Chapter Text
"I was wondering," Marinette trailed off, "if our class could come to the ball?" Adrien's jaw dropped. He stared at her as if she had gone mad, "They have been buzzing about it ever since they heard about the Gotham trip, it would mean so much--" A raised hand silenced her. She waited silently for a response her muscles tensing.
"Natalie arrange for Adrien's class to attend the ball. Please make sure that they are informed about this," Natalie nodded and Gabriel ended the call.
"Are you sure about this Marinette?" Adrien said as he watched Marinette melt into her chair as her fear sipped out of her body.
"Don't worry Adrien. I won't be Marinette then, I'll be the infamous MDC. It will be alright," she waved him off. Natalie instructed for Gorilla to take them back to Marinette's place.
"I hope your right," Adrien said worriedly.
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Gabriel sat there, brewing in his thoughts. He was being driven back to his penthouse in a glossy, black ford jeep. Audrey insisted he stayed and helped her through the night but he complained endlessly about an upset stomach and a wrenching headache. He looked out the window and winced as another stream of wild and violent emotions passed through his head with a sharp sting. He massaged his temple as more and more emotions kept roaring in and out of his brain. He hadn’t lied about needing to rest, during one of the rehearsals he had been inspecting the models on the cat walk when his head started to spin. He had collapsed on the floor and caused a panic in the studio. When everyone calmed down and he had gotten a glass of water from one of the guards he was finally able to think clearly. Audrey had turned on the news since Gabriel was ‘to weak’ to say what exactly was making him feel so sickly. Apparently the joker had been on one of his spontaneous rampages and had decided that that day’s wonderfully terrifying life scarring and traumatizing experience would be to take hostage the staff of and patients in a hospital that he was all too familiar with, Arkham Asylum. Said to be the only home Joker has ever known. With each conviction he was thrown in there to be subjected to the doctors and nurses, their needles and disgusting medication that made patients mental health deteriorate even more causing them to act sporadically and keep them locked up forever. Joker had been thrown, tossed and had been discarded there every time he had been convicted. This small operation was to keep Ol’ Batsy on his toes and not to forget about his psychotic clown friend. All those feelings that he felt that day were a twisted rotting aching pain from the demented doctors and the mentally unstable patients. They suppressed Gabriel’s thought process and made him sick to the point of nausea. Finally, he had learned to stomach down his pain, he had too. All these random emotions were nothing like he wanted. The insane patients would have been perfect but because of their inability to have a straight thought he wouldn’t control them. The ones he could control were just scared little chicks suffering from the daily hassle of Gotham and it wouldn’t be anything so significant to amplify the powers he’d give them. He needed a villain who wouldn’t question him, who would obey his every wish willingly without suspecting him. He analyzed all his options and with each one it seemed less and less plausible for his plan to work, each one was to full of themselves and their oversized egos to do what he wanted.
The driver pulled up to the hotel. He hopped out of the car and opened the door for Gabriel. He offered to help him upstairs, while he gave the valet the keys. Gabriel scowled at him and continued onward to the elevator. He should just focus on what he was being paid to do and stop trying to be something he obviously wasn’t. Only two people in this life were ever going to be allowed to care for him, His unconscious wife or Natalie. Any one dare try to lay a finger on him would and will regret the day they were born. Off course there was Adrien, his son, he had completely forgotten he existed, even though he had just had a call with him not long ago. Gabriel considered if Adrien would actually bother himself about his father. He noticed that the boy who ounce tried so hard to obtain his love had just given up all efforts and didn’t bother him anymore. He acted like a robot programed only to say, “Yes father… No father… I will father, etc.”
~He must see me as the world’s worst father~ he chuckled mentally ~I would feel the same way to. Soon Adrien you will learn why I have been so distant~ the elevator doors opened and he stepped in ~when our family has been restored~ the lift closed and began ascending to his floor.
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~This is the place~ Damien thought as he looked up from the bag and peered through the display window of the bakery. He stood in front of the door and read the golden letters written on the tinted glass window ~Tom and Sabine bakery huh? ~ He pushed the door in and was welcomed to the smell of freshly baked goods being piled out of the oven by a hefty, tall man wearing an apron and a baker’s hat. The bakery was nice and toasty emitting some sort of easy vibe that Damien couldn’t seem to get his head around. He eyed the shop and all its wares. It was a quaint little place indeed, quaint and welcoming like all bakeries should be. A small woman made her way past him carrying a basket filled with eggs.
“Excuse me young man,” she said meekly as she brushed pass Damien. Damien took a step back and apologized for blocking the door way.
“Oh, sorry about that son, I didn’t hear you come in,” Tom said with a smile as he scratched behind his neck. He clapped his hands together and dusted them on his apron. He took his place next to Sabine near the counter who had dropped the eggs on the work table for later on, “So how can we help you today?”
Damien stared at them for a moment. Hadn’t they seen their daughter’s bike with him? What about his dog? Sure he had tied him to the railing of the stairs so he wouldn’t fly in and break anything in the bakery since his episode at the park but weren’t they going to complain? “Are you Mr. and Mrs. Dupain-Cheng?” He could have gotten the wrong bakery or they might not just be the right people because he was certain no expert baker or chef, will ever allow an animal in the same room as his food.
“I’m Sabine Cheng, “she replied. She gestured to Tom, “and this is my husband Tom Dupain.”
“We run this fine establishment you’re standing in… Best baked goods in all of Paris; ask anyone they’ll tell you,” Tom said with a wink. Damien wasn’t amused and with his blank expression Tom started coughing awkwardly and went back to kneading his dough. Sabine used her hand to cover her whispers.
“Don’t mind him, he just gets carried away sometimes when he sees a new customer,” Sabine says with a smile, “So what brings you to our bakery this morning?” she finishes as she mans the cash register. She clicks a few buttons on the machine when it makes a ‘caching’ sound and opens up a tray filled with money.
“I’m Damien Grayson, the new exchange student in your daughter’s school,” Damien started.
“Oh, welcome to Paris Damien!” Tom said as he sent a fist deep into the dough he was kneading, “If you’re looking for Marinette she hasn’t been home since this morning but your welcome to sit with us up stairs and wait for her,” he offered.
Damien shook his head and raised a hand to dismiss the idea, “I just came to return her bike,” he said leaning back to reveal the bike behind him, “She left it, unlocked in the park and forgot it there.” The two adults looked at themselves with a little bit of shock in their eyes. Damien stares at them, they seemed to be speaking telepathically, they looked at him and then themselves again and again, and he wondered if they had suddenly gone deaf.
“Oh,” Sabine spoke up first. Tom who still stood still like a bug eyed statue got a small slap on his arm from his wife. She tilted her head sharply toward the boy and the bike. He rubbed his arm and went to retrieve the bicycle with a nervous smile. He relieved Damien of the pink transportation device and parked it under the stair weld, “Thank you so much for returning it,” Sabine walked over with a small smile, “Marinette can be so forgetful at times,” she chuckled a little, “Why don’t you come upstairs and tell us a little about yourself?” She said a bit excitedly.
“Any friend of Marinette’s is a friend of ours,” Tom said placing a hand on his shoulder. Damien was beginning to get irritated.
~I said no the first time you asked! Can’t anyone in this city take a hint ~ he took a deep breath and politely declined; he made up the excuse that he hadn’t checked in with his parents that morning and that they were the worrying type and really needed to get back to his host family. Sabine and Tom now started asking about his host family and Damien was in a deep hole, he was thinking about how he was going to escape when the bell hanging over the door chimed.
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When Gabriel had gotten to his suite, he had tossed his bag at the door and headed straight to the bar, struggling with every step. He had sternly warned the attendant at the check in counter that no one, no matter who they said they were or how important they seem, should bother him… Even the president! The attendant timidly nodded and went back to work when Gabriel left for his room. He poured himself a bit of scotch and swooshed it down his throat. Immediately he could feel relief and could finally breathe easy. He left the glass at the bar and picked up the do not disturb sign near the vanity, He placed on the nob outside his room and locked the door behind him. He glided pass the bar again, grabbing the glass and bottle. He poured himself another glass setting the bottle on the stool next to his balcony seat and sipped on it, the silky buttery mix slid easily down his throat. Nooroo and Dusuu came out of their hiding places and hovered in place watching their master handle his liquor.
“He looks so distressed; I should give him a hug,” Dusuu whispered to her friend in captivity. Nooroo looked at her with wide eyes he shivered and curled up, his hands covering his mouth.
“Don’t even think about it Dusuu. If he wants a hug he’ll ask for it. My master isn’t as lenient as Emilie or Natalie please don’t make him upset,” he whispered timidly, “Don’t act on your emotions around him, you’ll just make him angry--” With a sharp tone Gabriel interrupted the kwami’s conversation.
“Nooroo, Dusuu! Come here,” He commanded. He rubbed his eyes sleepily it was six o’clock in the morning and even this early the city was vibrant and not in a good way. Audrey would have made them work all day like dogs if he hadn’t gone back. He admired her work ethic, but he had to get this ball rolling and fashion wasn’t going to help with that. Natalie had done her part in reminding Ladybug that he was still very much a threat, a he had gotten the news directly from Natalie herself marvelous job he concluded, “Its time.” He said calmly. With Dusuu’s powers he could discern emotions to a greater length and find what he was looking for, “Nooroo, Dark wings rise!” sitting in the room was Hawkmoth he took another swig at his drink and dropped the glass on the table. He stood up and stared through the glass doors of the balcony.
~Let’s see if this works~ “Nooroo, Dusuu Unify!” Hawkmoth grinned. He was now Le Papillion a plumes. With the peacocks added power he could now be able to find the exact type of pain and anguish he wanted, and just his luck, a heart had just been broken. He gave a sly smile ~Perfect timing ~
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Marinette walked into the bakery, head down staring at her bag as she tried to make the folder filled with sketches fit inside, “Mama! Papa! I’m ho--” she looked up to see Damien and her parents staring at her, “What’s going on here?” she asked tilting her head. Damien walked up to her and spoke up first.
“You forgot your bike at the park, unlocked, and I,” he pondered on the words before he spoke; this was awkward for him, “thought? I would bring it back to your place,” said uncertainly. He looked blankly at Marinette. Mari looked at him awkwardly and didn’t speak; she peered back at her parents who had the look in their eyes. The look when Chat noir came over on her dad’s request after she ‘confessed’ her love for him on her balcony, the very same look they had when Adrien first came over to their house to practice for the gaming tournament. The look whenever Luka used to pop by to check up on her. Yes that oh so familiar look, the look of love and care and hope. Mari loved that look, but in this scenario that look meant bad news. It meant that embarrassment or akumatisation was not too far behind it, meant that her parents were hearing wedding bells where there were clearly sirens screaming ‘NO!’ she had to get Damien out of there that very instant if not he might never talk to her again! She focused back on reality and noticed her dad was missing and she started screaming franticly, that is, in her mind. She resisted the urge to shake her head looking for where her bulk of a dad had run off too. She then realized that Damien and her mom were still very much staring at her.
She sheepishly replied with a “Thank you,” scratching the back of her head and looking down at her toes.
“Damien was just about to tell us about which of your classmates his staying with,” Sabine informed. Damien quietly clicked his tongue and shut his eye lids; he rolled his eyes underneath them so Marinette wouldn’t see. She guessed that he wanted to go and just rest it was already noon and poor Titus looked all worn out as well, he had fallen asleep near the railing on the stairs right in front of the door. If she didn’t intervene they would be stuck there all day. Come to think of it who was Damien leaving with? As far as she knew no one in her class signed up to host an exchange student for the term.
“Mama,” she said nervously, her face covered with uncertainty as the words began pouring out of her mouth, “I’m sure Damien would love to tell us all about which of our numerous classmates he is staying with but,” she trailed off looking at Damien. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, “But you probably don’t know them,” She blurted out. Sabine and Damien were looking at her with some deep confusion. Marinette started laughing nervously and began rambling, “They were a bunch of new arrivals at our school yesterday, y-yeah that’s it and so exchange students and new arrivals were paired together,” she said speedily, “Like a-a-a,” Marinette had forgotten all the words she had learned in her life she was panicking when she couldn’t even speak any more when Damien decided to help her.
“A buddy-system.” He said calmly. Marinette suddenly snapped her fingers, “Exactly!” she stressed the word, “And part of this body system is to uh, check in with our teacher to make sure they are getting along okay and they are supposed to check in ounce in a week on Monday but since school started yesterday Damien’s check-in is today.” Marinette said desperately with a weary smile. As lame as an excuse it was Marinette was hoping it would be enough to get Damien out the door before they could call Ms. Bustier to find out of her story was true. Sabine was giving Marinette a suspicious look when Damien added.
“You forgot to mention, it’s a requirement and accounts for 30% of our grade.” With those words Sabine’s suspicions dropped and concern took over.
“Oh dear,” Sabine cried out, “You shouldn’t have gone through the trouble of bringing the bike all the way here then,” she said worriedly, “I’m sorry we held you up, please,” Tom out from behind the display cabinets with two boxes of macaroons, “Have these macaroons as a thank you.” She offered. Damien wanted to decline but he took a quick glance at Marinette. She mouthed ‘They won’t let you go without it’ to him. With a defeated sigh he took the boxes gave them a polite thank you. Marinette offered to help him with the boxes and walk him back home. Her parents escorted them to the door and extended an invitation to Damien to come by any time and to please introduce them to his family if they ever happened to be in Paris. Damien acknowledged this. Now Damien, Marinette and Titus started their walk back to Damien’s place.
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In the dim lighting of an abandoned warehouse Harley Quinn, Joker’s side-kick and lover, was in the middle of a rant in her signature black and red one piece leotard. She was seething with hate. She was hysterical as the hot tears she began to let go ran her face paint. She had just woken up after being gassed by the clown prince’s joker gas to find that she was all alone in an empty ware house. No Joker, or goons or the sleazy, demented psycho from Arkham that claimed to be a couple’s counselor, the sleazy demented psycho he had left her for.
She was tearing through the warehouse with her mallet, Brenda, like breeze to a house of cards, “…every time I show up for him! I sacrifice everything,” she yells furiously, “my dignity, my pride…” she says smashing a barrel of oil into the wall. It bursts open and falls unto the floor, “I even opted for couple’s therapy!” She smashed through a crate sending pieces of wood flying everywhere, “and look where it’s gotten me?! Alone and unwanted in the middle of nowhere while he caboodles with the mad nurse in a short skirt!” she yells smashing through a beam made of concrete, “I should have known something was fishy the moment he said she worked at the Asylum,” she stopped crying and stood there and thought for a moment, “But relationships are all about trusting one another, ain’t they?” for a moment she seemed calm she let out a small sigh with a little smile when she screamed then she took Brenda and sends another barrel of oil into a stack made of crates turning them into small pieces, “Yet he couldn’t trust me to tell me the truth,” she said disgustedly. She made her way upstairs and smashed through all the windows, “He beats me, bruises, abuses and misuses me and I leave ‘em every time,” she stands between a door and its frame and with each phrase she slams the door on her head, “And every single time he says he loves you, tells you he needs you and no one can EVER REPLACE YOU!...” the door breaks and she breathes in heavily. Blood streamed down from under her hat, she had crushed one of its festive bells and was missing another. The hat itself was in tatters from its collision with the door. She staggered through the door way with a twisted smile on her face, dragging Brenda along with her. She slumps down against a wall leaving a trail of blood from her head against it, “Why I ‘oda…I…I…,” she said weekly her lip quivering as she shakes her head slowly.
She dropped her war hammer and pulled her knees to her chest and sobbed softly, “Look at yourself,” she whispered with scorn, “Why won’t you just love me Mr. J? Am I not crazy enough for you? Haven’t I saved your sorry hide more than ounce?! Don’t I mean anything to you?” she let the tears fall freely and the sobs became cries, “Or am I just some sorry bub who can’t seem to take a hint,” she paused a little gasping in-between sniffles, “You’re stupid Harley!” she scolded herself, “You’re a real dumbass thinking you can love a man who treats you like that,” she took in a big sigh and a fresh batch of tears started pouring out, her breaths short and her lip quivering she managed to let out, “and yet I still do”. She pulled in her knees tighter and continued to pour out her frustration in tears; little did she know that a little purple butterfly and pretty blue feather were flying towards her to free her from her misery.
________________________Mean while at La Grand Paris Hotel____________________________
Jason had gone through the first four hours of the audio torture his brothers were subjecting him to. They had temporarily paralyzed him for six hours and in the height of their cruelty they left the antidote a few millimetres away from his face where he now laid. They had gagged him, so he wouldn’t scream, and no one had entered the room since they did this to him.
He had spat out the gag long ago but in doing so he pushed the pill under the coffee table. The first two hours he wished someone would shoot him in the head, or that four headed spider from last night would come and eat him or for the ceiling to cave in on him, anything that would immediately strike him dead, but by the third hour when some sense of feeling started to return to his legs he started enjoying the sermon, not only because it was a much needed distraction from his bladder that was about to explode but the fact that the points his brothers made actually made sense. For the first time ever his brothers made points that he actually cared about. Not like when they told him important things during missions weren’t important. They very much were and were very boring until he actually got to fight someone apart from that his brothers were only entertaining when he annoyed them or when they had their usual fights. Bruce wouldn’t let them have at each other with childish pranks which at the time and still isn’t fair, and Alfred was tougher than nails on this matter so he relied on insults and punches to enrage his brothers.
“MDC works are mostly custom orders. Her ability to capture her clients’ vision in her works is almost second to none. Having access to such a great talent such as she would not only mean we will always be on the cutting edge of fashion but we would also have contact with someone who is bound to become great in the very near future…” Grayson’s voiced filled his ears.
“And this will be a much needed change to our wardrobe. The black suit and tie affair that we normally, might I add, forced to go to doesn’t allow any uniqueness or diversity and quite insultingly makes an idiot look perfectly sane compared to a Nobel Peace prize winner,” Drake said crossly, “We are heroes and I speak for myself when I say I wish those stuffy suites would burn in hell. They are uncomfortable, hot and a general nuisance. MDC takes it upon herself to make sure that her customers are completely satisfied with their product and is diligent in making sure that it works as it is supposed to without a stitch. Her style is unique and there is absolutely no one who has been able to create fake works based on her style, not for long seeing that there is no design that is the same for her,” Drake finished. Jason liked this fact, if he commissioned MDC to make a certain gift for a certain demon spawn he won’t be able to mass produce it because like the audio said each design can never be identical, that just meant that Damien would always have a fresh new furious hate stricken face to brighten his day a good point to find out the girls identity.
Grayson’s voice started up again, “Another point you should consider is that MDC makes many other items not the typical one time fashion pieces that you will find in a museum which we all know someone is going to attempt to steal,” this fact was true, “And I’m not talking about shoes, and handbags,” Dick’s voice trailed off a bit, “actually I am. MDC is her own fashion house, from shoes, to bags, jewelry, and any other accessory you can possibly think off,” Jason was gleaming now, “She is also very resourceful as well she does a recycling workshop once every two months were customers send in items she wants salvaged and turns them into works of art. Considering the nature of our family and our diversity I can tell you right now she is the only living creature on this planet who will be able to portray every single emotion I have ever had till date, and we all know I’m somewhat melodramatic,” the feeling in Jason’s hands had started to return, he wiggled his fingers and they finally responded. Even though it was limp he could still move it, he suddenly remembered his dire need to use the restroom. He stared at the mocking pill that was just out of his reach. He glared at it he tried to swing his arm to get close to it but it just landed on the coffee table. He hit bumped his head on the floor and continued to listen to the audio.
“The last bit to this chapter would be the most important reason of all is how she operates,” Drake continued, “As we all know MDC was discovered and has been endorsed by Jagged Stone. She also does work AND works with THE Gabriel Agreste and is rumored to be a student of Audrey Bourgeois,” Jason’s hand had landed on a spoon and he grabbed it. He managed to slide his hand off the table and it landed, with the spoon, a few centimeters away from the pill, “Though extensive research we have come to the conclusion that MDC is only known by this people and all other projects always seem to be put on hold when they assign jobs for her. Knowing her isn’t really based on status even though it seems only high celebrity profiles know of her identity but all of them have close personal relationship with her. Knowing her and making her a friend will automatically put us on top priority not to mention I’d rather watch her sew than spend another minute with you twits reprimanding me about my drinking habits,” Jason poised his hand with the spoon and tried to get it at the perfect angle, “That being said I swear to any one of you who gives me this girls name to never drink caffeine again.” He swung his arm and the pill bounced off the spoon as he planned. It bounced off his nose and plopped right in front of him, he rolled over unto his belly and covered the pill with his mouth, he sucked it up and swallowed it, “At this juncture we will allow a ten minute bathroom break, please be back in your seat for the second chapter on how finding out MDC will lead to a momentary but sure demise of the justice league.” After this was said Todd was able to move again. He used his hands and firmly placed his palms on the ground and pushed himself of the floor, he ran for the bath room and quickly relieved himself. When he was out and about again he pondered if he should continue the rest of the lecture. He thought about it a little when it started up again. He ran into Damien’s room to grab a bag of M&M’s he couldn’t explain how all of his in his minibar were gone, he came across files sitting on his dresser and on top of the pile came a familiar name that made him smirk.
~Marinette hmm~ he thought the devilish smirk spreading wide across his face ~I’ll take that~ he plucked it from the rest of his filed and continued listening to his brothers threats on the recording.
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Dick and Tim had made camp on the opposite building of the hotel. They had repurposed the equipment meant in finding Joker to stock Jagged and Penny’s hotel room. Tim had a canteen of coffee on standby. He had a set of headphones which were plugged in to a hand held satellite. Dick was holding up binoculars to his eyes, staring at the room when his stomach began to grumble.
“Can you please remind me why we didn’t eat breakfast this morning?” Grayson looked at Tim expecting to get an answer. Tim looked at him with a blank expression, sipped out of his canteen and focused his glare to the building. Dick’s stomach grumbled again and he clenched at it. He frowned slightly and looked at Tim again looking like he had been dejected, “We didn’t eat anything last night and this morning! How are you not hungry?” he asked with a whining tone. Tim hushed him and his frown broadened, “Coffee isn’t the only thing in life you know?” he said and reluctantly put the binoculars up to his eyes. Tired of looking at the room which no one had been in for an hour! Dick checked on Jason, his paralysis would be wearing off by now, he thought that he would have burned the audio tape by now and would be running out of his room like a moron. It was a pleasant surprise to see him wave back at him with a bag of M&M’s ear pods still firmly in place, “Looks like we got to Jason,” he told Tim who seemed to not give a damn, “he’s still listening to the tape. He looks happy about it.”
Tim, eyes still fixed to Jagged’s room replied, “Knowing him he is probably blasting music in his ears till they bleed.” Dick ignored this comment and was now peering around the city. He looked up to the sky and saw the fluffy clouds and pigeons fly by. He looked over the buildings and parks and marveled at the site he took in the gentle breeze as he brought his binoculars down, pointing at the people below walking on the streets. He couldn’t believe this was the city that had turned into ruins, Pompeii if you will, only a few hours ago. He saw the cars and the little kids and their parents having fun. Young couples enjoying one another’s company, he smiled warmly at all the displays of affection. He loved love. He was focused on a young couple who were snuggled up close to each other at a bus stop chatting away, they were so wrapped in each other they had almost missed the bus. His eyes followed the bus as it drove out of his line of view. He was about to continue aimlessly staring at Jagged’s room when he caught a glimpse of Damien, walking back to the hotel.
“Finally he’s back!” he said relieved, “I was afraid he had disappeared,” Tim didn’t budge. Dick took another glance at Damien, “Wait a minute… Who is she?” he said removing the binoculars off and on again, “I don’t know her. When did Damien start walking around with strangers? When did Damien just walk around with anyone?!” Tim was determined to be a gargoyle, ignoring him and paying mind to only the work they had at hand. Dick stuck the pair of goggles over his eyes and turned his face toward the direction he had seen Damien.
“Dick what the he-?” Tim said furiously, when his head was abruptly turned. He was ready to punch Dick right on his nose when he noticed the girl that was walking next to Damien, “Penny’s— Penny’s assistant? What is Damien doing with Penny’s assistant?” he looked at Dick bewilderment plastered all over his face. The two brothers shared a look, soon after they were scrambling to pack their gear and head back to the hotel before Damien and his new friend.
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Damien and Marinette walked silently down the street, the boxes of macaroons in hand. It had been like this since they managed to escape from the bakery; with the lie Marinette had manufactured to rescue her and Damien from utter embarrassment. Even though it was a terrible lie, quite unbelievable actually, with Damien’s input it became easy for her parents to believe it no matter how outrageous it sounded. Damien was offered two boxes of macaroons as a thank you for returning Marinette’s bike and for making him stay much longer than he needed to. Marinette offered to assist him and was now aiding him in carrying one of the boxes back to his host family’s house. When the Grand Paris Hotel came into view Marinette looked at Damien quizzically.
~Is he living with Chloe? How come she didn’t mention anything? I mean there isn’t anyone else living in this part of town and we are heading straight for La Grande Paris~ she carefully thought ~there is the possibility that he is living alone in an apartment there… but it’s a luxury hotel and no person under 18 is allowed to live by themselves. The school wouldn’t even dream of doing that~ she wondered as they crossed the street, getting closer to the hotel with each step ~S-so where are we going? There are much faster ways to each of our classmates homes and I am pretty sure no one outside of our class lives close by, at least the ones I know, so who is Damien living with? I didn’t collect even a single permission slip from anyone other than Adrien’s and mine and his place is all the way on the other side of town so he can’t be going there and its already clear he isn’t staying with us.~ she thought deeply ~And our school, even though it’s not known for gossip, small and exciting matters like who is the mysterious dauntingly handsome exchange student staying with should pop up once or twice, shouldn’t it?~ Marinette thought hard, tapping her finger on her chin as she furrowed her brows, When she realized what she had just dared to think ~D-d-did I j-ju-just think Damien was handsome?~ her blood flooded into her cheeks and her eyes widened. She internally screamed and immediately started scolding herself ~Are you crazy?! You can’t go around with such ideas and let history repeat itself. My life would be ruined! After all that time chasing after Adrien and somehow missing the great chance to date Luka you want to start all over again?!~ She said shaking her head vigorously ~No way! Never again, he doesn’t even have any interest in you whatsoever, we’re just friends… at least I hope we are~ She glances at Damien and stared at him for a bit as they walked ~This whole time we have been walking and he hasn’t said one word to me~ Damien catches her gaze and she sharply turns her head and faces the path they walked on ~Not one single word! Maybe were not on that wave length just yet~. Marinette stared at her feet as she walked, pondering hard on her thoughts ~what are you saying? ~ She reprimanded ~you’re barely acquaintances! You’re delusional! Stop living in a fantasy, if Lila hasn’t gotten to him yet, she will eventually and even if he doesn’t believe her then the whole class will turn against him and knowing Lila she might just tarnish his image like she did mine and even get him into worse trouble than she could even get me. The worst she could do to me was get me expelled from the school and make me a target for my class, at least that would be regulated and concealed to the people within the schools walls b-but he isn’t from here, it will bring a bad rep for his school and himself. I should probably dismiss the ideas of having any friends until I find a college far from the vipers that seem to follow me everywhere~ she steals a look at Damien from the corner of her eye. A blush creeps up her face and settles on her cheeks. She lightly bites her lip, eyes fixed on his raven black hair. The pools of green emeralds, his eyes, glimmered as the sun shone for a brief moment on them causing them to sparkle in that second Mari’s heart skipped a beat. She set her eyes back on her feet and the tints of red on her cheeks gradually disappeared. She made a ‘hmph’ sound and closed her eyes and smiled slightly ~the feeling will soon pass, just calm down, if you start up like that again Tikki is going to get worried.~
“Marinette?” Damien suddenly said. Marinette snapped back to reality with a confused look. She perks her head up and sees Damien is staring at her with his hand out. She peered behind him and sees the entrance to The Grand Paris Hotel. She stares at his hand wondering what it’s reaching for, “The box.” Damien says answering her unspoken question. Mari remembers the box she had cradled in her hands. She smiles bashfully at her forgetfulness and offers him the box.
“Here…” she said shakily, “I guess I’ll be leaving now.” Damien took the box from her and stacked it on top of the first. She made to leave when Damien called her attention again.
“What are you doing?” he asked plainly, no particular tone in his voice. Mari’s face read ‘puzzled’ as she turned back and faced Damien.
“I’m going home…” she sounded uncertain.
“Oh, well I just wanted to say thank you from saving me from your parents and helping me with Titus today most people would have ran or passed out from fear,” that’s as much as he could say without sounding dumb in his head.
~Brain: Don’t you dare give her praise she doesn’t deserve.
Gut: What do you mean? It’s the truth isn’t it?
Brain: hmmm…..
Gut: Now keep quiet. We’re going inside now any—~
“Damien?” Marinette said her head tilted slightly. Damien had already had one foot in the spinning door. He stopped short and looked at her face still very much expressionless. “I wanted to ask um- err,” she stuttered, “w-who are…whose your host family?”
“I’m not staying with a host family—“
~Brain: Idiot!
Gut: I know. I know! ~ Damien clicked his tongue sharply. He strained his eyes closed. ~What the hell is wrong with you?!~
“Look, Marinette…”
“Marinette?” Dick’s voice sounded, completely out of nowhere. The two teens focus on the interrupters. Damien’s glare set to kill.
“What are you two twits doing here?” Damien said under his breath.
“So that’s her name,”
“Hi there Ms. Marinette we’re Damien’s older brothers Tim and Dick,” Dick said with a smile, “Nice to meet you.”
________________________________________________________________
“Harley…”
Sniff
“Harley…”
Sniff…sniff
“Harley Quinn.”
“Yeah, that’s my name. Look if that’s you boy blonder I don’t wanna hear it, okay? If you’re looking for Mr. J he’s long gone.” Harley had laid flat on her side in the warehouse she had recently torn apart. Her voice bounced of its walls echoing in the darkness. Her face was covered in blood and her eyes were blood shot. When the voice persisted she got up angrily and picked up her mallet, she marched to the control panel in the warehouse and smashed its lights on, “I told you the Joker ain’t here! Now beat it before I whoop you’re sorry behind back to the prehistoric era!” she shouted over the railing her eyes closed when she opened them, she saw no one yet the voice still called out to her.
“Harley Quinn…” the voice rang.
Harley slid down the railing and looked around, Beatrice, on her shoulders. “Hello is anyone there?” she called out, “Gentleman ghost? If you’re the unlucky bloke that decided to mess with me today of all days I’ll make you wish you stayed in hell!” she said sweetly.
“Now, now Harley is that how you greet a new friend?” La Papillion said mockingly.
“Alright! That’s it, someone’s about to be whooped,” Harley said annoyance clear in her voice. “Where are you, come out now?!” she said impatiently, vain popping in her head. Harley notices a blue feather float down to the concrete floor.
“Ay-ay-ay! A stinking blue feather. I’m really startin to lose it,” she ranted as she walked to the huge metal doors, “I need to see my patrol officer. The voices in my head are coming back full force.” She reasoned. Beatrice now slung over her shoulder, “I wonder how he’s doing… Oh yeah,” she snorted, “He’s dead! Ha-ha! I wonder if I can get a new one…” Hawkmoth listened to her patiently waiting for a chance to speak, “I’d just end up back in jail, but if I put in time for good behavior and all that baloney, I’ll be out in a jiffy!” she said cheerily, “Then again the judge did say I’d be looking at 10-Life if I get caught again,” she said biting her finger, “You know what? Who needs Gotham city anyway! I’m leaving this dumb city and starting a new life anywhere I want--”
“Come now Harley, why would you leave your empire behind,” la Papillion continued.
“Look disembodied voice. I’m having a devil’s butt wipe of a day. So why don’t we pick this up when I’m somewhere between Kansas and Metropolis Kay?” a bubbling sound began behind her. She turned round and saw the streams of oil she had created in her tantrum had begun to rise and were forming a figure. The bubbles of oil popped as they molded itself into place.
“I assure you Harley, I am more than just a voice, questioning your mental stability, I’m here to make you an offer you can’t refuse,” said the oil. When it finally stopped moving Harley could see the silhouette of a man with a cane in what looked like a suite; a trench coat with huge feathers at the end, with fitted sleeves and a cravat/ascot with a butterfly pendent on it. A huge collar, similar to wings, behind it something chainlike came into view at the end of it; a button in the shape of the feathers of a peacock was attached to it. A fascinator hung over his eyes as well. Harley stared at the oil; head slightly tilted and her mouth wide open and her eyes squinting struggling to see the details in the figure because it was all black and glossy. A second later the oil started to gain different colors and she could see clearly a man with red eyes inner clothes and cane in purple and the trench coat in blue, trimmed with a transparent lining and pink circles in each oval petal ends of the coat, “Allow me to introduce myself, I’m famously known as Hawkmoth in my beloved city in France, Paris but you may refer to me as La Papillion.” He unbuttons his coat and pulls a closed hand fan. A medium sized black ball rolled to his side it unfolded and a nozzle and claws are revealed and sharp quills. Harley ignored the ball of oil and stared at the man who appeared from oil with a mess of blue hair.
“Huh?” Harley said unimpressed.
La Papillion à plumes laughed a little at Harley’s expression. Just what he expected from someone who was working for the Joker, she was the perfect candidate for his plan. “I take it you are not impressed by my sudden appearance?”
Harley turned round and marched towards the door, “See ya, moth hawk. Have a nice life!” The porcupine rolled in front of her and tried to block her way, as quick as it did, it was smashed by trusty Beatrice and splattered all over the floor. Harley stepped over the puddle of oil and continued on her way.
“Hmph,” Hawkmoth scoffed silently. Harley looked back to see an even bigger oil porcupine rolling towards her. She stood firm and got ready to hit it again, right before impact it liquidized, oozed behind her and grabbed her seizing Beatrice and brought her back to Papillion.
“Let me go! I said let me go you big palooka!” Harley said squirming in the creatures arms only to get stuck inside its belly sinking in her head the only thing that could be seen had a huge pouty look on her face. The porcupine stood in front of Papillion and popped her out of its stomach. She was now covered in oil from her neck down to her toes, “You happy now?” she said folding her arms back arched. The porcupine dropped the mallet carelessly on the floor and its head came of the handle, “BEATRICE!” Harley knelt down beside her broken weapon and pulled them towards her, “You monster…” fresh tears falling from her face, “What did she ever do to you?” La Papillion stretched his hand out to her.
“Please forgive the senti-monster, I don’t have its amuck with me at the moment so it controls its own actions,” Harley slaps his hand away. She gets up abruptly carrying Beatrice’s pieces in her hand and storms away, “I have a proposition for you Harley.” Harley stops her march and stands in one place, la Papillion continues, “What if I could fix everything, Beatrice, the Joker and the whole city with a butterfly and a feather?” he said with a smirk.
“I would say you’re as delusional as Mr. J himself,” she didn’t move La Papillion moved closer to her, he put a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t let this golden opportunity pass you by Harley. At least let me give you a taste of the powers you’ll receive if you worked alongside me,” he takes his hand off her shoulder and presents a purple butterfly in his gloved palm, “This is an akuma. With this I could give you powers you could only imagine…” Harley looked at the butterfly as it flapped its little wings. She looked back at Papillion and sighed.
“You sure you ain’t a mental case? What’s some butterfly gonna do for me?! And even if it could give me superpowers, who says I want any? If you haven’t noticed I’ve never had powers and I never needed ‘em so thanks but no thanks.” She notices the smile on Papillion’s face. He lets the butterfly go and flies into the handle of her mallet. He retracts his hand back to his cane and takes a step back.
“Why don’t you take it for a spin,” He says smugly. Harley ponders on it and shrugs with a sigh.
~What I gotta loose. At least if I die here I won’t have to live my whole life in a stinky prison cell~ she thought. “Meh, Why not? Do your worst.” Papillion looked contempt. Purple bubbles engulfed Harley in a mere two seconds, “Hey? What the hell is this stuff?! Get it off me, it tickles!” at once the dark bubbles subsided.
________________________________________________________________
Marinette stared at the two adults, then back at Damien. They all shared the unique jet black hair aesthetic. She blinked ounce, then twice and a couple more times when one of the adults who had a canister in his hand, kept getting closer and closer sizing her up. She looked for Damien for help when she noticed he was having a heated discussion with the other brother who had introduced themselves earlier. Damien had an intense look of disapproval on his face, while his brother styled a more bashful apologetic look. He had collected the boxes from Damien and gave a nervous laugh. Meanwhile the inspector was making Mari a hundred times uncomfortable, he kept leaning in and she kept leaning back. She was sweating profusely a forced smile on her face.
~Someone help me! ~ Marinette wept internally, why was this man staring at her like some criminal? She closed her eyes as he got closer and closer, when she finally started falling backwards.
“GAHHHH!” Marinette screamed as she flailed her arms expecting to slam her back onto the sidewalk. She feels something grab her wrist and pull her back up. She struggles finding her balance but she finally manages to stand straight, “Thank you.” She said awkwardly and sidled a few steps closer to Damien. Damien looks outraged.
“Tim, you Dunce! Why the heck did you do that?” He sounded rather pissed even though his face said he didn’t care. He didn’t give Tim much time to answer. He turns to Marinette who looked absolutely lost, “You alright?” He asks her. She nods and places her closed palm on her chest. Meanwhile Titus had sat down by the door and watching the whole drama take place. “Marinette, I’ll see you in school tomorrow.” Damien suddenly says he staring at her.
“Come on Damien, don’t be rude,” Dick lets out in shock, “Isn’t she your guest, why are you chasing her away.” Dick said chivalrously. Damien was still staring at Marinette. Mari felt a bit stung by he his expression. Damien remembered that he had to try a bit harder around people to understand him due to his lack of social skills. He softened his disapproving glare and it seemed to put Marinette at ease. She pats Titus on the head, waves a goodbye to Damien and starts to walk away.
“Marinette, is it?” Tim says.
“Yes?” Mari stops again. ~I just want to go home please! ~
“I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable,” he said quickly sizing her up again, sipping on his canister of coffee, “It’s just that Damien rarely comes home with any friends, not even for a study session so…” Tim trails off his eyes go wide. He drops his canister and covers his mouth with his hands. Marinette flinches at the clanging noise the canister makes as it hits the ground. However Dick and Damien are more concerned about Tim, who on a good day would end you for spilling a drop of his precious caffeine. Now he just lets go of more than half a canteen full.
~Did Drake really just pour a whole canister of coffee on the side walk? ~ was Damien and Dick’s shared thought ~this is raven level witchcraft! ~ was a thought Dick was struggling to push down. He whispered to Damien.
“Damien?”
“Yes Grayson?” Damien whispered back.
“Tim just dropped his canister of coffee. I’m not dead or anything right?”
“No.”
“The world didn’t just end?”
“It didn’t Grayson.”
“If the world hasn’t ended, and we’re still breathing and we haven’t found out who MDC is… are we positive that’s our brother?” They look at each other wondering if Tim had been abducted or hidden away safely in Gotham.
“…i-is that what I think it is?” Tim said pointing straight at Marinette’s handbag. Mari internally panics thinking Tikki must have accidently fazed through her bag and Tim saw her.
~Eeeeeep! What am I going to do? What am I going to say? How can a cat faze through a closed handbag?! ~
“That’s an MDC original handbag. That’s THE MDC handbag!” Tim said nearly breaking out in tears, struggling to suppress the joy he had bubbling inside him, “It’s one of her oldest unique creations.”
“You’re an MDC fan?” Marinette said with curiosity fear totally washed away.
“Fan is an understatement,” Tim said with a bit of enthusiasm, “I’ve been following her ever since she made those sunglasses for Jagged stone. Every post, every dress and every commission I made it my business to know.”
Marinette is pleasantly surprised that she has a fan that loved her work more than most of her clients, “Would you like to hold it?”
“Is that even a question!” Tim said no longer capable of hiding his excitement. Mari taps the bag lightly signaling Tikki to hide in her jacket. She then gives it to Tim with a smile. He cradles it in his hands like a baby and completely forgets about the world around him. He wanders into the building as he soaks up the little details in the bag. Mari picks up his canister and follows behind him with a content smile, Damien and Dick follow closely behind her studying her like she would turn on them at any second, Titus on the other hand ignores all suspicions and walks alongside her, “Her handwork is even more amazing in person. The patterns, the embroidery, the clip on the clutch…” Tim rambled on as they walked over to the elevators. When they got there Marinette pressed for the elevator still gleeful from Tim’s outburst as they patiently waited for the lift to come down when, “…to get an original piece from MDC all the way over in Gotham is nearly impossible, she rarely ever excepts commissions from there and the waiting list to place an order is usually so long. I remember one of her posts when she was first discovered this very same bag was in almost every picture…” realization struck Tim, “Hey Marinette…” Tim said with increasing suspicion, “This followed MDC everywhere she went, how exactly did you get this,” Marinette was about to tell them how she carefully crafted her handbag when the image of Mr. Agreste in a meeting she had not too long ago about her keeping her celebrity identity a secret.
“Well…” Marinette said as she started, racking her brain to find a lie that isn’t ladybug related. All her posts after Lila came in and trashed her life gave little information on her personal life, the only thing that mattered were the clothes and of course the other accessories she made. She only had one or two posts of such with that bag when her first website was still up and running (but, the way things looked she might have posted more than she thought), and a few more when Penny so graciously stepped in to manage her when false claims and hate felt comments started popping up and threated to end her career before it even began and besides she took the posts down immediately when Penny told her that anything that would hint her schoolmates that it was her rather than someone else shouldn’t appear in the pictures she wanted to post. She didn’t believe anyone knew her back then the website had only been there for a week. The fact that someone like Tim, who followed her from the very beginning, existed, was overwhelming she was still trying to wrap her head around it, “Um…you see, ha-ha it’s kind of a funny story actually…” the lift behind her opened and everyone turned their attention towards it. Out came Jason, ear pods still stuck in his head.
“What’s happening here?” He asked curiously, stepping out of the lift stuffing his phone into his pocket. He had taken a picture of Marinette’s file and had carefully placed it back on Damien’s dresser where he had pilfered it from. He had come down to wait for his pizza he had ordered a few minutes ago (he had finished his pack of M&M’s and a light breakfast; eggs, bacon, pancakes with butter and maple syrup, juice and a parfè) somehow he was still hungry. Dick was about to open his mouth and say something when the lift they were waiting for opened up.
“Penny I’m telling you we should take her with us! What harm will it do, she’s our girl come on?”
“Jagged, you know she has school and what will she be doing? It’s our honeymoon tour.” Penny said stepping out of the elevator with, the famous rock n’ roll star Jagged stone and fang his pet crocodile. Dick, Tim and Jason where gob smacked, Damien was still not impressed and seemed more interested in Marinette who was frantically sending hand signals to the couple. Marinette smiled nervously when she caught the look Damien was giving her. When he focused back on the elevator she resumed her efforts in getting their attention.
“School is overrated you know that!” Penny noticed Marinette jumping in the back and could see the panic in her eyes. She kept gesturing to zip her lips. At first she was puzzled as to why Marinette was even there then she noticed the stunned, awestruck grown men standing in front of them, one holding Marinette’s bag, another, holding boxes from the bakery. Something was definitely up and by the way Marinette was acting she needed to keep her soon to be husband quiet, “She’s wasting her talents in some boring building! She has the skill to make it in this world and I’ll personally take her there myself!” Jagged continued sounding outraged.
“Jagged, I think that’s enough,” penny whispered in an attempt to shut her fiancé up, who had not noticed the small crowd in front of him.
“I won’t!” he insisted, “At least let’s get her out of that wretched dump; you know what she’s suffering. You really want to keep her there with that tyrant she calls a classmate!? Penny love, if you think I’m letting her stay one more year there you’re joking!”
“Off course we will Jagged, but let’s not ruin the surprise just yet hmm?” Penny said through gritted teeth a nervous sweat breaking out. She knew how hot tempered Audrey was and how unforgiving Mr. Agreste was to incompetence. Which at most time, she had to admit, was her boss/lover.
“What are you taking about?” Jagged asked completely unaware of his surroundings. Marinette shuffled to the side where she hoped Jagged could see her but to no avail, “Marinette isn’t here is she? All I can see are these four strangers gawking at us like a bunch of idiots. Who are they anyway?” Penny slapped her forehead while Marinette cupped her head in her hands and moaned. Damien’s brow lifted slightly, Dick’s jaw dropped, Drake’s eye widened and Todd didn’t even look shocked he just leaned against the wall with a smirk that soon turned into a frown. “Did I say something?” Jagged said looking bewildered. Hand still firmly attached to her forehead Penny pointed toward Marinette in the corner, “Oh.”
“Your MDC…” the boys said in unison but tones varying mildly. Grayson seemed to be asking a question. Tim sounded like he had had an epiphany, a burden lifted of his shoulders. Damien sounded slightly surprised while Todd said it as though it was old news, even though he found out like fifteen seconds earlier. ~I can’t hold this against Tim now can I? What rotten luck~
Jagged pressed his fingers on his forehead and sighed heavily, “I need to learn how to shut it!”
“Mhm,” was Marinette and Penny’s reply.
________________________________________________________________
Harley looked over herself trying to see what changes had occurred while she was temporarily incased in purple bubbles. For one, she wasn’t covered in oil anymore and her suit was nice and clean, it wasn’t ripped or torn. Her skin was a pale color. Her hat was replaced with a floating tiara with red crystals hanging over it. It sparkled in the light with shimmering pink and blue. It matched the small diamond shaped tattoo that appeared on her left cheek bone and her two shoulder lengthened ponytails which where tinted in these colors. Held around her neck was a cape made out of lace in deep red that stopped around her shoulders and split, color faded completely to the point of transparency. Underneath it Harley’s iconic colors appeared. From the bust down to her thighs, she was covered in black, red diamonds lining her waist line. A medium sized one at the center, smaller sizes following it at each side. Directly under it was a short parted ruffled red skirt, knee high black and red socks and inverted open toe heels. Her gloves and mask where the same, only that the white trimmings on the glove where gone and it was arm’s length. In her hands was Beatrice, a look alike if you may. It had a huge shiny red diamond at its center and thin, black steel handle with a diamond floating at its end. Its cylindrical head, at it ends where the red with black diamonds at its center, black and red diamond patterned bands around them.
“Beatrice!” she screamed, “your OK!” she embraced her war hammer tears streaming down.
“Ahem…” La Papillion coughed.
“Can’t you see I’m having a moment here?!” Papillion didn’t answer. His senti monster flicked its wrist acting as though he had a watch and was checking the time while tapping his foot. Harley glared at it with annoyance, it stared right back at her with a menacing ‘hurry up would ya!’ look with raised arms and exasperated glossy black eyes, “Fine…I get it!...hurry up! Gottcha.” She said breaking eye-contact with the creature.
~you walking dinosaur goo…I don’t have the sort of crazy endurance to be staring at you all day. I’ll burn you to the ground later~ “So what now?” she asked stalely, “You said this thing came with powers…Well?”
“Let me ask you something Harley, What is the thing you most wanted in life?” Papillion asked with a smirk looking over his cane.
“Iona know, free parking?” she said sarcastically, facial expression bland as oatmeal. Papillion chuckled.
“Is it love? How about attention, to turn heads as you walk by? To be given the respect you rightly deserve,” Harley chewed on the words as he spoke as he hit it on the nail, “To make a difference and be recognized? Never to play second fiddle to anyone again?”
“Yeah, that’s about it…” she admitted.
“Beatrice,” he pointed to with his cane toward the hammer, “Can do just that… although a queen should have anything she could desire at her disposal, weapons included,”
“You don’t say?” she smirked. She tightened her grip on the hammer and eyed it tentatively. With a bright flash it changed into a grand scepter half the hammer’s size. Harley studied her new scepter.
“Your royal scepter your highness,” Papillion bowed slightly, “if you grace someone with the touch of your scepter they become your loyal servants. Knights loyal to their queen and their queen alone.” Harley smiled wickedly at the scepter as the thought stealing Joker back and stabbing his precious ‘Punch-line’ in her stupid pointed eyeliner. As she entertained the thought of her enemies blood running down her blade. Her scepter shimmered and sharply turned into a thin narrow edged sword. It had a slick finish. She traced her finger along the blade and immediately bled. She thought of more villains and heroes who were pains in her ass; the Riddler and his annoying puzzles, a revolver with a belt of bullets appeared, the Penguin, an exquisite flame thrower, robin, a mini gun locked and loaded. Her laugh grew louder as her armory expanded in one miserly scepter. With every new target she thought about a new weapon appeared, somewhere easy to identify like a mace, crossbow, catapult, etc. Others where freak combinations that Harley concocted when the weapon didn’t just fit the person she wanted dead. When Harley had finished testing her scepter, she was feeling chipper and had on a goofy smile, “I take it; it’s to your liking.” Harley shook her head gleefully.
“All this, from one butterfly?” she said throwing the scepter in the air bringing back Beatrice a smirk on her face, “So what’s the catch?” she said out of the blue. La Papillion said nothing, he gave a little smile. “I knew it… you come up here acting like some genie with your blue face and weird looking jewelry you really want me to believe this is actually for free? Really puddin, you gotta do better than that’” Harley said sympathetically, “So tell me what I gotta do to keep these powers?” She said playing with a chainsaw, fiddling with its controls waiting for Papillion to answer, “Well… I ain’t got all night you know, suns coming up and I’d like to go take out some people if you don’t mind,” she playfully said pulling the cord of the chainsaw.
“Harley…”
“Yes Puddin’?”
“You’re not allowed to kill anyone Harley—“
“WHAT?!” she dropped her chainsaw and let it fall to the floor, “What do you mean I can’t kill anyone? I thought this whole gig was a revenge scheme!” Harley said deflated “What’s the point of these powers if I ain’t allowed to have any fun?!” she whined.
“It seems as though I’m going to have to lay down some ground rules,” La Papillion sighed, “Allow me to explain…”
________________________________________________________________
Marinette, Damien, Jagged, Penny, Dick, Jason, and an awe struck Tim where seated in the dining room in La Grande Paris. Marinette sat next to Penny and Damien, or Damien sat next to her. Tim sat next to Jagged hoping that his heart doesn’t fail him, he was sure any minute he would suffer from cardiac arrest and it would be a perfect way to die. His leg was twitching like a dog over-run with flees. Jason, who was seating between Dick and Tim, was eating it up. Openly sniggering at Tim, completely ignoring the nudges Dick was giving him to shut his trap. After ignoring him for what seemed like forever which was only two minutes, Jason got a slap upside his head from Damien and Drake at the exact same time. He shuts up at ounce, mumbling and grumbling all the while under his breath. The air was tense and filled with silence. Jagged broke the huge glacier, and addressed the elephant in the room.
“So… how do you all know my girl Marinette?” Marinette started sinking in her chair, biting down on her nails going at it like a type writer. Penny placed a hand on hers, she could understand how scared she would be considering how close her big début was, if the news should spread, Marinette thought that drowning in the Seine would be more pleasant than anything Lila could and would cook up for her.
~I would need a fleet of lawyers just to make this whole thing disappear! I don’t even know what to think Oh GOD help me! ~ Grayson spoke up first.
“Well we…” he gestured to himself and the two other musketeers, “Don’t exactly know Marinette…” he said nervously, trying not to get Penny to go feral which looked like she would at any minute the way she kept glaring at him, “Our younger brother Damien,” he said pointing at the boy himself who sat there arms crossed looking at his brother like he was a newbie to interrogation.
~You are sweating like a pig on a spit Grayson… Aren’t you supposed to thrive under pressure? In my opinion the air conditioning is blasting and you ordered an ice tea not to mention that the weather is fairly cold so what exactly is happening here? ~
“…Damien is participating in an exchange program and we decided to tag along, like a family bonding trip and he happened to come back here with her and we sorta getting acquainted when we bumped into you in the hallway.” Dick his brows dripping in sweat, he took a swig at his ice tea and gulped down hard. He used his leg to push back a huge duffle bag under his chair filled with things he wanted Jagged to sign, he honestly wished he had left it in his room, now was definitely not the time to ask for autographs. Jagged looked at Marinette who had zoned out completely simulating over exaggerated ways to run out of the country and hide her identity the most unbelievable one being that if she ran, batman would throw her straight into Arkham.
~You know actually now that I think about it that wouldn’t be so bad nothing is as terrible as Lila--~
“Marinette! ,” Penny and Jagged called, Marinette stopped herself from flying out of her chair, why the heck was she so jumpy was everyone’s thought including her.
“Yes Uncle Jagged?” Drake’s eyes lit up even more.
“Is this true? Please tell me this isn’t one of those rotten brats troubling you at school…” Jagged said very coldly, “…Cause if he is--”
“I promise you Uncle Jagged he isn’t. He’s,” she turned to Damien who already had his eyes locked on her, “A friend.” She said flashing that smile that hit him when he got to school. That smile that could only be described as a ray of sunshine, a pure and bright light filled of life. Jagged eased up upon seeing it and his brothers went into shock seeing the little tints of red hit his face. Only they could see it. Although his face was still shaped like stone and if you didn’t pay attention, and didn’t have a license to be an investigator, which they all indeed had, you wouldn’t think he was alive if it wasn’t for the occasionally blink or raised brow. They were so calling Bruce… actually Selene tonight! Damien has a crush!
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“So let me see if I got ya little story straight kay? For three solid years you have been fighting a bunch of teenagers, ones a kitty and the other a ladybug over two pieces of costume jewelry?” Harley asked stifling her giggles, “Is that right Mr. P?” La Papillion groaned and Harley folded over and collapsed on the floor cackling like a hyena, “I’M GONNA PEE! HAAAAAAA,” She screamed kicking her legs up in the air as she drank in more air pouring out giggles till she choked on it but she still continued, “Your butt got whooped by a cat and a bug over hundreds of times in the same place even when you akuma-tcha-whats-it the whole city?” she calmed down and got unto her feet, “Woo! I haven’t laughed like that since last week. I’m impressed considering when I was their age all I was good at was burning down the chemistry lab. Best two weeks of my life,” Harley reminisced.
“Now that you’re done laughing over my repeated failure do you understand what you have to do?”
“I know. No killing I hear ya and I’ll be careful with my akuma too, quick question though…”
“Yes Harley?” Hawkmoth said exasperated
“Can I have a senti-monster pleeeeaaasssssseeee? Pretty please, I’ll walk it and feed it and bathe it and love and… well everything you should do with a senti-monster I PROMISE!” Harley pleaded.
“Yes you may,” Papillion said slightly annoyed from her five year old behavior.
“Really!? Thanks Mr. P,” Harley coed as she thought about what she wanted her senti-monster to be.
“When you wake up there will be a blue feather lying in front of you, save it for later when you decide your new pet to be.”
“What do you mean ‘when I wake up’?” Harley found herself where she had sobbed herself to sleep. She spritely leapt to her feet. She was adorned with a new outfit, biking gear. She spotted the feather la Papillion told her about. She gently picked it up and zipped into her front jacket pocket. She picked up Beatrice and turned her back into her scepter.
“I’m counting on you Harley,” La Papillion reminded as a violet screen shaped like a butterfly appeared across her face, “And don’t forget a Queen deserves everything she can ever desire…” La Papillion said. The screen faded away. Harley busted through the warehouse doors with a silly grin on her face. Right before her was a bike all painted just for her, although it had no key? Harley was all giddy just by looking at it swooning over her bright shiny new toy. She thought carefully about how she would get it started, she thought about hot wiring it after searching around for the key, when…
“AH! What was I thinking? I have the key right here!” she said pulling out her scepter, “This thing was practically made for me, it even has my name on the license plate, see?” she said pointing at it, looking all cartoony. The license plate read ‘HAHA’.
She got on the bike and faced her scepter to the key hole, it shimmered ounce again and turned into a set of keys which Harley slammed into it, starting the ignition.
“Ha. Alrighty! Where are you Pam we got work to do!” she shouted spiritedly as she sped away on her rear wheel as the sun rose behind her.
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~What the heck just happened?!~
~His face! He has been possessed hasn’t he? Is he sick? Maybe he finally took to his mother’s blood running through him and is finally strangling him for leaving her? Maybe it’s starvation… He has never made that face before, he might just be dying…~
~HA! DEMON SPWAN HAS A CRUSH! THE GREMLIN LIKES SOMEONE HA-HA-HAHA-HAAAAA! Not to mention she is way out of your league you useless peace of shit. Oh I’m seriously going to enjoy this. Selene is going to laugh her boots off and Bruce is going to have a field day! And I’m going to sit back, relax and watch this sit-com BURN! ~
Damien’s blush faded quickly. He could sense his brothers’ stares as it was he had no control over his body, or his emotions when he was around this girl. She was clearly something else and was now a weapon for his demise especially in the hands of Todd and if he should tell Selene he would be living in a different kind of hell for the rest of his life and it will be a million times greater if the titans… Oh no if the titans should find out—he can’t begin to imagine the comedic torture they’d put him through. They could not find out and they won’t find out with every fiber of his being he wouldn’t allow this information, this feeling doesn’t leave this table so help him—
“Rock n’ roll,” Jagged said passionately slamming his hands on the table with a toothy grin, “What’s your name?” he directed his gaze towards Damien. Damien stared back at him blankly like he would anyone. Afraid that his brother would cause a whole different problem on respect, Tim tried to butt in
“Damien,” however, Marinette and Damien had beaten him to it.
“Well then, Damien, any friend of my girl Marinette is a definite friend of mine,” he said heroically swiftly hugging the young but lethal teenager and messed with his hair, “and that goes for your brothers as well.” Damien tried hard to restrain himself from killing the man who was clearly invading his personal space. Tim had practically fallen into a coma and was sitting lifelessly in his chair. Dick was brimming with joy his eyes tearing up as Jagged’s words floated around the air. Jason sat there looking all smug as he raised his phone and snapped a picture of Damien and Jagged one looking all too happy and the other the picture of death itself ~This is going on the calendar, the Christmas cards, my display pic- I doubt it will last considering that this will be the first of many- I’ll just make a collage, and top twelve are absolutely going on the Christmas tree~
As their meeting drew to a close, Jagged and Penny left and went on their way. Marinette chatted with the brothers for a bit. With Tim she was so bold and confident and they talked a lot her work and about how much he adored it, with Dick she seemed a bit shyer considering he was the eldest but soon after they were chatting like old friends who had been separated from each other for so long you wouldn’t think they just met. However—
“hello Miss Marinette. I’m Jason, Damien’s most fun and charming older brother,” Todd said trying to act all suave, “can I ask you something?”
Mari nods not quite sure where this was going.
“is that sack of rocks really your friend?”
“Umm…you mean Damien?” she said looking back at Damien who was being smothered, “Yeah, I think so.”
“Hmm. Interesting, you do know he is an emotionless piece of crap right, he’s practically hell packed in one scowling, grumpy, judgmental, ice berg known as him,” Todd said emphatically, “ you sure about this? No one would blame you if you gave up now; heck I’m surprised you survived this long!” Mari shook her head and chuckled a bit she murmured something but Jason couldn’t catch it.
“I think I’ll take my chances,” she said confidently. Jason stared at her in shock.
“Can I ask you one last question?”
“Sure even though that is a question,” Mari giggled.
“Can I call you Pinky pie?” confusion was painted all over her face.
“Why may I ask?”
“Well first off, for some reason, you are wearing a lot of pink, you bake and you bake well and you’re a very creative person,” was Jason’s answer, “besides if you can be happy being friends with a statue you have earned that name,” Jason said taking in a sharp breath as he shook his head. Marinette laughed with an easy smile and once again it felt like the room filled with light, a strange phenomenon to people so acquainted with darkness.
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Damien had walked Marinette safely to the front door. He had managed to pry her away from his brothers’ clutches after they had bombarded her with questions and he just couldn’t stand it. He had fed them with information perfectly fine to live without but once known impossible to get rid of. His whole time in Paris would be centered on Marinette and he would be forced to spend every waking moment with her, though that sounded nicer than spending time with his brothers. He regretted letting Marinette follow him back, now she would practically be babysitting the twits since they now know where she lives.
“Garr…” Damien groaned as he stepped out the door, Marinette on the other hand was still giggling from her experience, “What’s so funny here?” he asked pained at the life he was going live from now on.
“It’s nothing really; it’s just that your brothers seem to be a really nice person, that’s all,” Mari said truthfully.
“They may seem that way but they are the biggest pains in my sides till date,” Damien said visibly distressed, “Trust me when you get used to them you’ll start to feel it too.” Marinette laughed
“It’s what siblings do isn’t it? If they didn’t how would you know they cared?” Damien stared at Mari a little and he caught himself smiling that unnoticeable smile ounce again, “But don’t worry I have a few tricks up my sleeve to deal with trouble makers like them,” she said with a wink. Damien was feeling the blood rushing to his head. ~What the heck is she doing to me- Wait! Is my nose bleeding?! ~ Indeed Damien’s nose was bleeding Marinette hadn’t noticed yet. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and quickly wiped at it. While he was doing that Mari’s phone pinged.
“Who is that?” He asked trying desperately to stop his nose from bleeding.
“My friend Kagami,” Mari said as she opened the text, “Shoot! I was to meet her at the mall today,” she checked the time on her phone, “Two thirty already?!”
“Well, I’m guessing you have to leave now,” Damien said sounding a bit relieved but in his chest he felt like it was being knotted.
“I guess so,” Marinette put her phone away and faced Damien when she had a thought, “Hey, what if you tagged along?”
“Excuse me?” Damien said hiding his handkerchief away.
“What if you helped me and Kagami shop today? It would be a huge help having someone who knows the place give us some advice on what to wear, after all who wants to go anywhere and stick out like a sore thumb?” she said cheerfully. Damien looked stunned.
“I’m sorry Marinette but I think you have the wrong person for the--” Damien’s phone pinged. He pulled out his phone and read the messages that came through.
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~Drake: Don’t you dare say no to her, if not I will end you myself when you get back here!
Grayson: Will it kill you to just be nice for once? She is asking for your genuine help and you want to turn her down flat, for the love of God just go!
Dip-shit: Look here you walking waste of sperm.
That girl is an angel and you’re practically the devil! So I’ll make you a deal kay?
Go with her to the mall and I won’t send this high definition picture close up of your cute nose bleed to Selene.
You wouldn’t dare.
Dip-shit: You bet your bottom dollar. Now shoo! Go on go on your date with you crush. You despised devil you. ~
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Damien was boiling inside with pure rage. His brothers were truly a pain. He looked up at Mari who looked slightly disappointed, “How far away is the Mall?” he asked clearly defeated by his siblings.
“What? You don’t have to come if you don’t want to Damien. You’ve been out all day, I’ll understand if you want to rest,” Marinette said surprised that he even considered going.
“It’s fine. The quicker we get there the sooner I get back, and you’ll finally be able to give me that tour,” Damien said tucking away his phone. He made to get a taxi.
“I thought I was supposed to take you on a tour around school not Paris,” Marinette said clearly having trouble understanding what was happening.
“A tour is a tour Marinette, no matter how you look at it.” Damien said simply. Mari gave a sly smile, grabbed Damien’s hand and began pulling him down the street.
“Well if that’s the case, we better make this a quick tour if not Kagami is going to kill us.” So off they went racing down the street Damien following closely behind Mari as they ran to meet Kagami at the mall, pointing out landmarks and a bunch of sites along the way.
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“We are following them aren’t we?” Jason asked with a mischievous smile.
“Of course we are!” Tim said angrily, “I finally know who she is and you think I’m to stay inside, hell no!”
“Fine then let’s get going,” Dick ushered. And off they went tailing their little brother and his crush.