Chapter Text
"Demon Spawn? Watcha doing?"
"None of your business, Todd," the male responded.
Damian heard footsteps from behind, just before Jason asked, "Another one of those jobs again?"
"If you're so desperate to know, then yes."
Jason hummed, walking even closer to his brother and catching sight of the picture displayed in front of him. He let out a muffled whistle from within his helmet.
"Damn, she's adorable," Red Hood complimented, "Reminds me of Jon, to be honest."
Damian nodded along, not looking up from the screen he was intently studying. At the boy's silence, Jason grinned, thought it was unfortunately unseen.
"So, you agree that she's cute? Wow, Demon Spawn. Didn't expect that."
"W-What? No I don't!" the younger one exclaimed, realising the topic of the conversation with a blush overtaking his cheeks.
Jason laughed, deciding to stop his teasing and instead scan through the file on Damian's iPad.
"Hawk Moth? What kinda name is that?"
"Apparently, there has been a terrorist in Paris using magic to turn people into temporary villains," he explained.
"Are you sure? That might be fake, you know," Red Hood remarked, crossing his arms with a furrowed brow. "Doesn't sound too real to me."
Damian shrugged his shoulders. "I'm getting payed a hefty amount of money for the job, so if it turns out to be a prank I'll just carry out the usual procedure."
After a few seconds of silence, the older man simply said, "Fair enough."
With that parting statement, he strolled off, whilst pulling out a case of cigarettes and a lighter from his jacket pockets.
~*~*~
A faint click was the only noise revealing Damian's presence, on top of a moderately tall building's roof. The walls lining it were short, just ending above his knee, allowing him the chance to peek and crouch without being spotted.
His eyes were carefully set on a window across the street, that filtered sunlight through smoothly. No curtains covered the glass, giving him a perfect of view of the inside.
He could see students there. Students with bags slung over their shoulders and textbooks in their arms. Students filing in at random intervals with another by their side.
All except for one.
The girl's silky hair - that was a similar shade to his own - was pulled back into two pigtails, both somehow having the exact shape and size as each other. Cherry red ribbons stuck out from the sides of her head, flopping slightly with every step she took.
From where Damian was settled, he could make out the bluebell eyes that she had, yet his goggles let him see the freckles splattered across her nose and rosy cheeks. Onyx studs glimmered with a sparkle of white in her ears.
With his gaze, he followed her path up the steps in her classroom, which led to a wooden desk at the back. On the left of it, a boy was sat, his back straight in a rigid posture and a sharp pencil in his grip.
A grey shirt was worn over his chest, with a black vest and tie overlapping it. His emerald eyes, slightly hidden by a side-swept blond fringe, met the female's. A small smile graced his features.
All of a sudden, Damian found heat rushing to his face, that burned a darker shade when the girl beamed back.
What was that?
He shook his head to rid of the thought, and the blush adorning his cheeks.
"Hi, Felix," he heard her greet, from the piece of technology nestled in his ear.
"Hello, Marinette," Felix replied, nodding as she took a seat with a content sigh.
~*~*~
"Marinette!" a shrill voice cried aloud. "How could you say that to me?"
Sighing in frustration, said girl rolled her eyes, before facing the problem. "What are you talking about Lila?"
"What, so now you act like you don't know?" Alya defended, stepping forward into Marinette's space. "I saw the texts you sent Lila - I bet you thought I wouldn't, didn't you?"
Raising a brow, she answered, "What texts?"
"The texts you sent last night!" Lila sobbed, fake tears streaming down her cheeks. "I-I can't believe you would threaten me like that!"
Several classmates sent glares Marinette's way, and though she was used to it, she couldn't help the way she shrunk back into herself.
A cough resounded from behind, prompting those in the vicinity to glance at the source.
Felix was stood there, his expression bored. However, those who knew him well could see the clenching of his fists and twitching of his right brow.
He opened his mouth, saying in a curt voice, "What would happen to be occurring here?"
~*~*~ A Long While Later ~*~*~
"I'm so sorry," Marinette apologised, though it was muffled in Felix's chest. She felt an arm encircle her waist protectively, pulling her in closer.
"I already told you, it's not your fault," he reminded, tracing small circles on her back in a soothing motion.
"I-I just...how could she say that about me?" she choked, burying further into his warmth.
Felix didn't provide an answer - only tightening his grip and gritting his teeth in restrained anger.
Too caught up in their joint irritation and despair, none noticed the flutter of a butterfly's wings edging closer, and the look of horror on a nearby male's face.
Before they knew what was happening, a sharp sting was felt on both of their necks, lingering for a millisecond. All of a sudden, they slumped over, with Felix against the bench's back and Marinette leaning on him.
Damian panted harshly. The tranquilizer gun in his fingertips dropped onto the floor when it tingled slightly along with his skin.
"No one hurts those that I love," he growled, nails digging into his palms enough to draw blood.
"And I shall give you the power to keep them safe, Protector," a man spoke, his voice seemingly echoing within Damian's mind.