, putting a hand on her shoulder. She frowned and pulled out her phone. "Looks like my ride's here. You good on your own, kid?"

Marinette nodded, still kind of dazed from the information she got. "Huh? Yeah, sure."

"Alright. See you, kiddo."

-

"Hey, Chloe? Did you know we could sue Lila?"

"What are you talking about, Dupain-Cheng?"

"Slander. We could sue her for it."

"Huh."

"I know, right?"

-

The next day, they were going to the Wayne Botanical Gardens. So, she made it a stop, sue her. Mme. Bustier dumped the trip planning on her, she deserved to frolic among the plants, dammit.

The second they stepped into the gardens she could feel Tikki vibrating in her purse. She felt like vibrating too. The creative energy was flowing, and her fingers twitched for her sketchbook which... her damn scatterbrain left in the hotel. Marinette sniffed, feeling the telltale burn at the back of her throat. "Aw, croissants."

-

Dammit. The Gardens might've been a bad idea. She hadn't meant to fall asleep in the bushes, it just kind of... happened. It felt so nice, the lively energy all around her, it just... lulled her to sleep! She sighed staring up at the black, starless sky. She wound up locked in the gardens, staying past closing on accident. She could get out if she wanted, but... she kind of didn't.

She wandered through the dark garden for what felt like hours. 

I wonder why they left me?, she thought, that wasn't supposed to happen with Mme. Mendeleiev here. They probably got kicked out at closing.

"Why, hello there." 

Marinette whirled around. Holy crepes, Batman! It's Poison Ivy! Uh-oh, she's thinking in old memes. How long has it been since she had coffee? "Hi." She answered, 'cause that's what you say when someone says 'hello'.

"Are you okay? You do realize the Gardens are closed." She points out.

"I fell asleep."

A perfectly manicured red eyebrow shot into her hairline. "You... fell asleep?" 

That's what she said.

"Do you have a home?" Well, duh, she just can't get there right now. "Why not?" Well, for starters, she's in a locked garden, but she's also on another continent. "Do you have somewhere to go here? In Gotham?" There is the hotel, but she kind of doesn't want to go there. Chloe's voice gets screechy when she's mad. "Would you... like to come with me?"

"Sorry, but my maman said not to go home with strangers. You're also a villain." Ivy frowned. "Retired. I don't do that anymore."

Oh. Well, in that case...

"MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG! I KNOW you are not trying to go home with a supervillain!"

"Retired supervillain, Chloe, don't be rude."

Her friend's blue eyes narrowed at her. "Dupain-Cheng, how much sleep have you had in the past three days?"

Hmm. "S..ev...en?"

"Is Marinette okay?" Oh, look at that! It's Adrien! Hi Adrien!

"She'll be fine. She hasn't gotten much sleep and the caffeine's worn off." She turned to Marinette. "Come on, Dupain-Cheng, you need sleep. I don't think I could stand that stupid bitch if I can't trash-talk her with you."

"Chloe, I-"

"Oh, zip it Adrikins, I only brought you because you know how to pick locks."

"WAIT, CHLOE!"

"AHH, WHAT?"

"Ivy! I can't just leave her, that's rude!"

"I don't mind... Marinette. You're fine to go with your... friends."

"Oh, okay. We can go Chloe!"

-

"Hey, B? Can I see the files on that French class?"

Bruce frowned. "Why?"

"I think one might be a meta, and a dangerous one at that."

Chapter Text

Bruce leaned back in his chair, hands steepled in front of his face. "A fifteen-year-old girl, a dangerous meta?"

Riley frowns. "Yes. Is it really so unbelievable? Duke's dangerous, he's just on our side."

He sighs, running his hands down his face. "We did background checks on all the kids. None are registered meta."

"There are plenty of metas out there who don't register, especially if they think they won't get caught. Like I think this girl does."

He stares for a second, his hand cupping his chin. "Which one?"

Riley moves around the desk to pull up Rossi's file. "Her. If I'm right, she's got a subtle, but strong manipulation ability. Apparently, she convinced a kid with glasses his eye would be taken out by a napkin. So, either I'm right, or these kids are really fuckin' stupid. I'm leaning towards the former though. When she was talking shit about Damian, I felt... compelled to believe her. I didn't believe her, obviously, but there was a part of me that... wanted to."

Bruce leaned forward. "What exactly did she say?"

Riley sat on the edge of the desk. "Just that she was dating Damian. Not the best sounding situation, but it looks worse for her. But imagine if she'd said that about the others? Or, if she decided that she was bored of spreading rumors? What if she decided to talk her way into, I don't know, STAR labs? Made off with dangerous tech and well wishes from the security guard?"

Bruce sighs through his nose. "I see what you mean, but for now, it's just teenage gossip."

"B-" He held up a hand, cutting her off. "However. We will keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn't... escalate."

Riley stood up, nodding at the older man. "Thanks, B. That's all I can ask."

-

Stupid American streets. She just wanted some coffee. Was that too much to ask?

Marinette stopped at another intersection, squinting at the street sign. Nope, squinting didn't make it make any more sense. She groaned. She was never going to get her coffee or make it to the wax museum. She was going to have to live on this very street corner, begging for change, and collecting stray cats, all of whom she'll name Chaton.

"Marinette? Fancy seeing you here."

She turned around to see... "Mrs. Miller-Todd!" She was on a motorcycle, pulled over, with her helmet under her arm. 

"You okay, Marinette?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine! I just wanted some coffee before the trip today, but I can't find the cafe..."

"Hmm." She got off her bike and walked over. "Which one?"

Marinette glanced at her phone screen. "Justin's."

Mrs. Miller-Todd grinned. "Well, you're in luck, I just so happen to be heading there myself. You cool riding with me, or do you just want the directions?"

Marinette glanced at the bike. It was gorgeous. Her Nonna would probably smack her into next week if she didn't agree. "Yeah, I'm cool."

The other woman grinned and tossed her the helmet. "Great. Hop on."

-

The cafe was definitely hard to miss. The funky shape and pastel colors made it stand out like a sore thumb, except the rest of the hand was broken and bruised, while the thumb is in peak condition.

"Hey, Kyle!" Mrs. Miller-Todd called out to the man working the counter. "Riley! Here for the usual?"

"Yep, and whatever my friend here wants."

The man - Kyle - turned to her and grinned. "Damn. Did Bruce get another one?" Bruce? Like, Bruce Wayne? CEO of Wayne Enterprises? Huh.

Mrs. Miller-Todd rolled her eyes. "No. She's here on a class trip. And I'm on the bike, so we're going to need to-go cups."

Kyle nodded. "Right. What can I get 'cha?"

Marinette thought it over for a second. "As much caffeine as you can legally give me."

Kyle blinked, then burst out laughing. To her side, she heard Mrs. Miller-Todd groaning. "There's another one!" Kyle wheezed out, while Mrs. Miller-Todd looked like she was contemplating her life choices. "Marinette, I love coffee as much as the next gal, but it's not a healthy substitute for sleep. Believe me, I figured that out the hard way."

Marinette scoffed. "Well, obviously. But you know that feeling, when you wake up and you feel even worse than before? I need it for that!"

Mrs. Miller-Todd didn't get the chance to call her out on the total lie, because Kyle slid a coffee to Marinette. "Here 'ya go. One Tim Drake special. Congrats, you are one of the only two people to order that!" Tim Drake? Like, Co-CEO of Wayne Enterprises? Huh. She took a sip and could feel her pupils dilating. "Whoa." The world exploded in a swirl of colors, and she felt like fighting God. Or was that the caffeine talking? Either way, it was great.

Mrs. Miller-Todd heaved out a heavy sigh. "Alright, kiddo, I'm going to get you back to your class now, because I don't want to be held responsible for your inevitable crash. Bye, Kyle!"

As soon as they got outside, Marinette felt like she was in heaven. She'd never noticed just how pretty Gotham was! The heavy smog! The rundown brickwork! The druggies on the corner! "It's beautiful." She whispers, completely oblivious to the looks Mrs. Miller-Todd is giving her. 

"Should I be even more worried about Tim, if this is what his coffee does to people?" She murmurs to herself watching the younger girl, tripping her ass off on caffeine. "O-kay, kiddo, time to get back!" She said, breaking out the toddler voice. Y'know, the one reserved specifically for negotiating with tiny terrorists?

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, probably." She went to climb on the bike, but Riley quickly stopped her. "Really, it's such a nice day out, we should walk!" It really wasn't. The forecast said rain later, but Riley was terrified to let Marinette get on the bike like this.

(They walked along, Marinette humming to herself, while Mrs. Miller-Todd looked on worriedly. She had no idea why, she felt great!)

The two women made it to the wax museum with no problems, so Riley assumed that Marinette had no problems holding her caffeine and felt comfortable enough to let her go.

"Dupain-Cheng! Where the hell have you been?!" The blonde girl that Marinette was hanging out with on the tour stomped up, somehow managing to look graceful while doing so.

"I was getting coffee with Mrs. Miller-Todd." She said serenely. The oldest woman there sighed. "Go ahead and call me Riley, kid."

She pulled the younger girl into a side hug. "And please. Never go get that coffee alone." 

With that, she left the girls alone to make plans for a coffee intervention with her brother-in-law.

-

It's horrible. She wants to throw up. What did she ever do to deserve this? She was a good girl! She hugged her papa, kissed her maman, said please and thank you. So, why did the gods see fit to punish her with this monstrosity?!

"My eyes! I can't unsee it! Help, Chloe, get the brain bleach!"

"No, suffer."

Oh, suffering she was. No one in their right mind would've designed something as vile as...

The Disco-Wing.

Marinette shuddered. Just thinking the word made her want to cry. "Why, cruel world, why?" She whispers.

(Tikki was worried about Marinette. First the coffee with enough caffeine to kill her ten times over, and now the existential crisis about other heroes' fashion choices. Is this what emotional suppression leads to?)

Chapter Text

She stared at the spot the bus was merely 20 minutes ago. Damn Hawk Moth (Or Shadow Moth as he's going by these days. Either way, it's completely off theme. Like, c'mon! It's the butterfly miraculous, not moth miraculous!).

Mme. Mendeleiev had done the headcount already and she was standing in line to get on the bus with Chloe, complaining about Lila's horrid fashion choices, when the akuma alert went off. No one else noticed, having disabled the alert when they left Paris. Marinette had it on silent, telling Tikki to poke her twice if it went off.

So, she had a choice. Get on the bus, wait the 30 minutes to get to the bistro (45, if there's traffic) and excuse herself to the bathroom, or take care of it now. She was tempted by the former, but before she left, Chat had told her that he was going on a trip, so Paris would be on its own for over a half an hour. She couldn't do that. So, she slipped away to Paris, via Kaalki.

It wound up being Gigantitan. Normally, it took about 5 minutes to take care of him between her and Chat, but with no Chat, it would've taken about 10... If mother fudging Shadow Moth hadn't sent out a sentimonster.

20 minutes later, she's back in Gotham, with no class, and no way to the bistro they were having lunch at. Damn Shadow-bitch.

-

Stupid Gotham traffic. A hold up at a bank down the street and traffic is jammed, everyone an hour behind. Despite not being in Bruce's menagerie of vigilantes, Riley was feeling pretty damn tempted to take care of it herself.

Dancing queen, only sixteen...

She sighs and picks up her phone. "What do you want, Dick?"

'Ouch. Are you still mad at me?'

"That jump defied the laws of physics and you know it! It should've been impossible!"

Instead of feeling appropriately guilty, as he should, the bastard just laughed. "I'm going to hang up on you."

'Wait! I called because Duke saw one of the French kids alone while he was on patrol.'

She frowned. "Which one?"

'Short, Asian features, looks like Bruce's type.'

"Marinette? Why would she be alone?''

'Wait, the coffee gremlin?'

"Yeah- how did you know?"

'Jay was complaining about you catching a case of 'adoptitis'.'

"Really now?" Well, I hope his 6'3" ass enjoys the couch. "Ugh, whatever. Do you mind-?"

'Already on it. Do you know where they're going?'

"Why would I know where they're going? I led the one tour, dick. Tim should know though. The scholarship thing is paying for the trip, he should have a copy of their itinerary."

'Right. I'll call you back when we get there.'

"Okay and... thanks, Dick."

'No problem.'

-

She was about to call Chloe when she was approached by a man about twice her age.

"Hi, are you Marinette Dupain-Cheng?" He asked. Well, hello alarm bells. "Depends. Who are you?"

The man seemed to realize how creepy he was coming off. "Oh, shoot! Sorry, I'm Dick Grayson. Riley's brother-in-law."

She raised an eyebrow. "Your name is... Dick?"

The man - Dick - chuckled. "It's short for Richard."

Oh! "You're the one who was supposed to do the tour."

"Yep! That's me."

Well, that explains that. Except... "What're you doing here?"

"Ah..." Dick hesitated. Suspicious. "See, uh... My brother! Yeah, my brother, Tim! He, um, got a call? From your teacher and called Riley! A-and, she called me, and asked me to help you get to the bistro!" Well, that was a load of merde. She should know, she was the Queen of rushed on-the-spot excuses.

She narrowed her eyes at him. She knew she had an intimidating glare, she got it from her maman. He cleared his throat, a sweat drop rolling down the side of his head. "Call her."

"W-what?"

"Mrs. Miller-Todd, call her. I want to hear it from her."

"Oh." Dick let out a relieved sigh, running his arm over his forehead. "Yeah."

He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen a few times. The dial tone rang a couple times before the call connected. 'Dick? You're there already?'

"Mrs. Miller-Todd?"

'Marinette? Is Dick okay?'

"Oh, yeah, everything's peachy. I was just approached by a man on the street who knew my name and where I'm going."

"Wait-"

'Goddammit, Dick! Of course you scared the poor girl!' A weary sigh came through the phone. 'Don't worry, kiddo. Dick's goofy and obnoxious-'

"Hey!"

'-but he's a good guy.'

"Okay, thank you Mrs. Miller-Todd!'

'It's nothing, kid. 'Sides, didn't I tell you to call me Riley?"

Marinette blushed. "Right. Thanks Mrs. - Riley."

Dick took the phone back after she'd hung up, frowning. "Sorry for scaring you. I didn't mean to."

"It's alright." Looking past her initial suspicion, he reminded her a bit of Chat. He shook his head, clearing the frown off his face. "So, do you want to take the car or walk?"

"Walk." Even if he'd been okayed by M - Riley, she wasn't going to get in the car with a man she doesn't know.

"Cool. Bistro's this way."

They walked along in a bit of an awkward silence. "So... What do you do for fun, Marinette?" Dick asked. 

"I design."

Dick raised his eyebrows, interested. "Really? Clothes, you mean, right?"

Marinette nodded. "Among other things." She said, holding up her purse. Dick examined the bag. "Wow! That's amazing craftsmanship! Wait a minute..." He squinted at her purse for a second, then his eyes blew wide. "That-That's MDC's logo!" He looked up at her. "But you said you designed it..." He gasped. "Oh! MDC, Marinette Dupain-Cheng!" He threw his head back and laughed. "That'd mean you were what, 13 when you started your brand? Ha! That's awesome! "

Marinette could feel her cheeks getting red, probably as red as her Ladybug suit. No one really praised her that much but Uncle Jagged, and she was used to it from him. "Oh, n-not really..." She said waving him off.

"Oh, don't be modest!" He said, ruffling her hair. She froze. He froze. "Shoot, sorry! Force of habit." He apologized, stepping back. Marinette raised an eyebrow. "You pat people on the head a lot?"

Dick chuckled and scratched the back of his neck. "Well, yeah, actually." He pulled his phone out and showed her his lock scrreen. It was him and a woman with otherwordly orange skin, bright pink hair, and neon green eyes, almost like Chat Noir's. In between the two adults, there was a young girl, maybe five, with Dick's dark hair and blue eyes (that almost seemed to glow...) and the woman's unnaturally tan skin. "That's my wife, Kory and Mari, my daughter. Mari's a bit of a rascal, and when she gets together with her cousin and their friend, they can get to be a bit of a handful." He pulled his phone away for a second, before turning it back to Marinette, a new photo on the screen. Dick with Mari on his shoulders, a red haired man with a little girl with dark hair and eyes, and asian features on his shoulders and another blue-eyed man with black hair with a little white stripe in the front, another little girl on his shoulders, same age as the other two, with a curly brown mop of hair, dark eyes and a Batman band-aid on her cheek. They all had wide smiles and ice cream in hand. "That's Roy and Lian," Dick said, pointing at the red haired man, "and Kaya and Jason, Riley's daughter and husband - my brother."

"It's an adorable picture." Marinette said, feeling a bit more at ease around the man. He reminded her a bit of her papa, proudly showing off pictures of her. Dick smiled. "Yeah, it's one of my favorites. Riley took the picture, you know. We didn't even realize she'd taken it until she texted it to us later that night."

Marinette giggled. "Really?" 

Dick nodded. "Yeah. I think it's one of her favorite pictures too. Last time I visited their place, I saw it framed on the counter."

She opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by an angry Chloe. "WHAT THE HELL, DUPAIN-CHENG?!" Chloe stormed down the steps of the bistro - that Marinette just realized they were now in front of - so she could scream in her face. "THAT is the SECOND TIME you've done this!" She yelled, her hands on her hips. She whipped around to face Dick. "And who're you, huh?! I could have you arrested you know, wandering around with a girl half your age!" 

"Whoa, whoa, Chloe! No! Riley - er, Mrs. Miller-Todd sent him to help! He's Richard Grayson!" Marinette said, waving her hands in front of her. "The one who was supposed to do the tour, remember?"

Chloe examined him closer, her disgusted sneer turning into a less disgusted frown. "Oh, right. You're the oldest Wayne boy, aren't you? Whatever. Come on Dupain-Cheng." She grabbed a blue-screening Marinette and dragged her into the bistro.

Wayne?!

-

'- and then she dragged her inside! Man, you should've seen her face! I think she didn't realize who I was!' Dick said over the comm.

Riley may not run around in kevlar and a mask with the rest of the 'bat-fam', but the comm line was better than whatever was on tv most nights.

Stephanie's laughter covered any other reactions. 'Poor thing!' She managed to wheeze out. Riley rolled her eyes. "She's a French 15-year-old who grew up in a bakery. It's not her fault she's never heard of you morons." The indignant squawk echoed all around (only further proving her long standing point that they all share one brain cell). 'Betrayed by my own wife!' Jason bemoaned. 'Insinuating that I'm a part of this tom-fuckery!'

'Language.' Bruce and Dick said at the same time (again, one brain cell). "Oh, please. Like you've never dropped an f-bomb before." Riley spoke up. Jason laughed, making her smile. It was one of her favorite sounds. 

"Morning Mama." She turned around to see Kaya standing there in her princess nightgown, rubbing her eyes. Riley bit her lip to stifle a laugh. "Sweetheart, it's still night time."

Kaya blinked sleepily. "Oh."

'Ooh! Is that Kaya? Lemme talk to her!'

'Hey, no way Dick-wad! My daughter, I get to talk to her!'

Riley snorted. "Do you want to talk to Daddy and the others?" The little girl gasped, suddenly wide awake. "Yeah!" Riley handed the earpiece over. Kaya was grinning brightly, telling everyone on the other sides of the line about a dream she'd had, riding a laser unicorn into battle with them.

Riley smiled softly at the scene, snapping a picture. Despite her teasing, she really loved her family.

Chapter Text

They had the weekend free to do what they wanted, so Marinette chose to sleep in, obviously. What else would you do on a free day? Stuff? Ha! As if.

When she did drag herself out of bed, she decided she was going to get a big cup of that delicious nectar and find somewhere inspirational to sketch. Maybe she'd go back to the Gardens?

She walked into the brightly colored cafe, the little bell above the door signaling her arrival. The man at the counter looked up. It wasn't Kyle this time, so when she ordered the 'Tim Drake' special, the man looked horrified. "Y-You want... Oh, dear." He was reluctant to give her the cup, holding on as she tried to take it.

When she managed to pry her coffee out of the cashier's hands, she happily made her way out the door.... except, that was a really pretty building!

She slid into the booth under the window, her back leaning on the table, her feet up on the seat. At the back of her mind she noticed the man behind her, in the seat across from her, but she didn't pay him any mind. At least not until she turned around to grab her coffee, and accidently knocked it over. "Oh no!" She gasped, trying to save the precious drink. Unfortunately, she failed. She grabbed the cup, but there was still a large puddle on the table, running towards the man's laptop. 

The man though, didn't seem to even notice she was there, let alone made a mess. The coffee was almost at his laptop. She lunged forward, plucking his laptop from harm's way. "Wha- Hey!" He jumped up, snatching his laptop back. "I'm sorry, but my coffee-" She gestured to the table, "- it spilled!"

He blinked, noticing the puddle on the table. "Oh. That's not good!" He rushed to help her mop the mess up with napkins. "I'm sorry." She repeated. "I should've asked to sit at your table, but I didn't, and now this happened, and I'm so-"

"It's okay, really!" The man said. "No harm done. It is a shame about the coffee though..." He tossed the soggy napkins in the trash can next to the table. "Do you want another? I was going to get another myself before leaving anyway."

She waved her hands in front of herself. "Oh no! I couldn't, really! I mean, it's my fault it spilled, I'm so clumsy. I almost ruined your laptop! And-"

"Hey, calm down. It's okay, I'm not mad. You didn't ruin anything." The man said to her in French and - oh. She'd been hyperventilating and switched to French herself. She took a few slow breaths, wiping away the tears that had formed. "Sorry." She mumbled. "Hey, like I said, it's okay! No harm done. What's your name?" 

"Marinette."

The man raised an eyebrow. "Dupain-Cheng?"

She frowned and backed up. "Who-"

"Tim Drake." He held his hand out. Oh. Tim Drake. She'd just almost devolved into a panic attack in front of Tim Drake. This is fine. "You were drawing, right?" He said, pointing at the sketchbook on the table. "Uh, y-yeah. The building across the way."

"Would you mind if I took a look?" He asked- oh. He was trying to distract her, cheer her up. She'd employed the tactic many times with akuma victims. "Sure."

He picked the book up, his eyes zeroing in on the bottom right corner. What-? Oh, her signature. "Wha- you- I- c-could I have your autograph?"

She blinked. "What?"

Tim tittered and held out the book, pointing at the loopy MDC in the corner. "You're MDC!" He whisper-shouted, stars in his eyes. "Really? You want... my autograph?" She'd never been asked for an autograph before. "O-Okay!" She tore out a page at the back of the book and repeated the letters in the middle.

Tim took the paper and cradled it like a precious treasure. "Hey, uh... Do you think I could commission you?" Marinette blushed. "Really? You want to commission me?" He chuckled, scuffing his foot on the floor. "I may have accidently stained my last formal suit with coffee, and with the upcoming Wayne Gala..." Marinette nodded along. A sad number of clothes had been ruined by coffee for her. "Sure! I'll do it." She said. "When is the Gala?"

Tim grinned like a mad man. "Six weeks. Is that enough time?"

Marinette nodded. "Yes, plenty, as long as you don't mind international shipping. Though we will need to meet up so I can take your measurements, and I don't think the middle of a coffee shop is the best place for that."

Tim tore a strip off the top of the autograph (her autograph!!!) and wrote his number down. "Text you?" He asked, practically buzzing. She smiled. "You bet." His grin widened impossibly further and he skipped out the door, his laptop and papers tucked into the bag under his arm.

What a strange yet fulfilling interaction.

-

On Sunday, Chloe dragged her to the mall, insisting that it was a crime to go shopping alone. American malls were very different than French ones, that's for sure. Like, why not put the tax on the tag? Why tack it on after? It's a stupid system, and not just because she got embarrassed at the first store they went to. Chloe wound up with about a million bags, while Marinette had a grand total of two; A pack of Batman themed scrunchies, and really pretty glittery thread.

Watching her friend(?) eye the pretzel cart for the millionth time, she decided to do something. "Hey, Chloe, I'm kind of hungry, let's get some pretzels."

Chloe looked over at her. "Oh, fine, whatever, Dupain-Cheng. I suppose I could eat." God, she's such a tsundere.

They sat down to eat, Chloe pretending she totally wasn't enjoying the pretzel and strangely neon cheese sauce.

The mall was a cylindrical three story building, the upper two floors looking over the first, more specifically, a giant fountain in front of the entrance. The food court was on the second floor, affording a great view of the fountain and people coming and going. It was peaceful. Until it wasn't. 

The doors burst open, goons with guns pouring in and rounding people up. It was strangely silent. No screams, just tension so thick, you could cut it with a knife. The big bad himself, Scarecrow, strolled in, a gun in one hand, a briefcase in the other. "Well," He said, his voice carrying through the building, "look at all these lovely test subjects. Just what I need. Let's see..." He scanned the crowd, looking for 'test subject' number one. "You." He pointed at something on the first floor. "No...!" She heard a woman whimper from below, every fiber in her being begging her to run and protect the innocents. But she wasn't Ladybug. She didn't have an invulnerable magic suit, she wasn't bulletproof.

The goons dragged the victim forward - and her breath caught in her throat. It was a little girl, about ten. She was terrified, but wasn't fighting or screaming, just shuffling on, tears streaming down her face. Marinette went to stand, but Chloe stopped her with a hand on her wrist. "Don't do it, Dupain-Cheng." She hissed.

"Well, little girl, let's see what you're scared of..." Scarecrow's voice echoed from below. "I'm sorry." She whispered, ripping her wrist out of Chloe's grasp. "Marinette...!"

"Wait!" She shouted, stopping the syringe inches from the small girl's neck. The man turned to look at her - at least she assumed he did. It was hard to tell with the burlap sack on his head. "Oh? What do we have here? A volunteer?" He snapped his fingers, and two goons came up and grabbed her arms. They marched her down the escalator, down to right next to Scarecrow himself. The little girl ran back to her mom, hugging her tight, tears of relief streaming down her face, and Marinette found that she couldn't regret coming forward.

Scarecrow grabbed her roughly by the shoulder and without warning, plunged the needle into her neck. 

Everything swirled and she blacked out for a second. When her vision cleared, she wasn't in the mall anymore. She was...

Oh God. She was gonna throw up. She was in Paris, that horrible hellscape version, everything destroyed and underwater. Standing in front of her was Chat Blanc. "Well, what do you think?" He asked, his voice distorted, like her head was full of cotton. "This version is double strengh. Extra strong. Amazing, right?" 

She stumbled back. Extra strong? Was he talking about his cataclysm? "Ah, ah, ah!" He scolded, stepping forward to meet her, grabbing her arm. "Where do you think you're going?"

It was pure instinct. She couldn't let that happen again, she just couldn't, so she pulled her leg forward and up, her knee smashing right between his legs. He fell back on his butt, groaning. 

Two pairs of hands grabbed her from behind, and she lashed out. Her fist met the person on the right's nose, shattering it with a satisfying crunch. They let go staggering back, trying to stem the blood flow. It was Mayura. That means the person on the left...

She swung her leg around, burying her foot in Shadow Moth's gut in a very satisfying roundhouse. Behind her she heard a rapid booming sound, almost like... gunshots? She whipped around, upwards of twenty akumatized villains in front of her. Leading the charge was Stormy Weather, her parasol raised to the sky, a scorch mark on the ground from the lightning she'd called down. Ah, that's what she heard.

Marinette backed away from the villains. She wasn't transformed, but even if she was, she wouldn't be able to take on this many. The back of her legs met cold stone, and she toppled backwards into icy cold water. She sunk, the frigid temperature a shock to her system. There were more muffled booming sounds, but she didn't register any of it. Not until she was pulled sharply from the water. She flailed, slamming her elbow into the akuma's jaw. But they didn't let go. They cursed and held her tighter. She craned her neck to see who was holding her and... oh, God.

Staring back at her was the broken and bloody corpse-like form of Viperion, his jaw dislocated and sitting in an unnatural position. She gagged, bile rising in the back of her throat. Viperion muttered reassurances to her, but his voice sounded weird, almost like Markov's - robotic.

She felt a sharp prick in her neck, and suddenly it felt like there was fire running through her veins, setting the cotton in her head ablaze. Marinette collapsed to her knees, a hoarse cry escaping her throat. Around her, sounds became sharper, and she recognized the sounds of fighting and gunfire, not thunder like she'd assumed before. Her memories slammed into her like an eighteen-wheeler. She'd been dosed with double strength fear toxin. Which means 'Viperion' was... still Viperion? She glanced up, still seeing the dystopian version of Paris, though now her zombified teammates were battling all the akumas. Gotham's vigilantes fighting the henchmen.

'Viperion' was one of the Bat-brood, which means he probably gave her the anti-toxin just now. So why did every thing still look like a scene from her nightmares? 

A teal hand waved in front of her face, and she looked up into 'Viperion's' glassy, lifeless eyes. "Are you okay?" He asked. His voice was still robotic, like he had a voice modulator. Probably the one with the red helmet then. Red Hood? "Extra... strong..." She croaked out. "Shit." He muttered. "Okay, kid, I'm gonna pick you up and take you to the ambulance, is that okay?"

She nodded shakily, clasping her hands around his neck, feeling rough leather and smooth metal, instead of magical spandex and fluffy hair.

Marinette looked around as he walked, taking in the sight before her. Most of the akumas were tied up or kneeling with their hands in the air, while 'Chat Blanc', Scarecrow, was getting hogtied by 'Chat Noir'. She buried her face into Red Hood's neck, taking in the scent of leather and gunpowder.

He set her down in the ambulance, and she felt another prick in her neck, and more fire raced through her. It wasn't as severe this time. Less like lava and more like the time she had a bit too much wine with dinner.

"Marinette!"

She looked up to see the broken form of Queen Bee, no, that's Chloe, running up, shopping bags forgotten. Marinette didn't get the chance to say anything because Chloe threw her arms around her in a bear hug. "You're so stupidly heroic, you know that, right?" She whispered. Marinette chuckled wetly. "Yeah. I'm sorry."

Chloe sniffed and pulled back wiping her tears away and smudging her mascara. "You should be, I'm ruining my make up because of you." She said, showing Marinette her blackened hand.

"Mlle. Dupain-Cheng?"

An older gentleman with red hair approached the two girls. "I'm Commissioner Jim Gordon. I know what you went through was traumatic, but we do need your statement. You don't have to give it now, but we'd need your contact information so you can give it at a later time." He said, holding a clipboard out to her. She quickly scribbled her number down and the man left with a nod. 

The EMT came back and said they needed to keep Marinette at the hospital for observation, just for a couple more hours. "I'll be okay, Chlo. Get our stuff and go on back to the hotel."

She didn't like it but eventually, Chloe left. 

Marinette leaned back and sighed. What a shitshow.

Chapter Text

For once, Jason was in the Batcave at the same time as the rest of Bruce's ducklings. Replac- er, Tim, was replaying the security footage from the mall for those of them that weren't there.

He got to see the beginning of the attack, before they got there. Scarecrow had initially gone after a child, and Jason's vision tinged green. He forced himself to calm down, remembering that he'd gotten nailed in the nuts by one of his 'victims'. Boy, what a thought. Jason had been getting annoyed, Riley, then Dick, then Tim, all fawning over this Marinette Dupain-Cheng girl. After seeing her in person, he could understand why.

The video showed Marinette volunteering in the young girl's stead (Hunger Games much?), getting dosed with the double strength fear toxin and kneeing Scarecrow where the sun don't shine. Jason actually laughed out loud when he saw that clip, not having seen it when he was there. She proceeded to kick the shit out of the two goons who grabbed her ("One completely decimated nose, will be needing surgery, and three broken ribs, one fractured.") and fall into the fountain. The rest Jason remembered vividly. He hauled the girl out of the water, and she flailed, slamming her elbow into his jaw. From experience, Jason knew it would've more than broken his jaw if not for his helmet. As it was, his helmet now had a very extensive crack in it.

Stephanie whistled when she saw that bit. "Damn." Cass nodded in agreement.

Bruce had been silent the whole time, Duke had school in the morning, so he wasn't present, Dick and Tim were at the attack with Jason, and Damian was watching quietly, his signature scowl on his face.

"Hey, guys? You know where Jay is-? Oh!"

Riley walked into the cave, making a beeline for Jason. When she got close enough, Jason tugged her into his lap, resting his chin on her shoulder. "What're you watching?" She asked. "Mall attack from earlier." Jason answered. "You'll never guess who was involved."

"Who?"

"Rewind it, Timmy." Jason said. Tim nodded and restarted the clip. Riley gasped. "Is that Marinette?!"

"Yup. Keep watching, it gets better."

"Better?! What do you- oh, holy shit. Did she just-?"

"Yup."

Riley huffed out a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. "Goddamn." Jason grinned, planting a soft kiss on her neck. "You should see my helmet."

"What did she do to your helmet? And why?"

Dick giggled (how a thirty-two-year-old man made that noise, Jason didn't know. He wasn't sure he wanted to know). "Jay grabbed her to give her the anti-toxin, and she freaked. She elbowed him in the face and cracked the damn thing. The last and only other person to do that, was B."

"Oh, fuck." She breathed out, leaning further back into Jason. Damian scoffed from the corner. "Crane's toxin forces the fight-or-flight response, as well as adrenaline secretion. It was a feat of hysterical strength." He crossed his arms and stuck his nose in the air. Probably mad that a tiny little pixie - hey, that's good - managed to do what he's tried - and failed - to do before. Jason voiced as much and Damian growled in response, tensing to lunge. "Hey." Riley said, digging her elbow into Jason's ribs - ow. "Uh-uh." Damian scoffed again and went back to brooding in the corner. His version of kowtowing and groveling at her feet.

"Bruce?" Riley said. "What do you think?"

Bruce sighed through his nose. "Those moves were practiced. Sloppy, but practiced. Her strength is... impressive, but like Damian said, Crane's toxin has that effect on people."

"In other words," Steph said slyly from her spot on the floor, "B's adoption sense is tingling." That earned a round of chuckles from the people in the room (and a glare from Damian). "She looks self-taught." Bruce continued, pretending he didn't hear his psuedo-daughter. "Like she's used to taking on opponents bigger than herself."

Riley scoffed. "She's a young woman, she's probably researched self-defense. I know you guys sure as hell weren't my first experience with fighting." Jason snorted. He loved this woman.

Bruce's eyebrows furrowed further. "Still... Tim, pull up her file."

Jason rolled his eyes and from the bobbing of her head, Riley did too.

"Ha! Two parents, B, you can't get her!" Jason jeered jokingly (ooh, alliteration!). "Well, one parent." Tim corrected. "Her birth certificate doesn't have her father listed. When she was five though, her mother, Sabine Cheng got married to Tom Dupain. Marinette decided to take both of their names when she got older."

Bruce made a sound, like he was choking. Jason raised an eyebrow at him. "You good?"

Ignoring him - rude - Bruce asked Tim, "Did you say Sabine Cheng?"

Tim frowned up at him from the chair. "Yeah, why? Does her name mean something to you?"

"Wait a minute..." Dick was staring at Bruce with wide eyes. "Didn't you... spend the night with a woman named Sabine on that one mission to Paris? The one that just so happens to have been sixteen years ago?!"

Oh, this was fucking rich. Clearly, Riley thought so too, because her shoulders were shaking with repressed laughter. "Wait, so... Marinette might actually be Bruce's?" Little giggles were starting to escape, and Jason could see her ears turning red, meaning her face probably was too. "Kyle! He-He asked me if Bruce got a new one!"

Stephanie cackled, rolling on the floor. "Master Stephanie, please, off the floor. You have no idea what's been tracked through." Steph quickly righted herself, brushing her clothes off like there were bugs crawling on her. Alfred distributed everyone's favorite drinks (an Earl Grey for Jason, because you cannot convince me that he doesn't drink tea when he needs to be sober), ending with Bruce. "And just what, Master Bruce, do you intend to do about the young miss?" He gave Bruce a stern look, like if he answered wrong, he'd be grounded. The idea of that amused Jason endlessly. Bruce clearly realized that Alfred was serious, tugging on his collar a little. "Um... Take a DNA test?"

Alfred raised an eyebrow. "And just how do you intend to do that?"

Bruce squirmed. "With a strand of hair?"

Alfred's expression flattened out. "I see." D'oh! Wrong answer! Jason wanted to laugh so bad, but he didn't want to ruin this beautiful moment. Unfortunately, the beautiful woman in his lap did it for him. She cleared her throat and spoke up. "Maybe you should call her parents? See if her mother really is the one you slept with and, if she is, see if she's okay with you being in Marinette's life? Then, ask the girl herself?"

Jason muffled his snickers in her shoulder, burying his face in the fabric of her - wait, no, that's his - hoodie.

Alfred shot an amused look at the couple, before turning back to Bruce. "Perhaps it'd be best to go with Master Riley's idea."

Did Bruce just blush? "Right."

Jason scoffed and stood up, eliciting a yelp from his wife. "Goddammit, Jay! I told you to stop doing that!" She scolded him, slapping his chest. Jason chuckled, the sound low in his throat, reverberating through his chest. She huffed and squirmed. "Well, if we're leaving, can I walk on my own?"

Jason pretended to think about it. "Hmm. Nope." He dashed up one of the sets of stairs leading out of the Batcave, Riley banging on his chest. "JAY! Stop it! PUT ME DOWN!" She yelled, half serious, half laughing her ass off. He laughed with her, slowing down, but not quite stopping until they reached the garage. When he did put her down, she punched his chest one more time, going around to the driver's side. "Dumbass brick wall." She muttered, jamming the key into the ignition, a smile on her face all the while. He laughed and grabbed her hand when she went to grab the gear shift, pulling it to his lips. "I love you."

She huffed, pulling her hand away to pull out of the garage. "Love you too, asshole."

-

Marinette just sneezed like, a hundred times in a row. Stupid Gotham pollution.

Chapter Text

Bruce wrung his hands, staring down his current enemy: the phone. "I don't believe the phone will dial itself, Master Bruce."

He took a deep breath and put in the number. One ring. Two.

'Bonjour, this is Tom and Sabine's Boulangerie Patisserie, how can I help you?'

Oh, that voice. Sixteen years and he could still recognize that voice anywhere. He cleared his throat. "Um, yes, is this Sabine Cheng?"

'Yes, it is. May I ask who I'm speaking to?'

"..."

'Hello?'

"This... This is Bruce Wayne."

'Oh.'

"I saw your daughter's file and, well... I have a question."

'I see. Let me get my husband.'

A moment later, a man's voice came across the line in English. 'M. Wayne? Is something wrong with Marinette?' Bruce could hear the worry in the man's voice. "No, sir, nothing like that." He answered in French.

'Ah? Why the call then?' 

'Tom, do you remember what I told you about Marinette's... other contributor?'

'Only that he was a traveling businessman... from... America... Do you mean?"

'Yes...'

Silence.

'Does that mean, M. Wayne, you know?'

Bruce swallowed. "Yes."

More silence.

'What was your question?' Tom's voice sounded hard now, instead of the worried yet jovial tone from before. Like he would rip Bruce limb from limb if he answered wrong. How do you tell a man that you want to claim responsibility for his daughter?

"I don't wish to steal your role as her father, M. Dupain, I... I just want the chance to get to know her. I have many children, but only one of them is biologically mine and I didn't meet him until he was almost eleven years old. To hear I have another... well, I'm happy that she has a family that loves her dearly. Not many of my other children got that. I would never want to take that from her, just... add to it."

-

"Master Bruce, the floor will fall right out of the car at this rate."

"Sorry, Alfred. How close are we?"

Alfred gave him a pointed look through the rearview mirror. "Now, Master Bruce, there's no reason to be nervous."

Bruce's foot stopped its incessant tapping. "I'm not nervous."

"Hmm." Alfred pulled into the parking lot of Gotham Academy. "Good luck."

Bruce stepped out and examined the crowd of students, hoping to catch a glimpse of midnight hair tied in pigtails. After a minute, he spotted her walking arm in arm with Duke, chattering in choppy... Mandarin?

"Duke, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng. Just who I was looking for."

Marinette stared up him, awe and anxiety in her eyes, but she wasn't 'blue screening' as Dick called it, or panicking like she did with Tim. A good sign.

"N- Nice to meet you, Mr. Wayne. I'll see you tomorrow, Duke" She went to walk past them, but Bruce held his arm out. "Actually, I was hoping to speak to you as well, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng."

Marinette paled. "Am I in trouble?" Her voice sounded small, not right for the girl who deemed Jonathan Crane unworthy of his family jewels.

"No, no, you aren't in trouble. I was hoping to ask you a question before you went back to your hotel."

She seemed to contemplate the question. "Okay... I guess."

Bruce smiled, a real one, and gestured toward the car. "After you."

-

"I want to do a paternity test for you. I've already gotten approval from your parents to do so. Of course, if you don't want to, Alfred will take you back to your hotel, and we can forget this happened." Bruce's words were... lacking, but his tone of voice told her that he had nothing but genuine interest and concern for her. What to do? She knew her Papa wasn't her biological father, she remembered meeting him for the first time and being swept up in a giant hug. Hell, her parents' wedding picture was on display in their apartment, with her standing proudly as flower girl. And now this man, this billionaire known around the world, is saying he might be her genetic other half?

"Are you saying that Marinette... might be your daughter?!" Duke looked like his world was collapsing around him and being rebuilt better than before. "Really?!" He turned to her, excitement on his face. "This is great!"

Bruce gave Duke a small but fond smile. "Maybe. That's why I want to get the test done." He looked at Marinette, the question plain on his face. She took a deep, steeling breath. "Okay. If, you promise that if it comes back positive, you won't try to fight my Maman and Papa for custody." She stared at the man, sure determination was written all over her. Bruce stared back, the same fire in his eyes. "Of course." He promised.

This was going to change everything.

Chapter Text

Positive. Marinette stared at the screen in a sort of trance. Bruce Wayne is her biological father.

"Marinette, I want you to know that I don't expect you to make a decision right now. This is a big change, and you'll need time to think about it." Bruce said, setting a hesitant hand on her shoulder.

"I'm going back to Paris in a couple of days." She said. "I don't have much time to."

Bruce frowned. "Do you... have an idea of what you want to do? I don't want to force anything on you. If you want to forget this happened, I'll completely understand."

What to do? This whole situation is turning her world on its head. Her whole life it'd just been her, and her Maman and Papa. Now she had a... she didn't even know what to call him. Father? No, that's really informal. Then again, she didn't know him, only having met him earlier that afternoon. He could be a complete creep! Well, more than likely he's not if what she'd seen of his kids- holy shit, her SIBLINGS! She had brothers and sisters and in-laws and nieces! And it's not like he's trying to take her from her parents, he just wants to get to know her. If she had a kid she didn't know about, she'd want to meet them! Maybe... she should give him a chance? 

"I think... I think I want to get to know you. You aren't going to replace my parents, but..." She looked up at the man - her father. His face was blank, but there was hope and relief shining in his eyes. "I'd like to consider you family." She finished. A small smile bloomed on his face. "In that case, I'd like to invite you to dinner at the manor tomorrow night."

Oh. Dinner? At the manor?! As in Wayne Manor?! This is fine.

"I..."

Bruce's smile turned down into a frown. "You don't have to if it makes you uncomfortable. We can take it slower."

"No, no! It's not that, I..." She blushed. "I don't have anything to wear..."

The relief seemed to crush him. "Oh, that's not a problem. Just wear whatever's comfortable."

"Are you sure?"

"I am. You could show up in a clown suit and everyone would love you. Especially Dick."

She snorted. Somehow, she believed that.

In her purse, her phone buzzed. Akuma alert. "Um, excuse me, M. Wayne- er," What is she supposed to tell him? She has to go run off and save a city three-thousand miles away from a magical monster?

"You don't have to call me anything you're uncomfortable with. If I'm being honest, anything you come up with will probably be better than what the others use." He said with a chuckle.

"Er, right, yes. I'll, uh- I'll think on that, but I need to go. My cat is, uh- stuck in a balloon! And she needs help, so- uh, see you!" She darted out of the Wayne Enterprise office like it was on fire, running as fast as she could to... where? She looked around and noticed that she was in an alley, with no one around. Well, this is as good a place as any. She quickly transformed and opened a portal to Paris.

-

"Her cat is stuck in a balloon?" Bruce repeated what Marinette - his daughter - stuttered out before running out the door because of what could only be a text. "What in the world?"

-

Marinette decided she hates Mondays. The first akuma, Lila showing up, Fu leaving - all of it on a Monday. And now this. 

It had been fine at first. Since her class was on a school trip, there still had to be an educational aspect to it. So, for the second week of their trip, they were going to be shadowing a class from GA. They were paired up based on fluency in English (and for the Gotham kids, French), so she'd been paired with Duke Thomas - the third of Bruce Wayne's children she'd met - as he didn't speak a lick of French. She'd almost become numb to it at this point.

He's the most normal rich kid she'd ever met, probably because he was only taken in by Bruce recently. "Dick, Tim, and Riley have told me a lot about you! What a coincidence that we got put together!" Yeah, almost like some author is purposefully throwing her into situations where she'll steal the hearts of everyone who's considered a Wayne...

(Lila had even been blissfully silent! Probably because of the bad reception at W.E.)

Then she'd been picked up by Bruce Wayne, taken a paternity test, and found out that she's actually his daughter!

And now she's facing off with an akuma! Who cares if it's just Monsieur Pigeon, her world-shattering revelation earlier counts twice! Tikki apparently recognizes that, because her Lucky Charm is just a pigeon whistle, disrupting M. Pigeon's control over them, and allowing her to take him down easily.

"Ladybug, are you okay?"

Marinette laughs half-heartedly. "Aren't I supposed to be asking you that?"

M. Ramier gives her a warm smile and puts his hand on her shoulder. "Everyone has bad days, Ladybug."

"Well, my hasn't been bad necessarily, just... big." 

M. Ramier opened his mouth to answer but got cut off by her earrings beeping. "Ah, it seems your time's up, Ladybug. Just when I was about to offer ice cream, too."

She laughs, a real one this time. "Maybe another time, M. Ramier. Bug out!" Marinette swings away and portals back to her hotel.

What a day.

Chapter Text

Marinette was lying face down in a pool of clothes when Chloe walked in. "Dupain-Cheng?"

No answer. "Marinette?!" She crouched down and rolled the other girl over. Her blue eyes were glassy and unfocused as she gazed up at the ceiling. "Chloe... help..."

"Oh my God! Marinette! Are you okay?!"

Marinette sniffed, focusing on Chloe's face. "I-I can't... I can't..."

Chloe shook her shoulders. "What? What do you need, Marinette? Are you hurt?"

Marinette's eyes watered and she burst into tears. "I can't find anything to wear!" She wailed, clutching at Chloe's jacket. She was promptly dropped. "Are you kidding, Dupain-Cheng?! God, you made me think there was something wrong! Though I can see why you're having a crisis. You dress like a hobo." She stuck her nose in the air, discreetly wiping the tears that began to form in her own eyes away. "Why do you need to get dressed anyway? You're just going to sit in here like you have for the past week."

"Well, you know how I didn't come straight back from school yesterday?"

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Yeah? What's that got to do with anything?"

"Well, I got kidnapped by Bruce Wayne, except it's not kidnapping because he's actually my father and I came willingly and we did a DNA test, then he invited me to dinner at his mansion, and I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO WEAR!" Marinette cried and melted back down to the spread-eagle position she was in when Chloe walked in. Chloe, to her credit, didn't do more than squint at Marinette. "How long has it been since you slept?"

"Last night. Yesterday was emotionally exhausting and I passed out as soon as I got back." Marinette sniffled. Chloe's eyes widened. "Wait, so... you're actually lucid? You're actually Bruce Wayne's daughter?"

Marinette nodded. Chloe rolled her eyes, hiding her astonishment fairly well. "Well, now I don't have to be embarrassed hanging out with you." She turned to the mess of fabric on the floor. "Now..."

-

Marinette nervously picked at her dress. Chloe had picked it out saying it looked fine, but all Marinette could see was the uneven hem and half-finished embroidery. She had brought it as something to do if she couldn't sleep, but Chloe had insisted she wear it to the dinner. It was a simple black dress that was made of a silky material, had a sweetheart neckline and came down to her knees. She had a large gray ribbon acting as a belt, with matching tulle underneath the skirt. Across the bodice were baby pink embroidered cherry blossoms, though they only covered about half of it. Chloe assured her it looked intentional, but Marinette was still nervous. Her hair was down, and she had a touch of 'natural make-up' (which seemed like a bit of an oxymoron). 

She was so focused on her catastrophizing that she didn't notice the elderly gentleman approach. "Mlle. Dupain-Cheng?"

She jumped a foot in the air at the appearance of the man. "Y-Yes?"

The man gave her a soft smile. "My name is Alfred Pennyworth, I am the Wayne family caretaker. I also act as their chauffeur."

"Oh."

She followed Alfred outside to a ridiculously fancy car. "After you, Miss." He opened the door for her, and she stepped in, careful of her heels.

"Um, Alfred? How many people are going to be there? I've met Riley and I know she has a husband and daughter, and then there's Dick and his family, and Tim, and Duke, and-"

"Not to worry. Only Masters Bruce, Tim, Damian and Duke live there full-time. You would only be meeting the young Master Damian. Luckily, he seems to be a fan of your work, Mlle. MDC." Alfred gave her a reassuring look through the rearview mirror. She could feel the blush rising on her cheeks. "Oh."

-

"Welcome to Wayne Manor, Miss."

She thought Adrien's house was big, but it was a broom closet compared to the manor. It also had a lot less character. The Agreste Mansion was cold and white, like a hospital. It sucked all the life out of the air. Wayne Manor seemed to be the exact opposite. Where the Agrestes' made her want to die, the sprawling gardens and perfect imperfections of Wayne Manor made her fingers twitch for her sketchbook. She should've brought more than just her little purse.

"It's alright, Miss, you are welcome to come back and draw to your heart's content any time."

What?! She looked up at the butler, confused as to how he knew what she was feeling. He chuckled and seemed to brush her off. "This way."

He led her inside and into the dining room, stopping with her politely when she paused to gawk in every hallway he led her through. When they finally made it, Marinette noticed that it was indeed only Bruce, Tim and Duke. "Marinette!" Duke jumped up and gave her a big hug, followed shortly by Tim, who was sporting Gucci eyebags not dissimilar to her own. After the hug got awkwardly long, she shook him softly. "Um, hello?"

She was answered with a soft snore. Timothy Drake-Wayne fell asleep on her shoulder. Marinette blinked. "He's asleep."

Bruce sighed and looked to Duke, who seemed relieved, oddly. "Would you mind...?"

"Already on it!"

Duke came forward and scooped Tim up in a bridal carry. "Be right back!"

As he left, Bruce called after him, "Bring Damian if you can, please!" He turned to her. "Marinette. I'm glad you came."

She smiled sheepishly. "Yeah. To be honest... I almost didn't. My friend, Chloe, she encouraged me."

Awkward silence.

Bruce cleared his throat and pulled out a seat for her. "Here."

More awkward silence.

"So, you're Dupain-Cheng. I expected you to be taller." The sudden appearance of the boy surprised Marinette. He was Chat Noir levels of stealthy. Then she registered his words. "Wha- I'm sitting down! How would you know how tall I am?"

Damian scoffed, taking his on spot to Bruce's right. "You are one hundred and fifty centimeters, correct?"

"Wh-? How?!"

"Aw, come on Little D! Lighten up!"

Whipping around to face the new voice, Marinette saw Dick standing behind her. "Hey again, Marinette! Don't let Damian get to you, he's just bitter he's not the only 'blood-child' anymore!"

Damian gave Dick a very cold glare, like, really cold. An eleven-year-old should not be that scary. "I will stab you, Grayson." 

Dick laughed it off, but still sat next to Marinette and out of arm's - or knives' - reach. "We're not all like that." Duke promised, sitting on her other side. "It's only Jason and Damian there."

She frowned. "Jason? Like, Riley's husband? He didn't seem... stabby in that picture you showed me, Dick."

"Who's stabby?"

Turning around once again, Marinette saw another man, one she also recognized, standing with his arm around Riley.

"You." Dick said shamelessly, a large grin on his face. Jason merely flipped him off, offering his other hand to her for a shake. "Nice to finally meet ya, Pixie."

Marinette shook - holy crap, his hand is huge - "Nice to meet you too."

When Jason backed off, Riley moved in to give her a hug. "Hey, kiddo."

"So," Bruce cleared his throat. "What are you three doing here?" He nervously glanced at Marinette. Probably worried about her being overwhelmed. Which she very much was, but she's not going to show it until the fact that all these people are technically family hits her.

"Dinner is served." Alfred came out with seven servings instead of the planned five - how did he know?

"M. Alfred? Why don't you sit with us?" She asked. Maybe she was being stupid, asking him to eat with them, but it seemed like she said the right thing if the approving looks she got were anything to go by. "I am flattered, Miss, but this is a family meal."

"But aren't you family?"

Silence. Everyone was staring at her with gleaming eyes. "Wow, B, you did a good job with this one. Are you sure she's yours?" Jason asked, sending her a smile. Bruce gave Jason a look. "As sure as I can be."

"No, she's definitely his. You should've seen the glare she gave me when we met. Identical." Dick chimed in. "Oh, you mean when you came off like a predator?" Riley asked, pointing her fork at him. "What?!" Jason and Bruce spoke at the same time, giving Dick a withering glare. Marinette could feel her face burning up. "He didn't mean to! Don't get mad."

Damian scoffed. "Leave it to Grayson to make a fool of himself."

"Hey!" Dick squawked. "Rude! After all I've done for you!" He placed his hand against his forehead and slumped back in his chair.

During the bickering, Alfred slipped back to the kitchen. Well, that won't do. Marinette thought and followed him.

Chapter Text

The Waynes' kitchen was something out of a dream. Four ovens, at least three dishwashers, two sinks, a million miles of counter space, and a partridge in a pear tree.

"M. Alfred?" Marinette looked around the kitchen, not seeing hide nor hair of the butler. 

"Yes, Miss?" As if summoned by his name, Alfred appeared behind her. She would like to say she didn't jump a foot in the air, but that would be a bold-faced lie.

"You never did join us for dinner." She said, stubbornly crossing her arms. Alfred just chuckled. "No, indeed I didn't. Would it be wrong to assume you know your way around a kitchen?" He asked, with an odd look in his eyes. Something like mischief, relief and hope. "No?"

"Then, would you like to join me in making dessert?"

Well, that caught her attention. She completely forgot about the room full of billionaires behind her, instead fantasizing about baking in the glorious paradise that is the Manor's kitchen. "Would I?!"

Alfred led her to yet another mile long stretch of counter, filled with various ingredients for a multitude (heh) of dishes. Marinette rolled up her sleeves, sharing a look with Alfred. This was going to be fun.

-

"Hey, where'd Marinette go?"

Finally, the idiot geniuses seemed to realize that the whole reason they were in one place together was missing. Riley sighed, hiding her smirk in her cup.

"Tch, she left with Pennyworth an hour ago. Not that you'd notice that, Todd." 

"You-"

"Jay." Riley warned.

"Sorry." He conceded, completely unapologetic.

Dick pouted. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Damian rolled his eyes. "If you didn't notice that is your own fault."

"But where'd she go?" Dick whined.

"Whoa, that looks delicious." Duke was turned around in his seat watching Marinette and Alfred tote in trays piled high with pastries, chatting cheerfully. Marinette turned her sunshine smile on the people still at the table. "We made dessert!"

Earlier, Marinette had seemed tense and nervous, but now she looked relaxed and at ease. Good.

"Alfred let you into his kitchen?" Duke looked like Marinette had just performed some kind of miracle (heh). Right, he wasn't there when they looked through her file. "Miss Marinette has proven herself quite proficient in the kitchen, unlike you lot." Alfred said, placing the various plates of pastries on the table. 

"That's fair." Riley piped up, enjoying the scandalized looks she got. "Who cares? I got dibs on the cookies!" Jason reached for the plate, only to have his hand swatted by Marinette. "Non. No one gets 'dibs'. We didn't have enough time to make much of anything," She says, next to the giant pile of sweets. "So, everyone gets a little bit of everything."

Jason pouted, but just grabbed a handful of cookies instead of the plate like he'd intended. Taking that as their signal (heh), everyone else reached for their own preferred sweets. It was silent for a moment, as everyone took the first bite, then the room erupted into a chorus of delighted 'yummy' sounds.

Riley herself grabbed a couple of the brownies they'd made, then grabbed a couple more to bring home to Kaya, Kyle and Justin. "Man, Timmy's missing out." Jason said around a mouthful of cookie. "Where is he anyway?"

"Asleep." Bruce answered in between bites of his own cookie. Jason's eyebrows breached his hairline. "And just who managed that?"

Duke grinned like a madman. "Marinette. He went to give her a hug and he conked out." Marinette blushed. "I didn't do anything. He'd been awake for at least fifty-five hours, it was going to happen, with or without me."

Silence reigned as everyone in the room stared at Marinette. "How do you know that?" Dick asked, suspicion and his signature big brother worry present in his voice. Seeming to realize how her situation looked, Marinette flailed, waving her arms around and attempting to splutter out an answer. "Well, I-I've done it before! Staying up for a while, I mean. I'm not spying on you or anything, I promise!" She hid her face behind her hands, so she completely missed the horrified looks she was getting. Riley, of course, already suspected Marinette's sleeping (and caffeine) habits, and only sighed at the confirmation.

"How is that any better?" Dick asked. He looked like he was going through the five stages of grief all at the same time. Marinette peeked through her fingers. "W-What?"

"Pix, that's not healthy!" Jason said, sounding no less distraught than Dick. Marinette looked less like she was in a 'please don't hate me' kind of panic anymore, and more like an 'I've got to escape before I can be confronted about my unhealthy habits' kind of tizzy.

Riley was conflicted. Part of her wanted to help the poor girl, while her big sister part wanted to knock some sense into Marinette herself. She sighed to herself. "Oh, knock it off you guys. I've already told her this. Keep pushing, and she'll keep doing it just to spite you." 

Bruce narrowed his eyes at Riley, then turned to Marinette. "You wouldn't."

The younger girl glanced at Riley just in time to catch her wink. She turned to Bruce, a mischievous, albeit hesitant gleam in her eye. "Maybe I would."

Damian, of all people, scoffed and replied. "Please. Drake is one thing, but we share blood Dupain-Cheng. You wouldn't be that stupid."

To her credit, Marinette didn't seem offended. Instead, she seemed... pleased?

"Was that a compliment?" She asked slowly, a small, sly smirk playing on her lips. Damian's ears turned pink, but that was the only outward sign of his embarrassment. He merely scoffed and stormed off.

Unexpectedly, Marinette was swept off her feet and into one of Jay's signature bear hugs. "I've only known Pixie for five minutes, but if anything happened to her, I would kill everyone in this room, then myself." That got a mixed bag of reactions. Some giggles, some groans, some disappointed 'Jason...'s. As for Marinette herself, she now identified as a red tea kettle. Riley stealthily snapped a picture. She'd share it later.

-

How. Did this. Happen?!

After they'd finished eating, the Wayne family (that she was a part of... still such a weird thought) moved to one of the many sitting rooms to play a game at Dick's behest (Tim joining them soon after). After a bit of deliberation:

"Clue."

"Monopoly!"

"Charades?"

"Twister!"

"NO, DICK!"

"Aww..."

They'd landed on Uno. Thirty minutes later they were in a very headache inducing situation. See, Bruce and Tim grew up as spoiled rich kids (Marinette assumed Damian was equally sheltered before he'd come to live with Bruce), and therefore, didn't know how to shuffle cards. Dick didn't either, which was definitely a surprise.

So, after seeing Riley do a bridge shuffle, the Wayne boys were very curious. So, they decided to teach them. So, they wound up sitting here watching as Bruce struggles to make his hands cooperate, Tim passes back out on the sofa, and Damian throws the cards like shuriken at Dick - who was hanging on the chandelier - after he'd managed to do it. Duke and Riley were engaged in a fierce round of War, while Jason laughed his ass off at Bruce, and Marinette contemplated her life choices.

What has she been sucked into?

Chapter Text

Unfortunately, Lila's silence didn't last long. Wednesday, she was back up to her usual shit again. Thankfully, since Marinette was essentially glued to Duke's side during the school day, and Chloe afterwards, the Possi didn't mess with her. It still didn't stop Lila from feeding sewage into the GA rumor mill.

She was eating lunch with Duke and a couple of his friends when a tray slammed down on the table. Upon seeing who it was, most of the table's occupants, besides Duke and Marinette, fled.

Before either could get a word in, Damian growled out, "Dupain-Cheng. I have heard disturbing things from your class, and I want you to explain."

Marinette blinked. "My class? Oh, you mean Lila." The younger boy scowled even harder. "Yes. Her."

"Lila Rossi. There's not much to explain. She's a lying pain in my everything. Simple as that."

Damian narrowed his eyes at her. "Why do you let this continue?"

Marinette shrugged helplessly. "You think I haven't tried to stop her? She's got everyone and their mother wrapped around her finger. Besides she's..." She paused. "She's not hurting anyone. The best way to handle her is to just grin and bear it."

She could feel her technically-brothers' eyes boring holes into her head. "What?" 

"Marinette..." Duke started, but Damian cut him off. "Not hurting anyone? Who told you that? Please, At the very least, she will hurt herself - though at this point it's just natural selection. She does not realize just what the Wayne name means here. At most, her sheep," He spit the word like it was the most disgusting thing he'd ever tasted, "Will do something hair-brained, and hurt themselves or someone else - again, natural selection, but dragging innocents into it?" He leveled Marinette with a serious look. "That is the worst evil I can imagine."

Wow... Lila's a thorn in her side (and social life), but she wouldn't go so far as to say she's evil. Just mildly psychotic. Is the melodrama a Wayne thing? She hoped it wasn't contagious.

"And Marinette," Duke turned the attention back onto himself. "Even if she isn't physically hitting anybody, she's still hurting someone. You."

Marinette couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye. Sure, Marinette's social life was in the gutter, but that was her own fault! Even if Lila hadn't sped the process along, it would've happened eventually, what with all her responsibilities. And maybe Lila got her expelled once, but it had been fixed and nothing happened (except her almost-akumatization...). And sure, she couldn't feel anything but pure unadulterated joy, but that would be the case, Lila or no! She's Ladybug, for crying out loud! She can't let Lila of all people get to her.

"Marinette! How could you?!"

Said girl was snapped out of her frantic musings (right on the verge of a breakthrough, too) by the harsh voice of her ex-best friend.

(Damian and Duke don't miss the fact that she'd started hyperventilating while stuck in her head, or the flinch she tries to hide, - almost on instinct - at Alya's voice.)

"Wh-What?" She stutters out, still shaky from her almost panic attack. "'Wh-What?' You know exactly what you did! You know, I really thought getting out of Paris would change things for you, but you're still the cold-hearted, jealous bitch you turned into last year."

Dupain-Cheng flinched back from the words, as if the glasses-wearing buffoon had struck her. Damian didn't miss the tears forming in her eyes. It was hard not to. "I-I-" 

"Well?! Do you have anything to say for yourself, or are you just going to sit there acting like the victim in this situation?"

Dupain-Cheng's chest started heaving as she tried - and failed to suppress sobs.

"God, I should've known. You're a horrible person, Marinette, you know that?"

That was it. Damian could feel something ugly and blood-thirsty rearing up in his chest, demanding he defend Dupain-Cheng - his sister. It was clear from the look on Thomas' face that he felt the same way. Damian stomped in front of Marinette, staring down (or up, considering the louse was taller than him) the other French girl who was harassing her. "I suggest you step back, harlot, unless you wish to lose your fingers."

The she-devil stumbled back, as Damian upped his glare as close to 'Batman' level as possible. Clearly the girl was terrified.

"M-Marinette, what the hell?! Who is this?!"

Damian sneered. "Dupain-Cheng is the least of your worries as of this moment. You go back to that pitiful girl, Rossi, and you tell her to stop spewing misinformation about our family. Or else."

The girl must truly have no brains or survival instinct, as she continued to ignore him - him! - and glare at Marinette. "Wow, this is who you're hanging around with. Big downgrade."

Thomas stepped forward, wrapping his arm around Marinette's shoulder. "You need to leave. Now." 

The damned moron scoffed and turned on her heel. "We'll talk later, Marinette. When these two psychos aren't around."

Damian fumed while Thomas comforted Marinette. "How dare she! She's even more imbecilic than Grayson when he gets drunk! If I have to spend five more seconds around those mindless fools, I will lose more braincells than Drake."

"Hey, Marinette," Thomas spoke softly, "What do you say to getting out of here, getting some ice cream?"

Marinette's breath stuttered. "But-But what a-about scho-ol?"

He ran his hand up and down her back soothingly. "You're more than smart enough to miss one afternoon of school, Mari."

As Thomas said that, Marinette's breathing halted completely. It was silent for about ten seconds before she melted into his hug. "I'd like that." She turned, facing towards Damian. Her eyes were red and puffy, and makeup was running down her cheeks. "Would you like to come, Damian?"

He found that he didn't want to say no, oddly. He always rejected Grayson when he invited him on ice cream runs, simply demanding that he bring back his favorite flavor. "I believe fresh air would help me clear my head." He answered, clearing up the remainders of his lunch.

-

Duke and Damian led her through Gotham, taking her to 'the best place for ice cream in the city'. Apparently, eat anywhere else and you'd get food poisoning. They walked in mostly silence, Duke leading the way, pointing out bits of the scenery, while Damian walked behind, his hands shoved in his pockets and reminding Marinette vaguely of a brooding kitten.

When they got to the ice cream cart, Damian ordered pistachio, Marinette got her usual blackberry (she'd developed a taste for it thanks to Andre. How long has it been since she'd stopped by his cart?) while Duke got plain vanilla. "I know, I know, it's basic, but there isn't nothing wrong with the classics."

Afterwards, the boys led her to a park. Robinson Park, they called it. It was nice spending time with her brothers. Brothers. She had brothers. Five of them! And two sister-in-laws, two nieces, as well as an actual sister and two more psuedo-sisters she had yet to meet. 

Sure, the Wayne's were chaotic but... if that day had proven anything, it was that they took care of each other, no matter how prickly. She could use some of that in her life right now.

Chapter Text

"You."

Marinette froze. She had forgotten about the cafeteria incident when she and her brothers (she was starting to wrap her head around that now) went to get ice cream, which was the point. Now here she was, pinned between Alya and the elevator. She'd just missed it and the counter above said it was going to the top floor. Damn.

"I can't believe you. Hiding behind a couple of Americans, pretending you're the victim. What happened to you? Are you really that mad that Lila has connections? A real life? Friends? You could too, your fashion designs are awesome! At least, they were. Before you started stealing Lila's."

What? Stealing designs?! From Lila?! "She's never designed anything before! How could I steal from her?"

Alya scoffed and gave her a disbelieving look. "Uh, that new black book? The one that you just magically had out of nowhere? That was Lila's! She didn't want to be mean and make you feel bad, but she should be more worried about her own feelings, not yours! She's too nice to do that, but I'm not. Give Lila her sketchbook back!"

What?! Marinette was extremely confused. "It 'appeared' because I just bought it! After someone stole my last one, and I found it torn up in my locker!" She said, jabbing a finger at Alya. Everything she'd gone through since Lila came was bubbling up. Every side eye, snide comment, stray foot in the walkway. All of it, playing on loop in her head. All of that was tolerable - barely - even the Possi destroying her sketchbook, but accusing her of stealing designs? They knew it was a sore spot of hers, especially after what happened with Chloe. She couldn't do anything about it in Paris. Couldn't defend herself for fear of an akuma. But now? Now, they weren't in Paris anymore. There were no akumas, no emotional terrorist holding them hostage. They were in Gotham. Gotham, where Marinette now had a family; another dad, and tons of siblings who would back her up. Stick up for her, even when she could do it herself. Should've done it herself. Fuck Adrien and his advice.

"You want to call me a bully? Say I've done all these horrible things to Lila? Where's your proof, huh? Huh?! Do you even have any, little Mlle. Tabloid Reporter?! NO! You don't, because I've never done any of what Lila, poor simpering Lila, says I have! All you have is her word, which means jack shit! You're attacking me, destroying my things - and mental health - based on the word of a liar! Because that's what she is! A liar! Go ahead and Google her! If she's as accomplished what she says she has, there's bound to be something about her, right? Besides your Lila-blog? Well, do it!" She's yelling in Alya's face and getting stares from everyone else in the lobby. She didn't care though, more focused on the girl in front of her. 

Alya looked like Marinette had slapped her, frozen and staring at her in shock. "Well, if you aren't going to, then I will." She pulled out her phone and put Lila's name into the search bar. "Let's see, Lila-blog, Lila-blog, ooh! Post from Jagged Stone! 'Never had a cat, never met Lila Rossi, and never want to, that girl is the exact opposite of rock n' roll!'." She kept scrolling, showing Alya each result, every single one from her blog. With each line, Alya shrunk back, and her horrified look got worse. "What? No! S-She has a Wikipedia page!"

Marinette felt like pulling her hair out. "You made that! You were bragging about it for weeks after! Admit it, you were duped! Tricked! You're nothing but a gossip hound with a blog full of lies! You're a bully, going after someone who had done nothing but use her brain and be your friend! I tried to warn you! But you pushed me away! Called me a 'bitch'!" Tears were streaming down both their faces. "Marinette, I-" Alya started, reaching toward her but Marinette stepped back into the elevator as it dinged behind her. "No. You had chance after chance. You made your bed, now you're going to lie in it."

The doors closed on Alya's tear stained face. As soon as the elevator started moving, Marinette broke down, ugly sobbing and sniffling. When she reached her floor, she ran straight to the room, gathering up her things. Chloe had gone to some spa, so the room was empty, and Marinette didn't want to be alone. Normally when she was upset, she wanted to go somewhere quiet so she could calm down. Now though, she was craving something else. She wanted to be in a dim sitting room, surrounded by her new family, playing a board game that the poor rich kids didn't understand. She picked up her phone and dialed one of the newest numbers in it. 

'Dupain-Cheng? Do you need something?'

"C-Can I- can I c-come ov-ver?"

'...'

"Damian?"

'Pennyworth will be there in five minutes.'

"But it's a-a thirty m-minute drive?" She sniffed but felt warm inside. The rumors at school were wrong (as they often are), Damian had a heart. It was just guarded, something she could understand.

'Five. Minutes.' Then a click as the line disconnected. 

-

An hour later and she's back in the Wayne Manor sitting room, wrapped in blankets, drinking tea and venting about... everything. Only Bruce, Tim, Damian and Cass were there (she found she quite got along with the other girl), but she had no doubt that the whole family would know soon. Tim said so himself.

"They destroyed your sketchbook?!" Damian was fuming, pacing the room. "Those uncivilized swine! You are a successful artist, and they accuse you of stealing someone else's work?!" His anger on her behalf seemed to surprise everyone in the room. "Father, this is preposterous. I demand you do something!" It may be wrong, but it felt good to have someone mad for her for once. Still...

"What can we do?" She asked miserably. "It's schoolyard drama. Even if they back off for now, as soon as we get back to Paris, everything is going to go back to the way it was!" She sighed, pulling the blanket around her. "It's no good." Cass pulled Marinette into her side and whispered into her ear. Marinette sighed. "We can't do that, Cass. That's illegal." Cass shrugged, snuggling closer to her new sister.

"Cassandra's idea is not a bad one." Damian says, sitting down in one of the armchairs to brood, mirroring their father on the opposite end of the room.

Tim snorted (a dangerous thing with his ever-present coffee mug at his lips). "You didn't hear what she said."

"It would be satisfactory, nonetheless." He huffs, crossing his arms (and once more, reminding Marinette of a puffed-up little kitten).

"We will not be doing anything illegal. In fact, it'll be quite the opposite." Bruce says, his first words since Marinette started her story. 

Why does it make Marinette feel nervous? (And slightly excited)

Chapter Text

Marinette probably slept better than she ever had in her life. Damn billionaires and their cloud-like mattresses. Wait, is she a billionaire now? Whatever.

Duke was happy when he'd learned she'd slept at the Manor, chattering excitedly at breakfast. Of course, on the ride to school, he got tense. Thankfully, Marinette's explosion at Alya seemed to do something. She was sitting at the back of the classroom, ostracized from the rest of the Possi. Marinette felt like she shouldn't be enjoying the glares Alya was getting but found she couldn't help the vindictive pang of satisfaction.

With Lila's attention on her former lapdog, Marinette was left alone. Well, mostly. After seeing Damian's willingness to be in her company, the Gothamites started talking to each other, starting rumors of their own. By lunch, the whole school was whispering her name. It was... uncomfortable. Not because she was the center of attention, she was used to that. Instead of her name being spit like an insult, it was said with giddy excitement. Everyone was... happy about her, wondering if Bruce Wayne struck again. They didn't know how right they were.

As soon as school finished, Marinette, Duke and Damian got out of there as quickly as possible. Went home. And isn't that weird, one sleepover and Marinette's thinking of Wayne Manor as home. Well, a second home. She still longed for her pink bedroom, the smell of baked goods and a dumb boy in magical leather-spandex quipping at her.

"Marinette." Bruce called her name in the entryway. "Can I speak with you? In my study." 

She nodded and followed after him, Damian following after her. Bruce frowned at him but didn't say anything. "Father? What exactly do you wish to speak about?" Damian asked, gaze darting to the grandfather clock in the corner. Bruce sighed, pulling a file from one of his desk drawers. "I want to know every lie that girl has told. Even the smallest white lie could help."

Marinette was confused. "Help? Help what?" 

Bruce slid the file across the desk toward her. "Our case, against the Rossi girl." 

She stared down at the file numbly. "Oh." She glanced at her father, then her brother, and hesitantly opened it. There were printouts of social media posts - like Jagged's - and newspaper clippings, and anything and everything else that could possibly incriminate Lila. She was speechless.

Across the room, Damian scoffed. "It took you long enough, Father. How soon will we be able to demolish this harlot?"

Marinette looked up at that. "What? D-Demolish her?" 

Damian rolled his eyes. "Of course. She insulted our family name. You're lucky I'm letting you take your time and not letting that swine taste the steel of my blade." 

Marinette blinked at her brother. "Would you believe that it's not the first time I've heard that?"

Bruce sighed, running a hand over his face. "No stabbing, slicing or mauling in general. Marinette?" She looked up at him. "How do you want to do this?"

She took a deep breath, feeling very overwhelmed. "We can't sue her."

"Are you joking?!" Damian stormed up to her, glowering in all of his 4'11 glory. "I can't decapitate her, and now, she won't even be punished via the legal system?! You're soft, Ukht."

Behind the desk, Bruce let out a wheezing sound - similar to a deflating balloon, staring at Damian with wide eyes. As for Marinette, she was trying to place the familiar word. She was pretty sure it's Arabic, so a term Nino had used. It sounded like a name or nickname... Oh, that's right!

She smiled softly at the boy - her brother. "Really?" 

He frowned at her. "That was not a compliment." She shook her head, fighting the tingling behind her eyes. "No, you called me 'Ukht'," She tried to pronounce the word as best she could, Damian tensing before her. "Sister." She finished. He swallowed, glancing at their father. "Well, that's what you are." He lifted his chin, trying his best to look unfazed by his slip-up. "Never mind that, why won't you punish the Rossi germ?"

Marinette cleared her throat. She figured pushing it would only make him pull away. "It's not that I won't. I can't. She's got diplomatic immunity." She explained, her voice weary. She'd done plenty of research when Riley had first broached the topic. Turns out Lila's mother's immunity covered her too. It'd take something extreme and provable to waive it. Like murder, or terrorism...

"What is it?" Bruce asked, circling around the desk to her. Damian looked at her with matching curiosity. She bit her lip. How could she tell her new family she suspected Lila of cooperating with an emotional terrorist because of the level of hatred she held for her alter ego? She couldn't. She has to keep quiet if she wants to keep her identity intact.

"Nothing." She answered. "I'm just... sad." She finished lamely. Neither Damian nor Bruce looked convinced. "Right, well, if that's that, I've got homework a-and a commission! For Tim, actually, and I only have a few weeks, so I should probably start on it." She promptly fled the room, escaping her scarily perceptive father and brother.

-

"So, we both agree she's hiding something, correct?" Damian asked. Bruce nodded. "Question is, why?"

Chapter Text

"I'm going to be late for my plane! I need to go!" Marinette squirmed under the dogpile of her siblings. "But why?!" Tim whined from... somewhere in the heap of bodies. "We have a plane! You could be home before your class is even over the ocean!"

"Because! I'm class president, I have to be there!" She argued, attempting to push her absurdly heavy brothers (and Cass) off of her. "Yeah, class prez to a bunch of asshats!" Jason argued, closer to the top of the pile. "I never said they weren't!" She protested, managing to get a hand out from underneath her family. "I also have parents!"

All at once, her siblings got off of her, looking extremely guilty. "Sorry." Dick said sheepishly. "We... forgot."

Marinette raised an eyebrow. "You forgot."

Damian scoffed, standing away from the rest of them, pretending he wasn't in the pile too. "Father has a type. It doesn't include parents."

Marinette sharply inhaled, the others looking distinctly more forlorn. "Merde, I'm sorry guys, I-"

"It's alright, Mari." Duke gave her a small smile. "We've got each other now, and we're glad you haven't gone through what we have."

She frowned, flashes of the more violent akumas running through her mind. They always came back, but her parents' temporary deaths still haunted her. She couldn't imagine what she'd do if it was permanent. She wrapped Duke in a hug, waving her other siblings over. A group hug is what led to the dogpile last time, but she still did it, wanting to comfort them. "Like you said, you apparently have a plane, I can come back for holidays and school breaks. Maybe Maman and Papa can come, and you can meet!"

Cass signed something, their brothers nodding along. Marinette knew the basics of French sign language, and Cass had taught her a couple words when they'd hung out, but she had no idea what she'd said. Dick, angel that he is, translated for her. "She said that sounds nice, but that you need to go."

Marinette smiled softly, picking up her discarded bags. "Thank you, guys, I had a lot of fun!"

Alfred opened the door, the car out front having been ready for over twenty minutes now. "I love you!" She called over her shoulder, the door closing on her siblings shocked and excited faces. There was a burst of noise in the entryway as they went crazy, shaking each other and laughing and crying. It was a record! The quickest a new Wayne kid said 'I love you' for the first time.

-

Outside, Bruce was waiting by the car, holding a large box. "Here." He said, handing it to her. She peeked inside, and gasped loudly, flinging the top off. Sitting in the box was a sewing machine shiny and pink with all kinds of special attachments. "This- it- I- this is almost two thousand dollars! How did you-?" She ran her finger gingerly along the shiny siding. She looked back up to Bruce, who was smiling at her softly. "You like it? A lot of people said it was one of the best on the market."

Marinette's lip wobbled. She set the box down gently and flung her arms around him. Bruce was taken aback, but quickly reciprocated. "Thank you, Dad." She whispered into his chest, backing up. He looked at her with wide eyes, his mouth slightly agape.

"Miss Marinette, I suggest we get on our way. The plane leaves in little over a half an hour." Alfred said, looking on the interaction with a soft smile. "Right." She said, grabbing her gift and sliding it onto the car seat. She smiled widely at Bruce, who stared right back, a large grin on his own face. "Thank you, so much! I hope I can visit again! I love you!" She shut the car door and Alfred started the engine, pulling out of the driveway. Bruce walked back inside, the rest of his kids still fawning over Marinette in the entryway. They looked up as he walked in, shifting their chatter to him. All of them were telling Bruce about what she'd said, but he was zoned out, smile still plastered on his face. "Did she like it, Father?" Damian asked, tone somewhat dismissive, but the look in his eyes betrayed that he was dying to know. He'd picked it out, after all.

"She called me Dad." Bruce said, tone dreamy. "She-She called me Dad!"

The rest of his kids stopped their babbling at that. "She said 'I love you'!" They shouted, hands flying in the air. "Yes, she did, but did she like the present?!" Damian huffed, his arms crossed as he stared at his father, upset at being ignored. Bruce looked down at Damian, realizing that he'd spoke. "She did." He said, ruffling Damian's hair. "You did good."

"Wait!" Dick cried, tugging his hair. "We were supposed to get presents?!"

Chapter Text

Marinette sighed as she dropped through the hatch into her bedroom. One pink flash of light later and she's face first in her pillow, Tikki sitting on her shoulder. Lila had been almost bearable on the flight back, though the Possi paid no attention to Marinette. Probably because Alya - the main aggressor - was sitting silently, contemplating her last few months of bullying. Good.

Of course, relative silence on Lila's end doesn't mean all of Marinette's problems disappear. As soon as the plane touched down in France, there was an akuma. Not for the first time, Marinette thought Shadow Moth knew her identity, and was torturing her just for funsies. 

"Marinette! It's time for school!" Her maman's voice echoed up. Marinette groaned into her pillow. "Five more minutes!" She called, hoping her mother understood her muttering. "You're going to be late!"

Marinette sighed heavily, heaving herself up. She slowly made her way down the ladder attempting to keep her eyes open. This last akuma came at three in the morning, because apparently Shadow Moth had nothing better to do than pick on sleep-deprived teenagers.

She's pretty sure she put on her shirt inside out and her pigtails were crooked, but all Marinette was focused on was getting some coffee. She'd need caffeine if she was going to make it through the day. Her maman seemed to read her mind, passing her a steaming cup and a croissant. Marinette gave her a grateful glance as she sipped at the coffee and couldn't help but think... Alfred's was better. She felt ashamed for thinking it, but it was true. Alfred's brew was better than what she'd grown up drinking. She tried to placate herself, the Waynes are rich after all, but she still felt traitorous.

Marinette slumped into class, Lila's voice already grating on her nerves. It was going to be a long day. At the front of the class, Adrien slunk into his seat, looking as dead as she felt.

Marinette found herself zoning out, waiting for the teacher to arrive and trying not to pass out. Her thoughts wandered back to Gotham. To her father and brothers. To Cass and the two pseudo-sisters she didn't get to meet. She... missed Gotham. That crazy, filthy dumpster fire of a city, with homicidal maniacs galore. She misses it, and she can't go back until she takes care of Shadow Moth. It's time for this to end.

...but how exactly? Thanks to the nature of the Butterfly, there was no way to track Shadow Moth! None of the akuma victims remembered anything about the man, definitely nothing identifiable. They were stuck in a loop. Akumatize, cleanse, repeat.

Cleanse...

The butterflies... where do they go? Presumably about their butterfly business...

But where does he get them? Either he buys new butterflies every time (which is stupid, he'd have to be incredibly rich, and what kind of rich dude spends his time looking for magic jewelry? He could buy whatever he wants, no wish needed), or...!

The butterflies go back, and he reuses them!

Marinette bolts upright in her seat, a paper stuck to her cheek where she'd been laying on it. She needed a way to track those butterflies... but how? Cameras? She could ask to see CCTV footage as Ladybug, but there's no guarantee that they'll let her see... though they probably will, who'd refuse her the chance to get rid of the emotional terrorist?!

"Mlle. Dupain-Cheng. Do you have something to add to my lecture?" Mme. Mendeleiv paused her lesson, all eyes in the classroom on Marinette. Oops. "May I go to the bathroom?"

The teacher raised an eyebrow. "This can't wait until I'm done?"

"Nope, it really can't." Marinette said, already planning which places' footage would be best to start with. Mme. Mendeleiv sighed, though gestured to the door. "Fine, be back in five minutes."

"Actually, I'm feeling sick, so I'm just going to go home, bye-!" Marinette darted out the door, ignoring her teacher's protests. She had a supervillain to catch.

Chapter Text

Three hours. Marinette just wasted three hours running around Paris trying to track the butterflies. The shop owners had been more than happy to let her see the footage, but no luck. Every purified butterfly fluttered off, doing regular butterfly things. She'd been so close! And now she had to go back to school and act like she hadn't been inches from finding her emotional torturer of three years. 

She decided not to go back to school, choosing to trudge back home and sob into her pillow. Oh wait, she can't do that, because any emotion other than happy-happy-joy-joy is going to turn her into a fashion disaster! And give away her identity and stuff. That'd be bad too.

Just as she flopped into her desk chair, ready to doom scroll through social media to distract herself from the crippling disappointment, her phone rang. She groaned. It was probably her stupid classmates, or stupid teacher wondering why she wasn't at stupid school. Why couldn't they leave her to mope in peace? She fumbled for her phone blindly, hoping to push the 'hang up' button without having to look up from her computer. Instead, as it seems Tikki's luck has abandoned her (like the little sprite herself, in search of cookies), she hit accept call.

'Mari! How's your day going?'

Wait a minute- Is that-?!

Shooting out of her seat (and dumping herself on the floor because she forgot it was a swiveling desk chair*), she lunged for her phone. "Duke! Oh, you don't know how happy I am to hear your voice! My day has been shit."

'Uh, Mari? I-I, uh, I don't know French.' His voice sounded shaky, like he was trying not to laugh. Marinette stared at the wall for a moment, while she processed what he said. "Quoi?"

...

"Oh! Shit, sorry, Duke! What's up?"

'I just wanted to give you a heads up-'

"Marinette! You have... visitors." Her Maman called up, an odd tone in her voice. 

"Can it wait a moment, Maman? I'm on the phone!" She yelled back, forgetting to switch back to French. 'No, no! It's fine, Mari, go ahead! I'll see you soon.' The line clicked, and she stared at her phone. Did he say-?

Forgetting her prior depression, she flung her phone across the room, threw open her door and flew down the stairs. 

"Marinette!" Dick beamed, his arms wide open. "How do you feel about us staying with you for a bit?"

Chapter Text

Marinette numbly walked down the street, Dick’s arm slung over her shoulder, Duke happily eating his ice cream on her other side. It was surreal. Of all the things she’d expected to happen today, it wasn't gaining a lead on Shadow Moth - and promptly losing it - and then her American brothers showing up and asking for a tour around the city. 

“Ooh! Can we see the Eiffel Tower? I’ve always wanted to. It would be an awesome place to set up an act y’know. A couple tightropes, a few trapezes, a light show or two. Eh, Duke?” Dick laughed as he dragged them down the Champs de Mars, gaping at the height of the landmark like a six-year-old. Marinette could see his vision. She’d marveled at the view from the top many times, and pulled off impressive (albeit, magically enhanced) feats on the structure as Ladybug just as often.

Despite Dick’s seemingly innocuous statement, Duke groaned, though he was grinning broadly and didn’t shove their older brother away. 

“It would be pretty. It wouldn’t last more than five minutes, though.” She commented, still staring at the top of the tower. It always felt weird, seeing it from this angle. It seemed larger than life. Dick and Duke turned towards her, a frown creasing the older man’s brow. “What? I thought this was the City of Lights! Is that actually a misnomer? Do Parisians really not like lights?”

Marinette chuckled at the exaggeration. “Non, but surely it would be interrupted by Shadow Moth.”

“Shadow Moth?” Duke asked, a confused look on his face. Oh yeah, the media block. Merde. Well, it’s not like it’s telling, the block was something she set up with the mayor. The average citizen didn’t know about it. As long as she played dumb, her identity was safe.

“Oui, Shadow Moth? Though that’s a recent name, he used to go by Hawk Moth. He’s been causing trouble for about three years by now. You didn’t know?”

Dick’s face hardened, looking angrier than she’d seen him yet. “No, we didn’t. How is this not in the news? If Paris had a villain, wouldn’t we have heard about it?”

Marinette shrugged, feigning confusion. “I mean, Ladybug reverses the damage each time he attacks. I assume it’s not important enough with no lasting effects.”

They both gaped at her like she was crazy. “Not important enough?! Who cares if it gets undone, damage is still happening! Why hasn’t anyone come to help, like the Justice League?!”

Marinette sighed, still slightly bitter about that too. “Shadow Moth preys on negative emotions. Even something as simple as a stubbed toe can get you akumatized. He turns you into a super powered monster. Some are easy enough to defeat, others are devastating. That’s just normal people. Can you imagine if Superman got akumatized? Or the Flash? Everyone with meta powers had to leave Paris for their own safety, as well as everyone else’s.” She paused as burning started behind her eyes. She wasn’t in Gotham, she couldn’t afford to get emotional. “It would be a disaster.” She whispered, wrapping her arms around herself and staring up into the sky, half looking out for akumas, half avoiding Dick and Duke's eyes.

Two more sets of arms joined her own, her brothers wrapping her in a hug. “I’m so sorry.” Duke whispered into her shoulder, squeezing her tight. Dick was silent, though held her just tight. “Maybe we should head back to the bakery. I’m sightsee-d out.” The younger boy suggested, his voice soft. Marinette hummed her agreement and Dick silently unwrapped them both. He still kept an arm slung over both their shoulders though, more protective than the playful he was earlier.

-

The quiet trio slumped into the bakery, Dick simmering in rage, Duke a calm support for the emotionally exhausted Marinette. She was tired of today. She just wanted to sleep.

Her maman and papa looked up from their tasks around the shop, frowning when they noticed the air around the siblings. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Her papa asked, his eyes flitting to the boys next to her. “Nothing, I’m just tired. I think I’m going to take a nap.” She trudged up the stairs, back hunched. Dick and Duke stayed behind.

Dick turned towards her parents, an intense scowl on his face. “Has Marinette ever been turned into one of those monsters?”

Clearly surprised by the question, Sabine stepped forward, a soft, understanding expression on her face. “Thankfully, no. She’s one of few who’s managed not to. Even Tom and I have been akumatized before.” She said turning back to her husband. “That’s our girl, always so positive.” He said, a somewhat sour note to his tone.

“That’s not healthy,” Dick stressed, his hands waving. “Believe me, I know! She-” He dropped his arms, clenching his fists. “She shouldn’t have to deal with this.” His voice cracked as he stared at her parents, their faces mirroring his heartbreak. “We know.” Sabine said, grabbing his hands. “We’ve tried to do things to help before. Get her to take internships out of town, find good schools, offer time to watch over her so she can just let it out. She’s stubborn though, refuses to leave, let us help her. We support her best we can.”

Dick sighed heavily. It seems she inhabited Bruce’s self-sabotaging mentality. Speaking of…

He grit his teeth, sharing a look with Duke, who nodded almost imperceptibly. They needed to have a little talk with dear old Dad.

Chapter Text

“Why haven’t you helped them?! You had to have known about this, what the fuck, Bruce?!”

Dick was trying to keep his voice down, he really was, but Bruce’s nonchalant, dismissive attitude was pissing him off. How could he sit there, doing nothing when his new kid has apparently been in lethal danger for years now?! Even Bruce wasn’t that emotionally fucking constipated.

“There’s nothing we can do.” Bruce answered, his voice tight.

“Bullshit. There’s always something we can do, how can you just sit there?!”

"Because I’ve tried , Dick, when the first call came in.”

A weary sigh sounded over the other end of the line, then a thump, like Bruce slumped into a chair. "T hey… they called in, a couple weeks after the first attack. We all wanted to help; they sounded so young but…” He trailed off.

“Wonder Woman and Aquaman both said it was a bad idea.”

“What? What would they-?!”

“Magic. Fucking magic.” He sounded genuinely bitter, heartbroken. "T he magic this guy uses, it’s ancient, and the only way to fight it is with the same magic. Otherwise, we…” Dick could practically hear his teeth grinding. "W e’d just get in the way. Make things harder.”

Dick sat on the bed heavily. The Dupain-Chengs were letting them stay in the spare bedroom, Duke sitting right next to him, listening in to the call. "A s it is, you’re already making things worse.”

“Excuse me?”

Bruce sighs, for once sounding his age. "J ust by being there, there’s the risk of being akumatized. The heroes there struggle enough with civilians getting these powers. Someone with your training would spell disaster for not just Paris, but the whole world.”

They sat in tense silence for a moment before Duke laughed nervously. “Well, at least it wasn’t Jason and Damian who came.”

Dick sighed, giving Duke a half-hearted smile. “Right. Thanks, B.” He hung up the phone, tossing it onto the bed. “I think we messed up, Duke.”

-

Marinette was jolted out of her surprisingly dreamless sleep by a large booming sound and loud screaming. She rubbed her eyes blearily, yawning wide. She opened the hatch above her bed, mumbling the transformation phrase. This better be quick, she was exhausted in all possible ways.

Outside, there was a blanket of purple fog clinging to the ground and walls and anything else it could. She grabbed her yo-yo and put it up to her mouth. Looks like Sandboy was back, and with an upgrade. She needed to take care of this.

She ran across the rooftops, searching for the tell-tale singing and magic carpet pillow. “Well, well, m’lady, it’s been a while! And at such a paw-ful time, too.” Chat Noir appeared next to her, keeping pace easily. He had his own magical multipurpose tool up to his mouth as well.

Ladybug smiled softly, cringing at the pun. “Paw-ful, huh? You can do better.”

Chat squawked in offense. “Excuse me, it was wonderful considering I was quite rudely awoken. I don't just wake up looking fabulous and with puns on the tip of my tongue.”

It felt somewhat wrong to be bantering and laughing with her partner while they followed the screams of terror to their latest scourge, but it was nice. She’d missed him.

Finally, they spotted the small boy, spewing more of the dream sand behind him as he floated through the sky, singing his creepy little song. Ladybug called up her Lucky Charm, wanting to end this early. It might’ve been fun being side-by-side with her partner again, but she was still tired. And she had school the next morning. Her life was changing enough already lately, she didn’t need sleep-deprived Marinette making bad decisions.

It seems, for once, luck was taking pity on her, giving her a pair of scissors instead of the usual cryptic item. Only problem was, her plan needed her yo-yo, which was keeping her from breathing in the sand fog clinging to them. In her periphery, Chat’s baton poked at her shoulder. She whipped her head around to him, watching as the purple crept up his body now that they were stationary. “What are you-?!”

“Do your thing, LB. It’s okay, it’s just Sandboy.”

The sand slowly covered his face and he sneezed, all of it falling away. In the distance, her own voice calls out his name, saccharine sweet and promising pain. It seems his nightmare hasn’t changed since the last few times. Convenient.

“I got this.” He promised, before leaping away to deal with her evil doppelganger. His movement drew Sandboy’s attention, his eyes catching on her after Chat left view. She tensed, replacing her yo-yo with Chat’s baton, idly listening to the akuma’s monologue while she ties the scissors, open, to the end of her weapon. By the time the boy noticed what she was doing, it was too late. His pillow was sliced open, and he was in her arms, the bubbly purple goop running down his body and leaving just a small, sleepy boy in pajamas. After calling the Miraculous Cure, she takes him home, remembering his address from the last couple of times.

On her way back, she runs into Chat. He was widely grinning, opening his mouth to say something-

“Sorry, Chat, not tonight.”

He looks disappointed, his leather tail and ears drooping. “Oh, sorry-”

“It’s not you!” She blurts, hating the kicked kitten look on his face. “I just- I know it’s been a bit, but I’ve had a… weird last couple of weeks and the last few days in particular have been kind of tough, and I-” She takes a breath, giving him a strained smile. “We’ll catch up soon, promise.”

He gives her a small one back and nods. “I get it.” He opens his arms questioningly. She indulges him, giving him a quick hug before going their separate ways. After making sure he was out of sight, she looped back around to the bakery. She lands on her balcony, ready to fall back into unconsciousness for what little time she has left before it was time for school. She slips through the trap door, calling the detransformation phrase as she does.

“Marinette?”

Chapter Text

The two visiting boys were snapped awake by a large noise, like an explosion. Without a word they darted to the window to see what was going on. An odd purple fog was coating everything outside, even the window. They backed away, instead going to check on the Dupain-Chengs. They hadn’t brought any of their gear with them, including their rebreathers. They were trapped inside.

Tom and Sabine had been awoken by the explosion - presumably what released the strange fog - and were making sure all the windows were secured.

“Seems to be Sandboy, though the coating is new.” Sabine explained, laying blankets along the door jambs.

“So, you know what the fog does?” Dick asked, hoping it wasn’t anything bad. She sighed, crinkling her nose. “He’s one of the more unpleasant ones. His sand brings nightmares to life. Poor Tom nearly got eaten last time.”

Tom laughed, though pink tinted his face. “Well, that won’t be happening again. Nothing’s getting through our defenses!” He struck a pose, his hands on his hips and his chest puffed out. Sabine laughed with him, and the boys felt slightly better about the situation.

“Wait, what about Marinette?!” Duke stood up, heading towards the ladder to her bedroom.

“She’s probably still asleep, that girl sleeps through anything!” Sabine said, putting her hand on Duke’s shoulder. “You’d be less miserable getting hit by that sand than waking her up!” She led him back to the couch. “I’ll make some tea.”

The boy frowned, uncomfortable just leaving Marinette alone during an attack. But the Dupain-Chengs seemed so calm. Like this was routine. It was fine.

Wasn’t it?

Dick felt just as uncomfortable with just leaving her as Duke did.

“Hey, M. Dupain?”

The man waved his hand, dismissing the formality. “Please, you’re family, call me Tom!”

“Right. Tom, doesn’t Marinette have that hatch? Right above her bed?”

The older man winced. “Yes, she does. I suppose we should check it.”

“We’ll do it!” Duke volunteered, shooting off the couch.

Before they could approach though, a wave of red… ladybugs?... passed over the room and Tom untensed. 

“Ah, there we go! Ladybug and Chat Noir beat him! We can go back to bed. Well, you can, it’s nearly time to start prepping for tomorrow - or, should I say, later today!” He let out a full-bodied laugh and headed for the door, Sabine following after him.

The two vigilantes exchanged a glance and headed for Marinette’s trapdoor. Just a look, just to make sure she was okay!

Instead of the sleeping teenager they were expecting, what was clearly the spotted heroine of Paris dropped through the skylight onto the bed, and in a flash of neon light, their sister was sitting in her place.

“Marinette?”

Chapter Text

The girl froze, all thoughts of sleep fleeing her mind. She seemed to be moving through molasses as she turned to face her brothers, staring at her with their jaws on the floor. Did they see? They totally saw, oh kwami, this was bad. Play it cool, play it cool.

“H-hey guys! What are you doing up? You know what? You’re probably not up, you’re still asleep in your beds! This is all a dream! A very Gotham-y dream, ‘cause there’s no way I’m a superhero! Pshaw!”

She tried to stay calm, but tapered off into a nervous, almost maniacal giggle, her face frozen in a look of horror.

Oh no. They knew. She was going to have to cut contact with them, with the rest of her family. Her parents . They were going to blab to everyone and she’d have to change her name and get surgery to change her face and move to London then just commute whenever there was an akuma-

Laughing. What? Why was Duke laughing? Her life was ruined!

The boy’s silhouette was blurry and doubled - oh, she was crying - but he was undeniably bent over and laughing his ass off. Wheezing gasps of air as he cackled, falling to his knees.

Why was he laughing? Did she actually get hit by the sand? Of course! She just needs to find Sandboy, finish kicking his ass, and then she can keep living her life, no relocation necessary!

“Of course-!” He grabbed Dick’s pant leg, gasping. “Of course she’s-”

Marinette was confused. She pinched herself. Yep, it hurt. She was awake. This was real. Duke was on her floor, dying of laughter at the fact that she’s Ladybug. This is fine.

Just when she thought the situation couldn’t get any weirder, Dick started giggling too. Small ones at first, little more than tremors. Then more and more intense until he was on the floor too, clutching Duke and howling.

At least she had time to try to calm her heart rate. She also had time to overthink the situation while they tried to stop. Every time they looked at each other however, they collapsed into a fit again.

This was stretching on far too long.

“Um… guys?”

No answer, only wild guffaws.

“Guys?”

…

“Guys!”

…

“What’s so damn funny?!”

Dick opened his mouth, gasping a couple times, trying to answer. “He- you- you were the normal one!” He crowed, his shoulders shaking. Duke let out a sound like that of a dying cat, hitting the floor a couple times.

What was going on?!

-

Ten minutes. It took ten minutes for them to calm down enough to be coherent. By that point, Marinette had overthought every possibility, and though her heart was still jackrabbiting in her chest, she was ready to talk and do anything that needed doing.

The boys now looked so serious for how hard they’d been laughing. “So,” Dick spoke first. “You’re Ladybug.”

She swallowed heavily. “Yes.” She studied their faces, breathing shallowly. Whatever they chose to do could change her life. Dick sighed, steepling his hands and meeting her eyes. “Which means… you were thirteen when you started. No mentor or guidance. All alone with what I’m assuming is another teenager, the weight of the city, the world for some of the worst ones, placed on your shoulders.”

He was angry. She’d never seen Dick angry. And he was angry for her. Her eyes burned. “Um, not exactly. The guardian was there. Though…” She trailed off, desperately trying to think of a way to defend Fu but…

Where was he? When she and Chat needed advice, had questions about their powers, or just needed an adult who understood -

The tears had spilled over. Fu had once been all she had and now even he was gone, leaving her with an entire city to protect - no, the whole world - a box of mini, all-powerful deities and horrible anxiety and PTSD. She was sobbing. “It’s not fair!”

Dick’s arms were around her, Duke’s too as she cried her eyes out. Wasn’t this a familiar scene?

Chapter Text

Marinette squirmed, desperately trying to hide her nerves.

After they’d calmed down, the mood took an even deeper nosedive. She loved the Waynes and was thankful for the place they’d given her, but this was a lot to take in and she wasn’t sure how’d they’d react. They’d already surprised her; she was completely thrown off and unsure of what to say or do.

Luckily, Duke seemed just as anxious as she was. Dick however, was deep in thought, his face betraying nothing.

With every second that went by stuck in this tense limbo, Marinette got antsier. Choosing to just bite the bullet, she spoke up. “You… you’re not gonna tell anyone, right?”

Dick seemed surprised by her question. “Of course not! At least, no one compromising.”

She frowned, the wording bothering her. “And… who exactly counts as not compromising?”

The boys exchanged a glance, having a whole conversation in a look. The way she and Chat can, the way you learn to do when you have no one but each other. When you’re all that’s standing between the other and death.

“Well…” Dick started, both of them looking sheepish. “Fair’s fair. B… Bruce… slash Batman.”

Marinette blinked once. Twice. The pieces started falling into place, experiences and pre-trip research lining up and forming a very view-changing picture.

“Bruce… is Batman. Which makes you…” She trailed off, her finger lingering in the air, pointing at the boys. Her brothers . Who are vigilantes - heroes . Like her.

“Nightwing and Signal, yes.”

She couldn’t help it. She laughed. She laughed and laughed, understanding their reaction now. The entire situation was just so perfectly implausible. Is this what all of her Miraculous good luck went toward? Her parentage, her class going to Gotham, running into and piquing the interest of almost all of the Wayne family members by chance, and they’re all masked weirdos who run around in spandex (even though it’s non-magical). It felt like a joke being played on her by the universe. One she couldn’t be more thankful for.

“Marinette?”

Oh, great. She was crying again. Yet, she wasn’t sad. She couldn’t be happier. Batman had been active for decades. And he was her father . She had a dozen siblings, all experienced and who love her like she does. Maybe… maybe she could finally pin down that damn Butterfly down and have some peace . For some reason, ‘peace’ made her think of Gotham, a too large Manor that somehow feels just right, surrounded by chaos, sure, but also so much love. She’d never ask her parents to leave Paris, but she always knew she wouldn’t stay after she beat Hawkmoth.

They were next to her again, looking concerned. She giggled, wiping the tears off her cheeks. She felt giddy and light-headed, but she knew what they needed to do next. “Let’s call him.”

Surprisingly, her ever-present anxiety wasn’t wreaking havoc on her mind as the phone dialed. In fact, for once, her mind was silent.

The line connected almost immediately, Bruce’s voice coming across in a timbre she’d never heard before. Something of a cross between the soft but strong tone he used around her and Batman’s infamous growl.

"Report .”

Neither of the boys seemed surprised, straightening up as if he was right in front of them. “Right, so, funny thing…”

~

Bruce was silent for a solid minute after receiving the information. It was unnerving being unable to see his face or body language. The peace that Marinette had been feeling slowly dissipated.

She’d forgotten. Everyone knew how much Batman despised magic and metas, even fellow Justice League members being forbade from entering his city. Oh, kwami, what was she thinking? He was going to disown her! Or worse…

What if he took the Miraculous from her? What if he decided she was unfit to be Paris’s heroine. She couldn’t let that happen, no matter what, the Miraculous had to stay in her hands, it was the duty she took on when she chose to do this. Yes, Batman was more experienced, but at the moment she was as close to an expert as they had on the situation in Paris… He was a hero, he wouldn’t use her family and friends (hah, what friends?) against her, would he?... She’d have to run. Maybe the old temple? No, she couldn’t go there. Though she’d gotten Su-Han on her side, the other Guardians wouldn’t see things her way, and she wouldn’t be able to fight off the whole temple. She’d have to disappear completely-

“Marinette!”

Oh. She was panicking. She tried to remember the sense checklist and tune into what her brothers were saying, though their voices were muffled. Her chest heaved as she tried to get in a proper breath. 

They stayed next to her the whole time, muttering reassurances and gripping her hands tight but light.

“It’s okay, we’ve got you. You’re okay.”

She was okay.

~

“Bruce wants to meet up.”

Marinette started, sloshing her drink. They’d moved to the kitchen wordlessly, starting a tea kettle and giving her time to fully calm down.

“H-he can’t! There’s a reason the League couldn’t help years ago!”

Dick held his hands up placatingly. “We know. He wants to meet in London.”

She stared into her mug, gritting her teeth. “I… There’s nothing he can do.”

“But-”

Marinette shook her head, cutting Duke off. “No… knowing who I am doesn’t change anything. There wasn’t anything he could do years ago, and you can do now.”

“Nothing? Absolutely nothing, are you sure?” Dick’s eyes were pleading.

She chewed on her lip. Well… not everything was the same. The first time she’d contacted the Justice League, she hadn’t known the extent of the Miraculous’ powers. Hadn’t known just what numbers, even incompetent ones, let alone experienced heroes could do. People who already tempt fate and death every day and would probably insist on helping her. Maybe she should accept it, just this once. Maybe…

“Maybe…”

Chapter Text

Was it insane? Yes. Did it make her nervous beyond all belief? Also yes. Did she have any other options? … Not that she could think of. She’s tired. For three years, Marinette has been fighting an uphill battle, and now she was being offered help she knew she could trust without a doubt. She was being offered Batman! If he couldn’t end this, she may as well give up now.

Su Han would skin her alive if he knew what she was planning on doing. He’d also have skinned her alive for other things she’d been doing, so it didn’t nag at her… too much. Besides, Dick looked so hopeful that they could help. She couldn’t just not try!

She slung back the dregs of her tea, steeling her nerves. She wouldn’t allow herself to overthink, she would follow her gut.

“Tikki.” She called out. Her brothers looked at her, confused. It seemed Tikki had caught onto and agreed with Marinette’s plan, the small red sprite phasing through the ceiling from her bedroom, giving Marinette a determined nod.

Someone squealed like the tea kettle sitting on the stove. Going off of Duke’s cautious but curious look, Marinette would assume it was Dick who made the noise, who was currently pressed up against the fridge and giving Tikki the most suspicious look she’d ever seen.

“What… exactly is that, Marinette?” Duke asked, cocking his head slightly and… Whoa. What was up with his eyes?!

Apparently, her surprise was visible to him, because he raised an eyebrow at her. “Mari?”

She narrowed her eyes at him, planting her fists on her hips. “What happened to Batman not liking magic, huh?”

Duke’s other eyebrow joined its twin. “Wha-? B won’t have a problem with… whatever that is! This is under your jurisdiction, promise!”

Tikki huffed, crossing her nubs. “That’s quite rude, I’m not an ‘it’, thank you! I’m Tikki, or you can call me Creation if you’d like. And that’s not what Marinette’s concerned about.”

She flew up to him, seemingly examining him. “You’re just steeped in Illusion energy! So much so, that you can wield it to an extent! A fair bit of Time in there too…”

Duke still seemed very confused, but Marinette understood where Tikki was going. They’d discussed the topic at length when Tikki first discovered it.

“Oh! You’re a meta!” Marinette said, working through what exactly his powers must be. Illusion and Time, huh…?

“W- How’d you know? Oh, well, I suppose magic…”

Marinette nodded, putting off their little trip for just a few minutes more to explain to them. Dick rejoined them at the table, put at ease by Duke’s lack of reaction. Marinette couldn’t blame him, he’d been dealing with magic wielding maniacs far longer than she had, and even she was wary of it (and terrified. Terrified too).

“Y’know how no one’s been able to explain how exactly metas got their powers? Well, it’s magic, in the simplest terms, though not the kind you’re thinking of. The kwami - like Tikki here - are bound to the Miraculous with magic - exactly the kind you picture, with rituals and sparkles and stuff. But the kwami themselves aren’t magic per se. They’re embodiments of… concepts?” She paused thinking of the best way to word it. “Tikki is the embodiment of Creation. That’s why my powers as Ladybug are what they are; and Chat Noir’s kwami is Plagg, the embodiment of Destruction. The Miraculous harness the area they govern and allow the wielder to use their power to an extent.”

The boys seemed to be following, so she continued. “Metas are made when any one concept’s energy is overflowing in an instance. It’s honestly, well, Miraculous that there are so many with how rare the circumstances are.”

Tikki butt in then, taking over the explanation. “Certain souls can hold affinities for Concepts; they can draw the energy in, like a magnet. As time goes on and souls are reborn again and again, they collect affinities, which is why there’ve been more and more powered beings recently.”

Duke looked like his world view had just been turned upside down and he was just finding out that upside down was actually right side up, which made sense. Dick nodded along, though still seemed confused. “That… all makes too much sense, but there hasn’t been a boom in meta populations? It’s actually been pretty steadily holding for decades now.”

Tikki and Marinette giggled together, the kwami twirling around Dick’s head. “Silly boy. Plagg and I are the oldest kwami, even older than Time herself! There has certainly been exponential growth in ‘metas’ as you call them, or the ‘blessed’ or ‘cursed’ or any of the many names they’ve been called throughout history!”

He seemed to look at her with new eyes; terrified and reverent.

Marinette clapped once, ending the moment of contemplative silence. “Well then. Who’s up for going back to Gotham? It should only be about nine there…”