Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Bruce watched his children and couldn't ignore the signs of exhaustion. Tim and Babs, the brains of the family, had been working tirelessly, with deep dark circles under their eyes from long nights in front of the computers in the Batcave.
Tim, who was used to a marathon of coffee, had not slept more than a few hours in several days.

Babs, although accustomed to the frenetic pace of the missions, had also crossed her limit. It didn't help that she was having problems with Officer Gordon, Bruce refused to give her custody of her eldest daughter again.

And it wasn't nice to see her break down every chance she got, she was unfortunately grateful to the partners of her two children, who helped them as best they could.

Then there was Jason, who used to be the most resilient of the lot. However, lately Bruce had surprised him several times falling asleep in the middle of breakfast, his eyes half closed and slow movements revealing what his pride wouldn't admit.

Dick, the eternal optimist and most energetic of the family, was also falling under the weight of exhaustion, struggling to maintain his energy amidst the demands of his job as Nightwing and as Dick to be the husband Kori needed.

Damian, despite being the youngest, did not escape the stress of his double life. At school, he had had several altercations, and his more irritable behavior had made him stand out, generating several reports.

Bruce was secretly proud, his son despite those reports vented his anger on the bullies.

Alina, who was usually the mediator and helped heal her siblings, had become more sensitive and unstable, showing herself affected by the family tension and also noticed the times she cried in secret.

Bruce knew that Alina was in a crisis of knowing what to do, whether to be a girl or follow in the footsteps of the elders to be a sidekick.

Cass and Steph, the duo who used to liven up the mansion with games devised by Steph, would barely get home before collapsing on the couch.

Steph, with her contagious energy, no longer had the glow she once had. Cass, though quieter, was equally exhausted, almost dragging herself through the halls.

Bruce, though stoic, couldn't help but worry about his family's well-being.

There was one member who seemed a little more stable: Duke. He, unlike the rest, had taken a few days off, making him the only one with a smile on his face while the rest of the family was falling apart.

The holidays were just around the corner and Bruce knew they couldn't go on like this anymore.

It was time to make a decision. And that night, over dinner, while the Wayne family tried to stay awake, Bruce finally spoke.

"I've been watching everyone, and it's clear we need a break," Bruce said, with a calm that contrasted with the fatigue that dominated the atmosphere. Her voice barely managed to catch everyone's attention except Jason, whose head was already resting on the table. "I've decided that we're going to take a vacation... in France."

The announcement was met with a mix of surprise and exhaustion.

Jason, with a yawn that echoed through the dining room, was the first to react:

"France?" he murmured sleepily, without lifting his head from the table. "That place they call the place of love. What are we going to do there? Kiss French people?"

Dick nodded, but his eyelids were too heavy to keep open for more than a couple of seconds.

Tim, clinging to his seventh cup of coffee of the day, blinked several times as if trying to process the information.

Babs, with her sixth cup half-drunk, arched an eyebrow, although she was clearly more concerned with staying awake than with the vacation.

That vacation wouldn't be bad, but he didn't want to leave his fiancée for a while.

"A break... sounds good" Tim murmured, although his tone lacked enough energy to make it sound convincing.

Meanwhile, Alina, exhausted like the rest, leaned against Damian, seeking comfort from her older brother, who had barely touched his food.

Dami remained silent, his expression that of someone who hadn't slept well for a long time and he leaned on Alina's head.

"I'm not a pillow Dami"

"Oh shut up Shelley, you use my shoulder as a pillow"

"Well, if you put it like that... fine"

Both of them were tapping each other to stay awake, but Bruce noticed how Alina stopped moving and was the first to fall asleep, followed by Damian.

Well, first he took a picture to appreciate it and second he made Alfred take the younger ones to bed.

Cass and Steph exchanged a look from their spots on the couch, too tired to express enthusiasm for the announcement. However, the gleam in Bruce's eyes, though subtle, revealed his determination to restore the spirit that stress had eroded.

"It's time for us to get away from Gotham for a while," Bruce concluded, his gaze sweeping over them The man looked at the table before settling on Alfred, who approved the decision with a nod.

The mood in the mansion was dull, but Bruce knew this decision could give everyone back some much-needed energy.

A trip to France wouldn't fix everything, but it would be a respite in the midst of the storm.

"When are we leaving?"

"Wednesday morning first thing, you have until tomorrow to pack everything up and say goodbye to your partners."

That was the only thing Bruce said before he left, leaving all of his children to go home tired.

Barbara was the first to arrive at her apartment after leaving Wayne Manor that night, exhausted from the long day in Gotham. With her motorcycle parked in the driveway, she had barely crossed the threshold when she noticed something unusual.

There was an unusual silence in the house, except for the faint sound of someone moving around in the kitchen. Frowning, she moved forward cautiously, a little suspicious of the sudden calm.

Walking into the kitchen, she was met with a scene that brought a small smile to her face. Kara, her fiancée, was standing there, an innocent expression and a smile on her face, just as she walked out of the kitchen with a cup of tea she had clearly borrowed from Alfred's cupboard.

There was something suspicious about her attitude, enough to make Barbara raise an eyebrow.

"Where's the coffee?" Babs asked, her tone direct and sly. She knew something was up, and although she wasn't upset, curiosity was getting the better of her.

Of course she didn't want to drink coffee, she just wanted to know where I was hiding it.

Kara let out a soft laugh before approaching her, not saying a word. She placed a chaste kiss on Babs' lips, letting her touch be the only answer for a few moments.

"Good night. I'm fine, and you, Babs?" Kara replied with a hint of playful sarcasm, making Babs shrug slightly, letting her shoulders relax.

Before she could protest or inquire further about the coffee, Barbara dropped into her lover's arms. She was exhausted beyond words. Leaning on Kara, she simply gave in to the exhaustion, allowing Kara to hold her.

"Okay, I got you, my little know-it-all. Gordon again?" Kara teased, though the tenderness in her tone was undeniable.

Barbara let out a moan of exhaustion, the only answer she needed to give. Kara, without another word, gently picked her up, carrying her to the bedroom, where she carefully tucked her into blankets. As she caressed the redhead's face, Kara observed every feature, every line of tension that slowly faded away.

For now, she decided not to mention that she had overheard Bruce talking about the family vacation in France.

Nor that she overheard the argument between her ex-father-in-law and his fiancée.

It wasn't the time.

Instead, Kara would wait until the next morning to help her fiancée pack. Now, all that mattered was that Barbara was resting, safe and calm in her arms.

Kara already had something in mind for when her fiancée went on a trip: a "nice chat" with Commissioner Gordon.

No one, except her or Barbara's family, had the right to stress her fiancée out. Maybe, just maybe, she would allow her family to do so as well, but after that, no one else. It was a matter Kara would take into her own hands, making sure the commissioner understood that Babs' well-being was her priority.

And if not, she would face a red-eyed blonde in her nightmares.

Meanwhile, the other couples of the bat-kids enjoyed moments of calm, where each one took charge of ensuring that their bat had a restful night.

Kon, with his usual sweetness among them, had taken the responsibility of taking care of Tim that night.

Tim had protested, of course, insisting that he still had “important work to do,” but tiredness overcame him after several minutes of rocking him. Finally, when Tim gave in to sleep, Kon carefully placed him on the bed, making sure he was comfortable before holding his waist, snuggling up to him. Though he knew Gotham would require his attention while Tim rested, Kon was confident that he could handle the duty. Perhaps, he thought, it would be a good idea to call Alfred for some advice.

Always having his boyfriend’s grandfather around was also spending time with another important figure.

On the other hand, Dick had been deep in conversation with Kori. Though he seemed to be completely focused on talking about the missions and duties that had overwhelmed him, Kori listened intently. Making subtle movements, she gently guided him to the bed without interrupting him and setting him up for rest, offering small comments to show that she was listening. By the end, when Dick realized what Kori had accomplished, he was too comfortable to resist, allowing himself to Relaxing in his company and in those warm arms of his wife.

With each of the bat-kids in good hands, Bruce could finally allow himself a moment of rest.

He may have implanted a location chip to see that his children are in their homes, and maybe also in their partners as well.
He does not regret it, a little because of Alfred's scolding but not later.

Knowing that his family was taken care of both physically and emotionally.

Bruce walked a little through the halls of the mansion, noticing how the room of his youngest children was open.

He first looked into Alina's, he saw no one.

He looked into Damian's room and noticed both minors sleeping together.

Damian hugged Alina and Alina hugged her Batman stuffed animal while resting her head on Damian's chest.

Bruce smiled, but he also noticed another body in the second youngest Wayne's bed.

A white mane lay beside Alina and had his eyes closed, also asleep.

Bruce took a photo, thankful to have a private plane so he could take Respawn on the trip anyway. Although he may have fought for it, knowing the albino's stubbornness.

He slowly closed the door and went to the BatCave, for this time, Batman will work alone and without company.

"Alfred..."

The butler didn't even wait, he walked behind Wayne. "Miss Cassandra and Miss Stephanie are already sleeping in Miss Stephanie's room, Master Duke has been sleeping for a while now."

Bruce nodded, that was enough and decided to get to work.

He hoped that with this, his children could finally have a moment of peace and relaxation.
.

At the top of the Eiffel Tower, under the sunny sky of Paris, the two heroes of France, Ladybug and Chat Noir, took a short break after their usual patrol. Sitting on the steel structure, they looked out at the city spread out below them, bright and calm in the day. The cool wind caressed their suits, and for a moment, everything seemed to be at peace.

“Bugaboo, this is very romantic, don’t you think?” Chat Noir commented with his flirtatious smile, that playful spark shining in his green eyes as he adjusted his black feline suit.

Ladybug let out a snort, feigning annoyance, but her smile betrayed her true feeling. She was exhausted, like him, but still, she enjoyed these moments of camaraderie. Without saying a word, she leaned back on her friend’s shoulder, looking for some rest before her shift ended.

“Chat, don’t make me have to tell your partner this,” Ladybug threatened, with a tone of false anger. Her words were light, with no real intention of scolding.

Chat Noir knew her too well to take her joke of accusing him seriously and was glad, at least he didn't have to suffer those false scoldings.

The blond let out a soft laugh, enjoying the exchange. He put a protective arm around her, caressing her arm tenderly.

He knew it wasn't romantic, not in the way others would see it, but it was something just as important: two friends supporting each other, exhausted but satisfied with the work they did together.

"Come on, bug, don't be cruel," Chat joked, looking up at the clouds with tired eyes. Although they were both fighting sleep, they felt satisfied to do their duty. They knew their watch shift would soon be over, and they could retire to rest a little more than usual thanks to the holidays.

The routine of the heroes of Paris had changed in recent weeks. The akumatizations had become more frequent and powerful, forcing them to patrol longer, sometimes until the early hours of the morning. However, despite their exhaustion, they knew they had something that many heroes never achieved: the unconditional support of each other.

And of the support heroes, too, but above all they had each other.

“At least we're on vacation,” Ladybug finally commented, with a light smile on her lips. “So, when we're done, we'll be able to sleep for more than three hours without the school alarm going off.”

“A luxury,” Chat replied, letting out a sigh of relief.

They had come a long way together. They knew each other's identities now, not in the way they would have imagined, but in the end they did. And although that had brought with it new challenges, it had also given them a deeper connection.

They weren't just ChatNoir and Ladybug, they were also Adrien and Marinette.

Two teenagers who are supposed to be the heroes of Paris, just as they were about to retire to their homes for the night (Adrien, who managed to trick his father and Nathalie into staying at Marinette's house.)

There was a bang, that made Ladybug growl.

"Duty calls, right, Bugaboo?"

"Shut up, kitty"

Both teenagers jumped off the Eiffel Tower to defeat their second Akuma.

Chapter Text

Bruce had decided to take his family on a well-deserved break, away from the chaotic routine of Gotham. And of course, what better place to relax than Paris? Art, history, good food... and, supposedly, tranquility. At least, that was what everyone expected. However, as soon as they had set foot on French soil, chaos broke out in a way that somehow reminded him of Gotham, what he and his entire family had experienced.

The word "akumatization" began to float through the crowd. What the hell did that mean? Apparently, it was some kind of supernatural event or, rather, supervillainous. And things didn't get any better when they found out that the new villain was... a girl younger than Alina?

What the hell was wrong with that villain who uses a girl to give him powers? Getting a silly ring and earrings in red with black dots

"What kind of colorful and twisted Gotham is this?" Alina wondered, watching in disbelief as a little girl, apparently under the control of a villain named Hawkmoth, wreaked havoc on the city.

To make matters worse, she and another child had been caught, hanging dangerously from the edge of a building.

The boy was scared, and she? Well... she's healthy, she was used to this kind of situation that she could even get paid for.

Alina Bait Wayne-Shelley, could already see herself earning lots of money just by being the bait for the missions.

Damian narrowed his eyes at his younger sister, having the feeling of hitting her on the head for having an absurd idea.

"If Dad were to get his hands on that Hawkmoth, he wouldn't hesitate to give him what he deserves for using children in these ridiculous games," he thought with contained tiredness.

From another perspective, Damian watched the scene with his arms crossed, clenching his fists in frustration. He didn't like feeling helpless, especially when his sister was in danger.

It was vacation, not "take care of your sister, she gets kidnapped every now and then." They were barely 24 hours in that country!

"Tt, just give me my katana and I'll end this," he muttered, irritated.

Up in the building, Alina couldn't be more exasperated. She was used to tense situations because of her life with the Bat-Family, but this was ridiculous.

"Why do I always have to be the one kidnapped?" she asked herself in a sarcastic whisper.

This was her seventh kidnapping of the month and it was only just beginning.

The vacation had started in the worst possible way, and all she wanted at that moment was to be in her bed at Wayne Manor. (Or hanging out with her friends, of course with a tracking chip.)

Next to her, hanging next to her, was a little boy, about 6 or 7 years old, who was looking at her nervously out of the corner of his eye. The situation was too much for him, but Alina, despite her young age, had already seen worse things.

She is surprised that he doesn't need therapy, but being a Bat-Kid means being in constant danger and she got used to this kind of thing.

"Did you say something?" the boy asked, looking at her with curious eyes.

Alina blinked and realized that she was not in Gotham, but in France. She had forgotten that she had to speak French, although she did not fully master it.

"No... I didn't say anything," she answered in her best attempt at French, although her accent was unmistakable.

"I want Dami," she thought as she looked at the height at which they were hanging, swinging dangerously on the edge of falling.

Downstairs, Bruce was dealing with his own frustrated thoughts.

He had heard rumors that Paris had its own superheroes, like Gotham, Metropolis, or Coast City. But he had never imagined that his youngest daughter would end up kidnapped in a villainous plot, much less by a man who called himself Hawkmoth and who used negative emotions for his plans.

Good thing she wasn't in Gotham, otherwise it would be very hard work.

"I should have listened to the warnings about this place," he thought bitterly, observing the scene carefully.

He was one step away from intervening himself, but he knew they had to remain discreet. However, every minute that passed without the spotted girl or the boy in the catsuit appearing increased his irritation. Especially when Damian, increasingly impatient, snorted beside him.

"Tt, if those "heroes" don't show up soon, I will," Damian muttered, gritting his teeth. "It can't be that hard. I just need my suit and show how a hero works" —He thought, now he was angry because he had to keep up appearances just like everyone else.

And also because he left his weapons in the hotel they were staying at.

Meanwhile, Marinette was in a complicated situation.

She had recognized the Wayne family as soon as she saw them, but the situation couldn't be worse for her. Being trapped with them made it difficult for her to transform into Ladybug.

Because she had to be gentle! She just had to give them the directions, but No, there she was giving them a tour to show them the tourist spots and they just happened to come with that akumatization.

Life hated her.

"Silly cat, where are you?" she thought, discreetly looking around as she tried to find an excuse to step away and activate her Miraculous.

Alina in the middle of her exhausted state, someone spoke to her. The voice belonged to that boy who was hanging with her, with light brown hair and an overly childish expression.

"So... Chris, right?" Alina asked to break the tension, without taking her eyes off the scene. The light-haired boy next to her nodded his head slightly. "Can you repeat who that cat boy who looks like a young version of Catwoman also dyed apparently and the ladybug girl are?"

Chris frowned, clearly confused by the reference to that Catwoman. He had never heard of that "heroine" (well, she sounded familiar to him from somewhere) but he assumed that, coming from such a strange family, I mean he saw the girl come with different young men older than her and they called her younger sister (She was under Marinette's care, along with Manon or now as the puppeteer), they must have their own gallery of villains there in Gotham.

Gotham? He never heard of that place, maybe he'll ask his brother or his sister's girlfriend.

"Uh... I don't know who Catwoman is, but here the heroes are called Ladybug and Cat Noir, not cat boy and ladybug girl" he explained seriously.

"But it's the same, just a different name but the same"

"No, it's not!"

There were both children fighting. Chris was fighting, Alina answered calmly.

"Robin would win quickly"

"Robin? That name is dumb"

And that was the end of Alina's peace of mind, no one makes fun of her brother's hero name... maybe his family, but then no one else.

Bruce was distracted arguing with his children, Marinette didn't understand anything they were talking about but she would use that to her advantage.

Marinette let out a small sigh, grateful that the conversation could be diverted to something that would give her time. "If only I could transform without anyone noticing," she thought. But that was almost impossible with Bruce Wayne and his children so close, especially with how attentive they seemed to be to every little movement.

When she saw the perfect distraction, she sneakily escaped (if she was escaping, she ran into a pole and tripped badly over her feet).

Bruce noticed it, said nothing and tried to calm the growing argument between his children.

Back on top of the building, Alina tried to calm her breathing. The boy beside her kept asking questions (After the two of them had fought, everything calmed down when the little villain threatened to throw them out, what a nice memory she would take from this to Gotham), which made staying calm more difficult. Finally, she looked up at the sky and prayed that this Ladybug and Cat Noir would show up soon, before the situation got worse. "What a great vacation," she thought with a bitterly sarcastic tone.

The next time they take her to Disneyland, maybe she would bring her other siblings from different places.

The scene intensified when Ladybug and Cat Noir made their triumphant entrance. (Marinette scolded her friend for taking so long and scolded herself when she almost transformed in a public place.)

From her position, Alina watched as the heroine of Paris threw her yo-yo, ready to face the villain known as Puppeteer, who was none other than a little girl (that villain sure doesn't know how to choose his allies well). At her side, Chat Noir was joking around as always.

“Stop right there, Manon... I mean, Puppeteer!” Ladybug shouted in a firm voice, pointing directly at the girl.

Chat Noir didn't miss the opportunity to make one of his typical joking comments, while swinging on his cane.

“Meow, are you playing family? I ask to be the daddy and my lady is the mommy,” he joked, but then he noticed the dolls the girl was holding. Some were old acquaintances: villains they had fought in the past.

But there were also new ones, and among them, he recognized certain curious details that made him recognize who those stuffed animals belonged to. “Did you steal Mari's stuffed animals again?” he murmured, noticing how the little girl held the versions of the most recent villains in her hands.

Ladybug listened to him and, without stopping to concentrate on the situation, sighed and waved a hand to indicate that she would explain later.

"I'll tell you later, Chat" she answered as she threw her yo-yo and lunged at the villain. They needed to act quickly before something worse happened.

She didn't want to deal with any more work around here, she would just finish this quickly and go to sleep.

Alina, still hanging from the building, watched everything with interest, more tired than worried. Beside her, the boy named Chris looked scared, but tried to stay strong. (It was always impressive to see your heroes up close fighting villains)

"So those are the famous "Chat Noir And Ladybug,” Alina murmured curiously, looking at the heroes in action, then at the villain, and finally at the two again. “Well, if it helps…” she added casually, as if she was giving a trivial piece of information and not as if she was tied up or about to fall. “The akuma, or whatever you call it, is in that witch’s staff of yours.”

Ladybug smiled at the information, but before she could thank her, Chat Noir tensed and frowned at Alina’s final comment.

“Is that cat dyed?!” she exclaimed, looking at Chat Noir with a mocking hint in her tone.

The reaction was immediate.

“My hair is one hundred percent natural blonde!” Chat Noir said, offended, with a hand on his chest.

Ladybug, trying to keep her composure, couldn’t help but smirk as she threw her yo-yo with precision.

"I found boxes of blonde hair dye hidden in your house, Chat" he joked, giving him a knowing look.

"My Lady! That's serious!" Chat Noir protested, completely outraged.

Meanwhile, from a distance, Damian watched with his arms crossed and an expression of exasperation. He didn't understand how these heroes could joke in the middle of such a dangerous situation. (As if his brothers didn't joke about it)

His patience was quickly running out. In his mind, he had already come up with at least five ways to resolve the situation without so much show.

Paris is very different, he already wanted to go back to Gotham and play his video games with Alina and Respawn.

"So those are the heroes of Paris?" Damian muttered quietly. "Tt, pathetic."

Bruce, without taking his eyes off Alina and the boy, knew that his eldest son was close to the action, waiting for the right moment to intervene if Ladybug and Chat Noir failed. But she also knew that they shouldn't be underestimated. There was something about them, a chemistry that, although disconcerting, worked. And if they succeeded, they would avoid the chaos that Damian wanted to unleash with his katana.

She didn't want to see a bloodbath, not when they were on vacation.

Ladybug, now in full action, had managed to get close enough to the Puppeteer. The yo-yo whistled through the air and, with an agile movement, she launched it directly towards the stick that Alina had pointed out. The object fell to the ground with a loud clack, and Chat Noir wasted no time in jumping towards her.

"Cataclysm!" she shouted, activating her power just as her fingers brushed the cursed object, destroying it instantly.

New record, they could already hear Hawkmoth screaming curses for failing this time.

A second later, a small dark akuma appeared, floating through the air. Ladybug quickly caught it in her yo-yo and purified it.

"Everything is fine now!" she announced with a smile, casting her signature "miraculous ladybug", restoring everything that had been destroyed.

Up in the building, Alina let out a sigh of relief. The tension immediately eased as the magic butterfly flew across the sky, restoring the chaos the Puppeteer had caused.

Well, she admitted it... it was a beautiful sight and the butterfly gave it a nice touch.

"Well... " Alina murmured, looking at the boy beside her. "It seems that at least these heroes know what they are doing."

Chris, still impressed by what he had just witnessed, nodded slowly and smiled with a smug aura.

"I told you! I bet your heroes wouldn't do it better."

"Robin could do it better, he's a great hero and you won't change my mind, kid."

"You're a kid too! Well, girl, but you're little like me —he exclaimed."

But before she could say anything else, both of them were taken to the ground and could be safe, Damian was already there, having taken advantage of the moment when Ladybug and Chat Noir finished their work. With a quick movement, he untied the ropes that kept Alina and Chris still together.

“Are you okay?” Damian asked, with an intense look at his younger sister.

Alina, still somewhat tired but relieved, nodded.

“Yes, but seriously… Vacation in France?” she said with a sarcastic tone, making Damian roll his eyes. “Tell dad that we should go somewhere else instead.”

“Tt, I guess Paris isn't as peaceful as I thought,” he said, helping his sister to stand up. “Let's go. I've had enough of this 'colorful Gotham.'”

Chapter Text

After everything was back to normal and Manon was taken to her mother, Marinette decided to casually approach the place where the Waynes were, wanting to appear natural after having disappeared (run away) as soon as they were distracted. However, being Marinette "Clumsy" Dupain-Cheng, she barely took a step in their direction, tripped on something and almost fell. Fortunately, her friend Alya was there to catch her just in time.

Where did she come from? She didn't know, but well, who was to judge.

Marinette was going to thank her, but fell silent when she saw the look Alya gave her, full of curiosity and a journalist's glow in action.

Ah, the Waynes were a well-known family as were the wild ones.

She hoped Alya wouldn't be so bold and ask questions to her so-called "Friends."

"Mari, I didn't know you knew the Waynes!" Alya whispered with restrained emotion. A few feet away from them, Nino, Adrien, and little Chris were also approaching, interested in the conversation.

Marinette tried to find a quick excuse to explain the situation, but was interrupted when she heard Alina's voice.

"Is it... like this every day here?" Alina asked, looking at her curiously.

Marinette blinked, a little bewildered. It was only Alya's nudge in her side that brought her back to reality.

"Huh?" Marinette muttered, confused.

"So there are akumatizations here every day?" Alina repeated carefully, struggling a little with French but trying to sound as clear as possible. Her accent was horrible, but she made up for it with concentration and effort, making her frown intensely.

Marinette couldn't help but smile at the effort the little girl was putting in. There was something cute about her attempt to speak the language, even if her accent gave her away.

Well, at least calmer than the other kids.

Mr. Wayne was kind and social, some of his children were too but they were so talkative that he got lost in conversations a lot.

Except for Jason, Damian and Respawn. (She had to learn their names, so she wouldn't stumble over her words and make a mistake about it) who had a more judging look and it somehow gave her the creeps.

"O-oh… Well, yes, practically every day" Marinette admitted, feeling her nerves growing as she watched the Waynes and their friends approach. "But! Don't worry, there will always be Ladybug and Chat Noir to protect us."

Alina frowned slightly, thoughtful. Although her French was improving, speaking it was less challenging than fully understanding it.

She needs more French classes, but she fears that if she learns more she would end up summoning something she shouldn't again. (She currently has a ghost friend, she really likes her company.)

He looked at Marinette and then at his brother Damian, who remained serious and observant, with his arms crossed and an expression of slight impatience.

"Do you trust them?" Damian asked, in a low but audible tone, addressing Marinette with a mix of skepticism and curiosity.

Is Paris blind? He has no doubts and is more than sure that this clumsy girl is LadyBug.

She is only wearing a mask and her mottled suit, it is easier than the multiplication table.

And he was not the only one who knew it, all of his brothers knew it and were even betting on who would catch her red-handed.

"Yes, absolutely," Marinette answered without hesitation. "Ladybug and Chat Noir have protected Paris from all the akumas since they started appearing. The city trusts them.'

Damian raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, she's inflating her ego to believe they're good.

Well, he did it a few times and the other times it's because Alina keeps praising him every day on patrol. (Because she knows that if she does, he'll take her out for ice cream behind her father's back.)

Bruce watched him with a slight warning in his eyes, as if reminding him that it wasn't the time for criticism.

Respawn nudged him, Damian growled and Alina swore to disguise her brother as a cat.

Alina seemed almost satisfied with Marinette's answer, although she still had an expression of slight surprise. (To hide appearances, she had to be as discreet as possible.)

Acting classes do help, otherwise she would have been messing up and accidentally revealing the identities of her older siblings a long time ago.

"Well, it's not what I expected for a vacation," Alina admitted with a sigh.

Adrien, who had been listening in silence, gave a Alina stepped forward and smiled at the little girl.

"The cheap copy of CatWoman!" Was Alina's thought, Adrien felt offended for a strange reason.

"It's not easy to get used to it, but most of us don't care too much anymore. We trust them, and if you ever need help, we're here too."
"Hint, I feel like she dropped a hint" Was Reapawn's thought, she's confirming the fact that Paris is blind.
Alina nodded, less tense and more intrigued by everything she was learning about Paris. (Give her an Oscar for her acting, any more and she can use this against her father)

Dick just wanted to go get the ice cream he had heard about from Marinette and send more pictures to Kory.

Jason wanted to sleep, he needed his 12 hour break and he hoped everything would be expedited so he could go to the damn hotel.

The Batgirls would go shopping as soon as they finished their tour, maybe they'd take Marinette with them. (They will, you can see she has a good fashion sense.)

Duke and Tim want to finish their favorite saga on the video game console, they need to see the ending they've been waiting for.

Bruce just wants Alfred to be with them, he needs the responsible adult in the family.

Respawn, Damian and Alina want to go to the zoo. (Damian wants to see if the animals are being treated well, and if not, he'll start a revolution with his combat allies.)

Marinette exchanged a glance with Alya, who was trying to contain her excitement about the conversation they had just had with the Waynes. (It's not every day you see a billionaire with his children... Adrien doesn't count, neither does Chloe.)

"You see, Mari? Everything happens for a reason," Alya murmured with a smile as she looked at the Wayne family. "You never know when a small stumble will lead to something unexpected... now you have to go for the big prize."

Marinette gave an exhausted smile, not knowing how to tell Alya that between her and Adrien there would never be anything more than a friendship.

Although they had tried to have a romantic relationship, the disagreements and constant akumatizations had put too much strain on their daily lives, and it became clear to them that a romantic relationship was not the best for either of them.

After a heart-to-heart, they both decided to part ways before things got worse. However, that special connection between them had not been lost.

They had realized that, although romantic love didn't work between them, friendship did.

Both had found in each other a constant and reliable support, and understood that their bond was stronger and more meaningful as colleagues or friends.

Both had each other's backs, and if necessary they would be able to sacrifice themselves for each other. (Adrien did it several times with his father, receiving punishments and criticism).

Adrien had been for Marinette an incomparable emotional support and his presence helped much more than others. (Same as Tikki, otherwise she would see how her little Kwami would be chasing her blond friend in order to hunt him down).

Alya was her best friend and confidant, but Adrien, was like her battle partner and her "soulmate" of friendship, he had a unique place in her life as well as in her heart.

Alya stared at her friend, her eyes narrowed as if something in her asked for revenge.

Because she felt that if she said it out loud, her friend might be missing... nah, that was going too far.

Marinette doesn't know the time Kagami and Alya had gotten into a fight, for saying that she was Marinette's best friend.

It ended in a tie, Alya left with one of her opponent's teeth as a trophy and Kagami did the same, only with a lock of hair.

Marinette knew that she could trust him in the most difficult moments, and that gave her a security that few people could give her.

"So... Can I interview them?" Alya casually commented with a notebook and Nino already had the camera in hand, recording his brother who was doing or trying to do a backflip.

"Alya!"

"What? No, every day you see millionaires passing through Paris!" Adrien was going to speak, but Alya got ahead of him. "You don't count, you already live here... so much so that my mom asks that if you come home, you bring your own snacks, you eat like you haven't eaten for days!"

Adrien touched his chest, offended, Nino laughed along with Chris who didn't understand anything.

Marinette had to hold back her laughter.

And the Waynes? Well, they were just watching the show that was formed between those friends with different reasons.

"Let's go to that hotel now"

"No, otherwise I have to put up with that mayor's daughter... she's a real hottie"

"Come on! The girl is coming to interview us, let's not be cruel"

"Dick, you're just doing it because you want to shine on screen!"

"I thought that after this, we would go shopping"

Bruce could only sigh for the seventh time, he watched his children argue and then he saw those few young French people argue too.

She closed her eyes, but opened them in a flash when she noticed that one of her little chicks was not in the discussion.

She looked around before stopping at the French and looking down a little, there she saw her daughter Alina talking to the little brunette.

And with that, it was her eighth sigh in the last few minutes that passed.

"So... Is there LadyBug and Chat Noir merchandise?" She asked curiously, maybe she'll buy something to annoy her brothers.

"Yes! I have the limited Chat Noir toy, hey, it was only for a short period that he was there and I had the chance to have him" Chris said proudly, Alina nodded understanding the feeling.

She once camped with her friends in Gotham to get the Batgirls poster autographed by them and the collection cups.

She didn't really need it, she could always get it with a puppy look and sweet words with her father.

But she had fun doing that, although she didn't count on a villain attacking and breaking what it cost her to get it with her friends. (That day something broke inside Lotso, something was destroyed... literally).

In the end she managed to make them feel happy when she came with another poster and the set of cups, plus the additional entrance of the Batgirls to take pictures or talk.

She also remembered how she was forced to stand in a long line with Tim, because... she didn't remember why she camped but she only has the vague memory of how a homeless person wanted to adopt her.

Tim said that it was part of the tradition, being adopted by a stranger or a animal.

Damian had been adopted by lions how? He didn't know, he just went to the zoo with him and he was already inside the enclosure playing with the little cubs. (They had to put Damian to sleep to get him out of there.)

The same thing happened to Respawn, but he was adopted by the wolves and they had to flee from there when Respawn kidnapped one of the cubs.

He feels chills even after a long time, he will never let Dick drive in those cases.

"Hurry up Grayson, they are getting closer and closer!"

Everyone was in the limousine, in the front were Dick and Damian.

"Little D, don't push it!!"

"You drive like a turtle, look, even the old lady passes us!" He pointed to an old lady who was riding a motorcycle.

"I'll show you who drives like a turtle!" He said as he increased speed.

That day everyone learned to never scold Dick at the wheel, not when he looked like Toretto on the streets.

"So, do your Gotham heroes also have merchandise?"

"Yes, with many varieties to be honest" She said proudly, Damian heard them and smiled discreetly but smugly.

"It must not be that good" The little brunette commented.

"They are good, of the best quality and better than yours because of the variety there is"

"Hey, it's a lie! Even if we only have LadyBug and Chat Noir, there are more superheroes here... we have Rogue Queen, Carapace, Visperion, among many others! Also from what you told me, your heroes from that city only act at night"

"Yes, and no... they also do it during the day, but the one who is most in the day being the hero is Signal, a great hero!"

"What's so great about the hero, if they just wear simple ridiculous costumes?"

"Hey! At least they're cooler, not like that black, peroxide cat! Or the one dressed as Ladybug, it looks like a watermelon and its seeds costume."

Marinette and Adrien sneezed, as if someone was talking about them without realizing that the children were talking about them.

The blindness was powerful, and maybe the deafness too.

Bruce sighed for the ninth time, watching how the situation around him became a real chaos and not the chaos of Gotham, which he was used to.

He wasn't sure what exhausted him more: the young French people arguing about God knows what, or the children passionately talking about their heroes attacking each other or his own children debating each other.

Alya seemed determined to do her interview, completely ignoring the pleading looks from Marinette and Adrien, possibly to be the one to be interviewed, who tried to stop her.

Meanwhile, Nino was busy with his own pranks recording the Parisians who fell for the jokes, Alina defended the superiority of Gotham's heroes with an intensity worthy of Damian being proud of.

"How many more times will you sigh, Bruce?" Dick whispered from a distance with an amused smile on his face.

Despite being busy with his own debate about which pony was which, he hadn't lost sight of his father's exhausted patience.

Jason was tempted to break his father's patience further, to see if he would explode or punish them. (Possibly both.)

Bruce just allowed himself to close his eyes for a second and take a breath. There was no way to impose calm on so many young people with such different personalities.

Alina and little Chris continued an argument that seemed to have no end.

Duke started betting, followed by his brothers and Marinette's group each contributing.

"My Gotham heroes are the best" Alina replied with the same pride as any of her older siblings when they talked about Gotham. "We have a lot of merchandise, and it's of the best quality. There are even collectible figurines better than yours!"

She didn't want to fight, but she didn't like people talking down to her brothers or saying they weren't good heroes.

"Well, but here in Paris we still have more heroes, and each one is different, not like yours, who only wear evening gowns, they seem to be we're colorful," Chris replied with equal conviction. "Also, our Cat Noir has a black suit because it's mysterious, not like those costumes..."

"No offense, but that cat looks like a cheap copy of CatWoman... and she's prettier and doesn't dye her hair."

Alina rolled her eyes, refusing to give up on her defense of Gotham.

Meanwhile, Marinette, in the midst of all the hubbub, had been absorbed, not knowing if she should feel embarrassed or amused by the spectacle the little ones were making and the Waynes were setting up their bets in the middle of the street in Paris.

Adrien nudged her in a friendly way and whispered in her ear:

"I hope you're betting on little Chris, no one calls me dyed and gets away with it."

Marinette smiled, nodding slightly, aware that at some point she would have to intervene.

"Do they know we heard them?" Respawn commented, Damian nodded his head in agreement with her Brother.

"Leave them alone, they seem to be in their own world"

Chapter Text

Marinette still couldn't process how she had ended up in this situation: sitting next to the Wayne family itself and its patriarch, Bruce Wayne, at an elegant table in the restaurant in the heart of Paris, courtesy of President André, and she felt that it was going to be a long night.

She had half understood when they spoke, she had heard that the mayor was going to have dinner with them in a little while and if that could mean, she was going to see Chloe.

She had nothing against Chloe, she had a kind of enmity and she was happy with that.

She hoped to see Zoe, to be able to talk to her about the outfit she was going to wear in her future work.

But back to the present, she still didn't understand how the hell she agreed to have dinner with the Waynes.

She looked around with a lost look and a blank mind, trying to understand how fate had played with her to put her to dinner with one of the most powerful families in the world.

Or so the news said today, she didn't know how much money they had.

She had met wealthy people before, of course. Adrien was a good example, and despite everything, she had learned to handle her friendship with him well. She had even met Chloe, who although she exasperated her at times, had also helped her understand how the lives of the rich and famous worked. But the Waynes... they were a completely different story, she knew nothing about them and she didn't trust the news that was said about them.

Were they like Chloe, spoiled and arrogant? Or more like Adrien, polite and kind? Or maybe, just maybe, they had such a complex personality that she couldn't easily label them.

She had barely finished settling in when the conversations around her made her feel like she was in the middle of a whirlwind.

The Wayne family seemed completely comfortable, but Marinette understood almost nothing of what they were saying. Between the English and, strangely, some murmurs in Arabic, her brain began to spin trying to process everything.

Marinette, completely bewildered, tried to regain her composure and smiled nervously.

“Could you... repeat their names?” she asked with a mix of disbelief and surprise.

She knew the names, but she didn't know how to start a conversation, a conversation with rich people.

The idea of ​​having dinner with a millionaire family still seemed unreal to her.

Damian, one of the brothers who looked about her age, she hoped, looked at her with cold eyes and sighed.

Had she done wrong in asking? Apparently so, that look left her scared.

“I keep saying, father,” she commented, addressing Bruce, “Alfred said that you better not adopt her. She has living parents.” She gave him a look that seemed to mix warning and a slight but insistent opposition.

Marinette looked at him somewhat bewildered, not knowing whether to laugh or feel offended. It wasn't as if she wanted to be adopted! In fact, she barely knew them, and here they were arguing about her like she was a stray puppy.

She had parents! She was okay with not being adopted, so why would he adopt her? Was this a joke? Where were the cameras?! She discreetly looked around, looking for a sign that it was all fake.

Her discretion was anything but subtle, Alina watched as Marinette shook her head from side to side.

Respawn thought she was an idiot, but couldn't comment on it when she received a tap on the arm.

"Don't even think about it," Alina commented, looking at him with a slight pout.

Respawn sighed, tucking into a piece of baguette.

Stephanie, another of the Wayne sisters, gave Damian a mocking look while smiling friendly at Marinette.

"Well, I have no problem with you becoming part of the family." A dressmaker never hurts, she commented amused as she played with her hair. Marinette smiled, a little more relaxed, grateful for at least one friendly face at the table.

But she kept saying no! Her jokes were weird, but funny.

Well, she heard that Bruce Wayne adopted children and thought that made his children joke about it.

Was that okay? She didn't know, maybe it was when there was trust.

She looked at her small bag, where Tikki was hiding and who raised her tiny thumb up to her.

Meanwhile, Cass, who was sitting next to Steph, raised an amused eyebrow, listening to everything without saying a word, although Marinette got the feeling that she was also silently evaluating her.

Steph whispered something jokingly in her ear, but Cass kept her expression serene, as if she was completely used to her family's eccentricities.

But she saw her blush, the blonde had leaned over and kissed Cass's cheek.

She found this display of affection cute, and suppressed a laugh that wanted to escape her lips.

Marinette tried to follow the thread of the conversation, but soon felt like she was trapped in an episode of a chaotic series.

She thought that this situation was not so different from an episode of her series that she watched on her laptop, with everyone talking and watching her expectantly as she tried to keep her composure.

It reminded her of a K-Drama, she couldn't remember the name but she felt like the protagonist being judged by her boyfriend's family.

Adrien, who was sitting next to her, nudged her lightly, bringing her out of her thoughts. He smiled with his typical naive and carefree expression, and whispered to her:

"Did they offer you candy too?" he asked, not understanding that that wasn't the best question for the situation.

Who would accept dinner for candy, Adrien was sure of that.

Marinette brought an imaginary hand to her forehead, frustrated by the enthusiasm with which Adrien seemed to take the whole situation.

She remembered the time she had to chase him down the street when he was almost kidnapped for being so trusting. Being a hero in Paris didn't just mean saving people from akumas, it also meant saving his model friend every now and then. Adrien was a magnet for trouble, and sometimes he didn't realize the danger his own fame attracted.

Whether as a hero fighting against the Akumas, or as a model where there were fans very obsessed with him, or in worse cases being kidnapped.

"And you are...?" Bruce asked, his voice calm and observant as his gaze fell on Adrien, who was busy looking at the decoration of the restaurant.

He knew who he was, but it was always good to be polite when asking.

Being a conversationalist with teenagers was not his thing and if not, ask his children.

Adrien smiled politely and extended a hand.

"Adrien Agreste, nice to meet you," he said with that formality typical of the upper class, as if he was used to elegant dinners and family gatherings among the rich.

"Bruce Wayne, but I suppose you already knew that."

"It never hurts to know it, Mr. Bruce."

"Just Bruce, the gentleman makes me feel old."

"You're old now." Jason murmured quietly, Tim rolled his eyes in amusement.

Dick, one of the older brothers, watched the scene amused, clearly enjoying the presence of Marinette and Adrien. He leaned towards Bruce and whispered quietly:

"You know, father, we can always consider adopting them, don't you think?" he commented in a joking tone, while Damian rolled his eyes. "Then we would have another blonde and an aspiring seamstress, just like Steph."

Marinette let out a nervous laugh, not knowing if Dick was joking or being serious. But when she looked at Bruce, she noticed a slight smile on his lips, something that seemed almost like a show of tenderness...

No, no and no! See that again, bring out the undercover people! That sounds like an episode they would make for YouTube.

Suddenly, Stephanie gave Marinette a gentle push and whispered:

"Calm down, we're used to oddities. It's like a requirement to be part of the Waynes." She said laughing, which made Marinette relax a little.

Well almost, she kept and will continue to think that all this is part of a Reality Show.

While everyone continued talking, the Waynes were as she imagined. They were peculiar, a little intimidating, yes, but there was something genuine and warm about them, a family interaction that was not visible to the naked eye and that, little by little, she began to notice.

They could be adopted, but the way they treated each other or how they took care of each other was there. (Of course, there were times where they made fun of each other but still.)

Although she didn't understand much, sometimes they spoke French to start a conversation with her, other times in English that she understood little and they spoke other languages.

For what? She couldn't say, she saw how they looked at her and spoke to each other in another language.

At least the little girl seemed the same as her, lost and when she was about to smile, Alina murmured.

"No Dick, I doubt Kory wants to stop eating watermelon mustard."

Well, there went her only little friend who understood her.

Apparently she didn't speak the language everyone was saying, but she did understand what they were saying.

A little girl beat her at that! What else? A clown coming out of nowhere? This was crazy, but a nice crazy, more than she imagined.

Maybe, after all, having dinner with a millionaire family wasn't as intimidating as she thought.

Adrien pointed his finger towards the entrance, catching Marinette's attention.

"Isn't that Chloe?" He asked, surprised.

Marinette felt a wave of tension wash over her.

Why, of all people, did Chloe have to show up in the same place? She remembered the times Chloe had gotten her into trouble, including that unfair suspension that had been a real nightmare.

Everything seemed to be against her tonight. Still, she kept a tight smile, hoping that the evening would pass without incident.

Chloe seemed to have noticed Marinette's presence because as soon as she entered with her father, Mayor Bourgeois, she quickly made her way to the table with an expression full of haughtiness.

"Oh, come on!" Marinette groaned internally, thinking that she had gotten on good terms with Chloe being taken to numerous tutoring classes with their teacher, so they can be friends.

Well, they agreed to have an enmity and that was at least progress.

She couldn't throw that away, she didn't want to be up late at school again when they got back.

However, Marinette noticed Zoe, Chloe's sister, looking away and giving her a friendly smile. That calmed her down a bit; at least Zoe was a friendly face in the midst of all the fuss.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Wayne," Mayor André Bourgeois greeted politely, extending his hand to Bruce, who returned the greeting with equal formality.

"Same here, Mayor," Bruce replied, smiling with that serenity that seemed to captivate everyone. Marinette noticed how several women in the restaurant were watching him and sighing.

"He definitely has that playboy vibe," Marinette thought, remembering some magazine articles that Alya used to send him before he went to dinner. Apparently, Bruce Wayne's charm crossed borders.

“Nice to see you!” Zoe said happily as she took a seat next to Marinette, giving her a friendly squeeze on the shoulder.

Chloe, on the other hand, sat down next to Adrien without saying a word, but throwing a sidelong glance at Marinette. Marinette took a deep breath, reminding herself to keep her composure. No fighting, no throwing food, and above all, no clumsiness.

It's easy, just ignore Chloe.

“I didn't know you were here, baker,” Chloe commented mockingly, causing Marinette to tense her jaw.

Just ignore Chloe, it's easy.

“Baker? Do you make bread?” Alina, one of the younger sisters in that family, asked with genuine curiosity as she looked at her with expectant eyes.

"Uh... yeah, my parents have a bakery" Marinette replied, feeling somewhat embarrassed explaining her humble origins in the midst of so much opulence.

But there was no malice, the younger girl gave her a friendly smile.

Adrien, on the other hand, smiled and added enthusiastically:

"It's the best bakery in Paris! Her parents make delicious desserts and breads."

"Dami, we have to go!"

"Another day it will be Shelley."

"Yeii!"

Damian, who had been watching the conversation, sighed in boredom. Clearly, he didn't share the enthusiasm and preferred to be anywhere else at the moment.

Alina, who seemed very direct in her observations, looked at Chloe and frowned.

"Why are you wearing so much makeup?" she asked, without malice, but with a curious honesty.

She reminded him of those chicks he saw on the streets, with such extravagant and flashy dresses.

Chloe smiled smugly and, touching her face, replied in an arrogant tone:

"To look pretty, obviously. Something that not everyone can achieve" she said with a mocking laugh.

Alina frowned. "Oh, it reminds me of those girls I see at banquets in Gotham."

Alina stared at her, blinking and thinking about Chloe's answer.

"How long will that take to take effect?" she asked, with an innocence that concealed a very subtle mocking touch.

Chloe turned abruptly to Alina, with an expression that seemed to throw daggers.

"Excuse me?" her tone was sharp, clearly annoyed by the comment.

Alina kept her gaze, without seeming intimidated, and clarified:

"That you look pretty, I mean. I was just asking" she answered with an "innocent" smile.

Bruce was not aware of his children, he was immersed in talking to the mayor and it was vice versa.

With the others, however, it was a different story.

Meanwhile, Dick, Babs, and Steph were barely holding back their laughter.

Jason, Tim, and Duke felt proud to see the progress he made with Alina when it came to acting.

Damian suppressed a laugh, Respawn smiled proudly.

Cass subtly hid her laughter, unlike the others who laughed out loud.

Marinette also suppressed a smile, somewhat relieved that the conversation wasn't just about her.

The Wayne family was definitely not like any other she had ever met, and although the situation was still awkward, it felt more and more fun.

Was it always like this? So full of life, at least they're not serious like Adrien's father.

Maybe, just maybe, that night wouldn't turn out to be a complete disaster.

"Gami, he'll be here in a bit!" Adrien commented as he showed his cell phone, Marinette sighed.

Who would have thought, he's having dinner with rich people.

"You know Rapulzel..."

"Like you said, Chloe?" He looked at her with a "friendly" smile.

"Nothing Adrikins." She murmured, Marinette wanted to laugh but remained silent. "Your dad said he'll come to dinner anyway."

The aura of tranquility was replaced by tension, that joy that Adrien had vanished.

Marinette subtly took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"It's okay, I'll be here." She gave him a friendly smile.

Adrien smiled a little at that.

"Me too!" Alina joined in, she had heard everything but turned a deaf ear and pretended to be someone his age.

Damian snorted, but he would stay anyway to meet the blond's father and see why he seemed to tense up when they had mentioned that he was coming.

Respawn was more distracted, he was interested in that lock of hair that Zoe had.

"I want one like that" He commented, looking at the friendly-faced blonde.

'Huh?" Zoe looked at him confused.

Respawn pointed at her hair, specifically the lock.

"That"

"It would look nice on you, a red color Ress!" Steph said, Respawn nodded.

"Ouh, if you want I'll do it for you" He spoke kindly, that made Respawn's eyes shine a little.

Damian thought about getting one, to see if his father would say something to him.

Marinette was tired, all this in less than a day of meeting them.

What would become of her? Why was everything happening to her?

Chapter Text

Adrien couldn't stop looking around, trying to focus on something that would take his mind off the growing discomfort at the table.

"Why today? He's always in his office working and he comes just today."

His father, Gabriel, was sitting next to Bruce, chatting about business with that almost intimidating calm that always characterized him.

"Please go, dad." He sobbed internally, even though he loved his father, he didn't want to have him there when he could finally start a conversation with nice people.

He felt annoyed, he could have dinner with important people but for him, his son, he didn't even have time for that.

Sometimes he felt jealous when he went to Marinette's house, he felt envious when he saw his best friend's parents being so loving and kind, he wanted to cry like a child at that every time Tom or Sabine welcomed him with warm hugs.

The atmosphere between the adults was relaxed, but Adrien didn't share that feeling. As the minutes passed, his appetite gradually diminished, and his usual enthusiasm seemed to fade.

He tried hard to keep a shallow smile, though, enough so that no one would notice his discomfort.

No one but Marinette and the Waynes, all the adopted and biological children were aware of that tension.

From her side of the table, Marinette gave him a worried look and offered a warm smile, like a silent reminder that he wasn't alone. Then, discreetly, she slipped her hand under the table and intertwined her fingers with Adrien's. The contact was comforting, a small spark of security amidst the whirlwind of emotions he felt. Adrien returned a gentle squeeze, grateful for his support.

He may have had a relationship with Marinette, but his life as a hero and a model took all that away from him.

He knew it, which was why he had made the decision to let those feelings die slowly and painfully so that his friend could have someone who could love him as he had loved her.

Meanwhile, Alina was completely absorbed in a conversation with Zoe.

"So, do you act?"

"Yes! Although they are small roles for now."

"Oh, that's too bad." She said with a sigh. "You are pretty and talented, you could be a great actress."

Zoe smiled, touched by the younger girl and couldn't feel pity? Well, she felt something like that.

Almost everyone at the table was boys over 14 years old, (not to mention that there were also some over 25 years old where they were sitting) and the little girl was barely 10 or 11.

Who, in their right mind, leaves a little girl with older girls?

And she saw that she wasn't the only one who thought that, Marinette still had the same face as her when she saw the younger girl with them.

The youngest of the Waynes couldn't hide her fascination with Zoe's blonde hair, which seemed shiny and stylized in a way that reminded her of movie stars.

"You have beautiful hair!" Alina exclaimed in genuine admiration, touching a lock of Zoe's hair with permission.

Zoe, kind, smiled at her in gratitude. "Thanks. If you want, I can help you dye yours. Would you like to try something new?"

Alina's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? Yes! I want to dye part of it green, like the leaves on the trees in spring."

"Or like the Joker." Respawn murmured under his breath, receiving a punch on his arm, courtesy of Damian.

"It'll be fun. Maybe I can give you some acting lessons too" Zoe suggested, leaning towards the girl in complicity, not hearing what Resapwn and Damian had said.

Alina let out a small gasp of excitement. "That would be great! I could scare dad that way."

Bruce sneezed. "Sorry." He murmured, feeling embarrassed inside for sneezing in front of important people.

"The idiot here, he wants to dye his hair anyway." Damian said, Respawn growled and hit him under the table.

Thus began a mini fight between the two, Dick had to give them a reproachful look and that was enough for both to calm down, for now.

The comment caused Steph, who was within range of the conversation, to let out a stifled laugh as she glanced at Bruce, who raised an eyebrow in curiosity but said nothing.

Damian, for his part, was silently watching from his place at the table and did not speak, his pride had been trampled upon by being scolded by Dick.

Although he pretended to be more interested in the water slowly swirling in his glass, he kept a discreet but fixed gaze on his younger sister.

Alina always managed to find ways to get into unusual situations, and he couldn't help but worry.

Oh, now he understood Dick when he told him to think twice before acting.

However, it was not his sister who captured his deepest attention at that moment.
Damian had noticed the change in Adrien. Although the boy tried to hide it with smiles and carefree gestures, his eyes betrayed a discouragement that could not go unnoticed someone as observant as Damian.

Adrien didn't know how to act as well as he thought, and that was obvious.

Damian had no reason to feel worried, but there he was feeling that for someone he only barely knew.

For now, Damian chose not to say anything. It wasn't his style to rush into a problem without first analyzing it thoroughly. In his mind, a kind of plan was forming: to observe Adrien for the rest of the evening and, if necessary, intervene in some way.

He wasn't aware of the situation between the blond and his father, but seeing how he felt uncomfortable at his mere presence must be something serious.

Maybe he didn't trust the blond's father, he had a strange and evil aura somehow, he had to analyze that too.

He couldn't help but sneak a glance at the blond. Adrien was there, clinging to Marinette's hand under the table, but his rigid posture gave him away. Damian couldn't quite understand what was going on, but something in his gut told him to stay alert.

His instincts called for action, but with no clues or anything that could help, he could only stand still and feel resigned for now.

Marinette was completely focused on Adrien, her worried expression hidden behind a mask of calm. She could feel the tension in her friend even without looking directly at him, and although she didn't know what to do exactly, she was determined to be there for him, no matter what.

She squeezed his hand tighter, not hurting him but showing that she was there, for his most loyal and faithful friend.

For a moment, Damian turned his attention from Adrien to Marinette. The way she held Adrien's hand, how her gaze was filled with silent support, reminded him of something he couldn't name, but that felt familiar.

It was such a warm and familiar look, the same one he saw as his family gave him their support without saying it, he groaned internally.

Damian narrowed his eyes. Marinette seemed stronger than she looked, and that, somehow, gave him peace of mind.

Not like the strength of his older sisters, but it was a strength that showed confidence and support, something he deeply valued.

Maybe, if she was there, Adrien would find some comfort in the midst of whatever he was facing.

Dinner continued, the adults talking about topics that seemed irrelevant to the young people at the table, while Alina excitedly planned her future makeover with Zoe, with Respawn butting in from time to time.

Marinette and Adrien shared a small world of silences and gestures of support, and Damian continued to watch, as always, calculating his next moves.

Dick was talking to Babs, about his alien fiancées and how much they loved them.

Steph, despite not having much in common with Chloe, would start a conversation with her so as not to leave her out at the table and she also talked to her (non) friend, Sabrina, who she liked.

Cass was talking to Kagami in a strange way, both of them staring at each other and saying comments so direct that they could be understood almost perfectly. Dick didn't understand much when they talked about blood type but he let his little sister make a friend.

Dinner continued with scattered conversations and the murmur of adults talking about business at the other end of the table. But on the side where the Wayne brothers and their guests were, there was an air of tension that only the most attentive could pick up on. Dick, who was always aware of his younger siblings' behavior, noticed Damian's gaze fixed on Adrien and Marinette.

"Hey, Little D, is something wrong?" he asked in a soft voice, leaning slightly towards his brother so as not to draw too much attention.

Damian quickly looked away, as if he had been caught doing something wrong. He shook his head firmly, trying to maintain his usual composure.

"I don't know what you're talking about." "I was watching Shelley," he replied dryly, referring to his sister who was chatting very comfortably with the other blonde, with pink locks.

Dick raised an eyebrow, but before he could answer, Jason intervened with his characteristic mocking tone.

"Shorty, even the replacement makes better lies than you." Jason crossed his arms, sketching a sly smile as he watched Damian with a look that made it clear he was enjoying annoying him.

Damian glared at him, but for once, he seemed to have difficulty articulating a scathing response.

"Would you shut up, Todd. Nobody asked for your opinion."

Jason pretended to be hurt, bringing a hand to his chest. "Aw, the Gremlin brought out its claws. How scary."

"You..." Damian began to reply, but before the situation escalated, Dick placed a firm but reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Little Wing, let's not start now." Dick intervened with a warning tone. Although Jason snorted in disdain, he decided to let it go and returned his attention to his plate, while resuming his conversation with Tim and Duke.

Damian, still tense, turned his attention back to Adrien and Marinette. Dick, however, wasn't done with him.

"So, what's got you so distracted, Little D? Are you worried about something about the French?"

Damian clicked his tongue, annoyed that his older brother kept digging.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Come on, Dami. You've been staring at them like you're trying to figure out a riddle."

Damian sighed in frustration. He didn't want to admit it, but something about the dynamic between Adrien and his father made him uneasy. Finally, after a moment of silence, he muttered,

"Do you think Agreste is a good person?"

Dick cocked his head, a little surprised by the question. "Are you talking about the son or the father?"

Damian paused before answering. "The eldest. The youngest… well, he's like a scaredy cat."

There was no malice in his words, just an objective observation.

To Damian, Adrien really did seem like a scaredy cat, especially when his father was around. The blond boy seemed to shrink into himself, as if he were afraid of drawing Gabriel Agreste's attention. The way he clung to Marinette, as if she were his only refuge, only increased Damian's uneasiness.

Dick crossed his arms, thinking of the best way to respond.

"So, do you like the boy?" he asked, somewhat curious.

Damian frowned, uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation.

"Something like that," he replied curtly, trying to close the subject.

Dick couldn't help but smile a little. Damian not being hostile towards anyone outside the family was already a significant advance, especially considering his antisocial and distrustful nature.

"Mhmm... interesting. But back to the topic, why are you asking about the father?"

Damian looked back at Gabriel, who was still talking to Bruce at the other end of the table. There was something about his presence that made him wary.

“You don’t trust him?” Dick pressed, following his brother’s gaze.

Damian nodded slowly, not taking his eyes off Gabriel.

“He has… something. I don’t know how to explain it, but he makes me wary.”

Dick studied the man for a moment, taking his brother’s words to heart. Damian rarely spoke without foundation, and his ability to read people was surprisingly accurate for someone his age.

One more thing, why he hated Talia and at the same time wanted her.

Why did that make Damian know who to trust and who not to.

“I see what you mean,” Dick replied after a while. “He has that… presence, doesn’t he? Like he’s always hiding something.”

“Exactly,” Damian nodded, feeling relieved that someone understood.

“Fine, I’ll keep my eyes open. But, Little D, remember that we can’t jump to conclusions without proof.”

Damian snorted, but didn't respond. Meanwhile, Dick thought it best to inform Bruce about Damian's concern later. Although Gabriel Agreste seemed like a normal designer at first glance, there was something about his behavior that had caught his attention as well.

Damian, for his part, decided to stay alert for the rest of the evening. Adrien remained a mystery to him, and Gabriel… well, there was something about the man that didn't fit, and Damian had a feeling he wasn't the only one who had noticed.

Chapter Text

The night progressed slowly for Adrien, who tried to enjoy the time with his friends and the Waynes despite the constant presence of his father.

Although most of the Wayne brothers were incredibly friendly and approachable, which helped him relax a little, he couldn't ignore the feeling of discomfort that weighed on him every time Gabriel Agreste entered his field of vision.

How a simple glance could bring him down, a look of disapproval.

The warm and cozy atmosphere that had formed during dinner vanished as soon as he and his father left the Wayne mansion.

"Adrien, I'm disappointed in you... you couldn't even get one of them interested in me."

The return to his home was stifling, as always. The limo was filled with an awkward silence, broken only by Gabriel's brief and cold instructions to the driver or dry orders to Adrien to sit up straight or not wrinkle his clothes.

Natalie would occasionally, and discreetly, give him candy or just a few welcoming glances, which made his discomfort go away a little.

When they arrived at the Agreste mansion, the atmosphere that greeted him was even worse. Everything was completely silent, except for the sound of his own footsteps echoing through the hallways. Nathalie, on her father's orders, was there to supervise him, making sure he didn't have time to "get distracted."

His father, of course, immediately disappeared into his office, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

"Will you ever care?"

Adrien barely had time to sit up in his bed before Nathalie appeared to remind him that he had to go to bed early and that he wasn't allowed to go out that night. Although he wanted to go on patrol as Chat Noir and clear his mind, he knew that he couldn't escape the constant surveillance of Nathalie and the security guard, Gorilla... one more night alone, in that darkness and solitude that was his friend.

The night was endless. As she stared at the ceiling of her room, her mind kept returning to dinner with the Waynes.

She remembered Alina's innocent laughter, Jason's ill-tempered jokes, and the way Marinette had taken her hand under the table, offering silent support that had meant more than she probably imagined.

She thought of Damian, who although he seemed cold, had given her appraising glances that didn't seem to contain hostility, but something akin to kindness. For a moment, she had felt like she was in a place where she didn't have to prove anything, where she could just be Adrien, and not the "perfect son of Gabriel Agreste."

She felt like that distinctive family was her home even if it was just for those minutes and where she didn't pretend to laugh.

Where she didn't hide her jokes, where Dick and Steph played along with her in those jokes.

Like Babs, she gave him praise for having excellent grades and told him which desserts to eat saying they were the most delicious.

She had listened when he talked about his tastes, she took the slight effort to look for his tastes in that place.

I'm talking about when he practiced ballet, Cass had been so great talking about the movements of each dance he said.

Fencing was a talk he had with Respawn, where he didn't bother to act like a child telling everything with joy, like Damian and Kagami joined in on few occasions.

Where Alina asked him to play the mime discreetly, where many joined in that even Chloe was encouraged, she had never laughed so much in her life as that night.

But that feeling had vanished as soon as he returned home. Now, lying in his bed, he could only feel the weight of loneliness and the oppressive control that always surrounded him.

When the sun finally rose, Adrien had barely slept. His anxiety had grown with each passing minute, but he had also made a decision: he needed to get out of there. After a long while of pleading and carefully formulated arguments, he managed to convince his father to allow him to go out for a few hours. Permission was not easy to obtain, and he only got it after promising to return in time to fulfill his duties.

As soon as he stepped through the doors of his house, Adrien felt immediate relief. He ran through the streets of Paris with renewed energy, the cold morning air filling his lungs as the weight he felt in his chest began to dissipate. His destination was clear: the park where his friends used to gather. There, he hoped to find the warmth and joy he so desperately needed after the cold atmosphere of his home.

When he reached the park, his heart sank a little at the sight of Lila surrounded by all of her classmates. As always, she was in the middle of a completely fabricated story, speaking in an animated tone and gesturing dramatically.

"Don't get involved, no matter what she says."

"Yes, the Waynes were charmed by me. Bruce even told me that I have a lot of potential and that I should consider moving to Gotham someday.” Lila smiled widely, her words catching the attention of everyone around her.

Adrien stopped a few steps away, faking a smile as he watched the others listen to her in fascination. He knew there was no point in confronting her, not when most people seemed to believe every word she said. Instead, he decided to wait.

His relief came when he saw Marinette walking towards them. She wore a familiar awkward expression, that look she always had when she was about to face something unfair. Adrien felt his mood immediately improve. Marinette had always been his refuge, and no matter how many times Lila tried to humiliate or discredit her, she always found a way to stand her ground.

Too bad she can’t do anything, she didn’t want to get involved when her father finds out if he makes a scene and is caught on camera.

Marinette arrived at the group and, although she didn’t say anything at first, her presence alone seemed to change the dynamic. Lila looked at her with an expression that alternated between irritation and superiority, as if she knew her façade was about to be made bigger.

Adrien couldn’t help but feel a spark of admiration towards Marinette. She didn’t need words to prove her strength; her presence alone spoke for itself.

Adrien walked over to Marinette and gave her a sincere smile.

“I’m glad to see you,” he said quietly, loud enough for only she to hear.

“I’m glad to see you too, Adrien,” Marinette replied, returning his smile. Then, she gave his arm a squeeze, a small but supportive gesture.

As Lila continued to speak, Marinette crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, waiting for the perfect moment to interject. Adrien knew that, with Marinette there, he had nothing to worry about. For the first time in what seemed like a long time, he felt truly relaxed.

Her feelings may still be there, warm and strong like fire but she knows she shouldn't have that relationship, as much as she wants to she knows she must kill those feelings for their sake.

Marinette stepped forward, positioning herself between Lila and the rest of the group, although her expression was calm, her eyes shone with irritation.

"Ah, Mari has already started."

Lila, as if she could sense that her moment of glory was going to be higher, began to speak louder, her melodramatic voice filling the air.

"It's really exhausting being someone so influential, you know?" Lila said with an exaggerated sigh. "Bruce Wayne even told me that I would be a good match for Damian. I think he was impressed by my connection to high society and my knowledge of Gotham."

Somewhere in Metropolis

Jon had a grimace of disgust and rubbed his head.

"Why do I feel like, someone is telling lies about Dami."

Back in France

Adrien pressed his lips together, clearly uncomfortable and scared, but Marinette didn't flinch.

"How interesting, Lila." Marinette smiled, though there was a hint of irony in her tone. "But I find it curious... Damian Wayne never mentions anyone outside of his inner circle. He's, how do I put it? Quite reserved from what I've heard."

And seen, because Marinette saw how that boy was very reserved and unsociable, all she saw was him interacting with his siblings, taking care of Alina and Respawn.

Lila was momentarily speechless, though she quickly recovered with her characteristic ability to adapt to moments she always had with Marinette.

"Well, not everyone has the privilege of knowing him as well as I do. Maybe he just liked me." Her tone was condescending, as if Marinette couldn't understand the complexity of his supposed relationship with the Waynes.

Before Marinette could respond, a small, energetic figure appeared on the scene. It was Alina, wearing a hat too big for her head and a playful smile that belied her observant nature. Unnoticed by anyone before, she had approached the group and was listening to the conversation with interest.

Damian was a few meters away, on top of a tree watching everything that was going to happen next because of how nosy Alina was when it came to her family.

“Damian Wayne?” Alina said, tilting her head in curiosity as she looked at Lila.

Lila frowned at the unexpected intrusion. She didn't recognize Alina and that clearly bothered her but she showed a “kind” smile.

“What a crooked smile, is that a spinach that you have there?” Were Alina's thoughts as she analyzed Lila.

“Oh, we're talking about my connections with the Waynes. It's something that not everyone could understand." Lila tried to sound superior, but the girl's presence disconcerted her. "I even went to their mansion, they were so kind and sweet to me when I was selected."

She felt... intimidated, it was weird and the smile on her face sent shivers down his spine.

“Connections?” Alina tilted her head, her smile widening. “But I’ve never seen you at Wayne Manor. When did we meet?”

The group fell silent, and everyone looked at Alina in surprise. Lila opened and closed her mouth several times, trying to find an answer that wouldn’t leave her exposed.

Marinette barely managed to contain a laugh as she watched Lila lose control of the conversation for the first time.

“Oh, I know who you are.” Lila quickly regained her composure, resorting to her favorite strategy: playing the victim. “You must be one of the Waynes’ many admirers. It’s common for people to make up stories to feel special.”

Adrien frowned, but before he could say anything, Alina spoke in a playful but confident tone.

“Of course I’m a fan. What can I say? I’m their biggest fan! The best!” Alina shrugged with feigned innocence, but her eyes sparkled with cunning. "Though it's strange that you don't remember me, considering I was there the last time Damian went looking for those winners to meet his family."

Lila was starting to lose her temper, her façade cracking as she desperately searched for a way out.

"I… Well, maybe I didn't notice you because I was busy talking to Bruce. You know, important matters."

Marinette decided to intervene again, this time crossing her arms and looking at Lila with a mix of patience and firmness.

"Lila, I think we all understand how busy you are, but it would be a shame if someone decided to confirm your stories with Damian or Bruce directly, don't you think?"

Lila paled slightly, but before she could respond, Alina giggled and winked at Marinette.

"Don't worry, baker. I can ask for you. After all, I am the biggest fan of that family."

The nickname made Marinette blink in surprise, and that was when Alina was finally recognized by Adrien, who looked at her with wide eyes.

"You are...!"

Alina put a finger on her lips, smiling mischievously.

"Shhh... Let it be a secret for now."

Confusion spread among the others, but Marinette simply smiled. For now, it seemed that Alina's presence had disrupted Lila's lies in a more effective way than she could have expected. The battle was over, at least for the moment, and Marinette knew that the next move would be more interesting than she had imagined.

"Well, I must go and I hope to see you at the next fan meeting." The little girl said goodbye with a smile, Lila looked stiff.

Before the little girl left, Alya asked her for some things for her blog about the Waynes and Alina only gave a few details, she shouldn't say more because otherwise she would be capable of spilling the beans.

As soon as she left, she ran to Damian who was behind the tree waiting for her and putting on his mask to go unnoticed.

"Really? You fall under Shelley."

"In my defense, I hate that they drag you into these false stories."

"Whatever you say, let's go get that ice cream."

"And then where the mayor goes?"

"Father wants to see us there."

" Do you think we'll see Kagami?"

"Possibly."

"Fine! He told me he was going to teach me fencing."